I don't own HP or any of JKR's characters. Just my own.
Thanks everyone that reviewed. Even the flames who can kiss my ,and read on anyway.
Enjoy...
The First Day of School
Little Bird Thundercloud had made it a point to be able to communicate non magically with Albus and Narcissa and had reached her goal with the idea of satellite telephone technology. This was indeed a muggle method of communicating but it was a secret way that she figured would serve the cause well. She somehow decoded the satellite's signal and identified it so that the other two or three telephones could penetrate the magical fields surrounding and protecting the three powerful wizarding governments from being penetrated by muggle government spy satellites. She could care less about their conversations being intercepted by muggles. They would probably think it was a radio broadcast of a soap opera being intercepted by receivers on the ground.
Her eagle Lulu was getting quite a workout using her innate magic to bounce back and forth between continents but she was up to the task, no doubt about it and never once did she complain even in eaglespeak. The morning of the second of September found Lulu arriving in Scotland with a large parcel tied to her leg. She magically shot from the sky and headed for Hogwart's and the headmasters office. She knew where it was because her friend a phoenix was on his perch there and she could find him even if she was flying with her eyes closed. The headmaster's window was open now days at that time expecting an eagle with communications from America and the strongest partner in the war against Voldemort.
Lulu tapped the window gently with her beak as she landed on the ledge surrounding the headmasters office tower and it brought the attention of Albus to her. Albus offered his arm to the giant bird after he conjured a leather sheath for his arm to protect it from the sharp talons on the great bird of prey's feet.
"Lulu, good morning. Good to see you. My friend the phoenix seems glad to see you. Why don't I take your burden from you and you go and have a drink and a bite to eat hmm?" The headmaster talked to the bird like it was a person not realizing the bird knew what he was saying.
Dumbledore opened the parcel the bird carried so far and was surprised at the letter that accompanied it.
Dear Albus,
These are muggle satellite telephones and I have charmed them to penetrate the wards at Hogwarts, Malfoy Manor and the Ministry offices in London. They are charmed to never run out of what runs them. Give one to Narcissa at your earliest convenience. To operate them, follow the instructions I attached to the back and we're good to start talking. We can hold conversations without magical signatures safely now. I don't think that Voldemort or any of his minions are sophisticated enough to even know about them let alone intercept the technology.
I'll speak to you at four p.m. your time. Good luck with the new students and keep an eye out for my boy will you?
Fondly, Birdy
Albus thought to himself, "Very clever Birdy. You would have made a good Slytherin." and went about getting to greet the day and the new school year.
The Thunderbirds mostly slept in thier own beds. Fred and George have slept in the same bed since they were babies and finding them apart for very long was an unusual circumstance. George was first to awaken and he went into the bathroom to further investigate the facility and was pleased to find that the tub had a shower in it and all the faucets found in the prefects bathroom were lined up in rows. After a stop at the loo to relieve his bladder he stripped off the rest of his clothes and turned on the tap for very warm lilac scented water spray. He found a large bar of soap in the dish and he began to scrub away the aches and pains of a long journey from the day before.
George was singing a little tune he heard in America. Fred woke to find his brother missing from his side of the bed and heard the melodious sound that was his brother in the bathroom. He got up and made his way into the bathroom silently and got undressed tip toeing his way to the large tub and his soul mate's back. Fred reached to touch his brother's back and was greeted with a turning George who had his willie in his hand.
"I guess you areglad to see me Georgie." Fred said smiling and giving his brother the once over and touching his face reaching to give him a good morning snog and a little feel of his bum for good measure.
"Aye Fred, I'm always glad to see you. Help me out here?" George said with a 'let's play' look in his eye.
"I'm always ready for that Georgie" and Fred was soon lathering his brother all over, lingering in all the right places.
While they were in America, Adam had taught them how to have magical orgasms and they put the practice to good use as often as they could. In the morning and in the shower was fast becoming their favorite spot for that activity. They completed their abbreviatedplaying and finished their showers in great humor and completely sated. The twin unity was never stronger at that particular time and they both loved the feeling. There would be hell on earth to pay, if anyone hurt the other.
Draco had taken the glamour charm off of himself and he woke his happy husband from a wonderful night's sleep with a kiss on the nose. Harry was awake in an instant and he claimed his husband's lips before Draco moved away. Draco's tummy was skin to skin close to Harry and the babies moved inside him. Harry smiled at the feeling and gave his husband a kiss to show just how much he really loved him. Draco's bladder cut the kissing short and he got up slowly heading for the bathroom. He had on pyjama bottoms and they were stretched to make room for his growing family. Harry was amused at watching Draco's body begin the first stage of waddling.
"You're beautiful Draco. You know that don't you?" Harry said to his husbands back as he made his way to the loo and a bath.
"Thank you love. How about joining me in the tub?" Draco said and he went inside the loo leaving a finger motioning to his husband to join him.
Harry was up and in the loo in a heartbeat. Draco had taken to sitting when using the loo when it was convenient for him. While he was finishing his business, he watched a nude Harry at the sink brushing his teeth. Harry's bum was wiggling back and forth as he stroked his teeth giving Draco a sight he would be happy to look at for the next hundred or so years. Draco's member stiffened at the sight and he finished cleaning himself and he got up to reach around his husband surprising Harry with a new development. Draco was ready willing and quite able to do the deed and take Harry from behind where he stood.
"Love, are you sure you want to do this? I mean, I'd love for you to take me here and now.."
Draco cut off his protestations with a steaming kiss meant to throw Harry off his bead and give in to the passion that was begging for entry. It worked and Harry dropped his toothbrush and quickly rinsed his mouth. The two of them made their way into the bath tub and turned on the spigots to fill the tub. Draco had gently lubricated Harry with a charm, not unnoticed by the now very ready Harry.
"Take me Draco. Make love to me" Harry murmured to his very horny husband. He was obliged very thoroughly and when he erupted with a thunderous orgasm, he was completely weak in the knees. Draco released his seed inside his husband for the first time and the two lovers held each other breathing deep breaths trying to regain their composure. Draco kept muttering how much he loved Harry just right then. Harry had given himself for the first time to his husband and he actually liked it more than he thought he would.
"Love, as soon as I can walk again, I'd like to give it another go. Are you ready?"
"Harry, for you I will always be ready. We however have to get ready for what ever they've got cooked up for us."
"Alright love. Let me just rest another minute and I'll be ready to get out of here." Harry kissed his husband again and let his breathing normalize.
Draco and Harry sat in the tub in each other's arms gently stroking each other. They were interrupted by a mental call from the others.
'Harry, Draco, come on get up. Let's go to breakfast together. Make an entrance' Blaise had been the one to break into their reverie. Draco and Harry smiled to each other and began to dry and get dressed. Draco put on his glamour and his armor and got dressed with Harry.
'We'll be there in three minutes Blaise. Keep your shirt on' Draco said to his longtime friend.
'We'll believe it when we see it. We all feel like smoking cigarettes. Did you two just uh...'
'Never you mind what goes on in here. We're almost done. Harry's going to help me with my shoes'
'Draco, you don't really need help with your shoes do you?'
'It seems so Blaise' Draco said. Harry had just finished putting Draco's shoes on him and tied them with a wave of his hand. 'We're on our way down now Blaise. Told you.'
Harry and Draco were greeted by almost the whole of Thundercloud house with catcalls and whistles. The looks on their faces said, "Just got laid" and everyone was giggling.
"Alright you lot, cut it out." Harry said trying to keep his husband from anything embarrassing.
"Let them look love. It's not everyday you see the 'Boy-who-lived' come down a staircase after he'd just been laid very completely." Draco whispered to Harry.
"Let's not show them everyday alright?" Harry whispered back. Draco just leaned in for a quick kiss and the two of them joined the excited Thundercloud house on their way to their first English breakfast at Hogwarts.
The Great Hall was alive with students anxiously waiting for their schedules to be distributed to them and they eagerly enjoyed their breakfast's while they waited. No one from Thundercloud house had joined the close to thousand students that were packed into the Great Hall yet and everyone including Slytherin house were seated talking amongst themselves about what had transpired the evening before. Pansy Parkinson was holding court filling the void Draco left seamlessly. Truth be told, the Slytherins were scared shitless of the temperamental witch and let her ramble on uninterrupted.
The doors of the Great Hall opened completely and Thundercloud house filed in along both sides of their table. They remained standing until the Thunderbirds walked in four abreast in three rows making for both sides of their table, Adam Thundercloud leading them to their seats. Thundercloud house sat as one and their breakfasts appeared in front of them in an instant.
Pansy Parkinson watched the spectacle of their entry and began seething immediately. She quietly said to those around her,
"How dare they! Slytherin house are the only ones that do that. Making an entrance to breakfast indeed." Pansy hissed curses under her breath wishing ill on the lot of them.
"How could Dumbledore invite foreigners to Hogwarts? Americans no less. Shameful if you ask me, the light side must be very weak if he has to import his army to defend him." She said smugly but quietly.
Luna hadn't said much since their arrival the night before. She had stayed up for a few minutes the night before talking to the wizards and witches she was going to be taking and giving tuition. Just as Pansy was uttering curses, she got "that feeling".
'Blaise, everyone, touch each other, I've got to clear this up, it's big.' She intoned frantically. Each of the Thunderbirds held hands and Luna's eyes closed. Their sudden lack of noise was very loud to those that were watching them. Severus was one of them and so was Dumbledore who looked at Severus with a knowing nod.
What Luna was seeing was a horrible sight. There were Death Eaters in Diagon Alley at the Daily Prophet office and they were blasting everything and everyone in sight. Luna broke her vision abruptly when she saw two Death Eaters pick up a little girl and rip her in two slinging blood everywhere.
Adam stood and went to the head table with the news of what Luna had seen. Blaise was holding Luna's shoulders and Ginny was trying to comfort the trembling witch. Her own nerves were a bit more less likely to be shocked because of her internal dynamic and fortitude.
"There's been an attack in London at that newspaper place. We saw something terrible. Someone needs to do something right away" Adam said to Severus and Dumbledore.
"I'm sure that the Ministry's aurors are on their way now Adam, and we can be there as fast as we can get out from under the antiapparition ward"
"You guys can, but we can be there in a flash. I don't think we should do it in front of them though." Adam said gesturing to the ungraduated student body.
"Alright then Adam, you and the Thunderbirds go quickly. I will call the Order and Severus, you get the lessons started. Let's go." Dumbledore said to the anxious wizards.
'We're outta here you guys. We're flashing out just like before. As soon as we're out of the Great Hall, we're going to London to save those people.'
Harry and Draco had only had a bite of toast and a drink of coffee before they rose from their seats with the rest of the powerful group of wizards and made their way to the door of the Great Hall and seclusion to leave the castle. They were watched by several pairs of deceitful eyes scattered throughout the student body. The sudden movenment by the Thunderbirds got the attention of everybody and the headmaster said loudly,
"Everyone is to remain seated for the next ten minutes. The Great Hall is locked."
Dumbledore made for the tiny doorway off to the side of the head table and entered his office through a secret passageway that he moved through instantly. Hewent to his fireplace that was connected to Narcissa's office in downtown London and informed her of what was taking place. He was relieved to know that the ministry aurors were already on their way to find out just how much damage had been done and to take care of any survivors if any.
The Thunderbirds true to form, changed their school clothes with magic into their battle robes and disapparated as a group, destination, Diagon Alley. The thirteen of them apparated into a quiet spot behind Gringott's bank and instantly went invisible and surrounded the whole of Diagon Alley with an antiapparition ward. The ministry aurors that were already inside the alley when the Thunderbirds arrived were the only ones that witnessed what followed next.
Neville and Ginny watched a Death Eater make a grab for a young witches child. They heard her screaming for them to give her baby back to her. The were going to oblige her with two halves of the baby when in an instant, Neville and Ginny were behind them and they said very menacingly,
"If you want to end up like that child, just try to do something. It would pleasure us to no end to terminate you right where you stand." Ginny threatened.
"Just who do you think you are girl? Kill her and the other." one of the masked men said to his companion. The two Death Eaters raised the baby between them and were about to rip it in half when they were relieved of their heads by Ginny who was standing with her wand in her hand. She had said no spell out loud and the bodies fell away from the heads that were surprised by their own deaths.
Neville uttered a soul banishment spell in the Navajo language and the bodies disappeared but the heads remained for identification.
"Thank you. I don't know what I would have done if they would have harmed my baby. Who are you two?" The woman said when Ginny handed the baby she retrieved from the two falling Death Eaters back to her.
"No one you need to worry about ma'am. Sorry, but, obliviate." Neville said and laid the woman and her baby down out of the way of the fighting.
'Thunderbirds, go invisible and take off their heads. They're only here to kill and terrorize' Ginny thought to her comrades.
'You heard the lady fella's, go invisible and take them out.' Adam said. He looked at Harry and Draco and they nodded their agreement to their cousin and godbrother.
Harry and Draco held hands as they went invisible, they could see each other's signatures as they moved through the alley in search of the people that were in direct danger. Blaise and the twins started at the entrance to Diagon Alley closest to the Leaky Cauldron and made their way up the alley going from shop to shop, two inside one outside to take out the Death Eaters and relieve their bodies of their heads.
Ron and Hermione along with Luna and Neville had gone into the bank to look for signs of Death Eaters. There were several dead goblins laying where they had been working. Hermione and Ron had never been to the vaults beneath the wizard bank but they could hear voices and loud noises coming from the shaft leading to where the wizards had the goblins store their treasures.
A rumble shook the floor that the four Thunderbirds were standing on and loud shouting could be heard from inside the entrance to the vault. Luna and Neville went in first, invisibly of course and as soon as Ron and Hermione stepped through the portal they too went invisible and followed Neville and Luna towards the source of the noise. The four of them could hear cursing not twenty five meters from where they were then only one voice commanding the others as to what to do.
"It seems that the bloody goblins have protected this vault with something we cannot break with a simple reducto curse. The dark lord has given me muggle explosives to blow the door off if we could not break it with magic. Blast those goblins keeping their secrets even in death they defy us. Stand back. Five, four, three,.." the Death Eater began counting backwards.
Ginny and Luna together cast a flat protego shield between the muggle bomb and Hermione and Ron shaped the charge so that the reducto spell would back fire and kill whom ever was casting it exploding the muggle bomb. Since this was a muggle bomb, the Thunderbirds stood back and ducked down behind one of the pillars holding up the cavernous tunnel.
'Get down and hide' Neville said to his companions 'You don't have to say that twice mate' Ron said holding Hermione as they crouched behind Luna and Neville.
The next second there was an ear shattering explosion and four dead Death Eaters laying about with missing body parts. The vault that they were trying to break into was unscathed because of the protego shield the lady TBirds put up. The shaped shield Ron and Neville constructed did it's job and killed the bank robbers.
"Get their bodies out of here Ron, but first off with their heads if they have one." Neville said to his pal leaving the ladies behind.
They had for the first time used the Navajo magic that Birdy and Severus had them learn. The four of them didn't flinch a bit when the four heads floated towards the exit from the vault in front of them. The didn't bother to pull off the masks that were hiding the faces of the Death Eaters. They didn't care one bit who they were. The four of them rejoined the rest of the Thunderbirds after they put a ward over the banks doors and windows. The MLE would have to sort out the dead goblins later.
Ginny and Luna transformed into thier Thunderbird form and flew to the rooftops looking for more Death Eaters and their victims. Ron and Neville stood their ground in front of the wizarding bank waiting for someone to need them. They could hear in their heads what the other Thunderbirds were saying and doing just as if they were with them. Ron could hear Harry talking to Draco who was probably the most fierce of the lot of them. He had bashed his shin bone on a planter that had fallen over and he was cursing a blue streak. Harry wisely hit him with a contusion repair spell he had learned from all of his time in the infirmary. Draco was very grateful to his husband at that point. Suddenly everyone could hear Draco shout for Harry to duck. 'Reducio' Draco shouted silently at the Death Eaters who were about to throw a hex at his husbands back.
"KABOOM" Came an explosive sound. When Harry turned around to see the pile of body parts Draco's spell had produced he was shocked at what his husband had done. The reducio spell that Draco cast, had obliterated the wizards that were trying to attack Harry from behind.
'Thanks for that love'
'Anytime Harry. There's Blaise, Fred and George. I can see their signatures'
'Come on then. Oi, hey you guys. Is that end of the alley secure?' Harry said to Draco and took his arm to meet up with their team.
'Uh huh. You suppose we should let in the MLE?' Blaise said for his trio.
'I think we should obliviate the whole alley before we do. We shouldn't let anyone know just what went on here.' Draco said matter of factly.
'Where are Adam, Vince and Greg'
'We're just finishing Knockturn Alley. We shut down the floo's down there. Someone grabbed Adam from the back'
'You alright Adam'
'Yeah, I turned into a big rattlesnake and the guy fainted. Greg petrified him. He was the only one though, Vince separated the heads from the bodies down there and put em in a pile at the alley entrance. We got nine'
'Thunderbirds, let's meet in front of the Prophet, two minutes stay invisible. We're going to lift the entry ward and let in the MLE.' Harry said as he took Draco's hand heading for the Leaky Cauldron entrance to Diagon Alley.
As soon as Harry opened the brick entryway there was a swarm of twenty ministry aurors wands drawn looking for Death Eaters. The aurors made their way up the alley looking in shops for survivors and Death Eaters. The survivors were all shaken up a bit and didn't seem to be able to remember just what happened. Three aurors came upon a pile of heads with masks on their faces and almost lost their breakfast at the sight of the oozing, bleeding pile of Death Eater heads.
The Thunderbirds had all stood in front of Gringotts bank invisibly watching the MLE aurors collect the heads. The aurors had disgusted looks on their faces as they levitated the heads into a box not touching anything. The conversation overheard was minimal and the TBirds stood silently waiting for the aurors to come to the wizarding bank.
The Thunderbirds became visible to the aurors one at a time so they didn't shock them into drawing their wands and throwing a hex first before they asked questions. Kingsley Shackelbolt was the first to notice the Thunderbirds coming visible before his eyes.
"Harry Potter. I should have known. Do you know anything about how these people came to be without their bodies?" Kingsley said to a sober faced Harry and watching the twelve others show themselves.
"I do. We did it." Harry said seriously.
"So you're the group that has the ministry talking. I wondered what everyone was going on about."
"Tonks knows about us. We're supposed to be secret Kingsley. Keep your aurors quiet won't you please. We don't need Voldemort knowingany of our capabilities."
"I suppose you're right about that Harry. Where are the bodies?"
"On the sun for all I know."
"Surely you can't mean that Harry. That's unspeakable magic."
Draco took the opportunity to interrupt. "This is what the Death Eaters can expect from crossing our paths. We are not about to let them hurt anyone ever again. The bank is full of dead goblins Mr. Shacklebolt. Perhaps you should go inside. It's not pretty. I think that the reason for the attack lies in one of the close vaults. The Prophet was attacked too."
"They were trying to rob the bank?"
"They did try. We stopped them." Neville said to the shocked auror.
"How did you do that exactly?"
"Magic."
"Ah right then. I'll go inside when we get some clean up wizards in here. Is anyone hurt other than these pieces of dung?"
"There are several people hiding in the back rooms of the shops, some are hiding behind the planters. They've all been obliviated so they won't be able to help you out for your reports"
Harry said to the auror he knew so well.
"Obliviated? Well then I suppose we should go and attend to them."
"There are several dead people and a few mangled children. They were vicious." Harry said.
"They got what they deserved Mr. Shacklebolt." Ginny said smugly to the auror she'd known since she was a little girl.
"I suppose you're right Miss Weasley, I suppose you're right indeed."
"Kingsley, we're going to go back to school now. You have everything you need from us?" Harry asked.
"Aye, I suppose I do. Tell Dumbledore hello for me won't you?" Kingsley said slightly relieved.
"Will do. Hope we don't have to meet too many times like this. See you later." Harry said and he rejoined his companions.
"You guy's want to portkey into the castle or shall we apparate?"
"It's a short distance, let's just apparate and we can walk up to the castle." Draco said to his husband.
"Alright then, let's go." Harry said and the lot of them were in an instant standing in front of the gates leading to the school.
Breakfast in the Great Hall had just about finished when the Thunderbirds opened the doors streaming in with billowing robes. They made their way to their seats and sat down for a few bites of food before they had to make their way back to the class rooms to begin lessons. Charley Weasley had been waiting for the return of his instructors assistants, friends and especially Adam. Charley rose from the head table looking at the headmaster with raised eyebrows getting that imperceptable nod from the old wizard and made his way to where his charges had just retaken their seats. Adam was looking up and smiling at his new sweetheart.
"I'm glad to see you're all still in one piece. What went on?" Charley asked to none of them in particular.
"Death Eater attack. It's all taken care of now. There were many people injured before we got there. There are thirty eight less Death Eaters on the planet now though. They were attacking the Prophet as a diversion for their bank robbery. Ton's of dead goblins. Pity." Draco said for the group. Adam was happily eating and looking at Charley.
"Well, I'm glad that you guy's are all safe. No signs of you-know-who?"
"Who's you-know-who? That Voldy guy?" Adam asked.
"Yes Adam. I still have a hard time saying his name." Charley said to his new beau.
"Aw, it's only a name Charley."
"I know. We'll be saying it in class so I suppose I should begin using it."
The conversation between Charley and the Thunderbirds decelerated quickly to usual morning banter. Charley took a seat next to Adam and had a cuppa while they finished their breakfasts. He handed them their schedules and they got quiet for a minute while reading them and they went back to eating.
Pansy Parkinson from her seat on the high court of Slytherin House began her ranting anew sending death glares at the backs of the heads of the wizards and witches she hated above all others. Her diatribe continued up until the time the clock struck a warning bell signaling the mass exodus from the Great Hall and the start of the school year at Hogwart's. The Thunderbirds remained while the rest of Thundercloud house went back to the third floor and their class rooms. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall also remained seated until the students had left and all that remained were the Thunderbirds and the two administrators of the school.
"I trust the aurors were left with little or nothing to do?" The headmaster began.
Draco stood next to Harry as the Thunderbirds grouped closely so they could hear what was being talked about. He said, "There wasn't much left for them to do. We left them with almost forty heads to pick up for identification and notification. They were doing something new to their victims to kill them."
"And that was..?"
"They were tearing the childrens limbs off in front of their parents. We obliviated the parents if they were still living. No one needs to remember seeing that. There were maybe ten or so victims outside when we got there. The Prophet and Gringott's seemed to be the main focus of the attack. The goblins inside the bank were all killed. Hermione counted fifteen of them. Her and Ron and Neville and Luna stopped them with shaped protego shields. They were using a muggle bomb." Harry said.
"A muggle bomb? That is news. Do you think that anyone saw your faces?"
"Only Kingsley. We either obliviated them or were invisible."
"Right then. I'm sure that Mr. Shacklebolt will use the utmost discretion. Good work everyone. I think it's time you joined your classes."
"Yes sir. We'll see you later." Harry said to Dumbledore and his former head of house.
The Thunderbirds made their way out of the Great Hall robes billowing behind them. Dumbledore's good humor hasn't been as high as that in a very long time. He turned to his deputy and said,
"Minerva, I have a very good feeling right now that things are finally going our way for the first time in many years."
"I hope you're right Albus. I feel a little less apprehensive concerning the student's safety."
"We've worked very hard at subtly upgrading the security and safety of the children."
"Aye Albus. The Slytherins will be most upset that their mail will be scrutinized."
"I'm sure that all of the students will share that position Minerva, but there is an officially declared wizarding war going on and by Merlin they'll abide by the rules or find themselves stripped of the privilege of using magic."
"That's a rather harsh punishment but fitting."
"Aye Minerva. You should join your class upstairs don't you think? Advanced transfiguration I believe with Thundercloud house?"
"Yes Albus. I'm glad that these are adult wizards and witches. Should cut through a bit of the confidence building."
"When you succeed, they'll be much more confident and able to defend themselves and others."
"That's what it's all about isn't it Albus? I'll see you later."
"Good day Minerva. Much to do." The headmaster said. The two of them went their separate ways both with much on their minds.
The classes in Thundercloud War College were small in size and were attended by one Thunderbird and five others. This way, there could be a better ratio of one on one tuition. Professor McGonagal entered one of the classrooms and greeted everyone trying to learn their names quickly. Draco was the Thunderbird in this class. He wasn't as good at Transfiguration as the Professor but he was almost as closely skilled as she was after the summer of tuition he spent with rapid learn.
"Welcome to the first day of instruction. This is Advanced Battle Transfiguration level H1. You will learn how to turn the things around you into either defensive or offensive objects. Observe this demonstration." The professor said to the small group.
Professor McGonagall took a muggle safety pin and turned it into a spear with an intricate wand movement. The students didn't hear her mutter a sound while she did the spell.
Draco spoke up, "Is there an incantation you said to yourself?"
"Yes and no Mr. Potter-Malfoy, you see, you have to really think of what you need. What I did with the wand movement was to unwind and enlarge the pin into the shape I needed. There really isn't much of a limit on what you can transfigure. A certain level of magic is required however. You try it and see what you can do. Trace the shape of the pin into a shape you need." she said to the very attentive group and passed out a pin to everyone.
Draco used his wand in front of the others because his technique with wandless magic was still a closely guarded secret. He found he was just as accurate with his wand as he was wandless which was impressive to the blond pregnant wizard. He was the only one to get it on the first try.
"Very good Mr. Potter-Malfoy. I'll leave you all now and you can teach the others if they don't get it soon. No written homework, I require fifteen minutes of practice tonight and a demonstration tomorrow. We'll be doing hex deflectors tomorrow if you succeed today. See you all tomorrow. I have the sixth year Slytherins and Gryffindors right now and I'm loathe to see how they're all behaving right now."
"I think I can take it from here Professor. I'll see you at lunch in the Great Hall I suppose, unless something comes up." Draco said to his Professor.
"Good luck Draco." The professor said, and she walked stiffly out of the classroom much the way she entered.
Draco continued to help the foreign wizards with the wand movement and he was doing very well with getting them to make the movements accurately. After about twenty minutes or so after he had gone one on one with his students, they were making the pin untwist and enlarge. Now all they had to do was think spear instead of giant pin. The American students were quick to learn the wand movement and were beginning to succeed at shaping the pin into a throwable object and Draco couldn't have been happier.
"Very good everyone. I think we can practice this a while longer and then take a break. I think you should try to teach this to anyone that has time. It will save you all a lot of time when you practice in your other classes. Your curriculum is paced so that everything will coalesce. I've had all the courses you're going to learn so if any of you need extra help in accomplishing these things, don't hesitate to ask any of the Thunderbirds. We will be very glad to help you in any way we can. There is a war going on and none of your homelands are safe if Voldemort comes to power." Draco said to the close group.
"This Voldemort, is he the reason why you all left early breakfast?" a witch Draco hadn't learned the name of yet.
"Yes indirectly it was. My name is Draco Potter-Malfoy. Call me Draco. You are.?"
"Oh, pardon me, I'm Two Bees, Cherokee nation. Pleased to meet you Draco" The witch said to the tall blond.
"The pleasure is mine. We'll all get to know one another very well soon. If you'll excuse me for a minute, I have to leave. Continue your practice." Draco said to his students. His babies were pressing on his bladder and he hadn't had a chance to hit the loo since he'd been back from the thing at Diagon Alley.
'Harry' Draco thought.
'Yes love? Anything wrong?'
'Want to meet me in the loo for some snogging?'
'Sorry to disappoint love, but I'm outside flying. I'll be here all morning until lunchtime.'
'Blast. Alright then. Maybe we can sneak up to our room and have our lunch in private'
'That sounds good to me love, oops'
'What is it Harry? Did something happen?' Draco thought as his heart raced.
'No, had to do a loop to avoid one of the Americans. These brooms are so cool. I wish we could play quidditch on these.'
'You know we'd be banned from playing don't you?'
'You mean just because we could accio the snitch?'
'And deflect the bludgers'
'I guess that would kind of take the fun out of it.'
'It will be fun to play the Cannons'
'As long as they don't know we can cream them in a heartbeat.'
'We'll see. I really have to pee. See you at lunch love.'
'Ok Draco.' Harry said and their conversation was ended as fast as it began. Harry turned his attention to the task at hand and that was just getting the wizards he was teaching to fly without holding on with thier hands.
"Sonorus." Harry said to himself touching his throat while no one was looking. "Everyone come over here please. Take your time. 'El Finite' "
The wizards Harry was speaking to seemed to be doing well flying straight with the brooms underneath them. They weren't however as keen to let go when they did a loop, fly up or down at any kind of speed.
"You're all using the knee locks on the sticks aren't you?" Harry asked hovering fifty feet above the ground.
"Yeah Harry, I am anyway. I still feel a bit unsure of letting go." Tall Trees of the Sioux said.
"You're not using a sticking charm either I bet." Harry said with an amused look.
There were six shaking heads floating on broomsticks as they hadn't thought of using one. Tall Trees thought of a good charm to use. He said his incantation and he promptly turned himself upside down completely letting go with his hands.
"Ta-da!" Tall Trees said with a triumphant flair.
"Good one Tall Trees. You want to share that one with us?" Harry said grinning to the dangling American.
"Ha! It's easy enough. Just say, Stickum"
All of the flyers except Harry did as they were told and soon they were all dangling upside down laughing. The rest of the class was spent flying upside down and playing catch with a quaffle getting used to the sensation. The next thing they would learn would be hex casting while flying upside down. Shield work would come later in Advanced Charms.
Adam and Neville were attending the potion's classes. Both Professor's Snape and Sprout had set the topic for the day and they returned to their regular classes leaving Adam and Neville alone with their group. Professor Snape was no longer skeptical when it concerned Longbottom and he was just as confident in the ability that Adam showed in teaching as he had learned from his mother. No better instructor could be had.
Professor Sprout's first class was with the third year combined class of all the Hogwart's houses. She had happily taken the Sampson's Hair plants that they had harvested in Arizona and the first class of the day was going to be repotting them. One of the plants was given to Professor Snape who was going to be teaching his NEWT class of combined seventh years with Sampson's Hair as it's primary potion's ingredient. He would first teach them how to prepare the strong plant without killing it.
Classes in the Thundercloud War College were going along very well for all of the students and the Thunderbird instructors. Lunch time was upon them before they knew it. The excitement level and chattering in the Thundercloud house common room was very high. The sixty new students were demonstrating their lessons for each other save for the flyers who were raptly paying attention to the others. Ginny had just come from the infirmary with her class and greeted Neville with a quick kiss. Neville and Adam's students were trying to theorize different possible uses of Sampson's Hair in potions for everyday use, not just for battle.
Harry had waited for Draco to arrive with his transfiguration students. When his husband got there he rushed to his side for a hug and a quick kiss. The two of them went off in the direction of their room for Harry to get clean after a morning of flying. Draco was barely content to watch his husband rub soap all overhimself but he figured that he didn't want to undress, shower, redress and put his shoes on again. Harry was pretty quick in the shower anyway when he was alone. He turned to finish rinsing and he showed his husband his magic 'wand' teasing him.
"Harry, I really, really want to shag you right now, but these clothes are so blasted hard to put on and we don't have time. Besides, I'm starved. I want a tortilla stuffed with peaches and pickles."
"Euggh! Peaches and Pickles? Are you alright? That sounds disgusting."
"It is odd isn't it. Just this morning after our workout, it just came to me and I've wanted it ever since. Now hurry and put that thing away we've got to go to lunch with everyone."
"Alright love. I can't wait to get you alone tonight." Harry said with a wiggle to his eyebrows and a patented Malfoy smirk on his face.
"You can't wait? These babies have got me so bloody horny I can hardly stand it. I'm told that this will last for a month or so then you'll have to take care of yourself, yourself." Draco said indicating Harry's well endowed package.
"You mean I'll have to uh.."
"Well maybe not just exactly that, but unless you want to be bottom all the time, then yes."
"That sounds good to me love. I like it either way, you know that."
"Good. Now get yourself dressed. What are you teaching this afternoon?"
"DADA"
"Go easy on them. Would you like for me to come and duel with you?"
"NO. You're not getting close to one of my hexes."
"I can take care of myself thank you very much. Scarhead."
"Ouch, I'm hurt." Harry said grinning at his husband's mock distain.
"Bugger. Are you finished?"
"Let me comb my hair and we can go."
"I'll do it for you love, I'm better at it than you are. swoosh> There you go all done."
"You're going to have to teach me that one."
"You already know it Harry, I'm just better at it than you are. Let's go."
The two happy wizards walked hand in hand to the common room and were greeted with a cacaphony of excited conversations. Charley Weasley had made an appearance in the hidden room and was talking to Adam.
"Those dragons aren't giving us a bit of trouble since you healed Norbert. You should see him Adam, jumping around in his stall. We're going to take them out tonight for a ride over the forest. You guy's want to come along?" Charley asked Adam.
"Sounds like a good time. I'll ask everyone"
'Thunderbirds? You guy's wanna go for a dragon ride tonight?'
Adam could hear, 'Bloody Hell! Yeah' 'That would be fun' 'I've alway's wanted to try it'
'count us in' 'Oh boy!'
"Charley, it looks like that's a yes. What time?"
"At around nine tonight. Your school work should be done then. Any of Thundercloud house and the seventh years are welcome as well."
"That's so cool Charley. Do you think we could...you know, sneak off for a little..." Adam said quietly to his red headed lover.
"I think we can arrange that. You lot don't have curfew but it would be better maybe if we didn't stay out too long."
"Don't you worry about that Charley. Any time with you is time well spent."
"Thanks Adam. I think it's almost time for the Great Hall to open for lunch." Charley said.
Thundercloud house almost as one, rose and made to assemble in the foyer to the common room leaving room at the front for the Thunderbirds. Charley Weasley took the lead, followed by Adam and the dozen other TBirds. Thundercloud house followed them out of their common room and down the unnoticed steps four abreast fifteen deep. They marched silently as a group to the Great Hall.
The students that were waiting in the corridor in front of the Great Hall moved to the sides to let the Thunderbirds and Thundercloud house pass. That is until they came upon a pod of Slytherins standing in their way. Charley Weasley stopped and politely asked them to step aside so they could pass.
"I don't see why we should Weasley. We were here first." Pansy Parkinson said with a sneer for effect.
"Twenty-Five point's from Slytherin House if you do not conduct yourself in a more respectable manner and tone Miss Parkinson. Step aside or you'll be cleaning dragon dung out of the paddock without magic." Charley warned the appoplectic witch.
"You don't scare me Weasley."
"That's Professor Weasley and that's twenty five point's from Slytherin House for cheek. Step aside or I will move you."
"Pansy, just move your ass out of the way." Draco said from beside his husband.
"Or what Draco?" Pansy said still not backing down.
Pulling his wand with a swish and a flick, Draco said, "Wingardium Leviosa" and Pansy floated up in the air screaming obscenities at the now smirking witch.
"I wish you'd just try not to make waves Parkinson." Draco said as his group made it's way to the now open doors of the Great Hall. Pansy's feet were trying to kick Draco in the head but she continued to float about eight feet off the floor.
"You're not supposed to do magic in the corridors you arse. Let me down right this second." Pansy shrieked. The Thunderbirds and Thudercloud house marched underneath the dangling witch, Draco and Harry stood to the side as they passed.
With a flick of his wandhand, Draco said, "El Finite" and Pansy fell to the floor and landed on her ample butt.
"Don't ever make me do that to you again Parkinson or I'll drop you from a hundred feet. Unless you can fly without a broom, don't try that again." Draco cautioned his former friend.
Pansy uttered under her breath, "Fuck you Draco, I'll get you for this." and she watched the back of Draco and Harry walk up the center aisle to their seats.
She picked herself up off the floor and went to sit at her place with the Slytherins. Charley had taken his place at the staff table and when Professor Snape joined them, he told Severus what had happened outside the Great Hall and the need for taking house points. He said he was sorry but he had a complete right to do so because of the flagrant disrespect. Severus nodded at Charley and told him that he would speak to Miss Parkinson soon.
The lunch in the Great Hall wasn't as spectacular as the meal the previous evening was but it was filling and actually not bad. Draco had peaches and pickles wrapped in a tortilla. The people sitting close to him had expressed their disgust at the sickening combination of food. Ginny, Luna and Hermione all knew that it was one of the manifestations of pregnancy and they largely ignored anything that Draco ate at all.
When lunch was over, Thundercloud house stayed in the Great Hall until they were alone with Charley and the headmaster.
"I trust that everyone is getting along so far here at Hogwart's." the headmaster said to the new group of wizards and witches. "You may all go into Hogsmeade at any time you wish but for the first few trips, I want you to take an escort. You will all be authorized to defend yourselves with deadly force if necessary in case of an attack by Death Eaters. Use any means necessary to defend yourselves and get back here as quickly as you can. We use a wand shower of red sparks in the sky if there is danger present and you need help. Are there any questions you might have?" The headmaster said to the group before him.
"I don't think there are headmaster." Charley said because none of them raised their hands.
"Alright then. Go on to your afternoon classes. Ronald, will you and Hermione come to my office before you rejoin your pupils? Password is Baby Ruth."
"Yes sir." Hermione said to the old wizard.
Thundercloud house turned towards the exit and began chatting quietly on their way back to the staircase to the third floor. Ron and Hermione made their way towards the gargoyle that protected the entrance to Dumbledore's office.
"Baby Ruth" Ron said to the gargoyle and it jumped aside revealing the moving staircase. The two of them stepped in and the stairs began to ascend to the top and the door to the headmaster's office. Ron knocked twice and the door opened.
"You wanted to see us headmaster?" Hermione asked. She hadn't been in the headmasters office in a long time and noticed that nothing had changed.
"Yes Miss Granger. It has come to my attention that you and the Thunderbirds quite excelled at your studies at the MNN in Arizona. I would like to take the opportunity to ask you if you'd care to help in the planning for the final battle. I'm sure that Empress Thundercloud holds this opinion. She said that you Ronald, gave her quite a run for her money playing chess with her."
Ron's ears turned red but he grinned anyway and said, "Thank you professor. I almost beat her too, a couple of times anyway. What do you think that Hermione and me can do with the planning?"
"Well Ronald it's like this..." The headmaster spoke for about five minutes and Ron and Hermione absorbed what he was saying, like dry sponges would do to water.
"Alright professor, I think we can help. Do you mind if we share this with the Thunderbirds"
Hermione said. Ron kept nodding his head while he thought. In his mind he was picturing what he knew to be a map of Hogwarts and the placement of personnel, already forming a battle plan.
"Very good then. I trust that you'll be announcing very soon?" The headmaster said with a grin and that damn twinkle in his eye.
"Announcing what sir?" Hermione asked. She had a smirk on the side of her face that Ron couldn't see.
"Your engagement of course. You're now adults, legally."
Ron's eye's bugged out when Dumbledore said engagement and it brought him back from his deep thought. He let out a cough and Hermione had to pat his back to get his breathing back to normal.
"We'll let you know headmaster. giggle>"
"Is th-there anyth-thing else sir?" Ron said nervously.
"Not now Ronald. You may go back to your classes. Thank you for your attention."
"Yes sir. See you later sir." Hermione said standing dragging Ron out of the chair he seemed to be glued into.
"Come on Ronald. We have advanced charms all afternoon and I want to get to the library." Hermione said as they walked out of the headmasters office onto the moving staircase.
"Hermione, what do you think about that?"
"About what Ronald?"
"About us. About us getting engaged. Do you think we should?"
"I'd like that someday Ronald, when you're ready."
"I'd marry you tomorrow if you'd say you'd have me 'Mione."
"Are you asking me to marry you Ronald?"
"Uh.. yeah, I guess I am."
"Well then, do it properly."
Ron screwed up his face a bit before he could think of just what to say. He stopped Hermione from walking and he got down on one knee and took her hand in his.
"Hermione Granger, I'm not the weathiest bloke around and probably not the most good looking either, but, I love you Hermione, will you marry me?" Ron said without a stutter looking into the big brown eyes of his long time girlfriend.
"All you had to do was ask Ronald. Of course I'll marry you." Hermione said with tears streaming down her face.
"Don't cry love. Here take my hanky." Ron gave Hermione his hanky and she dried her eyes and blew her nose. She gave Ron a kiss that he'd never ever forget. Because of where they were standing, he never would forget. It was in front of the entry doors to the castle and the clockbell had struck the hour right on top of them shaking Ron to the bones.
"Thank you Ronald. When should we tell the others?" Hermione asked her new fiance.
"Whenever you want love." Ron said. He couldn't believe his luck and he put his arm around his girl and walked with a bit of a jaunt in his step.
"The sooner the better then Ronald dear. We'd better be on our way."
The two happy Thunderclouds made thier way to the new advanced charms classroom and joined the combined groups for an afternoon of classes together. Blaise had the floor and was just telling the class the need for charming objects for either fight or flight. Hermione and Ron sat at the back of the room as to not bring upon themselves the attention that Blaise was commanding at the time. The two of them knew that they were going to be teaching their classes how to make a portkey and amongst other things how to turn an object into a duplicate of themselves to confuse an enemy. Ginny and Luna were the ones that were demonstrating that skill. Neville and Blaise showed everyone how to make a portkey and everyone was having a good time learning how to tap the magic required to make a long distance portkey such as the one that Severus used from America to Scotland.
The class had broken into twelve small groups of five plus one Thunderbird as was going to be the norm for the future. No one group worked with the same TBird twice in a row thus giving each thirteen different perspectives to different topics. Today it was charms, tomorrow it could be flying, or transfiguration, or medical charms. The reason everyone had tuition combined for their afternoons was because it was expected that everyone would help everyone else if need be.
'Thunderbirds, let's call it a day alright?' Adam asked his companions.
'Alright Ad's, you can go see Charley." Vince said to one of his now best friends.
'How did you know that's what I wanted to do?'
'You've been adjusting your willie every five minutes. Either that or you've got something wrong down there mate.'
Adam turned a deeper red than he already was. He smiled at his big friend and the Thunderbirds decided that the afternoon's lesson's were over at that point. Thundercloud house was anxious to get into Hogsmeade to do a little looking around and perhaps shopping and maybe get something to drink at Madame Rosmerta's inn. Ron and Hermione and Neville and Ginny told them that they would go along with them to show them around. Most importantly it was to keep an eye on them.
The rest of the Thunderbirds went into the common room with their charges who went to their rooms to change into something more comfortable than school robes. Harry and Draco went to their chamber and took care of the pressing business that was brought up earlier and the four escorts changed into clothes more suitable for a late afternoon out. They had two hours to be in town and still be back in time for supper.
Thundercloud house thankfully didn't go all at one time with the two wizards and two witches who frankly would have done a lot more worrying if there were more of them to watch. After the short walk down the path to the gate leading to Hogsmeade, they were on the road into town and beginning a short walk to the wizarding village. Ginny and Hermione took the witches to the places they thought they would need to know and Ron and Neville showed the fellows the places that they'd want to know. Everyone would meet in Madame Rosmerta's in an hour and they split up. The Thunderbirds didn't have anything that they needed to buy so they went invisible and transformed into their bird forms and flew north, south, east and west to surround the town watching the comings and goings and keeping eye's out for suspicious activity.
The hour seemed to whiz by and the student outing was an obvious success. They were headed to Madame Rosmerta's for their drinks. The Thunderbirds flew down to the street in front of the pub and made the change to human form before they became visible while no one was looking. The four of them opened the door to the pub and walked in. There was very little noise inside the usually never silent public house and they soon knew the reason why. There were five Death Eater's inside the pub waiting for the Thunderbirds. The Death Eaters had temporarily petrified the students and Madame Rosmerta herself. Ginny was the first to react and she changed into a Thunderbird in an instant. Ron, Hermione and Neville followed suit and before the Death Eaters could react, Ginny and Hermione had ripped their heads off with quick grasps from their talons. One of the Death Eater's had tried to escape using a portkey but his head was off before he knew it. His hand grasped the portkey and his body vanished leaving his head behind.
Hermione and Ginny transformed once again into their human forms and proceeded to unpetrify their students. Ron and Neville banished the bodies to the sun like they had been trained to do and they put the heads of the Death Eaters into a box Neville transfigured from a napkin on one of the tables. Madame Rosmerta was so happy she insisted that she buy everyone a butterbeer. Ginny thought to contact the other Thunderbirds.
'Thunderbirds, there was an ambush at Madame Rosmerta's pub. Everything is taken care of here but we'd like a ministry auror to come and take these head's off of our hands.'
'Is there anyone hurt Gin?' Harry thought back to the redheaded witch.
'No, they petrified everyone in here but after they were dead the students and Madame Rosmerta became mobile again. We didn't have to ennervate any of them. It was over quickly. I wish I knew how they got in here without us knowing about it.'
'They were probably already there Gin. I'll get Dumbledore to get the Ministry there quickly.'
'Alright Harry, we're going to finish our butterbeers and head on up for supper. I'm rather hungry right now.'
'It has been sort of an eventful day eh?'
'I'll say. I hope this isn't an everyday thing.'
'Me either. I'm almost at Dumbledore's office. Baby Ruth right?'
'That's what it was this morning mate' Ron said.
'Alright then. See you when you get back. Do you need any help with the heads?'
'No, don't recon we do. They're sealed in a box all safe and sound. Didn't take off their masks though. We'll let the ministry sort them out.'
'Alright, I'm here talk to you later.'
'OK Harry.' Ron finished and he turned to look at his girlfriend.
"Hermione, you didn't even break a sweat taking those D.E's down. I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you Ronald. Good thing Ginny was as fast as she was. I think she got three of them herself."
"I don't think we should be keeping score."
"We won't unless they get one of us and that won't happen."
"Right you are 'Mione. I love you, you know that don't you?"
"You asked me to marry you not five hours ago. I hope I know it grin-kiss>"
"I love you too Ronald." Hermione said and she turned to the slightly shaken and embarrassed war college students.
"Everyone is all right?" She looked from face to face.
"I suggest you eat some chocolate. It helps after you've been petrified." She said and took out her parcel from Honeydukes getting a piece of chocolate for everyone.
The ministry aurors apparated to the street in front of Rosmerta's pub and came in wands drawn.
"Everyone freeze or be dispatched instantly" The lead auror said to everyone in the pub.
"If the ministry would have kept an auror or two in Hogsmeade, there wouldn't be this mess to clean up. If it weren't for these four, my pub would be a pile of ashes by now." Rosmerta said pointing to Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Neville.
"Oh, it's you again. We saw you this morning. I take it you only left their heads again?" The auror said.
"Yes sir, they're in that box by the door. If it's alright, we'd like to take the student's back to the castle." Hermione said to the haughty auror.
"Go on, but don't make any trouble." The auror threatened.
"I'll have you keep a respectable tone to your voice when you talk to Miss Granger or any of us for that matter. Do you know who we are?"
"Bunch of vigilantes?" The auror sneered.
"No, your best defense against Voldemort, that's who. You should ask Kingsley Shacklebolt about us. My name is Ronald Weasley."
"Minister Weasley's son?"
"Yes, this is my fiance, my sister and one of my best mates." Ron huffed at the auror.
"I'll do just that. You in the mean time, watch yourselves."
"We don't take threats lightly sir."
"I'd like to see you try something with me."
'Bugger. Let's change then obliviate him' Ron said silently to his partners.
The four of them turned into Thunderbirds before the auror who stood shocked at the sight.
"You're all unregistered animagi, you're going to have to come with me." The auror said and withdrew his wand.
The Thunderbirds changed back into their human forms and Ginny said, "I don't think so asshole, obliviate."
The Thunderbirds dealt with the other aurors the same way and put a message into their heads before they innervated them and departed with their students. Madame Rosmerta was obliviated along with everyone else and came to just as the last Thundercloud left her pub. The aurors wondered why they were there when Rosmerta showed them the box full of heads and told them to get out of her pub and take the heads with them. She was not at all amused, besides, she couldn't remember just how everything happened.
The evening prophet didn't delay in publishing the wizarding newspaper the very same day they were attacked. The headline was, 'Gringott's Goblins Massacred, Bank Robbery Foiled' There was a photograph of the pile of heads of the Death Eaters dripping blood with the caption,
"The only remains of the attacking Death Eaters"
The newspaper was delivered in bulk to the wizarding school as no individual owls were allowed into the castle without first being searched for magical objects, and no personal deliveries of the post were allowed. The Thunderbirds sat at their supper reading the news absorbing the article that was printed about them. Their names weren't in print, Harry wasn't mentioned and the whole incident was brushed off as a terrible thing hopefully not to be repeated.
The goblins had hired hitwizards to stand as guards for the bank to be inside, outside and on the roof of the building. There was no article on what the Death Eaters were trying to steal. Vincent and Greg and Blaise were still wondering about their parents whereabouts hoping that they would never have to face them in battle. Charley Weasley sat with the teachers and they were discussing the day's events.
Charley was talking to Professor Snape and occasionally shooting his house a look trying to pick up on the vibe of their conversations. The Thunderclouds that had been petrified by the Death Eaters were talking to the other members of their house saying how embarrassed they were to be caught like that by the Death Eaters. It was put to them to try to come up with a few ideas that would prevent such a thing from happening again. Ron was eating quietly which was a new thing, but he was deep in thought as he chewed his food, it was the best time he had for thinking and he was taking advantage of the time to resolve the problem when he had an ephiphany.
"Why can't we erect wards that would detect the dark mark when it crosses certain barriers"
Ron said outloud to everyone and no one.
Blaise heard him and spoke up. "Good idea Ron, you have any thought's as to how to go about it?"
"Not just now, but I'm sure I can think of something. Maybe we should ask Dumbledore."
"We'll let Charley ask him. I don't want any of us to go out unless there's more than three of us until we come up with a solid plan. Sound good to you guys?" Harry inquired of his mates.
"It's the best idea so far that we've heard Harry. Any one else have any suggestions?" Hermione said to her group.
"No 'Mione, that ward thing is a good idea though. I don't think we've practiced recognition wards much. Maybe Adam here can help us with that. Adam?" Draco spoke up.
"That dark mark thingie... if it carries a signature, then I suppose we could rig an alarm. If it works we can install them all over the place. I don't think it can stop any of them from getting in somewhere, but it will let somebody know that the wards have been breached." Adam said thoughtfully.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. I wanna go play with the dragon's later." Adam finished.
"Good idea cousin. You going to finish that?" Draco said pointing to Adam's ice cream that was melting in the dish in front of him.
"Uh, no, go ahead and have it." Adam said with a puzzled look on his face. Draco took the ice cream and put pickle relish on it from out of one of the condiment trays and began to mix it up. It turned a disgusting green and Draco smiled when he got the first spoonful into his mouth.
"Mmmm.. good stuff. Harry you want to try some of this?" Draco said grinning at the look on Harry's face.
"No, no you go ahead and eat it all up love. I've suddenly had plenty to eat. I'm not hungry any more." Harry said looking at the green glop in Draco's dish.
"Thanks love, don't mind if I do. Delicious." Draco said and finished Adam's dessert.
Vince and Greg were shaking their heads at the display of gastronomical consumption Draco was showing them. Blaise and Luna were discussing the day's event's and their classes, Neville and Ginny were holding hands under the table, Hermione and Ron were continuing their discussion on how to warn of a Death Eater's presense and the twins were thinking up a few pranks to ply on the student body. All in all it was a good meal, no one was hurt at the end of the day and they were safe.
After supper, Charley came to the common room where everyone was either playing a game or practicing their skills with each other and sat with the Thunderbirds. None of them were inclined to leave the dormatory until almost nine o'clock when they would make thier way to the dragon's paddock and the night ride. Adam took Charley to his room for an hour's worth of snogging and he was as happy as one Navajo boy could get considering the circumstances. It was approaching the nine o'clock hour when they were disturbed by a knock on the door. It was Ron.
"Oi, you two in there. Can I come in?" Ron said through the door.
"Sure Ron." Adam said after he'd gotten off the bed, separating from Charley who was just sitting up when his little brother came into the room after Adam opened the door manually.
"We going to go riding dragon's tonight or are you two going to make me an uncle?" Ron said with a devilish grin meant to elicit a response. It did. Charley adjusted himself and he stood up closing the distance between himself and Ron. He reached out and pulled Ron by the head and gave him a good noogie for his trouble.
"Gerroff me Charley! Bloody hell. You'll wear a bald spot in me if you don't quit it."
"Alright then, don't go making cracks about you becoming an uncle."
"Oh alright. We going or not?"
"Go and get the others and meet us downstairs at the entrance and we can walk down together. Norbert is feeling a ton better. I think he's in love with you Adam."
"Go on! He was only complaining because he ate half cooked cow in France."
"I already talked to the wranglers 'bout that. Won't happen again."
"I hope so. A dragon with the runs can't fight very well now can it?"
"Nope I don't suppose it could. Let's go and see how he is. I bet he's anxious to go for a little flight over the forest. Full moon tonight, werewolves are out."
"Really? I've always wanted to meet up with one of them."
"No you haven't. Professor Lupin is in the Shrieking Shack tonight well out of the forest and the others."
"The others?"
"Yeah, the wild ones. They're insane, beyond help. They never ever come out of the forest."
"Aw, well, maybe we can see one or two anyway."
"As long as you don't try to get close it'll be alright. One scratch or bite and you're sure to be a lycantrope."
"Does that mean turn into a werewolf?"
"Aye it does. Come on, the others are waiting for us."
Adam took Charley by the hand proudly and walked the distance from his room to the common room quickly and he said his good nights to the others and went with Charley to the entrance hall and the others.
There were the dozen Thunderbirds and about twenty seventh year students gathered waiting for the evening excursion to the dragon's paddock and perhaps a ride on one of the giant beasts. Harry and Draco were both excited at giving the flying beasts a go. The Thunderbirds were finally all coupled up and the seventh years cast a curious eye to the forteen wizards and witches holding hands while they made the short walk out to the paddock for a evening of hand's on homework.
The dragon wranglers had already put on the multiple passenger saddles on the great beasts. All of the dragons were moving about in anticipation of once again flying over the forest occasionally shooting a stream of fire skyward. Most of the dragons would be carring four passengers. Some of them three. The seventh year students were still a bit frightened but they bravely took their places to board the scaley fire breathers. Not one of the Thunderbirds were a bit worried. If they fell off they had plenty of practice at changing into their flying forms from altitude. That was something that they practiced daily in Arizona. None of them however, were keen on giving it a go.
The dragons had their passengers and Charley gave the signal for them to take to the air. The dragons flapped their wings gracefully taking the sky effortlessly. Their passengers were marveling at the ease that the giant flyers took off and soon they were sailing along over the canopy of the forbidden forest. Charley was seated just in front of Adam who had his arms around Charley's tummy holding on. Everyone was enjoying the ride and the dragons were elated at getting some excercise. The flight lasted for about an hour, Adam did indeed get to see some of the wild werewolves and Ron spotted Aragog's lair. He saw the acromantulas scuttling across the tree tops and he gave a little shudder. Hermione looked down at what Ron was shaking from and she smiled and gave him a little rub on his back. "They're down there Ron. Can't get you up here."
"Good thing too 'Mione. They still scare me a little though."
"Well, one good thing. They won't bother you up here. What do you think of flying on a dragon love?"
"Bloody brilliant it is. Wouldn't mind doing this some more."
"I'm sure that we'll have another go at it. Look over there at Charley and Adam. Adam looks like he's having the time of his life."
"Uh-huh. Charley's never had a boyfriend that 'e's brought around before. He sure seems to like our Navajo Prince."
"Looks like it Ron. We're getting close to the paddock again. I can see the lake from here."
"Yeah, me too. I'm getting kind of tired. Too much excitement for one day if you ask me."
"I agree one hundred percent. Two D.E. attacks in one day is two too many for me too."
"Let's just go on up and get some rest love when we land that is."
"Alright Ronald that's the best idea you've had all day. Besides the dark mark ward that is."
Hermione hugged Ron's middle and settled in for the rest of their dragon ride in silence. Before she knew it, they were landing. The dragons were excited as usual and Charley's dragon wranglers set about putting the dragons to bed with a snack of horse and cow, carefully cooked and they each got a scratching with a giant rake as a special treat. The Thunderbirds, the seventh years and Charley made their way to the castle and the night's sleep that they all deserved.
Harry and Draco, the rest of the Thunderbirds and Charley went into their common room and looked at each other. They all began to grin together and they came together for a group hug.
Adam said it for them all. "Some first day of school eh?"