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CHAPTER SIX: First Moves

Harry strode through the corridors of Hogwarts in a fury, unconcerned by the looks he was getting from students unused to seeing such rage on the face of the normally kindly teacher. He reached the door to the headmaster's office and announced the password ("Snorkack") without breaking stride, storming inside.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"he demanded.

Neville faced him unflinching. "What the hell did you think you were doing? Using Hogwarts to express your political views! You're a great man, Harry, and a friend, but you're just a member of staff here. You don't speak for Hogwarts or for me!"

"You're not actually condoning this, are you? You can't actually want Ron to go ahead?"

"What do you expect me to do, place Hogwarts in opposition to the Ministry? They're the Ministry. And Ron's been my friend just as long as you have."

"Dumbledore would have done,"Harry snapped back.

"No he wouldn't,"Neville replied, calmly but firmly. "Dumbledore had a year of Fudge trying to turn him into a public enemy and denouncing him as a liar, but he didn't fight back, he didn't try and overthrow the Ministry. He knew they weren't the enemy. He fought against Voldemort, because Voldemort was a monster. Ron isn't a monster. And I'm not risking Hogwarts to support a vendetta against him."

Harry looked at the portraits of Hogwarts' past headteachers for support but they remained silent. Dumbledore's portrait looked at him with sadness, those of McGonagall and Slughorn doing likewise. Even Snape's sardonic expression seemed to betray a hint of disappointment.

Harry turned and left.

James was doing his marking in one of the classrooms. Sensing a student in the doorway, he looked up to find himself face to face with his half-sister. "Dora? What's up?"

Nymphadora shuffled nervously. "Have you heard what Professor Longbottom said?"

"I have."

"Do you agree with him?"

James sighed and put down his quill. "Come in and close the door." Nymphadora did as instructed. "Yeah, I kind of do."

"You think Dad was wrong?"

"Not exactly. He gave his opinion and I kind of agree with a lot of it. I think what the Ministry's proposing is dangerous and it's got a lot of moral implications. But Dad went too far. At the end of the day, they're the Ministry, you can't fight them. And you know Uncle Ron as well as I do, he's not some Dark Wizard. He's doing his best to solve a problem and in theory it's not a bad idea."

"So what do you think should happen?"

"I think Dad and Uncle Ron need to sit down and sort out their problems. Before this really does get serious."

Harry wasn't sure what had brought him to the estate. He didn't spend much time in the muggle world, something he felt guilty about at times. The strangeness of what had once seemed ordinary surprised him. He found the block of flats he was looking for and headed up three flights of stairs and along a walkway before knocking on the door.

The dark-haired young woman that answered looked at him in surprise. "Mr Potter!"

Harry gave Melissa Dorrans a bemused look. "I've told you before, Melissa, call me Harry."

Melissa nodded but didn't do so. "Do you want to come in?"

Harry followed her into the flat. His attention was immediately drawn to the cot in the corner of the living room and he stared down at his youngest grandchild, just five weeks old. "Albus Potter Dorrans. I really hope you grow up in a world at peace."

"I heard your speech,"Melissa noted. "You were very good."

Harry sighed. "I wish other people thought so. Some of my oldest friends are opposing me on this. All three people I used to share a dorm with, for a start. I've been getting in touch with some of the old crowd from Dumbledore's Army, even some of the purebloods, trying to drum up support."

"Albus would have been on your side."

"I hope so. Lily is but Hermione's children have sided with their father and I don't know about James or Dora. I wish he was here. I wish he'd got to see his son."

Melissa squeezed his hand gently. "You can always count on this part of your family, Mr Potter… Harry."

Ron, Parvati, Padma, Rose and Scorpius were in the Minister's office, pouring over plans of the building they were in. "The only public access to the Ministry is via the atrium here,"Parvati noted. "And we have anti-apparation charms all over the building."

"What about the Device itself?"Padma asked.

"Guards outside and inside the room."

"As many guards as we can get,"Ron added. "Regular patrols. I'm using emergency powers to draft in some of the old Order and DA members who support us as special Ministry personnel. And we need to get in touch with some of the other members of the old guard."

"I've spoken to Anthony and Terry,"Padma noted. "They're drumming up support among the old Ravenclaws."

"They're not all on our side,"Parvati pointed out. "Luna sided with Harry, so did Cho and Michael."

"Personal loyalty. Most of them support the Ministry."

"Are you sure Harry's coming here?"Scorpius asked.

Ron sighed. "I've known Harry for forty years. If he thinks he's right about something, he'll act on it."

"Can't we talk him round?"Rose asked.

"The only person I ever knew him listen to was Dumbledore. Hermione might try if she disagrees with him, but at the end of the day she always supports him. Negotiating with Harry isn't an option."

Scorpius nodded. "Well, I'll do an assessment of our employees. Some of them might side with Harry."

Ron shook his head sadly. "I'm pretty much expecting they will."

In Grimmauld Place, a similar plan was laid out on a table. Harry, Hermione, Luna, Lily and Teddy stood over it but for the moment none of them were looking at it. "I've spoken to Dennis and Demelza," Hermione told her husband. "They're willing to support us but they're not sure about Imelda. They think she's loyal to the Ministry." The couple's daughter, one of Lily's old classmates, worked in the Department of Magical Transportation.

Harry nodded. "What about the old families?"

"Most of the ones we spoke to are willing to offer us support,"Teddy agreed. "But not many are keen on the idea of fighting."

"Why would that be?"Lily wondered.

"They're playing both sides,"Harry explained. "They're worried about repercusions if the Ministry comes out on top."

"It must be nice to be clever enough not to care about what's right,"Luna mused.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the hallway and Lee and Owen appeared, escorting a frustrated looking Rose. "Found a spy for the Ministry trying to sneak in,"Lee explained.

"I wasn't sneaking,"Rose snapped. "I came in by the front door, didn't I?"

"Then what are you doing here?" A part of Hermione was pleased to see her daughter but also suspicious.

Rose shook herself away from her captors. "What are you trying to do, Uncle Harry? Destroy the Purification Device? Capture it?"

"I want to stop it being used,"Harry replied. "If destroying it's the only way, I'll do that."

Rose nodded. "I think Dad's wrong. He's preparing for war…and you're preparing to fight him. But maybe we can end this quickly."

"What do you suggest?"Hermione asked.

"He's got a lot of defences you don't know about. But I know a way you can get past them."