Ramblings and Dribbles

by WolfgangNH

This is a posting of ramblings, dribbles, one-shots, unfinished ideas or other stuff I just don't think deserves it's own storyline. Some I plan to finish someday, others are what they are. This is mature reading for some posts. Some items may be well developed, others are not yet, and may never be. There will many different pairings, and sometimes none.

22. The Muggle's Daughter

The Muggle's Daughter

Relegated to my Rambling and Dribbles…

A/N: The Muggle's Daughter is meant to be a darker story that takes a right turn after OotF. It was posted on my page as the third story I ever started, but with a very lack luster response, it was taken down. I still like the premise, but I think my writing has change since 2019.

Starting at the end of the Order of the Phoenix, things go drastically different. This will be an AU story. It won't be a super-Harry story, but he will pack a much stronger punch than in the books. Hermione will be by his side, and his friends will be around. This is not going to be a Dumbledore friendly story, but most of the Weasley's are good. There will also be strong scenes with possible gore, abuse, sex or other MATURE themes as they fit in the story. It will not be a norm for every chapter or scene, but it will be present, and I will not post warnings at the start of chapters.

This is a MATURE story for violence, child abuse, adult language and maybe content.

Thank you for reading and enjoy!

-oOo-

Chapter 1 – Sirius

June 20, 1996

Harry stood next to his godfather. They were on the dais in the center of the room, the large stone gateway with the veil behind them. Sirius had just joined him in stunning Malfoy.

There were duals going on all around. Bellatrix, one of the few without masks, came strolling leisurely up to them. She deflected a few spells as though not even trying. "You ready for this James," Sirius said taking a step forward and started to cast spells at the deranged looking woman who was cackling maniacally. She put up a quick shield and then the two of them were dueling so fast, Harry couldn't believe how fast spells were flying.

"Harry," he heard nearby. Turning, he was saw Neville trying to hold off a Death Eater who had knocked Lupin down. Not thinking of it, Harry started to cast spells. "Stupefy! Stupefy! Impedementa! Diffindio," Harry yelled. They came out so fast, the Death Eater had to do a quick shield spell. He had never done that before, but seeing Sirius and others, he knew it possible now. Neville was still having issues casting with his busted lip and mouth, but it was enough to have the black cloak figure take a step back.

Lupin sat up, looking daze, but seeing the situation, cast a few silent spells. The man fell over clutching his chest, giving a silent scream as Harry's silencio hit the man a second before Lupin's

"This is fun, James," Sirius said behind him.

Harry turned. Sirius had a huge smile on his face as he swiped his wand. On the down sweep a shield was up and deflected two spells from Bellatrix. She was looking concentrated and murderous as she continued a series of spells.

"Expelliarmus," Harry started. Casting a shield spell next before trying to get a stunning spell off. Having the sudden new attacker, she spun quickly, dodging a spell from Sirius before launching a nasty looking purple and then a red spell at him.

"No, Harry," Sirius said in a sudden moment of lucidness. He cast something that shoved Harry out of the way, before trying to get his shield back up. The spells just barely missed Harry, ripping through his shield as though it was paper.

"Avada Kedavra," Bellatrix said as fast as she could.

Harry watched in slow motion, still falling off the dais in the center of the room. Sirius saw it coming, and instead of dodging, cast another spell at Harry. "NO!" Harry yelled as the spell hit Sirius square in the chest. Sirius was looking at him. Harry watched as he took a stumbling step back. His eyes went dull, a look of remorse on his face as he fell into the veil.

He landed on the floor. The prophecy fell from his hand. Harry tried to catch it, but it broke open when it smashed on the floor. A ghostly visage of much younger Trelawny came up, talking. In the cacophony of noise, the only thing he heard was Bellatrix laughing over the voice of the orb. He caught something about "… and neither shall live while the other survives…" before getting up and running towards the dais. Sirius was more important than the prophesy.

"SIRIUS," he yelled. Bellatrix was already moving of the dais. Lupin grabbed him before he could climb onto dais. "Harry, no," Lupin said in his ear. "He's gone, Harry. You can't go after him."

Hearing the words, something inside Harry broke. The one chance he had had to escape the Dursley's, even someone he could look at like a father, was gone. He knew the words were correct. As he slumped into Lupin, there was an explosion nearby. Someone screamed and he turned to see Luna laying on the floor, one of the stone benches blasted apart. Bellatrix was laughing. "Time to go," she yelled out.

There was an anger in Harry like he had never felt before. It was like liquid fire flowing through is veins. "I'll kill her," he said in a voice that didn't sound like his own. At the same time, a pain ripped into his scar and head. Ignoring it, he struggled in Lupin's arms.

"Harry, no, let her go for now," he said.

"She killed Sirius," he snarled. He moved his wand and Lupin let him go as he went suddenly rigid. Harry took off after the woman, flinging a few spells as he went to hopefully hit some of the gits.

He ran into the room they had entered into, and it span. "I need to get out," he yelled at the room. His anger built and he felt something in his head provide him knowledge. "BOMBARDA MAXIMA!" the spell left his lips. It hit a door, blasting two doors and leaving a hole the size of an erumpent. The room, floor and all gave a dangerous lurch. Harry fell backwards from the percussion and lurching floor.

There was a cackle. "Someone knows how to play," she taunted.

Kill her. Make her suffer, a voice said in his head. Harry gave out a roar of a yell as he stumbled up, ignoring a new pain on his forehead.

Harry ran down the hall and heard the doors of the elevators closing as they came into view. Bellatrix saw him, a wicked smile on her face and she knelt down to see him as the elevator went up. He hit the gates just as she disappeared. "Come on. Come on," Harry raged hitting the button.

Suffer. She must suffer, the new voice cooed in his head. His scar throbbed with the voice.

The Elevator came down and he was in it. "Atrium," he yelled. Suffer. Pain. Pain. Make her feel your pain.

It was a constant monologue in his head as he pushed the gates open. He rushed out. She was halfway across the Atrium, closer to the fireplaces than he was. "Crucio," he snarled at her. His head burst in pain as Bellatrix fell to the floor, screaming in pain. He felt the voice reveling in the pain, increasing it, feeding off it. Harry felt it and felt his stomach churn. After what felt like minutes, but was probably seconds, he broke the curse with a scream.

It was painful to fight the voice. Something told him though this was not him.

Bellatrix lay on the floor, panting and twitching. His hand came up, an uncontrollable rage and anger that overwhelmed him. "Crucio," he said again. It felt like he was miles away as his body rebelled against his brain.

Pain coursed over his body as Bellatrix screamed again. Harry screamed himself and had to throw himself onto the floor to lower his wand. His head felt like it was splitting open.

The floor was cool. It felt good against his sweating forehead. His arm was twitching uncontrollably as he fought the impulse. He didn't like the way it made him feel to cast that spell.

"Well, this is a sight. I didn't think you had it in you Potter," a high, cold voice came to him.

His scar felt a searing pain at the voice. Fear coursed through Harry, and he fought to squash the voice down. Run. You are not strong enough yet. Looking up, the man that had haunted his nightmares for a year now stood next to a Bellatrix who was shaking and trying to stand.

"Master, he has the prophesy," she said getting to her feet.

Harry let out a chuckle, knowing he wasn't long for this earth now. Sirius was gone. His parents were gone. He refused to go back to his relatives. His only regret was knowing Hermione was extremely hurt and probably dying. He thought it highly likely Luna was dead. He had led his friends and others into death. Thus, he laughed in the face of his coming death. The pain in his forehead receded, as though it was running from the glee he suddenly felt.

Voldemort looked at him, his own smile falling a little. "You dare laugh at my Master," Bellatrix screamed and moved her wand. Harry found it easy to cast a silent shield, as though he had done it for decades, but he knew he had never tried a silent spell before.

"No, Potter is mine," Voldemort said before Bellatrix fell to the floor again screaming and writhing in pain. He turned his attention to Harry. "Now, Potter, give me the prophesy and I'll let you live long enough to see all those below dies a merciful death. If not, you shall see them all beg for death after I am done with them."

Harry watched the writhing form of Bellatrix. "I don't have it," he said calmly. "It broke when she killed my godfather," he said. His scar hurt again. He felt a desire for revenge, and he fought it down, stumbling and shaking his head.

"You lie," Voldemort said with a snarl, releasing the crucio spell on his servant. "Give me the prophesy!"

Harry laughed this time, standing up and holding his wand out. He wanted this to be quick and as painless as possible. Voldemort's red eyes stared at him, unbelieving at Harry's reaction. Yes. The Prophesy. Give it to him. Harry winced at the voice. "It is gone, and I didn't hear it with all your servants blasting things away. She decided to kill my godfather instead of getting the prophesy."

Voldemort's face went slack, as though he was trying to make himself calm down.

"Tom, I didn't expect to find you here tonight," a calm, wizened voice came from the fireplaces.

Bellatrix was getting up again, shaking. "Dumbledore. I assume you think you can defeat me. Go, Bella," Voldemort said to Bellatrix. She stumbled towards the fireplaces.

"No," Harry yelled. "Stupefy! Expelliarmus! Impedementa!"

"Harry, back," Dumbledore yelled. Harry's spells went wide as he was pushed back by a spell from Dumbledore. NO! Kill her!

"Still a fool, old man," Voldemort said before starting to shoot electric bolts at Dumbledore. Harry slid into the wall and hit it hard, knocking the breath out of him. He watched as the two most powerful and brilliant wizards dueled. It was like nothing he had seen before.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 2 – The Grim of Grimmauld

July 12, 1996

Harry ignored the hunger pangs. They were getting less as the days went on. It had been close to a fortnight that he had been back at his aunt's house. After the ignominious pickup and subsequent demeaning by his uncle every chance he got since being here, Harry had finally decided not to look at the man as his Uncle anymore.

It hadn't helped that Vernon had heard Hermione apologizing for Sirius death as she hugged him before they went their separate ways. The scene of Vernon getting threatened had quickly worn off when he remembered that Sirius had been his Godfather and with him dead, the other wizards and witches probably couldn't do anything to him. The 'freak' was his now.

It had stopped for a few days after Moody had shown up, exactly four days after leaving King's Cross when no one had received any letters from him. Vernon looked white and spluttered a lot to see the deranged looking ex-Auror on his doorstep. It took some convincing that Harry had not wanted to send any owl post to anyone. Moody left with a frown after fifteen minutes. Vernon and Aunt Petunia had looked mortified.

It was the following Saturday, after a neighbor had commented about the strange man on the door step a few days previous that Vernon seemed to finally snap. He had grabbed Harry by the scruff of the overlarge shirt that once had been Dudley's and started dragging Harry towards the cupboard.

It had only been Aunt Petunia's screams about Dumbledore that had stopped Vernon, who threw Harry down on the floor. Harry, starting to feel weak, didn't care if he really lived or died. He hadn't fought back and lay on the floor for some minutes. Vernon looked murderously at him while his aunt was between fear and loathing.

"Ha," Vernon spat at him. "Not so freakish now, are you, boy." The last came out as a snarl. "I can still take you down. Where's your stick thingy?"

Harry didn't say a word. He slowly stood up, cast his head down and walked past Vernon, who glared at Harry, but didn't touch him because of his wife's hand on his arm. Since then, Harry had only left his room to go to the loo and a few meals. When his body got too hungry, he found nature took over and at least made sure he had the meager pittance his aunt would give him.

Sitting on the bed, Harry found himself just staring at the wall again. His wand lay discarded on his bedside table. He wasn't sure he wanted to pick it up ever again. Ever since he had, his hopes of finally finding a place he belonged to had been raised and shattered more times than he wanted to count.

You are worthless boy. Give into your struggles. I can help you find your place.

Harry shook his head. He would not give into that voice.

Harry was tired of fighting though. That was all his life was, just fighting.

He fought to stay alive while his aunt, Vernon and Dudley had beat and starved him since he had been left on their doorstep.

He fought for acceptance into the world that should have accepted him with open arms. He refused any papers sent to him, and half the letters from his friends still lay unopened in a pile on the side of his shabby bed. The growing pile from Hermione the only ones having all been open.

He fought for friends.

How many times now had Ron acted jealous of him? Harry still felt slightly betrayed from fourth year when Harry had been entered into the Tri-Wizarding Tournament against his will and Ron had abandoned him.

How many times had Ron, or him, gotten into arguments with Hermione? Breaking her heart and their friendship numerous times. Harry had seen her hurt and had most of the time buried those feelings, not wanting to lose either of his best friends. Hadn't it been Ron who had almost gotten her killed first year? If it hadn't been for Ron, he thought he might have made friends with her on the train instead of the troll trying to smash her. It didn't matter that Quirrell had let the troll in, it was still Ron that had sent her crying off to that bathroom. It had also been Ron who had kept his anger stoked against Hermione in third year, forcing her to stay away from them for months.

Harry fought to keep those feelings of malice down about Ron for those things. He is not worthy of your trust. Worst was, Ron didn't really realize how he hurt people. Harry fought to keep him, Ron and Hermione close, even if it did sting most of the time now when they fought, and he could see the way Hermione felt about Ron.

Harry was tired of fighting.

Harry was tired.

That was why the letter received from one Albus Dumbledore had laid next to his wand for days now. The only letter Harry had sent out in the two weeks was to Professor Dumbledore. It had been a quick, bold 'NO'. Before he sent it out, something made him change it to:

No thank you, Sir.

"Boy!" Vernon shouted up to him.

Harry didn't bother to answer.

"Boy! Get down here now," Vernon bellowed again. Harry didn't move. He hadn't done anything, and he wasn't about to be punished for anything he hadn't done. Vernon could go to hell for all he cared.

We can make him go there.

"Get out of my head," Harry said to the voice.

There were a few heavy steps on the stairs. "Boy, if I have to come to get you, I don't care what this ruddy letter says."

Still not moving, Harry just stared at the wall. He wasn't even curious about a letter.

The heavy steps came all the way up the stairs and there was an angry pounding on his door. "You get the ruddy hell out here, Boy!" Vernon continued to pound on the door. Harry closed his eyes. He was feeling so tired.

"I said come out here," Vernon bellowed as the door flew open, slammed into the wall and caused Hedwig's cage to bounce off the wardrobe and crash to the floor. She was out hunting, Harry assumed. He hadn't seen her in a day or two. That wasn't that unusual. "You answer me, Boy, when I call you."

"Vernon," his aunt hissed from the hall. "What is going on? I could hear you in the garden."

"His freak of a thingy just dropped this letter on my head. What the ruddy hell is this about a visit at 11:00 pm tonight! None of your kind is welcome here," his uncle advanced on the bed.

Harry didn't open his eyes. "They are witches and wizards," Harry spoke. He knew this would raise Vernon's temper, but something in him didn't care anymore.

"I won't have that blasphemous talk in this house. It says you are to stay here for the whole summer! I thought you went to that freak of a family in a few weeks. That dumpy ginger bitch..."

"Witch," Harry said with a little heat. "Mrs. Weasley is a witch."

Harry didn't see Vernon's already red face turn almost purple with the high blood-pressure his response has caused. "Vernon, your heart," Aunt Petunia warned.

"Don't ruddy tell me about my heart," he bellowed at Petunia. "I don't want this thing in my house anymore. I will not have him here all summer if he can be somewhere else."

Vernon took the last few steps to his bed, lifting Harry bodily up. In his rage, he didn't notice that Harry was lighter than when he had done the same thing a little over a week ago, or that Harry was nearly limp in his meaty hands. "You will get out of my house," he screamed at Harry, spit flying out of his mouth and spattering Harry. Before Harry could say anything, he was flying across the room. He hit the wall hard. Stars danced in his eyes as he fell into a heap at the base of the wall.

"Vernon, stop," his aunt yelled.

"I am done with this monster," Vernon shouted. Harry was just starting to come out of his daze when a large, meaty hand connected with the side of his head. It was so forceful he was sure his jaw broke as he slammed his head into the wall again. The fist hit him again. And again. Someone was screaming. A searing pain burst in his chest as the impact lifted him off the floor. He was just barely conscious when the voice that had been plaguing his head since the night at the Ministry screamed through him. It was unbearable pain like it had been that night. Pain that he had experienced before but was still unimaginable to him as it felt like his body wanted to rip itself apart.

"NO! You filthy muggle," the voice screamed through his mouth and his head felt like it was splitting open.

Harry just wanted it to end. He felt something build inside of him. It was like his magic was trying to move through him, but not by him. He fought, feeling it build up as two sides of him fought for control.

There was a glowing ball of light that built up above his chest. He didn't see the scared look Vernon gave him as he was pushed back, or the wide eyes of his aunt as she tried to run.

"NOOOOOOO!," the voice screamed through him and in his head. There was a flash of light and Harry passed out.

-oOo-

Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk. The figures for the next school year were always a boring job to go over. Minerva, as usual, had done an excellent job at sorting through the list of expected students and what that meant for funding from parents, the Ministry and donations. Even with donations going down from many of the Death Eaters, the school investments were still going well and made up for much of the loss. It looked as though they would be able to add another nice dollop to the rainy-day funds, as well as scholarships. He felt he would be able to protect his students.

"I want you to talk to the Board about raises, Albus," Minerva told him. "There is enough here, but most of the Staff and I feel it would be better to forego them this year. If You-Know-Who has his way, we will need the extra funds. Especially if we ever find ourselves in a position to house more than students."

"I quiet agree with you, Minerva. I would like to be prepared for that eventuality." He looked down at his blackened hand. If he could leave this school on good financial footing and in the capable hands of his Staff, then he would feel confident that the pupils, and possibly their families, will be protected when he finally dies.

Albus was about to speak up again when there was a sudden shrill sound from his table of delicate instruments. His head whipped over to the table, and he saw a sight that made his heart almost stop. Three of them had stopped working, a fourth was emitting a sickly green smoke and the last was emitting a sickly brown smoke while it melted. "Dear, Merlin," Albus shouted, getting out of his seat as fast as he could.

"Albus, what is it," Minerva asked, concern showing at his sudden panic.

"The Order. Quick. Privet Drive," was all he told her striding over to Fawkes. "Privet Drive, now." The phoenix didn't question him as it burst into flames. It was a rather uncomfortable way to travel, even with cooling charms, but at times it was necessary.

Fawkes burst into flames a second later in southern England. Albus took half a second to get his bearings. "Albus," a startled voice said next to him. He looked quickly to see Bill Weasley next to him. "Most of the wards just dropped about three minutes ago but I can't get close," the young man said.

Albus was about to ask how when there was a blinding white light, followed by a deafening crack like thunder and the sounds of a house being ripped apart. He cast a shield spell before looking up. "Sweet Merlin," he said, almost sinking to his feet as his legs went weak, threatening to drop him to his knees.

Parts of the house were flying everywhere. Large sections of the roof and walls blasted high into the air or smashed into the next-door house, collapsing a wall and causing a large section of roof to sag before a car sized piece of Number Four Privet Drive crashed into the roof, collapsing half of it. Albus and Bill were so stunned they didn't move for a few seconds as they watched as the wreckage caused more destruction as it rained down.

"No," Albus said again, his years of training and natural instinct to move kicking in. He was quickly trying to slow or move the remaining debris from falling into any dangerous areas. There were high pitched screams from inside Number Four and Number Six. "Bill, next door," Albus ordered. He moved to the Dursley's as Bill did as was ordered. Without a thought, he blasted the door off Number Four out onto the street. It sounded like a squealing pig was dying in the house.

Immediately inside the door, he noticed he could look clear out into the sky through the kitchen. A large boy was clutching at his arm, a splinter the size of the of a muggle bat had impaled itself into his forearm. Blood was trailing the boy as he moved towards the door. He didn't have time to help. He needed to see if there was anything left of Harry. There was a wailing like a banshee, as though someone in the deepest agony, broke over the boy's squeals.

"Merlin, no," Albus breathed under his breath. His wand hand painful as he grasped his wand harder. Looking up what was left of the stairs, he could see Petunia Dursley laying there. Her back was contorted in a most unnatural way. She was looking at him, her mouth moving as though trying to say something. Albus knew by the look in her eyes, she was already slipping from this world and there was nothing he could do to help her.

He knew where Harry's room was. Taking the steps two at a time as they protested his weight, he walked out into the bright sunlight. Most of the top half of the house was gone, as was the floor over the kitchen. He wanted the crying of pain and screaming to stop. Instead, he silently cast homio revelio. He found only one person still living and another that would pass within seconds.

Albus caught his breath at the sight that greeted him when he turned towards Harry's room. Harry lay in a heap on the floor. Blood was oozing out of the scar on his head, his mouth and from several cuts. Parts of what Albus assumed had been his uncle lay in a bloody mess all over the floor and he was sure around the neighborhood. There were far too few pieces in sight to be all of Vernon Dudley. All the walls but one was gone. It looked like what muggles called 'a bomb going off'.

Albus didn't think about it as he cast a few reinforcing charms on the house as he took large steps through the gore. He couldn't stop his nose crinkling as he had to step over body parts that looked like a butcher had had a bad day. Flicking his wand over Harry, Albus' face went whiter than it already had been.

-oOo-

Harry lay on a cool floor; white mist was all around him. There was something whimpering nearby, but he didn't know where. Reaching for his glasses, he realized he didn't have them and figured that was why everything looked like there was a dense fog around him.

Harry stood, not noticing he was in the all as he stumbled a little, trying to figure out where he was. As he turned, he bumped into something. Spinning around, there was a marbled wood table. It was polished, in excellent condition and he had never seen that table looking so nice in real life. As he focused on the table, walls, a fireplace and kitchen appeared around him. Every surface was clean, copper pots gleamed and there was no dirt or grime that so marked this place. His heart sank as he found himself in a kitchen that looked remarkably similar to the kitchen of Grimmauld Place.

The whimpering sound was coming from a closet nearby. He backed away; afraid he might find a whimpering Kreacher in there. His urge to strangle the house elf was tempered only by the serenity he felt in this place.

"Hey there, pup," a familiar voice said from behind him. Harry turned quickly, his hand going to his pocket for his wand. His godfather laughed. "Your reflexes are almost as good as Prongs."

Harry stared at the man. This couldn't be. Sirius looked so much younger and carefree than Harry had ever seen him in real life, except in a pensive. The lines left by twelve years in Azkaban and then two years on the run were gone. The man looked peaceful, happy and whole. This was not the Sirius he knew. "Who are you," Harry asked, his hand still clutching at his pocket, but not finding his wand.

Sirius smiled from the stairs that led to the kitchen. "Let's say this may be the best joke I have ever been part of." Not caring that his godson looked like a frightened rabbit without his wand, Sirius walked past him to a cabinet on the far side of the room. He took out a tumbler and a crystal bottle with some amber liquid. After pouring about a half inch of liquid in the glass, he turned to Harry and held the bottle as though asking Harry if he wanted any. Harry shook his head. Sirius shrugged his shoulders. "You don't know what you're missing."

Harry was still too stunned as Sirius walked back to the table and took a seat near Harry. Sirius gestured to a chair and Harry sat, not knowing what else to do. They sat there in silence in what could have been seconds, or hours, Harry didn't know. He had a sense of no time around him. Sirius seemed to be waiting for Harry. "You're dead," Harry blurted.

All the pain of Sirius' passing seemed to be a dull throb now. Here, he was starting to get a sense of acceptance and peace while he sat. Sirius nodded his head at Harry. "I'm sorry, pup, that I had to leave you."

Harry nodded. "I'm sorry," Harry said with much remorse. He was surprised his heart didn't hurt.

"You have nothing to be sorry about, Harry. It was my time. It probably should have been my time the night your parents passed, but fate had other plans. Now is not the time to talk of me though. Why are you here, pup?"

Harry could hear the affection in his godfather's voice at the pet name he used. "I don't know."

Sirius nodded his head. "I see. Where do you think here is?"

"Grimmauld Place," he said sadly.

"You don't like it here," Sirius asked, a hint of sadness in his voice.

Harry took in a deep breath. "I don't know. I was happy to know it was where you were and that I might live with you here, but it's the place you were trapped in. If I had just..."

"No, Harry. Don't go there. If all you feel is remorse, sadness and maybe even hatred, then you are about to spend an eternity in misery."

Harry looked at his godfather. It was suddenly dawning on him what was happening. "I'm dead," he said surprised.

Sirius swirled the amber alcohol in his tumbler for a moment, leaning back into his chair. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. Do you want to be dead?"

A fire that hadn't been in Harry for weeks came to life. "It hurts to live," he said as a start. He felt himself teetering on the edge of despair and the urge to fight. But hadn't that been what caused him and so many people trouble? His urge to fight?

"That is part of the cost of living, but there are times it is pleasurable too. Isn't it?" Sirius asked. Harry sat there, thinking, feeling so confused. So many of the thoughts in his head didn't feel like himself. When he didn't speak for a bit, Sirius continued. "Harry, growing up with your parents, with Remus and even Peter, were the best times of my life. James and I raised hell at Hogwarts and were hell. If I could go back and relive those times, even knowing what I know now, pup, I don't think I would hesitate. It was those times, those memories of them, and you being born, that got me through those years of pain in Azkaban. Seeing you again when I got out, was like breathing again. I wouldn't give up any of those happy memories. If you walk through that door, if you can't let go of your self-loathing or forgive yourself, that is what you are going to do. Lose any happy memories you have." He was pointing towards the kitchen door.

Harry looked at him. Blinking a few times, he asked, "You mean I will be a ghost?"

Sirius took a swig of his drink. "A rather bitter one, if I don't miss my mark, feeling the way you do."

Harry squirmed. The way he had felt over the last few weeks was like he had been dead already. He wasn't sure he wanted to be that way anymore. Thoughts of Hermione, of the Weasley's, Sirius, Remus, Hermione, and many others washed over him. There were sad times, but also times that he had felt the happiest he had ever felt. Was he willing to give up all those? Was he willing to give Hermione up? But she liked Ron. Why should he care so much about her?

"Do I have other options," Harry asked.

The smile on Sirius' face made him look like a teenager that had just seen a girl's knickers for the first time. "You do, pup. One is that you can take the Floo over there, and I'll bet you'll pass on, maybe even find your parents."

The thought of his parents made his heart leap. He could finally be with his parents. He could finally have a family that loved him, which would protect and cherish him. It had been all he ever wanted in his life. A place to call home that was truly his home.

Harry was halfway out of his chair before thoughts of people he was leaving behind hit him again. As much as he never wanted to see them hurt, would it hurt them more if he wasn't there? Harry sat down. "You said the first option," Harry said.

Sirius wagged his eyebrows. "I see you have a fair bit of Lily's intelligence. I don't know how I missed that before."

Before Harry could stop himself, he blurted, "Probably because Hermione had been around."

Sirius raised an eyebrow before regarding Harry seriously. Harry wasn't sure if he caught a slight twinge upward movement at the side of his godfather's mouth. "That was probably it. Now, you wanted another option."

Harry let out a sigh. Had Sirius always been this hard to deal with? "You mentioned two. The way you keep going, sounds like there is at least one more."

"Touché. There is another." The door behind Harry shook and the whimper turned into a wail for a moment. "That is your other option," Sirius said.

Harry turned to look at the door and backed away, almost falling out of his chair. For the first time, he realized the malevolence of the thing in the closet. It was not Kreacher. "What is it?"

Sirius downed the last of his drink and slammed the tumble glass on the table. "That, pup, is a present left behind by a certain wizard that tried to kill you years ago. Your mother sacrificed herself to pay the toll to the reaper. Dumbledore isn't wrong about blood protecting blood. Unfortunately, her price saved your soul and part of another's. Both of whom were blood, though many generations removed and only by marriage."

Harry was feeling a revulsion and dread at the turn in the conversation. "You can't mean..."

Sirius got up and walked around the table. "I do. Now, the reaper was expecting two souls today. He has already collected them thanks to that thing in there. Now, he expects another. If you so wish, Harry, that thing can be your ticket back to your friends. If not, take the Floo, or the door, and let its reckoning come."

Harry looked at the door as the thing inside hit it. The door creaked but held. He had the intense fear that what was in that closet had been what had been in his head for weeks now. Sirius had said since the night his mother had died. He had had a piece of Voldemort in his head since he was a baby! Was that why he had always been hunted and had to fight? Or heard and saw the horrible things that he did? Was that why so many people he cared about or knew died or got hurt around him? He was a magnet for death and despair!

Harry felt like he wanted to throw up. It really had been his fault. Everything. Sirius. Cedric. Hermione being petrified. Hermione at the bottom of the lake. Hermione just barely alive after the Hall of Prophesies. Ron, Neville, Ginny and Luna hurt. That thing in him had attracted everything. He felt his breath starting to quicken as he panicked. "It was all my fault," he said putting his face into his hands. "How do I deserve to go on if I caused all that!"

He felt Sirius hand on his shoulder. "It is not your fault, pup. It is Voldemort's. No one else."

"But if I go back, that thing will still be in me and I'll get everyone killed," Harry said morosely.

"I think you misunderstood me. If you were to use him as the price, that thing would go on, pup. You wouldn't," Sirius said. "At least not today."

"This can't be real. This has to be all in my head. I've finally gone mental, just like Ron always says."

Sirius chuckled. "Of course, this is in your head, pup, but it doesn't mean it isn't real. I do have to ask you to decide though. Death isn't always patient."

Harry let out a dark laugh. "No, but he likes to toy with me, Sirius. Am I truly dead?"

"Almost," Sirius said. "There is a very small window left open if you wish not to be."

-oOo-

Albus knelt at the side of Harry's body. All that he had hoped for and worked for was ruined. Without Harry, there was no hope for defeating Voldemort for the next hundred years, not if he couldn't find all the horcruxes before he died too. The next prophesy counted out at least four score and five before the next child would be born with the powers to defeat Voldemort. It would be at least fifteen years after that before the child might be strong enough to win, probably more like thirty to fifty. The window to defeat the Dark Lord before his reign became absolute for the next hundred years had just closed.

Albus felt a tear roll down his cheek. His desire to let Harry live and enjoy life for as long as he could had brought everything to ruin. He was condemning millions, perhaps billions to die because he had cared for the boy.

"Merlin's Balls," Bill Weasley said from behind him. "Albus, I hear muggle emergency sirens. There is at least one dead next door. A young girl is hurt pretty bad. I healed her as best as possible. I think she'll survive. His cousin is sedated and out on the lawn. His Aunt is dead. What happened here? Oh, Merlin, no." Bill had just seen the body Albus was kneeling over.

Suddenly, Harry gave a shuddering breath. Albus just about cried out. How long had it been now that he had knelt at the side of Harry's body? Five, maybe six minutes? Albus could tell that Harry was still awfully close to death. "FAWKES," he yelled out. "Bill, get the Order away. Have them meet me at Hogwarts as soon as possible."

There was a flash of fire as the phoenix burst into view, flames and all. Albus grabbed Harry's hand before grasping Fawkes tail. "Hogwarts. Hospital wing."

Bill ran out of the house as he heard cracks of apparation. The sirens were getting close. People were starting to come out of their houses. Looking out the door, he let out a breath seeing that it was not Death Eaters. Not yet. The Ministry hadn't shown yet either.

"Dad, we need to leave. Now," he told his father before saying the same to the six other Order members that looked at the destruction with trepidation or open mouths.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 3 – Of Hearts and Hermione

July 16, 1996

Ginny sat on the Hospital bed, legs to her chest and chin on her knees. She hugged her legs tightly with fear and anger at the sight across from her. Harry lay on his back, a sheet and thin blanket pulled to his chest, hands on his side and curtains on either side of the bed. He was laying unnaturally still. The only movement she could see was his chest rising and falling in a slow, slightly labored way.

She sniffed a little, her nose runny from crying.

She was still having a tough time understanding how much she had cried for Harry or the frizzy haired girl sitting next to him. Hermione had tear stains down her cheeks. Her brown eyes still looked like they wanted to shed more, but the girl was doing her best to hold herself together. She looked pale and more worried than Ginny had ever seen her.

Ginny looked at the wand that was in Hermione's lap. Her hand held it in a grip that made her knuckles white. She was determined to protect her best friend. Ginny had her hand close to her wand. Harry would not go unprotected again. It was the hand that was holding Harry's that gave Ginny pause.

It was holding his hand in a grip that told Ginny all her suspicions were correct.

Hermione was only looking away from Harry's bruised and battered face when there was a stray noise or knock or something flashed outside on the castle grounds. There was a thunderstorm off in the distance. Ginny's friend had the look of someone who had almost lost someone they love. Someone they love more than just a friend or brother.

Ginny sighed. Yes, she fancied Harry, The-Boy-Who-lived. How could she not? Every wizarding child in her generation grew up with his legend, whether you revered it or cursed it, the name Harry Potter had been on the lips of every witch and wizard for the last fourteen years. When she had first seen him in King's Cross, she had thought the scrawny boy was some type of God. It didn't matter that he looked so lost, skinny or small for his age. To her, he was larger than life.

Then, in her first year, even though she had been so scared to talk to him, and he hardly noticed her, Harry had saved her. He had fought a deranged shade and a basilisk, nearly dying to do so. The legend of The-Boy-Who-Lived wasn't a legend anymore, it was real. She spent most of the next three years idolizing him and hoping he would look at her as more than Ron's sister.

At the time, she had thought Hermione was just trying to be a good friend. She had tried to help Ginny either get over Harry or ask him out directly. Ginny had been too scared to ask him out. Then, when Hermione suggested that Ginny should date others, either to see if Harry got jealous or to build her own confidence, she had agreed. There was a sinking suspicion now that Hermione may have done it for her own reasons, but Ginny knew Hermione. She would never intentionally harm a friend, accept maybe to protect Harry. Ginny couldn't fault the brunette for that. She would do the same.

Harry was family, no matter if he ended up with her or not. Family never abandons family.

The boy next to her snorted in his sleep. Looking over, Ginny made a face at her brother. He was family, and at times she wanted to abandon him. His best mate was lying in bed, still looking like he was close to death, and the git was sleeping and looking peaceful. His mouth was open and there was a small wet spot on the pillow where he was drooling.

Ginny huffed. The boy was extremely loyal, but he allowed his temper and insecurities to override that. She knew he was jealous of Harry and the way adventure and fame always found him. If Ron could have it his way, she didn't doubt he would step into Harry's shoes without a thought of what it meant to be Harry Potter. She knew Harry had had a rough upbringing and danger always chased him. She had no pretenses that Ron would not handle it the same as Harry. The git would probably embrace the fame and strut around the school as the biggest arse, thinking people should worship him or something. Harry couldn't be more different from his best mate.

Ron shifted and something that sounded like "...er..mine.." came from his lips and a smile spread across his face. Ginny wanted to strangle her brother. She may not be in their inner circle, but she knew Ron had abandoned each of his best friends at least once each. That thought had brought her back to the hand that Hermione had in Harry's now.

Sighing, Ginny now understood that Hermione telling Ginny to date other people last year wasn't Hermione trying to get her away from Harry, it was probably her trying to distance herself and Harry from the Weasley's, to protect Harry. She had noticed Hermione hadn't talked to her as much since the beginning of last year, and, except for DA meetings, had pulled into herself. Ron must have hurt both of them more than any of them realized. It must have shifted Hermione from liking Ron to Harry, and Ginny was fairly sure that Hermione hadn't realized her feelings towards Harry until very recently. The poor girl had a black and blue egg on her forehead from where she had passed out and hit a chair in the kitchen when Kingsley had barged into the Burrow with the news. It was going down though from the cream Madame Pomfrey had given her.

The door to Madame Pomfrey's office opened, and her mother's angry voice came out. "We are going to the Ministry tomorrow. That boy will no longer be in your care. We received a copy of Sirius' Will. He left us…"

The door closed. Ginny had looked up and saw Madame Pomfrey move down the ward to Harry's bed. The Matron looked tired and careworn. As far as she could tell, the Matron had worked on Harry for hours earlier to stabilize him.

She looked at Ginny. "You should lay down, Miss Weasley. You may be here a while yet," Madame Pomfrey said in a quiet voice. Her normal authority in her voice gone.

Ginny just stared at her, afraid of what might happen if she spoke. The Matron walked around the curtain. "Miss Granger, what are you doing here," she asked.

"I will not let anything else happen to him," Hermione said in a tired but determined voice.

The Matron frowned. After a moment, she nodded at Hermione. "Fine. If you are going to be that way, you can help me prop him up and get this potion down."

"Is he going to survive," Hermione asked in a little more than a whisper.

The Matron took in a deep breath. "Yes, but we are not out of the woods yet, dear."

The door to the office banged open. Ginny watched Hermione shoot her head around, wand drawn and looking like a lioness ready to pounce. "This isn't over, Albus," a very irate red headed witch said in a very loud voice. She had seen her mum mad before, but not like this. Her hair was almost crackling at the barely suppressed magic she was keeping in check.

"Molly," the Headmaster said coming out the door behind her. "As I have said, he needs to be in a safe place."

Her mum whirled around on Dumbledore. She caught a look of her father coming out the door behind the aged wizard. He looked just as upset as her mum. "Don't you Molly me and tell me what and where that boy should go. We have listened to you for five years now after learning about where he had been. Sirius has left us as his Guardians once the DMLE verifies the Will. He is our charge now…"

"Harry is not your son, Molly. I have said this…" The headmaster started before her mother screeched over the man. He had made the mistake of letting her mother get a head on her temper. "DON'T YOU DARE, ALBUS! Harry is as good as my son and according to the Will of a now cleared Sirius Black, we are his rightful guardians. He will stay here until the point he is well enough to move to the Burrow. That will give us time to set up the wards. From this moment forward, you have no say over Harry!"

As though magic was agreeing with her, the crackling energy rippled from her hair to the floor as she slammed her foot. It sent a finality through the air that left the Headmaster trying to say something, but unable too.

"Albus, from this point forward, I will not be attending anymore Order meetings. I will let the rest of my family decide, but I have a feeling none of them will stay in the Order either. If you need to contact us, you know how. I will only allow a few select members to protect Harry or come to the Burrow. We can work that out tomorrow. I will not be following any more orders. Molly, why don't you take the children and head back to the Burrow. I will stay with Harry for the night." Her father had a command to his voice she couldn't ever remember hearing, even when dealing with the twins when he truly got angry.

"Arthur, don't make that decision hastily. You and Molly and your sons are great assets…"

"Albus, right now all I am thinking of is protecting Harry. If you had done that, we would not be here tonight." Her father looked at Dumbledore with a hard look.

Ginny looked at both of her parents in shock. They never spoke ill of the Headmaster, almost idolizing him. She hadn't heard them rebuff the man before. Dumbledore, for once, looked his age. At the announcement of her father, the man's face lost more color than it already had.

Her mother spun around and stalked towards them. "Ginny, get Ron up, we're going home for the night." She came around to Harry's bed. "How is he?"

The Matron was looking at Molly in an approving manner. "He isn't well, if that is what you are asking, Molly. I am doing all I can right now to keep him alive. His magic was almost burnt out earlier. The next few days will tell."

A new tear rolled down her cheek. Hermione couldn't keep her sudden sob quiet.

Her mother patted Hermione's shoulder before taking her into a hug. Her voice was caring and soft. "It'll be all right, dear. Let's go back to the Burrow and get some sleep. We'll be back tomorrow."

"No," Hermione said without hesitation pulling out of the hug.

"There isn't much to do. You should get some rest so you can be here when he wakes," Madame Pomfrey told her.

Hermione clutched her wand, looking ready to lash out. Ginny would protect her friends and touched her wand. Hermione looked defiantly at both adults, a most un-Hermione-ish action, who usually followed rules. Ginny knew the girl would do anything she could for her friends.

"I am not going anywhere. I will not let him be harmed again," she told them.

"Mr. Potter will be perfectly…" the Matron started.

"NO! If he had been safe, he wouldn't be here now," Hermione said accusing.

"That won't be necessary, Ms. Weasley," the Headmaster said walking by her bed and looking at her hand on her wand.

"Hermione, your parents left us in our care. Harry will be safe for the night. You need to come back and get a good night sleep," her mum tried to sooth.

"No. No. I am not leaving him. Harry needs to be protected."

"And he will be," Albus said.

Hermione gave the man a murderous look, pointing her wand at him. "I don't trust you to protect him. Under your protection he has been beaten, starved, made to feel less than a grain of dirt and now almost killed at the hands of those that were protecting him. I will make sure he is safe, Headmaster," Hermione just about snarled the last. Red sparks escaped the tips of her wand.

Ginny felt a deep satisfaction at her friend. In that moment, Ginny came to the full realization that Hermione was the one who deserved to be at Harry's side. She was the one who had always seen Harry for who he really was, the one who had always been at his side and the one who had always had his best interest at heart. Ginny realized she had been in love with the Boy-Who-Lived, not 'just Harry' as she had heard him say many times before. Hermione, she loved him for being 'just Harry'.

She had expected it to sting, to hurt. Instead, she smiled at the two of them. Hermione would take care of him and love him. Ginny hoped he would realize it sooner, rather than later. This didn't mean that she still didn't owe Romilda Vain and a few others a good hex. She knew the girl fancied Harry and had been plotting all last year how to get him. If Vain did anything to keep her two friends apart she might find out how many curses Ginny knew.

"I give you my word that Harry will be taken care of," Dumbledore started.

"I don't trust you, Headmaster. I will be staying by his side." Hermione moved her wand quicker than she thought the girl could to point it at her mum. "I mean it Mrs. Weasley." Her mum had drawn her own wand.

"Molly," her father said stepping in, a hand reaching out gently to point Hermione's wand down. "Hermione can stay here for the night. I'll be right back after seeing you three home and will keep an eye on them."

Dumbledore sighed, closing his eyes for a second. "Will you accept me to stand in Arthur's place until he gets back?" He was speaking more to her frizzy haired friend than her parents.

Hermione stared down the most powerful wizard in the last few hundred years, if not a millennium, and didn't flinch. Yes. Ginny didn't feel disappointed in the girl. If it had been anyone else, Ginny would have fought her tooth and nail for Harry. "You swear on your magic you will do everything you can to ensure his safety while he is at Hogwarts?"

"I swear Harry Potter and Hermione Granger will not befall any more harm while on the grounds of Hogwarts while I am still Headmaster and it is in my power to prevent it," Dumbledore said. Hermione frowned, as though she didn't like his wording, but after a moment she nodded. There was a crackle in the air as though the magic of the castle accepted his vow. She didn't miss how Hermione's hand sought Harry's again.

Meanwhile, her parents were having a similar staring match, one that her mum gave up, to her surprise. She moved over, gave Harry a kiss on his forehead and then gave a look to Hermione she had no reference to understand. Hermione looked back at her just as intensely. Her mother's expression softened some. "You stay here and keep an eye on him for us, Hermione." Her mum took Hermione into a hug and kissed her forehead. "Ginny, get Ron up. Albus, you said you can link the fire to the Burrow?" She turned away, her anger peaking again when her eyes caught the Headmaster's.

Ginny finally let her grip on her wand go. Picking up her pillow, she launched it at Ron, catching him squarely in the face. He shot up, "WHA…"

"Now you two," her mother called stalking back to the office. "Albus, if you please."

The Headmaster bowed his head a little and sighed. "Arthur, will you reconsider?"

"I will not talk about it just now. Can you please link the grate to the Burrow?" Her father set his chin up. The Headmaster nodded before walking towards the office. "I won't be long, Hermione. Do you need anything?"

"I'll get her some clothes," Ginny said walking over. Hermione looked at Ginny. It was a grateful look. She had the sense Hermione was trying to tell her something. Ginny moved in to hug her friend. "It's ok, Hermione. You are still family and take care of him."

Hermione whispered, "I'm sorry. I never tried to mislead you." Hermione wrapped her arms around Ginny.

"I know." Ginny was surprised her voice didn't sound sad.

They let go. Ginny kissed Harry on the forehead, like her mother. "Come back to us. Come back to Hermione," she whispered to him loud enough for Hermione to hear before walking away.

"What's going on," Ron asked rubbing his eyes, looking like he was barely awake.

"Come on you two," their father said and led them towards the Office.

"I don't get it. Why are we leaving Harry?" Ron asked.

"You are going back to the Burrow for the rest of the night. You can come back tomorrow," he told them.

Ron yawned. He looked around as they walked up to the fireplace in the Matron's office. "Where's Hermione," he asked.

"Don't worry about that. Let's get home and get some rest," her father said. Ginny had a feeling her father had picked up on the changing dynamics. It was an ill kept secret that Ron fancied her.

"The Burrow," her mother said stepping into the flames. That was very unusual. She almost always went last. Ginny looked back, unable to see Hermione watching over Harry behind the screen.

"Goodbye, Harry, The-Boy-Who-Lived," she whispered so only she heard before taking a pinch of the Floo powder and clearly saying, "The Burrow."

"But why isn't Hermione…" was all she caught before leaving Hogwarts.

-oOo-

Albus returned to Number Four Privet Drive. It was dark and nearly three in the morning. There were two police cars still there. The ends of the drive were closed off and police tape and barriers blocked off Number Two through Eight. He renewed his disillusionment charm and then cast a few more spells around the area. The Obliviators, Aurors and Magical Reversal department had been busy earlier. There were too many magical signatures here for him to tell if any Death Eaters had been here or was still here. He tightened the grip on his wand and tried to suppress the pain in his hand.

Silent as a shade, he walked past the barriers. There was a sound of a muggle radio. "Unit 2504, Captain wants check in."

"10-4. All is quiet. Just a cat a little while ago."

"Check. Squad unit 18 was going to stop by in a bit with some coffee if you want."

"That would be great, Dispatch."

Albus saw the man heading towards the squad car at the end of the street. Looking around, much of the damage was still where it had been when he left earlier. He figured the Muggles were piecing together the fact of how a gas explosion could do the damage that had happened. He had seen the effects of a gas line explosion and typically the house looked like a crater or as though it had collapsed on itself. Whatever Harry had done earlier was like no magic he had seen in his almost hundred and fifty years. It was like a magical bomb had gone off, like it was made of pure magic. There was no smell of smoke or sign of fire. He didn't know any magic that had this effect.

Entering the house, it was unmistakable the tape lines of where Petunia had been found at the top of the stairs. Her job had been to keep Harry alive, prepare him to be a sacrifice. A job that her and her husband had done far better at than he would have thought. The guilt of the stolen childhood of Harry was tempered by the knowledge it would save the world. Yes, he had wanted Harry to experience as much life as possible, be as happy as possible, but living was not to have been his fate. He had just hoped that not so many would have had to suffer this time. The fact that Voldemort had made horcruxes and he had been so slow to realize and hunt them was galling.

He was to inform Harry of this and set him on a course to make sure they would all be destroyed. It was a task he should have finished, not a boy of fifteen or sixteen. How could he have let an obsession more than a century old override his own brilliance and caution? His dying hand was testament to his foolishness. He was as foolish as he had been that summer when Ariana had died. That was a burden he would carry to the end of his life. Harry would be another. Both were some of the necessary sacrifices to see light win over darkness. He just wished at the time that he had fallen in love with Grindelwald that he had understood the curse he would release on a hundred years of the British Isles and Europe.

Harry was to be his salvation, even if the poor boy had to die. How had he missed the signs the last few weeks of the deep depression the boy had fallen into, and the fact Vernon Dudley had broken his compulsion not to beat or kill the boy?

He knew the man despised Harry and anything to do with magic. Vernon thought it was because of his wife's sister. The Obliviation squads had done a respectable job on Vernon Dudley when he was younger. But not good enough. The man had watched his father beat his mother to death when he found Vernon had been a squib. Vernon was the last of a pure-blood family that had been around since the time of the founding of Hogwarts. That had left the man with a hatred of anything magical.

At the top of the stairs, he could see more of the floor had caved in after he had taken Harry away. He needed confirmation before he started making a new plan. After today, the only glimmer of light might be the hope that the boy could be trained as a hunter now, not the lamb he had been led to be. It might also allow him to move more openly against Voldemort once he could figure out where all the damned horcruxes were.

Walking along a two by four like a cat, he reached the spot where Vernon Dudley had been blown apart. Such a waste of a man. Such a waste of a family.

Dumbledore stepped over the dried blood and some of the pieces that the investigators had not removed yet. He knew they would be back in a few hours to finish the investigation and cleanup of the sight. Before then, he had to check.

Taking a silver object out of his pocket, he put it on the spot that he had found Harry. It immediately tried to roll away. For the first time since breakfast the day before, the gleam in his eye returned.

Waving his wand, he cast a few spells to make sure no one would see, even Death Eaters, if they were watching the house. He began to mutter so low he almost couldn't hear himself. A series of runes laid themselves down on the floor, glowing a sickly green. After a few minutes, a haunting echo and a haze of smoke in the shape of a face screamed as it rose and dissipated.

Now that that was done, Harry was not the only one who could beat Voldemort. There was a glimmer of hope he hadn't felt in years. Yes, Voldemort would continue to hunt the boy, but Harry would not be required to hunt him. Yes, the boy would be trained as a hunter of the horcruxes, but he would not need to be the assassin too.

Albus dropped the spells and stood up.

"I thought I felt someone nearby," a voice said behind him.

"Good evening, Billius. How have you been all these years," Albus asked conversationally, turning to a robed figure. "I think it has been many years since you graced my Transfiguration classroom."

The man's hood fell a little as though he was nodding. "Doing very well, Professor." It was a refined voice that held little malice. "I hope my grandson is doing well."

"He and your son severely lack the studious habits that you possessed. Your daughter was a particularly good student, but that has not passed to her nephew."

There was a sigh. "Yes. I am afraid some of that is punishment from my Lord for failing him so many years ago."

"And yet you stand here now. Has Tom sent you here to dispatch me or to determine if Harry Potter is still alive?"

"Neither. Being one of the first, I am not like the ravenous followers he had gathered in his first rise or now. No, the few of us left from his original circle are still trying to help him with his original vision. I am afraid though, that as he has grown, he has damaged himself and is not capable of seeing his vision to fruition," the man said.

Albus stared at the figure for a few minutes, taking in what Billius Avery was saying. "I see. And what do you mean he has damaged himself?"

The figure lifted an arm and waved towards the spot behind Dumbledore. "Do not play dumb, Professor. It belittles your intelligence and the reason I respected you so many years ago, even if my Lord was afraid of you and misunderstood your brilliance."

"You know of the horcruxes," Albus asked in disbelief.

"Who do you think led him to the knowledge, Dumbledore. I overheard him one day in the library asking about certain dark books. Books I was sure had been removed from the library many years ago after that nasty business with Tomius during the time of my grandfather. I may have let drop my family library may have held some information he was looking for. I had no clue at the time that he would actually do it. I hear he made one when he was sixteen and it almost killed a student a few years ago?"

"Your information is accurate. Why would you want to volunteer this information, Billius?" Albus was confused. This man obviously knew more than he should, and Voldemort was not known to keep men around with such knowledge and let them do their own thing.

"The original twelve that followed our Lord where never marked and he saw us more as equals for a long time as he used us to gain his power. I believe that the bloodlines should be cleansed, but not in the same way he does, Professor. I do not believe in killing unless there is a purpose, and the cleaning should be that of the insane and unworthy. I do not believe in the sanctity of the Pureblood. You have seen what that line has led to."

Dumbledore pursed his lips. "You call Tom your Lord, but you seem to implicate he is not worthy of that title anymore. What are you offering?"

There was a long pause. "That ring on your finger. The book. Mr. Potter. They are not the only ones that anchor the crazy shell of the man I follow. I know there are others. I was hoping for an exchange of knowledge so that they may all be found."

"And what do you propose happen to them once they are found, Billius?"

The cloaked figure reached up and pushed the hood back. The man standing there looked to be in his late sixties. "Like you, his first followers are hunted. We have the knowledge of how he started and how to turn his cause back to the right path."

"You mean suppression of Muggles, Muggle-born and those that don't follow your beliefs," Albus asked. He felt more curious than revolted.

Billius shook his head. "My Lord always wanted to be on top, but originally he wanted the top talent, no matter their birthright. It was once he started to split his soul that he started to become obsessed with blood status, the idea of being a Pure-blood and their dominance. I am afraid he was a large follower of Grindelwald after his fifth year. We did not realize his fall until years later when he killed four of the original twelve himself. There are only three of us left now. I prefer to live to see his original vision come to life."

"And what of those that are not the top talent or will not follow your ideals?"

The man shrugged. "There is room for some dissent and those of lesser power and talent. It is a question of raising those up with the power and knowledge so that once again wizards become the dominant force in the world."

"Ah, so you finally get to your true aims. You still wish to rule over everyone. Why would I agree to share what I know with you, Billius, when all you wish to do is replace him with a different regime that would dominate all?"

"You misunderstand, Professor. We do not wish to rule. That should be for another. We wish to guide Wizarding society to come back into the open and take up their place as figures of power. It has been too long since we have been used for the extant that magic can achieve…"

"And if you gain a few billion worshipers in this new era of wizard dominance, you or someone else can be a new pharaoh? The late great civilizations where wizards were seen as gods, Billius, have all fallen and after each a dark age ensued that threatened the survival of the human race. We know how that ended. A few dozen, or hundred or tens of thousands of Muggles have the strength to topple any empire. What of the ancient Americas? They worshiped wizards too, and all it took was some simple guns and a disease they had never seen before to lay them low in a generation. The new muggle weapons would see you and any wizards that follows you dead before you could even reach your goal." Albus felt disgusted with the man. He may be sacrificing his own pawns, but the Wizarding world would still exist when he was done.

"Not if you control some of their greatest weapons," Billius said cryptically. He took out a card. "You can contact me here, if you want. Though, you may want to do it quick. I know that charm on your hand and I am surprised it has not killed you already. No, I know of no counter-curse before you ask. Only how to cast it and its effects."

Albus took a few steps forward and took the card. "I don't think I will contact you. I am not a fan of despots."

The man snorted. "And yet you have acted much like one for years at your school and in your positions of power in the Ministry and abroad. As a sign of good will, you may want to look in your own school for what you seek. Your rather unique quicksilver and the Grey Lady may help."

Albus didn't say anything as the man raised his cloak again. "I still serve My Lord, Professor, but I am not a ravenous servant. Remember that."

With that, Albus was left there as the man disappeared with a pop. He felt a little rattled with this conversation. Also, the fact the man had been able to walk through his wards and apparate away as though they were nothing.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 4 - To Catch a Slug

July 29, 1996

Hermione sat in the chair next to Harry. It was a wonderfully comfortable round Papasan Chair, the type she really liked to curl up in if she had been at home. It was her attempt at Transfiguration from the book in her lap. Hermione felt smug at her attempt. She slowly munched on a sandwich as she read. Harry rolled over on his bed. She looked up to still see that the shadows of bruises where all over his body. Today, she could only see the ones on his face, neck and hands. She noticed Harry moved a lot, like his body couldn't find a way to lessen the pain he was still in. Many times, while awake, he complained about not being able to find a comfortable position. Having seen him without his shirt a day ago, she could understand why.

Frowning, she couldn't get the thought out of her head of how close she had come to losing him. His magic had barely been a spark that first day she had arrived.

He was getting stronger, as was his magic. The fact he was waking was even better. She had had nightmares every night he lay in a comma like state before his body had responded to the treatments. Madame Pomfrey looked just as haggard as Hermione. Ginny had crawled into her bed a few times to let her cry herself to sleep.

It had been eight days before he had opened his brilliant green eyes again. Hermione had used all the will power she had to stifle the sob when she saw how dull his eyes were. She did feel a swooping in her heart when he had given her a tremulous smile and reached for her hand. "Hi," was all he said to her before falling back to sleep. Since then, he had woken more and stayed awake longer. The matron said his magic was growing stronger, but she expected him to sleep more than wake as his body used most of his reserves to heal.

Hermione continued to watch him. Her greatest fear right now was that he wouldn't be there. It was a thought that scared her more than the prospect that Voldemort was alive. He mumbled something in his sleep. By the way he was mostly laying still and not screaming she assumed it was a more mundane dream. She was able to catch something about a broom and maybe something that could have been Ginny's name? Then her own in a far more pleasant way...

Hermione smiled. It was cute how he talked in his sleep. She watched over him for a few minutes more, making sure he was all right, before taking a bite of her corn beef sandwich and turning back to Advanced Theories of Transfiguration: An Arithmancy Treatise. When Harry woke, she would make sure he got something to eat too.

The door to the Matron's office opened. "I will, Madame Pomfrey," she heard Ginny's voice. Hermione didn't look up from her book until Ginny walked closer. "Afternoon, Hermione. I see he's pretending again," the red head said motioning towards Harry.

Hermione gave her friend a small smile. She had a challenging time understanding how she and others could joke at times like this. She understood smiling and laughing could release good endorphins, raising your mood, but the way he had almost died again was nerve wracking. "He's only been pretending for about an hour this time," she said back, hoping that her mental understanding of this would work in her physical body.

Ginny sat on the bed across from Harry. "Maybe you should spend tomorrow at the Burrow? Mum was going to make that onion soup you like, and Luna was going to come over to go swimming and..."

"Did Ron put you up to this," she said shrewdly. She was not ready to repeat the row she had with the git last night and this morning. The voice of Ron telling her to take a few days off. He told her it wasn't right for her to hang out with a passed-out Harry all the time and she should hang out with him instead. A little fun would be good for her. She didn't feel like fun until Harry could be part of it.

Ginny screwed her face. "I wouldn't do his bidding even if he paid me. I agree with you, but I think, as your friend, you need to hang out with someone else for a day or two. Not sure how you aren't going spar here." Hermione held up her book and Ginny shook her head. "You and your books. Listen though, Harry is getting better, and Dad has offered to take us into Devon Slough tomorrow if you want. He figures it might be safer there than Diagon Alley."

Realizing Ginny was actually asking her because she wanted to hang out with Hermione, she smiled at Ginny. "Thank you, Ginny. That sounds like fun, but until Harry is better, I really don't want to. Madame Pomfrey said if he stays up for more than two hours at a time tomorrow, we can try to let him out of bed for a while."

Ginny gave her a knowing look. "How about a walk then? Dumbledore said we can wander the grounds if we want." Hermione looked at Harry. He looked to be sleeping in a comfortable sleep for once. She hoped it would last. She needed him back and better. "It's not good for you to be in here all day. The Order and our Family is here. There are four Aurors around the school. He'll be fine for a little while."

She couldn't break her eyes from him. Her voice broke as she talked. "He died Ginny. I heard Kingsley talking with Professor McGonagall and the Headmaster last night. The Headmaster said Harry was actually dead when he found him, and then a few minutes later, he started breathing again. What if he is attacked again and I'm not here?"

Ginny sounded choked up when she spoke. "Maybe you heard them wrong."

Hermione shook her head. "No. I know what I heard, Ginny. If I could sleep over night, I would. Gah," she said in frustration slamming her book down on the table next to the bed and jumping out of her chair. "I hate still being underage. Just over a month and a half and I can tell your mother I'll do what I want."

She began to stalk up and down the Hospital wing.

Hermione didn't miss the shocked look on Ginny's face. It was there for a split second before she recovered and jumped off the bed. "Come on. You need to get out of here for a short bit."

"But Harry..."

"Will be there when we get back. Have you thought about his birthday?" Ginny asked grabbing Hermione's arm and dragging her towards the doors. Hermione missed a step. "We are going out onto the grounds for a bit," Ginny yelled into the Matron's office.

"Very good, dears."

"Oh my god! What day is it? I haven't gotten him anything yet. I was hoping to ask Ron what Harry might need for his quidditch gear, or a book, or I don't know! How could I forget his birthday? What day is it?" Hermione looked around, panicked she had forgotten about his birthday. The boy had never had a birthday until that first year he had gone to the Burrow. Now she had forgotten about it!

Ginny couldn't keep a small chuckle silent. "I think he'll understand, Hermione. His birthday is day after tomorrow."

Hermione was as quick witted as ever. "It won't be ok, Ginny. He's had a bad enough life without me forgetting something like that. That was why you were asking if I wanted to go with you and Luna tomorrow, wasn't it?"

"Can't get one over you," Ginny said still chuckling.

Hermione's hand was away before she could think. Ginny, with the natural instincts of a chaser dodging a bludger, sidestepped and Hermione only swatted at air. "You couldn't have mentioned this a few days ago?" Hermione was angry with Ginny.

Ginny just smiled. "I thought you were quicker than that." She laughed as Hermione took a swing this time and just barely missed Ginny. "Getting closer. I didn't say anything because I thought you knew. I only realized you may not have thought about it when you took off to come here this morning without even answering mum about ideas for Harry."

Hermione blushed as they made it out of the main doors into the clock courtyard. She was usually on top of these things. She always planned and made schedules and knew what day it was. Had Harry's near death shaken her that much? "I was a little upset with Ron. I didn't hear your mum."

"I figured." They were about to walk out onto the grounds when they saw Dumbledore walking up from Hagrid's hut.

"Ah, Ms. Weasley. Ms. Granger. A pleasure to see you," he said conversationally.

Hermione's eyes narrowed some and her lips pursed looking at the Headmaster. She still had not, and may never, forgive him now that she knew more of what had happened to Harry. If she had known how bad he had been treated, she would have called Child Protective Services herself. "Headmaster," she said coolly.

Ginny nodded.

"I was just going to see if you were still keeping vigil over Mr. Potter," he said to her. "I have a pressing need that I think you may be able to help me with." When she kept her silence, the Headmaster bowed his head a little before talking again. "I know what you blame me of, Ms. Granger, and I am hoping we can overcome that obstacle when I ask you to help me convince an old colleague to come out of retirement to take up another vacancy in the teaching Staff this year."

As much as she wanted nothing to do with the Headmaster right now, she had to admit her curiosity peaked. "Why would you need me to help you, Headmaster? Isn't that your job to interview and hire the staff?"

Dumbledore's eyes sparkled again as though he was satisfied with her answer. "Quiet so, Ms. Granger. I believe, though, that you possess certain traits that might serve to convince Horace Slughorn to change his mind about my previous offer."

"So, you would use me, like you do Harry," she accused.

Ginny couldn't stop the small gasp at her friend's words to the Headmaster.

Dumbledore sighed. "If that is the way you wish to look at it, yes. I plan to use you, Ms. Granger, to help me secure a very capable Professor and to help ensure there is another person at this school that values the safety of the students."

Ginny snorted this time.

"Something you find amusing, Ms. Weasley," he asked her, his eyes looking light.

"No, Professor," Ginny said quickly.

"This will help protect Harry," Hermione asked, not really trusting the man, but willing to take a risk for Harry.

"Yes. I believe it will."

She looked at him for a few. "When do you want me to go," she asked him.

"Tonight. I would say about ten, and then I will escort you back to the Burrow."

"Yes, sir," she said. She had to stifle all the alarms in her head, especially to be out with the Headmaster, alone, in the middle of the night. Why would he need to interview a potential Professor, especially one that had rejected him already, so late?

Dumbledore nodded and then walked past them. Hermione watched him disappear into the school. "I really don't trust him anymore," she said to Ginny. "He's up to something and Harry is his pawn. I'm not sure I'm not either."

"I heard mum and dad talking last night. They don't trust him anymore either. Why do you think he's up to something?"

Hermione had been listening and doing some snooping over the past two weeks. She hadn't missed what Mrs. Weasley said about the Wills. If Harry's parents' Will had been sealed, there are only three people she could think of with the power to do so without approval from the DMLE, and one of them was here. It was the same person who had been Harry's Magical Guardian and who had placed him with those animals. The same man she was starting to suspect knew far more of what was going on and Harry's role in it than he had led on... "Hermione, are you all right?"

Hermione shook her head. "Yes, sorry. Listen, Ginny, I want to go up to the trophy room or see if we can get into the library."

Ginny sighed. "When in doubt, go to a book."

"They are full of information," Hermione retorted.

"Of course, they are, Hermione," she responded dryly. "But sometimes you have to do more than look in a book."

"I do. I need to learn about Horace Slughorn if I can."

Ginny sighed. "Fine. Tomorrow you are spending time with Luna and I though."

Hermione sighed too. "All right. I will check on Harry first thing though."

"Deal."

-oOo-

Hermione had gone back to the Burrow after dinner to change into a nice blue button-down shirt and flowery skirt. It made her look older, but Ginny pointed out that it also highlighted her curves. When Ginny had undone the top two buttons on her shirt she had to ask, "What are you doing? Shouldn't I look my best for this."

"You do," Ginny smirked at her. "You look like a nice young lady, and you may get another look or two from Harry."

Hermione couldn't keep her blush away. "Ginny," she started shyly. Ginny raised a brow as she helped Hermione settle her hair. "I know you like Harry, but…" she couldn't finish her sentence.

Ginny smiled. "I won't lie, Hermione. I like Harry, but I see how you look at him, what you do for him and the way he would and has done anything for you. If that is what you want, I wish you two luck."

Hermione was distracted by what Ginny had said. There was no sadness, no animosity, no sign of misleading in her tone. Her words the night Harry had died had really been genuine. Ginny placed a light shawl over her shoulders then kissed her on the forehead. "Just keep him happy, that is all I want for you two," Ginny said. It was a sign that Ginny had become as good a friend as Harry.

It was cool for July. She knew much of this weather was due to dementors. Mrs. Weasley was not comfortable with Hermione going with Dumbledore alone until Bill had given Hermione a tracking and protective charm.

"All you need to do is call out my name and I will hear you," Bill told her comfortingly.

Hermione was still nervous of going off with Dumbledore alone.

Harry was sitting up in his bed and gave her a shy smile when she came out of the Matron's office. "You look nice," he commented.

Hermione felt her cheeks heat a little. "I thought it would be appropriate to dress nice if I am going to meet a prospective Professor with Professor Dumbledore."

Harry frowned. He wasn't looking as tired as he had been. She wished the bruises would finally fade. She hated the reminder of what they meant. "I still don't understand what you can do, Hermione. Do you have to go off with Dumbledore alone? Will you be safe?"

She came over to him, sitting on the side of his bed. "Bill put a tracking and a vocantum on me. He and Mr. Weasley are only a call away. I don't know why either. I just don't understand why Professor Slughorn," she said. "And Bill helped with some protective charms.".

Harry looked to relax some. "What is a vocantum charm? Why," Harry asked. He may be clueless about girls and social situations at times, but he was far more inquisitive and quicker at a puzzle than most people she knew. She also knew he noticed much more of what was going on around him and with people than he let on.

Hermione shook her head. "It's a charm that will allow me to call him if I need. I don't know. What bothers me more is that I couldn't get into the library to find out who he is and there was nothing in the trophy room or the teacher's plaques in the North tower."

"Teacher's plaques," Harry asked.

"All teachers that have retired, after teaching for at least 5 years, get a plaque in a room at the base of the north tower. It looks like over the years half of them have been removed." She pursed her lips again.

Harry, whether he realized it or not, reached his hand out to her. Over the last week the tingling feeling every time he touched her was getting more persistent. This was ridiculous! Why did she feel like a dammed first year when a boy says he likes her every time he does that? She knew now how she felt for him, but she thought it was deeper than some crush. She doubted he might feel the same though. "It's ok, Hermione. Sometimes you don't have answers before you need to leap into something."

"I don't like not knowing."

Harry chuckled. "I know. But your brilliant in any situation."

The door to the Hospital Wing opened and the Headmaster walked in. "Be safe," he said to her softly, squeezing her hand. She had no clue what possessed her, but she quickly sat up and kissed his cheek, lingering a second or two longer than a friend should. She didn't know what possessed her, but he looked a little dumbstruck with a light color in his cheeks and she felt mortified.

"Ah, nice to see you ready to travel, Ms. Granger. Mr. Potter, a pleasure to see you up." The Headmaster looked at them with the typical twinkle in his eye. She wasn't sure he didn't have a small smirk looking at them.

Harry nodded at the Headmaster. His voice was low and dangerous. "You promise to make sure she gets back to the Burrow in one piece," he said without preamble. Hermione had never heard him that ways towards Dumbledore or about her. His tone brokered no mistaking the imperative nature of the demand. She wasn't sure why her insides squirmed at the sentiment. Well, maybe she did know…

"I will see Ms. Granger back with no harm. Now, if you would, Ms. Granger, we must be away."

"Yes, sir. I'll be back tomorrow morning for a bit," she told Harry. She must have been imagining it when Harry looked disappointed for a split second.

"Tomorrow. Hopefully I will be out of here end of next week," he told her.

She gave him an encouraging smile before turning to the Headmaster. "If you will, we will be going to the Main Entrance."

Looking at the Headmaster, she frowned. "You can't apparate in the grounds."

Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled. "There are some benefits of being Headmaster, Ms. Granger." Neither of them said anything until they stood in the center of the courtyard. It was a little chillier than she had expected. Even in the Highlands, it was unusually cool for the end of July. Hermione pulled the shawl tight around her. "Now, if you would hold onto my arm," Dumbledore instructed.

"Are we side-along apparating," she asked him.

"Indeed. If you wouldn't mind drawing your wand. As you know, it may not always be safe to travel now a days."

She took out her wand and before she could respond, the world went dark. She felt her body being pressed in on all sides, as though she was being pulled through a straw. Her stomach lurched and suddenly she was standing on a dark street. She stumbled and the Headmaster caught her. She tried hard to calm herself as her lungs gasped for air. There was a sudden light illuminating the area around them.

"I should have warned you to let your breath out before I went. It has been many years since I taught someone to apparate," he apologized to her.

Hermione couldn't keep the accusation out of her eyes. "Yes, a warning may be better next time, Professor."

"Indeed. Now, if you would, we have a short walk to our destination." Dumbledore started and she took off after him, trying to match his larger strides. He was holding his wand over his head, the light coming from it like a streetlamp.

Looking around, they were on the edge of a country lane. She could see a light on in a small cottage or two as they walked up to a crest in the lane. There was a hedgerow to her left that hid the fields or whatever was on that side. They walked for almost five minutes before she thought it odd. "Professor, why did we apparate so far away? Most wizard houses would not have an anti-apparation ward so far out?"

"I think many underestimate just how bright you are, Ms. Granger. You are quite correct, but it is also customary to let a wizard reject company if they are not expecting you."

"Wait, what! We aren't even expected," she said to him in disbelief.

"Sometimes it is prudent to come as an unexpected guest when trying to convince someone that has already said no," he said to her with a smile that almost looked mischievous.

She was about to respond when he held his hand out. "Wand at the ready, Ms. Granger."

She looked at where he was pointing his wand and a swooping feeling ran through her. It was the same sensation she had at the Ministry when the Death Eaters had come out. Courage was the ability to act even through fear, and she was determined to be a Gryffindor in the face of the Headmaster.

His wand was illuminating a nice double story farmhouse. "Oh dear. Oh dear, dear, dear," Dumbledore said looking at the door that was hanging off its hinge and the sign of obvious spell damage around the front path. Hermione looked around. Something was bothering her about the scene, and it wasn't the fact that a battle had happened here. He opened the gate to the yard and walked to the door as though there was no danger around.

The scene of devastation made her lick her lips, her mouth dry. Books, furniture, shards of glass and ceramics were all over the hall. Pictures were on the floor and some looked trampled. She followed the Headmaster in, wand ready. Something fell in a room to her left. Without thinking, her wand lit as she silently cast lumos. It was too dangerous for her not to react. It was a dining room that looked mostly intact except for a hutch and an old chandelier that had been blasted.

The Headmaster turned the other direction and stepped into the sitting room. She turned and gasped. The room was a scene of complete destruction. A grandfather clock had its head blasted. More books, papers, bottles and shattered glass were all over the floor. A piano had been overturned and keys were missing. Cushions and pillows had been slashed or blasted, feathers all over the place. She was certain the dark, glutinous, red liquid on the wall and ceiling was blood.

"Not pretty, is it?" Dumbledore said seriously. "Yes, something horrible has happened here. Yet, I feel something is not quite right with this scene. Ms. Granger?"

She scanned the scene. Something did seem off. What. What was wrong? "This wasn't done by Death Eaters," she said processing things.

"And why would you say that, Ms. Granger?"

Her mind was going through the checklist she would expect from a scene like this. "First, there was no Dark Mark outside. Most of this damage looks like it happened from only one direction," she said looking around. "And why is that chair not ripped, topple or damaged?"

Without warning, Dumbledore swooped, plunging the tip of his wand into the seat of the overstuffed armchair, which yelled, "Ouch!"

Hermione's eyes widened.

"Good evening, Horace," said Dumbledore straitening up again.

An old bald man that was as overstuffed as the armchair was suddenly crouching in the place of the chair. She couldn't stop herself, "I didn't think you could transfigure your clothes and your body into one seamless form like that. Doesn't Nogtram law state…"

"How did a fifteen-year-old girl see what I missed," the man said looking at her before turning back to Dumbledore. In a gruffer tone he stated, "There was no need to stick the wand in that hard. It hurt."

The light from her wand and Dumbledore's lit the room and she was now able to see the man had a walrus like mustache that was as silver as the platter at his feet. He had the look of a very fastidious person with highly polished brass buttons on his maroon velvet jacket that he was wearing over blue silk pajamas. "How did you realize most of the spells came from the same spot," he asked looking at Hermione.

"I am sixteen, thank you, Mr. Slughorn. It was obvious that most of the scorch marks and glass all scattered towards the front door. Why would a battle have such a one-sided affect?" she asked feeling put out for worrying about the situation. She would need to be more observant next time or learn to trust her instincts. That was a foreign thought for her. Harry would have gone with his instincts.

"Horace, would you like my assistance clearing up? Then I can introduce you to the top student from fifth year," he said politely. Slughorn gave Dumbledore a 'I know what you are up to look' that Hermione didn't understand. "Ms. Granger, do you know repara omnia?"

"I do not, Professor, but I can do reparo and sarcio," she told him. She was starting to get the feeling he was trying to show her off.

"Ah, yes, sarcio should do well. Would you mind starting on the hall while we work in here," the Headmaster asked.

Slughorn pursed his lips before standing back-to-back against Dumbledore. She watched them do a slash and the room started to sort itself. Knowing she had a task, she turned away from the flying debris and looked at the hall. Sarcio was a useful spell, but it was not made for mass fixing like this. No. Reparo was a slightly lesser form of sarcio, but at the same time it was made to repair only a single item. If she did that, it would take an hour to fix all the stuff in the hall.

Thinking, she wondered if she could combine spells. Failing in front of Dumbledore was not an option. She closed her eyes. "universatas sarcio," she said in a clear voice. It was not as neat a spell as she would have liked. It was definitely not a spell she had ever read, but it started as she wanted. As she pointed her wand at the floor, papers started to sort themselves into piles, books mended broken spines, glass tinkled across the floor as it moved to the picture frame or goblet or decanter it had come from. Everything moved to lean gently against a wall, stand straight up or in an organized manner.

When she let the spell stop, the items in the hall were neat and tidy, even if not in their proper spots. She assumed they were in as good of repair as they had been before they got here. "Very good, Ms. Granger. We can let Horace put things where they belong."

She turned to see the man Slughorn looking at her out of the corner of his eye, a bottle of blood held up to the light. When he saw her look towards him, he focused on the bottle. "Yes, a bit dusty. That's my last bottle of dragon's blood, Albus. I hope it hasn't lost its potency. Not sure when I may get more, prices being what they may…"

"Excuse me, Mr. Slughorn, but why can't you strain the blood in a clarifying tincture and a gold colander. Of course, a platinum would be better, but most people don't have those…" she trailed off to see both men looking at her.

Slughorn was looking at her like she was some exotic bird, eyes wide and almost greedy. "Oh, very astute, Ms. Granger. Horace, I would like you to meet Ms. Hermione Granger. A nice young witch from a family of dentists, top of her class and if I am remembering correctly, you just achieved ten O.W.L.'s, all but one Outstanding and two of them with special marks."

"Oho! So that's how you thought you'd persuade me, is it? Well, the answers no, Albus." She felt a little uncomfortable though by the way he stood there, appraising her.

Why would Dumbledore introduce her that way? "I suppose we can have a drink, at least?" The paunchy man hesitated, looking between Dumbledore and her. "For old time's sake," Dumbledore added kindly.

"All right then, one drink," he said ungraciously.

Hermione missed the Headmaster motioning towards a seat as a group of pictures caught her eye on a table behind the sofa. Her curiosity was in overdrive, a reaction she would later come to realize was a way of avoiding uncomfortable situations. She moved towards the pictures and saw dozens of wizards and witches. They were all signed and in nice frames. There were three in particular that caught her attention. "Did something catch your interest, Ms. Granger," the Headmaster asked. She took a step back.

"I am sorry, Professor."

"Ah, I see you found my little collection," Slughorn said, and for the first time he sounded polite. "All former students."

"You taught Iona Frieze, Nathan Straik and Eregel Puddlemire?" She couldn't keep the impressed tone out of her voice.

"Ah," Slughorn's eyes lit up. "You know them? Of course, Iona..…"

"Invented the Revertu potion and the wolfsbanes tincture, which was later used to create the wolfsbane potion," she said without thinking about how rude it might be.

On the contrary, Slughorn handed Dumbledore his drink without looking at the man and moved towards the pictures. "Yes, quite correct. I'm sorry, but was it Ms. Hermione Granger?"

"Yes, sir."

"Any relation to Dirkwell Granger or the famous Potioneer Dagwood-Granger?"

She looked at the man. "Not that I know, Mr. Slughorn, but wasn't Dirkwell Granger the founder of the Northern League of Potioneers, back in the late seventeen hundreds? And everyone knows of the Dagwood-Grangers. As far as I know, I am descended from muggles."

"Pity, but there are ways to tell. Anyways, Ms. Granger, do you know this wizard," Slughorn asked pointing towards another signed picture.

Hermione got over her momentary annoyance at the man, and then looked at a man in his middle-years with a serious countenance and short dark hair. She shook her head slightly. "I am sorry, I do not."

Slughorn gave her a smile. "No matter that. All ex-students, all signed. This is Dirk Creswell, the current Head of the Goblin Liaison Office – always excellent information about Gringotts and new laws and treaties. Many times, asking my opinion or if I can connect him with someone. And there, Gwenog Jones, Captain of the Hollyhead Harpies – tickets whenever I want… "

"So, Horace, what does Dirk think of the new regulations the Ministry is proposing to have to access account names and possible seizure for those that are suspected of subservient activities," Dumbledore asked.

Slughorn looked shocked. "Why in blazes would they do that? Are they looking for another rebellion?"

"It's been in the papers, Mr. Slughorn. All though, most of it's been back page news with blurbs about the committee meetings and a few Op-Eds. I am not in favor of it, but only because they want to have carte blanche, instead of having to get a search warrant or something similar, like you would in the Muggle world. They also want to do this under the current treaties with the Goblins and they are not happy about it. I thought you said Mr. Creswell always contacted you on new laws?" Hermione was confused but felt Dumbledore had meant to surprise Slughorn. Slughorn definitely took the bait by his reaction. She had promised to help, so for once, and only this once, she would play her part for Dumbledore. She had a sense Slughorn liked to be at least connected with the powerful, famous or those that showed extraordinary talent. The term 'collection' came to her mind, as he had used earlier. "And going to Harpy games all the time must be really exciting. Harry would love to go to a professional quidditch game."

Slughorn looked at her, jerking his head as though looking for a response. "I'm sorry, dear, who? Is Harry your friend," he said as though friend meant something more. She had the feeling he was trying to change the subject.

"Harry Potter," she said to him. "He is an excellent Seeker, the youngest in the last hundred years at Hogwarts. Victor, Victor Krum, that is, has told me many times he would love to play against Harry. He had nothing but praise for how Harry flew in the first task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Personally, I was too afraid to really see how Harry was flying that day. Victor is really good, but I think Harry could beat him. Harry doesn't think so though after seeing Victor in the Quidditch World Cup, but that was two years ago, and Harry has gotten much better."

As she spoke, Slughorn's eyes grew wide. There was a hunger in his expression that made her grind her foot into the floor. "You know Harry Potter, and Victor Krum?"

"Of course, I do. Harry is my best friend," she couldn't keep a slight burn from coming to her cheeks, "and I have been friends with Victor since the Tri-Wizarding tournament. Last summer I spent a week in Bulgaria with him but couldn't this year. I don't know what I would do if I didn't know what was going on with both of them."

Slughorn swallowed. "Tell me, does he really look like his father…"

"But with his mother's eyes. I have seen the pictures of them in the album Hagrid gave him. They really are beautiful green eyes…" she stopped abruptly. She tried to take long breaths. Why would she say that to this man?

She didn't miss the smirk on Dumbledore's face as he stood up. "Horace, I would like to thank you for the drink. I am sure Ms. Granger would like to return to her bed before midnight. She has been spending most days with Mr. Potter."

"Wait, you're going," Slughorn asked with a mixed expression of disappointment and gratitude.

"Yes, please, Headmaster. Mr. Slughorn, can I please ask something before we go?"

"Of course, my dear," Slughorn said, still acting as though he was looking off about tonight.

"What levels of Potions would you be teaching," she asked. "I know that Professor Snape," she managed to keep the snarl out of her voice, "does not accept NEWT students without an Outstanding. If you taught NEWT level students, would you accept those with Exceed Expectations?"

Dumbledore's eyes widened some. Apparently, she had surprised him somehow. Slughorn was fully flustered now. "Why would you not accept those with Exceeds Expectations? You could be missing out on a lot of talent that doesn't really develop before NEWT's. Is there a reason you ask, Ms. Granger?"

"Harry would like to be an Auror, but he was only able to get an Exceeds Expectation. When he puts his mind to things, he does much better, but Professor Snape has a habit of finding fault in Harry's potions and is often penalized more severely than most. It rather discourages him at times."

Slughorn looked incensed. Dumbledore looked suddenly sour at her, but it was gone quickly. "His mother Lily was a genius at potions, even better than Severus Snape, but you didn't hear that from me. I mustn't play favorites with my pupils. Why wouldn't Harry inherit her talent? And an Auror did you say?" Hermione nodded. "Yes, well, Lily's son – I assume you would be in class with him? One of your many Outstandings? Yes, well?"

"It was one of my three special marks, Professor Slughorn."

Slughorn hadn't taken his eyes off her. "Would you like to meet Iona, Ms. Granger?"

She gave him a genuine smile. "That would be a great honor," she told him.

"Oh, damnable Merlin. Albus, I want the old potions rooms on the first floor, Professor Merriweather's old office and a raise. And I better get all the pestilential students. I will not split my classes with Severus Snape, not if it means losing talent," he said with the reverence of a collector.

Dumbledore bowed his head. "That can be arrange, Horace. Professor Snape has accepted a different position this year, so you will have no competition with classes. Now, I really do think it time we leave. I will send you an owl tomorrow. Now, Ms. Granger," he said with a slight snap to his voice.

A cold shiver ran down her spine. She was just barely able to contain her gasp. There was only one other position open that she knew of. Hermione didn't flinch as Dumbledore turned his gaze to her. "Yes, please, Headmaster."

Dumbledore led Hermione out of the house. This time he stopped outside the stone wall before extending his arm. "I will warn you to breathe out this time."

She took his proffered left hand. "Yes, sir."

A short few seconds later, she had been pulled through a straw again. It was an extremely uncomfortable feeling. She let go of Dumbledore's hand. "I think I underestimated your intelligence a great deal tonight, Ms. Granger. Thank you for securing a Potion's Professor. May I ask how you knew?"

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow, clearly not impressed with him. "Did you honestly not expect me to figure it out? There were rare potions and ingredients on a few different trays in his living room. Half the books in the bookcase were rare or ones I had never seen. All of them only interesting to a Master Potioneer. The way he asked me about my possible ancestors was more reverential than inquisitive, as though they were people he respected very much. His reaction to the dragon blood would be only of one that valued it, and outside of potion making, it does not have a lot of usefulness for a Defense Professor, as you well know, Professor, having helped discover the twelve uses of the substance. Did you really offer Professor Snape the Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

Dumbledore's gaze grew harder as she spoke. Her tone had been anything but polite, raising more to match the tone of an angry Professor McGonagall by the end. "Very underestimated. Harry is lucky to have you by his side. As for Professor Snape, that is between me and my Staff, Ms. Granger."

Hermione huffed. "I am just very logical. As far as Harry is concerned, I will never leave his side. I don't abandon him in times of need, Headmaster. I will also warn you now. If Professor Snape continues to denigrate and fail Harry, you will find yourself short a Professor shortly after the year starts."

"Now, Ms. Granger, I think threats are below both of us," Dumbledore tried to soothe her. She wasn't sure if that was anger, annoyance or fear she saw in his face for a split second.

She stood to her full 5'4", leaving her woefully short of the Headmaster, but projecting a power she had only felt Dumbledore and Harry do at times. "It is not a threat. I have heard Mr. Weasley talking and he is going to take control of the Potter seat on the Board of Governors and in the Wizengamot once he talks to Harry. Both seats that you have been in command of for many years and never once actively used. There is more support for Harry Potter than you might think after what has happened under your watch, Headmaster. And if you do anything to me or the Weasley's, besides your oath you took to me, I do not doubt you will need to deal with Harry. There is something different about him since he awoke, and he seems far more powerful."

The man blanched this time. He must have realized that in the last few weeks that a quarter of the Order was no longer taking orders from him, and many others were showing signs of trusting him less. "I see. I will not underestimate you again, Ms. Granger. Thank you for helping me secure a new Potions Professor. With that done, I have one more favor to ask of you."

She glared at him. Her disfavor was palpable in the air as her magic forced itself temporarily out of her control. The air around her cracked and golden-red sparks snapped around her for a few seconds. Dumbledore's brow scrunched. When she didn't say anything, he continued. "I have not been able to talk to Harry about some especially important information since Sirius' death. There is information that I wish to talk with him about that might help to explain what happened at the Ministry. Would you and Harry please come to my office on September the second at Eight?"

Her nose flared for a moment. "You know what was in the prophesy." It was a statement. "You know why Voldemort hunted Harry as a baby and why he still does."

Dumbledore closed his eyes for a second. "If you come to my office on September second, I will tell you and Harry…"

"Mr. Potter," she corrected.

Dumbledore looked very annoyed at being interrupted. "Mr. Potter," he corrected himself. "If both of you come, I will explain what I know."

She stared at him for a few minutes. "I will talk to him tomorrow. If he agrees, we will send you an owl."

Without waiting for a reply, Hermione turned towards the dilapidated house that she loved almost as much as Hogwarts. She marched up the drive towards the Burrow, her anger almost rivaling that of Harry's when he was at his worst. She was so upset with the man still, and even more upset at how he had used her tonight, like some effing toy or rare coin to a child of a man that liked to collect people. Being used, manipulated or sought after her like she was a trophy was not how she wanted to be seen.

The door to the Burrow slammed shut, echoing in the night. If it had not been magically reinforced, there was little doubt her magic would have blasted it off. She didn't see Dumbledore standing there for many minutes, staring after the fiery fuming and brilliant brown-haired witch.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 5 - Letters

August 5, 1996

Harry sat up in the bed, his legs crossed and his wand in his hand. It was the first time he had picked it up in weeks. He was afraid of his magic. It had killed Vernon and his Aunt. He had blown up a house!

He tried not to think about it as he twirled his wand in his hand. For some reason, it felt lighter. When he had picked it up, it had done the same thing it had that day he had bought it in Diagon Alley. Brilliant red and gold sparks had shot from it. It was as though the wand was finding a new master.

He flicked his wand. The letters on his side table zoomed into his hand. It was a spell he had mastered in fourth year. It had been learned in desperation while he was going to be facing down a dragon. Hermione had spent hours helping him get the spell. Even this year he had had to think about it. This time, it was as natural as breathing. He hadn't even had to silently say accio. Harry willed it and the letters came.

Sighing, he looked at the letters in his hands. Hermione had been on his case for three days now to open them. He wasn't sure if he wanted to. He still wasn't sure if he wanted to return to school. If Voldemort was going to continue hunting him, he didn't want his friends, his true family, to get hurt anymore.

Last Friday, he knew the Ministry had finally caught up with him about what happened. He had seriously broken the Statute of Secrecy. He opened the smaller of the two parchments first. It was the Ministry, but it was an official letter stating that Albus Dumbledore was no longer his Magical Guardian. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been granted guardianship and adoption of him according to Sirius' Will and Child Services. The muggle letter had been included in the parchment he had received. His stomach clenched at the thought.

It hadn't been like he hadn't wished for such a thing. Now that it was real though, it was the last thing in the world he wanted. He knew they would do anything to protect him, and Harry didn't want protection. For once, he should be protecting them. He didn't want anyone else dying for him.

This was the reason he dreaded opening the other letters. They decided his fate in the world he had come to love. He wasn't sure he wanted to stay in this world, but he didn't have any choice. Until next July, he was a ward of the Weasley's. If he decided to go back to the Muggle world, he was a ward of Child services for two years. He knew that neither world would let him go, and he was sure that he wouldn't survive more than a few years at most as Voldemort took control of Britain and then beyond.

No. Harry had to fight. There were too many people he loved not to fight. Looking at the letters, he sighed again. The second letter was from Hogwarts. It would tell him what classes he should purchase supplies and books for. His OWL results were still on the table, having arrived the day he was brought here.

What worried him more was Hermione's confirmation of the worst thing he could think of. Professor Snape was now going to be the new Defense teacher. He really didn't want to think of how bad it was going to be. He was considering if the DA should meet again this year.

Next, it was the new Potions Master. Hermione had said that he would be accepted with Exceeds Expectations. His worry was not that he wouldn't be in the class, but that he would. After the death of Sirius and whatever happened to him a few weeks ago, he wasn't sure he wanted to be an Auror anymore. Snorting, he chastised himself for worrying about that. He doubted he would survive the war, so worrying about a future that wouldn't come was silly.

Thrusting all his fears aside he sat up a little straighter. For now, he had people to keep alive. He couldn't do that without his wand and what Hogwarts could teach him.

It was the standard letter he had come to expect. He was to get the standard year six books with options for advanced materials in Transfiguration, Creatures, Defense, Charms, Potions and Herbology. Looking at the list, he was unsure what to do. Hagrid was a great friend, but not the best Professor. His other five choices were a given. He would need them all.

The door to the Matron's office opened. He looked up to see Hermione walk out. She was wearing a pair of jean shorts that rode high up her legs, a t-shirt with a neckline that cut a little lower than she usually wore, but was still modest, and her hair down in her typical fashion. He had noticed that lately it was not as frizzy or unmanaged as it used to be. It was still Hermione, but Harry found he liked the way her hair had been. He felt something in him squirm watching her long legs. Looking up, she flashed him a brilliant smile that lifted him out of his funk and hardened his resolve to do what he needed. Hermione must survive. He had a hard time returning her smile though. The last letter was the one he had dreaded and could keep him from fulfilling his new vow.

"Hello, Harry," she said as she came over and sat on his bed.

"Hermione," he said nodding and liked the slight color that rose to her face.

"I see you are finally opening the letters. What do they say?"

Harry handed her the two open letters. He watched her as she looked briefly at the top one. She didn't seem phased. He wasn't surprised. She had been staying at the Weasley's since July 8th. Her parents had spent two weeks with her before shipping her off. Harry had a tough time understanding that, but she assured him she would have just been home alone most of the Holiday otherwise. He frowned at how she brushed it off. He was getting suspicions that she may not have been as loved at home as he thought she was.

She nodded once again before putting the letter down. "Good. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been concerned they may not get full custody."

While she read, he had finally opened the letter from the DMLE. His eyes grew wide as he read:

-o-

To Harry James Potter

4 Privet Dr.

Little Wingding, Surrey

England

The Department for Magical Law Enforcement, hence with known as the DMLE, was notified of a serious breach for the International Statute of Secrecy, hence with known as the ISS, on July the 12th, Nineteen hundred and ninety-six at Ten past Nine.

Investigation of the events of July 12, found the following crimes:

Count No. 1 - One Class I offense of the ISS

Aurors found that a major magical event had occurred in a Muggle neighborhood, in plain sight of no less than fifteen muggles and leaving evidence requiring three Magical Reversal and Cleanup Squads, an Obliviation Squad and three Auror Squads

Count No. 2 - Three Class III, minor offenses of the ISS

Auror's found evidence of blasting hexes, healing charms and ward usage not classified for residence at 4 Privet Drive

Count No. 3 - One Class I offense of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, hence with known as the DSRUS

Underage use of magic outside of sanctioned Ministry or School activities

Count No. 4 - Three Charges of Manslaughter

Auror's found Vernon Dursley, age 44, and Petunia Dursley, age 43, of 4 Privet Drive and Bethany Styles, age 69, of 6 Privet Drive to have died from magical usage

Count No. 5 - Two charges of Endangerment and Harm of a Muggle of the Muggle Protection Act, hence with known as the MPA

Auror's found Dudley Dursley, age 16, of 4 Privet Drive and Racheal Styles, age 5, of Apartment C, 88 Golpole Court, Datchet, Berkshire, England in need of immediate and dire medical help.

After investigation of the following items, it has been determined that the Suspect performed the spell that caused the destruction of Number 4 and 6 Privet Drive. Other magic artefacts at the sight were not cast by the Suspect and are under investigation for further charges.

Evidence submitted by a Medical Professional, one Healer Poppy Pomfrey of 7 Gnoll Hill Court, Hogsmeade, Scotland and reconstruction at the scene found the Suspect had an accidental burst of magic evidence after abuse and the beating that led to the near-death of the Suspect. The accidental use of magic was cast in Self-Defense and deemed pardonable under the DSRUS. All charges under the ISS and DSRUS are pardoned.

The charge of Manslaughter, under Muggle and Ministry Law, were found to be of the following:

Manslaughter, Loss of Control, of Vernon Dudley. – Suspect found to have acted in defense of his own life. Under Codes of Law and the DSRUS, all charges Pardoned.

Involuntary Manslaughter, by Gross Negligence, Petunia Dursley – Suspect found to have used magic in gross negligence in destruction of surrounding structure. Suspect to remand a fine of G100 or 3 days in Confinement in the DMLE Holding cells. Sentenced reduced under the DSRUS.

Involuntary Manslaughter, by Gross Negligence, Bethany Styles – Suspect found to have used magic in gross negligence in destruction of surrounding structure. Suspect to remand a fine of G100 or 3 days in Confinement in the DMLE Holding cells. Sentenced reduced under the DSRUS.

Final charges under the MPA for the injury of Dudley Dursley and Racheal Styles were found to be unintentional, and under set rules, all charges are pardonable. A partial pardon has been granted due to both Muggles being underaged. Suspect to remand a fine of G250 per charge and all other charges pardoned per the DSRUS.

A DMLE closeout hearing to occur August the 22nd, Nineteen hundred and ninety-six at 10:00 in the morning in Courtroom 2, located in the DMLE Office, Level 2, Ministry of Magic, London, England. Suspect or Solicitor Representative to be present at hearing. All fines or Confinement to be served at such time.

All charges and findings may be contested on August the 22nd. Formal Protestation must be received by August the 20th.

Amelia Susan Bones

Head, Department of Magical Law Enforcement

August 2nd, 1996

-o-

Harry's hand was clutching his wand in a grip that flushed color out of it. His breath was coming in rapid, shallow gasps. He had killed not only his Aunt and Vernon, but 'Misses Nosy' next door. A woman with brown hair, dark eyes and a kind face came to his mind. She had never been mean to him. He never knew her name was Bethany. His Aunt never referred to any of their neighbors by name, only by what she thought of them.

A drop of water fell onto the paper.

Harry was very confused. Where had the water come from?

No one had told him that the woman had died or that he had hurt a little five-year-old-girl. If he had killed Bethany Styles, that meant her granddaughter, he reasoned, had almost been killed.

"Harry," Hermione asked placing a hand on his arm. He jerked at her touch.

Another drop fell onto the paper. Realizing he had another tear running down his cheek sent a wave of humiliation through him. Boys weren't supposed to cry. He had killed someone. And not just one person, but three people. He, Harry Potter, had directly killed three people. This was different than Quirrell or the Death Eater at the Ministry.

"Harry, what's wrong?"

He shook his head, scrunching the parchments in his hand. Tears started to stream down his face. Vernon. He could care less if the man was gone. He rated lower than the Death Eater he had killed at the Ministry. Neither of them weighed on his conscious. It didn't stop the nightmares, but he had dispatched the Death Eater to save Hermione and Ginny. It was necessary.

The fact that he had just killed his Aunt, his mother's sister, was different. She had never been nice to him, starving him half the time, always debasing him when Vernon wasn't around and driving him like a slave, but she was the blood sister of his mother. His stomach churned to think of what his mother would think that he had killed her? The thought that she would be so disappointed in him ate at him.

Someone sat on his bed and before he knew it, Hermione was pulling him into her. She wrapped her arms around him. There was a fleeting thought of it being indecent that he would be totally breaking down in her arms. It wasn't what a guy should do, isn't that what Ron always said?

"Harry, it'll be ok," she tried to soothe.

He shook his head as she held him close to her chest. He couldn't say anything as he thought about the Styles. He felt so guilty that he had never known her name until now. He had no clue if she was a good or bad person. He had killed her. How dangerous was he? Was it even safe to have Hermione this close to him? Thoughts of them dying brought him to Cedric and the worst of his nightmares, Hermione in his place, the Death Eaters laughing at her dead body.

"It'll be ok," she cooed.

Harry found his voice. "I killed them." At those words, he shoved the letter at her before totally breaking down.

Harry cried. It was the great racking sobs of years of holding in everything that had happened to him. All the beatings. All the times he had gone to bed, his stomach growling, or better, those times when he started to slide into a non-feeling stupor. Cedric. Sirius. His parents. It wasn't safe for anyone to be around him.

Hermione hugged him harder, putting a hand in his hair and the other protectively over his shoulder. He wanted to stop. Instead, he cried.

-oOo-

Hermione was happy this morning. Harry was supposed to be coming home any day now, possibly even today. She had helped Molly and Ginny clean out Percy's room. Molly had been terribly upset having to clean out the room, but the twin's room was just too dangerous with their stored boxes, and they had not been able to clean it out yet.

Personally, Hermione knew that all the Weasley's were broken up over the prat Percy, but she felt they were shod of him for now. If he could abandon his family that easily, then she didn't want him anywhere near Harry.

She had wished that Ron had helped, but in the last week, he had taken up a summer job with the Twins, much to Molly's ire. Mr. Weasley, though, had put his foot down and said Ron was old enough to decide for himself. His only stipulation for Ron had been that he only use the Floo to travel between the two places and not to wander around Diagon Alley. Hermione had snorted at that, knowing Ron would not just be staying in the Twin's Joke shop.

Ron was an issue too. She wasn't sure what had broken, but he was acting just like he had Fourth Year when Harry's name came out of the hat. When she brought it up to Ginny, the girl had looked at her like she had a hole in her head.

"Hermione, you really don't understand?"

She shook her head. "No. I thought we were good. All last year he was always there. He came with us to the Ministry. Ron was the friend he always should have been. Why are you giving me that look?"

Hermione didn't like it that Ginny was eyeing her, as though she knew things Hermione didn't. "You are the brightest witch of our age, or so they say, and you can't see it?"

She shook her head. "Ginny, you are brilliant too. You don't think I don't see that you are at the top of your class, and we trade the point scale month to month. So don't give me the 'brightest witch' stint."

Ginny shook her head, chuckling. "Yeah, that does rub the Ravenclaws some that Gryffindor holds three top class spots right now."

Hermione flushed some, but she couldn't keep the self-satisfied smirk off her face. "Yes, well, I'm not changing my study habits just to appease some rapacious raven headed twits. Most of them are stuck up and sneer at anyone that doesn't worship them for their knowledge. How Luna was sorted into that atrocious den is beyond me. They treat her like she is the stupidest of them all and yet she is right behind you and three points ahead of anyone else in your grade. She also has more backbone than most of the pea-brained dunces in Gryffindor. "

Ginny laughed this time. "I love you, Hermione. Not all of them are that way, but I don't disagree that many are, and I don't think Luna's roommates will be bothering her anymore."

"What did you do?" Hermione's voice was demanding and reproachful.

Ginny grinned. "Let's say they won't find their stuff until they apologize to Luna. Luna has only received two letters this summer."

She stared at her friend. There was an impressed tone to her voice that she didn't try to hide. "Smartest witch? I wouldn't have thought of that."

"No, you just curse witches for betraying us. George said he saw her in the shop last week and the coverup wasn't hiding all of the pimples."

She crossed her arms. "She is lucky that is all she got. That twat got us caught by the Toad. If Dumbledore hadn't taken the blame, we would have all been expelled and then where would we be?"

Ginny chuckled again before turning serious. "Seriously though, you really have no inkling why Ron is so upset?"

Hermione sighed. She realized she had been fooling herself. "Ron is Harry's best friend. He can't lose anyone else."

"Hermione, you haven't been fooling anyone. You have barely left Harry's side since that day. All you do is talk about him. You blush when people talk about him as the boy-who-lives or compliment him because you understand he doesn't like that. I just always thought he needed to get used to it, but I haven't ever been able to see him as anything else as this larger-than-life person. I think you love him, Hermione, and everyone can see it. Ron has seen it, as clueless as he is."

She sagged in the seat she was sitting in. "That's why Ron is jealous again. How could I have been so stupid? He still likes me."

Ginny snorted. "I don't think 'like' is the right word. Obsessed."

Hermione groaned. She closed her eyes. "Shite."

Ginny looked at her. "You really don't know how he feels for you, do you?"

She felt her cheeks heat some. She wasn't sure if she could confess this to anyone, but Ginny was the only other person she was this close to besides Harry and she could never tell him. "Truthfully, Ginny. I haven't noticed another boy since second year. Viktor was a way for me to forget him because he was pining after Cho. When he pulled me from the lake, not even Viktor could distract me anymore. Can I tell you a secret?"

"You know you can tell me anything," Ginny said.

She took in a deep breath before letting it out. Her eyes were pointing down. "I've never told anyone that I was sort of aware of what was going on and could hear what people were saying when I was petrified. Harry came many times, always talking or reading to me. He was the only one that I think visited me almost every day. At least I think it was almost every day. There was time between visits. It was the only thing keeping me sane." When she looked up, Ginny had gone white. "Oh, God, Ginny, I didn't mean it was because of you."

Ginny shook her head. "Hermione, I'm so sorry. What that bloody prick made me do…"

"Ginny, none of it was your fault. You know I don't think that. You didn't do anything. It wasn't you." Hermione took Ginny's face in her hands. The girl reluctantly looked her in the eye. "Ginny. I don't blame you. Please don't blame yourself."

There were tears in her eyes. "Every time I think I am over it, it hits me. All I remember is blocks of time that went missing, besides the times he was in my head. I cried for days when I found out it was you. I went to see you most days too, often listening to Harry tell you about what happened in class and reading the current chapter you were supposed to be learning. Ron thought him barmy for doing it, saying when you got better, he would be there every day. I actually heard Harry and Ron get into a fight about it one day when he wanted to go flying and Harry went to you instead."

"Hermione, I'm so sorry."

Hermione wrapped Ginny into one of her crushing hugs. "You have nothing to be sorry about. I'm sorry I didn't figure it out."

Ginny snorted. "What, while you were petrified? Hermione, you are brilliant, but not that brilliant."

Hermione chuckled. "No, you daft girl. When I figured out the basilisk, I had an inkling of something else going on, but I didn't realize it was the book until Harry told us what happened."

Ginny backed away. "If you aren't pulling my tail, then you are the brightest witch of our age." Hermione looked abashed. "Speaking of Harry, maybe you should head over. Dad said he can probably come back in the next few days, maybe even tonight. I'm sure he needs his Hermione to make him feel better."

Hermione felt her face heat up. "I am not his Hermione," she said quietly.

Ginny snorted. "Hermione, I have seen the way he looks at you in the last few weeks. He never looked that way at Cho, or me."

Hermione flushed even more. "He does not."

Ginny sniffed. Hermione could tell she was trying to distract herself from thoughts of the book. Ginny took Hermione's head in two hands, pulling her in and placing a kiss on her head. "Hermione, after Luna, you are my best friend. But, Merlin, you are as dense as Harry at times. You both act as though neither of you are worthy of someone caring about you. You are though. We all love you and Harry. You just need to know you are worthy of love. Forget about your parents. We will always be here for you."

Hermione couldn't keep the tears out of her eyes this time. "Please don't mention them. And Harry doesn't look at me that way. Please don't get my hopes up."

Ginny forced her eyes up, much like she had just done to her a few minutes ago. "Hermione, if I didn't think you both liked each other, I would have been by his side all summer. I just want to see both of you happy. Maybe he isn't ready for it yet, but I swear I am not getting your hopes up."

Hermione sat back, picking tears off her face and trying to calm herself. "I don't deserve a friend like you."

Ginny shook her head. "Yes, you do. Just like Harry deserves people that love him for who he is. Just promise me you won't give up on him if he gets into one of his noble or self-sacrificing moods."

Hermione laughed. "We kind of have that in common."

"I know. It's part of why I love you both."

"And the other part," Hermione said trying to lighten the mood.

Ginny shrugged. "I'll let you know when I figure it out."

Hermione laughed again. "You twat," she said in one of her rare moments to let her prim exterior down.

Ginny grinned at her. "There's the other side I love."

She struck out at Ginny, who just barely fell back to avoid it. "Do you have to be so fast!"

Ginny had a broad smile on her face. "If I wasn't, I'd get hit by a lot of bludgers and other players. Speaking of which, maybe you should get going to our favorite Seeker."

"You aren't getting rid of me that easily," she said getting up.

"I hope not. Dad is supposed to be there around eight, if he doesn't get held up. Should I tell mum you are coming back or waiting for dad?'

Hermione made sure that she had picked all the tears off her cheeks. "If Mr. Weasley is coming, then I'll wait. Madame Pomfrey will make sure I eat. Dobby will too."

Chuckling, Ginny rolled her eyes. "That elf is obsessed with the two of you. How did you win him over? I know you still believe in S.P.E.W and he was pretty uneasy at how the other elves felt about you."

She huffed. "They should be free, but I am starting to think that is a bad thing. Dobby said Winky passed at the beginning of the summer. She wasted without a Master and the magic that bond gives. It's disgusting, but magic has perverted the bond so those poor elves can't live without a master's magic."

Ginny looked at her confused and sad. "Winky didn't deserve to go that way. Why hasn't Dobby done the same? I knew their magic was connected to the bond, but not that deeply."

She felt her cheeks heat some. "Well, an elf can only bond if the witch or wizard is willing. He wants to be free, but he knows he can't survive without the bond."

Ginny nodded, finally understanding. "He had Dumbledore accept him to Hogwarts. Is he still allowed to wear clothing and get his pay?"

Hermione moved towards the door. She was feeling like the largest hypocrite in the world. She opened it and started to leave. "He isn't bound to Hogwarts."

"I didn't think Harry would do that."

"It wasn't Harry," she said in a low voice. Hermione moved towards the stairs.

There was an audible gasp. "You didn't!" She didn't turn, instead started down the stairs. "Hermione Jean Granger, you are telling me later!"

Her voice carried through the house. Hermione was grateful they were the only people in the house right now. Mrs. Weasley had to leave the house to stock it with food. She was even more grateful that Phlegm and Bill had gone with her. She was going to have to warn Harry that the French witch was here. Phlegm had been asking after Harry since she had arrived a few days ago and Hermione didn't want the slag anywhere near him.

She stepped into the kitchen and made sure Ginny wasn't following. "Dobby," she called gently. A few seconds later, the elf apparated to her side.

"Miss Hermione called?" the elf asked as he steadied himself on the stairs, numerous hats on his head and mismatched socks. There was a smile on his face.

"I did. How are you today?"

The elf's smile widened. "Witch never ask Dobby before. Dobby is feeling very well today, Miss. Better than Dobby has in a long time."

Hermione gave him a smile. It was a bitter-sweet smile. She knew why he felt so much better but hated the reason why. "Could you do me a favor?"

"Dobby would do anything Miss asks. Dobby has been keeping his eyes on Harry Potter, as Miss asks."

"And how is he today?"

"Much better. Harry Potter woke around 6:30, ate all Dobby brought him and he has not had to take any naps yet today. Dobby was watching him open his letters before Miss called, as you told him. I am ready to serve Harry Potter too, as Miss orders."

Hermione nodded. "Thank you, Dobby. You are sleeping too?" She knew the elf's zealousness when it came to Harry. He rubbed his foot into the ground. He twitched a little, as though he was ready to find a way to punish himself. She knew the answer before he answered. Taking a page from Harry, "You are not to punish yourself. Dobby, you are to sleep too. I don't care when, if you want to watch Harry when I am not there, but I expect you to sleep at least six hours a day."

She had been careful not to make it a command, not until she had too. Part of their deal was to give him as much autonomy as the bond would allow. "Yes, Miss Hermione."

"Now, are you awake enough to do me a favor? If not, please go take a nap."

The elf looked about ready to cry. "Dobby knew Miss was good to be with Harry Potter, but Miss is as Great as Harry Potter. Dobby is awake enough."

Hermione's face was hotter than anything that Ginny had said to her. She eyed the elf, knowing he would push himself if she required. Sighing, she knew the elf was probably worked up now. She reached into her jeans and took out her money pouch. Looking at what was in there, she took out ten galleons. "Please go to Honeydukes and buy a large selection. Spend as much of that as possible. Ginny really likes their truffles. I want you to deliver them to Ginny later with your Misses compliments."

She was hoping this would keep Ginny quiet for a while and she wouldn't be accosted by the redhead later.

Dobby nodded his head fervently. "As Misses askes."

After the elf dissapparated, she vowed to herself again that she would find a way to end their servitude. Taking a breath to center herself, she tried to clear her mind of what she had talked with Ginny about. Ginny knew more about her scars than anyone, besides Harry, and she knew more of Ginny's too.

After a moment, she grabbed a pinch of Floo powder and called out, "Hogwarts' Infirmary." She stepped in. After the now familiar bumpy ride, she stepped out of the fireplace in the Matron's office.

"Good morning, Miss Granger. A little later than normal today." The woman smiled at her. "Do you still want those lessons today?"

"Yes, please. Do you think he'll take a nap this afternoon? I really don't want to leave him if he is awake."

The Matron chuckled. "I think he's almost at the point he won't need them. It may not hurt for him to learn some healing spells."

Hermione felt her heart leap. "He's strong enough to cast again?"

"I saw him pick up his wand today. If the sparks were any indication, I think he is recovering nicely and should be back to full health in the next week or two. Mr. Potter is very powerful for his age."

"Harry is up now?" She felt a sense of pride at the Matron's words. Harry was a powerful wizard. The words Ginny had said earlier drove her sense of pride in him. Could he really like her like that?

"He is, dear. I think he was finally opening his letters." Madame Pomfrey gave her a smile.

"Thank you, Madame Pomfrey," she said moving towards the door.

"Very welcome, Ms. Granger. I don't think you should keep him any longer."

She shared the Matron's smile. "Yes, ma'am." Hermione stopped just before opening the door, smoothing her shirt and hair. If Ginny was right, then maybe if she cared a little more about how she looks he would come around.

Smiling, she opened the door and walked out. Walking up to Harry, she flushed some at the small smile on his face and the way his eyes wandered before meeting hers again. "Hello, Harry," she said before taking a seat.

"Hermione," he responded, a small grin on his face.

When he handed her two of the letters he had opened, she read them quickly. The first was the DMLE confirmation of change of Guardianship and actual adoption by the Weasley's. Some of the tension she had felt for weeks let go of her. Harry would finally have a safe place to go. She had to tamp her anger down that this should have happened fifteen years ago.

"Good. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been very concerned they may not get full custody." She didn't want to say she had been concerned too. Harry didn't need her concerns right now.

She took a brief look at him as he read his last letter. There was such a look of devastation on his face, she was immediately on her feet. "Harry?"

He shook his head, his eyes not leaving the parchment. "Harry, what's wrong?"

She watched as he folded the paper over, closed his eyes and fought the tears that had already started to leak down his face. "It'll be all right," she said in as gentle a tone as she could.

Harry shook his head. "I killed them," he said before trying to wipe the tears from his face. The despair and anguish coming off him was almost palatable. Not thinking about it, she crawled up onto the bed behind him. He started to cry. In all her years knowing him, she had never seen him cry.

"It'll be all right, Harry," she tried to soothe as she hugged him.

He fought it for a moment before he turned and buried his face against her chest. Harry was not a person to like comfort like this, but now, he was grabbing her shirt, curling into her and all she could do was share in his pain. Holding him close to her, she did as her grandmother had done when she was a small girl.

She ran her hand through his hair as he went through body shaking sobs. Her shirt and bra got wet, but she didn't care. Having never seen Harry like this, she did what she thought he needed. "It's all right, Harry. Let it out," she encouraged, finding tears of her own dripping into his hair and onto his forehead.

She wasn't sure how long they sat there, Harry letting go of years of pent-up emotions and Hermione so unsure how to help him. Eventually, Harry calmed down, his breathing becoming steady and his hands that had been clutching her shirt as though his life depended on it loosening.

As he settled, she realized he had fallen asleep. She didn't let him go though. Outside of Ginny and a few others, she didn't really have anyone else in her life besides Harry. She couldn't let him go.

Shifting so that she could lean against the headboard and moving so that his head was in her lap, instead of her chest, she leaned back and brushed her hand through his hair. Her shirt was wet, and it was a little uncomfortable that her bra on her left breast was quite damp, her cheeks flushing a little as she realized it. It was worth it though to see Harry sleeping. For the first time in as long as she could remember, he looked spent but at peace.

With a smile, she closed her eyes as she leaned her head against the wall, her hand still stroking his hair. She was feeling tired. Her tears had not been as many as Harry's, but it still didn't mean she had shed more than her fair share today.

With her eyes closed, she didn't see the Matron looking over them before trying to shoo Dobby away with the lunch platter in his hands.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 6

August 16th, 1996

The child was screaming. It was a blood curdling sound as it writhed around the floor, its innards spilling out its stomach. "Meaghan," the woman cried, trying to fight to get to her dying daughter. Avery silenced her, tired of hearing the woman's sobs and screams. The older boy was already dead, having been used and abused by the bastard Fenrir. His father had tried to save them, and now lay in the same pool of blood as his bastard son. Both their throats had become snacks of the half-turned werewolf. If he hadn't liked the terror in the people so much, he would not work with the beast.

It was such a turn on to see her distress, he a had hard time keeping his pants on. No. These were muggles. He would never stoop so low as to debase himself that way.

"Just finish the bitch. We have been here too long," a man in a Death mask said.

"Easy, Selwyn. The Ministry doesn't give a damn about people like this," he told the jumpy man. Selwyn was good in a fight but had always seemed to have a weak stomach for this type of fun. If their Lord didn't find him such a good servant, the man would not have become a Death Eater.

"The Ministry might not, but I do," a man in a dark cloak said from a doorway.

Avery flicked his wand, the unmistakable white bolt of a piercing charm went straight for the man's heart. Selwyn was almost as fast while Fenrir growled at the man, ready to pounce. Casual, as though bored, the man just barely moved his own wand at the same time, the spells harmlessly buried into the doorframe, making pinky finger sized holes in the wood. The hooded figure just barely moved his hand, and three wands flew in the air.

The woman looked broken, tears running down her face with her family on the floor. There was little doubt the other three muggles in the room were dead. She wasn't paying any head to the four men as she looked at her dead daughter, the little girl's intestines in a pile below her.

"Who are you," Avery demanded.

"Tut, tut." the black hooded man said. "I taught you better than that."

Under his mask, Avery snarled. "What is this," Selwyn said next to him.

There was a growl from Fenrir's throat before he jumped at the man. The man didn't move from his spot. This time his wand was up and flicked. The werewolf went sailing across the room to land in the pile of the woman's husband and naked son. Fenrir tried to get up, slipping in the pool of blood before a fine silvery chain shot out of the wizard's wand and wrapped around the creature.

The second it hit his skin, the werewolf started to howl in pain. The big strong wolf was reduced to a writhing, howling beast as he flopped back onto the dead man and falling into the blood again.

"A dog should know their place," the man said with a snarl. "Is this what I taught you, Alec? To become a simpering slave that lowers himself to associate with the like of this mut? Or to do this to muggles?"

Avery hissed at him. "You lost the right to control or denigrate me when you turned on our Lord."

Selwyn was moving around, trying to get an angle on the man holding all their wands. "Selwyn, I knew your father. He was a fool once to try me. Are you a fool like him?"

Avery laughed. "Yes, you never did abide fools, father," the man said with derision. "Why do you show your face hear. You all have a kill on sight order."

The man in the hood sighed. "I had hoped that you were salvageable but I see I was wrong. There is a message you can bring our Lord."

Avery Junior scoffed. "I am no errand boy for you."

"No. You are just some deprived child that enjoys this sick sport. There is worth and use in these people, as much as you and the other fools that follow the Dark Lord think there is not."

"They are animals and should be gutted as such," he said with a smile under his mask waiving a hand at the small girl on the floor. Fenrir was still bashing about the other dead bodies howling in pain.

There was a sound of disgust. "This was not Voldemort's original vision. It was not what we originally set out to do."

"How dare you use his name, you filthy..." Selwyn didn't get a chance to finish as he threw himself at the cloaked figure. Night black ropes caught the man and he fell at the feet of the figure, who sidestepped the falling man.

There was a sound of disappointment. "Just as dumb and compulsive as your father. Will you be quiet," the man said flicking his wand at the howling werewolf and there was sudden silence in the room. "I think you have tortured this poor woman enough too. Avada Kedavra," the man said softly and the woman slumped to the floor next to her daughter. "Forgive me."

Avery snarled. His fun with this one was not yet done. "I am not a boy to be commanded any more. I report to a Lord more powerful than you."

The hooded figure sighed. "If only that were true. Now, listen. I have other things to do and the Aurors should be here soon. Tell your Dark Lord that we still follow his original vision. He will not get any resistance from us as long as he does not get in our way. If he chooses to atone his deviance, we shall await him and see his true rebirth. If not, we will not sit idly as he burns everything around him."

Avery took off his mask to spit at his father. "You tell him yourself. Or are you too afraid? The Dark Lord is not happy with you three."

Avery Senior dropped the three wands of the other men on the floor. "If you decide to see the light, I will keep a spot open for you. I will be coming for my grandson by Christmas if you decide to follow your Dark Lord."

The man turned and blinked out of existence.

-oOo-

August 17, 1996

Harry still felt the heat rise in him as he thought about that day a little over a week ago every time he saw Hermione. The heat today was as much about that memory as seeing the girl in question swimming in her muggle one-piece swimming costume.

-o-

He had awoken in the Hospital bed, the light in the fading room showing it was close to twilight. He had been warm, resting his head against something that was firm and soft. It rose with the silent breath of someone close to his head.

He was laying on his side. Blinking, he could see the white shirt of Hermione rising and falling close to his face. Her hair was over her shoulder and she was laying on her side, on top of his pillow, a hand in his hair and the other under her head.

It was a sight he had only dreamed of and was very much liking this dream. She was warm. Her chest was so close he could feel her shirt brushing his nose as she breathed.

He closed his eyes again, enjoying the feeling of her hand in his hair. It was such a soft gesture, the likes he had never felt before. It warmed his body as much as hers.

He moved his hand to put it under his head, brushing her breast and his eyes shot open. He actually felt her shirt and the outline of the bra beneath as he ran his hand down most of her swell. She sighed at his touch.

Harry sat up fast. Hermione had been curled around his head, his head on her stomach and her hand in his hair. He realized that his other hand had been by her head in her hair.

She cried out as he pulled her hair. His hand must have been curling his fingers in it. "Ow. Ow," she said sitting up, Harry trying to move to not pull her hair.

"I'm sorry," he told her, finally managing to disentangle his hand. "I didn't mean too."

She had a hand at the side of her head. "No. No. It's alright, Harry. I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep." He could see her indistinct shape looking around. "Oh, I didn't mean to fall asleep. What time is it?"

"Almost six, Ms. Granger." It was Madame Pomfrey. "I trust you both had a good nap. I didn't want to disturb you. You both looked as though you needed the rest."

He felt like his neck was heating up thinking that he had cried like a baby on Hermione and then he must have fallen asleep. Embarrassment burned in him.

Hermione sounded slightly embarrassed as she said, "I didn't mean too. I missed my lessons today with you, Madam Pomfrey."

Harry couldn't keep a chuckle in. Of course she was more concerned about learning than being caught in a position that seemed like more than just what friends would do.

"What are you laughing at," she asked.

Harry held up his hands. "Nothing," he said trying to placate her.

She huffed. "Doesn't seem like nothing. Take your glasses."

"Before you two get going, there is an elf very concerned that you have almost missed two meals. Will you let him bring you both some dinner," Madame Pomfrey asked them.

Harry put his glasses on to see a slightly flustered Hermione who seemed to be looking at him shyly out of the corner of her eyes before looking at the Matron. He found his inside squirming a bit at her rumpled shirt, unkept hair and shy expression. It was Hermione-like and not at the same time. He found he liked her that way. "Dobby," she called out.

A second later, the little elf popped into view with a large tray. Two plates with silver covers, a pitcher, two goblets and bowl of butter lay on the tray. Harry gave a questioning look to Hermione as the elf said, "Here, Mistress. Dobby bring you the roast chicken I knows you like and beef for Master Harry. Would you like a table or trays on the bed?"

She didn't meet Harry's eye. "Could you please get us some trays?"

Dobby nodded, snapped his fingers and two trays appeared on the bed. Harry moved towards the foot to make room for Hermione and him to face each other. He had a million questions at that scene. "I'm sorry about earlier," he started.

She reached over as the elf gladly magicked their food onto the trays. Hermione took his hand in hers and he looked it at before meeting her eyes. "Harry, it is all right. Personally, I have no idea how you hold it together most of the time. I will always be here if you need to talk or cry or whatever."

She squeezed his hand before drawing it back. For the first time he could remember, someone had comforted him. Actually, cared for him in a way he really didn't understand.

-o-

She had not repeated the gesture in the last ten days now, and the longer it went, the more he found he wanted to repeat the way they had woken up and that conversation about elves.

It was a rare, beautiful day at the Burrow for this summer. Ron had taken the day off and had deemed to talk to him for more than a few words. They sat on the edge of the grass at the pond. Hermione, Ginny and Luna were swimming and talking softly amongst themselves on the far side.

Harry was watching them, his eyes moving to Hermione more than anyone else, especially when she moved out of the water or floated on her back. She was wearing a blue and white tie-die one-piece swimming costume. Mrs. Weasley had blown a gasket when the three girls had tried to wear bikinis the other day. 'It's totally indecent,' she had scolded them and made them change, only grudgingly agreeing to the one-piece suits. Hermione had grumbled something about a month and she could do as she pleased.

Harry wished he had seen them though. He couldn't deny that all three were fit.

Ron picked up a piece of grass and slowly plucked at it. "Fred and George had me take home another care package for you," Ron said pulling the blade apart and letting pieces fall.

"Tell them thanks. You can take anything you want first," he offered his friend. Ron had been the one drooling over the first package they had sent him the first day he had come to the Burrow. Thinking of it, he felt guilty at the extra precautions and protections the family was under now. The Burrow had been put under the Fidelius the day he had moved here. And even with that, they treated harry as though it was nothing and they would do it again.

Ron shrugged. "They started to give me a discount now that I am working there."

Harry nodded, watching Hermione laugh at something Luna said. Ron's eyes were on the girls too. There had been a tension between them since he had moved to the Burrow, and it felt like it was finally going to come to a head when Ron spoke again. "I saw Hermione fell asleep in your lap last night."

Harry tried not to blush. He had been reading and she had been leaning against him on the couch doing the same. Ron had been late and next he knew was that Mrs. Weasley had shaken them awake. Hermione had her head in his lap, and he had a hand over her stomach. "We were reading and fell asleep," Harry said furtively. They may not have held hands since that day, but they did seem to find any way they could to be in contact with each other.

"What were you reading," Ron asked throwing the last of the blade of grass away before picking up a dandelion. He started to shred it.

"Transfiguration. Hermione was helping me finish our summer assignments."

Ron snorted. "Yeah, that would put anyone to sleep."

Harry shoved his friend's leg. "It was actually interesting." They sat there for a while. The girls started to float on their backs again, slowly making their way towards them. Harry couldn't stop the way his stomach felt like butterflies had infested it to see Hermione in her swimming costume. "Ron, can I ask you something."

Ron threw the remains of the flower away. "If you want to know about your Firebolt, dad said they couldn't find it."

Harry watched the girls. "I don't care about that. You and everyone here are more important. I really wish your parents hadn't taken me here."

"Why would you say that?" Ron asked in shock.

Harry picked up a dandelion himself and started to pick it apart. "I put you all in danger. I don't want to see any of you hurt, or dead."

There was a heavy feel in the air. The girls swam back to the shallows before standing up and moving towards their towels near the dock. "You don't want to see Hermione hurt," Ron said looking at the girls.

"I don't want to see any of you hurt. Ron, I almost lost all of you that night. I don't think I would have made it if that had happened."

Ron picked up another blade of grass, his eyes not wavering from the girls. "Luna is really cute, isn't she," he asked.

Harry shook his head before looking at his best mate. "Wait! What? Luna? I thought you thought she was as barmy as they come?"

Ron shrugged his shoulders. "It's not like I have a chance with Hermione with you around and with You-Know-Who back, I think our options may get a little limited if it's going to get as bad as my parents said it was last time. And as far as Luna," Ron said nodding his head towards her. "I like that swimming costume on her and she's not barmy. Maybe a little loony at times, but it's kind of endearing too. Plus, it drives Hermione up the wall when Luna comes at her with something so off the wall most think her mental."

Harry snorted before becoming serious. The girls were drying their hair. "You really like Hermione, don't you?" Harry turned away to look at his friend. Ron was watching the girls. Harry wasn't sure if he was looking at Luna or Hermione.

Ron sighed. "She is pretty and smart, but she wouldn't like someone like me. Not when you are around."

Blinking, Harry had to ask, "What do you mean when I'm around?"

"Oh, come off it, Harry. Why are you always pretending like you aren't this bigger than life hero who has beaten You-Know-Who how many times now and is the son of two of the most popular alumni at Hogwarts? You pretend like you don't like the attention but are always doing things to get more. I see how half the girls at school look at you and hear the rumors." Ron said not looking at him. "Compared to you, I'm just some prat who seems to want to ride on your coat tails. Why would she like me when she can have you?"

Harry looked at his best mate, mouth open and trying to process what Ron had said. "Is that what you really think of me," he managed to get out eventually.

"Harry. Ron. You coming?" Ginny called to them.

Harry didn't look away from Ron. "Maybe not, but I know your fangirls look at you that way. That's all Ginny has said about you since she was eight. Never mind the Potters were always very influential and rich. Nothing of what I am. I just never thought Hermione would be one."

"Your mental," Harry said angrily to Ron. His voice quickly rose to a yell. "Hermione is not a fangirl and I don't want any of the attention. You think it was fun last year having the Ministry, the Prophet and most of the wizarding world hating me for something I had no control over! If you want it, you can have it."

He ran his hand through his hair, a chill running down his arms as the sun went behind a cloud and the day grew cooler. "You think I wanted to be in that stupid tournament or have Hermione at the bottom of that lake. Ron, I actually thought it meant they would die if we didn't get them up in an hour. That was why I saved Gabrielle too. It was almost as terrifying to see you all hurt at the Ministry. And that whole shite about me being the Chosen One now. That is what it is, shite! I never asked for any of this. I don't want any of this and I don't want a girl or anyone else around me that only wants me for some fame I want nothing to do with."

Ron snorted. "There you go again, acting all noble and humble. You really should just go with it and leave the rest of them to people like me. And your right, she shouldn't be a fangirl. You aren't good enough for her and she is a Muggleborn. You need some pureblood princess. I doubt your parents..."

Harry didn't know what possessed him to do it. Ron was his best mate, but something about him insulting Hermione and possibly his parents moved him to action. Scrambling to his feet, he punched Ron before the git knew what hit him. "My mother was a muggle-born," he said angrily.

Where this would normally be a fair fight, Ron clearly had the advantage this time with the few extra inches he had gained over the summer and the fact he had kept up with three or four square meals a day while Harry was still ten pounds down from what he was beginning of the summer.

Ron fell back to the ground, swearing as he rolled to avoid another hit from Harry. Harry stumbled over Ron as Ron hit his legs. They were on the ground, Ron grabbing for Harry and Harry trying to squirm away.

"HARRY!" He heard Hermione scream.

Ron elbowed him in the face and Harry's head hit the dirt. He saw stars for a second as Ron wrestled to get on top of him. Harry rolled, knocking Ron down. "Stop! Ron, get off him," He thought it was Ginny.

Harry rolled and managed to get a hit into Ron's stomach as Ron wrapped his arm around his neck. "STOP!" Hermione sounded like she was close to tears.

Ron managed to lock his arm around Harry. Harry elbowed Ron a few times, earning a few 'oomphs' from Ron, but Ron didn't let go. After a moment, Harry was starting to feel faint. It was getting hard to breathe. "STOP! You're going to choke him."

Harry hit Ron again and Ron tried to double over. He didn't release Harry though. His vision was starting to go black around the edges and somewhere he had lost his glasses.

"Petrificus totalus," he heard someone yell.

Ron's hand ripped across his throat, rolling Harry. Harry went rigid, his arms thrust to his side, legs locked straight together and his back stiff as a board. His face smashed into the dirt. It was a good thing his jaw had snapped shut so that he didn't get a mouth full of dirt and grass.

"What is wrong with you two," Ginny said angrily.

Harry was rolled over to see an angry and concerned Hermione close enough for him to see her face without his glasses. "Happy with yourself? You want to go back to Madam Pomfrey? What is this all about?"

"With all the nargles and swiquiells about, I would say it's about a girl. I hope it's not about me, I would hate to be the one to be between them," Luna said in her usual far-off tone.

If Harry could have groaned, he would have. Luna was far too perceptive at times. He saw Hermione working something out fast in her head. "Luna, I don't think this is about you," Ginny said matter of fact. "Is it Ron?"

Harry saw it in Hermione's eyes when she pieced together what probably happened. Harry wanted to look away but couldn't under the full body bind spell. She wasn't supposed to know about his possible feelings for her. Ron and her were his best friends. The shame of starting a fight with Ron was only tempered by what Ron had said about Hermione.

"Right. If I let you both up, do you promise not to hit each other again. Blink twice if you understand," Hermione said pulling away. He blinked and Hermione put his glasses back on before muttering, "Finite."

The spell lifted and Harry rolled out of Ron's reach, coming up to a crouch a few feet from Hermione now. His instincts to not be in danger overpowering anything else. Ron was putting his hand to his side as he sat up, not looking at Harry or moving towards him.

"What happened," Hermione demanded of them.

Harry didn't say anything. He would not let Hermione know how he liked her right now. It was obvious Ron still had a torch for her and he didn't want to get involved in that. He had enough issues to let himself fall for her and lose one or both of them. Harry needed her around. It would hurt to see Ron with her, but he needed them.

Ron waived his hand towards Harry. "Ask the Chosen One over there. You all seem more concerned about him anyways."

Ginny smacked her brother off his head. "Only because you were choking him, prat. Are you hurt?"

"I'll be all right," Ron told her.

Harry rubbed at his throat, sensing the danger had passed. "It's fine. I need to go get some schoolwork done." His voice was hoarse, and it hurt to talk. He could feel some tender spots on his face and ribs. Licking his lips, he tasted blood.

"Harry, you are not fine," Hermione said exasperated. "You have to stop saying that."

Standing up, Harry tried to brush the grass and dirt off him. "Ron, if that is what you want. I won't stand in the way, just don't ever insult me or other's again." Ron looked at him and Harry stared at him for a moment to make sure he got the message. Even if Ron was with Hermione, he wouldn't stand him saying anything bad about her.

"Yeah, sure mate," Ron said petulantly.

"Are either of you going to tell us what happened," Hermione pressed.

Ron got up. "It's just a thing between mates," Ron told her.

"Some stupid thing," Ginny said eyeing Ron. "Go see mum and have her heal those," she said to both of them.

"Harry," Hermione asked.

Harry didn't look at her. Keeping her as just a friend was important, but he knew it would take work to do so. Seeing her with Ron was going to hurt, but what did he have left if not her and the Weasley's? "Just drop it, Hermione. I'm going to Percy's room. It's getting cold out."

Clouds had started to move in and the nice day had gone chilly.

"Harry, let's talk about this," she started again as he walked away. He turned. The warm fuzzy he would have gotten earlier to see the girls in short shorts and shirts that were wet in areas from their bathing suits and obvious signs they may be feeling chilly was not there. Instead his stomach soured to see Ron giving him a baleful look and Hermione's hurt and concerned one.

Harry shook his head. "You need to talk to Ron. I'm going to Percy's room."

"Harry, you should put the dirigible plum necklace on I gave you to keep the nargles away for the rest of the day. Your studying will go better," Luna said to him. Even with the prospect of Ron and Hermione now, he saw the look of consternation on her face before turning around. Ron was right about one thing; she was cute when she looked like that.

Harry walked up towards the house. "What did you say to him," an upset Hermione could be heard.

The Burrow had been his favorite place in the world next to Hogwarts. It was pieced together and looked wobbly with additions added haphazardly, one on top of the other so that the house was four stories tall and looked ready to tumble over. Magic made sure it didn't.

The family that lived in it had been some of his favorite people. Molly was a little overbearing at time, but she always had their best interests at heart. Arthur was good at what he did, being a good counterbalance to his wife, and obsessed with Muggle things. The twins were like mischievous older brothers to him, George actually having shown him how to shave a few years back, as well as both of them doing what older brothers should do. Ron was his brother, in all purposes but blood. Or, at least Harry had seen him that way. Did brothers fight over a girl or get jealous of each other?

Harry didn't know how to answer that question. The Weasley's were supposed to be non-traditional wizards to start, so he had no reference to understand if the family dynamics he was now part of were normal or not.

A cold gust of air hit him before he made it to the door. A chill went down his back and he wasn't sure why. The day had become dull and grey, only a sliver of sunlight in the distance. What he thought were storm clouds were actually rolling banks of mist. He watched as they came from the direction of Ottery St. Catchpole, coming over the hill that hid the Burrow from the town.

It billowed and roiled as though it was a wave crashing down. The shiver down his back became a pit in his stomach. Something moved in the mist as it came down the hill. When it hit the edge of the property, the mist initially stopped before starting to spread out to both sides.

Harry had a feeling of despair. It was a feeling he knew well. "Shite," he muttered before turning around. The mist was racing around the edge of the property faster than he could run. His friends were out of site, over the rise that led down to the pond on the Weasley lands.

Harry took off as fast as he could. The mists had started to penetrate the boundaries. He wasn't certain that dementors had not been added as something to keep out, or there were just so many of them that they were overwhelming the wards. "Hermione! Ginny! Luna! Ron!" he yelled cresting the rise. The mist was now rolling inside the Burrow's grounds as fast as it had come over the hill when he first saw it. The unmistakable shapes of black hooded figures flying in it made his stomach jump to his throat.

He saw the girls running from the pond, but the mists engulfed them all when they were still a hundred feet away from the shoreline. Harry took his wand out. "Expecto Patronum," he yelled out and a stag more powerful than the night he had saved Sirius burst from his wand. He was filled with the determination to protect his friends and family.

"Harry," he heard Ron yell from somewhere in the mist to his left.

"Ron," he called back as Prongs cantered around him, making a clear area at least fifty feet across.

"Harry, Ron," he heard Hermione. Harry moved in the direction her voice came from. A few of the black figures flew over him but stayed well clear of his Patronus. It radiated a warmth that drove most of the chill and despair away. Harry had the sense there were dozens, if not hundreds of them around.

"Expecto Patronum," he heard from nearby. The voice sounded weak. It was soon followed up by a scream. Harry veered to his right. A dozen or more dementors, their slimy hands outstretched and a feel of rampant longing from them making Harry feel sick. "Prongs," he ordered, and the stag took off at a full canter, charging into their ranks and quickly revealing Ginny on the ground.

Harry ran to her side. "Ginny, are you all, right? Where are the others?"

He helped her to her feet. She was shaking and her wand had fallen to the ground. "I... I don't know," she said. Harry reached down quickly and handed her wand. "Hermione! Ron! Luna!" he yelled out.

"Harry, by the pond," he heard a panicked Hermione.

"Expecto Patronum," someone else called from nearby.

"Ron, get to Hermione," he cried out supporting Ginny as they made it towards Hermione's voice. He thought the other voice had been Ron's.

Prongs ran around them, a few times catching a dementor. Most of the time, he just tossed them aside, but once he managed to spear one, toss it to the ground and stomp on it. Harry heard a sickening crunch, and the thing didn't move.

"Harry!" Hermione screamed.

"Hermione," he called out. Fear and worry for her causing Prongs to grow and shine brighter as he thought about her smile and the way she bit her lip when thinking.

"Over here," he heard someone call out.

A shiny otter came into view, surrounded by twenty or more dementors. "Go," he yelled to Prongs. The stag ran at them, joining the otter as the dementors started to scatter. Hermione was at the edge of the lake, Luna at her feet.

Harry ran to her as she rushed him, hugging him. The sight of her was such a relief Prongs grew even larger. Ginny dropped at her feet. "Luna," she called.

"Don't let your Patronus down," Harry told Hermione, separating from her.

"She's only passed out," Hermione told Ginny, wiping a tear from her face.

"Where's Ron," he asked.

Hermione shook her head. "We all got separated when the fog came in."

"Harry!" Someone called out nearby.

"Over here, Ron," he called, thinking it was him. "At the pond."

Two Patronuses came into view. One was a lynx, running ahead of its owner, the other a wolf. Harry had a bad feeling looking at the Patronuses. He didn't recognize either of them. "Oh, thank Merlin," a man said coming into view. Harry immediately recognized the black man, his mouth going dry. "Are you all here," he asked.

"Where's the other red-head," a young woman with vibrant pink hair asked coming up to them. The mist was starting to dissipate, and they could see a good hundred or more feet around them now.

"You didn't find Ron," Ginny asked in fear.

"We couldn't find anyone. Only that ruddy stag stood out in the mist," Tonks said.

Hermione gasped. "Ron had stormed off towards the woods before the mist came in."

"Which way?"

Hermione took her wand in her hand and spun it. "North," she said, and the wand stopped, pointing to her left. "That way," she said pointing a little to her right.

"You all stay here. I'll go looking for him."

"The hell you won't," Tonks said. "You know our orders are never to go alone."

"One of us needs to stay with the children," Kingsley told her. "Dumbledore and Amelia both will have our skins if anything happens to them."

The fog was lifting more and they could see most of the pond and surrounding area now.

"We all go," Harry told him. "None of us are going to be left behind and they need chocolate." Harry pointed to a faint looking Ginny who was resolutely standing and Luna not stirring.

"Come on, Luna," he said leaning down to carry her.

"No. You need to keep your wand free," Kingsley said seeing what he was going to do.

"She needs to be carried," Harry said to the man defiantly.

"I can levitate her," Hermione said, stepping next to Harry. "Harry, he's right. Prongs is more powerful right now than any of ours put together."

"We need to move," Tonks told him. "The dementors are moving, but they are known to pass the same spot more than once when they attack a town."

"You mean this has happened before," he asked her, looking dumbfounded.

Kingsley frowned. "Are we moving or not? We can discuss this later."

"Wingardium Leviosa," Hermione said and Luna was gently lifted to float flat on her back. It was a much different action than when Sirius had lifted Snape their third year, idly bouncing the man into the ceiling as they walked. Ginny's shakes were lessening, and she was gripping her wand tight as she leaned down to pick up Luna's.

A new fog bank was rolling in on the other side of the pond, but it didn't cross the bank this time. "This way," Harry said, fear coursing through him about Ron. He did not want to find his friend in the condition he feared he would be.

Kingsley quickly stepped into the lead, with Ginny guiding them. "Ron," they called out. Harry constantly looked over his shoulder. The fog ebbed and flowed around the property line.

"Ron! Ginny! Harry! Anyone," they heard a panicked Molly calling out.

"Ron! 'Arry!" Fleur sounded a little more put together.

"Molly, over here," Kingsley said in an amplified voice. In a moment, a swan, Mrs. Weasley and Fleur came into view looking haggard.

Mrs. Weasley let out a cry. "Thank, Merlin." She ran to them, bowling into them and hugging Ginny and Hermione to her before turning to Luna and Harry. "Tell me she hasn't," Mrs. Weasley started.

Fleur was quickly at their side too. She looked at Harry and quickly started to look him and the others over. " 'ow did you get so be't up," she asked him.

"Just passed out, Molly. Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger made sure these two were protected. We are trying to find your son," he said in a grave voice.

Molly's hands went to her mouth. "Ron? Where is he?"

"He was heading towards the woods," Hermione said, her composure starting to crack.

"Can you take them back to the Burrow while we look," Tonks asked. "They all need some chocolate and Harry has been holding his Patronus for a while now."

Harry looked at her. Why would it matter how long his Patronus was held for if they needed to find Ron?

Mrs. Weasley was in tears, but stood up, forcing them down. "Of course. Come on you three. I can take over for Luna, dear."

"I 'ill 'elp you. Ginevra," the slim blonde French woman said taking Ginny on her arm. Ginny was leaning on her in a moment.

Mrs. Weasley flicked her wand and Hermione dropped hers. Hermione suddenly looked very tired, and Harry just barely made it to her side before her knees buckled. Prongs faded a little. His body was starting to feel the strain now that he was paying attention.

"Molly, have you sent a message to Arthur yet," Kingsley asked.

She sounded as though she was just barely keeping it together. "He should be here at any moment. Bill should be on his way too."

It was a very silent group that worked their way to the Burrow. Molly cast a Patronus as they got closer to the house and the fog looked to roll in again. A St. Bernard joined the swan and were almost to the garden when Arthur burst out of the door. "Molly. Oh, dear Merlin," he said looking at Luna, color leaving his flush face. "She's just passed out," Molly said before letting a sob out. He rushed to his wife. He hugged her and Ginny before stepping back. "Harry, Hermione and Fleur, you good?" he asked.

Prongs was now half the size he had been and dimming. It was taking a lot of will power to keep the spell, even with the thoughts of the witch no clutching her arms around his waist, and to keep them both up. "Ron," he started.

"What about Ron? Where is he," Mr. Weasley said in a panic.

Mrs. Weasley looked almost ready to fall apart. "Kingsley and Tonks are looking for him. He was last seen heading towards the woods."

The look of anguish on his face turned quickly to determination. "Right. Get them inside. Bill should be here any moment. I want him to stay and watch over you all."

"'e should 'elp," Fleur said to him.

Mr. Weasley shook his head. "No. I won't have any of you in danger again today. Have Bill stay here."

"Yes, Arthur," Mrs. Weasley said. Harry had noticed the change since coming here. Mr. Weasley was taking charge more and Mrs. Weasley was following his word as he exerted himself. Mr. Weasley gave her a pained expression before rushing away. Harry had never seen the man move so quickly.

They were ushered into the Burrow. Molly made sure Ginny and Luna were moved into the sitting room. Harry put Hermione in the first chair in the kitchen, finally letting Prongs go. He staggered. "Harry," Hermione said grabbing his hand and pulling him into the chair next to her.

They didn't say anything as Mrs. Weasley shuffled back into the kitchen. Harry leaned over and soon had his head on the table. Hermione did the same, her eyes watery and looking ready to cry. Harry didn't want to think of the possibility of Ron...

Under the table, he felt her hand slip into his.

Mrs. Weasley was soon back in the kitchen. In moments it smelled of hot chocolate and large chunks of chocolate were on the table. "Eat," she told them brooking no defiance. Harry sat up. Hermione just managed it by leaning her head on his shoulder. They ate their chocolate and drank the hot chocolate. The effects of the dementors lessened, but the chocolate could do nothing for their concerns.

The fire in the fireplace turned a brilliant green before Bill stepped through. "Oh, Bill," Mrs. Weasley said, finally losing her composure and rushing to him crying. Fleur was quickly through the door. "'ou are to stay 'ere," she told him. "A'thur needs 'ou to protect t'em."

"What is going on," he asked Fleur.

Mrs. Weasley sobbed as Fleur answered. "Dementors attacked. 'our fat'er is out looking for Ron 'ith the Order."

"Merlin's balls," Bill said.

-oOo-

Hermione was looking around the room, not really focusing on anything much. Luna was awake still, still looking out of sorts. Her normal dreamy stare was now far-off and unfocused. She sat at the foot of the couch with her back to Hermione and head to the side.

Ginny was on the floor, curled up in a blanket and her head in Luna's lap. Luna was absentmindedly stroking her hand through Ginny's hair. Hermione couldn't see her face so she couldn't tell if Ginny was awake or not.

Hermione found herself curled up on the couch, her head in Harry's lap. Harry was still holding her hand. She looked up to see his eyes drifting closed. His head started to droop down. He jerked it back up, eyes opening and looking around like a frightened deer until he realized where he was.

"Harry, you should get some sleep," she told him. "Why don't you put your head on me instead?"

It was getting late. The clock over the mantle said it was after eleven. Harry had resolutely stayed up since this afternoon. She could see he was exhausted from having to keep Prongs going for so long and nerves. According to Tonks, it had been almost forty minutes. At the power he had put into it, she couldn't understand why he hadn't passed out in five.

Harry had insisted on keeping them all together when Molly had tried to shuffle them to bed an hour ago.

He shook his head. "You three sleep. I can't until they find Ron," he told her.

"Harry, please. That is the third time you nodded out in the last ten minutes."

He squeezed her hand. If they hadn't been waiting on news about Ron, she might have felt giddy. Now it was a small comfort in what had turned out to be a very bad day. "Will it make you happy if I lean my head back," he asked gently.

She knew she would not be able to sleep right now, but he had saved all three of them. He deserved the rest after what he did. She had been losing to the dementors. They had been constantly attacking them. Luna had passed out after minutes of her Patronus helping Hermione fight off a dozen or more of the black cloak horrors. She honestly didn't even know how many there where, but if he hadn't come when he did, she doubted she could have held her Patronus for more than another minute or two.

"Hermione. Harry. Thank you," Luna said as though reading her thoughts. "Ginny told me what you did."

She reached over and squeezed Luna's shoulder. "Luna, any of us would have done that."

The girl closed her eyes. "I think Ginny is finally asleep. Don't tell her, but Ron didn't make it." A tear fell down Luna's cheek. "I can't be the one to break her heart."

Hermione felt something stick in her throat. She knew they had all been thinking it, but this was the first time any of them mouthed it.

Luna went on. "There are dark times ahead where you two will be some of the light to save us. It will be a dark road and I know we won't all make it through." The girl was so serious, it rattled Hermione. Only a few times had she seen Luna like this and what she said was always true. Hermione was having suspicions that Luna may be part seer. Much more of a true seer than Trelawney.

Hermione stroked her hand through Luna's hair, unable to say anything or offer any other comfort. Harry squeezed her hand tighter. Luna sighed. Soon her breathing had calmed.

There was a sound in the kitchen of the flow activating.

"Oh, Madame Bones," she heard Bill. "Thank you for coming."

"I can't stay long. It's been a horrible day. Have the Aurors found him," she asked.

There was a pause. "No. Can you spare anymore? They are looking outside the Fidelius now. After this is done, we will have to recast it tomorrow. To many people know now."

"I understand, Mr. Weasley, I'll clear the paperwork tonight, but I can't spare any more Aurors. There were four attacks like this today. Scrimgeour is having a fit at the scale of it," she told him.

"Sit. I 'ill get us some tea," they heard Fleur say.

"Mum, you sit. Fleur and I have this," Bill said.

There was a sigh and the sound of a chair moving. "How many Amelia," Mrs. Weasley asked.

After a long pause, Madame Bones spoke again. "Fifty-seven kissed and one-hundred and three dead. Eight of them wizards or witches. There is five times that amount taken to hospitals. That is the latest count. We have every Obliviator, Auror and Magical Reversal squad working overtime already and this may push some over the edge. There were also two more muggle families killed. I need more Aurors."

The woman sounded tired. Hermione felt tears coming to her eyes. So many kissed and killed. It was a fate worse than death to be kissed. Looking up, she saw Harry with his eyes scrunched. "I thought it was my fault they attacked us," Harry said. "This is something else though."

She took her hand out of Luna's hair and reached up to cup his cheek. She was surprised when he nuzzled his cheek into her palm. "I never should have hit him."

"Friends have rough patches at times. Once they find him, you can apologize," she tried to comfort him. She knew he had heard Luna and her words sounded empty.

"...they attacked here, the Lovegood's and the village. Luckily, Xenophilius is out of country, and you have Luna here. Down in Surrey they had a giant. The Ministry is portraying it as a tornado. There was a thunderstorm at the time. Then there were the attacks in Galway. It was like they were everywhere at once. I lost two Aurors who were trying to protect a downtown marketplace. It is like they want the muggles to know about us."

Harry sighed. "Do you think they were looking for me? Surrey is where I used to live and they must suspect I am around here if not there."

Hermione interlaced her fingers into his. "I don't know, Harry. I think they are just trying for as much destruction as they can. Just promise me you won't do anything rash."

Harry snorted. "I try not to."

There was another pause in the conversation in the kitchen. Harry leaned his head back and she moved to make herself more comfortable in his lap.

"Can't stay too much longer, Molly. Bill, I wanted to thank you for helping with Susan last week."

"How is she doing," he asked. Hermione felt a ball in her stomach. She was supposed to have written to Susan this summer and with everything with Harry, she had forgotten. After last year, Hermione had really liked Susan.

"She'll survive, but she's still pretty shaken up over it," she said. "At least I was able to kill one and castrate the other."

A shiver went through her. That did not sound like a good thing. "What happened to Susan," Harry asked.

"I don't know. Hush," she whispered.

"It's getting as bad as last time," they heard Mrs. Weasley.

No one else said anything else as she noticed a silvery light through the door. "Found Ron. Taking to St. Mungo's. Doesn't look good," they heard Mr. Weasley say.

"Mum," Bill cried out before it sounded like they were lowering someone to the floor.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 7

August 18, 1996

Mrs. Weasley sat on the bed side crying over Ron's hand. Mr. Weasley stood over her, a hand on her shoulder. Ginny was crying on Luna's shoulder while they sat in a chair, Ginny on Luna's lap. While the twins, for once, stood next to Harry without joking, their hats in their hands and looking at the blank expression on Ron's face with long faces. Bill was by Ron's head, his left hand clenching and unclenching while Fleur stood silently at his side.

A message had been sent to Charlie, but they didn't expect him back from Bulgaria until tomorrow at the earliest.

Percy was missing. Harry had a thought that it should be Percy standing where he was, between the twins and Bill, not Harry.

Guilt rippled through his body.

Hermione was standing next to him, a hand in his and the other holding his arm. He looked at Ron. His eyes were open, drool came out of a mouth that refused to close. Harry looked at his brown eyes and didn't see anything in them. They looked dull and lifeless. The worst part was that Ron still breathed. He breathed, and that was about it. The rest of him was limp.

Harry felt the bile in his stomach threaten to come up. "Excuse me," he said suddenly pushing past the twins and stumbling out into the hall. He was happy there was a trash bin a few feet away as he pushed open the top and what little breakfast he had had was tossed up.

He stood over the can for several minutes before standing up.

A hand touched his back, and he closed his eyes. "Hermione, please leave me alone for a bit."

There was a dark chuckle. He turned his head to see a sad looking Mr. Weasley. "Last I knew I wasn't a pretty sixteen-year-old witch."

"No, sir," he said feeling embarrassed at his reaction.

Mr. Weasley gave him a sad smile. "Ginny told me what you did yesterday. I wanted to say thank you for saving her, Luna and Hermione."

Harry felt his gut clench again. "I didn't save Ron," was all he could say.

Mr. Weasley grabbed his shoulders. Harry had never realized how strong the man was. "Harry, you are not to blame. If you had ran off after him, I think we would have three girls here instead of just Ron." The man sounded close to tears. "Don't blame yourself. Sometimes you can't save everyone."

Harry couldn't believe he was not being blamed for Ron. When he had heard Ron call, he had been closest, not the girls. He had chosen Hermione over him without a thought. What kind of friend or brother would do that?

"Ron saw you as a brother, Harry. He would have rather you saved them too." They both fought tears. Harry looked away. He didn't deserve the gratitude of this man. He had seen no reproach or blame in the man's eyes or face.

"Sure," was all he could say.

Mr. Weasley pulled him into a hug. "Harry, you may not believe it, but Molly and I see you as our son. Don't let us lose another one over this."

Harry left his arms by his side. He didn't deserve this treatment. Mr. Weasley pushed himself away. "There is a bathroom a few doors down. Go get yourself cleaned up and come back in. Hermione and the others need you in there. We'll head back to the Burrow in an hour or so."

"Sure, Mr. Weasley," he said, happy to have a reason not to go back in yet.

-oOo-

August 26, 1996

Albus paced in his office. The first two months of having Voldemort back in the open had not gone well. The fool Cornelius was finally out of office, but Rufus Scrimgeour had replaced him. Albus was still furious about that.

He had backed Amelia Bones, knowing he needed someone strong in the position who would root out the rot within the Ministry as well as on the outside. After the debacle between Potter, the Weasley's and the Order, he found his position severely undermined and things not going at all to his liking. The fact Scrimgeour wouldn't make him Head Mugwump of the Wizengamot again was unconscionable. Not that Oliver Vance was a bad choice, but it was not him.

Scrimgeour was a fool.

He was trying to fight the Death Eaters in head-to-head confrontations, often sending Amelia and her limited resources on fool errands. Even while upset, Albus had to concede that there were some results from it. A fire had been lit in Amelia and much of the DMLE after the assassination attempt on her and two other high-ranking officials went wrong. She had actually cleaned house of a few suspected issues. Of course, Amelia's niece having been hurt badly was probably part of it, but they both survived, and two Death Eaters wound up dead, three more in Azkaban. The fact one of the Death Eaters was an Auror was a large issue.

His spies had reported Tom was less than pleased at that botched operation. Albus still didn't know what had gone wrong, knowing it was some of Tom's top men on it. The Ministry was keeping mum on the details. The avenues he had before to get at the information where now closed thanks to the interference by Cornelius over the last few years and Scrimgeour's mistrust of him.

His steps echoed off the high ceiling as he paced.

The cabinet with the pensive was open and he had been going into it on and off all day.

Not knowing where Harry was or how he was doing was even more irksome. He had very strong suspicions he was with the Weasleys, but Albus had no clue where they were now. Bill was too good of a Curse Breaker and had hidden then better than Albus thought possible. This severely limited his effort over the last fourteen years in conditioning the boy to his goals. It was a bitter pill for him to realize he had overlooked a few key points.

First, the boy was supposed to have been prepared to sacrifice himself, not be beaten as low as he had been. Albus couldn't understand how he had overlooked the abuse the boy had suffered over the years. He had made an oath to protect Harry to Lily before she died, and he had failed. Only because Harry had died at his own hands, and not Vernon's, had kept him from losing his magic.

The fact that Harry had died was the second complicating issue. Albus had hoped his manipulations to sacrifice him for the many, would extend the protection Lily had bestowed on him. It might burn out Harry's magic to do so if he survived the killing curse, he hoped Tom would use on him, but it would save countless others when the final battle came. His death had come too soon. He also hadn't made a sacrifice, instead killing his relatives in a reflex to save himself.

"Damn, Vernon Dudley," he fumed.

He had underestimated the man's own scars from his upbringing and the hatred his wife had for her own sister. The three letters Petunia had written him all those years ago lay on his desk. He didn't know why at the time he had kept them, but looking back at it now, he had made a mistake there. He should have found a place for her. She was technically a squib, like her husband had been, both their magics too low to be trained, but more than a standard Muggle.

Even squibs could have a place in the Magical World and could be useful.

Yes, Albus had made a miscalculation in thinking it had just been a child's wish.

Now, he was going to have to deal with a girl that thought she could challenge him so that he could get back into the good graces of Harry Potter. That had been his fourth mistake. Caring for the boy and trying to abide by Lily's wishes to give the boy a good childhood. Apparently, it had been a good enough childhood to have the muggle-born Granger in love with him. He could see it and he knew if he moved against her, Harry would see everything burn around him to save her. Albus had seen the bond after that night. This was how Lily had seen things, but he had thought his plans brilliant enough to get around her. How had another Muggle-born been able to get around him?

Having had worked in the Department of Mysteries, Lily had found out some of Harry's fate before the boy had even been conceived. She had come to him to ask for help in protecting him. He had, and now everyone would pay.

How could he have missed all this? Or had Lily left things out?

"Damnable to Merlin," he cursed.

In a rare moment of rage, he walked to his desk and swept his hands across it. Notes, letters, artifacts and a dozen other things spilled to the floor in a mess and clink of metal and glass. In less than two months, fourteen years of planning, manipulating, guidance and building up a resistance for the next War had fallen apart.

"Damn," he yelled out hitting his hands on his desk.

Albus was not typically so out of control, but he could not figure out how to fix this. The Weasley's would never return to him now. Half the Order was firmly in their camp with the other half leaning that way, Moody was dead, and Arthur and Bill were showing leadership abilities that he had never expected of any Weasley. The fact their youngest boy had been kissed a fortnight ago in a massive, coordinated attack that spanned the four corners of the United Kingdom had driven them further from him. He was hearing rumors of an open resistance. That could end disastrously for everyone. He wanted to have as many as possible lay low as those he wanted to fight pulled around him. Harry was to be their banner, sacrificing himself to protect the main fighting force against Tom.

The most galling of all was that he now had a clock to accomplish what he needed done. The pain in his blackened hand was getting worse and it had crept a few millimeters up his arm in the last two months. If he didn't act soon, how was he to train Harry for what he must do. The only good was that Albus could not train him to be the attack dog he originally wanted. One that could lead from the front lines and bolster those around him.

With the horcrux in the boy gone, there were new options he hadn't considered. The first was that he needed Harry Potter to survive.

Albus took in a deep breath. He had knocked most of the stuff off his desk except the paper that had started his rage. A rather camera shy and sad Harry Potter was on the front cover, standing outside Gringotts, a new Scion ring on his hand. Next to him stood Arthur Weasley, looking more together than he had ever seen the man. Albus' left eye ticked suddenly realizing that confundus charms and compulsions that had been on Arthur since he was a student at Hogwarts must all be broken. He knew the Weasley's would never come to him again. Arthur had been named Reagent until Harry could take over. Technically the boy had until twenty-one to take the Head of his house but could at any point once he reached seventeen.

That must mean the true Will had been unlocked and he was afraid that many things he didn't want known would soon be public knowledge. It could stay sealed until Harry was seventeen if the Reagent so chose. Albus wasn't sure what would happen now that Arthur was in control of his full facilities. Losing Bill's abilities as probably the top Curse Breaker in the world was devastating to his aims. Charlie had been an excellent contact and spy abroad. The twins, as foolish as they were, were some of the best enchanters and charms casters he had seen in a hundred years, even rivaling Flitwick at a fifth of the age, and their sister was going to be a fraction less powerful as Harry or that Muggleborn.

His only consolation was that Percy was still in his pocket. Having one last spy so close to the Minister was going to help. If he could wheedle his way back into the Weasley pack, all the better.

His larger concern was what would happen if Arthur figured out what really happened to the Prewitt fortune during the first war. Molly would be able to lay claim to everything left in the Dumbledore vaults, instead of Aberforth. Not that he thought his brother wanted any of it. It was less than a hundred thousand galleon's now, not even a tenth of a tenth of what the Prewitt's had had.

Albus doubted that the war would have gone as well as it did if not for the money last time. The fact he had used it for good would not save him if it was found he stolen Molly's inheritance, family heirlooms and title. Any of those crimes was an instant trip to Azkaban, no matter who you were, and at best an immediate Dementors Kiss. There were things that happened in Azkaban to those sent there for like that made Dementors look tame.

Losing the Potter vault now was going to severely hamper the new war efforts. Losing the Black Vaults to Harry was even worse.

He still didn't understand how Sirius had managed to get a Goblin Certified Will that proclaimed Harry his one and sole Heir. He didn't even have access to Grimmauld Place now. None of the Order did. Not unless Harry allowed them in. The wards have slammed shut the night Sirius died. There were items and books in that house that he desired and had hoped he could have Mundungus Fletcher pilfer for him. The poor man was still in St. Mungo's after trying to get in.

No, this was one of the worst things that could happen.

"Dammit. Dursley is a spawn of Morgana," he shouted, knowing that was how everything had gone wrong. None of it was his fault that things were so burked up now.

He swept everything else off his desk. His magic, growing weaker as the curse worked its destruction, didn't even flare with his anger the way it should. He could tell he was getting weaker, and it seemed to be happening faster than Severus had said.

Albus needed time. More time. More options, but the time turners were all destroyed when 'those children' had destroyed half of the most promising research in the Ministry. He didn't have time to make another, knowing it took months to collect enough time sand.

He turned and started pacing again. Fawkes gave a pained coo. Looking at his phoenix, it pained him to see the bird looking close to a burning day. He knew it hurt his familiar with every rebirth, but that was the cycle of a phoenix. Life and death, birth and rebirth. Pain and pleasure. It never occurred to him that the phoenix was still years away from what should be his normal cycle.

He turned and almost fell as he slipped on something on the floor. "Merlin," he cursed catching himself on a cabinet.

He looked down, drawing his wand to blast the thing that had tripped him to stop in mid motion. He was looking at a small muggle business card. A night a month and a half ago coming back to him. Flicking his wand, the card flew to his hand.

Looking at the card the front had a name for a Law Firm in London with all its contact information. He had looked at it before, but something about the card bothered him. Maybe it was the definitive lack of magic, or maybe it was who had given it to him.

Turning it over, he recognized the flowing script of Avery Sr. He snorted that he still recognized students by their writing even after sixty years. Avery had been one of the ones that had always followed Tom, but he had a sense that he wasn't enamored by Tom like the others.

Dumbledore still berated himself at times for not putting a stop to the boy then. He saw the signs. He recognized the raw ambition, so much like himself at the same age, but Albus had always believed that Tom would come around. How wrong he had been. Just like with Grindelwald.

There were only two words on the back True Believers.

Albus sighed.

He would have to make a house call. Maybe he could find someone left in the Order to make a call on a muggle telephone. He didn't trust his own owls were not being intercepted and he didn't want to upset them if they were using the muggle law firm as a cover.

"Fawkes, how has everything gone so wrong?"

-oOo-

August 30, 1996

The kitchen of the Burrow was packed. The Weasley clan, including Charlie but not Percy or her mum, were gathered with those that they had found were disillusioned with Dumbledore. She recognized Kingsley, Tonks, Lupin, Madame Bones, Lady Longbottom, Lord Patil, Mr. and Mrs. Abbot and Mr. Lovegood.

Ginny was surprised she was allowed to be here, but again, all the children of the gathered group were in the kitchen.

Looking around the table, she saw a lot of fear and sadness in her school mates. The Patil twins were talking quietly with Hannah Abbott. All three girls didn't look as outgoing as usual. Susan was sitting near Neville, drawn in on herself and covering her hand. Neville looked as though he had lost weight, or maybe thinned out. She couldn't tell, but she knew Madame Bones and Susan had moved to Longbottom Manor after the attack. She hadn't realized that Madame Bones and Lady Longbottom had been such good friends.

Luna sat next to Ginny, her hands in her lap and looking around with her usual dreamy expression. It was the first time in almost two weeks that the girl looked more like her normal self. On the other side of her, Harry sat between her and Hermione.

The mood all around was quiet. Loosing Ron to the dementors was still a whole in her heart. He may have been a git, but he was family and always there when he was needed. Out of all of them, her mum and Harry were still the most broken over the matter.

If he had been the only loss, maybe things would have been different. Moody had been killed a few days ago, but not before taking out four of the wankers. Word of Professor Burbage going missing wasn't good. She didn't know the professor, but Hermione and Hannah had taken classes with her. There had been another dementor attack. This time only two people being kissed before the Aurors had arrived.

The only good news was on the whole each skirmish or death they found out about, it seemed more Death Eaters died than who they killed.

"All right everyone," her father said stepping away from a knot of people.

Ginny looked at the man. She had always loved her father. He was kind, loving, generous, a little quirky and fiercely loyal. Most of the time, he was very mild mannered, but when faced with a danger to his family or against the right way to do things, her father was a force as strong as her mother. Since Ron had been kissed, she had seen the resolve in him grow like she never had before.

On the other hand, her mother had gone the other way. Withdrawing into herself and barely leaving her room in a fortnight, except to go to St. Mungo's to see Ron.

Her father waited for the few conversations to die down before continuing. "Thank you all for coming to our home and I would like to say if any of you are ever in need, the Burrow will always be here for your or your children."

"Thank you, Arthur," Lady Longbottom said. "Longbottom Manor will be open to those that need help also."

"As will the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. There is a safe room and passage for anyone finding themselves in Diagon Alley and in need. Just go to the back room and say 'Lichen Field'. You'll see the rest," George said to everyone.

"Thank you. A little more to the point than I had planned, but this is why you all are included," Arthur said looking around at the adults before laying his eyes on the underaged wizards at the table.

"Arthur, why have you called us all here," Kingsley asked. "I know you've had a falling out with Dumbledore, but isn't this a bit much?"

Her father sighed and ran a hand through his hair. It was a sign that he and all her brothers did when stressed. "Just to get this out with. The Weasley family will no longer stand with Dumbledore or his coalition in the Wizengamot when I take over Proxy for House Potter at Harry's request. Every one of us here has cut any ties with him."

Most of the room looked as though this was not new news. Kingsley looked rather uncomfortable. Remus Lupin, who looked rather careworn and tired spoke up. "Can I ask why, Arthur?"

Her father rubbed his face, looking much older for a moment before gesturing to the table. "As you all know, we have recently had a family tragedy. Two of them actually." The faces around the room all looked longer. "First, Harry has been adopted by Molly and me. He is our son. He probably should have been years ago, but Albus blocked us in every way he could after we discovered the abuse he was suffering at his relatives. Unfortunately, that led to a rather tragic end to most of his relatives and Harry almost losing his own life."

This time there were a few gasps. Lupin went almost white as a sheet, and she saw Hermione reach over and take Harry's hand. He was still Harry, but he was so much more subdued after this summer. She knew he was trying to push Hermione away after Ron, but the brunette wasn't having it.

"What do you mean? Dumbledore and the Prophet haven't said anything about this," Lupin said.

Kingsley nodded. "He does not lie, Remus. I was one of the responding Aurors. It wasn't pretty. We still don't know what Harry cast to blast the house apart like that."

There was a squeak from Padma, who looked at Harry frightened. "He was protecting himself. His uncle was beating him to death," Hermione said fiercely. "Dumbledore did nothing to prevent it and would not let Harry go anywhere else."

The venom in her voice when she mentioned Dumbledore was unmistakable.

"We were told it was for his protection," Bill stated.

"That is neither here nor there, Bill and Hermione," her father said putting a hand on Bill's shoulder. She knew all her family felt they had failed Harry. "The important thing is that he is now fully healed and has a safe home," her father said looking at Harry.

Her father sounded as though he was fighting down tears when he spoke next. She wasn't as successful as him to keep a few back. "I almost lost one son under the protection of Dumbledore. I have lost another son because Dumbledore refuses to protect us or take on those that wish us harm. For those that do not know, Ron was kissed..." her father choked up a moment before bravely going on. The fact he had been a Gryffindor had never truly hit her until now. " He was kissed by dementors. We know who is behind these attacks. I believe in second chances, but not in the redemption of ones so dark they should all burn alongside Morgana." His voice was very bitter.

She noticed quite a few faces looked grim.

Kingsley frowned and leaned against the wall. Lord Patil spoke up next. "Arthur, you are not convinced that Dumbledore can protect our children, are you?"

"No. I am not," he said resolutely.

"Nor am I," Madame Bones said. "I don't have enough resources to protect everyone and every place. I can tell you this since it will be in the Prophet tomorrow. Hogwarts and Hogsmeade will get a permanent detail starting tomorrow, but I can only spare four squads and a few other assets to fill both spots. Given the scale of some of the attacks over the last few weeks, twenty Aurors won't be enough."

"What are you saying then," Mr. Abbott spoke up. "What options do we have? If they don't go to Hogwarts, how will they be able to pass their OWLs or NEWTS?"

Her father looked to Fleur who stepped forward. "Thanks to Bill's fiancé, Fleur Delacour, we have a few options."

Looking at Fleur and the direction of the conversation Ginny suddenly understood some of what her father had been trying to say last night. "We're not going back to Hogwarts," Neville said looking around cottoning on.

"What about our friends," Hannah asked.

Susan shrank towards Neville. "I can't be around them," she said, and Neville wrapped an arm around her. Ginny had not seen that coming. She supposed having Susan at Longbottom Manor much of the summer may have started something.

"Will you let Mr. Weasley finish," Madam Bones said stepping forward and regarding the teens. "I know not all of you have heard this yet, but Lady Longbottom and I have. Give it a listen before you decide to protest." It was easy to understand that this woman commanded the Auror and the entire DMLE with the presence she had.

"Thank you, Amelia. As I was saying, we have a few options, but to make it clear, I will not allow any of my children to attend Hogwarts while Albus Dumbledore is in charge and You-Know-Who is out there." That was the heart of the matter. Ginny had no option, no choice. She would be leaving the school she loved, though after last year and her first year, she wasn't sure she was as enamored with it as she thought she was before.

"Mr. Weasley, with all due respect, I agree that everyone else here should not go back, but I have too," Harry said next to her.

"Harry, no. I will not go somewhere else without you," Hermione started.

Harry looked panged at Hermione. There was a determined set to his voice. "Hemione, you have too. I don't want to lose you too."

Her father spoke over them. "With all due respect back, Harry, you are not of age and are now one of my children. As Head of the Weasleys and Reagent to House Potter, you will obey my decision. Ms. Granger, as you know, your parents have named us your Magical Guardians. After you both turn seventeen and achieve your NEWTS, you can choose for yourself, but until then, I will not allow you back there." She had never heard him be so forceful or ever refer to the true powers he had as Head of her House and now Reagent.

Both her friends looked at her father defiantly. "No. I have to go back. It has to be me..."

"No, Harry, it doesn't," Bill said to him. "I heard the prophesy and your mother's letters too. You are no longer marked, and it is no longer active."

"Harry, no," Hermione said a little more pleading in her voice as she forced him to stay seated when he threatened to stand up. "You don't have to do this. You're not a pawn of Dumbledore anymore."

"Those are strong words, Ms. Granger," Lord Patil said. "I have supported Dumbledore for many years and never known him..."

"To use other people? To manipulate and test? To use his power to suppress the Will of people and steal from them?" Hermione stood up, wand in her hand. "Lord Patil, if you have closed your eyes to this stuff, then you are blind as those that still follow the man. I will not allow Harry to be hurt by him anymore."

Lord Patil looked at her with a glare. "I will not be spoken to by some underaged witch that knows nothing about magical society or what goes on in government. If you do not lower your wand, I will not give you the benefit of being underage."

"Hermione, wand down," her father brokered no defiance in his voice. Hermione lowered her wand and allowed herself to be pulled down by Harry.

"Canda, please. As I said in the invite, everyone here has earned their place at this table. Each of these children were in the group known as Dumbledore's Army last year. Half of them fought Death Eaters at the Ministry in the Spring and Ms. Granger has been by Harry's side since first year. She has faced most of the same challenges as Harry and is responsible for saving Luna and others. What she says is the truth." Ginny's father was standing tall, daring the man to contradict him.

After a moment, Lord Patil took a step back. "I would like to see proof of this," he said.

"You will have it. I promise you all will. I will have no secrets here. It was secrets that forced what happened at the Ministry and my son to be kissed. Until that day, the Ministry had not said how many dementors where loose or that they were working together. That did not happen in the last war and until now, it was not common for dementors to group in more than a handful at a time."

"Now, we will provide what you ask, but I would like to get this first matter off the board. How will we protect our children? As I have said, I will not be sending my children or Ms. Granger back to Hogwarts."

Hermione straightened up. Her father steamrolled on before he could be interrupted again. "Now, I have three options. The first is that they remain in England, here or at Longbottom Manor, we get tutors or use those of us that know certain subjects already. We can make special arrangements with the Ministry for them to do their OWLS and NEWTS when they are ready. Second, they either stay or leave the country and take the International Wizarding Levels or Special Levels. Last, they all leave the country. Ms. Delacour has gotten special dispensation to have them all attend Beauxbatons for the next few years."

"Personally, Molly and I don't want them to stay in the country, and I think they are safer if they stay as a group. You-know-who nearly won last time by splitting people up. If we work as a group, we are stronger."

Ginny followed the conversation. It was a bedlam of voices, arguments and back and forth for some minutes before Luna put her hand in hers. She looked down at the warm hand. Ginny was pale with freckles, but the smooth white skin of her best friend was even paler. It was a comfort and she was surprised how good Luna had been to her in the last few weeks.

Ginny met Luna's blue eyes and saw something there she hadn't seen before. She wasn't sure what, but it was attractive and comforting. Luna nodded and Ginny understood she wanted them both to stand. They did and it took a moment for both their fathers to see them. Her father stopped talking to Lord Patil and looked at her. Mr. Lovegood had a sad expression on his face as though he knew what his daughter was going to say.

"Daddy," she started, and more people quieted to see them. "I don't want to leave here, but Hogwarts has not been a fun place, not until I met my friends around the table." Luna looked at all their classmates. "It has been very lonely since mummy passed. My friends don't make it lonely anymore. If you want me to go out of country, I understand. It will be safer."

There seemed to be something in her voice that meant it would be better for them to leave. Ginny knew Luna had a sense for these things and had learned over the years to just go with it.

"What of our friends," Hannah asked her.

"Madame Maxime 'as agreed to take up to fifte'n student from e'ch year," Fleur said. "Term does not start until the September ei't."

"We are supposed to be on the Express in two days," Parvati said. "How are we supposed to let people know?"

Madame Bones spoke up. "We will let the word out in our little circles. My larger concern is the Muggleborn who have no other option. Professor McGongall has agreed to go against Dumbledore and inform those she can."

"After this lot here, that is my first priority," Ginny's father said. She looked at him, knowing how much he loved muggles. She was also concerned for some of her friends who were Muggleborn.

Hermione stood up. "So, are we going to Beauxbatons," she asked them. "I will follow Luna and Ginny on this. Harry," she said looking at him. Harry sat staring straight ahead.

"I would prefer them having a safe place with tutors," Mrs. Abbott spoke up for the first time. When people looked at her, she went on. "I have heard the stories and lived some of them from the first war. Everyone in this room and especially some of our children, are marked. No offense, Mr. Potter, but you and your friends are probably some of the most sought after. If Hannah is to be with you, I need to know she is somewhere safe."

"I think Beauxbatons is the best option," Lord Patil spoke up. He sighed. "I know my girls and they would not be happy being cooped up in some safe house for who knows how long. It would protect them, but not at their expense. The Continent is a different place than Britain. I don't think we should bow down to these monsters, but I do not want my girls here either."

Everyone turned as the fire turned green and a second later another red head stepped through the fireplace. Ten wands turned on the young man. "How did you get here," Bill asked angrily stepping up to Percy. "This place us under the Fidelius and only accessible by password."

Mr. Weasley stepped forward, pushing his eldest son's wand hand down. "It's ok, Bill. I asked him to come."

Bill took in a deep breath but stepped back. Ginny looked at Percy and felt the anger in herself rise. "Why should he be here? It's not like he cares about us. Where was he that day Ron was kissed," she hissed.

"Ginny," Luna said in a low voice and put her other hand on her arm, lowering her wand. Ginny hadn't realized that Luna was still holding her hand.

George and Fred hadn't lowered their wands. "What did we tape..."

"...to your buttock..."

"… the time you went to Hogsmeade..."

"…with Penelope Clearwater." It was a ping-pong between them.

Percy's cheeks colored slightly, but he stood up tall. All Ginny wanted to do was wipe that 'holier than though' look off his face. "A girls bra."

There were a few laughs around the room. Fred smirked. "I still think it should have been pink," he said to George. It was the first time in days they had joked.

"That's enough for now, boys. Did you get what I asked for?"

Percy shook his head. "There is a complication. This will be in the papers tomorrow," Percy said holding out a few sheets of parchment. "The Wizengamot held an emergency meeting today and I only found out after the vote count. Scrimgeour had his old secretary organize everything."

"What do you mean an emergency meeting? There are four members in this room, and I didn't receive any message," Amelia said angrily.

Percy shook his head. "I am sorry Madame Bones, but Minister Scrimgeour called it spur of the moment. There were thirty-seven members available in the Ministry. The meeting was over in eighteen minutes."

Lady Longbottom swore. "They planned this. There is now possibility that many would be there by chance. It needs Thirty-three to call a quorum and they steamrolled it through. What did they vote on? Maybe we have time to counter this."

"How did they get so many to go along," Madame Bones asked.

Their father handed Lady Longbottom the papers. "I'm sorry, Augusta. This is already signed by the Minister. Thank you, Percy," he said turning to his son and pulling him into a hug.

"I'm sorry, father. I was afraid Dumbledore would find out. He has been pestering me to work as his spy against you," Percy said with emotion in his voice. "I have been such a fool."

"Merlin to Jupiter," Lady Longbottom said as she and Madame Bones read.

"What is it," Lord Patil asked stepping towards them.

"They canceled almost all the Educational Decrees from last year but have passed a mandatory requirement for all witches and wizards under the age of eighteen to attend Hogwarts." Lady Longbottom didn't look happy.

The room was quiet. "What does this mean for our plans? Fleur and I were already looking to transfer to the Paris branch," Bill asked.

"Orders have already been issued that all children under eighteen are not to travel internationally, whether they are British citizens or not. Any British citizens abroad under the age of eighteen are to return immediately. They will be submitting warrants to the ICW in the next few days. All Orders effective immediately. Any parent and child that are found trying to leave will be immediately remanded and placed under a house bond. Any that refuse to attend, both parent and child, will have their magic bound and wands snapped," Percy said.

"They can't do this," Charlie roared. "The International Confederation Rules won't allow this."

"You said Dumbledore can't protect them," Mrs. Abbot said in a frightened voice. "What will happen when they go to Hogwarts?"

"I don't want to see Snape again," Neville said in a low voice.

Luna sat next to her, dragging Ginny down. "I knew it was going to go this way," she said in a low sad voice.

"Dad, this wasn't drafted over-night," she heard Percy say in the uproar in the room.

"This is outrageous! This means any child traveling, even if they are of age or too young to attend will fall under this law! You-know-who really is back." Lord Patil was looking at her father with wild eyes.

"Of course, he is back. Haven't you seen the papers," Lady Longbottom said. "Even if you didn't believe Mr. Potter before, you would be a fool not to now."

"Are you saying I am a fool," Lord Patil said angrily.

"Enough," her father said in a loud voice, and everyone stopped talking. "This changes everything. We don't have time to argue, and this is what You-Know-Who wants. He wants us divided and arguing amongst ourselves. I have no idea how he pulled this off like this. What is important now is how to protect our children. I am open to suggestions."

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 08

August 31, 1996

Minerva McGonagall, Master Transfiguration Professor, Head of Gryffindor House and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sat very silent.

She sat in a little used room in Hogwarts. It was an old staff meeting room on the first floor that she couldn't remember using in forty years, back when there were more students and staff. It was a round room with a round table able to sit eight people. Two rings of stone benches stood behind each chair around the table. Minerva sat as Head of House and now Head of Department. She hadn't had that title in over thirty years now.

Professor Sprout, a dumpy looking witch with yellow robes and a wide brim witches' hat, sat next to her. She was sitting there as Head of Hufflepuff, and the new Head of Department for Magical Flora and Fauna. To her right was Filius Flitwick. The diminutive man looked as happy as she did. Again, as Head of House of Ravenclaw and the new Charms Department. Looking around the table and the room, there was the new Head of Potions, Head of Magical Theory, Head of Astronomy and Divine Arts and Head of Defensive Arts.

It was the other people in the room that caused her to sit straight and purse her lips. Albus sat next to the recently 'elected' Minister of Magic.

Rufus Scrimgeour was a grizzled looking man with a calculating look and a reputation for hunting down dark wizards and being a shrewd politician. She understood why people might like to have him elected given the current environment, but any support she might have given him was gone as of two days ago.

The two men had just finished describing the changes to the education system in Magical Brittan.

"Now, I know this is a drastic change, Septima, but we are here to provide Magical Education to those that need it," Albus was trying to soothe. Minerva didn't miss that the man was being far more receptive of this dramatic change than she would have expected.

"Drastic does not do this justice. Never has the Ministry required students to attend. With this move, you are shutting down two small schools in England and requiring us to make changes that should have been months in the planning," Minerva spoke up. "This will seriously stress our finances until we can collect from the new students, not to mention how unconscionable this is. Your decree bill has trapped no less than twenty-six students from other nations. I have already had to deal with eight very irate parents today and the ICW is threatening to bring in their own Aurors to 'rescue' those children and families. We cannot allow those children to come to Hogwarts. You will put all our students at risk if the ICW decides it needs to interfere."

"We are working to resolve those issues, Minerva," Scrimgeour started.

"It is Professor McGonagall," she said very imperiously. "And does that handling involve the binding of an eight-year-old and what was supposed to be a new student yesterday? Not to mention a parent that is now going to Azkaban because they were just trying to defend their children. That child had already accepted a spot at Beauxbatons earlier this summer."

Scrimgeour looked about ready to lose his patience. "It was clearly posted what would happen if anyone currently on British soil tried that. We can't make exceptions..."

"So, when the ICW comes knocking on the doors of Hogwarts I will gladly tell them we make no exceptions and point them your way," she said angrily. "You have stolen the childhood and joy it should have been to be a witch or wizard!"

"Minerva, that is enough," Albus said at her. His normal serene composure slipping a little. "The ICW has no jurisdiction here and will not come to Hogwarts. The children will also be unbound and the parents released once they agree to send them here."

Minerva's nostrils flared. She reached into her robes and pulled out a pile of parchments. "I am sure you received copies of these this morning too, but I have here nine orders from the ICW that arrived this morning forbidding Hogwarts from accepting these students. They have threatened to send 'teams' to retrieve such students. I assure you, the ICW does not fool around. You know this Albus and Minister."

Both men looked sour as she flung the parchments at them. "It is my duty to safeguard the students, and this will not safeguard them. Never mind that there will be other students that have never been here or even to a school. Parents are scrambling to find enough supplies. Many have sent very upset owls and howlers decrying this change."

Scrimgeour grabbed a sheet as it landed in front of him. "Higgs, what does this mean," he said passing the parchment to a tall thin man behind him after reading it.

"Minerva, this is not your worry. I will handle all these cases with the Ministry and ICW. What I need you to do is tell us what needs to be done to ensure we are ready tomorrow."

She snorted. "It is impossible. You are asking us to accept in two-hundred and sixty-three more students from the United Kingdoms, besides our currently large first year, plus the twenty-six foreign students. We do not have the staff to handle this new influx and I am not confident in the new 'professors' that Scrimgeour is recommending. Only four of them can provide standard teaching credentials and the last time they taught in a school was before any of our current students were even a twinkle in their parents eyes."

"I find many of the appointments to be very acceptable," Severus said in his usual oily voice.

Minerva glared at him. "That is a decision for the Deputy Headmistress to decide such, Severus."

"Professor McGonagall," Scrimgeour said looking at her. "If you read the new law and under existing Laws, the Ministry has full rights to post positions not fulfilled by August 30th."

"Which was the same day the new bill was released to the general public. We had less than ten hours..."

"It also states the Ministry has the right," Scrimgeour spoke over her. She didn't miss the new Minister Guard stepping around the table, a new Corp similar to the Aurors, but now reporting to the Minister. She did not know where these men came from, but they didn't look kind and had the feel of mercenaries, not professional Law Keepers. "That the Ministry has the right to replace any teachers deemed to be 'subpar' to the teaching requirements outlined in Educational Decrees number 62."

Minerva looked to Albus who did nothing to stop this. Pomona stood up beside her. "If you are going to dismiss Minerva, you will need to dismiss me as well."

Scrimgeour and Albus looked at her. They didn't look too concerned until Poppy stood up from behind her. "My resignation will be on your desk within the hour if either of them is dismissed."

This caused a little concern from Albus, but Scrimgeour was still looking unconcerned. "You can be replaced," he said.

What happened next surprised her. Filius stood at the same time as Aurora. "You shall have our resignations as well."

Albus looked deeply concerned and Scrimgeour's smug look turned soured. "We don't need this. I am sure you are all qualified."

Sinistra and Babbling stood next. Aurora spoke up, "I love Hogwarts, but I will not stay if this is the way things will be. What the Ministry did last year was bad enough. I will not fear for my job or the students again."

Albus looked absolutely alarmed that almost all his staff had suddenly revolted. His eyes bugged when Horace Slughorn stood. He was the consummate Slytherin and for him to stand against him was a blow Minerva expected would rock the Headmaster. "Albus, I agreed to come out of retirement to teach to look for talent and your assurance of safety. To the students of course. But if all my fine colleagues feel it is time to leave, then who am I to disagree."

The only ones left sitting now were Albus, Scrimgeour, Filch, Snape and Hagrid. Hagrid looked extremely uncomfortable and moved on his seat a few times. She knew he was Dumbledore's man but thought for a moment the half-giant would stand too.

Scrimgeour looked at them with a snarl. Minerva was going to put her point home. "Minister Scrimgeour. I will stay only so that I can ensure the safety and education of our students, but as you can see, if the Ministry should interfere anymore, put any more educational decrees into effect or should any of my colleagues feel threatened or forced out, then I think you will find yourself having to replace more than half the Staff here. Where will our students end up then?"

Albus was pursing his lips and glaring at her. "Minerva, we will have a discussion after this."

Looking at him, seeing that she had more support than she had thought, smiled. "Albus, I have followed and supported you for the last sixty-three years here. I will not support you in this. As I said, I will ensure the safety of our students and their education, as is my official capacity as Deputy Headmistress. That gives me full authority over who is accepted, their daily routines, class schedules, student discipline, student welfare, staff appointments and dismissals, and the syllabus for every subject. Given the time frame of this issue, all classes will be study halls for the first few days while the Staff and I can make these adjustments. A proposal will be on your desk by Tuesday about the new costs and possible other requirements that you, as Headmaster, are supposed to be in charge of."

Scrimgeour just about growled. "Now listen here, you are not Headmaster or the Ministry, Minerva. You don't get a say in this."

"You are very wrong, Minister. I know the original charter and the last charter approved on July 5th, and active as of August 15th. It was a unanimous vote by the Governors. The Ministry has only been allowed to do as you wish because the Headmaster has allowed it. You are allowed to issue educational decrees, but after last year, it has been changed so that the Deputy Headmistress has these responsibilities. They cannot be overridden without challenging the magic of this castle. These are changes the Headmaster approved of at the time. Your new decrees about staff appointments and other day-to-day management of this school is not in the Ministry's prevue. Would you like to try, Minister?"

As though agreeing with her, there was a pulse in the room that passed through them all.

Minerva, very unhappy with the intruders in her staff room and the Headmaster stood to look down at both men. "Now, if you will excuse me, I would like all the staff, including the ones the Ministry proposes for the newly open positions to stay in this room. Headmaster, this is a staff meeting to discuss staffing positions, schedules and syllabus for the year. I do not require your help in this."

Albus' face went red at the dismissal. He stood to his full height. "Now see here, Minerva. It is as much my right to see to this as you."

"No, it is not anymore, Albus." She said angrily at him. "You yourself proposed this change to prevent another debacle like last year and now you back this new debacle. I shall do my jobs and duties as outlined in the Charter. I will ensure the students are protected this time and that they are getting the education and proper environment that they should have."

His nostrils flared. "You are dismissed," he said in a low dangerous voice.

She stared back at him. "The Headmaster no longer has that authority, or did you forget that too? I don't think you read the new rules as well as you think. Only the Board can dismiss either the Headmaster or the Deputy, and I find that hard to believe that will happen given the very outspoken nature of Lady Longbottom, Madame Bones or Mrs. Weasley against these new laws. You have gone too far this time, Albus."

Her anger was driven as much by the new laws Albus' apparently supports and what had happened to Harry Potter, the Weasleys and a dozen other families this summer. All of them supposedly under the protection of one Albus Dumbledore.

She saw him move his hand towards his pocket. "Albus, I would not recommend that. This is about official school business."

He stopped, his hand in his pocket, looking at her as though truly seeing her for the first time. For as long as she could remember, she had supported the man in all his harebrained schemes and conniving, always believing that he had the best interest of everyone in mind. She had lived through two wars with the man, always by his side. In all that time, the Ministry had stepped in a few times, but always things returned to normal and Albus had always strived to protect the children and families of Brittan.

This time was different though.

Albus was making moves that seemed impulsive and illogical for him. He was supporting things that put hundreds, if not thousands at risk. She didn't get it, but she would not risk the health and safety of the students or their families.

After a moment, Scrimgeour stood up. He straightened out his suit under his robes. "Albus, I will leave you to resolve this. Professor McGonagall, I shall leave the education of our students in your hands. When you are free, I would like a conversation, Albus, and a copy of the new By-laws and Charter. The Ministry was not made aware of these changes."

Albus didn't take his eyes off her. "I will have them available this afternoon, Rufus. Minerva, I will expect a full report out of this next meeting this afternoon. Severus will you join her?"

"He shall not, Headmaster. Any official meetings between the Deputy Headmistress and Headmaster can be attended by Heads of House. Severus is no longer a Head of House. I shall ensure that Professor Slughorn will attend in his stead if you have business for Slytherin House. All Heads of House shall be in attendance."

She was sure Albus wanted to curse her. She was also sure the Minister had just become a very dangerous enemy. Minerva would not be leaving the grounds of Hogwarts much in the near future, not without her elves or other company.

-oOo-

September 1, 1996

Harry was looking around as they pulled into King's Cross Station in the Ministry cars that had been provided. Hermione, Ginny, and Luna sat in the car with him. Mr. Weasley was in the front seat with two Aurors. "It's cloudy again," he said looking up at the sky. After this summer, Harry found himself much more cautious and protective of his friends. They refused to leave his side and now they didn't have a choice, even if they came of age.

"All right, the other car just got here. We are not going to spend any extra time in the station. I want you all to get on the train as fast as we can," one of the Aurors said from the front seat.

"Do you all have your bags? Dobby will take your trunks straight to the school," Mr. Weasley said. He had been very grateful to Hermione for offering her elf to help.

Harry still found that very odd to think she had an elf, one that was totally enamored with him as well. She still believed in freeing the elves, but now knew she couldn't until she could find a way to reverse the house elf bonds. He knew it bothered her but should not allow the small elf to die for something he had not done and what wizards had done to him.

"Do you think we can give him a new hat or something," Luna asked. "He does so love those. And socks. It was so kind of him to take our trunks and keep them safe."

Hermione smiled at her. "Yes, you can, Luna. I will give him some yarn."

Harry tensed as the Aurors in the front opened the door. He touched the release on the new arm holster that Bill had given him. His wand was in his hand, and he moved it, so it was up his sleeve, in his hand, ready to use. For the first time ever, he did not want to go back to Hogwarts. He opened the door and stepped out of the car. The Aurors were already on either side of their door, looking around. Harry was doing the same.

The girls filed out. In the car behind them, Neville, Susan and Hannah came out. Harry made sure Hermione was right behind him before the Aurors very efficiently and quietly moved them into the station. Harry was surprised to see the station looking almost empty. It was a little eerie. No people. No hawkers. No trains.

"Why is it so quiet," he asked Hermione.

"I'm not sure," she said looking around. The Aurors seemed put out by it too.

As they approached the platform, Harry was worried to see a half dozen families waiting to get through. It was obvious with trunks, some Owls and the way they were talking that they were all magical or muggles sending children off.

"What are they doing," he heard one of the Aurors.

"Easy, Williamson. We were told this might happen," the one on the other side said.

"Harry," Hermione said pulling on his sleeve. He looked at her, concern on her face and she pointed to a newspaper box. "Look."

Harry looked at the paper. His mouth went dry. He read a few headlines and looked at a building that was still smoking.

Bombing at Westminster. Queen survives.

Shooting in Parliament. Five dead.

Country in Uproar.

Transportation Hubs in London at Reduced Services While Investigators...

"He's insane," he said to her. He knew Hermione would know who he was talking about.

The people were moving through the barrier. There were only three families in front of them now. "Mum, you'll write," a scared sounding girl said.

"Every day, if you want," her mother responded. Harry looked at a girl with dark hair and dark eyes. She looked terrified.

He wondered if she was one of the ones forced to attend Hogwarts. He wanted to comfort the girl but couldn't. After looking at the papers, he was looking around, feeling more on edge. Before, he hadn't noticed the heavy Muggle Police presence or that there was an actual Military Patrol walking the platforms. None of them paid attention to the steady stream of people entering the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.

When they finally walked through, Harry grabbed Hermione's hand. The platform was crowded. More people than he ever remembered seeing were there. There were more Aurors, distinguishable by their more muggle attire, which stood every twenty feet or so at the edge of the platform. He noticed a few groups of three or four men and woman in maroon robes. Something about them made the hair on his neck rise.

Disturbing was the line of Aurors inside a rope barrier as soon as they walked in the door. One of them looked at the group. "Please check in the rolls of students and then report directly to the train."

Harry had a bad feeling about this year.

"This is like an army camp," Hermione whispered to him.

"Harry," Ginny called behind them. He turned to make sure they stayed together as they all lined up and their parents or guardians were forced to move to the side to wait for them. "I don't like this," he heard Luna.

The scared girl was in front of them. She was trembling looking at the stern-faced men and woman herding them to two wooden tables. Hermione stepped around him to the girl. "Hello, I'm Hermione Granger, a prefect for Gryffindor House. Who are you," she said kindly to the girl, leaning down so she could be eye level with the obvious first-year.

"Mildred Cummerbund," the girl said. "I want to go home."

"Please check in," a severe looking woman said from the table.

"Would you like me to help you check in," Hermione said gently. He could tell she was very out of sorts at this new environment. Ginny and Luna pressed in closer to him and Neville took up the rear of their group. Hermione took her hand and helped her to the table. Harry made sure all the girls went before him, following up with Neville. "How is Susan," he asked Neville finally taking his place in line.

"Better," Neville said looking at the red head. "She is scared to go back though. The bastards said things to her as they," Neville looked like he was trying to find words, "did things."

Harry got the implication and balled his fist. "We'll protect her, Neville."

Neville nodded before they were separated. Harry walked up to the table and saw a Ministry worker in blue robes. "Name," the man said in a bored tone.

"Harry Potter," he said and wasn't surprised when he got his customary double-look and stare most people gave him meeting him for the first time. After a second, the man cleared his throat.

"Hold out your wand and touch the paper, Mr. Potter." The man mimed his own wand touching the paper.

Harry did as asked. A second later, the paper filled out with information. The man snatched it up and put it into a green folder. "Thank you. You may go."

Harry nodded and joined the group. Hermione looked anxious. The girl was a little distance off with her family. "I feel like cattle," Hannah said as he stepped up to Hermione.

"There are wrackspurts everywhere," Luna said looking around.

"Come on you lot," Mr. Weasley said with Lady Longbottom next to him. "Let's not tarry today."

They walked towards the train. He noticed an Auror was keeping any parent from getting close to the train. This felt really wrong. "I think we should say our goodbyes hear," Mr. Weasley said, stopping a dozen feet from any Auror.

Harry looked around to see a lot more people on the platform than he ever could remember. He wondered how many more students there were now. Ginny said goodbye, and Luna hugged Mr. Weasley also. Harry didn't stop scanning the crowd, seeing a glare coming his way. He could see Malfoy looking at him with a very angry glint to his eyes.

"Harry," Mr. Weasley said taking his hand. Harry turned his attention to him. The tears threatening on the man's face were disconcerting in this man he always knew to be happy. "You take care of yourself," Mr. Weasley said pulling Harry into a one arm hug.

"I'll protect them," he told the man. After a moment, Harry wrapped his own arm around Mr. Weasley.

"Don't do anything stupid. I can't lose another child," he told Harry before pulling away and put his freehand on his arm. Harry looked at him, tears threatening his own eyes. He thought he had cried everything out he could those few days after Ron. Truth was, he blamed himself for his best mate. If he had gone to Ron instead of Hermione, Ron would be here. A little voice in his head though said that Ginny, Luna and Hermione wouldn't be.

Harry shook his hand as tight as he could. "I will see them all back safe," he told Mr. Weasley. It was a promise.

"Just don't forget to enjoy yourself too," Mr. Weasley said to him.

Harry nodded. "Harry, we should get on the train," Hermione called to him. He looked at her to see all the others had gotten on and an Auror was stepping closer to them.

"You should get a move on," the woman said politely. "We've been ordered not to let people take too long."

Mr. Weasley looked at her. He nodded at the woman. "Thank you, Auror Tonks," he said.

She nodded and moved back to her spot as Harry pulled away and Hermione took his arm. "You are all coming home for Christmas," Mr. Weasley said.

Harry gave the man a sad smile. He wasn't sure if he wanted to. It felt like he put his surrogate family at too much risk. "I look forward to it," he said to the man, not able to break any hope he or Mrs. Weasley had in him.

"We need to go to get to our compartment and change. The Prefects meet shortly after we leave."

Harry shook his head. "I shouldn't be Prefect," he told her. Bile ate at his throat as he thought of why he was one now.

She held his arm tight. "It'll be all right."

He forced his feelings down. "Right, I'm fine."

She didn't look happy at him. "I would really like you to stop saying that."

He gave her a tremulous smile as they worked their way down the train to find their friends.

There was a subdued feeling to the train. People were either wondering aimlessly, most likely those that had been thrust into this situation, while others were mostly talking in a hushed tone and only acting more normal once the door was closed and shades drawn. At the end of every car was an Auror. Harry wasn't sure that the entire Auror Corp wasn't present today. He had never seen so many in one place.

They found Neville, Ginny, Luna, Hanna and Susan two cars down. "We thought we lost you," Neville tried to joke as they came in.

"Harry and I need our bags," Hermione said. "Hannah and Ginny, you coming with us," she asked.

The girls nodded. "I was just waiting for you two. You going to be all right without us."

"Oh yes," Luna said. "I think if we can take on Stubby Boardman then we can handle this."

Harry had to do a double take at her. "Who," he asked.

"One of the men in the masks at the Ministry. He was Stubby Boardman. Daddy was rather disappointed when they found out he wasn't Sirius Black."

They all looked at her, not sure what to say. Eventually, Neville said, "He was one of the men listed after our escapade. Said he was killed in the attack."

Harry felt his throat tighten. Was that the Death Eater he had killed? Including Ron, that now meant eight people he was directly involved in or had killed himself. His stomach churned. "Harry," Hermione said putting a hand on his.

Why did it have to tingle like that every time she touched him! It was distracting but made him feel better. "I'm... all right," he said, trying not to annoy her again. She gave him a look that said that phrase wasn't much better.

"Are you two coming or should we get you your own compartment," Hannah said at them. He looked at her, unsure if he liked the idea or not. Either way, Hermione's cheeks brightened a little and he couldn't deny the squirming that had been in his stomach before Ron was coming back. He felt so confused about that.

"How about I lock you and Dean Thomas in a bathroom for an hour," Hermione said to her. Ginny snorted behind her.

Hannah wagged her eyebrow at her. "That might be fun. How about Harry too? He's cute."

Hermione was quick and her wand was pointed at Hannah before any of the others could react. Harry, though, having seen her hand already going there was already between the two girls. "She is a friend," he told his best mate. Since he had been in Hogwarts Hospital Wing this summer, Hermione had been extremely on edge about anyone threatening or otherwise towards him.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I know she is a friend. I was just going to tie her hair into pig tails because I know Dean said he likes it that way."

He raised an eyebrow, knowing she wasn't telling him the whole truth.

Hannah, who apparently hadn't felt threatened, had a rather smug look on her face as she regarded Hermione. "Pigtails are rather cute. Maybe you should try them too."

Hermione regarded Hannah for a moment before dipping her wand below Harry's arm and casting a spell. Hannah's hair moved into plaits on either side of her head. Harry looked at her and had to admit it was rather attractive on the girl.

"Let's go," Hermione said.

Harry let the two girls lead the way with Ginny at his side. "Hermione is getting a little scary," Ginny whispered to him. Harry shrugged his shoulder. "She's always been a little protective." He was trying to rub it off, knowing exactly what Ginny was talking about. The two in front of them were whispering. At one-point Hermione leaned in close to Hannah. He wasn't sure if he heard her say "Lay off," or something else. Hannah gave her a satisfied look.

The carriage before the Prefects and Professors carriage, they found the little girl sitting on the floor crying to herself. The two girls stopped. "Hi Mildred," Hermione said gently. "This is Hannah Abbot, Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter. Do you have a compartment you can sit in?"

The girl shook her head. The poor thing looked terrified. "I...I don't know... anyone. I wasssss supposed to gggoo to Ilvamorny. Like my mum," she said through tears. "My best ffffriend wwwwent before the law."

Harry felt an anger boil up in him at this. No one should have their choice taken away. Hannah spoke next. "I'm sorry. Would you like us to find you a new friend or two? I have a cousin who is starting this year."

The girl looked at her with wide eyes. "I don't want to be alone," the girl said pitifully.

Hannah stood up and reached a hand out. "Let's go find my cousin Opal. She's really nice and would probably like someone new to talk to." The girl gave her a watery smile as she stood up, grabbing Hannah's hand. "You two go on without me. Hermione, you mind?"

"No. We are staying together," he told Hannah. That had been one of the rules they had made for this year. None of them should wander without someone they trust. There was a lot of mistrust towards the Ministry and Hogwarts right now.

Thus, they were a good fifteen minutes late getting to the meeting. "Potter. Just because you are famous, doesn't give you an excuse to be late," Gavin Younes said as he walked into the carriage. Harry bit his tongue looking at the Slytherin Head Boy.

"It was my fault, Gavin," Hannah started. "We were helping a first year."

Gavin went to open his mouth again and he saw a girl he didn't really know from Ravenclaw step up. "Thank you, Ms. Abbott. That actually brings us to our second point. There are a lot of new faces this year. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick have taken a compartment at the end of the train. You are to stop in every compartment and tell all those that are not first years and not current classmates they need to go to them to be sorted. Professor McGonagall is going to make a special announcement to call them in before the sorting tonight."

"That isn't fair," Malfoy spoke up and Harry's revulsion for the boy was instant. "We all had to make a fool of ourselves up there."

Gavin chuckled but the Ravenclaw Head Girl did not look impressed. "Unless you want to be sorting until one in the morning, this way is better. We were told the first-year class is just about a hundred students. Also, if anyone fifteen or older has not achieved their OWL's, they will be starting as fourth- or fifth-year. This may make those years really big, and Professor McGonagall said we may have to make more Prefects."

"How many new students are there," he saw Ginny ask.

"Over two-hundred sixty, not counting the first years."

A few people whistled. That was over a third of the current student population.

"Bonnie, where are they all going to go? Our dorms aren't big enough for that many more."

"I don't know, Michael," the Head girl said to the Hufflepuff. "I am sure the Professors and the Headmaster have figured it out."

"Any other questions about the first two points?" Gavin looked around the room. When no one else said anything, he flicked his wand and papers started to fly around the cabin. "These are your patrol assignments. If you can't make one, find someone to cover for you. If you miss more than two, you will be having a talk with your Head of House and will most likely lose your badge."

"Also, you are to read the rule books. A few things have changed this year and you need to know. The Ministry is not fooling around with these new decrees and Professor McGonagall has revised the manual to keep people on the grounds and out of trouble. If any student is found outside the bounds of Hogwarts on unauthorized instances, the Aurors can arrest you."

There was a silence in the car as Bonnie went on. "This was a new decree passed just this morning. Professor McGonagall got the owl about ten this morning and wanted this stressed. It will be said a few times over the next few days to try and impress on people the consequences."

"What are the consequences," a seventh year Slytherin girl asked that he didn't recognize.

"Nothing good," Gavin said darkly. "First offense is a mark on your record in the DMLE and a return to school. They can hold you for up to three days before they have to return you."

There were a few worried looks around the compartment.

"Second offense is a G200 fine against you, a G750 against your parents and a mandatory five days in the DMLE holding cells."

"But we are all just children," a Hufflepuff said, seemingly caught off-guard by this. He thought she might be a sixth year.

Gavin shrugged. "I think we are all a little scared. If anyone is caught a third time, it's immediate snapping and burning of your wand, binding of your magic, arrest of your parents and a month stay in Azkaban for all of you."

The compartment was stunned into silence. "That is draconian," Hermione said incensed. Harry could feel her anger coursing through him next to him.

Bonnie looked troubled. "Our job, as Prefects and Head Boy and Girl is to help ensure that everyone stays in bounds this year. What happens on the grounds is still Hogwarts business. Hogsmeade weekends will be sanctioned events, but no one is to go beyond the ward stones of the village. Sixth and Seventh years will still be allowed to go into Hogsmeade on a Saturday and Sunday starting second weekend of September, but they must be back inside the main gates by Sundown. An hour after sundown the Ministry's curfew is in effect for everyone under eighteen and the Professors don't want anyone caught out."

There were some scared faces around the room.

"I don't have any pamphlets or other literature. There will be enough new rule books by the time we get to Hogwarts. If you hear rumors of this, tell everyone the Headmaster will address this tonight. We don't need the wrong information getting out." Gavin looked at the twenty-four prefects around the room.

"Alright, all fifth-year Prefects, Potter, Billings and Nash, stay behind. All the rest of you, as we said, the Express is longer this year. Each House gets three coaches. Whoever is in the rear, you get four. Make sure everyone steers clear of the Aurors on the train."

At that, most of the Prefects got up. Hermione stayed seated next to him. Hannah looked to them. "Go with Ernie. We'll see you back at the compartment."

"Stay with someone you trust though," Harry said to her.

Hannah nodded before walking away. "Hannah, can you check on Mildred too," Hermione asked before she walked out of the compartment with Ernie McMillan. "Of course," Hannah responded.

It was close to two hours later before they made it back to the compartment for a late lunch. Harry sat on the seat. Luna moved so Ginny could sit next to her while Susan was sitting quietly, a sketch pad in her hands and Neville quietly playing a card game with Hannah. Hermione sat next to him, causing Harry to move to the wall of the compartment. "You missed the trolley, but I grabbed a few things," Neville told them pointing to the pile of stuff behind Hannah.

"Thanks," Harry said grabbing a few chocolate frogs and a sugar quill. He offered the quill to Hermione. "You want a galleon or two?"

"No," he said with a smile before focusing on his cards again.

It was quiet for a while. Luna was reading her father's latest issue with a lurid pair of glasses on and the magazine upside down while leaning against Ginny. Hermione took out a book and leaned against him. She hadn't done that in a few weeks. After a while, Neville looked up from his game with Hannah. "Hannah told us about the new decree this morning."

Harry sighed leaning back and hitting his head on the wall. "Yeah. I thought the Ministry learned its lesson last year, but this is going to be worse. Anything interesting in the handbook," he asked Hermione.

"Yes, actually. The School Charter was changed. Did you know this, Neville? Your Gran is on the Board of Governors, isn't she?"

Neville looked at her. "What changes? Gran is usually pretty mum about stuff like that."

"My Aunt said it was some stuff that really upset the new Minister," Susan said. They all looked at her. After a moment, she spoke again. "Apparently, the Ministry has no control over the grounds or castle anymore without express permission. They also separated a lot of the responsibilities of the Headmaster and Deputy Headmaster. Dumbledore doesn't have final say in anything involving the students anymore. He can only administer the finances, upkeep, wards, who comes and goes from the grounds and other items required to keep the school operating and open. If the Ministry wants to change anything, they will have to go to the Governors or challenge Hogwarts itself."

They all looked at her, Harry's eyes boggling out of his head. "Why the ruddy hell couldn't they do that last year!" He rubbed his hand over his scar on his hand.

"You're telling me they can make it so the Ministry has no control over them. Then why are they making all these children attend!" This was an upset Hermione.

"Because requiring attendance is something they have control over. They can require it. If the school rejects them, then the Ministry can take actions against the children and their parents in accordance with the Law," Luna stated.

"And the Professors and Headmaster would never allow a child to be hurt that way," Hannah said.

"No. They wouldn't allow a child to be hurt," he said rubbing the back of his hand.

"I don't think this has anything to do with the Headmaster," Hermione said bitterly looking at his hand. Her voice softened as she ran her own finger over his scar. Harry felt that odd tingle again. "This has everything to do with Professor McGonagall. After what Susan said, these rules make total sense. She is right. Everything to do with the students is now in the Deputy-Headmistresses hands. She would never abandon anyone that needs help."

"And she would never abandon anyone to the fate the Ministry has concocted. I thought the Toad was bad," Neville said running a hand through his hair.

"Oh, she is bad. This is worse," Harry said darkly. Looking at his watch, he turned to Hermione. "Time for our next rounds and we're to check in with McGonagall to see if all the new upper years are accounted for."

Hermione nodded. Ginny and Hannah stood up with them.

"You want us to wait for you if you aren't back in time?"

"If you want. The Prefects are to help make sure everyone makes it to the carriages without issues. McGonagall is really worried that no-one ends up out of bounds." Harry ran his hand through his hair this time. "Come on, Hannah. We'll walk you to Ernie."

"Just be careful of the blimpering plimpes. With this many students, I am sure some are around," Luna said looking at her magazine again. Harry couldn't understand how she could have moments of such lucid insight and then a few minutes later be so out in a field.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 09 - Sorting of the Innocent

September 1, 1996

The train was pulling into Hogsmeade Station and his group was waiting at the head of the line to get out of the coach. The prefects were asked to make sure the new upper-year students were shuffled to the carriages and then to an antechamber on the side of the Great Hall. He and Hermione had drawn straws for the platform along with Ernie, Cho Chang and eight other prefects.

Harry waited in the coach, staying off the platform as an Auror he didn't know stood in-between the cars. The Auror opened the doors before the train came to a stop. "Single file," he called out.

It was a much more organized exit than he had ever seen. There were a dozen Aurors on the platform who were quickly joined by the dozen or so that had been on the train. Harry was sure Madame Bones was very upset with this use of her department. He wasn't sure what it meant. She hadn't mentioned anything about this two days ago.

"All upper-years, this way to the carriages," he heard the amplified voice of Gavin Younes call out.

"Trunks along the wall," Hermione called out, wand to her throat. Harry got the idea and started to help organize the trunks and pointing people where they need to go.

"I don't want to be separated from my sister," a fierce looking girl was saying, holding hands with who looked to be a first-year. They both had dark hair and dark skin with the tall slender build he had seen in pictures of African people.

Harry saw an Auror look at them and before she could step forward, Harry stepped in. "Hi, I'm Harry Potter. Who are you?" he said to the two girls.

Both girls' eyes went wide to see him. They were standing tall and defiant. "I'm Maaike and this is Hadassah. I am a new fourth-year and they say she has to go a different way. I won't be separated from my sister," the girl said in a heavy accent. He had a feeling they were from Africa.

Harry nodded. "Hadassah, are you a first-year?"

The younger girl was standing tall as she spoke. "We were told not to be separated by our parents. Where are they sending me?"

Harry tried to smile, remembering his first year. "You are actually going to go on a really cool ride over the lake. All the first-years go that way. Maaike, was it?" The older girl nodded. "Where you sorted?"

"Yes. Something called Gryffindor." Harry wasn't surprised to see how strong both sisters were.

"I am a Gryffindor too. I promise you that if you let her go to the boats, you will see her in less than an hour in the Great Hall. The Professors would never let anyone get harmed." He was confident of that. He wasn't confident of the Headmaster.

"Firs' years, this way," the booming voice of Hagrid called.

"Also, the big man that takes them, he's a personal friend. I trust him with my life," he told the girls.

After a moment, Maaike asked. "You swear on this?"

"I swear on this."

She nodded. "In my country, words are as binding as magic. If anything happens to her, I will hunt you, Harry Potter."

Harry chuckled darkly. "You'll have to get in line."

The sisters separated. He stepped back by the trunks. The line of students was getting less. Hermione raised an eye at him. "Making new friends," she asked.

He shrugged. "Or enemies. The older girl is a Gryffindor. If her sister isn't too, I'll be buggered."

Hermione smirked. "Didn't think you swung that way, Potter."

He cringed. Hermione had changed some over the summer. Thinking of it, he had too. "I don't. Now if you wanted to ask me out," he said before he caught himself. Where in Merlin had that come from! he chastised himself.

Hermione's brow rose higher. He knew there was a slight flush to his face. She opened her mouth but didn't get a word out. They were quickly brought out of this little moment by a shout. "Let me go," a boy called out.

Harry looked to see an Auror holding a struggling Colin Creevey by his arm. His camera was in another Aurors hand. "Oh, Shiite," he said.

Hermione was moving as fast as he could. "What are you doing to him?" Hermione said loudly.

Harry saw a Seventh Year Ravenclaw Prefect moving towards them too.

The Auror had a very thick Russian accent. "Stay 'ut of this," the man said. Harry tensed. There was something about this man and the other one that sent the hairs on the back of his neck on edge.

"I wasn't trying to run away. I was just taking a few pictures from the track," Colin was saying and winced as the man pulled him up off his feet.

"You vere 'ut of bo'nds," the man said.

"He takes pictures," Harry said at the man, trying to control his temper. He was tempted to pull his wand but knew that would be a bad idea. "Colin is a fifth-year Hogwarts student. I don't think he was running away."

"You can let him go," a woman said from behind him. "You know our orders tonight are just to keep them in bounds. If they wander, they go back, no questions."

The woman had an authority to her that for once put Harry's nerves at ease. The men eyed her with beady eyes. "Vine. Vor ton'ght," the man said, throwing Colin to the ground. Hermione moved to help Colin up while Harry stood his ground, ready to hit the release on his holster.

"And his camera," the lady said. The other man looked like he had drunk sour milk and threw the camera down. Harry heard glass shatter and other noises that a camera should not make.

"My camera," Colin said. "That was my grandfather's!"

"Harry," Hermione said in a low voice. Before anyone could respond, he stepped over to the camera, his wand was out and with a quick flick, the pieces that had scattered were quickly flying back into place and a second later he was picking up the camera as Hermione led an upset Colin away.

When he stood, the men had taken on a dangerous stance, and he saw wands in their hands.

Harry raised an eyebrow at them. "I'm allowed to use magic here," he said defiantly.

"You are, Mister... ah."

"Potter," he said over his shoulder. Everything in him was screaming to either run or take these men down. He didn't want to take his eyes off them now they had their wands drawn.

"Ah, Mr. Potter," the woman said easily. "Now, if you don't mind, you four are the last on the platform and if you are not on your way within the next few minutes, you will be out of bounds. All students are to be clear of the platform by 6:30 and it is 6:23."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, backing away. Only when the two men put their wands away, did he do the same and put it back into his holster. He turned to see Hermione holding her hand inside her robes. Bill had gotten them all holsters and he had little doubt her own wand was in her hands. Not far off the other prefects were waiting around.

"Hear, Colin." He gave the boy his camera back. He put a protective arm around Hermione's waist to lead them all away towards the carriages. In a low voice he said, "Colin, be careful. I don't think all these people are Aurors and I don't think they will go easy because of your age."

Colin took the camera while rubbing his arm. "I kind of got that last part. Why wouldn't they be Aurors? They are all wearing Auror clothes."

Hermione answered the question for him. "You mean the new Minister Guard," she whispered only loud enough for the three of them to hear.

Harry nodded as they made it to the carriages. The other prefects took the first carriage. A moment later Hermione gasped as a carriage came up to the platform. Harry saw the now familiar dark, leathery, skeletal thestral. He knew Hermione couldn't see them last year, but after the Hall of Prophesies, he wasn't surprised she could see them. "Not now. We need to get in the carriage."

"Why," Colin asked him.

"That real Auror told me all students were to be off the platform by 6:30. After that, we are out of bounds."

Colin nodded and Hermione actually moved into him, a hand grabbing his hand that was already around her waist. "You can put your wand away now," he said quietly to her.

She gave him a look as though he wasn't supposed to know about that. "You really are observant."

The three of them got into the carriage. It was a quiet ride up to the school as Hermione sidled close to him and he put an arm around her without thinking. It was on the ride that it really hit him. In five years, he had never left the train without a certain redhead. On these rides, Ron would usually talk all about the food he expected at the opening feast, and they would speculate how the year would go. This year was different.

"I miss him too," she said as Colin leaned over the side of the carriage to get pictures of the main gates and school as they made it onto the grounds. Harry pulled her closer. A moment later, a flash went off in their faces. Colin was smiling at them. "I thought you two would like a nice photo. When did you start dating?" he asked.

Hermione didn't move, but Harry stiffened. He suddenly realized how close she was, easily molding into his side. "I...ah...we... I mean," he stammered.

"We aren't dating, Colin. Just very close friends," she said with an almost wistful quality to her voice. As she said it, she gently pushed off him and sat up a foot or so away from him. Harry found he immediately missed her next to him.

"Oh, I thought you were. You both looked so comfortable. Where is Ron? I thought he was the other sixth year prefect."

Harry pursed his lips. He had forgotten Colin was a muggle-born like Hermione. Unlike Hermione, he didn't have any links to the magical world to keep him informed. He tried to say something a few times before he got out. "Ron was kissed by a dementor in one of the attacks over the summer," he said, his voice sounding hollow. The guilt of that day coming back like a rock in his gut.

"Oh." Colin said sadly, eyes moving down. "That is awful. I didn't know. My mum won't allow me to get the Prophet over the summer and I haven't heard from Ginny in a month. I'm sorry, I know he was your best friend."

"Yeah," Harry said.

"Harry, it wasn't your fault," Hermione said moving back to his side and putting her hand over his.

He pulled his hand away. He wasn't going to have this conversation with her again. Not in front of Colin. "I'm fine," he told her.

She gave him a glare and her nose flared. "I swear, Harry James Potter, if you don't stop saying that you are about to find all your underwear pink."

He looked at her intense glare. "You would, wouldn't you?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "Care to try me?"

He shook his head. "Ginny was right. You're scary at times, Granger."

She gave him an innocent smile. "You better remember that, Potter."

"Are you sure you're just good friends," Colin asked.

Harry was saved from answering as the carriage pulled up to the steps of the Entry Hall. "Potter," a voice came to him and the immediate dislike of a man he had been saved from dealing with for months came back to him.

"Professor Snape," he said getting out of the carriage behind Colin. He turned to help Hermione out. She was glaring at the man.

"I see you are fashionably late. Curfew started at 6:30," Snape said.

Before the man could go further, Harry cut him off. "Yes, sir. The curfew was 6:30 to leave the platform. We left the platform at 6:27 after making sure no other students were present. We were told to report to the first Professor that the platform was empty," he said. That had been their exact instructions. Snape was about to go off on him before Harry made sure his Prefect badge was front and center. Snape's eyes went wide.

Another man came up behind the man. "Ah, I see this is our last arrivals. Your names," the man said. Harry could tell it was one of the Ministry officials from earlier today.

"Colin Creevey, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter," he said, not taking his eyes off of Snape, who looked ready to give him detention for the next year.

The man flipped through a few bound pieces of parchment, checking names off he presumed. "And there were no other students?"

"No, sir," Hermione said next to him. "If you don't mind, can we please go join our House tables for the feast?"

"Of course, my dear. I shan't hold you any longer," the man said with a smile. Harry didn't wait. He nudged Colin to move and gently pushed Hermione in front of him. He was surprised she didn't protest. She didn't usually like being pushed. Snape, on the other hand, looked livid as they escaped.

The entrance hall was full of the whispers of first years waiting on the stairs that led down to the boats and docks. "… sorted into your houses. They will be your home for the next seven years..."

"She never changes that speech, does she," Colin asked as they walked into the Great Hall.

"I guess not," Hermione said. Colin said his goodbye and moved towards Ginny and a group of fifth years. Harry took in the sight and had to do a double take. The House tables were now split in two. Each table could easily sit a hundred and twenty or more. The hall also seemed longer and wider. The larger change was the staff table. It was now two tables. Both across the width of the hall, one behind the other and the back table raised on a platform so that any professor or student could be clearly seen. Dumbledore's large golden throne like chair was on the upper platform, as where most of the Professors he knew. He noticed that there were more than double the staff than normal.

"Merlin, that is Thirty-two professors," she said next to him. He looked at her with a curious set to his face.

"They aren't all Professors. I see Filch, Pomfrey and Dumbledore up there."

"Harry, Hermione, over here," Neville called out. He was sitting at the table closer to the doors, as where most of the older students in their year. They moved to the table. Harry didn't like it, but Hermione was forced to sit across from him as there were not two seats next to each other.

"You two all right," Neville asked them.

"Yeah. Just had to save Colin from the Minister's Guards," he said in a nonchalant way.

Neville's eyes opened wider. "I thought those were all Aurors," he said.

"I did too," Hermione answered.

"What do you mean Minister Guards," Dean said from next to Neville.

"Did you hear? It passed the day the new education decree making everyone come here," Neville said.

He saw Parvati next to Dean and nodded. "Glad to see you here safe," he told her.

"Me too," she responded.

They didn't get to talk anymore as Dumbledore stood up. "Welcome. Welcome to all our old hats. As you all know, we have some changes this year," he said to a now quiet hall. "In a few moments, we will be welcoming our new upper-years. They were sorted on the train ride to Hogwarts, and I ask you all to invite them into your houses like you would any new member of our family."

Hermione snorted. He looked at her, knowing she had more of an issue with the man than he did.

Albus waved his wand and house banners appeared over the front tables. "After that, we will have our normal sorting of our new students and a feast. Now, if you will all stand and join me in welcoming these new pupils." Dumbledore turned to a side door by the head tables. Harry started to clap with all the others as over two-hundred fifty new students filed in. He was surprised to see that it wasn't the normal split. Slytherin gained about forty new students while most of the other houses gained almost double that.

Neville gave a low whistle as the Gryffindor house grew from around a hundred students to over a hundred and sixty in just a few moments. "That is a lot of students that weren't coming here," he heard someone behind him.

"Does it matter? They are Gryffindors now," Harry said back to the seventh year.

"No, but I don't think Gryffindor has had this many students in decades."

Harry frowned. What did that mean for the dorms? He already thought five boys were more than enough in his dorm. His throat tightened. It was only four now.

"Thank you all for the warm welcome," Dumbledore said to the school at large. "Now, for those not in the know," he said with a little chuckle. "We shall have our sorting of the first-years and then our Welcoming Feast. I will have announcements after everyone has had their fill."

Dumbledore sat and the doors to the Great Hall opened. He moved to sit with the rest of the school as Professor McGonagall came into view followed by a double line of students. "Harry, is that a friend of yours," Dean asked nudging him. He turned to look at Dean, who was indicating down the table. Hermione turned to see the dark skin girl staring at him intently. Harry had a vision of her in bangles, holding a spear and shield as she hunted him. A chill went down his spine. "Not really. Someone that I helped on the platform."

Dean swallowed. "Remind me not to help her then."

"She is probably scared, and this is probably very different from what she is used too," Hermione said.

The girl made sure she made eye contact before looking at the line of people coming into the hall. He watched her relax as she saw her sister. Harry let out a breath. He really didn't need a new enemy. Hermione gave him a look and he nodded. She had thought the same thing.

Soon, all the first years were up at the front of the Hall. Having such larger tables, Harry thought they all looked much smaller from where he was. Professor McGonagall made sure they were all there and clapped her hands a few times as the new students didn't know about this tradition. All the old students had already quieted and where waiting.

There were a few gasps as the brim of the hat opened and began to sing.

-o-

Many years I have sat and watched,
Since the Founders found my thread.
Students come, and students go
But not nearly with such dread.

Brave Gryffindor, who yearned to teach,
Fair Ravenclaw, who yearned to share,
Good Hufflepuff, who yearned to grow
Ambitious Slytherin, who yearned for more...

And in all those years,
All the founders did agree,
That those who sought to learn from here,
Should have the choice.
Have the courage, the knowledge
The drive and fortitude
To seek them out and ask to be sorted.
But, alas, that is no longer the attitude.

Great danger I see,
In this new forced choice
And the decision I must make
To split those not willing.

Now, I will share, the choice given to me,
The only hat that I know
To do such.

Now, if Gryffindor you are destined to be,
remember your courage, loyalty and chivalry
For the brave and good of heart
Are destined to be.

If you are of wit and knowledge,
Ravenclaw would have accepted you gleefully.
Just don't despair, study hard,
And a true part you will be.

And to the steadfast, tireless and loyal,
Hufflepuff will accept you with open arms.
Those stalwart hearts, unafraid of toil
and all the rest. At home you will be.

And to the one that truly believed in those
Of Ambition, Cunning, Grit and pure of blood
To whatever that may mean,
A Slytherin you shall be.

Now for my warning, if you have missed,
A danger I see
In forcing those that do not choose
To be a Hogwarts student

To all, all I can say,
Respect, patience and acceptance to those that are new.

For working together is that will
Beat the darkness on our doors.
Look to your peers, help is always here,
For those that are new or old at hand.

-o-

The last words echoed in the hall. Harry had never been so stunned or heard the hall be so quiet. It was the most unusual song that he had ever heard. Not once had the hat ever mentioned blood status before, or the fact that everyone here did not choose to be.

The Headmaster started to clap. Harry looked at the serene look on his face. Harry was starting to learn the more serene the man was, the more upset or emotional he was. There was only a smattering of applause throughout the hall as a visibly shaken McGonagall stepped up to the stool. "Now, as I call your name, please come up."

By the time Gryffindor had gained another twenty-five new students, he was hungry, starting to feel grouchy and irritable. "Finally," Dean and Seamus echoed as the table filled with food.

"Hey, Harry, where's Ron," Seamus said piling food on his plate.

Harry was starting to wonder if anyone outside their family and immediate friends had heard. "Did he miss the train or something," Seamus joked, harkening back to their second year.

Harry felt his throat tighten. Hermione looked at him. He hadn't realized until then how much he had depended on her for support and strength about this the last few weeks. He was happy when Neville spoke up. "Ron won't be coming," he said in a sad voice.

"What do you mean? We all have to come now," Seamus said.

"Ron was kissed by dementors," Harry said bitterly. His appetite was gone, and he left his plate empty.

The smiled on their faces dropped and a few other around them gasped, dropped their silverware or just looked at him open mouth. "You aren't joking, are you," Dean said.

Harry got up to leave. "I'm not hungry," he told them.

"Harry, sit, please," Hermione said to him. "We are supposed to stay."

Harry looked at her before taking in a deep breath. If she hadn't been looking at him that way, he would have walked out. As it was all he could see was compassion and worry for him. He let out a long sigh. "Now, please eat something," she said.

"I'm sorry, Harry and Hermione. I know he was your mate," Dean said looking at his plate. It was piled with food, but he didn't make a move to eat it.

"When," Seamus asked. "I thought that would be front page news."

"It was. It happened the day those four big attacks happened two weeks ago," Hermione said looking at Harry.

Seamus sat back in his chair and a lot of the others around them seemed to understand this was not a conversation to be part of. He did notice that the other conversation were quiet around them.

"Shiite," Seamus said. "No one deserves to go that way. I'm sorry."

"Thank you," she said. Harry was unable to speak. Hermione said a little quieter. "Harry, please eat."

He nodded and put some roast and potatoes and carrots on his plate.

The table around them was pretty quiet the rest of the meal. There were some conversations, but he didn't pay attention. The realities of what was going on, the fact that Voldemort was moving in the open again and that everyone outside of this school was in mortal danger came crashing down on them all.

"Harry, you need to eat more," Hermione said shortly before the plates disappeared and desert came.

He sighed. He was disappointing her. He wasn't about to tell her he was fine. He didn't trust she wouldn't turn his robes pink in the middle of the Great Hall right then. "I will," he told her, hoping to make her happy. She actually put a large helping of his favorite treacle tarts on his plate.

He slowly ate them as she continued to eye him.

After a bit, Dumbledore stood back up as half the desserts were still being eaten. A look at his watch told Harry it was close to ten.

"Now, I would like to make some beginning of term announcements."

Hermione sat up straight, her attention shifting to the Headmaster. Harry was happy to push his plate away, no longer being required to finish.

"I know there are a fair number of new students this year. Again, Welcome to Hogwarts. I hope you find your year enjoyable and that Hogwarts is a fine magical institute." Harry looked around the hall. He didn't notice a lot of happy people in the new upper years.

"To the important things now. With so many happy new faces..." Harry let out a snort. "... it has been required to expand our staff. I will let you meet our new Professors in classes, but please familiarize yourself with their faces. Which brings me to my next point."

"As you have noticed, the Ministry has provided Aurors to help guard Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. Inside the walls of Hogwarts, they are just here to help with Security. Show them the respect you would a Professor, but know they are not here to, nor should they, administer any discipline or remove you from our grounds without the Deputy Headmistress permission."

"Outside the grounds of Hogwarts, I must give a warning. If you are to stray beyond the School Ground boundaries without permission, as in a sanctioned Hogsmeade visit or special permission, the consequences could be quite severe. You will find full details on pamphlets in each Common Room, along with the new school rules book."

He watched Professor McGonagall's lips purse.

"Next, I am pleased to announce that..."

"Headmaster, you need to go over the new Decree," Professor McGonagall interrupted him. He blinked, never having seen the Headmaster interrupted besides from the Toad.

"I think the pamphlets will be sufficient enough," the Headmaster said giving a rare, annoyed look in front of the assembled school.

"I don't think McGonagall is happy with these changes," Hermione said in a low voice as the Hall was filled with soft whispers.

McGonagall stood up. "It needs to be made very clear. The Ministry has passed a new Decree this morning. No wizard over the age of eleven or under the age of eighteen, unless you have achieved at least three NEWTs or have accepted a spot at Hogwarts for the next term, shall be found outside the grounds of Hogwarts in all of the United Kingdoms."

Hermione gasped next to him. He looked at her, but McGonagall plowed on. "If you are found outside these grounds, without a pass or outside the new Ministry curfew of an hour after sundown, you will be arrested. The penalties are severe enough that if you are caught three times, your wand will be snapped, and you and your parents will be on a boat for Azkaban for a month or more."

There were a few screams, and the hall broke out in a fury of noise. It was quickly subdued by a cannon sound. "Silence," Dumbledore said tersely. "Thank you for your warning," he said to McGonagall, who matched his stare.

"I will not have any student not understand the draconian measures being taken. No one is to leave their dorms tonight, not even Prefects. If you do, you will have two weeks of detention and twenty house points for each student. Every House shall have a House meeting tomorrow morning at Nine o'clock and breakfast shall be served as a brunch at ten. Anyone not attending shall be given a weeks' worth of detention and have five points docked from each student."

Harry had never seen her this riled up. Dumbledore frowned at her. The hall was absolutely quiet.

"Thank you, Professor McGonagall." He waited to see if she was going to say anything else before she sat. "Just to expand on Professor McGonagall's warning, I would like to say that we all need to be very cautious. As you all may know, Voldemort has returned and is very dangerous. Part of these new Decrees and laws passed are part of the protection we can give our youngest residents. Please respect them. Keep an eye on your classmates. If you notice any odd behavior, please report it to a Professor as soon as possible

"This is a lot more serious than I thought," Hermione said worriedly.

"What in Merlin's Balls is going on," Seamus asked.

"Yes, now to the rest of the announcements. You will be happy to know with our influx of students, we will be setting up two quidditch teams per house and scheduling extra games for this year." He paused for affect and much of the hall was quiet. Everyone had seen the heavy presence of Aurors everywhere today. Those that didn't know about what was going on, probably had a good idea after dinner and McGonagall's dire warning was more effective than anything Dumbledore could have said.

He apparently didn't get the reaction he wanted and took on the very calm, serene face that was the Headmaster. "Lastly, you will find that more student activities, even a dance or three, will be planned. Professor McGonagall would like to announce that a Student Planning Committee will have sign-up posted this week. Now, it is time to get off to bed and have a good night's sleep."

McGonagall stood again. "All new students and first years, stay in the Hall for a few minutes for a few words and for your Prefects to take you to your new Houses."

All the returning students filed out of the Hall. As they did, Hermione got up. Harry followed her to the front of the room, where the other Prefects, the Head Boy and Girl were gathering with the Heads of House were at the front of the tables. Unsaid, they lined up behind the Professors. When everyone was gone, McGonagall took on a much more personable tone and demeanor.

"I am the Deputy Headmistress, Transfiguration Professor and Head of Gryffindor House, Minerva McGonagall. I would like to start by saying welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and to go over some of the basic rules and expectations."

"First, I will acknowledge that many of you here did not want to come, had other arrangements or had already left. I understand you are scared, or angry or confuse and a dozen other emotions, maybe all at once. I would be in the same situation," she told them. Harry was listening to her. She rarely talked so personably to her students, but all Gryffindors, and many other students, knew she truly cared. "If you feel this way, any of us will keep our office open. There is also extra staff in the Hospital this year, including a Mind Healer to help you. I would say please do not take out your emotions on other students or Professors. Remember it was not us or other students that forced this on you."

She looked around and there were a few murmurs. Hermione gave him a surprised look. This was already so much different than their previous experiences. McGonagall seemed like a different person, but not.

"Next, I would like to make it very clear right here and now. Hogwarts does not support the current education Decrees and they will hold no power on Hogwarts Grounds. The Decrees have real consequences that will affect you and your family if you are to violate them. I am not saying this not to scare you, but to warn you." There was crying coming from the Hufflepuff table. He saw Meaghan and a blonde girl. Meaghan was crying while the other girl was hugging her. McGonagall's face softened. "We will need to be there for each other."

McGonagall sighed as she looked at the scene. "I know it is getting late, so I will not keep you for much longer. Up here are your Head of Houses. Professor Sprout for those new to Hufflepuff. Professor Flitwick for Ravenclaw and Professor Slughorn for Slytherin. " Harry did a double take. He hadn't even looked at Slytherin, not wanting to see Professor Snape there. Instead, he saw a very nicely dressed rotund man with a walrus mustache. "Behind them, you will see your Prefects. When you cannot find a Professor, they are your first contact. I know every one of them up here will help you with a problem, then report it to a Professor or another Prefect."

"We are here with open arms, and I will do anything in my power to protect you. While you are here, inside the walls of the main gate, within the ward stones of the forest and lake and surrounding grounds, the Ministry cannot put a hand on you and your families are safe. Please remember this."

She looked around. Harry could see many things on many faces. Fear, anger, defiance, confusion... some were stoic while others looked like they might need watching.

"You may have questions but hold them for tomorrow at your House Meetings. Now, if you would, first years, please follow your fifth-year prefects and the rest will be shown by the sixth and seventh-year Prefects." McGonagall said with a nod to them.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 10

September 1st

The feeling around the room was murderous.

Thirteen people sat at a long black table, in narrow high back chairs like could be found in eighteenth century formal dining rooms. Everything was black. The walls. The columns. The floor. The only light source was a large fire in an overlarge fireplace at the head of the table. In a large chair sat a figure who purposely attired himself in robes of the deepest pitch of night. His white skin almost glowed against the surroundings.

On this night, not a single person looked at the person in the chair, or those next to each other, too afraid of his mounting temper.

The raspy, calm snaking voice that came out of his Lord sent a shiver down his spine. "Rabastan, do you care to tell me why only twelve of my loyal subjects have shown up to tonight?"

Avery looked up slightly to see the man's face. It was still gaunt from years in Azkaban and looking grey at their Lords words. "We are all that are left," the man said across from him.

There was a long pause as the red pupils of the man looked around the room. "A very astute summation. The only one not here is my loyal servant at Hogwarts."

Rabastan nodded. Avery knew the only reason the dark Lord was probably not taking his anger out of them at this second was the spectacular string of loses they had suffered since the launch of his Grande Campaign two weeks ago. That first day had been spectacular. Muggle killings. Mass killings. Dementors taking out hundreds of muggles and more than a dozen magicals that opposed them. Then things started to go wrong.

"Avery, do you know why there are only twelve left at this table? Not long ago I had twenty-one of my loyal followers here." He could feel the anger and loathing from his Lord. He knew part of the reason.

Nott had gotten himself killed the night the raid on Amelia Bones went wrong. Crabbe Sr., Rookwood and Gibbons were killed taking out Alastor Moody. No one had expected the man's house to be so strongly booby trapped after the second layer of wards went down. Rodolphus, Selwyn and Travers had fallen in separate fights with Aurors and the damnable new Minister Guard. He could say none of this though. Since the breakout at Azkaban, more than forty of the one hundred and fifteen people they had rescued now lay dead somewhere.

"The Ministry and Dumbledore's Order have gotten lucky," he said.

The pain hit him before he could even suspect it. He yelled as every nerve in his body felt like it was pulling apart. It lasted only seconds, put it was enough to leave him panting and his hand twitching. It was the third time this evening.

"Luck has nothing to do with it, Avery. My sources tell me the Order of the Phoenix is essentially neutered right now. There are other parties that are working against me. Parties with unexpected plans and allies. Allies I suspect that might be in this very room," Voldemort said with malice. "Crucio," the man said with malice.

Avery started to scream. An angry Dark Lord was worse than being flayed alive. He found himself on the floor, breathing heavily and in a pool of his own piss when his screaming stopped. It was in a horrible position, but he couldn't move as his muscles convulsed uncontrollably. The lingering pain was worse than the times he had some broken bones. This was all over his body.

Something slithered under the table near him, hissing. He felt more fear than facing his angry Lord. "No. Not today, Nagini. Avery was just about to tell us about his father. An unfaithful follower that has become a thorn. How he has managed to avoid us is a mystery."

Avery knew if he didn't get up, he would have no time to talk. He forced himself onto his knees. He was wobbly and uncertain of his stance as he stood up. "Yes, My Lord," he told the red eyed demon.

-oOo-

September 2, 1996

Harry was gently shaken away. "Harry," he heard a girl say.

His eyes fluttered open. He found his wand in his hand before he realized what he was doing. "It's just me, Harry," Hermione's soothing voice came and he relaxed.

He blinked a few times and ran his hand under his already skewed glasses to rub sleep out of his eyes. Hermione came into focus in front of him. He was on one of the couches around the fireplace. Hermione was kneeling, her hands on his knees. "I didn't mean to draw my wand on you," he told her, looking down at her.

"It's all right. I get it. Did you sleep last night?" she asked softly.

Looking around, he could see it was just barely dawn. The light in the common room was still low and full of shadows. Yawning, he blinked a few more times. "I couldn't sleep in there last night," he told her. In truth, he hadn't even gone up to his dorm. Neville had informed him that they had been split. He and Neville were now with three new boys, as while Dean and Seamus where in a new room with two others. Gryffindor had gained twelve new sixth years.

Hermione gave him a soft smile. "Go up, take a shower and change your clothes. We will be needed to keep the peace and our meeting is in two hours."

Harry tried to give her a soft smile. He had no clue why she was still by his side and why she would care for him so much. It still stung to think she liked Ron. Why would she not be more upset? "Sure, Hermione." She gave him a soft smile back and he found himself kissing her on the forehead. He didn't think twice about it. She moved and stood out of the way, a small smile on her face.

Harry was forced to enter his dorm. He walked up the stairs to the sixth landing. Two doors stood side by side. His name was with five others on the left door. Opening it, he saw four beds with curtains drawn. Somehow, he had still managed the bed closest to the large windows.

He recognized Neville's trunk in the bed next to his. He could deal with that.

His night clothes lay on his trunk, ready for him to put them on. He left them as he moved to his dresser.

"Thank you, Dobby," he said quietly as he found his new clothes all neatly folded and away in the dresser. He grabbed a nice pair of slacks, a maroon jumper with a Lion on it, and a t-shirt to go beneath it. He was still getting used to having his own clothes that fit properly. Throwing his robes on the bed, he decided that he should take his Prefect and Captains badge with him. He was required to wear his Prefect badge unless he was completely off duty (which was supposed to be three nights a week) or out of the castle.

By the time he was getting out of the shower, more people were getting up and moving about. He didn't bother going back into his dorm. Instead, he joined Hermione and Ginny by the fire. People were starting to get up and mill around.

Looking around, Harry realized the Common Room had grown larger to. He noticed a half dozen new alcoves, a few more windows, more chairs, tables and other items. "Do you think the castle made itself larger or McGonagall," he asked sitting down. Hermione was on the thick carpet under the table and couch. Ginny sat with her head back on the couch.

"You noticed that too," Ginny asked.

"I'm sorry, what," Hermione asked. "I was writing a letter to Mr. Weasley. He would probably like to know what happened yesterday."

"I thought you were still angry at him," Harry asked.

Hermione sat up straight, stretching. He found himself watching her and the way her long sleeve shirt tightened. When had she developed the slimmer waist? She yawned too. "I am more upset with my parents. They had agreed that I could make my own decisions."

"Did you read the new Law that was passed with the Decree yesterday," Ginny asked holding out a parchment.

"How did you get this," Hermione said excitedly grabbing the parchment.

"Romilda Vanes mother works in the Office of Records. She sent a copy to her saying Romilda needed to be careful. She let me borrow it." Ginny looked at them. "Do you think Luna is alright?"

"She has Padma. I think she will be all right," Harry told her. He had thought the same thing last night.

Ginny nodded. "Those insolent, putrid bastards," Hermione said in a low voice. Harry raised an eyebrow. Over the summer her filter had started to disappear.

"Something we should know about," he asked her.

"Yes, actually. It appears that even though we are considered of age at seventeen, until we graduate with at least three NEWTS or are over the age of nineteen, we are considered Wards of our Magical Guardians. Do you know what this means?" she asked.

"That you and I need to do what Mr. Weasley tells us to do until we leave Hogwarts," he said with a little levity.

Hermione turned on him. "This isn't a joking matter, Harry. For most of us, that just means our parents. For you and me, that means the Weasleys. For Muggleborns, that now means Albus Dumbledore or another appointed guardian. The Guardians have full rights over all decisions, even stuff like leaving for a Holiday, or returning home at the end of school year. All their mail, accounts, everything is now under control of those the Ministry has approved to watch over them."

"Oh, bugger," Ginny said.

"Let me see that," Harry said to her. His sinking feeling was getting lower.

He skimmed it. After a moment, he asked, "Hermione, are you sure Dumbledore is in charge of them?"

"Of course, I am. Professor McGonagall explained it to us when I got my letter. The Headmaster is the Magical Guardian for all students that don't have Magical Guardians unless the parents or other muggle guardian gives other permission. My parents signed over the rights to Professor McGonagall and... wait. Give that back," she said and grabbed it out of his hands.

"Bossy," he cheeked at her.

She huffed before starting to chew on her bottom lip. "Dumbledore is only in charge of them if another Guardian has not been approved or signed for by their parents or legal Guardian. Harry, do you think Professor McGonagall offered the same to all the other Muggleborns or raised?"

"Hagrid didn't. But I am not sure he really brought any others in or was even instructed to ask," Harry said.

Hermione's brow darkened. "Yes. I doubt that was an overlook by the man who trained him."

Ginny frowned. "Hermione, do you think Colin and Dennis have McGonagall as their Guardian?"

"I don't know, Ginny. You would have to ask them or Professor McGonagall," she told their friend.

They all shot up when four soft cracks came. Harry immediately saw four house elves carrying empty silver platters. They looked very self-conscious to see a few groups of students in the Common Room. Without saying a word, they used their magic to move a few tables together from around the room. They place a dozen trays and carafes on the table before making a table full of silver goblets appear. "Professor McGonagall wanted all to have breakfast," one of the elves said before dissaparating.

"They shouldn't be able to do that," Hermione said.

"Elf magic is different," Ginny said. "How else was Dobby able to get our stuff here?"

She frowned. "I hadn't thought about that."

"I still can't believe you bonded with Dobby," Harry said. Even though it had been a month, it still shocked him knowing how she felt.

With a soft crack, the elf appeared next to him. "Master Harry called," he said with a large smile.

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Dobby," he said surprised. "What are you doing here?"

The elf looked confused for a second. "Master Harry called Dobby." He looked at Hermione who looked abashed. The elf was starting to look like it did something wrong. The small creature looked to Hermione. "Dobby is supposed to serve Master Harry?"

"Yes, Dobby, you are supposed to listen to Harry as though he is me," Hermione said silently.

Harry and Ginny looked at her. In the month or more since she had taken Dobby on, this was first time the elf came to him when called. "Hermione," he started before she turned to him with a determined look.

"Harry. Dobby wants to be a free elf. For him to survive, he cannot. I explained this. He asked if he could serve you too yesterday," she said with a deep blush. Harry felt like he was missing something. "I gave him permission. I wish I didn't have to do it that way."

"Dobby is doing good serving his Mistress Hermione and her Harry?"

Hermione turned an even deeper shade of red and Harry felt himself flushing some. Had Dobby just called him Hermione's Harry?

"You are doing fine. Would you please help the other elves with things around the castle today unless I call you?" she said to him.

"Of course, Misses Hermione." The house elf smiled at both of them before dissaparating.

"Your Harry," Ginny said with a small smile.

"He just loves Harry," she said hitting Ginny on the knee.

Ginny laughed. "Sure he does," she said so softly Harry wasn't quite sure he heard her right. Hermione went to hit her again and she pulled back. Harry smiled. There had not been much joking for weeks.

A few moments later, the trays were full of pastries, toast, eggs and other breakfast foods with piles of plates on the tables and the carafes were full of juices and water. After that, Hemione got back to her letter. Harry made sure she had some toast and sausages before taking his seat in the chair again. They were soon joined by Neville, Dean Seamus and Parvati.

It was a relatively quiet affair with them talking about things that didn't remind them about what was going on. When she was done with her letter, Hermione moved to lean against Harry's legs as the Common Room filled with people. Harry had never seen so many people in Gryffindor before. When a tray was almost empty, a new one would appear filled with more food.

About a half hour before the meeting, the African girls Harry had helped last night came over and sat on the edge of the dead fireplace. "You kept your word last night, Harry Potter," Maaike said to him. "I will not doubt you again."

Harry smiled at the new fourth-year girl. Her sister looked just as proud and sat just as straight. "It was fun to ride on the lake," the girl said. "I miss home though."

"Where are you from," Ginny asked. None of them questioned the girls sitting with them. It was a point of pride in his friends.

"Princeton, South Africa," she said. "I am Maaike, elder of Babbett and Uffe. This is my sister Haddasha."

"Very nice to meet you. I am Ginny Weasley. This is Hermione Granger, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom," she said indicating each of them. "I see you met the git we call a friend."

"Hey," Harry said in indignation. "I am not a git. At least not most of the time."

They all laughed, and the two African girls smiled. "I will assume most of the time does not include now," Maaike said.

"Really? I already get if from my friends," he said to the girl.

"I like her," Dean said. Neville and Seamus chuckled next to him.

"You would, she isn't picking on you," Ginny said.

Hermione patted his leg. "It's only because they like you," she said. "We all now Dean likes the ones with dark hair."

Dean coughed out the juice he was drinking. He stared at Hermione as they all laughed again. Without batting an eyelash, Hermione turned to the two new girls. "You come from Africa. Did you attend before?"

"Yes. We will be going back as soon as our father gets things cleared," Maaike said with confidence. "It is not a good thing to be here."

He furrowed his brow and so did others. No one corrected her, having experienced the last few years and not this. "You should get something to eat. I have a feeling our House meeting is going to be longer than Professor McGonagall said."

The girls nodded. "We shall be back, Hermione Granger."

The girls got up and Harry watched them go up the now crowded Common Room.

He scanned the crowd. There were a lot of people with faces like last night, but McGonagall must have gotten through to them because there was no sign of trouble. Soon the sisters had joined them, not looking happy with the choices and ate. About ten of nine, Professor McGonagall walked in with a Professor he did not recognize. The man looked old, with grey hair, wrinkles and veins showing in places.

The talk slowly quieted down as the Gryffindors noticed the newcomers. "Please, continue to help yourselves to the food and drink. This meeting may go longer, and it was decided that Lunch would be at its normal time today," Professor McGonagall said. "I will be starting promptly at nine, so I would like you all to be sitting of comfortable by that time. If you would please move out of this area, I will conjure more seats."

Harry was impressed that everyone listened and by nine everyone was seated or had some place to see Professor McGonagall. Hermione stayed at his feet. It didn't pass his notice that her presence against him was calming.

"Good morning," she started after everyone was settled. "There are some big changes this year that I know you have all heard, probably have questions of and would like to know what it means. First, let me introduce the new Deputy Head-of-House for Gryffindor, Professor Swelting. He is our new Artithmancy and Runes Professor. Like Professor Swelting and other Professors, we have many new faces. I would ask that everyone find a way to keep the peace. Older and returning students, please help those that did not have a choice to adapt. Be friendly. Help them find their classes. Show them around the castle. I do not expect we will all get along, but remember this was forced on all of us."

She looked around. "Professor McGonagall, why did the Ministry do this? Why did Hogwarts support this change?" a boy Harry didn't recognize asked.

He saw her look at the boy with a kind smile, but her eyes looked pinched. "As I explained to those that stayed after the feast last night, Hogwarts did not support or endorse these new Decrees. I will not pretend we do. The staff knows and has been instructed as such."

"As for why the Ministry is doing this, I do not know. I do know they are not fooling around. Since the passing of the Mandatory Attendance Decree, no less than five families have tried to leave and have been apprehended by the Aurors or the new Minister Guard. There has been no leniency."

Hermione stiffened. A few looked fearful and he heard a gasp somewhere.

"This is to be absolutely clear. While you are on Hogwarts ground during what is normal school time, you will come to no harm. The Ministry does not have authority over you while school is in session. Thus, do not go out of bounds unless sanctioned by me. That will include all Hogsmeade Weekends, normal vacation times or for special circumstances. If it is not properly cleared with the Ministry, they can act the second you are out of bounds."

Harry had seen her serious before, but this was something else. The room was quiet. In a House known for its bravery and being outspoken, no one said anything.

"School Rule books are available by the portrait. Flyers on the new Decrees are over there. Read them. Have a friend read them. Do not rely on only what is said here today." She then went to explain the two new Decrees and the new Guardianship Law.

When she was done, a new sixth year girl raised her hand. "Professor, does that mean our Magical Guardians have full control over us?"

Harry thought he understood the law was clear. "What do you mean, Miss?"

"Yvonne Maddox, ma'am. I mean, my parents died when I was young. I grew up with me squib relatives. If they aren't my magical guardians, do other laws apply. My parents were Purebloods."

Hermione gasped. Ginny looked at her quickly and there was a wave of murmuring through the crowd. "You can't be serious," someone said from the far wall.

"Please, calm down." Professor McGonagall had to say.

She looked directly at Yvonne Maddox before looking around the room. "To answer your question, Ms. Maddox, I am not sure yet. The law is barely twenty-four hours old. No guidelines have been released yet. I will let you know though, that as of this morning, any student who did not have a Magical Guardian on file will now have their Head-of-House as their Magical Guardian. That was a rule changed this summer to the charter of Hogwarts. We learned many lessons last year," she said bitterly.

The room grew louder again as the information sank in. "Oh, thank Merlin," Ginny said. Dean Thomas let out a deep breath before rubbing the back of his neck. "That makes me feel better," he said.

"I am glad Snape is no longer head of Slytherin," Harry said.

Hermione leaned against him. He could feel the relief off her.

"Next, with the influx of students and the short notice of this change, there are changes to schedules and classes this year. Starting tomorrow, every student will be evaluated. New levels will be established for each year so that those that were not here before can be brought up to speed and more advanced students can take a different class. If anyone would like to take the remedial levels for classes you are not currently in, please place your name on parchment and what classes you would like to attend before two this afternoon. I will be handing out a testing schedule to everyone tonight at dinner."

"Anyone fifth or sixth year that would like to take an OWL in a class you have not taken, this will apply to you. Sixth year, you can take your OWLs for the course end of this year or by September 1st at the Ministry. You will be accepted into NEWT's class next year. Those in sixth year, you will be able to take the NEWT next year or by the following spring. There will be an eighth-year available that will be defined later this year."

This was news that caused more reaction.

"Harry, you could take Runes or something else like you talked about over the summer," Hermione said excitedly.

"That is a lot of studying," he told her.

"I will help you," she said.

McGonagall held up her hand to quiet it down. "Please consider it. I know a few hours isn't much time. Even if you don't, but think you may, put your name down. You will also notice there are more options for classes this year."

"Along with this, class schedules will be changing to accommodate more classes and students. Breakfast will start at seven. First classes will be eight, each will be an hour twenty long. Lunches will be longer to accommodate more classes. Dinner will still be at six."

"Wow," Seamus said. "Mum said she had the same schedule when she came to school."

There were a lot of questions at all this, and it took McGonagall a while to get everyone back under control.

"Hermione, I don't think I am going to do Creatures this year. Are you serious about helping me with Ancient Runes?"

She looked at him. "Of course. Do you want to do Arithmancy or Magical Theory?"

Harry shrugged. "I am not really interested in that. If they had a new Wards or Dueling program," he said hopefully.

"Can I have all your attention for the last few items," McGonagall finally said shutting down discussion on this topic.

"There is also a change in discipline and other ways around here. First, the Deputy Headmistress has now been put in charge of all student activities, discipline, complaints, teachers. In short, anything to do with your general wellbeing or education. I have posted hours in every House. Feel free to stop in. Any formal complaints will come to me. In a week or so, I hope to have a new secretary to help when I am in classes or otherwise indisposed."

Harry raised an eyebrow. In his muggle schools, these types of things were a given, but he had never had this experience at Hogwarts.

"My final announcement, or point of discussion, is school activities. As the Headmaster announced last night. Each House will have two quidditch teams now, a Junior Team and a Senior Team. The Junior team will only have half its points count towards the Quidditch cup, while the Senior Team will have full point counts. Junior and Senior does not mean by age." There was a lot of excited talking. "Harry Potter has accepted Captain of the Senior Team." There a general round of applause and cheering from the returning students. Harry stood up, a shy smile on his face. He really didn't like attention like that.

"Who is Captain of the Junior Team," a third year asked.

McGonagall smiled. "I was hoping to have this conversation before now, but I was hoping Ms. Ginevra Weasley would take that spot," she said looking at their group. Ginny looked stunned as McGonagall held out a Captains Badge for her.

Hermione nudged Ginny. "What are you waiting for," Hermione said.

"That isn't fair. She's only a fifth year. Let someone more experienced take it," Cormac McLaggen suddenly shouted.

Ginny was on her feet, and he moved to take the prat on. Hermione was on her feet and had a hand on his arm. "McLaggen, shut it," Ginny said before anyone else could say anything. "If she was looking for experience, it wouldn't be you."

"Fair or not, Miss Weasley proved herself on the team last year. I do not remember you making the team, Mr. McLaggen," Professor McGonagall said coolly. "Ms. Weasley, do not make me regret this decision. That was not quite the way I expect a Captain and Prefect to act off the field," she said in front of the whole House. The message was louder than if she had yelled it. Her expectation this year for him, Ginny and all the Prefects was a level above when was normally for Hogwarts. Harry relaxed his muscles.

"Captains, I expect trials to be called within the next two weeks. There is an extended game schedule this year with the first match the second week of October. The schedule is on the board, and you can pick up a packet from my office this afternoon," she said to them.

"Yes, Professor," he said. "Yes, ma'am," Ginny said from behind them.

"There will be other activities this year also, including a ball the weekend before Christmas break and a few minor dances around Halloween and Valentine's day. The list of clubs has expanded. Schedules will be posted by end of the week."

Professor McGonagall steamrolled on as the excitement in the room grew. "Hogsmeade weekends will be postponed for the near future. All sixth and seventh-years, your passes will not be effective on Saturdays until further notice."

There was a general uproar at this until Katie Bell stepped in front of McGonagall. Harry saw her and he stood again. Hermione and Ginny did the same, as did the other Prefects. "Enough," she shouted with her wand to her throat. "Are you all Gryffindors or some uncouth children? I am sure Professor McGonagall as a very good reason for this. Personally, I am not very keen to go into Hogsmeade until we find out if the Ministry is passing any other new Decrees."

There was silence in the House at her words.

Harry spoke into the silence. His anger was turned into a resolve. "I have seen what the new Minister's Guard is like. Last night they almost arrested Colin for simply stepping on the tracks to take a picture. It was out of bounds and there was no give in them. It was only an Auror who reminded them that last night was to be a free grace that he was let go. Professor McGonagall is not joking when she says the Ministry is not joking. Just look at all the new faces. How many of them wanted to come? How many were forced? Trying to prevent themselves, their parents and their siblings from getting into the Ministry's hands."

Everyone had turned to him as he spoke.

"Why are we to believe you," McLaggen said. "You lied all last year and are probably lying now."

He was about to say something when Maaike stood up. "Harry Potter spoke truth to my sister and I last night. He is speaking truth now. We had no choice but to come here. Your Ministry tried to arrest my parents, my sister and I when we tried to leave the day the Decree was passed. We had no knowledge of it and were only released when my parents signed a contract promising we would attend."

Hermione took in a sharp breath next to him. A few people had similar reactions or started to cry. Many looked scared or incensed at this.

"Thank you, Ms. Bell, Mr. Potter and Miss?"

"Maaike, Professor," the girl said in deference to McGonagall.

"Thank you." Professor McGonagall looked around the room. "The situation outside of these grounds is dire should you step beyond the Wards. Use these as warnings. Find ways to occupy yourself inside the school and the grounds. The Ministry will not touch you here and your families will be safe because of it. Now, it is close to ten-thirty. You are free to roam outside of the dorms now. After lunch, I would request all new students to join myself in a walk of the grounds to understand what is in bounds and not. I will stay around for a while to answer other questions."

With that, the meeting was over, and people started to wander away, many taking the opportunity to leave the Common Room.

"This is awful," Hermione said.

Seamus shrugged. "As long as we stay here, it should be fine. So, Captains, when are the tryouts?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't know. Let Ginny and I talk about it first. We'll post a time in the next day or two."

"Sure, Harry," Seamus said before he and Dean wandered away.

"Do you mind if I go check on Luna and try to catch her before lunch," Ginny said to him.

"No. Go see Luna."

"I'm going to go see how Susan is doing," Neville said.

Ginny smirked. "More like see if she wants to snog."

Neville turned a bright shade of red. "She isn't like that."

"Go and take care of her, Neville," Hermione said kindly.

Shortly, Harry found himself with Hermione still against his legs in a Common Room that had a few dozen students milling around. Harry let a long breath. "So, what are you thinking?"

"When did McGonagall grow such a backbone," she said. "These new clubs, dances and new quidditch schedules and teams are brilliant. They are also designed to keep us distracted."

Harry nodded. "I kind of figured. How about the new advanced classes and other options?"

He knew that would get her excited. The light in her eyes came back. "We need to go to the board right now and sign up."

Harry smiled as she dragged him over there.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 11

September 7, 1996

Minister Scrimgeour looked down at the headlines from the Nationale de France, the equivalent the Prophet in France. His week had just grown worse. It had sounded like a brilliant idea at the time go with Dumbledore's recommendation of a mandatory school attendance. He had been convinced that getting all of their up-and-coming talent evaluated and educated, would prevent the same issues that happened in the last war. It would put most of the most vulnerable children in a place they could be controlled and managed. It meant that they could track anyone with the trace and hopefully find Death Eaters or others that would challenge the Ministries Authority.

What he hadn't expected was that all but ten families that had been on the United Kingdom's Soil would challenge him. Seven of them were now remanded, including their children. That was making an uproar that he had never seen before in Great Britain or the Continent.

The Decree that passed though was not the one he had proofed. It was much harsher in its punishment and enforcement.

The Second Decree was even worse.

It was all compounded by the fact that his attempts to steer everything had been checked by changes to the Hogwarts's Charter. That had been unknown to anyone not on the Board and in ways Albus had not known about. The fool had pushed them both against the wall.

He was now dealing with a populace that was becoming united, but against him. The Continent was doing the same.

Britain declared a Hostile Country. All travel and trade restricted. the top headline read in French.

In eight days, fourteen countries, four Ministries and two schools had condemned the Ministry. Weasley, along with his allies were waging a very effective PR campaign saying none of the changes were supported by Hogwarts or 40% of the Wizengamot. In most papers and Ministries, that fact was being widely accepted and broadcast. How the hell Dumbledore had lost that battle so fast was beyond him. McGonagall must have some influence in that.

Now that Weasley Represented the Potter House on the Wizengamot and at Hogwarts, Scrimgeour found there was far more support for the man and Harry Potter than anyone knew. For years now, everyone had been running scared of the boy. Now that it was known he had been speaking the truth, they all flocked to him.

The only good thing he had was a string of victories against You-Know-Who. The body count for those in opposition was higher than he liked, but the incidents of Muggle killings and mysterious disappearances were down from the beginning of the summer. Best he could figure, at least six of the man's inner circle were gone and two of his largest bankrollers were tried and convicted. Luckily, he had been able to negotiate a new Treaty with the Goblins before the dragon dung had started to fly. Because of it, any convicted person would have their accounts locked and unavailable until cleared by the Wizengamot or death. Only a stipend would be available to any wife or children left not convicted. Then their next heir would have full access per standard rules.

It had been a master stroke of the Goblin Liaison Office before this disaster with Hogwarts.

Scrimgeour had no options. He was going to have to dial back some of the restrictions, otherwise Brittan might become an isolated country from much of the ICW. That was not a good thing. The ICW had power that could ruin everything if they thought Brittan a risk to the International Statue of Secrecy or the International Intelligent Creatures Act.

There was a knock on his door. "What," he barked out.

An attractive young woman peeked her head in. "Minister, you're eleven o'clock is here."

Scrimgeour sat up straight, made sure his cloak and vest were straight before answering," Show them in."

"Very good, Minister," she said.

A moment later, the door opened to reveal Lord Goyle and Mr. Travers, two highly respected members of the Wizengamot, but people he loathed on principle. He had very little doubt that they were involved with You-Know-Who's return and some of the current predicament he found himself in regarding the new Guardianship Law.

He did not get up from his seat as they came. "Good Day, Minister," Mr. Travers said, tipping his hat and taking a seat across from him. Lord Goyle sat without a word. He looked as pleased to see Scrimgeour as Scrimgeour was to see him. "I am not here to trade pleasantries, Mr. Travers. I am here about the Wizengamot's decision to ratify the new Guardianship Law without my signature and against the wishes of the Chief Warlock. Do you have any idea the issues this is causing?"

Mr. Travers smiled innocently. "My fellow Delegates and I find this law to be quite necessary given the changes in Educational Law you have supported over the last few weeks. It will allow fellow Wizards and Witches to ensure their children attend..."

"It is forcing students that have graduated, gotten jobs and are legally considered adults to either report to Hogwarts by tomorrow or risk arrest. I have a list of thirty-four Adults that will be affected by this law. Five of them are part of the Peerage in the Wizengamot and very upset with this. It also risks a few established Marriage contracts. My sources say your own daughter is one of these, having left Hogwarts after her sixth year and not received any NEWTS. She does not turn nineteen for another six months. As you and others being the ones to vote this in, you are risking them and you to deny these."

Scrimgeour thrust a paper towards the man containing the new implementation rules. He was satisfied to see some color drain from Mr. Travers face. "That can't be. She and other that have already graduated would not be affected."

"You should read the Law again, Mr. Travers. I would recommend you find some way to amend it by tomorrow, otherwise St. Mungo's may be seeing an influx of squibs by Sunday morning," he said angrily to the man. "I will not sign anything that is not a full rescind of the Law."

"Scare tactics will not dissuade us, Minister," the man next to him said. It was a deep commanding voice.

Scrimgeour looked at the man. "That is the report the Unspeakables put on my desk this morning. That Law violated fifteen other Laws. None of them have been superseded and eight of them are pre-Wizengamot. If you wish to risk yourselves, by all means, be my guest. It will be easier to pass other Laws without you in my way."

There was a growl from the man. "You think too highly of yourself, Minister. There are bigger things out there that have more power than you."

"Do they have more power than the Ministry? If so, they are welcome to this seat. If not, I will either see a new Law on my desk before noon tomorrow or I will send you flowers in St. Mungo's. The choice is yours, gentlemen."

Mr. Travers had spent the time looking over the report. The man snarled as he looked at it. "Lord Goyle, we need to meet with our Alllies. Right now."

Lord Goyle looked at the man, obviously not happy with being told what to do.

"I do not take threats from a spoiled child," the man said to the obviously grizzled and old looking man sitting in the Ministers seat. Mr. Travers had already stood.

"You can stay and talk, Lord Goyle, but I am getting word out. We meet within the hour. Minister," the man said in an impolite tone.

Minister Scrimgeour raised an eyebrow at the man. Lord Goyle looked most displeased as he got up and followed Mr. Travers out of his office. Scrimgeour sat back in his seat when they left. He knew he would not sign whatever they changed, but he wouldn't have to worry about another catastrophic headline on Monday or this one going as disastrously wrong as the School Decrees have so far.

It would not look good if 41 members of the Wizengamot were suddenly squibs. Where would the purebloods be then?

-oOo-

September 8, 1996

Harry sat on his broom, hovering over the pitch with Ginny. He was glad all the testing was done this week. "So, we are in agreement? We try to make the teams about even in talent," Harry asked her.

She shook her head. "I still think we should stack the Senior team, but I get where you are coming from. Tryouts for us are tomorrow afternoon. Let's see what we get. There are a lot of new faces we have clue about their ability."

Harry shrugged, turning to look down the pitch. "I can deal with that. We need to start practicing next week. I already have next Tuesday and Saturday afternoon for us. I think both teams should practice together. Your first match is October 5th with Hufflepuff. Then, we square off with Ravenclaw two weeks after."

"I still can't believe there are so many games this year. Every other weekend. They really want to keep us distracted," she said looking at Harry. She noticed how he was staring. She followed where he was looking and saw a very familiar bushy hair brunette at the end of the pitch.

"I think we have quite a few people to go through tomorrow," she said.

"Why's that? All the new students?"

"That and the fact you're Harry Potter."

She watched as he withdrew into himself a little. "Oh. That." It was all he said, but it unmistakable he didn't like the attention it might bring. Looking at Hermione again, she understood more and more that her and Harry would never have worked out. He didn't like the fame and attention. He wasn't someone who was outgoing by choice. He was a very private person when allowed to be.

"Yeah. That," she joked. She could see the way Harry was looking at her. "Though, I don't think Hermione sees you that way, you know."

Hermione had a book on the bench as she sat cross legged and parallel with the benches. A pad of parchment was in her lap. After a moment, she looked up, and when she saw them looking waved to them. "I can't," he told her.

Ginny wasn't sure when, but over the summer, Harry had started to see her as a confidant. That had started to happen even before Ron... she tried not to think of him. It was too painful. "Sure you can. She likes you, you know."

Maybe she could help both of her friends out. It had taken her hitting Hermione over the head to get her to admit her true feelings for Harry.

Harry shook his head and turned. He started a slowly glide towards the far goal posts. She watched Hermione who followed Harry. Ginny turned and fell easily besides him as he started a slow circuit of the pitch, just below the wall.

"Harry, you can't run away from her," Ginny said.

Harry let out a sigh. "I can't, Ginny." She could feel the sadness in his voice.

"Yes, you can," she told him.

"No, I can't." He made a sudden move up and she followed only a fraction of a second behind him. He was still moving slow.

"Why not," she asked. He wound his way around one of the towers and stopped just over it. Hermione had gone back to her book.

Harry looked down at her. "I just can't," he said wistfully.

"Yes, you can Harry."

Harry pulled at his hair, a sure sign he was stressed. "I can't Ginny. I can't put her in danger like that. You know the wanker won't stop hunting me whether or not the prophesy doesn't matter. I am not sure I agree with your father and Bill on this. I can't lose her like Ron. Besides, it was Ron she truly liked."

That was the first time in weeks Harry had spoken about Ron without looking like he was going to break down. Ginny shook her head. "Harry, she never liked Ron beyond a brother."

Harry shook his head. "Fine. She didn't like Ron, but he liked her. He wanted a chance."

"That is what that fight was about. I know it was. Harry, you can't blame yourself and it is all right to be selfish at times. I know people would like you, and her, to be happy. We both know Ron isn't coming back," she said with only a hint of emotion in her voice. She was still upset about what happened to her brother and the man responsible, but they had larger things to worry about. Like the new decrees. Another family had been arrested yesterday. It was only the Quibbler who was printing the truth. She knew Luna said subscriptions were up since the beginning of the summer, and especially after the new decrees a little over a week ago.

Harry let out a long breath. "I know," he said sadly. "I can't put her in danger like that."

Ginny moved closer. "Harry, Hermione doesn't like Ron. She never liked him that way. He was her annoying brother. "

Harry chuckled. "He did annoy her." There was no mirth in his voice though. Harry didn't take his eyes off of Hermione. "Ginny, I need all of you to be safe. I wish you all could have gone away this year. It would make things easier knowing Hermione is safe. Now you are all stuck here unless we want to go against the Ministry as well."

"Harry, you know Hermione would never leave you like that. Even if you abandoned her, she would be there for you. You didn't see her the day you were brought to the Hospital Wing. She didn't leave your side for days until my father sneaked her away when she fell asleep. Has there ever been a time she was not there?" Ginny watched his face. It went through dozens of emotions. She thought maybe a little more a push would help. "Has there ever been a time you haven't been there for her?"

She saw the pain in his face. "Three time," he told her. "Two of those times she almost died."

Ginny hadn't meant for that response, but she knew what he was talking about. She had heard the story of the Troll. She had been responsible for Hermione being petrified, even if it wasn't really her. "I can think of two, what was the third," she asked him.

Harry seemed to know. "I abandoned her in third year when she told McGonagall about my Firebolt. I know I shouldn't have, but I was so upset. Ron was so upset at her."

Ginny shrugged, knowing it was probably her brother that had spurred on that big fight. "You went back to her and she never left, Harry. Don't abandon her again. She needs you right now as much as you need her. And don't give me your shite about it being dangerous or anything else. You know she will be there no matter what, and if you aren't there who is going to protect her?"

Harry snorted. "She doesn't need protecting. Personally, she scares me sometimes with how protective she is."

Ginny laughed. "I think I know where she got that from. Have you met this guy called Harry Potter?"

Harry gave her a look, running his hand through his hair again. "Yeah, I know of him. He can't be that scary."

She laughed again. It was good to laugh again. She wasn't sure she had in weeks. "If we are around a pensive, remind to show you some stuff from last year and recently. But, seriously," she said with an intent look. "Ask her out, Harry. She is going to be by your side no matter what and you wouldn't want someone like McLaggen to ask her. Would you?"

She saw a dark look come over his face. "That guy is an egotistical burke. Why the hell would he like Hermione?"

"I don't know. She's pretty, smart and how did he put it, 'she has a nice ass and tits'. Yeah, I think that is what I heard last night."

Harry made a low noise in his throat before he caught himself. She watched as he tried to correct himself. "Does she really like me that way?"

Ginny grinned. "Not sure like is the word, but yes. Also, McLaggen already got what he deserves, so don't do anything stupid."

"Are you sure you're a prefect?" He had a grin on his face as he asked her.

Ginny tried to look innocent. "It wasn't me and you can't prove it."

"How about you give me your wand them," he said.

She shook her head. "Not going to happen. Besides, you can do things without your wand. There are many, many potions out there. Not that I would know anything about anything like that."

Harry laughed and looked back at Hermione. Hermione grabbed at her parchment as a breeze threatened to take it. Harry took off as one escaped the board she was holding. Ginny watched as he accelerated and quickly caught the fluttering parchment as it flew over the wall. He was quickly in view again. She smiled as Harry flew over and handed it to her.

Ginny hoped she had pushed him enough. They both needed each other. She was surprised how much Luna had been a comfort over the last few weeks and Harry had been trying to push everyone away while still trying to protect them.

She watched as they talked for a few minutes, Harry still hovering on his broom. When they separated, she noticed Hermione following him with her head turning as he raced down the pitch. They had another ten minutes before their reserved time was up.

She dove, trying to catch up to him as they both speed towards the far goal posts.

-oOo-

September 8, 1996

Hermione sat next to Harry. She had noticed that something had changed, but she couldn't figure out what.

He seemed a little more relaxed. His shoulders didn't seem so tight and stressed. He hadn't run his hand through his hair once so far. She noticed him looking at her when he thought she wasn't paying attention. It was also noticeable that he had cast a few dangerous looks at McLaggen, but she had no clue why.

"So, are you letting the same people on the team last year on again," Seamus asked from across the table.

Harry looked at him. "I am making no promises. We have two teams to fill, with alternates and a lot of new faces. You trying out for chaser again?"

"What else would I be," he asked Harry.

"I don't know, a hippogriff," Harry said. Dean and Parvati laughed next to Seamus.

"I would like to see that," Dean said as Seamus hit him on the arm. "It would make him strong enough to hurt."

Harry chuckled at them. More people were starting to file into the Great Hall. She was waiting for the morning mail and the Prophet. Since the new Decree's, she was scouring the Prophet and the Quibbler whenever she could get them. They were soon joined by Lavender and two of the new students, Julie Le'Sange and Henry Day. They had started sitting with them the other day.

"Morning," Julie said.

"Morning," she responded with a smile. She liked Julie and had invited her to join them.

A shadow passed over them. Looking up, she saw a few owls making their way in. Harry looked apprehensive as an owl landed with a paper attached to it. "Anything new today," he asked before she could even unfurl it.

"Give me a moment," she said with no heat. She put the two sickles in the owl's pouch before it flew off.

She unrolled the paper and Harry leaned in. She could feel the heat of him through her jumper and shirt and his breath played across her face. He breath smelled of mint and the eggs he had been eating. Not an unpleasant scent, but it was overpowered by the smell of his broom polish and just the general pleasant musk she associated with him.

She was so distracted by his closeness that it took Harry's, "Oh, holy merlin," to shake her from thoughts of him. She focused on the paper.

Ministry Adjusts latest Decrees and Laws and adds new ones

By Lancaster Lauren

Late last night, the Wizengamot called a full session to adjust some of the latest educational decrees and Guardianship laws.

After a general outcry from the Continent and other nations, the requirement for Foreign Nationals to attend Hogwarts has been dropped as long as there is no proof of British decent in the last three generations. First hearing will be available held September 20 and will be attended by ICW staff and Aurors.

Next, the Guardianship laws have been changed to exclude any student that had already left Hogwarts, either by graduation, expulsion, or withdrawal from school prior to July 15th of this year. For people under the age of 18 that never enrolled, they must present OWL records and intentions to receive NEWT's. It is not known why there was such an abrupt change. On the other side, the restrictions have increased after this year until the witch or wizard reaches the age of 21 if they have not achieved at least three NEWTS.

The law was also extended to give full autonomy of decision to the Head of House until the person is 21, has been released under the Education requirements or is married.

These were some large changes probably driven by the general international misunderstanding of these laws.

The Wizengamot also brought up new business last night. Two minor laws about magical contracts were shot down, while a new law requiring all magical person of age to reproduce passed a first stage to form a committee. The committee has been tasked with finding ways of determining the most compatible couples when determine betrothal contracts and other magical contracts requiring children. A report is due out in three months.

The Minister of Magic has expressed support of the changes in decrees for international students but has decried the new changes to the Guardianship laws and Compatibility Law. "I refuse to sign such tripe and would rather focus on the issue at hand of a certain dark wizard. Protecting our children at places like Hogwarts is important."

Most of the voting has been those that support Pureblood notions in support of the new Guardianship and Compatibility Laws. A growing voice against all this has been the surprise upstart Arthur Weasley, Regent of House Potter, and his growing Alliance...

"Oh, Merlin, this is awful. What were the other laws?" Harry said in her ear.

A pit formed in her stomach. There few other articles on the front page were covering another attack in Swansea Abertawe in Wales. "I don't know, Harry. Maybe it's further in."

She started to skim all the other articles. On the third page, in a small blurb she found it and a shiver ran down her back.

"This isn't good," she said.

"What are you two muttering about," Dean said. She tried to wave him off.

"Listen to this. Arthur Weasley and Lady Longbottom, having arrived late to the emergency session with a dozen other members of the Wizengamot, missed the first two votes but helped to defeat two new laws that would have required all witches and wizards of half-blood or pureblood to be in betrothal contracts or married by the time they were fifteen and six months. Any Muggleborn would be required by sixteen after OWL results were received by their magical guardian. All contracts would be required to be fulfilled by the time the youngest person in the contract was seventeen and three months. A minimum of two children would be required per contract with the couple to be pregnant within one year of marriage. Any wizard can take on one or more witches, and only those muggles that have proven to come from a squib... my God! Is You-Know-Who already in charge of the Ministry," she exclaimed and many people around her turned to look at her outburst. She hadn't realized as she read that her voice had grown high and shrill.

"I don't want to be married any time soon," Seamus said with a frown.

"No one would want to marry you," Dean tried to joke, though he didn't look any less worried.

"I would," Lavender said raising an eye at him, "but not like that. Daddy promised he would never put me into a contract."

"My mum doesn't believe in that tripe," Julie said next to her. "That was part of why she didn't want me to come here. Too much bigotry. Though, you have been nice so far."

"Harry, where is Luna, Ginny and the rest," she asked.

"I'm right here and I don't want to be married by eighteen," Parvati said. "And what if I don't want children?"

"I don't think we have a choice, not if we can't leave the country," Harry said.

"I should have gone to live with my father when he offered me to go to Ilvamorny last year," Henry spoke up.

"Ginny and I have trials starting in an hour. Can you get the word out and have us all meet somewhere by like three?"

She rolled her eyes. "Harry, I think this is more important that playing Quidditch," she started.

"It is, but what can we do at the moment? We are here. We cannot leave the school unless given permission and having it cleared by the DMLE. I say we let everyone read the paper, maybe get an owl or two off and back with questions. You can send a Patronus to Mr. Weasley and see if he can get information to us by then. I really don't want anyone walking around without someone we trust," he told her.

He was so much more grounded today that he had been for weeks. She couldn't really argue with his reasoning either. "Fine. Parvati, would you mind getting the word out to our Allies? Let's say that old classroom on the fourth floor that no one uses."

"The one by the old stuffed troll?"

She nodded. "Harry, can I borrow Hedwig?"

"You never have to ask," he told her pulling away. She found she missed him instantly. She would have to tell him soon how she felt.

"Thank you," she said, feeling her neck heat up a little.

Ginny came over and leaned over Seamus, who looked a little happier with Ginny hanging over him. "I see you saw the Prophet."

"Yeah. If this happens, want to be my betrothed," Seamus said shamelessly to her.

Ginny shrugged. "How about you take me to the next Hogsmeade weekend, and we'll see."

A few of them laughed, trying to relieve the tension as Seamus had a look as though he couldn't believe his luck. Hermione didn't miss the slightly envious look from Lavender. She would have to warn Ginny later. "We saw the paper. Harry is calling a meeting this afternoon."

"Should we come," Dean asked him. "We were all part of the DA last year."

Harry nodded. "Yes. All DA members and children of the Alliance are welcome. How do you feel about Julie and Henry?" he asked the five DA members at the table.

She looked at him. "I like that. Maybe if we could organize a group inside Hogwarts to speak against these things, they would listen more. We should draft a charter this afternoon. It may make them think twice. You, Neville, Susan, Parvati or Padma, sorry I don't know which," she said to Parvati, "will all be eligible to take over your seats on the Wizengamot in a few years. Maybe if we get as many students as possible that have that option together, we could force them to change."

Ginny gave her a look. "Sounds good, Hermione."

She cocked her eye at the redhead. What was bothering her? There were a lot of loud talk as more students read the paper. Hermione was about to get up to work on her idea when Professor McGonagall came over. "I see you have read the paper," she said in a disgusted tone. "Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger and Ms. Weasley. I am calling a meeting of all prefects for Noon in the Staff Office. I would like to find a way to calm people as much as possible."

"Did you see what was voted down, Professor," Hermione said pointing at the paper.

"I have not read it all yet, Ms. Granger. The front page is enough to deal with. Pass the word is you see any other Prefect, just in case we can't get them all."

"Yes, ma'am. You will want to read all of this." She pointed to the page.

Professor McGonagall looked like she wanted to walk away but looked at the section Hermione was pointing too. As she read, her eyebrows rose high on her forehead. "Spawn of Morgana," she hissed. "Hogwarts hasn't had married students in almost a century. And children and babies in the halls! This is unacceptable. There isn't more, is there Ms. Granger?"

All of them looked at her stunned for a moment. She couldn't think of a time she had seen their Head of House so upset. "I don't know, Professor McGonagall. I hadn't read it all yet."

The woman looked like she was just barely keeping her rage in. She had to take several breathes before she calmed down enough to speak again. "Ms. Granger, would you please read the paper and report to my office in an hour? I would like to know any details you have."

"Yes, ma'am," she said.

McGonagall gave her a nod and they stalked off towards the Head table. She looked at their Professor. "I've never seen her knickers so twisted," Seamus said.

Ginny hit him. "I like Professor McGonagall. I think she's already stressed enough this year."

"I agree," Hermione said watching one of her favorite Professors walking up to Dumbledore and starting to talk to him in hushed whispers. In a moment, they both got up and were quickly followed by Sprout and Flitwick. "I also don't think this will be the first time they try to get these laws passed."

Harry slipped his hand in hers under the table, startling her. "We'll find a way to get through this."

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 12

September 8, 1996

Arthur sat at his table nursing a cup of tea. He was taking the day off.

Molly had just sat down next to him with her own plate of scrambled eggs, sausage and toast. She was reading the paper, a look of disgust on her face with her fork halfway to her mouth. "You didn't tell me about this," she said after a moment.

"You were asleep, Mollywobbles," he said. He was happy to see her out of bed. She still looked pale and as though she had lost some weight, but she was eating again. He had been starting to worry he would need to get a Healer for her.

She gave him a shy look. "You haven't called me that in a while."

Arthur smiled at her. "I haven't really been around in a while."

Molly looked down at her plate. "Neither have I. Did everyone make it on the train with no issues last weekend," she asked looking extremely ashamed of herself.

He smiled. It was the first time in weeks she was paying attention to something besides Ron. Arthur was sad at losing his boy. It was a fate he would never wish on anyone's child. He knew Ron wouldn't last much longer, but he couldn't dwell on that now. He had other people that he could still protect.

"Everyone made it fine," he told her, not having the heart to tell her about what it was like dropping them off.

"When did they pass this Guardian Law. At seventeen they are all adults."

He shook his head. "Not anymore. There are too many in You-Know-Who's hands and the others are afraid of what is happening. It was sold as a bill to protect those too young to protect themselves."

"That is ridiculous. And what is the new Compatibility Law?"

He couldn't keep the dissatisfaction off his face. "That is three times now that an emergency meeting was called and not all members were notified. It is a disgusting thing by the Purebloods to manipulate people into marrying those that are magical of the same strength or stronger. Right now, it is only in the Committee stage, but it will pass once everything comes out. If we had been there five minutes sooner, I think there would have been enough votes to shoot it down."

"Why would they do that," she asked.

He could tell Molly was still out of sorts and not her usual self. Ron was hitting her hard and he was doing all he could to help her and keep everyone else together. Fleur had decided to stay at the house with Bill and they were helping him with Molly. "They want a pure race of wizards." It was the simple truth he knew of Voldemort.

"Then why include Muggleborns," she asked turning to the next page of the paper.

"I think that had more to do with the other two Laws they wanted," he said bitterly. She gave him a questioning look. Sighing, he took a large gulp of the hot tea. "Mollywobbles, they are trying to push a mandatory Marriage law and Breeding law for every under the age of thirty. The one last night would affects all those currently eighteen or younger."

"They what," she said, some of her normal self coming back. "What kind of Marriage and Breeding law? You make it sound like they are cattle."

"I think that was the intent," he added. She hadn't been there during the debate when Killian had been arguing it. She opened her mouth once, then shut it. He took the opportunity to go on. "They want every child to be married by seventeen and have at least a child on the way by the time they are eighteen. It will be mandatory for any pureblood or half-blood to be betrothed or married by fifteen and all Muggleborns of a squib line by sixteen. We nearly lost."

She ogled him. "And how are they supposed to attend school while pregnant or with children? The other law was very explicit that would not exclude them."

He sighed. "No, it would not exclude them. Hogwarts would become a nursery as well as a school."

If she hadn't already been white, she would have been now. "Arthur, you can't allow this. This is..."

"Horrible," he said. "I know. That is why I wanted to talk to you about resigning my post at the Ministry and taking up the Regent of House Potter full time. The Guardian Law would not allow any Lord or Lady or elected official to take up their post on the Wizengamot before they are Twenty-three now. Harry said he would put me on retainer making almost three times what I make now."

Her eyes widened. She had been so proud of him when he had been promoted. "We can't take his money."

Arthur looked at her and took one of her hands in his. "I have put a lot of thought into this, Mollywobbles. Three times now the Wizengamot has tried and successfully held Emergency Meetings in as many weeks. The last two times we were only able to stop them or changes things at the last minute, but before they had already passed something. I can't allow our children to be subjected to the laws they are trying. I need to be there. Also, I saw Harry's ledgers. He could pay me for the next hundred years and I don't think he would ever notice it."

Her eyes went wide. He could see the realization of just how much she had missed in the last few weeks. "How have I missed all this?"

He tried to keep his sniffle in. "You have been trying to help Ron," he said to her, knowing she had been mourning him. She looked down at her plate again. He reached over and lifted her head before moving closer and pecking her on the lips. "I miss him too."

She had tears in her eyes, but kept them in. "What of Ginny and Harry? Or Hermione? What would that mean if they were forced into marriage that young?"

He smiled sadly. "I think Harry and Hermione would survive it; they do everything else. I am not sure of Ginny. She is too much a free spirit right now."

"You mean Harry and Hermione would survive together, don't you?"

He nodded. "If forced too, yes. Mollywobbles," he asked in a more serious tone. "Can I ask you something?"

She looked at her husband, fear and sadness in her eyes. "You know you can ask anything, Arthur."

He squeezed her hand before sitting back in his chair. "I want to have a meeting with your Aunt Muriel. She still holds the Prewett titles, correct?"

"You know she does. She has offered it to Bill a few times," she said confused.

He looked at her for a moment. "What would you think of Percy coming out of the shadows and leaving Dumbledore?"

She took in a breath. "Arthur, I thought he feared for his position. Would that put him in danger after what you told me last night?"

"I think it is getting to the time that most people need to choose sides. I don't want him to work in the shadows anymore. You and I both know he was only doing all this to be Dumbledore's spy. It has hurt to let the family think he has been a traitor for two years now. I am still not convinced they think he is back on our side," Arthur said.

"You want to extra vote in the Wizengamot, don't you," she asked.

"That is part of it. He will not be allowed to take the seat himself until next year, but myself of Augusta or Amelia could proxy his seat until then."

"And the other part?"

"I want my son back here for Christmas," he told her. "I have already talked to Bill and Charlie; they agree with this. Bill will take over the House of Weasley when he is ready, and we are ready. I was also thinking of running for a seat in the Squires Seats next year."

The look Molly was giving him was unreadable. After a few moments, she spoke again, "You love helping muggles and watching after them. Who will take over your spot?"

"There is a younger Auror who has already shown interest," he told her.

"Please say it is now Nymphadora," she said quickly.

He chuckled. "I love Tonks, but no. She is not Head of Department material yet. Maybe in another five or ten years when she has calmed down. I was thinking of Croaker's grandson, Igor. He is already head of Fourth Corp and has a muggle mother. He is very protective of Muggles and Muggleborn. I can also try to do more good if I am in the Wizengamot."

They sat for a while in silence. Molly started to eat her breakfast and he refilled both their cups with tea. "You really think Percy would take up the title of Lord Prewett? No one has sat on the Wizengamot for that seat since my parents were murdered. You know he disowned me? I am not sure Muriel can pass it on."

Arthur looked at her before reaching into his robes. He placed the rolled up parchment on the table. "He didn't disown you, Mollywobbles. We have a meeting at Gringotts on Monday. They located your father's Will and you are in it."

"When did you get this," she asked putting a hand to her mouth and just looking at the paper. He understood her shock. For almost thirty years she thought she had been kicked out of her house. Being with him that night in 1968 had been the only thing to save her. Her parents and younger sister had been killed that night. Gideon and Fabian never abandoned her, but somehow much of the family's fortune had been squandered or passed to her Aunt Muriel, instead of her older brothers. He still could not understand that.

"Yesterday. I was waiting for a moment when you were, ah, better," he told her. "They are expecting us about 10 in the morning. I was going to go in and hand in my resignation and meet you back here before we go to Gringotts. I would like to meet with Muriel tomorrow if we can."

Molly looked at him. "Why haven't you really shown this to others all these years? This was the man I saw in Hogwarts and tried to convince my father of who you were."

He shook her head. "Molly, you know your father would never accept me as an Auror. I couldn't do it anymore once you were pregnant and serving in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office allowed me to still do what I could to help people and still come home to you and the children every night in one piece. I realize now I should have done more to protect my family and those we love," he said sadly.

She reached over and patted his cheeks. "I know, Arthur, I just wish others saw what I have seen in you all these years before now."

He nuzzled his face into her palm. "I wanted to go see Ron today. I haven't been able to for a few days," he said with a tear.

Molly wiped it away before for moving her chair closer and hugging him.

-oOo-

September 9, 1996

Harry ran his hand through his hair. Yesterday had been a long morning. They hadn't left the pitch until one thirty, when the Hufflepuffs drove them off the field so they could have their tryout. Ginny was standing in front of the boards in the locker rooms. "How did you feel about Spruce," she asked, moving a scrap of parchment to the Junior Beaters area."

"Good arm, but a little wild on the aim," he said. They had been overwhelmed at first when well over a hundred people were on the pitch. Once they had figured out that more than thirty of them were giggling girls from other houses and some new years that had been confused when their Houses were doing trials, it still left them with over seventy students. They had narrowed it down to twenty-eight now.

"I thought so too. I want to try him with that African girl as starters."

"Hey, I already had Maaike on my team," he said to her.

She smiled at him as she picked the name off the board and moved it to her side. "I know, but are we trying to even the teams or stack the Senior team?"

He grumbled at her. She had gotten Hermione on her side and Hermione laid out how the points would do better with both teams doing better than just the Senior team doing the best. "Even the teams," he told her. "I am claiming her an alternate though."

"Deal."

"I also want Bell and this new kid, Danvers," he told her.

"No way. I get Danvers."

"I'll take Dean, I think they will work together, but with Danvers that will give you one of the best Chasers squads out there. If you want that, then I get Maaike." He was not going to give her up without a fight. He had a feeling Maaike would make an awesome beater and would bring Spruce a better player.

Ginny looked at him, her face contorting as she thought. "Fine. I get Hadassah though and Danvers."

Harry looked at the board. That mix would give Ginny one of the best chaser squads, and him a good beater squad. Loosing Danvers though left him in quandary. "Does that leave you a good beater team?"

She looked at the board. "I have the Creevey's, should be fine. I think you should take Le Sueur. I know what you are going to say, but I think it was just nerves. I would make Bell head of the squad though."

"Was there a question on that," he asked her.

They had both been holding off on the next choice. He looked at the five names they had put in the Keeper spot. He didn't miss her look. "I am not taking McLaggen."

She snorted. "I don't want you within two hundred yards of McLaggen. You looked ready to kill him today."

Harry tried to keep the disgust off his face. "He asked me if Hermione was seeing anyone."

Her eyes narrowed. "Last I knew, she wasn't yet."

He frowned. "No, not yet."

"Ok, I don't want that boy within a mile of you." She took the scrap with his name, crumpled it up and then burned it with her wand.

"Probably a good idea. Her birthday is Thursday. I was thinking of asking her to Hogsmeade next weekend if we are allowed to go."

Ginny smiled. She wasn't going to push, knowing if she did too much he might run and only stay friends with her. "Even if you aren't, I know the elves will help you pack a picnic. That doesn't solve our issue though," she said turning back to the board.

He felt happy at her reaction. "I am not sure about the Keepers yet. I was thinking we call them all back and trial them at the first practice. There are four and they were all about even."

Ginny looked at the names. "That isn't a bad idea. Hmmm."

"I also think you should take Pavlona as your Seeker. She was good today."

Ginny nodded. "That was what I thought too. I think Cutburn should be back up for both teams."

"I can agree to that. What about Thomas, Bell's sister and Hawthorn as backup chasers?"

Ginny nodded. "I like that. Bell and Hawthorne are only second years. There will be a spot or two open for starters next year, maybe more if things don't work out."

"Agreed. What about Aitken and Pickering as backup beaters?"

"I think Rivers should be in there too."

A little while later, they walked out of the Gryffindor changing room. They had decided it was safer to have the discussion there than in the castle. It was close to noon and the Slytherins were still on the pitch doing their practice. "I want to see this for a moment," Ginny told him turning towards the pitch instead of the school.

Harry shrugged and followed her to the open doors that led to the pitch. When they go there, he could see a bunch of people in the stands and on benches on the field. Currently, there were two sets of chasers squaring off against two Keepers. They watched for a few, both their attention eventually going to the Keeper closer to the school. For the fifth time in a row, the girl easily stopped the quaffle from going in. She looked like a small thing, with raven hair and an arm that was able to throw the ball half across the pitch. "Nice arm," he said. "Who is she?"

Ginny shrugged. "No clue. Must be one of the new students."

They watched for a few more. The chaser team going against the girl were good too. Harry was starting to wonder about their strategy. Ginny voiced it first. "Ok, do you want the Creevey's or Hadassah?"

"Are you all right if I give you Finnigan," he asked her.

She shrugged. "Not my first choice, but I think the Senior team needs to be stacked a little more. The only rule about exchanging players is that they need to two play two games on the same team."

Harry nodded. "If they are better than I think they are, I may need Colin."

She pursed her lips that time. "We'll see. They square off against Ravenclaw first now."

Harry looked around the pitch. His brow furrowed as Ginny kept watching the tryout. "Ginny, I don't see Draco."

She raised an eyebrow at him and started to look around. After a few minutes, she said, "I don't either. Actually, come to think of it, he hasn't bothered any of us so far this year."

Harry frowned. He didn't like sudden changes. The few times he had seen Draco, there had been some looks of loathing on his face, but the boy hadn't said anything. He found that odd. In years past, Draco hadn't missed any opportunity he could to make snide remarks or give him a general bad time. He filed it away, to keep a closer eye on the Slytherin for now on.

"Are you getting hungry? I promised Hermione I would be there at lunch today. She wants to go visit Hagrid."

Ginny screwed her face. "Do you think he will make us go visit Grawp? I am not looking forward to meeting him after what you and Hermione have said."

"I hope not. Though, maybe I should start calling her Hermy to get her used to it again," he said with a genuine grin.