Many thanks to the dazzling Spacegal 19 and beta slave Romulus Magnus for their beta prowess!
Thanks to all the sharp eyed folks who caught my dragon oops in the previous chapter. It's been corrected now. And thank you, MortyM, for pointing out that my Hermione needed to be tweaked back into character a bit – I think this chapter will put her back on course.
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Chapter 11
Chatting and Popping
Life settled into a routine over the next two weeks for Harry. Grimmauld Place was sometimes boring, sometimes bustling with activity from order members. Harry and Hermione visited her parents, who were pleased to announce they were closing the house and shop for two years, taking their dental staff and leaving on an extended trip to South America to help the indigenous people with charity work. It was a tearful goodbye for Hermione, knowing she wouldn't see her parents for two years, but Harry gave them the birthday present Hermione had given him so they could communicate instantly from anywhere.
Hermione was almost upset, until Harry promised her she would take house-elf magic lessons with him, and they would be able to communicate telepathically and not need the journals. "That's one way to get another birthday gift out of me, Harry. Now I have to find you something else!" she grinned.
The promise of elf lessons did a lot to appease her hunger for learning. She had left Harry a depressed wreck of a boy only a month ago at the end of school, and now she was bonded with a young man of strength and power who willingly shared his new found talents with her! And although Hermione excelled in the goblin occlumency and concealment charms, she had absolutely zero aptitude for the wandless conjuring and transfiguration. The bushy haired one had to admit – she wasn't use to being anything but the quickest, best, and brightest. This was tough.
Harry and Griphook were excellent teachers – patient, instructive, and knowledgeable. However, it seemed that many wizards and witches were just too used to their wands, and dependant on them, and she was one of them. Harry, on the other hand, had an affinity for all people of all backgrounds and species, and could just emphasize so well with Griphook, he 'got it', and mastered the wandless magic immediately.
Their relationship helped her bruised ego. She truly understood that Harry needed her, and could care less if she didn't excel in something. He valued her, Hermione, as a friend and person more than Hermione the homework helper.
Remus returned from his date with Tonks, looking young and glowing. He reported happily that Tonks was now one of their small number of trustworthy friends, so Harry added a hand on his pocket watch with her face on it. Moony was also pleased to report that Tonks, indeed, was happy to be on a date with him, as he was with her.
Harry and Hermione took frequent visits to Godric's Suitcase and started elf magic lessons with Winky and sometimes Dobby. Thanks to the goblin time stretching enchantments, they would be able to get intensive training in a short time. The first lesson was communication with other house-elves, or individuals of choice.
Winky explained her lessons patiently. "Kind masters, we elves can communicate with all elves, and you will be able to also. But I can not teach you how to talk with all wizards – I don't understand the way human minds work, you see. But as you two are already bonded through goblin magic, you will be able to mind-speak with each other. Now hold my hands and listen to me call for Dobby."
Hermione and Harry were in Winky's mind in a flash. They heard her distinctly call out "Dobby – are you busy?" And just as distinctly heard Dobby's voice come back "just kneading dough, Winky. Do you need me?" Winky answered "Yes please – come to the Master's trunk. I is giving them lessons."
Instantly Dobby appeared with the elf 'pop', hands covered with dough, clothes dusted with flour. He bowed to Harry and Hermione with a flourish. "How can I help Harry Potter and his Grangey?"
Winky spoke solemnly. "Goblins can sometimes mind-speak with their mates. Wizards who do occlumency can sometimes, but it is" Winky winced, "mean feeling. Only elves have learned to talk with all elves, and we don't care where they is. Goblins and wizards can't talk into trunk, see?"
Hermione's eyes lit up with understanding. "You mean only elves have learned to cross dimensions – this trunk is another dimension! Wow!"
"Yes, mistress" Winky nodded, pleased with the quick way her masters learned. "Now, listen to Dobby call for help from any house-elf", and the four of them held hands.
Harry could hear Dobby calling "this is Dobby, house-elf to the great Harry Potter. Winky and I is teaching Harry Potter and his friend elf-magic to help defeat You-Know-Who. Can someone come and help us with this lesson?"
A strange elf voice echoed in their heads "this is Fuzzy, house-elf to the house of Grizzlebeard. I be right there."
With a pop an unknown elf appeared before them. He bowed low to Harry and Hermione. "How may I be of assistance?"
"Hello, Fuzzy," Harry greeted the elf. "Thanks for helping. May we ask you some questions?"
"As long as it will not compromise or endanger my master, I would be honored, sir" the elf answered.
Harry looked at the three elves. "I take it all house-elves heard your message, Dobby?"
Dobby nodded "all house-elves in England, Harry Potter Sir. Elves could call to other countries, I guess. We don't bother because we don't need to."
Harry frowned slightly. "Dobby – what would prevent, say, Malfoy's new house-elves from hearing and reporting on us to Voldemort?" Hermione snapped her head up with fear and concern.
The rotund Fuzzy nodded at them. "They heard, Chosen One. But they will not report. House-elves serve the Chosen One. The Chosen One will lead us to a better future – where we can serve our beloved masters in more safety. Harry bowed formally to Fuzzy, pondering what the elf said.
"Wow!" Hermione yipped. "That's amazing! Now why did you, Fuzzy, answer Dobby's call, and not anyone else?"
Fuzzy smiled. "Many of us were probably about to answer, miss. I just was quicker. My master is out of the house at the moment, and I need something to do. House-elves like to be kept busy."
"How did you know where to find us?" Harry asked, and Hermione nodded.
"We follow the voice, sir. Listen and I'll call my wife Fluffy – watch for the magic now. It is faint colored, but you can see it when you look for it." He held Hermione and Harry's hands and called in his mind "Fluffy? I would like you to come and meet some wizards if you aren't too busy."
A female elf's voice answered "I'm coming, Fuzzy.", and as the exchange was going on, Harry could see a thin, glowing thread connecting the formless voice to them.
Pop! A female house-elf stood before them and curtseyed. Winky thanked Fluffy and Fuzzy, who again bowed and popped away. The rest of the 'day' in the trunk was spent by Hermione and Harry learning to call and speak to elves themselves, and how to apparate to them, no matter where they were. That and quite a few extended LEGO breaks…
O0o0o0o0o0o0o0oHarry was sitting at the kitchen table one morning finishing tea with Remus and Dumbledore, when Snape flooed in. He glared at Harry, who politely ignored the look, and nodded at the headmaster. "You wished to speak to me?" the potions master asked him.
"Ah, yes my boy" Dumbledore's eyes sparkled. "I need to ask something of you and Harry."
Harry's head whipped around to face the potion's master, who looked as uncomfortably caught off guard as Harry was. Remus looked up and watched with interest.
"I need the two of you to resume the occlumency lessons, Severus. It is paramount that Harry learns to block his mind from Voldemort". He gave his most winning grandfatherly smile at the two of them, which Harry tried to innocently react to. It was hard when the house was fairly empty to keep up the pretense of not knowing Dumbledore for what he really was – a manipulative, self-serving, egotistical creature.
Snape sneered at Harry. "Perhaps I can test him right now to see how well he has practiced this summer?" Dumbledore nodded his approval and without time to prepare, Harry was assaulted by the greasy-haired professor, who flashed his wand at him with the dreaded cry of "Legimens!"
It was only his many years of spying as a double-agent that allowed Snape to keep his face from showing his shock. Before Hogwarts ended for the term, Harry's mind had been an open book, practically screaming his thoughts to all but the most inexperienced of Occlumens. But when he tried to batter his usual way into Harry's head, he was stopped against a brick wall of secrecy. Harry gulped and tried to look like he was being read, while at the same time searching Snape's thoughts, unknown by the potion's master.
"What has this boy been learning? I can't get in! He's stronger than even Dumbledore! He didn't learn this from me!" was racing through Snape's thoughts. Deeper, though, was what Harry was looking for – a deep suspicion and distrust of Dumbledore, and a sincere hatred of Voldemort. Snape was fighting for the light after all. There was no question he hated Harry – deeply and sincerely loathed him in fact – but Snape was to be trusted. Harry did the only thing he could do, and sent him a message back.
Snape was continuing to batter around in Harry's mind, looking for access to the boy's thoughts, when he was surprised to hear Harry speaking to him in his head, in an extremely polite and respectful tone: "Please professor – do not let Dumbledore know about this. Pretend I have failed again – I will explain when we return to school, I promise.
Snape broke off the contact and sneered again. "It is what I expected – perhaps he practiced some, but there is remarkably little improvement. Do you want me to start tutoring squibs next?"
"Oi – he's good" Harry thought dryly to himself, trying to look sufficiently exhausted and embarrassed, and shoot Snape some typical dirty looks.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Please you two – try to get along. We are on the same team. Please continue when classes start with your 'remedial potions'." The elderly wizard stood up, twinkling away, and strode to the fireplace to floo back to the castle.
Snape gave Harry a meaningful look, but minus the usual hostility, then spun on his heels and followed Dumbledore out of Grimmauld Place.
"Did you catch that, Hermione?" Harry asked her telepathically.
"Yes – hope you don't mind me eavesdropping. I'm not as good as you at probing, but I was able to 'tag along'. So Professor Snape is ok. I'm simply amazed at how much he hates you though – something isn't right with that." O0ol0o0o0o0o0oOne hot afternoon Harry and Hermione were lying in the boy's bedroom, on separate beds studying the books Harry had bought from Diagon Alley. It was a pleasant day, Ron and Ginny were at the new Weasley home, and the house was quiet. A large brown owl flew in the window and dropped a letter on Harry's book.
"Hello, handsome boy. Whose owl are you?" Harry stroked the owl's soft chest while Hermione reached for the owl treats. "Oh – it's from Neville!" The owl took off again and Harry opened the letter and read out loud.
Dear Harry,
I'm really glad you wrote. Please stop beating your self up over the Ministry of Magic – we followed willingly and would do so again. My Gran is so proud of me, she went right out and bought me my own wand, and has been telling everyone about my fight with the death eaters. Harry – I can't tell you how much easier magic is with a wand that chooses you!
I'm sorry for the loss of your godfather. I don't know a lot about him, but you must have been very close by the look on your face afterwards.
It's an honor to fight with you – if the opportunity comes again, I will be by your side, and you will not stop me.
Neville.
Harry smiled. "That's not the same boy as first year!" he laughed. "Neville is a great guy – we need to get closer to him and Luna." Hermione nodded in agreement, as Harry sat down to the desk and pulled out parchment for a return letter.
O0o0o0o0o0o0o0The twins popped through the floo one morning, as Harry and Hermione were working on the last of their homework at the kitchen table.
"'Morning, young Harry!" Chirped George
"How's tricks, Hermione?" asked Fred with a wink.
Harry grinned at Hermione and sent a house-elf telepathic message to George. "Hey George – can you hear this?"
"Why Fred!" George answered in his mind "look who's on the Weasley network!"
"It's no longer all Weasley all the time!" agreed Fred.
Harry was so shocked he sputtered out loud "Wait! You guys have always talked telepathically?"
Fred and George smirked at the two and put a finger to his lips.
"How else do we always..." Fred said,
"…Finish each other's sentences?" George concluded.
"Where did you learn house-elf telepathy?" Hermione joined in.
"Is that what you call it?" George asked.
"We've always done it – just us, though. You two are the first we've met who can do it too. Where did you learn it?" Fred asked.
"House-elves – who else" Harry smirked
"This will be dead useful!" George chortled, gave them a thumbs-up and left the kitchen with Fred.
O0o0o0o0o0o0o0Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Supreme Mugwump and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, sat back in his desk chair, idly sucking a lemon drop and stroking his phoenix, Fawkes. Something was different about Harry Potter, something intangible that he couldn't' put his finger on. He had asked Severus if he had noticed anything in Harry's thoughts, but was answered with the potion master's typical sneer and snide comments.
He wished he had more time to spend at headquarters, but with school starting soon, trying to find a new DADA professor, and order happenings, it just wasn't feasible. Every time he saw the boy, he would gently pry into his mind, but would see exactly what he expected to see – grief over his godfather's death ("glad to be rid of that meddler, too"), lingering guilt and sorrow over Cedric Diggory, concern for his friends, worry over his OWLS, fear of the Dursleys – typical for Harry.
He acted as expected, thought as expected, and nobody was giving him strange looks. What was different about the Boy-Who-Lived?
O0o0o0o0o0o0Harry was sitting in the parlor one morning, and was surprised to see a beautiful white bird tapping on the window. It wasn't an owl by any stretch of the imagination, but as it certainly wasn't a bird from the British Isles, he felt positive it was at least magical and let it in.
The creature was a bit larger than a starling, with blinding white plumage, and jet black eyes and beak, which was long and pointed. Its wings were long and pointed too, rather like a sea bird. It was a beautiful, delicate bird, with an air of gentleness about it.
Remus Lupin looked up from his book. "Oh – a fairy tern" he said. "They come from the tropics. Wonder whose it is?"
"Luna's" said Harry, removing its letter and glancing at it. He stroked the pretty creature's feathers and handed it a cup of water to sip from.
Remus rolled his eyes and smiled. "That girl doesn't do anything normally, does she?" Harry smiled in friendly agreement. He liked Luna. Bidding the bird farewell, he sat down and opened her letter.
Dear Harry
As it is the roving skunkber's mating season, this will have to be shorter than I'd like. I'm sorry about Sirius – I knew he was innocent. You could feel it. I'm glad I went with you – I'm fine and there is nothing to apologize for.
Harry, I know Hermione doesn't care for me very much. She is very literal, and I see things from my own world. It doesn't matter – I like her. I feel that she, Neville, you and I are going to become very close friends this year. Watch out for Ron – he doesn't feel right.
I'll be seeing you soon. Maybe the four of us can share a compartment on the express?
Luna
"What's a roving skunkber?" Harry asked out loud.
"Something that only Luna can see, I'd imagine" Remus said with a fond chuckle.
O0o0o0o0o0o0o
Harry and Hermione were in Godric's Suitcase, listening to Winky and Dobby explain about popping.
"You can already goblin travel, master, so popping will be easy. It's a little nosier, but you can go anywhere. I'm going to hold your hand, and we will appear in Hogwarts." She held Hermione and Harry's hands, and with a 'pop' they appeared in the kitchen, surrounded by smiling and bowing elves.
"This didn't trigger any wards or anything?" Hermione asked, glancing around nervously. A couple beaming house-elves brought over tea and biscuits, and reassured her. Five years of worshipping 'Hogwarts- A History' down the drain.
"Don't worry, mistress. There are no portraits in the kitchen – the headmaster can not see you here."
Harry looked at the elves, and then at Winky and Dobby who just popped in. "Portraits? And you guys know about the headmaster being a little, er, ..."
"Untrustworthy?" A skinny elf sighed. "We are loyal to Hogwarts. We are grateful to the Boy-Who-Lived, who made our lives better 15 years ago. We serve the Chosen One, who will lead us into a new age. We obey the headmaster, whoever he is, unless it will hurt you, Chosen One, or one of your companions."
It was a solemn speech for a house-elf, and Harry stood up and bowed to the elf in return, which brought the room of elves to tears. Another elf, elderly looking with a nose like a small button mushroom spoke up.
"Beware the portraits in the castle, master and mistress. They are under the command of the headmaster, and they keep watch under his orders."
"Wow" Hermione's head was spinning. "I'm going to get as paranoid as Professor Moody." Harry smiled in agreement. It was going to feel great to give Dumbledore a piece of his mind when this was over.
Winky tugged gently at the kid's sleeves. "Now, kind masters. You felt my magic when we came here – I made it 'loud' for you." Harry and Hermione nodded. "I want you to pop up to the room of requirements. That way you can see how it works within warded places and other dimensions".
"OK" Harry took a deep breath, and visualized what Winky's magic felt like. He heard the 'pop' before he felt it, opened his eyes, and he was in the room of requirements. Hermione popped in, followed by Winky and Dobby.
"It's different from goblin apparating" mused Harry. "Faster, more accurate, but louder."
"Yes, master" Winky nodded in agreement.
Harry looked around the room of requirements. There was no door or windows, but other than that it looked like any other unused room in the castle – full of discarded furniture and junk. There were a couple abandoned student trunks, a broken bed frame from one of the dorms, stacks of books with missing covers or spoiled with spilled ink. "What's all this?" he asked Winky.
She shrugged. "It's the room of requirements when there is no requirement. I don't know where this stuff first came from, but as people seldom see it like this, no one has ever bothered to empty it according to the other elves."
"Just as long as there are no portraits here" Hermione shuddered.
Dobby spoke up. "Harry Potter, sir, I'm going to pop to a new location. I want you to send me a message, then follow my voice and pop to where I am". The elf then disappeared.
Harry reached out with his thoughts. "Dobby – where are you, my friend?"
"The great Harry Potter calls me friend!" Harry could hear the tears of joy, and see the fine golden thread to trace. He popped, following the elfin aura, and found he was on a lovely mountain top, far in the wilderness. Looking down, he realized he could see the lake and Hogwarts below.
"Very good, Harry Potter sir!" Dobby gushed "Now you, Miss Grangey".
Hermione popped in next to them and looked around. "This is amazing Dobby" she spoke with deep appreciation.
O0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Harry woke up late in the night – or was it early in the morning. It was dark and quiet in the house, except for the extremely loud snoring coming from Ron's bed. If they were at Hogwarts he would simply charm his curtains for silence. He sighed and let his thoughts wander.
He sat bolt upright with a sudden revelation. If he could talk telepathically with the elves and apparate to their location, then he now had a sure-fire way to know where Voldemort was at any given time! Wards wouldn't matter, location was unimportant!
Harry lay back down with a wicked grin. Time to bug old Tom. He closed his eyes, and felt the connection with the evil wizard they shared through his scar. There it was – he was now looking through Riddle's eyes, hearing his thoughts, and thanks to his goblin skills, Voldemort was completely unaware he was being spied on.
"You found where Potter's family use to live, but they moved? BAH! CRUCIO!" Wormtail was hit with the Cruciatus curse, and twitched, screaming, on the floor. "Curse that Dumbledore – he somehow learned we found them, and moved them. They are probably out of the country by now."
Harry saw it – a blood red thread leading to the evil wizard. He followed it with a grin and popped into Voldemort's throne room, facing him with his arms crossed, a cheeky smile on his face. The room was empty except for Voldemort and the still twitching Wormtail on the floor. Harry flipped the stunned wizard a rather rude finger gesture and apparated to the kitchen at Hogwarts, and then back to Grimmauld Place, in his bed.
He laced his fingers in back of his head, lying on his back with a contented grin. If there was any chance Voldemort had the power to trace him, it would just lead him to Hogwarts, which Tom did not have the ability to apparate to. He opened the 'spy link" to Voldemort's thoughts, and spent the next hour biting back giggles and laughter, as he listened in to the panic he caused by his little appearance.
O0o0o0o0o0
Ron, Harry and Hermione were sitting in the kitchen eating breakfast when Professor McGonagall flooed in and handed them a stack of Hogwart's envelopes.
"OWLS! They screamed in unison, and the adults in the room crowded near to see the results.
Harry tore his open, glancing briefly at Hermione and Ron, wondering if his face as a pale as theirs.
Ordinary Wizarding Level ResultsPass Grades Fail Grades
Outstanding (O) Poor (P) Exceeds Expectations (E) Dreadful (D) Acceptable (A) Troll (T)
Harry James Potter has achieved:
Astronomy...A
Care of Magical Creatures...E
Charms...E
Defense Against the Dark Arts...O
Divination...P
Herbology...E
History of Magic...D
Potions...E
Transfiguration...E
Hermione naturally had 10 outstanding, and Ron had none. Harry was annoyed about not getting an 'O' for Potions – that would end his chance for becoming an auror, but he wasn't sure if it was his goal any more.
Professor McGonagall spoke kindly to Harry. "If you are still interested in becoming an auror, Mr. Potter, I'm sure we can challenge your score in potions."
Harry smiled at his house head with gratitude. "I'm not sure about being an auror, Professor, but I do want to take potions, if you don't think it will cause too many problems." He opened the next sheet of paper with his book and supply list and glanced over them.
The professor nodded at him and left through the fireplace.
"What are you taking next year besides potions, Harry?" Hermione looked over at the list he was scribbling to himself.
"Hmmmmm" Harry nibbled the end of his quill, which was quite devoid of fluffy bits. "Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, Defense, Herbology, and I think I'm going to take up Runes."
"What about Care of Magical Creatures?" she asked softly, eyes full of worry.
"Arrrggh!" Ron groaned. "Sod Hagrid. I mean I like him, but his class is a waste of time! I don't want to watch anymore skrewts or flobberworms – know what I mean?"
Hermione and Harry stiffened a bit. "I don't want to hurt Hagrid" Harry answered slowly, "but Ron is right. I don't see how feeding flobberworms is going to help me as an auror or any other career. I'll visit him as soon as we get to Hogwarts and let him know. Are you taking it, Hermione?"
"No – I'll come with you. I'll bring a present for him so his feelings won't be hurt." She shook her head remorsefully. "I'll be taking the same subjects as you, plus Arithmancy, Astronomy, and History. What about you, Ron?" She tried to sound interested and friendly.
The redhead gave a shrug. "I'll worry about it later." With that he got up from the table, grabbed a cookie off the counter and headed out of the room.
O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Molly decided to take Ron and Ginny to Diagon Alley the next day, to purchase their school supplies. The adults all agreed it was too dangerous for Harry to go out, so Mrs. Weasley kindly agreed to pick up his books and things. Hermione, feeling bad for Harry and knowing they could always go out in disguise, volunteered to stay with him.
Grimmauld Place was empty, except for Remus and the elves. Harry called Dobby to make sure Dumbledore was at Hogwarts, and asked him to enlist the elves to keep him at the school for the day. He asked Winky to pick up their new armor at Hogsmeade, grabbed his satchel and gestured at Hermione.
"Where are we going?" she asked him as they transfigured their appearances.
"I want to get our wands. I don't think we should be gone too long – that could be asking for trouble, but when we get back we can work on catching up on potions. I know you don't need it, but I need to study hard to 'de-Snape' my potion skills." Harry smiled. Hermione nodded in agreement, and they apparated to Knockturn Alley.
Lepani's was empty of customers, and Leonard looked up with a smile. Harry smiled back, marveling that the bent and ancient ruin of a wizard was really a young man, just wonderfully illusioned. He gestured them around the counter, and they entered his parlor, choosing comfortable seats by the fireplace.
"It's good to see you both" Leonard said warmly, bringing four boxes out from an end table. "I'm glad you are here in person so I can see your reactions to your new wands. He handed a long leather covered box to each of them, and waited for the revelation with a tangible air of expectancy.
Harry and Hermione smiled at each other, and with an exaggerated flourish, Harry lifted the lid on his box. The sight of the custom wand made him gasp – it was a work of art. Where he had always loved and cherished his original Ollivander's wand, it was like comparing an off-the-rack suit with a custom tailor-made suit. Or maybe the difference between a production line velvet painting and a master's painting. Both are hand crafted, but one is just that far beyond the other.
The wand was long, slender, and wonderfully carved from the solid rod of green and red stone. It was smooth and cool to the touch, but felt like it almost quivered with power. The very end of wand was finished with a long faceted clear gem – the white sapphire, and the balance as Harry held it was superb. It felt in his hand like an extension of his arm, like it belonged. "This is going to feel like flying on my firebolt instead of a school broom..." Harry mused to himself.
Hermione had also opened her box, and was swooning with love over her new wand. The narwhal horn was shortened a bit from when she saw it last, polished and shining. The tip was capped with the beautiful pearl, which was mounted in a way that it almost flowed as one piece. It was attached with a decorative gold bezel, with gold wire gently wrapping down the spiral of the horn and ending with a decorative cap on the end. It was feminine and all together lovely. She caressed the wand like a kitten and cooed.
Leonard smiled with pleasure. "You first, Mr. Potter. Please do a Lumos with your new wand." Harry did the familiar flick and spoke the incantation, and was astounded to have light pouring out of his new wand that lit up the whole room like a stadium floodlight. The three of them winced and shielded their eyes with their hands until Harry flicked the spell off.
"Wow" was all Harry would say.
"Now you, Miss Granger. Please levitate this cushion" and Leonard gestured to a soft pillow on the sofa next to him.
Hermione hesitated a second, and then grinned. "Wingardium Leviosa!" she cried, swishing and flicking her wand at the cushion, which promptly rocketed off the couch with such force, it smashed against the ceiling and exploded in a cloud of feathers and fabric confetti. Hermione just sat there with her mouth gaping open, her eyes shooting between the floating feathers and the wand cradled in her hands.
"As you can see, these wands are far, far more efficient at channeling your magic. I would practice with them a lot before using them in place of your old ones. And you might not want to use these at school – it might bring questions you don't want to answer." Leonard had a pleased, smug look on his face, but he had earned the pride he felt.
Harry and Hermione mutely nodded, feeling almost afraid of the power they could now focus with these new wands.
"Now, I've made a couple presents for you both, as I felt they could be helpful in your upcoming, ah, task, shall I say?" Leonard handed them each a smaller leather box, which they took with questioning looks.
Harry's contained a short 9" wand made from a ¼" rod of bloodstone, capped with a simple milky looking crystal. It was unadorned, slightly tapered, and didn't radiate the power of his other new wand. Hermione's was the same size and shape, tipped with the same cloudy gem, but made out of what appeared to be bone. They looked at Leonard questioningly.
He smiled at their confusion. "These are dueling wands. They are a back up wand only. Although the cores and blanks are close to a perfect match, they are not – just a good match. The biggest difference is the focusing stone on the tips – its calcite, which is double refractive."
"Huh?" Harry asked, and noticed that Hermione looked just as puzzled as he felt.
Leonard smiled and picked up an uncut cube shaped crystal from his table, along with a square-cut clear gem. "Look through these two stones to the print on the parchment beneath them." They looked and saw that the clear stone showed the letters sharp and focused, but the cloudy cube gave a slightly blurred double image.
"Double refractive – splits everything" Leonard smiled, searching their faces for understanding.
"Oh!" Hermione gasped with realization. "Will these wands split a spell cast with them?"
"Very good, Miss Granger!" The artisan smiled approvingly. "These wands will divide any spell cast with them. It's very handy in a battle to cast two hexes or curses at once. But keep in mind that it's harder to aim – spells tend to 'home in' a bit, but it's still a little wild, and each divided spell is weaker than one that hasn't been split. I recommend that people keep these dueling wands strapped to their weaker arm or a leg, and learn to use it with your weaker hand. It's always an excellent idea to learn to use a wand with either hand, but using these left handed and your primary wand right handed can be deadly in battle."
"How cool is that?" Harry breathed reverently, caressing his two new wands. Hermione nodded in mute agreement.
"Here's your last little extras and then it's off with you" Leonard smiled and tossed them each a bundle. They each caught their respective gift and looked at them. They each had a pair of dragonhide wand holsters made for the arms.
"Thanks, Leonard. These primary wands are works of art, and the dueling wands and holsters could very well save our lives." Harry snapped his head up suddenly, a thought crossing his mind. "Can I ask a favor of you?"
Leonard nodded, waiting for Harry to continue.
"I will probably have a couple more friends who would really benefit from your skills. Can I bring them for custom wands too?"
"Certainly, Mr. Potter. I am honored by your trust and pleasure in my craft."
With handshakes all around, Harry and Hermione apparated back to Grimmauld Place.
O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
On returning to the 'most ancient and noble house of Black', Harry and Hermione grabbed Remus and brought him down to Godric's Suitcase, slowing down time yet again. They showed him their new wands that the werewolf examined with appreciation, and tried on their new dragonhide armor that Winky had delivered and left on the table.
After a lovely lunch with Winky, Remus asked them "What's next on the schedule? Oh, and by the way, would you know what happened to Buckbeak?"
"Buckbeak?" Harry asked as innocently as he could.
"You do know that werewolves have heightened senses, Harry, don't you? We can smell fear." Remus smiled dangerously at him.
"Oh Moony – you know how he was pining. He's safe – I promise. I permanently charmed his feathers and fur to a new color, disillusioned him long enough for him to leave, and told him to go wherever he wanted." Harry looked at the floor sort of guiltily.
"Well, I'm glad for one" Sirius spoke up from the portrait. "You know how much I hated being cooped up. It was murder for that poor guy."
"Just so I know he's ok, and that it's yet something else I need to keep secret" Remus rolled his eyes, but grinned just the same. "Now, what's next on your agenda?"
"Potions, Mooney. I need to work on catching up on potions to make sure Snape doesn't have any excuse to fail me. He knows something is up with my occlumency skills, and he's going to be steamed about me getting into advanced potions, and I can't say I totally blame him. But he's been an awful teacher, and I want to use my old books and some new ones I have to truly understand what I'm doing when I make a potion – why certain ingredients work together and how. Snape's 'lessons' for lack of a better word, have been just recipes copied from the blackboard and done with no help or explanations."
Hermione nodded. "I got good grades, but I'd really appreciate time at a cauldron with theory in mind."
"Well, I'm no where near the talented potions person that Professor Snape is, and not a master in any stretch of the imagination, but I daresay I had a better teacher when I was at Hogwarts. I would be happy to assist you in some catch-up." Remus smiled at their enthusiasm.
The rest of the summer passed with the three of them hiding out in Godric's Suitcase anytime they could get away for an hour or so. Thanks to the time slowing charms, Hermione and Harry found themselves with a strong foundation in the hows and whys of potion brewing, with excellent skills to match. Their LEGO building skills were growing in leaps and bounds too.
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Snarky Author Notes:
I've been getting the occasional review that says "this person is out of character" (for the elves in particular), or "you are spending too much time shopping", etc. Oh yah – and the random "you can't write". Well gosh – if I was a professional author, I wouldn't be posting on fan fiction, would I? Actually, I have published a whopping 5 magazine articles to date – I don't think that makes me professional.
Once a fanfic steers away from canon, your key individuals WILL be out of character! They will change as circumstances change. And if a character really starts to be different, chalk it up to "alternate universe". Everyone on this website writes for the fun of it – nothing more. I can think of several fanfics I love to follow where Snape ends up becoming a loving father to Harry. That is as 'out of character' as you can get, but I love to read them and would never complain to the author.
Personally,I could care less what flamers (especially anonymous flamers) have to say. I just notice that many fanfics seem to be abandoned as the writers get their feelings hurt by unhelpful complaints. And many negative comments might be accurate if the story ended at that particular chapter, but aren't pertinent once the whole story is read. Constructive criticism is wonderful, appreciated, and utilized. "You suck" doesn't do anyone on this site the least amount of good. So if you hate the stories you read on fanfiction, contact the manager for a full refund. Oh – that's right – this is free and we're not professionals!