Harry Potter, Heir of Gryffindor

Warning Signs

As the Christmas Holidays approached Hogsmeade's two main inns filled to capacity and the valley and surrounding countryside began to fill with winterized Wizarding Tents which slowly took the shape of a small city. It seemed that most of the students and their families had chosen to take the Headmaster up on his offer and, due to the unusually heavy snows of late November and early December, many of the students were able to practice their charms while preparing the various campgrounds and keeping the walkways clear. Dean Thomas and a few of the more artistically inclined students used their abilities to create many beautifully decorative ice sculptures commemorating the event.

Each family who did not have a room or suite of rooms at one of the inns had their own tent. Each of these structures was fully equipped with bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens and studies. And, as with the tents at the Quidditch World Cup, the interiors were much more spacious on the inside than their external structures would lead one to believe. Indeed, some of the smaller tents, tents that from the outside looked no larger than a one or two man tent, were so roomy that they actually had three bedrooms with separate baths, overly large living rooms, formal dining rooms, large kitchens and expansive servants' quarters.

By the first day of holiday the apparition and portkey points that had been set up in and around Hogsmeade were extremely bust as witches and wizards either disapparated to or apparated from work or other errands or muggles were escorted to and from their destinations by teams of security wizards. A few of the more open-minded muggles - those who had married into the wizarding world - took portkeys and their magical surroundings in stride but most needed help adjusting to their surroundings. To help alleviate this strain Hermione and Professor McGonagall organized orientation meetings and a buddy system, which paired wizarding families with muggle families. All in all it was a very productive and festive gathering that did more to foster muggle - wizard relations than anything the Ministry (at least the Ministry under Cornelius Fudge) could have devised. Madam Bones, who was still serving in her capacity of Interim Minister while a new Minister of Magic was selected, attended many of the orientations and assured everyone that they were safe and that the Ministry was doing everything in its power to protect them and prepare for the coming war. Harry, however, stayed out of the limelight as much as possible. He knew what he had to do and he actually preferred working behind the scenes, preparing for the confrontation he knew was coming.

The Weasleys - Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, Percy, Bill and his fiance Fleur - arrived the next day and were given a spacious five-bedroom tent in a small out-of-the-way compound near the castle's main entrance which consisted of the Weasleys, the Grangers, Mrs. Longbottom, Mr. Lovegood the Babcocks and the Evanses. The Babcocks and Evanses were, understandably, nervous at first but were quickly put at ease by Mrs. Weasley's openness and hospitality. Even Mrs. Longbottom, who was an intimidating presence in the wizarding world, let alone the muggle world, warmed to the occasion and hosted a dinner party for those in their compound. And Mr. Lovegood spent many hours interviewing Albus, Alastor, Kingsley and the many security wizards, hit-wizards and aurors stationed in and around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade for the next issue of The Quibbler. He had also received special permission from the Headmaster to bring in a number of reporters to cover the events. Albus had agreed on the condition they all be screened and checked for any ties to dark witches or wizards.

Harry was just sitting down to breakfast on the morning of the 21st when two men in Ministry uniforms approached and sat down across from him. Harry glanced up and recognized them as the two untouchables from the Department of Mysteries who were working with the Babcocks on a solution to the dementor problem. "Mister Potter?" One of them asked.

"Yes?" Harry said as a short stack of Dobby's blueberry pancakes appeared on his plate.

"We believe we may have found the answer to your question," the one on the left said.

"It is a variation on the Patronus Charm with a complex emotional signature that is not going to be able to be conjured without help. The incantation and wand actions are the same but the underlying emotions are different," the other added.

Ron was just entering the Great Hall with Fred and George, who were giving him a hard time, at his sides. "Hey, Harry!" George called out.

"We thought we would join you for breakfast . . ."

"And give our little brother . . ."

"The benefit of our experience."

Ron groaned and glared bleary-eyed daggers at his brothers. Harry waved them over. "Fred, George," he said, "I would like you to meet Michael Johanson and David Jorgenson. They work as Unspeakables in the Department of Mysteries. They have been working on a solution to the dementor problem and seem to think that they may have found an answer."

Turning back to the two men sitting across from him Harry said, "Gentlemen, I would like you to meet my friends and business partners Fred and George Weasley. They are the makers of Dementor Delights and Potter Charms. If what you are saying is correct then these two fine, upstanding gentlemen," he said with a wink to Fred and George, "might just be the people we need to make it work. What have you come up with?"

Michael, the one on the left, said, "What we've come up with is a complex emotional structure which, when magnified by the magical forces of the Patronus Charm, should destroy a dementor and release all souls and memories contained therein. It is a combination of happiness, a desire to free any and/or all trapped souls and a sort of grim determination to destroy the dementors as well as an extraordinary amount of love."

For the next fifteen minutes Harry watched and listened as Fred, George, Michael and David discussed the charm's requirements, its component parts and activation. It startled him to see how intently Fred and George were listening and the seriousness of their expressions. He wondered if they were going to come out of this war with their smiles in tact. When they were finished Fred and George excused themselves, saying that they needed to get to work, and left, almost running out of the room.

Hermione, who had joined the group a few minutes earlier, lay her fork down and looked intently over at the two Unspeakables. "How does it work?" she asked. "I mean, how does it destroy the dementor?"

The one on the right, David, said, "Well, actually, Miss Granger, your last letter gave us the final piece to the puzzle. We didn't know how it was going to work until we read your note about the subtle science of Energy Transfer. When we read that, however, we knew the answer.

"The way the charm works is that the patronus disrupts the dementor's energy field just enough to let the other elements into its system. Once these elements enter the system there is no stopping them and the dementor essentially explodes from within, releasing all forms of spiritual energy they have consumed. If our calculations and models are correct then this modified Patronus Charm should spell the end of the dementors."

Several hours later one of the twins returned with a small bag full of amber licorice nibs. Harry was walking through the Entrance Hall when George raced through the main doors, almost bowling over a young, first-year Huffelpuff boy as he described the castle's magical doors to his younger sister. Harry looked up at the sound of the George's voice and changed direction, leaving Ron, Ginny, Neville, Luna and Hermione to go in to lunch without him. "What have you got?" Harry asked as the George stumbled over.

"We don't know why we felt it was so urgent," the young wizard said in a rushed whisper, "but Fred and I have been working on this all morning while Lee manned the store. Here. These are the first samples."

Harry nodded his understanding of the twin's sense of urgency. He had felt it too. "Thanks, George," he said, accepting the proffered bag. I'll go up and test them. You get something to eat and I'll be right back."

George nodded and entered the Great Hall. Harry, however, turned on his heel and ran back up the main stair, through the maze of hallways, corridors and stairways to the Room of Requirement. As he paced back and forth in front of the entry all he was thinking about was that he needed someplace to test a modified Dementor Delight. When, on the third pass, the door appeared he popped one of the sweets into his mouth, drew his wand and opened the door. As he stepped inside and closed the door he felt an odd mixture of emotions coursing through his system. The room was long and narrow, extending for a distance to his left and for a greater distance to his right. It was dimly lit with a number of torches placed at intervals along the walls. Turning to his left he didn't see anything but the cold, stone surfaces of walls, ceiling and floor with a few torches lighting the way. Turning to his right, however, he saw it and felt the sudden, bone-chilling cold of a dementor's approach. Raising his wand and pointing it at what would have been the dementor's chest he yelled, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" This time, instead of a silvery white stage erupting from his wand, a brightly glowing golden stag exploded from the tip of his wand and immediately attacked the dementor. As its horns made contact the unnatural abomination exploded, releasing several vaguely transparent wisps of spiritual energy into the air. As these ethereal beings rose into the air Harry was overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude at being released from a tortuous prison composed of nothing but darkness and despair.

Staggering slightly with the realization that he had just faced a real dementor and not a boggart or anything more benign he opened the door and stumbled back out into the corridor. As soon as he regained his bearings he tucked his wand back into his pocket and raced down to the Great Hall.

Several people looked up as he ran into the dining room but he paid no attention to their curious glances. Spotting George, sitting with Ron and the others, he ran up to the red haired master of mayhem and leaned heavily on the table between George and Ginny. Everyone looked up at him in surprise but his attention was focused on George. "They work," he said, gasping for breath. "How soon can you put them into full production?"

George looked up, dropped his fork and stood up. "Consider it done," he said stepping over the bench.

"Make it a top priority," Harry said as George turned to leave.

"Will do," George said forcefully before racing out of the hall.

"What was that all about?" Neville asked as Harry slumped down onto George's vacated seat.

Harry looked across the table at Neville with a weary look in his eyes. "I just destroyed a dementor."

Hermione gasped. "But . . ."

Harry raised his hand to silence her protests. "When the Room of Requirement was built it was charmed not create any dark creatures, excluding boggarts, unless the school was under threat of attack. It was a security measure the founders felt was necessary given the volatility of their age. I was just up there testing one of the new Dementor Delights and I destroyed a dementor."

The others' faces visibly paled. "You should tell Albus," Hermione insisted. "I will," Harry said as he stood up and started quickly walking towards the Head Table. When he reached it he walked over to stand in front of the headmaster and, using a little wandless and wordless magic, cast a privacy charm around them. The headmaster glanced around as the room grew suddenly silent around him. Apparently noticing that everything but the lack of sound was as it should be he looked at Harry and said, "Could I help you, Harry?"

"The school is under threat, sir. I don't think Tom even knows what he is going to do yet but the school is most definitely under threat of attack."

"And how do you know this?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes glinting with the battle hardened gleam of a man who has already seen more death and destruction than most but who is not so old as to fear a confrontation with any foe. Harry explained about the security measures that had been built into the Room of Requirement and then told him about going up there to test one of Fred and George's new Dementor Delights and about facing and destroying a real dementor. Dumbledore steepeled his fingers and gazed thoughtfully over Harry's shoulder towards the back of the room. "And you have no idea as to either when this threat is coming or from which direction?"

"No, sir," Harry said shaking his head. "All I know is that, according to what I've learned about the Room of Requirement, the attack should be taking place sometime within the next seven days."

Dumbledore studied Harry's face for several seconds before saying anything. "What do you suggest?" he asked.

Harry thought for a moment before turning around to look at all of the people happily enjoying the Christmas Holiday. Then, turning back, he said, "The one thing we don't want to do is cause a panic." Albus nodded his agreement. "I do, however, think that we should prepare for war." Again Albus nodded in agreement. "I think we should, at least temporarily, move Fred and George's lab into the castle since they are in charge of the Dementor Delights and Potter Charms. We should get as many flyers as we can and pair them up, where necessary, with those proficient in the Patronus Charm. I also think we should reinforce our border watches and get ready to initiate a widespread communications charm."

Albus looked at Harry and nodded once again. "All wise decisions, Harry. But aren't you forgetting something?" Harry looked up curiously. "The wood elves," Albus said. This is what the pact was made for."

Harry's mouth fell slightly open. "I forgot about them," he mumbled, chastising himself for his oversight.

"And the centaurs," Albus added. "This war is still young and they are a proud people. You cannot ask them to do much; but they will defend the forest." Harry nodded.

"Now I suggest you contact the Weasley twins - you can use my fireplace for that - and then go into the forest to explain the situation to Bane, Ronan and Emric." Standing up from his half eaten lunch the headmaster stepped away from the table. "You will need to take Ron and Neville with you into the forest but leave the others here. I will take care of the rest."

Harry nodded and turned to leave. "Oh, and, Harry," Dumbledore called after him. Harry turned back. "The charm."

Harry smirked and with a flip of the little finger on his right hand lifted the Privacy Charm. Albus smiled as the Great Hall came to life around them and his blue eyes twinkled merrily over his half-moon spectacles.

Harry walked quickly back to his friends who were watching his approach. When he reached them he quickly cast another privacy charm and leaned into them. "The first thing," he said, "is not to panic. We don't need a riot on our hands. Ron, Neville, you are with me. Ginny, Hermione, Luna, stay here. Albus will need you to help organizing the defenses. Standing up he lifted the privacy charm and quickly strode from the hall.

At the base of the Main Stair Harry broke into a run again and darted up the stairs and through the corridors to the headmasters office. The gargoyle was already opening as he raced towards it, subconsciously hearing Ron's and Neville's foot falls as they ran to catch up. Sprinting up the spiraling stair Harry burst into Albus' office and ran over to the fireplace. Grabbing a handful of floo powder from the jar on the mantel he knelt down in front of the grate, threw the powder in and called, "Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes," as he stuck his head into the green flames. The familiar twisting dizziness that accompanied this kind of communication swept through his head and he was secretly glad he hadn't eaten any lunch that day.

When the spinning stopped he shook his head to clear his mind and opened his eyes. Looking out through the fireplace in the back of Fred and George's shop Harry saw Fred's back as he bent over his cauldron. "Fred?" he called softly.

After stirring his cauldron counterclockwise three more times and removing the bronze rod Fred turned around,. "Hey, Harry. What can I do for you; and do they work?" Harry looked up at his business partner. "Can Lee run the shop for a few days?" he asked.

"Sure. Why?"

Harry explained about the security measures that had been charmed into the Room of Requirement and about his encounter with the dementor. "So in other words," he concluded, "the castle is under threat of attack. We don't how long we have but we do know that it is probably less than a week. Since you two are the makers of both Dementor Delights and Potter Charms we would like you to set up a lab here so that we can go into mass production no later than tomorrow."

"Anything else?" Fred asked.

Harry thought for a moment. "Yeah. Bring along a few cases of your modified fireworks and portable swamps. We might need those as well."

"We'll be there in a couple of hours."

Harry nodded. "Good. Tell Dumbledore what you need when you get here and he will get you set up."

Pulling his head out of the fireplace Harry fell back into the Headmaster's Office and rolled away from the hearth, narrowly missing a small table loaded with trinkets he could have sworn he had destroyed the morning after the ministry battle at the end of his fifth year. Ron and Neville, who had been standing on either side of the arched entry into the main office, stepped over and helped Harry to his feet. "I hate that," Harry mumbled, referring to the floo network and talking through fireplaces.

"I hear you, mate," Ron said. "Sometimes it's the fastest way to go, though."

Fawkes suddenly trilled gently from his perch then, rising up, glided across the room and gently landed on Harry's shoulder. "Lo, Fawkes," Harry said as he reached up to caress the magnificent bird's plumage.

"So where to now?" Neville asked with a steely resolve that had not been there before.

Harry and Ron both looked at Neville who grinned sheepishly back. "Our next stop is the forest," Harry said as Fawkes glided back to his perch. "We have got to talk to the centaurs and call the wood elves."

Several people glanced at them as they made their way down the marble steps, members of every house giving them a thumbs-up sign to signify that they knew at least a part of the plan and would be participating in the coming battle. The three returned a few of these silent greetings but walked quickly and resolutely through the Entrance Hall and out the Main Doors. The power and energy radiating from the three determined young men caused many heads to turn as they passed but no one stopped them to ask what they were doing or where they were going as they crossed the castle grounds.

They entered the Forbidden Forest and walked for several minutes until they came to a small clearing where they stopped and waited. A few minutes later Bane stepped into the clearing and approached the trio. "Why have you come into our forest, Harry Potter?" he asked.

Harry turned towards the battle-hardened centaur and looked him square in the eye. "I have come to warn you, Bane, and to ask your assistance. We do not yet know what form the attack will take but we do know that an attack on the castle is coming sometime within the next seven days. I cannot ask you to fight on our side but I will ask you to defend your forest and not harm any innocents who may wander in during the battle.

Ronan entered the clearing and stepped up to Bane. They conferred in a whispered conversation for several minutes while Harry, Ron and Neville awaited their response. Finally, after several more centaurs had filtered into the clearing, Bane looked up. "We will do as you request, Harry Potter. How will we know when the attack has begun?"

Harry glanced at both Ron and Neville to see if they had any ideas but upon seeing the blank expressions on their faces decided to go with what he knew, recalling the streams of sparks that had signaled the all clear on the night of his escape from Privet Drive at the beginning of his fifth year. "We will send up a shower of sparks from the top of the Astronomy Tower. Green will be the signal to get ready and red will be used to let you know that the attack has begun."

Bane nodded. "Very good, Harry Potter. We will be awaiting your signals. Is there any other reason you have entered our forest today?"

"Yes," Harry said bluntly. "We have come to summon the wood elves. My hope is that they will help us by fighting by our sides."

Bane nodded and signaled for his people to leave the three young wizards alone in the clearing. "Good luck, Harry Potter."

Once the clearing was empty, save the three wizards, they stood back to back to back and mentally called out to their elfish counterparts. Moments later Emric, Woodring and Onric appeared before them. Woodring was holding a chicken leg in one hand. "You guys have no sense of timing, do you?" he grumbled.

Ron, Neville, Onric and Emric all laughed. "Sorry," Harry smirked, "but this is kind of important."

Harry explained the situation to the elves and, with Ron and Neville's help, described their planned defense of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. They drew maps in the snow with their wands and revised their plans to include the wood elves whenever and wherever possible. "Since you know your strengths far better than we ever will," Ron said at one point, "it is probably best that we draw up a combined plan so that we don't get in each others' way."

They spent the next few hours working and reworking their plans, knowing that they did not know what they were going to be up against. They concluded their talks with an agreed upon plan as the sun reached the horizon and darkness began to fall. With wands lit Harry, Ron and Neville made their way out of the forest shortly after full sunset and walked tiredly back up to the castle.

"Where have you been?" Mrs. Weasley scolded as they entered the Great Hall. "I've been worried sick about you."

"Sorry, Mum," Ron said halfheartedly. "We've been talking to the centaurs and wood elves."

Fred and George looked up in shock and Mrs. Weasley's mouth fell open. "Centaurs and wood elves?" she whispered sternly. "You could have been killed. Those are dangerous creatures."

After collapsing on the bench next to Hermione Ron looked up at his mother and sighed. "Not really, Mum. They are just like us. The only real difference lies in the fact that their bodies look different."

Fred and George sat down on either side of Harry, squeezing Ginny to one side, and, in hushed whispers, said, "We're all set up in the dungeons."

"Snape has given us full run of the potions classroom . . ."

"And Flitwick is helping us with the charms."

Harry smirked tiredly. "Good." Then, rubbing tired eyes, stared at the empty plate in front of him. "How many teams do you have working for you?"

"Twenty," George said proudly. "They are working in shifts so that by tomorrow we should have enough to last a few days."

"Both charms?" Harry asked tiredly.

Fred and George looked at each other, clearly concerned for their friend's well being. "Er, . . . yeah," George said. "Why do you ask?"

Feeling Ginny's hands on his shoulders Harry leaned back and let her hug him from behind. Relaxing into her embrace he sighed and said, "I don't know. I just have a feeling we are going to need every advantage we can get. Now if you don't mind," he said letting his head fall forward again, "I think my girlfriend would like to sit down and eat some dinner.

Fred and George both looked up and saw their little sister - the only woman they feared more than their mother - standing silently behind Harry giving him a massage and smiling sweetly at her older siblings but with a warning look in her eyes that they both recognized as a threat to get out of her way. They both scrambled to their feet and offered her their seats. She graciously took the seat to Harry's right and leaned into him saying, "Time to wake up, sleepy head."

Harry smiled weakly at her. "Yeah, I know."

After ordering a full three-course dinner from Winky with extra restorative draught Harry settled into the flow of the conversations going on around him and slowly worked his way though his meal. He noticed that Mrs. Weasley was somewhat confused by Fred and George's sudden reappearance that afternoon and was at a total loss when it came to some of the comments that slipped out about 'defenses' and 'preparations.' He suspected that she was starting to put two and two together but hoped she would not raise the alarm.