Chapter one was beta'd by Lynn
Chapter two and three was beta'd by Firefly
Thanks for all the help from Lynn, Firefly and Raybe on this story
Time passed easily at Hogwarts after the Chamber of Secrets. Myrtle's bathroom had been rebuilt with many security measures added to stop students from finding the way into the Chamber, and the hidden tunnel in the forest was also warded.
Not that there was anything down there anymore, but better safe than sorry.
Hermione, Neville, and Harry had grown a lot closer through the year after the boys had saved her. Before, they would have let Ron's words slide, hoping he would shut up and go away. Now they were more vocal in their displeasure and didn't take any crap for how he treated Hermione, further building a rift between them.
Hermione didn't care. She stopped caring about what the girls were like, and she was filled with a new confidence. One that came with shrunken front teeth and being able to escape into her books again - something that made her feel back to herself, though she could be found casting detection charms on a book before reading it.
Even a possessed diary couldn't keep her away from reading.
Their fourth year arrived and with it, news of the fourth years being allowed to attend the Yule Ball. Rumours floated around - mostly because James had told Harry and Neville, and Sirius had told anyone who would listen, that they had considered bringing back the Triwizard Tournament. Minerva refused to agree to it, stating it was too dangerous, and the old laws on the tournament stated that all the Headteachers of the schools had to be in agreement.
Though the group was disappointed, they were happy to be considered mature students - ones that were now old enough to go to the dances.
...oOo...
"So, is there anyone you're thinking of asking?" Neville asked Harry, as they sat down to dinner a couple of weeks before the ball.
Harry glanced around the hall. "I would ask someone, but girls travel in scary groups. How do you even get them alone?"
Neville shrugged. "Is there one you're trying to get alone?"
"Well…" his gaze fell on Cho Chang.
Hermione followed it. "She's going already, with Cedric Diggory," she stated.
Harry sighed.
"I know Ginny Weasley is desperate for you to ask her," Neville said slyly.
Harry snorted and shook his head, words escaping him, as he looked around the hall once more, trying to pick someone to possibly ask… or maybe Hermione would ask someone for him?
"What about you?" he asked Neville. "Anyone you want to ask?"
Neville blushed, a clear sign that Harry had hit the nail on the head. "Come on, who is she?" Harry insisted.
Hermione leaned forward eagerly, wanting to hear who it was.
"It doesn't matter, she'll say no," he whispered.
"Who would say no to you?" Hermione asked. "You're the nicest guy I know. Well, apart from Harry of course. But a girl would be silly to say no to you."
He smiled shyly, and unobservant as Harry tended to be, he could clearly see who Neville wanted to ask.
And he was pretty sure Hermione would say yes.
"Neville, just ask her," he pushed, offering a warm smile. "It won't hurt, I promise."
Neville bit his lip before taking a deep breath. "Hermione, do you want to go to the Yule Ball with me?" he asked, his words almost a jumble as they fell from his lips.
Hermione's eyes widened in surprise before she smiled widely. She nodded her head, blushing as red as Neville had.
Harry turned back to his food. Now that Neville and Hermione were sorted, he had to think of someone to ask himself.
...oOo...
Harry wasn't paying much attention, worrying more about the Yule Ball, when he walked into the back of someone. It took him a moment to realise that she had been stationary, and he had knocked her over, before reaching out a hand to help her up.
"Thank you, Harry," came a dreamy voice.
"Uh… that's okay. Do I know you?"
"No," she replied softly, smiling widely at him, before turning around again, looking up.
He followed her gaze, noticing a pair of shoes, before she levitated them down. She picked up a rucksack, pushing the shoes in, before walking off.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked, his curiosity peaked, as he followed her.
"Well, my house-mates took my things. I don't mind, really, I have tracking spells on everything this year so it makes them easier to find. I ran out of shoes, you see. Professor Snape wasn't pleased when I came to class in just my slippers. I thought it time I get some of my belongings."
"Like… like a treasure hunt?" Harry tried.
The girl turned and smiled at him again. "For me it is, but I don't think it's what they intended," she admitted. She followed her wand which was turning in her hand before stopping, Harry still behind her.
"My earrings," she murmured, looking around. Her gaze fell on a portrait, where she could see the earrings dangling down. "Not a good place, if it were me, I'd have used a sticking charm to put them on one of the stationary paintings," she said to herself, standing on tip-toes and reaching the earrings. Harry glanced down, realising that she was wearing her slippers.
"But this is bullying if they just take your stuff like this," he said. "Why do you let them?"
She turned to him, her smile still there, though the smile made him feel sad. "It's easier this way. They get their enjoyment, and they leave me alone for the most part. If I say anything to them, it'll just be worse."
"Well, I don't like it," Harry pushed.
"I can tell," she said. "The Nargles have multiplied immensely since you bumped into me."
Harry stared at her. "I'm Harry," he finally offered.
"I know," she said, her smile becoming happier once more. "I'm Luna."
...oOo...
Harry watched Luna from his table as he sat next to Neville. He wanted to make sure the strange girl was alright. He hated bullying, his father insisting that being a bully left people with massive regrets when they grew older.
To Harry, it sounded like he spoke from experience.
He watched some boys grab her bag and pull it towards them. She initially grabbed the handle and pulled it back, but the boys were sixth years. Harry felt anger flare up, and before he knew it, he was out of his seat.
"That's her bag," he said, standing between the boys and where Luna was sitting.
"It's ours now!" One of the boys laughed. "Run along little Potter."
Harry raised an eyebrow, before pulling out his wand. "I won't tell you again," he said.
The boys just looked at each other in amusement, whilst Sirius watched from the head table with no intentions of interfering. Harry had jumped in to defend a girl, and Sirius wanted Harry to do so, before doing anything.
Harry just glared at them. With a flick of his wand, two bags quickly raised from further up the table, shooting straight up and disappearing into the rafters.
"Our bags!" one of the boys shouted, pulling out his own wand.
"Something the matter?" Sirius was at his side in seconds.
"Yeah, he put our bags somewhere up there."
"Only because they were going to do the same thing to Luna's bag," Harry replied, yanking the blonde's bag out of their grip. "The Ravenclaws all do it. I found her searching the castle for her stuff that the other students have hidden on her. It's about time some of them understood what it felt like. She shouldn't have to be bullied like that, should she?"
"I completely agree." Sirius said, before turning towards the Ravenclaw table.
"Fifty points from Ravenclaw for bullying, and a week's ban from the library for the whole house with the exception of Miss Lovegood. Well done, you've lost your lead and Slytherin is in first place." The look of disgust was clear on his face at that. "Now, for every time one of you picks on Miss Lovegood, takes her belongings or is cruel or mean to her, you'll lose house-points. We'll have you with Hagrid cleaning Hippogriff shit up, and you won't be allowed to go near the library or to Hogsmeade. Have I made myself clear?"
They all stared at him in shock. Sirius Black was usually one to let them off lightly, enjoying well thought out or clever pranks. He rarely took house-points.
"But we have assignments -" one of the boys began.
"Well, I guess you'll have to nicely ask Miss Lovegood to assist you in getting you your book, or one of the other houses," Sirius replied, smugly.
"Thank you, Professor Black," she said. Her gaze moved to Harry. "Thank you, Harry."
Sirius leaned down so his mouth was next to Harry's ear. "Now's your chance to ask her to the Yule Ball," he murmured. "She's quite impressed, don't you think?"
"Oh, Harry doesn't have to ask me if he doesn't want to," Luna said, taking her bag from Harry.
"I… yes, will you? I do want to… you're probably going with someone already, but if you're not going… than I would like..."
"If you're sure," Luna said, she tilted her head. "The wrackspurts are clearing," she murmured. "So that's a yes!"
Sirius returned to the Professor's table. "Young love," he said, grinning at Remus. "Do you remember when I asked you to the Yule Ball?"
"You didn't ask me," Remus replied, with a snort. "You just scared my date away, dragged me in on your arm, and told everyone that you were my boyfriend."
"And that worked out beautifully," Sirius agreed. He glanced over at where Harry had awkwardly sat next to Luna at the Ravenclaw table, looking nervously at her every few seconds. "He's still smoother than James was."
"Is he? He's been following her around the castle for a week now. I've been keeping an eye on him with the map. It was only a matter of time before he said something," Remus stated.
"That's the way to do it," Sirius confirmed.
"No, he's spent too much time listening to your stories, thinking it's okay to follow her around the castle without talking to her," Remus said, trying not to smile. "Poor boy doesn't know any better. I'll be having words with James about your terrible influence."
Sirius grinned widely. "I can recall a few times where I've been a terrible influence on you. Tonight for example."
"Tonight hasn't happened yet," Remus said.
"Oh, but it will," Sirius murmured.
The Ravenclaws were all whispering to each other about Harry Potter asking Luna Lovegood to the ball, and the whispers quickly spread across the hall and to the other tables.
"What? He's taking who?" came a screech. Seconds later, Ginny Weasley jumped up, grabbed her bag, and stormed from the hall.
...oOo...
Sirius found the law he was pushing to move much faster now that Lucius was in prison. A few of the Wizengamot members seemed happier to vote with Sirius, and he wondered what Lucius had over them to sway their vote.
Without Lucius' speeches on his out of date views, it was only a few weeks after the arrest that the law had changed.
Sirius couldn't wait. Once the school year was over, he was marrying Remus. He had already planned the whole thing. It'd be a nice surprise for Remus on the day; he wouldn't be expecting it at all!
...oOo...
"Why are no girls free?" Ron muttered to Seamus, looking around the hall.
"Not sure, mate," Seamus replied.
"Who have you asked?" Ron questioned him.
Seamus snuck a glance at Dean, who didn't look up from his plate. "Turns out me and Dean have decided to go stag," he smoothly replied. "Why don't you just go alone?"
"No, I can't go alone," he muttered. "Hey. Hermione's a girl, isn't she?"
He turned to Hermione. "Hermione, you're a girl, right? You can go to the ball with me."
Hermione offered him a look of pure loathing. "I don't think so. I already have a date."
"You do?" he let out a laugh. "Who would take you?"
"Me," Neville snapped. "I'm her date, and I'm honoured to get the opportunity to take her and not just because I suddenly realised she was a girl. I've always been aware that she's one."
...oOo...
Sirius looked through the book on dark-objects and sighed. He had struggled to find anything at all about what could have been inside the diary and had been searching for ages. So far, even the treasured books that his parents had valued so much inside the library had been of no help, with nothing explaining the feelings that Hermione described, or the actions the form had taken.
"Kreacher," Sirius roared, causing a house-elf to pop into the room. The house-elf looked at him with barely concealed disgust, though Sirius had already ordered Kreacher to poke himself in both eyes, hard, for every time he referred to either Walburga in his presence, or called Sirius a blood-traitor.
It was amusing watching Kreacher fight with himself over whether to do so, and take the punishment, or just not bother.
"Kreacher, I want you to scour the house - every single room, attic and basement included, every hidden spot in the house. I want every single book, diary, or stack of parchments in here. I want this done quickly, and I want you to drop the books here, in a nice tidy pile, after you've searched each room."
The house-elf sneered at him and nodded, before his gaze fell on the diary and his eyes widened.
"Dark," the house-elf whispered.
"What? This? It's not dark, we destroyed it," Sirius said, grabbing the diary and looking at the house-elf curiously. Having lived in Grimmauld Place since before Sirius himself was born, Sirius wondered how the elf could be bothered by the darkness of the diary.
"It's the same darkness as…" the elf trailed off, looking ready to beat himself unconscious.
"Kreacher, I order you to finish what you were to say," Sirius quickly said, knowing it was important. If Kreacher was comparing the darkness of the diary to something else, he must know something.
The house-elf tried, but the words caught in his throat.
"As your sole master," Sirius stated, standing up. "I order you to tell me what you know about the magic inside of this diary."
"I have seen something else with that darkness," Kreacher said.
"Where? Bring me the item," Sirius said.
Kreacher disappeared, bringing the item quickly. Sirius could taste the dark magic, which was much more potent than the lingering darkness from the diary. "And why do you have this?" Sirius asked.
Kreacher started his story.
...oOo...
Remus stared at the mirror in disgust. Sirius had just explained about the diary and the locket, informing Remus exactly what the items were and how they contained such darkness. Remus shivered. "Horcruxes? If you're… if you're sure that's what these are, I'll go into the restricted section and see what I can find," he said.
"I'll do a quick check on the library," Sirius replied. He put the mirror away and examined the locket, before breaking down in tears as he recalled the house-elf's words on his brother's demise.
...oOo...
"There's a spell. It's pretty dark… it can suck all the pieces of Voldemort's soul back together," Sirius said, showing the old book to Neville and Hermione. "I just need an assistant in case anything goes wrong."
"Not that I'm complaining, I'm happy to help," Neville said, glancing at the book, with Hermione at his side. "But why us? I would have thought you'd have called Remus!"
"The book is made out of Werewolf skin. The pages also. He would be able to feel… no, he's not to set eyes on this monstrosity. If it didn't have the information we needed, I would have destroyed this book just because of what it's made of."
He walked around the desk, his eyes on the parchment, before murmuring something. The pair saw black lines appear, and Sirius' eyes moved across it before he looked up once more.
"Now, from my understanding, if we do this, Voldemort will only have one horcrux, therefore one way to get a body back. I have the fang from the chamber. What we need to do is do the spell, making this the only horcrux. It'll be more powerful then. I suggest that Hermione stay back as she'll be the most affected. I believe I'll be the least, I grew up around dark magic and was forced to practice it at a younger age. Once the horcrux is ready, we destroy it with the fang."
His gaze shifted down to the parchment once more. "It's tricky, but I've heard great things about Hermione's potion making skills. I'll need her help making the potion to douse the horcrux we have in, and Neville to perform the ritual."
He glanced back down at the parchment, before frowning. "Barty Crouch Junior? But he's… he's dead, isn't he? He was arrested for…" he trailed off, his eyes wide. "Shit, he's after Harry. You two, get this stuff to Minerva. Get her to do this. Tell her that there are dead Death Eaters in the castle after Harry. Quickly."
With that, he ran from the room.
...oOo...
He was halfway through the castle before he saw on the map as the Death Eater approached Harry. It was only a moment before Harry disappeared. Sirius hesitated on what to do, before pulling out the mirror and calling for Remus as he ran towards the figure on the map.
"Sirius, I'm in a class -"
"Harry - Barty Crouch Junior took him," Sirius snapped. "I'm almost at the entrance hall now. I'm going to stop him and bring him to the dungeons though how he got in without people wondering…"
He trailed off as he turned the corner, his eyes falling on Alastor Moody, where the map showed Barty Crouch to be.
The man's back was to him, so Sirius pulled out his wand. A quick stunner to the polyjuiced man and a binding spell, and he was levitated down to the dungeon.
...oOo...
"Remus, I thought you were in class."
Remus nodded. "When you called, I had to come and help Harry," he explained. "Now… are you sure that's him?"
Sirius passed over the map before levitating the man towards the Potions classroom. He walked in, noticing a class in session.
"Alright, clear out," Sirius shouted at the students. They sat frozen in fear of the Potions Professor who was glaring daggers at Sirius.
"Professor, should we go?" a student felt brave enough to ask.
Snape didn't take his eyes off Sirius. "You're in the middle of class. Obviously you will be required to stay until the end."
"Severus," Remus began, his tone low enough so the students couldn't hear. "This is Barty Crouch Junior. He's just… we don't know, only that he met with Harry and Harry disappeared. We need your help."
"What has the boy done now?" Severus asked. "It seems like he's got himself into more trouble. As usual. Just like his father."
"And a lot like his mother," Sirius snapped. "What vibrant green eyes he has, and his sense of compassion, standing up for those who need it. I think he's more like Lily than James, and if you'll see Lily's son hurt because of your feud with me and James - that you'd let Lily's only son - the child she died for, die -"
"Class is over. I expect a four-foot essay on this potion. If you copy straight from a text-book, I will give you a Troll grade."
The students gathered their stuff quickly before all but running from the class.
...oOo...
Snape withdrew the Veritaserum from the cupboard as Remus revived the man. In the few moments between when the students had left and Snape had gotten the potion, the Polyjuice had worn off, leaving the Barty Crouch that the three Wizards remembered from school.
"Sirius, let James know to come here immediately."
Snape narrowed his eyes, but said nothing. His fingers moved to the lid, ready to open it, before he hissed in pain, his hand resting over his arm.
"The mark?" Remus asked. "That's it! He's calling you - you could take us."
"Why on earth would I do that?" Snape sneered. "So I could be outed as a spy and killed?"
"No, so you could finally redeem yourself for telling Voldemort about the prophecy that killed Lily, and so you can finally repay your life-debt to James Potter. You spoke of redemption when Minerva took you into the castle, we were all angry… but here's your chance to save Lily's child."
...oOo...
Harry walked back inside with Luna. She had brought him out to show him the Thestrals, and he had seen the meat just disappear from thin air.
It fascinated him, just as her views on pretty much everything. She was sweet and laid back. She didn't bat an eyelid at his name. His father warned him that a lot of witches would be fascinated that he was a Potter, their eyes only on their fortune.
Luna wasn't like that.
She had headed towards the kitchens for something to eat, but Harry had decided to go and find the toilet, planning to follow her in. He was shocked to see Alastor Moody in the entrance.
"Auror Moody," he began. "What are you doing here? Didn't you retire a few months ago - well, that's what my father said!"
"The Headmistress called for me personally," Alastor replied. "I was at the Ministry talking to your dad when I got the letter. He asked me if I could give you something."
Harry accepted the wrapped present, his eyes widening. He knew the shape of a broom when he saw one. "He finally got me it," Harry gasped, ripping the paper from the broom eagerly.
As his hand touched the handle, he disappeared.
...oOo...
When James, Sirius, and Remus arrived under their disillusionment charms, the first thing they noticed was Harry tied to a headstone, struggling.
The second thing they noticed was that the man who had once been Tom Riddle was noseless. In any other situation, Sirius and James would have laughed.
But they kept it in, knowing that this depended on their silence.
They moved softly, having already cast silencing charms on their feet to keep the noise away, and backed out of the circle.
"Harry, we're here," James whispered, slapping a hand over Harry's mouth. "You can't react to my voice, just trust that we'll get you out of here."
He removed his hand and waited for the distraction, so he could free Harry without them noticing.
Suddenly the area was pitch black, causing James to grin. They had used that simple charm many times back at Hogwarts. In the confusion, James managed to get Harry free, casting a silencing spell on his son's feet and a disillusionment on Harry.
He pulled Harry halfway down the graveyard and pushed him behind a gravestone, telling him to stay put no matter what.
Harry heard a loud bang. He slipped from behind the gravestone, crouching behind a closer one, trying to get a better look.
Half of the Death Eaters were unconscious from the blast from what he could see. Harry grinned, realising that Sirius and Remus were there, somewhere. It made him feel safer for his father who had run back into the fight.
Hexes began flying in all directions, and Harry ducked down as one flew at him. When he looked up again, everyone was in plain sight.
Harry could see one Death Eater blend into the shadows and could see Sirius and Remus each duelling a hooded and masked Death Eater. His father was duelling an amused looking snake-man.
Remus seemed to be having an easy time of it, as he grabbed his Death Eater, twisting the man's arm until a sickening crack was heard. "Peter, my old friend," he growled. "So good to see you again."
Sirius was having the time of his life, hexes of all colours shooting from his wand, all on target. His opponent seemed to be tiring quickly, trying to keep up.
As for James, it was clear he was outmatched. Harry watched in horror as James' wand flew into Voldemort's hand and the words began like a hiss.
"Avada -"
"Hey, Snake Face," Harry roared. "What was it like having a squib for a mother and a muggle for a father? Considering you go on about blood-purity, you must hate how dirty your blood feels inside you." He could see Remus and Sirius finishing off their opponents.
The words died from Voldemort's lips as he spun around in anger. The unforgivable hit Harry before he could even blink
...oOo...
Harry awoke, his vision blurry and his head throbbing.
"What happened?"
"How are you alive?" James replied, tears running down his face.
"I dunno? Why? Shouldn't I be?"
James merely shook his head in shock. "He hit you with the killing curse, Harry."
"I think I know," Sirius said, causing Harry to look around to where Sirius and Remus were kneeling on the ground next to him. "I came across it in the library. Sacrificial spells. I doubt Lily knew what she was doing was that, but it's an ancient thing really. If she gave her life to save Harry - offering her life if Voldemort spared her son, she created a… protection over him. If he had tried to kill Harry that night, he would have died but with the horcruxes, he would have returned."
"So, mum saved me?" Harry asked. "Wait, return?"
Sirius grinned and shook his head. "Horcruxes are dealt with. If he was at his full power, your father wouldn't have lasted that long against him. He must have felt the loss of them and it somehow weakened him."
Harry looked at the body.
"What now?"
"We all go to the Ministry with the Death Eaters. Sirius and Remus can stay and report what happened, and Harry and I can go to St. Mungo's to get the scar on his forehead checked out."
James' eyes swept over the bound Death Eaters. "It's finally over," he whispered. He reached over and plucked a hair from Sirius' head, which Sirius glared at him for, and transfigured it into a very long rope. He quickly turned the rope into a portkey, tying it around each Death Eater's arm tightly, before dragging Voldemort over and tying it to him. The four grabbed a bit of rope.
"Wait, there was a Death Eater lurking in the shadows," Harry said, looking around.
The others looked at each other, knowing it was Snape. "Don't worry, Harry. That's all taken care of," James said. He took a deep breath and activated the portkey.
...oOo...
"Harry, it's all over the papers. Did you really destroy Voldemort?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide. "You have a scar. Did… did he really kill you?"
"He hit me with the killing curse," Harry confirmed, taking the seat next to Hermione.
"And you're still alive?" Neville gasped.
"Dad told me to give the interview, otherwise some reporter called Skeeter or something would make up lies," Harry explained, looking across the table to Neville. "Turns out that Voldemort was after me when I was a baby, due to a prophecy. My mum unknowingly cast a protection spell on me by offering her life for mine. It also turns out that protection spells don't have an expiration date. Voldemort shot the killing curse at me, it knocked me out, rebounded and killed him. Because you both got rid of the horcruxes, he had no soul left and died. There was a body this time."
"I'm so glad you're alright," Hermione said, throwing her arms around him.
"Me too," Luna said, and Harry grinned, quickly moving up so there was space for her to sit down. "I've gotten used to having you around, even if you do attract swarms of nargles. I can live with the nargles."
"Me too," Harry replied, bravely slipping his arm around her waist.
"They are calling you the boy-who-lived," Luna mentioned.
"I suppose that's correct," Harry replied. "I did live."
"Did you really call him a snake face?" Neville grinned.
"Actually, I called him a snake-face and taunted him about his Squib mother and muggle father because I knew that those would be things he was deeply ashamed about, since everything we know about him tells us that he believes in blood purity. It was all I could do, he was about to kill my dad. I wasn't going to lose another parent."
"Even though it could have meant your death?" Hermione asked.
"What would you have done if it was your parent?" Harry asked.
"Anything to keep them safe," Hermione promptly replied.
"So, back to normalcy," Harry muttered. "Luna, I hear there's a Hogsmeade weekend coming up. Do you want to go… and not as friends, because I think you don't realise that I keep trying to ask you on dates."
"I would like to go on a date," Luna admitted.
"Hermione… I… I would -"
"Neville, would you like to go on a date to Hogsmeade?" Hermione asked, blushing slightly at the idea of actually asking a boy out.
Neville breathed in relief. "Of course I would," he said.
Harry smiled at his friends and watched as Neville's arm wrapped shyly around Hermione, before turning to the Professor's table.
Sirius and Remus smiled over at him, and he used his free hand to pat his pocket. He couldn't wait to get back to his dorm so he could call his dad and tell him about his upcoming date with Luna.
He couldn't wait. James had promised to share the top-secret Potter dating tips with him.
It'd be the last Hogsmeade weekend before the holidays, and maybe they could all meet up during the holidays.
5000 words
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