Chapter 21:Family Dinner

As Hogwarts hurried into November, the Guard spent no time creating intensive training experiences for the students. Where Harry had previously been patient and kindly, taking a no man left behind attitude, he changed his philosophy.

While he was still patient where the situation warranted, he had taken to firm warnings, and required students to take remedial lessons on Sundays if they could not keep up. He began to understand why, exactly, his own mentor was so impatient with students during lessons. He appreciated Isaac doing rounds with him and Silverwood as the Guard and Junior Guard practiced, each searching and correcting weaknesses in the groups.

Snape had continued instructing him in sword play, while Silverwood began the basics with the throwing knives he had been gifted for his birthday. These early lessons left Harry sore, and thoughly defeated in duels. He craved the day he would beat either of the two in a match.

True to Silverwood's word, by the end of the week, Sirius and Remus had moved into the castle, and were spending copious amounts of time in the library with a small team of charms experts and Hermione.

On the second Monday of November, The Guard was in the midst of a session, with Harry, Silverwood, and Isaac watching a team of four masters duel Ginny, Terry Boot, Luna Lovegood, and Hannah Abbott. As they watched, the door opened and shut. Harry glanced over to see Dumbledore enter quietly, and approach.

Harry waited, but Dumbledore just watched beside him, so Harry was content to continue watching.

"Abbott would be a decent dueler, if her conditioning were better," Isaac sighed. "She just can't move fast enough." Indeed, Hannah was the first to fall victim to a stupefy by the masters, though her own casting was flawless. Harry made a note to work this into her Sunday lessons.

Harry was quickly distracted by the blonde Ravenclaw, who, in the midst of the duel, had stopped moving, placed her wand behind her ear, and pulled a small bag from her pocket. What was in the bag, they hadn't the opportunity to find out, as she immediately followed Hannah to the ground. Harry noted to himself thatLuna had begun occassionally talking with Fred and George, and wondered if one of their creations was in her bag.

Ginny and Terry immediately moved to cover one another's backs, both casting furiously without any luck. After being struck twice, Terry's shield shattered, leaving him vulnerable to an attack from his left side.

Knowing she was doomed, Ginny threw all caution to the wind and ran straight for one of her opponents, hoping it would catch them off guard. This left her back open to an attack, sprawling her on the ground.

Harry turned to Dumbledore, "Yes, Sir?"

"I apologize for interrupting, my boy, but Master Sterling is here and we were wondering if you could join a quick meeting."

Harry turned to Isaac. "Would you mind debriefing? This is the last team today, anyhow." Isaac shook his head, for which he was grateful. Isaac was always better at this part than he, anyway, less worried about hurting feelings than he was. "Lead on, Headmaster."

In the Headmaster's office, Sterling and Dumbledore were sitting next to one another at the conference table, having been joined by Harry, Saldor, Snape, Silverwood, Fletcher, Shacklebolt, and McGonagall.

It was Dumbledore who began speaking. "We have decided to invite those apprentices who have been approved to take up residency at Hogwarts, with their masters. Sterling and I have been hard at work ensuring that we are taking care of the needs of all, without betraying any security concerns."

This had not come as a surprise to any— the question had hardly been if Hogwarts would play this role, but how. Sterling picked up. "Fletcher, we'll be asking you to lend your expertise to all of the team leads. We will, of course, be ensuring that you have an assistant instructor, as we know Aeter has been called away from helping with the physical aspect of training. We believe Isaac would be an ideal candidate for this role." Fletcher nodded gratefully at this offering.

"In fact, when students come back next semester, we'll begin offering courses by skill level, and not year, using several masters to teach the overload of students. Masters are aware and some will be having their apprentices attend these courses. There may be some masters volunteering to teach elective courses. This is a win-win, as it will allow for more individualized attention, and learning within one's skill level and motivation in a course.

"Anybody who needs to come or go from Hogwarts will do so via Hogsmeade, even if it is a daily event. They will return via Hogsmeade, and we will be posting a guard at the gates."

Harry was grateful for these security precautions, and continued to listen as they discussed security precautions and housing arrangements. Finally, Silverwood spoke. "Kingsley, any word on the deployment system? Are we able to replicate the Ministry system here in the Guard wing? We won't be ready to deploy for several weeks yet, but it can't hurt to have the system up and running."

Kingsley nodded once, "After our conversation last week, Amelia has indicated that she is willing to work it out. She's asked me to remain point person on this initiative, but is available as needed. We'll need to coordinate shifts and an easy system for rotations. The students will serve in a dispatch role, at least initially."

"They are still just students," McGonagall was scowling. "I can understand teaching them to train to defend themselves, but this? This is out of hand! Albus, you surely can't be behind training them to be a militia! Haven't we made enough sacrifices?"

Albums shook his head, "Minerva, typically I would agree with you. But the aurors are already incapable of keeping up."

"There has to be another way! They are children! It is our job to protect them!"

"If we don't teach them to fight, this war may be lost, Minerva," Sterling spoke. "Many of us fought this fifteen years ago and saw Voldemort's horror. I don't know many who are going to go back to fight. The public will certainly not be volunteering!"

"He's right, Minerva," Kingsley agreed. "We've known this for a long time. We don't have the structure otherwise."

"I don't like it," McGonagall scowled, but knew she was fighting a losing battle.

"Neither do we," Dumbledore shook his head.

"The next training exercise," Harry began quietly, "We used to play Capture the Flag in primary school. I read it's a common training exercise in muggle militaries."

Silverwood nodded. "Yes. We can't use the Forest here. The centaurs would be livid. The Order does have some forested land, which means no unintended bystanders would be involved. It's not been used for these purposes before, so I'll have to clear it with Master Sterling to confirm it would be authorized."

Harry nodded. "Is it large enough to run large-scale teams, or would we need to take smaller teams through at a time?"

Silverwood shook his head. "I've never been there before. I'll see what I can find out."

Harry nodded. "Have you heard how the map is coming along? I haven't seen much of Hermione. Or Ron, for that matter, outside of our training."

Silverwood nodded. "Both of your friends appear to have taken a shining to their posts. It turns out, Ron is capable of just as much… mischief as his brothers."

"Everybody is working so hard, I don't see anybody much anymore…"

Silverwood nodded. "I understand the feeling."

"Perhaps a big family dinner can be arranged," Harry thought aloud.

"Family?" Silverwood quirked an eyebrow, though Harry could see a small smile forming.

Harry blushed. "It's not who you're born to," Harry finally decided. "It's the people who are there for you, no matter what. Dad, James, he told me that Snape has been the father he could never be.

"With him came you and Master Saldor, who are incredibly intense mentors, but I imagine this is what having an incredibly successful and strict uncle would be like. And of course, I have Sirius and Remus and the Weasleys, and Hermione," Harry paused. "I've been thinking about it this whole time. I think my mum was trying to tell me that love, not just Ginny's, but everybody's, would get me through this war."

Master Silverwood was smiling, "I think, Aeter, that you might be onto something. Remember, your mother and father sacrificed their lives in the name of love. Dom and Sev, you know they aren't demonstrative. But you also know they would do the same. Family dinner sounds wonderful, Aeter. Perhaps on Sunday night?"

On Sunday evening, as Silverwood had suggested, Harry had invited everybody to Hogwarts. Using a large conference room in the wing frequently used by the Order members, Harry had invited the Weasleys (Percy had refused, and Bill was tied up with Gringotts yet), Hermione, Snape, Saldor, Silverwood, Terran, Atwater, Strider, Isaac, and Sirius and Remus for dinner.

As everybody sat down, Harry stood and smiled at them all. "Thank you, all, for coming to this first family dinner! It has been a long semester, and one that will continue to be long. We are in the midst of a war, but, while we are all still here and able to, I want to celebrate each and every one of you. And thank you.

"Thank you for the laughs that you have shared with me, the advice that you've given me, and the joy that you offer me. I am grateful for the hugs that have embraced me, and the forgiveness granted. Your love is the most powerful in my life, because day after day, each of you chooses to stand beside me for every trial, when you could have left. We will get through this war because we have each other. I will get through this, because after a lifetime of being alone and unwanted, I am grateful to have a large family that does care for me. Thank you for everything."

"Oh, Harry," Mrs. Weasley was the first to respond, and Harry could see the tears brimming in her eyes. "You are such an important member of this family."

It was then Master Saldor that stood. Harry was a small bit concerned the man would chastise him for being so emotional. "As the eldest, and apparently patriarch of this family," Harry snorted here, "I believe you should all be looking for my wisdom. It is no secret that in my 30 years as a master, I have had many apprentices. Most of whom have simply moved into the rest of their lives, tackling whatever comes next.

"When Severus came into my domain, there was a bond created between himself and Reg, two brothers that I could not separate. They have seen each other through a great deal. They are both like sons to me, and I very much do not know what the last decade or two would have been without them.

"And now, something completely unexpected has happened: they have brought with them their own apprentices, who have formed their own friendships and brotherhoods. They have worked their slimy ways into my cold heart, and I am forever changed.

"You said it well, Aeter, this family is strong, because this family chooses day in and day out to be present and supportive. You are each willing to make the world a better place for all. I consider myself lucky to be counted among this family."

Harry smiled at the older man, knowing how hard it must have been for the man to admit. And then, each person at the table began to speak about how grateful they were to have this group of people at the table.

It was the first time, in his memory, that Harry had truly heard so many people share their true, most vulnerable feelings. Had there not been a war, Harry was not sure it would have happened. But he was ecstatic to know he was loved.

The dinner itself was a regal affair. They shared laughter and traded stories. Harry, largely listening, looked around himself and smiled a goofy grin, feeling truly invincible.

Snape, seated beside him, allowed himself to smile at the teen. Finally, he whispered, "I am glad to be your mentor. I do care very deeply for you, Son." Harry startled. Recognizing Snape as a father figure was one thing. Having him acknowledge it back was a different thing entirely.

Tears pricked at the corner of Harry's eyes. He dropped his fork and immediately turned and embraced the man. "I—thank you, Sir."

The moment had happened, but Harry and Snape both steadfastly refused to discuss the conversation for weeks beyond the event. Harry wondered, as he settled into bed that night, if this warmth was what people with families always felt like, though he put it off as the novelty of it. For Harry, knowing was enough.

On Monday morning, Harry dressed as normal and went running with Snape. Both seemed content with their world, and a bit relieved to have had the opportunity to share their feelings, as embarrassed as they may have felt.

"With additional apprentices and masters joining Hogwarts," Snape began, "the headmaster has allowed me to oversee the Potions department as chair, with a master teaching the courses. This allows me to spend more time creating the number of potions we will undoubtedly need, though Sterling has assigned me assistants in this too. I will also be able to continue to oversee your training, though others will continue to play a bigger role than previously."

They lapsed back into silence, running comfortably in the quiet darkness before the anxieties and struggles of daily life could begin.