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

(A/N): Okay, before the chapter, a few bits of business:

The good: This chapter is long. Like double a normal chapter long. It's also packed with plot development and, as a plot chapter, is so far my personal favorite.

The possibly discouraging: It's almost entirely exposition and dialogue with basically no action which may annoy a few people.

The Bad: I've got a mountain of stuff to do this week so odds are good this will be the only chapter I get posted. You might want to read half at a time or something to make it last longer…

Chapter 39

The Sorting Hat's Mistake

Second Wizard War Over!

With the fall of You-Know-Who and most of his followers in the Battle of Hogwarts, the Second Wizard War has drawn to a close and peace has returned to the Magical world. Acting Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge made the announcement of the victory late last night, nearly a full day after the epic battle that brought an end to the rein of the dark lord. According to Fudge it has been conclusively proved that You-Know-Who has been destroyed and can never again rise to threaten the peace of the world. Details of the battle are sketchy at this point though this reporter has learned that it was a combined force consisting of Aurors, Hogwarts staff, a volunteer group of witches and wizards and even some of the students that fought the dark forces as they assailed the castle. Sources also indicated that it was none other than Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, who led the force in the battle.

With the news of the victory, the entire wizard world had erupted in celebration not seen since the end of the first war. Fred Weasley, co-owner of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, says that their humble joke shop, the last business in Diagon Alley to close prior to the end of the war, has seen a massive upswing in business in the last twenty four hours but promises to stock plenty of…

The rest of the article was hidden past the fold in the paper as Harry looked over it. Much of the front page was dominated by a large picture of the castle with one of his face, apparently a cropped version of the Heroes of Hogwarts image, set in one corner. Having woken late in the morning, he was actually among the last people in the wizarding world to read his copy of the Prophet. The fact he had actually been there though, was something of a mitigating circumstance.

Tossing the paper over to the stand next to his bed, he looked over the rest of the ward. The one extra day of rest had allowed a number of people to recuperate enough to head home or back to their dorms. There were only a handful of people left and the majority of them were asleep. Ron, Hermione and Ginny had all headed down to the Hall to get something to eat with a promise to bring him back a tray. Madam Pomfrey had said he could go if he wanted to risk it, but not to aggravate the wounds in his shoulder. He could feel, even now, the thin layer of skin over them that threatened to tear open should it be pushed too hard.

The mood throughout much of the world might be jubilant, but within the castle it was tempered by the knowledge there were seven students and many others they would never see again. The younger students had, for once, taken a cue from the older and not questioned their attitudes too much. There were a lot of parents and one younger brother he was going to have to talk to soon, he was just thankful none of them were the Weasleys or Grangers. He still didn't know what to say, but it had to be done and he was the only one who could.

Pushing that aside, he focused on more immediate concerns. He had been lying in bed for nearly a day and a half. Coming to a decision he threw back the covers and took a deep breath. He flexed each of his muscles, hoping they were ready for this. Sliding his legs over the side and planting his feet firmly on the floor, he rested his hands on his knees for a moment. Leaning forward he pushed himself to a standing position. When his legs didn't buckle he took a step. After several more he felt the stiffness beginning to leave his body. He spun back and forth a few times, trying to really wake up. He stopped cold when he felt the patches on his shoulder shift. Okay…no more of that.

"Felt like getting up, huh?" He turned to find the other three striding quickly closer. Apparently they had added a trip to the dorms to their hunt for breakfast as they were cleaned up and had changed into normal clothes. He mentally stuck that on his list of things to do as soon as possible. After eat of course. He eyed the tray of food Ginny was carrying greedily. He stepped quickly closer and planted a small kiss on her lips, taking the tray in the process. She looked a little annoyed as he lifted the tray and stepped away.

While he tore through the late breakfast the others sat across from him, chatting about nothing at all. Harry strongly suspected there was a guard of some kind on the door since there had been no stream of people coming to see him. He would need to get that over with soon; he just had to figure out how. It was a little crazy that he had worked for the entire year on a hundred different things to achieve the fall of Tom Riddle, and now that he had, there was even more to do.

"So Harry…figured out what you're going to do next?" The question rose from whatever they had been talking about, embarrassingly he hadn't really been paying attention, and focused his attention from the empty tray to Ron.

"Uh…well… Shower and a change of clothes sounds like a good idea." He noticed Ginny nodding just a little too enthusiastically. "Then I figured I'd go down for lunch…actually…that would be a really good time to say hi to everyone, get that over with."

"Sounds good…just one question."

"What's that?"

"How do you get back to your room without getting mobbed?"

"Ah…well…I'll just…crap." His cloak and the map were both up in his room. Can't apperate within the school and there was likely already someone waiting just outside. Hermione considered the problem for a moment.

"Well…you could go to our rooms…that would be closer."

"Okay…still leaves the problem of how to get there." She looked around again and scanned the room carefully. Her eyes fell on something and lit up. "What?"

"Well…this is a little morbid…but I think it will work."

"You've never been wrong before. Let's do it."

Half an hour later Harry could see again as the sheet was pulled off his face to reveal the inside of the Heads' common room. Blinking again at the sudden influx of light, he sat up on the stretcher, which was resting on the floor, to look around. Hermione was behind him from where she had been directing it as it floated down the halls after quietly leaving the medical ward. Ron and Ginny had left a few minutes earlier to avoid suspicion and would be arriving soon. Right after they picked up his change of clothes. Grinning again at Hermione's ingenuity, he slowly rose to his feet and kicked off his shoes.

"Now that…was brilliant." She smiled in response and vanished the stretcher a moment later.

"Thanks. I have to admit I was a little skeptical it would work." She pocketed her wand again and watched him as he began walking around the room to stretch.

"Well, like most of your ideas, it came off perfectly. So…how are you feeling? I never really got the chance to ask before." He sat down one of the couches and peeled off his socks, sticking them in the corresponding shoes.

"Pretty good. You?" Hermione sat on the other couch as he responded.

"Okay. Little stiff and still sore, but otherwise…" He rolled his right shoulder a couple of times, trying to work the stiffness out of it once again. On the last revolution he felt something pull and hoped he hadn't ripped one of the scars open. "Could have been a lot worse."

"Yeah…" He could see her eyes drift off to the side and he knew she was playing the battle over in her mind, just as he had been. So many had died for victory. Reaching over his shoulder he tried to feel for any bleeding. The shirt was dry…so far. Absently undoing the top couple buttons of the white shirt Ron had brought him to replace his torn and singed uniform, he pushed the collar back to try and see for himself. Unfortunately his head couldn't turn that far.

"Hey Hermione? Could you check and see if either of these broke?"

"Hm? Oh…sure." He turned as she rose and kneeled behind him, pulling the shirt aside to get a better view. It was the first time she had seen the marks and he heard a slight gasp as her eyes fell on them. He could feel a finger tracing the outline, much larger than he had originally thought. "This is where…?"

"Nagini. Hell of a way to figure out where the thing was. So, how do they look?" She hesitated for a moment, apparently comparing the two.

"Oh…fine…I guess. How are poisoned snake bites the size of galleons supposed to look?"

"You'd know better than I would." She let go of his shirt and fell back to sit on the arm of the couch as he turned to face her. He rolled the shoulder again, more carefully this time.

"Does it hurt?"

"Yeah. Not as much as it did though. Madam Pomfrey says it should heal in a couple weeks. Small thing, considering." She nodded slowly in response. They sat in silence for a minute as each considered how much had been lost and just how much more could have been. "Have you sent a letter to your parents yet?"

"Yeah…this morning along with a copy of the Prophet. They still don't really understand everything that's happened and…I didn't really try too hard to explain it. But now that it's over…"

"They'll lock you in your room and throw away the key." She smiled a little at the thought.

"Then I'll just have to apperate away."

"Breaking out of your parents' house? Why Miss Granger, wherever did you learn such behavior?"

"I had a couple of bad influences at school, the kind of boys my mother always warned me about." Neither could hold back after that and both exploded into a fit of laughter. When Harry managed to calm down and wipe his eyes dry, he found the Weasley siblings standing near the entryway, looking at both of them with cocked eyebrows. Noticing the pile of fresh clothes in Ron's hands, Harry rose slowly and grabbed them.

"Thanks Ron. Now, if you don't mind?" He turned and headed for the bathroom, each of them taking a half step to help him as his knee gave out for a second. Ginny reached his side first and help him stand up straight.

"You need a hand?"

"You know…I wouldn't mind, but I don't really have the energy to duel Ron to the death right now." Both looked up to see the annoyed expression on her brother. Before any actual fighting could ensue, he slipped into the bathroom and locked the door both physically and magically. Stripping off the rest of his clothes, he nearly laughed at the argument he had likely sparked. Then again…maybe not. Hermione would keep Ron in check.

Emerging from the bathroom half an hour later, dressed in a t-shirt and jeans and feeling a hundred times better, he found them scattered about the room, not trace of fighting anywhere. Ginny and Hermione were both stretched out on the couches, apparently content to do nothing for a little while. Ron glanced up from the chessboard where he seemed to be playing himself…and losing. "Hey mate. Forgot about this." He held up a small envelope. "McGonagall gave to us on the way back." He threw the envelope across the room like a frisbee only to have it arc right for an oblivious Hermione's head. Saving him from her wrath, Harry extended his hand and summoned it over.

"Thanks." Flipping it over he found his name once again emblazoned in the headmistress's sever script. Sliding his finger across to break the seal, he pulled out the note.

Mr. Potter,

The Minister, Kingsley Shaklebolt, Madam Maxine, a few other people
and I would like to meet with you as soon as possible to discuss the battle
and what actions we need to take now. If it's not inconvenient we will
expect you at 2 o'clock. Feel free to bring whoever you wish as well.
Should the time prove impossible, kindly send a note so we may reschedule.

Headmistress McGonagall

Harry glanced over the note a couple times before stuffing it back in the envelope and glancing at the clock. He had three hours before he was expected to appear before what was, for all intents and purposes, the leaders of the wizarding world and he wasn't even wearing socks. He suddenly had a vague idea why Dumbledore had such a desire to get socks for Christmas. Then again, at this point, he could probably show up in pajamas and no one would question him. But he did have to go to lunch yet. His eyes rose from his bare feet to find the trio all waiting for him.

"Meeting in McGonagall's office. Minister, Maxine, everyone apparently, at two." Ron looked just a touch annoyed at the level of meeting his friend was going to, heading probably.

"Well…have fun with that."

"Oh…I will. And so will you."

"Huh?"

"I'm no going in there alone. You three are coming with me." They each stared at him, stunned for a moment. Hermione, as usual, was the first to put together a coherent reply.

"But Harry…we'd have no idea what to do. You're always the one who goes to these things and does…whatever it is you do to get your way. You should just go and…take care of it. Besides…they're not going to want to talk to us. They're there to see the famous Harry Potter…not us."

"And that, for the first time in a long time Hermione, is where you're wrong. I don't know if you three realize it, but after this, you're going to be famous. It's about time you got some long overdue recognition." He turned first to Hermione, looking over the back of the couch. "Hermione Granger, the brilliant student whose tireless research saved me a dozen times over, and who lit up the battlefield to rob Voldemort of the advantage of darkness." He turned next to Ron at the chess board. "Ron Weasley, master strategist, the man who masterminded the defense of Hogwarts and the defeat of the forces of Voldemort." Both of them looked a little embarrassed at the way he was describing them, though not displeased.

Finally he walked around to the back of the other couch and leaned over right next to Ginny. "And finally I give you Ginny Weasley, Lieutenant in Dumbledore's army, field commander and organizer of that force and an incredibly brave student who held the line in the face of overwhelming numbers. And a rather attractive witch if I do say so myself." He leaned in and kissed her lightly. She smiled as he pulled back.

"Well…it's not quite Slayer of the Dark Lord…but I can live with it."

"Good." He rounded the couch and slipped on his shoes after pulling the socks out. "Now…we've got just under three hours before the meeting and I for one could use something to eat." The others nodded quick agreement and joined him in heading for the portrait hole. Harry braced himself as he neared the picture, knowing that he was leaving the last sanctuary he would have for a few days. He doubted the others realized just what it was like, but they were going to be in for it soon.

Heading down through the school they only met a couple people whom they stopped to greet. The ones that actually stopped and stared were the Aurors and the one visitor from Durmstrang they passed. The students from Hogwarts had apparently grown so used to him that they merely stopped for a moment to confirm it was him before waving and moving on. As they neared the Great Hall Harry noticed a second or third year see him and run back towards the room. A moment later it became apparent what he had done as they reached the double doors to find everyone waiting expectantly. Even a couple of the teachers had risen to see over the students to the door.

They just stared for a moment and the quartet stared back, polite smiles on their faces at the attention. Then, somewhere in the back, someone clapped. A split second later they were nearly blown back out the door by the violent cheers that rose from the gathered students. Harry bowed and stepped aside to present each of the others in turn. He was as pleased as they were surprised to find the cheers didn't lessen one bit for any of them and actually picked up a bit for Ginny. Harry was relatively sure he could see DA members strategically scattered through the room stoking the crowd on her behalf.

After a full five minutes the students began to quiet down, more from lack of oxygen than enthusiasm, and the quartet started to work their through the room to their customary seats near the front. While Harry had managed to pick up some of the nuances of passing through a crowd, the others floundered a little and he had to slow down to make sure they didn't get swallow up. Eventually though they made their way to their seats and the waiting food. While sitting, Harry caught the Headmistress's eye and gave an infinitesimal nod that she returned.

After a quick and relatively uninterrupted lunch, the quartet retreated to Ron and Hermione's common room. Harry grinned to himself at the way the others were still beaming at the praise they had received. He silently wondered if they would still be that happy when the papers got a hold of them. There was another interesting side effect of their sudden fame though, while he crashed on the couch to rest and wait, they, the girls especially, began wondering what they should be wearing to meet the Minister and the other leaders of the magical world.

Finally settling on their school uniforms sans robes just before they has to get going, Harry shrugged approval in his jeans and t-shirt and led the way. He noticed at the last minute his shoes still had a few spots of blood on them but decided to let them be. They made a strange group traversing the school. Three of them wearing uniforms and looking more and more anxious, while he looked like he might be out for a Sunday afternoon stroll on the grounds. He realized as they neared the entrance to the Headmistress's office that he wasn't in fact wearing socks. A small grin formed unbidden on his lips.

Approaching the gargoyle, Harry spoke the password, lemon drops in a nod to Dumbledore, and led the others up the staircase to the Headmistress's office. Stepping through the open door he found the room already full of people, standing amongst the relics and tools of the office and waiting for them. McGonagall stood behind her desk examining the latest copy of the Prophet through her spectacles flanked by Flitwick cradling an arm in a sling and Hagrid, looking surprisingly serious. To Hagrid's side stood Madam Maxine, towering over the much smaller form of her former student Fleur Delacour. Further along the left side of the office stood Viktor Krum, a newly received scar on his cheek, speaking quietly to Remus Lupin. On the other side next to Flitwick, Acting Minister Fudge waited with his cane, nodding to them as they entered. Nest to him were Kingsley Shacklebolt, Arthur and Tonks. He just noticed Professor Keystone standing back near the pensieve cabinet with Professor Montoya at his arm as the four moved forward to complete the circle.

Every head in the room followed them intently and waited. They stared back, waiting for someone else to speak. McGonagall tossed aside the paper and focused on him. "Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, Mr. and Miss Weasley. Thank you for coming."

"No problem Headmistress. Now…what did you want to talk about?" She hesitated for a moment before responding.

"Well…first and foremost we need to know for sure…last time everyone thought, but there wasn't any actual proof and we don't want to make the same mistake this time-"

"Is he gone?" Fudge had taken half a step and interrupted her. "Forgive me Minerva, but the question is…is he gone for good this time?" Harry smiled a little as he nodded once firmly.

"Yes. Voldemort can never come back." He heard the room release a collective breath he wasn't even sure they knew they had been holding. Fudge nodded to himself a couple times before again focusing on Harry and raising his next question.

"How did he survive last time?" This time it was Harry who hesitated. He had known walking into this room exactly what answers he could give and this wasn't one of them.

"I…can't tell you." Everyone looked surprised, apparently misinterpreting his response. "I mean…I know how…but I won't tell you. It's one of the darkest bits of magic ever devised and it would me best if the knowledge of it died with him…and me." For a moment it looked like Fudge might keep pressing, but apparently he had realized just when pushing Harry wouldn't get him anywhere. He did however have another question.

"Did…did you know when he would attack?" Harry reappraised the man quickly. Either he was more insightful than Harry had ever guessed…or he had gotten some good advisors. The other's had also been surprised at the question and waited eagerly for the response. He cut his eyes to Ron and noticed his friend fighting a smile. Hermione and Ginny were also looking questioningly at the red head. They had suspected some foreknowledge on his and Harry's part since the nod between them before the battle, but had yet to ask themselves. Harry stepped aside and gestured to Ron.

"To explain that may I present our lead strategist Ron Weasley?" All eyes shifted to Ron and Harry could see a light blush creeping up his neck. He nodded to encourage him to speak. After a hesitant moment, he did.

"Uh…yeah… Well, not exactly. But we had a few strong indications." Harry noticed he had slipped into the same explaining lecture that had served him so well at the first Order meeting. "Um…Hermione? If you could?" She nodded and waved her wand which produced a standing blackboard with a calendar of the school year laid out on it by month. Harry wasn't sure when they had concocted this idea, but it was suitably impressive that he didn't question it. "Now…we all know that Voldemort went to great lengths to convince the werewolves to join him. We reasoned that there was little point in having these followers if they couldn't use their more powerful forms to fight. So that narrowed the chances of attack down considerably to nights when there would be a full moon." Hermione waved her wand again and the specified days were filled in with red chalk. "Those of you who were there noticed they hung back waiting for the moon to rise so they could easily cut through the survivors after the giants and Inferi had had their way. They weren't counting on the nearly suicidal and incredibly effective preemptive attack by Harry, Mr. Lupin and Professor Keystone.

"We did try to figure out if there was a pattern to the attacks begun after Halloween but there simply wasn't enough information to help. After the second attack on the school in February we were fairly sure the time was ripe for the final offensive. Unfortunately we were still too strong for Voldemort to be sure of an easy victory, which is why Harry requested that you," he gestured to Fudge, "Minister, remove the Aurors. It would make the school appear weak enough that Voldemort could convince himself of certain victory." Fudge looked rather surprised at finally finding out what had prompted Harry's actions. "After that we found reports in the Prophet that five hundred muggles had disappeared from a small town, doubtlessly to become Inferi, and we knew the time had come. So…Harry sent a message to Fred and George, who had managed to acquire some help from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, that that Friday would be the day…and we waited." All around the room eyes were wide and jaws dropped at the explanation. Harry noticed Arthur was now beaming with pride at the actions of his son. Even Ginny and Hermione looked a little surprised at just what planning had gone on in Ron's mind.

"But…the students who fought? They looked far too organized to simply be who you could gather." Ron nodded slowly for a second before also stepping aside and looking helplessly to Harry. With a flick of her wand, Hermione vanished the board as Harry resumed center stage.

"Right. They were organized…by Miss Weasley. Ginny? If you would care to explain?" She nodded and stepped forward, garnering even more surprised stares, especially from her father.

"In fifth year, in response to Umbridge's horrendous Defense class, Hermione persuaded Harry to start a secret group to practice practical defense techniques. A few days later Dumbledore's Army was born. As a group we practiced a couple times a week with Harry, with Hermione's help of course, as the instructor. It served us well for the O.W.L.S. and during the battle at the Ministry that year." She paused for a moment and Harry noticed pure shock had now appeared on nearly every face save McGonagall's and Keystone's. "The group was reformed at the beginning of this year with a much more important goal in mind, the defense of Hogwarts, and I was made field commander. Using both what Professor Keystone has taught us and other sources we practiced at least once a week and formed into squads that were balanced to fight together. I believe the results speak for themselves." She stepped back to the stocked stares of the rest.

Harry noticed Arthur was now staring at his daughter as if she was someone he had never seen before. He also noticed Keystone grinning rather widely in the corner. Harry again stepped forward and gestured to Hermione. "Now…unfortunately, I can't tell you Miss Granger's greatest contribution to the fight because it involves her work uncovering the dark piece of magic I mentioned earlier. However, I can say with no reservations that none of us would have made it here today without her super mental capabilities. Also, it was through her skills that we could see to fight Friday night. Thank you Hermione." All eyes now swung to here and she smiled in response, coloring faintly. "So…what else?" Fudge again spoke, a look of concentration in his eyes as they passed Arthur, Kingsley and Lupin.

"The others who came to your aid…including one Alastor Moody…they too seemed organized to fight." Harry nodded slowly and caught a glance from McGonagall silently warning him to speak carefully.

"Yes. That was the Order of the Phoenix, a group Headmaster Dumbledore assembled during the last war to fight Voldemort. He resurrected them when Voldemort was reborn to counter the Ministry's inaction. Once the last of the escaped Death Eaters has been caught, it's likely the group will be disbanded once again."

"Ah…I see…" Fudge clearly wished to ask more, but the finality of Harry's voice wouldn't allow it. After a moment of glancing around, he spoke again. "Well…I believe that is all we need to know…" A number of short, still surprised nods around the room confirmed this. "Now…did you have any suggestions for where we might go from here? I must admit Harry, you've handled the previous year far better than I, or likely any of us could have," no one contradicted him and a few nodded, "and any ideas you might have would be greatly appreciated." He could just see the looks of amazement in his friends' eyes. Here was the Minister of Magic and a room full of extremely powerful witches and wizards deferring to his judgment on the matter. McGonagall was also staring at him, just the slightest trace of pride at the edges of her eyes. Harry focused for a moment before responding.

"Well…people are already celebrating, right?" He nodded in response. "Let them. They deserve a little peace. But remind them to keep an eye out. There are still a few Death Eaters out there. I think mentioning Alice and Frank Longbottom will be sufficient to keep everyone on guard." The minister nodded again, clearly knowing exactly what Harry meant about the Longbottoms. Harry turned his gaze to McGonagall. "Were you planning to give the students time off?" She only took a moment to nod.

"Yes. I believe the week will be sufficient and we'll be having a funeral on Friday for those who wished to be buried here." Harry hadn't really considered the funeral aspect, he had assumed the dead would be buried at home, but where did people like Moody call home?

"Okay. That sounds about right. While everyone else is celebrating minister, you need to be planning. The press will give us about a week's worth of leeway but then they're going to want to hear about how the Ministry will be reopening and everyone will be returning to work. I can buy a couple extra days if I wait to do interviews about the battle until after the funeral, they probably even expect it, but then you need to have a plan in place. If you don't mind, I'd like a small contingent of Aurors to finish out the school year here just in case, but the rest should be back in there offices as soon as possible. Can you do that?" The Minister wasn't the only person in the room amazed by Harry's snap assessment and plan of action he had seemingly constructed on the spot.

"Yes, I believe we can. It'll take a lot of work but we can make it happen. Thank you." Glancing around and seeing no one else requiring his attention, he turned to the Headmistress. "If there's nothing else Minerva?" She shook her head a moment later. "Kingsley, Tonks," he hesitated for a moment but decided to leave Arthur to speak with his children should he see fit, "Weasley, join us as soon as you can. Let's go, we have a lot of people to talk to. Thank you Mr. Potter, Weasley, Miss Granger and Miss Weasley." As he passed them to the door he shook each of their hands in turn. After they had reached the stairway down, Harry turned to the other side of the room.

"Madam Maxine, Fleur, Viktor…thank you for coming and bringing your comrades. We couldn't have done it without your help. Feel free to stay as long as you wish."

"Thank you Mr. Potter. We shall stay at least until the funeral." She passed by shaking their hands as well. With Fleur and Viktor he merely shared a smile and a nod. There was a connection between the remaining Tri-Wizard champions that they alone would ever share. Dumbledore had been right; the tournament had brought the three schools together ultimately. A moment after they passed Arthur made to follow.

"Ginny…could is speak to you a moment?" She hesitated for a second and glanced to Harry before nodding reluctantly and following him out. McGonagall waited until they were out of earshot before gathering most of the rest with a glance.

"Professors, we should go and inform our colleagues and the students about the decisions that have been made here. Heads of House can inform the prefects, Hagrid would you tell the centaurs?" The massive man nodded solemnly, still clearly feeling his brother's loss. "Remus, if you and Alex could track down the rest of the professors? And then you should be resting." Harry was personally amazed Lupin was on his feet so soon after the transformation and battle.

"We'll take care of it. And then I will be going back to bed." He took a step forward and Harry noticed he was limping heavily on the leg that had been torn open as well as half clutching his side. He set a hand on Harry's shoulder in silent approval and shook the others' hand as he headed out the door to wait for Professor Keystone. Hagrid passed slowly to avoid running over Flitwick and could only manage a somber nod to each as he left. McGonagall, the next to last to leave, stopped before them.

"Feel free to stay here for a little while. I daresay you'd enjoy a little peace."

"Thank you Headmistress." She nodded and followed the rest out. Keystone was the last to leave and wove his way through the room deftly despite his lost eyes. Harry noticed his hands trailing around him and guiding his steps.

"Excellent job on all your parts. I'm honored to say I am your professor. Enjoy the week off; I'll expect you well rested for class next Monday." Harry nodded silently before realizing he couldn't see it. "Oh…by the way Potter. Stop by my office when you get the chance. I have something that belongs to you." With that last cryptic statement, he headed out to the stairs to join Remus and find the rest of the teachers.

Left alone once again, the trio looked over the room. Harry had spent so much time up here over the last several years it was almost like a second common room to him. He began lazily walking about, letting his hands trace around the edges of the various instruments strewn about in what he was sure was a perfectly organized haphazard way. He eventually found himself at the desk and turned around to lean back against it. He found Ron and Hermione glancing around apprehensively, almost as if it were a museum. Hermione's eyes fell on the small collection of books on one wall and her hand twitched as if she wanted to touch them. Ron on the other hand was looking around at the various instruments, just a hint of his father showing through as he tried to see how they worked. Harry chuckled a little at the actions of his friends, drawing embarrassed looks from each of them.

"Come on guys…this isn't a museum."

"It most certainly is not." Harry spun around and made to draw his wand, trying to quickly ascertain where the voice came from. He found nothing and no one there though as his head whipped back and forth rapidly. "Oh…put that away. I couldn't hurt you if I wanted to." This time Harry did find the source of the voice and was surprised to discover it was non other that the beaten up old Sorting Hat sitting on it's stool behind the desk, staring out at them with its mock imitation of eyes, the rip of a mouth moving slightly. Ron and Hermione approached slowly, just as surprise that the magical object had decided to speak other than to sing its yearly song and announce houses. It noticed the sudden scrutiny and looked as annoyed as a tattered hat could look. "As I was saying, this isn't a museum…though considering the gawking…" Each of them had the grace to look a little embarrassed as they pulled back.

"Oh…sorry. It's just not like you to talk other than the first day." Harry knew of one time he had spoken to the hat other that that, but it wasn't something he was particularly keen to share, and he had had to physically put it on his head that time. The hat sort of nodded in response to this.

"Yes…I don't usually speak during the year, especially now that Dumbledore has passed on. However, I was wondering if I could trouble you to put me on, if only for a moment. You see, the only way I can easily gain information is to read it from someone's mind and Professor McGonagall has been rather lax in allowing me. Not to mention the first years rarely know much outside of their families." Harry glanced at the others for a moment, truly surprised.

"Uh…maybe you would prefer Hermione? She knows a lot more than I do." He glanced to her as she nodded in willingness. The hat's eyes rolled over to her before approximating shaking its head.

"No. I'm sorry, but you know the last journey of Dumbledore better than she. And the fight against Tom Riddle. Please…just for a moment." Harry hesitated for just a second before approaching and carefully lifting the tattered headwear. Setting it on his own head for the third time in his life, he was a little pleased to find that it rested perfectly above his brow instead of falling over his eyes. A moment later he could feel the object racing through his mind, something akin to Tom's possession or perhaps legilemency, reading his thoughts and feelings. It was only a few seconds later when he heard its light voice in his ear once again. "Thank you. I'm done." Nodding slowly, Harry lifted the hat from his head and set it back on its home. Harry then stepped back a little as the Sorting Hat considered all it had just learned.

After another period of silence, it refocused its gaze on them. "The reason I speak now, and to you, is that I feel I owe the three of you an explanation." It hesitated for a moment while the trio exchanged confused glances. What could the Sorting Hat possible have to explain to three students? It answered a few seconds later. "You see…I made a mistake." Harry's eyes popped open wider. A mistake? About him? Was he really meant to be in Slytherin after all? He had all but dismissed the idea years ago, but the hat hadn't said it made a mistake then. "Everyone knows why I was created, to sort the students into one of the four houses once the Founders had departed. It is my duty, my burden, my curse. But I have done it faithfully for centuries, completing every year the duty the Founders entrusted me with, reading the abilities in each student and placing them where they belonged. But just over a half century ago, merely a blink in my memory, I made a grave mistake with one small child." Harry let out a breath of relief. It was someone before his time…but…half a century…? Could it be…?

"When Tom Riddle arrived on my stool and I was placed on his head, I could feel the incredible talent that lay within and power he would grow to have. More over I could feel the near demand to be placed in Slytherin. Though he was at that time still ignorant of his bloodline, he believed that was where he would fit in the best. I considered placing him elsewhere, Ravenclaw, even Gryffindor for a moment, but I could feel the trace of Salazar in his blood he didn't yet know of. Here, after centuries, I had the last heir of Salazar Slytherin himself, was it not natural he should go to his ancestor's house? So, against my first instincts, I granted his wish and sent him to the House of Salazar Slytherin. That was my mistake, my sin. Do you see?" None of them could speak. This was the longest the hat had ever spoken at a run and they were partially afraid to interrupt it and partly stunned by what it said.

"Then, as you know, Tom Riddle grew in power as he grew in darkness, and I had given him a willing group of followers in granting his demand. When Albus finally took over for Headmaster Dippet and Riddle returned seeking work, I knew once and for all that I, more than anyone or anything else save perhaps his family, had been responsible for creating Lord Voldemort." After another moment of shock, Harry managed to speak.

"But…you couldn't have known what would happen. All you did was put him in Slytherin. Anyone would have done the same knowing his heritage."

"But I'm not anyone. I was created just for this job and for the first time, I failed. Had I put him in Ravenclaw, he may have still pursued his course in life, but he wouldn't have had the same resources at hand to help him and he might never have gained the dark power he did. But what ifs can be thought of forever and get us nowhere. The point it I did put him in a position to rise to power. As my penance, I set my self from that day forth to correct what I had done. Now…being merely the Sorting Hat, all I could do was sing songs and pick houses while offering Dumbledore what advice I could. But selecting a person's house, as you have already heard, is a powerful tool. So I watched and I waited." Harry noticed Hermione had drawn up simple chairs for herself and Ron while he took a seat on the edge of the desk, enraptured by what the hat was saying.

"It took many years but one sorting I found what I had been searching for. The people that I hoped could redeem me of my crime. One by one I placed them in Gryffindor, starting with Sirius Black. He had met each of the others and I knew that in that house they would become close friends and together might be able to challenge Tom Riddle. I met Lilly Evans next. I also considered placing her in Ravenclaw, but a deeper look told me she could go nowhere else than with Black. Remus Lupin, the werewolf that braved coming here and had already taken a liking to the other two, also went to Gryffindor. Peter Pettigrew I also sent to that house, believing he would learn the courage it carried from his hastily made friends. Finally came James Potter, the only one I had real doubt about." Harry was even more surprised at hearing this. His father had been considered for another house?

"I was going to send him to Salazar's house, but a glimmer of deep seeded feeling for Lily, and the knowledge, oblivious even to him, that he would give all to protect her, told me he belonged in her house. And so, the sorting done and my hopes now riding on those five, I waited. For six years it looked as if it would all be in vane. Though they had demonstrated prodigious skills, none seemed particularly concerned with bringing down Tom. Then…in their final year, as Lord Voldemort rose in power, they finally gained the focus needed while James and Lily, finally together, began to grow strong enough to challenge even the immense force of rising Dark Lord." The hat hesitated again, not for breath as it didn't need such things, but to collect the correct thoughts from the millions within its tattered threads.

"And then was made the prophecy which Dumbledore showed to me and I feared it had all been in vain. But then I also discover James and Lily were expecting a child that could be the one foretold, as were the Longbottoms, both of whom I had sorted into Gryffindor some years earlier. And so my hope was rekindled that I might yet be redeemed. It was short lived. Though Voldemort appeared to have been banished, the betrayal of Black, whom I had all but made their friend, and the unease in Dumbledore's mind worried me greatly. He became more and more convinced that the prophecy had yet to be fulfilled and that Tom still lived. Having failed in my first attempt to make up for my mistake, I did not risk trying again for many years. But the prophecy stayed in my thoughts as did the name assigned to it, that of Harry Potter." Harry glanced over at his friend, both in a similar trance to his own; listening to the enrapturing story the hat was weaving.

"And then one evening, a young girl named Hannah Abbot had in her head the thought that Harry Potter had come to Hogwarts this year. While I sorted through the students I mulled the thought over until I came to my first truly difficult challenge of the evening and decided to take action once more. I had been so distracted by the thought that it took me a good long while to realize one Seamus Finnegan was waiting to be sorted. After him came Hermione Granger. A girl with one of the more remarkable minds I had ever seen. By right and by blood she should have been in Ravenclaw, but I saw an unlikely amount of brazenness there that sent you to Gryffindor." Hermione was gaping at the hat now, not quite sure what to make of it.

"And then Mr. Potter, I eventually came to you. I was almost positive from knowing your parents that you belonged in Gryffindor, but I still had to check for myself."

"But…but you tried to shove me into Slytherin!"

"No. I merely asked if that's what you wanted. I had to be sure you see, positive you were different than him. And in the force of your wish merely not to be in Salazar's house, I knew you belonged in Gryffindor. Again the blood told." The hat adjusted its gaze again to settle on Ron. "And then I came to the second difficult choice of the evening, one I had been facing regularly for going on ten years. Another Weasley and where to put him." Ron was now nearly as confused as Harry.

"But…my whole family's in Gryffindor. You even told me you knew what to do with me when you sent me there!"

"That's true. I did. But you see, every time one of your family comes up, I consider sending you to Hufflepuff. But every time you've shown just enough courage, some more and some less, to warrant Gryffindor. Your sister actually showed it the most and I barely considered sending her to Helga's house. But in you I saw a friendship with the otherwise friendless orphan and, deep in your mind, the first vestiges of interest in Miss Granger. So my decision was made and you were sent to Gryffindor despite your bloodlines. And so, once again, I had put together a group I hoped could face Tom and had no choice but to wait." It was an odd look on the objects fabric face as the rip formed into a strange sort of grin.

"And to my joy, the three of you joined forces and finally erased the mistake I had made when you defeated Tom Riddle." It was a good long time before any of them could speak, and it was Ron who finally did, his voice carrying a considerable amount of heat.

"You…you manipulated us into becoming friends?" Harry felt a bit of that outrage in himself as he stared at the hat.

"I did nothing of the sort. I merely put you together in the same place, guided by your already forming feelings for each other I might add, and hoped. I forced you to do nothing. And can you actually say you would be happier if I had put you in Hufflepuff and Miss Granger in Ravenclaw?" Ron was lost for words as he considered the possibility and Hermione asked a question instead, her voice the calm tone it nearly always was.

"You…you mentioned our bloodlines a couple times as reasons for not putting us in Gryffindor. Why was that?" Harry had also caught that repeated point, but hadn't yet thought to question it. The hat however was nodding, apparently expecting the inquiry to come from her.

"Yes…I did. It was also, in part, one of the reasons I believed the three of you, put together, would have a chance at stopping the last heir of Slytherin." It waited for a moment before continuing at Hermione's gesture. "You see…like him…each of you carries the blood of a Founder of Hogwarts." Harry's jaw hit the floor again and he nearly slipped off the desk. "Mr. Potter, whom Albus has many times referred to as a true Gryffindor, is in fact an Heir of Godric. That is the reason you could draw his sword in your most desperate hour. Do you know he hid that blade, more from himself than others, within me at the very time the Founders broke apart? It was that sword that partially caused the departure of Salazar. They had all been on edge but managed to stay friends despite his difference in beliefs. But when Godric's lightning reflexes accidentally destroyed one of his favorite serpents in the dead of night, he left in a rage, never to return." Harry's mouth worked for several moments, trying desperately to say something. Finally he managed the question.

"My…my father was an Heir of Gryffindor?" The hat shook a little to indicate a negative.

"No. Your mother was." Harry's mind was sent reeling by this declaration.

"But…she was muggle born!"

"As was Miss Granger. But your mother did carry the blood of Godric, dormant all these years. That is also, I believe, the reason Tom Riddle both saw you as a greater threat than the Longbottom's child and was willing to let her live if she stood aside. You know as well as I his reverence, twisted though it may be, for the Founders." The hat seemed to recall the occurrence for a moment before refocusing on the matter at hand.

"And Miss Granger, the brightest witch of your age. Surely you wondered at least once why you didn't end up with the supposed smartest students in Ravenclaw?" She nodded slowly in response. "You could have, being that you are an Heir of Rowena, her blood passed down through a branch of muggles for centuries, but your courage was strong, if hidden for the moment, and I took a chance. You have proven me correct at every turn." He turned finally to Ron. "And last we come to the Heir of Helga's line. One of many. The Weasley family has always demonstrated incredibly loyalty, even past the point of death, and a willingness to do what must be done, both strong Hufflepuff traits. But again, you showed courage and I sent you to Gryffindor, partially to fulfill your family's now deeply rooted expectations and partly to finish the trio." He waited a moment as they looked at each other, stunned.

"Don't you see? Every year I became more confident I had done the right thing. One heir of each of the three remaining founders would surely be able to stop Salazar's descendent. It was almost poetic how perfectly it was working out. But then…when Dumbledore fell, I doubted. Was it too late? Had it all been for naught? And so all my hopes rested on the three of you. Should you fail…I would surely be destroyed for my mistake." It bowed a little before raising its gaze again. "Forgive me for what I've done. I only ever tried to help the school. Please…forgive me." It turned immobile once again and waited for their response.

It was a long time in coming. Each of them had more than they could comprehend to digest over the course of several minutes. Finally, Harry rose unsteadily to his feet. "I do. You tried your best, all any of us can do. Thank you." He turned toward the door and took a few steps. Ron rose behind him.

"Well…way I figure, I'd have never been friends with the pair of you, especially you Hermione, if you hadn't done what you did. So…you're forgiven. Just don't try it again." He took a couple steps away and held out his hand to Hermione, who was still deep in thought. "Come on love. Let's go." She finally rose after another minute of thought.

"I doubt even you can foresee all the things you might have caused never to exist by playing with our lives. But…I would never have met Ronald if you hadn't so…I forgive you." They both turned away and headed for the door so only Harry saw the hat slump a little, a sigh of relief escaping it. He turned to follow his friends as they passed through the door, but looked back for a moment.

"I needed Ginny to defeat Tom. Did you know that when you sent her to Gryffindor?" It was a long moment and Harry didn't think the hat would respond until…

"No Harry. That was all her. She wanted to be close to you even if she couldn't ever be yours. That takes more bravery than even you have." Harry half smiled as he turned back to the door and rushed to catch his friends, leaving the hat once again in silent solitude.

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