Harry Potter, Heir of Gryffindor

Hope, Faith and Determination

When the post arrived at breakfast the next morning Hedwig, Henry and Pig entered with the other owls. They weren't carrying anything but, as had become her habit, they flew in and landed on their companion's shoulders simply to spend time with them. After the third day Harry had started requesting a small bowl of owl treats with his breakfasts so the owls would always have something to eat that was more in keeping with their regular diets. Harry was stroking Hedwigs feathers with one hand, after feeding her several owl treats, and Hermione was in the process of paying a tawny owl for her copy of the Daily Prophet when someone screamed. Everyone suddenly stopped, looked up and watched in stunned silence as a young girl from the Huffelpuff Table jumped up and ran out of the Great Hall crying.

No one moved as the girl sped from the room, too stunned to know what to say or do or think. Then, as the girl brushed past a few late arrivals and ran out into the Entrance Hall, Professor Sprout quickly got up from the Head Table and rushed over to where the girl had been sitting. Picking up the piece of parchment the girl had let fall to the floor she read it and looked worriedly up at Professor Dumbledore before turning and following the girl out of the hall at a fast walk. Dumbledore looked down the table and nodded to Madam Pomfrey, who quickly stood up and left the Great Hall, before turning to speak briefly with Professor McGonagall and getting up to leave himself.

Professor McGonagall waited until all of the owls had left then stood up. Tapping lightly on the edge of a crystal goblet with her knife she called for silence then said, her voice echoing in the stillness of the room, "Miss Larson has suffered a terrible loss. True, it is not the first of this war and I fear that it will not be the last but please respect Miss Larson's privacy and give her the time she needs to grieve. She will not be attending classes for the remainder of this week and will need your help in more ways than one. She will not be leaving because she no longer has a home to go to and those of you who are her friends will be excused from your classes on a rotating basis so that you may keep her company. We are all the family she has now and we must show our support."

As Professor McGonagall sat back down many of the teachers and several students visibly paled and an even more profound silence fell over the Great Hall as history began to repeat itself. Gradually, however, people began to return to their meals. With five minutes to spare Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Luna were the last to leave and head off towards their respective classes. Remus, who had been watching Harry ever since the announcement, caught up with Harry, Ron and Neville outside of Firenze's classroom and tapped him on the shoulder. "Harry," he said softly, "I want you to know that. . ."

Harry turned around and looked at his friend. "I know what you are going to say, Remus," he said tiredly. "There was nothing I could do about it and I already know that."

Remus nodded. "That, and that this is what it was like when I was in school. There were, on average, two to three notices per week and sometimes there were even three or four a day. For right now we've got the upper hand because we have got you six as well as the rest of the order and we are better trained than his new recruits. We also have the charm, which will hopefully cut down on the number of casualties and give the ordinary witch or wizard a fighting chance. I know you take this personally and I really can't blame you because he has, after all, been out to get you since before you were born. We may lose some real property and we may lose a few lives but at least now we have a fighting chance. Last time we really didn't have much other than hope, faith and determination. Please don't give up on hope, Harry, because sometimes that's all we've got, hope, faith and determination."

Harry looked into Remus' eyes and saw that the werewolf was being completely honest with him and that behind the honesty there was a the kind of hope, faith and determination that had seen him through his years as a werewolf as well as many years of war and the loss of the only true friends he had ever really had. Leaning heavily against the wall Harry watched as a small, hopeful smile appeared on Remus' face. "Thanks, Remus," he said. "I'll remember that."

Remus smiled. "You're a powerful wizard, Harry. Not only that, you're emotionally strong. You've seen and experienced more than most wizards or witches twice your age and I have faith in you."

Harry blushed slightly and, bowing his head, smirked at the thought of anyone placing their faith in him. "Yeah, right. Just don't place all your faith in me because I'm going to need all the help I can get."

Remus laughed and clapped Harry on the shoulder. "Oh, don't worry about that, Harry. We don't expect you to do all of the fighting. We'll be standing right beside you when the time comes. Now get to class."

When Harry entered Firenze's classroom Harry was surprised to see that Ron was actually talking to and visiting with Victor Krum. At the moment he and Ron and Neville were laughing about a joke or story someone had told while Firenze watched and patiently listened in the background. When he saw Harry, however, the centaur stepped around the three humans and approached Harry. "Good morning, Harry Potter," he said. "I understand you took my advice and did not ask my people to do anything more than protect their own forest. That was a wise move, Harry Potter. They are a proud people and would not take kindly to being asked to do anything more. At least not yet."

Harry shook Firenze's hand. "Yes. And I thank you for your advice, Firenze. I will not ask them to do anything more than they would do under normal circumstances. After all, they don't particularly like humans. All I am ever going to ask of them is a degree of cooperation in defending the forest."

"Very wise, indeed, Harry Potter," Firenze said. "But come, let us join the others and begin today's lesson."

After class, as the three were walking towards the Great Hall for lunch, Harry said, "Oi, Ron. What is it with you and Krum? I thought you hated him?"

Ron blushed slightly as he looked down at his feet. "Hate is a little strong. I will admit that I was jealous and didn't trust him but . . ."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. So what gives?"

Ron shuffled his feet a little while studying the floor then said, "Do you remember what I told you about me, Hermione and Ginny before the Yule Ball?"

Harry thought for a moment as he recalled the conversation they had had in the common room while waiting for the girls. "Yes," he said.

"Well, it's like this: When your best friend's life hangs in the balance a lot of the stuff you thought was important doesn't seem all that important anymore. "We talked about a lot of things during those two weeks and one of them was Victor."

"Oh," Harry said softly. "So you get along now?"

"Yeah. He's really not all that bad once you get to know him."

Harry laughed. "I could have told you that two years ago!"

"Yeah," Ron laughed nervously. "But two years ago I wouldn't have listened."

In D.A. that night Harry looked around the room and tried to smile. "I know this morning didn't start out all that great but I want you to know that I am very proud of all of you.

"I talked with the other Defense Professors this afternoon and the Headmaster has given the go ahead for a kind of school-wide dueling competition that will take place at the end of the year. Professors Lupin, Moody, Shacklebolt, Tonks and I will be pitting our best fighters against each other in a five-way battle on the castle grounds. It will be a no-holds-barred competition where the last team with any members standing wins. The only rules are that no unforgivable curses may be cast and it is a disarm only competition. Other than that anything goes. So you are going to have to learn everything from charms, hexes and curses to transfiguration and blocking. You aren't going to know what is going to be thrown at you either in here or during the contest so you are going to have to learn everything. Are there any questions?"

Colin raised his hand. "Yes, Colin?" Harry asked.

Colin's face was grim and his eyes held a haunted look that broke Harry's heart because he knew what Colin had seen and that it had robbed the excitable young Gryffindor of his innocence. "Um," Colin began uncertainly. "How many fighters will be allowed on each team?"

"Ten," Harry said, stating the number agreed upon in their meeting the previous afternoon. "There will be a total of fifty fighters. The rest of the school will be watching from the battlements."

On their way back to the common room after class that night a mischievous grin started to play across Harry's face. Ginny noticed and stopped him several meters short of the portrait of the Fat Lady. When they were alone she said, "Alright, Harry. What are you thinking?"

Harry looked at her, an innocent expression on his face, and said, "Oh, nothing really. It's just that we have a leg up on all of the other classes because our practice room is the Room of Requirement and we can create any environment we want."

As his grin grew into a full-blown smile Ginny burst out laughing. "Oh, Harry," she laughed, "You are too much!"

When the time came for their first official Order meeting of the new term Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Neville met Luna at the entrance to the Headmaster's Office. As they approached the gargoyle swung aside. When they reached the door Harry was about to knock when Bill Weasley pulled it open. "Right on time," he said, smiling at the surprised faces of the six students standing before him.

"What are you doing here?" Ron asked. "Is everyone all right? No one's been hurt have they?" The panic was evident in his voice and Harry could feel Ginny's muscles tighten as she squeezed his hand and tensed every muscle in her body, bracing herself for the news she feared most.

Bill's smile faltered slightly but was quickly replaced. "No," he said. "Everyone's fine. Mum and Dad and Fleur are at headquarters; Percy and George are at the Burrow; and Fred is at the shop in Diagon Alley, which is where I will be later on tonight." Ginny visibly relaxed and loosened her grip on Harry's hand. "I came here to talk to Harry, Remus, Hermione and Minerva. And if they agree with what Fleur and I have come up with we will get to work on it in as soon as possible."

Stepping back into the antechamber Bill let the students in and followed them into the library. Remus, Kingsley, Minerva, Alastor and Tonks were already seated around the table discussing various topics of interest and Harry could see Severus and Albus leaning forward in the two wing-backed chairs in front of the fireplace speaking quietly in the background. When they had all entered the library the section of shelves slid back into place and the torches began to burn slightly brighter to give them more light. Albus and Severus stopped talking and stood up, walking around the wing-backed chairs to take their seats at the table. When everyone was seated Albus looked around the table at the other members of their little group, his eyes finally coming to rest on Harry. "It would seem that our precautions were well within the confines of reasonable expectation," he said. "We have dealt him a serious blow. However, due to our successes the war has moved into another phase. Rather than striving for frontal attacks and battlefield victories Tom has chosen to resort to the terrorist techniques he employed in the closing years of the last war. He may still have a few major battles planned but for now at least he is resorting to assassinations and targeted attacks.

"I am afraid your parents have gone into hiding, Hermione, as has your father, Luna, and your grandmother, Neville. Although I must say, your grandmother was much harder to convince than Luna's father.

"Will we be able to visit them?" Hermione asked.

Dumbledore paused and considered this question carefully before answering. "Yes," he said gravely. "I suppose that can be arranged. However, I must warn you that any visits will be difficult to arrange as we do not wish to risk any of your lives unnecessarily."

Hermione was silent for a moment then nodded her acceptance of the situation. "I understand, Albus. Will we be able to contact them in any way?"

Albus smiled but his eyes held a certain hesitancy that told Harry that making contact with anyone on the outside was not going to be as easy as it had been. "Yes, you will be able to contact your parents. However, any correspondence will have to go through channels and will have to be approved to avoid disclosing anything of strategic importance."

Harry watched as Hermione hung her in defeat then remembered the mirror he had discovered at the end of his fifth year, after it was already too late. "Er, Albus, what about two-way mirrors?"

Everyone looked curiously over at Harry. "What do you mean?" Albus asked.

Harry took a deep breath to settle his nerves then said, "I didn't discover it until after it was already too late but Sirius gave me a two-way mirror just before we got on the Knight Bus last year. He said that he and my father used them while they were in detention to plan their pranks and such. I was just wondering if something like thiat could be arranged so Hermione and her parents could at least see and talk to each other."

Albus' eyebrows shot up and his eyes sparkled with the joy of discovery. "Ah, yes. I should have known those two would come up with something like that." Turning to Remus he said, "Remus, you were their cohort in many of their schemes. Is this possible?"

Remus blushed slightly. "It's a complicated charm but yes it can be done."

"Can it be keyed to only work for certain people?" Moody asked. "We don't want them falling into the wrong hands and being used against us."

Remus thought for a moment. "Yes, I suppose that could be done. It should be relatively easy to key one to work for a certain witch or wizard but keying one to work for a specific muggle might prove difficult. I will give it my best though."

"Why did my father have to go into hiding" Luna asked.

"Your father," Kingsley said, his deep voice rumbling around the room, "is a known supporter of the light side and is the editor of the Quibbler. It is important that we keep that line of communication open so that the wizarding world can have a more complete picture of what is going on in the war. The Daily Prophet is good at reporting casualties and fatalities but that is only one small part of the total picture. Your father's paper reports as much of the full story as it can without revealing any secrets. Your father has gone into hiding along with many of his top reporters to keep them both safe and alive. The Quibbler's main offices are still open; however an alternate printing facility has been set up just in case the main facility is either attacked or destroyed."

Luna closed her eyes and bowed her head. "Okay," she said softly.

"We know this isn't going to be easy for any of you," Minerva said, "but we hope you will understand that it is a necessary evil."

"What about my gran?" Neville asked.

"Ah, yes," Dumbledore chuckled. "It took quite a bit of convincing to get her to go into hiding. She wants to exact her revenge upon Ms. Lestrange at least as much as you do, Neville. And she most definitely does not want to lose you. However, she has accepted that she can be of greater service to us by translating and documenting your family's private library of spells in an undisclosed location than by remaining an open target for Voldemort and his followers."

Neville let out a long, low whistle. "Wow," he said. "Is she really going to do that?"

"Oh, yes," Albus said merrily. "She is more than willing to part with at least a few of your family's secrets if it will help bring an end to Voldemort's reign of terror."

Ron looked at Neville curiously. "Some of those spells have been in the family for centuries," Neville explained. "There are curses, hexes and charms in some of those books that haven't been used for at least a hundred years."

Ron's eyebrows shot up but Ginny cut him off before he could say anything. "What about our parents?" she asked.

"Molly and Arthur have chosen to accept their fate whatever it may be. They know the risks and the dangers, perhaps better than most," Albus said sadly. "They were, after all, members of the original order. Except for your father's work at the Ministry - which, I might add, has increased substantially over the past few months - they are more or less permanently stationed at headquarters, which, as you know, is unplotable.

"Now, if there are no further questions I think we should hear from William on the security measures that have been taken since our last meeting."

Bill cleared his throat and glanced down at the sheet of parchment that lay on the table in front of him. "In light of recent events," he began, "people have begun to recognize the necessity of tolerating a few inconveniences. We are in the process of setting up Anti-apparation wards around potentially targeted homes. We are setting them up with a fifty-meter buffer zone so that whoever is on the inside will either have a fighting chance or a chance to escape. We have set up Anti-apparation wards around most of Diagon Alley with a few select points set aside for arrivals and departures and these points are being constantly monitored.

"We have also been working on rebuilding and tightening up the Floo Network. A few public fireplaces have access to large portions of the network and they are being monitored as well. But many people are asking to be either removed from the network altogether or are forming their own, smaller networks consisting of those they feel they can trust, with limited access to the main body. Fire talking is still available throughout most of the network; however, some people are asking to be removed from that service as well.

"It is an inconvenience but the people understand that some sacrifices have got to be made to ensure their safety. They don't like in and I don't blame them but at least they understand. I'm not saying there aren't a few holdouts because there are. I only hope we can convince them before it is too late.

"What about Knockturn Alley?" Harry asked, remembering his brief adventure there in the summer before his second year.

Bill's face darkened slightly. "That's one of the sticking points," he said. "They don't like it. They refuse to participate in any of our security measures and we can't monitor all of their fireplaces. However, most of the entrances and exits to and from Knockturn Alley are being watched."

After a brief pause Albus cleared his throat. "Very good, William. At least they aren't waiting too long to initiate these security measures. I'm sorry it has come to this but at least now we have a chance." Turning towards Snape he said, "Severus, I believe you are next."

Snape took a deep breath and stared vacantly at a point near the center of the table for several seconds before starting his report. "He is frustrated and angry. He still doesn't know how we are getting our information. He didn't reveal his plans for the attack until just before midnight on Christmas Eve and he doesn't know how we found out. It would seem that the tables have been turned. He no longer knows whom he can trust. It makes my job a little more dangerous but . . ."

"Are you going to be all right, Severus?" Ron asked, clearly concerned that his least favorite professor who also happened to be one of his most reliable sources of information was in danger.

Snape actually smiled briefly, something he had begun doing periodically since realizing that some people actually cared about his welfare. "I will be fine . . . Ron. And if things get too dangerous I have a way out."

Ron nodded his acceptance of Severus' reassurances.

Harry wondered what Severus meant when he said he had 'a way out' but held his peace.

"Thank you, Severus, William," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "It would seem we have a slight advantage. And it would also seem, William, that with what you have told me of your planned discussion with Harry, Hermione, Minerva and Remus that we are closer to finding a permanent solution to this problem than we have ever been. With that said I think the time has come for us to break into our discussion groups and get to work."

As the professors and students paired off Ron, Severus and Alastor moved over to one of the small meeting tables that had been set up around the periphery of the room as did Kingsley and Neville and Luna and Tonks. Albus and Ginny moved towards one side of the circular table while Minerva and Remus walked around to join Harry, Bill and Hermione.

"What have you got for us?" Remus asked as he sat down.

"What I've got is a theory which is, in essence, a variation or perhaps modification of the Potter-Lupin-Granger-Padfoot Defensive Charm. It's a little more complex than the charm you guys developed last summer because it is a nested charm, kind of like the Modified Patronus Charm, and, if it works as predicted, will serve very nicely as a customizable imprisonment charm."

Harry and Remus leaned in. "So," Remus said. "What is it?"

Bill leaned back slightly and briefly glanced at the men on either side of him. We've been doing some research, studying the ancient texts - both magical and muggle - and we've found a few vague references to something called Purgatory. So far as we have been able to determine, Purgatory currently only exists in the spiritual realms and can only really be described as a place of punishment for willful acts of malice. From what little we have been able to find, Purgatory is a place to which all truly malevolent souls are condemned for however long it takes them to beg forgiveness for their sins and mend their ways. It is not one of your typical fire and brimstone visions of hell we are talking about here but actually something much worse. In the Purgatory we have been researching a soul is isolated from the rest of the spiritual community. The only company they will have during this period will be all of the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual pain and suffering they have caused in their lifetime. They still have all of their wits about them so they are able to think and feel and reason but there is no escape until they truly repent.

"What makes this Purgatory truly frightening is that repeat offenders are visited upon not only by all of the pain and suffering they have caused in their most recent incarnation but by all of the pain and suffering they have caused in all previous incarnations as well. "Now, keep in mind that this is all theory. We don't actually know if it will work but some of our best minds have been working on it and they seem to think it will. The nice part about it is that you three have already done the hard part." Harry, Hermione and Remus exchanged looks then looked at Bill curiously. "When you built the Potter-Lupin-Granger-Padfoot Defensive Charm you built the shell, the delivery mechanism if you will, that is an unbreakable charm in and of itself. All we have to do is modify it slightly and nest the rest of the charm within it. But since you guys developed the original charm we thought we should ask your permission before proceeding."

Harry, Remus and Hermione looked at each other for a moment, green eyes meeting amber meeting brown, then with a single nod said, "Do it!" in unison.

Bill chuckled. "We thought you might say that."

"It sounds a lot like what we have been looking for," Remus said, his voice calm but his eyes filled with the pain of loss and the anger of betrayal. "But how can it be used as an imprisonment charm?"

Bill leaned back in his chair and sighed. "That's where the real work begins. If it works we won't be able to just go using it on every criminal or thief because we all make mistakes when we are young and wind up hurting people without meaning to. We can't legitimately make people suffer for their mistakes. The charm will have to be modified to fit the crime the person is accused of committing. Otherwise . . ."

Harry cut out the rest of Bill's explanation. He was too busy thinking about Tom's many crimes and all of the pain and suffering he had caused and was still causing. How could anyone set a limit on that and even then how could anyone craft a spell large enough to hold it all. Oh, he wasn't fooling himself, he knew that he had caused a fair amount of pain and suffering in his time as well but it was nothing compared to Voldemort's activities and even then most of it had been inadvertent. "I want an unmodified version of the charm," he blurted out suddenly, cutting off Bill's description of the precautions that were going to have to be taken to make sure the charm was not abused. "I'm only going to use it once," he said innocently when the others turned to look at him suspiciously.

Remus studied him for a moment, his golden eyes quickly scanning his face for any signs of deception, then slowly nodded his head. "Yes, I suppose you will need it at least once," he said.

"When do you think you will have it finished?" Remus asked.

Bill, who had not yet been informed of the part Harry was to play in the coming war, glanced suspiciously over at Harry for a moment. "It's going to take some time because it is going to be one of the most complex spells ever created and we have got to make sure it is unbreakable so we are thinking maybe late June or early July; and if you are going to use it, Harry, even if you are only going to use it once you are going to have to internalize it like you did the Potter Charm during your demonstration last year."

Harry nodded his understanding and acceptance.

"Well," Bill said, pushing back from the table and standing up, "I had better get back to the shop. Things aren't as safe as they once were in the alley and even with all of the security in place I don't like leaving Fred there alone any longer than I have to."

"Why do you have the twins separated?" Harry asked.

Bill smiled. "They're too valuable. We don't mind them being together during the day when they are working and people are around but when it comes to sleeping arrangements we want them in two separate locations. After all, they are the makers of some of our most effective weapons. We don't want to lose either of them but if it comes to it we would rather lose one than both."

Harry stared over at Ron and Severus, lost in thought, for several seconds. "Yeah," he finally whispered then said, "Tell them . . . Give them my best and tell your people that I want that charm as soon as possible. But more than that, I want it to work."

Bill looked curiously at Remus who shrugged his shoulders and said, "It's something Harry has to do."

Bill glanced warily at Harry then back at Remus who shook his head to discourage any questions. "Alright, Harry," Bill said. "Will do."

"Thanks," Harry said, smiling weakly. "I appreciate it."

As the bookcase slid up and out of the way Bill left the library and entered Albus' main office where Harry heard him use the fireplace to floo to Number 12 Grimmauld Place where he supposed he would turn around and floo to the twins' shop in Diagon Alley.

Harry was about to ask Remus what he thought of the charm Bill had described when Albus and Ginny came over. Albus was smiling and his eyes were twinkling merrily and Ginny was grinning from ear to ear. "I have spoken with Peeves," the Headmaster said cheerfully. "It would seem our successes against the dementors and banshees was more than enough to convince the ghosts, poltergeists and ghouls to side with us; and as I was telling Ginevra, according to William, your foresight in protecting the goblins, even though they were fighting for the opposition, was one of the deciding factors in convincing then to side with the light." Then he chuckled. "Of course, the Weasley's fireworks, portable swamps and other weapons of war may have played a role in their decision as well."

Harry smiled as Remus snorted his laughter.

"And," Albus continued, "as I have been discussing with Ginevra, I have been contact with Brian. His official title is High Lord of the High Elves but he is a very humble man who does not believe in using his authority any more than absolutely necessary. Now that you and Ginevra have bonded and become soul mates it is possible for you to become blood brothers with his son, Joseph, who bonded with his soul mate over the holidays as well.

"I assure you that the two events were, to our knowledge, separate and unique. They do, however, hold some interesting possibilities." The headmaster's eyes glazed over briefly as his mind apparently wandered of to consider some of these possibilities. Then, shaking his head as if to clear his mind and return to the present, he said, "Becoming the blood brother or, as it will be in Ginevra's case, the blood sister of a High Elf is a bit more complicated than becoming the blood brother of a Wood Elf. It involves the sharing of your energies. It is a permanent, spiritual bond, similar to the one you and Ginevra share. There are, however, a few differences. For example, in this bonding you and Joseph will become soul mates as will Ginevra and Joseph's soul mate. Once that is completed you will be bound to Joseph's soul mate and he will be bound to Ginevra." Dumbledore paused then shook his head again. "It is all very complicated, Harry, and it will take time to explain it fully. But we have two months to prepare so I wouldn't worry about it just yet."

Harry looked down at Ginny who was smiling happily as her eyes sparkled with excitement. He smiled warmly at her as the love he felt for her coursed through his body. Reaching out he took her hand and felt the connection between then strengthen.

Albus smiled at them and then, looking over at Remus, winked conspiratorially. "I think we will leave you two to get better acquainted," Albus said with a soft chuckle. "I would, however, like you to read this book when you have time," he said, pulling a small book from within the folds of his robes and handing it to Harry. "It will help prepare you for what is to come.

Startled from his intimate, spiritual conversation with Ginny Harry looked up, suddenly aware that someone was talking to him. "Huh?" he asked.

Professor Dumbledore chuckled. "I said you might want to read this book as it will prepare you for the bonding ceremony with the High Elves."

"Oh," Harry said, blushing slightly at being caught in the act of staring into Ginny's eyes. Taking the book he read the title, Spiritual Bonds and Blood Brothers, a Guide to Bonding with the High Elves. He looked for the author's name but found none so he figured it must be another one of Albus' creations. Looking up into the eyes of his old mentor he said, "Thank you."

Albus smiled and his eyes twinkled merrily. "You are quite welcome, Harry. Now I suggest you and Ginevra continue and conclude your conversation before calling it a night.