Previously: Charlie chuckled as he followed him through the apartment into Shade's personal room that he used, wondering what they were going to do.

Draconic

"talking"

'thinking'

Grunts and groans were heard as Shade and Charlie sparred in Shade's training room.

"Come on, can't you do better?" Shade teased as he dodged a jab from Charlie.

"Oh come on, I don't really want to hurt you," Charlie said, grunting as Shade landed a solid hit to his side.

Shade laughed and aimed a left hook to Charlie's temple, "Keep it up and you'll be out like a light hun."

Charlie ducked and tackled Shade to the ground, pinning him there, "Well we wouldn't want that would we?"

"Of course not," Shade giggled as he rolled his eyes.

"Don't roll those pretty green eyes at me," Charlie huffed, staring at Shade flatly.

Shade blushed and looked into Charlie's eyes, leaning forward slightly but chuckled as Julian shouted, "PDA! PDA! PDA!"

"Shut up bro!" Shade shouted back before nudging Charlie off of him and rolling back onto his feet.

Charlie silently groaned and followed after Shade as he walked into the living room. Shade hopped onto the couch and patted the cushion next to him before cuddling against Charlie who sat down.

Charlie sighed as Shade turned his head to look at him, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing much... It's just that we keep getting interrupted whenever we're alone," Charlie replied, frustrated.

Shade nodded, "I know what you mean."

"Anyway, at least we have another month before you have to go back to the school," Charlie grinned and cuddled with Shade.

Shade smiled but groaned as Victoria and Alice banged into the room, the door bouncing as it hit the wall, "WE'RE BACK!"

"I think the whole neighborhood heard you Alice," Julian said as he walked out rubbing his ears.

Shade and Charlie chuckled as Alice threw a bag at Julian's face, laughing harder as he didn't duck in time.

"OW! Fuck a duck sis! That hurt!" Julian whined as he sat up off the floor, rubbing his face.

Shade clutched his sides as he laughed and Alice grinned at Julian while she picked up her bag, "You should learn not to tease me then."

"She's right bro, you should've learned by now," Victoria replied, pulling large shopping bags into the apartment.

"Jesus, did you guys buy the entire store?" Shade replied, staring in shock at all the bags.

Victoria shrugged as Alice scoffed, "No... Only like half."

Shade sighed as Charlie chuckled beside him, this was turning into a long summer.

It's been a month since Alice got her Potions Mastery and she had already gotten four different job offers from Hogwarts, Salem Academy, Durmstrang, and the Hungarian school Varázsló. Victoria had gotten a part time job at the book store down the street while they stayed at the apartment. Charlie left two weeks before they all had to go back because his boss called him back. Julian had been, well Shade, Alice, and Victoria didn't know what he had been doing because he either stayed in his room or left before they all woke up. And Shade had been dueling with dummies in his training room while learning from the book M provided him with. They were all excited to return to the school as they all packed.

"ALICE! HURRY UP OR WE'LL LEAVE WITHOUT YOU!" Julian shouted up the stairs as Shade and Victoria sat in front of the Floo.

"GIVE ME A MINUTE PLEASE!" Alice shouted back as they all heard banging and cursing coming from upstairs.

Shade chuckled, "Hey, I'm going to go first with Tori if that's ok bro."

"Yea, sure, I'll drag Alice with me later, see you guys back at the school," Julian replied as he sat down on the couch.

Shade grabbed a pinch of Floo powder and stood in the fireplace with Victoria, "Shade's rooms, Daeanguloke!"

They disappeared in the flames and came out of Shade's fireplace. Victoria stepped out but Shade fell out onto his coffee table.

"Oww..." he moaned in reply before standing up, making sure that his table wasn't broken.

Victoria laughed before helping him up, "Come on."

"Ugh, I think I broke something..." he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a blood pop snapped in half.

"Oh... hehe..." Shade laughed nervously as Victoria burst out laughing.

"Come on, let's go, the Welcome Back feast should start soon," she replied as she moved to the portrait hole.

"Hold on! Let me put my trunk in my room real fast," he said before rushing to his room, unshrinking his trunk and running back to her.

They flew out of the portrait hole and through the corridors before sitting down at their respective tables as Alice and Julian walked in.

Dumbledore slid his chair back and stood to address the school, "I beg a few moments of your attention as I have a few start of term announcements. Right off, our caretaker, the good Mr. Filtch, has reminded me for what he says is the four hundred and and sixty second time that he has annually updated the list of various banned items, usually introduced by our humour experts Fred and George Weasley," at this, said students stand and take a bow to cheering, laughter, and yells as Dumbledore continued, "Which are posted to an extensive list on Mr. Filtch's door."

"Also, we have two staffing changes this year. Professor Charles Weasley will be taking the post of Care of Magical Creatures as Professor Hagrid is on extensive leave," Dumbledore was cut off from Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, and Shade's shouts of approval.

"Additionally, we have Professor Umbridge to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts-" at this, Umbridge stood up and cleared her throat to the ire of McGonagall and the shock of Dumbledore.

"Hem, Hem, Headmaster, if I could address the school?" she asked as Dumbledore gestured to the lectern.

The Guardians all snarled as she started talking, "Thank you, Headmaster. Now, how are we all doing tonight? I thought I would just say a few words. I am here at the Ministry of Magic's bequest, under the Educational Decree twenty two, which states that if the Headmaster of Hogwarts is unable to fill any teaching post the Ministry shall select one for the position."

Alice and Julian growled softly under their breath as Victoria shot a stinging hex at Shade who winced. He growled and glared at Victoria to stop before looking back at Umbridge as Harry, Hermione, and Ron laughed softly.

"The Ministry has always considered the magical education of our children to be vital importance, and the passing down of this ancient and noble art must be given to the next generation, lest it be lost forever," she paused before continuing, "Without progress, stagnation. But progress for progress's sake is to be discouraged, for our art requires no tinkering. A balance must be maintained, the new and the old, permanence and change, tradition and innovation, order and chaos. There are large changes coming soon, changes walking the fine line between order and chaos. Know only that these changes are for the best, and to prevent the destruction of our civilization from it's own decay. Thank you," Umbridge smiled but to Harry and Shade the smile seemed a little forced.

"Is she serious?" Shade asked as he turned towards Harry.

"I have no idea," Harry replied as the feast started up again.

Shade had flown to the roof of the astronomy tower and was looking out over the lake and forbidden forest in the distance. Victoria, Julian, and Alice were all back in their rooms. He stiffened as he heard a door open but relaxed as he heard Harry speaking to Hedwig.

"No one believes me Hedwig... No one," Harry sighed.

Shade crawled to the edge of the roof and poked his head down to look at Harry as he slid down the stone parapet to the floor, Hedwig on his knee and his back to Shade.

"I'm alone..." Harry said, his voice sounding broken.

Shade silently slipped off the roof and stepped towards Harry silently, "You're not alone."

Harry jumped as he spun around to face Shade, "But Dumbledore is ignoring me and no one believes me about last year..."

Shade smiled sadly at him, "I was there too, I believe you. All of us guardians believe you and we will stand behind you also. Don't worry Harry, you're not alone."

Harry smiled and walked away down the hallway with Shade, Hedwig flying over the castle into the night.

Author's Note: Sorry that this chapter took so long, I kind of lost my motivation to write but I'm back now and I'm starting on chapter 15! Woohoo! Also, I am not making another story to continue this, it will all be in this fanfic to those of you who don't know that. Anyway, see ya'll in the next chapter, bye!