Chapter 7:

Return to Hogwarts

A few days after the trip into Diagon Alley, Harry called a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix. Everyone arrived and sat around the table. Kingsley was the first one to speak, "Harry, why are we here?"

Harry grinned, "We are here to discuss the implementation of the weapons that I had instructed the Weasley twins to make. They have informed me that they have some prototype items to demonstrate. Fred, George, I will let you have the floor."

The twins stood up. Fred began, "Harry told us that he wanted something that functioned like a Muggle grenade."

George continued, "For those of you that don't know what a grenade is, they are a type of Muggle explosive that you pull a pin out of, and then throw. About ten seconds after you pull the pin and let the handle fly off, they blow up, and send small pieces of metal flying in all directions."

Fred nodded, "We have developed something similar to that." He held up a small ball. "We call these Weasley bombs for obvious reasons. They can be activated by tapping your wand against them. Once you do they will blow up in about ten seconds."

McGonagall asked, "What do they do when they blow up?"

George answered, "Harry said that he didn't want anything too dangerous, so when they blow up they send about twenty minor hexes flying."

Dumbledore chuckled, "Which ones?"

Fred replied, "We didn't think that Harry would want Stunning Spells or Full Body Binds because they could incapacitate the user, so we filled it with Leg Tangling Charms, Tickling Charms, and Leg Locker Curses. We figured that those would be enough to disorient the enemy."

Harry smiled, "Excellent work. Now all we need to do is test them. Volunteers?"

Ron jumped up, "Count me in. I want to see this first hand."

Ginny nodded, "I'll do it, too."

Bill and Charlie smiled and then chorused twin fashion, "You can count on us, Harry."

Tonks jumped in, "This is going to be fun. I'm in."

Harry nodded, "That should be enough. I'll stay in as well. Everyone else, out of the kitchen."

Molly asked, "Do you want us to close the door?"

Harry shook his head, "No, I will put a barrier on the doorway to keep stray hexes from exiting the kitchen." Once everyone that wasn't participating was outside the room, Harry waved his hand at the doorway. "Fred, since you seem to be the one holding the bomb, I believe you have the honors."

Fred tapped his wand to the device, and dropped it onto the floor. The array of people in the kitchen counted to ten and waited for the hexes to fly. Fred and George were both hit with Leg Tangling Charms and began to dance madly about. Harry was hit by a couple of curses, but as expected they did nothing to him. Ginny managed to twist out of the way of the curses that headed her way. Ron and Hermione were both caught with Leg Locker curses. Ron also got hit with a Tickling Charm on top of the Leg Locker. Harry chuckled at everyone's discomfiture. He waved his hand and countered all the curses that were in effect. Another wave of his hand and the barrier that covered the doorway disappeared. "That was excellent. However, I think that we probably need multiple grades. One with more curses packed into it would be more useful if there were more enemies. This would only be effective if there was less than ten. Otherwise, the curses would fail to distract enough of the enemy. Not to mention they can be avoided too easily, as Ginny just demonstrated."

Ron interjected, "You're just saying that because you're in love with her. She just got lucky."

Harry laughed, "I wouldn't make statements like that if I were you, Ron. You might find that people will expect you to back them up."

Ron looked bewildered, "What are you talking about?"

Harry nodded towards Ginny. Ron turned to look at his little sister to find her red in the face. She finally said, "Ron, if you think that you are so good, I challenge you to a duel. Swords and wands. To keep from actually hurting each other, we'll use the practice swords and we'll let Tonks judge wounds. The first dueling club meeting should be the perfect arena."

Ron gaped, "You can't be serious. I can't duel my baby sister in front of people. They would say that I was picking on you or something."

Harry snorted, "They won't think that you are picking on her when she beats you, Ron."

Ron turned to look at Harry, "How is she going to beat me, Harry? I've got a whole year of schooling on her."

Harry shook his head, "I don't think so. Remember that she got a lot of extra tutoring from me. I think that she would have little trouble beating you with a sword and wand. You could probably beat her in physical combat, but she's got you in this respect."

Ron drew his mouth into a thin line that was reminiscent of McGonagall, "Well, I guess that we will just have to see. I accept the challenge. We will face each other at the first dueling club meeting."

Ginny turned to look at Harry, "That is okay with you, isn't it?"

Harry nodded, "I like starting things with a bang. That should do nicely."

The rest of the Order had filed back into the room by the time that this conversation was ended. Harry turned back to the twins as everyone took their seats, "Now, what else have the two of you cooked up? You told me that you had a few items for me to see."

Fred laughed, "You always get to the point don't you, Boss? We have two more items to show you. I'll explain the first. It's an invisibility booster for a single person. You attach it to your arm like this. " Fred held up something that appeared to be a bracelet, and then put it around his wrist. "Then, you tap it with your wand, and say 'hide' to activate it." Fred tapped his wand to the bracelet, "Hide." He disappeared from view. He reappeared a moment later. "To become visible again you just have to tap your wand against it."

McGonagall gasped, "I didn't think that the two of you ever paid attention in class."

Harry laughed, "They paid attention alright. They paid attention to anything that could help them invent joke merchandise. The rest of their education went in one ear and right back out the other. Excellent work. However, we will need to modify them slightly."

Molly asked, "Why? They seemed to work quite well."

Harry nodded, "They do. I just don't like the simple deactivation. If you are sneaking up on a group of Death Eaters, and bump your wand into the bracelet and make yourself visible, you would be in serious trouble."

Mad-Eye grinned, "I like the way you think, Potter. You've got the makings of an excellent Auror."

Harry smiled, "Perhaps. I doubt that I will ever be one, though. I have a different career path in mind."

Dumbledore asked, "What is that, Harry?"

Harry shrugged, "Tonks has said that she isn't cut out for teaching, so I figured if you would have me on the staff, that I would take the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."

Snape sighed, "A Potter on the staff at Hogwarts. What is this world coming to?"

Everyone laughed, Harry the loudest of all. Dumbledore smiled, "Harry, I would be honored to have you join us on the staff. I'm sure that Tonks is ready to get back to the Ministry."

"She'll have to wait another year at least. I don't need to worry about teaching with Voldemort still on the loose. He is going to require my attention for awhile yet."

Ron said, "At least we don't have to worry about Harry leaving after one year."

Hermione turned to him, "Why not?"

Ron continued, "Well, think about it. The first DADA teacher that we had was possessed by You-Know-Who. There's no real chance of that happening to Harry. The second was hit by a Memory Charm. I don't think that those would even work on Harry. The third one left because he was a werewolf. I don't think that Harry is a werewolf, so there is no problem there. Our fourth DADA professor was an imposter. No chance of that. The fifth one was Umbridge. Do I even have to explain that one?"

Ginny laughed as she snuggled closer to Harry, "Ron actually made a good point."

Ron appeared as if he was going to retort, but Harry cut him off, "Well, George, I believe that you were going to show us the final item."

George stood up and held out something that looked like a small Muggle coin. "This is a locating device. You can toss it onto someone and then use the tracking unit to find them." He held up another device. This was a small rectangular box like object. "This is the tracking unit. All you have to do is tap your wand to it and say locate. It will show you where the locating device is. Like so." George tapped his wand to the tracking unit and said, "Locate." Ethereal letters appeared in the air above the box. They said, 'Kitchen, #12 Grimmauld Place."

Harry grinned, "That is amazing. I'm impressed you two. Get to work on mass producing them right away. Make sure to make the modifications that I specified, and that should give the two of you plenty to do."

The twins nodded, "You better believe it. We will have a good stockpile ready in a couple of weeks."

Harry nodded back at them, "Excellent. Is there anything else that anyone wishes to discuss?"

The members of the Order shook their heads. Harry continued, "I presume that will do for the time being, then. I expect that our next meeting will take place at Hogwarts considering that I am returning there in a few days. I will see all of you then."

Harry turned to Ginny and held out his hand. She took it, and the two of them walked into the sitting room and sat down on the couch. They cuddled together and began to talk softly to each other.

Remus grinned as he watched them, "I wish that Sirius was here to see this. He would have made a huge spectacle out of Harry being in love."

Molly chuckled from where she was standing beside him, "I'm sure that he knows. James, Lily, and Sirius are all very proud of him."

McGonagall interrupted their musings, "As are we all. Harry is one of the bravest and wisest young men that I have ever met. He deserves some happiness in his life. Miss Weasley has given that to him. I am proud to have both of them as students."

Remus looked at McGonagall in mild surprise, "Who knew? All those years of throwing Sirius and James in detention, and you are really an old softie underneath it all, Minerva."

McGonagall smiled, "Yes, well, it wouldn't do for my students to know that, would it?"

Remus laughed softly, "I suppose not. They would think that they could get away with anything if they did. I guess the stern act serves a purpose."

The last few days of the summer holidays passed by in a blur. The morning that they were return to Hogwarts arrived amidst a great deal of confusion as everyone ran one way and then the other trying to make sure that they had packed everything at the last minute. Harry stood calmly amidst the chaos with an almost bored expression on his face. Ginny asked him, "Why aren't you trying to make sure that you have everything?"

Harry replied, "I know that I have everything. Besides, if I did forget something, I could just pop back and grab it. I would be back at Hogwarts so quickly that not even Dumbledore would know that I had been gone."

Ginny stuck out her tongue at him, "Spoilsport."

Harry snickered, "I suppose. Now, hurry up. I'm ready to head for the train."

Ginny huffed as she darted back up the stairs to make one last check of her room.

Everyone was finally assembled in the foyer and ready to go. Lupin was standing outside with the car waiting to take them all to King's Cross station. Everyone piled into the magically expanded vehicle. The drive to the station was quiet and uneventful. Harry and the others made their way through the station and onto Platform 9 ¾. Once they were on the platform, other students began calling out greetings to Harry, Hermione, Ginny , and Ron. Neville ran up to them, "Hey guys, what's up?"

Harry grinned, "Not much. I'm just ready to get back to Hogwarts."

Neville nodded, "Me too. It is kind of sad, though."

Ron asked, "What is?"

Neville shrugged, "Well, this is our last year. After this its over."

Harry laughed, "Not for me. I'm going to be on staff after this."

Neville smiled, "I figured as much. The way you've handled the dueling club, I expected you to take the Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Harry said, "I'm glad that you like the idea. Now, let's say our good-byes. I'm ready to settle down and cuddle for the trip to Hogwarts."

Ginny smiled at him, "I think that sounds wonderful, Harry."

"I thought you might." said Harry.

Ron jumped in, "The two of you are completely disgusting. Do you have to do that in front of us?"

Ginny slapped him on the arm, "Nobody says that you have to watch. Turn your head, or an even better idea, try paying attention to your own girlfriend. You never know, it might work out."

Hermione nodded, "I think that you might be right."

Luna walked up to them, "I know she is." She kissed Neville in greeting. The group of students said their good-byes to their parents. Then, they boarded the train and found an empty compartment to have to themselves. After putting up their trunks, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Ron and Luna went to the prefect's carriage. Harry and Hermione walked up to the front of the carriage and gave out the announcements that were placed there for them. Draco sat and stared in shock at the newly appointed Head Boy and Girl. Once they were through with welcoming the new prefects, and giving them the rules that they must abide by as prefects, they went back to the carriage where Neville was waiting for them. The three couples sat down, the girls practically sitting in the boy's laps. They remained that way until the lunch trolley came by. Harry treated them all to lunch. After that they started talking.

Hermione asked, "So, Neville, we were discussing what we were thinking about doing after school. What are you planning on?"

Neville smiled, "Well, I may be on staff next year. Madam Sprout is thinking about retiring after this year. If she decides to, and I get the N.E.W.T. scores that I need, I intend to apply for the job. Madam Sprout said that she would give me a recommendation."

Harry nodded, "I wouldn't mind having you on staff with me. I'm sure that we'll need someone to help liven the mood. Snape and McGonagall are serious enough for everyone."

Ginny smiled, "That's great, Neville."

Luna asked, "Does this mean that you are going to be my Herbology teacher next year?"

Ginny paused, "I hadn't thought about it that way. That means that you, Mr. Potter, are going to be my Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Harry smirked, "Yes, I know. You will have to start practicing calling me Professor this summer."

Ron laughed, "That's going to be interesting. I'll bet the twins will have a field day with that one."

Harry shook his head, "Not if they know what is good for their health."

Ginny hugged Harry, "I knew there was a reason that I fell in love with you."

Harry said, "I see how it is. You only love me because I can beat up your brothers."

Ginny shook her head, "No, I love you for a lot of reasons."

"I know. I was just teasing." Harry chuckled.

The banter continued for the rest of the train ride. Once they arrived at the station, Draco stepped in front of Harry. "Malfoy, I suggest that you step out of the way."

"I'm delivering a message, Potter." replied Malfoy evenly.

Harry raised his eyebrows, "Then, deliver it. I have better things to do with my time than stand here with you."

"My master says that you should beware time."

Harry nodded curtly, "Consider your message delivered, Malfoy."

Draco stalked away, "Have a short life, Potter."

Hermione asked, "What did that mean?"

Harry shook his head, "I'll explain later. We'll wait until we can talk to Dumbledore. He will want to know about this as soon as possible, I am sure."

All of them walked into the Great Hall and sat down at their respective House tables. McGonagall ushered in the first years a few moments later. She put the Sorting Hat on its stool. The mouth split open, and the Sorting Hat began to sing.

The events of last year
would cause one to shed a tear.

It all turned out alright,

Although I expect another fight

To mar the grounds of Hogwarts

And get everyone out of sorts.

I sense change is near,

Perhaps for the worse I fear.

For now I'll do my job

And separate the mob.

So, step right up, and I'll see

Where you need to be.

Everyone applauded throughout the Great Hall. McGonagall pulled out a list, "When I call out your names, come forward and sit on the stool. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head, and it will tell you to which House you belong." She began to call out names down the list. Once she was finished and all the first years were seated at their House tables, Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I am pleased to announce that for the first time in six years, I do not have to announce the appointment of a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I would like everyone to welcome back Professor Nymphadora Tonks." There was a loud round of applause. The loudest from the Gryffindor table. Surprisingly enough, even the Slytherins were clapping. Most of them anyway. Dumbledore continued, "I would like to remind everyone that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students." Dumbledore exchanged glances with Harry, who smiled. "Quidditch tryouts may be held by the Captains anytime after the first week of school. All students second year and above should check the House bulletin boards for times. I would like to congratulate our new Head Boy and Girl. Mr. Harry Potter and Ms. Hermione Granger. To finish this speech, I have only two words, Tuck in." Dumbledore clapped his hands, and the feast appeared on the dishes set at the tables. Most of the first years squealed in delight.

The chatter in the room reached a dull roar as the students consumed their food. After the feast was finished, Dumbledore stood again, "Prefects, if you would lead the first years back to the dormitories, we will bring this evening to a close."

Harry got up, and headed for the Head Table. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione started to walk in the other direction, but Harry stopped them with a word, "Wait. The other prefects can handle the first years. Get Luna and Neville. We're going to Dumbledore's office." Harry proceeded to walk up to the Head Table. He stopped in front of the Headmaster, "I'm afraid that we need to talk, sir. Its important."

Dumbledore nodded in response, "Follow me, then." Dumbledore stood and walked out of the Great Hall. Harry turned his gaze to McGonagall and then Snape. He nodded in answer to the questioning glances of the two of them. They stood and followed Dumbledore out of the room.

Harry walked back to his friends, "Lets go." They followed him through the corridors, and up to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore was standing in the corridor waiting on him.

"I see that you have brought company, Harry."

"Yes, they need to hear this, too. They were there when it began."

Dumbledore's eyes widened, "I take it this is serious."

Harry nodded glumly, "Most likely this is the most serious thing that we have ever discussed, Albus."

Dumbledore turned to the gargoyle, "Smores."

Harry couldn't suppress a grin, "So, now you are using a Muggle sweet as a password. You never cease to amaze me."

Dumbledore chuckled, "I am one hundred and fifty-eight years old, Harry. Sometimes, I still amaze myself."

Hermione asked as they walked up the stairs, "How can the two of you make jokes when the fate of the world is hanging in the balance?"

Harry turned to Hermione and said quietly, "Hermione, if we stop enjoying life just because there is a battle to fight, then Voldemort has already won. Every person on this planet that lives their lives normally despite Voldemort is helping us win the fight against him. If people didn't cherish life, what exactly would I be trying to save?"

No one responded to the heartfelt words that Harry had spoken. They walked into Dumbledore's office where McGonagall and Snape were waiting. Dumbledore sat behind his desk as the six students found seats. Dumbledore began, "So, Harry, why have we gathered here this evening?"

"This concerns our resident Death Eater. Malfoy delivered a message to me, earlier. He told me that Voldemort said to beware time." began Harry.

Snape asked, "What does that mean?"

Harry sighed, "It means that Voldemort plans to cast a time travel spell. He is going to disrupt time in some way. I expect him to attempt to kill my past self, or Dumbledore's past self."

McGonagall asked, "Why would he attempt to meddle with time this way? The consequences could be disastrous even for him."

Harry shrugged, "I presume that he thinks that the risks are justified. He knows that if he goes back in time, that I will go back to face him. If he manages to kill my past self, then the fallout when I return to the present and create a paradox will be horrid. If he kills a past version of Dumbledore, then the consequences will be just as dire."

Ginny asked, "I don't get it. How will killing a past version of Dumbledore cause the same effects as you dying? Won't Dumbledore be within the flow of time when it occurs?"

Harry nodded and smiled, "Very astute observation, my dear. However, you aren't thinking of the consequences of Dumbledore dying before my birth. If he isn't around, who will protect my baby self from Voldemort? If Dumbledore is dead, then Voldemort's past self will be able to kill my past self. This will happen while I am still out of the flow of time, and the consequences would be the same as if he had went back and killed me."

Dumbledore asked, "Knowing Tom's mind the way that you do, which of the two scenarios do you think that he will pursue?"

Harry paused for a moment to think, "I think it most likely that he will attempt to kill a past version of you. He will expect that to be easier than killing me."

Hermione asked, "Why?"

"If he goes back to try and kill a past version of me, I will still have the same protection from my mother. That could easily backfire on him. He may be able to touch me now, but he still doesn't know if it is possible to kill me." said Harry.

Snape sighed, "To think that I ever served that bastard. Harry, I'm sorry for everything that I have ever said to you."

Harry smiled, and stood up to walk over beside Snape. He laid a hand on Snape's shoulder, "Your past is just that, your past. What matters is that when it really counted, you were on the right side."

Dumbledore smiled at the amazed look on McGonagall's face, "I think that is enough for this evening. We will call a formal Order meeting tomorrow night if that is what you would like, Harry."

Harry nodded, "I believe that the rest of the Order needs to be made aware of this. I want to bring Frank and Alice back into the Order. I think that it is time."

Dumbledore smiled, "I'm sure that Frank would agree with you. I have spoken with him a few times this summer, and he seems to be ready for action."

Harry chuckled, "After this many years, I expect that he is beginning to get a little stir-crazy. I will have plenty for him to do. I look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow tonight." Harry got up to leave, and the other students followed him.

Once the teenagers had left the office, Snape looked at Dumbledore, "Albus, I had my doubts at first, but I don't think that we could have chosen a better leader to follow."

Albus shook his head, "I know that we couldn't have."

A/N: They have finally made it back to Hogwarts. For those of you that have been requesting some action, its coming. Thanks you to all my readers.

Hunta: I figured it was about time for him to get some clothing. Thanks for the review.

HermioneGreen: I'm glad that you are continuing to enjoy. Thanks for the review.

Dragonstorm316: My clock seems to be working properly, so here it was. Thanks for the review.

Maria: I'm aiming for 1000. Keep your fingers crossed, and I'll get there. Thanks for the review.

Kemporer: Harry's going to need moments like these to remember later. Thanks for the review.

Athena kitty: No more Dursleys. There will not be a sequel per say to this one. However, there may be some short stories set in this AU. Thanks for the review.

HappySnakesRule: You're going to need to save some Go Ginny's for later. Thanks for the review.

Spaztic scrat: I glossed over a large chunk of the summer to get to the stuff that was actually necessary to the storyline. There will be more hunting, but obviously not in the summer. The school year has begun, and it is time to educate some Death Eaters. Thanks for the review.

James Potter's Lily Flowers: I somehow doubt that I will ever quit writing. As to what I will do once this is over, we will have to wait and see where my imagination leads me. Thanks for the review.

Udderpd: Thanks for the info. I'll make sure not to mention one again. Thanks for the review.

Solar: Thanks for the review.

LE: There is more to come. Thanks for the review.

Joulez: It is rather amusing. Expect some more hunting, soon. Thanks for the review.

Phred doesn't like you: We'll just have to see. Thanks for the review.

Lord of Chaos: Thanks for the review.

Darak: We all make mistakes. Thanks for the review.

HP-wannabe69: Anybody will get used to being spoiled eventually. We'll see if you got the clue about Chapter Eleven. Thanks for the review.

PadfootSnuffles: I am afraid that I must agree about the crazy part. However, since I am crazy as well, welcome to the club. Thanks for the review.

US HP Fan: Don't expect much on that note. Making him Head Boy was just a matter of protocol. I don't focus on it. Thanks for the review.

Captuniv: Yes, I did. Its only a single sentence. Its about halfway through Chapter Six just after Ginny slaps Harry outside the vault if you want to go back and look. I'm not going to write the articles, but you will just have to assume that they came out. Thanks for the review.

The One: Thanks for the review.

LeeAnn: Expect thirty. It will be about the same length as Year of Discovery. Thanks for the review.

Lucugirl07: You just have to keep your eyes open. There are some of us still out there. Thanks for the review.

Plasterwork: No need to ask for forgiveness. I learn something new everyday, and you just took care of today. Its not that he is getting less cocky. You're just getting used to the set of his personality now. Thanks for the review.

Abigpoptart: If you want, I could try to write worse. I don't think that you would enjoy the story very much, though. Thanks for the review.

Peter-the-rat: The chapters will continue to roll. Thanks for the review.

Blind Faeri: He's growing up. The air of over-confidence will still be present, though. Thanks for the review.

Jeangab057: Thanks for the review.

Cintishortstop: I will get them to you as fast as I can. Thanks for the review.

KirbyChirby: The updates will come marching one by one. Thanks for the review.

Joe: I'll try. Thanks for the review.

RLupin1003: That's probably why nobody bothers putting it in there. Thanks for the review.

Silver Warrior: No more Dursleys. Thanks for the review.

Goddess of war and wisdom: I knew what you meant by it. I just thought it was an odd choice for the situation. With most computers, though, very applicable. You do have a way with words. Thanks for the review.

Volleypickle16: Like clockwork. Thanks for the review.

Dragonclawz: Once they become Animagi, I'm going to have some fun with them. Thanks for the review.

Lil Ole Me 97: The wait is over. Till the next chapter. Thanks for the review.

Lady Kel: There are still several chapters to go before those two meet again. Thanks for the review.

Lord of Darkness13: No, I don't plan on doing any crossovers. This has been my e-Bay screen name for years, and I figured I would just use it on here as well. Thanks for the review.