A/N

Recall that Harry had been invited (probably by the parents) to spend an evening each at the Grangers, the Weasleys, and the Bones over the Christmas holidays. Most likely he was invited as a thank you gesture for having hosted such a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner.

Chapter 11

Hermione went for the shock explanation. "Harry was in a swordfight with the guy who burned down the Weasley's home."

Dumfounded for a moment, Emma replied, "Harry, why couldn't you have been sneaking off making love with my daughter like a normal teenager? Can't someone else save the wizarding world this week?"

There was silence for a moment regarding what had just been said and left unsaid.

"Mum," said a crimson-faced Hermione. How could she say that?

Emma realized that this probably wasn't the time for a parental lecture and said, "It's all right dears. Harry we love you like a son. I know that Hermione loves you very much as well. Please be careful. Who am I kidding? Tell me what happened…"

-

Fifteen minutes later Harry asked, "Just out of curiosity Emma, How did you know that we'd left?"

The motion detectors that we installed in the garage went off at 2:00. Since the garage door was opened at 2:00 and closed again at 2:01, we presumed that the two of you had left to go snogging someplace. We got a little concerned and tried to call your cell phone, but you'd left it in your overnight bag. I noticed that your bed hadn't been slept in, and we got worried."

Harry didn't know what to say, and said nothing.

Emma continued, "Harry, it's not my place to tell you to do or not to do dangerous things. I know that you are careful, but please leave me a note, or better still, tell me what you're doing. I know I'm not your mother, but I'd like to be your mum. You're not too old for one."

"Thanks Emma." Harry had tears in his eyes.

"Go sit on the couch and hold each other for a few minutes. Hermione is shaking and needs you. I'll get you both some breakfast. Dan had to leave already."

Breakfast tasted very good to Harry. Hermione had a few bites before she went to the bathroom and threw up. Harry went to check on his friend. Seeing him at the bathroom door she whimpered, "Harry, I saw your shirt covered in blood and I was so scared that you'd been badly hurt. I'm a mess."

Harry sat on the slate floor next to his friend and held her in her vomit soaked jumper. "We're fine Hermione. You were so brave this morning. It must have felt like forever waiting out there by yourself."

She began sobbing into his shoulder.

"I didn't want to be in a tree by myself. Why did you do that to me?"

Harry gently rocked his friend. "I knew that you were the strongest. I knew that you would take care of everyone. I knew that you would watch out for me. Your snow was perfect. It even crunched when I walked on it. I'm so proud of you." Harry could feel his healing energy flow into his friend.

Five minutes later, he felt that she was asleep in his arms. He levitated her to her bed, cleaned her jumper and covered her up.

He closed her door and told Emma, "She's fine. She'll wake up in an hour."

They went back to the kitchen. Emma poured Harry some more coffee and asked, "He's really gone then?"

"McNair?"

"The man who burned down my home?"

"Yes."

Emma took a shallow breath and whispered, "Harry, I feel light headed. Would you help me to my room?"

Harry hugged her. "This will help." After a few minutes, he walked her to her room. She did feel better. "You'll feel fine in ten minutes. I'll clean up a bit."

Harry cleaned up the mess in the bathroom and straightened up the kitchen.

Fifteen minutes later, Emma was back, looking much better. She found him sitting on the sofa. She asked, "Harry, what did you just do to me?"

Harry smiled at her and replied, "I transferred a bit of healing energy into you. Do you feel better?"

"Never better." In truth, she felt like she was seventeen.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, she said, "I know that she loves you, and I know that your life is very complicated right now. I just want you to know that you'll always have a place in our home and in our hearts."

"Thank you Emma."

A few minutes later, Hermione walked back into the room. She gave her mum a big hug. "I should have told you where we were going. I'm sorry."

Emma held her daughter then held her other arm out to include Harry. "I love you both. You don't have to share every detail, but I'd like to be informed of the generalities before hand. So who was your Second?"

Harry knew where his friend got her inquisitive nature from. "Hermione can tell you every detail. I need to leave now. Thanks again for having me. I promise to stay put the next time I come for a visit. Hermione, I'll see you Sunday afternoon by three."

They both hugged him again.

"Bye Harry."

-

Harry apparated home. Remus and Katie were there.

Remus told him that Moody had been in and out a few times. "Why didn't you tell me earlier Harry? I would have wanted to help."

"You did help. I kept the big guns in reserve, knowing that I could absolutely count on you. I really didn't want to get the Ministry involved if I didn't have to."

Remus frowned at his friend. "I know when I'm being pacified, but thanks anyway. I was happy to help, if even a bit. What's next?"

"I need to get my vest replaced."

For a moment Remus forgot his own wealth and said, "I saw it. You don't think it can be mended?"

Harry shook his head. "No. It would never be as strong, and that more or less defeats the purpose. I'll bring it back to the shop. The shopkeeper will probably think it's a good souvenir."

Remus laughed. "A souvenir? Harry Potter's battle vest? She'll probably sell it and make a fortune."

Harry grinned. "That's fine with me. She seemed like a nice witch."

Remus smiled and shook his head. "Harry, you've got enough nice witches on your hands right now. Are you sure you aren't related to Sirius?"

Harry said somewhat defensively, "We take care of each other. There's no cause to worry about anything else."

Remus wondered at that statement, but let it go.

Harry said, "We should go now. I'll go find Katie and see if she wants to come with."

Harry walked up the stairs to the training room. Suddenly the pain in his forehead was nearly blinding. He sat down to avoid falling over. A minute later, he retched. Katie heard the noise and came over to hold him. "Harry, are you OK?"

Harry nodded and let himself drift in her warm grasp for a minute. She had one arm around him and was absently stroking his hair with the other.

Remus came up to see what the disturbance was. Harry said, "Voldemort must have found out about the duel. He's really angry."

Katie looked bewildered. "How do you know?"

Harry said, "We have this weird connection though my curse scar." She turned his head slightly in her arms and looked at it. His scar was bright red, like a fresh scar. She kissed it several times and moved Harry's hand to a better place.

Remus excuse himself.

-

A half hour later, Harry came back down into the kitchen, having showered again and dressed. Katie and Remus were there. Remus was having tea and Katie had diet coke.

"Ready to go?" asked Harry.

They both jumped, surprised that he was there. Katie said, "I thought you'd be in bed all day. You looked so tired."

Remus added, "Maybe we should take a portkey if you're tired Harry."

Harry replied, "I'll just have a butterbeer for a minute while you finish your tea, and I'll be fine. How is Dobby?"

Remus said, "Winky has him in bed for the day. You should go see him for a minute, then we can go."

Harry knocked in Dobby and Winky's door. Winky answered. "Is you OK, master Potter?"

Harry smiled, "I'm fine Winky. I came to see how you and Dobby are doing?"

"I is fine, Harry Potter sir. Dobby will be up again by dinner time."

Harry shook his head. "You rest today, both of you. Remus and Katie can fend for themselves, and I'm going to the Weasleys for the evening. We're going to Diagon alley now. Can I get either of you anything?"

Winky said, "We is fine master Harry. You runs along now."

Harry asked, "Dobby, How many Death Eaters were there?"

Dobby said, "Five sir. There was the man that you was fighting with the three wizards and bad old Mistress."

"Narcissa Malfoy?"

Dobby shuddered. "It was she, sir. She saw Dobby."

Harry smiled at his quirky little friends. "Thank you both. I'm really glad that you both are here with me. I really appreciate everything that you both do. Thank you." He bent over and gave them both a hug before leaving.

-

At the armor shop, the proprietor was very happy to see Harry. Apparently news of the duel had reached her. She had already sewn a replacement vest for Harry. As Remus had expected, she was delighted to receive the old vest back. As Harry insisted on paying her for the replacement, a crowd began to gather outside. Harry asked Remus to leave first, telling him that he would meet him in Gringotts in ten minutes.

Remus did as he was told. Ten minutes later a green-eyed man who looked remarkably like Bill Weasley tapped him on the shoulder. Remus turned around to say hi as the man put his hood up over his head. Thirty seconds later the man seemed to shrink a bit, and removed his hood. Remus could hardly believe his eyes. "Harry?"

"What did you think Tonks and I were doing all alone in her room all summer?" Before Remus could answer, Harry said "Never mind. Don't answer that. I'd prefer not to know. Shall we go?"

"Yes. Katie will be done in a minute."

A few minutes she came back from her vault. There were tears in her eyes. Remus asked "What's up, Katie?"

In a louder voice than she probably intended she said, "A week ago I had 46 Galleons in my vault. Now I have 50, 091 Galleons plus the 20 that I just took out! Harry you said that you had put a little bit in there when you handed me that key. In the first place, the vault is huge. I had no idea that they even came so big. My parent's vault looked like a shoebox compare to this."

The Gringotts Head Goblin came over with four guards. "Is this witch bothering you Mr. Potter. I can have her removed immediately if she is causing you any problems."

Harry shook his head. "Everything is fine Ragnot. Could I possibly borrow one of your meeting rooms for a few minutes?"

"Of course, Mr. Potter. Every service and facility of Gringotts is at your disposal. Right this way."

Katie looked shocked, amazed, and a bit frightened at what she had just seen. "Harry?"

He held her hand for a moment. "Let's talk for a minute. Please follow me. Remus. We'll be right back."

Ragnot opened the door for them, asked Harry if he needed anything and closed the door behind him as he left.

"Harry," asked Katie, "What's going on?"

"Everything is fine Katie. I tried to transfer the money to your vault, but I guess you needed a bit bigger one. I meant what I said. It was meant for you. My Godfather left me some money when he was killed. It turned out that I already had enough, so I set up the Sirius Black memorial trust to help make the lives of the families of Voldemort's victims a bit easier. The money is yours. There are no strings or conditions attached. I just was trying to make your life a little easier."

"Oh." Harry wiped the tears away from her eyes. She was silent for a minute, and then said, "Thank you Harry. I really appreciate it. I really do. Maybe we should get going now."

"OK. Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine. Thanks again."

"No worries. Let's get Remus and go home."

-

Harry arrived at the Weasleys new home at noon on the 27th. He brought his staff in case Ginny wanted to practice anything and his overnight bag. He was greeted at the door by Charlie and his girlfriend, KJ. She gave him a hug and said hello to him.

Harry smiled at her as a fist landed on his jaw. Charlie demanded, "What the hell do you think you're doing getting my sister involved with four Death Eaters? I would kick your arse all around the house, except to be honest; you scare the crap out of me. You cut a man in two? Harry, that is scary."

Regaining some feeling in his face, Harry held out his hand. "Charlie stop," he said imperiously. "Let me put my things away, and I'll talk with you all afternoon if you want. KJ, it's nice to see you again, even if I'm seeing two of you."

She smiled at him. "Thank you Harry. Charlie, that was really mean of you. Take Harry's things to his room." Charlie picked up Harry's things and skulked off.

Ginny ran up to Harry, leapt and wrapped her legs around his waist, as she put him in a crushing hug. "Harry, I've missed you."

"I'm happy to see you too, Ginny." His ribs were still very sore, but he tried not to show it.

She whispered in his ear, "Not as happy as you'll be when I get you alone." She kissed his nose. "Mum and Dad are pretty mad. You saw Charlie. The others aren't home. Dad came home from work about an hour ago. He said that Director Bones will be here in an hour. Let's go get some lunch."

Molly and Arthur were in the kitchen. They did not look happy. Arthur said, "Harry, I know we've had this discussion before, but is it necessary to take Ginny along on all of these adventures of yours?"

Charlie came in the kitchen looking like he wanted another piece of Harry.

Harry asked, "Mr. Weasley, do you know what really happened today?"

Arthur honestly didn't know. He replied, "Harry I was notified at work about 9:00 that four Death Eaters had been brought in and some how you and Ginny were involved. Ginny wouldn't tell us, other than to say to wait for you. Would you please tell me what happened?"

Harry said, "I will, but I don't want the information to leave this room. You have a right to know, but will you in turn respect my terms?" Arthur nodded. Harry looked at Molly who in turn nodded, and finally at Charlie. He looked Harry in the eye for about ten seconds then nodded.

Harry started. "Three days ago, I challenged Walden McNair to a duel using traditional weapons. I had found out that he was responsible for the murders of Ron and Luna, Katie Bell's parents, as well as some of the Aurors who died at the Grangers, and I wanted to get him off the streets."

Molly looked shocked. Arthur had his head down, and didn't say anything.

Harry continued. "He accepted, and I made the arrangements for a legal duel. I had Katie, the other three apprentices, several Order members and several Aurors in different places as backups in case anyone tried to sneak up on me while we were dueling. While I was fighting, four Death Eaters arrived. After I finished McNair, they attacked. Ginny and the others were able to stun three of them, but the fourth one got away. Dobby was injured, but with Winky's help, he's as good as new."

No one said anything for a moment. Finally KJ said, "So basically, you just punched out the man who avenged your brother. Charlie, you're such an arse." She walked out of the kitchen.

Charlie was silent for a moment, then said, "Harry, I'd only heard half of the story. I am truly sorry, and profoundly grateful that you had the courage to put down that dog." He held out his hand to Harry, who took it and pulled his dead friend's brother into a hug.

Harry said, "No apologies needed, Charlie. Next time, I need a backup, I'll call you. Merlin, I'm still seeing double."

Molly said, "Maybe you should lay down for a bit and rest Harry. I'm certain that you will need to tell your story at least one other time this afternoon."

"I'll help him," said Ginny. Molly smiled to herself.

-

A/N

Prisoner of the Darkness – Please e-mail me. I would like some advice on the fight scene that you mentioned. I have no experience with that weapon and would be happy to revise it..