Chapter 9

Ministry Action

"Fudge, we don't have a choice," Harry said in an irritated tone, "The Shadow…"

"WHAT SHADOW?!" shouted Fudge, "IT ISN'T ENOUGH YOU APPOINTED YOURSELF HEADMASTER?! NOW YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP ANOTHER ENEMY TO FIGHTEN US WITH?!"

"This is not made up," answered Harry calmly, "Whether you help us or not, we will fight. What remains to be seen is if you have what it takes to be a leader among us. If you don't have the backbone…"

"BACKBONE?!" Fudge shouted angrily, "ARE YOU ACCUSING ME OF BEING A COWARD?!"

"I'm not accusing you of anything," replied Harry, "I am simply pointing out that as people find out about the Shadows they will wonder why you didn't do anything."

"Because there is nothing to worry about," said Fudge, "Voldemort was killed, Dumbledore said so."

Harry sighed, "That's because it was the easiest way to explain it to you, he wasn't quite dead or alive; he was in-between," said Harry calmly, "But our main concern is the Shadows."

"What are the Shadows?" asked Fudge almost curiously.

Harry shook his head, "I don't know how to explain it to you, all I can say is he or they, I don't know which yet, are evil personified," he replied.

"Okay," said Fudge," We'll help, if you guys have to fight, we'll send along as many of the Aurors as we can."

Harry nodded, "That sounds… good," he said.

"Okay, then I still have a lot of work to do," said Fudge pointing at the door. Harry felt strange… he was relieved, that had gone better than he expected, much better.

"You did a very good job Harry," said Hermione encouragingly as Harry started to cuddle with her. Hermione smiled, she liked this. It made her feel that he really enjoyed their closeness. Harry smiled back at her; ever since he had admitted to her that he had problems with insecurity he had been a lot better at showing his affection.

"Thanks Hermione, hopefully it will be enough and we still have time to prepare our forces," Harry replied.

"Good," replied Hermione.

"I'm glad it went so well for us," continued Harry, "I called for a practice session tonight, I hope you'll help me with it."

Harry smiled slightly, Hermione laughed, "Of course Harry," she responded, "I will always help you, after all…" she trailed off, Harry smiled, at her unvoiced suggestion.

"I know…" said Harry pausing, "But just thought I would ask, I've been thinking ahead trying to figure out what how to conserve our resources if we end up in a war."

"Do you already have a plan?" asked Hermione.

Harry sighed, "I don't know, there is still something to be said, I don't know where we are going to be facing them first," he replied, "That can make it hard to plan a battle."

Hermione smiled, "I know," she responded, "I was just asking because you brought it up."

"Right now, I'm still trying to figure out who is on their side," said Harry, "But that's hard without taking advantage of our special gifts."

"If you can help it, don't," replied Hermione, "But if it comes down to it… I would give you permission to search their minds."

Harry nodded, "If it came down to them or us, I would have to…" he replied.

"Right now, it isn't," said Hermione.

"I don't know, they may have a couple spies among us," said Harry, "I'm not sure…"

"You did a very good job Harry," said Hermione encouragingly. "Thanks Hermione, hopefully it will be enough, although, I think we still have time to prepare our forces," Harry replied. "One can only hope," replied Hermione. "Yes, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst," answered Harry, "I called for a practice session tonight, an extra, I hope you'll help me with it." Harry smiled slightly, Hermione laughed, "Of course Harry," she responded, "I will always help you, after all…" she trailed off, Harry smiled, at her unvoiced suggestion. "I know…" said Harry pausing, "But as we said, one can only hope… Never assume." "Can I assume this means…" she didn't finish because of some Light Within members passing. "Yes," replied Harry before she picked up where she left off, "you can. If we don't, it could have disastrous consequences. If it comes to fruition, then we implement our plan on a bigger scale." "Do you already have it planned out?" asked Hermione. Harry sighed, "I don't know, there is still something to be said, I don't know where we are going to be facing them first," he replied, "That can make it hard to plan a battle." Hermione smiled, "I know," she responded, "I was just asking because you brought it up." "Right now, I'm still trying to figure out who is on their side," said Harry, "But that's hard without taking advantage of our special gifts." "If you can help it, don't," said Hermione, "But if it comes down to it… I would give you permission to search their minds." Harry nodded, "If it came down to them or us, I would have to…" he replied. "Right now, it isn't," said Hermione. "I don't know, they may have a couple spies among us," said Harry, "I'm not sure…"

"Does the battle draw near?" asked Herk.

"Perhaps… the Shadow knows some of the future, of that, I do not know," replied Michael, "Battle near, battle far, cries are heard from Hogwarts afar, cries of pain? Cries of victory? Unknown, unknown, all we know is; true they stay, far and wide, the same within their mind, they must fight, for the Shadow remains."

"Why do you speak cryptically, even within yourself?" asked Achill.

"There are many hard things to understand in the future, I must keep their secrets," replied Michael, "Understanding is sometimes a luxury that we do not possess; as well as understanding can change the future. This luxury we cannot afford; for if we change our fate, it will destroy the world, just as Harry's vision foretold."

"What is our fate?" asked Herk.

"Our fate is to be met with courage and understanding, for it is not our lives that are important, it is the lives of our charges," replied Michael, "There is a Prophecy that tells all of what will occur, one lost to time, as was instructed when I gave it. The One that finds it will understand it, and accept it, for this burden is one that he cannot shoulder." Michael disappeared into nothingness.

"This is strange, our fate? For we cannot die… how can we lose our lives?" asked Achill questioningly.

"We do not know," replied Herk as he too disappeared, followed by Achill.

"Harry!" called Neville, "Is it true what I heard?"

Harry sighed, he hated when people assumed you knew what they had just heard, "I don't know Neville," replied Harry, "I have no idea what you just heard."

"That the Ministry has agreed to help us," answered Neville.

"Yes, that is true Neville," replied Harry. "That's great," continued Neville, "How many can we count on?"

Harry thought a moment, "He said as many as he could… spare," answered Harry.

"That should be quite a lot," said Neville happily.

"I hope," replied Harry continuing towards his next Defense against the Dark Arts class, "Bye Neville."

"Bye Harry," Neville called after him and rushed to his next class.

Harry sighed, leading people was harder than he thought, there were many things involved, people turned to you for everything; questions, arguments, settling people down and so much more. Harry sighed; unfortunately he hadn't been able to take any of his other classes, though he knew the subject, now he was running several practice sessions a day for the 4th years and above, not to mention his administrative and leadership duties as Headmaster. He had settled a matter between two particularly difficult students who had an argument about who was the best dueler. (Both were sporting many serious injuries.)

"You know you're not allowed to duel in the halls," Harry had reminded them.

"Yeah, well, I had to show him that I am the best dueler," the one called Fetcher had said, "I came out on top, again."

"WHAT?!" the other one called Clark had yelled, "I'm the one that came out on top, again!"

Harry had sighed and watched the two bicker for a few moments, "From my view point," he had started in a voice that silenced them both, "You both look like you either lost or suffered a Pyrrhic victory."

"A what?" Fetcher had asked.

Harry smiled as he remembered how he had wanted to groan and laugh at the stupidity of the two at the same time, "A Pyrrhic victory is a victory where one has suffered so many losses that it might as well been a defeat," Harry had told them trying not to laugh or groan, even though he felt like doing both at once. Both Fetcher and Clark had hung their heads realizing what Harry was telling them, the two things they hadn't wanted to hear… that they both had come out the worse and what they did was stupid. "For fighting, I have to take 10 point from both Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. But I won't stop there, you two are also to have a detention, this one will be special, both of you will learn not to fight each other. Our fight is elsewhere, not here. I want both of you to report to my office tomorrow, understood?" he had said. Both had nodded and left.

At that point Harry snapped back into the present, he was almost at the classroom. His seventh year class wasn't there yet, but Harry had arrived early. Harry sat down in the teacher's chair and waited, Hermione was soon to arrive. Harry felt slightly guilty, he hadn't been attending Potions (or anything else either) but Hermione hadn't missed one of his classes. "Hi Hermione," Harry said with a guilty smile, "I'm really sorry…."

"Harry," Hermione interrupted, "Don't worry about it, I know you have your Headmaster duties, those must come first. If you neglect them to come to my classes…" She trailed off with a look that told Harry exactly what she was thinking, without telepathy, Harry smiled, Hermione understood, he could appreciate that but he still felt guilty. Hermione sat down on his lap, Harry smiled and hugged her.

"You realize how much you have grown up?" asked Hermione.

Harry sighed, "I know, you too," he replied, "We're both aging faster physically too."

"Umm, Harry remember that problem you found out about after I got hit…" she said pausing.

"Yes, I remember, take this," he said reaching into his desk, "I made it while you were… under the influence…" Harry smiled slightly, "of the Shadow."

He handed her a small vial, "Thanks Harry," she said, "You knew we would ever get back together again, how?"

Harry thought a moment, Hermione listened but Harry still said it out loud, "We have an eternal bond Hermione."

"Harry…" Hermione started but paused before continuing, "Would you still like to have kids, even after all we've been through?"

"Especially after all this," Harry whispered, "But it will have to wait until after the war."

Hermione almost groaned, Harry laughed, "Herm, you want to get married and have kids before hand?" Then Harry's voice went serious and Hermione turned her complete attention to him, "I don't want my kids to grow up the same way I did… father and motherless." Harry hung his head slightly.

"Oh, Harry," Hermione said compassionately, "I agree." Hermione tried to quickly think of a way to cheer him up, "You're right… I don't want them too either." She kissed him.

Harry smiled sadly, "To go on more serious matters," he started.

Hermione stopped laughing and gave him a demeaning look, "Did you just belittle our relationship, and tell me our future kids aren't a serious matter?!" she shouted.

Harry flinched again, "No, no, Herm please, I didn't mean it that way," he said quickly looking frightened.

Hermione couldn't help but laugh, "Got ya," she said.

Harry sighed in relief and hugged her tightly, "What I meant was our strategy," he said very relieved Hermione wasn't angry at him, "We've got to plan ahead for the defense of Hogwarts."

Hermione smiled at and kissed him, "I know; I just like to play with you…" she trailed off again smiling.

Harry kissed her, "Good, I'd hate to think you were serious," he laughed.

They had to stop on that point as students poured in, Hermione took her seat in the front before they were all taken. "Don't bother, we're going outside for this one," Harry said, everyone stopped and looked at him grumbling, it was raining. Harry appeared at the door with a swish of his cloak, "Come," said Harry disappearing. Hermione was the first to follow, the others followed Hermione reluctantly. Harry stopped at the huge double doors, he watched a moment, the doors flung open, the students groaned, the rain had increased. "Who would like to have class outside on a beautiful day like this?" asked Harry smiling at a suspicious Hermione.

"What beautiful day?" asked Hermione.

"This one…" Harry replied waving his hand.

"HARRY!" Hermione scolded, "THAT WAS A…" she paused a moment a slight affectionate smile appeared under the charade of a scolding as the clouds rolled back revealing the gloriously warm sun, "breathtaking sight." She finished, the sky turned from a black to a beautiful spectacular blue. Harry smiled, he would do anything for Hermione…

Everyone was disappointed when they moved back inside to the classroom, after class Hermione stayed behind, the classroom was empty; Hermione sat on Harry's lap as he continued to finish what he was doing. "Yes Hermione?" asked Harry as he put down his quill and hugged her.

"You never finished," said Hermione.

"I think I found two of the spies," said Harry, "But there are many more than I thought."

"How many more?" asked Hermione concerned.

"I don't know, maybe upwards of 20," responded Harry sadly, "We'll find out very soon either way."

"Why?" asked Hermione.

"The Shadows are mounting an attack," replied Harry, "I have been monitoring all major activity over the past few days; it has increased ten fold over the past ten days and it is just south of Hogwarts."

Hermione sighed, "I think maybe you should announce it to the Light Within," she said pulling his arms around her.

"I will tomorrow morning, at breakfast," Harry said, "I already came to that conclusion. In fact, I have already even found the place to make our stand."

"Do you have a plan?" asked Hermione.

Harry sighed, "Yes, Ron even helped me plan it," he replied, "So; hopefully it will help minimize our losses."

Hermione kissed him, "Harry no matter what, you've done your best," she said.

"I know, but I want you to stay here and keep the rest of the students calm," Harry replied.

"Harry Potter," Hermione said in a dangerous voice, "Danger or not, I will fight by your side, no matter WHAT. Do you understand me?"

"Hermione, someone has to keep the students calm," Harry responded trying to convince her and keep her from getting mad at him.

"Harry, we are the two best fighters, as well as, we hold Prabhakar, we stand more chance together," Hermione said in a voice that Harry knew was going to win out, "Besides, do you want to sleep tonight?" she added in a sweet tone. Harry smiled; Hermione had just pulled out a trump card…