AUTHOR NOTE: This chapter was a bit of a bitch to write. I took off down a path that I realized was not good for this story and had to go back and rip it all out and then start over again. I also needed to move the timeline along a bit so the last few paragraphs are glossing over a lot of things that basically would be the training and traveling montage in a movie. Basically they spent that time doing normal magical teenage stuff.
Mauk10: Thank you for reading this.
DennisUD: Oh she will run into an old friend or two along the way. Mwahhahah
======xxxxxxx======
The next morning Hermione woke up. She was feeling better physically but her heart was sunk due to her family being sent into hiding. She felt a weight next to her when she opened her eyes the snow white blonde hair of her Luna was there. Harry was in the chair beside her bed.
"Good morning" Luna whispered from Hermione's right.
"Good morning. I'm sorry if I woke you."
"I do not mind."
Hermione began to stroke her girlfriend's hair gently. "I love you."
"I know Hermione. I love you as well. So does Harry."
"So where's everyone else."
"Madam Pomfrey threw them out. She said I am small enough I could remain and Harry she knew would just sneak back in."
"Yeah."
"Your family will be safe Hermione. They are smart and as muggles can blend in far better than most wizards."
"I know but I'm scared. I've never had to worry about things. About them. They've always taken care of me."
"I know. After mother died I had to grow up faster and take care of Father or I would have lost both of them. It's always uncomfortable when the child has to take care of the parent."
Hermione hugged her Luna tightly as Madam Pomfrey came out. "Hello." She said softly as she ran her wand over Hermione. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah I had my Luna here."
"Indeed. The love and support of someone who cares about you can be very beneficial."
She checked on Harry and Luna while she had them stationary. Luna giggling a little bit. "I am very well Ma'am."
"Yes well you are in my domain and while you are here I shall ensure you are healthy and not under duress."
"Or pregnant I recognized one of the spells."
"Given the situation I am sure you can understand?"
"Yes ma'am. Harry is rather powerful." Luna intoned seriously. Harry and Hermione tried to stifle giggles.
"Yes well I shall take your word for that. All the more reason to check on you while you are here."
======xxxxx=====
A breakfast tray appeared for Hermione. She laughed when she saw Luna eyeing her pudding.
"Luna you want my pudding?"
"Yes may I please?"
"Here you go. But shouldn't you guys get down to the great hall. I'll be okay."
"You sure?"
"You were standing there when Madam Pomfrey said she would see how I felt after I ate. I'll be down for potions class."
"Okay. Love you." Harry said giving her a kiss Luna repeated the action then they left.
Madam Pomfrey came over "Yes you seem to be well enough. The bond with the wards has been severed so there should be no further issues."
"Yeah." Hermione said with a sigh.
=====xxxxx====
Deep in the kitchens a short google eyed being was having a fit. Pressing another member of the elven kitchen staff against a wall with a high squeaky hissing voice. In one hand was the throat of the one he had against the wall in the other was a pudding cup.
"You WILL NOT Harm the Lady Ithil. She is beloved by the Harry."
"Our Master ordered this." The other one managed to croak out.
"Master does not know the higher order. The OLD WAYS."
"Master is Master. We must obey Master. Even to harm Lady Ithil. She is enemy of Master. I serve Master."
"The one called Dobby narrowed his eyes into slits as he choked the one who declared he would harm his Harry's Lady Ithil. It would cost him his life. It would be his end but the Lady Ithil was worth it. Dobby felt something wrench within himself as he dropped the lifeless body of the one who had tried to harm The Lady. He understood his purpose now.
=====xxx-xxx=====
Reaching the breakfast table Harry and Luna sat down and joined their friends.
"Hermione okay?"
"Yeah she's eating breakfast up there with the Matron then will meet us in potions."
"So how's she handling what happened?"
"Okay. Enough. By the time we get out of school we are going to eb in therapy for the next decade probably but otherwise okay."
====xxx-xxx====
Dobby looked at the pudding cup in his hand then took the body of the elf named Sooka that was so loyal to the master and popped back to Malfoy Manor.
He tossed the body into the meat processing table and took the pudding to the dessert prep area. The other elves did not respond to him other than to stay out of his way. The strange light burning in the elf's eyes made them concerned as they felt his magic had changed. Had broken something that they did not understand.
Taking the pudding cup he poured it in the icing for the cake that was going to be served for lunch. He chuckled then turned to the other elves and called for their attention.
====xxx-xxx====
Luna was licking the bottom of her pudding cup with a smile as Neville laughed. "Getting the last mile out of that?"
"Well it is good practice with my tongue and for some reason this morning the pudding is tasting incredibly good." She sighed.
"Draco is coming." Ron intoned with a grump.
"Hello Draco." Harry said as the blonde snake came up behind him.
"Getting eyes in the back of your head Potter?"
"No just you were upwind of me this morning."
"Yeah. So where's the mudblood, nothing happened to her did it?"
"She got a hangnail from sewing a voodoo doll of you. You'll let us know if you have any sharp stabbing pains won't you?" Lavender offhandledly said.
"I thought she was going to put it under her books. You know crush it from the weight?" Luna cheerfully said.
"Very funny you guys." Draco said staring at Luna's pudding cup and then her. "You're feeling fine and frisky this morning."
"Oh yes. The pudding this morning was especially good and I may take one or more of my partners into the broom closets to celebrate. Why? Are you wanting some?"
"NO. Not from a little freak like you."
Luna gave him a derisive look, "Your loss." She snarked with a toss of her hair.
Harry just laughed, "Oh Draco. You just can't win can you? Now go ahead and splutter your witless little comeback and stomp off."
"Yeah but Harry if you wanted your comeback all you'd have to do is wipe it off his chin." Ronnie said with a smirk.
Draco narrowed his eyes and turned. Making his robes billow behind him.
"You know I think he's been practicing that." Neville observed.
====xxx-xxx====
That same morning in a flat across the island from Hogwarts a man was eating his toast and bacon looking at the paper when there was a knock on his door. Getting up he cautiously moved to the peephole and looked out. There was a man dressed in non-descript clothes, non-descript haircut. In general a nobody. He frowned then went back to his breakfast ignoring the knocking.
His door blew off its hinges and landed in his entry with a thud. A tall black haired man wearing a long black coat strode into the room, "Suddenly I heard a tapping as if someone gently rapping at my chamber door."
"What the FUCK!" The man said as he leapt up from his table backing towards the bedroom.
"You heard me rapping right?"
"Dude. You owe me a new door."
The man turned waved a stick at the door and it was good as new in seconds as it flew off the floor all the screws and splinters sliding back into place.
"There ya go my man. Now Dylan I need to hire you."
"What? What the hell man. You come in here busting down my door and then just calmly ask to hire me. Are you like a crazy person?"
"Perception is reality, reality is perception. I have only a passing acquaintance with reality so therefore my perception of reality is rather fluid."
"So that would be a yes."
The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a pouch that jingled when he tossed it on the table.
"100 galleons my friend. If you are Dylan Blake. The Muggle-Born warlock. The man with the ability to find anyone and anything."
"I walked away from that world over a decade ago mister. I don;t know how you found me but I've worked very hard to destroy that person."
"Oh trust me I know. The dark lord's forces would love to know what I know." a strange giddy chuckle, "They'd love to be standing where I am. But I don;t work for them."
"So who do you work for?"
"That is an interesting question. As I am dead and dead is dead. Then I cannot be working for anyone."
"Right. Of course."
"Anyhow Mr Blake. You talents as a finder and warlock are quite well known. You appear to be enjoying the fruits of a most beneficial retirement. However I am in dire need of protecting two people. Two very very important muggles."
"You're a wizard and you want me to find and protect two muggles?"
"Yes. You see I have no doubt that the forces of the dark lord will continue to work to find them and do very horrible things to them. Now as wonderful and magnificent as I am there are still limits to my abilities. Which is why I need you."
"100 galleons eh?" The man said looking at the pouch.
"Yes. That is just the retainer. I can provide more upon request. Just contact any Gringott's branch and present this card." The man said pulling a black business card with a heraldic symbol on it embossed in pure silver out of thin air.
Dylan took the card and looked. The image bore two hounds rampant on either side of a blazoned shield with the words Toujours pur underneath. He recognized that symbol and felt a stab of fear go through him. The man in front of him must be Sirius Black. He did not feel any happier or comfortable. He did feel a lot more confused.
"So Dylan. Expenses, wages, and per deim of course. As you recognize the family crest you know I am good for it. As well as what would happen if you fail."
"Yes Lord Black. The reputation of your family precedes you."
"So we have a deal?" The man said sticking his hand out. Dylan swallowed and shook his hand.
=====xxx-xxx=====
Lunch at Malfoy Manor was a very nice affair. The Minister and his Undersecretary had been invited to speak with Lucius and his business associate a mister Adam Milligan about certain bills and plans for the upcoming wizarding tournament.
"So where is your lovely wife Lucius?" Fudge asked cheerfully.
"Oh she wanted to take a brief visit to Paris. You know how wives are. Always wanting the latest fashions."
"Ahh yes. My own wife would love to visit the Parisian fashion houses, alas the wages of public office do not allow it."
"Ahh the burdens of duty." Lucius said with a smile. "Such a hardship indeed Cornelius."
The elves had cleared the dinner plates away and set a large green iced cake with pink rosettes in the center of the table.
"Ahh that looks lovely." The woman that had come to lunch with them said. Her pink cardigan set off by a green dress and a pink hairband.
"Well by all means have a piece." Lucius said, "Cornelius?"
"Ahh no the wife is on me about my weight again. I shall have to pass."
"Mr Milligan?"
"No I am prohibited sweets on advise of my healer."
"Well do not feel yourself troubled Miss Umbridge at having a piece. We will be very understanding."
"Well if you don't believe it would be rude or improper." her high pitched soft voice giggled briefly.
"Someone of your girlish figure would not be harmed by a small piece." Lucius purred.
She nodded and took a rather nice sized chunk. Eating it she sighed in delight, "Oh that is quite good. A rich moist texture. With a slight hint of anise to set off the sweetness." She gobbled it down testing even Lucius' control.
"Well I do believe it is time for Dolores and I to return to the office. I will definitely discus the matter with the appropriate personnel. That is a direct threat to our public safety."
"DO you suppose it would be too much to ask if I could have some of that most delicious cake to take with me?"
"I will have one of our elves package it to take with you. I would just nibble on it. Consider it our gift."
"Oh well thank you."
====xxx-xxx====
Narcissa was pacing grumpily around the office of a muggle official. She had gone through several minor functionaries using mental manipulation and some confundus to reach this person. He was now going through the visa and travel office.
"Ah yes Mrs Robinson. No I'm afraid your cousin and her husband have not applied for any travel visas but then we do not always keep track of such within the nation nor travel to Ireland. So they probably are still within the country. Although I don't understand why you people over at Metro couldn't have found this out on your own."
"Well we like to keep the other departments on their toes. I have to say thank you Mister Smythe."
"No problem. So uh. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"No other than what do you think about my magic wand?" She said drawing it from inside her jacket.
"Magic wand?"
"Obliviate." She calmly said as his eyes crossed and Mr Smythe fell into his seat.
"You had a very lovely lunch with the Queen and the ambassador from Mars."
She holstered her wand and turned letting herself out. Chuckling at the way she had ruined another muggles career. Even if he or someone else did remember she was there anything he claimed would be regarded as nonsense. Now to find those dratted dentists.
She would have to repeat this with the Home Office to look into their cameras. Muggles and their snooping watched over every urban area. Unfortunately small villages scattered all over the country could be used to hide in as well and most of them had no coverage. Which meant a village by village search. Oh those dratted muggles. Why did they have to be so crafty.
=====xxx-xxx===
Madam Bones was going through paperwork on her desk. Trying to catch up with the mindless tedium of TPS reports on new wands, information requests from one or another Wizengamut members on some BOP cases their nephew or cousin were involved in, a few MISPER reports that had been bumped up due to who they were related to. She had begun to hate flying a desk lately. Missing the adventure of being in the field where the action was. Someone had to ride herd over all of this and she wanted to make sure that at least the DMLE remained a shining beacon in the darkness. That badge had to be earned and would remain a badge of honor as long as she lived.
Her desk clerk came in, "Ma'am there's trouble in the Minister's office?"
Getting up she grabbed her robes, "What sort of trouble?"
"Apparently the Undersecretary has gone mad. We've had 3 MDKs already. Fudge is about ready to wet himself."
She grunted at that news. If the man had a niffler in his office he about wet himself. But 3 MDKs? That was definitely not a good thing.
"Do we have any idea what set her off?" She said moving quickly towards the scene.
"No ma'am. According to some of the clerks her assistant had entered with some paperwork and she screamed something about monsters and they wouldn't take her. She then used the KC on him and came out of her office demanding water."
"Water?"
"Yes ma'am she said she was thirsty. That they were killing her with thirst."
Coming around the corner she found Fudge standing there talking to Rufus Scrimgeour the head of the Auror Office.
"What's going on?"
"Apparently my Undersecretary has decided that anyone coming near her is a threat to her personal safety."
"She has used the killing curse on three individuals Madam Bones." Rufus politely stated.
"And why hasn't she been stupefied into the next month?"
"Because she has been firing confringos and bombardas indiscriminately at anything that moves."
"Or doesn't move. Or moves too quick or too slow. She's gone quite mad I tell you." Fudge said.
"Well when did this begin?"
"After we returned from lunch. We had a meeting with a rather important citizen and when we returned I went to my office and she hers. Next thing I know I am hearing screaming and shouting coming from Dolores' office and she almost shot my head off."
"Oh how fortunate she missed then." Madam Bones said in deadpan.
"Yes it was. Now what are you going to do about it?"
"Rufus? Do you have the nappers from the armory?"
"I had hoped to calm her down sufficiently to talk her out of her office. She has retreated to it."
"Okay that'll make it easier. Brinkman, Jones, get some nappers and send her to dreamland."
"Yes ma'am." The officers said moving off to do carry out their orders.
"So whoa re the three DB?"
Fudge sighed, "Well the one was the replacement we had hired for that Weatherby fellow who abandoned his job. Ungrateful..."
"Yes who was killed?"
"Oh uh, I'm not certain they were two junior clerks and her assistant. I'm not sure what their names were to be honest."
"Rufus?"
"According to some of the witnesses Evan McCormick, Heather Jones and Randall Graves are the ones who were killed.
Brinkman and Jones returned with a box containing several ceramic bottles about the size of an orange.
"Okay be ready she might be.." The noises from the office stopped. Silence descended upon the offices.
"Move move move." She said springing into action as she levitated a chair up in front of her to use as a shield. Aurors followed her into the office from the corridor moving towards the main office in the back. Small fires that the automatic fire suppression charms had not finished putting out still smoldered. Reaching the inner office she transfigured the chair into a mirror and levitated it up through the broken doorway to see into the office carefully.
Reflected was the body of the Undersecretary. Her round toad like faze frozen in a rictus of fear and anguish. A thick black fluid trickled from her mouth. Her chest was laid wide open as a blasting charm had apparently been applied at point blank range.
"Get a forensics team in here. I want every witness held until I know exactly what happened."
=====xxxx-xxxx====
Narcissa was eating dinner at an Italian restaurant in London. She had gone through the Home Office, the London metro and several other muggle offices to try and find the stupid dentists. They had not been using their bank cards, had not been seen on any of the cameras or other muggle devices. They had to still be in the country somewhere.
Sighing she considered her options. The paper had not said much about her family as they were muggles it was not important. Draco had paid attention but she did not speak of her family much and when she did it was all about her much be damned parents.
She was looking through her school file Lucius had managed to acquire. She was a muggle-born not even a squib or child of squibs. She had never performed a heritage test and had no family listed as emergency contacts. The public records had shown the same thing. This was going to be a lot more difficult.
====xxx-xxx====
At the castle Draco was pacing in the Slytherin common room before dinner. He was trying to figure out what had happened to Sooka the House elf he had in the kitchens. Dobby had gone missing as well. He had tried to tell his father he didn't trust the elf anymore but he had been rejected. The elves though were not the largest mystery. That damnable Lovegood girl had eaten the entire pudding cup, licking the bowl to the point he thought she was going to take the glaze off the ceramics. Then she remained her cheery upbeat spunky little squirrel girl all day. Either the potion had not been in the pudding or she was a freak of magic and immune to its effects. He was not certain which of the two disturbed him more.
He was watched by his two goons and his follower Romilda Vane. Her precognition abilities had been useless as none of the quintet had allowed themselves to be touched by her. The kitchen had already washed and cleaned the bowl by the time he had managed to get into there. Which according to Romilda clouded the results far too much.
He was going to have to try again and cause more trouble for the old man. So far he had failed pretty spectacularly. He had not reported to his father though as he still had time. He had until Yule to do something major enough to get the old man out.
====xxx-xxx====
Narcissa returned to Malfoy Manor to find Lucius annoyed.
"Dear what is wrong?"
"Apparently someone turned Draco's attempt to poison the Lovegood girl around onto ourselves. I have had to sack several of the elves for participating in a small revolt."
"And his lordship?"
"He has retired to his stasis chamber to rest. How was your hunt for the Granger girl's family?"
"The muggles have managed to evade any of their observation devices. They are also not using any bank or credit cards. They have not left the country though I am certain as none of the airports or ferry centers had them on their cameras. I left a suggestion with the Home Office that they should be detained for questioning if they are spotted."
"Ahh your interest in the muggles always fascinates me. How they can be so easy to turn on each other."
"Being helpless little worms they fear everything. The small minded ones who have gained what they laughingly think is power in their world fear losing it."
"So what do you plan now?"
"Well as his vehicle was destroyed at the medical center and hers at the house they will have to buy another one if they wish to travel quickly. They must be close to their home. It is not a small city and they no doubt have friends there. I will begin to search there."
"Good."
====xxx-xxx====
A small cottage outside the village of Conistone saw two hikers come walking up to it in the setting sun that was peeking underneath the rain clouds that were scooting to the east. A brown haired man knocked on the door that had a Pentacle and a triquetra nailed to it.
A tall blonde woman whose figure had no doubt once been quite curvaceous but had settled into a middle aged softness opened the door and looked at the two hikers. "Dan? Emma?"
"Yeah hey Tilly. Long time no see."
"Oh my gods! Yeah it has been what a decade at least come in. Get out of the damp."
She led them into the cottage which had a nice fire in the hearth, the smell of a rich stew cooking on a gas stove and some bread baking in the oven made the Grangers feel quite happy.
"So where's your daughter?"
"Shes at her school. She's safe."
"Well that's good. So what brings you to the back end of nowhere?"
Emma laughed as she gave the woman a hug. "Oh where to begin. Its a rather long story."
"Well kick your shoes off and sit. I had a feeling I needed to make a bigger pot of stew. Dan there's a bottle in the cabinet to your right grab it and some glasses and lets get reacquainted properly."
====xxxx====
That night in the common room of Gryffindor the six students spent the evening doing their homework, wondering what Draco and his retinue was up to. Speculating but otherwise They did not see the invisible elf sitting nearby staring at them in worshipful adoration. His body twitching and shivering on occasion as he felt strong magic rippling through him.
The uprising he had caused at Malfoy Manor had been crushed he knew. They had fought well but the darkmaster was there, he was awake and helping the cruelmasters. He had no more hope to destroy cruelmasters from within or get others to fight. He wished he had been stronger sooner but Lady Ithil had been protected that was what was important. Her and her chosen mates. He knew the old ways, the old words of the elfkin. He felt her aura. It was a soothing balm to his burnt spirit. He had broken the bounds of the curse that bonded elf to master and could never bond to another again. He would die a free elf. Until then he would guard and protect her and her chosen. Her mates would be his family. He may not bond with them but he would live for them, he would die for them, he would kill for them.
====xxx-xxx====
Sirius Black sat looking over notes he had made. Who had been members of the old crowd on both sides. Who was still alive and free. Who they had been friends with, where their boltholes were all of that. He had already removed Macnair from the equation but that still left quite a few more. Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, The Carrows, he looked at the list. Many of them prominent citizens with money and investments. Hiding behind masks and facades carefully constructed.
His plans did not involve sitting quietly back and doing nothing. Remus had the house and was cleaning it up. Hopefully he kept a few of the more entertaining items for himself and the five to use. He knew Hermione would be salivating over the books from everything he had seen and heard. How much like Lily that girl was amazed him. Lightning struck twice with the Potters.
He was going to need more information and spend some more time confirming that things had not changed that much. He would be a shadow among the darkness. He and Kreacher.
====xxx-xxx===
Draco was laying next to Pansy. Her soft snores amusing him. He had received orders from his father not to do anything for at least a month. That would put it into November before he would be allowed to act again.
He had changed his mind from attacking Susan Bones and went after the Lovegood girl. Mainly because she annoyed him. Constantly smiling and skipping and being happy. No matter what. That got him strongly reminded to stay on the plan as it had apparently cost them several elves and a potential ally that was dead. Not that there was any tears over her death but that another Ministry authority was going to have to be elevated and groomed for the position. Which was going to take time and be annoying to the Dark Lord.
Draco shivered as he understood the Dark Lord did not give many chances for his followers. He accepted that he was on dangerous ground now. He would obey and be quiet. Even letting Potter get the better of him.
====xxxx-xxxx====
Amelia was working late finishing the reports on this afternoon's incident. The irritation growing at how slowly people had reacted. How they let three innocent people get killed while looking for someone of higher authority to do something. Bloody hell no one had the ability to think for themselves in this building?
It was almost like Scrimgeour wanted to let them die or something. True Umbridge was the least popular person in the entire building, she had heard some joking that they'd rather work for Voldemort than her, but that still did not absolve anyone of their oath. Rufus of course said he stayed with the Minister to ensure this was not a ruse by enemies to assassinate Fudge. Poppycock but then Rufus was getting on in years. He had been in administration for the last 6 years and maybe he was losing his nerve.
She was also worried about another report that had come in. The muggle authorities had found a body that appeared to be Sirius Black and were calling off their search for him. Announcing over the news that he had been found and the threat passed. She didn't think Sirius could swim the miles from Azkaban to shore then die in a river in Tidmarsh. She knew though that Fudge would be happy to end the search and pull back the Dementors as even the Prophet had begun to question their general distribution in public.
The Mayor of Hogsmeade had said that the village itself was going to fold up and relocate if the Dementors didn't go soon. Even the muggles had begun to notice as the misty damp weather had settled across most of the country. Depression and suicide rates climbing in every area the Dementors visited.
Of course if Harry potter was correct and Sirius was on their side, with the incident in Crawley she was not certain of that, then this would be useful. Giving him more room to work. Fudge would not hear anything about reopening the investigation into what happened to the Potters and him though. Declaring the incident done and finished.
It was night's like this she wondered if busting herself back to a foot patrol would not be a bad thing.
====xxx-xxx====
The rest of the month of September passed quickly into October which moved at the normal rate. Both sides pausing to regroup, to consider the actions and positions of not only themselves but their opposition. Although both sides considered there to be only two players to the game, Sirius Black had still remained at large and was a third front all to himself. Even if to both worlds he was now a dead man for the body he had transfigured into a copy of himself had been accepted ending the hunt.
His hunt though was still strong. He and Kreacher had established an order of who would be dying soon. He would grab the low hanging fruit since Pettigrew remained hidden safely behind the Malfoy Wards.
The citizens of Hogsmeade had celebrated when the Dementors left. Welcoming the students back with a street fair that involved performers and artists. As it was a law still that those with noble birth could wear their swords Harry and Neville had both worn theirs. Harry technically not of noble birth but as an ally of House Longbottom and counted among his men he could still wear a sword. When they encountered Draco and his gang they mutually parted ways with nothing more than a few terse snide remarks and veiled threats.
Halloween came and Harry was on edge. He kept expecting something and Luna agreed that the previous two years had definitely established a pattern. When nothing happened he was quite surprised, pleasantly, but still surprised.
The group of friends who were working on their extra training had been increased by Susan Bones and the Weasley twins. Quidditch took a great deal of Harry's time as well. With their game against Ravenclaw being incredibly close thanks to the skill of their seeker Cho Chang. Ginny was pushing herself hard in her desire to get stronger. The extra padding the ritual had put on her frame being shifted and turned into a more muscular body. Though still with a great deal of curves which according to Luna her friend Abigail had begun to appreciate. Neville was surprised but not upset as his friendship with Ginny was nice and comfortable. The one night they had performed the act to remove her virginity the only time she had behaved in a physical manner towards Neville which was fine with him.
Veronica though was quite happy to be a friend with benefits. Hermione trusting Luna that it was not a problem and they would be better keeping her close than letting her drift away. That way they could be a positive role model for her. The life she was living now far different than the one she had been fated to follow.
Rothak had informed Harry that his investments were doing well and that Potter Place as he named it was coming along quite nicely. The Weasleys working as groundskeepers and caretakers quite nicely. Remus had visited them and confirmed it. Enjoying the freedom of the land on the estate.
The Black library and artifacts he had been going through had given them some interesting information. That Andromeda Tonks and her daughter Nymphadora were back in the family had been a bit of a shock but a pleasant one for both sides. Remus having had the Tonks for dinner several times to go over things with them about the inheritance and transfer of items. They had moved on and not given any thought to the family heirlooms in the town house so they had left it for Harry.
Although the way Remus had written about Tonks, as Nymphadora required everyone to call her, made Luna smile in her happy way making Harry wonder if there was more to it than just making friends with the family. He declined to ask as having some surprises would be nice.
With November the weather turned to fall and a slight nip in the air began to be felt. The thoughts of Christmas loomed on the horizon for many. Draco though was using his time to prepare for the actions he was going to be taking. The last month of not lifting a finger while Potter had strutted around the school left a bad taste that only some revenge would be able to remove.
The Potter Pack as some around the school called them had entered November with Professor Throne warning that his classes would begin working with Boggarts. Otherwise things were as normal as they could get.