Chapter 4 – Lessons

Head Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt was drinking his morning coffee while he perused the auror reports from the previous day when Sr. Auror Ben Cummings entered his office. Kingsley looked at the clearly agitated auror with concern.

"Sir we have a problem."

Kingsley sat up a little straighter at his announcement. "What is it?"

"Draco Malfoy is missing."

"What do you mean missing? What's happened?"

Cummings took a deep breath before beginning. "I received the test results of the vial we sent to the lab yesterday. It contained a relatively common and highly toxic poison. On the way here I stopped by the morgue to give a copy of the results to the coroner and noticed that Malfoy's body was missing. A search of the area revealed two more vials which I have given to the lab for identification instructing the lab that this is a top priority item. I have also contacted the ward room requesting information on the status of the morgue from the time we dropped off Malfoy's body until I arrived this morning."

Kingsley let out a low growl and wrote a quick message to Amelia Bones which he placed in an envelope with a red border indicating it was a priority message. It disappeared as he dropped the message into a box labeled out on the credenza behind him. A few minutes later Amelia appeared in his office. He had just finished bringing her up to speed with the mornings events when two aurors knocked on his door.

"Enter." Kingsley said. "Report."

"Sir, we have been able to identify the substances contained within the vials Auror Cummings delivered to the lab this morning. One was a pain reliever and the other a restorative draught." the auror passed the full report to Kingsley before leaving the office.

"Sir, the wards surrounding the morgue indicate no one entered or left the area between the times indicated however we do show the owl slot in the window opening at 3:07 AM. We also detect a trace amount of magic in the vicinity of the window though we are unable to determine the source. We do know it was not caused by a wand." Once again the full report was passed to Kingsley before the auror left the office.

As Kingsley finished reading each report he passed them to Amelia and Ben to read.

Amelia rubbed the bridge of her nose as she finished the second report. "So it appears the poison vial in the cell was a ruse."

"Yes, he must have entered into some version of a magical comma waking in the morgue several hours later. He took the restorative and pain reliever to overcome the effects of the ordeal." Kingsley was deep in thought as he spoke. "He then escaped through the owl slot."

"Illegal animagus?" Ben said.

Kingsley nodded. "The transformation must have been the wandless magic that was detected."

Amelia stood to leave the room as she addressed the head auror. "Put out an all points on Draco Malfoy and prepare a team to send to Malfoy Manor. I'll secure a warrant and notify Dumbledore."


Harry woke to the warm comfort of his girlfriend lying beside him. He realized this was quickly becoming a habit and found he didn't mind one bit. After watching her sleep and playing with a strand of her auburn hair for a long time he reluctantly eased his way out of bed being careful to not wake Ginny and went to get ready for another day.

As Ginny slowly returned to the land of the living after a long nights sleep she was happy find Harry placing light kisses on her lips. Wrapping her arms around his neck she returned his affections finally opening her eyes to find familiar green ones only inches away.

"Morning Gin."

"Mmmm, Morning. I thought you said you couldn't wake me like that everyday?" said a smiling Ginny.

"I said I couldn't promise to wake you like that every day. I also said I wanted to though."

After sharing a few more kisses Ginny left the room to prepare for another day at Hogwarts.

Upon entering the Great Hall for breakfast Harry and Ginny found Hermione and Ron waiting for them.

"Morning guys." Harry and Ginny both said.

Hermione decided to forego any niceties and get straight to it. "You have second period free today right?"

"Yes Hermione, I suppose you still want the story." Harry said.

"Of course Harry."

"Alright, we'll go to the room of requirement after Care of Magical Creatures then. Ok?"

Hermione nodded happily.

As the group was eating breakfast the morning post arrived. Owls of all colors and descriptions flew in through the windows high above dropping a myriad of various sized letters and packages in front of their recipients. A large brown barn owl dropped a Daily Prophet in front of Hermione who unrolled and began to read it as she ate.

The students finished their breakfast and were preparing to go to Care of Magical Creatures to learn about some terrifying animal that Hagrid would no doubt label as cute and misunderstood when Headmaster Dumbledore approached with a grave look on his face. Hermione groaned thinking she was yet again going to be unable to hear Harry and Ginny's story.

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Weasley, please accompany me. An important matter has come up this morning that you need to be made aware of. Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, please inform Professor Hagrid that they will be a little late."

Harry and Ginny looked at each other wondering what could have happened now. Hermione let out a small sigh of relief when she found out they would still make it to class so she would still get to speak with them during second period. After nodding to the headmaster, Ron and Hermione left the Great Hall to make their way to Hagrid's hut.

The Headmaster led Harry and Ginny to the small room off the Great Hall where Harry had been sent when he had been announced as the fourth champion of the Tri-Wizard Tournament in his fourth year. After entering the room Dumbledore placed his usual security charms and they all took seats around the large fire place.

Dumbledore looked at the two students who had quickly become his favorites for a minute before starting. "I'm sorry to have to inform you of this but I believe it is important you are made aware of it immediately. Draco Malfoy has escaped from custody."

Harry and Ginny's eyes got wide and they gasped in surprise at the announcement. As Dumbledore finished telling them the news he removed a letter he had received with the owl post that morning and handed it to the teens.

Headmaster Dumbledore,

Last night during dinner rounds Draco Malfoy was found dead in his cell with an empty vial which was later determined to have contained a highly toxic poison lying next to his cot. His death was verified magically by multiple aurors and his body sent to the morgue. This morning his body was discovered to be missing and two additional vials were found on the floor next to where he had been. One had contained a restorative draught and the other a pain reliever. The owl slot in the morgue window was opened in the early morning hours and a small wandless magical signature detected in the vicinity of the open widow.

At this time we believe the vial of poison was not ingested but placed to misguide us. We also believe Malfoy entered into some form of magical comma from which he woke several hours later alone in the morgue. After taking two potions to aid in his recovery he then changed into an animagus form and escaped through the owl slot.

We are using every available resource to locate and reacquire Draco Malfoy. Please notify Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley of these events as soon as possible. Also, please take whatever precautions you are able to ensure their continued safety. I will be in touch as additional information becomes available.

Amelia Bones
Head of Magical Law Enforcement
Ministry of Magic

As they finished reading the letter they looked up to find the Headmaster looking very old and tired.

Albus watched the changing emotions on the faces of his students as they read the letter. It pained him to no end that time after time they continued to be denied the normalcy and happiness they both so richly deserved. As the pair looked up he was a bit surprised to see a look of determination rather than the look of fear and worry he had been expecting. It heartened him greatly to see them acting in such a manner.

"I wanted to share this with you as soon as possible so that you would be aware of the possible danger. I also want you to know that Mr. Malfoy should not be able to enter the Hogwarts grounds. As part of the ceremony expelling him the castle's wards will no longer allow him on the grounds without the express permission of the Headmaster which of course he will not be getting." Dumbledore smiled as he said this and received small grins from Harry and Ginny. "There are also new wards in place preventing animagi from crossing the boundaries in their animal form. Should Mr. Malfoy try to enter in his animal form the wards would force him to change back into his normal form and would then expel him from the premises as he is banned from the school."

Harry and Ginny nodded in understanding.

"If you have no questions you should probably be running along to class. I'm sure Hagrid has a most exciting lesson planned for you." said a grinning Headmaster.

"I don't doubt that." Harry said returning his grin.

After removing the wards from the room Dumbledore left for his office and Harry and Ginny went to join Hermione and Ron in class.


Draco was exhausted. After escaping from the Ministry he had flown throughout the night without making a single stop. Over the last couple of hour's he had become increasingly worried and dizzy.

'I should have been home hour's ago.' he kept thinking.

Finally no longer able to go on he had to stop and rest. The dizziness continued to affect him and his vision began to blur as he descended into a strange wood. He landed far harder than he meant to and was sure he heard a small snap as he did.

Draco changed back to his human form to find his left leg crumpled and bent at impossible angles underneath him. As the pain of his injury shot through his body and blackness encroached on the edges of his vision he thought he saw the blurred outline of someone standing above him before he lost consciousness.


Harry and Ginny walked across the front lawn of Hogwarts towards Hagrid's hut to attend the remainder of his class. Their walking slowed considerably as they looked up observing the goings on from a distance.

Students could be seen running in every direction and others were rolling around on the ground. Several small fires were scattered about with additional bursts of flame appearing randomly around the scene. Screams permeated the otherwise calm air on the Hogwarts grounds and the entire area around the class was slightly obscured by a thin haze of smoke.

Hagrid could be seen in the middle of the mess picking up small red creatures with orange and yellow spots on them. "Easy now everyone, don't hurt the lil fellas." he bellowed.

Stopping well before they reached the chaos that was their Care of Magical Creatures class Harry and Ginny sat down laughing as they enjoyed the show. It was almost a half hour later that Hagrid with the help of Hermione and Ron managed to return all of the small animals to their pen. Standing up they finally finished their walk to class joining Hagrid, Hermione and Ron near the pen.

"Hello Hagrid." Harry said smiling brightly at his large friend.

"Ello Arry, Ginny, Ow ave you been?" the friendly giant asked as he put out a small fire in his beard.

"Great! What are these things Hagrid?"

"These err Fire Toads. Cute lil guys aint they?" he said with admiring eyes as he looked in the pen.

"Err, yah, their great." Harry carefully answered.

Hermione looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow. "Thank you both for helping by the way, we saw you sitting on the hill over there."

Harry and Ginny started laughing as they took in the appearance of their friends. Hermione's face was covered in soot and there were several burn marks on her robes. Ron looked similar but was also missing the eyebrow above his right eye.

"Sorry, but you looked like you were having fun and we didn't want to ruin it for you." snickered Ginny.

"Thanks so much." Ron replied.

A few quick spells later Ron and Hermione were cleaned up and back to normal. The class finally ended and as the four Gryffindors made their way back to the castle Hermione looked like she was about to burst with happiness at the thought of finally getting her long awaited answers.

Harry and Ginny of course found her attitude amusing. Unable to resist Ginny gave Harry's hand a squeeze as she began. "Well we'll see you two later; Professor Dumbledore needs to see us again."

Harry almost snorted out loud at her comment and then did start laughing along with Ginny at the look on Hermione's face. Ron's look was of someone who wasn't entirely thrilled at being put off yet again but understood and was resigned to the fact. Hermione however wore a look that neither teen was quite sure how to describe. Harry wasn't sure if she was going to storm off in a huff, have a seizure or start cursing them.

Hermione's eyes narrowed as the laughter registered and she realized she was being put on. "Honestly." she said. Taking hold of Ginny's free hand she practically dragged Ginny and Harry through the castle towards the room of requirement. Ron followed along behind with a small smile greatly amused by the whole situation.

Releasing Ginny's hand Hermione walked back and forth along a bare section of wall three times causing a door to appear. Much to Harry and Ginny's amusement she held it open waving the others in ahead of her as if she was afraid they were going to make a run for it.

The room contained a large fireplace with two sofas sitting facing each other with a coffee table in between.

"Dobby!" Harry said.

With a small pop a very eager house elf appeared from nowhere bouncing with excitement. "Master Harry Potter sir needs Dobby! Hows can Dobby be helping yous?"

"Please Dobby we're friends, just call me Harry ok?" Dobby looked aghast at the thought but nodded meekly. "Think you could scare us up some butter beers?"

Dobby nodded vigorously before disappearing with another small pop. A moment later he reappeared with a tray and passed each of the group an ice cold butter beer.

Hermione gave Harry a cold look filled with indignation over what he was doing. "Harry, how could you use Dobby like this?"

Harry started to answer but Dobby beat him to it. "Oh no Misses, Master Harry Potter is a kind and noble wizard. I is liking serving him and his Misses Wheezy very much I is."

"Calm down Hermione." Harry added though his comment only seemed to incense her further. "You haven't heard our story yet. Ginny and I have been forced into a special situation and Dobby volunteered to help us out. It is his choice Hermione, and he is being paid by Dumbledore."

Dobby nodded vigorously in agreement before popping away.

"Alright, perhaps I should hear what's going on before jumping to conclusions." Hermione admitted.

As the teens all settled down Harry and Ginny began their story. They explained the events on the train and waking in the infirmary. Harry told them about his conversation with Madam Pomphrey and what they discovered of their condition.

"So that's why you two are always together and holding hands." Hermione exclaimed.

"Well that and we just like to." Harry said grinning causing Ginny to beam and snuggle closer to him.

"And it's why you can't live in Gryffindor tower." added an oddly insightful Ron.

Nodding to her brother Ginny told the pair about their new living arrangements. Ron sent a glare of warning to Harry who understood but remained impassive about the gesture. They then went on to explain about Malfoy and Nott's interrogation by Dumbledore and finally Malfoy's escape from the Ministry.

The group sat in silence for several long minutes sipping on their butter beers as Ron and Hermione contemplated everything they had heard.

"Well thanks for telling us what's going on." Hermione finally said. "I hate it that we're not going to see you as much but I at least I understand why now. Oh, how was your meeting with your new potions professor?" she asked suddenly getting excited again.

Harry and Ginny shared a smile and a quick laugh at the thought of Christopher.

"He's interesting." Harry said.

"Definitely." added Ginny. "He's quite the character. I think he's going to be a lot of fun to work with and he seems to know a lot. Our first lesson is today so we don't really know too much yet. He also mentioned we can't share what we're doing with anyone."

Hermione appeared to be getting grumpy again.

"Sorry Hermione, we'll tell you what we can but he seemed to think a lot of what we'd be doing could be very dangerous and made us promise we wouldn't share any of it without his permission."

Harry's words seemed to calm her slightly but she was still obviously less than happy and even seemed jealous. After a few moments Harry decided the best idea would be to change the subject.

"Are you guys still working on your animagus transformation?" Harry asked.

Hermione's attitude changed immediately as the conversation turned towards her magic and the tension in the air seemed to lift. The four teens spent the time until lunch chatting happily about everything that had been going on since their return to Hogwarts.


Harry and Ginny exited their Charms class and hurriedly made their way back to their rooms excited to finally be starting their Potions training with their new tutor. They were surprised when they entered their common room to find not only Christopher but Professor McGonagall as well.

"Hey Christopher. Hello Professor." Harry greeted the two adults.

The pair stood up as they entered the room and approached the teens.

"Professor Dumbledore has informed us of Mr. Malfoy's escape." began Professor McGonagall, "He thought it would be prudent in light of your current condition to make sure you are prepared to defend yourselves in spite of what you may end up feeling towards your opponent."

Harry and Ginny looked confused.

McGonagall picked up on this and decided the best way to explain would be to begin the lesson. Drawing her wand she had Christopher stand several paces behind Harry and Ginny so that Ginny could pay attention without being distracted.

"Ms. Weasley, please let go of Mr. Potter and step behind him so that he can not see you."

Harry began to get nervous as Ginny let go of his hand and disappeared behind him. It wasn't long before the odd feelings began to emerge as he looked at his professor.

McGonagall waited until she saw Harry begin to blush. "Mr. Potter, curse me."

"What?" Harry asked.

"I am a threat; I am going to hurt you. Curse me." she said slowly raising her wand toward Harry.

Harry looked aghast at the very thought, "I could never professor."

"Ms. Weasley, please take his hand again please."

At the mention of his girlfriend's name and the touch of her hand the feelings once again disappeared and Harry felt very embarrassed.

"Do you both understand what we're trying to accomplish here?" Professor McGonagall asked.

Ginny answered. "You want us to be able to react appropriately in a dangerous situation regardless of how the potion makes us feel about the person we're facing."

"Very good Ms. Weasley, ten points to Gryffindor." she said with a smile. "Shall we try again Mr. Potter?"

Harry nodded and after breaking off into pairs the four spent the next hour practicing until Harry and Ginny could both push aside their feelings enough to act if they were threatened. It was a long and embarrassing hour for the teens but their teachers were very understanding and they all knew this was important to master.

McGonagall finally bid them a good day and left to return to her class which was currently being taught by Professor Dumbledore. As she left Christopher summoned Dobby and requested butter beers for the trio which arrived a moment later. After taking seats around the fireplace Christopher began.

"Well, that was entertaining wasn't it?" he asked mischievously.

Harry and Ginny both blushed bright red and Ginny could hardly look at him. Christopher broke down laughing hysterically.

"Sorry," he said when he finally gained control of himself once more. "Well, not really. Anyway I figured since we're running late getting started we should talk a bit about what we're going to be doing in the near future and then have some dinner before starting our work in the lab."

Having recovered from their embarrassment Harry and Ginny were now listening intently looking forward to finally finding out what they were going to be doing.

"There are several potions we're going to make that will take a lot of time to brew and by a lot of time I mean anywhere from one to six months. But we'll be starting in on that after dinner so we'll discuss those then. For now I'd like to speak with you about another project we'll be taking on as we'll need a way to apply large amounts of power to some of the potions we'll be creating."

Harry and Ginny once again looked confused much to the amusement of Christopher.

"What do the two of you know about staffs?" he asked. As he posed his question he removed a wand from within his sleeve and gave it a flick. An instant later he was holding a long mahogany staff with a large crystal embedded in one end. He laid it on the coffee table in front of Harry and Ginny who looked at it in awe.

"Wow, I've heard about them, but have never actually seen one." said Ginny.

Harry looked towards Christopher. "There a magical focus like a wand but can handle more power right?"

"True, true." Christopher looked contemplative as he nodded. "What else can you tell me Ginny? Specifically what can you tell me about the magic?"

"Well, like Harry said they can handle a lot more than a wand but they're said to be dangerous. If you can't control it and try to push to much magic through the staff it will draw more than your body can handle and kill you."

Christopher was smiling as if he received exactly the information he had been expecting. "Exactly, very true, also a common misconception."

The teens were once again confused at his conflicting statements.

"Properly created staffs are more than just a magical focus for your energy they also amplify it. The information you have is based on the first staffs that were created and the odd staff created by an inexperienced craftsman. Those staffs are strictly magical foci and as such obtain all of the energy channeled through them from the wizard or witch. This type is extremely dangerous and not worth owning. I would highly recommend that should you ever come across one you not attempt to wield it as Ginny is correct in saying that you could easily be killed in the attempt."

Both teens were nodding fascinated by the man lecturing in front of them.

"When properly created a staff will draw in magic from the surrounding area and mold it to the user's wishes. The obvious advantage to this is that you can create incredibly powerful spells with surprisingly little magic."

Ginny was thinking hard about what Christopher was telling her about the staffs. "Wouldn't that mean that your spells would be different depending on where you cast them? It seems like they would be a lot more powerful at Hogwarts where everything is heavily saturated with magic than say in a muggle neighborhood."

"An excellent point." Christopher beamed at Ginny. "That brings us to the theory and construction of the staff. If they were created with a single core and still worked the way I've described that would be the case. However their construction is far more complex requiring several cores and substances and a stone to regulate the power flow. The basic theory is that you have a series of cores of different substances that are altered to draw in magic from the surrounding environment. This magic is filtered and stored within additional substances in the staff thus 'charging' it with magic. An additional core that is attuned to your magic is added for you to push your magic through as you would your wand. In fact in almost every case you would use your wand for this focus. Your spell is passed through the stone at the end which draws on the magic stored within the staff to augment it. Your spell then leaves the stone highly amplified."

"That's why you can change your wand into a staff and back I assume, because it's actually imbedded with the staff." Harry posed.

"Excellent. That's correct Harry." Christopher was thrilled with the attention, focus and quick thinking the two teens were displaying. Albus had told him he would not be disappointed with them and he wasn't.

"Why doesn't everyone have a staff? I'm surprised their so rare if they're so easy to use." asked Harry.

"For one their very expensive due to the types and number of components required to make one. But mostly it's because the art has sadly been lost over time. As far as I know there are only two living wizards with the knowledge to create one properly."

"You're obviously one, who's the other?"

Christopher smiled. "Albus."

"Of course, I should have guessed." Harry said with a small chuckle. "That would explain why Voldemort didn't have one."

"Thanks for small favors." said Ginny.

"So I take it you are both interested in making one?" asked Christopher.

Harry immediately agreed but Ginny seemed to sag in her seat. "I'd never be able to afford it." she said with a small amount of embarrassment.

"Not at all Ginny," Christopher said, "I'll be providing most of the materials and I'm sure between Harry and myself we have enough gemstones in our vaults to find a suitable one for the top of your staff."

Ginny wore a hopeful look on her face as she looked up at Harry.

"Of course Gin. You know how I feel about that."

She gave him a quick kiss and a hug as she saw the truth in his eyes, the same truth she had seen that day in Gringotts at the beginning of the summer.

"Excellent!" Christopher exclaimed with his usual grin. "It's settled then. Why don't we have some dinner and then go brew up some sludge."

Harry and Ginny laughed at the old man's enthusiasm and choice of words.

"Dobby!" Christopher said.

With a small pop the elf appeared. "Yous is wanting something Master Christopher?"

"Yes, we'll be eating in here tonight if you could please bring us whatever their serving for dinner in the Great Hall that would be great." He paused and looked towards Harry and Ginny, "If that's ok with you two? If you'd rather transform I could order large bowls of raw meat for you instead?"

Harry and Ginny laughed at him trying to decide who was crazier, Dobby, Dumbledore or Christopher.

"No? Ok then." he said returning his attention to Dobby. "I guess we'll just go with the food from the Great Hall."

Dobby popped away returning a few minutes later with a large amount of food which he arranged on the table. With another snap of his fingers three place settings appeared and the eccentric house elf disappeared.

After dinner the three made their way to the potions lab where Christopher handed Ginny a piece of parchment.

"Why don't you find what you can in the store room while Harry and I setup the equipment we'll need for today."

Ginny nodded and left for the store room reading over the list as she went.

While she was gone Harry and Christopher setup six cauldrons on stands. Three were pewter, two silver and one gold. They filled each of the cauldrons half way full with water and set magical fires under them to bring the water to a boil. They then brought out cutting boards, knives, scales, mortar and pestles and a lot of various sized vials. As soon as they were done Harry went to the store room to help Ginny find the long list of ingredients.

It took several trips and a few questions to Christopher but the pair managed to find all of the required ingredients.

Christopher then set the pair to work preparing all the ingredients they had collected. He provided them with lists containing the amounts of each item and how it was to be prepared. He then began to lecture them on the characteristics of each ingredient as they prepared it.

Harry was getting frustrated as he began dicing mandrake for the third time his first to attempts having been labeled unsuccessful by Christopher.

"Why does it matter so much that all the pieces are a certain size and exactly the same?" Harry asked.

"Ah, another fine example of Severus wonderful ability to impart knowledge to others." Christopher said shaking his head though his smile never left his face. "The size of the cuttings determines the rate at which the ingredient will be absorbed into the potion. Larger pieces take longer to break down imbuing their magic into the solution over an extended period of time. Smaller pieces would obviously break down quicker and grinding something into a fine powder adds that ingredients magic instantly."

Harry nodded in understanding at what he realized was something he should probably have learned in first year.

"You see when it comes right down to it potion brewing is basically the same as creating extremely complicated spells. Each ingredient has its own magical characteristics and by adding them to a mixture you are modifying the magic contained within that mixture. Everything we do while brewing a potion is done with the intent of creating a magical item in the form of a liquid, gas or solid with specific magical characteristics which determine what the effect of the potion is when used."

Christopher paused for a minute and was filled with delight as he saw looks that were not only filled with understanding but also displayed a deep fascination with the subject. "As to how this relates to the size of the mandrake cuttings you're making, when we add them to the potion they will begin dissolving into the solution in the cauldron. As they dissolve the magic within the solution will be slowly altered. When it has dissolved part way we will add dried ground shrivilfig causing a quick shift in the potions properties. The combinations of these changes occurring at the same time at specific rates will result in a solution with a magical characteristic which would be otherwise unobtainable."

As they listened to the old man speak Harry and Ginny found for the first time they truly understood what they had been doing in potions class all these years. They continued preparing the ingredients under the watchful eye of their tutor while he continued describing the qualities of each one. Ginny initially expressed some concern that she would never be able to remember everything he was telling them but Christopher convinced her not to worry about it, that they were only getting started and he had every confidence in her and Harry.

Eventually the ingredients were prepared and the trio began mixing the potions.

"Christopher," Ginny said as another question entered her mind, "why do we have different types of cauldrons? I mean why use a pewter cauldron instead of a gold one?"

"Cauldron selection is very important. The magic in different ingredients reacts with various metals in various ways and you need to take that into consideration when you think about the result you're trying to achieve. The same can be said for the implements you use. Stirring a potion with a silver spoon can drastically affect the potion depending on how the ingredients react with that particular metal."

As he watched his students nod in understanding his grin picked up a bit of its mischievousness. "And you must never, ever, under any circumstances use cauldrons without appropriately thick bottoms."

Harry and Ginny both broke down laughing at Christopher's gibe at her brother's cauldron bottom thickness report he had created for the ministry.

Eventually they finished adding what ingredients they could and left the potions to simmer. Christopher left for the night after wishing them both well and saying he would see them for their lesson the next day.

Even though it was late, Harry and Ginny managed to finish their Charms homework before turning in for the night.


-
Authors Notes:

First of all, thank you all so much for all your great reviews. That's why I started the sequel and that's why I keep at it. They also help me keep my head straight and the story going the way I intend. Thanks.

Next I'd like to say that if you haven't figured it out yet there will be lots of stuff about potions and magic in this fic. I'll make it clear right now that when I write about these things I'm making it up as I type. I try to make everything sound reasonable but I'm not going to spend loads of time looking through chemistry books and what not. Basically I'm pulling it all out of my arse and that's good enough for me. That's actually one of the things I like most about writing in the HP universe, magic can do anything you want it to and who's to say otherwise.

It's been pointed out that Harry made up with Dumbledore too quickly and this may very well be true. However, here's my reasoning: Harry gave Dumbledore a 2nd chance and he took hold of it with both hands to the point of giving a blind promise. He then kept his word and followed through as he said he would. Alone I don't see this as enough, but after the defeat of Voldy and his Death Munchers a massively oppressive weight has been lifted from Harry's shoulders and he is much happier and forgiving because of it. I also think he sees Dumble as a kind of grandfather figure and wants to forgive him. Plus he has a beautiful redhead making him even happier.

Finally, I'd like to point out in case there's any question that Harry and Ginny are not overly powerful. I rate them well above average, but no where near Dumbledore's level. The defeated Voldy with a well thought out plan, not loads of power.

Once again, thanks for the reviews!