Over the next several days the Daily Prophet carried articles about the meaning behind Harry, Draco and Severus' show of The War. Draco found them all highly amusing but he knew that the good cheer over it would not last.
Every evening now the three of them gathered, sometimes with Lupin, to discuss how they were going to stop Voldemort and where and when they would begin their training. Over the course of it all it was decided that Harry, Draco and Severus would maintain the same type of teamwork they had displayed during The War. Lupin said that he would help them to prepare. It was unanimously decided that everyone else would be left out of their plans until it could not be helped.
"You know Draco," Lupin said casually one evening. "I think its admirable that you came back, you could have just sent a message you know."
"Harry and Severus are the only people I can bring myself to care about," Draco said slowly. "I would have come back eventually. It was inevitable, this only gave me a reason to come back sooner."
Lupin merely nodded. Draco could tell that the werewolf understood more than he let on. He was a good man, helping even though they had not asked him. And he kept his mouth shut about it, another good thing in Draco's opinion. Harry seemed to collect people like that, trustworthy people.
"Why are you even helping us?" Draco asked as Harry and Severus stood across the room bent over an old book of Lupin's. "No one asked you and you don't have to risking your job to help us. So why?"
"I'm a Marauder," Lupin smiled briefly. "As were Sirius Black, James Potter and Peter Pettigrew. I'm the only one still left alive and I promised Sirius that if anything were to happen I'd be there for Harry, fill in as a godfather. Harry is a lot like James and Lily but he's also himself. I believe that he's making the right choice and I also think that the rest of you are making the right choice. I'm not going to just stand aside and miss all the action."
Draco nodded. Those were answers that he could live with.
A sharp tapping made all of them stop still and fall silent. Harry's brow furrowed as he looked around the room and saw they were all there. He frowned as he moved quickly across the room to the door and opened it a little bit to peer out into the hallway.
"Harry you and I need to have a talk," Hermione's voice sounded hard and determined.
Harry looked over his shoulder to see Severus picking up the stack of books, thrusting them into Lupin's arms and drawing the werewolf into Harry's bedroom. He waited until the door was closed and then finally stepped aside without a word to let Hermione into his rooms. He closed the door behind her.
"How can I help you Hermione," Harry said crossing over to where Draco sat on the couch, taking a seat on the other end. "We're a little busy here."
"Yes, well there are a few things that need to be addressed," Hermione sniffed. "Like why you wore battle robes to dinner in the Great Hall. That was a stupid thing to do. Now there are rumors flying all over Britain about it."
"Good," Draco folded his arms.
"Good?" Hermione's voice grew louder. "Do you have any idea what you've done you creep!"
"Miss Granger," Severus silibant voice caused everyone to freeze with their insults still on their tongues. "Everyone of us knows exactly what we've done, as you so smartly worded it. In case you were not aware it happened to be the anniversary of Pansy Parkinson's death. We were showing a united front, that we are still just as close as we were then, and mourning the passing of a friend."
Hermione scowled at the mention of Pansy's death. Three steady glares were aimed in her direction. She tried to come up with a good come back but Severus had not left her much of an opening for one.
"It's not good how much time you spend in your rooms with him," She gestured to Draco. "You need to get out more Harry."
"Last time I checked Hermione you aren't my mother," Harry scowled at her. "And I no longer have need of one. I think you should go."
"Fine Harry," Hermione said darkly. "Don't expect any support from me."
"I haven't for three years now Hermione," Harry pretended to look confused. "I'm surprised you didn't catch onto that."
One last furious glare in his direction and she stormed out of his rooms. With a tired sigh Harry got to his feet and closed the door, locking it for good measure. Lupin came out of the bedroom with the book that Harry and Severus had been studying before they had been interrupted.
"You were a bit harsh with her Harry," Lupin said quietly.
"I know," Harry replied. "But Hermione had it coming thinking she could just demand answers from me and expect me to jump in line and be a good boy."
"Mister Potter, you've never just jumped in line," Severus smiled slightly. "Even while you were a student. Miss Granger should remember those days quite well, I'm rather surprised she doesn't understand you still since you really haven't changed all that much."
"Then how are you able to put up with him?" Draco asked with a smirk.
"Years of practice," Severus said with a put upon expression. "And of course there's the fact that the twit has corrupted me. It was bound to happen when I couldn't get him expelled from school."
They shook themselves out of the joking mood and went back to their studies. None of them were sure how much time they had to prepare but they were not going to waste it if they could help it.
After two weeks of studying they moved on to flying. They practiced late at night and during the early morning hours before the sun came up. No one was aware of their use of the pitch, except perhaps Albus but he said nothing so they did the same. Then they alternated between flying and dueling practice which they held in the Forbidden Forest.
One month later there was talk of a stranger spotted in Hogsmeade. The stranger made their way to Hogwarts, coming across Harry, Draco and Severus as they were heading down to Hagrid's Hut.
"Hello," The stranger called out.
The three turned as one, hands hovering above their wands. The stranger's eyes widened when he saw Harry and instantly he bowed down, low to the ground in genuflection.
"What do you want?" Severus demanded.
"I have come from Ely'ed," The stranger straightened and drew back their hood of the cloak. "I am called Avendar."
Avendar had pointed ears and long brown hair, part of it pulled back so that it did not get into his eyes. His eyes were a deep blue and his skin, while a natural color seemed to have a golden hue to it.
"I'm Draco Malfoy," Draco stepped forward. "I've spoken with Ely'ed. I thought that he would be the one to come to Hogwarts."
"Ely'ed is gathering our forces," Avendar informed the blond. "They sent me ahead to scout things out and help you plan. They will come when they are needed."
"That's nice to know," Severus crossed his arms. "I'm Severus Snape, Potions Master, Head of Slytherin House and Potions Professor at Hogwarts."
"I'm Harry Potter," Harry gave Avendar a brief smile. "Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor."
"You're more than just a Professor," Avendar said seriously. "You're the one who will bring us victory or ruin."
"Great," Harry said sarcastically.
"I am sorry but that is the way things are," Avendar bowed his head. "If it were possible I would share in the burden with you but only a few of your friends can do that for you. Where would you like me to stay?
"You can stay with me," Harry offered. "Come with us for now. We've got things to take care of."
Avendar nodded and followed after the three wizards. He watched them duel in the Forbidden Forest, observing their movements. The three wizards often caught him nodding in approval to himself as he saw them square off against one another. After a few hours they went and sat on the floor of the forest near the Elf.
"You're all very well trained," Avendar said once they had settled themselves.
"If they were well trained they would have seen me," Hermione declared from fifty feet away.
"Petrificus Totalus," Harry said, wand pointed right at Hermione.
She fell over onto the ground. Severus, Draco and Avendar stared at the former Gryffindor in shock.
"What?" Harry snapped. "We can't just let her go. She'll tell McGonnagal and we can't have that happening right now."
"True," Severus agreed. "But what are we going to do with her?"
"The Shrieking Shack," Draco suggested. "Or maybe we could have Fred and George babysit?"
"Fred and George," Harry and Severus agreed.
Avendar looked confused but he remained silent. Harry cast Mobilicorpus on Hermione and the group moved off towards the secret tunnel the twins had put in. The look frozen on her face was one of shock and anger. No one said anything as they entered the tunnel, Harry in the lead with Hermione's prone body. Draco followed as close to Harry as he dared but he kept a careful eye on Avendar. It was not that he did not trust the Elf, merely that he did not know him.
The twins were happy to see the small group. They outright laughed at Hermione's predicament but promised to watch her.
"How long do you need her watched for?" Fred asked.
"Yeah," George added. "It better not be for long or people will start asking questions."
"Don't worry about it," Draco said dismissively. "We'll tell you what to do tomorrow."
"No problem," The twins corused.
The group left the twins shop, back through the tunnel. Draco was smirking by the time they were back to Hagrid's Hut. Avendar was looking around, unsure of himself.
"Come on," Harry said heading towards the castle. "We'll all go to my rooms to discuss this."
No one argued, everyone followed after Harry to the castle. He led them through mostly deserted hallways and Draco was about to ask how he was so familiar with them until he remembered the Marauders Map and also that Harry had been teaching at Hogwarts for the past three years. Avendar looked around him with great interest but he did not stop and stayed close to Harry.
They made it back to Harry's rooms without being accosted by anyone or seeing anyone, a rare feet in and of itself. Hogwarts always seemed to have the presence of darkness over it now, even Draco could feel it crawling over his spine.
"So now what?" Draco asked what everyone was thinking. "We obviously can't guard Hermione forever. People will ask questions."
"I'm working on that," Harry said pacing. "McGonnagal will be the first to notice her protégé missing I should think. And with her spying on our sessions we could accuse her of being a spy if the Headmaster would consent to such a thing."
"He might Harry," Severus gave a tired sigh. "But there are too many other possibilities that could come out of such an arrangement."
"Then we alter her memory," Harry said as though the answer were simple.
Perhaps to him it was.