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Stand Tall

Chapter XIII

Turning


"Enter." Dumbledore intoned gently, placing his quill carefully upon his desk and steepling his fingers under his chin. He smiled a genuinely pleased smile when Remus Lupin tentatively entered the room. Remus was a valued member of his order and had been a steadfast friend and ally for many years. Even knowing this visit was at least partially business, it gave him no small amount of pleasure to see the werewolf. "It is good to see you, Remus - take a seat. What is it that I can do for you?"

Remus sat across from him on a chair that Dumbledore conjured then and there with a casual wave of his hand. The magic was in actuality difficult even for him, but the effort it required was worth the benefit to his reputation. He wasn't vain, really - that was a flaw he had taken huge pains to rid himself of - but he knew the value his reputation as a wizard had to the morale of the people around him and beyond. Voldemort was more active in trying to regain a body than he had ever been and Dumbledore was certain that it wouldn't be long before people were once again looking to him to be Tom Riddle's equal.

"I wanted to speak to you about Harry, Headmaster." Remus said softly, but there was a certain firmness to the man's grey eyes that spoke volumes. He wasn't to be easily swayed from what he desired. And this is about Harry? Troubling. "Obviously, I'm aware that Harry has been entered into the Triwizard Tournament despite being several years younger than the rest of the competitors." He started, in a clearly exploratory manner, wanting to feel out where Dumbledore stood before deciding how to proceed with what he really wanted.

"Indeed, it is a difficult situation for young Harry to be in." He began in an airy fashion. Remus knew better than to accept his eccentric elderly man airs at complete face value but the best lies were rooted in the truth; and the reality that he was in fact eccentric and elderly let him lean on that persona heavily to great effect with even those who knew him best. "Unfortunately, the rules of the tournament do ensure that I cannot intervene on his behalf even with the most benign of intentions. That said, Harry has never disappointed in such situations; and when dangers from outside the usual realms of the tournament show themselves, we shall be able to intervene to the best of our abilities."

"That would be a reassurance Professor Dumbledore, if this tournament weren't so renowned for being fatal for it's competitors even when someone wasn't trying to harm one of them. Quite apart from that, we both know what awaits Harry beyond this year. He needs a greater level of preparation if he's going to survive what's coming."

Dumbledore closed his eyes; as an aid to thought, but also to hide from the man opposite the huge weight that this particular topic put upon on him. Indeed, Harry would need a greater level of help if he were to survive the coming war. But as much as their victory required Harry to happen, did it need him alive? Or worse, as he was coming to suspect, was their victory dependent on Harry Potter not surviving? Certainly, Harry would be required to survive for a length of time at least. The complication was that Dumbledore could sense whenever he looked at Harry the huge amount of potential that boy had. In the previous year, he had felt Harry's patronus spell from his office in the castle, he had felt the enormous amount of magical power the boy could tap into when pushed.

Too much help and Dumbledore worried that when his time came, Harry wouldn't make the choice he needed to make for the Greater Good. Not enough, and Harry wouldn't live long enough to even make that choice.

"What is it that you propose, Remus?" Dumbledore had an idea of what he wanted - and was even inclined to acquiesce - but wanted some assurances before he did so.

"The rules say that his school can't give him help but they do say he is able to take on an advisor from outside the school. There's even an addendum that talks specifically about this, naming the 'Champion's Mentor' an official titled position. I propose that I become his 'mentor'. I'll be able to try and get him up to speed with his competition and at least give him a fighting chance of surviving this thing. More importantly, I'll be able to give him a head start in preparing for when Voldemort returns. My position will grant me access to him in the castle to work, and allow him to make time officially for our sessions."

Dumbledore held the man's gaze for a few moments more than was comfortable for him, before asking, "and this is just your idea? I'd hate for Sirius to jeopardize his freedom unnecessarily." The man didn't squirm like Dumbledore had hoped, but his eyes did harden somewhat protectively, indicating that Sirius was at least somewhat involved. This was what he needed to manage carefully - he was happy for Sirius to be involved in Harry's life, but too much and Dumbledore's ability to influence the boy would be diminished.

"I won't lie. This was actually Sirius' idea - but he is still in France recovering. He knows he'd be no good as a Godfather to Harry if he's caught here." Remus met his gaze steadily and firmly giving no quarter and no clues. Something was different in the werewolf and Dumbledore didn't like it. He could find no sign of a lie in the man though, and he knew full well the folly of attempting legilimency on a man afflicted with lycanthropy.

In the end, his faith in his ability to inspire absolute loyalty in those that followed him and his knowledge of Remus and the debt the werewolf felt he owed him won through. With or without being able to read the man's thoughts, Remus he was sure, wouldn't be able to lie to him. Sirius was too independent - the Black, though a much valued friend and ally to their cause, had never been one of his ardent followers. Like James, he had always done what he thought was right as opposed to what Dumbledore said was right. Albus was glad the man was innocent and free, truly - he would never wish Azkaban upon an innocent man - and he would do his utmost to ensure Sirius remained that way. However, his status as on the run and out of the way was incredibly convenient to him.

With Sirius out of the way, he could control the amount and what kind of assistance Harry would be given and be sure nothing was done to jeopardize the plan. Quite apart from that, having another Order member in the castle and watching Harry would free him to focus on other things, such as the saddening disappearance of Miss Lovegood.

Harry would get just enough help, just enough to die in the right place and at the right time.

Dumbledore smiled gently at Remus even as sorrow wracked his heart. "I think this is a splendid idea Remus - what do you propose Harry works on first?"


The door looked like just about any other classroom door in the castle, but for Susan Bones it was probably one of the more intimidating that she had walked through since her first year. There were always rumours swirling about Harry Potter in Hogwarts and they always seemed to fluctuate wildly between wildly untrue and unbelievably accurate. He was always involved in something. She supposed that was what made it so easy to get caught up in the rumours and speculation, even when it turned into gossip or slander. That and the fact he always seemed so closed off and distant. Really, who knew much at all about him besides Granger and Weasley?

But that didn't ring quite true either. Susan prided herself on being a good reader of people thanks to her Aunt, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Her Aunt had an unerring ability to read people and their intentions and had, over the years of living with her, imparted some of that knowledge and experience into her. Despite having maybe two real interactions with him in little over four years, she had always had Harry Potter pegged as a little shy but overall relatively pleasant. Not really the type to cheat his way into the Triwizard Tournament - he always seemed to duck out of opportunities to be in the spotlight and had never looked more uncomfortable than in Second year when Lockhart forced it upon him. Certainly not the type to be the heir of Slytherin, parselmouth or not, as the popular rumour had been.

And yet, to her shame, she had gone along with both rumours. Happily insulting someone who every instinct told her was innocent of what he was being accused of. She had acted without all of the facts, without all of the evidence - something her Aunt had taught her time and time again not to do - and had contributed to making someone else's life miserable for no real reason other than a desire to fit in with everybody else.

She was usually very open with her Aunt, but she hadn't quite yet managed to work up the courage to admit this mistake to her just yet. Admitting your mistakes was an important part of growing her Aunt always but when you can, fixing them - or at least making up for them as best you can - is the best thing to do. Before she went to her Aunt, she wanted to be able to say that she had at least tried to make up for her part in the mistreatment of Harry.

She pushed the door open and it let loose a elderly groan as it swung inwards, revealing a very surprised looking group of Fourth years. Harry Potter was standing wide eyed, wand drawn and for a moment she worried that she was about to be cursed. Luckily, the wand was lowered fairly quickly and Susan spied Neville Longbottom, also with his wand out, looking equally confused from opposite Harry. So, the rumour was true. Harry Potter was running a secret dueling club - or at least, something to that effect.

"Is there something we can help you with, Miss Bones?" A smooth voice intoned from several chairs set out in one corner beneath a odd-looking map on the wall. Susan turned to face the speaker and had to physically prevent herself from doing an actual double take. Blaise Zabini of all people was sitting with Granger, looking at her calmly but with undeniable curiosity.

"I-" she swallowed back some last minute nerves and tried to draw on some of her Aunt's seemingly ineffable confidence. "I came to speak to Harry, if he wouldn't mind?" Harry blinked slowly, and Susan got the impression of somebody rather surprised that anybody would want to do such a thing. She almost didn't notice that she had addressed him by his given name without even thinking.

"In private, or-"

She smiled hesitantly, glancing at the several other curious faces in the room. "Private, if we can."

There was a moment of pause but Harry seemed to pick up on how anxious she was as an easy smile blossomed on his face. "Sure thing, Susan." Harry pocketed his wand and started to move towards the door and her. Granger looked as though she wanted to say something but a look from Harry seemed to stop whatever it was from leaving her mouth, replaced only with a worried frown.

She stepped out into the corridor behind Harry, closing the door to the room gingerly behind her. Susan opened her mouth to start and was surprised to find that she wasn't entirely sure how.

"I've got to say, I'm impressed you found us. I was sure it would be Snape first." Harry said with a wry smile, preventing the silence from becoming awkward and giving her a lifeline into the conversation.

"I won't lie Harry, it's taken a couple of tries these past few nights. I was starting to think that the rumour you had started a dueling club was untrue."

"People are really saying that?" He exclaimed perhaps a little louder than he intended and slight embarrassment seemed to take precedence over outrage at the rumour. He chuckled slightly. "Classic Hogwarts that is. They're guessing the right city but the entirely wrong country - it's not exactly a dueling club."

"It looked a bit like one to me." She ventured, and Harry smiled in response.

"That's what I mean. An underground dueling club would be all dangerous and exciting so that's what the rumour is. A late night Defense study group however..."

Susan laughed this time. "Yes, I suppose that is a little less scandalous." She let the smile fade away from her face - when an unpleasant thing needed doing, putting it off only made the doing all the more unpleasant. Best just to get on with it. "Look Harry, I came here to apologise to you." Harry looked surprised at the change of pace, but said nothing. "My House's and more importantly, my actions towards you this year have been reprehensible. I don't really know you, but I've seen enough to see with my own two eyes that you're not a bad person. Going along with the crowd is a horrible excuse for being terrible to someone and I've been exactly that. I'm so sorry for my actions in this regard, and if you'll allow it, I'd like to do what I can to make up for my part in my House's actions." She breathed deeply as she finished.

She had said what she came to say, and it was up to Harry to decide what he wanted to do with that. He was well within his rights to tell her to stuff her apology and get lost.

"Apology accepted Susan. You don't have to make up for anything though, it's not as if I don't get wanting to fit in with everybody else." He said happily but Susan frowned in response.

"Rejecting or accepting my apology is your decision Harry, but whether or not I need to redress the wrongs that I've done is mine." She said firmly. "You can say no to what I have in mind of course, but I will find a way to make up for my actions whether you think I need to or not - anything else would be unjust. I believe everyone should face up to the consequences of their actions, good or bad. It's just who I am."

Harry's eyebrows rose at the severity Susan was putting forth but quickly recovered his composure. "Okay then, Susan - what did you have in mind?" He asked, genuine curiosity on his face.

"Well as soon as I heard the rumour of a dueling club I had an idea of how I could pay you back, and it still works even if what you're doing is Defence Study Group." The idea of a secret gathering in the middle of the night being just a study group was ludicrous, even if it wasn't necessarily an actual dueling club. "My Aunt is head of the DMLE - she's in charge of all of the country's Aurors. We have a ton of DADA reference material produced just for Auror training - my Aunt has already given me permission to use some of it for my studies..."

Harry frowned thoughtfully. "You want to join the group in exchange for the resources."

"Don't get me wrong. My whole intention is to help you to make up for being horrible to you - if you want me just get them for your group and walk away I will do that. I'm not here to bargain, but..." She sighed and she tried to gather up what she really wanted to say. "My Aunt is a really positive person. She tries to see the good in everyone and be as fair as possible and despite the terrible things she sees as part of her job she's always tried to be optimistic about improving things." Harry was watching her carefully now. There was a completely different kind of look in his eye from before, intense and knowing. As if he had already worked out where she was going.

"Things have changed, Harry. Aunt Amelia is busier than ever - it's getting worse, not better. She keeps saying that the streets aren't safe anymore and she looks at me and all I can see is her worrying and frightened for me. I want to be able to do something to change that - she worries about keeping the entire country safe every single day. I want to help her do it - I want her not to have to worry about me being safe on top of everything else." Susan stopped and looked directly into Harry's eyes. "If you're really a Defense group and you're as practical as you seem, it could really help me do that to join - as long as you're okay with that Harry."


Back inside the room, nobody had really spoken and Hermione was starting to get antsy. With everything going on in the school at the moment and everything they knew was happening outside of it, it was becoming more and more difficult to trust anybody. Not that she thought Susan would attack Harry or anything of the sort, but the way she had managed to find them and then asked to speak to Harry alone made her uneasy to say the least.

Finally, the door opened and Harry and Susan walked through, both thankfully appearing at least satisfied with whatever was going on. Blaise she noted, peered up from the book he had picked up when Harry left and Neville was waiting patiently for whatever it was that was going to happen.

"Hermione," Harry started matter-of-factly, "take Susan to the corner and run her through the spells we've worked on. We need to see where she's at before we can work with her. Blaise your stunner is fast and precise but lacks punch, Neville your shields are coming along but you need to be quicker getting them up. Pair up and help each other work on those things."

Nobody moved for a moment and as quickly as it had appeared, Harry's business-like personality crumbled, leaving a sheepish teenager in it's wake.

"By the way, Susan's asked to join the group. Her reasons are good enough for me - everyone okay with that?"

Hermione's eyes rolled so forcefully she thought it might have been audible. "Oh for heaven's- Of course we are." She turned to Susan with what she hoped was a friendly smile. "Come on Susan, let's get you started."


"Nostalgic, don't you think Harry?"

Harry looked around the room - a picture perfect replica of Remus' Defense classroom the prior year. The student's desks were gone, replaced with two deep red armchairs and a large open space; but the rest of the place was exactly as it had been the previous year, moved to a room on the fourth floor. He couldn't help but glance warily at a battered wardrobe with cracked glass mirrors on it's doors.

"Don't worry Harry, this year it is empty - though I daresay you are more than well enough equipped to deal with it if it weren't." Lupin said with a faint smile, noticing his look. "Either way, we have more pressing matters to attend to." Remus gestured to the chairs as he spoke, and sat opposite him.

"The good headmaster has acquiesced to my request to become your advisor - giving us some crucially important time to prepare you for what lies ahead." Harry couldn't help but notice the double meaning in his former professor's words. "Our time in the shack with Sirius will continue even as I work with you on a one to one basis here. The extra time will allow us to split our focus. In the Shack we will concentrate on your dueling skill, allowing us to focus your attention here on preparing for upcoming tasks and more importantly, expanding your general magical repertoire."

"So what's the plan?" He asked, starting to feel a now familiar excitement at the chance of learning new magic.

"We began it when we gave you those books at the start of the year, Harry. Curses and shields are only scratching the surface of magical combat. Creative use of runes, transfiguration, charms and even the more... esoteric forms magic are what truly set a wizard apart. Mastery of these elements allow a duelist endless possibilities with which to disable their opponent but you must master them first. In your duels with Sirius, you have begun to incorporate transfiguration but this is only the beginning." Remus lent back in his chair slightly as he continued, becoming further involved in his own memories.

"Voldemort, whatever else you might think about him, was truly incredibly to watch in battle - I was lucky to have only had the privilege once. You see, Voldemort has power, yes - more so that any wizard I've seen. But what really made him so terrifying was his utter mastery of any branch of magic you could think of. They were his playthings - a toy box for him to pull from at leisure. He could do almost anything, making it impossible for any but the most knowledgeable wizards to keep up.

"If you are going to win Harry, this is what you must strive towards. Of course it will take time and dedication but with Voldemort not yet returned to form, this is exactly what you have."

"Where do we start then, Remus?"

The older man smiled, "defense before attack. We don't know when Voldemort will manage to return - if that comes sooner rather than later, you'll need to be able to defend yourself. Not only that, what I have in mind will prove useful in many other situations. Tell me, where are you with your study of Ancient Runes?"


The Slytherin common room, Blaise knew from his conversations with students of other Houses, was unique in that in came with 'nooks'. Small, dimly lit spaces for one to one conversations located evenly throughout the common area and passageways between dormitories. It was so stereo-typically Slytherin to have places for clandestine meetings that Blaise would hate it, if it wasn't so useful. Currently, Blaise was sharing his nook with the unfortunately pig-nosed Pansy Parkinson, in a less than enjoyable conversation.

Well, pig-nosed wasn't exactly fair. That unfortunate descriptor had lost it's accuracy as she had grown and only really remained as a cheap attack said behind the girl's back. Most didn't say it to her face any longer, she had made certain of that.

"Of all the people to answer, I did not expect it to be you, Pansy."

The girl smiled, calculating but unusually, not unkindly. "I like to think we could help each other achieve our goals."

He narrowed his eyes at her ever so slightly, a warning. "Well we know what mine are. Yours however?"

"I want to know about Potter and his little group that you're in, Blaise. Nothing major, I'm not asking you to break any confidences. Just some background." She finished, in an attempt to reassure him.

"Any information can be dangerous when secrecy is key, Pansy. Even background could be costly. What could you possibly have that warrants that kind of risk?"

This time the smile was sweet - too sweet. "I know who the last person to see Luna Lovegood alive in the castle was - when and were." Blaise couldn't help the shock that crept onto his face and it never left, even at the slight hint of smug that found it's way onto Pansy's. He had been expecting tidbits - hearsay. This though, this could change everything.

"Ask your questions Pansy."

Pansy leant forward like the cat that got the cream. "I have two. I know enough about your little club. Dueling is the rumour, but Potter's always seemed to straight for something like that. Defense is my guess - and for you to be using your time on it, Potter's the real deal no matter what Draco says. Who's taking part though?"

"Potter and Granger lead it, though Potter calls the shots. Longbottom and Susan Bones make up the rest - though Bones is a recent entry." This was information Pansy could have gotten herself, if she really tried and wasn't too dangerous to give away. He knew full well there was more coming.

"Three of the four houses." She said idly, not quite to Blaise. "Interesting."

"In the time I've known him, Potter hasn't put much stock into keeping to his own house. It's worth noting that he approached me to make an arrangement first, despite the fact that I'm a Slytherin." The look that flashed across Pansy's eyes at that, Blaise couldn't quite identify but it was worth filing away. There was something desperate there, for what, he couldn't say.

"What is like? Potter, I mean. What is he actually like?"

Blaise started, this was not the question he expected to be getting. "He is... A frustratingly good person. Doesn't much care for houses as I've said - he prefers to judge on actions or conversation. A little less naive than you'd expect. He told me the hat nearly put him in Slytherin - I could nearly believe him. I have to say you're right about the real deal. He knows his defense and duels far better than any student I've seen so far."

Pansy looked pensive for a moment, before the smug smile returned. Blaise couldn't help but notice it seemed a touch strained now. "Nott and a fifth year Ravenclaw were the last people to see her. They, ah, have a room on the seventh floor they go to for entanglements. Apparently she's a regular there - was there on the night she disappeared."

Blaise stood. "Much obliged, Pansy."


Harry quickened his pace, eager to get back to the common room after his meeting with Remus. Their talk had been exhausting but incredibly fruitful in terms of his own development. Incorporating more varied magic into his repertoire was exactly what he had been trying to do in working on Runes and Transfiguration. Even more that that, he was excited to bring some of the things he'd be learning with Remus to their Defence group for everybody else.

It had been a week since Susan had joined and Harry found himself incredibly pleased with how things were going. Blaise and Neville had been refreshing to spend time around both in terms of spellcasting style and personality. Neville was all determination and power, Blaise grace and Hermione had very quickly taken up the challenge of using jinxes and curses that none of them had even heard of to catch them out. Susan added a fresh dynamic to that mix. Her spells weren't varied or powerful, nor was she particularly fast on her feet.

However, she had already learned the basics from her aunt. Stunner, disarm, shield - the Holy Trinity of dueling. Crucially however, she had practiced them. A lot. Her form was perfect in so far as Harry could see, but amazingly her casting time for those three spells seemed almost effortless and without any conscious thought. The disarming charm and expelliarmus worked so well as a pair because they chained into each other fairly neatly. He himself could chain the two fairly competently but preferred more variety when dueling.

The first time they had dueled, Harry had nearly been beaten. Susan could chain the spells so efficiently and continuously that he had felt as though he was being machine-gunned from across the room. The barrage of spells kept him running and shielding for the first few minutes of the duel with no opportunity to return fire. It was only when Susan began to tire and get frustrated at not hitting him that Harry had been allowed back into the duel in order to win.

The idea of Susan able to prepare a room with runes to prevent an opponent escaping, controlling the battlefield to remedy her stamina problem, was utterly terrifying - Merlin only knew what Hermione would end up doing with some of these things.

He stopped suddenly as the corridor he was travelling down merged with another.

"Harry." Ron said sullenly, looking as surprised as he was.

"Ron." He replied, trying to quell the emotions that seeing the Weasley brought up. He had bigger fish to fry than pranks and Ron's jealousy. Luna, let alone Voldemort, were far more pressing issues. They were bigger than Ron and bigger than their argument. An uncomfortable thought crossed his mind, but as soon as he'd had it, he knew he had to try.

"Look, Ron," he began uneasily and seeing the other boy not interrupt, he pressed on. "I know we don't like each other very much right now and I don't think I can say anything to change that. But Luna's missing Ron - you look at things in a different way than I do, than even Hermione does. You see things we miss. We could really use your help, Ron - just until we find Luna."

Ron looked surprised for a few moments, before a familiar scowl formed. "And spend time with you and your ego? As if, Potter. If it was really that important, you'd finally man up and admit you lied."

Harry felt fury flood him and it took every ounce of control he had not to reach for his wand then and there. "Are you serious, you prat?! You still think I entered myself-"

"You know Harry," Ron interrupted, pink with his own anger. "I'm starting to think Malfoy was right about you - even with Luna missing, you won't sacrifice your ego for anything and admit you lied. You're an arse Potter. Get the hell away from me." And with that, Ron stormed away, leaving Harry to seethe silently in his wake.


Ron flew back into the dormitory still furious after his meeting with Harry. Muttering, he crouched in front of his bedside table, removing a piece of heavily scribbled upon parchment. "Covered floors one through four - floor five tonight, then." He cursed quietly and scratched his head. "Where the bloody hell are you, Luna?"