Chapter 3 - A Date with Hagrid

A/N: Thanks to my wonderful Beta, LtsHrIt4ThBoyz.

A/N: This chapter ends on a bit of a cliffie involving Sirius that will not be completely resolved until Chapter 21 Task Two and Three-Quarters (which will be Chapter 22 in the postings as the Words of Warning are labeled Chapter 1). This story is going through a rewrite of the original that I posted a ways back. If you are concerned about Sirius Black, you may wish to wait to read this story until that chapter has been posted.

**OO**

Christmas 2014, Potter Home, Wales

Luna turned her silvery gaze back to Sirius. He had met a nice muggleborn witch in the Order and they had married at the end of her first ten-year. With Sirius living with Harry, they didn't accept the house that the Order normally provided retiring knights.

But Harry liked it like that.

The family had enough tents and such that adventures all over the world were common enough. Or just jaunts to Sirius' private island. A private island that the Order had returned to Sirius after his 'recovery'. In turn, Padfoot had made sure that his brother, Sir Rigel, knew that any knight needing a break was welcome anytime there.

"When did you first suspect Sister Gisele's mission?" Luna asked Harry, but it was Rigel that startled. He had tried so hard to keep it under wraps! Then it was he that started talking.

**OO**

June 1990, Ecole Merlin, Rome

"It's not proper for a male knight to take a female squire!" Sister Gisele shouted. Again.

"No, it isn't. But Dame Rebecca Flores made it clear that she will expect the girl to fly more and get over her fear. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but Hermione has parents. Parents who might object to some of her methods. I would not like to lose a student over this. And Lieutenant Dan Granger will pull his daughter from the school if he finds out what this training entails." The headmaster was clearly trying his best to be the friendly 'Cousin Rigel' that got everyone working together at school.

Sister Gisele was not buying it.

Sir Hector stood as still as a statue. He learned as a child that her eyes followed movement. To stay still was to stay safe. Such training had saved him more than once in the field.

"What say, you, Sir Hector?" Rigel was trying to recruit help for his position. Or maybe add more targets for the Sister's wrath.

"I think that we should ask the children. But I will say this. It's not just the animagus forms. Harry has a unique affinity to magical creatures that Hermione does not. She is strong and has good aim with a wand, bow and dagger now. She is fearless in the battle simulations, and will not back down if either Neville or Harry is in danger. I feel that she would be better served to have an instructor who is mentoring others that Hermione is not so protective of. She doesn't always make good field decisions." Sir Hector opined.

"Very well. Sister Gisele, you win. I will speak with Dame Rebecca Flores and ask her to moderate her approach. The squire ceremony will proceed Saturday. Her Majesty will send a representative or may come herself. Harry Potter is a celebrity even in Italy, and she is one of the few in the know that he is here. She will not let it leak, and since the apprentices are minors, their names will not be in the newspapers." Monsignor Brown stated.

"What about Neville?" Sister Gisele asked. She was concerned about her little foundling being left out. The boy had no strong battle skills yet at all. Not that he was weak magically. Just still timid, despite the supportive environment.

"He has no interest in being a knight. He is happy to grow plants for the Order, and does a splendid job of that. Gets rare plants to bloom that much older students can't manage. He already has caught the eye of the Potions departments, and they are thrilled with him." Sir Hector stated. Information that they all knew, but just confirming so it was clear that the boy had his own talents.

"I'll release funds for a new greenhouse and allow the Potions department to request some of the more expensive plant components to be grown here. This can be the Longbottom legacy, benefiting many people. The boy does have great worth, and we need to show him that. He does have talent." The headmaster concluded.

Riding a hippogriff to the rescue would just never be one of them.

**OO**

Sir Hector swung the practice sword a little too close to Neville's ear. He immediately had Harry, Hermione, Joseph and Brother Paddy aiding the boy. Dame Rebecca was in the field at the moment. Charles was watching over her squires for a time. Sir Jerome was monitoring.

Brother Paddy called Sir Hector a bad name, and the game split with Neville, Joseph and Charles versus Harry, Hermione and Brother Paddy.

The students were growing better and better, and Brother Paddy was going to be sent on a mission soon. He said that there was a reason he couldn't take the Oath, and it had nothing to do with money. Harry was confused by that, but accepted it. They had been together for almost three years now.

Harry didn't want to lose Brother Paddy's companionship. The animagus wasn't a full knight so couldn't take Harry as his squire even if Harry wasn't already Sir Hector's squire. Harry attacked Neville with a will, his practice sword only stinging when it did make it through.

Joseph's sword became a tulip. Confused, he held it out to his brother who waved him to the side of the area and away from any more stinging hexes.

"The Flower of Chivalry? Really?" Sir Jerome laughed at Brother Paddy's joke.

The boys grinned at each other when it was Hermione who managed to disarm Charles. Neville immediately dropped his sword.

"I yield! I don't want to be green or pink or anything else for a day again. Thank you very much!" Neville declared. The adult animagus pouted, and put whatever was in his hand away into the pouch at his waist.

**OO**

Sister Gisele never swore and took everyone to task around her who did.

'I don't care if you are warriors, from a long line of warriors, watch your mouth or eat soap!' was heard more than once around the school.

The soap bubble charm had been used on the most senior of staff. More than once. For the smallest swear!

And never, ever, ever, take the Lord's name in vain around her. Oh sure, it was more about breaking promises than using His Holy name as a swear, but still. It was the newcomers' nightmare to get caught saying it.

To see her ignore three men turning the air blue around her while this stern, stiff woman shed tears?

Apocalypse was here; Sister Gisele was crying.

They should have seen this coming. Augusta had warned them three years before about it!

"Get the boys up here. Hermione too. Dumbledore won't know about her attending here, and with her occlumency skills, she won't reveal any secrets. And she is whip-smart."

"You can't think of sending the girl in just because the boys are going? She's from a squib line! You know how she'll be treated there." Gisele argued vociferously.

Cousin Rigel was gone, and in his stead, in full military garb and honors was Monsignor Brown.

"Miss Granger, future Captain Granger, told me what she would do to me if I thought of leaving her behind! Besides, she figured out how to copy books, and wants a chance to replicate every book in Hogwarts. I hope to have them out by Christmas."

"She'll be done copying those books in three weeks, and still be head of the class. No one can do better than her, muggleborn or pureblood." Sister Gisele stated proudly.

The Granger parents came in, Mister Granger in full uniform.

"Thank you for including us in this. We can hire a local elf to look after the Italian house garden and such, just as we do our house in Britain. The practice isn't that busy. We don't mind the quiet."

And with the Granger house paid for by Harry Potter at his insistence, they didn't need to make so much, so working part-time allowed them time for other pursuits. Like Art for the missus, and shooting for the Lieutenant. Both were volunteering at the school. The house in Britain had been in the family for a few hundred years, and they would never sell that.

Neville came in, steam coming out his ears almost literally. "I'll cast her from the family! How dare she do this to me!"

"She found out that you were a wizard, and was afraid you would stay here for your schooling given a choice." Monsignor Brown shared.

"But she used the Black seat as well! Betrayed Harry and my trust!" Neville argued. The normally quiet and shy little lamb had become a lion in his rage.

"And in just over six years, you both will have the power to do something about it. For now, you are children who will be breaking the law if you don't go."

"But why is Hermione going? She'll be in danger! We've heard you talking about Dumbledore and then put up a privacy charm. We're not seven years old anymore! We can do the arithmancy and see that he is plotting something else other than what we've talked about." Harry pointed out.

Rigel hung his head for a moment.

"All of us are angry, because others have power over us. You have to know that our legal team has been working on this. The caveat did make it into the bill."

"The one that says that we can leave if we get hurt?" Neville asked. "But it's a school. Oh, sure, paper cuts from books and the occasional broken bone in DADA. But nothing really bad."

"Young man! How can you be so cavalier about a broken leg or arm?" Mrs Granger demanded of Neville. "Comparing it to a paper cut?"

Neville looked to Hermione for help with this one.

"Mum, remember that potion that I took to heal my teeth? And the other when I smashed my hand? It took minutes to fix in the wizarding way."

"I suppose. Even with you coming home regularly, and sharing, it's still like hearing a fairy tale, love." Emma stated.

"You'll all have a full set of emergency potions and portkey in your field kit. If you get hurt at school, and they withhold care, use it, and get away! Don't worry about waiting for a healer. You are all much more important than that." Brother Paddy warned.

"That is what Pensieves are for. You all have your brooms?" Their headmaster asked.

Hermione blanched, and Neville didn't look much better. Harry grinned though. Despite the extra training, brutal at times, Hermione could fly and did fly well. She would just never enjoy it.

"Did Brother Paddy get you a Comet 360 as I requested?" The headmaster's eyes narrowed, looking between them.

"I can positively say that I have a broom-shaped package in my tent that he told me not to open yet. And I have that old Starlight 9 broom in my emergency kit, just in case that broom-shaped package is actually a large dog-biscuit, I do have a backup. He wanted me to have something to open later when I was feeling sad after he left on his mission. Which I will try not to do until I'm in secured private quarters, as first years aren't allowed their own brooms at Hogwarts."

"Well, due to your celebrity, we did get that restriction lifted. You are meeting the escort tomorrow in Diagon Alley. Your disguise is ready, and has Gisele very frustrated with me, I'm afraid.

"Isn't she always frustrated with you, headmaster?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Only when I am here, Miss Granger. Only when I'm here." He responded blandly.

They all laughed at that. Harry knew that he was lucky to have this man as a mentor. For the last several months, they had been planning on a scenario that brought Harry and Neville back to Britain.

They did not expect all of the changes, but the main ones came as no surprise.

At least Dumbledore hadn't found Petunia yet. Not that Sister Gisele wouldn't do, with polyjuice, of course. That gave them another month, as 'Petunia' would arrange a meeting place with their escort. But Sister Gisele would not be alone.

Anyone messing with her, messed with the Order.

And they were all very protective of their cranky, crotchety, soap-spell wielding sweet Sister.

**OO**

The oversized cargo pants were perfect. With the invisible earbud, he could receive messages from people close by. The spell to make his pocket fabric transparent would only last a few hours. But it would allow anyone monitoring the mirror to see and hear at least some of what was going on around him.

"Just don't put the mirror in your back pocket. Please! No sitting on it!" Brother Paddy begged.

"You cast the unbreakable charm on it. Twice. You do good work!"

"I wish you could bring your dog with you." Brother Paddy sadly shared.

"Oh sure. A nice big Grimm. This is England! You know that people would be up in arms, fainting, wailing, gnashing teeth. We're supposed to help with those situations. Sir. Not cause them."

"You wound me to the core, young man!"

"How? By calling you 'sir'?"

"That's it! You're gonna get it now!"

But their play was interrupted by the headmaster.

"Brother Paddy, trouble in Argentina has broken out again. I'm so sorry. The Knight Commander has requested that you be released for departure in two hours. That gives the elves time to pack, and for you two to share a meal together before you have to go. Be well, brother, and don't forget that you are very, very important."

Brother Paddy got up and gave the headmaster a warm embrace before godfather and godson left together.

Monsignor Brown shuddered. He had a very bad feeling about this mission. He had been badly hurt in an interrupted dark ritual. Rumors had been rife, and their Order's sabotaging efforts had only delayed the fight. Now, his brother was going to be in the thick of it. At a time he should be shadowing Harry in the Alley!

Shedding a tear or two, the man wept, wishing he wasn't so badly damaged for the nth time that week.

**OO**

"Harry, there are things going on that you haven't been told." The animagus said sadly. "Things I want to tell you but can't. Not now at least."

"Yeah, 'cause I'm a kid."

"No, because you're a warrior that we have known was going into enemy territory. We can give you a dragonhide vest, every weapon known to wizard or muggle, but if you know things that the enemy wants to know, and if you're captured…"

"Yeah. Truth serum if they're nice. Torture if they aren't." Harry shivered.

"Should anything happen to me, I have left you a journal to read. When It's safe." The man coughed, so wanting to tell his godson who he truly was. At least they had seen each other's animagus forms. Well, Sirius knew of three of his godson's, but knew he was keeping some a secret.

"Lots of ways to torture a person too. Like threatening people they know that you love." Harry quoted. "I'm sorry that you care about me like that."

"I'm not!"

They sat down together, and started eating while Daisy packed Sirius' stuff. She was the elf that he bought and bonded with to care for the Granger's property in Britain since muggles can't own them in Italy. Not in Britain either.

"Make it obvious that you are making friends on the train with Neville and Hermione. No one will question your relationship later. I met your, I mean, I met good friends on the way to school. These are things that we will talk about one day. In the meantime, your father would want you to have this."

Brother Paddy handed over a dragon skin bound book. Quality parchment inside. The handwriting on the first pages was rough, but got neater as it went along. There was a separate folded parchment.

A photograph fell out of four boys. One appeared to be Harry, and he tried to snatch it up at Brother Paddy's quick accio.

"Tell Hagrid that you want pictures of your family. I'll keep this for now. Take care, Harry. Follow the plan, and break all of the school rules you want at Hogwarts. Here are plenty of prank ideas. Just have fun."

The man showed him how to work the Marauder's Map, but refused to answer any questions right then about the inventors. Just showed Harry how to use it and let him know that his father, James had a stag Patronus and was nicknamed 'Prongs'.

"You'll figure out some of it on your own. But I just can't talk about it right now."

The man handed over a shrunken trunk of pranks and prank components.

"I'll see you at Christmas, Tweety." Brother Paddy laughed.

"Turn into a nice, large corbie, and do I get any respect? No! I get a budgie's nickname. A yellow budgie. A muggle yellow budgie!"

"What do you want to be called?"

"Nightstalker!

"Deathwing!

"Nevermore!

"Anything," Harry begged. "Just not Tweety!"

"Nevermore?"

"Edgar Alan Poe. Why they make kids read it, I do not know. Gave me nightmares. I wouldn't recommend it." Harry said, hugging his mentor tightly. "Take care, Brother Paddy."

"Don't worry, we'll get you out of there soon! I promise. And there's still a month before school starts. Maybe I'll be back in time to see you off on the train even if I can't go shopping with you tomorrow."

They embraced again, and Harry left to go up to his dorm, while a very sad previous Prisoner of Azkaban left to go get ready to face another Dark Lord summoning. Yay.

At least it kept him in top form!

**OO**

Sister Gisele hugged Harry as he went to go off 'alone' with Hagrid. This was very odd for Harry, as all of the times that he wished Petunia had hugged him, she never had. Well, until now.

But Harry knew it wasn't really his aunt, just looked like her. Brother Paddy had gotten the hairs from the original family. Including Dudley if needed.

"I'll be back at seventeen hundred, um, six o'clock." Sister Gisele fumbled.

"Five o'clock, Auntie. I'll be here, even if we are not done yet."

"Right. Stay safe, now. Mind your manners!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

That last was all Sister Gisele, and no doubt!

Hagrid was a friendly enough fellow. Clearly Dumbledore's man. Pointing out the obvious, skipping the most important, and glossing over the rough edges of the scene.

Still, even with all of the practice for this day, Harry was definitely overwhelmed.

The plan for the bank went right out the window when Hagrid added a stop at a vault. 'Business for Dumbledore' could be anything, but the boy was rather intrigued by the size of the small packet.

Unsure of any safety protocols in place, Harry left well enough alone.

He had been sorely disappointed by his own visit to his vault. He had been looking forward to this for months! The Potters were supposed to be excellent Potioneers, and his mother had invented several improvements to Wolfsbane and other potions in her short time on Earth.

Where were her books? His family's books? Notes? Family Grimoire? Here there were only disappointing coins. Only money. No pictures, no diaries or journals, no old weapons or treasure boxes.

Harry had been given an old trunk to go through after his birthday. Brother Paddy had been very disappointed to miss that opening, and so Harry was hoping to wait until he was back to open it. If he could stand it. Right now, his hopes of having a distraction from something in the vault to occupy his curiosity were rather crushed.

Harry stopped at the counter, and made an appointment to talk to a manager about this. Maybe there was a mistake, or maybe James and Lily Potter had other vaults.

Or maybe everything that wasn't gold was destroyed that night, and he should be grateful for what he had.

Harry dutifully went with Hagrid, but was secretly overjoyed when the man took sick.

"Hagrid! You don't want to leave some package sitting on a table with you feeling unwell! Here, let's go get a high security trunk, and then you can have a pick-me-up knowing that it's safe."

Pressing a couple of coins into the large man's hand may have been going a bit too far, but Harry remembered not having money for a chocolate bar, or other things.

It was not a pleasant feeling.

Harry went to the loo of the trunk shop and opened Hagrid's package. He took out his emergency kit, and picked out a small ruby. It had flaws, and was meant to be sacrificed for a ritual. Well, it shouldn't be destroyed doing this, but transfiguration wasn't his strong suit. Getting a reasonable copy of the original crystalline structure, whatever, he sighed. He wished he was a natural like his father had been, but it was a better copy than he thought. The duplicate was wrapped in the original paper to give back to Hagrid. Something about that gentle man's manner had set off all of Harry's alarms.

As for the original, he dropped a portkey on it, and sent it to the boffins back at the school. Let them worry about what it was and did.

If it was harmless, the original would be back before they left. If it was something that should not be at Hogwarts at the same time the famous 'Harry Potter' was, the people back in Rome would see to it.

Unbeknownst to Harry, the Philosopher's Stone, also known as the Sorcerer's Stone would soon be back with its creator. Said creator would become incensed that someone unknown (ie a certain former apprentice) had 'borrowed' it without permission. How dare he! He had been persuaded by the school not to mention anything at this time, and let it all play out until Flamel 'needed' the stone back.

Nicholas reluctantly agreed but was looking forward to the confrontation when it did arrive.

Albus, desiring to both keep the original for himself and doubly make sure that the stone was protected from Voldemort's schemes made a very passable copy of the copy. Non-functional, of course. This would be placed in the school as bait for a certain undead dark lord.

When Flamel eventually showed up to demand the original back, Dumbledore had his speech ready of the need to sacrifice the stone 'for the Greater Good'.

**OO**

Harry took time to talk with the trunk maker to see what he recommended as a secure trunk for Hogwarts. The man was showing different features, trunks that were actually small apartments, large enough to transport an Erumpent, and trunks that were surprisingly just trunks. Harry wanted one of those with only a few enhancements.

He had already inherited a great trunk but there was no way he was risking it at Hogwarts!

Just then the chime rang at the door, soft and melodic. Harry thought it should have been completely different music for the monster that just strode in.

Harry gave his mirror the quick double-tap signal of danger. Even the shop manager recognized the potential for disaster here. Not everyone had believed this man as innocent as he claimed to be.

"Well, well. Who do we have here, and all alone?" The man known to Harry as Lucius Malfoy purred. His snake handled cane was thought to contain poison on the fangs, and it was coming far too close to his face!

But the shop owner hadn't sorted Gryffindor because he preferred red and gold.

"Mr Malfoy. I thought that you already picked up your son's green and silver decorated trunk."

"It's Lord Malfoy, shop-keep."

"Right. Lord Malfoy of the Wizengamot. How can I help you?" The shopkeeper's tone reminded him that his courtesy title came from the seat he occupied. One that had been given him by Minister Fudge after the whole fiasco with the Boy-Who-Lived claiming the Black seat. One Malfoy didn't have to pay a million galleons to maintain, as it was held only for so long as the Minister allowed. And clearly, the owner of the shop didn't think that the next Minister would be so unwise in his choice of supporters!

The shopkeeper had physically blocked Malfoy from coming any closer. Bless him!

"Please remove yourself. I was about to meet someone that I was told was important to this world. But it can't be him. Can it? This mu-muggleborn?" Malfoy sneered.

"Don't mind the clothes. Just muggle fashion." If you're a whale and into rags, that is. Which he was neither. Harry spoke quite calmly as Charles Hector entered the shop and was directly behind the Death Eater.

"It's rude to speak to your betters without saying sir!" Lucius Malfoy drawled.

"Oh, no need to call me sir. I'm not a knight. Well, not yet. Let's see what the future holds."

The man went red, and started to pull his wand.

"Mr Malfoy, if you are not here to buy anything, please leave. I have a customer that needs kitting out. Thank you for your patronage, and have a nice day!" The shop owner yelled.

The large shop owner had put Harry behind the counter at this point, and was practically shouting by the time that he got to the magically opened double doors. Lucius finally noticed the large dangerous looking man who had his wand out behind him. The dark-skinned wizard was far too obviously a bodyguard not to be taken as one, even if he was dressed as a British auror.

People were peeking in, and a couple more burly aurors were coming their way. Frustrated and red, Malfoy glared at Harry, turned and stalked off.

"You have a dangerous enemy there, young Master Harry. And all for things you did as a babe. I daresay you won't remember naught of it." The shop-keeper shared sadly.

"Only the green light, and high pitched laughter. And then hunger sir. Please, my relatives, they don't like me much. Can I please get a second trunk that's like a muggle cooler? Do you know what that is?"

"We can do better than that lad, we can do much better than that. Now, what's your budget?"

"After what you just did for me sir? Keeping me safe? I'm happy to spend what I need to." Harry said, as Charles smoothly went back invisible again.

"Oh, tweren't nothin' lad. Malfoy won't dare do anything to me directly. But his wife? She's a Black. All dark wizards them. Not a good one in the bunch. Beware of 'em."

"I will sir. Now, I am a hungry lad, and hoping to get something that will help with that!"

The shop owner laughed, and went to get some samples.

**OO**

"It's good of you to make time to meet with me, Prime Minister." Lieutenant Granger said.

"Nonsense. National security, and dealing with them can be tricky.

"Yes sir. I came here to give you a gift, one that I hope that you never need. This one is part of a single pairing, meant to be used in case of dire emergency only. The other half is somewhere secret but monitored. They are expecting a test call and I will show you how to use it."

"Do you expect a dire emergency?"

"Not at this time, but projections are in the next three to five years. Yes sir. Small terrorist attacks, followed by random disappearances will signal the start of hostilities."

"We have that now. How will we know?"

"When it is odd disappearances and unusual terrorist activity." Dan Granger handed over a folder. So far, they had carefully avoided using the words 'Magic' or 'Ministry of Magic' both known to get the attention of the sleeping portrait in his office.

The man read the file, and at a wave, the room was secured magically for a few minutes.

"A magic mirror? How am I supposed to activate it? I'm surely not the most beautiful of them all!" The man laughed.

The Prime Minister was shown how to use his mirror. There had been enough problems with the British Ministry that it had been voted by the Knight's High Council to offer this to the muggles. It would give the knights legal sanction to operate in their borders, even without the British Ministry of Magic knowing.

The Prime Minister signed the agreement, and gave it to now Captain Granger. He would be the official liaison officer to the Order. The wizard in the room now revealed himself, and made a copy for the muggle to keep.

The Grangers had no intention of allowing their underage daughter back into Britain without them coming as well. Which was fortuitous as it allowed them to meet up with Professor McGonagall. Why Harry got the groundskeeper, and Hermione the deputy of the school, they could not figure out.

Neville had decided to try and build some kind of relationship with his grandmother and had gone to Cherry Hill.

**OO**

Hagrid was relieved and grateful at the end of the day when Harry pulled his special package from the locked chest. Harry had all of his books, telescope, potions ingredients, extra potion making supplies as recommended by the shop owner, and three additional beginning brewing guides, and several extra things not on the approved list.

Harry drooled on but did not buy the newest English broom. The one that was supposed to be in his tent was better in most ways, but this one would be what Paddy would call sexier. Prettier. Sister Gisele was nearby and would know he thought that. Yeah, his broom was just fine. Um, better, yeah better.

Harry did get a catalog though, just in case the wrapped package was a dog biscuit. With Brother Paddy, one never knew.

Tom the barkeep came over and gave Harry advice on how to pack his new trunk. Harry wound up adding in three cases of butterbeer and three cases of various snacks in stasis. Then his auntie arrived right on time.

"Got all your things? And your stick too?"

"Yes, I got my wand and things. I suppose you want to hold onto it?"

"No, put it away."

Tom allowed Harry to stow the wand, and he shrunk the trunk. The barkeep showed Harry how to unshrink it without getting in trouble for underage magic.

"Let's get going. The car is on top of the meter." Sister Gisele's voice in Petunia's body said.

"On the meter, Auntie." Harry whispered. "Unless you're having parking problems. Again."

Giving him an all too familiar scowl, Harry picked up the now shrunken trunk and put it in his pocket.

They were heading out the door, just barely in the ward line of the Leaky Cauldron, when the Death Eater came back.

Harry's real Aunt would never be so cavalier about magic. Of course, his real Aunt wouldn't stare down Lucius Malfoy like he was a bug.

"So you're Petunia Evans. You look nothing like your sister. Now, I have to say, she was gorgeous. For a mud...muggleborn."

"Thank you, Lord Malfoy. I've never been called ugly quite so clearly before without the words. You are called many words as well. Handsome, devilishly so. I can believe the devilish part."

"Watch your tone, woman, or you'll suffer the consequences. I didn't get a chance to talk to Harry here a little while ago, and wanted to introduce myself. No wonder your manners are so poor. No, you do have that in common with your sister. She was a little toe-rag herself, and didn't know when to mind her manners. Look at where that got her."

Harry wanted to duck. He had seen grown knights turn to blibbering jelly. Lucius Malfoy didn't recognize the set of her jaw or the dangerous look.

"Lily Potter was brave and beautiful, and faced bullies like you with her wand in her hand. What exactly do you think she was doing wrong the night she died? She was at home, with her husband and son. She had just given her baby a bath, sang him a lullaby, and then your master came to call. He couldn't break her spirit, he could only kill her body. You don't frighten me, Death Eater. You're a cockroach that runs away when the lights come on. Let me tell you, little man. Run away. Fast and far. Leave me and mine alone, or you won't like the consequences of YOUR manners!"

Lucius Malfoy paled at this. He looked up, noticed where he was, and walked quickly back into the Leaky Cauldron.

Tom started the clapping. "Bless ye, mum. Bless ye. Never thought I would live to see the day when that man was put in his place."

Several people came up to shake 'Petunia's' hand, but one woman, a blonde, stopped short.

"You may think that you have won here tonight. But you have made dangerous enemies, when we could have been friends."

"And you are?"

"Narcissa Malfoy, born into the House of Black. A House that I intend to see is never ruled by a half-blood." She looked at Harry as though he were less than dirt.

"Well, isn't that nice. Tell me, if someone had lost half of their blood, wouldn't they be dead? And doesn't marrying a man who is your cousin, 2nd cousin, brother and uncle going just a bit far for blood purity? When your family tree is a bush, or worse a raggedy branch, don't you think that there are going to be issues? Serious issues? Just how many children did you have before Draco, and how many are in Hogwarts? Did you know that those are recorded publicly. Don't annoy me, Mrs Malfoy. I know how to use the internet, a telephone, and how to do all kinds of genealogy research. And publishing said in a newspaper isn't illegal as long as it is true. Did you have four grandparents? Or did you just have the one set? You don't scare me, and neither does your husband. Annoy me, and I will publish, even if I have to do it in the muggle world."

"How dare you?" The witch demanded, losing her disdain, and displaying true anger.

"I dare just fine, Mrs Malfoy. How dare you?" Sister Gisele didn't even break a sweat.

And with that, 'Aunt Petunia' took Harry's hand and started to walk away. They both quickly whipped around at a noise, but it was just a few of the people from the Cauldron, warning the witch against making a fuss so close to the muggles.

Several sets of eyes had watched the whole thing.

Harry waited to get back to the car and inside before he spoke again.

"Aunt Petunia, you may not like me very much, but I just want you to know that I think that you are wicked. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart."

"Good to hear, Freak. You're in trouble for causing me so many problems. I'm sure I can find some windows to wash, and the car. And the mats need to be shaken out, or better yet, sucked clean."

"Hoovered?"

"That too."

"Yes ma'am!" Harry said, far too cheerfully. They turned down a side street, and then another. Stopping at a small corner grocer, she parked and had him activate the device. Glowing lights lit up all over them.

"Kreacher!"

"Yes Master Harry Potter and scary Mistress who looks like muggle."

"Take these, fourteen, fifteen. Wow. Take these seventeen trackers, and put them in the suite."

"Yes Master Harry. Are being going swimming tonight? It mights coulds get dangerous."

"I have the gillyweed potion, a knife, a speargun, a wand, and a small battle axe. I guarantee, if I am invited to the pool party..."

Harry grinned evilly at the little man.

"It's going to be. Dangerous. Very, very dangerous."

Kreacher cackled before popping away, taking all of the glowing spots with him.

"Brother Paddy wouldn't let you go tonight, even if he was here. And I am, so that is a definite no young man. But you did very well today. I listened and watched the whole time. Well done."

She gave him a rare smile, and a pat on the shoulder.

Harry's first mission for the Order was complete. He sighed.

He just wished he was old enough for the 'pool' party tonight.

Harry prayed that no innocents were hurt.

And no one of the Order as well.

**OO**

"You didn't tell him yet." Rigel accused the man over the mirror.

"No. What am I supposed to say? He thinks that his godfather died in Azkaban. I can't let him know that Peter is alive and well in Britain. Harry would go rat hunting, and he's too young."

"But he won't know to be on guard for him, either." Rigel argued.

"True. But Lucius acted more Gryffindor than Slytherin today. What is the point of trying to attack a child in public?"

"I think that was the point. That they could get away with such. He was likely trying to scare the lad. You saw the article that that Skeeter woman did. Accused the muggle woman of being 'disrespectful' of a great house, and painted Harry as a spoiled brat expecting the world to bow down to him."

"Sister Gisele is a practical no-nonsense woman who has kept warriors in line for decades. I doubt that Cousin Narcissa could ruffle her feathers - with or without a wand in hand."

Sounds of a distant explosion were too close for comfort.

"Well, that was one of the traps. I'd better go." Brother Paddy said, pulling on his fighting robes.

"Be safe, brother mine. I don't want to have to explain all of this to him."

"Let's just get him back, and soon. I don't like him at Hogwarts with so little backup."

"Amen, Brother Paddy. Amen."

**OO**

September 1st came, and Harry Potter was there on the platform with his Aunt 'Petunia' and a large man that had a physical resemblance to but was not Uncle Vernon.

They got him on the train, a simple trunk with most of his first year books and supplies in it. His real trunk was shrunken and in his pocket.

"We'll see you at Christmas. Mind your manners. Make lots of friends." 'Vernon' chided.

A pair of blond adults, and an equally blond child walked by.

"How vile is the air? What is that smell?" Lucius Malfoy drawled.

Sister Gisele wasn't going to put up with racist comments. She fought Grindelwald's forces as part of the underground when she was in her prime. She wasn't for putting up with a wannabe.

"I would have thought you would have potty trained your son by now. Pity. Having accidents at his age under stress is completely normal, but the other boys will tease. I do hope that you can get that under control."

A small pool of pumpkin juice appeared at Draco's feet, though his robes were dry.

Seven invisible guards went into complete alert mode, but neither one of their targets took the bait.

Pity.

Sister Gisele gave Harry some final advice.

"Write often, but do use the normal way. Owls! Feathers and bodily fluids all over. At least they have an excuse for leaving messes everywhere."

Harry had trouble containing his laughter. Part of him wanted to burst into loud guffaws, the other part was on high alert for attack.

Again, the pointed comment was ignored, and the tension in the air was quickly dissipated.

The Malfoys moved on, scowling, but said nothing.

His farewells were sincere enough. He had no close relationship with Sir Jerome, who was pretending to be Vernon. However, Sister Gisele was the guiding female force in his life. A mother to all of the orphans at school, and she did love them all fiercely. But Harry knew that he had a special place in her heart, just as she had in his.

Now, he was fighting tears instead of laughter, but he was a warrior in training, and not one fell.

With quick hugs, Harry was on the train, contemplating the situation and that first night back at the hotel.

The expected attack never happened. One older wizard with a peg leg came by, but didn't stay. Sir Jerome was happy with his calm and cool response. He did not transform into a fanboy on the spot once he identified the famous Alastor Moody, dark wizard fighter.

Jerome said that he could tell that Moody had seen him under his invisibility cloak by nodding right at him and mouthing "Constant Vigilance" but didn't Alastor had not lingered.

That same wizard was on the platform today, practically begging Malfoy to make a move. No, these Death Eaters weren't going to attack in the light. They had to wear their masks and robes.

Harry pulled a potions supplement guide book to review, and waited for Neville to arrive. Inside the book was a dossier on all of the first years that Gisele could find.

She was a gem!

Now a tear or two did sneak out. Christmas seemed so very far away.

Harry settled in to wait, unsure of what Hogwarts was going to be like, but quite sure of one thing.

He wanted to go home.

**OO**

Brother Paddy, once known as Sirius Black was in trouble. His group was the best, but one of them was bluffing, he was sure of it.

"Call!"

The men were betting with small amounts of luxuries. Cigarettes they weren't supposed to have, contraband liquor.

Paddy pushed in the small pack of lemon drops.

"What? I'll have you know that this is Dumbledore's favorite brand!"

The man holding the winning hand squinted and nodded, accepting the bet.

It was show time.

**OO**

Meeting up with Hermione and Neville on the train was nice, but making other new friends was even better.

"So, you play the game entirely on the ground? No brooms?" Ron asked again.

Dean Thomas was explaining football in the slightly crowded cabin that held himself, Neville, Hermione, Ron Weasley, Lisa Turpin, and of course the famous Harry Potter.

The fact that Ron was the only person not a member of their faith was not a coincidence. Harry had three main missions, but recruiting, while a minor one, was something he was going to start instantly. The Weasleys were a known light family, and Ron had five older brothers.

All with unique skills that the Order would love to have.

"Ron! Dean grew up muggle! Why would he use a broom?"

"Unless we were sweeping the ball into the goal. A sort-of hockey, I suppose." Lisa pondered.

"But, what is the point if you aren't flying?" Ron demanded. "Harry mate, back me up."

"I can't wait to fly. But there really aren't brooms that fly in most muggle neighborhoods. I never saw one in Surrey." Harry said, trying to avoid lying. He didn't want to lie to people he hoped to fight with one day.

Harry had looked at the information that Gisele had gathered. He really did.

For about three minutes, and got up and let magic choose.

Those he wanted to talk to were invited for snacks back in his carriage. And now they were bonding over a love of sport, flying, and magic. Except for Hermione who had abandoned them for a book.

The door opened, but there was no snack lady this time. It was Draco Malfoy and goons.

"Hey, hi Malfoy. Wanna chocolate frog?" Harry offered, pulling a special one from his pocket.

"What? Your aunt insults me and you offer me a treat?"

"Why not?" Harry shrugged.

"Was it that giraffe-necked lady? Oh yeah, she insults everyone." Neville shuddered. "You are not alone."

Draco accepted the gift. "Well, I don't know why you are hanging out with a squib, and as for Weasley you could do much better. This is Crabbe and Goyle."

"Well, everyone, this is Draco Malfoy. On my father's side, we are cousins a couple of times, and on my mother's side, we're related if you go back a couple generations. So cousins are the best way to explain the relationship."

"Like Dudley?" Lisa Turpin asked. Harry had complained about his bullying cousin, and pegged Draco as one as well.

"Most definitely. Spot on, and ten points to your house, Ravenclaw, was it?"

"I hope so, my parents would be ever so proud if I made their house. I only hope I'm smart enough."

Hermione put down her book, and asked her a couple of potions questions. Draco started to interrupt, but his answer was wrong anyways.

Harry offered him no insults, and Malfoy became bored. He nodded to his erstwhile host, taking a few more frogs with him.

"I do hope he saves most of those for after the train." Hermione mumbled.

"Why? We've been putting a good dent in Harry's hoard." Lisa asked.

"I don't want him to get a tummy ache." Hermione tried to sound innocent, but had both Harry and Neville wanting to take cover with that tone of voice.

All of Draco's frogs had a special ingredient. The boxes had been marked with a purple slash which was nearly unnoticeable. Unless you knew what to look for. Which Hermione did. And these doctored frogs did not come from the snack lady.

Harry had bought a full case of the frogs from her, and several of each of the other treats that were available for purchase. Fortunately, the train was well-stocked. They had given her a heads up beforehand, but it was part of the image that he was trying to create.

One he hoped would help recruit others, especially when they saw how advanced he was. And not just him. Hermione and Neville too.

Huh. A pureblood, a half-blood, and a muggleborn. This was not a coincidence. Monsignor claimed to be a Sytherin from long ago, so Harry had yet more proof that the man was not lying.

Harry turned to his friends, making sure that the 'special' chocolate frogs were secured, and asked about music at Hogwarts.

**OO**

The trip had gone well so far, a few more girls had stopped by, mostly peaking in on the 'Boy-Who-Lived' but Harry took it all in stride.

He was arguing a potion's theory problem with Lisa and Hermione, when suddenly, he felt as if cold egg yolks had been spilled on him. He felt faint, and since he was standing to allow the girls to all have seats, he sat on the floor.

Suddenly, he felt very cold. A wave of sadness overcame him. Pain. Loss. Grief. He heard a bark of grim, and a faint whisper that he was loved, and his family would be waiting for him on the other side.

"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione asked.

Harry shook his head, and shakily stood.

Hiding tears, Harry bolted to the loo and locked the door with wandless magic. The floor here was pristine. Well away from the toilet and sink, Harry sunk to the floor. He tried his mirror, but the wards were too strong, and he could not raise anyone, not even Charles Hector who was supposed to be on the train.

Something bad had happened, that he was sure. And he thought he knew who.

**OO**

Sir Charles Hector looked like a bodyguard and he was a good one too, when that was his assignment.

His mother was into spiritual healing, and all sorts of 'interesting' hobbies that included lots of intoxicants. But she didn't care much for her unwanted child. And completely lost it when her son started having 'episodes'.

Charles was six year old when he was abandoned at a church somewhere in the Caribbean Islands, where his 'special abilities' brought him to Rome.

Sister Gisele hugged him! Right there in front of everyone! She didn't care that his skin was black, and hers was white, or that he was scared and alone. When she held him like that, he was no longer afraid. She told him that they were related, and in private he could call her auntie.

It wasn't until he was much older that he found out she told everyone that, but then, she truly loved all of the orphans and foundlings there.

Like Harry, Charles took to magic like a duck to water, and soon he too was on the path to being a knight.

Sir Hector had signed up for his initial ten-year contract, and then renewed that. He was a year away from making a decision to stay or go.

This plum assignment was meant to give him some downtime. Like other knights, he had cycled in and out from teaching. Once Harry was officially his squire, High Command had tried to keep his time away from the school limited, so he could concentrate on Harry Potter.

Sister Gisele was a contract courier for Gringotts, something that was in place well before she took her vows. Not something they used often, but the bank did work with them in secret. Their remit, his and Sister Gisele's, was to be here a few days, make sure that the children were going to be safe at Hogwarts, get something done with Harry's non-gold inheritance, and a few other errands.

It was an honor to watch over Sister Gisele, but she hated being shepherded, and would often disappear without escort.

And later be chided for it.

He would do his best to keep his auntie safe, but he knew that being here was dangerous.

The blood-war wasn't over. There were too many children that the Order hadn't rescued that had been recorded as magical, but were no longer alive. People like him, who didn't have several generations of witches and wizards in their line, who were looked down on by this society. That was when they weren't murdered outright.

Charles had fought all over the world. He had seen innocents used in horrific rituals to extend life or try and bring back ancient powers. He knew that fighting the physical battle was only part.

And he didn't know how to overcome the prejudice. Violence solved some issues, but caused others. No, violence wasn't always the best solution, but sometimes it was the only tool one had.

Evildoers were everywhere. Too often reading from evil books who just wanted to trap souls and whose promises would never come true. No, the actors of the rituals would never gain the powers or results that they really wanted.

Charles was thirty-four years old by the calendar, but probably a decade older than that due to timing. He was debating staying in for another few years, or getting married. Not that he had anyone in mind. He'd like to stay at least until Harry was knighted.

Sister Gisele had told him it wasn't a sin to retire and raise a family, but an honorable path. The Order would provide him a house when he left, and he could do anything he wanted. She promised to visit, and knowing her, seeing her visit her other 'children', knew she would keep that promise.

He strolled down the train corridor, keeping an eye on all of the progeny of known Death Eaters, and would check in again on Harry soon.

No one would be stupid enough to attack Harry Potter on the train to Hogwarts.

**OO**

What did happen in Argentina would take weeks to find out, but a new ghost joined the castle. A very, very unexpected help to Peeves, the Chaos twins, the Order and Harry himself for the time he was there.

But that was in the future. In the moment, Harry took time to feel his grief, and let tears flow. A knock at the door reminded him that other people would need the facilities. He used them, washed his face, and then scented the air with one of the pranks from his pocket.

"I think I got a bad frog," Harry stated loudly, using another prank to spread the bad smell.

"Outta my way!" Draco screamed, pushing back the small line of boys waiting for the gents.

Charles was there in a second, helping Harry up, and checking on the other boys that had been knocked to the ground.

"I would recommend a different section of the train," Harry said, clutching his stomach.

The commotion had alerted Percy, who dispensed stomach soother and pats on the shoulder.

Percy the Prefect came face to chest with red robes. He looked up, and up and met Sir Charles' eye. Percy cleared this thoat, and clearly thought better of asking the man in auror robes to move along.

"Thank you for helping, sir." Percy squeaked.

Hermione came out of their cabin, tears in her eyes as well. Neville followed her out, concern written all over his face.

Charles waved the trio to the end of that section of train, and put up a privacy charm.

"Harry?" Sir Hector asked.

"What happened?" Hermione whispered.

"Brother Paddy. I'm sure of it. He was on that bad job in Argentina. The one that we aren't supposed to know about."

"The group of not-former-enough Death Eaters trying to resurrect their master?" Neville asked.

"Yeah, Monsignor was tracking this group for a while. The Order was going to sabotage a ritual, I think. But it needed the blood of an enemy to work. But it would then go kaboom in a big way."

"Big enough to kill everyone around?" Charles prodded.

Harry nodded. Having 'accidentally' seen the calculations, Harry was sure that Brother Paddy had slipped an order of magnitude, and Harry risked punishment by arguing with him about it. Brother Paddy agreed, and had said that they would come up with something else. Had the group changed their minds? What had happened? Clearly, something bad.

Great at so many things, but it was maths that might have killed him, and Harry said so.

Charles Hector shook his head. He was terrible at arithmancy. Maybe he should brush up during his downtime.

Hermione gasped, but it was Neville who added, "I knew maths were evil and out to get us. Dangerous and evil."

**OO**

A/N Story recommendations by Kind Beta MelJ - HermanTumbleweed - Troll! Troll in the Dungeon - Found on FFN

It always bugged me that Harry, as an abused kid, accepted the way Ron spoke of and to Hermione. What if Harry had stood up to Ron? How would the troll incident have gone? This is how it should probably have been written if JKR had not been so intent on the OBHWF trope. Enjoy! Warning for some strong language, hence the M rating, and for fairly heavy Ron bashing.