Tom and Harry

by old-crow

HBP left us with a half played chess match. Riddle's goal is to finish off Harry. Harry needs to find the Horcruxes and train to destroy Riddle. CH 28. Surprises and chills await as the story comes to a conclusion.

27. Daylight again

Chapter 27

June 14

Moments after word began to leak out regarding Voldemort's demise, Lucius Malfoy raced back to the Dark Lord's hideout in Sheffield and stripped it of everything that might have some value. Through a series of robberies, their fortunes had improved in the last month leaving them with over a hundred thousand Galleons and nearly a million in pound sterling. Malfoy grabbed the spare wands, books and the invisibility cloak and was gone within the hour.

To cover his tracks he torched the home before he left for Bucharest and waited for Draco to join up with him. He left one of the payroll parchments with the names of the Death Eaters who had been killed in the fire lined out in a spot where it could be found. He lined out his own name like Riddle had for the others who had been killed and tossed the parchment fifty feet from the burning house and left just before it exploded.

The handful of newly recruited Death Eaters wisely departed for their homes in Romania and Sarajevo hoping to drift back into their previous lives.

As Malfoy had predicted, the magical signatures from the exploding potions immediately attracted Ministry officials. Arthur Weasley was among the first on the scene. He immediately called for a team of investigative Aurors. Within an hour it became obvious who had lived at the house. It seemed like every Ministry official was either at the site of the burning home or Hogwarts.

… --- …

The vast majority of the Hogwarts students knew nothing about the planned ambush and were simply enjoying a leisurely Saturday morning. As Hermione was being examined at Hogsmeade station, Katlyn and Allie were listening to the wizarding wireless to hear the latest wizarding music. Minister Abraxan who came on to make a special announcement interrupting their plans.

"Good morning.

This morning at 8:07 the wizard who called himself Lord Voldemort was killed. I repeat Lord Voldemort was killed this morning at 8:07.

In an incredible display of courage a group of 124 volunteers led by Mr. Harry James Potter met Voldemort at Avebury. Mr. Potter dueled with Voldemort briefly while the others cast Patronus charms at Voldemort. The charms appeared to cause pain to the evil wizard, which aided Mr. Potter's efforts. Mr. Potter personally beheaded Voldemort.

Voldemort cast at least five killing curses at Mr. Potter during the battle. Shields deflected several but some hit the volunteers. The names of the volunteers who were killed in the battle have not yet been released.

I repeat. At 8:07 this morning, Mr. Harry James Potter killed Voldemort."

The two girls were stunned at the news and looked around the Gryffindor common room. It was nearly empty. They ran down the corridor yelling as they went until they reached the Great Hall. Katlyn shouted, "Harry Potter killed Voldemort!"

Pandemonium erupted in the Great Hall. Everyone stood up and cheered and the noise level was incredible. The magic in the room channeled the absolute feelings of joy that the students felt. The ceiling, which had been grey and overcast, became a bright sunny day.

It took a few minutes before anyone noticed that most of the teachers and at least twenty of the students were missing.

Professor Vecter stood up and said, "I ask that you sit at your tables quietly until they return. Miss Greystone, please come here for a moment."

… --- …

Odd Lovegood continued snapping photos and getting interviews of the different participants. Mr. Potter had invited him to come and document the event. He had brought his recordable omniocculars and had stood just behind the circle of volunteers. He couldn't produce a Patronus but felt he needed to be here for his daughter. He had been nervous for his Luna and her friend Neville and oh-so-proud of her when her quick thinking may have helped the Granger girl who had been hit by the last spell. After Mr. Potter had beheaded Voldemort, Lovegood had taken photos of the body and followed Director Thomas for a few minutes.

After they had finished igniting the body, he found his Luna and her Neville and gave them both a big hug. "Luna and Neville, I am so proud of both of you." He hugged them both again and said, "Luna it looked like your charm may have helped save Miss. Granger."

Luna replied, "Neville gave me the original idea. I was just in the right place to try it out. We have to go see how Hermione is doing." She gave him a kiss took Neville's hand and said, "Bye Daddy." They disapparated to Hogsmeade station, reported back in with professor McGonagall and walked back to the castle.

Within minutes the other students and the Order members had followed her. By the time that the Daily Prophet reporter arrived, all of the Order and DA members had left. Director Thomas, three Aurors and a Mediwitch were the only officials there that had actually been on hand at the battle. Thomas told them that they had already made their statements to the Quibbler and went back to his task at hand. He collected Riddle's ashes and banished them to the North Atlantic. The other Aurors had gone to investigate the burning home that Arthur Weasley's department had come across.

… --- …

Abraxan was not amused when she read the Daily Prophet the next day.

He-who-must-not-be-named killed by Harry Potter

Harry Potter somehow managed to kill the dark wizard yesterday in Avebury. Details of how he did it were unavailable yesterday as Ministry officials who were on the scene were unwilling to talk leading to speculation that Potter used dark magic or even an unforgivable curse in his quest to bring down the Dark Lord. One witness who refused to give her name indicated that five killing curses were cast during the battle.

Potter, seventeen, was not on the scene and has not answered owls requesting that he present his side of the story. Late last year Potter was investigated for causing extensive damage to one of the Herbology buildings at Hogwarts.

She stormed out of her office and walked over to Gringotts to see Bill Weasley.

… --- …

Dinner that night was a loud affair. The DA members who had witnessed the event were shouting at a few of the Slytherins. They had read the Daily Prophet article suggesting that Potter had used an unforgivable to bring Riddle down and believed it. Anderson Condor was walking down his house table slapping his housemates in the back of the head.

McGonagall reached the end of her tolerance very quickly stood and in a very loud voice shouted, "Enough!"

Everyone sat down and instantly there was silence in the great hall. She looked at each of the students crossly and the silence was deafening. "The facts of the matter are this. Mr. Potter sent Voldemort a portkey to meet him in Avebury. A group of witches and wizards were able to weaken Voldemort by casting Patronus charms at him. Voldemort cast the killing curse at Mr. Potter five times. Mr. Potter managed to dodge the curses with remarkable agility. One of the curses hit an Auror who was killed as was one of the shopkeepers from Hogsmeade. Mr. Potter charged Voldemort in a demonstration of incredible courage and beheaded him with his sword. Mr. Potter cast no spells at Voldemort," she paused and then took a deep breath.

"Miss Granger was grievously injured and is in the hospital wing in very critical condition."

No one said a word waiting for McGonagall to finish. After another moment of collecting herself, she did. "There will be no more talk of blood purity within these castle walls. Voldemort wasn't a pureblood. Blood has nothing to do with ability or attitude, nothing. We need to focus on three things – A dark cloud has been lifted from our world, Miss Granger should be in all of your prayers and OWL and NEWT examinations will begin in a week and a half. Please finish your dinner."

Back at the Gryffindor common room, Katlyn, Allie and everyone who had been helped by Hermione were subdued. No one except Harry or the Grangers had been allowed to visit. McGonagall's words sounded like they were expecting Hermione's death at any moment.

… --- …

Odd Lovegood already had the content for this week's Quibbler written and typeset. There had been snorkak sightings in Northern Norway and the world deserved to know. He had just a half page remaining so he wrote the following article.

Don't miss next week's issue.

Next week the Quibbler will present exclusive interviews and 24 exclusive, never before seen photos taken during the latest battle between Mr. Harry Potter and Tom Riddle, the dark wizard who called himself Lord Voldemort. Also featured will be eleven exclusive interviews from participants and the amazing story of the attempt to save the life of a courageous witch.

… --- …

The following day Professor McGonagall found Anderson Condor and Katlyn Greystone in her classroom just after dinner. She was about to tear into them when she realized that Katlyn was crying on his shoulder. She approached them with a little less anger.

"What is going on here?" she asked. To her surprise Anderson gave her a look like she was a Death Eater.

"Nothing," he said. Katlyn's sobs quieted a bit and he patted her back. He was apparently much better with hysterical crying females than Harry had been at his age.

"It doesn't look like nothing. Miss Greystone what is the meaning of this?" McGonagall asked.

"I… I needed to cry and didn't want everyone to see me," she admitted.

"Why are you so upset?" McGonagall asked.

"You're kidding right?" Anderson said incredulously.

"I assure you Mr. Condor, I make no joke about it," McGonagall snapped.

"Well one of my friends is in the hospital wing and no one will tell me anything about her condition," Katlyn said. Her tears were gone and anger had taken their place.

"I didn't realize that you and Miss Granger were so close," McGonagall said frowning.

"Why wouldn't we be? She's the only one who cared when I had so much trouble adjusting to school here. She's the only one who helped us," Katlyn snapped.

"Us?" McGonagall asked. Katlyn didn't answer. She was trying not start crying again.

"The muggleborn students. Hermione did everything she could to help them adjust and cope. It wasn't all tutoring," Anderson answered.

"I had no idea," McGonagall murmured.

"Of course not. When I came to you first year for help you called it homesickness and sent me on my way," Katlyn said in an accusing tone.

"And I kept an eye on you afterwards. It didn't take you long to calm down and begin to thrive," McGonagall said.

"Yeah. If it hadn't been for Hermione that wouldn't have happened. She's not my best friend. We don't hang out or anything. But she's always there when I need someone to talk to," Katlyn said.

"I spent a couple days with the Granger's at Christmas. This has to be killing Dr. Emma and Dr. Dan," Anderson said. He looked like he was going to cry also.

McGonagall made a snap decision. She conjured some tissues for Katlyn and banished them when she was through.

"Follow me," she ordered.

The third years figured that they were on their way to the Head office to get into serious trouble. They were shocked when she led them to the hospital wing. Outside the door she stopped them.

"Wait here."

She vanished into the hospital's door and came back after a minute. She gave them both a very stern look.

"You will tell no one, and I mean absolutely no one, about this visit. One word out of line and you will both be serving detention with me every night next year. Am I making myself clear?" McGonagall said. They both understood and swore that they would tell no one. McGonagall let them into the hospital wing.

Professor Emma was laying up on one of the beds but she wasn't asleep. Dr. Diane was sitting on the bed next to her, as was Susan Bones. Professor Dan was holding Hermione's hand. His eyes never left her face. Harry was sitting on a chair next to the bed. His head was resting next to her hip and his eyes were closed.

Hermione seemed to be asleep.

Susan motioned them closer. She hugged each of them tightly and then had them sit down. Dr. Emma sat up and Susan took her hand. A few seconds later Emma pulled it away.

"Professor McGonagall said you two were especially worried," Susan told them.

"Hermione is my friend," Katlyn said. Susan nodded.

"I know. She thinks a lot of you too," Dr. Diane commented.

"No one would tell us anything. We just wanted to know when she would be okay," Anderson said.

"The healers won't even commit to her waking let alone when," Professor Dan answered not looking away from Hermione. Professor Emma flinched at his words.

They each received five minutes to talk to Hermione. Anderson told her about the essay she helped him write and how McGonagall had seemed impressed. Katlyn mentioned how she had gotten caught on the trick step again. Hermione never moved. When they finished McGonagall was herding them out of the room but Dr. Emma stopped her.

She led both of them to a corner of the room and talked quietly with them for a while. Susan watched her hug them both before they left. Emma and Dan traded places and kept their vigil.

… --- …

Hermione awoke two days later. She had never been so tired in her life. She felt like the life had been sucked out of her. She opened her eyes slightly and tried to determine who was holding her hand.

In a weak voice she asked, "Mum?" She felt a squeeze of her hand.

"Right here, dear," Emma said softly.

"Harry?"

She was inquiring if he was still alive and felt immense relief when she heard his voice say, "I'm right here."

She was too tired to turn and look. She closed her eyes and gripped their hands before drifting back into a light sleep.

Madam Pomfrey and a bevy of healers rushed over to examine the second living case of a failed killing curse. They attempted to shoo the two well wishers away. Harry frowned and replied, "Don't even think of it. We're not moving until we're ready." There was a flash of menace in his eyes that hinted of the force that he possessed.

Quelled, the visiting healers didn't repeat their request and quietly worked around them. It didn't make sense to anger the man who had just whacked off the head of the most dangerous man in the world. Harry and Emma resumed their spots content to let the others work around them.

Dan and Susan soon joined them and all four of them smiled when Hermione woke up and asked if she had missed her NEWTs.

… --- …

The mood in the Gryffindor common room was subdued. Professor McGonagall entered through the portrait hole followed by Susan Bones. Susan's eyes were red and her face splotchy with tears.

Oh Merlin, no, Katlyn thought, her heart in her throat.

Professor McGonagall looked at the third year girl with her stern glare for a moment and then she smiled. She said, "Miss Greystone I am pleased to inform you Miss Granger awoke one hour ago. She is not receiving visitors but I'm sure her family will tell her that you asked after her."

Katlyn stared at her for a moment and then tore out the portrait hole. She had to find Anderson.

… --- …

June 20

Hermione was going out of her mind. She had been in the hospital wing six days. She had been awake four. Other than feeling a little weak she felt fine. No one seemed to believe her. If she heard the words precautionary measures one more time she was going to scream.

She was ready to hex someone and she wasn't going to be picky about her target either. That was probably the reason they had taken her wand. She was still having trouble believing that they had taken it from her. She had even more trouble believing that Harry had been the one to do it.

The healers were keeping an annoyingly close eye on her. Yes, healers. She had seven of them. Poppy had relented and let two specialists named Burns and Allen examine Hermione. Hermione had not given permission. Emma, in a deep moment of fear that Hermione would not wake up, had. The specialists had each brought in a team of people. They never left the hospital wing.

Each time she fell asleep they would run a wand over her. Each time she woke up they would do it again. Every time she went to the loo they wanted a sample. They noted her cravings and exactly how much she was eating. Hermione wasn't sure what they could tell from the meals she had eaten. She didn't care either.

After awaking and once again having a wand shoved in her face Hermione knew that it was time to put her foot down. She grabbed the wand and turned it on its owner.

"Don't point that at me," she snapped. Crookshanks, who had not left her side since making his way to the hospital wing, hissed at the man.

"Hermione," Poppy said gently.

Hermione scowled at the healer and threw back her covers. She gave the staff member whose name she didn't care to remember his wand back.

"Next time wait until I am awake," she snarled. She grabbed her dressing gown and headed for the loo. It was the only place she got the tiniest bit of privacy. After a short sit on the throne she was hustled back into bed by her Mum.

Emma was worried about Hermione and it was causing her to hover. She couldn't stop herself. She had been hearing about killing curses for days now. Hermione could forgive her Mum for it. It was the rest of the people that were making her mental.

Diane has enough to do, Hermione mused as she crawled back under the covers under Poppy's watchful eye.

Poppy asked, "Where is your sample?"

"Sample? I missed the cup. Sorry, maybe next time," Hermione answered. She pulled the covers up and turned onto her side facing away. Hermione heard the incantation that would check her vitals and closed her eyes.

"She needs to eat," Healer Burns said. Maybe that was what annoyed Hermione. They never used her name. They never spoke to her, just at her.

Harry joined her for lunch as did her parents. After her parents left to teach a class Harry sat down on the edge of the bed. The healers that were hovering moved in and began to work her over. They took yet another blood sample. Afterward they backed off and they began talking amongst themselves.

"Her blood pressure is up."

"She seems irritable."

"She isn't sleeping very well either. She was up four times last night," one said.

"She was up last night four times because you woke her up three times," Hermione snapped at the group.

"Hermione we are only concerned…" Poppy began but she stopped when Hermione turned her back and sank under the covers.

"What can I do, love?" Harry asked her softly.

"Make them leave, get me out of here for a couple hours, hold me," Hermione whimpered. I really am losing my mind, she thought. Who would have thought that not having a minute to yourself could drive you to insanity so fast?

Harry threw off his cloak and removed his shoes. She heard a privacy screen move so that they were blocked from the rest of the room. The bed creaked as he climbed under the blanket with her. She curled up against his chest and felt herself relax. Crookshanks mewed his approval and curled up at their feet.

It lasted ten minutes. Poppy's indignant "Mr. Potter!" was loud enough to wake the dead. To his credit Harry didn't move. Poppy insisted that they remove the privacy screen. Hermione almost smiled.

Hermione heard her parents come back and then leave. She heard Harry and Diane talking softly. She heard Susan and Lisa snicker when they came in. She never opened her eyes. Being in Harry's arms felt so good.

The healers asked Harry to move away from her and she tightened her grip on him. He refused to move for fear of waking her up. Poppy was insisting that they needed to examine her again.

"You're the ones worried about how she is sleeping. She's asleep now," Harry said knowing full well that his love was awake.

"Nevertheless. We need to run some more tests," Poppy told him.

Harry sighed and then kissed Hermione on the forehead. He apologized and then slipped out from her grasp. When she opened her eyes he kissed her for real and told her he would be back in a few minutes. Before she could speak he was out the door.

The healers gave her a full exam. Hermione did as they asked. She lifted her arms, closed her eyes, opened her mouth and took the deep even breaths required. When Healer Allen asked her to remove her shirt Hermione crossed her arms and refused. She was still refusing when Harry returned with her satchel. He brokered a compromise of Poppy examining Hermione's scar.

Poppy was frowning as Hermione eagerly took her bag from Harry. She said, "Mr. Potter you know that Miss Granger needs to rest."

"Madame Pomfrey you know Miss Granger's idea of resting is a three-foot potions essay. It's not going to kill her to have a book to read," Harry reasoned.

"I love you," Hermione said as she pulled out a copy of Hogwarts a History.

Poppy growled but relented. She walked away muttering about not listening to the healers. She would have been stunned if she knew what else was in the bag.

Harry put the privacy screen back in place and then threw up a silencing spell. He glanced around the screen and motioned for Hermione to stop. Poppy came back over and gave Harry a lecture. Harry sat down next to the bed innocently and picked up one of Hermione's books. Poppy didn't approve but she left it alone.

"We have about ten minutes before someone else comes over here," Harry pointed out.

Hermione pulled the muggle clothes out of the bag and tossed the invisibility cloak at Harry. She very quickly began getting dressed. Crookshanks shook his head and hopped off the bed as if he wanted nothing to do with this.

"Mum is going to have a fit," Hermione pointed out. Harry nodded.

"They'll probably ban you from the hospital wing," she said. He smiled.

"They can try," he said with a smirk.

"McGonagall will give you detention," Hermione said.

"Hermione, I have thought about all of the consequences. We're just going for a short walk. Down to the lake maybe. Even Poppy admits that you are only in the Hospital wing for precaution. It's not like I plan on taking you to Paris tonight," Harry told her. She grinned.

"I like Paris," she said wickedly. Remembering how the hotel room had hardly been left, he got his own wicked look.

Hermione wrote Emma a short note and they slipped under the cloak at just the right moment.

"What's with the screen?" Dan asked as he entered the hospital.

Years of practice allowed them to slip from behind the screen without tripping while wearing the cloak. Harry was behind her and had his arms around her stomach.

"Mr. Potter thought they needed some privacy," Poppy answered.

Dan peeked around the edge of the screen as Harry and Hermione slipped out the door.

"So where are they?" they heard Dan ask as they slipped away.

They wandered down to the lake and sat under the cloak. She sat between his legs and he pulled her to him. Hermione sighed in contentment as they watched the giant squid do back flips. Her crazy cat had followed them and Harry let him under the cloak. He hopped on his mistress' lap and promptly fell asleep.

"Harry?" she asked softly.

"What is it, love?" he asked.

"I… You remember that vision you had of Ginny? I had something like that after the curse hit me," she told him. He shivered not wanting to remember seeing her in Susan's arms. "I saw Ginny, my grandmother and your mum," she told him. She continued and explained the vision.

"I'm glad they sent you back," he said softly.

"I've been trying to think about it. Make some sense of it. It didn't really happen did it? I didn't really die did I?" She already knew the answer though.

"I think you did. Alyx and I must have performed CPR for almost five minutes. Your heart had stopped and you weren't breathing. I only knew that there was hope because Brigid refused to stop crying on your wound," he said in a low voice.

"I… Lily told me that the armor is what kept my soul from separating," Hermione said biting her lip.

Harry thought about that and then chuckled softly.

"Yeah, the skin from a dead monster that was supposed to purify the school saved the life of the biggest mudblood of all," she said.

"Don't call yourself that," he said no longer laughing. She sniggered.

"I told Mum I was going to get it tattooed on my bum," she said.

"I can think of much better things to get a tattoo of. How about 'I heart the boy-who-lived'?" he asked. She laughed softly.

"Well I do heart you," she said. She kissed him and then buried her face in his neck.

"I was so scared," he admitted. She pulled back and sighed.

"So was I. It was peaceful there. I was happy to see Ginny and Grammy. Your mum's so nice," she said. He smiled and then she continued, "But I didn't want to be there. It felt wrong."

"It was wrong. That's why they told you to come back."

"I know. I…" She stopped when she realized what she was about to say.

"What?" He prompted.

"I just had so many questions for them," Hermione admitted, making Harry laugh.

They sat in silence enjoying the fresh air and each other for a little while. Hermione didn't want to go back to the hospital wing. Harry didn't want to let go of her.

Harry glanced over his shoulder as he heard a commotion at the edge of the hill that led to the lake. He saw Neville and Luna headed their way. They kept quiet as Luna and Neville approached.

"They're not down here," Neville said looking around.

"Sure they are. You just have to know how to look properly. I think we should just leave them be. Hermione needed to get away from those healers. They were adding hokie pon juice to her food," Luna said.

"Hokie pon juice?" Neville asked.

"Oh yes. It's supposed to help you sleep but has some strange side effects," Luna said wisely. If Luna thought they were strange then the side effects must have been extreme.

"She would notice wouldn't she? I mean you've seen her in the dining hall. Hermione always checks her food before eating," Neville said.

"Harry took her wand so that the healers couldn't," Luna pointed out. She smiled in her special way and said, "Let's go tell Emma that we found them by the lake and that they'll be back in half an hour."

"Err… We did?" Neville asked.

"Thanks Luna," Hermione said causing Neville to almost jump out of his skin.

"You're very welcome Hermione," Luna said as they walked away.

"She scares me," Harry said as they watched their friends walking away.

"Me too," Hermione admitted.

They sat quietly for a while longer and then slowly made their way back to the hospital wing. As they approached the doors Harry snickered.

"Are you going to protect me from Poppy?" he asked.

"You have my wand, love. Are you going to save me from Mum?" she asked.

Harry slipped off the cloak and they entered the hospital. Chaos was the only word to describe the room.

Poppy was speaking to Minerva and she looked furious. "… in all my years have I have never seen such blatant disregard for …"

The gaggle of healers were all squawking at each other. Hermione thought that they sounded like a flock of geese.

Emma was sitting in a chair by Hermione's bed. She was rubbing her temples and looking at the floor. Dan and Diane were sitting on the bed and were the first ones to notice them. Dan looked angry but worse yet disappointed.

Luna and Neville were sitting on the floor next to the bed playing chess as if nothing were happening.

Hermione decided that Emma was probably the best place to start. As she walked by her Mum she placed her hand on Emma's shoulder. Emma looked up at her daughter but didn't speak. The look in her Mum's eyes told Hermione more than she wanted to know. Silence fell over the room.

"Where have you been?" Poppy demanded stalking towards them. Neville stood up and blocked the healer from coming closer. Poppy frowned at him. "Out of my way Longbottom."

"No," Neville said softly but firmly. The six healers had their wands out and pointed at Hermione ready to start an exam. Luna stood up next to Neville and crossed her arms.

"Mr. Longbottom, I need to examine Miss Granger," Poppy snapped.

"When you can explain how a very detailed description of Hermione's condition was published in this morning's Daily Prophet we might let you by," Luna told her. She knew that Poppy had nothing to do with it.

"What?" Harry demanded rounding on the group of healers. There was rage in his eyes and a billion galleons in Gringotts to back up his anger.

Dan and Diane got off the bed and Hermione sat down. She took her shoes off and glanced at the hospital gown. She tossed it on the back of a chair and sighed.

"You're mother's been worried," Dan told her in a tight voice. Hermione sighed.

"I'm sorry, Mum. I had to get out of here. The walls were closing in," Hermione explained.

"You couldn't have just said so?" Dan asked when Emma didn't respond.

"I can't even go to the loo with out four people waiting by the door. I needed to talk to Harry alone," Hermione said. She felt her stubbornness kicking in.

"You could have just asked for some privacy," Emma snapped.

"I have. Several times. No one seemed to respect my request," Hermione snapped back.

"So you decided that leaving was the better option?" Emma demanded.

Hermione didn't answer. Instead she crawled back under the covers with a sigh. Emma was about to really rip into Hermione when Diane stopped her.

Poppy managed to get past Neville and Luna and she began to examine Hermione. Harry, having finished his talk about patient confidentially with the other healers returned to Hermione's side.

"Do I need to remind you Miss Granger that you were struck by the killing curse?" Poppy demanded as Luna wandered back over to the bedside. She sat down and seemed to be examining the chessboard.

"No ma'am," Hermione answered biting back the smart-ass reply.

"I think I do! Just what were you thinking leaving the hospital like you had only broken your leg?" Poppy asked.

Harry'd had enough and icily replied, "The last person to survive a killing curse wasn't placed in a fish bowl for endless examination and prodding. He was dumped off on a doorstep." No one said a word, largely out of fear for his obvious anger.

"I…" Hermione stopped and closed her eyes. She decided that it didn't matter what she said so she said nothing. Harry rubbed the back of her neck gently. Poppy continued to mutter about idiocy and lack of respect as she examined Hermione. When she finished she summoned Hermione's dinner tray. Hermione stared at it.

Luna pulled her wand from behind her ear and handed it to Hermione without looking up. Hermione took it and ran a detection spell on the tray. It glowed bright red.

Harry swore loudly and stood up. Hermione grabbed his hand.

"So what have they been putting in my food?" Hermione asked pushing the tray away.

Poppy looked astounded and used her own wand on the tray. The last time Harry had that look on his face, people died shortly after. The healers lost the know-it-all looks that had been on their faces moments earlier. They had collectively angered the man who had killed the most dangerous man on the planet.

"So Luna, what are the side effects of hokie pon juice?" Hermione asked, still holding his hand.

"Hmmm… Oh that. Claustrophobia, listlessness, inability to think clearly and warts on your left forearm. Of course if you take enough it also causes extreme sexual arousal," Luna said as she moved a chess piece.

"Well thank Merlin for small favors," Hermione muttered. She didn't want to think about being locked in the hospital wing with that problem. Harry, who was holding her left hand, turned over her arm. There were small bumps on it.

"If you use just enough you become very suggestible. Maybe you just have too much of a mind of your own for someone," Luna said with a shrug.

The adults were watching the exchange. Poppy called for a house elf and asked about Hermione's food trays. The elf immediately pointed out which of the healers had asked him to put the potion in Hermione's food. Hermione was glad she wasn't that person as Poppy advanced on them.

It wasn't the Master Healer that the man needed to worry about. Harry stormed towards the group with a raging intensity that silenced the renewed squawking in an instant. His loud demand to know what the man was thinking was cut off when Luna flipped her wand and caused a bubble of silence around the group. Amazingly enough he never pulled his wand, though one of the healers soiled himself.

Hermione glanced at her parents. She could tell Dan and Emma were really angry. Diane didn't look happy either. Hermione sank into bed ready to be yelled at. Luna stood suddenly and grabbed Dan and Diane by the hands. She pulled them towards the door.

"I have some questions about muggles that just can't wait," Luna said. She called for Neville and he helped shepherd them out of the room.

Emma sat down on the edge of the bed and took Hermione's hand.

"You scared me half to death. I saw the empty bed and thought…" Emma said. She was about to start crying. Hermione hugged her. She would rather be yelled at than to have made her mum cry.

"I'm sorry I scared you Mum. I really am," Hermione told her. Emma didn't respond and held her tighter.

Poppy, Harry and Minerva approached them. Poppy was snapping at Harry. She didn't feel he had the right to order anyone out of the hospital wing. Harry didn't care what she felt. He would do anything to protect Hermione.

Hermione didn't let go of her Mum. Harry sat down on the bed behind Hermione.

"You do not have to worry about any more potions in your food. They won't be doing it again. However, I do agree that you are not sleeping well," Poppy told her as the elf brought another tray.

"It's difficult to sleep when someone is poking at me with a wand every hour. Can't they just leave me alone?" Hermione asked pulling back from Emma.

"You bet they can. I want them to leave," Emma said.

"I'm sorry but I need their help. I have no idea how to treat Hermione's injury," Poppy said.

"And neither do they. You're not treating my injury anyway. I'm not injured. It's just the same tests over and over. Bloody precautionary measures. Look, I trust you. If you wanted me to take a potion you would shove it down my throat if you had to. You wouldn't lace my food with it. I don't know those people and they are driving me mad treating me like a lab rat," Hermione said.

"Lab rat?" Minerva asked. But Poppy seemed to understand.

"I honestly don't know what to expect next Hermione. I want to be prepared for anything. Healer Burns and Healer Allen have been studying the effects of the killing curse for years. You are an exception to the rule. We don't know why you didn't die," Poppy explained.

"I did. The basilisk armor kept my soul from separating. Luna cast an immobilization charm on me. Harry and Alyx brought me back. But I was dead," Hermione said.

"How… how do you know?" Emma asked.

Hermione looked her mother in the eye and said, "I just know." She didn't want to explain her vision in front of everyone.

"That's not good enough Hermione. Susan told me that you weren't breathing and your heart had stopped. Am I to believe that Alyx and Harry started your heart and lungs without a wand?" Poppy asked.

"It happens every day in the muggle world," Harry commented. Hermione sighed.

"You don't know what to expect next? You're one of the best healers in the world. I know because I checked your qualifications during first year. I'm not worried about being in your care. You've saved my life more than once. I'm worried what one of the experts is going to do next. I just want them to leave me alone. I'm not a guinea pig," Hermione said firmly.

"It is your right to refuse their care. I should tell you that they are only looking for a way to stop the curse," Poppy informed her. Hermione shrank again but Harry scowled.

"Don't you think Hermione has done enough? After everything that has happened in the last seven years, isn't that enough? Maybe they should practice on each other." Harry muttered.

"You know I might not react so badly if they didn't have the people skills of a ruddy blast ended skrewt. Not one of them has spoken to me in four days. I've watched them treat my parents as if they were as thick as Crabbe and Goyle. I understand what they are researching. Blimey, I understand why they want to examine me. What I don't understand is being treated as if I am a half-witted niffler. Quite frankly Madame Pomfrey, I'm done putting up with it. I am more than happy to help their research but I will not be treated like the village idiot any longer," Hermione told her.

"Hermione mind your language. Poppy, please ask them to leave for the rest of today. We can discuss things when we are all a little more rational and when my daughter is not under the influence of a potion," Emma said in a tight voice.

Hermione knew she was still going to get a lecture but she felt better about it. Harry pulled her close and she sighed. Together they could face anything.

… --- …

Later that night Harry and Dan had a conversation while searching for a book that Hermione wanted. Harry was pretty sure that it was on her desk but was afraid to touch her organized chaos.

"Harry, I'm extremely disappointed in both of you. It was stupid to risk Hermione's health like that. What were you thinking?" Dan asked.

"The risk was minimal. Hermione needed to get out of there, if only for a couple hours," Harry told him. Dan frowned.

"So you're a healer now?" Dan asked. Harry found the book and tossed it across to one of the love seats.

"No, I'm not. But I do know that Hermione needed something else. No one seemed to care how she feels about her treatment. Well, I care. If she's unhappy then I'm going to do something about it," Harry said firmly.

"Being in the hospital is not supposed to be fun and games. She almost died. I can't believe you took that risk," Dan argued.

"She didn't almost die. She did die. I'm not Dr. Turnbull, but being constantly monitored and checked on every time she breathes is making her mental."

"You don't understand, Harry. She… I thought she was dead. I thought that I was going to have to bury another one of my babies," Dan told him collapsing to the loveseat. Harry sat down next to him.

"And I thought I was going to have to bury the woman I love. I do understand, Dan. I know that you and Emma were going spare waiting for the final battle. Waiting to see which one of us would die. I was waiting too you know. It was my decision as who to put in danger. I didn't want her there. I wanted her to be checking on my bloody relatives in the States, but she needed to be there. I don't know exactly why his spell failed. I don't know a lot of things, Dan. I do know that I love her. I would have stepped in front of that curse without a second thought," Harry said. Dan was shaking his head trying not to cry.

"I know you would have, but why risk letting her leave the hospital wing?" Dan asked.

"What's wrong with her except exhaustion? Nothing. I gave her wand back to her and she can do magic fine. She is able to walk, talk, breathe and speak clearly. Even Madame Pomfrey admits that she's keeping her there only for precaution. I believe in better safe than sorry too but Hermione needed to talk with me. She needed to get away from those healers who were treating her like she was nothing more than an experiment. Isn't it better that I helped her and was with her than her leaving in the middle of the night just to get some fresh air?" Harry asked. Dan was astounded.

"She was going to…" Dan started to ask and Harry shrugged.

"I'll tell you this; if those healers don't start treating her better she'll tell them all to go hang. If she doesn't curse them first. You need to get Emma to back off. Hermione is suffocating," Harry said.

"It's not that easy you know. She's my little girl. I don't care if she's engaged to be married to you. I still see a seven year old who asked questions that would make your head spin," Dan said. Harry felt himself begin to smile.

"Well she never outgrew that," he commented. They both smiled for a few seconds.

"All right," Dan said standing up. He picked up his daughter's book and added it to the one he had gotten for his wife. Then he started for the door. Harry followed him. Dan sighed and said, "How are you going to help me convince Emma to give Hermione some space?"

"I have to help?" Harry asked. Dan gripped his shoulder and led him down the hall.

"Oh yes. You know what it's like to convince Hermione to do something she doesn't want to do. She learned it from her Mum," Dan said. Harry thought about it and then nodded.

They entered the hospital wing and found Hermione, Emma, Susan and Diane. Harry sat down on the edge of the bed and took Hermione's hand. Remembering something she had told him he smiled.

"I was going to ask Lavender to do a star chart and a reading for the eighth of August. What do you think? Want to get married on eight eight nine eight?" Harry asked. Hermione gripped his hand.

"Really?" she asked.

"I'd do it tonight but something tells me you want a bigger wedding than the six of us," Harry said.

"August eighth! That's not nearly enough time," Emma said blinking out of her stupor.

"Time for what?" Harry asked innocently. Hermione hid her smile carefully.

"Flowers, booking a church, a reception hall, getting a dress and a caterer," Emma answered.

"Do we need all that?" Harry asked as if confused, conjuring a rose for her. Dan swallowed his laughter as he realized what Harry was doing.

"Err… I don't know. What kind of wedding are you having?" Emma asked, smelling the yellow rose. Hermione smiled.

"A nice simple nonmagical ceremony. I want the rest of your friends to be able to come and some of the kids from church that weren't so awful to me when we were growing up," Hermione said. Emma frowned.

"We need something to write on. Get the guest list started… Who is standing up for you?" Emma asked.

"I haven't asked her yet. Susan? Want to take part in a muggle wedding?" Hermione asked.

"Is it true that the muggle bridesmaids dresses are traditionally ugly?" Susan asked.

Emma and Diane both laughed a little.

"Sometimes. We'll find something you like since you are the only one I plan on asking," Hermione told her. Susan smiled.

"I'll be there."

Emma stood up and pulled Diane to her feet. She kissed Hermione and then Susan. She gave Harry a quick kiss on the forehead and a stern look.

"Don't think I don't know what you just did Mr. Potter," she said. He tried to look sheepish and failed. She kissed him again, "Thank you."

… --- …

On McGonagall's request, the examinations board began the OWL and NEWT examinations a week later than originally scheduled. Griselda Marchbanks acknowledged that defeating the darkest wizard of their lifetime was sufficient reason to adjust the schedule a bit. As the NEWT examinations had to be awarded as quickly as possible after actually sitting for them, Marchbanks announced that the examinations would be almost entirely practical rather than theory.

Hermione, who had gained back her strength and felt as good as new, was initially disappointed at the announcement, then realized that with seven years of extra credit research, in the ninety minutes that students would be given to demonstrate their ability in a subject she would excel. Prior to the exam they were given fifteen minutes to review the competency sheet. Typically a student who had mastered the NEWT level would need sixty to eighty minutes to demonstrate the NEWT level tasks and could attain extra points in the remaining time.

Thus on the day of the charms examination Hermione was able to demonstrate the Horcrux destroying charm that she had helped develop to an absolutely astounded pair of examiners. She was able to demonstrate steering her Patronus otter and have it slam into a very amused Harry Potter repaying him for its effect. When it was his turn for extra points in charms Harry demonstrated how he had turned a photograph into a portkey.

In potions they were given potions to either start or had to perform the next step on one that was mid-way through brewing. Harry was amused when he told an astonished pair of examiners that he'd had personal experience with each of the nine restorative potions that they had him work with. For extra credit, he started Polyjuice potion from memory.

Susan listened as Neville related his success in Herbology and its connection with potions. Once he had made the connection between the two, Slughorn's class had become one of the easiest for him. The boy who had been intimidated into melting cauldron bottoms was gone, replaced by a young man, confident in his skills and ready to take on the world.

Knowing that he would never mention half of the things himself, Minister Abraxan had sent in the omniocular videos of Harry defeating dementors, inferi, Death Eaters and Voldemort as well as a sample of the basilisk skin left over from making the vests earning him the highest defense NEWT grade ever recorded.

To no one's surprise, Hermione sat through every NEWT examination that was offered. Likewise, Harry wasn't surprised when she went into a recap of every demonstration point discussing the merits of using that particular charm or spell in an assessment. Afterwards many of the fifth and seventh year students personally came up to Harry or Hermione and thanked them for the help that they had offered in various subjects.

To no one's disappointment, the examination week finally ended.

… --- …

July 2

Harry hadn't played Quidditch since the pick-up game with Ron eleven months ago. Moody had talked him into resigning from the house team and had kept him busy during most of the interhouse games during the year. He smiled as he reflected on the words that the old Master Auror had spoken. "I'm not asking you to be my friend, Potter. I'm not asking that you like me. My job is to keep you alive so that you can dislike me for the next hundred years."

Thus Harry was slightly surprised when McGonagall announced the student faculty quidditch match at breakfast the day before the leaving feast. "Potter, Turpin, Bones, Padma, Tracy, Dean, and Mr. Longbottom. You have one hour to suit up."

As the surprised students went down to get their brooms. McGonagall and those who had taught the classes went and got their equipment.

They were somewhat shocked when they reached the locker rooms. There was a set of forget-me-not blue quidditch robes for each of them. On the back was a gold shield like the one that they had used against Riddle. On one side of the shield was a silver sword; on the other was their Patronus form.

Lisa quipped, "Be glad that we didn't end up using the pan scouring charm on him. Otherwise we'd look like we were wearing a place setting."

"I wonder who we'll be playing against?"

"What do you mean?" asked Harry

"There were about a dozen instructors this year for defense. We know the Grangers don't fly. Mrs. Figg doesn't. Slughorn's too big to get on a broom. Flitwick doesn't fly much anymore."

"We'll find out. Lisa you play keeper right? Why don't you be captain?"

"Susan, Tracy and Padma are very good chasers. Dean and Neville, can you play beater?" Dean played on a regular basis. Neville flew about as much as Hermione. They nodded. Lisa smiled and asked, "Harry, you don't need any advice about being seeker after all this time, do you?" They all laughed.

Harry replied, "I'll do my best."

They went out and flew a few warm-up laps. Arabella was given the opportunity to do the announcing again. "For the facility, Aurors Gunner Fawcett and Keith Bradley will play as beaters and Professor Sprout as keeper." There was quite a bit of cheering. They were all rather popular. "Professors McGonagall, Vector and Auror Alyx will play as chasers." There seemed to be more cheering this time, particularly among the older boys. Figg continued saying, "And finally as seeker, the one, the only Madam Hooch." There was a lot of cheering. Her flying ability was legendary.

They went around the field twice with their warm-up laps. Figg continued. "Officiating today's match up is knight bus driver Ernie Prang." There was a standing ovation and a fair amount of ribbing regarding the highly nearsighted bus driver.

Prang released the snitch counted ten seconds then released the bludgers. Mounting his broom, he rose a hundred feet in the air and dropped the quaffle for a fair catch. Harry flew upward and watched for a moment. Hooch flew up to him and said, "Good luck today Mr. Potter."

Harry noticed that she was on a very fast broom, nodded and said, "You too Madam Hooch. It's fun to be flying with you." A moment later he took off. Hooch easily kept pace with him matching him in both speed and agility. Suddenly Harry went into a nearly vertical dive. Faster and faster he dove with Hooch following him. A few feet from the ground they both pulled up smiling at each other. In truth she was far and away the best flyer that Harry had played against.

Meanwhile the students were doing well against the facility. The student chasers played well together and Professor Sprout was hopeless as a keeper. The beaters seemed content to bat the bludgers back and forth to each other for a bit of warm-up. Susan scored another goal.

It was a fun game to watch. The people in the stands cheered for every good play regardless of who made it. In time it was 200 to 40 in favor of the students. Suddenly Hooch went into a dive while Harry was on the other side of the stadium. Alyx scored against Lisa just as Hooch caught the snitch.

The game ended in a tie, everyone had fun and no one had gotten hurt. The fans had the opportunity to see some outstanding flying; so all in all, it had been an excellent morning. After they landed, both teams lined up and shook hands. Somebody notified Ernie that the snitch had been caught and he got down from his broom. As they were shaking hands Minister Abraxan and the Wizengamot officials were preparing to enter the field for the Order of Merlin awards.

Harry and the others quickly showered and put on their school robes and walked out to sit down again. The stands had been magically enlarged to hold more than twice as many people as normal. Most of the villagers and dozens of Ministry officials were in attendance.

Abraxan used the Sonorus charm and called for a moment of silence. The light side had prevailed, but the cost to the people of Hogsmeade had been terrible. She began, "Good morning." The people in the stands replied back.

"We are gathered today to honor those whose outstanding contributions have made standing free in the sunlight without fear a privilege that we can again enjoy. We should never take this privilege for granted, for it was paid for with the blood of so many. The citizens of Hogsmeade can live again in freedom, as can all of the citizens of Britain. The men and women that are being honored today have made that possible." First she called the Aurors who had helped at Avebury. They were awarded Order of Merlin third class awards. She called on the villagers who had helped at Avebury. They were awarded third class awards. There was extra cheering as Lenny, Kris and Mary Folgard stepped up to collect their awards.

Second class awards were given to most of the DA and to the Order. Abraxan talked of how they had persistently volunteered their time again and again to face down evil. There was extra cheering when Arabella Figg, Poppy, Dan, and Emma were called. As the only living First Class recipient, Harry had the honor of placing the medals around everyone's neck. Hagrid had to kneel and have his ribbon substantially lengthened, but he was the proudest man alive when he received his award. Years of prejudice and sniggering about his marginal ability as a wizard vanished from his mind forever in that one moment.

"Thanks Harry," said Hagrid. "I owe it all to you."

"No worries Hagrid. Congratulations."

Finally it was time for the first class awards. Hermione, Moody and Remus were called. Abraxan spoke of outstanding wizardry in terms of giving everything that you possessed to the cause then searching for more. Harry was so proud of each of them. The applause was thunderous.

A minute later Abraxan continued. "Finally we come to Mr. Harry James Potter. The wizarding world simply cannot adequately express its gratitude to you so I asked for some assistance."

The Prime Minister walked up and was handed the magical microphone. He was brief, "On behalf of the 3641 lives that Tom Riddle and his followers took in the last fifty-four years, Britain offers her heartfelt thank you. Her Majesty has asked that you and twenty guests of your choosing accompany you on Monday evening for a Royal Knighting ceremony at Buckingham Palace." He handed Harry the official proclamation.

Harry was awash in a sea of sound.

Reporters from wizarding papers from all over the world were there, snapping photos and shouting questions at Harry who was doing his best to remain calm. Odd and Luna Lovegood stood off to the side, knowing that they would be the only ones that he would actually talk with.

Diane was so proud of Harry, but knew that at that moment he would rather be battling monsters than be the focus of so much attention. She thought of the vision that Hermione had related and knew that at that moment, the attention of millions was focused on her Goddaughter's lover.

After an hour that seemed like an eternity, Hermione found Harry and they took a portkey back to the castle.

… --- …

After dinner that night the NEWT certifications were announced. The Board of School Governors headed up the awards ceremony. Hermione and Lisa were awarded NEWT certifications in all eight categories. Hermione's composite score was amazing. The board still hadn't found a recorded case of a higher score.

The recipients of the various categories were called up. Lisa scored highest in Charms, Neville received the highest score in herbology, while to no one's surprise Harry scored highest in defense. Hermione scored first in the others and second in charms. Susan scored second in defense, tied for second in Herbology and third or fourth in most of the other subjects thanks largely to help from her adopted sister.

Certifications were given in charms, potions, and defense, care of magical creatures, transfiguration, herbology, and arithmancy and muggle studies.

The professors in each of the topics were on hand. Collectively they were amazed that several certifications had been given to students who hadn't even attended their seventh year class.

Finally it was time to go back to their rooms and pack up their belongings. Dobby and Winky helped transport their belongings back to Grimmauld Place. Molly and Arthur had returned to the rebuilt Burrow a few days before.

… --- …

Minerva McGonagall looked out over the sea of faces at the leaving feast. She carefully looked over her seventh year Gryffindor students. She'd never had a class that had made her feel so proud. It wasn't just Harry and Hermione. Each of them had in their own way made a difference.

She nodded to the charms Professor and he tapped his glass. The room went silent as she stood.

"Good evening. Another year has passed here at Hogwarts. I must say it has been quite a year indeed. After the murder of Professor Dumbledore last year I had hoped that the war would stay away from our door. That wasn't to be. I must ask that you raise your goblet in honor of those who gave their lives to defend the light from evil. They all knew that the risk was there and stepped forward anyway, because someone needed to," Minerva began.

After a moment of silence she continued, "This year has been like no other before and no other in the future."

I want to thank Dr. Dan and Dr. Emma for taking over the muggle studies program. They have enlightened both myself as well as the board of governors many times over. I would also like to thank Dr. Diane for the insight that she offered. All three of you have immensely helped both the children and the wizarding world with your efforts this year."

The applause was quite loud. Hermione smiled at her parents and Diane who were embarrassed.

"I dare say I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't mention that this years seventh year class was awarded more NEWT certificates per student than any class in the past twenty years. I'm extremely proud of each of you. This is the first year in twenty years that every seventh year student received NEWT certification in potions. I am especially astonished since several of you did not take the class. Perhaps Professor Slughorn could explain that for us," Professor McGonagall told them.

"I was quite delighted myself Head Mistress. I dare say they had an amazing independent study program going. I suspected that Miss Granger tutored them all but she denies it," Slughorn said.

Harry looked over at Hermione who looked as puzzled as he was. She shrugged and he grinned. Hermione looked over at Lisa who winked at her.

"Indeed we will have to get to the bottom of that later. I must tell you that the past seven years have been the most interesting in my teaching career. It's always the students that make this job what it is. I would like to tell you about this year's seventh year class. Shall I start with oh, how about Hannah Abbott?"

All the seventh year students laughed. Hannah had always been first in line and could raise her hand before roll call even began. She always did too.

"Hannah Abbott, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ron Weasley, Parvetti Patel. Those are names and friends that we will always remember. There are some other students who are missing from this class that I didn't name. I leave them out on purpose because it was their choice to follow the dark lord. That brings me to my point. It is our choices that make us who and what we are."

"Before I award the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup I have asked the Head Boy and Girl to say a few words. Mr. Potter?" McGonagall said offering him the floor. Harry stood up.

"Well Professor McGonagall said what I was going to about making choices so now I am stuck without words for you," Harry said getting a laugh out of his classmates.

"Seriously, Professor Dumbledore told me the same thing about choices in my second year and I have to agree. I have seen how little choices have made the difference in life and death. Seven years ago I chose to be friends with Ron Weasley instead of Draco Malfoy. That decision made a huge difference in my life. I hope that everyone here will think about his or her choices. You can choose to live in the light or you can choose to drown your soul in the dark arts."

Harry thought for a moment and continued, "I will say this. It is my intent to help make the British wizarding world a better place by helping good people help themselves. If your dream is to start a business venture like Fred and George Weasley have, please contact me via Mr. Bill Weasley at Gringotts. I'll help you follow your dream."

Harry sat down to the applause of his classmates. Hermione stood up and gave them all a smile.

"I was told to keep this short," she said. Seamus laughed and then covered it with a cough. She gave him her best Professor McGonagall look and then grinned at him.

"Oh go on and laugh Seamus. You know you want to. All right then. I only have one thing to say. Vada è brillant," Hermione told them. She heard the gasp come from the head table and turned to meet her mother's gaze. The murmurs around the room made Hermione roll her eyes. She said, "Oh honestly. Go to the library and look it up."

Harry chuckled as she sat down.

"Honestly…" he said in imitation of her. She smirked.

Minerva stood again and said, "That is all very sound advice. Now I believe we have a couple of cups to award. First the Quidditch cup. I quite enjoyed its stay in my office. As you are all quite aware, the cup was won for the first time in three hundred years by the Hufflepuff team," McGonagall said offering the trophy to Sprout. The Hufflepuff table exploded in cheers.

"Quite well done indeed. The house cup race was astonishingly close this year. There are some last moment points to award tonight. Barring a fistfight in the library Ravenclaw or Slytherin might have stood a chance. Dr. Diane assures me that all of you involved have made a valiant effort in your anger management issues so I will award each of you five points. Miss Granger's astonishing NEWT results have gained her fifty points for Gryffindor. Before anyone can accuse me of favoritism, I didn't award these points. Professor Slughorn and Professor Vector did. Miss Turpin will receive ten points for the outstanding score that she received on her charms NEWT. Miss Bones is awarded eight points for the amazing job she has done in muggle studies. If I am not mistaken that brings the totals to four hundred twenty points for each house. I believe we shall call it a tie. Hogwarts wins the house cup," McGonagall declared.

… --- …

As the students were having the final breakfast of the term at school, the Daily Prophet brought yet another controversy onto the school.

Hogwarts grading scandal uncovered

In yet another case of mismanagement at Hogwarts, former Professor Severus Snape was found to be systematically lowering grades of students outside of Slytherin house. In a typical example convicted Death Eater Snape systematically lowered grades of students such as Neville Longbottom. Longbottom son of famed Aurors Alice and Frank Longbottom was regularly given barely passing grades and harassed by Snape who verbally abused students such as Harry Potter. Alice Longbottom was a certified potions Master who worked for the Ministry for three years before being tortured into insanity by convicted Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange.

Neville obviously had his mother's talent for potions as he recently achieved NEWT certification in potions. Hogwarts Headmaster McGonagall offered no comment regarding to Snape's systematic abuse of students.

… --- …

Draco slammed down the newspaper in disgust. "Potty this, mudblood that. They can stick their NEWT awards up their mother's…" An idea came to him. He had better skills than Potty and had been personally tutored by the most brilliant wizard of the age. He could take Potty out in less time than it took Potty and a hundred others to defeat the Dark Lord. He knew just what he needed to do.

… --- …

While Draco was worrying over the coverage that the Daily Prophet was giving, Director John Thomas was carefully noting the recent string of daytime bank burglaries. It seemed very odd to him that their cameras never picked up any photos. Stranger still, most of the money taken had come from the vaults rather than the teller drawers indicating that the perpetrators believed that they had plenty of time. Based on the reports that he had read, nearly ten million pounds had been taken so far.

He decided to make mention of it in his final briefing that he needed to schedule with Minister Abraxan before he went back home to Australia and his regular job. He reflected on the old Asian saying, "May you live in interesting times." The last year had certainly been interesting.

… --- …

Harry helped Hermione and Emma up the steps of the train as Dan looked on. Dan had never been on a steam train and had fun looking at the Edwardian age machinery. Like much of the curriculum in the course that he and Emma had taught, it was from an age that had passed.

Harry sat down with the others and nodded off for a moment. A welcome recollection came to him.

"Is anyone sitting here? Everywhere else is full." He smiled, hoping that his best buddy was happy and healthy. Harry wondered where all of the orphans were spending their holiday. He made a note to himself to ask about them at the next Order meeting.

Luna walked in and asked, "Was it everything that you thought it would be?"

Harry looked up, lost in his thoughts. Luna asked, "Was Hogwarts everything that you thought it would be?"

Harry replied, "I didn't know anything about it until Hagrid found me a month before school started, but I'd have to say, yes and a whole lot more. I miss the Professor…I miss everyone who was taken from us."

Emma asked, "What could have been better?"

Harry replied, "Hermione is right. We were talking earlier. The firstborn children, the children who didn't grow up in a magical household are at a pretty serious disadvantage in a few of the subjects, herbology and potions. They also have to stumble onto information about the culture of the magical world. I think half of the whole pureblood is better crapcomes from that lack of a proper introduction into the magical world."

Hermione nodded and said, "There were things that Luna learned when she was seven or eight that I didn't find out about until third year. I agree about the prejudice part."

Luna replied, "That works both ways. Neville and I know very little about the nonmagical world." Emma was pleased. Muggle sounded so derogatory.

Emma asked, "What would have made it easier?"

Neville wanted to reply, "Having a mum and dad," but he wasn't looking for sympathy. Instead he said, "My Gran wasn't interested in sending me to any nonmagical activities like football. That would have been better, but she did the best that she could."

Hermione replied, "Professor McGonagall told me that Katlyn felt better having someone to talk with. I was happy to help."

Luna agreed and added, "A lot of the purebloods who are home schooled aren't very well prepared for boarding school either. The nonmagical kids seem to have better study habits."

… --- …

During the ride back to London dozens of students came up to Hermione and Harry, thanking them for helping with one thing or another. Emma noticed that it wasn't just the Gryffindors. They had touched the lives of most of the students in one way or another. She was especially glad to see a handful of the younger Slytherins come up and offer their thanks.

Harry was glad that Hermione had picked up the habit of taking photographs. They were wonderful memories. His favorites were the DA pictures and those of the students flying at the different pick-up quidditch games. He would get copies made and send them to all of the various people.

"I suppose we should walk up and down the train once just to see if everything's OK," said Hermione, still the head girl.

Harry flashed a dark look, remembering having been attacked on the train once and left under his invisibility cloak. He said, "I'll start in the front, you can start in the back. We can meet somewhere in the middle and visit some more with Neville and Luna when we're done."

Harry found a group of the first years having fun in the front of the train. He ignored the WWW logo and let them turn each other into canaries. He was especially heartened to see that they were sitting together as a class, rather than as a house. They waved at him as he walked by.

He and Hermione met in the middle of the train. She grinned wickedly at him as she removed her badge and then his. She pulled him into the loo. He snickered and said, "What is it with you and the loo?" He didn't get a chance to say much more as she was completely focused on snogging him.

Too soon it seemed they were in the outskirts of London. People hastily changed out of their wizarding garb and into jeans and t-shirts. He helped some of the younger students get their trunks off the train and onto trolleys, glad that their own luggage was already at their home.

To no one's surprise, there was a gaggle of reporters waiting. Harry spoke with them in an attempt to get the Grangers away safely. He greeted Alicia from Teen Witch Weekly warmly and asked to see her the next day, then went over and shook hands with Odd Lovegood. A few minutes later he looked around and saw that the others had made their way out of the station and apparated home.

… --- …

July 5

Fleur Weasley settled into bed ready for another night of being too uncomfortable to sleep. She was ready for the baby to be born. She was horrified at what being pregnant was doing to her body. For the first time in her life she felt unattractive. No matter what Bill said, she knew that she was ugly.

She cringed a little when she felt her abdomen cramping. She had been cramping for a couple hours. None of the books that she had could explain it to her and she figured it was a reaction to the spicy food that she and Bill had devoured.

Bill slid under the covers next to her. He kissed her once on the forehead and again where their unborn child was playing Quidditch in her abdomen. The baby gave him a hard thump and he laughed.

Fleur was extremely glad that her husband was an advisor at the bank instead of a curse breaker. It was nice to be able to have a home in London instead of a tent in the Egyptian desert. While she loved an adventure she would have never survived being pregnant in the sand.

She cramped again, this time harder. She ignored it but for scratching Thai food off her list of things she could eat. Bill was asleep already having spent most of his day sorting documents and working over Harry's investments. Apparently the dinner had not bothered him. She had not told him her fears of becoming a parent.

Fleur wanted so badly to speak to her mother. She wanted advice on sleeping while pregnant, what to expect when the baby came and what to do after the baby came. Molly had been a big help but it wasn't the same. In truth Fleur missed her mother madly and was terrified of what the future might hold.

Harry's defeat of Riddle had eased her mind a great deal. She had read about what had been done to babies during the first war and it made her want weep. The evilness of it all had haunted her since the moment she found out she was pregnant.

She cringed at the cramp. This one was pretty bad. It was odd since spicy food had not… Oh Merlin that hurt. She was horrified at the wetness that she felt flooding the bed. It took a few seconds to realize what it meant.

"Bill," she said shaking him. She was amazingly enough, calm.

"Huh?" he asked in a hazy voice. She sighed and wondered if all the Weasley men were this hard to awake.

"My wazer juz broke," she told him. He hugged his pillow harder.

"Mmmm… That's nice. I'll fix it in the morning," he murmured falling back asleep.

"BILL!" she said loudly.

"What?" he asked. At least this time his eyes were open.

"It'z time," she hissed at him.

"Time for what?" he asked.

"Zee babeee. My waterz," she told him motioning to the bed. He promptly fell out of bed.

She watched as Bill ran around the room trying to get dressed and retrieving her already packed bag at the same time. She went into the bathroom to clean up and change her clothes. Bill was hopping on one foot trying to slip one of her boots on.

She came back into the bedroom to find him dressed and ready to go. He nodded to her and grabbed her bag then he promptly disapparated. She grabbed the edge of the dresser holding on as another contraction gripped her insides.

Bill came back looking sheepish. He side-long apparated her to St. Mungos. Fifteen minutes later the second girl in four generations was born into the Weasley family.

The healers spoke of the easy time she had of it. She was made to have babies. Having ten would not be out of the question. The mediwitch who suggested it didn't speak French but she didn't need to. Fleur made her opinion very clear.

Bill summoned his parents to meet their first grandchild an hour later. She impressed them all with her amazing ability to yawn and kick her feet.

… --- …

Minerva McGonagall heard a bell ring and smiled. Another magical child had been born. She looked over the administrative papers she was attempting to sort through and then stood up. She always got curious and checked the name.

Francis Ginerva Weasley

Minerva smiled. She was willing to bet that little Francis was a future Gryffindor. She went back to her papers with a lighter heart.

… --- …

July 6

While the rest of the wizarding world celebrated, Emma and Dan poured over the latest issue of the Quibbler together. Lovegood had certainly been at the top of his game that morning. The moving photos told the chilling tale far better than any wordsmith could convey. There were images of Riddle's killing curses zooming by as Harry dodged or flattened himself out of their deadly path.

There were images of the golden shields, of Fred reflecting his away, and of the shop owner getting hit with a killing curse. Having seen them fired in person, Dan and Emma needed no reminder to tell them how swiftly death could strike.

They read on and saw the image of Hermione casting her otter Patronus and directing it at Riddle. The next image showed over fifty forms rushing at Voldemort. Then came the two images that would forever be etched in their minds, Hermione getting hit with the pale green jet of light and Harry's sword severing Riddle's head spraying Harry with his blood.

The final images showed Riddle's head and body feet from each other and Harry, Susan and Alyx frantically working to save their daughter while Harry's Phoenix bird did what she could.

Emma put down the paper feeling an anxiety attack coming on. She was short of breath and felt cold and clammy despite the warm weather. The only three people in the world who could help her at that moment happened to walk by. She pulled them into a bone-crushing hug that would have made Hagrid proud.

After a minute she whimpered, "The paper, did you see the…?"

Dan looked on and said, "They were there Em. They remember."

Dobby and Winky looked at the photos at the same time that thousands of witches and wizards across Britain were looking at Lovegood's photos. Dobby threw his arms around Harry's middle saying, "Harry Potter sir is the bravest wizard ever."

Holding Hermione Winky said, "Miss Hermione is bravest too." Hermione gently patted her shoulder.

… --- …

For Harry, the hardest part of being knighted was selecting the twenty people to invite to the ceremony. In the end he picked, Dan, Emma, Molly, Arthur, Minerva, Hermione, Remus, Tonks Susan, Neville, Luna, Alyx, and Bob, Kingsley, Abraxan, Moody, Flitwick, Poppy, Diane and Jack.

The ceremony itself was brief. Abraxan made a speech for about five minutes and the Queen called Harry to come forward. Harry walked nervously up the carpeted walkway until he was a few feet in front of her. She asked to examine his sword, which he very carefully drew from the ceremonial scabbard and handed to her. Handing it back to him a minute later, she took her own ceremonial sword, which looked very similar to his and tapped him on the shoulder with it. She explained the knight's responsibilities to serve the Queen in times of need and to protect others as well as the privileges of knighthood then tapped him on the other shoulder with the flat edge.

The dinner was remarkably informal. The queen spoke with each of the guests as well as Harry. She had known of Voldemort and Grindelwald before, and realized the threat that dark wizards represented. Photographers were on hand to mark the event. To Harry's surprise, Odd Lovegood was on hand as well.

At the end of the dinner the Queen bid each of them farewell. It had been a night that they would always remember.

… --- …

The next day Harry and Hermione went back to the castle. Hermione had a bit of research that she wanted to do in the library and Harry wanted to talk with Dumbledore's painting.

Minerva was meeting with Flitwick and told him to go in.

Dumbledore was waiting for Harry and beamed at him when he arrived. "Ah, good morning, Sir Harry. May I offer you one of Minerva's lemon drops? She seems to have found time to fill the jar."

Harry took one and replied, "Thank you, Professor. It's good to talk with you again."

Dumbledore looked at Harry closely. He could see that Harry had aged from having shouldered such a tremendous burden. Yet at the same time, he looked happier and healthier than he'd ever known him to be. He asked, "So what's next, Harry?"

Harry replied, "We're planning a wedding in a month." After a moment Harry asked, "I wanted to ask you, what did you do with the Order after you defeated Grindelwald?"

Dumbledore replied, "There was much to be done, rounding up hundreds of stray supporters. I believe what you're really asking for is advice regarding what the role of the Order should be in 1998." Harry nodded and Dumbledore continued. "Without a specific enemy to battle, the members might logically assume a watchdog role for a while. You will have to assess the likelihood of other wizards trying to fill the void that the defeat of Riddle might bring. There is little risk of the Order quickly degenerating into a social club, but as much as possible, your meetings should have a purpose, an agenda and action items. I would recommend reducing the frequency of the meetings if a serious potential threat hasn't been identified by the end of the year."

Harry nodded, realizing that the threat of Tom Riddle had grown right under Dumbledore's nose. He asked, "Professor, why didn't you put a stop to Riddle the night that he came back to the castle looking to teach defense?"

The twinkle disappeared from Dumbledore's eye. He replied, "I recognize that as one of the three largest mistakes that I'd made during my life. I was all but certain what he was becoming. It was the last time that I saw him until he publicly reemerged years later as Lord Voldemort."

Curiosity got the better of Harry. He asked, "Professor, what were the other two? What would you have done differently?"

Dumbledore replied, "I should have insisted that Sirius receive the benefit of a fair trial and I should have checked on your well-being from time to time as you were growing up. Both failures ultimately caused you pain, and for that I apologize. I wish you the benefit of learning from my mistakes at an early age. Please extend my best wishes to Hermione. I truly wish you the best Harry."

Harry stood and replied, "Thank you Professor."

… --- …

A week later a hastily thrown together memorial was being dedicated in Diagon Alley. Hermione and Harry had gone out of respect for all those who were lost. When the statue of themselves was unveiled, Harry lost his temper and blew it up with one curse. Hermione scathingly told the organizers that memorials were to remember those who had lost their lives to the dark. She had transfigured some of the rubble into a black granite wall and the crowd stood silently watching as she carved names into it.

Lily Potter, James Potter, Bertha Jenkins, Frank Bryce, Cedric Diggory, Sirius Black, Amelia Bones, Emmaline Vance, Albus Dumbledore, Percy Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley… She stopped when she got to Ron's name. She became so upset that Harry had to side-along apparate them home.

The next day the Daily Prophet ran the following article.

Potter and Granger Blow Up Memorial

By Reggie McDonald

Harry "the boy who lived" and Hermione "the girl who was allegedly hit with a killing curse and still breathes" blew up a war memorial in Diagon Alley yesterday. The statue, made of gold and imported marble was worth an undetermined number of Galleons. Apparently they were unhappy with the likenesses of themselves.

This reporter thinks that Potter and Granger are out of control. Aurors present at the disaster yesterday did nothing to stop them. Miss Granger transfigured a small portion of the rubble into a granite wall and began carving names into it.

She included a muggle and a convicted murderer. Is this the type of memorial we want our children's grandchildren to see?

Hermione tossed the paper at Harry. She gave him a quick snog. He watched her as she stood to leave the room. She smirked at him and said, "My nickname is longer than yours."

Harry just laughed and shook his head as his love left to meet Emma at a dress shop.

… --- …

True to her word, Abraxan offered the MLE Director job to Kingsley who accepted. John Thomas' year was up and he was looking forward to getting back to Brisbane and into the SAS.

Kingsley's first actions were to try and secure the services of Remus and Moody. He wanted Moody to work part time as a fighting skill-building consultant for some of the aurors as he had done for the most recent class of cadets. Moody wasn't anxious to take the position, nor did he have any real need to earn more gold. Kingsley had to sweeten the deal by offering him a free lunch each day that he worked. With the details ironed out, the Master Auror agreed to start the next Monday.

Remus would prove to be harder to bring on board, not because he wasn't willing, rather because of obstacles put in place years earlier by Umbridge and Fudge. There were still laws in place that prevented him from being hired into any but the most menial positions. Fortunately Kingsley had learned a few tricks of the trade in his year assisting the PM. He offered Remus a contract position as acting MLE Liaison. He funded the position through an interdepartmental account transfer, but Remus technically reported to Jack Turnbull's department. It was a three-week a month position, and Remus was delighted.

… --- …

Susan struggled out of the muggle dress wondering why she had agreed to this. It was the seventh dress in the third shop. If they didn't find something they could all agree on soon she was going to apparate home and seal herself in her room. Susan had discovered that getting Hermione, Emma, Molly and Diane to agree on anything was a cursed job.

She pulled her shirt on and swore as she ripped the sleeve. It was her favorite shirt and it had been mended by magic so many times that magic was going to stop working soon. Soon came quicker than she thought, as she couldn't fix it. She sat down hard and pressed her face in her hands.

"Hello?" said a voice outside the door.

"Yes?" Susan asked.

"You okay in there?" the voice asked.

"Not really. I ripped my shirt," Susan confessed. The voice laughed softly.

"Give it here. I'll fix it in a jiff," she said. Susan pulled it off and handed it over the door. A few minutes later Hermione was handing back her shirt. There was a very nice looking woman with her.

"That was quick. Thank you," Susan told her.

"No worries. You'd be surprised how often it happens. Did you find a dress?" she asked. Hermione sighed.

"No," Susan responded dejectedly.

The woman laughed and said, "Oh come on now. It can't be that bad. My sister picked the dress I had to wear in her wedding. It was hideous. At least you get some input."

"Hideous?" Susan asked.

"Pink. Designed like a tutu with kilometers of lace and it itched like you would not believe. I'm Caroline by the way," she said.

"Hermione. This is my sister Susan. And that's horrible," Hermione said with a shudder.

"Yes, it was. I burned it as soon as I could get out of it," Caroline said as they went back into the shop. Molly fussed over Susan's shirt.

"Really Susan. You should get some new clothes. How old is this shirt?" Molly asked.

"It was my mum's," Susan confessed. Molly backed off a little. She examined the tear.

"Nice work on the seam," she said.

"Thank you. I get plenty of practice at university," Caroline said.

"You go to university for sewing?" Diane asked her brow wrinkling.

She laughed and replied, "Oh no. I learned to sew from my mum. I'm in medical school."

"Ah sutures. The joys of being an intern," Emma commented.

"I'm not that far yet but practice I must. We have a few dresses that aren't displayed. Would you like me to go get them for you?" she asked. Susan sighed loudly and agreed.

"If I didn't love you sister of mine I would tell you and Harry where to get off the train," Susan said as Caroline returned with a rack of dresses. Hermione immediately began going through them. Susan joined her grudgingly.

Then they found it. It was perfect.

"Look at this," Susan said holding it up.

"Beautiful," Diane commented.

"The neckline is a bit low don't you think?" Emma asked.

"A bit?" Molly asked.

"Try it on," Hermione said. Emma rolled her eyes at Molly who tossed up her hands and shook her head.

The dress was a vintage style. It was antique gold lace over a white base made of silk. It had a Gryffindor red waist sash and shawl. The neckline wasn't as low as it looked on the hanger.

"You look like a Goddess," Hermione commented when Susan came out of the dressing room.

"Which one?" Susan asked in amusement. She could remember a time when a comment like that from Hermione would have sent her over the moon. She looked in the mirror and adjusted the dress.

"Venus," Diane said.

"Aphrodite," Caroline murmured under her breath. Susan heard her but no one else did.

Susan agreed to the dress and Hermione purchased it even over Molly and Emma's protests. Caroline said that with the alterations it would be a little less revealing. She took some measurements from Susan and then they left. Almost halfway to the car Susan gasped. She had left her handbag at the store. She went back to get it alone.

She left the store with her bag and Caroline's phone number. Now if she could only figure out how to use her cell phone.

… --- …

After they had been home a few days Emma began to get restless. The Ministry had not received a request to place the Potters as they were collectively known on any sort of protective detail. Emma wanted to return to work. Thus the subject came up at dinner.

"I called Cynthia and Betty about reopening the practice."

Practically stunned at her words, Hermione replied, "What?"

Emma calmly explained, "I called the hygienists Cynthia Cutter and Betty Pullman to see if they were interested in coming back to work with us again."

Hermione came unglued. "You can't possibly be serious. The last time the Death Eaters thought you two were at work, two people were tortured and killed. What about security? I can't allow it."

Harry remained silent knowing Hermione's concerns but remembering Sirius' imprisonment in this very home.

Emma looked angry. Certainly she was frustrated. Dan looked at the two headstrong women that he loved. Hopefully their two former employees were too busy to come back. He asked, "What did they say dear?"

Emma replied, "Cynthia was available part time. Betty was working full time already."

Hermione fired back, "Mum, what part of no don't you understand? Riddle had a million pound reward out for Dad's head. It's too dangerous."

Emma replied, "Hermione, I never tried to stop you from being a witch. It's who you are. I'm a surgeon. Can't you understand that?"

"But the Death Eaters. They're…"

"Gone dear. You and Harry and the others got rid of them. The others scattered with the wind."

Harry hoped there was some middle ground. He said, "When things looked bad last year, Minister Scrimgeour asked Kingsley to keep an eye on the Prime Minister by serving as some sort of aide. Could I hire someone to…?"

Emma cut him off, replying, "No. Thank you Harry. We just need some part of our life back. Harry remembered how Hermione was suffocating in the hospital wing and nodded. She said, "I'll wear my armor vest and keep my emergency portkey with me."

"But…"

"We'll be moving back into our new home in a month or so. You and Hermione will be married soon. You can play golf with Dan three times a week, but we need to get back to our lives. You two have a million opportunities in front of you. You'll be too busy."

"But…"

As if to prove her point, Dobby popped in carrying a sack of letters that was twice as large as he was and Winky had one nearly as large as she was. "Your mail, Sir and Miss."

Dan and Emma got up and Emma said, "Enjoy your evening. We love you both."

… --- …

Emma stepped from the bathroom still towel drying her hair. She glanced at Dan. He was sitting in what had become known as his chair, reading a book. She looked around their room. Number twelve had felt different after they had returned from the castle. That had been two weeks ago and the house had never felt more like a home.

But it wasn't their home. Their house in Crawley was finally being rebuilt. In another month she and Dan would be there. Their lives would never be the same but it would be nice to be in their home again.

Dan looked up at her and smirked. She rolled her eyes but crossed the room and kissed him. He tossed the book on to the floor and pulled his wife on to his lap.

"Daniel!" She objected as he tugged at the opening of her dressing gown. She playfully smacked his hand and he grinned.

"I just wanted to see what you had on under this," he said with a look that she knew well.

"You can find out later. You need to shower and get to the course and I need to get to the surgery," she told him as she attempted to get up. He tightened his grip around her abdomen and buried his face in her shoulder.

After a few kisses on her neck and a nibble on her ear she quit trying to get up. Then he kissed her ear.

"I love you," he said softly. He had made it a point to tell her that every morning since they had married.

"I love you too," Emma responded with a soft kiss.

Dan held on for another minute and then helped her off his lap. He went to shower and she finished getting dressed. She heard him singing that Sonny and Cher song again. He insisted that it was their song. She thought it was his song. She had heard it in one form or another after almost every time they made love.

Daniel Granger had many quirks and she loved them all, even if it meant having that song in her head all day. There were much worse things in life.

They had opened their practice up the week before. She had seen patients for half a day, as had her husband. It was slow after the year off but their patients were coming back. When asked, they said that a family emergency had taken them out of the country.

… --- …

"An interesting chapter," Mr. Crow said McGonagall. "But there seem to be a number of loose ends. What's next?"

Crow mumbled something about honeymoon activities, taking the time to write a review, and drafting an outline for a sequel.

McGonagall didn't hear him and asked him to repeat himself.

Crow handed her a 41 page chapter and replied, "Happy Christmas, Professor."