AN:1 I am advancing the timeline somewhat as I had planned for the golden trio to spend four years In America and have them return tonthe war when they are the same age as James and Lilly where before they died.

Chapter 4 Occlumency, Tigers and Ministerial Matters

29th May 1998

Serverus Snape entered the Headmasters study, it had been a long day replacing the Carrow's as the Dark Lord required their services elsewhere and preparing the school for the year ahead. Muggleborns were no longer admitted to Hogwarts school, as soon as article hit the Daily Prophet so did the owls hit his desk. Majority of the Wizards in this country were as yet unaware of two things firstly the Ministry was completely under the Dark Lord's control and secondly that any resistance to his reign whether that was ministerial or otherwise was now non existent. "Ahhh Serverus" Dumbledore`s portrait still hung in its place behind the Headmasters desk, Snape had a shrewd suspicion that the Dark Lord hadn't ordered it taken down as the portraits occupant was in store for an interrogation at some point. "Did everything go well?" "Yes Dumbledore I have managed to convince the Dark Lord to let me select my own candidates for the vacant roles" "excellent, did Voldemort have any objections? "Not really, he is preoccupied now as his attention turns to France and the infiltration of their ministry. At least for the time being the muggle population is not his primary target and somewhat safer. He doesn't want to act against the muggle Governments until a fair portion on Europe's Ministries of Magic are under his control. I believe he has sent the Carrows to France."

Severus turned from the portrait of Dumbledore and looked toward the portrait of Fineus Nigellus Black. "Fineus" Snape waited a moment for the old Headmaster to return to his portrait "Yes Headmaster?" Fineus Nigellus' snide voice rang out "any news regarding Potter and his friends?" "No Headmaster the Mudblood" "DO NOT USE THAT NAME!" spat Snape "alright then the Granger girl hasn't opened her bag where my other portrait has been stuffed for weeks, I can't hear a thing". "Dumbledore can we be sure Potter isn't dead?" "I am almost certain of it" replied Dumbledore "He would have paraded it everywhere maybe not that Harry is dead but that he has been apprehended by the ministry". "So what's the plan going forward?" "firstly Severus you shall do your utmost to protect the students of Hogwarts and with regards to Harry he will reveal himself in due course" "are you sure he will, what if he has gone to ground and decided to give up?" "I doubt that he wants Voldemort finished as badly as Voldemort wants him dead".

Snape turned away from the portraits and drew up an advertisement for the Daily Prophet. Wholesale changes were require since the disappearances of Minerva Mcgonagall, Rubeus Hagrid and Fillius Flitwick. "Severus?" "yes Albus" "have you heard any news regarding the surviving members of The Order of the Phoenix?" "not really the Weasley's must be in hiding along with Lupin and Shacklebolt and Longbottom was found," Dumbledore's picture looked anxious "he managed to escape nearly killed Jugson in the struggle brought the doorway of an old tenement building down on his head". Dumbledore looked pleased as Snape turned back to his parchment.

It had been roughly four weeks since the Battle of Hogwarts and Harry was still struggling to master Occlumency. Hermione and Ron could now both repel Fontaine`s intrusions and he was now taking a more subtle approach compared to the brute force intrusions Harry was struggling with. The difference between these methods were that compared to the brute force Legilimency attack where Harry was aware of what Fontaine could see and his presence, the subtle approach did it's best not to alert the target by letting them see what he could therefore forcing the target to look for the traces of Fontaine in their mind then repel him. Harry was surprised to note that his potions skills were developing rapidly at such a rate that Hermione had accused Harry of still having The Halfblood Prince's book which he refuted instantly Professor Woodburn had been notably impressed by his work. They had been working on brewing polyjuice potion, a potion Hermione could already brew which Harry and Ron were complete novices. "Great all three potions look the ideal colour and texture for the three week stage, they should be ready by next week and we will test them". Professor Woodburn beamed at the trio "oh Harry the Headmaster is going to be giving you an extra Occlumency lesson tonight" Harry groaned "does it have to be tonight?". "Unfortunately yes, he is briefing MACUSA on what he has learned about the Dark Lord and Britain since meeting you tomorrow, he is however keeping your presence here under wraps for the time being. Oh I better go my fifth year students will be wondering where I am" Professor Woodburn scuttled out of their make shift dormitory.

"Legilimens" memories started pouring through Harry's vision, the sorting hat was telling him he would do well in Slytherin, "bow to death Potter I said bow" Voldemort had put the imperious curse on him. "Concentrate Potter repel me" Fontaine was beginning to sound impatient at his lack of progress, the visions moved faster he couldn't control them they were moving too fast, BANG! Professor Fontaine had retreated from his mind and lifted the spell as Harry hit the floor "I really thought you would have made more progress with this the other two can almost repel me instantly". Fontaine was rubbing his temples they had been at it for two and a half hours and Harry's scar was prickling again. "Right we will try again empty your mind, prepare yourself, Legilimens" Harry's memories flew by in a blur so fast that he couldn't make them out "come on Potter a little effort for Merlin's sake". Harry braced and with every ounce of willpower he had emptied his mind, he could sense something he wasn't sure what, he located the something and discovered he could sense Fontaine's intrusion like his presence made the memory heavier. He was lingering in the memory of the Dementor attack in the alleyway of Wisteria Walk Harry honed in on Fontaine. He had moved to the memory of him kissing Ginny after the Quidditch final, Harry again honed in on that memory and managed to make it stop still before Fontaine could move on. His vision had split again he could see the office and the memory but the office was clearer this time "Yes! Potter that's it you've found me now repel me" with all his mental strength Harry at last repelled Fontaine almost as if a pair of hands had formed in his mind and physically shoved Fontaine from his mind and for a fleeting few seconds felt tremendous relief at finally repelling a Legilimency attack then collapsed. He felt a gentle tapping on his face followed by Fontaine's voice "rennevarte". Harry sat up he was feeling groggy and slightly sick "what happened?" "you managed to repel my Legilimency attack but the effort caused you to collapse". Harry felt stricken how can I master Occlumency if I collapse on the first time I managed it "you will get the hang of it Harry, plenty of wizards can't do it and you have just proven you can". Harry didn't reply he was trying to get his head straight an dB the sickly feeling was growing rather than diminishing "Head back to your dorm we are done for tonight, we will give it a few days before we try again but I want to to continue practicing emptying your mind in the mean time. I think professors Cage and Rowand want to work on Patronus charms with you, Ron and Hermione in the coming week and I dare say that will be difficult enough" "we can already produce full body Patronuses". "Impressive would you mind showing me?" Harry raised his wand and muttered "Expecto Patronum" a wisp of silvery vapour rose from his wand "A good attempt from someone so young however a full Patronus normally has a form of an animal" Harry gave the Professor a scalding look and raised his wand again "Expecto Patronum" the silver stag bust from his wand and cantered around the room "very impressive Harry and you say the other two can produce a Patronus as well?" "Yes Ron's takes the form of a Jack Russell Terrier and Hermione's takes the form of an Otter" "Very impressive indeed" Replied Fontaine as the Stag evaporated into thin air "hmm I wonder why is your Patronus a Stag?" "oh It was my father's Animagus form professor" "so your father was an Animagus as well you do come from a talented family Mister Potter, well Professor Cage is an Animagus also I wonder if I could persuade him to teach you three, I know you have the cloak to disguise yourself" Fontaine noted this as if he had read Harry's mind "being able to disguise yourselves in different ways would be advantageous, I'll raise this with Clipeum when I return from MACUSA". "Won't the people at MACUSA wonder why you have taken so long to brief them on whats happened?" asked Harry "probably four weeks is a rather long time, I do however intend to keep your presence here a secret. Now head back too your dorm I will see you when I return. Harry left the office and headed back toward his dorm he was walking along not paying attention and almost collided headlong with two students. He heard a shrill shriek "IT'S HARRY POTTER! IN OUR SCHOOL" he had left the cloak in Fontaine's office, how could he be so stupid the two girls approached him wearing robes of blue with cranberry at the hems fastened together with the same Gordian Knott he was wearing under his shirt. They were both wearing silver badges with a P in the middle which led Harry to assume they were prefects. "What are you doing here? Are you trying to get a job here?" Harry ignored their questions, looked around to make sure no one else was around, raised his wand and muttered "obliviate" twice, the two girls faces took on a dazed and confused look Harry quickly disillusioned himself glad Professor Rowand had thought to teach him how to do it and proceeded back to his dorm.

30th May 1998 MACUSA Headquarters

Professor Fontaine was stood before five individuals, President Iustus Princeps who was in his last two years of his Pesidency, Cheif Auror Robert Brown, Veronica Walker the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and two Aurors Kowalski and Selwyn descendant of the British pure blood family.

"Agilbert what has taken you so long to return from Europe?" "disturbing discoveries Mr President that required further investigation" "what do you mean disturbing discoveries?" Piped up Robert Brown, as arrogant and full of himself now just as he was at school, how he managed to replace the man I picked as my successor is beyond me. "Well Chief Auror, the death of Albus Dumbledore at the hands of one of his own staff" the five MACUSA representatives looked terror-stricken "the fall of the Ministry of Magic in London and the failed last stand at Hogwarts School. Magical Britain is now under the control of the Dark Lord although he maintains a puppet Government and I believe France will be targeted simultaneously along with the populous of Muggle Britain next. It won't be long before he turns his attentions here you must prepare".

"Surely it's not that bad" piped up Brown again, Fontaine rubbed his temple from what he had heard from Potter Dumbledore had this same issue from his Ministry before his death and he was damned if he was going to allow it here. "Professor Albus Dumbledore was a mediocre Wizard was he Brown? No he was the most powerful Wizard in the world. Except for maybe the Dark Lord himself and notice how He didn't kill Albus himself, he had an undercover Death Eater do it when Albus' guard would have most surely been lowered and the fact The Dark Lord never sought a confrontation with Dumbledore himself should drive home the seriousness of the situation! He was the biggest obstacle to You Know Who" Fontaine had been shouting he didn't like losing control like that but MACUSA would not suffer the same folly's as wizarding Britain. "What about the Potter boy?" Asked Veronica Walker in a small voice "unknown could be dead for all we know" "and what else did the International Confederation of Wizards inform you of?" President Princeps enquired "I didn't make contact with the Confederation, I was intercepted in Paris by Madame Maxime Headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and she informed me of the situation, she feared the French Ministry may also be infiltrated. I will tell you also that Dumbledore died more than a year ago" The President looked aghast "More than a year ago? It took the Confederation more than year to inform us of the fate of it's highest ranked official?"" yes Mr President" replied Fontaine "our path forward is clear, Brown, Walker prepare your departments for attempted infiltration and double training regimens, all qualified Aurors are to undergo four week intense additional training on identifying Wizards acting under the Imperious Curse and how to resist it. I myself will contact the 'Wizard's Voice' and give a statement which should hopefully put our citizens on guard. We will be ready when war reaches our shores. Thanks you Professor Fontaine you may go" Fontaine bowed before the President, turned in a flurry of robes and left the room.

As Agilbert was heading down from the top floor of the Ministry Chief Auror Brown caught up with him "Professor may I have a word?" "of course Brown what is it?" "do you really think it will come to war here?" Professor Fontaine had little patience for this pompous prick at school were he strut around as if he ran the place due to his well connected father, which no doubt bought him his position today. "The death of Albus Dumbledore and the failed last stand at Hogwarts means the only thing that is likely to happen is the escalation of the war! Make no mistake Brown Wizarding Britain was already at war with the Death Eaters and you can now count Britain's ministry as a member of his army. Now I advise you to prepare and prepare well also to keep an eye on Selwyn his family are descended from the British pureblood. Brown the Second Wizarding War has begun". Without another word Fontaine left the stunned Auror with a look of Horrified awe as he left the building.

31st May 1998

The Wizard's Voice

Britain Has Fallen

In an exclusive interview MACUSA President Iustus Princeps has issued a statement that is bound to shock and horrify readers.

"We have received intelligence that Wizarding Britain has fallen under the control of the Dark Wizard Lord Voldemort. Therefor we must do our utmost to prepare and ensure the safety and liberty of our people. I have also been advised that speaking Voldemort's name can cause protective enchantments to fail as an effect of a taboo placed upon the name however we are unsure of the taboo's effectiveness here in America and issue advice as a precautionary effort. Be rest assured that we, your Government will be taking every step necessary to protect your freedom.

As seen in the statement above The Ministry of Magic in London has fallen under the control of Dark Wizards, any Witch or Wizard who had plans to travel to Europe and especially Britain is being urged by MACUSA to cancel such trips.

Also see page two for the surprising resignation of Chief Auror Robert Brown.

Chief Auror Resigns

It has come to light since the statement issued by MACUSA regarding the fate of Wizarding Britain the Chief Auror of MACUSA has resigned his position Robert Brown and Veronica Walker head of the Department Of Magical Law Enforcement have both been unavailable for comment.

30th July 1998

"Stupefy" Ron landed on his back floundering like a landed fish "you're getting much better Ron" Professor Cage said as he held out a hand to help Ron back to his feet "in fact you all are especially Mr Potter over there I can barely contain you now just goes to show what four weeks of hard work can do". Harry looked please with himself while Ron and Hermione looked sullen, Ron because he had just been stunned but Hermione was the one that was used to teacher adoration and over the last month Harry was proving to be every bit her equal when he put his mind to it. He was always better at Defence however now other talents were blossoming. His charm work was extremely impressive now and in his duel with Cage twenty minutes earlier he had transfigured a statue of an old goblin to fight along side him and was now using Parseltongue to his advantage conjuring snakes to help him fight. It also seemed professor Slughorn was right in suggesting he had inherited his mother's potions ability only the other day there he had been given a poison and told to apply Gulpalott's third law and brewed an antidote within the hour when his best attempt in Slughorn's class was to produce Bezoar like a right smug git.

"Well I have been asked by the Headmaster to attempt to teach you how to morph into an Animagus form" Ron looked similarly to have being confunded at this news and Hermione dropped a rather thick edition of a practical defence module on her foot causing her to hop around on the spot for a minute or two. "it is a difficult process and I was initially unwilling to teach you due to adherent risks of attempting such a transformation l, however the Headmaster has managed to convince me to teach you and we will start at the full moon". "Are you an Animagus then?" asked Ron asked Professor Cage smiled and then in an instant a great Tiger was padding around the room and just as quick Professor Cage was stood back in front of them. "Do any of you know how to attempt the Animagus Transformation?" Asked Professor Cage and instantly Hermione was off as if he had swallowed the textbook on Animagi "Part of the process by which one becomes an Animagus is holding the leaf of a mandrake in their mouth for an entire moons cycle from full moon to full moon, using the leaf for the creation of a potion, reciting an incantation (Amato Animo Animato Animagus) on a daily basis and drinking the Animagus potion during a lightning storm. Once the initial training is over, an Animagus can then change at will, with or without the use of a wand. the wizard must spit the leaf in a phial within range of the moon's pure rays. To the moon-struck phial, the wizard or witch must add one of their own hairs, a silver teaspoon of dew that has not seen sunlight or been touched by human feet for seven days, and the chrysalis of a Death's-head Hawk Moth. The mixture must be put in a quiet, dark place and cannot be in any way disturbed. It is also said that a Wizard's Patronus can determine which animal he can transform into for example Harry would likely take the form of a Stag". "Very good Miss Granger but the Patronus thing is not always true as my Patronus for example is an Eagle. This will be the last skill we teach you here at Ilvermorny the other Professors have informed the Headmaster that your Charms, Potions and Transfiguration abilities are to be quite frank exceptional for your age and well above average for a fully qualified middle aged wizard or witch". The trio smiled all of them had felt as if they had ten years of magical information rammed down their throats over the last three months although Hermione's skills were always well above that of a gifted student, the transformation in all three was unsettling. "The other professors and I will still be following our current lesson plan with you three as you will be here for a few more months whilst we master the Animgus Transformation and we wouldn't want you getting rusty would we?" Professor Cage was grinning then his face met Harry's who looked a bit down hearted " oh yes and Harry will still be having Occlumency tuition from the Headmaster, I believe you can repel him now can you not?" "yes but I can't repel him when he is being subtle about his mental intrusions, I can repel his brute force intrusions now" Replied Harry "you'll get the hang of it, wow it is well past midnight right you three get under the cloak and off to bed". Professor Cage waved them off from his classroom as Ron and Hermione instantly bust into conversation about the Amimagus lessons and awed appreciation of Cage's Animagus form. Harry didn't join in this conversation he was still worried about his lack of progress with his Occlumency lessons and it didn't help that Ron and Hermione were no longer receiving these lessons as they could both repel a Legilimens at will.