A/N: I'm barely staying ahead of you. Finished writing Ch. 14 and need to polish it up for posting, and I'm continuing on to Ch. 15 and beyond - wish me luck! And if you're curious, I only have about 60 more pages to read of Goblet and then I'm into book 5.

A/N2: Scratch that. I finished Goblet and wrote Ch. 15 also, but still have to proofread 14 and 15. So I am recklessly posting this chapter a little early (I wasn't going to do it until tomorrow). Happy 4th (or 5th if you don't see it til then...)!

Replies to reviewers at end.

Chapter 13

Harry didn't see Professor Watson again until dinner that evening. He and Ginny kept glancing up at the head table, but she gave no indication of what might have taken place in the meeting she had with Dumbledore. They had told Ron and Hermione what had been happening with them, and in turn found out about Professor Watson transfiguring the students into owls. As the meal concluded and people began drifting back to their common rooms or other activities, the Professor suddenly appeared where Harry and Ginny were sitting.

By the looks all four were giving her, she suspected they had discussed the day's events with the other couple, so she said, "I need to see the four of you in my office. Now, if you are available."

They nodded in understanding and rose to follow in silence. Once there and the door closed, she filled them in on the meeting with Dumbledore.

"Professor McGonagall was rather upset about the Transfiguration. What did Professor Dumbledore say about it?" asked Hermione. She had been one of the owls who flew back to Hogwarts, and Ron had followed, so they were there early on when Professors McGonagall and Snape turned up with the ones they led back from the village.

Aurelia grinned. "Yes, she was upset by it, but Dumbledore had to admit it was an 'innovative' solution to the problem. With so many owls already flying around Hogsmeade, it seemed a reasonable way to quickly conceal the students. And since we suspected an attack there would primarily be directed at Harry, I was hoping to keep the rest of you safe. Professor McGonagall finally accepted it. But I understand Dumbledore had quite an argument with Cornelius Fudge about the portkey! I think he only let it slide because I used it for Harry."

She rose and paced around her desk to sit on the front of it. "And the appearance of the Death Eaters confirmed our suspicion. Voldemort is targeting Harry. Other than Dumbledore, Harry may be the only one he fears, though he would probably never admit that. I'm afraid from here on out, Harry, you will have to constantly be on your guard, as will the rest of you. As his friends, you may be targeted also, as a way to get at him, but at the very least, he will need you watching his back. The more eyes watching for trouble, the more likely we can respond quickly and block it."

Unconsciously, both Harry and Ron reached for their girlfriend's hand simultaneously. "I reckon we knew this day would come, sooner or later," Ron murmured.

After a few moments, Ginny asked, "Why can't they just arrest the known Death Eaters and put them in Azkaban?"

Aurelia sighed. "Because it isn't illegal to idealogically support Voldemort. They have to break a law. As I understand it, Harry gave a list of names of who showed up when Voldemort was reborn, but at the moment, there is no proof they have done anything wrong. The ones caught at the Ministry last year went to prison because they were clearly lawbreakers. The other problem is the Dementors. They're growing restless and it may not be much longer before they rebel and we lose our guards at Azkaban. Not only would the existing prisoners escape, but we would then have to contend with the Dementors probably joining Voldemort."

"So there's no hope!" Ron exclaimed. "How can we fight all the Dementors?"

"Wrong, Ron. There is hope. And he's sitting in this room. No one thought Voldemort could be stopped before, but a baby did it. Now it's our task to make sure the young man that baby grew into can do the same thing again – hopefully permanently. As for the Dementors, well, Harry fought a lot of them off three years ago. It isn't easy, but it can be done. My job is to hopefully make it possible for the four of you, and all your classmates, to be able to do it. Harry gave a good start with the DA and teaching you the Patronus Charm. I need to improve your skill, your control and your power to use it. Up until now, Hogwarts students have merely been 'attending school' to get a magical education. Now it becomes much more imperative that they 'learn' as much as they can, as fast as they can and as well as they can. Harry may be the only one who can defeat Voldemort, but he can't defeat all his followers, all the Dementors or all of any other threat that arises in this war. The rest of us have to do our part too. Only then will Harry have a chance to succeed. Up until now you've studied to pass your exams, your O.W.L.s and your N.E.W.T.s, but now you need to study in order to stay alive," she answered quietly.

The four wore grim expressions. "Have I frightened you?" Aurelia asked.

They all raised their eyes to look at her and then at each other. Finally, with determination, Hermione replied, "You've frightened me, but you've also made me angry. I've probably known, ever since I first met Harry, that this day would eventually come, but I'm not sure I really expected it so soon. Now that it's here, I'm going to be ready!" She looked at the others, and added, "We ALL will be, because I'll make sure they study and practice and do whatever else they have to do in order to stay alive." She paused, then said more softly, "Because I don't want to lose any of them."

The others slowly began nodding their heads in agreement, and Aurelia smiled. "Good. Determination is the first step. Now, obviously you shouldn't tell your classmates everything I've told you, but it would be helpful if you could impress upon them the seriousness of this and encourage them to develop the same determination."

A short time later, the four left and headed back to the Gryffindor common room.

xxxxx

After the appearance of the Death Eaters in Hogsmeade, it wasn't difficult to persuade their schoolmates that the threat was real. Several suggested starting up the DA again, but Harry pointed out that Professor Watson's classes were like DA meetings already, and she knew far more things to teach them than he did. Hermione added that it wasn't only Defense skills that they needed to have, and indicated the Transfiguration spell Professor Watson had done in turning them into owls as an example of a useful spell that wasn't particularly Defense related. It gave the others greater appreciation for both Professor McGonagall's and Professor Flitwick's classes, and groups began regularly practicing anything they were taught.

As further Hogsmeade visits were out of the question, instead Dumbledore had the prefects plan activities for the days those visits would have taken place. Since the two stores most missed by the students were Honeydukes and Zonko's, Dumbledore arranged with the owners for a selection of wares to be brought to the school and put on sale – much to Mr. Filch's dismay.

By April, Bill Weasley had wrested a tentative agreement from the goblins in favor of the Ministry, though Cornelius Fudge had to be pushed by Dumbledore to make some concessions in their favor.

So far they were still keeping the Dementors in line, but Dumbledore felt certain it was only a matter of time. He had been working with Kingsley Shacklebolt to make sure the Aurors were on constant alert to move into action the moment anything happened in that area. Cornelius Fudge still insisted that wasn't an issue, but few others held his opinion.

After Hogsmeade, everyone was put further on edge because the killings stopped, and it made them wonder all the more what Voldemort was up to. But the benefit to the students was to allow them to focus more on their studies and prepare for exams. Ginny was facing O.W.L.s this year and every free moment was taken up with studying. Even though N.E.W.T.s weren't until next year for Harry, Ron and Hermione, the teachers were still being stringent in pressing them to make the highest possible grades on exams this year. The better they did now, the better prepared they would be the following school year.

As May bled into June, nervous tension was beginning to run high. The fifth years didn't even seem to notice the warm days that drifted across the Hogwarts grounds, despite the pleasure the lower years were taking in them. The two upper level years also remained sequestered indoors, reading and rereading notes and chapters, practicing spells and trying very hard not to have nervous breakdowns. Madame Pomfrey frantically tried to get them to sleep a bit more, and not attempt charms to help their memory or relieve their tiredness, but despite her efforts, she had a continual stream of students suffering the effects of something related to studying.

In a cruel twist of fate, the day of the sixth years' final exam dawned overcast and bleak. Rain started by mid-morning and was a downpour by noon. The students took no real notice until the exam was over, and then began bemoaning not being able to get out and enjoy the start of their summer. Instead, they still found themselves trapped indoors. High spirits led to numerous practical jokes, many dung bombs and other Zonko products being activated in various parts of the school, and Mr. Filch was running himself ragged scurrying from one to the next, trying to catch the perpetrators. Peeves thought the rainy day called for more of his water balloons, and many students soon found themselves no drier than if they had been outside.

Shortly before dinnertime, Professor McGonagall summoned Harry to Dumbledore's office, and he went with a bit of trepidation. Dumbledore didn't often ask to see him, and coming so close to the summer break, he had a feeling something was up. His suspicion grew stronger when he entered to find Remus Lupin there, and Professor Watson arrived a few minutes behind him.

Dumbledore wasted no time in getting to the point. "I'm sure you realize we find ourselves in unusual circumstances going into this summer break. We cannot be sure what Voldemort's next move will be, but I think it likely it will focus on Harry. He may be anticipating Harry's departure from Hogwarts as an opportunity to strike. I have taken extra precautions with the Hogwarts Express and at the London train station, in an effort to keep the students as safe as possible."

He paused and steepled his fingers, losing himself in thought. Abruptly his attention returned to them after several minutes. "It is essential that Harry return to the Dursleys for at least a month. He must be able to call that home to continue the blood protection. We will be placing more wards and protections on the home before he goes, but I need someone to accompany him, and stay close to him the entire time he is there."

Remus shifted slightly, then commented, "You do recall that from the time Harry leaves school until the month ends, there will be a full moon?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes. That is why I am asking Aurelia to accompany Harry."

Harry frowned, then coughed before saying, "I'm not sure the Dursleys will go for that. They aren't likely to welcome her anyway, and certainly won't want to treat her like a guest, using the guest bedroom…" He blushed and fell silent.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled in amusement at the boy's embarrassment. "I agree that the Dursleys are likely to be inhospitable, but between Aurelia and myself, I think they can be persuaded to tolerate her presence. As to the practical arrangements, I would prefer she not be separated from you during the night. I am certain she knows appropriate spells and charms to afford the two of you 'privacy' for certain things, but I think you should share a room."

Still red, Harry nodded his consent, and Aurelia restrained a grin. "So, then, why am I here?" asked Remus.

"I have arranged with Arabella Figg for you to stay with her. She knows you are a werewolf, and Severus will deliver the potion to you there. But that will put you in close proximity should Aurelia need assistance. We will have members of the Order taking turns being on watch around the neighborhood also. That should mean there are at least three of you nearby at any given moment."

"What happens after a month?" Harry asked, slowly recovering his normal color.

"The three of you will return to Grimmauld Place. I am afraid it will be too dangerous for you to visit the Weasleys this year, Harry, but they of course may come visit you in London if they like." He fell silent again, once more pondering his thoughts, then added, "I know summer is usually a time of relaxation and fun—" Harry snorted, and Dumbledore looked up with a smile, then continued, "But I think it a good idea for Aurelia and Remus to continue working with you on Defense skills, and various charms and spells that might prove useful to you. In effect, summer school."

Harry winced, but nodded. Dumbledore stood and moved toward his window. As he did, Aurelia leaned near Harry and whispered, "Summer school doesn't necessarily mean we can't have any fun – not if I'm teaching it, anyway!" Harry restrained a laugh as Dumbledore turned back to face them.

"I must impress upon all of you that I think we draw nearer and nearer to Harry's confrontation with Voldemort. We must be prepared. The four of us, and other members of the Order, are largely the biggest impediment to Voldemort's success. We must not fail."

They all sat silently a few moments, then Remus asked, "When and how is all this to take place?"

"I would like you to go gather whatever belongings you wish to take with you to Arabella's and then return here. You and Aurelia will accompany the students home on the train. I will notify the Dursleys that they do not need to pick Harry up, but that someone will drop him and Aurelia off. Members of the Order will be on hand at the train station and have a car standing by for the trip."

They waited for him to say more, but he gestured he was done. "That is all for now. Remus, if you would like to join us for dinner before you collect your things, we would be happy to have you."

Replies to reviewers:

Elwen of Lorien - keep in mind that Aurelia was in the original Order of the Phoenix, as well as a student at Hogwarts, so Dumbledore knows her pretty well to have even have drafted her for the Order in the first place. You won't see an entire backstory on her, or all the reasons why he trusts her (like he does Remus and Mundungus and Mad-Eye) - but Dumbledore seems to "see" deeper into people than the average person and knows when they deserve another chance or guidance or whatever. Despite all kinds of accusations against people he has trusted (Hagrid, Madame Maxime, Snape), he stays firm in his trust so you can be pretty certain he knows stuff no one else does. He recognizes that Aurelia's disappearance after James/Lily's deaths was her emotional reaction, rather than anything wrong with her character or suspicious about her behavior. And like everything else, he probably even guessed she liked Remus...

Julia - "Owls? Well, it's better than rats or snakes!" - figured they'd be easier to gather up than rats or snakes (or ferrets!).

Blue Eyes At Night - "i think maybe we need some good memories of lily/ james to lighten up the dreadful mood of death and destruction and Tommy-Boy (the big V if u know what i mean)" - well, not too sure how "light" it can get from here on out, but I can't resist moments of humor! There's some in Chapter 14, which I finally finished writing and need to proofread. Sure hope my haste in trying to get this written doesn't make too big a mess of it. "Aury and Remy"? Well, they'll be around...

Young Philosopher - "I especially liked the owl transfiguration touch." - that idea sprang out of my being in the middle of rereading Goblet of Fire and coming to the part where Moody turns Malfory into a ferret!

Julia - "I think I have a one-sided version of "grass is always greener" syndrome." - No, no - that is the "anyplace but here" syndrome! I get that one a lot, too, in connection with work!

It will be interesting to see how they translate some of the stuff in Goblet into a movie. I've just reread the description of the reborn Voldemort and it is mostly "skeletal", which a person will have trouble portraying. Anyway, with special effects and computer graphics so advanced, we shall see.