DISCLAIMER THE FIRST: It is by JKR's writing alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the grace of coffee that thoughts acquire speed, the back acquires strains, the strains become a warning. The warning is that I make no money from this. It is by JKR's writing alone I set my mind in motion. Any recognizable bits of JKR's work are hers and hers alone and are used under the fair use clause.

PITHY STATEMENT RELATING TO THIS CHAPTER: "Greatness, in the last analysis, is largely bravery - courage in escaping from old ideas and old standards and respectable ways of doing things." James Robinson

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CHAPTER TWO – THE MURKY PATH OF BRAVERY

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KITCHEN, GRIMMAULD PLACE, LONDON – AUGUST 4th 1997 – AFTERNOON

"Just…just to be clear," Harry said. "You want to leave Tonks at her parent's house and come away with us?"

"She'll be perfectly safe there; they'll look after her." said Lupin. He spoke with a finality bordering on indifference. "Harry, I'm sure James would have wanted me to stick with you."

Harry glanced at Herminie before answering, "Really?" Harry drawled this out in such a way that Lupin looked at him in alarm.

Remus fidgeted a bit as Harry just stared at him with Lily's piercing green eyes. Finally he couldn't take the silence and looked to Hermione, "So I take it Ron is off getting supplies or something? I'm sure you don't have much in the way of food here and I know Ron's eating habits means you'll need to stock up quickly."

Before Hermione could reply to Remus' attempt at lightening the mood Harry spoke, "Actually he's downstairs in your safe-room. He's sleeping off a...disagreement we had. I am wondering if you're not going to join him shortly."

"Harry!" Hermione said warningly as Lupin's jaw dropped in surprise.

"Tell me, Remus, what do you think my mum and dad would have thought of you just dropping out of my life after you left Hogwarts in my Third Year? For that matter, why didn't I meet you prior to that year? I would have expected you to be waiting for me at Platform 9 ¾ my First Year. I understand Dumbledore hid me but you knew my birthday and you knew when I'd be going to Hogwarts. In fact, it would have been nice if you had volunteered to take me there so I didn't have to rely on the Weasleys to get me through the portal. With my godfather in prison and Peter supposedly dead like my parents, I would have thought you'd take it upon yourself to step up for the only son of the Marauders."

Lupin flushed, "Harry, I..."

Harry cut him off, "Sirius was on the run from the Ministry and the mundane police. He had an order for him to be given an immediate Dementor's Kiss by Fudge and he STILL wrote to me during the Tri-Wizard Tournament at great risk to himself. Besides Hermione here, he was the only one who believed in me when I said I didn't put my name in the Goblet of Fire. I really needed people who believed in me back then, Remus. Where were you? What would my parents think of your lack of action back then?"

Lupin looked away. Finally he spoke in a soft voice, "Harry you have to understand the problems associated with being a werewolf..."

"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT YOUR PROLEMS, LUPIN!" Harry shouted as he suddenly shot to his feet. "My God Remus! You're a man 29 days out of the month yet all you go on about is the few hours you are a werewolf! At least you're still human most of the time! I shudder to think how you would whine if you were a vampire instead! You constantly complain about being a werewolf and rarely do you act like a man!"

Again Lupin gaped at Harry as Hermione reached out for Harry's hand, "Harry!" she cried.

Harry waved her off. "Listen to me carefully, Lupin. I'm an orphan because of a mad man attacked me and my parents were willing to die to protect me. Due to Dumbledore's twisted idea of what a normal childhood might be, I was raised in an abusive home. Yet when I got to Hogwarts, where were you? You, the only 'family' I had left? Where were you when you could have taught me how I was related to the likes of Tonks or even Daphne Greengrass of all people? That's right, I had to find out I had more relatives than I thought and all it took was being trapped in this house! I've gone most of my time at Hogwarts in the dark because people haven't told me squat and I was too trusting and naïve to know what questions to ask."

Harry fingered his wand. His words dripped with malice, "I didn't have a choice in becoming an orphan and neither does your child with Tonks. However you seem downright eager to run away and potentially deprive your baby of its father. Let me tell you something, Professor. You may think it is better for Tonks for you to leave but I can say from experience that a werewolf for a dad is a world up and beyond having no father at all. I'm betting Neville if he were here would back me up on this."

Seeing that Remus was still shocked at his words, Harry continued to twist the knife, "Do you think my dad would want you to run out on your own child even if it was to help me? What about my mum? Do you think she'd be okay with the idea of running away from a wife you haven't even been married to for a month? The mother of your unborn child?"

Lupin sprang to his feet and faced off against Harry; his chair toppling over backwards. His eyes blazed with fury and Harry saw the shadow of the wolf in them. "You don't understand what I've done to my wife and unborn child! I should never have married her. I've made her an outcast! You don't know how most the Wizarding world looks down on us werewolves. Even her own family is disgusted by our marriage!"

"So you think running away is going to make it better for her?" Harry asked. As menacing as Lupin was, with the Wolf so near the surface, Harry wasn't cowed. "I'm starting to seriously wonder about the Sorting Hat. How did it ever let two cowards like you and Peter into Gryffindor?"

Lupin blinked in surprised and then practically snarled, "You dare say..."

Harry cut him off with a swift gesture which caused his wand to emit angry red sparks. "Yes I dare! Do you know why Ron is locked up downstairs? Because I've decided I'm not going to play by the rules set down by wizards any more. I'm going to fight with every weapon I have to take down Voldemort and I'm not going to let what people think of me stand in my way. You think I care that people are going to freak out when I use Muggle means to defeat Voldemort? That's how far I am willing to dare to get the job done!"

Lupin's face went from angry to surprised in an instant, "Muggle means...Harry you can't be serious! Everyone will turn on you! Friend and foe alike! You could personally hand Voldemort's head to the Absolute Mugwump himself and they'd still throw you in Azkaban! Your name will be cursed by witch and wizard alike!" Lupin looked at Hermione, "Hermione please tell me you've tried to talk him out of this insane plan?"

Hermione snorted, "Why should I? I had to obliviate my parents and send them away to keep them safe. My entire time in the magical world has had people looking down on me, calling me a mudblood and making excuses when I excelled over all their Pureblood children. Now you bring us the news we Muggleborns are going to be registered like were some form of animal. I'm sure the next step will be 'reeducation' camps which will rapidly be followed up with extermination. From what you've told us there is little outcry about this. So why shouldn't I go along with Harry's plan? I stand with him like I always have."

Hermione reached out and squeezed Harry's free hand, "Once that damned prophecy is fulfilled and Harry is free, I am becoming resigned to leaving the magical world behind or perhaps finding like-minded Magicals with a more modern and liberal mindset to found our own settlement away from the intolerance and bigotry. I doubt every magical in the world wants to be trapped in a society which refuses to advance."

Lupin was obviously gobsmacked, "You're serious. You're actually seriously going to go through with this?"

Harry nodded, "If I had a rifle or a shotgun, I'd step out onto the landing and shoot those two Death Eaters watching the place right now to prove my how serious I am. I was handed this impossible task by the Headmaster who did little to actually train me or any of us to fight the war we have to fight. So excuse me if I'm going to use the tools I have. If the rest of Magical Britain is going to roll over and accept Voldemort's rule and none of the other ECMS countries or even the ICW are going to help, then I don't think they get much say in how I fulfill that damn prophecy."

Lupin was silent for a moment before his shoulders sagged, "I guess if that is how you feel then I can't stand in your way. Like you said, you are the Chosen One of prophecy. Since it is obvious I can't talk sense into you, I guess I'll be on my way. I wish you good luck and hope your decision doesn't destroy you." He held out his right hand to show he wanted to shake hands with Harry.

Harry's eyes narrowed but after a glance at Hermione, he transferred his wand to his left hand and shook hands with Remus. As they shook, Lupin suddenly pulled Harry violently across the table as his wand shot out of his wand holster and into his left hand. The wand came around towards Hermione.

"Stupefy!"

The magical bolt hit Lupin dead in the chest and he staggered. Another stunner put the werewolf down.

Harry groaned and picked up his glasses off the floor, "I am bloody well getting contacts! I'm tired of these bloody things coming off in a fight! Nice moves, Hermione, by the way. How did you know he was going to attack?"

Hermione smiled nastily, "Remus might have tried to look defeated but I could see the hairs on the back of his neck were still raised. It was obvious he was primed for an attack. That and I remembered that Remus is a south-paw so shaking hands with you gave him a distinct advantage. I'm betting he was going to stun us and then bring us to what's left of the Order so they could 'talk some sense into us' I'm sure."

Harry gave Hermione a quick hug, "Bookworm Granger, One. Big, Bad Werewolf, Zed."

Hermione laughed before turning solemn, "What are we going to do with him?"

Harry sighed, "The only thing I can think of. I'm going to take him to the Tonks' place. I know the address since that's where Hagrid and I showed up after that botched Privet Drive operation. I need to talk to them because with this new registration the Ministry is pushing, I'm not sure if their place will be safe for Mr. Tonks for much longer. That and if it gets out that Tonks is pregnant, well she's another person who Voldemort could hold hostage over me. Since she's not a Pureblood like Neville or Ginny, the only one safe in her family might be Andromeda. Considering who her sisters are, I'm not sure how much safety her blood will grant her.

Hermione nodded in agreement, "So what's the plan?" She was trying to ask Harry his opinions before jumping in with her own thoughts of late. She was finding Harry was even more astute than she had ever given him credit for.

"Well you need to start brewing since you need to stay here in case Kreacher gets back." Harry ran his hand through his hair. "Do you think you can recast the Fidelius Charm here?"

Hermione shook her head, "I don't think I have the power but I think you do. The charm isn't actually that difficult to learn; it is the power needed to cast it which makes it so rare. While you may not be Dumbledore, you did drive off that Dementor swarm Third Year. I think you can do it."

"Okay, well if there is anything we need for that, we need to do it quickly. I don't want any of the Order showing up. I'm thinking that after dealing with the Tonks, I need to get to Gringotts as quickly as I can."

"That's dangerous Harry!" Hermione exclaimed.

Harry shrugged, "I know but I doubt Voldemort and the Ministry will be able to lean on the goblins until they consolidate their power some more. While things are still chaotic, I think I can slip in there quietly under my cloak. I can buy a goblin made portkey so I won't have to go the Alley more than once. With my cloak, I should be good. I need to claim what Sirius left me. I was talking to Kreacher before he went off after Fletcher while you and Ron were checking out the kitchen. Sirius left me more than just money and this house but also the title as head of House Black. So I'm thinking there are defenses I might be able to activate as the head of House Black."

Hermione frowned, "I wish I had thought to talk to Sirius more while he was alive about all the Pureblood gentry and their titles. I mean Lucius Malfoy is referred to as Lord Malfoy but what does that mean? They never seemed to bother teaching it at Hogwarts."

Harry snorted, "I think it fell under if you don't know, you weren't meant to know. I'll ask Andromeda about it. If I'm Sirius' heir, will that make me Lord Black?"

"Don't forget your own house, Harry. The Potters are one of the oldest families in England. Perhaps you will be Lord Potter-Black." Hermione said. "Of course if these titles are like those used in the House of Lords, I don't think they'll be of much use to us. I don't you see defeating Voldemort by showing up to vote in the Wizengamot."

"Good, I think I'd look ghastly in those robes! What is it with wizards and their horrid concept of color anyway?" Harry joked.

Hermione chuckled, "Well between the gaudy and the goth, I think we have the advantage out in the mundane world. Anyone tailing us will stand out like a sore thumb."

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment, "Hermione, don't freak out but I'm thinking if I am able to become the head of House Black, to say nothing of House Potter, that I should let Dobby and Winky bond to me."

Hermione jerked her head around with an angry exclamation on her lips before she stopped herself. Taking a deep breath she finally said, "Go on."

Harry let out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding, "I know your feelings on SPEW and the like but we both know we've got a lot of things standing in between us and ending all this. While I doubt Dobby would ever willingly give anything away, having Dobby and Winky, two known free elves, secretly bonded to either House Potter or House Black might get us an advantage. One could stay at Hogwarts and work as if they were still free. That way we'd have a way to get messages in and out of Hogwarts."

Hermione blinked at this, "Of course! They could easily leave messages under a pillow or something easy like that. With all the elves in and out doing laundry and such, it would be hard for anyone to find us out. That's brilliant Harry!"

Harry grinned shyly, "I'm thinking a house elf could probably get us a lot of supplies which would put us in too much danger to try and get. I mean you know how little notice Magicals have in regards to house elves. They just don't see them. So if we send Dobby under a glamour wearing some normal house elf attire to buy potion ingredients, well no one is going to look twice. We can't use Kreacher since it is known he's the Black's elf and I'm sure every Death Eater knows it. Right now Voldemort can't be sure if we're here or not so I don't want to give them anymore reason to believe we are."

Hermione slowly nodded, "And if they are caught, they cannot give out secrets. I hate to say it but since a bound elf can't betray secrets would mean no one would try to torture them to find out where we are."

Harry scowled, "I don't like it but I'd rather have Dobby killed than know he was tortured to death on my account. Plus I know Dobby will want to help us. You know, he once said the house elves saw me as a sort of a savior in regards to Voldemort. Having Dobby and Winky 'properly' bound to my family might make it easier for them to talk with other elves. I'm betting there is a lot of info other elves could give out that wouldn't be considered a secret which could prove very valuable in the long run."

Hermione brightened, "I hadn't thought of that. We couldn't directly tell them we were going to attack their masters but we could imply they needed to be out shopping at a certain time."

"Exactly. I don't want to kill any house elves if blowing up a place like Malfoy Manor becomes necessary." Harry agreed. "They truly are innocent bystanders in this whole mess."

Hermione leapt into Harry's arms and kissed him, "Oh Harry! I'm so happy you understand this!"

Harry blushed and hurriedly disentangled himself from Hermione before he had another 'pants expansion' reaction. He levitated Lupin off the floor, "I should get going since there is no time like the present. I can't say I'm looking forward to the look on Tonk's face when she hears how her husband she's been married to less than a month tried to run out on her."

Hermione shuddered, "Given her temper, I'm glad I'm going to miss it."

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33 HAMPSTEAD HILL GARDENS, CAMDEN TOWN – AUGUST 4th 1997 – AFTERNOON

Watching Tonks sob hysterically in her mother's arms made Harry think of Hermione's words. Right now he desperately wished he had missed this as well. A glance at Ted Tonks' face showed he seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Ted glanced his way and motioned for Harry to follow him into his office. Once there he sat heavily in his office chair and hastily took out two glasses and poured a healthy slug of brandy into them. He offered one to Harry, "I know it's probably bad form to turn to alcohol when things get bad but sod it all, I need a drink and you look like you need one as well."

Harry took the glass and nodded thankfully as he sat down in one of the plush chairs Ted had for his clients. Harry took a cautious sip of the brandy as he looked around the office. It seemed Ted's law practice had made him quite wealthy regardless of his blood status.

After coughing a bit at the unfamiliar burn of the alcohol going down his throat, Harry finally spoke up, "I'm really sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings but Remus did bring us news of the Muggleborn Registration Act. I wanted to offer you and your family sanctuary. While the rest of Britain might not think it is going to be that bad but I know Voldemort. That and I have first-hand experience with the bigotry of Ministry types like Umbridge." Harry flashed his scarred left hand at Ted. The words 'I will not tell lies' was still easily seen etched into his flesh.

Ted's eyes stared at Harry's scarred hand and frowned, "You know I was just about to say things weren't as bad as they seemed but you are right. This isn't the old Ministry any longer. It is now just a front for the Dark Lord and the old elite Pureblood families. I have plenty of enemies who resent my success. It will only be a matter of time under this new regime before they look my way."

"The fact your daughter is a known member of the Order of the Phoenix can't help things either," Harry said.

Ted nodded in silent agreement. The pair turned as the door opened and Andromeda walked in looking drawn and pale. To her husband's surprise, she motioned to the brandy as she sat down in the chair next to Harry.

Ted quickly poured Andromeda a drink, "How is Dora?" he asked quietly.

Andromeda took a deep drink before answering, "When she started to hyperventilate, I cast a sleeping charm on her. While it is very, very early into her pregnancy, she needs to be careful since her emotions act upon her powers. It is too dangerous for her pregnancy to afford an accidental body change due to stress."

"How do you think she'll react after she's had time to process all of this?" Harry asked.

Andromeda looked sad, "Harry since your parents are dead you probably never learned one of the most important lessons in life. There always comes a time when your parents try to tell you something or teach you something. They try to give you a piece of advice born out of the mistakes they themselves made. Yet being young you ignore this advice because you are young and you think you can beat the odds. Invariably you end up learning the lesson that sometimes your parents actually know some things because they were your age once. And when they were your age they made the same mistake they are warning you about."

She looked over to Ted who was nodding, "While I do not regret my decision to marry Ted, I do wish I had listened to my father. I was so wrapped up in my fight with my horrid mother that I never gave much thought to some of the advice my father tried to give me. He wasn't trying to stop me from marrying Ted because he was a Muggleborn; he wanted me to understand the consequences of what I was going to do and there might be other ways to go about it."

Andromeda sighed, "For all the Pureblood bigotry my mother spewed, my father Cygnus Black understood Ted was as cunning as any Slytherin on top of his Ravenclaw intelligence. He saw the same potential in him as I did. So while he was publically against the marriage, especially around my mother, secretly he saw possibilities in the match just as there had been when his aunt married your great-grandfather Charlus."

Andromeda looked at Harry. The teen saw how haunted her eyes were, "If I had listened to my father and not just eloped with Ted, things would have been so different. Frankly, I just didn't want to deal with my harridan of a mother anymore so I just left. Thus I broke the marriage contract with House LeStrange and so it fell to Bellatrix, poor naïve Trixie, to marry that animal Rudolphus. If I had listened to my father, I could have stayed and used various means to try and nullify the contract or defer it to another generation and then marry Ted in spite of my mother's wishes."

Andromeda's eyes grew wet with tears, "Trixie wasn't always the murdering bitch she is today. Oh she had the typical Pureblood attitudes like the rest of our family but she was a Black first and foremost. After being brutalized by the LeStrange brothers for not bearing an heir, I am not surprised she fell into darkness. This set in motion for Cissy to have to marry Lucius when she had not been under contract before that and had hoped to marry her Hogwarts sweetheart Damien Rosier. So she got saddled with that swine Lucius and rumor has it he had Damien killed during the war to ensure Cissy's fidelity. All because I didn't listen to my father and wanted to spite my mother."

Harry began to understand, "So Tonks is starting to understand you weren't against her marrying a werewolf; you were against her marrying Remus."

Ted nodded sadly, "Neither of us where in school with your parents, Harry but we knew them because our house was about the only place outside your grandparent's home that Sirius could escape to. So I got to know Remus and I didn't like what I saw. Here was a boy who had been given two great gifts. The first was the chance to go to Hogwarts and the second was having friends who would go to incredible lengths for him. Yet for all that, he let his curse define him. You may not know it but your dad ended up Gryffindor's Sixth Year prefect because Remus bowed out citing his condition after a year. Both Dumbledore and McGonagall had been willing to work around his weakness prior to and right after the Full Moon, but Remus threw in the towel rather than stick with the responsibility he had been given and used his being a werewolf as the reason for it."

"Theodore is correct. It was always about his condition with Remus. You would expect a person in his position to try to down play their condition but not Remus. No, you couldn't go an hour before it somehow came up. It was his crutch, his excuse for everything. It is sad, really, because he had the potential to be so much more. So much talent wasted in a man who runs from the humanity he still has left in him." Andromeda said.

Harry nodded thoughtfully. He hadn't thought about it but in retrospect it was a great testament of their friendship that his dad, Sirius and even Peter would risk becoming rogue animagi just to help Remus when he needed them. Since it was his father who led the way towards becoming animagi made Harry feel Remus staying out of his life even more damning.

Harry suddenly downed his drink and tried to clear his head of such dark thoughts. "Mr. and Mrs. Tonks, I want you to know you are welcome at Grimmauld Place. I intend to go to Gringotts as quickly as possible and take up my inheritance. I want to see about moving my money out of the country. If it will make things better, I fully intend to reinstate Andromeda back into the Black family."

Before Andromeda or Ted could speak, Harry raised up a hand, "But before we go forward, I need to make something very clear. Something which already has cost me a friend." Harry made eye contact first with Andromeda and then to Ted. He needed them to see the seriousness in his eyes.

"I know I'm young but I've been fighting Voldemort since I was eleven. Worse there is a prophecy tying us together. I can't just run away; I have to stay and finish this if I'm ever to be free. However I have little to work with and much of the blame can be laid at the feet of one Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. So I have to not only defeat Voldemort but his Death Eaters and now elements of the Ministry as well. I intend to use every means available to do this."

Harry turned back to Andromeda. "Before coming over here I talked with Mundugus Fletcher who my elf was good enough to retrieve for me and found him agreeable in getting me in contact with some unsavory types. When it comes to fighting Voldemort, I'm going to use whatever weapons I can and that means working with criminals and I'm not going to confine myself to the magical world weapons either."

Andromeda frowned at this before it struck her what Harry meant and she paled. Ted, however, surprised Harry by chuckling, "This is where I'm supposed to jump up and tell you you're mad for even considering using Muggle means, eh Harry?" Seeing Harry nod, Ted chuckled some more, "Well while I'm sure Andromeda is disgusted with the notion. I, however, am not. I have had to fight tooth and nail against it almost every day. Do you know how much crap I get if I answer my cell phone around a Magical? You should hear some of the stories Martin Creswell can tell you since his law office is pretty well wired for magic and technology. I keep all my machines in another part of the house because I kept losing clients who were offended by the very concept of a fax machine or that I would use one instead of some magical equivalent. Never mind I have Muggle clients. The fact that I would cater to them is somehow offensive."

Andromeda folded her hands on her lap and looked at Harry with a very serious look on her face, "In light of my comments about adults knowing things younger people do not, I assume you've been told the consequences of your plans?"

Harry nodded, "I have and so has Hermione. Frankly, we don't care. Neither one of us has been treated well in the magical world so leaving it to return to the mundane world doesn't bother me. Hermione did come up with a good idea of quietly gathering up people like Ted who don't care about this prejudice and founding our own place somewhere. I mean the world is a big place, right? Got to be somewhere we can live in peace. Either way, I'm not going to stick around after I defeat Voldemort."

Harry looked to Ted and found him smiling broadly before turning back to Andromeda, "Look, ever since I got to Hogwarts, I've been hit with the whole Gryffindors Charge Ahead! Everyone expects me to be their hero, their savior but then they don't lift a finger to help out. Merlin! Every other year I go from being the hero to being the villain! It took Umbridge practically turning Hogwarts into a prison for some people to actually step up and even then it was me leading things. Yet through it all Dumbledore kept pushing this idea of redemption, second chances and not doing anything that pushed people away from the Light."

Harry looked down at his hands, remembering how he held the broken wizard in his arms that night. "Well all those second chances got him killed. I warned him; I warned everyone Draco was planning something and all I got was, 'He's just a kid, Harry!' and everyone, even Hermione, ignored my warnings. Well I'm just 'a kid' as well and yet I'm supposed to not only take down Voldemort but supposedly not kill anyone while doing it since that would be the Light side thing to do."

Harry looked up, his eyes blazing, "They think what I'm doing is noble and brave. My girlfriend thought that it was romantic like I was going on some Arthurian quest like this is a game or something. I think it is suicide and I'm not going to buy into the plan Dumbledore mapped out for me. He left me nothing but cryptic clues and no plans to organize against Voldemort or the Ministry. They will call me a coward. They'll say I'm not living up to my 'Gryffindor Courage' but I remember something Mad-Eye Moody said to me once. He said in the choice between being the brave and noble but dead lion or being a living cowardly hyena, chose instead to be the live lion. That's what Hermione and I have chosen. We're going to come out of this alive and if the rest of the magical world is offended by the means we make it so…well they should have pitched in and not expected a seventeen year old to take down the worst Dark Lord since Grindelwald."

Harry stood, "For the first time in my life I realize I've gone where I was told to go or was pushed towards. I have spent the last six years walking along the path the Headmaster kept me on for reasons he took to his grave. Well I'm rejecting that path and I'm going to walk a different path of my own. It may be a murky one but I think it takes more bravery to challenge what everyone takes for granted."

Harry's face fell into his lop-sided grin while a predatory spark glinting in his emerald eyes. "I fully expect to not only challenge everyone's world-view but bring it crashing down on their heads at every opportunity."

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LIBRARY, GRIMMAULD PLACE, LONDON – AUGUST 4th 1997 – EVENING

"What a day!" Harry said as he dropped heavily onto an ornate fainting couch. Harry took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"I know. I doubt the next few days are going to be any better," Hermione agreed.

Harry leaned back on the couch and kicked off his shoes, "Yeah. Can't be helped. The longer I wait to get to Gringotts, the more pressure there will be on the goblins. If anything, if I'm able to move everything out of the country then there is less reason for Voldemort to try and lean on the goblins. You'd figure that would be an incentive for them to help me right there."

Hermione idly flipped through the pages of the book she had in her lap, "Harry, do you think we can trust Fletcher?"

Harry laughed bitterly, "Not in the slightest! But you know what? If there is one thing I learned growing up with the Dursleys is how to read people. Fletcher is a sneak and a thief. The only thing you can trust about him is that he is a money-grubbing man who looks out for himself. As long as we make it profitable enough for him and minimize the danger to him, he'll be loyal enough. Doesn't mean I won't have Kreacher count the silverware after he's been here, though."

Harry rubbed his scar. "I just hope we can keep Kreacher from beating on him every time he shows up from now on. If Fletcher can come through with those contacts he says he has, well I'll forgive him a bit for knicking those items from before."

"At least we know Umbridge has the locket because of him," Hermione agreed.

Harry made a small noise of agreement, "Yeah. Well with Voldemort in power, it's up in the air whether a guy like Fletcher is going to prosper or be tossed in Azkaban. Since Snape knew he was in the Order, I'm hopeful Fletcher realizes we are the best game in town for him. If things go the way we plan, it's not like he's going to come away empty handed." Harry looked over at Hermione, "Speaking of plans, were you a good little Virgo while I was gone?"

Hermione stuck her tongue out at Harry, "Prat! And for your information, yes I was." Hermione rummaged through her ever-present book-bag and pulled out sheets of parchment. "I've broken it down to what we need, who we need, and what obstacles are in front of us. Right now I see our biggest need is money which you will hopefully take care of tomorrow. Without that, a lot of our plans aren't feasible."

Hermione passed a sheet to Harry, "With the right income, we need to have Dobby or Winky get our food supplies up to snuff along with various magical supplies especially for potions. Then we need to start making contacts. I like that idea of Andromeda you told me about using the Quibbler. Of course this means we need to see Luna before she leaves for Hogwarts. As much as she infuriates me, she's a bastion of sanity in relation to her father."

Harry gave a small grunt of agreement as he read through the document Hermione had given him.

Hermione looked through the list in her hand before continuing, "The reliability of the contacts Fletcher has in the London criminal underground will determine how much use they will be. The fact Mr. Tonks has access to some firearms through his pheasant hunting club is good. The idea of buying collectibles and then using magic to get them working again was also a good idea. A friend of my dad's is in a World War Two recreation group so I know there is definitely a market out there for weapons and other antique military hardware."

Harry snorted, "Antique or not, a bullet is a bullet whether it's shot out of an old Lee-Enfield or the newest SA-80. It'll still kill you just as dead. Or course we'll need to practice. Luckily the basement can be converted into a short target range and magic can muffle the noise."

"I agree, but we need to be careful and try to keep above board as much as possible. We really need to find out how the Ministry keeps a lookout on wizards using magic versus Mundanes. I'm sure Tonks will be a big help there. We can't afford to be dodging Death Eaters only to be nabbed by aurors doing their normal job if we try to nick things like ammunition or explosives." Hermione said.

Harry looked up from the sheet he'd been reading, "Aging potion?"

Hermione nodded, "I figure we can be a lot more effective if we use it and have fake IDs to match our older selves. It will throw off suspicion as well as get us away from having to get someone older to buy certain things. Hopefully either House Black or Potter has some businesses in the mundane world so we can try to buy certain items legally through them. I think our best bet is to keep our illegal activity to a minimum. The less paper and magical trail we leave, the harder it will be for us to be tracked."

"Barring the shooting of the odd Death Eater from time to time, of course. I won't cry over leaving a trail of bodies lying around." Harry quipped.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "We'll also have to start a recon of the Ministry and find out where Umbridge lives. I'd rather not have to try and sneak into the Ministry if we can avoid it just to get at her."

Harry nodded, "Yeah. I have some ideas for the Ministry but they won't be subtle by any means."

Hermione worried her lip for a moment, "Do you really think we'll be able to find enough squibs that will be willing to work with us? I mean some of the ideas you and Mr. Tonks came up with sound brilliant but it will be so dangerous!"

"Hermione, think of how mad Malfoy makes you. Now think about how it must be for that squib cousin of Ron's who is ostracized by a Light family for being unable to do magic. Hell, Neville's own family practically killed him in order to prove he was a wizard! His own family! Imagine for a moment you're Draco's older squib sister. While that blond wanker is getting his arse wiped by house elves and living in luxury, you're dumped into a Muggle orphanage like trash. Then someone comes along and offers you a way to get back at the people who threw you away. Tell me, Hermione, what would you do?"

"Okay, I see your point. Yes I'd want revenge especially if most Purebloods are like Draco." Hermione replied.

Harry finished reading the list in front of him, "So if the money thing goes off, how do you see things working out? I figure we need to get the Fidelius Charm recast before anything else major. I'd rather not move Tonks and her parents here until that has been done."

"I agree. I do think, however, depending on what the goblins say that Andromeda had a good point about them moving to France. I'm sure the Delacours will be happy to help you get them settled. Having someone in a different country working for us is going to be important. Plus they will be able to potentially bring things up to the ECMS as well as the ICW.

"The ECMS! What a joke! Their Supreme Mugwump is murdered and they barely do more than lift an eyebrow!" Harry said derisively.

"Honestly Harry! The European Coalition of Magical States may simply be waiting to see how things play out. I don't like it but many of the member states may be staying neutral to see if this is will stay an internal English matter or not. If Voldemort was smart, he'd call off all the mundane killings. Wizards killing wizards is one thing that might be ignored; endangering the Statute of Secrecy is not." Hermione said.

Harry sighed. He really was tired. Watching Tonks fall apart like she did was emotionally draining. The brainstorming session with Ted and Andromeda was taxing as well to say nothing of having to deal with Mundungus earlier. It was obvious to Harry how the Tonks had managed to thrive against all adversity; they were sneaky and weren't blinded by a lot of the prejudices common in the Wizarding world. Harry felt his chance of beating Voldemort had gone up a notch because of them.

The image of Tonks sobbing on the floor brought up something Harry didn't want to think about but it was the elephant in the room. With another sigh (mental this time) Harry knew he had to ask. 'Gryffindors charge ahead!' and all that. "So how did your chat with Ron go? I take it since you haven't brought it up that it didn't go well?"

Hermione frowned and said in a flat voice, "No. No it did not."

XxXxX

SAFE-ROOM, GRIMMAULD PLACE, LONDON – AUGUST 4th 1997 – AFTERNOON

Enervate!

Hermione stepped back and watched as Ron blinked up at her.

"Bloody Hell Hermione! You stunned me!" Ron said angrily as he tried to get up. This ended with him pulling up with a groan. Stunning always left one's muscles sore; something Ron had apparently forgotten in his anger.

"Yes I did Ron and I'll stun you again if you don't cooperate." Hermione said carefully. Her wand was at her side but she knew she could easily stun Ron again if he did more than look at her cross-eyed.

"Cooperate? You STUNNED me! Me! Your boyfriend! How could you do that to me?" Ron asked peevishly.

"I did it because you weren't listening to either Harry or me. You just reacted and was ready to dash off to who knows where. We couldn't let you do that. I'm not about to let you get yourself killed because you're too pig-headed to listen for a change." Hermione said coolly.

Ron's eyes bugged out as he remembered what had happened prior to him being stunned. He took a deep breath, "Hermione, you have got to listen to me. You just can't use Muggle means to fight Voldemort! It's stupid and will get you killed. No pleaseman's gun is going to do a thing to a wizard and there isn't any eceltrikity trick you can use to take on Voldemort. You have to believe me! Worse, everyone will turn on you. It goes against our oldest traditions!"

Hermione snorted derisively, "Listen to yourself, Ronald! Pleaseman! Eceltrickity! You can't even pronounce the words them correctly and yet you think you know they won't work? Get your head out of your arse Ron! You have no idea what you're talking about! Harry and I do because we grew up with it. Just because we don't have for a spell for everything doesn't mean we don't have a way to make things happen. Let me tell you in all seriousness, if there is one thing Muggles are good at is killing people. They are very efficient at it."

Ron exploded to his feet but stopped abruptly when he found Hermione's wand aimed right between his eyes. Worse was the voice which came out from outside the door, "Does Master's friend needz to bez beaten? Kreacher can bez doing this for the Master's Muggleborn friend!"

Ron licked his lips, "Hermione, you have to understand, everyone will turn against you if you do this. I won't be able to save you!"

Hermione's face clouded in anger, "Save me? You'll save me? Ronald Bilius Weasley, you seem to think I'm some helpless maiden! I don't need saving and neither does Harry! We are fully aware how the magical world won't like what we intend to do. But let me tell you something," Hermione leaned in and practically hissed, "We. Don't. Care."

Ron blinked at the determination in her voice, "You can't mean that Hermione! Don't you care about what people will think? What about Professors McGonagall or Flitwick? How do you think they'll feel when they learn of this? Do you think Dumbledore would want you and Harry to have everyone hate you? Merlin pants, Hermione! Even the Order will turn against you."

Hermione broke out in mocking laughter, "Well if the Headmaster wanted us to succeed without resorting to extreme measures than he should have done a better job preparing us. We have nothing but some books, a vague idea of what were looking for and some artifacts we have no idea of how they are meant to be used. Yet Harry is expected to take down a Dark Lord? This on top of a corrupt Ministry and Death Eaters at every turn?"

"But Hermione…" Ron sputtered

"But nothing Ron!" Hermione cut him off. "You say everyone will be against us. How is that much different than how things are now? While you were out, Remus came by and we found that Muggleborns and even half-bloods are going to forced to register. If you knew anything about history, non-magical history, you would know where this is going and that is eventual death camps and genocide."

Ron looked shocked at this and didn't say anything which Hermione took as a good sign, "Harry and I aren't going to sit around and wait for Voldemort and his pawns like Umbridge to start shoving people like Colin Creevey, Sally-Anne or me into ovens. Considering how there hasn't been much of an outcry about the change-over of the Ministry or this new decree tells me people either won't help or they support this. So Harry believes, and I agree with him, we need to use the tools we have to finish this."

Ron glowered, "So you're following Harry on this over me?"

"This isn't about us or Harry! It is about the fate of everyone out there who is in danger because of Voldemort. It is about ensuring the prophecy ends with Harry vanquishing Voldemort! My God, Ron! How can you even think like that after what has happened? Death Eaters attacked your family and your ego is bruised because I'm agreeing with Harry over you?"

Ron looked rebellious, his face turning a red, "I can certainly think like this! You're my girlfriend! You're supposed to choose me over all others! You're supposed to back your man and not cut him off at the knees for another!"

Hermione's jaw dropped. She just starred at Ron. She barely heard Kreacher call out that he was willing to beat the ginger-haired teen with but a word from her. Finally she collected her wits enough to finally speak, "Ron…I…wow I cannot even begin to respond to that. Do you honestly think that because I'm your girlfriend that I'm suddenly supposed to back you up, right or wrong?"

Ron threw up his hands, "Yes! Yes I do! Blimey Hermione for a smart bird you can be so thick sometimes! If you weren't always running down Wizarding traditions you'd know this! Six years of Hogwarts and you haven't learned this yet? Witches defer to their wizards! It's how things are done, how they've always been done! It's the natural order of things! You've read practically every book in the library! You should know a witch has her wizards back! Why can't you have my back?" Ron looked at her with almost puppy-like eyes, "Don't you love me?"

The pair stared at each other and for a second Hermione's face softened and Ron's heart skipped a beat thinking she was coming around. However a sad smile graced her lips and she began shaking her head slowly.

"You know Ron, for years I've thought most people just paid lip-service to that outdated drivel. Yet you actually, honestly believe it. I know you have times when you've been a bit thick but this is really mind-blowing. That you can look me in the eye, after all this time together, and honestly think I'm going to do what you want simply because I'm a witch?" Again Hermione laughed mockingly.

"Now I see why your mother felt the need to use potions on me and Harry! He wasn't going to fall for your fan-girl of a sister and there was no way in God's Green Earth that I would go out with a bloke who believes that because I'm a woman that I was naturally supposed to be subservient to him because he happens to have a bent chromosome!" Hermione said with a sneer worthy of Draco.

Ron blinked in surprise, "Potions? What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the fact that your dear sweet mum has been feeding Harry and I food laced with a love potion keyed to you and Ginny since last year. We realized the possibility last night but it wasn't till Kreacher got back could we have him check us. We have almost purged the last dose. So even if I was inclined to be your little Miss Haus-Frau, our relationship was a lie from the beginning. As I told Harry last night, I made a vow after the Yule Ball to never to date you." Hermione explained.

Ron's face had paled as Hermione explained but now was returning to the red of anger. "This is a trick! Harry is trying to trick you into leaving me! Why can't you see that he just couldn't stand by and see me get something that he didn't have for a change?"

"Grow up Ron! Harry hasn't done anything of the sort! Without the potions there isn't any 'us' for him to 'steal' me away from. In fact, we ended up kissing last night to test the potions theory and that one kiss was fantastic! It was brilliantly kilometers past any of your sloppy kisses. If anyone has to worry about someone stealing someone from someone it's me. Harry may very well end up with Luna like he probably would have if your mum didn't mind-rape us into thinking we loved you ginger gits." Hermione scoffed.

"No! What we had wasn't a lie!" Ron said and took a step towards her.

"Take another step Ronald and you'll find out how angry at the situation I really am. While you are not to blame, you are the only Weasley target here. Don't make me show you that anger!" Hermione said angrily.

"I can bez showing him youz anger, Master's Muggleborn friend!" Kreacher's eager voice called out.

Ron blanched at the hostility in both voices. His shoulders slumped and he sat back down on the cot. "So now what?"

"You are going to eat and you'll stay in here till I have a potion ready. Once it is, you are going obey us when we tell you to remove all the memories that we can't afford to fall into the wrong hands. Well keep them safe so you can have them back when this is all over. After that we're sending you back to the Burrow. Harry and I feel that your spattergroit plan was fine if we were going to be gone for a short time but who knows how long this fight will take? No matter how angry we both are at Molly, we don't want your family to get into any more trouble than they already are. Since your mum is so dash handy with potions, I'm sure she'll be able to make it look like you just recovered in time to go to Hogwarts." Hermione explained.

Ron looked sullen, "So I'm just supposed to go back to school while you and Harry get all the glory."

Hermione saw red and she slapped Ron hard across the face, "My God, Ron; GROW THE FUCK UP! Honestly! We aren't playing some game here! We're going to be risking our lives on a day-to-day basis and you're acting like we're trying to win a trophy so we can get our pictures in the Prophet!" Hermione quickly backed up lest Kreacher got too eager to 'save' her in order to get an excuse to beat Ron.

"And as for what you're supposed to do, why don't you grow a pair and act like a man for a change! You have whined for years it is all Harry this and Harry that! Well now is your chance because Harry and I won't be at Hogwarts and the need for the D.A. is as strong as ever. They need a leader. How about you try being that leader? Or is that going to be too much work without me around to do your bloody homework for you?" Hermione said angrily.

Ron just stared at her, rubbing his cheek. "So that's it then?" he asked sullenly.

Hermione just nodded and turned to go but paused after waving Kreacher in with Ron's food. "I know you won't listen but know this, Ronald Bilius Weasley: you made this bed that you find yourself in. Now you can stay in it and cry and whine about Harry like you always do or you can get off your lazy arse and make something of yourself. Now's your chance to get out of Harry's shadow. You always said your brother's had done everything worth doing before you. Now is the chance to prove them wrong. Use that chance well. As for us, it's over and this is good-bye."

"I can't believe after all this time; you are just going to walk out on me. For him." Ron said in a hurt tone.

Hermione's eyes narrowed and she felt a coldness grip her heart, "Do you know what Ronald? You made it easy. So easy in so many ways. And for the record, I have always been there for him and have been ever since he saved my life from the troll and that's never going to change. Not for you, not for any Professor and not for any wizard or witch in Britain. Good-Bye Ron."

Hermione turned away from Ron's stricken face and did not look back.

XxXxX

LIBRARY, GRIMMAULD PLACE, LONDON – AUGUST 4th 1997 – EVENING

"I have to say it is amazing how much I'm starting to swear like my father. My mum may hate it but as my dad likes to joke, you can take the man out of the SAS but not the SAS out of the man," Hermione said in a tired voice. "I guess Ron just brings it out of me. Of course if my dad was here Ron probably wouldn't be since he was rather good with a gun before he became a dentist."

Harry gazed at the sad look on Hermione's face and made a decision. "Hermione, we're both knackered. Let's go to bed."

Something in Harry's voice made Hermione look up. Did he mean…?

Harry nodded at the question in her eyes, "I don't mean go to bed like that. I mean come sleep with me. I think you need someone to hold and quite frankly so do I. I don't know where we're going or where I am with Luna but right now I think for tonight I think we need each other."

Hermione was about to disagree, worrying that this was too soon. Yet she realized Harry was right. She didn't want to sleep alone in the room she used to share with Ginny. The house felt like a tomb and she needed some comfort; she needed some warmth. Harry was offering that but even so there was a part of her that that was torn. Did she want to get attached to Harry knowing right now they were still filled with a potion that was messing with their emotions?

Finally Hermione shook her head, "I don't think that would be best."

Harry stood and came over and knelt before Hermione and took her hands in his, "If there is one thing I know is that Ron can get to you in a way that not even Draco can. No matter what he said, I know you, Hermione Jane Granger. I know sometime tonight you'll start to think and then start to worry. Just for tonight, let me be there. After seeing Tonks break down like she did, well I could use a friendly shoulder myself."

Hermione looked into Harry's piercing eyes which were filled with nothing but concern and love. She felt the coldness which had been wrapped around her heart since she had talked to Ron earlier fade.

"All right Harry, just for tonight." She said softly.

Harry smiled and got up and walked out of the library calling for Kreacher.

As she watched him go, Hermione had to wonder if she truly meant it when she had agreed to just for tonight. Could she accept only the one night?

Hermione shivered. She was afraid she couldn't. Old fears rose up and the image of a pretty, lithe blonde came to mind as did the one of a laughing brunette. Cursing herself, Hermione got up and straightened her skirt. Gryffindors charge ahead! If she was going to challenge Ron to be more than he was, then she would have to do the same. She needed to start finding out who Hermione Jane Granger was and where her heart truly was meant to be.

Even if it meant watching Harry go into the arms of another witch or her into the same.

XxXxX

Chapter Three Preview: Gringotts, Goblins, and Guns

A/N: I'm trying to go for speed and focus on the action in this fic. A lot of you reviewers felt things were a bit rushed in Chapter one. I agree. However I don't want to have to crank out the huge lead-in chapters where I detail all the things which bring Harry and Hermione to where we see them in this fic. Suffice to say I feel the Wedding Fiasco was the straw that broke the thestral's back for Harry. Like Harry, Hermione had walled off her fears and worries because not to do so would really destroy her world view of the likes of Dumbledore and even McGonagall and the rest of the Order. With Harry questioning things, these walls crumble. I think the stage has been set and so we can really get to it.

Tonks Timetable: According to canon, Remus and Tonks marry "sometime in July" and again in canon, Remus tells the Trio on August 4th that Tonks is pregnant. So I'm betting either they married early and/or there is a very sensitive spell to detect pregnancy. Seeing how important bearing an heir would be in this sort of society, this doesn't surprise me. However, what does surprise me is that Remus didn't last a month as a husband before he want to run away from his wife and unborn son. Some Gryffindor!

Dumbledore, Ron and Ginny: This won't be a manipulative Dumbledore fic except in the case of him doing things 'for the Greater Good' which pushed Harry towards eventual death so the Harrycrux can be destroyed that we saw in canon. I mean at the end of HP-OotP, he admits to Harry he knew that Harry growing up with the Dursleys was going to suck. Neither Ron nor Ginny knew about the potions so there isn't any evil plot involving the Weasleys other than Mama Weasley wanting one big, happy Weasley family. Worked with her and Arthur right?

Suspension of Disbelief: You all did it for JKR so bear with me a bit. Let us just assume that Harry never learned about titles and duties for the major Houses. Considering he didn't even know what a Death Eater was till Third or Fourth Year, I don't think this is asking too much of you the reader. Again, I don't want to get bogged down with a lot of 'universe building' - just assume a lot of fanon House lore is in effect and we'll be fine.

ECMS vs. ICW: Just a reminder for those who haven't read my other fics. I've broken the world up into regional areas, each with their own Supreme Mugwump. The European Coalition of Magical States is just one of these. I never liked the idea that Dumbledore could be the head of the magical U.N. and be murdered and the rest of the world just yawns and ignores Voldemort blatantly violating the Statute of Secrecy which affects everyone. Hence the ICW is led by the Absolute Mugwump.

Shameless Plugs: I'm sure a lot of you are sick of my penchant for tossing references to my other fic's titles! =)~