p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 15.75pt;"Professor McGonagall sits in her chair in the headmistress' study. It still didn't feel real. To think that after all these years, she'd finally achieved her goal. Part of her was rather put out that she wouldn't be able to continue teaching, but such is life, and she'd found a wonderful replacement. There was a knock on her door and it jars her from her thoughts, "Yes enter." br /br /"Good day, headmistress." Giuseppe smiles, stepping into the /br /"Please don't tell me you're leaving." she says exasperatingly, "We have less than forty eight hours before the students arrive!"br /br /"Oh no." he laughs, "Frankly, I'm quite happy here. No, I just thought you'd want to have the updated class rosters for the dueling class. A few students changed their minds last night."br /br /"Thank heavens." she sighs in relief, "Well, I'm glad the job isn't as jinxed as the students thought."br /br /"It was." he smirks, "Voldemort cast his spells well. He taped into the potent school magic, and created a spell to ensure no defense teacher lasted more than a year. I broke the spell two weeks after I got here."br /br /"I hope to have a full staff for many years to come." she smiles, accepting the class /br /"Are you quite sure about accepting the ministry's request?" he asks, "To station dementors near children..."br /br /"Mr. Potter ruined his life." McGonagall sighs, "And we already know he can kill. If I thought there was a safer way, I'd do it in a heartbeat. However, I will not allow them to run amok. All teachers have the authority to cast a patronus the instant a dementor crosses the boundary of the school."br /br /"Very well." he nods, "If this goes wrong, it'll be the end of Fudge's carreer."br /br /"Let's not sabotage him." she /br /"I shall see you at the entrance feast, headmistress. I believe I will accompany the students." he bows, leaving the office. As he steps onto the third floor corridor, he hearsay footstep behind him. With a flick of his wand, the portraits were blocked, unable to see or /br /"What is it, Phantom?" he asks /br /"You broke Voldemort's curse?" she laughs, "I somehow doubt it."br /br /"I said I broke it. Never once did I say it was removed. I simply changed the conditions of the jinx. It'll likely take quite a long time for her to find a suitable transfiguration teacher."br /br /"That's low." she grins, "Well, Ein and I will be surveying the next target."br /br /"Be careful. I don't doubt you can handle it, but it still isn't a challenge you want to take without due preparations." he smiles, and she walks into an abandoned teachers office, disappearing into the floo network. Undoing his spells, he continued on his path, consider ways he can recruit those three./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 15.75pt;"br /Following the usual suffocating feeling of apparation, Harry looked in front of him. The ever familiar Greengrass manor. In the back yard, Morgan, Cyrus, and Amelia were enjoying the nice day. br /br /The moment she saw them, Morgan had thrown her arms around the three of them, while Cyrus was glaring at Reiji, torn between anger and gratitude. Amelia hadn't moved from her seat, but her eyes were scouring all three of them, looking for any sign of /br /Reiji returned Cyrus glare, walking over to him. Though he doubted it would come to it, he had his hand on the Beretta concealed at his waist. Stopping, the two men stared for a moment before Cyrus finally /br /"I never did get the chance to thank you for saving me." he says calmly, trying his damnedest to keep his hand away from his /br /"Think nothing of it." Reiji replies, noticing his fidgeting hands, "I gather you don't approve of my teaching your daughter?"br /br /"I don't approve of you reaching her to be a killer!" he /br /Reiji responds without missing a beat, "I taught her to fight so that there isn't a repeat of Hogsmeade. If she stays with her friends, they won't loss to inferno. If they choose to become killers, I have no right to judge them."br /br /"Was the training successful?" Amelia asks /br /Smirking, Reiji draws a knife and throws it at them. Without moving from Morgan's embrace, Susan knocks it from the /br /"Impressive reflexes." Amelia /br /"While their individual skills vary, each of then excelled at one thing in particular. Rather than wasting time trying to turn them into us. We focused on those. Susan's knife skills exceed my own. Daphne is a true sharpshooter, and Harry can duel on par with either of us."br /br /"Next time, my aunt won't get away." Harry smirks, and Reiji casts a sharp look at him, "Aunt?"br /br /"The blond shooter." Harry says, "She was my mom's sister."br /br /"You're Cal's nephew..." he mutters thoughtfully, "I only knew Judy. I'm guessing that wasn't your mom?"br /br /"Never heard if her. My mom was Lily Evans. According to my aunt, she ran away when they were kids." Harry /br /"And somehow made her way to Los Angeles, where she moved in with a woman named Judy Devons." Reiji nods, "Until Judy was killed, then she moved in with me. After the explosion I thought she died, but she joined inferno..."br /br /"And tracked us to Japan. What I don't get is why she's still alive." Eren sighs, "When I left with master, inferno wanted us dead. Why would they leave her alive?" then a thought crossed both their minds, "He couldn't have altered all of their memories?!"br /br /"It makes sense. Last time, he didn't have the time before he was running, but since he was willing to fight against her, he was still in position to save her." Reiji realizes, his face turning white, "The only way Shiiga would allow her to remain..."br /br /"Mio's in danger." Eren says suddenly, "Reiji, go to Japan. I'll hold down the fort here."br /br /"You sure?" he asks, and she nods, "Then I'll get moving. If we can get Mio out of the country, then get Shiiga to tell McGuire..."br /br /"He'll send out their forces against her. During the confusion, we might be able to get Tori out." Eren /br /"You can save her?" Morgan /br /"It'll take some doing, and we'll need Shiiga on our side. If phantom goes rogue, they'll send their best after her. If Shiiga passes false information, and leads her into a trap, we can capture her. No one would be surprised if Cal killed her and disposed of the body, and when they finally track her down, she'll be in no state to contradict that."br /br /"Beat part as far as I can see is you aren't doing anything illegal." Amelia nods approvingly, "If possible, let me know the specifics ahead of time. Otherwise, I might send aurors in to stop a riot and screw everything up."br /br /"As long as you don't arrest us for any crimes that may or may not be committed." he /br /"If you're going to take down a woman who killed seventy muggles just for being there, you've for a deal." she laughs, and Reiji disappears with a crack. br /br /"O hope it works." Daphne says quietly, "Before Tori does something she'll regret." br /br /"What do you mean?" Cyrus asks, and Eren glances at Morgan, "You didn't tell him?"br /br /"He was already stressed enough." she admits sheepishly, "I thought that would drive him over the edge."br /br /"What would?" he asks louder, glaring at his /br /"The most plausible explanation for Infernos actions is that they need another phantom." Eren says, looking him dead in the eye, "And she may have already killed."br /br /"Impossible!" Cyrus and Daphne both yell, but the others are /br /"Who?" Amelia asks, keeping a neutral /br /"According to the newspapers, his name was Rufus Scrimgeour." she answers to the adults shock, "Though in inferno, he was called Zane."br /br /"You expect to believe that a twelve year old girl could kill a department head?" Amelia says /br /"I killed one at ten." she replies coldly, "As much as I loath to admit it; I'm not as skilled as Zwei or Drei. If Drei was as talented at teaching as at shooting, she wouldn't have any trouble."br /br /"I refuse to believe that my little angel could kill someone!" Cyrus says firmly, glaring at /br /"Believe what you want, but I stand by what I said. That is the most likely explanation." Eren sighs sadly, "I hope you're right, that we can recover her before she crosses that line. But I fear that likely won't be possible."br /br /None of them spoke. Cyrus turns and storms into the house, while Morgan gushes over Harry and Daphne. Susan was being interrogated by /br /"I'm going." Eren says quickly, "If you need something, send a letter."br /br /With a crack she's gone. Morgan waves the children into the house, "We were worried about you. We got your school letters weeks ago, the day after you left to be honest, but we had no way of reaching you. Amelia and I got everything, but we didn't know if you'd be back."br /br /"Well, we are." Susan smiles, and her stomach growls, making her blush, "So can we get some dinner? We didn't get any breakfast or lunch!"/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 15.75pt;"br /After a very big dinner (He could swear that he ate his own weight in food), Harry fell asleep in the comfortable and familiar bedroom in the Greengrass manor, feeling perfectly safe for the first time in a month. Despite that, he still slept, like he did at the training house, with a knife strapped to his back. br /br /A look at the morning paper revealed something deeply troubling that no one had thought to mention. Peter Pettigrew had escaped three weeks earlier. Apparently, it had completely slipped their minds the day before, and he couldn't blame Reiji for not telling him. He had no way of knowing that Harry had any history with him. br /br /After an uneventful breakfast, Morgan and Cyrus apparated them straight to the platform, where they were met with a familiar and seldom seen anymore, /br /"Remus!" Harry cried, throwing his arms around /br /"I'm sorry to say that you must refer to me as Professor Lupin." he chuckles happily, "The Headmistress graciously allowed me to take over her post of transfiguration teacher. It came as quite a shock to me that there was still a defense against the dark arts teacher! I don't think this has happened since before I was in school!"br /br /"Giuseppe's staying?" Harry asks brightly, "Fantastic! He was so much better than quirrell!"br /br /The girls murmured in agreement, and after he'd insisted on being the gentlemen and lifting their luggage onto the train, the four went and found a /br /"So, what are you going to teach us, professor Moony?" Harry asks, and at the wolfish smiles, says, "Sorry but that's as formal as you'll get out of class."br /br /"We'll start with a basic overview of animagus, though you won't learn anything to start trying until your OWL year, and nothing useful until your NEWT. Then we'll work on several moderately difficult transfigurations, as well as start spells to change objects properties, instead of its shape." Remus smiles, "I've asked Padfoot to return to school for the animagus lesson. He knows far more than I on that subject."br /br /"Looking forward to it." he grins, "Think Sirius would teach us?"br /br /Remus stares at him, then start laughing, "Given that you're Prong's son, I'd say so. Maybe you'll be able to follow in your father's footsteps."br /br /"Don't worry. I fully intend to prank the teachers." Harry assures /br /Remus chuckles, then stops and looks at him, "Does that include me?"br /br /"I don't know, Professor." Harry smirks, and both girls giggle as the train departs, Cyrus and Morgan waving them off in the distance."br /br /Harry spent the first half of the train ride working in his occlumency, which he'd been neglecting in favor of practical training. He was jarred from his clear mind by the door opening, and the unnaturally annoying voice of Ron /br /"This year will be different, Potter." He says in what might've been a sneer, "By now, that biased bastard should be out of the school. I wonder how the new teacher will take your arrogant shit."br /br /"Giuseppe's still there." Harry smirks, "And as for the other new teacher, allow me to introduce Remus Lupin, an old friend of my father's." pointing at the man who was now asleep, "I wouldn't wake him. He gets a bit wolfish."br /br /Harry could tell if he were awake or not, but as soon as Harry finished his sentence, Lupin growled very convincingly. Susan giggles, "Are you sure you want to be here? He might wake soon."br /br /"Why should we care?" Malfoy scowls from behind him, "besides, my father hired personal tutors for us over the summer. You won't stand a chance this year."br /br /"That depends." Daphne shrugs, "We had a few tutors ourselves. The difference is that ours are professional killers. So while you might be able to duel better, I guarantee that we fight better."br /br /"Clearly not well enough." Weasley says viciously, "Couldn't even save your sister-"br /br /All of them gasped. Even he couldn't believe that he just said that. Daphne had tears in her eyes, while Harry's warned of an impending death. Ron turned to run, only to find the twins and half the Slytherin Quidditch team staring at him in disbelief. br /br /"That was way below the belt." Flint sneered, drawing his wand, "You aren't about to get away with that."br /br /"What's the meaning of this?" a calm voice says from the hallwaybr /br /"Professor Giuseppe!" Ron sighs in relief, "They were threatening me for no reason!"br /br /"Then what was that last comment you made?" Lupin asks, looking him in the eye, "Something about Daphne's still missing sister?"br /br /"It was just a joke..." Ron /br /"No one is laughing." Daphne cries, wiping the tears from her eyes, "Professor, first dueling club meeting, he's mine!"br /br /Ron's pale face turns transparent as Giuseppe smiles and nods, "Absolutely. Perhaps Mr. Potter would consent to be your second?"br /br /"Don't even need to ask." Harry grins, pounding the final nail in the coffin. Suddenly, the train jerks to a stop, all lights popping out instantly. The Slytherins in the hall stumble forwards, while the twins fall back. Giuseppe manages to clings to the side of the cabin, and has his wand out before the twins hit the /br /"Everyone in the hall, Back to the cabins!" he shouts, and both teachers head towards the engine room. br /br /Daphne's hand in on her waist, looking out the window and says, "Something's out there!"br /br /Susan's knife in her hand before she looks outside, "It's coming aboard!"br /br /Harry's got his wand in his hand as a shadow passes in front of the door to the cabin. An unearthly chill descends over them, Susan shaking uncontrollably. Harry could hardly keep his eyes in focus as the door slides open. On the other side, a large figure in a Black cloak. His vision fades and he hears screaming from two different voices, closely followed by three /br /Harry jerks awake, eyes darting around. Susan was unconscious on the seat in front of him. Her breathing was shallow, and her face unnaturally pale. Daphne was sitting next to them, tears flowing freely as she throws her arms around him, "I was so worried!"br /br /"What was that thing?" he mutters, returning the /br /"A dementor." Remus says from the hall, "One of the guards of Azkaban. It appears the ministry decided it was a good idea to allow them to board a train full of children to search for Peter Pettigrew."br /br /"Are they mental?" Harry yells, "Who screamed?"br /br /"Susan." Daphne sniffles, wiping the tears from her /br /"But I heard someone else." Harry /br /"No one else screamed." she assured him, "But I'm worried about Susan. She's been really pale."br /br /"She's lived a hard life." Remus says solemnly, "It's little wonder that these two are the worse effected."br /br /"What do you mean?" Harry asks, struggling to get up. br /br /Remus hands him a bar of chocolate, "Eat this." he says firmly, and after taking a bit, a pleasant warmth flows through him. br /br /Nodding, Remus continues, "And as for why, dementors force us to relive our most painful memories. Harry, who was confronted with Voldemort at the age of one, it's no wonder they affect you, not even going into what happened with your relatives."br /br /"But what about Susan?" Daphne asks /br /Remus eyes grew darker, "Has she never told you why she was raised with her aunt?"br /br /Both of them shake their heads, and he sighs, "I can hardly blame her. It was a tragedy, and I'm not sure of it's my place to tell you."br /br /"Go ahead." Susan says weakly, "I'd do it myself, but obviously..."br /br /Remus nods and hands her a second bar of chocolate, "Eight years ago, the bones family, which had been a firm supporter of our side during the war was attacked by death eaters. Amelia was at the ministry at the time and was unable to help. They locked everyone in their room after taking their wands and set the house ablaze. Susan was the only survivor, and only a bout of accidental magic that extinguished the fire around her spared her. Her mother, father, brother, and uncle perished in the blaze. They never even found her brothers body. According to the evidence, his room was the starting point."br /br /They were silent, both of then wrapped the tearful girl in a hug, whispering words of comfort. Harry turned his head towards Lupin, "Did they ever catch the ones responsible?" br /br /"The problem is that there were so many. The ministry was pressured into making an arrest. The bones were well liked, much like the Potters and the Longbottoms, but unlike them, there was no concrete evidence. Voldemort was defeated after he killed James and lily, while Lestrange was found torturing frank and Alice, but all they ever found at the bones was Susan, and she never saw them since she didn't have a wand. There was no reason to go after her." Remus sighs, "They eventually blamed the deaths on Dolohov, but I'm sure he wasn't alone. That why Amelia refuses to resign. She won't rest until the murderers are behind bar or in the ground."br /br /Harry growls, "I don't blame her. I'm not settling for Voldemort going to jail."br /br /Remus nods understanding, "I believe Madam Longbottom felt the same way. She'd been moving that her son's torturer receive the kiss since the first trial. But fudge is so far in Malfoy's pocket, not a single death eater was kissed."br /br /Giuseppe pokes his head in and smiles, "I'm glad to see you both awake." Turning to Lupin, "Did you give them some chocolate?"br /br /"As soon as they woke." Lupin nods, "How are the others?"br /br /"A few were shaken up, but only these two fainted. I sent the dementor off straight away. I'll be having words with the minister, and probably end the meeting with a curse if I don't like his answer."br /br /"I believe Professor McGonagall will beat you to it."' Lupin grins, "She'll go ballistic. We might want to attend just to stop her from getting herself thrown in Azkaban."br /br /Harry laughs, "Knowing her, she'd end up putting them all in detention until their mood brightens up." then a thought makes him chuckles, "Professors, I think everyone has the right to know what happened, don't you?"br /br /Giuseppe's smile widens, "I for one am astounded that the minister would put our children in such danger! Front page of the paper, I think."br /br /"And auntie will have Fudge's head when I tell her what happened." Susan smiles weakly, "She's wanted an excuse to take him down for years."br /br /"Good to know," Remus smirks, "That our Slytherins are learning the incredibly advanced skill of politically bankrupting their enemies at so young an age. James would be furious."br /br /"What can I say?" Harry shrugs, giving both Girls a hug, "I learn from the best."br /br /"We're about to reach Hogsmeade station." Giuseppe says calmly, not failing to grasp the slight tremor Daphne had at the name, "They'll find her." he assures /br /"Thank you." she mutters as the train slide to a stop. The three friends board the carriage as the two Professors apparate away. None of them noticed one rat that had raced into the bushes after they'd left./p