The End of Adolescence

by Defenestratable

Knowledge of the prophecy pushes Harry to fight not only to survive, but to win. As the conflict escalates the wizarding world's only hope to win has stepped up, and one thing is made clear Harry Potter is not a child anymore. Abandoned.

3. Rigorous Training Regimen

Disclaimer! I do not own Harry Potter. I do not make any money off the following publication. I own only the plot and bragging rights if I'm right (to what you'll see at the end of the chapter). Also, due the mentioning of real people in this chapter I feel I should make the claim that nothing that I say about them and their involvement in the magical community is true.

.:oOoOoOo:.

Chapter Three - Rigorous Training Regimen

Sunday rolled by in a flurry of activity. Order members had been coming in and out of the house all day dropping off reports for Dumbledore. A few of them took the time to stop and talk to Harry, but many had to run off as soon as they had arrived. Remus did his best to keep Harry company, but his main duty that day was to collect the reports for Dumbledore.

Thus, Harry spent the day talking and reading. That night though left him with a since of anticipation, he would begin his training. Even though he was up late he woke bright and early at 8:00. After a shower and breakfast, at which Dobby had again piled his place far too high with food, it was 9:00. Remus came down and the two talked for a bit, Harry asking mostly about his training.

Remus asked Harry, "Well, I get you once a day, and today we can either choose to work on spells, or we could do some physical training. It is up to you."

"Hmm," started Harry, "Let's see if there are any spells that Tonks is going to teach me that I'm having troubles with. If I'm not then we'll do that physical conditioning thing."

Remus nodded and said that it was a good plan. The conversation turned to Dumbledore's lesson plans and Remus admitted he had no idea what the old wizard was going to be specifically teaching Harry, but did say that Dumbledore planned to educate Harry on specifics of wizarding culture and society. Harry admitted that it might be useful. He knew virtually nothing about wizarding society except that it was autonomous from the muggle society and that the Minister of Magic headed it.

At 9:50 the front door opened and a girl, about age 23 with neon purple, short hair walked in. She was wearing muggle jeans and a Howling Banshees tee shirt.

"Wotcher Harry!" she greeted in a very typically 'her' fashion.

"Hiya Tonks!"

"Hello Tonks," Remus said. Tonks greeted him in return.

"Well Harry, Dumbledore says I'm to come and teach you spells, so that's what I'm here for. He said he thought that the auror training regimen would be a good start. I say you probably know the simple ones, expelliarmus, stupefy, impedimenta, protego, reducto, and the like. So I'm only here to teach you the fun stuff it seems like."

Tonks suddenly whipped out her wand and yelled, "Funis necto!"

Immediately Harry was tied up in rope.

"Now you see that one," said Tonks laughing "is the standard auror method of restraint, as you can tell it is slightly different than its counterpart incarcerous in that the ropes are conjured pre-wrapped around the victim. This makes it more useful to quickly bind or distract someone, but the downside is that it is easily dispelled. There are, however, other fun uses for it too!"

Harry groaned at the obvious innuendo and tried to untie himself, grappling at false knots.

"Don't bother Harry, there are no knots to untie, those are just more for decoration and to give the prisoner false hopes. Here though, I'll get you out of it. Finite Incantatem." The ropes around Harry instantly vanished. "Finite Incantatem would not have worked on incarcerous, as those ropes are real, not magical ones."

Harry nodded "Okay, and thanks Tonks for getting me out of that, it was rather uncomfor -"

"Decido!" Tonks yelled, cutting Harry off. Harry was flipped upside down in the air.

"Not funny Tonks!" he yelled as she started to laugh at him. "Not funny at all!"

"Oh come on Harry," she poked him and he squirmed, "this is good fun!" She continued to poke him and he started to laugh as she hit his sides. "Ah, ticklish are we?"

"No!" gasped Harry, "Not ticklish! Not -" he was cut off by his own laughter as she poked him in the side again. "Stop!" he was yelling now, she was just laughing. "Remus help!" he yelled.

Remus was in tears over to the side. "I think - that you are doing just fine on your own Harry," he said as tears of mirth ran down his face.

However much fun she was having though, Tonks let Harry down after another minute like that, for which he was very grateful. He did promise to get her back for that one though.

It was during that hour that Harry practiced those two spells, albeit against a test dummy that Tonks conjured up. Tonks wasn't yet ready to submit herself to Harry's not yet mastered spells, as there were some rather serious things that could go wrong on casting them.

"No Harry, its 'foo-niece 'neck-toe. And the wand movement is more of a swish than a flick," she said as the ropes that Harry conjured fell loosely about the dummy." Harry was suddenly reminded of a certain event in his first year with Hermione but tried again. "Yeah, more like that, nice try." That time the ropes had at least hung onto the dummy, but they still weren't tight enough.

Tonks commentary was very helpful and by the end of the hour he had mastered the rope-binding spell, and was making good progress on the inverting spell.

At 10:55 Dumbledore walked in to see Tonks bound to a chair. "Oh my," he said smiling and with a twinkle in his eyes. "Have I come at a bad time?"

Tonks gave him a look at which he simply chuckled.

A quick Finite Incantatem by Harry released Tonks from the spell. "Thanks a bunch Tonks," he said. "I'll have those two spells down by the time I see you Wednesday. Remus and I will work on them later today." Remus nodded his agreement.

"Alright then Harry, I'll see you in two days. Thanks for letting me help you, it was the most fun I've had in weeks!" the three laughed at this and Tonks left through the front door.

Dumbledore chose to sit in a chair near Harry and started immediately. "As I told you a few days ago Harry, it is still imperative that you learn Occlumency, especially now that you know the full contents of the prophecy." Remus's eyes bugged out a bit at this news. "Not a word about that to anyone Remus," Dumbledore said noting Remus's reaction.

Remus nodded.

"We cannot risk that Voldemort will gain its knowledge. So, let us begin. Have you been doing any mind clearing exercises?"

Harry shook his head, slightly shameful.

"Well that is fine, however, I will require that you start doing them nightly. Is that understood?" Dumbledore asked lowering his head a little so that he could peer over the tops of his spectacles. Harry nodded.

"Excellent. It is of paramount importance that you be able to clear your mind, for that is the most basic defense against any invader."

Harry nodded. "I will get started on those exercises right away sir."

"I have spoken with Severus about his training with you last year. And I have concluded that he was not approaching the subject in a," Dumbledore paused, "correct manner." Harry snorted. "I want you to know that I will not be searching for such memories when we practice, not without warning at least."

Harry nodded. "Thank you Headmaster."

"Now Harry, I want you to find a position that is comfortable for you."

Harry moved to the ground and sat cross-legged before deciding that that position was not going to be very comfortable for long. He moved back up to the couch and slouched down, but realized that his back would be hurting before long and moved again.

"Might I suggest you try lying down Harry?" Dumbledore said with that annoying twinkle in his eye.

Harry was out of ideas and so did lie down at Dumbledore's suggestion. After rolling around a bit trying to find the most comfortable position he found that lying on his back was best.

"Well then Harry if you are set I want you to begin attempting to clear your mind. I will be aiding you in this through use of my legilimency."

Harry gave him an odd look but began to attempt to clear his mind. It was a frustratingly difficult procedure. He had thought that he got it about ten minutes into the exercise, but he still was holding onto one thought, 'don't think of anything, don't think of anything.'

Dumbledore watched Harry's progress as a passive observer until Harry got to the point that the only thought he was left with was the one that was allowing him to no think of anything else. Dumbledore then used his legilimency to help Harry push even that thought away.

To Harry it was an odd feeling, different in every way than when Snape had been pulling thoughts from him last year. Dumbledore was using his legilimency to push his thoughts away, and it was helping. Soon there were no thoughts in his head, and the only focus was his eyes looking at the backs of his eyelids. The blackness seemed infinite; it stretched on forever, and it was difficult to not try to comprehend it.

"Very good Harry. I want you to reach that state at least once a night; I should think that it would help you fall asleep. In my old age and with all my worries I find myself using the method quite often."

Harry smiled.

"Now, I do believe it is time for me to go, and for you to eat."

Harry looked at his watch, and to his amazement it was already noon. "Have a good day then Headmaster."

"I shall see you tomorrow Harry."

Harry gulped, appetite almost immediately gone. Tomorrow he would be dueling with the only wizard Voldemort ever feared.

As Harry walked into the dining hall Remus, and an overly excited house elf greeted him.

"Dobby was watching Mr. Harry Potter sir practice and knows that Harry Potter is a fabulous wizard sir!"

"Um, thanks Dobby. And thanks for lunch, I'm starving."

"Harry Potter is a great wizard sir!" said Dobby as he popped off.

Harry glared at Remus who was laughing. "Oh Harry, everyone adores you, even house elves and muggle women!"

"Oh sod off," said Harry as a smile cracked through his glare and he bit into a ham and cheese sandwich, which caused Remus to laugh even more.

"I do believe Harry, that you are a source of unending amusement," Remus said to the boy sitting next to him.

"Thanks," said Harry, mouth full of food. "I think," he added after Remus began to laugh again.

After lunch Harry once again walked into the living room, which had been re-arranged for this morning activities. All of the furniture had been moved to the sides of the room, leaving the floor open for spells.

It was in that room that Harry finished getting the inverting spell right, and even got to try it on Remus, though Harry let his father's friend down fairly quickly.

"Wonderful Harry. Now I know that our time is officially up, but I was wondering if you wanted to spend some time in the muggle room, I could start to teach you that song."

"I'd love that Remus, thank you."

With that Remus led Harry out of the living room and up the grand staircase to the third floor and into the muggle room. He sat down on the piano bench, and briefly reflected on how cushioned and comfortable the leather was.

He placed his fingers on the ivory keys of the grand piano and gently pressed down one. The F above middle C, though he didn't know it. Again he pressed it, and slowly crescendoed the music as he went up two notes. Pressing the top note again, he descended the scale, at the same time softening the music. Again he rose the scale.

The song was simple, it was taught to beginning piano students, but at that moment, it was the most beautiful thing that Harry had ever heard. He made Remus play it two more times before he himself sat at the piano and was taught it. A single tear made its way down Harry's cheeks as he began to pick out the notes that Remus showed him. An hour later, Harry had the short piece committed to memory, but he stayed their playing it for another two, and Remus watched, thinking that as sad as it was, that piano, and that song may be the best connection that Harry had to his mom.

When he was finally done playing that piece he turned to Remus and asked, "Is there any way that I could learn to play?"

"I don't know Harry, I don't know anyone that can play the piano that could teach you, and right now times are too perilous to send you to muggles to learn. But I'll look around and ask around to see if I can get anyone to teach you. I promise to make a good effort to do so."

"Thanks Remus." Harry walked over to Remus and tentatively gave him a hug. Remus hugged him back; Merlin knew that the boy had not had enough of those in his life.

The next morning found Harry very nervous. Dumbledore was coming to practice dueling. Dumbledore, the man that Harry knew was the most powerful wizard alive. Dumbledore, the wizard who had until recently been divine and infallible in Harry's eyes, though the amount of respect that Harry held for the wizard had gone up once he revealed his faults.

It was 9:55 when the door opened and Dumbledore entered the house.

"Hello sir," Harry greeted him nervously.

"Ah, good morning Harry. Don't look so nervous, it won't be bad." With a smile Dumbledore walked into the living room, which was still arranged as it had been yesterday. He began to cast spells on the walls, floor, and ceiling.

"Excuse me sir, but may I ask what you are doing?"

"Forgive me Harry, of course you may ask. It is through questions that we learn after all. As to what I am doing, I am simply making sure that your newfound home doesn't suffer any damage from stray spells. That wouldn't do at all I'm afraid."

"Oh, thank you sir."

At 10:00 sharp Dumbledore was done warding the room and invited Harry to come to the middle with him.

"As of right now, you know very few dueling spells, though you will be learning many throughout the summer, both from Nymphadora and myself. These spells will be added to your arsenal of spells that will be available to you in a duel. I will be teaching you one new spell a day, which will be introduced to you during our first duel. You will try to dodge or block the spell without any knowledge of what it is. After the spell has been introduced you will guess as to what it does, which should be fairly obvious if you have been hit by it, and then you will learn the spell, and any way, if possible, to defend against it.

"Remember, I will only use spells that I know you know, except for the one new one each day, so do not be so nervous."

Harry smiled, that news calmed his fears a bit, though he knew that the power behind all the spells that Dumbledore threw at him would be enormous.

"Are you ready Harry?"

Harry nodded.

"Then bow," they both bowed to each other, "and begin."

"Catacrus!" Harry began. The slightly red leg-locker curse flew from his wand, but Dumbledore blocked it expertly with a protego shield.

"Funis necto!" Harry tried the new spell he had learned, but it was quickly dispelled. It had taken Dumbledore a little bit of time though to get the dispelling charm off.

"Stupefy!" the red stunning curse shot out towards Dumbledore, but the shield that was still protecting the wizard absorbed it.

"Impedimenta!" Dumbledore finally countered with a spell of his own.

A hastily thrown up shield stopped that jinx, but it was crushed by the power behind it.

Dumbledore continued on the offensive causing Harry to duck under the next spell, a full body bind. By this point it was all Harry could do to try to throw up more shield spells and dodge hexes, jinxes, and curses that he was not going to be able to block. It was ended when Dumbledore cast, "Ignipoten!" The curse shattered Harry's shield and knocked him to the ground, causing him to lose his wand, which Dumbledore immediately summoned.

"Really Dumbledore," Remus said after rushing over to Harry. "Was that necessary?" Remus fed Harry some chocolate. "Are you alright Harry?"

"Yeah I am. That was a wonderful curse professor. Crushed my shield." Harry tried to stand, but fell back down to the ground.

"Careful Harry," said Dumbledore who was helping to steady his pupil. "Do you know what that spell was?"

"No," said Harry, still a bit groggy. "But it was a good one. Dead useful really."

"It was a blasting curse, quite a popular dueling curse if I do say so myself. Its purpose is to break shields. It does this by concentrating the entire pressure of the spell onto one point of the shield. What do you imagine would be the defense against such a spell?"

"A really powerful shield?" Harry guessed. Dumbledore chuckled.

"Yes I suppose that that would work, but a better defense would be to either dodge the curse in its entirety, or to deflect it away from your shield with another spell, preferably something that takes little time to cast. We will be getting into those charms soon enough, but what I want you to use for now is the charm gelu. This charm is used to preserve things in cold, and if it hits an opponent it could cause frostbite if the intensity is enough. But what I want you to do is to intercept my blasting curse with gelu. Do you think you can do this?"

"I can try sir."

"Very good then. Let us begin. Remus, if you would cast a second shield charm over Harry here. I doubt that he needs to feel the curse again so quickly should it hit again." Remus obliged him and Harry set his own shield charm up. "Are you ready Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"Alright, ignipoten!"

"Gelu!" Harry yelled. His aim was slightly off however and it hit the fireplace where Dumbledore's warding absorbed the spell. Dumbledore's curse did not stop until it had busted the shield that Remus had placed around Harry.

"Your aim was only slightly off Harry, a very nice try. Now lets do it again. Remus, if you would." Remus again cast the shield charm over Harry.

"Ignipoten!"

"Gelu!"

The two spells flew towards each other collided in mid air with a clash of sparks before ricocheting off to the sides of the room where once again the warding absorbed them. Dumbledore clapped. "Very well done. I dare say that it took me quite a number more tries before I got it my first time."

"It was luck I believe sir," came the reply.

"I don't believe so Harry, you don't give yourself enough credit. But now that you have successful diverted the curse, it is time that you yourself learned it. The incantation as you have heard is 'ignipoten' and the wand movement is circular with a flick at the end."

It took Harry the rest of the lesson to produce a blasting curse that could destroy one of Remus's shields. He still couldn't destroy Dumbledore's. When he asked about it Dumbledore had said cryptically that Harry was still growing while he himself was not getting any younger. With that Dumbledore handed the floor over the Madam Pomfrey, who Harry hadn't noticed was sitting off on the side of the room with Remus watching the proceedings.

"Thank you sir for helping me learn that spell, I believe I should teach it to the DA this year, that is if I'm allowed to continue it."

"Of course Harry, I was actually hoping that you would continue with the club, after all, everyone needs to be as well prepared as they can possibly be in these times. A little extra defense practice cannot hurt.

"Poppy, thank you for accepting to help Harry here, but may I suggest that you look him over quickly, he was hit by one of my blasting charms earlier I'm afraid."

"Albus! I don't know what I'm going to do with you. I hope for your sake that you didn't put too much power into it. You know that one could easily suffer a concussion from being hit full force by one!"

Dumbledore had the grace to look ashamed while Madam Pomfrey muttered a few spells over Harry.

"Well he seems to be in good shape, if a little disoriented still. I don't want to have to start bringing potions with me Albus if I don't have to, so please try to be gentle."

"I will Poppy, now I have to excuse myself, I do have a couple meetings to get off to."

A chorus of 'good-bye's followed the statement and Dumbledore let himself out of the house.

"Now," began Madam Pomfrey, "I dare say I see enough of you during the school year, and I agreed to this summer training so that hopefully you will be able to heal yourself of anything relatively minor. I think that it would be a worthy time investment, after all, you do have two more years of schooling."

"Thank you for agreeing to teach me Madam Pomfrey," Harry said. "I agree that it would save you some time if I knew how to do a few spells."

"Hmph. Well, first and foremost medimagic is about empathy. Do you know what empathy is?"

Harry slowly nodded his head, not completely sure.

"Empathy is the ability to feel another's emotions and pain and the ability to find the source of those things. It is, in general, easier to use empathy on oneself than it is to use it on another. The exception to this is being in the case that one has many wounds. It is not always simple for one to perform an entire self-analysis in that situation.

"Now, we won't be starting on empathy quite yet, but I thought that it was necessary information. We will be starting with simple spells to heal minor cuts and bruises. The incantation is delphius, and the caster must concentrate on closing the wound and the capillaries, which are the minor blood vessels in your skin. In the case of a bruise you only have to envision the capillaries healing."

Harry nodded.

"What I am going to do is make a painless incision on your arm and you will heal it." Harry nodded again.

Madam Pomfrey whispered a word dragging the tip of her wand across Harry's skin on his arm. A small cut was made where the wand came into contact with the skin and a little bit of blood escaped.

Harry winced despite the fact that there was no pain as he brought his wand to the injury. "Delphius." The skin instantly closed but a second later a bruise started to form. Harry looked up at Madam Pomfrey.

"Don't worry dear, it is a common mistake when you are starting. You did not repair the capillaries. Try again."

Again his arm was pointed towards his arm, "Delphius." Again the blood disappeared, only to come back as a bruise slowly.

"Perhaps it is because I do not know what the capillaries look like and can't envision them repairing?" Harry offered to the mediwitch.

"Ah, I'm sorry Harry. That is most likely the reason you are not succeeding at this. Here." Madam Pomfrey immediately projected an image of a capillary blown up to thousands of times its actual size. After she explained this to him she showed what happened when the capillary broke, and then showed him what it should look like repairing.

Harry nodded and tried the spell again, "Delphius." On this attempt, the blood vanished and the bruising didn't occur.

"Very good Harry. Now we are going to try slightly larger cuts so that I can show you what this spell should be used for."

Harry nodded and steeled himself for the sight of blood.

By the end of the lesson, Harry had a very good idea of what that simple spell was capable. He had healed a three-inch long, half-inch deep gash in his arm with it on the second try. The first try was a failure that he passed off as nervousness due to the amount of blood that was pouring out of the wound.

After Madam Pomfrey took her leave Dobby announced proudly that lunch was being served and Harry all but ran to the dining room. The dueling with Professor Dumbledore and the loss of blood from his training with Madame Pomfrey left him quite famished. He ate a full meal of a salad, grilled chicken, and chips and drank two glasses of pumpkin juice. Needless to say he was stuffed when he headed up the stairs to the potions laboratory with Remus.

"When does Snape come to work on these anyway?" Harry asked indicating the potions that were still brewing.

Remus sighed. "Professor Snape Harry; and he comes whenever the potions need another ingredient added, sometimes in the middle of the night. They all have self stirring rods so that he doesn't need to be here for that."

Harry didn't necessarily like the fact that Snape had been entering his house whenever he wanted for who knows how long, but took it as a necessity because he was brewing the wolfsbane potion for Remus. That alone was worth it to let the greasy git in.

The potions lesson was simple, Remus first had Harry brew a potion that could be used to treat many of the same injuries that delphius could. He then quizzed Harry on a number of potion ingredients and their properties.

Though Harry had been using the potions knowledge he had gained for the wrong purposes, he hadn't lied about knowing many more things due to the books and easily passed Remus's 'quiz.'

Much of the rest of the day was spent in the muggle room watching T.V, playing billiards, and trying to figure out notes on the piano. Harry did however practice the blasting curse with Remus for two half hour sessions and at the end of them could break Remus' shield every time.

That night it took Harry an hour to clear his mind.

The next morning Harry woke to Dobby shaking him. "Harry Potter sir needs to get up. Miss Tonks will be waiting for Harry Potter if he does not hurry."

Harry groaned and looked at his watch. He had ten minutes to be ready for Tonks. 'Must have really been worn out by yesterday.' Though he was tired, he was not about to make Tonks wait for him and he quickly hopped out of bed and into the shower. Five minutes later he was downstairs and ate a light breakfast that Dobby had readied for him.

"Wotcher Harry," came the familiar greeting.

"Hello Tonks," Harry said with a yawn.

"You look tired there Harry, been busy have we?"

"Oh, just dueling Dumbledore and the medimagic practice yesterday really wore me out."

"Yeh, I'd wager it did. Hope the old man didn't go too hard on ya. Anyway, I'm here to teach, so lets go!"

She led the way into the living room and conjured the dummy that they had worked with on Monday.

"Alright, now I want to see those two spells, and mind you, the results won't be pretty if you can't do them still."

"Funis necto!" Harry yelled pointing his wand at the dummy. Instantly it was incased in rope. Tonks walked around the dummy inspecting the tightness of the rope at intervals.

"Very nicely done Harry. Now the inverting charm."

"Decido!"

Instantly Tonks flipped upside down in the air.

"Hey! What did you do that for? I demand that you put me back right this instant!"

"Oh, sorry Tonks," Harry said innocently. "I must have misaimed."

"Like hell you did."

Remus chose that moment to walk into the living room and saw Tonks hanging upside down as if by a rope and heard her muttering obscenities. With a smile and a slight chuckle he walked back outside.

Harry let Tonks down after another few seconds of hanging there. "Told you I'd get you back for yesterday," he said in a chastising tone.

"Hmph, I guess you did warn me. Still wasn't quite expecting it though."

"Constant Vigilance!" Harry said in a baritone voice, mocking Mad-Eye Moody.

Tonks did laugh at that one.

Fifty minutes later Harry was about halfway done mastering an invisibility charm. While not quite as effective as an invisibility cloak, due to the constant attention the spell required, it was useful nonetheless. Harry was having difficulty applying the spell to his entire body and had only been able to successfully apply it to his legs and arms. Tonks took the time to tell him over and over again how funny him as a flying torso with a head looked and Harry was all too glad when their lesson was over. He had little doubt as to what he would be practicing with Remus that night.

It was a few minutes later that Dumbledore started his lesson.

"Have you been clearing your mind Harry?"

"Yes sir, though it took a while last night. I had a lot to think about."

Dumbledore nodded and asked Harry to clear his mind for him. With Dumbledore's help Harry accomplished the task in fifteen minutes.

"Very good Harry."

Harry smiled in acceptance of the praise.

"Now that that is done I have another order of business to discuss with you. I don't doubt that you will not like the conversation."

Harry was a little bit worried at that mention and steeled himself for the conversation. It wasn't that necessary.

Dumbledore continued. "This conversation is going to be about the magical world and your place in it. Now I know that you do not like your position in this world Harry, you do not like your fame."

"Got that right," Harry muttered.

"You were part of a very important event that night at the Department of Mysteries. People have started talking. You are becoming more famous than you were previously. Not only did you survive a killing curse as an infant, but also now the public is forced to believe that you have escaped Tom two more times. We at Hogwarts will hold off the information that you have actually escaped him four more times for your sake."

Harry gave a sarcastic 'thanks.'

"People will want to be around you for what you are, not who you are. People will begin to try to use you to their own ends, and often time make it seem as if they are spoiling you in the process. Your reaction to somebody will make or break that person's day. In short, you are becoming an even more influential figure than you were."

"I know, but I don't want any of that. I didn't even really do anything to deserve it!" Harry said frustrated.

"I recognize your frustration. I too, do not like the fame. I often wish that I could live a normal life, but that is not the way it will be. Harry most people know you, and me, by what they hear, not what you do. With people like Rita Skeeter writing the articles in the Daily Prophet, what the people hear will be changed. The people want a hero, and they see one in you, as they did with me many years ago in the war against Grindelwald.

"As much as you don't want the responsibility that comes with the fame, I must ask that you accept it. The Order may be able to make use of it to put pressure on certain members of the Ministry of Magic."

Harry sighed. It was always him.

"I'm sorry Harry. But this is something that you, as I did many years ago, must come to terms with."

"I know sir. It's just - I wish I didn't always get all the credit. There are so many people that helped me through everything, and yet, it seems that I steal all the fame. Ron and Hermione were brilliant in my first year, and they got house points sure, but nobody wanted to know what their roles were, they wanted to know mine. Second year, Hermione did all the work, and Ron even accompanied me into the Chamber, but again, I got all the credit. The Triwizard Tournament..." Harry let that statement go. "And now finally last year, at the Department of Mysteries I was the only one mentioned by name in those articles, but there was no way that I would have made it if it hadn't been for the heroics of the other five that accompanied me. I just... I don't know."

"I know exactly how you feel Harry. Did you know that I was not alone in that final battle against Grindelwald?"

Harry shook his head.

"You see, most do not realize that I was accompanied by the entire force of aurors, and though it was I who dueled Grindelwald, it was they who kept me safe while I did so. They may have done more work that I did, and many lost their lives to the cause. They were forgotten however in the headlines. There, it was only I. And that is the way it will be remembered.

"It is unfortunate that I have to ask this of you so soon, but there are a number of trials coming up soon, this Saturday in fact. I believe that you know for whom these will be?"

Harry nodded; the Death Eater's that the students had helped to capture in the Department of Mysteries was the obvious answer.

Dumbledore continued, "We need to make sure that these individuals are exposed for what they are. We have already secured Miss Granger's, Mr. Longbottom's, and Mr. and Miss Weasley's promises to help in the trials and would like you to be present as well. It would give, added emphasis, to the importance of the trials. Cornelius is already trying to make them seem less than they are."

"He needs to be replaced," said Harry bitterly.

"He may be. I have spoken with the princes and if I ask them with your support, they will call for a vote of 'no confidence' in Cornelius. The four of us together would hold enormous political influence and I believe that it could be successful."

Harry was confused. "Princes sir?"

"Forgive me Harry, I forget myself. You did not grow up in the magical world, nor have you been exposed to it much outside of Hogwarts. But to answer your question: yes, princes. Prince William and Prince Henry of Wales are well aware of the magical world. Their mother, Diana, is a squib. I remember on the day Prince William was born, the Daily Prophet had a 'field day' of sorts. Headlines proclaimed a wizard would once again rise to the top of the English Monarchy, it was mentioned that perhaps the wizarding and muggle worlds would be reunited. Now of course, the Ministry of Magic would never allow that, but it was reported none the less, and not to their credit, many people believed it," Dumbledore said chuckling.

"Due to a very old law that was written when the magical world was still very much in control of the muggle one, though it was all behind the scenes, if there exists a member of the royal family that is of magical blood and has reached the wizarding age of reason, specified at 14 by the law, then the sole power for being able to call for a vote of no-confidence belongs to him or her. This was instituted in the magical contract, sister to the muggle contract the Magna Carta. In the event that there is not a member of the royal family that can call for this vote, then the Wizengamot can call for one by a two-thirds majority."

"So you are telling me that the Princes of Wales, heirs to the throne of Great Britain, are wizards?"

"Oh heavens no Harry. Prince William, the first heir to the throne now that Charles has stated he will abdicate to him, is a squib. But he still is of magical blood. His brother, Prince Henry, is a wizard. But young Henry has not reached the age of reason yet. Young Prince William did just five days ago on the 21st."

At this point Harry's jaw was hanging open. "So let me get this straight Professor. You are saying that if you and I back the movement, Prince William will publicly call for a vote of no confidence in Fudge?"

"And the public will vote in our favor Harry. It is this way that we need to use your influence most. When the time comes, we will replace Cornelius as Minister of Magic. I fear it will be necessary."

.:OoOoOoO:.

(A/N: Ah! The plot thickens. Will Fudge force the wizarding world to go through the vote? Or will it become unnecessary? What do you think about the identity of the Princes? Possibility? JKR mentioned that the HBP would not be Harry or Voldemort, and this is just my take on the whole deal. Anyway, next chapter should be the trials, which should offer an interesting view of magical court proceedings. If you don't recognize the incantation, I probably invented it using a handy dandy Internet English-Latin translator. That is Prince Williams real birthday, and he would have turned 14 in 1996. The Magna Carta is a real document that basically took power away from the monarchy and gave it to the English Parliament. It thus makes sense that the monarchy would have insisted for this clause, to make sure that they agreed with the Prime Minister of Magic. Length. 6500 words. Ugg… lost all of what I had on the next chapter in a computer breakdown, so it will be longer than I expected. I had so much too hits head on desk.

Just a question. Are the things that Dumbledore says in this story "Dumbledore enough?" I'm trying to make it so that he still sounds old and wise, but I'm not really sure how I'm doing in that regard. I know I've read lots of stories where Dumbledore sounds like a fifteen-year-old American kid, and that really turns me off of the story. So any suggestions? Improvements?

Emilie – That first review is always the best. Thank you for it and the kind words.

Mauripendragon – I think that Remus would disobey that because of how important Harry is to him. I'd be willing to bet that Remus would disobey any order if Harry's well-being was at stake. As far as him forgiving Dumbledore, I think that although Dumbledore was an idiot in Harry's fifth year, he really came around at the end. He refused to kill Harry (and Voldemort) when Harry was being possessed and he began to finally open up. Besides, Harry takes the blame himself; it is not really his way to lash out at others. I tried to explain that a bit through his thoughts in the first chapter.

BferBear – Thanks, I'm going to try to keep the detail going, though these next few chapters are more difficult to insert it into.