Attacks and Hiding

September the first

Smeltings Academy, South East England

Sirius kept glancing at Dudley's Smeltings Uniform. He wasn't the only one. Everybody at Potter Manor that morning had observed Dudley's uniform. "Do all muggles wear this uniform?"

Sirius had taken himself by surprise when he joined Harry, Hermione, and Remus in explaining that each muggle school had a different uniform and that there were muggle schools that did not require uniforms at all. Sirius remembered Lily telling this long back and was surprised he remembered it so well.

"Ah! Here is our Junior Heavyweight Inter-School Boxing Champion of the South East!" A boy greeted Dudley. But Dudley ignored him in favor of another boy he ran up to and hugged. "Piers! Oh, I'm so glad to see you!"

Piers Polkiss was Dudley's best friend, Sirius noted. He had a pen camera attached to his shirt pocket that captured images of Dudley's school and whoever Dudley interacted with. The muggle gadget captured Piers Polkiss and the boy who had greeted Dudley earlier but was ignored by Dudley.

Dudley waved goodbye and thanked Sirius as he collected his trunk and entered the school building. Sirius would find a deserted alleyway and disapparate to Potter Manor.

As Sirius turned in his heels, he remembered his brother, Regulus. Regulus Black had left a notepad in which he wrote how he discovered Voldemort's Horcrux in the cave (a golden locket) and went with Kreacher to the cave. He mentioned how Voldemort had used Kreacher to test the defenses on the poor house elf and later left Kreacher to die. Regulus described how he went to the cave with Kreacher's help, replaced the Horcrux with a fake locket, and ordered Kreacher to destroy it. Regulus… His baby brother, Reg, had sacrificed his life to bring Voldemort down. Nobody knew of Reg's sacrifice, and Sirius had found the notepad only by accident late last night in Grimmauld Place. The locket Horcrux, no doubt, was destroyed, as had Tom Riddle's diary, Gaunt's Ring, and Hufflepuff's Cup that Dumbledore had received from his cousin's vault at Gringotts. But Regulus' sacrifice needed to be told. Sirius vowed to inform the world of Regulus' sacrifice.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland

Meanwhile, Harry, Ginny, and Neville found seats in Luna Lovegood's compartment in Hogwarts Express, while Ron and Hermione attended their prefect duties. Ginny cuddled into Harry's side, and Harry put his arm around her waist. When Neville's Mimbulus Mimbletonia exploded, Harry was embarrassed because he was covered in green liquid in front of Ginny. Ron and Hermione returned to the compartment, and Luna was introduced formally to everyone. That was the start of the Silver Trio.

Draco Malfoy looked livid. He entered the compartment with his cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. But the six students in the compartment easily kicked Malfoy and his cronies out without hesitation or much effort.

As they neared Hogsmeade, Harry sent Hedwig, "Hedwig, go to Potter Manor. You'll find Sirius, and he will tell you how to find Dudley. You know my cousin, Dudley, right? We'll be writing to each other often."

As the Sorting and the Feast took place, Harry's mind was on Potter Manor and everything that happened during the summer.

Dumbledore gave his start-of-term feast but insisted that daily deaths and disappearances, even in the muggle world, are happening because of the Death Eaters of Voldemort. Ever since Voldemort came out into the open, he had been on a murderous rampage, tearing apart muggle and magical families, and killing muggles and muggle-borns alike. Dumbledore insisted that the four Hogwarts Houses be more united and forget differences.

"Fat chance," Harry muttered, looking at a smug-looking Malfoy at the Slytherin table. The assembly was dismissed, and everyone drifted away to their respective Common Rooms; The Gryffindor and Ravenclaw Towers looked as welcoming to the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws as the Chambers next to the kitchens, and the Dungeons looked to the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins.

As Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the Common Room for breakfast the following morning, a tall black girl with long, braided hair had marched up to Harry.

"Hi, Angelina."

"Hi, Harry," she said briskly, "I've been made Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. Tryouts are on Friday at five o'clock, and I want the whole team there. We need a new Keeper because Oliver Wood has left."

"Wow!" said a voice behind Harry. It was Ginny. Ron and Hermione went to the Great hall with Harry and Ginny bringing the rear.

"Hey, love. What's your first period?" Harry asked Ginny as they walked.

"Herbology. And yours, love?" Ginny asked.

Harry groaned, "History of Magic, followed by Double Potions!"

"Oh, dear! Well, we have Care of Magical Creatures after Herbology." Ginny said sympathetically.

"Lucky you!" Ron groaned. Hermione scowled, "This is our O.W.L. year, Ron. We will have loads to study!"

"Hermione, give it a break!" Ron shook his head as he added milk to his Cornflakes.

Hermione shook her head as well as she grabbed some porridge.

Harry settled for some bread and peanut butter, while Ginny decided to try some Chocos with milk.

In Smeltings, Dudley had finished his breakfast and had gone up to his dormitory to collect his books for the days' classes. He saw a white owl sitting on a tree branch and instantly recognized it. So, he opened the window next to his bed. Hedwig immediately noticed it, hooted happily, and flew in. She dropped a let on Dudley's bed and perched herself on the stand.

Dudley smiled as he read the message. He took out some nuts he had grabbed at breakfast and gave them to Hedwig. He wrote a simple thank you note and attached it to Hedwig's leg. With a soft hoot, she took off into the sky as Dudley left for his classes.

Sirius grinned at the thank you note from Dudley. Hedwig would rest for a day at Potter Manor before setting off for Hogwarts.

Harry knew Hagrid was on a mission, so his absence did not make him panic as much as he would've done had he not known. He, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny did not dislike Professor Grubbly Plank but still wanted Hagrid to teach them. However, they understood that Hagrid was an Order member and was on Order business.

On Saturday morning, Harry woke up to the sound of Hedwig hooting outside his dormitory window. He quickly opened the window, and Hedwig came in and perched on Harry's bed. From Hedwig's tired but pleasant mood, Harry deduced that thankfully he had opened the window without having to make Hedwig wait for long. Harry opened his box of Owl Treats and gave Hedwig her breakfast.

The note was from Sirius. Harry grinned and passed the note to Ron, who smiled at Harry. "Well, now we know how to contact Dudley via owl."

Hermione and Ginny too smiled at Harry when the four met in the Common Room, and Harry had given them the note. "Well, you can send an owl to Dudley as and when you please."

"Yeah, but Hogwarts is in the North, and Smeltings is in the South. I'll send Hedwig only when there is something important and urgent. It's a very long journey." Harry said.

By the time the first weekend of term arrived, the school knew Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter were seeing each other. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley were also seeing each other, but since Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger weren't as popular as Harry Potter, their relationship was not as widely discussed as Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley's relationship.

Dumbledore trained Harry with regard to Occlumency for the entirety of September. Harry was busy with school work, Quidditch, and Occlumency. During the weekends, he wrote to Sirius at Potter Manor. Soon, Dumbledore instructed Harry to expand his student body rather than keep it limited to the Weasleys, Hermione, and Neville.

Hermione came up with the idea of a teaching club/study group, and Ginny suggested the name "Dumbledore's Army" or the "DA" for short. Dobby told Harry about the "Come and Go Room," aka "The Room of Requirement".

More than half of Gryffindor, followed by a large number of Hufflepuffs (like Hannah, Susan, Ernie, and Zacharius) and a huge number of Ravenclaws (like Luna, Padma, Cho, and Terry), and even Slytherins like Blaise Zabini, Daphne Greengrass, and Theodore Nott joined the DA and practiced regularly. Hermione brilliantly came up with the idea of enchanted coins so Harry could let the members know the time and date of the next DA meeting.

September paved the way into October. Quidditch practices become so intense that Harry wondered whether Oliver Wood had died during a Puddlemore United Practice Session because Angelina Johnson was now channeling Oliver's spirit. Dumbledore had finally moved on to Horcruxes and spent every lesson giving some information about Voldemort's past (Bob Ogden and the Gaunts in one lesson, Tom Marvolo Riddle's birth and Dumbledore's visit to the orphanage to give him his Hogwarts letter in another lesson, and so on.) Dumbledore explained how Tom Riddle manipulated people, killed people mercilessly, including his father and grandparents, and how Slughorn told Tom Riddle Junior about the possibility of creating more than one Horcrux. Dumbledore told Harry that four out of seven Horcruxes were now destroyed. He informed Harry about Regulus' sacrifice. Only an object belonging to Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, Voldemort's snake, and Harry were left.

Harry had been shocked to discover he was one of the Horcruxes. Voldemort had accidentally and unknowingly created the Horcrux in Hary when Voldemort tried to kill Harry, and Lily Potter sacrificed her life to save Harry.

Ginny could, no doubt see into Harry's mind and access his thoughts and emotions. But she and Harry that decided that Harry will speak about it to Ginny just like with Ron and Hermione so that Ginny can focus on other things while waiting for Harry.

"Will I have to die, Professor?" Harry asked resignedly. He had been imagining his life with Ginny. Getting married to her, waking up every morning with her in his arms, inhaling the scent of her fiery red hair, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss, having children with her, seeing their children off to Hogwarts…

"No, Harry! Remember, you and Miss Weasley have a soul bond! You are soul mates! You can even communicate non verbally! On top of that, even though your aunt is dead, your mothers' charm is still alive in Dudley, and by bringing Dudley to your house and calling it your house, the charm that was sealed due to Petunia is now being sealed by Dudley Dursley! So, you do not have to die for Voldemort's Horcrux in you to die! However, we will need Mr. Weasley, Miss Weasley, and Miss Granger as well as Mr. Longbottom for this."

After every lesson, Harry always informed Ron, Hermione, and Ginny about the lesson. Each lesson was turning out to be more alarming, frightening, and serious, and involved more tears than the last.

During the next class, Dumbledore told Harry, "It is time you listen to the prophecy."

From the pensieve, Harry saw a silvery figure of Sybil Trelawney come out with these words.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… but the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord shall not be alone…his soul mate will be incarnated on the planet a year following his birth, seventh child and the only girl in seven generations…they share a power that rivals that of the Dark Lord…the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…."

"Sir, what has Neville got to do with this? I know Ginny is the seventh child of the family and the only girl in seven generations, I know Ron is a unique person and can be counted upon, I know Hermione is a bright muggle-born witch, the kind Voldemort and his Death Eaters hate. But, where does Neville come into the equation?" Harry asked.

"The thing about the prophecy, Harry, is that the prophecy may not have been about you at all! Born to parents who have thrice defied Voldemort, born as the seventh month dies. Frank Longbottom and Alice Longbottom!" Blue eyes looked into green eyes. Harry understood.

Neville was born on the thirtieth of July, one day before he, Harry, was born. Alice and Frank were Aurors. Dumbledore had told Harry the previous year how Bellatrix, Rodulphus, Rabastus, and Barty Crouch Jr. had tortured the Longbottoms to insanity for the whereabouts of Voldemort after he met his downfall at the Potters. To this day, Neville's parents live in St Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, permanently insane, unable to recognize their own son.

"According to the prophecy, the boy born at the end of July to parents who defied Voldemort thrice would be the one to defeat Voldemort once and for all and have powers Voldemort knew not. When Lily Potter sacrificed her life to save her own son, the charm protected you and destroyed Voldemort. That was how you landed with the scar on your forehead. Voldemort went after you, the Half-Blood, instead of Neville Longbottom, the Pure Blood. He chose his opponent, someone like him. He himself is a Half-Blood." Dumbledore went on. "Voldemort heard only the part about his opponent being born at the end of the seventh month to parents who have defied him thrice. You see, Severus Snape, who was spying, did not hear the full prophecy and was kicked out before he could hear the full prophecy. He then went and told Voldemort what he knew. No one knows what the rest of the Prophecy entails."

"WHAT?!" Harry was outraged! "Snape told Voldemort about the prophecy, and Peter Pettigrew led Voldemort to the Potters! My parents died because of these two traitors!" Harry roared.

"But, Harry, Snape is a triple agent now. He works for me pretending to spy for Voldemort, works for Voldemort pretending to spy for me, and works for me while spying for Voldemort. End of the day, he works for me as a dedicated member of the Order. He regrets his role and actions, you see?"

"I don't care about his regrets! I lost my parents because of him and Wormtail! SNAPE AND PETTIGREW!"

"Calm down, Harry. Professor Snape has regretted his actions and has joined the Light side. Pettigrew, on the other hand, still is a Death Eater. You see the difference?"

"NO, I DON'T! SNAPE IS STILL A HORRIBLE TEACHER AND A BULLY WHO CARRIES CHILDHOOD GRUDGES!" Harry bellowed.

"Harry, you will know when the right time comes. I pray that you remain patient till then." Dumbledore said in the same calm voice.

Harry was still fuming as he told a stunned Ginny, Ron, and Hermione everything they had discussed.

"Snape on our side? Has Dumbledore gone senile that he trusts that Snape guy?" Harry bellowed.

"Harry! He is a professor!" Hermione admonished him.

"Professor, my foot!" Harry bellowed at her. "Have you ever seen a real professor who bullies their students, is unfair to their students, who takes points off just because they don't like a particular student or set of students, and who is a greasy bat, Hermione?"

"Always knew Snape was a nutter!" Ron said darkly.

"Even Bill hates Snape!" Ginny declared as though that settled the matter.

Soon, with the end of October, the date for the next Hogsmeade visit arrived. Harry asked Ginny out as his date, as Ron asked Hermione out. It was a really pleasant day with a little chilly weather, but with weak sunlight. Overall, it was a perfect occasion for a date. The two couples would meet at the Three Broomsticks for lunch. Ginny and Harry made for the direction of the Shrieking Shack as Hermione and Ron went over to Zonko's Joke Shop.

Harry stood close to the Shrieking Shack and let memories take over him. In his third year, he, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had come to watch Buckbeak's execution. Scabbers bit Ron's fingers and escaped, with Ron trying to catch it. Then, in his Animagus form, Sirius Black dragged Ron into the Whomping Willow and broke Ron's leg badly in the process. Harry, Ginny, and Hermione were white in the face and shaking with fear as they looked for ways to enter and go after Ron. Crookshanks had, at the occasion, made the Whomping Willow permit them to enter.

As Black's identity was revealed, the story of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs came out, and Peter Pettigrew's treachery was exposed, Severus Snape had come trying to get Black the Dementors Kiss over childhood grudges. That night, Pettigrew escaped, Lupin transformed into a werewolf, Black was almost given the Dementors Kiss, and Harry had performed the Patronus Charm for the first time in front of Dementors. Harry and Hermione had traveled back in time to save Buckbeak from execution and Sirius Black from the Dementors. As Hermione watched in awe, the silver stag burst out of Harry's wand and shot straight at the dementors. Sirius escaped with Buckbeak that night, and Harry and Hermione went back to Ron and Ginny in the Hospital Wing to narrate the evening's events.

Ginny chuckled just then, "Seems like Lord Potter has traveled back in time again?"

"Then my Lady Potter shall bring me back to the present!" Harry grinned at her.

Just as the two leaned in for a kiss, loud bangs and shrieks were heard. Harry froze, "Oh, Dear Lord! This can't be good!"

"H-Harry, calm down. It looks like Death Eaters are firing spells. Aurors are here, and we can help the Aurors. It's okay." Ginny thought.

"No, it bloody well isn't okay! Guns! Those are the sounds of bullets! Somebody is firing bullets here in Hogsmeade! Guns and bullets, Ginny! Remember I told you about those muggle weapons?" Harry thought desperately.

"Keep the mind connection! We go in different directions, and we're the only ones here as far as we know who can communicate like this!" Harry and Ginny thought simultaneously.

Both of them rushed to the village and headed off to different streets.

Everywhere Harry saw, there indeed were people with guns! There were also Death Eaters. But the three people with guns seemed to be fighting on the Death Eaters side. Hogsmeade was filled with shoppers shopping for Halloween, and this attack was happening when loads of people from Hogsmeade and from outside Hogsmeade were there!

Harry fired spells and curses of his own. "Expelliarmus!" "Impedimenta!" "Reducto!" "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" as a Dementor came gliding across the street.

As Harry rushed past Zonko's, he saw Ginny perform her Bat Bogey Hex on multiple Death Eaters. She even cast the Bat Bogey Hex on one of the gunmen. She nodded at him and proceeded to fight.

Close to Honeydukes, Harry saw Ron in fierce combat with…. Harry was shocked! Draco Malfoy!

"Ha! I am a Death Eater now, Weasley! Wait till Potter knows his weaselbee is being defeated by me! The Scion of the Malfoys!"

"Shut it, Malfoy!" gnarled Ron as he redoubled his efforts.

"Lord Malfoy for you, Weasley!" roared Malfoy as he sent Killing Curse after Killing Curse at Ron.

When Harry rushed to help, Ron shook his head and motioned Harry that Ron will handle the duel just fine.

Harry was outside Madame Puddifoots when he saw Hermione locked in a fierce duel with a Death Eater. She yelled at Hermione, "Go back where you came from, you filthy little Mudbood!"

"Let's see who goes where, you bitch!" Hermione screeched. As the lady Death Eater performed a complex array of spells, Harry yelled "Protego," the force of which blasted the Death Eater against a wall.

"Harry! I'm going to handle this myself. Please get back to safety! These monsters are vying for your blood! They are here to get you! Run!" Hermione screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Ron is dueling Draco Malfoy at Honeydukes! Malfoy is a Death Eater!" Harry shouted at Hermione's retreating back. The only indication she gave that she heard him was a thumbs up.

As Harry ran across Hogsmeade shooting jinxes at Death Eaters, he saw several members of the Order of the Phoenix fighting. Everywhere Harry went, he heard screams and yells of "Avada Kedavra!", "Crucio," "Imperio!" coming from the Death Eaters hoods. Neville, to Harry's shock, was dueling none other than Rodolphus Lestrange.

Harry noted that Neville proved to be as powerful as Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and him. Harry ducked as Neville shot a Reducto curse at the pillar near Roldolphus, which fell on Rodulphus' head. He still continued fighting with Neville, though.

All the Weasleys were there, as were Fleur and Audrey. Even Angelina and Alicia were fighting. Remus and Sirius were also in a two-on-two combat with some Death Eaters, and Tonks was….

Harry stopped. Tonks looked like she had lost the fight in her. She was slumped against the wall, a heavy blow over her head, bleeding from her mouth and clutching her right arm, and sobbing.

Harry saw Remus run-up to her. He held Tonks, and she sobbed into his chest, and the two of them went into the Post Office. Just then, all the Death Eaters fled, and Harry was left confused. Everywhere he saw, members of the Order and victims alike were clutching body parts and nursing various injuries.

Harry was bleeding a lot, but he was used to this. He went around helping round up the injured to take them either to the Hospital Wing, Hogwarts, or to St Mungo's. Harry went around helping the adults calling for help for the injured and deceased. He ignored the flood of questions directed at him.

"Harry, you go and take rest!"

"Why are you here, Harry?"

"What are you doing here? You are the first to need rest and medication, Potter."

"Harry, I told you the Death Eaters are after you! Why didn't you run back to safety? What if the Death Eaters had gotten you?" Hermione was clutching Ron, who sported a severe head injury. Hermione sported a wound in her stomach and was slightly limping.

Ginny ran up to him and hugged him. Her mouth was bleeding, and her hair was soiled. She and Ron weren't the only Weasleys with injuries. Mr. Weasley, unfortunately, had been tortured with the Cruciatus Curse and then killed with the Killing Curse. Harry was devastated and dreaded that moment when the Hogsmeade trip was planned.

As the injured students and Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Bill, and Percy were treated at St Mungo's, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sat close, nursing their own injuries. Among those who had died, Ted Tonks, Nymphadora Tonks' father, had been shot with a gun straight to the head.

The rest of the day passed by in a blur. The next morning, Harry attended the funerals of Arthur Weasley and Ted Tonks, during which the guy at the front gave a speech about how brave and valiant Ted Tonks and Arthur Weasley were, how they sacrificed their lives fighting and became heroes. To Harry, those were just words from a speech. He glanced at Andromeda Tonks and Nymphadora Tonks, clutching one another and sobbing. Remus and Sirius sat with solemn looks, Sirius patting Remus on the shoulder as Remus cried silently.

Harry could hear Molly Weasley sobbing loudly. Ginny (sitting next to Harry) was crying as well but had her head on her mothers shoulder. Ron had placed his head on Molly's other shoulder, his face shining with tears. Hermione sat next to Ron, patting his arm with one hand as she wiped her tears with another. To the other side of Harry sat George, Fred, Percy, Bill, and Fleur. Just then, Charlie reached the venue, gave a loud howl, and ran to the front. Bill had to rush to him and bring him to where he sat with Fleur.

Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout, Alastor Moody, and some other Order members Harry knew only by sight had attended the funeral.

In the evening, the same people were seated in Potter Manor. Albus looked very grave indeed.

"The situation is going out of control. First the Dursleys, now this Hogsmeade attack. Molly, I request you and the Weasley kids to stay away from the Burrow for now. It's become dangerous. The same goes for you, Mrs. Tonks. You and Mr. Tonks lived happily in your house, but now that house is no longer safe."

"Where shall I stay?" Andromeda wept. Harry answered, "Here, at Potter Manor. Nymphadora Tonks also stays here, as does Remus Lupin."

"Oh, no, Lord Potter. I don't want to be a nuisance."

"Who said you're a nuisance. This is war. Anything can happen to anyone! It is most crucial that you stay safe! The Dursleys' live here, and it will be fitting if the Tonks' live here too."

At these words, Andromeda nodded and thanked Harry profusely. Harry said, "Harry, please, not 'Lord Potter,' ma'am."

"Then call me Andromeda, please." Andromeda smiled.

"While we are at it, I was thinking about the Grangers. I want them to go into hiding as well, since the muggle community and magical community are equally in danger, and I'm sure Miss Granger here will agree with me that her parents need to be safe." Dumbledore said.

"Absolutely! I want Mr. and Mrs. Granger to live here at Potter Manor. If it's okay with you, Hermione?" Harry looked at his best friend, who beamed back at him.

"Thank you so much, Harry. I know my parents will be safe if they live at Potter Manor."

That was how a team of witches and wizards consisting of Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Remus, Tonks, and Albus Dumbledore found themselves in front of the Grangers' front door early on Monday morning.

Dan Granger was a tall, lean man with Hermione's brown eyes and a little messy jet black hair. Emma Granger was a short, thin woman with Hermione's bushy brown hair and thin nose, but her eyes were green. Both Grangers were pleasant people, overjoyed at seeing their daughter at first, but immediately grew worried.

"What's wrong, Hermione? Who are these people? What happened?" Emma asked as Hermione put her arms around her mothers' neck.

"My best friends, Ron Weasley," Hermione indicated Ron, "Ginny Weasley," she indicated Ginny, "And Harry Potter," Hermione indicated Harry. "This is our Headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore." Hermione indicated Dumbledore, whose eyes twinkled with delight. "Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks. Sorry for the first name, Tonks, but my parents need to know your full name." Hermione added as Tonks huffed indignantly.

"Everybody, meet my parents, Emma Granger and Dan Granger." Hermione finished. Pleasantries were exchanged, hands were shook, and the Grangers had the same look on their faces as their eyes made way up to Harry's scar as Hermione had had on that train ride on the first of September in 1991 when she first saw Harry.

"Harry Potter?"

"Hermione says you're the Boy Who Lived."

"Hermione says you're her best friend. As are the red-headed young lady and gentleman here."

"And Professor Dumbledore? Albus Dumbledore? Who is so well known!"

"Remus and Tonks, what a pleasure!"

"Please sit down, all of you."

When Emma made to get tea, Hermione pulled out her wand, "Accio tea and nine cups!" Dan and Emma stared as everything came flying on their own accord.

"Mr. and Mrs. Granger." Dumbledore began.

"No, please. Call me Dan. And she is Emma." Dan smiled at his wife.

"Right. Dan and Emma Granger." Dumbledore began.

The entire morning went by as the seven witches and wizards took turns and explained to Dan and Emma Granger about the ongoing war and the story of Harry Potter up to this point.

"We've lost our father, and we don't want our best friend to lose her parents." Ginny and Ron said simultaneously. Harry added, "Tonks here lost her father." Everybody in the room felt so sorry for Ron and Ginny and Tonks. The Grangers offered their condolences.

"Even if you want us to go into hiding, where do we go?" Emma asked. Hermione obviously had inherited her mothers' quick thinking and reasoning.

"I have read about this in the library. Whenever there is war, people usually leave the country. We can go to Australia, for one thing. Let me read on that." Hermione had obviously inherited her fathers' reading habits and smartness.

Harry interrupted them. "In the Wizarding World, unlike the muggle world, one comes of age at seventeen as opposed to eighteen. As for me, being the sole heir and Scion of the Potter clan, I gain certain rights and responsibilities as a legal adult. That includes property ownership. I invite you both to relocate to my house, Potter Manor, for hiding."

Dan and Emma stared, unsure of whether Harry was serious or whether Harry had those rights legally. They, however knew Harry had no parents and had inherited the Potters fortune, vault, property, and estate. They found the information on Harry inheriting Potter Manor and the existence of such a Manor new.

"We would, of course, be honored. Lord Potter. I mean, Harry." Dan finally said, after silently communicating with Emma the exact same way Hermione and Ron communicated. Harry wondered what it was with these silent looks that couples exchanged. But then he remembered that he, too, could silently communicate with Ginny. To his right sat Ginny looking at him with a bemused expression on her face as though telling him, "Did it seriously take you this long to figure this out, Harry?"

"Okay, now that we've got that sorted, we help with the packing!" Hermione was in her element. "Ginny, you go and help Mum with her stuff! Harry, you go and help Dad with his stuff! Ron, you go and round up all the essentials that need to be carried. I'll help you there."

"Tonks and I will be around, helping all of you!" Remus declared. Dumbledore had his wand ready to charm the relatives and friends of the Grangers to automatically think for the duration of the Grangers' hiding that the Grangers haven't gone anywhere and are just busy.

Harry was in the Master Bedroom of the Grangers. Mr. Granger's coat reminded him of Uncle Vernon's coat. But he had no time to dwell on that. He collected the coats and hastily made his way around the bed only to bump into Ginny, who was carrying every hat Mrs. Granger ever owned. The hats and the coats fell onto the bed as a result of the collision, and Harry found himself on the balcony floor with Ginny lying on his stomach.

Harry cursed the effect this was having on him. Ginny's face betrayed the fact that she knew exactly what was going on below Harry's waist. Her eyebrows were raised. "Harry now's not the time!" She mentally said.

"I know! I mean, that's not what I meant! These things happen suddenly, Ginny!" Harry thought inwardly.

The two of them heard nervous chuckles and looked around to see Mrs. Granger and Mr. Granger at the door standing side by side.

"We have booked the room, have we?"

"Maybe we ought to come back later."

Just then, Hermione appeared, followed by Ron, and Harry and Ginny sat up on the balcony floor, apologizing and blushing profusely.

The rest of the packing happened with Ginny blushing, Harry going red in the face, Hermione and Ron throwing knowing looks and them, and one or both the Grangers asking if Harry or Ginny would like a break with a knowing smile.

Soon, Dumbledore, Remus, and Nymphadora emptied the Grangers' house by vanishing all their material possessions. They then led the way, with Mr. and Mrs. Granger in the middle and Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Harry bringing the rear.

In Potter Manor, the Grangers' were reunited with their belongings, and Hope helped them move them to the room next to Augusta Longbottom's room in the East Wing. It was midnight by the time everything was done.

The Grangers met with Andromeda Tonks, as Harry excused himself to write to Dudley about the new events. He assumed that at least Dudley would be having a fine time. Little did he know what Dudley was staring at, at the moment.