Disclaimer: I own no part of Harry Potter or its associated canon nor, any other already copyrighted material.

(A/N):

Chapter 17

Other Kinds of Fighting

Waking early for a Saturday morning, Harry was dressed and gone before the others had even stirred. Knowing breakfast wouldn't be set out for a while yet, he headed straight for the kitchens to find something to eat. Once again he found Keystone, sitting at the corner of one of the few high tables, eating a plate of food he probably made himself and paging through a copy of the Daily Prophet. He greeted Harry with a slight inclination of his head and returned to his meal.

Harry took a seat nearby and was soon presented with a plate by Dobby, who bowed himself away with a 'Mr. Harry.' With a nod of his head the professor folded up his paper and departed a few minutes later. Harry was left alone in the relatively quiet kitchen to finish his meal. Though he knew he needed his strength, anxiety kept him from eating much. Bidding Dobby farewell a few moments later, he started the long climb up through the castle to the Headmistress's office. He met no one save a couple patrolling Aurors as he scaled the heights of the school to reach the gargoyle statue.

"Albus." The stone creature leaped aside a split second later to allow him access. Climbing the final flight of stairs he approached the heavy wooden door and was surprised to hear shouting coming from the other side.

"Minerva! We have to close the school! After this, parents will be outraged if we don't! They'll all pull their children out anyway!"

"He's right Minerva, we have no choice!"

"How can you sit there and insist we keep going? If Alex is correct, there were eighteen hundred Dementors out there last night!" Compared to the other shouting voices, the next was quieter though no less intense with emotion.

"We will keep the school open because it's what Albus would have wanted and what has to be done!"

"Damn it Minerva! The man is dead! He was killed in this very building!" Harry could just make out the Headmistress's voice, low and extremely intense.

"You think I don't know that? It was his dedication to this school for which he was killed. I will not betray that sacrifice." Before any of the others could respond he heard another low voice he just recognized as Keystone's.

"I believe someone else who wishes to speak has arrived." A moment later the door swung open and Harry suddenly wondered if he should have skipped breakfast. It was odd to think that facing nearly two thousand Dementors didn't cause as much anxiety as facing these twelve witches and wizards. On the other hand he knew how to fight Dementors, had done it before. This was something completely different. Drawing on the Gryffindor courage deep within him, he straightened his back and strode confidently in.

The governors were gathered in a rough semi circle near the middle of the room facing the desk where McGonagall sat. To the side Professor Keystone looked on, watching him enter. The demanding features of the twelve others all turned to face him, their eyes all flickering to the scar on his forehead at least once. Each had the signs of age and the bearing of great wisdom. None of their eyes held the depth of knowledge that Dumbledore's had, but they did show the strength of character. Cleary these people hadn't been picked lightly.

Each of them looked directly at him with startling intensity as if trying to stare him down. After what he had been through though, he would not be humbled by these looks. Many of them seemed surprised that a student, even the famous Harry Potter, would have enough nerve to meet them stare for stare and not even flinch. He did so while moving past them and making a slight bow before the desk. "Headmistress."

"Mr. Potter…I see you received my message." She gestured to Keystone as Harry moved to the other side of the desk. "Professor Keystone has just been filling us in on his first hand account of the attack. As you may have heard, many of the governors feel the school is no longer safe…or rather…safe enough, to keep open. They believe the students will be safer at home, instead of grouped here." One of the younger, relatively speaking, wizards spoke in support.

"That's right!"

"Then they're fools." Every one of them stared at Harry, completely shocked. Even the Headmistress's head whipped to the side, incredulous at what he had just said. Cutting his eyes across the desk, he could just make out a lightning quick grin crossing Keystone's face. It disappeared in a heartbeat though.

"How…DARE you speak to us like that! Who do you think you are?!"

"The Chosen One. The Boy Who Lived. Harry Potter. Take your pick. Personally I prefer the last." Having managed to temporarily stun them to silence them with that, he continued before they could begin again. "You seriously think the students will be safer at home? Alone? Nearly two thousand Dementors attacked the school last night and failed. What if they had split up and attacked twenty individual homes? Could any of you repel a hundred Dementors? Fifty? Ten?" He could see a couple nodding once the number got low enough, but more were swallowing hard at the thought. "That could be two hundred students and their families, gone." A few of them had the decency to pale at that.

"At home there's a witch, a wizard and, if they're lucky, a half trained student. Here they can be protected with Aurors, an extremely competent staff, one of the best wizard duelists in the world, and three hundred even half trained students is nothing to take lightly. Hogwarts is the safest place in the country for these students."

"But what if the Dementors-"

"They failed. He won't send them again. Even if you could fend of the Dementors, what would you do against werewolves? Giants? Inferi? Death Eaters? Voldemort himself?" Harry had saved that name for the perfect time and it had the desired effect, physically swaying many of the governors. "Giving into fear is exactly what he wants. United, we are a threat to him. If you close the school, the students will be scattered to the wind and become easy targets to eliminate one by one. The very walls of this castle are made to protect the people inside and in turn, many of them, myself included, are willing to die to protect it. Dumbledore did so without hesitation. Closing the school after his sacrifice would be a betrayal of all he did for it. If you doubt our dedication, look to the lake and the white tomb. That is how far we are willing to go."

All of them remained silent as he finished, each focused on the war of words between their own ears. After several moments, one of the older witch's head rose. "Professor Keystone, we've heard from the Headmistress and from Mr. Potter," Harry noted the respect with which she said his name and made a mental note to find out who she was. "I've heard of you a few times on my travels across the Pond from several of my friends who speak rather highly of you…despite your age. So, might I ask what your thoughts on closing Hogwarts are?" The professor nodded in acquiescence.

"Certainly. These are indeed dark times, and I can understand the desire amongst the parents to have their children at home. They must, however, be made to understand two things. First, the power we posses united here in this castle is far greater than any other person or group. Even the Ministry itself, with all of its Aurors spread across the country, could never match the defensive power of this school, its staff and its students. Secondly, when this war ends, and Voldemort is defeated one way or another…they will need what they learn here to help rebuild. Don't kid yourselves, there will me more death, more destruction before this is over, but these students will be the ones to pick up the pieces. We owe them the chance to learn how." He fell silent, his words weighing heavily on each of them.

Moving away from the desk the governors convened in a small huddle and chattered quickly and quietly amongst themselves. Harry turned and moved to the window where he was joined a moment later by the Professors. He knew they were both looking at the white tomb as he was. Dumbledore had once said that he would never truly be gone until none left here were loyal to him. He would remain, even if Harry had to stay in the castle alone. Well…not alone. Hermione and Ron would stay as well. It was coming up on half an hour when the furious debate behind them finally died down.

Following McGonagall's lead, they turned back to find the governors waiting, still gathered in a small group. The witch that had addressed Keystone stepped forward, apparently their spokesperson.

"We have decided…that the school will remain open. I see Albus has left Hogwarts in very capable hands." The look included all three of them, warming Harry with a little pride. "Now…if you'll excuse us, I believe we need to speak to a number of parents. Unless I am mistaken Miss Brown's mother was already hovering earlier." One by one they filed out of the office, leaving the three alone.

When the last had left and the door closed McGonagall collapsed into her chair, head falling into her hands. Harry could hear her take several deep breaths. "Thank you. Both of you. Before you arrived, I'm certain they would have shut the school down. That's twice in two days the pair of you have kept it open."

"Least we could do. Now…I image you have much on your mind." The professor headed for the door, followed by Harry. "If there's nothing else…?" McGonagall looked up from her chair and they both felt a little odd at the look on her face.

"Actually…I do have one more thing to ask of you." Harry glanced at the professor, then back to her.

"What…?"

"I…promised the Daily Prophet an exclusive interview with both of you. They want to run a special about the attack tomorrow…with you two on the cover."

"You what?!" She swallowed at the twin shouts from the pair.

"I know and I'm sorry. But you have to understand, I'm fighting tooth and nail to keep the students that are here and convince people the school is safe. And I'll-"

"Use whatever you can to do that," Harry finished for her.

"Exactly. And they promise it won't be Rita Skeeter." Harry slowly nodded, as did Keystone.

"Okay…when do they want to do this?" McGonagall glanced at the clock.

"Uh…right now. They should be waiting near the entry way." Groaning in response, Harry turned and dragged himself out the door, the professor close behind. Descending the small staircase and passing the gargoyle, they matched step as they made their way to the school entrance. Harry noticed that the professor had the same look of determined annoyance that Harry imagined shaped his own features. They were descending another flight of stairs when the man spoke suddenly.

"Oh…Potter, something I wanted to ask you about."

"Yes sir?" Harry's eye cut over to him.

"Last evening, just before the attack, a number of students left the Hall in small groups. Each of them had a perfectly valid excuse for leaving so close to the feast, but it seemed a bit odd to me. Especially when those same students returned with many of their own housemates. You wouldn't know anything about that…would you?" Harry carefully schooled his features to keep them from betraying him.

"…no sir."

"Ah. Just wondering. After we came back in I noticed a number of those students talking to Miss Weasley. Far more than simply saying hi. If I didn't know better…I'd say she was…directing…or commanding their actions." Harry did his best to look passive as the man continued. "Of course, that's just silly. A student run organization forming within the school, without the knowledge of the staff, right under the Aurors' noses? Preposterous. Right?"

"Of course."

"There were rumors of something like it a couple years ago, according to the staff. Some rouge group that got together to practice their Defense skills. Admirable considering the circumstances. Even more so considering the current happenings. A force like that would be a great asset should the school fall under attack again. But since it doesn't exist…" Harry nearly said something as they continued on. A few moments later he opened his mouth to speak but was cut off. "What's he doing here?"

Harry realized they had reached the entry and followed Keystone's eyes to find Minister Scrimgeour, cane and cloak, hat and helper waiting near two others, one of whom held a camera. Percy Weasley was standing next to him, nipping at his heels as always. Harry's look of annoyance magnified and he got a little boost at seeing the professor's match his. Halting, both of them awaited the Minister's approach. He did so a few seconds later, all smiles and sunshine.

"Harry Potter, Alex Keystone! The heroes of Hogwarts!" Harry noticed several other people gathered around had turned at that and they included the governors conversing with a number of parents as well as a couple teachers. The minister held out his hand. Neither took it, merely staring at him.

"It's Professor Keystone, Minister. Or would you prefer Rufus?" Seeming only half surprised his offered hand was rejected, Scrimgeour let it fall back to his side. Harry just noticed Percy looking shocked that anyone would reject the hand of the Minister of Magic. He pushed that particular Weasley out of his head for the moment. There were more important things going on here than Percy's outrage.

"Of course, of course…Professor." The man's eyes flicked past Keystone's shoulder and showed a certain amount of distain at the sword hilt hanging there. Though clearly annoyed, the smile never faltered as he pressed on. "Well then, Mr. Mead of the Prophet would like a picture and then Miss Austern would like to ask you a few questions." Before they could react he had moved around and stood between them, a hand on each of their shoulders. "I must say I was surprised you agreed to this Mr. Potter. You're not usually up for interviews."

"I just felt it might help the school." Harry spoke through gritted teeth as the photographer raised his camera. Scrimgeour was trying to weasel his way into their shot. Harry felt odd that he was actually defending his exclusivity in a newspaper photograph. Just as he was about to say something to get rid of the minister, the photographer's camera fell and he motioned to Harry's side.

"Minister? Could you move to Harry's other side? It'll balance the shot better and you can hide that cane behind him."

"Oh…uh…of course." Moving around Harry slid closer to Keystone as Scrimgeour stepped to his other side.

"Excellent. Much better." He raised the camera again and checked the shot. "Okay everyone, stop scowling. The title of the article is 'Heroes of Hogwarts', at least try and look like it." Doing his best to hide his annoyance Harry stood straight and turned just to the side a little, mirroring Keystone's action. "Good…now…with style…draw your wands!" Harry drew his reflexively from his sleeve…and flinched as he always did at the flash. "Excellent. That'll do it." Lowering the camera, Mead nodded to the reporter and headed off to the side.

Harry and Alex braced themselves as the reported descended to bombard them with questions. Despite addressing nearly all of her queries to the pair, Scrimgeour cut in with his own responses several times, annoying all. By the end Harry was sure he had retold the tale, including his leaving from Ron's room on his broom, a clever little invention that dovetailed nicely into his cover story, at least three times. Temporarily giving Harry a reprieve the reporter focused on Keystone and his sword, multiple times questioning its utility in a magical world. Finally satisfied that she had squeezed all the information out of him that she could, including repeated retellings of Harry full fledged patronus, she collected the camera man and headed out.

Not bothering to offer his hand this time, the Minister turned to leave, Percy again on his heels and greeted a number of people on his way out the door. Once he had disappeared Harry let him self curse under his breath. "Damn him."

"Oh…I wouldn't worry about him too much." He turned to find the professor chuckling into his hand. He was staring after the disappearing figure of the minister.

"What? Why?"

"The reporter and cameraman?" Harry nodded. "They were my classmates. I've been getting irate letters from them all year about what the paper's been forced to print. They'll eat their own wands before they print a word or picture about Rufus." He let out a full laugh as he turned away. "Get some breakfast Potter. It's Saturday, you need to keep up your strength." He left Harry with a shocked grin on his face. Turning back he found a number of the parents watching him. Giving them what he hoped was a reassuring nod; he slid to the side and headed for the Great Hall. Though he had eaten just a couple hours ago, he was feeling celebratory and needed something sweet. Maybe treacle tart…

Striding in through the open double doors, he immediately found Ron, Hermione and Ginny sitting in their usual spot near the far end of the table. Acknowledging the few looks of respect and awe he got from the students he walked on confidently, being, for the moment, the symbol the students wanted. When this was all over, he'd have to hide out in his house for a few months while that died down, but for now, he acted the hero. With a quick kiss he dropped in next to Ginny and fell forward, leaning on his elbows.

"Gooood morning." Ron inclined his head with half closed eyes, digging though his food. Hermione folded down the corner of the paper she was reading and smiled for greeting. Ginny kissed him back but spoke sternly.

"Where have you been? Did that meeting really go that long?"

"No…school's staying open by the way." The look she gave him said she had never doubted that. "Actually…Professor Keystone and I did an interview for the Prophet." This perked up Ginny's interest and actually made Ron's eyes open fully.

"The Prophet? Why would you even talk to that rag?" Ron looked truly annoyed. "Usually a reporter comes within fifty feet of you, you run the other way."

"Can't really blame him, can you Ronald. Not after fourth year. It wasn't Miss Skeeter I presume?"

"No. It was actually two of the professor's old classmates. Which was a stroke of luck when the Minister showed up."

"Scrimgeour? Here?"

"Yep. Tried to get in the picture and everything. The way he was going on you'd think hiring Keystone was his idea."

"Arrogant git. So why did you do it?"

"McGonagall thinks it'll help reassure the parents. I agreed." Hermione closed the paper and flipped it around, sliding it across the table to him.

"They're going to need it. Hogwarts wasn't the only place attacked last night." Her tone immediately told him how serious it was. Reading from the top, the Dementor attack was indeed the headline. Below it though were two other stories. The first took up the majority of the bottom of the page and featured a picture of Azkaban.

AZKABAN ATTACKED BY DEATH EATERS

6 AURORS KILLED, ATTACKERS REPELLED

Scanning the article Harry found it to be a rather odd attack. It had been head on and no attempt seemed to have been made to reach the cells. The Death Eaters had just assaulted the gate and stood there for some minutes attacking anyone who came at them. He pointed to it and gestured to Ron. "You read this?"

"'mione read it to me."

"And? Bit of an odd attack don't you think?" Ron continued in a sleepy voice. Apparently Hermione had forced him to come to breakfast as it looked like he would have preferred to be asleep.

"Probably a test. Just wanted to see how strong the defenses were. Or a distraction from here. They didn't mean to get anyone out that go. Probably try again later." Hermione's head whipped over, surprised.

"Why didn't you mention any of that when I read it to you?" He just shrugged.

"Didn't ask." She sent a withering look his was that bounced harmlessly off his sleepy form. Harry looked down at the other article on the page. Though less note worthy compared to the other stories, it made his heart chill. He read the title aloud.

"Six More Dead, All Gringott's Curse breakers." He turned rapidly to Ginny. "They didn't…"

"No. Bill's fine. He isn't technically a curse breaker anymore. Got a frantically relieved letter from mum this morning though." He let out a relieved breath at that and immediately felt bad that that one life would outweigh the six that had ended.

"Two months of nothing…and now this. What changed?" He looked to each of them but none had a reply. No longer feeling like celebrating, he waited for them to finish and led the way back to Ron and Hermione's room. Taking their seats, Ron more or less flopping back, they sat in silence for several moments. "Okay…so where are we?" Hermione responded, ticking the points off on her fingers.

"Well…we've got five Horcrux, all we're likely to get for now unless we want to break into Voldemort's lair. Three have been destroyed. That leaves two to destroy and a snake to kill. Then you can kill Voldemort. So the next problem seems to be…how do you destroy a Horcrux? If you don't have a basilisk fang or a Dementor handy," she amended. Harry thought about it for a moment.

"Well…Dumbledore did say that the other memory he left in the pensieve was about destroying the Horcrux. That might have some ideas." Ginny looked contemplative for a moment.

"What about out Defense instructor? I mean, he's suppose to know about dark things, isn't he?"

"Sure…but how do we ask him? 'Hey, professor Keystone, happen to know how to destroy the darkest magical objects in existence?' Don't think so." Hermione shook her head at his idea.

"No Harry. We don't ask directly. We ask about other things. How he killed the Dementors. His sword. It must be magical. He knows someone who makes magical items; you just casually ask what it would take to destroy something like that. See? He tells us what he knows, and is never the wiser."

"I don't think he's going to be fooled by such a simple ruse. But we don't seem to have a lot of options."

"Fine. We'll only ask him if the memory doesn't have anything. Deal?" A moment later he nodded in agreement. "So…when do we take a look at the memory?" Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the large brass key.

"Right now." He glanced over at Ginny. "Coming?"

"I canceled the meeting today. Figured we could all use a day off." She reached out and grasped the key. Hermione nudged Ron and grabbed his hand, grabbing the key with the other. Wrapping his groggy hand around it they all held on as the port key pulled them the mile to Hogsmeade to appear back in the basement.

"Okay, straight to my room. We can't let anyone know we were there." They nodded and Hermione smacked Ron to wake him up enough to apperate. He disappeared and she followed a moment later. Harry pulled Ginny close. "Hold tight."

"Not a problem." Turning in place, he could feel her holding on as he appeared in his room back at Grimmauld. Looking around he found a light coat of dust covering his things.

"Surprised your mum hasn't cleaned up."

"She couldn't." At his quizzical expression she continued. "When we left…I sort of put a locking ward on your room. Hermione did the same for the rest of the floor. Except the War Room of course."

"Oh…then how…"

"Couldn't make it apparition proof. Bit beyond me right now."

"Oh. Thanks." For response she jerked her head to the sitting area where the pensive still sat on the table, its liquid silver surface perfectly still. Drawing his wand, Harry swirled the surface, thinking on how to destroy the Horcrux. After a moment he saw an unfamiliar image. It was that of Dumbledore holding the ring, his hand still intact. "This must be it. Okay, who's-" Half flopping forward at Hermione's nudge, Ron was the first into the pensieve. She followed a second later and Harry followed Ginny. Landing in the office he had left just over and hour ago, he looked around. Dumbledore was again seated in his desk, apparently waiting.

"Harry…and whoever you've brought along, please." He gestured to the front of his desk and they moved a few feet to comply. "Now…since you are viewing this message I can only surmise one of two things. Either you have indeed managed to recover at least three of the remaining Horcrux, or you are again showing your impetuous side and viewing this anyway. Either way, there seems little choice in how to proceed." It was odd to see this Dumbledore, after seeing his portrait. Here the depth of knowledge was intact, the wisdom preserved.

"First, and this will be little disconcerting I imagine, allow me to show you how I destroyed the ring." He stood and Harry noticed for the first time, the pensieve sitting on his desk. What the… Dumbledore swirled his wand and leaned toward the basin. It was indeed a weird feeling falling into a memory within a memory and they landed a few moments later back in the office, this time with two Dumbledores. One was standing in the center considering the Ring of Gaunt while the other stood near them off to the side, commenting.

"Having acquired the ring, I was left with the problem of what to do with it. I did consider waiting for you as your previous experience with the diary showed you were capable of destroying a Horcrux without repercussion. However I judged that I must at least attempt it." The other Dumbledore slowly slipped the ring on his finger and waited a moment. Almost immediately two things happened. First he clenched his hand in extreme pain that barely registered on his wizened face. Second the stone began to glow with a terrible black light that cast the room in darkness wherever it touched.

Dumbledore tried to unclench his hand and remove the ring, but to no avail. It took several moments for him to draw his wand and aim at his hand. Something shot out and struck the ring that reminded Harry of whatever spell the wizard had cast against Tom in the Ministry. After a short but extremely fierce, though oddly silent, battle between the light in the ring and the light from his wand, both went out and Harry could hear the slight pop of the stone breaking.

Dumbledore's wand fell to his side, his chest heaving at the effort he had exerted. A few seconds later he again went rigid and Harry could see why. Around the ring the flesh of his hand had begun to turn black. Taking only a second to stash his wand, the wizard ran rather nimbly out the door. "This is the point I ran to Severus. Fortunately he had the necessary antidote ingredients ready before I lost more than my hand." A moment later the room slid away as they fell out of the memory and back into the first memory. "Harry…you may recall I said it was lack of reflexes that cost me my hand. And it was. Had I been faster I could have removed the ring in those critical few seconds before its final trap was activated. Unfortunately I've become slower with age than I care to admit…

"Anyway…I'm sure you think that spell is the key. Unfortunately I later discovered it had only worked because I had triggered the traps within the ring. That…and the spell it self is…and I mean it as no slight on you…far beyond your skills. I took several years to learn it and you do not have that much time. And you can't sacrifice that many pieces of your flesh to destroy the others.

"Unfortunately, even with all my, forgive me a slight bit of pride here, considerable knowledge, I have been able to find no certain way to destroy these objects. There have been hints and whispers I've managed to collect. The head curse breaker at Gringott's had heard of the ultimate curse destroying spell, but its name was lost long ago. Oddly enough, Frank Longbottom, who worked in the Department of Mysteries as well as the Aurors force for a period of time, mentioned something about splitting a soul and how to counter it. Unfortunately, before I could put together enough pieces to understand it might be useful…well…you know what happened to him.

"So…not only must I leave the task of retrieving these objects to you, I must also leave the task of figuring out how to destroy them to you. I'm sorry Harry. I really am. Could I take this burden from you, I would. But it is not my place to make that decision. With the help of Miss Granger's incredible mind, which may one day match my own, Mr. Weasley's gift for strategy and Miss Weasley watching over you, I know you will find a way. Remember…we are never given more than we can carry…but it doesn't hurt to ask for help. Goodbye Harry." The others fell up and disappeared a second before Harry so he was the only one to hear the last. Dumbledore spoke with a tear falling freely down his cheek. "I loved you like my son. Take care." Harry felt a strange sense of calm at he fell out of the pensieve and back into his chair.

It was several minutes of silence before Ginny spoke at his side. "I had really hoped…"

"Me too." He glanced over to find Ron trying to sleep again and Hermione letting him as a contemplative look set itself in her face. "What is it?"

"The Curse Breakers Harry. Dumbledore mentioned them and just this morning six of them were killed."

"You think there's a connection?"

"Almost has to be… I'll look into it when we get back." She continued puzzling it over as Ginny spoke.

"So…the professor?"

"Yeah. Tommorrow. Let's take the rest of the day off." The other's readily agreed as they rose to apperate back to Hogsmeade.

(A/N): If you feel it is warranted feel free to review. I welcome any and all opinions.

BTW: If you're wondering how I reconciled 12 governors with the 7-6 vote in chapter five, I just figured the Headmaster/mistress would have a vote in case of a tie. Yay continuity.