Harry Potter and the Unlikely Alliances

Chapter 16: Growing Powers

Harry decided that it was time to have the first DA meeting. He had Hermoine spread the word that they would be meeting in the DADA classroom at 6:30 pm on Monday night. He had planned to review most of what they learned last year as a refresher. Remus had told him he could use the classroom for the first meeting until they decided how often to meet and where to hold it at.

Harry was surprised by the turnout. The group had doubled in size since last year. The only ones not there were those who graduated and Cho's friend Marietta who had ratted on them to Umbridge. "Today we are going to review everything we learned last year. Those of you who are new to the DA need to sign the sheet Hermoine is passing around. We are still going to try and maintain secrecy with this club, even though we have the support of the school this year. You can bring others who you believe to be trustworthy and willing to work hard." Harry told them all. He was surprised he was commanding that much attention with such a large group. He set them into pairs and he worked with Neville, who no one else wanted to work with.

"We will start with disarming and protecting. I want you to take turns trying to disarm each other, once you can both do it successfully I want the other one of you to try and cast 'protego' and block the spell." The ones who were in DA had no problem with the disarming spell, even Neville summoned Harry's wand on the first try. Most could cast the protego charm as well. "Remember that the more powerful the spell the easier it is to break through your defenses. Watch Neville and me."

Harry told Neville to cast protego and he aimed a low powered disarming spell at him, Neville could keep his wand. "Now watch as I increase the power to the spell." Harry sent a medium powered spell at him and Neville had to struggle to hang onto his wand. "Now I'll give it more power." Harry said the spell again and Neville's wand came soaring to him. "When you fight dark wizards they will not be taking it easy on you, they will come at you with everything they have got. Just because they can do all kinds of complex spells, don't think you can't win by protecting yourself and using your simple spells. Now you all try it again and see if you can break through each others protection."

Harry sent Neville to work with Ron and Hermoine and he wandered around the room giving advice to the rest of the club. They covered the rest of what they had learned last year and Harry told those who were behind to try and practice. He told them he had been planning out lessons and was excited about some spells he found over the summer. They decided to meet on Wednesdays after dinner, that way they could have Quidditch practice before dinner and still get to DA meetings. Hermoine handed out the fake gallons to the new members and told them how to work them.

Harry held Neville, Luna, Ginny, the Creevys, Justin and Hannah from Hufflepuff, Ron and Hermoine back after the rest of the club left. "I want to start a smaller club to learn even more complex spells; I was thinking we could meet on Mondays or Thursdays. I might even ask Lupin and Tonks to help us. Would you guys be interested?" Harry asked them. "I want this to be a group of people we all trust would never betray the things we learn and would stand and fight instead of run scared incase the death eaters attack."

They all agreed to join and decided that Monday was a good night to meet in the Room of Requirement. He told them they would be perfecting their patronus and moving on to even more difficult protective magic before learning the complex offensive spells. It was only 8pm and they decided to practice for another hour, they worked on their patronus' again, they were all very strong, even Neville's. Harry showed them a few of the spells that he had read about over the summer. One was an even stronger protection charm and another was a spell that protected those around you as well. He cast the charm while standing near to the group and had Ron shoot disarming spells at them, the shield held. He then showed them the charm to mute a person and the one to tie the person up in bonds they could not appararte through or change forms, just in case they were anamagi.

Harry slept very well that night with a feeling of accomplishment in all his friends were able to learn. He would have to thank Remus for the books; of course the dark magic books at home had helped as well. Now Harry could recognize many more spells and know how to defend himself. The next lesson he had planned was to tell them all about the spell that Hermoine had been hit with last year and how to defend themselves. It was a very dangerous spell that could have killed her; luckily the blocking spell he had taught them would be quite effective. There were specific blocking spells for a lot of the very bad spells the death eaters would use and he was determined they learned every one.

The next morning Remus told him Dumbledore wanted to speak with him and that he should go see the headmaster rather than come to class since he was still covering Occlumency. As Harry approached the statue to Dumbledore's office he realized he didn't know the password. He decided to test his powers and said, "open." The statue moved aside and let him ride the ascending staircase. He still was getting used to his powers, but it was interesting that he could get through any secret door or passageway without the password.

"Good morning Harry, have a seat." Dumbledore said as he entered, "I am pleased to hear the DA is going well. Have you picked out a name for your little core group yet?"

Harry smiled, he really did know everything that went on in the castle, "No sir, I'm not sure we need one, it's kind of like a Jr. Order, they are the ones I trust the most in the castle and know will fight for our side."

"The reason I called you here today is to inform you that you will be studying to become and anamagi with Professors McGonagall and Tonks. I have discussed this matter with the minister and he has agreed that you be granted the leave to become and unregistered anamagi." The headmaster told him with smiling.

"May I ask why?" Harry said, he had wanted to look into becoming an anamagi but he didn't like the idea of being registered.

"I feel it will be another asset you can use against Voldemort," Dumbledore said simply. "It will also help you when you become and auror, they study anamagi during training."

"When do I start?" He asked with a smile, he knew he would have no problem with the process if both McGonagall and Tonks were helping him.

"Thursdays after Transfiguration, just stay after class." Dumbledore said with eyes twinkling. "Also tell the others there will be an Order meeting here in my office at 9pm on Thursday." Fawks had flown over to him while Dumbledore had been talking.

"Is it rare to become a phoenix anamagi like Fawks here?" Harry asked, "Ang how does it work, does it mean you life forever or only your anamagi form?"

"It is said to be impossible to turn into a phoenix anamagi, but you and I are one of the only ones that know that is not true. Yes, he lives forever as Fawks, but when his human body died he was reborn from the ashes as Fawks and can never change back into a man. He is still partially aware that he was once human making him the smartest phoenix to ever have existed. Phoenix are intelligent as is, when they have the mind of one of the greatest wizards it becomes more intelligent than all other magical creatures."

"There is a prophesy that states that Gryffindor's true heir will take flight on the wings of a phoenix and will be a greater and more powerful wizard than the four Hogwarts founders combined." Dumbledore told him, "Most believe the prophesy means he will ride on a phoenix but it actually means he will be the phoenix."

"How long ago was the prophesy made and why are we not taught it in school?" Harry asked him curious.

"The prophesy was made about 200 years ago and shortly afterwards they discovered a descendent of Gryffindor. The prophesy is taught in history of magic late in sixth year, I believe it too significant to be taught younger. The true heir will be the most powerful wizard ever to walk the earth." The headmaster told him with his eyes sparking. "He will have powers that he himself doesn't even know."

"Will he be good like Gryffindor? What if he turns to evil like Voldemort?" Harry asked, "I always heard that power corrupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely."

"That phrase hold true for most wizards but I have faith that the heir will overcome. He will not turn to evil, his heart is too pure." The old man told him. Harry headed back to classes, he only had 10 min of DADA left so he headed for charms, Ginny had class before and he wanted to say hello.

"Hello beautiful," He said as he saw her, she hugged him and gave him a kiss before she headed off to her next class. When Harry entered the room professor Flitwick was standing on top of a ladder and charming a bucket of water from the ceiling. He sat down and had just taken out his wand when Flitwick fell from the ladder. Harry didn't even think, he just pointed his wand at his professor willing him not to fall.

What happened next startled him. Flitwick froze in mid fall an inch or two before his head would have slammed his head into his desk. Harry moved his wand to the side and guided Flitwick down to the floor, all without uttering a word. Flitwick stared at him for a long time before finally being able to speak. "That was a very good show of power Mr. Potter; may I ask where you learned that?" The little man was still slightly shaken from his near miss with his desk.

"I'm not sure what happened professor, I saw you fall and I just remember moving my wand toward you and thinking I didn't want you to fall. Then you just stopped falling and moved you around with my wand, thinking that I wanted you to descend slowly to the floor." Harry said confused at what had happened, that had been powerful magic. When he had fallen from his broom Dumbledore could only slow him down, not stop him completely. The class walked in then keeping him form being questioned further.

They were learning how to charm quills to write for themselves whatever they heard, like the quick quotes quill Rita Skeeter had used. It was a complex charm and would take them a few days to master it. Harry read the instructions and practiced the arm movement and then concentrated on the spell and cast it on his quill. Professor Flitwick came rushing over to Harry the boys quill poised itself on his parchment and started writing. "Well done Mr. Potter, 10 points to Gryffindor that is the fastest I have ever seen anyone master that spell."

He pulled Harry over to a corner of the room and handed Harry a feather. "Think about levitating this feather." The little man told him, "I have a feeling your powers are expanding." Harry focused on the feather and imagined it floating to the ceiling and the feather then left his hand and floated up. "Very good Harry, you have just accomplished wand-less magic. I want you to take this to Professor Dumbledore; he will want to see this." He handed him a quick not and Harry grabbed his bag and made his way to the headmaster's office for the second time that day.

Dumbledore seemed pleased with the note and had Harry show him. He then told him to sit down. "Now Harry, I want you to come up here every Friday at 2:30 and we will practice wand-less magic. It is a very rare talent that only the most talented and powerful wizards' master. It usually takes years and years of practice to master such a thing. The spell you used to stop professor Flitwick from falling is very complex and difficult to cast, even under the best conditions. It is amazing that you were able to cast it at such a critical moment. He suspected that you were able to do wand-less magic and by having your wand in your hand you magnified your thoughts enough to stop his fall."

"I cast lumos without my wand the summer before 5th year when the Dementors were attacking my cousin. I couldn't find my wand and it was too dark to see so I just said lumos and my wand lit up about 2 feet from me." Harry told him.

"We will need to keep this ability quiet as well; we don't want the Death Eaters to find out. I'll see you on Friday." He said as Harry went down to the great hall to wait for his friends. He had never thought about wand-less magic before. He had done an essay on it for Professor Flitwick last year and new how rare an ability it was. It was something only very powerful wizards could do and it usually took years and years of practice. He would have to make sure he used his wand, even if it was just for show. It would be a very powerful weapon against Voldemort and he didn't wand word of it to get out.

He waited in the great hall for class to end so he could talk to his friends; they would be worried about why Flitwick had sent him out of class. "Harry! I was so worried, are you all right?" Hermoine gushed when she saw him, even Ron looked a bit nervous.

"Yeah, it's no big deal, since I finished my assignment Professor Flitwick sent me to speak to Dumbledore in his office about some extra classes to ready me for the final battle." Harry said just leaving out the other parts until they were alone. They ate and he and Ron discussed Quidditch.

Harry told them everything he had learned about that day as well as about his extra lessons. "I have anamagi training on Thursdays after class and special lesions with Dumbledore on Fridays after class for wand-less magic training, plus I still have Occlumency with Snape on Tuesdays and Quidditch on Mondays and Wednesdays after class and DA after dinner." He sighed thinking about the extra work he was going to have to do.

"At least you seem to be picking up your class work easily, that charm you did today should have at least taken you a day to learn and you had it done in less than 15 min. Professor Flitwick told the class that you must have been studying hard over the summer just to cover for the fact that it was almost impossible that you did it so fast." Hermoine told him, "And you have been doing the best in most of our other classes as well. You are the point leader for Gryffindor and you haven't even played Quidditch yet."

"We better head down to Herbologry, I don't wand to be late." He told them, kissing Ginny good bye and shouldering his bag before heading downstairs. He had brought his pensive but decided not to use it for Occlumency since the entire school knew of his and Ginny's relationship now.

He sprinted to Snape's classroom to make it on time; it had taken him a while to clean the dirt off his robes. He cleared his mind and had his wand ready before opening the door. It was a good thing, as soon as he had walked through the door Snape had started, just to try and catch him off guard.

It took Snape almost 10 minutes to break through the barrier of Harry's mind and only about 30 seconds for Harry to throw him out. Snape looked impressed; he had definitely improved since their last lesson. Harry was usually winded after Snape had probed his mind, but he felt fine and already had his barrier back in place at full strength. In fact it was Snape who looked tired at the strain of breaking through.

Harry saw Snape raise his wand and mutter the spell. "No!" Harry though forcefully and Snape's efforts stopped abruptly. Harry's mind was now impenetrable.

"Impossible!" Snape said taking a step backwards, "Where did you learn that?"

"I just decided I didn't even want you to attempt access to my mind, and then you couldn't get in." Harry shrugged.

"The level of magic needed to perform such a spell is way beyond you Potter, how is it possible that you used it?" Snape seemed to be talking more to himself than Harry. How could just a boy be able to perform a spell that almost all grown wizards were incapable of?" Snape thought to himself.

"I don't know sir, perhaps it was and accident. I'm sure that if most grown wizards cannot perform it, it must have been a mistake." Harry said, watching Snape's eyes get huge and him back away from Harry. Harry had heard Snape's thoughts clear as day and didn't realize they were thoughts, he thought he had spoken them out loud.

Snape started at the boy in front of him who had heard his thoughts. He decided to test it and see. "Have you been practicing every night like I instructed?" He thought.

"Yes sir, I clear my mind before sleep every night." Harry said confused as Snape gasped and tossed a handful of floo powder in the fire.

"Remus, Dumbledore, will you please join me in my office." He said still looking at Harry as if he had sprouted a second head. The other two men arrived shortly. Remus looked confusedly between Harry and Severus and Dumbledore smiling, his eyes twinkling fiercely.

"Very well done Harry, it's not many who can learn Legilimency so easily." Dumbledore sent to min through his thoughts.

"What do you mean sir?" Harry asked out loud, still unaware that he was reading thoughts. Remus looked startled that Harry had spoken to Dumbledore as if they had been in the middle of a conversation.

"It seems you have mastered the skill of Legilimency. The comment I made to you I uttered only in my mind, I never spoke. I believe that you also read on of Professor Snape's thoughts and that is why he summoned us here. Am I correct Severus?"

"Yes sir, he also learned to completely block his mind, you know what kind of magic is required for such a task." Severus said looking at him hoping for an explanation.

"It seems Harry's powers are growing. We discovered he had the power of voice earlier this summer and just today he performed wand-less magic." Dumbledore said, making Remus gasp and Snape's eyes to narrow. "He is demonstrating remarkable powers; it is now clear that Voldemort is right to fear him."

"Sir, may I ask why these powers are surfacing now?" Harry asked still confused.

"Yes Harry, these powers emerge at adulthood. You are 16, almost of age; it is only natural that some of your powers emerge now." The headmaster told him.

"Some? You think there will be more Professor?" Remus asked shocked at how powerful that would mean Harry was.

"Yes, I believe these are only the first of the powers we will see from Harry." His eyes were sparkling mischievously, so Harry knew there was more that he wasn't telling him. "No worries Harry all will be revealed when it is time. For now just be aware and report any new or strange occurrences to Remus as soon as possible."

"How shall I proceed with the Occlumency lessons sir?" Snape asked.

"Continue to train him; I think you should also teach him to control his Legilimency as well." Dumbledore said as he left. Remus decided he better stay, if Harry was going to try and access Severus' mind, bad things might happen.

Snape explained the finer points of Legilimency to Harry and put some more thoughts into his pensive. Harry took hold of his wand and aimed it at his professor before saying, "Legilimens." Harry could see the barrier Snape had put up to protect his mind and he looked for a weak spot. Finding it he concentrated on cracking the barrier. Suddenly memories from Snape's past came flooding past him. The day he got his Hogwarts letter, being sorted into Slytherin, being in class sitting next to a red headed girl that looked a lot like Ginny. He saw his father and Sirius tormenting him then the same red head came forward and broke up the fight, which was when Harry realized it was his mother. Suddenly the thoughts were gone and Snape was panting on the floor in front of him.

Snape stood and pointed his wand at Harry saying the same spell. Harry willed himself to stay strong and not allow Snape to find a weak spot. After about 15 min of trying Snape gave up and sat down panting. Harry flicked his wand and conjured a tall glass of water with lime for his professor. For some reason Harry knew that Snape drank his water with lime and that he was extremely thirsty. Snape gulped down the water.

"Professor Dumbledore is right about your power growing Potter," Snape said after finishing his water. "I could not even begin to crack your barrier. You were able to break down my defenses in only a few minutes. Even the Dark Lord has not been able to penetrate the barrier I put around my mind. I believe you will sufficiently able to protect yourself from him, however you need to hone your Legilimency skill so you can find the information you desire quickly and get out, before the person realizes you were in their mind. We will start that next week, read this book in the meantime." Snape said handing him a thick volume from his shelf.

Remus walked Harry to the great hall for dinner, with his arm around him. Thinking how proud he was of Harry and how he hoped he could learn to control all his new powers. "Don't worry Moony, I'll be ok, besides I have you here to help me." Harry said smiling and heading over to the Gryffindor table to join his friends.

He spent the rest of the night reading the book Snape had given him and finishing his astronomy homework. The star chart was simple now that he had a complete model of the solar system. Harry put his homework in his bag and left to do his prefect rounds. He had Astronomy at 10 pm so he took his bag with him as it was 9pm and his rounds took an hour. He came around the corner and saw Remus and Peeves. Peeves had a large vase raised above his head and Remus was trying to talk him out of throwing it at him, without success. Peeves was laughing and chanting, "Loony Loony Lupin."

Harry approached and yelled in his powerful and commanding voice, "Put the vase down gently Peeves, I don't want to hear of you making any trouble for Professor Lupin again. Do you understand?" Peeves nodded and set the vase back upon its pedestal, before zooming off down the corridor.

"I guess your power works on poltergeists as well," Remus said chuckling before continuing to the staff room. Harry smiled, he liked the thought that he could control Peeves; it would make sneaking out to meet Ginny a whole lot easier.

Harry and Malfoy were instructed to put all the telescopes away since they were on prefect duty. The entire class had been escorted back to the dormitories other than them. "I hear you broke up with Amanda," Harry said trying for conversation. Ginny had tried to convince him that Malfoy had changed, but he hadn't seen any evidence of it yet,

"Yes, I was having wandering eyes and it was not fair to her. She deserves someone who will treat her with the respect she deserves." Malfoy said making Harry stare in wonder, that was a very non-Malfoy statement.

"Remus treated her that way before you came along." Harry told him honestly.

"I know, I even told her she should go back to him and that I understood why he had lied to her about what he was. I told her that she was such an amazing woman and he most likely was afraid she would leave him if she knew the truth. I am sorry for ruining their relationship, but I'm not sorry for the time I spent with her. It was the best summer I've ever had." Malfoy told his rival, the one Virginia loved.

"So you have changed then?" Harry asked incredulously, "Both Ginny and Amanda insist you have, I just wouldn't believe it."

"I haven't really changed; it's just that now that you sent my father to Azkaban, I'm free to be myself. I don't have to worry about his reaction or fear his punishments anymore." Malfoy said, "I never wanted to act like I did, but it was the only way to please my father. If you knew the awful things he did" Malfoy said trailing off as memories of being beaten and tortured came to the surface of his thoughts.

Harry gasped; he had just seen images of Luscious torturing Draco, even using the Cruciatus curse on him. "I'm sorry too then Malfoy," Harry said extending his hand to him, "perhaps we should let our old rivalries die."

Draco looked for any signs of falsehood on Potters part and not finding any shook the other boy's hand. "We'll always be rivals on the Quidditch field though Potter, no amount of friendship will change that." Draco put away the last telescope and left the tower.

"I told you he had changed." Ginny said whispering in Harry's ear through the invisibility cloak. Harry smiled as her invisible arms snaked their way around his body. Ginny loved meeting him on the Astronomy tower; it was so peaceful and romantic.

Harry pulled her closer and locked the door with his wand. He transfigured a bench into a fluffy mattress and he and Ginny lay down to gaze at the stars. It was one of their favorite activities, just holding each other and watching the heavens. A shooting star went by and before Harry could wish he heard Ginny's wish. "Please let Harry defeat Voldemort, I couldn't bear to live without him." Harry pulled her even closer; he had never realized just how deep their love had grown.

"I love you Gin," He said kissing her forehead, "We'll be together when this war is over. I know we will make it through, we love each other too much not to."

Draco was pacing his dormitory; he was still surprised by Potter's offer of friendship. Virginia had obviously not told him that he had hit on her; otherwise he would have been hexed to oblivion by now. Draco wondered if he would make it through the war, if he joined the Dark Lord he would be able to tell that Draco was not entirely loyal and he would be killed. If he stayed neutral his father would have the Death Eaters kill him for his disobedience. But if he joined Potter's side he just might have a chance at living. He hated the Dark Lord almost as much as the rest of them did and he would enjoy killing his father's fellow death eaters. Perhaps he should talk with Dumbledore; Amanda had been instructing him to do so since the summer, maybe he was finally ready to take sides.

Chapter 17: Choosing Sides

Draco received another letter from Amanda at breakfast, they had been writing more often now than when they had been together. He realized they were much better off as friends. She told him that her new job was going very well and that she was still trying to do her part for the 'cause.' That was what she called fighting for Dumbledore's side. She urged him to speak with the headmaster about his change of heart and to stay strong and not let the other Slytherins talk him into anything he didn't want to do.

He had potions after breakfast and knew he could be late without Snape minding. He followed the headmaster out of the great hall, intending to speak with him. "Is there something I can help you with Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked right before they reached the entrance to his office.

"Yes sir, I was hoping you had a few minutes free so I might speak with you," Draco said unsure that this was such a good idea. Dumbledore nodded, gave the password and motioned for Draco to follow him. He sat in a chair facing Dumbledore and looked him straight in the eye and said, "I don't want to be a death eater sir." The old headmaster smiled reassuringly and motioned for him to continue. "I hate what my father and the other death eaters do; I have spent my entire life in fear of them. I do not believe in any of the things that the Dark Lord stands for. I, I am ready to fight against him." Draco said relieved to finally speak those words out loud.

The headmaster regarded him carefully, searching for any hidden agenda or un-truths. "There is not turning back once you chose to take this road, are you sure you are ready for the consequences?" He asked him.

"Yes sir, I have been weighing the consequences since my father was sent to Azkaban. I know that my life as it was before will be forfeit, but this way I can at least die with dignity and fighting for a noble cause." Draco told him.

"And what makes you believe you will die?" Dumbledore asked intrigued.

"My life will be over with any choice. If I had chosen the follow my father's wishes and joined the death eaters, the Dark Lord would have been able to sense my disloyalty and loathing of him and I would be tortured to death. If I chose to remain neutral my father will send the death eaters after me calling me a coward and a disgrace. At least by fighting for you and the cause of good, I may be able to accomplish something. I believe that Potter can defeat the Dark Lord; it is what he fears most. I heard my father talking about it once, that a prophesy had been made many years ago saying there was one with the power to defeat the dark lord and they all believe it to be Potter, that is why he has tried to kill him so many times. I'll do anything that is necessary to ensure that Potter succeeds." Draco finished.

Dumbledore searched his mind and found that although Draco was frightened he was also telling the truth. "May I ask you what caused this change of heart?"

"Yes sir, I finally have friends that like me for who I am. They have shown me a glimpse of a world without the shadow of the enemy and I desperately want to live in that world. My father tortured me and beat me whenever I disappointed him. Neither of my parents loves me and the only friends I ever had only stay loyal to me because their family tells them to. This summer I met someone who showed me what I was missing. She showed me that I was more than just the Malfoy name and that I was a good person." Draco knew he was rambling but he wanted the headmaster to understand him.

"I want you to take this note and give it to Professor Lupin today before class, them I want you to join a group of students who are learning to fight against the death eaters. They meet at 6:30 pm in the DADA classroom. I know this will be difficult for you, but we need to keep the Slytherins thinking that you are loyal to them. If you ever need any help or things are getting bad, let professor Snape know and we will figure something out." Dumbledore stood and handed him another note for Snape.

Draco walked down the hallway feeling much lighter. Now that he had made his decision he knew what was expected of him. He was done with his father and the dark arts; he was a new and changed person. He handed Snape the note and took his seat next to Pansy, he was only about 5 minutes late and hadn't missed much. "Today you will be working with partners that I assign. You will be completing a Polyjuice potion, it takes one month to make and you will be graded as a pair." He paired all the Slytherins up together except Malfoy, there were and uneven number of them. Hermoine got paired with Justin and as expected Harry and Malfoy were paired together.

They set up Harry's caldron and started retrieving the ingredients they needed. "I know you are a good potions maker Malfoy, I don't expect you to make this all by yourself. I'm familiar with this potion and will pull my weight." Harry told him.

Draco stared at Harry; they had always just let him do the potion if it was a combined grade because everyone knew he was the best potions student in the school. "All right Potter, we'll share the work. I have seen that your potions skills are much better than they used to be, but we will have the best potion in the class, so don't screw up." They worked for the rest of the double period, talking occasionally about trivial things such as the freshness of their ingredients or commenting on the other student's work. Harry was surprised how easily they had switched from being enemies to being civil to each other.

They worked on conjuring in Transfiguration. They were to start small and work their way larger. She asked if anyone had been successful conjuring things before and only Harry, Hermoine and Draco raised their hands and were asked to demonstrate. Hermoine conjured a wine glass, earning 5 points. Malfoy smirked and conjured a table cloth and place setting in front of him on his desk, earning him 10 points. Harry smiled and conjured a full meal on top Draco's dishes, including a stuffed turkey and a steaming bowl of mashed potatoes. He even conjured two chairs on either end of the desk making it a complete table for two.

McGonagall stared for a moment at the elaborateness of Harry's spell before awarding him 15 points. She vanished the conjured items with her wand. She set the rest of the class to work on conjuring toothpicks and had the other three work on a list of different items. She checked them off as they completed each one. Hermoine started to struggle slightly once the items got larger than a breadbox and had to concentrate very hard to conjure a chair. Malfoy and Harry had no trouble with any of the items on the list. When they were finished she instructed them to help out the rest of the class.

Quidditch practice went much better than it had on Monday. Ginny was still by far the best chaser but Dean and Seamus seemed to be gaining confidence. Ron's confidence was way better after having won the cup last year and he rarely missed a shot. The tiny Creevy brothers were very good beaters. Harry was sure they would win their first game against Hufflepuff on Sunday.

Harry was excited about the DA meeting that night. Remus had told him after class that they were getting a new member. Professor Dumbledore had invited the person to join himself and Harry was curious who it would be. He and Ginny arrived before everyone else for a little snog secession before the rest of them showed up. "Now now, save that for Hogsmead this weekend!" Tonks giggled. "Besides you don't want Remus to see and give you another father son talk do you Harry?" She was purple from laughing so hard.

"Maybe I should give him a little talk about not being in a certain other Professor's room late at night." Harry said laughing as well, watching he blush. Tonks dove at him and started tickling him mercilessly. Ginny just sat and watched smiling. They had just finished torturing each other and were panting from the exertion when the rest of the class walked in, followed by Remus who shook his head smirking at the two people he loved. "Sorry dad didn't mean to mess up your room." Harry said noticing the desks out of alignment and some dark detectors dangerously close to falling off a shelf. He righted the detectors and sent the desks to the far end of the room to make more practice space for the DA.

At exactly 6:30 the door opened and Draco Malfoy walked in looking slightly nervous. He knew that he would be the only Slytherin and hoped he would be allowed to join. Dumbledore had not told him much other than that it was a student run group designed to prepare themselves for the coming war. He saw Harry standing in front of the group and realized that this was the same group he had helped Umbridge capture last year. He hoped Dumbledore knew what he was doing.

Harry sensed the group's unease and went over to Draco. "Professor Dumbledore said you would be joining our club tonight Malfoy. In case he didn't tell you this is a secret club designed to train us to fight Death Eaters and Voldemort. You will need to sign the roster which swears you to secrecy and will be expected to treat everyone here with respect. I will ensure that you are treated with respect by them." The group looked skeptical, but if Dumbledore had invited him, he must be on their side. "Welcome to Dumbledore's Army." Harry said shaking Malfoy's hand before starting the meeting.

Tonks was smiling at her friends. Draco was behaving very well and could perform most of the spells and jinxes Harry asked him to, so they could judge where he was at. Harry also tested the other new members to see if they had been practicing. The rest of the secession was spent mastering the protection spell he had taught them last time. The 'core' group went around and assisted the others. This was a very important spell and Harry wanted them to be able to produce a strong one within a moments notice.

"Very good," Harry said as it was almost time to leave. "Now keep practicing, this spell may be the difference between life and death in a battle. If you perform it correctly, not many spells will be able to penetrate it. And the ones that do will have been lowered in power. Any questions?"

"How effective is this against the unforgivable curses?" One of the new Hufflepuff members asked.

"It may deflect a unforgivable that is not very powerful, but a powerful unforgivable curse has no counter curse and you cannot block it. The only way to protect yourself against the Imperious curse is to throw it off in your mind. The Curisatus curse will be lessened by this spell, so the only way to block it is to dodge it completely. The same goes for the killing curse, you need to dodge it by jumping out of the way or behind a solid object." Harry said as they all looked at him in fear, he couldn't blame them, the unforgivables were scary.

"The ministry is working on a counter to the Cruciatus curse, but it will only work for very powerful wizards." Malfoy said from the back of the room. "It also takes a strong willed person to throw off the Imperious curse. When it is cast on you, you feel like all your cares and worries are gone and then you are ordered to do something and you can choose to fight the blissfully numb feeling or you become some death eaters' puppet."

"Malfoy is right; it takes strength of mind to toss of the curse. The curse was designed so that people would not want to fight it. It makes you forget anything bad and you feel content. When the fake professor Moody used it on me last year, I heard him directing me but them I thought about why I anted to do that and said 'no' and broke the spell. I did the same thing fighting Voldemort after the tri-wizard tournament." Harry said as the whole room was silent. "None of us are safe from him; we all need to fight against him."

The DA left, leaving Harry, Ron, Hermoine, Ginny, Malfoy and the two professors to talk. "Are you going to explain Harry?" Ron said looking daggers at Malfoy.

"He's on our side, relax Ron!" Ginny said smiling at Draco.

"Thanks Red," Malfoy smiled, "And I want to apologize to all of you for all the horrible things I've said and done to you over the years. I know I was horrible. I was afraid of my father and what he would do to me if I didn't do as I was told, but not anymore. I'm finished pretending to be who he wants."

Ron just stared at the boy who had been their enemy since 1st year. He was waiting for Harry to attack and berate Malfoy into pieces. He was surprised when he saw everyone else was smiling. "What? Why do you believe him?" Ron said looking at all his friends.

"He has changed Ron, and he means what he said." Harry told him.

"He is on our side now Ron and he's my friend," Ginny told her brother making Draco smile at her.

"Dumbledore believes him Ron that should be enough for you." Remus told him.

"Fine, but I'll be watching you Malfoy. If you hurt any of my friends and especially my sister, I'll be the one you're afraid of!" Ron told the silver haired Slytherin.

Harry woke excited the next morning; he was going to start anamagi training today. He was anxious to see what he transformed into. He and Remus had joked that they would have to figure out a Marauder nickname for him once they knew what kind of animal he transformed into.

Draco got a letter from Amanda that she wanted to meet him in Hogsmead on Saturday. She said there was something important she wanted to tell him. He wrote he back that he could meet her at 11:30 and they could have lunch. He had to help Snape that morning with Ginny and he wouldn't pass up being alone with her even if he was aching to know what Amanda wanted.

The day crawled by slowly for Harry, he finished all the housekeeping charms that they were learning within the first ½ hour of class and had to read to keep him from dying of boredom. He managed to get through Herbologry and Care of Magical Creatures before almost sprinting to lunch. He knew that seeing Ginny would take his mind off how slow the day was going.

Transfiguration was fun; they were transfiguring monkeys into other animals and objects. They would be working with the monkeys for a month since they were the closest animals to humans. They wouldn't learn human transfiguration until next year. Harry laughed as he turned his monkey into a white ferret and watched Malfoy pale at the memory. Draco in turn transfigured his monkey into a snake and sent it towards Harry.

"Go mess with Malfoy," He hissed at the snake. Draco immediately turned it back into a monkey once he realized it was heading back toward him. They spent the rest of the lesson trying to spot out the transfigured animals around the classroom. McGonagall said it was important to be able to recognize something for what it really was. She handed them a piece of parchment with 25 blanks on it and told then each to find as many as they could and write them down, they would be graded on how well they did.

Harry spotted the 25 things easily, for some reason he could even tell what they were supposed to be. A large globe in the corner was a pig, the quill on her desk was a white mouse, her desk was really a rug and the rug was her chair. He looked around and saw that many of his classmates were struggling with the test.

Harry said goodbye to his friends and waited for Tonks to arrive to start his training. "You did very well on the exam Harry," McGonagall told him smiling. I see you even mentioned that the curtains were transfigured from an old blanket, I had nearly forgotten about that I did it so long ago." She laughed and looked over the other papers frowning. "Your other classmates were not as through in their descriptions, they only mentioned what they thought had been transfigured. It seems they do not have the gift as you and I do. You see Potter, not all witches and wizards can see what an object that has been transfigured used to be. It is a very useful skill in my profession and it will be for you as well if you still desire to be an auror. "

"Yes, it is the only thing I can see myself doing after school, other than teaching." Harry had started to realize that he enjoyed teaching the DA and figured if he ever got tired of being an auror he would enjoy teaching DADA."

"You will make a great auror Harry," Tonks said when she walked in, "If you do as well as we all expect you to, you might be able to teach new Aurors." Harry had never thought of teaching outside Hogwarts, but either one sounded great.

"Let's get started," McGonagall said starting to explain the process to him in detail with Tonks interjecting now and then. Harry was surprised his father and Sirius had been able to accomplish it on their own. They told him that the animal the person turns into is a reflection of their inner self, the animal side of themselves. McGonagall transformed into her cat self a few times for him and Tonks finally decided to show the two her form. They locked the door so no one would interrupt and she turned into the chameleon.

"Well that's appropriate for a metamorphmagi!" Harry laughed when he looked down at her as she blended in with the tile floor. "Way to go camo!"

She transformed back, she was her natural self for a fraction of a second before becoming her bubblegum pink self. "Camo?" she asked him skeptically.

"Yeah, like camouflage, you know dressing up to blend in with your surroundings." Harry said smiling at her, "besides it fits your personality."

"Here is a book on anamagi transformations; I've transfigured its cover to look like one of those DADA books you carry around constantly. I want you to read as much as you can before next weeks lesson. Professor Flitwick tells me you get plenty of reading time in his class as you are a fastest learner." McGonagall told him handing him a book called "Spotting the Suspicious," and sending him down to dinner.

He finished his homework assignments and started reading before his rounds. Ginny was curled up on the couch next to him reading her transfiguration text to study for the test she had tomorrow. "Ugh, I don't think I'll ever get my stupid mouse vanished!" Harry put his book down and helped her practice. She could vanish the body but the tail, feet and nose were still there.

"Just clear your mind of everything else and focus on the mouse, imagine it disappearing and then do the spell. Focus is the key to it." Harry coached. He watched her screw up her face in concentration and point her wand at the mouse. She opened her eyes and squealed with delight, she had successfully vanished the mouse.

"Thank you," she said seductively and kissed him full on the mouth. "I really should repay the favor." She batted her eyelashes at him and he collapsed in laughter on the couch. She really was related to Fred and George, she could be devious!

"Ok, then go with me into Hogsmead on Saturday. I want to take you on our first proper date." Harry said smiling and kissing her hand.

"We can go around 11; I have to help Snape brew more potions until then. Do you just want to meet down there?" She asked him. "That way you can get your shopping done before I get down there."

"I don't want you walking down there alone, it's not safe enough." Harry told her seriously.

"I'll have Malfoy walk me down; he is meeting 'Amanda' at 11:30." Ginny said smiling, "She's going to tell him the truth, so we'll get to see just how serious he is about changing sides."

"That will work, death eaters won't attack if you're with their favorite Slytherin." Harry told her, "It'll be nice that Tonks and Moony won't have to keep their relationship a secret anymore. Maybe he can get up the guts and make her my mum."

Ginny hit him playfully on the shoulder. "I think you're having them move a little too fast don't you think. They only just go together this summer; it's only been a few months! How do you know they are even that serious?"

"The same way I know that if we were adults we would already be married," Harry said making her blush. "You can't hide when you've fallen in love. Besides they are perfect for each other."

"Just don't pressure them," Ginny advised, "They need time to have an open relationship first. Let the school get used to them dating before they turn up Mr. and Mrs. and flip everyone out." Ginny giggled at him as he nuzzled her ear.

"We have rounds now, go get your cloak and I'll meet you in our spot at midnight," he winked at her they went to their rooms to get their cloaks. Harry sniggered as he saw Ron's hangings were pulled tight shut. He knew Ron and Hermoine we in there snogging and had cast a silence charm on the curtains so they wouldn't be heard. "Darn, I guess Ron already left for his rounds!" Harry said loudly, hoping to break the two apart and remind them of their duties. As he left the room he thought he saw the curtains pulled apart a little and smiled. Ron owed him big time for this one!

When he met Ginny at the astronomy tower at midnight he told her where Ron and Hermoine had been all night and she laughed and snuggled into him. She sat up quickly, "You don't think they were, well, you know doing it, do you?" She asked not wanting to think about her friend and her brother in that intimate act.

"I hope not," Harry said grimacing; he didn't like thinking of his two best mates like that. "Hermoine is smart enough not to do that until she's out of school, I mean if they got caught or weren't careful she could get in serious trouble!"

"I hope so; I mean I know she's in love with him and that he's a horny git. I just hope they wait. I don't want her to throw her career away because she gets knocked up by my brother." Ginny said sighing. She knew that Harry and she could easily get carried away with each other if they hadn't made a pact not to do anything until after graduation.

"Let's get back before anyone misses us," He told her kissing her softly. "It looks like a storm is brewing; I just hope it doesn't last the weekend."

The next day went smoothly for Harry and he left the dungeons in a good mood after potions. Snape had stopped trying to torment him entirely and actually told Draco and Harry their potion looked good. He hurried up the stairs toward Dumbledore's office and told the statue to let him past. He knocked on the door and was told to come in.

"Good afternoon Harry, we will be starting with some simple spells. You told me you cast lumos last summer without your wand, please try and light this candle with it." Dumbledore said pointing to a short fat candle on his desk. Harry got it on the first try without even needing to concentrate hard. By the end of the lesson he could open, shut, lock and unlock doors, light and blow out candles, make things fly around the room and put up the simple protection spell.

"Very good Harry, you are progressing very fast. Next week we will start working on charms and possibly transfiguration. Once you get the hang of that we will move on to actual offensive and defensive spells." He said walking Harry to the door. "Good luck in the Quidditch match this weekend."

Ginny had gotten detention from her muggle studies teacher for bewitching the muggle telephone they were studying to ring and random intervals throughout the class. She had to write lines for two hours that night. Harry decided to take the time to set up their date. He had already made a lunch date for them at the upscale bistro in town. Normally students were not allowed but the management had made special arrangements since he was the famous Harry Potter and they knew he could afford their overpriced meals. He had ordered them a carriage to take them around the town and had a desert picnic set up near a stream on the edge of town. He had written home to Dobby and had him send the gift he wanted to give her. She wouldn't tell anyone but her birthday was on Sunday and they already had a surprise party planned for after the Quidditch match. He wanted to do something special for her with just the two of them, which was why he insisted that this weekend be one of the Hogsmead weekends when the prefects planned them out at the beginning of the year.

He looked down at the delicate locket in his hand. It was on a gold chain and the locket had intricate engravings of flowers. The flowers were lilies and roses. Harry thought it appropriate. The lily signified his mother and the rose signified Ginny. She had told him that her favorite flower was a rose. He had placed a photo of the two of them in the locket. He had gotten the photo from Colin Creevey after he had taken it of them kissing. He smiled and slipped the locket into the purple velvet box he had Dobby get for it.

Ginny made her way groggily down to the dungeons. She hated getting up early on weekends, but she was glad she would still have time to go out with Harry afterwards. Malfoy looked half awake as well when she stumbled over to the stool next to him. "Morning Dragon." She mumbled, "Glad to see I'm not the only one who's not a morning person."

"Nice to see you too Reeeeeeeed," He said yawning. She leaned against his shoulder and closed her eyes determined to sleep until Snape graced them with his presence. Draco smiled, he was glad she trusted him enough to sleep on his shoulder. Snape looked from Ginny to Draco as he entered. He recognized the look on the boy's face and felt sorry for him. It was the same look he got when he was around Lily. It seemed both Slytherins had a thing for red headed Gryffindors who were in love with Potters.

"I hope I'm not keeping you from your beauty sleep Miss Weasley," Snape said not able to keep the humor from his voice. It was hard to dislike the girl when she was so gifted at potions and reminded him of Lily.

"No Professor, I was just resting until you arrived with our instructions." She told him. He was surprised at how causal of a comment it was, she hadn't blushed at being leaned up against her former enemy or even jumped when he had addressed her.

They worked all morning making three different potions for the hospital wing. Ginny was sure she could brew these potions in her sleep now. She and Draco discussed their childhoods while brewing. They found it interesting that she grew up having very little but was happy and content where he grew up being spoiled and had everything except loving parents and happiness.

"I guess it goes to show you that money can't buy happiness." Ginny told him as they finished the last potion. "I wouldn't trade my childhood for the world, even though hand me downs from my brothers had the neighbors believing I was a boy until I was 7 and begged my mom to buy me a dress." She laughed at the memory. Draco watched her laugh, she looked so beautiful.

"Do you still need me to walk you to Hogsmead?" Draco asked as they cleaned up. He thought it funny that he was walking her into town to meet Harry, when he would give almost anything to be escorting her there to go on a date with him. If he hadn't been meeting Amanda he probably would have been upset about Ginny's actual date.

"Yes, Harry has the whole day planned out. Don't tell anyone, but he knows my birthday is tomorrow and is taking me out to celebrate it." Ginny told him as they made their way down to town. Draco tried to keep his eyes off her but she looked amazing. She had taken off her school robes and was wearing a black skirt to her knees and a tight and somewhat revealing butter yellow top. It was super soft against his skin as she held his arm on the way down the main stairs of the castle.

"Good luck with Amanda, and thank you for escorting me down here." She leaned up and kissed his cheek before running off to Harry who he could see waiting in front of the same restaurant he was meeting Amanda in. He guessed Harry and him had the same tastes both in dining and in women.

"Hello beautiful," Harry said kissing her tenderly. He had seen her kiss Malfoy's cheek and was surprised to find there were no jealous feelings. He could tell that Draco liked Ginny as more than a friend, but he could tell that Ginny would never betray him. Ginny trusted Draco not to try anything and that was enough for him. At least he knew he could trust Draco to protect her if needed. "You look absolutely wonderful." He lead her up into the restaurant, it was located above one of the clothing shops. They were taken to a table by the window overlooking the whole town.

"This is very nice Harry," Ginny said smiling and taking his hand in hers as she looked over the menu. She ordered the salmon and Harry had a steak. They enjoyed their lunch and didn't even notice that Draco and Tonks were at a table in the back.

Tonks noticed Draco look at Ginny again. Every time he looked her way he got a glossy look on his face and a slight smile. "Draco," she said placing her hand on his. "You need to stop torturing yourself over her. I know she is beautiful and that you like her lots, but she's with Harry and she's happy. Concentrate on just being her friend. There are lots of girls out there, get a girlfriend, have some fun, stop dwelling. You are the Prince of Slytherin; you could have any other girl."

"You know about me liking Ginny?" He said looking at his friends face and knowing everything she said had been true.

"Yes, now go find yourself a pretty little Ravenclaw and snog her brains out. You're young have fun!" Tonks laughed.

They finished their meal and she sat for a moment determining the best way to tell him the truth. "I haven't been completely honest with you Draco." She said looking into his eyes. "I want to tell you the truth but I'm afraid of how you'll react."

"Let me ask you something first," Draco said preparing himself for the worst. "Were you honest when you said you wanted to stay my friend?"

"Yes, I enjoy your company and I always want to stay a friend, that's why I need to tell you the truth. You see I'm not who you think I am." She started; trying to read his emotions he was so good at hiding. "When we met I didn't know what to do so I told you a false name. I knew that Remus was a werewolf, in fact he and I were not even dating at the time."

Draco stared, he wondered why he had been set up, but he knew he needed to let her finish before he interrupted with questions. "I work for the ministry and another secret organization that fights Death Eaters. I thought you might be able to give me information about their whereabouts, so I lied about who I was and agreed to go out with you." Tonks looked at him, he looked like he had a million questions, but she continued anyway. "When we started hanging out and talking I knew you we could get you on our side. I could sense the good in you just bursting to be let out. I wanted to tell you the truth as soon as I found out that you were changed, but I was afraid it would drive you back to them." Tonks said looking down; she was ashamed she played him like that, even if it did turn out well. "That's why I kept urging you to go to Dumbledore; I knew once you talked to him I could tell you the truth. That's why I'm here."

Draco looked at her; he could tell she was truly sorry. That might also explain why they didn't have any chemistry together. "I guess I understand, if I had been in your position I would have done the same thing." He told her, watching her smile gratefully at him. "What's your name?" Draco asked, he wanted to get to know the real her.

"You already know my name; you just don't realize it's me." She told him smiling. "Didn't you wonder how I knew you liked Ginny and that she was seeing Harry when you never mentioned it in your letters?"

Draco stared at her. She must have some connection to the school, but how when she worked for the ministry. "What do you do for the ministry?" He asked curiously.

"I'm an auror, don't you remember how skillfully I took out those two idiot death eaters? I left you to take them into custody." She told him as he smiled at the memory.

That was when it hit him; she was an auror that hung around Remus and Harry who had ties to the school. "Tonks?" Malfoy asked unbelieving. She had been with him at school the whole time; she probably knew he liked Ginny before he ever wrote to her. That would definitely explain the whole no chemistry thing, she was his cousin!

Tonks smiled and nodded at him, she turned the ends of her hair blue to prove it. "So how mad at me are you really?" She asked him.

"I'll be ok; it's just a big shock." He said honestly. "And I still hold true to the fact that you should give Professor Lupin another shot, even though I guess it would be a first shot. He's perfect for you, now more than ever."

Tonks grinned, "I'm glad you said that because that's the other thing I wanted to tell you." They spent the rest of the afternoon talking in the back of the restaurant.

Chapter 18: Birthday Wishes

Ginny was amazed at the planning Harry had put into their afternoon. The carriage ride through town and the picnic by the stream were so romantic. "I will have to make Hermoine eat her words after today. She keeps insisting that all boys are idiots when it comes to romance. But you, Mr. Potter get an O in my book," Ginny told him smiling.

"Do I get anything special for an O, I mean I was just going for an Exceeds Expectations, but an Outstanding? I think I deserve and extra long and passionate kiss." He said as she giggled.

"I'm not sure you have hit me with all the surprises yet, what if later there is something more deserving of this reward you speak of?" They often bantered back and forth like this, pretending to be begging the other for a kiss or two when they knew they would be getting it anyways.

"When you say more surprises," Harry said reaching into his bag and pulling out the purple box, "Were you thinking of this maybe?" He handed her the box.

Ginny's eyes were wide as she took the box. She opened it to look at the beautifully engraved locket. She couldn't even think of words to describe it so she just gave Harry the passionate and long kiss he had been joking about. "I take it you like it then?" He laughed as she nodded. He hung it around her neck and kissed her again. "Open it; I want you to see the inscription and the picture."

She opened the golden locket and read "All my love, Harry," and had a picture of them kissing in it. She remembered when Colin had taken that picture and Harry chased him around the common room for 10 minutes. "Happy Birthday." He said smiling.

"Thank you Harry, I love it." She kissed him again as they enjoyed the rest of their time together.

Draco was walking around Hogsmead with Tonks who still looked like Amanda. His Slytherin classmates kept giving him thumbs ups and winking at him for scoring such an attractive woman. "So what do you get a girl who is your friend but who you are totally taken with for her birthday?" He asked as they looked through one of the shops.

"I don't know, but I would stay away from jewelry since that is a very intimate gift. Maybe she'd like some parchment or ink or sweets?" He shook his head to all those. "What about clothing or a belt or hair clips, maybe she'd like some perfume or a book?" Tonks realized he wanted her gift to be special but not look like he had put too much thought into it.

Draco stopped in front of one of the clothing stores. In the window was a mannequin wearing a sparkling purple belt with matching purple school bag. He dragged Tonks into the store who realized what he had seen and smiled. "I think they are perfect. Besides, they were in the window so some of her friends had to have seen them and it won't look like you put too much thought into it. You can just say you thought of her when you saw the purple bag and remembered it was her birthday tomorrow."

He smiled, it really was good. He could get her something he knew she would like and be able to look like it was an impulse buy. He didn't even Potter would come up with such a perfect gift. He paid the lady and had her wrap it in purple gift wrap with golden snitches flying around on it. They headed back toward the castle for dinner.

Ginny awoke early the next morning. It was their first Quidditch game and her 16th birthday. She was now the same age as Harry, Ron and Hermoine, at least for a little while. Ron would turn 17 shortly after New Years; they were almost exactly 9 months apart. She saw a small pile of presents at the foot of her bed and squealed with delight. She tossed a pillow at Hermoine to wake her up before settling herself down to open her gifts. Her patents had sent more than usual, perhaps it was die to having more money.

The first one was from Bill and was a new purple t-shirt that had sparkling silver writing that said "I'M INOCENT, MY BROTHERS DID IT!" She laughed and showed it to Hermoine who thought it was perfect. Charlie sent her a book on the worlds most famous chasers, he always sent something Quidditch related. Fred and George sent her another large box full of dung bombs, their fireworks, a portable swamp and three bags of sweets. She had the perfect idea for the swamp she just hoped Draco would help her so it would keep her out of trouble.

"We're going to give you your presents later after the match," Hermoine told her when there were only three presents left. Her mother had sent her a new skirt that was different layers of a soft purple fabric in a swirl pattern and a pair of purple trainers. She opened the next card and saw it was from Draco.

"I didn't expect a gift from him, but he says he saw this in Hogsmead yesterday and thought of me." Ginny said shrugging at Hermoine before opening the package to find the sparkly purple belt and purple school bag. "Wow!" Ginny exclaimed she had always wanted a purple bag; she was going to have to thank Draco.

"Malfoy has good taste," Hermoine commented. "I saw these in the window of one of the clothing shops." Her last present was shoved under her bed for some reason so she took the card first.

"We are so proud of you making prefect and becoming a chaser. We hope this helps with your game today. Happy Birthday and all our love, Mum and Dad." Ginny smiled and pulled on the package. She gave a little gasp as she realized it was long and thin. She pulled off the wrapping and there in her hand was a Nimbus 3000, the newest model. It still wasn't close to Harry's Firebolt but was way better than the comet 360 she was riding now.

"They got me a new broom!" Ginny squealed jumping up and hugging the broom to her before racing out to show the boys. "Ron! Harry! Ron! Look what mum and dad got me for my birthday! Look!!!!" She was jumping up and down with excitement and laughing. "Look at my new broom!"

At the words new broom Ron shot out of bed and looked at his sister's happy face. "Is that a Nimbus 3000?" He said reaching out to touch it. Ginny smiled and held the broom out for her brother's inspection. Harry had gotten up with all the excitement.

"Way to go Gin, you were good on that old slow broom; we are going to be unstoppable today!" Harry said hugging her and spinning her around. "Happy Birthday." He told her kissing her while Ron was still drooling over the broom.

The got ready for the match and made their way down to the great hall. Ginny had never had a better birthday before and she knew they would win their match. They had to, with her new faster broom and Harry as seeker, they would be unstoppable. She waved to Malfoy as she entered and could see him staring at her broom along with the rest of the Quidditch players in the room. The Gryffindors now had the two fastest brooms in the school, her Nimbus 3000 and Harry's firebolt.

"Good luck today Red," Draco said catching her before she headed into the changing rooms. "And Happy Birthday as well." She smiled seeing the look of pure happiness on her face.

"Yes, thank you for the bag; I've wanted a purple bag for a while. And can you believe my parents got me a new broom!" Ginny hugged him and raced inside to change and listen to Harry's pep talk.

"This is the first game of the season so we need to set the bar so high today none of the other teams have a shot at the cup. We have the fastest brooms and the most talent in the school. Ron here is a smashing good keeper, we have two beaters that they will never see coming and with Ginny's new broom you three chasers will leave Hufflepuff eating your dust. Now remember what we practiced and stay focused. Don't get discouraged if they score, we'll get them all back in the end when I catch the snitch. Now let's go have a great time and show everyone who to be afraid of this year!" They all jumped up cheering. Harry knew exactly how to motivate them and combined with Ron's game strategy they would take the cup again this year.

The game went very well, they were ahead by 30 within the first 5 minutes and Hufflepuff hadn't even taken a shot. Their new seeker looked scared to death and was gripping his broom so tight Harry had to stop himself from laughing at the poor 3rd year. He kept scanning the pitch for signs of the snitch. Ginny scored for the second time and he could hear the crowd go wild chanting, "Weasley, Weasley, Go Ginny!" over and over each time she scored. Harry was just flying past the announcer stand when he heard Lee Jordan, who was now in his final year, say "That is the 7th goal for Ginny Weasley who is celebrating her 16th birthday today. Let's all sing a nice round of Happy Birthday to Miss Weasley who has scored 7 out of Gryffindor's 9 goals."

Harry chuckled as he saw Ginny turn as red as her Quidditch robes as half the stadium (minus the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs) sang to her. The game had only been playing for half and hour and they were already up by 90 points. That was when Harry saw the snitch. It was doing circles around the very bottom of the middle Hufflepuff goal post. He started flying calmly in that direction, not wanting to alert the other seeker who was not looking anywhere near there. He slid his broom up behind Ginny who was flying towards the same goal post with the Creevy brothers on either side.

He head Lee say, "It looks like Potter is protecting chaser Ginny Weasley from behind. That is an interesting move rather than searching for the snitch." Harry smiled and zoomed after Ginny as she scored again. Their keeper looked startled as Harry barreled closer to him and then switched into a magnificent dive inches away from the post. He circled around the post a few times during his decent before grasping the tiny winged ball and pulling out of the dive less than a foot from the ground.

"Harry Potter catches the Golden Snitch!" Lee yelled out. "It seems his pretending to be blocking Weasley was only an elaborate way of catching the snitch without anyone realizing he had seen it!" Lee was jumping up and down. "That was one of the most unique catches in Hogwarts Quidditch history!"

Harry jumped of his broom and ran to Ginny kissing her as they were lifted onto the shoulders of the crowd and escorted back to the common room. Ginny had scored 100 points; the final score was Gryffindor 280, Hufflepuff 0. She was so excited, that had been the best time she had ever had playing Quidditch.

They approached the portrait hole and she was surprised by the congratulations and Happy Birthday banners that decorated the common room. Then she noticed the large birthday cake and party hats. "Surprise," Harry said smiling, "You didn't think we would let your birthday go uncelebrated did you?" She had though the day couldn't get any better, but she was wrong. There was Butterbeer and Honeydukes chocolates as well as a vast supply of Fred and Georges treats.

"Happy birthday little sis!" Fred said surprising her from behind. "You played bloody brilliant!"

"Yeah, we came to watch the game. I was a bit surprised when half the crowd sang along with Lee!" George added grinning. At least she knew who was responsible for that now.

"What are you doing here? How'd you get in?" Ginny asked, they had never told her about the secret passageways.

"That is our secret oh young prankster. We cannot reveal our ways!' Fred said laughing. "Besides, we didn't want to miss your party!"

The twins let of a bunch of their famous fireworks and they all had fun experimenting with the different candies. Ginny told them of Tonks prank on Malfoy and they kept asking her if she knew how Tonks had done it. "It was easy," Said a little first or second year they didn't recognize.

"How would you know?" George said wondering about the strange girl who was daring enough to come up to them.

"She did it," Harry laughed. "You know I think you two would recognize a fellow sneak when you saw one." He had seen Tonks right away. She told him she loved parties and had told McGonagall she would keep and eye on things.

Fred, George and Ginny stared for a second before they realized they were talking to Tonks. "You really faked a howler? That is perfect." Fred said in awe. They pulled her into a corner to discuss the details so they could recreate them and sell them in their shop. They agreed to give Tonks all the profits from them and make her a partner if she could keep coming up with ideas like that. The three spent the rest of the night hatching ideas for crazy products. George's favorite was the shampoo that turns your hair a different color every time you wash it. He knew kids would love slipping it into their parents' shampoo.

"No wonder she gets along with Lupin so well. She must be part Marauder; she's just as crazy as those two!" Ginny laughed to Harry. He realized that Tonks was more perfect for Moody than anyone ever thought.

"I might be able to convince the last Marauder to help us." Tonks told them watching as their eyes got huge.

"You know the actual Marauders? Do you think they would help us? They pulled more pranks while they were here than were pulled during any other period." George said in awe.

"There is only one of them left, Prongs and Padfoot were killed and Wormtail is no longer worthy of being called a Marauder." She told them sadly. Harry had told her and Remus that the twins were the ones that had found the map and figured out how to use it.

"So Moony might help us then?" Fred asked hopefully. "How do you know them anyway?"

"I can't tell you until he lets me know its ok to tell you who he is." Tonks said smiling. She could tell they had no idea that Remus was Moony.

"Come on Fred, dance with me!" Ginny called across the room. He got up and and went over to dance with his sister for her birthday.

Tonks went up to Harry at midnight and told him he better quiet them down or McGonagall would have both their skins. Harry knew no one would take him seriously so he had Hermoine yell at them to start wrapping it up. They all groaned but finally headed up to bed when she reminded them that id McGonagall came up she would give them all detention. Fred and George left with many new orders for products and a new creative partner. The four prefects sat around the fireplace.

"Here Ginny, Happy Birthday." Hermoine said handing her a present. It was a new diary with a cover of plush purple suede. "I saw that yours was getting full and I saw this and thought of you.

"Thanks Hermoine, I love it. I see you guys all finally realized my favorite color was purple." She giggled.

"We always knew, it's just with all the hand me downs and second hand stuff we used to get, you never had a color choice. Look at my first set of dress robes!" Ron said shaking his head as his friends laughed. He handed her a present too. It was the miniature globe with the working model of the solar system in it that Harry had given Ron that summer. Ron had always wanted one, but since he failed his OWL in astronomy he didn't need it as much as she did.

"This is incredible!" Ginny said hugging him. "You know how much I hate astronomy, and I never seem to be able to borrow Harry's since he uses it for class."

Harry smiled and handed her another present. It was the purple parchment he had gotten her in Diagon Alley. "You didn't need to get me another present Harry," She said kissing him, wining a "Eww, Harry that's my sister!" from Ron. Ginny showed them the locket Harry had given her yesterday.

"That is beautiful Ginny," Hermoine said. She was still shocked at how romantic Harry had made their date yesterday. Ginny had told her all about it when they got back. She had laughed at how the most romantic thing Ron did was to go up to the bar and get their drinks and Hermoine had guessed that was more to see Madame Rosemerta than to be romantic. "At least Harry has some idea of what it takes to romance a girl." She shot Ron a look who stared back at her confused.

"I'm romantic." He told them as they all laughed and headed for bed.

"You're about as romantic as Snape is handsome." Harry told his friend. "I'm surprised Hermoine puts up with you." The all laughed again and said goodnight.

Ginny transferred all her school things into her new bag the next morning. Making sure her purple quill and rainbow ink were kept safe. She dressed in her school robes and put the sparkly belt Draco had given her around them, showing off her curvy figure more. She wore her new purple trainers as well.

Draco was pleased to see her using his gifts. He also saw her showing off a locket that she was wearing around her neck and realized it must be from Potter since her parents had gotten her a new broom. "Figures he would still show me up." Draco thought miserably.

"I hope you had a pleasant Birthday Miss Weasley," Professor Dumbledore said as he passed their table. "I must say that is the first time I remember anyone being sung to by the school since they sang for Lily Potter her 7th year."

Ginny stared at him as he smiled. Harry's mom had been sung too as well, that was a neat bit of trivia. "Thank you professor, it was a lovely day." Ginny said smiling up at the most respected wizard of their time.

Harry heard Dumbledore tell Ginny that the school had sung to his mother and smiled at how alike the two were. They were both red headed Gryffindors with fiery tempers that were beautiful, smart and in love with Potters. It was almost uncanny how much Harry looked like his father. He had put a picture of Ginny and him next to a picture of his parents and it was scary how similar they were.

Ginny tried not to fall asleep in history of magic, but who could stay awake to listen to Professor Bins on a Monday morning at 8 am! He mind wandered to the potions classroom where she knew Harry and Draco were working on their Polyjuice potion. She started nodding off and suddenly her body went rigid and she floated up into the air. Her voice was harsh and rigid. "The hour of Gryffindor is at hand. The heir will lead the fight and bring about the destruction of the Dark Lord. With power and love he will bring about a peace that has not been achieved since the days of Merlin."

Ginny sank back down into her chair and awoke looking frightened. Her classmates were looking at her as if she was insane. She looked around for Professor Bins, who she was surprised to see had disappeared. Professor Dumbledore rushed in moments later, followed by the ghost teacher who had apparently contacted him. He lined each student up carefully and extracted the memory of Ginny's prophesy and put it in his pensive. The he told them all that Ginny was not feeling well and to go back to studying, before leading the confused red head out of the classroom and to his office.

"Did I just make a prophesy?" Ginny asked him both scared and unsure of what had happened to her.

"Yes, indeed you did Miss Weasley, although it was not altogether unexpected. Your grandmother on your mother's side was a seer and your mother has shown the gift of foresight many times over the years. Why do you think she was so skilled at figuring out your brother's pranks?" He told her. "I was wondering when your gift would surface."

"What exactly did I say, it was as if I was in a trance" Ginny told him. She watched as he placed the pensive on his desk. Then he went to the fire and within minutes her parents were there as well.

Dumbledore explained that Ginny had her fist prophesy before he took her hand and touched the silvery vapors in the pensive. Suddenly they were all standing in the History of Magic classroom. She watched herself rise off her chair and hover in mid air and repeat the words in a voice that wasn't hers.

"The heir?" Mr. Weasley asked as soon as they were back in the office. "Gryffindor's heir?"

"Yes, I believe he will be revealed soon." Dumbledore said with his eyes twinkling. "And I believe Miss Weasley will play and important role in the peace he is supposed to usher in, that is why she received such a powerful prophesy at such a young age."

"My baby is a seer, a true seer!" Mrs. Weasley said hugging her daughter closely.

"You will need to pay close attention in Divination now that your powers have emerged. Listen to the methods used to clear and focus your mind. I want you to come to me if you have any visions or see anything, even if you do not think it important." The headmaster told her smiling.

"Yes, sir. But how will I get up here?" She said knowing he changed the password often.

"Get Harry first and bring him with you, he will be able to get you here." He told her, his eyes twinkling. "We will want to try and keep your seer skills secret if possible, only tell your close friends that you can trust. Voldemort will try to exploit your power if he learns of it."

"You must be very careful now Ginny," He father said seriously. "A true seer is rare. You will be safe while you are at Hogwarts so I do not think you should come to the burrow for Christmas." Ginny looked sadly at her father, she had been hoping for a big family Christmas this year. Then she got a vision of them all sitting in front of a roaring fireplace with a large fir tree and piles of gifts in the corner. Her whole family, Harry, Remus, Tonks, Hermoine and her parents, even Draco and Dumbledore were laughing and having a great time at Harry's house.

She looked at Dumbledore and smiled. "I think we are still going to have a merry Christmas even if we aren't at the burrow." The headmaster winked at her.

"I think we should all meet at headquarters for the holidays, I have a feeling there will be very few students staying, perhaps only those who would want to be there with your family." Dumbledore was impressed with the image that Ginny had of them sitting around the tree. He rarely ever left the castle for the holidays, but it seemed he would be paying a visit to headquarters this year.

"Be good dear and study hard for your OWLs. We will see you for the holidays at headquarters it seems, assuming Harry agrees." Her mother told her hugging her good bye and stepping into the fireplace.

"Enjoy the Halloween feast; it was always my favorite when I was a student." Her father said before heading back to work. Dumbledore handed her a note for professor Snape. Her potions class had started 5 min ago.

"Oh, and Miss Weasley, I would like you to join Harry in his Occlumency lessons on Tuesdays. You also have a free period and Occlumency will help keep others out of your mind." She nodded and headed to potions.

Chapter 19: Seeing the Heir

Ginny pulled Harry into her room as soon as he entered the common room. "What's wrong Gin you look scared?" he asked her.

"I just had a premonition Harry; I went all funny and floated out of my chair. Professor Dumbledore told me that I'm a seer." She told him wondering how he would react. He twitched involuntarily every time anyone ever mentioned a prophesy.

"A premonition? A real one?" Harry asked shocked. "I didn't know you had any seer blood in you."

"Neither did I but apparently my grandmother was a seer and my mum had the gift of foresight." She said to him.

"What was your premonition about?" Harry asked.

"It was about Gryffindor's heir and him bringing about Voldemort's demise and a peace we never thought could exist." Ginny told him looking at her feet; she hated reminding him of Voldemort. "Dumbledore thinks the heir will be revealed soon."

"He told me about a premonition that was made over 200 years ago that said that Gryffindor's heir will be the most powerful wizard to have ever lived." Harry told her. "I guess that is why he will be involved with Voldemort's demise, but doesn't that contradict the prophesy about me having to kill him?"

"Mine only said that the heir would bring about the demise, maybe he is going to train you or help you in some way but you have to do the actual deed." Ginny said shrugging. "I guess prophesies are not supposed to spell everything out for us."

"I'm happy for your new powers Gin," Harry said kissing her, "just be careful that no one learns of your ability, they might try and exploit it."

"You are such a great guy, thank you for being so supportive," Ginny said. "Will you help me tell Ron and Hermione?" She was nervous of their reactions.

"Let's tell them after Quidditch practice," he told her as they headed down to lunch. "Then we can discuss it in DA if you want." They had elite DA that night.

Ginny had divination after lunch and she knew she needed to pay attention and learn how to control her abilities. They were reviewing reading tea leaves and starting on crystal balls today. Blast double divination! She was working with Colin. She took his cup to read his leaves and used her book to decipher the images that were there. "It looks like you are going to have a bad fall while trying to save someone you love." She told him hoping she was wrong. He couldn't see anything in her leaves.

Ginny gazed into her crystal ball; the orb was full of smoky shapes. She had never expected to see anything. Suddenly the cloudy images became clearer. She saw a boy although she couldn't make out any facial features. He turned into a large bird and then back into the boy again. She could tell it was an anamagi transformation. The boy looked to her and blew her a kiss; it was then that she noticed the messy hair. The boy was Harry. She watched him turn back into the bird and disappear in flames before appearing again. She then realized that the bird was a phoenix.

"What do you see dear?" Trelawney asked her.

"I see a boy and he transforms into a bird and back again." Ginny told her leaving out Harry and the phoenix. Ginny wrote what she read in Colin's tea leaves and what she saw in the ball down in her diary to see if they came true later. She was still keeping her dream diary for class as well. Who would have thought she'd actually start to enjoy divination class.

"You ok Dennis?" Ron asked before practice, "You are looking kind of pale."

"I'm ok," The small boy replied, "Just tired."

They were having a great practice when Ginny heard Colin yell, "Dennis!" She turned to see that Dennis had fallen from his broom and Colin was racing to catch him. Colin flew under his brother but misjudged his catch sending him falling off his broom as well. Ginny sighed as she watched her friends' fall knowing she couldn't help them. Her reading of Colin's tea leaves came back to her. She had told him he would have a bad fall trying to save someone he loved.

Harry pointed his wand at his two falling team mates and concentrated on slowing them down before yelling the spell. The boys slowed down enough that they would survive the crash. They may break bones but they would be alive at least. He ran up to them conjuring stretchers on the way. Ron helped him get them on the stretchers before rushing them up to the castle for help.

"What happened?" Madame Pomfrey asked rushing over.

"Dennis fell and then Colin fell while trying to save him," Ron told her. "Harry slowed down their decent so they didn't hit at full force." She rushed off to treat the Creevy brothers while the team waited.

Ginny pulled Harry aside trembling. "I saw this in Colin's tea leaves this afternoon in divination. I read that he would fall while trying to save someone he loved." She whispered. She was becoming scared of her new ability. Harry just hugged her; he didn't know what to say to make her feel better. He knew it would only get worse if she saw someone get seriously injured or die and couldn't stop it or help them.

Professor McGonagall came in to check on the condition of her students. She noticed Ginny looking shaken up. "Did you foresee this Miss Weasley?" She asked her quietly so that no one other than Harry could hear.

"I read in his tea leaves that he would fall while saving someone he loved." Ginny whispered, "I was hoping I had misinterpreted the shapes."

"Did you see anything else this afternoon?" McGonagall asked her hoping nothing else bad was going to happen today.

"I saw a boy transforming into a large bird in the crystal ball." Ginny said looking quickly at Harry. McGonagall saw her reluctance and pulled her aside so they could talk in private. "I think he transformed into a phoenix because the bird disappeared in flames and then reappeared, then turned back into the boy."

"Do you know who the boy is?" McGonagall was intrigued, it sounded like she had a vision of Gryffindor's heir.

Ginny leaned closer to her and whispered "It was Harry." She could see McGonagall's surprised face. She didn't understand why she was so stunned.

"I think we should keep this quiet, we wouldn't want to confuse anyone." McGonagall said smiling. "I'll make sure to inform Professor Dumbledore of everything." She then went off to check on the Creevys.

Colin and Dennis were fine but Madame Pomfrey insisted they stay overnight for observation. The rest of them left to change and go to dinner. Elite DA that night was subdued without Colin and Dennis. Ron and Hermione were quiet as well, Ginny and Harry had just finished telling them about her new ability and how she predicted Colin's fall. Ron was shocked and Hermione skeptical, she had lost all her faith in divination thanks to Professor Trelawney being a fraud.

Wednesdays were always hard on Harry. Fist he had Quidditch then he taught DA and then prefect rounds. Harry was exhausted after his rounds and fell asleep almost immediately, Ron was already snoring. They were both oblivious to the raging storm outside. Ginny and Hermione were finishing their homework. Ginny was in her OWL year and the professors were piling on the work and Hermione just studied too much. Hermione shuddered and pulled her blanket closer around her. The wind was howling and the windows were being pelted with rain.

Ginny suddenly jumped off her bed, grabbed Hermione and pulled her out of the room into the little entry area. "It's not safe to stay in there tonight, I just know it." Ginny said her eyes wide. She pulled Hermione into the boys' room; they didn't even hear them enter. "We'll just stay her with them for tonight." Ginny said as she crawled into Harry's bed next to him. Hermione followed suit and crawled in next to Ron. The boys didn't even wake up, but Harry did roll over and wrap his arm around Ginny who smiled before falling asleep.

"Hermione?" Ron asked as he awoke the next morning to find a head of bushy brown hair lying across his chest. "What are you doing in here?"

Hermione woke and yawned. "Ginny said it wasn't safe to sleep in our room last night so we came in here." Ron turned to find his sister wrapped in his best friends arms with a smile on both their faces.

"You let Ginny sleep in the same bed as Harry?" Ron asked her.

"Yes, would you rather I slept in Harry's bed and Ginny in yours?" Hermione teased. "Besides you were both asleep and didn't even realize we were here." Ron got out of bed and went over to wake Harry and Ginny.

"Wake up you two before I have to tell mum you stayed here." Ron said as Ginny snapped awake. She looked over at Harry and smiled, she had felt so safe in his arms. Harry just snuggled closer to her still asleep. He was having a very nice dream about living in a world free of dark wizards and having a family of his own.

Ginny said soothingly, "Wake up Harry you have to go to class." He opened his eyes and grinned. He had felt her next to him during the night and liked how it felt to hold her in his arms as they slept.

"Morning beautiful, what are you doing in my bed this lovely morning?" Harry asked kissing her cheek. Ron rolled his eyes.

"I had a very strong feeling that it wasn't safe to sleep in our room last night so Hermione and I came in here." Ginny said. "Will you go with us to check on our room please?"

The four of them made their way to the girls' room and slowly opened the door. The room was in shambles, the windows were broken out and debris from the storm was scattered around the room. Ginny's bed had a huge gash in the mattress and Hermione's had a large tree branch lying on it. Their trunks were relatively untouched and they grabbed their school bags and robes and went to change in the bathroom.

"Good thing they came to our room," Ron said examining the damage. "They could have been killed by all of this. We should go check and see if any of the other dorms have damage."

"Yes, we'll want to let Professor McGonagall know about the damage and make sure nobody's hurt." Harry said as they made their way up to the boys' dorms. The only other damage was a broken window in the 3rd year girls' dorms that Hermione fixed with a swish of her wand. The major damage was only to her and Ginny's room.

The four of them stopped into McGonagall's office on their way to breakfast to tell her about the damage to the girls' room. She was happy they hadn't gotten hurt. They were about to leave when Professor Trelawney stepped into the office. She gave Harry her usual pitting look before turning to McGonagall. "The fates have informed me that this is to be a trying day for you Minerva, I thought it appropriate for you to be aware." She said as she turned to Harry, not noticing Ginny approach McGonagall and touch her arm. "Beware Harry the Grim still haunts you."

Ginny couldn't stand it any more; her professor was an outright fraud. "I too see the large dog that follows Harry. But it is protecting him and watching over him. It is not the grim; it is one of the spirits guiding him. At one time the spirit was called snuffles and is Harry's guardian." She told all who were in the office.

"You are not as tuned to your inner eye as I Miss Weasley; with some additional training you may be able to interpret these things properly." Trelawney said without her usual airy voice.

"Ginny is right, I have met the dog she refers to before he died. I would expect him to continue to watch over me as a spirit as he did while he was alive." Harry said, he hated Trelawney always predicting horrible things happening to him. "I also remember you seeing my death multiple times throughout the last few years and yet I still remain alive."

McGonagall tried as hard as possible not to laugh at the venomous look Trelawney shot them all before leaving the office. "I'm afraid you will not be learning much from her Miss Weasley, she was not happy when Dumbledore told her you were a seer. She told him that he was mistaken and that she had seen nothing indicating that you would ever be a true seer. I know her to be a large fraud and I must say that the only seers I have ever met all keep their abilities a secret. Anyone who goes out of their way to claim to posses the inner eye is usually lying."

"Thank you professor, and when I touched your arm I saw that you would witness an important historical event today, I sense nothing saying that your day will be trying." Ginny said as McGonagall smiled as they all left to head for breakfast. It would be an interesting year with Miss. Weasley having such a strong seeing ability. Everyone was surprised with how fast her abilities were developing.

"That was bloody brilliant!" Ron said laughing as they headed to the great hall. "The way her bug eyes were popping out of her head. Thank you Ginny that was the most fun I've had in a while!" They all laughed and talked about how Trelawney was a fraud all through breakfast.

Harry spent most of transfiguration class studying his book on anamagi transformation. He had finished his class work within the first 5 minutes of class. He was secure in his knowledge of the anamagi transformation. The spell was complex but he had faith that he could perform it. He was going to see if Tonks and McGonagall thought he was ready as well.

Tonks and McGonagall tested Harry and realized he was ready. "You are the quickest study of this I've ever taught." Professor McGonagall told him. "Just make sure you concentrate fully on what you are doing. We will stop you if you forget a step."

Tonks held her breath as she watched Harry start to perform the complicated spell. He could be permanently deformed if he did it wrong, but she had seen less prepared wizards who didn't have half his talent manage the spell so she was confident he would succeed. McGonagall watched him steadily making sure every wand movement was precise and the pronunciation was perfect.

Harry concentrated fully on the spell as he cast the different aspects of the complicated spell. He knew what the consequences of an improper spell were and was determined to do it correctly. He was also very curious what animal he would turn into. He hoped it was something that could fly. He loved the feeling of being on his broom and wanted to feel the sensation of flying under his own power.

He finished casting the spell and felt a warm tingling sensation spread throughout his body. He felt as if he were shrinking. He opened his eyes once the tingling stopped and looked around. He was much shorter than he had been, he looked up to see Tonks looking pale and gaping at him. McGonagall was gripping the desk to keep herself steady. Harry couldn't tell what he was; he moved his arms and felt himself lift off the ground. He was a bird of some sort; he flew in a circle around the room. He tried to call out Tonks to ask her what he was but all that came out were melodic notes.

The song strengthened his two professors. "Very well done Potter, why don't you transform back so we can talk to you." McGonagall said finally finding her voice. She looked at Tonks who was still staring in awe.

"The heir," Tonks finally said breathlessly. She watched as Harry landed on the floor between them. He was beautiful. He was covered with scarlet feathers with gold tail feathers, face and beak. He turned back into the boy with messy raven hair that they all knew.

"What did I turn into?" He asked excitedly as he stood up from the floor. He would have to work on his transformations so that he was standing when he turned back into himself. "I know I'm a bird, but what kind?"

"You are a phoenix Harry." McGonagall told him watching his stunned face.

"But†But†Does that make me? How can that?" Harry rambled. He remembered Professor Dumbledore telling him that most believed it to be impossible to turn into a phoenix. The he thought of Fawks and Gryffindor and also remembered the prophesy. So Ginny's prophesy was correct, the heir of Gryffindor could be the one to defeat Lord Voldemort because he was the heir and they already knew he had to fight him.

"The prophesy was true, the heir of Gryffindor will take flight upon the wings of a phoenix." Tonks mumbled still overcome with the revelation.

"You are the only wizard ever known to have become a phoenix anamagi." McGonagall told him. "I see that Miss Weasley was correct that I would witness an important historical event today. The heir of Gryffindor has been revealed as you Harry Potter." Harry just stared at his two professors. He was still having a hard time imagining himself as the heir of Gryffindor, but a few things made sense now. The portrait of Godric Gryffindor had told him that only the heir and the headmaster could know about Fawks' true identity.

Professor McGonagall took him to see Dumbledore while Tonks went to get Lupin. They approached the gargoyle and Harry told it to move. McGonagall was surprised when the stairs appeared without the password, but thought she shouldn't be surprised with anything Potter did if he truly was the heir. They entered his office to wait for the headmaster. Harry transformed back into phoenix form and flew over to join Fawks on his perch.

"Can you understand me?" He sang to the bird who was once a great wizard and one of his ancestors. "Did you know I was your heir?'

"Yes Harry that is why I was drawn to you and why your wand has my tail feather in it." Fawks told him. "It is nice to have someone to talk to after all this time who knows who I am. Owls get tiresome to speak with."

McGonagall's heart was lifted as she listened to the melodious conversation of the two phoenixes. "It is as I thought." Dumbledore said as he entered his office. "I believed Harry to be the heir and I was even more certain after Miss Weasley's prediction. Can you imaging Minerva, we are alive to witness the coming of the heir of Gryffindor who is said to be the most powerful wizard ever to live."

"So it is true then Albus, Harry is the heir? Is it possible? Has anyone ever documented his lineage?" She asked him.

"Yes, Harry's mother's families were powerful wizards. The reason his aunt was born a squib was because all their magic was concentrated in Lily. That was why she was such a brilliant student. The interesting thing is that both Lily and James descend from the last known descendent of Gryffindor so any male child of theirs was twice a likely to be the heir. When the prophesy was made and determined to be Harry who had to defeat Voldemort I knew he was the heir and have been watching his powers grow for signs." Dumbledore smiled and winked at Harry who was still sitting with Fawks, both birds listening intently.

Harry flew down and transformed back into himself. "Is it really true that I am supposed to be the most powerful wizard ever?" He was finding it hard to believe that his magic was supposed to be greater than even Dumbledore's.

"Yes Harry, why do you think wand less magic, all your classes and even anamagi transformation came so easily to you. It would also explain your prowess at Quidditch and why you are the one destined to defeat Voldemort." He told him smiling.

Remus and Snape entered the office right then with Tonks. "Is it true?" Remus asked looking from his employer to his son. "Is Harry really the heir?" Snape seemed incapable of speech. How could the son of James Potter be the most powerful wizard ever and the one who would save the world?

Dumbledore nodded to Harry who transformed into his Phoenix form in front of them. Snape shook his head and Remus gasped. "Ginny Weasley knew and I didn't believe her prediction." McGonagall said quietly. "She saw in the orb a boy transforming onto a phoenix, she told he the boy was Harry. She really is a true seer, which would make her prophesy true as well."

"Harry I must inform the Minister of this immediately and see what course of action he suggests we take." Dumbledore told him. "I would appreciate it if you and Remus accompanied me." Fawks flew over and Dumbledore grabbed his tail and they disappeared in flames.

"Ok," Harry said standing, "I apologize if the road is bumpy. I haven't been a phoenix for long." He transformed and Remus hung onto his tail feathers before they erupted in flames. Seconds later they were standing in Mr. Weasley's office.

"Two phoenixes? Where did he come from?" Arthur asked Remus.

"That is why we are here Arthur, we have found Gryffindor's heir." Dumbledore told him smiling.

"The heir?" Arthur said standing, "Will he help us fight Voldemort?"

"Yes, in fact he has always been the one we knew would defeat the dark lord." Remus told him smiling. Dumbledore signified for Harry to transform.

"Harry!" Arthur said jumping and falling back into his chair. "The heir, Harry you are the heir!" Harry had never heard him sound so excited, even when muggle appliances were present. "I knew you were special but I never thought you would be the heir."

They talked for an hour, having a secretary bring them all dinner. Mr. Weasley and the Dumbledore decided to announce to the paper that Gryffindor's heir had been found. They felt it would drive fear into the hearts of the death eaters and draw Voldemort out of hiding. Harry would be working with Tonks every Thursday to start Auror training. They would be joined by Kingsley and Mad Eye whenever possible to get him as ready as possible. Mr. Weasley hugged him tight before they left and told him that he believed Ginny's prediction that he would defeat the Dark Lord and bring about peace.

"This whole fly from place to place in seconds is awesome!" Harry said when they got back. He had always liked phoenixes ever since he met Fawks in second year; they were so magical and beautiful. "It's kind of funny now that when I was playing Ginny's secret admirer I signed the notes as The Phoenix."

Dumbledore's eyes sparkled as he looked down upon Harry. "There will be many questions about Gryffindor's heir after the article in tomorrows Daily Prophet. We need to keep your anamagi form secret until the final battle. When you transform in front of the Death Eaters and Voldemort it will instill fear in their hearts."

"I'll only tell Ron, Hermione and Ginny. You know I don't keep anything from them." He said shaking hands with Dumbledore. "Good night Mooney." He said hugging him before he left the office.

When Harry was out of earshot Remus turned to Dumbledore. "My Harry is the heir of Gryffindor, what do I need to do to help him?" He was worried that all the new powers and finding out he was supposed to be the most powerful wizard ever was going to be too much for Harry to handle. "Did Lily and James know they were descendents of Gryffindor?"

"All you need to do to help him is to be there when he needs your support. It is good that you are here this year to help him cope with the increased stress. Lily didn't know she was a pureblood. She did find out her parents were wizards the night they were murdered by death eaters. They had fought back and she was clever enough not to believe that 3 death eaters stunned themselves before Aurors arrived. James knew of course, his family tree was well documented." Dumbledore said.

"I'm confused though; Lily's family line is very well hidden. How is that possible?" Remus asked curiously.

"Lily's father's family name was O'Connell a pureblood Irish family; he was the last member of his line. Her mother's family had hidden their true identity long ago. Lily's great-grandfather was the only one to ever find out they were descendents of Gryffindor. He was Lily's grandmother's father on her mother's side. He married the sister Nicolas Flammel who died during childbirth shortly after they married. The child was hidden and the public was told she had died as well." Dumbledore said sadly, the spark missing from his eyes.

"I'm surprised James never mentioned his lineage. I guess that is why Lily ended up in Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw. She had wondered about that. She told me once that the sorting hat told her she was one of the cleverest witches it had ever seen and that she would be the jewel of Ravenclaw, then it yelled out Gryffindor." Remus chuckled.

"We may not understand the sorting hats decisions but it has never placed someone in the wrong house yet." Dumbledore said. "He is a very smart hat."

Chapter 20: Saving Lives

"Harry!" Ginny said running to him as she entered the common room. "Where were you at dinner? We were so worried." She said hugging him tight.

"I'm sorry I went with Dumbledore to visit your father." He told her and motioned for Ron and Hermoine to follow him into his room so they could talk. Ron and Hermoine sat on one bed with Harry and Ginny on the other. Ginny was still clutching to Harry. "Dumbledore took me to talk with your dad." He told Ron. "I found my anamagi form and we had to let the ministry know, but also need to keep it a complete secret from anyone not in the Order."

Ginny smiled, she knew he would transform soon and that he would be a phoenix. She had looked up anamagi transformations in the library and there was no record of anyone ever turning into a phoenix. It was supposed to be impossible, but she knew he would. "What did you transform into?" Hermoine asked him.

"I'm a phoenix." He said quietly.

"Harry it's not possible to be a phoenix anamagi, it says so in our text book. Besides it is extremely rare to become a magical creature. Only the most powerful wizards or witches become magical creatures, but never a phoenix." Hermoine told him, she believed her textbooks could not be wrong. Harry just smiled and transformed.

Ginny smiled and stroked his long beautiful scarlet feathers. "You are Gryffindor colors Harry." She joked as he leaned his head into her hand. Hermoine just sat staring at him; there was no denying he was a phoenix. Ron looked pale, like he was about to pass out. "Are you ok Ron?" Ginny asked her brother.

"Don't you remember the prophesy about Gryffindor's heir Ginny? Mum told us about it when we were all younger. It said that Gryffindor's heir would be the most powerful wizard to ever live and that he would ride upon the wings of a phoenix." Ron stared at his best mate who was transformed into the magical bird. Could Harry possibly be Gryffindor's heir?

Harry transformed back into himself and nodded to Ron. "That's why we had to go see your Dad; Dumbledore told me that I am the heir of Gryffindor." Harry said seeing the shocked faces of his friends.

"That means you are the most powerful wizard to ever have lived!" Ron said still in shock. Ginny looked scared.

"My premonition was about Gryffindor's heir," She said quietly. "The hour of Gryffindor is at hand. The heir will lead the fight and bring about the destruction of the Dark Lord. With power and love he will bring about a peace that has not been achieved since the days of Merlin." She looked to Harry who kissed her forehead. "Dumbledore told me that the reason I had such a powerful first premonition was that I would be an important part of bringing about peace."

"What did my dad say?" Ron asked still having trouble digesting the fact that his best mate was the most powerful wizard ever.

"They are telling the Prophet that they found the Heir of Gryffindor but they won't tell them who, only that the heir is preparing to lead the fight against all the dark wizards. Dumbledore said I have to keep my anamagi form a secret no matter what." Harry told them.

"That shouldn't be too hard. Not very many people would believe that a 6th year could become an anamagi and the fact that you're not registered will help as well." Hermoine told them. "You will just have to make sure you don't transform unless you are someplace safe, like here in the room or the shrieking shack of course." She smiled at him knowing that he would be accompanying Remus on the next full moon.

"I hope that my phoenix tears and song can keep him healthy while he is transformed. I hate seeing him so weak after the full moon." He told them before they left to go on their prefect rounds.

"Hey Potter, you ok? I didn't see you at dinner and Ginny looked worried." Malfoy asked as they passed during their rounds. The two of them had become quite civil to each other. Not a single insult had been hurled since Draco switched sides and when no Slytherins were around they actually had polite conversations.

"Yeah, I was having dinner with Dumbledore to talk about the DA. He had some ideas for future secessions." Harry lied. He trusted Malfoy was on their side, but he couldn't risk the truth being exposed.

"Who do you think is going to win Saturday's game between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff?" Draco asked switching to his favorite subject.

"Hufflepuff is not playing well this year; I don't think Ravenclaw will have a problem beating them. Cho is a good flyer and their beaters are really good, I watched a little of their practice last week. What do you think your chances are this year?" Harry asked.

"We are ok, Crabbe and Goyle can't fly to save their lives but they can sure smack that bludger. Your team is the only competition for us this year. I still can't believe we weren't in the running for the cup last year even with you banned your team still won." Malfoy shook his head remembering. "My father was at the last game we lost to Ravenclaw and broke my arm afterwards he was so angry. I had to tell the nurse I was hit with a bludger."

"They are guarding Azkaban against a death eater strike so hopefully your father will be in there for a very long time." Harry said reassuringly.

"I got a letter from him the other day; he asked why he hadn't heard that I joined the Dark Lord. He said I better do my duty as a Malfoy and follow the life he set up for me. Yeah right, like I would ever want to follow his example. My mother will most likely expect me to join over Christmas Holidays. I guess I'll be staying here this year like you always do."

"I'm actually going home for Christmas this year. It's the first time I've ever had a home to go to. I'll talk with Remus and see if you can come with us if you like. All the Weasleys will be there and a few other friends." Harry said surprising himself that he had actually meant the invitation and was hoping Malfoy would come.

"That would be a much better idea than being stuck in the Slytherin dungeons by myself. I heard that no one is planning on staying, I just figured you would as always." Draco said as they finished their rounds. "See you around Potter."

"Night Malfoy." Harry said as he headed up toward the astronomy tower. He wanted to talk with Ginny about everything that was going on. He slipped his invisibility cloak on waited for her to arrive.

She stepped out onto the tower and smiled. She could feel that Harry was here too. They hadn't made plans but yet she knew he would be there waiting for her. She was beginning to like her gift of foresight.

"Are you ok with everything that's happening?" Harry asked caressing her back while they embraced. "I know a lot of new things have been revealed and I just wanted to talk to you about it all."

"I knew you were a phoenix anamagi, I saw you in my crystal ball. I didn't realize that meant you were Gryffindor's heir but it makes sense. The prophesies fit together now. The one saying that you were the only one who could defeat the dark lord and mine about the heir defeating him." Ginny said softly. "I just don't understand what Dumbledore meant about me playing an important part in bringing about peace."

"I think I know," Harry said kissing her softly. "But you'll figure it out on your own; I'm not ready to tell you yet." He said kissing her more deeply. He knew the reason she was an important part was because they were together and she would be his wife. He had no doubts they would be together after graduation, but he didn't want to make that commitment yet. They were only 16 after all.

Ginny smiled, when Harry had kissed her the second time she saw a slightly older version of herself walking down the aisle in a white dress to Harry standing at the end with a smile. They would get married, that was why she would play an important part. It wasn't in the part of peace it was in the part of love.

"I asked Malfoy to join us all for Christmas; his mother is expecting him to come home to join the death eaters. What do you think?" Harry asked

"I already knew he would be there," Ginny said laughing. "I didn't think you would be the one to invite him though. I'm glad you two are getting along so well. I've gotten to know him and he is a very nice guy now that he's not pretending to be a Slytherin git all the time. I can't imagine growing up in a house where you were beaten constantly. I don't know how you two put up with it."

"For me it made me realize that true family has nothing to do with being related. When I met Ron and Hermoine it was like I came alive for the first time. I see that change in Malfoy as well. He has seen life the way we all want it to be as well as has experienced what it would be like in a world ruled by darkness. He will fight as hard as I do to keep from going back to that world of hate and pain. I think I might finally understand him." Harry told her.

Ginny had potions right before lunch on Fridays. They were working on a calming potion today in class. It was a simple potion but if you don't follow the directions exactly it could blow up on you. She had finished her potion and was watching her classmates struggle with theirs. She felt dizzy and had a vision of professor Snape approaching a cauldron that exploded and send him flying across the room. She saw him lying lifeless on the floor, blood trickling from his mouth.

She snapped her eyes open to see him walking toward the caldron that would cause his death. "No Professor!" She yelled running toward him and pulling him to the ground seconds before the caldron exploded. She rolled herself off him as the smoke cleared. He stood up shakily; the potion should not have exploded with that much force. He looked down to see Colin covered in blue sticky potion. Someone had added moon powder to the potion, which was the only explanation.

He looked to Ginny. "Thank you Miss Weasley. It was very observant of you to notice the blue color of the potion. Had you not pulled me to the ground I may have been seriously injured." He realized she had seen the accident and that was why she knew to save him but he had to cover or someone might discover her seer abilities.

"Now who tampered with Mr. Creevy's potion?" Snape asked glaring at the Slytherins. He saw one boy who refused to look him in the eye. "Though it would be funny to watch Creevy melt another caldron McNair? 10 points from Slytherin and a week of detention for you. If I find out that the reason Mr. Creevy has melted so many cauldrons is because other students have been sabotaging his potions I will make sure each and every one of you will not make it into my NEWT level class, am I understood?"

"Yes Professor." The entire room chorused, they had never seen him look so angry before. He never took house points from Slytherin. Snape held Ginny after class. "Please tell me what you saw Miss Weasley."

"I saw you approach the caldron and it exploded sending you flying to the other side of the room. You were dead. You had blood trickling down the side of your mouth and your eyes were blank. Then I snapped out of the vision and saw you approaching the caldron." She said quietly.

"Thank you for what you did. You put yourself at risk to save my life; I am forever in your dept." He said offering her his hand to shake. "You truly are an honorable person. I will inform the headmaster of your deeds and I think 50 points to Gryffindor are in order." She just stared at him. He had just awarded her 50 points!

"You also need to make sure you think of a good cover story every time you intervene. We don't want word of your ability to get out. I covered for you by saying that you had seen the blue color of the potion and since you are such a talented potions student the class believed. But you must be careful." He told her seriously.

She walked into the great hall. She was still shaken from Professor Snape's near death experience, but was happy she could save him. The house points were an added bonus. She sat down and was about to tell her friends what had happened when Professor Dumbledore stood. They all turned to look at him.

"I have just been informed of an incident in the potions classroom that could have claimed the life of our potions master. It seems that students find it amusing to sabotage other students' potions. Luckily Miss Virginia Weasley not noticed the odd color of the potion in question and pulled Professor Snape out of the way. If I hear of one other student tampering with another's work that student will be expelled. This school will not tolerate this type of behavior. Now let us all give Miss Weasley a grateful round of applause for her quick thinking that saved the life of Professor Snape." The hall all applauded for Ginny and the Gryffindor table all looked at her like she was crazy.

"You risked your life to save Snape's?" Ron asked her. "Why in the bloody hell would you do that?"

"It's the right thing to do Ron!" Hermoine scolded him.

Harry pulled Ginny into a big hug. "My little seer," He whispered in her ear.

"Snape took house points from Slytherin and gave me 50 points," Ginny said watching the shocked expressions around the table.

"That's my sister the hero!" Ron said out loud making some of the others laugh.

"Maybe he'll be nicer to Gryffindors now that you saved him and since it was a Slytherin who almost killed him." Hermoine said hopefully. She knew it was a long shot but they could at least hope. "We better get going; he's going to be in a bad mood after almost dying last period."

Harry groaned and kissed Ginny goodbye before following Hermione down to the dungeons. The class went smoothly; no one seemed keen on pissing Snape off more and made sure to follow every direction to the letter. They were almost finished with their Polyjuice potions and had been working on small simple potions like dreamless sleep and memory potions while the Polyjuice was brewing.

"We will be able to test your potions next weekend. I have an assignment in mind to see just how well your potions were brewed. It will be a detailed assignment that will count for a large portion of your grade." He sneered at them all. "You will be testing the potion by turning into your partner. You will spend all day Saturday drinking the potion and convincing your partner's friends and other teachers that you are that person. The longer you are able to pull off being the other person, the better the grade you get. I would advise you study the mannerisms and actions of your counterpart to familiarize yourself with the way they speak, act, move even eat."

They all stared at Snape shocked. It would be a very difficult test. "This is to show you that there is more to potions than correct ingredients. What is the good of making a potion to pass yourself off as someone else if no one believes you? Let me demonstrate. Mr. Potter may I have one of your hairs please."

Harry pulled out a single black hair from his head and handed it to him. Snape placed it in his potion that was ready and drank it down to demonstrate its effects. Soon Harry was looking at a spitting image of himself. "As you can hear, the potion does not affect your voice so you will have to practice your speech." Snape said. He took Harry into his office and transfigured his robes to match Harry's.

They walked back out and as instructed Harry said. "Now who can tell who the real Harry is?" The class asked each of them questions and they spent the next half hour trying to determine who the real Harry was. Snape knew a lot about Harry and had his voice down well.

They didn't let Hermoine ask any questions. She could easily ask a question only Harry would know, the trick to Polyjuice was that you didn't know that the person wasn't who they looked like. They finally took a show of hands on who they thought the real Harry was. The class was spit right down the middle. Most of the Slytherins thought that Snape was the real Harry and the others were of mixed opinion. Once they had all voted Snape turned to Hermoine. "So?" He asked her.

"You do make a very convincing Harry, but I know you are not him." She said smiling. She could easily tell them apart. The real Harry wouldn't have been volunteering to answer the questions as readily as Snape had been. He had tried too hard to prove he was Harry, therefore making him the fake. Shortly following her answer the potion wore off and Snape was back to himself.

"I must say sir; you look absolutely smashing in Gryffindor robes." Harry said as he made his way back to his desk. Malfoy snorted trying not to laugh. Even Snape looked mildly amused at the comment. He reminded everyone to learn their partner's mannerisms and body language before next week.

"How about we meet by the DADA classroom at the start of our rounds? We can do them together and quiz each other so we do well on this assignment." Draco said as they packed up their bags.

"Sounds like a plan. I tell you the hardest thing for me is going to be answering to your name. I just can't picture myself as a Malfoy." Harry chuckled.

"And I get to put up with all your groupies for a day, how lovely." Draco said sarcastically.

Draco and Harry talked to each other about their lives for the two hours they had rounds. They were so wrapped up in the assignment that they agreed to meet the next two nights as well. Their lives were both similar and glaringly opposite. Harry was hated just for what he was by his aunt and uncle and Draco was treated differently by everyone just because of his last name. They were both beaten for no reason and locked in their rooms for long periods of times without food. The only difference was that Draco had a rich luxurious room and Harry was in the cupboard under the stairs.

After three nights of talking Harry had finally gotten to know the real Draco Malfoy. He was a completely different person than he had expected. He wasn't pure evil or naturally spiteful, he had just been doing whatever it took to keep his father happy. "I remember this one time he came back from a death eater meeting. I'm guessing he had been punished for something because when he asked how my night was I didn't answer fast enough for him and he crucioed me twice and then put me under the imperious and forced me to punish myself." Draco said told him. "That was the night I decided I wanted nothing to do with Voldemort.

"Until I met Hagrid on my eleventh birthday I thought my parents had died in a car crash." Harry told him.

"A car crash? The muggles told you they died in a car crash, that's horrible." Draco told him.

"That's not the worst part. They never told me I was a wizard either. When my letter arrived my uncle burned it without allowing me to open it. They kept sending more letters and he burned every one. He piled us into the car and drove us all around the country trying to avoid the letters. Finally Hagrid showed up and hand delivered my letter. It wasn't until then that I found out what I was." Harry told him.

"You mean to tell me that you, the famous boy who lived, had no idea you were famous or even a wizard until you got your letter? That would mean that more people knew things about you than you even knew yourself." Draco said shaking his head.

"I was totally naive to the wizarding world. You were the first person my age I ever spoke to that day in Madame Malkins. I didn't understand half the questions you asked me and then you made fun of Hagrid who was the only person who had ever been nice to me. Then you were mean to Ron who was the first friend I ever made and that kind of solidified my opinion that I didn't want to know you." Harry said.

"When I realized who you were I was jealous. I was expecting to be the one everyone fawned all over at school; it's what you expect as a Malfoy. Instead the boy who lived was all anyone could talk about. When you refused my offer of friendship I remembered all the bad things my father had ever said about muggle lovers and vowed to make your life hell. I didn't deal with competition very well back then." Draco laughed.

"And are you telling me that you deal with it better now?" Harry said also laughing. "You still want to be the best and have the best of everything."

"Yeah, but at least now I am trying to earn it instead of thinking it is my right as a Malfoy to demand the best but not do anything to ever deserve it." Draco said sadly.

"You are a new generation of Malfoy, you can still be a rich snob, you just have to be a nice rich snob who doesn't follow around an insane man and dressing up in costumes to scare muggles." Harry said.

"I will never understand how they get pleasure out of killing people." Draco said surprising Harry. "I just hope that if they ever attack this school or any of my friends that I'm there to bring down every last one of those bastards."

"Leave some for me; I deserve some payback as well." Harry told him.

"I just hope that the ministry looks past my last name when looking at auror applications." Draco told him.

"You want to be an auror too?" Harry asked surprised. "I always pictured you as a banker or real estate man, something with lots of money and very little close contact with others."

"No, I like being in the action. That's probably why I picked so many fights with you. I hate sitting on the sidelines, but I do like to have backup. Crabbe and Goyle while being complete idiots are very useful in a fight." Draco laughed. "Besides, with my knowledge of the dark arts from growing up in a family of dark wizards I could be a valuable resource to the cause."

"Why don't you stop by the room of requirement on Monday night at 6:30? I have a small group of trusted friends that are training with me to fight. It's my elite version of the DA; I want us to be ready to fight if there is an attack on the castle. It is a very serious commitment Draco. If you are still unsure of what side you're on at all, don't come." Harry told him.

"That's the first time you've ever used my first name." Draco commented surprised. Harry was surprised as well; he hadn't even realized the mistake until he had said it.

"I guess some things change." Harry said.

"And some things don't." Draco said. "My father and the death eaters will never change, we will have to stop them."

"We will." Harry said as he headed up to bed. "See you tomorrow Draco."

The others were not entirely excited about Draco joining the elite DA. Ron ranted on and on about how they couldn't trust Malfoy. Ginny finally smacked him. "We can trust him Ron. He and I have become friends and if Harry trusts him we should all too."

"Fine, but I'm still not going to trust that git. He has to prove himself before I'll trust him." Ron said resolutely.

Friday Harry and Hermione walked nervously into potions class. They were going to get their Polyjuice potion today. Hermoine wasn't too nervous she trusted Justin. They were meeting Saturday morning at 9 am to take the potion. Harry and Malfoy were meeting them in the room of requirement to start their project.

Snape was waiting for them when they walked in. He looked to be in a foul mood. Harry guessed that having been almost killed by one of his students would put anyone in a bad mood. Snape walked around the classroom carefully inspecting each potion. He insulted almost everyone's potion. The only two groups he did not insult were Harry and Draco and Hermoine and Justin.

He reminded them that they would be graded on how well they passed themselves off as the other person. They were all given instructions to document the number of people they talked to and the length of conversation. They were only allowed to divulge the project if the other person figured out what was going on. They were also told not to warn any of their friends or he would fail them.

Harry had his hour of wand less magic lessons with Dumbledore so he said good bye to Hermoine and went to the Headmaster's office. When he entered he was surprised to find Professor Snape in the office as well. "Good afternoon Harry, Professor Snape wanted to speak with you. I'll just leave you two to talk." Dumbledore told him as he left.

"I wanted to apologize for the way I've treated you since you came to Hogwarts." Snape said. Harry could tell he actually meant it. "I've held a grudge against your father for many years and you look so much like him it was difficult for me not to treat you like I did him."

"I know that my father and Sirius were horrible to you when you were all students. When I saw your memory last year I was appalled at how my father had acted. I know he changed a lot after he left school. I'm sure my mother was responsible for a lot of that." Harry told him.

"I should never have let how I feel about your family effect my teaching. Today when Miss Weasley saved my life I saw the look of shock on all the Gryffindor's faces. They couldn't imagine she would save me after I treat them all so unfairly. I never noticed how biased I acted. Once again I am sorry. I also wanted to apologize for all the cruel things I've said to you over the years and how I hoped you would miss a step in a potion so I could fail you. I was very surprised to see your O in potions." Snape said.

Harry was still in shock that his potions professor had finally admitted that he wasn't treating Harry fairly. "May I ask why you and my father hated each other so much? I know he tormented you, but it seemed like how Malfoy and I act around each other. What was it that caused you to be such enemies?"

"I was afraid you would ask that." Snape said looking away. "This is something I have only talked about with Professor Dumbledore. It is a very personal thing. I hope that this does not make you think even less of me." He said stalling. "The reason your father and I hated each other in the beginning was only because of the Slytherin/Gryffindor rivalry. Then it became about your mother."

"My mother?" Harry asked surprised. He hadn't expected his mum to have anything to do with their feud.

"Yes, you see Lily would always stick up for me when your father and Black would gang up on me." Snape paused trying to find the courage to tell him the rest. "I fell in love with your mother Harry." He said so quietly Harry almost missed it.

"You were in love with my mum and so was my dad. That is the reason for all of this?" Harry said incredulously. He had never thought Snape capable of love, let alone for his mother. "Did she know?" Harry wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.

"Yes, I told her but she was already in love with your father. We remained friends but Potter didn't like me talking to her. When he found out that I loved her everything got worse than before. It was out of hatred of your father and what I perceived as his perfect friends that I joined the Dark Lord. I wanted revenge on them and the only way I knew of was to follow my fellow Slytherins example." Snape told him relived to get this all out in the open.

"What made you change sides?" Harry asked even though he already had an idea.

"When they decided to come after your mother. They heard about a prophesy about a baby being born to a couple that had thrice defied the Dark Lord. You know the prophesy. When I heard that Lily was to be murdered I couldn't just sit by and watch it happen. I hated every minute of being a Death Eater. I hated the torturing and killing of muggles just for fun. The Dark Lord is not someone one would want to spend time with. He tortured us regularly for any little thing. When I heard about Lily it was the last straw and I went to Dumbledore that night." Snape told him.

"So you didn't know about Wormtail?" Harry asked him.

"No, if I had known I would have let everyone know. I too thought Sirius was the traitor. I was so sure that by being an informant I could save her. I think part of me still blames your father for trusting the traitor and not protecting your mother. That is why I was so horrible to you. You look him. It's like he is still alive but she is gone." Snape told him wondering Harry's reaction.

"I understand why Professor Dumbledore trusts you now." Harry told him. "It will take me a while to come to terms with you being in love with my mother."

"I never tried anything with her. She was my friend and I told her my feeling only because I didn't want to lie to her. She was very important to me. As much as I hated your father I saw how happy she was. I saw her once with you. She loved you more than anything Harry. She would have done anything to keep you safe." Snape smiled at the memory. "When we figured out how you survived the curse I was not surprised."

"May I ask why you are telling me all this now?" Harry asked him.

"We are going to be working together to fight the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord. Neither one of us will be any help to the Order if we cannot trust each other. I realized today that if Miss Weasley can put aside how badly I treated her to save my life I should be able to put aside my dislike of your father and find out what kind of a person you are Harry." Snape told him.

"I'm willing to try to start over. I have been trying to show you respect in class and you haven't been horrible since I have been studying so hard for your class. If we can be civil to each other outside of class and you start treating all the other houses with respect we will not have any problems." Harry told him hold out his had for Snape to shake.

"You are a much better person that I ever gave you credit for Potter. I believe that many people underestimate you, including the Dark Lord. That is why you will succeed."

Harry headed down to dinner to tell Ron, Hermoine and Ginny everything that had just occurred. They spent the rest of the night discussing the revelations that Snape had told him. Ginny seemed very interested that Snape was in love with Lily. "Don't you think it's odd that a Slytherin fell in love with a Gryffindor? I haven't heard of a pairing like that before." She told them.

"She was an amazing woman, just like you Gin. I'm not surprised he fell for her. In fact I bet she had admirers in every house." Harry laughed. He made sure to tell Malfoy all about his conversation with Snape that night during rounds so he could comment to his friends if asked.

Chapter 21: Being Someone Else

The next morning Harry and Hermoine met Malfoy and Justin in the room of requirement. They had each brought clothes for the other one to change into. They took their potion and stepped out of the changing rooms to get a look at each other.

"You never looked so good Potter." Malfoy said in his usual drawl. Smirking at Harry who was now looking just like him.

"Why don't you go crying back to your muggle loving Weasel?" Harry responded in a very good imitation of Malfoy's voice. He even had the smirk down. He watched as "Justin" and "Harry" laughed.

"You sounded just like him Harry!" Hermoine laughed before clapping her hand over her mouth realizing she was still using her voice. "I mean you sound just like a typical stuck up Slytherin." She said imitating Justin's voice. She had used a charm to lower her voice. Justin had to use one to sound like her as well.

"Come on Malfoy we better get to the great hall before the red heads miss us." Justin said laughing at his new higher pitched girl voice.

"See you at the Quidditch match. Good luck with the project." Hermoine said as she adjusted Justin's robes. I was going to take a while to get used to being in a boys body.

"Harry, Hermoine, where have you been all morning?" Ron asked as they joined him at the Gryffindor table.

"We were in the library studding for our potions project." Hermoine (Justin) told him while Ron rolled his eyes at how much work his too best mates were putting into that class.

Justin had to remind himself not to eat a lot; he had watched Hermoine eat small amounts. He pulled out a text book and started to read as he ate, also a Hermoine thing. "Don't you ever get tired of studying?" Harry (Malfoy) asked her, the real Harry had mentioned that they had this conversation at least once a week.

"Yeah, you two got up early to study, give it a break." Ron added through a mouthful of food. "Oh Ginny wanted me to tell you that she will see you at the match and to save her a seat." Ron told Harry.

Harry was sitting at the Slytherin table next to Goyle who was eating like it was his last meal. He kept a look of annoyance on his face that Draco always seemed to wear around the Slytherins. He just ate his food and prayed that the day would be over soon. He was having no problems convincing Crabbe and Goyle, but they were idiots.

"Hey Justin, come sit over here." Hannah Abbot said as he (Hermoine) entered the Great Hall. She knew that Justin and Hannah were friends. She sat between her and Padma Patel.

"Hey Hannah, Padma." She said still amused with Justin's deep voice. She had to concentrate on stuffing her face with food as most the boys did. She was never a big breakfast eater but she wasn't going to fail an assignment because she didn't feel like eating.

"Do you want to sit together at the match today?" Hannah asked him blushing. Hermoine nodded between bites. She knew the look in Hannah's eyes; she liked Justin. She knew he had no idea and that he normally sat next to her at the game. "Great. I can't wait for the match; I know we are going to beat Hufflepuff. They should be no problem after how horrible they played against Gryffindor."

"Save me a seat ok, I have to talk with Hermoine about our potions project before I head down to the game." She said. She needed to ask Justin about his feeling for Hannah before she went and asked him out while she was pretending to be him.

"Hey Hermoine," She said walking up to herself. "I have a question about that potions assignment, do you have a minute?"

"Sure, save me a seat Ron." She (Justin) said heading out of the Great Hall. They went into an empty classroom.

"Do you like Hannah?" Hermoine asked getting straight to the point.

"Sure I do, she's my friend. Why?" Justin asked curious.

"I mean do you like her any more than a friend? She asked you to sit next to her at the match and she blushed when she asked. Being a girl I think she might like you more than a friend." Hermoine told him watching as her own face turned red. "I just needed to know what to do if she asked you out or something."

Justin wasn't sure what to say. He had never really thought about being more than friends with Hannah. They were always together and he really liked spending time with her and he didn't like the thought of her liking other guys. Did that mean he liked her? "I've never thought about it before. I wouldn't be apposed to the idea; it's just kind of sudden for me." He told her. "I don't know what to tell you."

"Its all right, I'll make up something." Hermoine said. "I better get to the match. I have to go cheer for your team."

Ginny sat down next to Draco (Harry) and wrapped her arm through his and leaned on his shoulder. He loved the feel of her soft hair against him, even if he had to be Potter to experience it. "I missed you this morning." She told him as they waited for the match to start.

Harry was forced to boo both teams as they exited the changing rooms. The Slytherins all laughed as a bludger hit the Hufflepuff keeper making him fall off his broom. The game was becoming a blowout. Ravenclaw was up by 190 points to Hufflepuffs 30. Harry spotted the snitch hovering above the center Ravenclaw goal post. Finally the Hufflepuff seeker saw it and raced toward it. Cho was on the other side of the pitch and had no chance of catching it. The final score was Ravenclaw 190 Hufflepuff 180. The Slytherins were all commenting on how stupid the Hufflepuff chaser was for catching the snitch when they were loosing.

"That was way too close!" Hannah said grabbing onto Justin (Hermoine). "But we won! Yes!" They all headed down to the pitch to congratulate their team and head back for a victory party.

Justin had to try and keep his excitement down. Hermoine didn't care about Quidditch that much. They all headed back up to the common room. Malfoy was having the time of his life playing Harry. The way Ginny held onto him and smiled at him, he tried to forget that she was really smiling at Harry.

The victory party was fun. The Ravenclaws knew how to kick back and have a good time. Hannah and Justin were sitting on a couch in the corner of the room discussing the details of the game. Hermoine had listened to enough Quidditch conversations to be able to fake her interest well. "Did you know there's another Hogsmead weekend next weekend?" Hannah asked him.

Hermoine knew what was coming and hoped Justin wouldn't be upset. "Oh, I didn't notice." She shrugged.

"Well, if you don't have any plans maybe we can hang out there together." Hannah said blushing red and not looking at Justin.

"Ok, we hang out together almost every weekend." Hermoine said imitating the typical clueless male Hogwarts student.

"I know," Hannah added. "But I meant just you and me hanging out."

"Like a date?" Justin (Hermoine) asked, still playing stupid.

Hannah studied his face hoping for some sort of reaction. Boys were so dense sometimes. She just nodded her head; she hoped she hadn't just hurt their relationship.

Hermoine just stared at her with a fake shocked look on her face. She couldn't answer right away or the 'stupid boy's routine wouldn't work. After long enough silence she said, "I've never really thought about us like that before. I don't want to hurt our friendship if it doesn't work out."

"Just forget about it then," Hannah said quickly trying to cover her hurt.

Hermione couldn't stand seeing her friend hurt like that. "I'm not saying to forget it; I'm just saying I've never really thought about it before." She watched as Hannah smiled and hugged him tight.

"I don't want to ruin our friendship either but I can't help but wonder what it would be like to be more than friends." Hannah told him blushing again.

"Can I think it all over tonight and tell you in the morning?" Hermoine asked buying for time. "I'm still kind of in shock and need to sort everything out." Hannah agreed and they went back to talking about Quidditch and school work.

Hermoine told Justin what happened at dinner. Ron was busy discussing Quidditch with Dean and Seamus to notice she was missing. Draco (Harry) was enjoying talking with Ginny. "I still can't believe Snape apologized to you and admitted he favored the Slytherins." She told him.

"I guess when your own students turn on you it's time to make new friends." He said smiling. "Besides, it's a life changing experience having your arms wrapped around you." She giggled and swatted his arm playfully. Harry was watching from the other side of the room. He didn't like how Ginny couldn't tell it wasn't him.

Ginny giggled and pulled Harry up. "Let's go take a walk around the lake." He followed obediently.

The real Harry finished his dinner quickly and hurried after them to make sure Malfoy behaved himself. They were walking around the lake. "So if this was the second task of the Tri-wizard Tournament who would be the person you missed the most? Would it still be Ron?" Ginny asked.

"You know that you are the one I would miss the most. I couldn't stand it if anything were to happen to you." Malfoy said speaking from his own heart knowing that Harry would say the same. Harry was in the bushes listening and liked Malfoy's answer but knew his Ginny was going to kiss him soon.

"You really know how to sweet talk a girl don't you." Ginny said leaning up and kissing him tenderly on the lips. Draco was in heaven, he was kissing the girl of his dreams. He knew he would dream of this moment for the rest of his life and this was the only time he would ever touch those tender lips. Ginny pulled away abruptly. She glared at him. "Who are you and where is Harry!" She yelled.

Harry smiled from the bushes, he wasn't happy about the kiss but at least she could tell it wasn't him. Malfoy didn't know what to say to her. "Draco? Is that you?" She asked remembering they were working on Polyjuice in class. "Is this some kind of potions project or something?"

"How the hell did you figure that out so fast?" Draco asked in his own voice. "Yes, this is a class project; we all had to turn into our potions partner. So Harry is being me and I'm being him. We get graded on how well we fool each others friends. I'm sorry that we had too fool you."

"That's ok; I'm just surprised I couldn't tell sooner." Ginny said as they headed back into the castle. Harry hurried into the school before they saw him spying. He ran into Ron and Hermoine (Justin) in the entrance hall. Crabbe and Goyle were there also so he had to play the evil Malfoy part. "Watch it Weasley, you almost contaminated my robes with your girlfriends muggle filth." Harry said plastering on Malfoy's trademark sneer. Ginny and Draco had walked in just in time to hear Harry's comment.

"Shove off Malfoy." Draco said approaching them. Harry would never let him insult his friends without at least a warning. "Take your goons and go before I have to hex you."

Harry grinned mischievously before turning to face Draco. They had been commenting on how they hadn't had a good fight in front of the school in a while and the Slytherins might have started to wonder. "Bring it on Potter." Harry said knowing it would be an interesting fight.

"Harry stop it, come on lets go" Hermoine (Justin) said. He knew that Hermoine always tried to break up the fights between Harry and Draco. He thought it would be interesting to see who came out on top since they were in each others body.

Harry and Draco pulled out their wands, or rather each others wands and wondered how well they would work for each other. Malfoy was the first to strike with the disarming curse but Harry put up a protection charm. They threw spells back and forth a few times before Harry connected on a stunning spell and knocked Malfoy to his knees. Harry quickly said the disarming spell and caught his own wand in his hand. "Looks like Potter is not so perfect after all." Harry drawled sneering at himself.

Malfoy didn't know what to say. He wasn't expecting Harry to win and let everyone think that he had got the best of him finally after all these years. "Will you two ever grow up?" Ginny said shaking her head. She went over and took Harry's wand and led their group up toward the Gryffindor common room.

"Why the hell did you let Malfoy beat you?" Ron said when they were out of earshot of the Slytherins. "You could have taken him easily."

"I just didn't protect myself enough." Draco said trying to play it down.

"It was weird though, he was fighting fair. He never fought fair before. It's kind of ironic that he beats you the first time he plays fair. Maybe that's why he won, you were waiting for some sinister move." Ron babbled on and on for a while. They all sat in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. Draco liked their common room better than his own. Slytherins was cold and unfriendly.

Ginny went and sat next to Draco on the couch. She snuggled up next to him. She knew that her brother would suspect something if she just sat next to him. "Draco was bound to win one of their fights. He is a good wizard and very skilled in duels. He just gets cocky and is thinking too far ahead. If he paid closer attention he would be able to block half the spells fired his way."

"I just don't like the fact that so many Slytherins saw Harry loose." Ron said.

"It might be a good thing," Justin said in her know it all voice. "They might think Harry is weak and report back to Voldemort. If Voldemort underestimates Harry's powers it will be a huge advantage the next time they meet."

"Hermione's right," Draco said. He had never imagined himself saying those words in his life. "Besides the Slytherins were beginning to think that Malfoy was loosing his edge. This is just what he needs to keep the suspicions that he may have switched sides down to a minimum."

They talked up until it was time for rounds. Draco leaned over and kissed Ginny on the cheek before getting up to do his rounds. Ginny winked at him. They were meeting in the room of requirement after prefect rounds to switch back into each other. Draco ran into Remus during his rounds.

"Harry, I talked with Dumbledore and he is fine with you inviting Malfoy to headquarters for Christmas holidays. Tonks is excited; she seems to think we all will get to know the 'real Draco' as she calls him. All I know is that we don't want him forced to join the Death Eaters. You can tell him we worked it all out." Remus told him.

"I know he'll appreciate not having to stay here by himself." Draco said. "Besides we are a lot alike. We were both raised in houses where we were hated and tortured. The only difference in our childhood was that he was rich and was terrified his father would hurt him if he didn't act like he was told to."

"You two seem to have gotten to know each other a lot better. Are you two friends now?" Remus asked curiously.

"We are partners in potions and have talked a few time during our prefect rounds I wouldn't say that we are friends. But we aren't enemies anymore." Draco told him.

"So if you aren't enemies why were you dueling in the entrance hall after dinner?" Remus asked smiling.

"We decided that we have to act like we still hate each other so the Slytherins don't suspect and turn on him." Draco said truthfully.

"So that's why you let him win? I was wondering what was going on." He said.

Draco rushed off to the room of requirement. He only had a few minutes until the potion wore off and didn't want anyone seeing him walking around in Gryffindor robes. He was the last one there. "So, who had anyone realize you weren't who you looked like?" Hermoine asked, still looking like Justin but using her own voice.

"Ginny realized I wasn't Harry when she kissed me. Sorry Harry, I didn't know what to do. She realized right away and flipped out. Then she remembered we were working on Polyjuice in class and put it all together." Draco said not looking at Harry. He was overprotective of Ginny and wouldn't like the idea that she kissed him.

"It's ok, she thought she was kissing me and no harm was done since she could tell it wasn't me. I'm very glad she could tell the difference." Harry told him.

Hermoine had told Justin about Hannah asking him out and how he would have to decide and tell her tomorrow. He still seemed shocked that she has asked him out. "I don't know what to do. I think she's great and we are good friends, but what happens if it all blows up in our face?" He asked her.

"I don't know what to tell you. All I can say is look how happy Ron and I are or Harry and Ginny and we were all very good friends before we got together." She said.

Harry and Ginny continued to have lessons from Snape on Tuesdays. Ginny had finally gotten the hang of blocking her mind. Snape was pleased with her progress. Ever since his near death experience he had been nice to them, telling them when they were doing well and not even yelling when they weren't up to his standards.

Harry had completely mastered Occlumency and was getting good at Legilimency. Snape had stopped placing thoughts into his pensive. Since he had told Harry the truth there was no point in hiding them anymore. Harry concentrated on reading Snape's thoughts and all of a sudden images were whizzing past him. He hadn't even said the spell yet. He was able to do Legilimency without his wand! He tried again and this time focused on finding memories about his mother to see if he could extract specific information. He had read a book that outlined how to search through others thoughts. He loved how he could get into the restricted section with his invisibility cloak.

Harry tried again and instantly an image of his mother was before him. She was yelling at his father for being immature. Then she turned and smiled at Snape. He could feel the love surge through his professor for his mother and it was quite unnerving. He pulled himself out of Snape's mind and looked at his professor.

"How did you do that Potter?" Snape asked surprised. "I was putting all of my effort into blocking you and I could barely tell you were in my mind. It seems you are a natural at this as well as a very good thief." Snape explained that only the best could enter someone's mind without that person realizing they were in there. "Try it on Miss Weasley and see if she can notice when you enter."

Harry turned to Ginny and smiled. He concentrated on finding thoughts and memories of him and then dove into her mind. He saw many memories of them kissing and talking. Suddenly an image of an older Ginny walking down an aisle with a long white dress on flooded his mind. He watched as she walked toward and older version of himself smiling at her. Harry stopped looking and turned to face the real Ginny.

"Have you started yet?" She asked, obviously not able to detect his intrusion.

"Did you have a vision of our wedding?" Harry asked her grinning. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to scare you off; we are only 16 after all. Besides I kind of liked keeping that one to myself." She said smiling. "So I take it you had no problems breaking into my mind?"

"No, I'm sorry. But I promise not to do that without your permission. I may be skilled at Legilimency but that doesn't mean I'll use it on you or any of my friends." Harry told her seriously. "This is just to help in the fight against Dark Wizards."

"I know Harry." Ginny said sending him a thought of her wrapping her arms around him and kissing him fiercely. He looked surprised for a second and then grinned.

"The next thing I want you to learn is thought projection." Snape told him. "If you hone your skill you will be able to project a thought into other's minds. For example if you wanted to let someone know to move out of the way in a battle without alerting the enemy you could think it and send that thought to the other person who would be able to get the thought. You will also be able to receive thoughts from anyone who is willingly sending them to you. For example Miss Weasley could imaging meeting you in the entrance hall and send you that thought. You would then know to meet her in the entrance hall. This is not to be used during classes in any form, am I understood?"

"Yes sir. I am not a cheater and would never use these powers for that purpose." Harry told him. "I will work on that for next week."

"You still need to stay focused on your Occlumency, don't ever forget to close your mind. Even during the day you should keep your barrier up." Snape told them. "If you get in the habit of blocking your thoughts at all times your barrier will continue to grow until your mind is impenetrable."

"So you're going to marry me huh?" Harry said holding her tight that night on the astronomy tower.

"Only if you keep making me feel this lightheaded with your kisses." Ginny told him as they continued kissing.

"Christmas is in less than a month, are you going to tell your parents about us before then or just surprise them with it when we get there?" Harry asked her.

"Surprise them, that way they can't freak out and decide not to let me stay in the same house as you." She giggled. "I don't think they will mind. They love and trust you. It's my brothers you might have to worry about, but Ron should be able to help with them. We'll just have to get them really good presents so they forget about us."

Harry laughed, he was glad she wasn't nervous about telling her parents. Having Tonks and Remus there would help as well. "I love you Gin." He told her as they made their way into the castle.

The list to sign up to stay at the castle for Christmas holidays went up the next day. By the end of the week not a single student had signed up to stay. It was an all time low for Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore stood up at dinner. "I have seen that no one had signed up to stay at the castle over the holidays. If anyone is planning on staying please let me know after dinner so we can make proper arrangements. I realize that it is important to spend time with friends and family during this trying time in history and encourage everyone to have as much fun as possible over the coming break."

"No one is staying?" Hermoine asked shocked. "That means that all the professors will be the only ones here. That can't be fun for them; I bet they wish they had someplace to go as well."

Harry smiled; he should invite the professors for Christmas as well. The house was definitely large enough. He concentrated on imaging Headquarters decked out in holiday decorations and sent the thought to Professor Snape alone with the thought of "All professors welcome." He looked up to see Snape look at him and nod before turning to whisper to Dumbledore who smiled and winked at Harry.

"Did you just invite all the professors for Christmas?" Ginny asked him knowingly. She had wondered why Snape and Dumbledore had been in her vision of Christmas at Harry's. As a response Harry sent her an image of them kissing under the mistletoe.

The weeks flew by and soon they were all getting ready to go to Headquarters. Remus had promised to take them shopping in Diagon Alley so they could buy Christmas presents for everyone. The only professors coming were those in the order, which by now also included Madame Pomfrey and Professors Sprout and Flitwick. Harry had decided to put them all in the same wing of the house. Everyone else was in their usual spot. He hadn't decided where to put Malfoy yet. He was debating putting him in with Ron and taking over Sirius' bedroom for himself. He had decided over the summer that he was going to claim that room as his own.

They were all sitting around the fire in the common room discussing their Christmas plans. "Gran says she doesn't want to spend Christmas at St. Mungo's this year she says we should stay at home and have proper food." Neville said miserably. "It will just be her and me. I'll get to visit my parents, just not the 24th or 25th."

"I can talk to Remus and see if you two can come over to my house for Christmas." Harry told him watching Neville's face light up.

"Are you sure Harry? I don't want to get in the way of your first family Christmas." Neville told him.

"We are having a lot of people over Neville, you wouldn't be intruding. I just have to clear it with Remus. We have a lot of added security charms on our house and I'm not sure if we can change them that fast." Harry told him. He didn't want to risk the safety of headquarters.

"I understand, thanks for inviting me even if it doesn't work out." Neville said and went back to his room to finish packing.

They played exploding snap on the train ride home. Draco was in their compartment wearing an invisibility cloak. He had made a bid to do over writing his name down on the list to stay at school. All his Slytherin friends had commented on how sad he was that he couldn't spend the holidays with his father so he would rather stay at school than be reminded that his father wasn't at home.

Draco spent most the train ride petting Ginny's kitten Lightning. She seemed to like him a lot. She was snuggled up on his lap purring contentedly. He was looking out the window wondering what it would be like to spend the holidays with Potter and his friends when the door opened and Pansy came in followed by Crabbe and Goyle.

"You'll pay for sending Draco's father to prison. He should be here having fun with us but instead he's still at school. You are not going to win; you should just give up now." Pansy spat. Harry probed into her mind and realized that she was in love with Draco and thought by picking a fight with them she could prove herself worthy of him.

"The Dark Lord will free our fathers and Mr. Malfoy and they will destroy you." Goyle said surprising everyone with the ability to string an entire sentence together.

Harry smiled and pulled out his wand. "You don't want to fight me." He said menacingly. "Now leave us alone." He could see Pansy falter and knew Crabbe and Goyle were scared to take him on without their fearless leader.

"I'm not afraid of you," Pansy said clearly lying. She was remembering Draco beating him when the fought last. Harry smiled, his plan of making the Slytherins believe he was weak worked.

"You may not be afraid of Harry, but you damn well better be afraid of me." Ginny said pointing her wand at Pansy and Ron, Hermoine, Neville and Luna stood up and pointed their wands at Crabbe and Goyle. Draco watched amused. His 'friends' didn't stand a chance against Potter and his gang.

"You are lucky Draco isn't here or you'd all be sorry." Pansy said stalking away with Crabbe and Goyle in toe.

"That was interesting." Hermoine said when they were all seated again. "I wonder what got into her; she's never picked a fight with us before."

"She's upset that Draco isn't here. She thought that she could prove herself worthy of him by taking me on." Harry said trying not to laugh as he looked toward the invisible Draco. "She's in love with you,"

"She's what?" Draco asked. He had never given Pansy the time of day and tried to be as mean to her as possible. Why would she love him?

"She's in love with you. Didn't you know that?" Ginny asked. "I realized that back in 3rd year. You should have seen how giddy she was when you took her to the Yule Ball."

"Ugh, how do I always attract all the girls I would never want and the ones that I do want are never attracted to me?" Draco said miserably.

"Maybe she's not that bad," Hermoine added. "We were wrong about you; maybe we are about her as well. She could just be doing all this to impress you."

"No, I've seen her torture house elves. She enjoyed every second of it. She's a Death Eater wanna be. Our parents were friends; I've known her all my life. She loves my last name and all the power and money that comes with it. She's also in love with someone who doesn't exist. She loves the person I've pretended to be my entire life." Draco told them all. "I don't think there is any hope for her. She is excited about joining the Death Eaters. She's even had her robes and mask made already. I will be surprised if she doesn't turn up after the holidays with a dark mark."

"How many other Slytherins are going to join over the holidays?" Harry asked sadly. He hated the thought of having to fight his classmates.

"Only a few. They won't take Crabbe and Goyle yet or anyone who isn't at least 17. They want to make sure we are old enough to accept responsibility for our actions." Draco said bitterly. "They are also only taking those whose parents are Death Eaters or supporters. They don't have to have their loyalty tested as much as others who join."

"Pansy's parents are Death Eaters?" Ron asked. "We didn't know that."

"Her father is one. Her mother is like mine, they sit on the sidelines. They do what they are told and don't ask questions. They often are used as 'entertainment' during parties and such." Draco hated talking about things like that. He had witnessed his mother doing a striptease at one those parties one night when he had snuck out of his room to see what they were like. He stayed in his room after that.

They went back to playing cards for the rest of the trip. They all piled into ministry cars when they arrived and were escorted to the minister's office. They had a secure connection to the floo network from his fireplace. They were soon all standing in the living room of Harry's house.

Chapter 22: Healing the Mind

"Nice house Potter." Draco said removing the invisibility cloak and looking around. "And here I thought we would be squished into your house like sardines."

"You're not the only one with money anymore Malfoy." Ron said setting his trunk down enjoying the look on Malfoy's face.

Harry showed them all their rooms and put his trunk in his new room before going down to the kitchen to find Dobby and Winky. He had kept in contact with his house elf friends while he was at school but was excited to see them again.

He walked into the kitchen and Dobby ran up to hug him. "Dobby missed his master when he was at Hogwarts." Dobby said standing back to let Winky hug him as well.

"Welcome home Harry sir." She said smiling. "Is there anythings you need from Winky?"

"No, the house looks wonderful. I can't wait to see how you decorate it for Christmas." Harry told them. "We are going to have a full house for the holidays. I want to make sure everyone has a good time. There is one person that is here that you will not expect Dobby. He has changed a lot since you last knew him. Please extend him common courtesy, but if he does anything rude or mean to either of you I want you to tell me immediately, ok?"

"Yes sir," Dobby said wondering why he would need such warning. "Who is it?"

"It's Draco Malfoy," Harry said watching Dobby's eyes get huge. He looked terrified. "He has changed Dobby and is on our side now. His father is in Azkaban. I'm sure you witnessed the horrible things his father did to him. He forced Draco to act that way and when his father was sent away Draco was finally free to be the person he really is. I know it will be hard on you, so if you would prefer I'll have Winky wait on him so you two do not have much interaction."

"If you says he is changed then Dobby believes you sir." He said bowing. The door to the kitchen opened just then and in walked Ginny and Draco.

"Dobby?" Draco asked surprised. "I never expected to see you again. My father said he had killed you."

"No, your father accidentally freed Dobby by presenting him with a sock. He has been my friend for quite some time and is now working here." Harry told him.

Draco smiled, "I am sorry for all the horrible things my family did to you. I am also glad you found a new family to serve that will treat you well." He said him.

"Dobby accepts Draco sirs apology." Dobby said bowing and almost running from the room. He did not know how to react to having a Malfoy apologize to him.

"Thank you for that Draco." Harry said, "Dobby and Winky are very special to me and I am glad that you have also learned respect for house elves as well."

"Good thing Hermione is not here or she would be bawling." Ginny laughed as they all grabbed a Butterbeer and headed for the drawing room.

They all flooed to Diagon Alley the next morning to go Christmas shopping. They went to Gringotts first to get their money. Draco cleaned out half of his vault and placed it in a new vault that only he had access to in case his mother cut him off for not coming home for Christmas. Tonks transfigured Draco's hair to be red and he was wearing his only set of robes without the Malfoy crest. It was the only way to not be recognized by anyone from school.

They spent all day shopping and having a great time. Their friends from school that they saw seemed to think that Draco was just another Weasley relative and didn't ask questions. Harry had most of his shopping done except for Ginny, Remus and Tonks. "Who do you have left?" Harry asked Malfoy.

"Ginny and Tonks," Draco said. "How about you?"

"Ginny, Remus and Tonks." Harry told him laughing. I guess we saved the hardest for last. "Come on there's got to be something good out there we just have to find it!" They walked into a jewelry store in hopes of getting ideas. Harry spotted an interesting charm bracelet. "What about this for me to get Ginny?" He asked Draco.

"That is a very unique bracelet." The sales lady said walking over to them. "It is made of solid silver and each pendant has a different charm attached to it. We can fashion an additional charms you would like." There were four charms on it now a wand, heart, rose and star. The heart had a charm where the wearer could sense how people felt about them, the star was a charm that let you see the stars without a telescope, the rose had a charm to always smell like roses and the wand had a magic amplifying charm on it.

"I will take it, but I will need a few more charms crafted. A broomstick preferably shaped like a Nimbus 3000, with an anti-falling charm. A quaffle with a speed charm put on it. A snitch with an increased reflexes charm on it. A kitten with a charm to allow her to be able to find her cat at a moments notice, it should be a black kitten with a lightning bolt on its head and green eyes. And I want one shaped like Hogwarts with a very strong protection charm on it." Harry told the lady.

"That will be very expensive and will take a few days to complete." The lady told him looking skeptically at him.

"I will pay you three quarters now," Harry told her. "And the rest when I have it picked up." He paid her the sum, which even made Draco raise and eyebrow. "Either Remus Lupin or one of the Weasley men will be in to pick it up. I want it wrapped and ready for Christmas when they get it." The sales lady nodded and smiled, she would have a very merry Christmas herself with the commission she would get from his purchase.

They went to a clothing and gift store next. Draco decided to buy Tonks a t-shirt that said "I'm not who you think I am." It was bright pink and the writing changed colors. They laughed at how appropriate it was. They were in the back of the store near the novelty items when Draco howled with laughter and pulled Harry over to a display of stuffed animals. They all had t-shirts on them that said "I Love Harry Potter" and the O in love was shaped like a heart. Harry couldn't even fathom the display. Malfoy grabbed a purple teddy bear with one of the shirts and went to pay for it along with the t-shirt. He didn't notice Harry smile when he noticed a white jarvey shaped one. Jarvies were magical creatures that resembled large talking ferrets. He paid for it and had it wrapped for Malfoy for Christmas.

"These are some of our most popular items." The sales witch said to Draco as he bought the bear. Draco could barely hand over the money he was laughing so hard at Harry who looked like he wanted to burn the place down.

Draco bought Tonks a bunch of tricks from the twins shop. Harry practically had to drag him out of there so they could finish their shopping. They found a store that had unique gifts in it. Harry was looking at mirror that reflected other people's faces when you looked into it. He decided that would be funny for Tonks. "What do you think of this for Ginny?" Draco asked Harry. It was a beautifully carved trinket box. It was painted pale lavender and had silver hardware and details. It played a soft melody when opened and was lined with purple velvet. "She can put all the jewelry you give her in it."

"She'll love it," Harry said approving. Now they only had Moony to buy for. He was looking through a section called interesting one-of-a-kind books in hopes of finding something Remus would like. He spotted a book decked out in Gryffindor colors and pulled it off the shelf. He found himself looking at a picture of his father and his friends. The book was tilted "A Complete Guide to Marauder's Mischief." It didn't list an author. Harry flipped through the book and saw detailed descriptions of each one of their pranks including color photos. He had to buy this book for Remus. He also noticed two books side by side. One was a complete family history of the Evans family and the other was a complete family history of the Malfoy family.

"I think you might want to see this," He called over to Draco who took the book and flipped through it. They paid for the books, mirror and jewelry box and headed back to meet the others at the ice cream parlor. They stopped by the post office to send Malfoy's mother her present before they left to go back to Harry's.

They spent the rest of the night wrapping presents and helping Dobby and Winky decorate the house before the Professors and rest of the Weasleys arrived in the morning. Ginny decorated one small tree near the entry entirely in purple. Hermoine laughed at her, "Nobody could guess that purple is your favorite color now could they Ginny?"

The girls had a good time decorating. Ron complained to Harry and Draco about having to shop with them all day. "All they did was giggle and gossip!" Ron told them.

"You were the one that insisted on going with them instead of us mate." Harry laughed. "Draco here didn't giggle once, we had a few laughs but no girls giggling or gossiping."

Did you get all your shopping done?" Draco asked him trying to make conversation. Ron and he still didn't get along and he knew he would have to try hard to win his trust.

"Yeah, I hope Hermoine likes her present." He said nervously.

"From what I know of girls as long as it looks like you put some thought into their present they think it's the best thing they've ever gotten. Even if she hates it she will still like it because it came from you." Draco said. "Trust me on this; I have always been good with the ladies."

"So how come you don't have a girl now?" Harry asked him curiously. "You always seemed to have a few fawning all over you before, what changed?"

"I realized that most of the girls at Hogwarts only like me for my money just like they only like you for your fame and how they finally know Weasley's name because his father is Minister. Those are not the kind of girl I want. I want someone who I can have a conversation with, laugh with, enjoy being with not just for her looks but for what she has on the inside. Growing up a Malfoy I was always taught that I must end up with a pureblood woman that was the prettiest available." Draco told them.

"And you haven't found anyone who meets those requirements and is pretty on the inside?" Ron asked him.

"Yes I have, except she is completely in love with someone else and I'm happy for her. She deserves to be with someone like him way more than someone like me. I'll find someone someday that will be close to being as wonderful as her." Draco said not even bothering to hide the longing in his voice.

Harry watched Malfoy carefully. He had a feeling he knew who Malfoy was in love with. "What would you do if she ever gave you any indication that she returned the feelings?" Harry asked him.

"She will never give me that. I have seen her with him. He makes her the happiest woman ever and I would never jeopardize that. I asked her out once, but that was before I knew about him. She politely told me that we could never be more than friends and I accept that. I will never ask her for more. Besides I wouldn't want to get on his bad side again." Draco said confirming Harry's suspicions that he loved Ginny.

"So you think this is kind of like Snape's situation with my mother then?" Harry asked. "He loved her but she loved my father and only wanted friendship?"

"Yes, the similarities between the stories are quite scary. The only difference is that I won't turn to Voldemort to make him pay. I am content with them together; they really are perfect for each other. I would probably end up hurting her. I've never been good at showing my feelings and she would probably be miserable. She needs someone who isn't afraid to give up everything to love her" Draco told him.

"So what did you get her for Christmas then?" Ron asked Draco.

"A jewelry box" Harry said watching as Malfoy nodded. "He got one for Ginny too," Harry said covering. If Ron even suspected that Malfoy liked Ginny there would be constant fights. Harry had listened to everything that Draco had said and was satisfied that he would never try to take Ginny from him. If anything, Harry knew there was another person who would protect Ginny with their life in case he ever failed.

Draco and Ron played chess many times over the next few days. Harry spent most the day lounging in the drawing room with Ginny either reading or talking. Hermoine was busy getting all her homework done. Harry had already finished all his assignments. He didn't tell Hermoine or Ron that he found school work to be almost boring now. He could perform almost any charm or spell after either hearing how to perform it or reading about it. His powers were growing steadily. Professor Dumbledore had even commented on his powers during their last wand less magic secession. Harry hardly even had to concentrate to perform spells without his wand anymore. Simple spells required almost no thought, only the more complex needed concentration.

Auror training with Tonks was boring still. They were still covering the finer points and prerequisites which meant a lot of reading and many quizzes where he would be led into a room and then blindfolded moments later and asked to recall every detail of the room. He was becoming increasingly aware of his surroundings and could tell when the slightest thing was off. One day she had moved Remus' desk a few inches and he could even tell that.

The professors all arrived looking excited to be out of the castle for a while. Flitwick went around examining all the trees and was delighted to discover the girls had left a few for him to decorate. McGonagall was in and out on Order business, but even she seemed in festive spirits. Charlie and Bill showed up with armfuls of presents to put under the large tree in the drawing room. Bill had brought his girlfriend Fleur Delacour to join them for the holidays. Her little sister Gabrielle was with them. Death Eaters had killed Fleur's parents last summer and Gabrielle was staying with her when school was not in secession.

"Harrie, it is so good to see you again." Fleur said kissing his cheek. "I am so happie that you are letting us stay for Christemass." Bill had written Harry asking to surprise his family with the news that he and Fleur were finally together by inviting her for the holidays.

"It is my pleasure Fleur; I have a room set up for you and Gabrielle right next to Bill's. Just let me or my house elves know if you or she needs anything." Harry said noticing that her Veela charms were not having an effect on him.

Ginny came into the room and squealed at seeing her favorite brother. Bill picked her up and spun her around. "Hello little sis," he said setting her down. "You remember Fleur. She is joining me for the holidays and this is her sister Gabrielle." Bill said putting his arm around Fleur and smiling.

Ginny was happy Bill finally got the nerve to ask her out. He had been giving her English lessons since she started working in London, they spent a lot of time together, she knew that Fleur had to like him to spend that much time with him but he was still too shy to ask her. He was afraid her being part Veela was effecting his perception and that he may not really like her. "That's wonderful Bill. I am so glad you finally got up the nerve to ask her out. I have a surprise for you too." Ginny said grabbing Harry's hand and grinning. "I finally got up my nerve as well."

Bill looked from Ginny to Harry and was glad to see his sister look so happy. "You better be good to her Harry. You know what I'll have to do to you if you hurt her."

He told him seriously. As the oldest Weasley brother it was his responsibility to protect his baby sister, even if that meant going up against Harry Potter.

"I would never hurt her Bill; I'm in love with her." Harry told him making Bill smile and pull him into a hug.

"I knew you two would get together someday. I'm happy for you two." He said.

"I'll show you two your room if you want," Harry said turning to Fleur and Gabrielle. "Bill and Charlie are staying in the very next room."

Charlie joined them as they went upstairs to their rooms. "Now I just need to find myself a girl." He laughed seeing how happy Bill, Ron and Harry were with their girlfriends. "Even the twins are dating!" He said shaking his head.

"Fred and George got girlfriends?" Ginny asked shocked. "Who would put up with them?"

"Angelina Johnson for Fred and Alicia Spinnet for George." Charlie said laughing at his sister's shocked expression. "They came into the joke shop and the twins took them out to dinner. They are still in the beginning stages, so don't get to surprised"

"So that's why they looked so happy at the shop yesterday." Ginny laughed.

"What's even funnier is that Katie Bell was with them and she is dating Lee Jordan now!" Charlie said making them all laugh again.

"If Bill and Fleur want some alone time Ron is in a room by himself and you can sleep in there instead." Harry said winking at Ron's two brothers. Ginny smacked him on the arm.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and the twins arrived for dinner. Everyone was surprised by the revelations that Bill and Fleur were together and even more surprised when Ginny told them that her and Harry were together. Ron had told his mum as soon as he asked Hermoine out so they already knew about them.

"All my children are growing up," Mrs. Weasley said trying to hold back tears. She was happy for her kids but also wished they would have stayed young longer.

They all went to St. Mungo's at Neville's request to visit his parents. He had finally stopped being embarrassed by his parents' condition. They all arrived and said hello to Lockhart before heading over to the Longbottoms side of the room. Neville smiled and hugged his parents hello. His Gran kissed his mother on the cheek.

"Hello Mrs. Longbottom," Remus said entering the room. "I didn't expect to see you until Christmas Eve."

"It was very nice of you to invite us." She told him. "And very nice of you to visit Alice and Frank."

"Bellatrix did this," Malfoy said the sadness evident in his voice. "I'm so sorry Neville, for everything."

"They fought as hard as they could against the Dark Lord. I'm proud of them." Neville told everyone. Harry gasped and fell to his knees. He was overcome with emotions of pride and longing. He looked to Neville's parents. He could sense his father's pride in his son and his mother's longing to be able to communicate with him.

"What is it Harry?" Remus asked rushing over to him. Ginny was rigid and started floating off the floor again.

"The heir has the power to awake those who were thought to be beyond help. The heir has the power to undo the hurt caused by the evil curses." Ginny said in a harsh voice. Ron ran over to her and steadied her as she floated back to the floor. She opened her eyes and looked at Harry. "You have the power to save them Harry; you just have to find it within you."

"I can sense their emotions," Harry told them all. "Mr. Longbottom is feeling an enormous sense of pride for his son and Mrs. Longbottom is longing to be able to hold you Neville, she misses you horribly." He walked over and looked into the eyes of Mrs. Longbottom. He placed his hand on her face and focused on finding her within her own mind. Her mind was a vast wasteland with no active memories only fragments of a life once lived. Then he saw a door. He sent her the thought of opening the door. He focused harder on sending her the image of opening the door. Somehow he knew that if he could get her to open the door in her mind it would allow all her memories to flood back in.

Harry didn't know how long he stood staring at Neville's mother. Suddenly it was if a spark was ignited in her mind and the door disappeared and all her memories came rushing past him. He pulled out of her mind and smiled at her. "Welcome back Mrs. Longbottom, you have been lost for a very long time."

"James?" She asked him making Remus jump and Neville's gran pass out. Neville just stood there in awe, had his mother just spoke?

"No, I'm his son Harry. You see you were hit with the Cruciatus curse and have been lost inside your own mind for a long time. We grew up while you were sleeping." Harry said pointing at Neville who was crying.

"Neville? My little boy? You look so handsome and grown up." She said as she took a tentative step toward him.

"I've missed you mum," Neville said hugging her as if she would disappear at any moment. Remus and the rest looked shocked at Harry.

Ginny squeezed his hand, "You know the way, now help his dad." She told him.

Harry went over to Mr. Longbottom whose mind was not quite as empty as his wife's had been. He was left with a memory of Neville's first steps and a few scattered others. Harry found the door faster this time and immediately sent the message of opening the door to Mr. Longbottom. It only took a few minutes before the memories flooded past him. "Welcome back Mr. Longbottom, you have missed a lot." Harry said.

"You look just like James, but I remember him dying." Frank said looking at him.

"I'm his son Harry, perhaps you remember me as a baby the same age as your own son. You see you have been lost a long time and we grew up while you were." Harry said pointing at Neville who still hadn't let go of his mother.

"Neville, Alice." He said walking to them and joining their embrace. Ginny hugged Harry and watched the wonderful family reunion. Remus had gone to get a healer and Hermoine and Ron were trying to revive Mrs. Longbottom who kept re-fainting every time she looked at her son again.

"Gran, come on it's ok. They are really better. We can be a family again." Neville said still crying with joy. Old Mrs. Longbottom was helped off the floor and joined the hugging family. Harry looked over at Draco who had a tear running down his cheek. He nodded to Ginny who went over and hugged him. He smiled and gave Harry a thumbs up sign.

The healer ran in followed by Remus. "How is this possible? I never thought this could happen? What changed?" She asked looking around at the room of happy people.

"It's just a holiday miracle." Draco said realizing that the truth could not get out.

"Yes, one minute they were like they have been and the other they were fine." Harry told the skeptical healer. "Perhaps the effect of the curse wears out over time and by having so many people around they were finally able to break out of it. They were two very fine Aurors after all."

They all headed to headquarters to debrief the Longbottoms of what had been going on since their attack. It would be the only safe place for them once the papers heard of their recovery. They were given a clean bill of health by the healers and allowed to leave for the first time in thirteen years. Remus had called an emergency Order meeting but hadn't told anyone why. They were all assembled when the group walked in with the Longbottoms.

"Frank! Alice!" Professor McGonagall yelled out causing cries of joy to ripple though the group. It was a happy celebration and the only time they could recall a meeting being held for such a happy occasion.

"The papers will call it a miracle but in truth it was Harry who saved us." Alice told them all. "He got into our minds and found where we were hiding and showed us the doorway out."

"Let me propose a toast to Harry Potter, he has reunited our family and I am eternally grateful. Three cheers for Harry." Frank said before they all chorused "Hip-Hip Horary." Even Malfoy joined in the cheering.

The next morning's Prophet hadn't sold out so fast since the headline that the Heir of Gryffindor had been found. In fact in one article a reporter was sure the Heir must be responsible for their miraculous recovery. "So you're the Heir of Gryffindor huh Potter?" Malfoy asked at breakfast. "I knew you were powerful, but the most powerful wizard ever. Remind me never to pick a fight with you again." He laughed.

There was no use hiding the fact from Draco and the Longbottoms. They had heard Ginny's prophesy. Draco took longer to get used to the fact that Ginny was a seer than the idea that Harry was the Heir. "You won't need to pick a fight anymore. Remember that the Slytherins watched you beat me and are convinced that I'm just lucky, not powerful." Harry told him

"Yes, but you were still the one to win that fight, even if you looked like me at the time." Draco reminded him.

"What?" Ron and Remus both said almost choking on their breakfast. Harry and Draco laughed and let Hermoine explain the project. Snape seemed mildly amused that they had staged a fight while in each other's bodies.

"I had to give all of them top marks. Ginny was the only one to suspect that Draco wasn't really Harry but since she is a seer I couldn't hold that against him. Plus he fooled you Remus, so I gave him extra credit." Snape told them making them all laugh.

"Yo, Snape. What's up with you, you seem almost relaxed and not so†so" Fred said looking for a word to describe Snape's normal behavior.

"So you." George finished looking at his old potions master.

"Yes Severus, you do seem to have a much more pleasant demeanor lately." McGonagall said curious herself.

"I am no longer allowing the past to haunt my present. After Miss Weasley saved my life I have tried to take a more understanding approach to things." Snape said nodding at Ginny.

"I still say it's because he had a pretty girl's arms wrapped around him and it finally melted his shell." Draco said causing Ron to snort milk out his nose and the rest of the table to almost choke on their food.

"When did you get a sense of humor?" George asked Malfoy, "And when did Ginny save your life?" He asked Snape.

"Malfoy has always had a sense of humor he just used it against us before and I saved his life after having a premonition of him dying." Ginny told her brother.

"She saw a potion explode and hurl me across the room killing me and she pulled me out of the way seconds before it actually happened." Snape told the Weasleys.

"You're a hero," Gabrielle said speaking up for the first time since she arrived. She was looking at Ginny with admiration. "You are a hero like Harry; he saved my life once too."

"You speak English?" Bill said looking at the girl he had known for months. She always spoke French and Fleur had to translate.

Gabrielle laughed in her airy Veela tone. "It was so funny watching you think I only spoke French. I can speak English better than Fleur, but she didn't know that either." The little girl said giggling and looking at her sister who was trying to determine if she was angry or found it funny.

Fred and George looked at each other, and then winked at Ginny and Tonks. They could all see someone after their own hearts. "That was a brilliant performance there little V, you are a natural prankster." Fred said with admiration.

"Yes, you are most welcome in our shop at any time." George added smiling. Bill was going to have a handful watching that little girl!

"Why do you call me little V?" Gabrielle asked as she followed the twins out of the kitchen. Harry heard one of them answer that it was for little Veela.

Chapter 23: Training Area

Neville had never looked so happy in his life. He had his parents back; it was what he had always wished for. They spent the entire next day together with him filling him in on what had happened the last 13 years. They were happy that he had gotten into Gryffindor and was friends with Harry. They had been good friends with Lily and James before they died. Lily and Alice spent a lot of time together while they were pregnant. The Order had them work together and stay out of harms way until their babies were born. Dumbledore had even warned them about the prophesy.

Draco pulled Harry into the drawing room. He had wanted to talk with Potter since they were at the hospital. "How did you do it? How did you wake them?"

"I can do Legimency and I went inside their minds. When I was in there I found a door that I could not open. I sent them a thought to open the door. As soon as the door opened they were back in their right minds." Harry told him shrugging. He wasn't sure how he had done it, he just felt his way.

"Virginia's prophesy, it said that you could heal the hurt for the evil curses. Do you think you can release people from Imperious too?" Malfoy asked curiously. Harry shrugged again. "Has she had any other prophesies about you?"

"Yes, her first one was about me. It said that the heir of Gryffindor would bring about the defeat of the Dark Lord and usher in a peace that had never been known before." Harry told him. There was no point in lying now that Draco knew he was the heir. "You can't tell anyone I'm the heir; it can't somehow get back to Voldemort."

"You can trust me Potter. I might dislike the Dark Lord as much as you do. I hate my father and all that he stands for. He taught me that a Malfoy never answered to anyone and yet he follows the Dark Lord around like a lost puppy dog." Draco said.

"What would he do to you if he knew you had switched sides?" Harry asked.

"He'd probably kill me to prove his loyalty to the Dark Lord. Or he might accuse someone of brainwashing me and kill that person and drag me in to take my mark of loyalty." Draco said miserably. "He would rather see the Malfoy line end than to have me on what he feels is the wrong side."

"Why did you finally decide to change sides?" Harry asked him. He had been wanting to ask the question but was didn't think he would like the answer.

"I never wanted to join the Dark Lord but out of self preservation I pretended that I did and played the part of a good Slytherin. When I met Amanda, or Tonks, I finally got a glimpse of what life could be like. I still wasn't ready to throw everything away until I met Virginia. You know what kind of an effect she can have. I realized that I wanted a life with someone like her. Someone who would actually love me for who I was, not what my name was. I decided that even if it cost me my life it was better than living a lie." Draco told him hoping he wouldn't hit him for talking about Virginia.

"I understand what kind of effect she can have on a person," Harry smiled. "I know you wish she could be with you. I trust her and know that she will never think of you except for friendship. For some reason I also trust you. I have no problems with you two being friends." Harry told him smiling at the shocked look on his face.

"You trust me after everything that I have done to you and Weasley and Granger over the years?" Draco asked skeptically. "You can trust me though. I wouldn't have done anything before and now that I know you are the heir and the most powerful wizard to have ever lived I will definitely not be getting on your bad side by making a play for your girl." Draco laughed.

"Will your mother be upset that you didn't come home?" Harry asked him.

"Yes, and I am sure I will get a nasty note from my father about how I'm letting the family down. He already thinks I'm soft and a disappointment as a son. With what he considers a good son to be it's almost a compliment to be called a disappointment." Draco told him smiling. "As long as he is still stuck in Azkaban I'll be fine. If he ever gets out I will have to sleep with my eyes open. He is not someone you want on your bad side."

"After I freed Dobby he pulled his wand on me. Luckily Dobby threw him across the room for me or I would have been feeling some pain," Harry said and then told him the entire story around the house elf's freedom.

Ginny came in while they were taking and sat in between them on the couch. She smiled and leaned into Harry as the boys discussed Quidditch and seeker moves. It was their favorite topic and she wondered how they never tired of it.

Remus and Tonks were happy to be home. They didn't have to keep their relationship low key when they were at Grimwald Place. They spent the days reading while cuddled up on the couch in the living room. Harry was happy for Remus, he had never looked so happy before.

Tonks pulled Harry aside after lunch. "Tonight is a full moon, are you joining us downstairs?" She asked him quietly. They hadn't even told most of the Order about his anamagi form or that his is the Heir.

"Yes, Ron is covering for me if the Weasley's ask any questions. I'll use my cloak and sneak down there." Harry told her. He was excited. It was his first full moon adventure with Moony. He had read the book about the Marauder's adventures that he was giving Remus for Christmas and was excited to follow in both his real fathers' footsteps and his adopted fathers.

"Remus is already pale and will stay in bed the rest of the day. Ginny and Draco finished brewing the wolfsbane with Snape before lunch. He looked a little better after taking it." She told him with concern evident in her voice.

"Do you love him?" Harry asked her. He wanted to know how serious they were getting. He talked with Moony often but they avoided talking about relationships.

"Yes I do. I don't care what other people think about our age difference or that we work together. I'm finally happy for the first time in a long while." She said smiling at him. "I don't plan on ever being apart from him. Are you ok with that?"

"Sure. I've never seen him so happy since you two got together. Why do you think I asked you to move in? I knew you would be good for each other. Besides, I like having you around too." Harry said watching her blush. "I didn't think Aurors blushed, isn't that against some rule? I'll have to go check my book for that one." He teased.

"There are only rules about blushing when on duty and as you can see I am not working today." She grinned. "Did you know that you would be the forth generation of Potter to be an auror?"

"My great grandfather was an auror too? I didn't know that." He said smiling. "I guess that is why my first choice job is being an auror. My second choice is teaching DADA, so right now you have both my dream jobs."

"You are doing very well with DA this year. It is easy to tell which of my students are members when they work in class. The Slytherins are starting to get frustrated that the Gryffindors keep beating them in duels." She chuckled. "All the houses are doing better except Slytherin. I think your DA members are passing on what they learn to others in their house."

"That and the number of members keeps growing." Harry told her. "I am glad that my core group is still small. It's just Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Draco, Luna, the Creevys, Justin and Hannah. They are doing incredible, especially Neville. His confidence keeps growing and so do his skills with a wand. It's so amazing watching someone grow in their abilities."

"Fred and George told us about how good you were at teaching DA last year. They were wondering how you had found the room of requirement when they hadn't eve discovered its uses." She laughed. "Is it true that you have a map of the castle that shows where everyone is inside?"

"Yeah, it is an original Marauder document. You should have seen the look on Moony's face when Snape called him into his office to examine the map." Harry explained the whole incident to her as she laughed her head off.

Snape walked out of the kitchen and noticed Tonks laughing. When she saw him she doubled over in a fit of laughter. "What could possibly be so funny?" He asked them.

"I was telling her the story of my when you were trying to open my map." Harry told him. "I was telling her about when you called Remus in accusing it of being full of dark magic."

"That was after you were in Hogsmead when you weren't supposed to with your invisibility cloak. I recognized the stupid nicknames of Remus and his 'Marauders' and that was why I called him." Snape said not able to hide the smile on his face. "Although I should not have been surprised that something made by your father would insult me."

"I thought I was dead for sure," Harry told him. "I knew you didn't believe my story that I was in the library studying and then my map insulted you. I was afraid you would snap and curse me into oblivion."

"Those guys came up with the best stuff," Tonks said dreamily. "It would have been so much fun to be at school with them."

"Only if you were on their side," Snape told her with a slight bitterness in his voice. "They weren't as humorous when you were the butt of their jokes."

"What did you do to them in the first place to get on their bad side other than being a Slytherin?" Tonks asked him curiously.

Snape smiled at the memory. "I might have mentioned something about Black's family and how they would love to know he'd been sorted into Gryffindor. Then I might have had his cousin send a letter to his mother. I was a good loyal pure blood Slytherin at the time." Snape smirked. "I was surprised that Potter was more upset with my meddling than Black was."

"So who were you trying to impress by ratting on Sirius?" Harry asked him knowing how the Slytherin mind worked.

"Black's cousin Narcissa. You know her now as Mrs. Malfoy." Snape said shaking his head in disgust. "She deserves to be with Lucius. She is as evil as he is but she hides it well. She is very good at seducing men into doing her will."

Draco had walked into the room during their conversation. "Seducing is not all she does to them. She is quite skilled at the Imperious curse." He told them all as he sat down at the table. "She still thinks you are devoted to her as you pretended to be in school sir." Draco told Snape.

"Yes, I figured that by maintaining my reputation of doing things to impress her I would not get on her bad side. Men who turn on her end up dead." Snape said sadly.

"She had been promised to my father since they were small. She is 5 years younger than him. He knew of her seductions and would even instruct her on whom to extort. She has bedded many ministry officials to gain inside information." Draco said with the disgust evident in his voice. "If I didn't look so much like my father I would never be sure that he was my real father."

"I wouldn't worry about that, Cissa is also skilled with memory charms. I heard your father bragging about how she charms the men into thinking they slept together without actually having to do it. He boasted how loyal she was to him and how he was the only man she had been with." Snape told Draco.

"That might have been the case until he was put in Azkaban. She had increased her involvement in the dark arts to show her loyalty to the Dark Lord. I wouldn't be surprised if she is actually a death eater now. My father had always had her maintain a distance from his darker associates to keep face with the ministry, but with him gone she has to take on those dealings." Draco told them all.

"How do you know all this? I wouldn't think she would volunteer so much information." Harry asked him.

"For that I will have to give the Weasley's the credit. Those extendable ears things are ingenious. I spent the greater part of the summer listening in on Death Eater meetings and other conversations and happenings. They use Malfoy Manor as a base of operations. It is unplottable, has every charm imaginable on it and has extensive dungeons and torture chambers." Draco said.

"Sounds charming," Tonks said sarcastically.

"You would think we were the perfect respectable pureblood family from the looks of the main house. There are several secret passageways you have to access to get to the dungeon levels. The ministry has raided the house several times and not found them" Draco said. "The nice thing about our house is that with all the charms on it I can practice magic whenever I want without the ministry knowing. That was how my father taught me all the dark curses I know."

They all sat talking until dinner. Winky had prepared another delicious meal. They had so many visitors in the house they actually used the formal dining room to eat their meal. With 23 people eating together it was hard to all fit in the kitchen. Remus sat at the head of one end of the table and Dumbledore at the other. Harry was still marveling at the grandeur of his house. The dining room could easily sit 70 people and the adjoining ballroom could hold hundreds of people.

They had held off renovating these two rooms until last as they were not needed. They had been filled with portraits and tapestries of dark creatures. Harry had Dobby and Winky use the tapestries and paintings from the vault to replace the ones of a dark nature. All the dark equipment that remained had been sent to the ministry for study. There were still many rooms that Harry had not even seen yet in his own house.

"This room is magnificent Harry," McGonagall said as she looked around.

"Yes, I thought it was time to open it up. We are growing in numbers and there is no use crowding into the kitchen." He told them all. "I figured this would make a better meeting room for the order as well since there are two fireplaces in here. It adjoins the ball room which I was thinking would make a good training facility. Order members can practice against each other to get the newer members up to the same standards as the others. We all need to be on top of our games to defeat Voldemort."

"You will have to demonstrate some of the new skills you are teaching members of your elite DA," Dumbledore said from the other end of the table.

Harry looked at him confused. "I would love to sir, but I am already in enough trouble with the ministry about underage wizardry."

"I found something interesting out yesterday when I accompanied Arthur to the ministry. It seems this house has a shield protecting it. The ministry has no record of magical activity in this location. I tested my theory and Arthur has confirmed that no magic can be detected while performed inside this house." Dumbledore told him smiling.

"So we can continue our DA lessons over the holidays?" Hermione asked excitedly. "Does this mean we are free to use magic here like we are at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, although I do urge caution. So Harry do you think you can set up a training exercise for the Order members to test their defensive and offensive abilities?" Dumbledore asked him.

"I will do my best sir. I'm sure with Dobby's help I can turn the ballroom into a first class training center. I'll use the members of DA that are here to test it and get ready for a demonstration to the Order." Harry told his professor. He had already been envisioning what type of training center he wanted to create before he ever mentioned the idea. He and Dobby had been developing sketches and plans since the summer when they discovered the room.

Harry and Tonks helped Remus down into the basement. The locked the door when everyone was watching and headed for bed. Harry slipped his invisibility cloak on and headed down to the basement. Tonks was just opening the door when he arrived and they went down to get into the cage with Moony.

"How you feeling there Moony?" Harry asked as he watched his dad lying on a mattress looking like he was an inch from death. "You're not looking so hot today."

"I feel and look the same before every transformation. You two better transform and get in here before the moon comes out." He told them weakly.

"Come on Camo lets get to it." Harry said as they stepped into the cage to lock it.

"Camo?" Remus asked smiling at Harry's nickname for her chameleon form. He had a good idea for a nickname for Harry as well.

"Yes. Moony meet Camo." Harry said smiling.

"Shut it Flames." Tonks said smirking at Harry. Remus looked at her strangely.

"That was what I was thinking of calling him so I guess its official. Welcome to the Marauders Flames." Remus said smiling even though he was in pain.

Harry ginned and he and Tonks transformed as Remus started to writhe in pain from starting to transform. Harry opened his mouth and sang one long note. Remus visibly relaxed while his body continued to change. Tonks rubbed her head against Harry's plumage to show her gratitude.

Harry watched as Tonks in her small chameleon form cuddled up to the big grey wolf. Moony placed a paw tenderly around her and looked over to Harry the phoenix. Harry flew over and landed on top of Moony settling down in his fur. The night went by uneventful. Moony fell asleep as soon as he felt Flames set upon him and Camo asleep in his arms.

Harry awoke in the morning and took a minute to realize he was in bird form. He was now lying next to Remus who looked very pale and in pain. Tonks was lying in his arms back in woman form. Harry smiled at how peaceful they looked together. Remus moved and groaned in pain placing his hand to his hip. Tonks looked closer and saw that his hip was dislocated. The older Remus got the more the transformation left lasting effects on his body. When he was young he never had broken or dislocated bones when he woke, but it was becoming a more regular thing now.

"We should have Madame Pomfrey fix that up. Do you want me to go wake her?" Tonks asked him. Harry cave out a short call to get their attention and then laid his head against his dad's hip. He cried two pearly tears and Remus' hip was back to normal.

"Thank you Flames, that was much less painful than Pomfrey's method. You are quite handy to have around." Remus teased as he ruffled Harry's scarlet feathers.

Harry transformed back into himself and punched Remus playfully in the shoulder. "So now I see how it is. You only want me in your little group because I can heal you."

Tonks and Harry helped Remus up the stairs to the kitchen. They forced him to eat before Tonks took him up to his room. Remus blushed as Harry winked at him on the way out the door. He hated that he was so weak after his transformations. He did feel much stronger today than most days after the full moon. He could remember the sound of Phoenix song as he transformed and how it helped him relax. He knew the actual transformation was what caused his weakness. The wolfsbane potion was a wonderful invention; he kept his mind when transformed.

"How did the potion work?" Draco asked sleepily as he walked into the kitchen and grabbed a cup of coffee. "Have you seen him yet this morning?"

"Yeah, he just finished breakfast and Tonks took him up to his room." Harry said. "The potion worked just fine. Thank you for helping to make it."

"I was curious about what was in it. It is a very complex brew." Draco said as he watched the doorway. "They look happy together don't they?" It was more of a comment than a question and Harry didn't know how he should respond.

"They are in love." Harry said simply.

"The only two women I've ever cared for are in love with your family. Snape and I should start a club." Draco said sighing. "Oh well, all is fair in love and war. Isn't that what the muggles say?"

"That's right," Harry said surprised the Prince of Slytherin knew anything about muggles. "It's more like its all fair as long as you are winning."

Draco laughed. "That is very true; the loosing side never fights fair. That's why the Death Eaters fight so viciously, they are on the loosing side."

What do they think the world will be like with Voldemort in charge? They can't seriously believe they will be better of can they?" Harry asked him.

"We've all had this pureblood is better mantra shoved down our throats since we were born. They think they will be the elite society, kind of like back when society was divided into classes. There will those purebloods that are faithful followers that will be the elite or the royal class, then the other pure bloods as the first class. Then the half bloods and dirty bloods will make up the bottom classes. Muggle born witches and wizards will never be taught how to use magic. The muggle world will be safe for a while until the Dark Lord decides to purge the earth of them too. If they had their way, they would kill off ¾ of the earth and only keep a few muggles around for servants and laborers." Draco told him.

"So that's what they fight for huh?" Harry said finally having an understanding of what a works run by the Dark Lord would look like.

"Yeah, they just don't realize that he will demand they do as he says. There will be no freedoms. It will be a dictatorship of the worst kind. His favorites will rule and if he ever dislikes something it will be destroyed with no though given to the consequences. Eventually there will not be enough people left and the population will die out as he remains frustrated and continues killing at random." Draco said. "They never think of him as a controlling mad man, only as their Lord."

"It's kind of how the other side sees you, except a million times more blind." Draco said shaking his head. "All the people who would believe whatever you said and think that you will save them from all the evils of the word, they are just the opposite of the Death Eaters. If you weren't such a damn noble person you could rule them just like Voldemort plans on ruling his new world."

"Blind devotion," Harry mumbled. "I just wish they would all think for themselves. We could have such an amazing world."

"There's the Potter know!" Draco laughed. "Always the idealist.

The girls all went shopping that afternoon leaving the boys to fend for themselves at the house. They even convinced Winky to go with them to Diagon Alley. Ron and Draco spent the afternoon playing Wizard's Chess and Harry and Dobby planned out their revisions to the ballroom.

They had a dueling stage set up on the near side of the room to allow for a dueling tournament of sorts. Then they set up a fighting arena. They had boxes draped with blankets and some fake trees to hide behind. Harry had studied a spell that could turn an inanimate object into a spell hurler. He had to perform the spell and then perform the spell he wanted it to hurl on it. He charmed several objects this way and arranged them around the area. He then charmed them to look like death eaters so those practicing would know where to aim their spells. Harry even managed to get them to disappear and reappear in a different location within the circle.

He places a circle around the area with a warning to enter at own risk. He had set the spell hurlers to increase in spell strength with the number of people in the ring as well as the length of time. He looked around pleased with his creation. In an open corner of the room he set up a combat area. He conjured different types of weapons. Tonks and he had been discussing the need to know how to defend oneself without magic. A mini classroom complete with chalkboard, desks and a fairly large library on DADA was against the wall.

The room was complete. It could have people practicing dueling, hand-to-hand combat, fighting death eaters and learning new spells at the same time. Harry was excited about showing off his progress to the Order. He had decided that he would have a dueling tournament with the DA members present. He was going to have Fred and George participate since they were in the DA last year and he was going to ask Fleur and Gabrielle if they wanted to as well.

He showed Draco and Ron the room first before any of the adults. "This is great Potter." Draco said impressed.

They played around with the weapons and read about how to use them until the girls got home. Harry explained his idea for the dueling tournament to showcase the skills they have learned in the DA. Fred, George, and Fleur agreed to participate immediately. Gabrielle was interested but Bill had to talk Fleur into letting her participate. She was worried her sister would get hurt going up against such older players. Gabrielle was only a 2nd year after all. Harry winked at Gabrielle when Fleur agreed.

"Even first years need to know how to defend themselves and their friends. When Ron, Hermione and I were in 1st year we fought a mountain troll and protected the Sorcerer's Stone from Voldemort." Harry told Fleur who paled slightly at the name. "Then in second year I had to fight a basilisk that was being set loose by Voldemort's memory." He usually hated telling that story but the look of admiration on the little Veela's face and the look of horror on Fleur's made it worth it.

Harry showed Dumbledore and the rest of the Order the room he had made. They were all impressed. "Tell me about the fighting area, how is it set up to fight?" Dumbledore asked.

"I have fake Death Eaters firing spells." Harry said vaguely. "Why don't you give it a go?" He wanted to see his headmaster in action.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he pulled out his wand and headed for the fighting area. He was prepared to fight and then stepped over the line activating the spell hurlers. The first one popped out from behind a tree and fired a very weak stunner at him. He fired back a strong stunner and that triggered the hurler to disappear. Each time one was hit with a spell it would disappear and then reappear someplace else. Two appeared in front of him and he shot ropes out of his wand and tied them up. He continued to fight them for another few minutes before walking smiling out of the circle.

"That was a very good simulation." He told Harry as he put his wand away. "I think the ministry should look at how you did that and use it for auror training. It would be much more effective than straight dueling."

"So what do you have planned for a demonstration of the DA?" Remus asked him. He couldn't believe that Harry had set up such an elaborate training facility.

"We are going to have a dueling tournament." Harry said. "I was thinking of a round robin and then the top winners square off."

They decided to start the tournament that night. The adults all conjured chairs and sat to watch the duels. The rules were simple, the first person to gain control of the other's wand wins. The first pairing was Draco and Ron. They mounted the stage and bowed to each other before taking 10 paces, turning and firing their first spells.

They fought well against each other. Draco won in the end with a well placed spell that sent Ron hurling through the air. Draco quickly disarmed him before he landed and won the duel. The next pair was Neville and George. Neville put up a very effective protection charm and in the end defeated George by putting him in the full body bind. His parents jumped up and hugged him telling him how proud they were of him.

Hermoine went against Fleur. Fleur was very good but Hermoine got her in the end. Fleur looked startled that she had been beaten by someone so much younger than her. Fred grinned as he went up against Gabrielle. He was thinking it would be an easy showdown but she was very quick and dodged two of his spells. She hit him with a laughing charm and then took his wand.

"Way to go Gabrielle, showing my brother up!" Bill said smiling.

Harry winked at Ginny as they bowed to each other for their duel. He put up his protection charm with his mind as they paced apart. He was going to put on a good show without ever firing a shot. She shot spell after spell at him as he just stood there with his protection charm on. "Come on Harry, you're no fun!" She taunted.

Harry grinned and gave her a jelly legs curse and watched her dance around as she continued to try and break down his barrier. Snape told Harry to take down his barrier and see if he could dodge her spells without it. Harry did as instructed and put up a very good show of dodging her spells. He finally pointed his wand at her and yelled out the disarming charm. She put up her protective charm but it wasn't strong enough to withstand the power behind his spell andt he wand slipped from her fingers into his hand.

Harry walked to her and kissed her cheek as he handed back her wand. "Thank you for a wonderful duel." He told her as she shook her head.

"I was no match for you at all!" She said sadly. "Professor Snape will you fight him and see if we can have a proper match up?" She asked him.

Snape grinned evilly and climbed the stairs to the stage. "This should be fun Potter." He said as they bowed to each other. Harry knew he would have a much harder time against Snape than Ginny. He was also looking forward to trying some of his spells from his personal arsenal that he had been practicing with Tonks and Dumbledore.

Harry spun and shouted "Smokortia." Dense blue smoke shot from his wand and blocked Snape's view of him. It also tickled Snape's senses and he had to fight not to cough as he countered with a stunning spell what Harry easily dodged. Snape stepped through the smoke moving closer to Harry. Harry shouted "Levilminia" and Snape spun upside down in the air suspended invisibly from his ankles. Harry immediately yelled "Silencio" and Snape couldn't speak.

Snape pointed his wand at his own mouth and concentrated hard on the counter curse for Silencio. He felt the curse lift and yelled the disarming charm at Harry. Although the spell hit Harry he was still able to hold onto his wand. Harry raised his eyebrow at Snape with a smirk before yelling the disarming charm and watching Snape's wand soar through the air to him.

Harry righted his potions professor and handed him his wand back. "I'm sorry sir, but I couldn't help but use that charm. Ever since I saw that memory in your pensive I've been researching to find that charm. I figured it was only appropriate to use it on you first."

Snape shook his head. Ever since James had used that charm and exposed his under things to everyone he had worn pants under his robes. He actually thought it was an interesting spell to use during a fight. "You are a Potter so I can't hold that against you." Snape smirked as the tournament continued.

Draco beat both Fred and George much to their dislike. Ron beat Gabrielle but lost to Fleur thanks to her Veela abilities. Neville beat both Ginny and Hermoine surprising all the professors and making his mother cry with joy. Hermoine beat Fred, Ginny beat Gabrielle and George beat Fleur.

Everyone was tired who had been dueling and went to bed to rest up for the next day's tournament. Harry and Ginny only stayed in their secret room snogging for half an hour before Ginny started to fall asleep.

They were all discussing what type of spells to use during breakfast. A good number of Order members came by to watch the tournament. The house was full of people. Many of the members were impressed with Harry's training facilities. One man Harry couldn't remember meeting asked if he could bring his daughter to watch the rest of the tournament. "She is in a group at school that practices defense spells and I think she would like to watch."

"I'm sure Harry would love to have Luna here Mr. Lovegood." Remus said coming up behind Harry smiling.

"Sure, Luna can take my place in the tournament. I would rather just watch their progress." Harry said smiling that Luna's father was in the Order. Harry liked Luna; she was her own person and didn't care what anyone else thought of her. "She is in my elite DA group at school and is very quick with her wand."

Mr. Lovegood returned shortly with Luna in toe looking even stranger in muggle clothing. She started out by dueling against the twins. She beat George and lost to Fred who was still reeling from loosing to Gabrielle the night before. Neville beat Fleur and Fred and Gabrielle. Hermoine beat Gabrielle and lost to George. Ginny lost to Draco but beat Ron. Draco beat Gabrielle and Hermoine. Luna beat Hermoine and Gabrielle. Fleur beat Ginny and Fred. Ron beat Luna and George.

They broke for lunch. Winky had set up a buffet table for them all to eat off of since there were so many additional Order members there watching. "This is a great tournament; you should have one like this at school when you get back." Kingsley told Harry as they ate.

"Yes, you could make it a single elimination type tournament. Everyone competes against students in their own year and then the winners of each year duel to find the winner." Delagus Diggle said in his tiny voice.

"I think it would be a wonderful idea of how to get the students more involved." Professor Sprout said.

"We could have in-house challenges and determine a winner from each year in each house to participate in a round robin tournament against the other winners." Professor Flitwick interjected.

"I like that idea. Then we could continue the dueling club that idiot Lockhart tried to start for students who want to keep participating." McGonagall told them all.

"It will give us a better idea of which students we need to keep our eyes on." Snape told them all.

"It's settled then. We will hold a dueling tournament when school resumes and will allow the students to participate in a dueling club. We will only allow the club to meet once a month so as not to take away from the other activities." Dumbledore said.

"Who is going to run the tournament and the club?" Tonks asked hoping that it didn't automatically fall to the DADA professor.

"I will run the tournament but I will have volunteers from the faculty run the club." Dumbledore told her smiling.

They got back to the tournament. Even more Order members had shown up to watch after hearing about it from other members. Hermoine finished up by beating Ron and loosing to Ginny. Ron finished by loosing to Neville but beating Fred. Ginny finished by beating her twin brothers. George finished by loosing spectacularly to Fred and then beating Gabrielle. Luna finished by loosing to Draco, Neville and Fleur. She didn't have a good afternoon. Madame Pomfrey had to tend to a few wounds of hers. Fleur finished by loosing to Draco and beating her sister. Draco and Neville were the last to square off. They were both undefeated and were determined to win the tournament.

"Since this is the final match to win my little tournament here I thought we should change the rules slightly. This will be a no holes barred match. You can perform any legal spell against the other to gain their wand." Harry said as everyone looked on in wonder. Up until yesterday Neville was thought of as a clumsy boy who wasn't very good at anything except herbologry, now he was an accomplished dueler. The teachers didn't know what to think about this side of Neville.

Draco had been surprised at how good Neville was but he wasn't going to loose to Longbottom, not without a fight at least. The duel lasted almost a half an hour before Draco resorted back to his old ways and yelled out "Serpentsortia" like he had during second year with Harry and a snake flew out of his wand at Neville. Neville had no idea how to block a snake strike and was too busy worrying about the snake to hear Malfoy yell the disarming charm.

Without his wand he was defenseless against the snake. "Harry!" Neville yelled to his friend who was a parselmouth. Harry walked closer to the stage and could hear the snake laughing.

The snake was saying, "Why would I want to bite this boy, he is terrified of me. See." It said taking fake biting motion towards Neville who trembled.

"Why would you want to bite anyone? Haven't you heard about all the diseases that are transmitted by blood nowadays? You could end up dying because you bit the wrong person." Harry hissed at the snake.

The entire Order was watching the ordeal wondering what was going on between Harry and the snake that had stopped moving toward Neville and was watching Harry with interest.

"There are really blood diseases out there like that?" The snake said curiously. "Are they only from people or can I get one from animals I eat as well?"

"I don't know; let me ask my friend who seems to know everything." Harry said and turned to Hermione and asked her, "Hermoine can a snake get a disease from contact with dirty blood like humans can? Will he be able to catch stuff from animals as well as people?"

"I haven't heard of a snake with HIV before, but I suppose it's possible. I know rats carry lots of diseases so I wouldn't eat them if I were a snake." She said shrugging.

Harry turned back to the snake. "She said she doesn't know if you could catch anything but she knows that rats carry lots of diseases so she advised staying away from eating them as best you can."

"Thanks mate, can you have your shiny friend send me back now please." The snake asked turning back toward Draco.

"He wants you to send him back Draco." Harry said as Malfoy performed the counter curse. "Congratulations for winning the tournament." Harry said shaking his hand and Neville's.

"You were bloody brilliant up there Neville," Ron said patting his friend on the back.

"Yes, thank you for such a good fight Longbottom." Malfoy said holding out his hand to Neville. They shook hands and Neville went to talk with his father about the duel.

"Well done Longbottom," Snape said approaching Neville who still trembled in the presence of the teacher. "I just wanted to tell you that although you make a horrible potions maker I would be glad to have you on my side in a fight. You are very quick and surprisingly nimble during your duels. You will make a fine magical law enforcement officer or hit wizard with those reflexes as well as a great fighter for the cause."

Neville just stared at Snape. He couldn't believe he had actually complimented him. He never expected Snape to be so nice to him. "Thank you sir." Neville squeaked out before rushing away and over to his mother.

Snape chuckled and turned to Frank Longbottom. "I'm afraid I may have been too hard on him. He is so forgetful that he makes potion making dangerous. I'm sorry to say I haven't made things easy for him at school. I was wrong about him though and now I see why he was put in Gryffindor. He is loyal to a fault and brave. He followed Potter last year to the ministry of magic and helped fight death eaters and now he stood up to Malfoy the boy who has tormented him since 1st year and didn't back down."

"My mother told me how much he fears you, is it true that when asked what his greatest fear was during a lesson on boggarts he said it was you?" Frank asked.

"Yes and to conquer his fear Lupin told him to imagine me wearing your mother's clothes and vulture hat." Snape said as Frank laughed at the thought. "Thanks to his fear I was the butt of every joke for at least a month." Snape also smiled at the memory. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but it felt good to know he could still cause fear in people even when he was no longer a death eater.

Chapter 24: Threats and Gifts

It was Christmas Eve and they were all gathered in the dining room discussing their plans for tomorrow. Winky and Dobby were preparing the food and they were all going to open presents together in the morning in the drawing room. Harry had the largest tree in the drawing room and they could all spread out around the room.

They were all laughing at Fred and Georges jokes when there was a knock at the door. Dobby came back in followed by Hagrid and Madame Maxime. "Madame Maxime!" both Fleur and Gabrielle said surprised jumping to their feet. At school they stood until she sat and that habit was ingrained in both of them.

"Oh moi belles, you are here where it is safe. I am so glad that you are safe." Maxime said smiling as she handed her oversized coat to Winky and Hagrid handed his to Dobby. "I must speak with you Dumbly-dorr, it is important." She said as the two headed out of the room to speak.

"Happy Christmas Hagrid," Harry said smiling at his friend who he hadn't expected to see over the holidays.

"Good to see you everyone," He said as he sat down on a bench against the wall since he was too large for the spindly chairs in the dining room. "Having a holiday?"

"Yes, it is great having so many friends here with us," Harry said smiling as he looked around the table at everyone. The Lovegoods had been invited to join them as well so now the group numbered 25 and would grow to 27 if Hagrid and Madame Maxime stayed.

"Good to see you again there Frank, Alice." Hagrid said smiling at his old friends.

"It's good to see you too Hagrid, it's been a long time." Frank said. "Neville tells me that you're a professor of care of magical creatures now. Congratulations."

"Thank you; it's always been my dream. Neville is a very good student in my classes." Hagrid told them watching their faces fill with pride for their son.

"I need to speak with the Order members." Dumbledore said walking back into the room followed by Madame Maxime. "Mrs. Longbottom will you please accompany Miss Lovegood, Neville and Mr. Malfoy to the living room for a few moments."

Neville, his gran, Draco and Luna all left as the rest of the order turned to Dumbledore expectantly and wondering why Fleur and Gabrielle were allowed to stay. "I have more bad news I'm afraid. There was an attack on a village outside of Orleans, France where you two normally reside Miss Delacour." Fleur gasped and both she and Gabrielle grabbed on to Bill for support. "They were looking for you Gabrielle."

"It is no longer safe for either of you in France." Madame Maxime told them. "The death eaters will no stop until they kill both of you for your parents' refusal of the dark mark."

"What do we need to do?" Fleur said trying to hide her fear.

"You will need a secret keeper and a safe place to live." Dumbledore told them.

Harry stood up after receiving a nod from Remus. "You are both welcome to stay here as long as you need. We have plenty of room and it is quite safe."

"Thank you Harry," Dumbledore said. "If you decide to stay here it is only fitting that I become your secret keeper as I am the secret keeper for the Order and for this house."

"What about Gabrielle and her schooling?" Fleur asked looking to here sister.

"It is not safe to return to Beauxbatons. I will miss you Gabrielle but it is safer if you stayed and went to Hogwarts. Dumbley-dorr will be able to protect you more than I am able to." Madame Maxime told the frightened little girl who ran and hugged her headmistress.

"I will miss you too Madame Maxime. I like England and will have friends at Hogwarts to keep me safe as well." Gabrielle said smiling at Harry.

"We will do whatever we can to protect her Madame Maxime," Ron said smiling at Bill who he knew was in love with Fleur and worried about Gabrielle.

"Don't worry Olympe, Harry and his friends will take care of her." Hagrid said placing his hand on her shoulder.

The adults talked for a while longer after dinner. Harry was sitting on a couch in the living room between Gabrielle and Ginny. Bill was standing holding Fleur in his arms. She looked like she was on the verge of tears. "I think you will like Hogwarts," Harry said to Gabrielle trying to ease the tension in the room. "I know it will take a while to get used to but it's not that bad. Your sister spent almost an entire year there for the Tri-Wizard tournament."

"I liked the castle when I was there. It was a lot bigger than Beauxbatons. I was hoping I could go there instead of Beauxbatons but my mother wouldn't hear of it. I don't get along with the others in my year so it will be a good change to get away from them. They are a bunch of whining idiots." She told Harry getting a disapproving look from Fleur and a snigger from Malfoy.

"That is not a very nice thing to say Gabrielle," Fleur scolded.

"It's true and you know it. They prance around thinking that nothing can hurt them. Besides they don't like the pranks I pull on them anyway. Madame Maxime is the only one there who understands me." Gabrielle said.

"You sound like a Slytherin," Draco said admiration evident in his voice.

"She will probably end up in Ravenclaw," Fleur said. "She is too smart to be put in Hufflepuff, not brave enough for Gryffindor, and hopefully she is not power hungry enough to be in Slytherin."

"I don't care which house I get put into. I will not fit into any of their little molds on how they determine which house I am best in. I shouldn't even be in second year. I cannot believe mother held me back because I was too little." Gabrielle huffed.

"What do you mean held you back?" Hermoine asked curiously.

"I am 14 years old and only in 2nd year because when I was 11 I only looked 8 or 9 and my mother said I was too tiny to start school. She waited until last year to start me. I was a 13 year old first year!" Gabrielle said clearly agitated. "No one at my school believes me when I try and tell them that I am almost 15!"

"I'm surprised the school let your parents hold you back." Hermoine said.

"My father was the assistant minister of France. My parents were highly respected and their judgment was not questioned." Fleur told them. "They were good friends with Madame Maxime. They were killed last year by death eaters because they would not join the Dark Lord. The authorities would not believe that the Dark Lord was responsible for their deaths. It was said to be done by individuals wanting to infiltrate the French Ministry, but I was there and saw the dark mark above our house."

"We had gone out shopping just Fleur and I since she was leaving to move here the next week. When we got back our house was destroyed and the dark mark was hanging over our house. I remember seeing it at the Quidditch World Cup and there it was above our house. We knew our parents were dead and we hurried to Madame Maxime before the death eaters could find us as well." Gabrielle said.

"Were their names Jean-Paul and Marie?" Draco asked looking paler than normal. "It was a yellow house with white columns?"

"How did you know?" Fleur asked frightened.

Draco put his head in his hands. "My father took me with him that day to show me the glory of being a death eater. I remember thinking how pretty the house looked with its gingham checked curtains blowing in the breeze. My father told them they must choose sides. They could join the forces of the dark lord or die. Your mother spoke forcefully in French telling my father what a horrible man he was and how she would rather die than to join. She spit in his face." Draco smiled at the memory of the feisty Veela woman. "My father told her that her Veela blood was wasted upon such ideals. Your father stood defiantly and said he would not betray his country for some half blooded mad man."

"My father was very proud to be a pureblood," Gabrielle said quietly. "He told us he would be proud the day we married a pureblooded wizard." Fleur was crying into Bill who was holding her up for support.

"I'm sorry he killed your parents. That was the day I realized I hated my father and didn't want to follow in his footsteps. I had been taught that purebloods were supposed to be treated with honor and respect, but they killed him without any second thoughts. The worst part was when my father picked up a photo of your family and told your mother he would enjoy killing her children for their betrayal." Draco continued. "She looked straight at my father and told him she would rather her girls die than use their powers to seduce others to follow a mad man. I never saw the photo and just assumed that the death eaters had carried out their orders. Four of them went off in search of you two."

"Thank you for telling us how they died. I am glad they stood up for their beliefs." Fleur said shakily to Draco.

"Your father is a Death Eater huh? Is that why you are here?" Gabrielle asked them. They had not told her about Draco or why he was staying.

"Yes, he is in Azkaban but still believes me to be on his side. My mother believes me to be staying at school over holidays. If I had gone home she would have taken me to get my dark mark and I would be exposed. I would rather die than take that mark." Draco said to the beautiful little girl.

Madame Maxime and Hagrid agreed to stay for Christmas. Harry went into the drawing room to find Remus who had gone to pick up Ginny's present earlier in the evening. He and Tonks were snuggling on a couch in the corner. Remus followed Harry into his room and shut the door.

"There's something I wanted to talk to you about Harry," Remus said as they sat down on the bed. "I want to ask Tonks to marry me." Remus blushed and waited for his son's reaction.

Harry grinned at him. "I told you she was a nice girl right after I told you that you needed to find me a mum." Harry joked with his adoptive father. "I think it's a bloody brilliant idea. When are you going to ask her and do you have a ring picked out?"

"I was hoping to ask her tomorrow. I looked for rings in Diagon Alley and in Hogsmead but I haven't found anything that is special enough for her." Remus said sadly. "I wanted to have a ring to ask her with, but at least this way if she says no, I won't have to return the ring."

Harry could tell he was very nervous about asking her. "Don't worry dad, she'll say yes. I've seen the way you two look at each other. Besides, she told me that she loves you." Harry smiled at the relieved look on Remus' face. "I have an idea where we might find a ring worthy of my new mum, lets go look in the vault once everyone's asleep."

They waited rather impatiently for everyone to go to sleep and slipped downstairs into the vault. They looked through some of the old wardrobes at the clothing before heading over to the large jewelry case. Harry opened the box and they searched through the jewels. "If we don't find one we can always have one made especially for her," Harry told him smiling and pointing at the large pile of loose stones.

"I don't want to wait any longer. Dumbledore said we had to keep our relationship a secret until we decided to make it official. This way we won't have to hide anymore. Plus she thinks I'm too shy to ask her yet, so she'll be totally surprised.

"Will everyone still call her Tonks once you're married?" Harry asked curiously. "I know she hates her first name, what will happen when her last name changes to Lupin. Can I call her loopy?" Harry asked chuckling as Remus playfully slapped his shoulder.

"I don't care if she decides to keep her last name as long as she's my wife." Remus said in such a romantic way it made Harry laugh.

"My dad and Sirius would beat you up for talking that sappy!" Harry laughed. They had found about a dozen rings that were not good enough for Remus. 6 were diamonds, 2 emeralds, 2 rubies, 1 sapphire and 1 pearl. Harry pulled open another small drawer and found a black velvet bag. He opened it up and gasped. There were three beautiful rings inside. One was a large flawless emerald surrounded by diamonds and rubies set in a gold setting. As soon as Harry saw it he knew the ring was perfect for Ginny. He smiled and ran his hand over it imagining proposing to her with such a magnificent ring. There was also a ring that was a large diamond cut in the shape of a heart, it was set in silver and had other small diamonds set into the band. Harry was surprised how it looked so much like a muggle engagement ring. The third ring was the ring he knew they had been looking for. It was a moonstone. Moonstones were very rare. It was surrounded by the same bright pink stones as in the necklace he had given Tonks for the inauguration. Harry couldn't think of a more appropriate stone for a wedding ring for Remus' bride than a moonstone.

"I found it," Harry whispered to Remus who was still looking through the other jewelry. "This is the ring you've been looking for." He said handing the ring to his dad who got tears in his eyes.

"It's a moonstone surrounded by pink sapphires. This is amazing. Are you sure you don't want to keep this to give to Ginny?" Remus asked surprised Harry would part with such a treasure.

"I found the perfect ring for Ginny and that's not it," Harry said holding out the emerald ring to Remus who nodded and smiled. He could see how perfect the other ring was for Ginny as well.

"Where were they hiding?" Remus asked. Harry pointed out the small almost hidden drawer and the velvet bag they were it. "It's like they were made especially for you. I wonder why there were three such magnificent rings."

Harry shut the little drawer and smiled at Remus. "I don't know, it is kind of strange that two rings that are exactly what I imagined Tonks and Ginny liking just miraculously showed up. I wonder if Bill knows anything about them. I don't remember them being on his inventory sheet. I did have a few moonstones that were not set, but I don't remember any rings."

"Do you think Bill and Fleur will get married?" Remus asked still feeling a romantic high from finding the perfect ring to propose with.

"I can tell he loves her. Ginny said that he has been shy of asking her out because she is part Veela and was afraid he was only attracted to her for that reason. Can you imagine what their children would look like? I've never heard of a part Veela with red hair!" Harry laughed.

"I wonder what kind of ring he would buy for her." Remus asked thoughtfully.

"I bet it would be spectacular. She likes expensive and nice things so he would have to be very choosy what he got. He knows what to look for though. He has a very good idea what things are worth." Harry opened the drawer to put the other two rings away and was surprised to see another velvet bag inside. "What is going on?" He asked taking the bag from the drawer and opening it slowly. Inside was the most magnificent ring either one of them had ever seen. It looked to be made of light it was so luminescent. There were multiple diamonds and the setting looked to be made of platinum. Harry wouldn't have been surprised if the band was actually made of mithril, the most expensive metal on earth.

"It's like the drawer knew what we were envisioning for a ring for Fleur and it created one!" Remus exclaimed. "Maybe that was what happened when you opened it the first time. It's taking your stock of unset stones and making whatever it is you envision. Kind of like a drawer version of the room of requirement." He said marveling at the implication.

Harry placed the empty velvet bag back into the drawer and shut it. He thought how he needed a gift for Madame Maxime, Fleur and Gabrielle for Christmas. He opened the drawer again and the bag was full. He pulled out a very large opal broach that could only ever fit Madame Maxime. A pair of sapphire earrings that matched Fleur's eyes perfectly and a delicate silver chain with a star pendant that he thought would look lovely on Gabrielle.

"I believe you are correct with how it works. I was thinking that I needed gifts for the French girls for Christmas and out popped the perfect presents." Harry said.

"So who is the heart shaped ring for then" Remus asked. "The first time you opened it there was the perfect ring for Ginny and Tonks and the heart shaped one. Who is that for then?"

Harry thought for a second and then smiled big. "Three rings for my three favorite girls. I was wondering what kind of ring Ginny and Hermoine would want when they got married. That's why it looks so much like a muggle ring. Hermoine is a muggle and would want something that resembled a muggle engagement ring." Harry laughed at what Ron would think if he told him he had found the perfect wedding ring for Hermoine.

"I wonder if you put something in the drawer if it recycles it or changes it?" Remus wondered. They placed an ugly and chunky ring and matching necklace into the drawer and shut it. "What should we have it turn into?" Remus asked.

"How about something Neville can give his mother for Christmas? He was telling me how he didn't think his present for her was special enough. I also need something for Luna; do you think this thing can make something crazy enough for her?" Harry laughed.

They opened the drawer again and found a gold locket. They opened the locket and an inscription read: "To my mother who brings me hope and makes me stronger, Neville." There was room for a photo as well. Harry couldn't wait to give it to Neville; he knew how amazing it was for Neville to have his mum back in his life. There was also a set of weird looking earrings in the bag. They looked like silver spider's webs with a silver feather hanging from the bottom and a blue stone in the middle of the web. Harry shrugged and held them up for Remus.

"Those are dream catchers. The Native Americans believe they catch the bad dreams in their net and only let the good dreams through. The outside edge is usually made out of wood and the web made of string with feathers hanging below. I don't remember what the stone or the feathers are supposed to represent." Remus told him.

"They are appropriate for Luna then since she always seems to be off in some dream world of her own." Harry said as he pocketed all the Christmas gifts and safely put Ginny's and Hermione's rings in an empty drawer. "We'll keep this magic drawer a secret. Wouldn't want to give away the secret of how we find the perfect gifts." Harry chuckled as they headed back upstairs.

Harry knocked on Neville's door to give him the locket. Neville opened it sleepily. "I found this locket yesterday when I was going through some things in my safe." Harry told him. "I had Remus get it engraved when he went out to pick up Ginny's present tonight. I knew you wanted something special for your mother."

Neville took the locket staring wide eyed at Harry before opening it and seeing the message. "How did you know to have that engraved on it?" Neville asked him. "It's what I used to always tell her when I visited her at the hospital. I can't pay you for this right now, but just tell me how much and I'll pay you back."

"Neville, I inherited all of Sirius' money. I have more than I could ever spend. I knew you wanted the perfect gift for your mum and when I saw this it was like it was made for her. Please just take it. You are my friend; let me do this for you." Harry said.

"You have done so much already. You saved my family. This is the prefect gift for her Harry. Thanks." Neville said as Harry went to his own room. Harry couldn't wait for the morning when he could give everyone their presents.

Chapter 25: A Happy Christmas

Harry woke up to Ginny kissing him. "Happy Christmas Harry," She said as she kissed him again. "It's time for presents, so hurry up!" She grinned and ran out of the room. He pulled on green velvet robes he had found in the vault that were perfect for Christmas and hurried to the drawing room. He smiled at everyone drinking their tea or coffee and wishing each other good tidings.

"Merry Christmas everyone," He said realizing he was the last to arrive. He got hugs from the girls and they all sat down to open presents.

"You get to hand out the gifts since you are the master of the house," Snape told Harry smirking. "So be quick about it so I can get my breakfast."

"Don't listen to him Harry, he's always such a Scrooge." Professor Sprout said laughing and drinking her coffee.

"Dobby, Winky!" Harry called out making sure his little friends didn't miss the festivities. They appeared within seconds. Dobby was decked out in holiday baubles. "Come on and join us. You have presents to open too." Harry smiled at the surprised look on Winky's face as she obediently followed Dobby over next to the tree and sat down.

They spent the entire morning opening gifts. Tonks spent five minutes laughing when she opened her present from Draco. She held up the shirt that read: "I'm not who you think I am" and the room burst into laughter. Fred and George gave everyone joke shop products, no surprise there. Mrs. Weasley cried each time she opened a gift but not nearly as hard as when she opened Harry's gift to her. He had a watch made for her like her clock at home so she could always tell where her family was. He added "Mystery" for Order work and "Visiting Friends" for when they were here at Headquarters. He even added his own and Hermione's names to hands so she could keep tabs on them as well.

"You can add more hands when your sons get married as well," Harry told her as soon as she released him from a bone crunching hug. She didn't even seem to mind when Mr. Weasley opened his gift of a muggle TV and DVD player complete with DVDs Harry though he would enjoy watching. He had it charmed to work in the magical world.

Hermoine had bought Dobby and Winky each a pair of shoes to match the clothes that Harry got them. Winky cried with happiness at the 2 new dresses Harry got her and Dobby jumped up and down when he saw his gift of a suit. "My other gift to you is that I want you each to have your own rooms. I found a wing of rooms off of the kitchen pantry that I want you each to pick one and fix it up however you like. It will be your own space." Harry told them making Winky bawl again.

"Harry Potter is too good to Winky. Winky does not deserve so much sir." She said. Harry walked over and hugged her to get her to stop crying.

"You keep this house together and looking beautiful. This is the least I can do. Besides you and Dobby are my friends. In fact I'd like to consider you part of my family if that is ok with you." Harry asked them both.

"We is already thinking of you as family Harry." Dobby said as they went back to opening the rest of the gifts.

To lighten the mood, which had become way too intense from Mrs. Weasley's and Winky's crying, Harry gave Draco his first gift. Draco opened the box to find the white stuffed ferret with the "I Love Harry Potter" T-shirt and busted up laughing. The teachers and students laughed very loudly as Draco told them about the display they had found in the clothing store and how the sales witch had said they were a best selling item.

"I still can't believe that imposter turned me into a ferret!" Draco said which caused another rumble of laughter. The twins were beside themselves with mirth. "Here Red, you might as well open this one now while they are all still laughing." Draco said handing her the wrapped teddy bear.

Ginny chuckled as she pulled the purple teddy bear with the same t-shirt out of the wrapping. "Thanks Draco, I actually like mine." She said still laughing at the ferret joke. Snape looked on with interest at how Draco could buy Ginny a gift about Harry and not feel jealous. He was impressed with how much character the boy was showing in the situation.

Tonks played with her mirror that Harry got her by morphing her head over and over to get a different reflection to show. Gabrielle squealed and actually hugged Harry when she opened the necklace. "I saw a necklace like this in France two years ago and begged my father to buy it for me but he wouldn't. Thank you so much." She told as Draco helped her put the pendant on. He had given her a wizards chess set. He and Ron had been trying to teach her to play since she arrived.

"Bill, I don't have an actual present for you." Harry said walking over to the eldest Weasley boy. "But I had a talk with the head goblin at Gringotts and as of today you are personally in charge of my accounts at Gringotts. I have informed them that you are my accountant and the only person I want dealing with my accounts."

Bill looked at Harry like he was joking. "Seriously?" He asked and grinned as Harry nodded. "Thank you, that is way better than any physical present!" He said shaking Harry's hand. "They will have to take me seriously now."

Most of the presents were done. Dumbledore had loved his socks and sweets from Harry who told him he should be able to look into the mirror and only see himself now. He gave books to all the professors, Charlie, Luna's father, The Longbottoms, and of course Hermoine. He also gave her a book bag that was charmed not to split or feel heavy no matter how many books it was carrying. He gave Ron a full set of Chudley Cannons robes and a book on famous keepers.

Harry walked over to Snape. "I found this in a box of Sirius' things and though you would want to have it." He told him handing him the gift.

Severus opened the gift and looked to Harry in wonderment. Inside was a photo of him and Lily from their school days that had been framed. "Thank you Harry, you know how much this means to me." He had to use all his willpower to keep his voice free of emotion and his eyes dry.

"Sirius had it in a box labeled 'Lily's things' inside was a photo album of her and her friends. He must never have looked through it otherwise I'd guess the photo would have been destroyed." Harry told his professor. When he had found the box he realized that his mother and Snape had been friend even with the animosity between him and his father.

Ginny gave Harry a watch that had the cycles of the moon on it so he could always know when the full moon was. Remus smiled at the thoughtful gesture. She whispered that the watch had other feature too that she would show him later. He grinned and gave her her gift. It was the last gift to be opened and everyone was very curious what the famous Harry Potter would buy for the girl he loved.

Ginny carefully pulled the bracelet out of the box and smiled at all the charms. "Is this a real charm bracelet or just pretty figures?" She asked already knowing that if it came from Harry it was a real charm bracelet.

"It's real. The heart charm lets you know how others feel toward you. The wand is a magic boosting charm, the star allows you to see the constellations without a telescope, the rose will always smell of roses, the kitten charm will let you always know where Lightning is, the snitch increases your reflexes, the broomstick has an anti-falling charm, the quaffle has a increased speed charm and the Hogwarts charm has a powerful protection charm on it." Harry said watching her wonderment grow with every charm he explained.

"This must have cost a fortune Harry!" She exclaimed as he placed the bracelet around her slender wrist. "Thank you."

"Nothing is too good for you Gin," Harry said kissing her forehead before turning to the rest of the group. "That seems to be all the presents. But I think we're missing one don't you dad?" He said winking at Remus who started to look nervous. "I think your present to Tonks is missing."

Everyone turned to watch as Remus got off the couch, pulled a small box from his pocket and kneeled in front of Tonks. "You are the most amazing woman I have ever known and I love you with all of my heart. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?" He asked her opening the box and showing her the spectacular ring. Everyone was deathly quiet and holding their breath waiting for her answer.

Tonks looked at his eyes that were so full of love. She had been shocked that he had enough courage to ask her in front of so many people. She grinned as tears fell down her cheeks. "Yes, I love you completely and would be honored to marry you." She said as everyone cheered as they kissed. "This is the most amazing ring I have ever seen, how did you find something so perfect?" She asked as they all made their way downstairs for brunch.

"That's mine and Harry's secret. When we saw this ring we knew it was made for you to wear. A moonstone for the wife of a werewolf is quite fitting don't you think. And it had sapphires in your favorite color." He said as they were in their own little world at the end of the table.

"I would like to propose a toast," Harry said standing and holding up his pumpkin juice. "To my new father and his soon to be bride, may your life be full of love and blessed with joy." Everyone chorused "Here Here" before he continued. "And to all my friends, thank you for making this Christmas holiday so special by being here with us. Let this be a start of tradition so this house will never feel lonely on such a happy day." They all clinked glasses and smiled at Harry before tucking into the food.

They all laughed and ate and had a good time. Harry, Ron, Draco, Neville, Hermoine, Ginny, Luna and Gabrielle went up to Ron and Harry's old room to go through their presents and give the adults time to talk about boring stuff.

"This has been the best Christmas I've ever had," Draco told them. "Holiday's at my house are never fun. I get a lot of gifts but never any affection. Thank you for letting me come here Harry."

"No problem Draco, you are welcome anytime." Harry said, "So what did your mother send you for Christmas?"

"New green robes, a new pair of dragon hide boots, a pocket watch with the Malfoy crest engraved on it, a bunch of books and sweets, a sack of galleons, oh and a death eater uniform complete with ugly white mask." He said showing them the uniform with disgust. "She sent a letter saying how she understood why I was reluctant to come home. She thinks it's because my father is in prison and holidays would be too hard to face without him. As if!" Draco snorted. "Then she writes how she had told the Dark Lord I will be ready to join this summer and that he is pleased. She writes that my father is fine and believes he will be out of Azkaban in time to see me take my loyalty oath."

"We should let Dumbledore know that your father is planning on escaping and come up with a plan to keep you safe this summer." Ginny told him.

"Yeah, you can for sure come here this summer instead of going home. Of course if you do that they will know for sure that you have switched sides." Harry told him sadly. "There will be no turning back at that point."

"I will need to go home and collect all my things. I am sure I can tell my mother I am off to visit Crabbe and Goyle to brag about my membership. She won't suspect anything as long as we keep up appearances at school when we get back." Draco said.

"What happens if they find out?" Gabrielle asked curiously.

"They will want me dead. I would like to get my things from my house before they find out. I am accustomed to a wealthy lifestyle and don't want to run with nothing if I don't have to." He told her.

"I understand," Gabrielle said. "It was a shock loosing our home and having to live with other people. I always got whatever I wanted, but when my parents died we had to conserve. Fleur transferred all of our gold here to Gringotts except what I would need to finish school."

"That was very nice of you to give Snape that photo," Hermoine told Harry.

"He looked like he was trying not to cry," Ginny said with a smile.

"I'm surprised he never moved on after all these years," Draco said. "He must have really loved her."

"I don't think he ever tried to move on," Harry said. "He put all his effort and time into the Order and teaching after she died and didn't allow himself to have a social life."

"That was why he acted like such a greasy git all the time." Ron added

Gabrielle leaned close to Draco's ear and whispered, "You will move on though. You will never get over your love for her but I feel that you will move on and love again." She winked at him and sat back up.

Draco stared at the little part Veela sitting next to him and wondered how she knew he loved Ginny. He knew Harry and figured it out, but how did she?

Neville went off to spend some time with his parents before the dinner feast. So did Luna, her father and her have some tradition where they read a book together every Christmas. Fred, George, Charlie, Bill and Fleur were in the drawing room when they went in to join them. The boys were laughing evilly, obviously plotting something.

"What are you up to and how much trouble are we going to get into?" Ginny asked as she sat down on Charlie's lap.

"We are just plotting ways to get even with Percy." George said off handedly. Harry was surprised they were even mentioning Percy. There was an unspoken rule around the Weasleys that was never mention Percy. He had tried to come back groveling when Arthur had been named minister, but had shown that he was still a power hungry git. He had told Mrs. Weasley that he shouldn't be blamed for his actions and that he was only being faithful to the minister of magic. When she had asked him if he ever would have spoken to her again if his father hadn't been named minister if magic, he was dumb enough to tell her no. He told her that she had shown her disloyalty to the ministry and he was surprised the public had elected his father.

Needless to say he was not welcomed back into the folds of the family and was sent to work at Arthur's old department of misuse of muggle artifacts. He hadn't been too pleased with his position and had interrupted a meeting Arthur was having with the Aurors to voice his complaints to his 'father' about how he deserved more respect. Arthur had told him it was the job that was on the fast track to being minister since that was the job he had been doing as was also the only opening since his position as assistant to Fudge no longer existed.

"We were thinking of sending him a set of new robes that continues to shirk throughout the day until it's so tight you have to cut it off. And we want to bewitch some muggle things and send them to him to 'fix' and they will all have different spells they will perform on him." Fred said laughing loudly.

"I am still partial to a charm that will flip his office upside down so he cannot reach any of his things," Bill said chuckling.

"And I like the one that will make him bark like a dog instead of being able to talk." Charlie added.

"I know of one that will make his hair disappear for a month. He will see his hair when he looks in the mirror but everyone else will think he is bald." Fleur said laughing. Bill looked at her with a look of pure love. She was helping them plot revenge, she was a definite keeper.

Draco chuckled at the Weasley's plotting revenge. He was happy they had never tried any of those pranks on him. "You get even by embarrassing the person huh?" Draco asked. "I was always taught that pain was the best revenge."

"To Percy who is power hungry and wants everyone to respect him this is pain. He could deal with physical pain. This is psychological pain and lasts much longer." Ginny told him with an evil grin identical to her brothers.

"Besides, this is the Weasley way." Ron said. "He will know who did it and realize that we won't stand for his treatment of our mother."

"I bet you Tonks will help you get them to him. She can say she found them while on some sort of auror mission. He won't have time to be suspicious before it's too late." Harry added.

They spent the rest of the evening until dinner setting up the prank on Percy. Harry had gotten Tonks alone and she agreed to help as long as they didn't tell Molly her involvement. Tonks was scared of Mrs. Weasley's temper.

They went in for dinner to see a feast rivaling those of Hogwarts on the table as well as plies of crackers. Dumbledore pulled a cracker to find a green bowler hat exactly like the kind Fudge always wore and handed it to Arthur who chuckled and put it on. They all had a fun time pulling crackers and eating the meal. Winky and Dobby joined them for dinner as well. Dobby had never opened a cracker before and was so excited he toppled off his chair. To everyone's surprise Draco was the first one to get up to help the excited elf.

"Thank you Draco sir," Dobby squeaked as Draco smiled and sat back down between Ginny and Gabrielle.

Draco opened a cracker and snorted when a badge fell out that read "I love Gryffindor" on it. The table roared with laughter and even Snape insisted that Draco wear it for the evening. Harry got the badge that read "Not all Slytherins are Bad" and laughed as he put it on. Hermoine got one that read "Books are for Smart People" and the table laughed again as she blushed and pinned on the badge. The twins each got a badge; one said "Gred" and the other "Forge" and laughed at how accurate it was. Bill told them that they might finally get called by the right name now.

"Who made all the crackers?" Ron asked. "They are all so appropriate I wondered who did all of them."

Harry looked at Dumbledore whose eyes were twinkling madly. "Winky not know sir, Winky thought you did it since they were here already." Winky said looking at Harry.

"I think one of our illustrious house guests is the one responsible." Harry laughed. "I'll know for sure once you open the one in front of you Severus."

Snape opened his and a "Harry Potter is My Hero" badge came out with little snakes that chased themselves around the edge of the badge. Snape snorted and looked at Dumbledore with a smirk as he put on his badge. They all either had hats or badges that were appropriately humorous and Harry knew the headmaster was responsible.

The rest of the crackers were normal magical crackers with little trinkets or confetti. They talked well into the night listening to the adults reminisce about their time at Hogwarts. It was interesting to hear stories about Flitwick or McGonagall getting into mischief when they were at school.

Chapter 26: The New Girl

The holiday was slowly drawing to a close and the teens were becoming restless to get back and see their other friends and Hermione was anxious to get back to her school work. Professor Snape turned back into his nasty self the week before and threatened to take off house points if she didn't stop pestering everyone about studding. Everyone else was startled as well to see him upset at her for too much studying.

"So you nervous about starting at Hogwarts?" Draco asked Gabrielle as they tried to ignore another row between Ron and Hermione over a subject nobody new.

"I am curious more than nervous. I won't miss the creatons at Beauxbatons but I am wondering how well I will be received at Hogwarts. I don't fancy myself as a Gryffindor; they are too proud and loyal for my tastes. Hermione lent me her book called Hogwarts a History and from the description of the houses in there I would rather die than be put in Hufflepuff." Gabrielle told him.

"I agree with you there. If they had put me in Hufflepuff I would have packed my bags and transferred to Durmstrang. My evil git of a father had wanted to send me there since it was at the time run by a death eater. If you don't get into Slytherin, the only other house to be in is Ravenclaw." Draco said in his most stuck up voice.

"I like Harry and everyone else, but I just can't see myself fitting in Gryffindor. I'm sure Bill wants me to be in his old house and Fleur will be upset though." Gabrielle told him. "Do you think they will still talk to me if I got put in another house?"

"Potter and Granger will for sure, they are only rude to those people who are rude to them, like I am." Draco laughed and told her how they had been rivals and enemies since their first year and how they still had to keep up pretenses.

"How horrible for you not to have friends in your house," Gabrielle told him.

"It could be worse. My father could know that I had switched sides and could have all the death eaters hunting me down." Draco said shivering at the thought. "That's why I have to be careful to keep the other Slytherins still believing that I am their noble leader."

Gabrielle giggled, "Ginny told me that the girls call you the Prince of Slytherin."

"And we call Harry Saint Potter. I'm only referred to as royalty, he gets to be godly." Draco huffed. "I call Harry and Ron by Potty and the Weasel sometimes to get a rise out of them. I have stopped calling Granger a mudblood though unless I really need to put on a good impression for the Slytherins."

Harry went up to Professor Dumbledore a few days before they were going back to school. "I was wondering about the dueling tournament sir," Harry told him.

"Yes, I was wondering about it as well. What were you thinking Harry?" The old headmaster asked with his ever present twinkle in his eyes.

"I don't think I should participate and give away my powers to all the Slytherins and other would be death eaters. I need to come up with some way to get disqualified or in trouble enough that I can't participate." Harry told him seriously.

"Why don't you just not enter the tournament Potter?" Snape asked him like it was the most obvious answer.

"The students would never believe that Mr. Potter decided not to enter the tournament on his own will. Gryffindors would never walk away without at least having a go at it. Besides he was the Tri-Wizard champion, there would be much talk about him choosing not to participate." McGonagall added. The professors had all been sitting in the living room chatting.

"I'll need to get in trouble or fake injury. It's the only way to avoid suspicion." Harry told them. "Any ideas on how to do that?"

"What would it take to get him suspended from participating?" Tonks asked the heads of houses. They were in charge of punishments and would know how bad it would have to be to ban Harry.

"Being caught out of bed after hours no longer will do it since he is a prefect. We would only suspend his prefect privileges. It would have to be attacking another student or breaking many many many school rules." McGonagall said.

"With Potter's record fighting with another student would do it. Preferably someone from another house in front of the student body would be enough. Assuming the other student didn't actively participate in the fight." Snape told them all. Harry silently agreed that would be the most effective and convincing way to get suspended.

"It would have to be a pretty convincing fight. What would it take to get Harry so upset that he would strike out at someone like that?" Tonks asked.

"Me," Draco said walking into the room and overhearing the conversation. "He was banned from Quidditch last year after hitting me when I insulted Mrs. Weasley."

"That would also keep the Slytherins from wondering about Mr. Malfoy's loyalties. But what would have to happen to trigger such and outburst?" Dumbledore asked them all.

"If Harry found out about Draco and Ginny being friends," Remus told them shrugging.

"Although that would make a perfect reason for a staged fight, we do not want to expose Mr. Malfoy's friendship with her unless absolutely necessary." Dumbledore said.

"Draco and I will try and work something out. Just remember to remove me from the tournament if an opportunity presents itself and we get into a fight." Harry told them. "I don't want to have it happen and then just get stuck with detention or something."

"Besides, if I'm going to stand there and let him beat on me, he better get a good punishment." Draco said smirking.

Harry went to speak with Bill the day before they left for school. Dumbledore had become Fleur and Gabrielle's secret keeper the night before. Bill, Fleur, The Weasleys, The Longbottoms, Remus and Tonks were all sitting in the kitchen.

"I wanted to talk to you all about the living situation before I headed back to school." Harry started smiling at Remus who he had discussed this all with last night. "Fleur I want you to feel welcome here as long as you need the protection this roof can provide. I know this puts a lot of strain on your and Bill's relationship."

"That's ok Harry. I would rather know she was safe and only see here every so often than risk her safety and see her everyday." Bill told him putting his arm around her.

"That is why I think you should stay here too." Harry said receiving a surprised look around the table. "That way you can be assured of Fleur's safety and she won't be lonely here without you. Besides, since I am employing you as my accountant, there is a reason for you to stay."

"I think it's a wonderful idea Harry," Mr. Weasley said smiling. "Besides, Bill's old enough he shouldn't be living at home anymore." He laughed and watched Bill blush.

"I also want you to know you are welcome to stay as long as you need," Harry told the Longbottoms. "There are a lot of people wanting to get to you after your miraculous recovery and you are safe here."

"Thank you Harry that is a very sweet offer." Alice said smiling at him.

"It'll give Dobby and Winky some company with Remus, Tonks and I at Hogwarts." Harry told them glad they were taking him up on his offer. "I kind of like thinking of this at the Potter Hotel." He said making them all laugh.

They were all packed and their trunks lying at the foot of the stairs ready to go back to school. Harry had restocked up on Butterbeer and sweets before heading back. They all shrunk their trunks and pocketed them before using floo powder to get to the headmaster's office. It was the only fireplace you could floo into at the school. Everything else was only for interschool communication.

They put their trunks away in their rooms and went back down to the great hall to see Gabrielle get sorted. She was standing at the front of the hall with her head held high looking both smug and proud, daring anyone to question what she was doing there.

"Is it just me or is she looking remarkably Slytherin at the moment?" Ginny asked Harry as they sat down at the table, careful to keep a seat open if she was put into their house.

"Welcome back everyone," Dumbledore said standing to get their attention. "I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Before we get to our evening meal we have new student who needs to be sorted. She is a second year transfer from Beauxbatons, I expect you all to treat her with the same respect you treat the rest of your fellow students."

McGonagall stepped forward with the sorting hat and the stool. "Gabrielle Delacour." She said as Gabrielle sat gingerly on the stool. Harry noticed quite a few of the boys were ogling the little part-veela; her charms were obviously working well.

The sorting took a minute or so before the old hat finally shouted "Slytherin." Harry and his friends exchanged a few surprised glances before smiling at the pretty blond and she made her way to the Slytherin table that was cheering for her.

Draco smiled as he heard the hat yell Slytherin and told Pansy to move over so he could welcome the new girl. He waved Gabrielle over. "Hello my name is Draco Malfoy and I am 6th year prefect. I will be the one to show you to your dormitory and can arrange a tour of the school for you in the morning if you deem it necessary."

"Moi name eez Gabrielle Delacour," She said making sure to chop her English up and accentuate her French accent. She thought it was funny how they had to pretend to not know each other. "Moi sister was ere for zee Tri-Wizard Tournament"

"Your sister is Fleur Delacour?" Pansy asked clearly not pleased at the information that a part-veela was sitting next to Draco. She had been trying to get her hooks into Draco since first year.

"Oui," Gabrielle said giving Pansy a look of disgust that Draco thoroughly enjoyed. "And which professor eez our Head of House?" She asked Draco sweetly already enjoying the look of loathing on Pansy's face.

"That would be Professor Snape," Draco said pointing at the staff table. "He is the Potions Master."

"So you are a second year," Pansy asked smirking, "That makes you like 12 years old or something right?" She knew Draco would never go for someone 4 years younger than him.

"No, I am 14." Gabrielle said enjoying tormenting the pug-faced girl already. "And who are you?" She asked not trying to hide the contempt in her voice.

"My name is Pansy Parkenson and I am in 6th year with Draco." She said batting her eyelashes at Draco as she said his name.

"I'm surprised you made it into Slytherin since you are not a pureblood," Blaise Zabinni said in a rude voice.

"My Grandmuzzer was Veela. There ezz nothing wrong with a pureblood wizard marrying a Veela. I am more powerful than you." Gabrielle said holding her head high and glaring at any who dared to say she was not worth of her house.

"Yes Blaise, a match with a Veela is a highly sought after match. They are very powerful and when a wizard child is born with Veela blood they are more powerful than most pureblooded wizards. It is the same way with mating with a vampire." Draco told his house mates. "I for one am thrilled to have such a beautiful creature such as you in my house." Draco said laying his charms on thickly.

"Would you rather me be sitting with Harry Potter at the table over there?" Gabrielle asked the others with a smirk.

"How do you know who Potter is?" Draco asked feigning ignorance.

"He saved my life during the Tri-Wizard Tournament when my sister was not able to rescue me from the Mermaids." Gabrielle said watching comprehension dawn on their faces. They spent the rest of the meal filling her in on house rivalries and such.

"So what do we do now?" Ron asked glancing at Gabrielle. "Are we supposed to be nice to her still?"

"Ron!" Hermione scolded. "Of course we are supposed to be nice to her. She is the same girl that we knew before. We will remain her friend if she wants to."

They were leaving to head to the common room at the same time as Gabrielle, Draco and his followers. "Congratulations on making Slytherin," Harry said with a forced smile to her as they passed.

"Thank you Harry." She said and then deliberately turned to Ron and Ginny. "Hello Ron, Ginny." She said as she followed her new housemates down to the dungeon.

"Why would you speak to the Weasleys?" Pansy asked her as if she was insane.

"Their father is the Minister of Magic," Gabrielle said as if it were obvious. "They are also a pureblood family. My sister is dating their oldest brother Bill."

"She would date a Weasley?" Pansy asked disgusted.

"It is a good match. He is pureblood and the son of the most powerful man in the Ministry. Bill is quite powerful and has a high paying job at Gringotts." Gabrielle said. "It is not wise to get on the bad side of the minister of magic."

"Quite right," Draco said enjoying the glare Pansy shot at Gabrielle. "I in fact attended the inauguration of the new minister and pledged the support of the Malfoy household."

"You did what?" Pansy asked looking shocked at Draco.

"It is good to have friends in high places. As Gabrielle says, it would not bode well for my future in the ministry if I got on the wrong side of the minister of magic." Draco told his friends who all nodded their agreement.

Professor Snape was waiting for them at the entrance to the common room. "Welcome to Slytherin house Miss Delacour. I trust you will be a welcome addition." Snape said curtly. "Here is your class schedule." And he stalked off towards his office with his robes billowing dramatically behind him.

"Does he know how sexy he looks when he stalks away like that?" Gabrielle mused to her fellow students earning a snort from Draco and a "Eww" from Pansy and the others.

"Please tell me you didn't just refer to Professor Snape as sexy," Pansy said knowing for sure that the girl was crazy.

"What? I like dangerous men who don't care what others think of them. I think of it as a challenge." Gabrielle said as they showed her around the common room and Pansy showed her the girls' dorm.

When they were out of ear shot of Draco (or so they thought) Pansy spun around to glare daggers at the new girl. "Don't be getting any ideas about Draco. He and I will be together and you better not get in my way." Pansy threatened.

Gabrielle smiled evilly, "I don't like being threatened or told what to do. I will do as I please and you will have very little to say about it. If I wanted to go shag Draco Malfoy senseless this moment I could and there is nothing you could do to stop me. You may have been here before me but that does not make you better than me." The little Veela said with a smirk resembling Malfoy's. "Besides, Draco would never fall for an ugly pug faced cow like you. He has way too much self respect for that." Gabrielle turned and went into her dorm slamming the door shut in Pansy's face.

Draco rolled with silent laughter as he put away his extendable ears. He had been waiting years for someone to put Pansy in her place! He had always remained somewhat friendly with her in the fear that his father would insist he marry her upon graduation. Now with Gabrielle here he could voice his dislike of Pansy and offer an alternative for his affections to his parents.

Professor Snape had excellent hearing and silently amused himself with the notion that the young Veela thought he could appear sexy. The Slytherins were not going to know what to do with the fiery new student. She was definitely going to stir things up. If she was half the witch her sister was she would make for an excellent student as well.

The next day Draco took Gabrielle on a short tour of the castle pointing out the classrooms she would need. He had promised Snape and Madame Pomfrey that he would help brew more medical potions before classes resumed. When he arrived in the dungeons Ginny was already there and waiting for him. Professor Snape had their ingredients all laid out so they started immediately.

"So how does Gabrielle like being a Slytherin?" Ginny asked trying to get a conversation going. The time always went by faster when they talked.

"She will do very well in Slytherin. She has already told Pansy off twice and stuck up for herself to Zabinni. She amuses me to watch." Draco chuckled as he told Ginny the conversation he had overheard from the night before.

"I guess the hat knows what its doing then. We were hoping she was going to get into Gryffindor." Ginny told him. "But at least you have a friend you can trust in your house now."

"It will be nice to be able to be myself around someone other than you and the Golden Trio." Draco told her. "Besides if I show her a little bit of interest my mother might finally get off my case about that cow Parkinson."

They worked for the next few hours. Draco had just finished insulting Pansy again and Ginny was laughing when Pansy walked into the room to find Professor Snape. Unfortunately Ginny had been leaning on Draco for support from her laughing fit. She straightened up and tried her best not to laugh.

"What are you doing in here alone with Weasley?" Pansy asked with a look of disgust at Ginny who couldn't hold her laughter in any longer and started laughing loudly causing Draco's calm demeanor to crack as his laughter fought to get loose.

"We are working on a special project for Madame Pomfrey that Professor Snape recommended us for. You do realize that I do not have to explain my action to you, do you not." Draco sneered.

Pansy was still trying to think of a good retort when Professor Snape entered the room again. "Miss Parkinson, I trust you are not disturbing my two best students while they are working on an important project." He said to her.

"I was looking for you professor," Pansy added in a falsely sweet tone that fooled no one. "I wanted to speak with you about the new girl. She threatened me last night and I wanted to report that to you so you would watch her carefully. I don't feel she is a good asset to our house."

Draco was fuming from his seat and would have most likely lunged at Pansy if Ginny hadn't placed a calming hand on his arm. When he had regained control of himself he spoke to Pansy and Snape. "I am afraid that Parkinson here does not know what she is referring to Professor. The only private conversation between her and Miss Delacour was when Parkinson told Gabrielle to stay away from me."

"What was Miss Delacour's reaction to that comment?" Snape asked genuinely interested in the fiery young Veela.

"She called Pansy an ugly pug faced cow and said she could shag me senseless if she wanted and there was nothing Pansy could do about it." Draco said keeping his voice calm. Ginny howled with laughter and had hold onto the table for support.

Snape also had to use control to keep from laughing. The way the littlest Weasley laughed made everyone want to join her. She had a laugh that was quite contagious much like Lily's had been. "Miss Parkenson, I do not feel inclined to get involved in this situation you have obviously gotten yourself into. I expect you to handle the matter yourself. If I hear of you threatening Miss Delacour again I will have to discuss the matter with the Headmaster. I expected more from you." Snape said with such scorn that Pansy teared up before running from the room.

"Back to work you two," Snape said before locking himself in his office for a good laugh. Draco finally released his laugh and they resumed making their potions. They were almost finished when Gabrielle walked in looking thoughtfully around.

"Hello Draco, Ginny. Is this the potions classroom? I was told by that ugly girl that Professor Snape wanted to see me." She said winking at them. Ginny realized that she was going to interrupt Snape just to make things harder on Pansy.

"He is in his office," Ginny said pointing and giggling at Draco's smirk.

"Poor Pansy doesn't have any idea what she just got herself into," Draco chuckled. "This rest of this year may prove amusing yet."

Gabrielle knocked on her head of houses office door making sure to look confident yet slightly intimidated. She entered after being told to. "Good Afternoon Professor, I was told you wanted to speak with me." She said as she took in his brooding look of annoyance at the disturbance.

"I did not ask to speak with you, you may leave." He told her as he redirected his attentions back to the book he had been reading.

"I am sorry to disturb you Professor. That girl Pansy Parkinson said she had just spoken with you and that you needed to speak with me. I must have misinterpreted the message. I am sorry to interrupt your reading sir." She said smiling at him through batted lashes.

"For future reference Miss Delacour, if I wished to speak with you I would not send the message with Miss Parkenson. Feel free to ignore her if she tells you I need to speak with you. If I need to speak with you I will either tell you myself or send a message with Draco or one of the other trustworthy prefects." Snape tried not to smile as she left his office. She had been turning on her Veela charms for him and he found that highly amusing.

Gabrielle gave Draco a sly look as she walked out of the professor's office. Ginny giggled. "You're playing with fire with that one," Ginny said tilting her head toward Snape's office.

"Yes, but what fun is the game if you can't get singed a little bit," Gabrielle said causing Draco to snort and Ginny to laugh again as she left them to finish their project.

Chapter 27: Intended

Dumbledore stood up at dinner to make an announcement. "We will be having a dueling tournament this year." He paused to let the cheers die down. "To determine the best students in each house we will first be having inner house competitions. Once the best male and female student from each year is determined they will compete in a round robin tournament against those in the same year of the other houses. Once we have the male and female champion of each year they will then compete in a tournament to determine the Hogwarts Champion. All students are encouraged to participate. Your heads of houses will have further instruction regarding the initial inner house competition." He finished letting the hall fill with the chatter of happy students.

"It seems as though they like the idea," McGonagall said chuckling at the commotion the announcement had started. "Even the Slytherins look pleased."

"Yes, we finally found an activity the entire school seems willing to participate in." Dumbledore told her. "We should have tried this earlier."

The talk around the school for the next few days was solely on the tournament and who they believed would be victorious for each house. There was quite a large betting pool on who would become the Hogwarts Champion. Harry was favored 5 to 1 over the next candidate which was Malfoy. The 7th years didn't even take offense that they were not favored to win the competition, they we betting on Potter themselves.

Draco and Ginny had finished brewing potions early and decided to take a walk near the lake to clear their heads of all the potion fumes. "I am excited about the tournament, how about you?" She asked him.

"Sure, I have will have no problems winning the Slytherin competition. I could probably do it blindfolded with the lack of serious competition in my year. How about you, is there anyone who can take you?" He joked with her.

"Not likely," Ginny laughed. "They all know to stand clear or they might be facing my patented bat boggey hex." She said causing them both to laugh. They were laughing and talking and didn't notice the nosey person watching from the bushes with a scowl on her face.

Pansy Parkenson stormed up to the school ahead of Draco and Ginny who were still unaware that their friendship had been found out. As they walked in the entrance hall Pansy rounded on them. "What do you think you are doing with that muggle lover?" Pansy spat. "It is bad enough you sticking up for that hussy new part Veela but now you are hanging all over the words of†of" She started trying to come up with exactly what she thought of Ginny. "Of Potter's whore." She finished watching as Ginny's eyes narrowed and she took out her wand.

Before Ginny had a chance to hex Pansy Draco placed a calming hand on her arm. "As I said before Pansy, it is not smart to get on the wrong side of the Minster of magic. Miss Weasley and I have decided to be civil with each other and you should as well." He said praying she would believe his excuse.

"Civil to each other?" Pansy asked as if he were crazy. "I saw you two together by the lake talking and joking as if you were old friends, or worse. What do think screwing this little Gryffindor slut will win you?" She asked glaring at Ginny again.

"I can be friends with whoever I want to be. I do not have to explain my actions to you." Draco said close to hexing the girl himself. "If I choose to befriend the minister's daughter it is of no concern to you. My life will never by any of your business, no matter how much you want to be in my life you will never be good enough to be married to a Malfoy." He spat watching as Pansy shrank back from him in shock.

Her parents had guaranteed her that they would get his parents to make him marry her when they graduated. He had always listened to his parent's advice before this year. She knew it was the Gryffindor girl that was affecting him so much. "You will end up with me Draco Malfoy," Pansy said trying to regain her composure. "Our families have decided that long ago."

"No Pansy they have not. My family went along with the notion only because another suitable candidate was not available. Now there is and I intend to make my change of intention known to my parents." Draco said icily to her enjoying watching her eyes twitch trying not to cry. "I have never been attracted to you Pansy, and I would have been miserable having to spend my life with you."

"You can't tell me that you think she will choose you over Potter." Pansy said with an evil laugh. "She is a Gryffindor and will run back to him and you will be alone again and be begging me to take you back."

"Don't be so sure Parkinson. You read too much into things. I never said my attentions had shifted outside Slytherin. I am a Malfoy and will make a match worthy of that name. How my father ever though you were worthy of me was ludicrous." Draco said before turning to Ginny. "Thank you for the walk, I'm sure Potter is looking for you."

"Have a nice evening Draco," Ginny said smiling sweetly at him and watching Pansy's face contort in rage. "I'll see you tomorrow then? Same time?" He nodded before she turned to walk up the staircase leading toward Gryffindor tower.

The next morning the great hall was full of the buzz that Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley were sleeping together behind Harry's back. Harry whispered to Ron to ignore the rumors and remember what Ginny had told them last night about the confrontation with Pansy. Draco walked into breakfast knowing the talk would be about him and Virginia. He saw Ron and Harry shoot him death glares for the benefit of the school.

"If he says anything to me I'm going to jump and attack him like we had planned," Harry whispered to Ron. "Stay out of it no matter what he says to egg me on."

Ron nodded and was about to comment when he noticed Draco walking their way with a smirk on his face. "Well well well, it seems the whole school thinks I'm banging your woman Potter. Not surprising though. Why would she want you when she could have someone as handsome and rich as me?" Draco said goading Harry into a fight.

Harry spun around in his seat and glared at Draco. They were the center of attention in the great hall. "Ginny has informed me of your friendship. I know there is nothing going on between you two. She would never sink low enough to go out with a bouncing ferret." Harry said smugly watching Draco's eyes narrow as he realized they were about to get into their staged fight.

"Believe whatever you want Potter, but you know that no woman can resist my charms. And the little red head is just so fiery. Did you know she really is a natural red head?" Draco asked with a wink and a smirk. "Her fingers do amazing things."

That was all Harry could take. He knew Malfoy was just pretending for the sake of their fake fight but he didn't like the thought of his Ginny with anyone else. He lunged at Malfoy tackling him to the ground and getting in a few punches before he was pulled off of Draco by a very angry Professor Snape. Professor McGonagall was helping Draco up while Professor Dumbledore and Remus looked at the two boys with masked expressions.

"Severus, take Draco to the Hospital Wing and have Poppy check him over." Dumbledore said as Snape released Harry who was trying not to smile as he looked at his shoes trying to appear ashamed of himself.

"The boy deserves to be severely punished for this Headmaster," Snape said as if on cue. "Mr. Malfoy did nothing to provoke such an assault."

"I am aware of the situation and will handle it accordingly. Thank you Severus." He said ending the conversation as Draco played the part of a wounded martyr and moaned as Snape helped him out of the great hall. Draco made sure he sent a wink to his cronies at the Slytherin table as he passed so they realized he had just set Potter up.

"Detention Mr. Potter," McGonagall started to say but was cut off by Dumbledore.

"No Minerva, I am afraid a detention will not be enough for this situation." He said before turning back to Harry. "Mr. Potter you are hereby forbidden from participating in the upcoming dueling tournament. You will also make a public apology to Mr. Malfoy for your outburst and for disrupting your fellow students during their breakfast." The students all looked shocked from one to the other. Harry Potter had been forbidden from participating in the dueling tournament!

Harry looked up at Remus who wore a look of anger Harry knew was feigned. Remus grabbed him by the side of his robes and drug him from the great hall saying loud enough for everyone to hear. "You are very lucky it's not a full moon or I'd be ripping you to shreds for an act like that. You promised me no more fighting this year. We are going to have a serious talk young man!"

The Slytherins all chuckled at Harry was dragged out of the hall by his father. They had all been surprised to find that Remus had adopted Harry but were happy for it now so they could imagine Saint Potter getting a good lecture, hopefully more.

Gabrielle raced to the hospital wing as soon as Remus had drug Harry off. She wanted to let Draco know exactly what had happened before the other Slytherins blew it out of proportion. He was lying in a bed with a smile on his face and happily chatting with the nurse and Snape. He smiled when he saw her and motioned her over. "So what happened after we left?"

"Professor McGonagall went to give Harry detention but Dumbledore overruled and banned him from the dueling tournament as well as told him he had to publicly apologize to you for what he did. Then Professor Lupin drug Harry off for a good talking to, or so it was led to believe." Gabrielle said. "The Slytherins were very happy, it seems you just removed the favorite from the tournament."

"I'm just glad it all went according to plan without either one of you two boys ending up in here with broken bones." Madame Pomfrey said. "You should stay here for a couple more hours to make sure the story is believable." She said going into her office.

Snape was about to say something when the doors opened and Pansy Parkinson walked into the wing. "I hope you feel better soon Mr. Malfoy." Snape said leaving Draco to deal with the annoying girl.

"Oh Draco are you all right?" Pansy asked rushing to his side. She had not even noticed Gabrielle who had been standing behind Professor Snape.

"Why would you care?" Gabrielle shot out, "You're the reason this all happened. You and your gossip and lies set this all in motion." She glared. "You are lucky he is such a gentleman, if I were him I would have hexed you six ways from sideways the minute you walked in the room."

"He's the one shagging a Gryffindor!" Pansy retorted. "He should have known that it would end up this way."

"I have not had any relations with Virginia Weasley and I never will," Draco said not masking his sadness well enough. Gabrielle sent him a questioning look but Pansy was too dumb to notice his tone.

"You practically told Potter and half the great hall that you did," She said stubbornly.

"Yes, I said that to get to Potter. I was hoping he would hex me and get expelled but the stupid prat seems to forget he is a wizard when he is angry." Draco drawled.

"I knew you wouldn't cheat on me Draco!" Pansy said all excited.

"I could shag the entire school and it wouldn't be cheating on you Pansy," He told her shaking his head that she still hadn't gotten the point. "We are not and will never be together."

"I'll leave you two to fight this out," Gabrielle said leaning close and kissing Draco on the cheek. "Do get better," She told him enjoying the glare she received from Pansy as Draco picked up her hand, kissed it and smiled at her. "Later Pug," She said smirking at Pansy as she walked out of the wing.

"How many girls do you have behind my back Draco?!" Pansy asked scandalized.

"I'll have as many as I want. I am a Malfoy and will do as I please. Even when I marry I will do as I please." He told her watching her face fill with hurt. He knew she harbored strong feelings for him and had begged he parents to set them up. He couldn't stand to look at her let alone have her as his girlfriend or worse yet as his wife. "I have written my mother and told her that I refuse to accept the union between our families. Since I am now the head of the house I have the ability to pull out of the arrangement without repercussions."

"What am I supposed to do now?" She asked crying. "Why don't you want me?"

"I know that both Crabbe and Golye would be interested in a relationship with you. Go pester one of them and leave me alone." Draco said loosing patience with her. "I cannot believe they let blubbering fools into Slytherin, with the way you are acting you should be in Hufflepuff."

At that insult she stomped out of the hospital wing to write her father a letter. She would have Draco Malfoy if it was the last thing she did. She wanted the prestige and power of being Mrs. Malfoy. She knew Draco would soon take his rightful place by the side of the Dark Lord and she wanted the power of being his wife. Her parents had suggested she take the dark mark over Christmas. She had told them that she was waiting until Draco took his so they could join together. She had greatly exaggerated their relationship to her parents over the years.

Draco sniggered and headed back to his common room. He might have finally gotten rid of Pansy. He went to his room to draft a letter to his mother to tell her about Gabrielle. He knew she would appreciate that he would not longer fight her for marrying someone in his house. He had promised his parents that he would wed a pureblooded woman worthy of the Malfoy name.

He sat down on the green leather sofa in front of the fire deciding what to do that day. Professor Snape had decided it would not be good for him and Virginia to work together today. "What are you doing today?" Gabrielle asked as she sat down next to him on the sofa.

"I'm not sure. I was supposed to be making potions with Red for Snape but since the incident this morning Snape feels we should keep our distance from each other." Draco told her.

"Want to go for a walk so we can talk in private?" She asked him as the common room was way too crowded to ask the question she wanted answered.

"Sure," He said grabbing her hand and pulling her off toward the exit. He made sure to send suggestive winks to the other boys in the room who would assume he was taking her off to have a good snogging.

They wandered up to the astronomy tower and sat on a bench he conjured. "So what's on your mind?" He asked noticing her intense stare.

"Are you in love with her?" Gabrielle asked curiously. She had seen the strange way he looked when he told Pansy he would never have a relationship with Ginny.

"Who are you talking about?" Draco asked and then covered up with. "Malfoy's don't fall in love, we only marry for power."

"So you do love her then," Gabrielle said scooting closer to him. "I'm sorry she's in love with Harry." She laid her head against his shoulder.

Draco looked down at her silvery locks pressed against his bicep. She was a very sweet girl when she wanted to be. "I'm happy for her. She deserves someone like Potter. He will treat her the way she deserves. I'd just end up pushing her away when my true Malfoy colors were unfurled." He told her as he ran his finger through her hair.

"Your father won't be too happy about me either. You do know that death eaters are trying to kill me right." She asked him.

Draco smirked, "That was when they thought they couldn't turn you to their side. Now you're in Slytherin they will leave you alone as long as you seem to be on their side. I don't think there is much hope for them lying off your sister though. She is dating a Weasley and that makes her a target."

"They won't give up just because I'm in Slytherin." Gabrielle said sadly.

"No, but they will when I tell them that I want you as my intended." Draco said making her sit up suddenly to look at him.

"What? Are you crazy? Why would you want to be stuck with me?" She asked looking at him skeptically.

"They wanted me to marry Parkenson of all people. The giant squid would be more desirable than her. There are not very many pureblood witches my age whose families are free of suspicion. The Parkenson's have avoided suspicion so far. You are even better because to the ministry it would look like I was marrying a pure little part Veela." Draco told her honestly. "I know you are a few years younger than me and probably not wanting to even think of life outside school, but just think about it."

"I don't believe in love," Gabrielle told him which surprised him. "I will never know if a man wants me for who I am or if I inadvertently gave him a dose of Veela charms and he can't help himself." She said sadly.

"Only pure Veela's can control men, you are only ¼ Veela so you cannot force a man to do something he doesn't want to do. I read about Veela in 4th year when your sister showed up. Your charms can only intensify what the man is already feeling so you shouldn't worry too much." He told her putting his arm around her.

"So what feelings have I intensified inside of you?" She asked with her Veela purr. "Or are Malfoy's so cold hearted that they are impervious to a Veela's charms?"

"You are a brave little thing. I'd say you would belong in Gryffindor since you had the nerve to say that but seeing your calculating eyes I know you're a true Slytherin." Draco told her laughing. "I wrote my mother earlier to tell her about you so she would be prepared when Pansy's outraged father shows up demanding to know why I hurt his precious baby."

"It was a match made for power so why would he believe it to be anything else?" Gabrielle asked.

"Pansy has been telling anyone who would listen for the past 5 years that we were an item. She even invited herself as my date to the Yule ball in 4th year. He parents are stupid and believe everything she tells them. I couldn't believe it when my father told me she was to be my intended. I was tortured by him for a week after I told him what I thought about the arrangement." Draco told her.

"She is such an ugly girl, I can't image your father would want to have grandchildren that could look anything like her," She said giggling.

"He even admitted to me once that she was a hideously repulsive creature and told me that I was free to kill her as soon as she provided me with an heir." Draco shuddered.

"Great, I wonder what he'll say about me." She said darkly.

"Does that mean that you'll do it?" Draco asked her smiling. "Of course a Malfoy always gets what he wants, so you wouldn't have been able to resist me for long." She pushed him playfully in the arm for his smart comment.

"Yes, but remember my heritage and know that if I turned my charms on you, you'd be eating out of my hands. I'll be the one getting what I want in this relationship." She told him slyly.

"And what would that be Gabbs?" He asked her knowing she hated nicknames.

"Security, either way the war goes we will come out on top." She told him. "With the Dark Lord defeated we will be one of the only pureblood families left that is respected by anyone. If the good side looses we will have your name to hide behind and can live out our days safely in the darkness."

"It will be an interesting match," He commented. "I am part vampire, you're part Veela. Our kids should be really interesting."

"I'm only 14 years old, please don't mention kids again until I'm at least out of school." She scolded him making him laugh. "I didn't realize you had vampire blood in you."

"Yes, but that is not common knowledge so keep it to yourself." He told her as they headed downstairs for lunch.

"I'm so sorry about the tournament Harry," Pavarti told him sadly.

"You should have waited and fought him outside where the teachers couldn't see you." Lavender told him. "You could have been expelled."

"No, I didn't use my wand to fight him so they could only have given me detention for the rest of the year." Harry told her.

"At least I'll be able to be in the tournament now," Neville said happily. Harry wasn't going to let him in on the secret, he wanted Neville to win.

"What makes you think you'll beat me or Seamus?" Dean asked their normally non-confidant friend.

"Because he will," Hermoine told them with a smile. "I think Neville may win the entire tournament. It would have been good to see him and Harry duel though."

"You want to make a wager on that?" Seamus asked her with a sly smile.

"Sure, let's say 10 galleons that Neville is the one to win our year's tournament and another 10 that he is in the final for our year against the other houses." She said with a smirk. Harry and Ron looked at each other stunned. Hermoine never bet on anything!

"You have a bet," Dean said shaking her hand. "I am afraid you should start saving your money though. I've seen Longbottom in classes; he doesn't always know which way to hold his wand."

Neville glared, he hated how everyone teased him. "I think he'll win too," Harry said butting into the conversation. "In fact I'll make a wager with you as well. I'll pay you each 20 galleons if he doesn't make it into the final round for our year. If you loose you have to bow before Neville and kiss his shoes on top of that you will have to run around the common room in only your underpants to show what idiots you were."

"So you're going to pay us 40 galleons if we win and if we loose all we have to do is grovel and be utterly humiliated?" Dean asked impressed. "Sign me up!" They all shook hands.

"Harry that is a lot of money, I might not do that well." Neville said hurriedly to his friend.

"I believe in you Neville. Besides, even if you don't, it will be ok. Just do your best." Harry said smiling. Ron just looked bewildered. Between Harry and Hermione they had just bet 60 galleons on Neville's dueling skills!

"Where are you going to come up with that kind of money Hermione?" Neville asked her quietly.

"I won't have to Neville. You're the best and are going to win." She said matter of factly. With her being that sure his confidence went up another few degrees. He leaned closer to Harry and whispered, "I'll get Malfoy this time around."

Gabrielle sat in classes that day bored out of her mind. She had already transfigured a stack of toothpicks into needles within the first 5 minutes of class and had finished her homework in all her classes for the next month. McGonagall stood and watched the young girl before walking over to her desk with a small white mouse.

"Miss Delacour," She said getting the girls attention. "I want to test your skills. I want you to attempt to vanish this mouse please." She handed her the mouse and a 5th year text. "You will find what you need to do in the book."

Gabrielle set the mouse down on the desk. Looked straight at her Professor and vanished the mouse on the first try without looking it up in the book. "May I ask how you knew to perform that spell?" McGonagall asked. Her interest in the girl had tripled since the start of class.

"My mother kept me home with her for two years after I received my invitation to Beauxbatons. I was so bored with hanging around the house that I read all of Fleur's textbooks and most of the other books in my father's home library. I have a photographic memory and can recall the exact spell and wand movements as if were only yesterday that I read the book." Gabrielle told her; glad someone finally noticed her boredom.

"I will speak with Professor Dumbledore about advancing you to another year." McGonagall told her making the young Veela smile.

"Thank you Professor. No one at my old school cared that I was top of my class, had most of my schoolwork for the year done within the first month and was so bored I fell asleep in class." Gabrielle told her happily. "The only thing keeping me from being bored is the extensive school library."

"I hear you are far too advanced for a second year, Miss Delacour. Are you interested in being tested to see which year you should be placed in?" Dumbledore asked the tiny little Slytherin before him.

"Yes sir, I would very much like to be placed in a higher year." Gabrielle told him. "When can the testing be done?"

"I can arrange for a ministry official to be here tomorrow for the test." Dumbledore told her with his eyes twinkling. "Please accompany me up to my office in the morning after breakfast for the testing." He told her was she left his office to go tell Draco.

Chapter 28: Counteracting Veela Charms

Ginny was sitting in her potions class waiting for the class to end. She had finished her potion 15 minutes into the class and was agonizing over the long wait. "You may start the potion for next class since you have finished Miss Weasley." Snape told her handing her the assignment for the next class.

She walked to the ingredient cabinet to take the few school ingredients that she would need when she had another vision. She was watching Harry in the DADA classroom taking a test. The doors opened and Fleur walked in and over to Gabrielle. She started to pull her from the classroom. Suddenly she was watching them walk into the forbidden forest. She saw two death eaters standing guard over another Fleur who was tied to a tree and seething. She could hear Gabrielle scream when she saw her sister both tied to a tree and holding her arm. The one holding her pushed her to the ground beside her sister and raised her wand. She said the killing curse and the Fleur on the ground was killed, obviously the real one. Gabrielle asked why they were doing this since she was a faithful Slytherin and intended for Draco Malfoy.

The death eater version of her sister said it was to show the penalty of disloyalty and to test her resolve. Another death eater told her it was payback for all the lives lost in the attack. Before Ginny could learn anymore she snapped back to reality and saw the quizzical eyes of Professor Snape as she stood still immobile in front of the supply cabinet. She noticed many of the students were staring at her wondering why she didn't just take her ingredient and move away.

"I'm sorry Professor," she said looking him in the eyes so he could tell she needed to speak with him in private. "This amber blossom is not new enough to make a proper hair relaxing potion. Do you have any newer blossoms?"

Snape realized why she stopped moving for so long and knew she had another vision. "Yes, I have some in my office. This way Miss Weasley." He said leading her through the door to his office so he could hear about the vision.

She told him quickly of her vision while he considered it carefully. "You should go immediately to the headmaster's office and recount this vision. We need to go examine the shelves of the ingredient cabinet first to make it look like we are looking for the amber blossoms. Then I will send you to tell the headmaster that someone has been pilfering my stores again. That should be a good enough reason to send you to see him. I do wish you would stop having vision while in my class." He told her as they carried out her plan.

She told the headmaster everything in her vision. "Have you ever used a pensive Miss Weasley?" He asked as he pulled his from its cabinet.

"No sir, but I know how to. Would you like me to retrieve my vision so you can study it closer?" She asked him as he nodded. She pulled the silvery thread of memory and placed it in the basin. He took her hand and then touched to surface before they were thrown headfirst into the memory.

They watched the entire memory and were standing back in the headmaster's office. "I'm not sure it's a good vision sir," she told him sadly. "Gabrielle is only in second year and yet here I saw her in the 6th year DADA class."

"Miss Delacour is being tested tomorrow morning to determine which year she will be accelerated to. I had not realized she would be as advanced as 6th year, but as you envisioned it, it may happen that way." He told her. "We need to determine a time for this to happen, I don't want to just guess. Let's try again." He pulled her inside the vision again.

Ginny walked closer to Tonks and she paced the room for the exam. She was about to give up hope of them finding the date when she noticed Hermione's homework planner open under her desk. The date was April 22nd since she had DADA exam circled in red. They were then thrown to the forest where Ginny paid attention to the plant life to see if it was really the right season for April. The trees were all beginning to blossom and there were birds in the trees.

"So what have you determined Miss Weasley?" Dumbledore asked her.

She realized the Professor had made her revisit her vision to note the details so she would have more accurate information. "I saw the date was April 22nd from Hermione's homework planner and the budding trees in the forest." She told him. "At least that means we have a while to figure out how to stop it."

"I will need to ponder what to do with this information for a while. I need you to only tell Order members about this. No telling Draco, Neville or especially Gabrielle." He told her as she nodded. He handed her a bag of amber blossom with a wink and sent her back down to class.

"Professor Dumbledore had some amber blossom sir." She said entering the room and holding up the bag. "He was concerned with the theft of yours and is having the house elves look into it sir."

"Very good, now get to work Miss Weasley." He said as he stalked around the room again taking off house points for potions that were not the right color.

"She had another vision?" Minerva McGonagall asked the headmaster as they had a meeting with professor Snape.

"Yes, she had it as she was retrieving ingredients from the store cabinet during class. I could tell what was going on. She covered well by commenting that the ingredient she was looking for was too old to be properly useful." Snape told them with a smirk.

"Well at least she is learning to cover her visions well." McGonagall stated.

"Should we be using her visions in this way? What if this is the way the events are supposed to play out?" Snape asked the wise old wizard behind the desk.

"I believe these visions come to her as a warning. Why else would she be having visions about people she knows and cares about? If events are supposed to turn out that way they will and there will be nothing we can do to stop it. I say we continue to try and change the events she sees to out advantage." Dumbledore told them.

"We are still very lucky she saw that cauldron exploding or you wouldn't be here Severus. I am surprised you are questioning her visions." McGonagall told him.

"I don't want to rely on her visions for our resistance efforts. We need to continue on with what we were doing before and use he insights to aid us not direct us." Snape said.

"Very well said Severus, we shall not make Miss Weasley into some sort of oracle." Dumbledore chuckled. "If you're not careful someone might actually think you care about your students' welfare." They all laughed at that comment.

Draco received a letter from his mother the next morning about both Ginny and Gabrielle.

My Son,

Your father and I were greatly disappointed to learn of your friendship with the daughter of that muggle-loving fool of a minister. We raised you to know better than that. I realize you do not want to jeopardize your future career at the ministry, but that will not happen. The current powers will be replaced with those worthy of our cause and that fear will be nullified. I sincerely hope that this new friendship is not the reason you stayed at school for the holidays. Your father informs me that you will be initiated as soon as school is ended for the year.

I am happy that you have found yourself such a good match in Miss Gabrielle Delacour. Your father and I approve. I delighted in relaying the news to Mrs. Parkinson last night. Your father informs me that without your match they will be useless to the cause and loose any remaining status they had within the circle. Remember that the tides of power can swiftly turn and not to let your guard down.

End the friendship with the muggle lover or face the wrath of your father and his associates. This behavior will not be tolerated in the circle.

Your Mother

He stuffed the letter into his pocket to show to Snape later in the day. He leaned over and whispered to Gabrielle. "My parents approve of our match."

"That is wonderful Draco. I shall write to my sister and we can announce it to the house later in the week." She told him as she continued to eat.

"Do we need to announce it?" He asked curiously. "Pansy can't keep her mouth shut so I'm sure they will all know already."

"This way there is no confusion and everyone will know for sure that Pansy is not your intended. I am sure they will all want to congratulate you on your match. The boys in the house have been ogling me since I arrived, this should end any ideas they have as well." She told him happy to have a reason to avoid all the repulsive boys in her house.

"Very well," Draco resigned. "Now you better head off to see Dumbledore and find out what year you're being advanced to." She smiled and scurried off after the old headmaster towards his office.

Gabrielle spent the entire morning taking written tests and demonstrating magic for the ministry official. "Very good Miss Delacour," The short little man said as she made her teacup dance across the table. "I believe you should take your OWLs within the next week. I will discuss the matter further with Professor Dumbledore and have your results by the end of the day." He told her as she excused herself to the library to read until they summoned her again.

"She is a remarkably bright young witch," the examiner told the headmaster. "She shows skills at an average 7th year level. Her written knowledge is almost as good. I would recommend placing her in 6th year so the adjustment will not be as difficult for her."

"You believe she will be able to handle all the 6th year classes?" Dumbledore inquired. "Have you tested her in the optional classes such as divination, ancient runes, care of magical creatures?"

"Yes, she exceeded in care of magical creatures, ancient runes, arithmacy and even muggle studies. She didn't seem too interested in the divination exam, although I have no doubts she could handle the class." The examiner told him. "Shall I return throughout the next week to administer her OWLs then?"

"Yes, I can have a room arranged if you would like to stay." Dumbledore told him. "Would you join me for lunch in the great hall?"

The two older wizards discussed the OWL and NEWT exams during lunch. Especially last year's exams with Umbridge being in charge of the school.

"I'm going to be in 6th year?" Gabrielle asked shocked. "That's great!" She said smiling at Dumbledore. "What about OWLs?"

"You will be taking them this week. I also need to know which exams you would like to be tested in and which elective classes you plan to attend." He told her.

"I wish to be tested in every subject for the OWLs," she said smiling. "I believe I am ready for all the written exams and most of the practicals with the exception of Divination. I wish to take the Divination exam anyway. As for future classes I do not wish to take divination or muggle studies." She told him smiling.

"Just because you are in Slytherin does not mean you cannot take muggle studies." The wise old man said with his eyes twinkling.

"Draco would be teased if I did and we both want to keep up his reputation as the Prince of Slytherin." Gabrielle told him.

"Then the rumors of your betrothement are true then?" HE asked smiling. "I am happy for the two of you."

"Yes, he needs a wife of pureblood and I hate how so many men and boys lust after me due to my Veela blood. I think it is a suitable arrangement. He did not want to be stuck with Pansy Parkinson and I am the only other alternative in his opinion." She told the man even though she guessed he had already known.

"You will have your exams in the great hall starting after breakfast tomorrow. They are timed exams although if you finish early you will start the next exam early as well." He said before excusing her.

"You're going to be in sixth year!" Draco said shocked. "That's great, you can keep Pansy away from me," he chuckled. They talked for a while before he had to head off to elite DA.

She noticed him trying to sneak out without drawing attention but 3 people asked where he was going. "Come on," She said grabbing his hand and winking at a few 3rd years near the door. When they were out in the corridor she said, "Now they will think we went off for a good snog and not wonder where you run off to every Monday night."

"Thank you," he said smiling as he headed off toward the room of requirement and she headed to the library. She was one of the only Slytherins who frequented the library so she knew their cover story wouldn't be blown.

"You and her are what?" Ginny asked in a loud voice making Hermoine raise her eyebrow at the young redhead.

"She is now my intended," Draco said casually, enjoying the way she seemed upset by the fact."

"That is horrible!" Ginny said, "No one should have to marry for anything but love. I can't believe you two are going along with this!"

"It's a good match. I need a pureblood witch or better and she wants security from all the idiots who throw themselves at part-Veelas." Draco explained calmly. "Besides, it keeps me from having to marry Parkenson."

"What does Fleur have to say about this?" Hermione asked curiously, "or Bill for that matter."

"I don't know, Gabrielle was going to write to her today but I'm not sure if she did with all the testing she was going through." Draco said.

"What testing?" Ron asked.

"She is skipping to 6th year," Ginny said offhandedly. They all looked to Draco for confirmation who also explained how she had a photographic memory and had read all her sister's textbooks not to mention her father's entire library and most of the one at Beauxbatons.

Hermione tried not to show how upset she was by this information. If Gabrielle was that talented she would have to work even harder to maintain her place at the top of each of her classes. She didn't think that a 14 year old could be better than her at writing essays and cross-referencing materials in the library.

"Deep breaths Hermione," Harry said going over to his friend who was about to have a panic attack thinking that someone could best her scores. "Don't worry about her. She just has an amazing memory. We should be glad to have another talented witch on our side." Hermione calmed considerably at that comment and they got on with their lesson.

Gabrielle received an owl from her sister at breakfast the next morning.

Gabrielle,

It pains me to think you care so little for love that you would arrange a marriage to someone as cold hearted as Draco Malfoy. I know how much you despise the way men ogle at you, but is this the only way to avoid it? I realize that the two of you are friends and that at this point in your lives it seems like a good idea, but what happens when you decide you do want to love? We both know it took me a long time to admit my love for Bill, or even that I was capable of loving, but look at how happy I am now. I want that happiness for you Gabri. Please consider this carefully. You know what side of the war his family is on, just be careful.

All my love,

Fleur

Gabrielle hurried back to her bedroom so as not to show her fellow Slytherins her emotions. Fleur was right, she knew she would want to fall in love one day, but she had decided against it. Draco would treat her right and she could be happy with him. She assumed they would each have other lovers; it was common practice once an heir was produced. She new better than to think her life could be a fairy tale with Prince Charming coming to rescue her and sweeping her off into happily ever after. HAH! She knew that was a bunch of crap. She dried her tears and went to start her first exam, pushing her sister's overly sentimental letter from her mind.

"How are OWLs going?" Draco asked her at lunchtime.

"Fine, I've finished transfiguration, charms and history of magic already." She said smiling at him as they ate.

"You are pretty quick to be finishing those so fast. I wasn't a big fan of the exams, but then again I can't visualize the answers to the questions in my head!" He said reaching past her for a roll.

"Fleur wrote me this morning," she tried to say casually. "She is slightly concerned that we are rushing into things. She wants me to keep my options open to marry for love someday."

"I thought you didn't believe in love?" Draco asked with a smirk. "She's your older sister and currently your guardian. I would expect her to be wary and not want you to rush into things with me."

"She thinks that just because Bill came along and opened her eyes to the wonderful world where couples are madly head over heals in puppy love with each other that I'll be able to find that as well," she told him.

"For someone who despised love, you do kind of sound like you're holding out hope." He told her smiling as she blushed. Seeing a Veela blush was an amazing experience. They emit a glow and everyone around them seems to be content for a little while.

"Damn," She whispered noticing what happened. "I am getting to comfortable with you Mr. Malfoy. You left me drop my defenses and now I went and dolled out a nice big dose of Veela charm. I expect you to be fighting the ravenous young boys off me for that."

Draco laughed, thinking she was joking until he noticed a few timid looking 1st and 2nd years walking toward where they were sitting at the table. AS he looked around her could see quite a few of the boys were squirming in their seats like they wanted to rush to her as well. He gave her a sheepish grin and a shrug of apology before wrapping his arm protectively around her and glaring daggers at anyone who approached.

She tried not to giggle at his feeble attempt at scaring them off. Seeing his arm around her would not deter them. He would have to try a lot harder or start hexing them seeing how the effects would be lasting a few minutes longer.

He kept looking around the great hall trying to think of some way to keep her away from the boys who were all hovering nearby with love stuck looks on their faces.

"What did he do to set you off?" Harry asked as he walked over with a look of amusement on his face. "Looks like the great Prince of Slytherin can't figure out how to counteract your charming personality." He laughed and walked off.

Draco was glad that Potter seemed immune to her charms. Men who were in love would not feel the effects of the Veela. In some cases the Veela charms caused them to become even more attached to their love interest.

The professors at the head table were all slightly amused with the look of uncomfortable hostility on the young Malfoy's face. They knew how much he hated not being in control of a situation and found delight in his pained features. Snape realized that Gabrielle was just leaning casually into Draco waiting for the charms to lift. He thought it interesting how she almost looked amused at the situation Draco had been put in. Then again, he must have said something to either embarrass her or arouse her as those were the only explanations for her sudden release of Veela charm.

"So do you think he embarrassed her or said something to arouse her?" Remus asked Tonks with a small growl at the word arouse.

"With the smirk on her face I'd say embarrass, especially with the way she seems to be amused at Draco's pathetic attempts at driving the boys away.

"She obviously hasn't informed him of the easiest way to nullify the Veela charms." He said smiling. "I like a woman who plays hard to get."

"You are misbehaving now mister Moony. Don't make me have to tell Harry on you." She teased. "I think you just might have caught a whiff of that spell. I can see the animal inside you ready to pounce on me." They laughed and returned to watching the ever growing crowd of boys hovering near Gabrielle.

"Go away and leave her alone," Draco told them all. "She does not want to be disturbed at the moment. She has exams this afternoon; she needs her peace and quiet."

Gabrielle chuckled to herself and snuggled further into Draco's shoulder. She loved how he thought he could talk reason into them. She jumped slightly startled when she felt someone tugging at the back of her robes. She looked to her left and saw a sly looking Slytherin 3rd year standing slightly behind her trying to get her attention.

"Let go of her robes," Draco said in a serious accusatory tone. "Let go now or I'll hex you until you don't have body parts enough to think about touching another woman again."

The third year did not look disturbed by his comment; rather he plopped down on the bench next to her and started trying to speak with her. Draco had enough. "Will you all return to your seats. Miss Delacour did not mean to bring you all over. She inadvertently charmed you while speaking with me." He realized this was pointless as she giggled at his words.

"Try something more drastic," she laughed.

"Fine," he said an idea forming. "If you all don't believe that she is not interested, let me demonstrate it for you!" He half shouted before turning her face towards his and consuming her in a fiery and intense kiss. He pressed his lips gently at first against hers and then built it up to a feverish pitch. He had never thought about kissing her before, but now that he had he wasn't ever going to stop. It was the best feeling he had ever experienced.

The charms broke and the boys stared at the two kissing for a second before heading back to their tables embarrassed. Ginny nudged Harry and they stared in awe at the two Slytherins who didn't seem to remember they were in the middle of the great hall. "Well, that should help him get over you." Harry told her as she giggled.

"Seems that he finally figured out how to break her charms." Hermoine said gesturing to Ron who couldn't decide if he was disgusted or not.

Draco finally pulled away from her breathing heavily and looking at her through eyes glazed with a passion he had never known he possessed. He looked at her searchingly for any sign of emotion.

"Took you long enough to figure it out," she told him with a small smile before turning back to her breakfast, leaving him to just stare at her in wonder.