Thanks again to my beta Spacegal19!

I've got some replies to the 3 most commented on things in my reviews at the end of the chapter – Hermione being a Slytherin, Neville's owl, and how can Fawkes stand Dumbledore. I'm totally ignoring the ache in his arm – that would be telling…

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Chapter 14

What's On The Telly?

Draco, heir to the house of Malfoy, was daintily wiping his lips, having just finished dinner. Pansy, his betrothed, was simpering over him, boring him half to death. Stupid cow – too bad there are so few attractive pureblood wizards that know which side to fight on. His thoughts turned to dark things, which was the norm. 'Soon the Dark Lord will vanquish, and the purebloods will be respected above all others, as they should be. Can't wait to see Longbottom's reaction to the news tomorrow morning. Heh – hope the Lestranges' make it painful for the old vulture-wearing bat…'

Hermione and Harry's heads snapped around to Neville, as Luna came over and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. All four had been eavesdropping in on Malfoy's thoughts at the same time. With a barely discernable nod, the four wandered out of the hall separately, and apparated to Godric's Suitcase.

"OK" Hermione started "What's the plan? Contact the Order, or the aurors?"

"I just tapped into Tom's head – it is a legitimate raid and not a false lead" Harry said.

Neville was pacing the floor nervously. "First things first – may I bring Gran here? She will certainly be safe." The three nodded and he popped off to collect his Grandmother.

"Winky, Dobby?" Harry called out. They popped before him immediately. "Hi guys. Are you real busy?"

The two elves looked at Harry like he was crazy. "Your needs are our priority, Harry Potter sir" Dobby said.

"Oh yeah" Harry said. "I can't get use to that. Um, Neville's Grandmother will be living in here for as long as her life is in danger. Can you help me fix up a room in here for her, so she can have privacy? I don't know how many house-elves live with her, and maybe we can partition off a storage room for her stuff. Any help you can give her in moving would be great."

The elves closed their eyes a minute, and Luna, Harry, and Hermione could hear them call out to the elves for help in moving. Dobby smiled and said "I will help, with some friends, shrink all of Mrs. Longbottoms furniture and belongings – we can fit them easily in here. Winky will assist you three in creating a room for her."

"Fantastic" Hermione smiled at Dobby as he popped away.

Winky looked around the trunk's magic room. "Master, we can expand this room much larger than its current size. It is sort of like the Room of Requirements, and doesn't have to be kept to these dimensions."

"Really?" Harry asked. "That would be great! Let's give her a bedroom and make sure it's large enough for a sitting area, and private bath." He sent a message to Dobby "Dobby – we have a large bedroom and sitting area for Mrs. Longbottom – make sure you know which furniture she would like to have in it."

In surprisingly short time Neville apparated back with his Grandmother, who seemed quite stunned to see her grandson practicing elf magic. Introductions were made all around, and she was touched and pleased with her new apartment. Harry oversaw the elves, which had Longbottom manor emptied within a few short hours, and Mrs. Longbottom's personal house-elf Nippy set up her new rooms for her.

The matriarch sat down on the leather couch facing Dumbledore's spy window. With a highly arched eyebrow, she asked with starch in her voice "not that I don't appreciate what you are doing for me, is there any reason you four children are choosing to spy upon your headmaster?"

Neville sat down across from his grandmother. "We have a lot to fill you in on – the war has a new twist now, and we want to be honest with you."

She gave her grandson a look of surprised respect. "I'm listening, Neville."

The four gave her a quick run down on Dumbledore's dealings with Harry. The matron gave a sad sigh. "Albus Dumbledore saved the wizarding world from Grindlewald in the 40s. I will never forget how brave and self-sacrificing he was. We owe him a lot for that. I don't know what has happened to the man to make him so manipulative and self-serving since then. Perhaps he has just lived too long. I do not doubt what you have told me – you can't question that he did not respect your parent's will, Harry, and that is shocking enough by itself."

Harry spoke gently to Mrs. Longbottom. "I know, ma'am, that he has been the strongest warrior for the light. I don't know what exactly he is trying to gain from his treatment of me. I thought at first it was political power, but he could have that at any time for the asking. I think it's more like he's stretched himself too thin, extending his life too long, and that has clouded his judgment. I think he's using the philosopher's stone to keep going – I don't believe he ever destroyed it like he said he did, as we only have his word for it. According to the school ghosts he is basically addicted to the power Hogwarts gives him as headmaster. I think he's old, weakened, addicted to fame, glory and power, and not willing to share any, or give it up. I don't believe he is evil – just not thinking of others except as a means to his ends."

"I think that is evil" Mrs. Longbottom sadly smiled. "I feel that's how the trip to the dark side starts – when you are willing to use any means to do what you feel is right."

Luna spoke up after a pause in the conversation. "What are we going to do about the raid on the Longbottom estate? If we tell Dumbledore, he will want to know where we got our information. If we tell the ministry, they will too. It could be an excellent chance to capture many death eaters, but we don't have the knowledge or skill to do it ourselves yet."

"Professor Snape!" Harry blurted out. "He can tell the order and the aurors that he heard Malfoy, just like we did. He wasn't at the last two meetings Riddle held, so I doubt Tom will suspect him as a spy. I have potions in a couple hours – I'll make sure I get detention. And Hermione?" Harry turned to her "Can you look into better ways to imprison death eaters? I don't believe for a moment that Azkaban is secure anymore. We need a way to keep them absolutely away from Ol' Tom."

Hermione nodded and walked over to the book cases and Harry apparated away. She watched Nippy, Mrs. Longbottoms' elf, carefully straightening the feathers of the vulture on her awful hat.

"Why a vulture?" Gran Longbottom asked with amusement at the carefully blanked look on Hermione's face. The young witch nodded with curiosity.

"Ah – it's an old custom" the elderly witch sighed. "In my day all witches had birds on their hats for different meanings. A young dove meant the lady was single and available, a crow meant the witch was on a mission or bound to a calling, a quail was a mother or housewife. You will note that several of your professors use the modern version of a single feather in their hats. A vulture was the sign of mourning. I never have got over the loss of my husband. When and if the time comes, and I feel up to a new husband, I will remove the vulture."

O0o0o0o0o0o0o

Harry allowed himself the luxury of spying on Tom's thoughts late that evening, after Snape sent him word letting him know the order and aurors was safe and fine, and 15 death eaters had been captured.

Wormtail, where are my death eaters? What is taking so long? One old lady and a few house-elves shouldn't have taken them more than a half an hour tops. The wards were breeched according to Bella. Go, now, and see what is happening.

Harry could feel the anger and inpatients pouring off of Voldemort. Wormtail was gone a short while, with Voldemort fuming and fidgeting the whole time, hissing at his snake and pacing the floor. After what the evil wizard felt was an eternity, the rat appeared before him.

M-m-m-master? I bring bad news…

What? Riddle was seething with danger, glaring at the pathetic, groveling rat of a man.

T-t-t-they are all captured, my Lord. They walked into a trap – I was able to hear the clean up committee of the aurors. All 15 are in Azkaban, with no losses to the aurors. The Longbottom estate was never entered, and she and all the possessions are missing. Someone betrayed us and gave them plenty of warning.

CRUCIO!

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Harry was enjoying a leisurely Saturday morning breakfast with Mrs. Longbottom in the suitcase, watching his Dumbledore spy canvas. Snape had just billowed into the office, looking very grouchy and tired.

Headmaster, it is very early in the morning. I was up late last night with the Dark Lord, and I really would have liked some sleep.

Ah, yes, my boy. Thank you for giving us the warning. But what has happened to Mrs. Longbottom? Any ideas where she went?

I don't know – ask her son, if he hasn't blown himself up. He did have potions yesterday.

Well, I'm sure she's safe. What did Voldemort have to say?

He was furious, needless to say. He took most of his fury out on Wormtail, fortunately. He is certain he has a spy in his group, but he is suspecting some older members – perhaps Bella, as she didn't go on the raid. He is growing dangerously paranoid. I do not know of any other raids planned, but I don't think he would share that information with me. The only reason I knew was because Draco was boasting to me, who knew because his foolish mother was boasting to him. She has a personal vendetta against the Longbottoms.

"That's for certain" Mrs. Longbottom smiled, sipping her tea primly.

How is occlumency going with Mr. Potter? I had him in here the other day, and he didn't seem to be attempting to block me at all – clear as a bell to read.

What do you expect, headmaster? He is as arrogant and stubborn as his father – he will never learn. The boy is unteachable.

Well, keep trying, Severus.

"What's up with the Malfoys and you, if you don't mind me asking?" Harry questioned the elderly witch, who smiled to herself.

"Narcissa wanted to arrange a marriage between Draco and Neville before they were born, if one was a girl and the other a boy. I refused to consider it because of their affinity to dark magic. It was quite the social slap-in-the-face for the young mother."

"Good" Harry nodded. "I just can't see the two of them together." "Boy, I can't wait to tease Nev about this…"

O0o0o0o0o0o0o

The remainder of October was spent with Mrs. Longbottom playing grandmother to them all. She actually loved the role, and enjoyed her quarters in Godric's Suitcase, chaperoning the four founderettes and helping to spy on Dumbledore. She grew quickly sickened by the headmaster's dealings with people, and was more than glad to report any dirt she could find on him.

The five of them were surprised at the depth of Dumbledore's duplicity. They learned that one reason that Cornelius Fudge was so insecure was that he couldn't think for himself. The odd little minister would floo over to the headmaster's office at least once a week and pick Albus' brain for advice on how to handle matters that he shouldn't need help with in the first place. There was no doubt Albus was reading his thoughts thoroughly during these sessions. Fudge would eat so many lemon drops each visit, it was a wonder he could stay awake for his chats.

Order members came in and out of the office, but they didn't have much information to share. Harry felt twinges of guilt – he could listen in on Tom more, he supposed, but was scared of the evil wizard catching on and shutting him out. He wanted to save the link for when they were more powerfully trained, so he could take him out for once and all. In the meanwhile, he listened in on Draco frequently, and when he caught wind of raids, would let Snape know.

An on-going source of speculation was Dumbledore's relationship with Draco Malfoy. That boy had broken so many rules over the years, and tried to hurt so many. Now he was a known Death Eater. Why was he still in school? However, as Harry did get a lot of valuable information on Death Eater activities by spying on his mind, he didn't actively try to remove the arrogant pureblood.

Halloween broke clear and cool, with the great hall festooned in its usual glory. Harry felt a bit of apprehension getting ready for the ball – the Tri-Wizard ball was a complete flop. To this day Parvarti still gave him dirty looks whenever she thought he wasn't looking, and he couldn't' really blame her. He felt confidant in this ball, in that he knew Hermione would be kind to him if his dancing was bad, and if they didn't feel like dancing, he knew he could have wonderful conversations with her. Mrs. Longbottom was thrilled to give the four of them dancing lessons, which helped both Neville and Harry's confidence. Ron hadn't spoken to him since he invited Hermione, despite what the red head had promised Dumbledore. Ginny, on the other hand…

Flashback

"Harry – you can't go with Hermione you know" Ginny pleaded with desperate eyes. "She's just not, well, right for you."

"How do you mean?" Harry practically growled. He wasn't happy about being cornered in an empty classroom by Ginny, and he wasn't pleased about the conversation in the least.

"Well, you know Ron has a thing for her – you don't want to hurt your best mate!"

"Ginny, Ron has never asked Hermione out. Not once. As for Ron being my 'best mate', he hasn't spoken five words to me since last school year. I have no idea what he wants or who he fancies. Hermione said yes to me, without a moment of hesitation, so I think she isn't pining for him." Harry was feeling more put-out by the minute.

"But Harry, she's not even pretty! How could you want to go with a buck-toothed bushy haired yak like that, when you could have me!" Ginny threw her arms around his neck and ground her hips a bit to emphasize her point.

Harry jumped back like she was a blast-ended skrewt. "I think Hermione is beautiful. Her teeth were fixed several years ago, if that is even important, her hair is fine, and her personality is fantastic." Harry gave Ginny a very discouraging glare.

"You mean to say you really prefer her to me?" Ginny stood there stunned, gaping at him in disbelief.

"Yes, Ginny I do! Now please, give it up! I'm going happily, gladly and merrily with Hermione to the ball."

End of flashback

Harry straightened his tie in the mirror of his dorm. Ron was wearing new dress robes this year, in a deep blue color that didn't clash with his hair, and a new style that didn't clash with everyone's sensibilities.

"Who are you taking to the ball, Ron?" Harry asked in a friendly tone, waiting for the fireworks. He brushed invisible dust off his sleeve – his robes were deepest green, which Hermione promised would match her dress perfectly, and showed off his eyes quite nicely.

Ron shot him a very dirty look as he combed his hair. "Me and Lavender have been seeing each other."

"Great! She's quite the looker" Harry said, and turned away to meet his date. Ron continued to shoot him dirty looks long after he had left the room.

The ball was a huge success in Harry's estimation. Hermione was gorgeous in a deep green gown that matched his robes and her figure to perfection. Her hair was upswept again, like at the Tri-Wizard ball, but her eyes were only for him. They danced and laughed and chatted, and were amazed as the hours flew by. Every slow dance he gazed into her brown eyes, lost in their liquid depths. The Boy-Who-Lived knew what he had to do, and do soon. Here, in his arms, was his reason to survive the war against Riddle. He had to vanquish and live.

Neville and Luna were equally delighted with each other's company – she wore a gown of iridescent pale blue, with her hair elaborately arranged. She looked like a sweet, pale fairy, and Neville was absolutely smitten. Luna, dreamy and other-worldly as ever, floated in Neville's arms, showering him with many kisses when he least expected it.

Naturally, not everyone at the ball was happy. Although Lavender looked every bit as pretty as Hermione and Luna, Ron spent more time glaring at Harry than looking at his date. The headmaster was less than pleased watching the proceedings, and Ginny, on Dean's arm, spent way too much of her time shooting petty looks at the couple of her ire.

The four friends ended the evening in Godric's Suitcase, visiting with Mrs. Longbottom, Sirius and the elves, and having a pleasant late-night cup of hot cocoa. Harry could feel the war was coming soon, but for today he would indulge in simple pleasures with his friends.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o

Minerva McGonagall sat in her private quarters, winding down with a late night cup of tea. She frowned as she recalled the look on the headmaster's face during the Halloween ball. Albus was certainly furious – mad to the point of barely being in control. She tried to find out what was bothering him, but he snapped at her so rudely, she backed off.

The ball was lovely everyone agreed. It did her heart good to see the young couples falling in love – many bonding with their future husbands and wives. Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, secretly her two favorite students, made the perfect pair. And Minerva grew positively misty-eyed when she thought of Mr. Longbottom and Miss Lovegood together. Who would have known the shy Gryffindor and odd Ravenclaw could make such a perfect team.

Naturally not everything went smoothly during the evening. Mr. Malfoy had to be stopped from hexing a young mixed blood witch in the rose garden (and was awarded a week of detentions with Mr. Filch), and Miss Lavender Brown had to be spoken firmly to after she dumped a bowl of punch over Mr. Weasley's head. A strange way to treat one's date, the elderly professor mused.

What was up with Albus lately? It seems that recently he was acting very strange. Oh not the typical Dumbledore strange, with his perchance for muggle sweets and gaudy robes, but, well, sneaky. It was with shock she caught the headmaster glaring at Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, as if he was angry with them for some reason.

Albus' relationship with Mr. Potter was something she never could understand. She accepted his decisions as being what was best for the boy without question for years. Now she was not so sure. She clearly remembered watching the Dursley's all day before Albus left Lily's young baby on their doorstep, and she tried to convince him it was a mistake. The blood wards do sound powerful, but to leave a child in a home where he might not be welcome? Albus did assure her that he checked on the boy frequently, but every September she was always upset to see how skinny and malnourished the child seemed. Something just wasn't right.

A sudden yell of anger, a thump and the sound of marbles or some such matter filled the hall and broke her from her reverie. The noise of thousands of marbles rolling down the castle halls filled the room. Minerva jumped to her feet, tying her tartan robe around her waist, and opened her door. Looking back and forth, she was shocked to see the headmaster lying in the hallway at the base of his gargoyle, half buried not in marbles, but millions of lemon drops. The sour candies were bouncing and rolling down the hall, sticking to walls, his hair and clothing, and castle stone.

"Albus! What happened? Are you all right?" she called down the hall. There was no way the elderly witch was going to try to walk on the round candies, and it would take quite some time before that many could be removed with magic.

"Somebody pranked me!" the mugwump sputtered with fury. "My office is filled floor to ceiling with lemon drops!"

Further down the hall, around a corner, a lone figure in a fairy-perfect gown of iridescent blue smiled a dreamy smile at the couple of odd lemon drops rolling past her feet. Pale blue eyes blinked slowly with satisfaction.

"Mischief managed" she whispered, turned and left for her tower.

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Author notes – no snarkiness:

I'm sorry I teased everyone with Neville's owl – it never gets brought up again. I merely put that in there because I think a toad is a stupid pet for a wizard, and Trevor is obviously not very happy traveling with Neville, as he is always trying to escape. Since the foursome is going to be spending a LOT of time in Godric's Suitcase, owls don't play into the story much at all.

Ah – is Dumbles a Death Eater? You don't really think I'd just come out and say it, do you?

I was surprised that so few people were upset by Hermione being Slytherin. For the few that can't wrap their brains around it, remember – Slytherin valued ambition. Now a person can be evil/greedy/ambitious, or simply ambitious to prove themselves or do well. On the surface Hermione is a stickler for rules and authority, but she sure gets into enough trouble with Harry to make it clear that the 'end justifies the means' – a very Slytherin trait. Also, I've had many folks say Harry and Luna would make great Slytherins. Very true! I think that a well-balanced witch or wizard would strive to have the traits of all the houses – ambition, bravery, intelligence and loyalty. So it stands to reason that the four 'founderettes' would display a good mix of each.

Many folks are bringing up Fawkes – why would a Phoenix, the bird of the light, hang around Albus at this point? Without giving too much away, I will be talking much more about poor Fawkes later in the story. He is a true Phoenix, and not an owl in disguise or anything like that. But Albus wasn't always such a jerk – he's been slowly changing over the decades. Phoenix live such long lives (perhaps forever), they are going to be very patient and not give up until their companion is beyond all hope. But Fawkes is very unhappy as you will see.