Anything for Harry

by Golasgil Sindar

Follows immediatley after book 6. Two people who would do anything for one another. The story of the hunt for the Horcruxes begins! Now decidedly AU and damn proud of it! H/Hr with a touch of H/LL though this is firmly an H/Hr tale.

12. Chapter 12

Anything for Harry: Chapter 12

Precisely at midnight the Tri-Wizard trophy took the seven of them to the graveyard of Little Hangleton. Since a portkey could be reprogrammed to return to it's previous location Moody had just re-activated this one for this raid. It had been sitting in the trophy room of Hogwarts since returning Harry and Cedric's body. Ron shivered at that thought, right here was where Cedric had died and Voldemort had come back to life. They looked around cautiously. Ron found himself the last one holding the trophy, Moody tapped it with his wand and it shrank to only three inches tall, Ron slipped it into the inner pocket of his coat. A light fog had descended but the half-moon above gave them enough light to see with.

Moody said, "That's some damn sloppy warding."

Bill nodded, "I can drop them in two minutes and they won't have a clue."

Remus said, "That's Peter's work, always taking shortcuts."

Ron asked, "What are you guys looking at?"

Tonks turned to explain while Bill said, "Moody with me, everyone else stay here and stay alert."

After Bill and Moody had vanished into the graveyard towards the manor Tonks said, "The warding job on this manor is crap. Yes it's there but it's centrally tied and barely adequate to notify them of someone approaching the front door. Tom must have delegated this to Peter and then not inspected it. Really makes me wonder if he is right in the head."

Fleur was still looking nervously after Bill added, "William is an expert Curse-Breaker. Given time he could bring down the wards anywhere. This…" She gestured dismissively towards the house with her delicate be-ringed left hand.

Ron asked, "But couldn't it be a ruse? To make us less suspicious of a real ward, I use them all the time in chess."

Remus looked at him, "Could but I doubt it. Bill will check anyway. Keep looking at the manor, you should see a flash of darkness when it drops."

It was perhaps thirty seconds later that he thought he saw a brief flicker of light. As though a lamp had been turned on inside the house and then off.

Tonks said, "Good call Ron, secondary wards. Better but not expertly done."

Remus looked for a minute then spat, "Still Peter. Must have done this one after being encouraged by his master."

Charlie asked, "Why didn't Riddle do the warding himself if he's so powerful?"

Remus continued to look at the house as he answered. "I think he has learned caution. It takes a lot of effort to put up even basic wards. To do a class job would exhaust anyone. I don't think he wanted to push himself to the point where he would be vulnerable."

Fleur laughed softly, "He feels vulnerable. Perhaps his deaths have taught him he is not a god as he thought?"

Ron looked at Fleur in shock. Maybe his brother wasn't marrying her just for her looks or a good shag. That had sounded almost like Hermione or Dumbledore. Perhaps the Goblet of Fire had chosen the best student from Beauxbatons after all? He had been rethinking her all night. Before Bill had been attacked by Greyback she had always come across as flighty but now that Ron had spent more time with her he realized she was a very competent witch.

There was another flicker, slightly brighter than the first one. Tonks said immediately, "Done, wards gone. Let's move up." She crouched over and moved carefully in the half light through the tombstones.

Bill found them a short time later and motioned them off towards the front of the house.

They found Moody crouched in the bushes just thirty paces away from the manor. He growled, "Four Death-Eaters left inside; two in back and two in the front. We got three witches held hostage in the basement and one bloody big, magical, snake down there as well. No Tom but a lot of interesting magical items I want to destroy or collect."

Charlie said, "That snake must be the one that bit dad. It's really poisonous, kill it on sight. I'm the only one with any experience dealing with magical creatures. Guess I'm heading to the basement."

Ron nodded and gripped Godric's sword tighter. The blade felt eager to be used. "Me to."

Bill and Charlie's eyes met then Bill said. "Take Ron to guard your back, kill the snake, free the hostages. Make sure they are not Death-Eaters. When you have the prisoners stun and portkey them to the Shrieking shack in Hogsmeade. No one will bother them there and we can pick them up later."

Mad-Eye's magical eye swiveled down and he growled, "No dark mark on those locked up in the basement but there is magic of some kind around them, careful of a trap."

The new detection spells that Bill had been drilling into his head came immediately to mind. Ron shifted the sword to his left hand and drew his wand.

Bill asked, "Stairs to the basement?"

Moody's magical eye whirled and re-focused before he replied, "Front door, right, short hall then second door on the right."

Bill looked at Remus and Tonks. "Give us three minutes then see if you can sneak in the front door. The three of us will make a commotion when we storm in the back door. Charlie, Ron, with them. Kill the Death-Eaters then we will search for anything of interest. If he shows up get out fast."

Moody moved first, heading towards the left and back of the house, Bill and Fleur ghosted after him.

Tonks was looking at her watch, "Everyone stay still for the next two minutes thirty seconds. We don't want to draw any attention to ourselves then we'll sneak up to the door and move when we hear their disturbance. Ron you ok?"

Crouching in the dirt Ron had been staring at the front door. His head snapped back to Tonks, "Yea, Bill's been training me a lot lately. Not used to all this planning, Harry and I just do stuff."

She nodded, "No plan lasts, just remember doing nothing is worse than doing something stupid."

"What?"

Charlie patted his shoulder. Fortunately for Ron it was a gentle pat, Charlie had muscles anyone would envy. "Don't freeze, move and cast spells or in your case swing that sword."

Ron nodded, "It seems eager enough. Now I know what Harry meant when he faced the Basilisk with it. It's almost like Godric himself is directing it, not me."

Remus grinned a wolfish smile, "Good, he was renowned as a great swordsman."

Tonks said, "One minute to go. Boys watch our backs as we get to the door and go inside, once inside you can break off to the right. Ron, don't forget you're guarding the rear when you are in the basement. Let Charlie worry about the front."

He nodded, Bill had covered that repeatedly over the last week.

With one final glance at her watch Tonks nodded and started moving quickly to the front door.

Charlie went right behind her so Ron followed Remus' slightly different path.

Just as they reached the stoop an explosion shook the entire house. Lights inside flickered off and they heard people yelling. There was another loud boom followed by a man screaming. He hoped that was a Death-Eater but there wasn't time to worry about it. Tonks had the door open and was slipping inside. She tripped over something and the door flew against the wall making a loud bang. Unfortunately for them it occurred between loud noises from the back of the manor. Tonks squealed in protest when Remus scooped her up like a sack of potatoes and ran inside.

Charlie was right on his heels and fired two reducto's around Remus into the room.

Ron crouched and followed close behind his brother. They were in a small sitting room that smelled of mold and damp earth.

Two masked Death-Eaters ran in through an open doorway on the far side of the room. Ron ducked behind a moldy sofa with Charlie. Two killing curses flew over their heads and smashed into the stone wall of Riddle manor. Bill, Fleur, and Mad-Eye, were making a lot of noise in the back of the house. Remus and Tonks were across the room trying to get the Death-Eaters in a cross-fire.

He saw the short hall to the right of the door they were supposed to go down. Charlie shot another reducto at the ceiling over the door where the Death-Eaters were and the stones exploded. Remus and Tonks were also casting something but Charlie took off and Ron followed, looking back at the doorway as they passed the end of the couch. He didn't see anyone there. Charlie pulled him into the stairway. Ron stumbled at the sudden change in direction but Charlie held him up with his left arm around his waist until he got his feet back under him.

They paused a moment looking back into the house, Remus had moved behind the couch that he and Charlie had just left. Tonks was across the room behind a grandfather clock. Charlie tapped his left arm, "let's go kill a snake."

Ron grinned Charlie turned away and slowly went down the stairs, his back to the side wall. Ron did the same on the opposite wall, looking back up at the doorway to see if anyone had followed them. About half-way down the stairs they went through some barrier that had been containing the smell. Ron gagged a moment and then looked at Charlie who was also grimacing. Ron couldn't identify all of the smells but rotting food and piss came to mind.

Ron turned back to Charlie who had paused on the last step, looking into the gloom of the basement. Ron heard someone moan in pain. He knew there were hostages down here but he didn't want to do anything reckless and get his brother killed. He cast the Horcrux detection spell Bill had taught him. His wand pointed directly at himself, so it was in the basement somewhere behind him. Godric's blade rose as though sensing something it was needed for. He held it ready, trusting the blade to help him as it had Harry.

Charlie was now on the landing, he shot three stupefy spells into the room.

Ron moved down to the last step, changing sides to look into the basement. It had an earthen floor, and the air stank like a privy and rotten meat. Rows of decaying wine racks marched across the room, only a few bottles still clung to their perches. The rack to their left had collapsed. Two bottles lay on the floor in the rubble. Broken glass and splinters of wood lay all around.

Charlie said, "I thought I saw something move, might have stunned it."

"If that's the snake that bit dad it's probably immune to that."

Charlie didn't look at him but grinned. "Yeah, didn't want to do anything that might hit the prisoners though. When did you get smart?"

"Last week, Bill beat some brains into me."

"Stick together. The snake could come through the wine racks, though I doubt they would support its weight."

Ron took another look up the stairs, it had suddenly grown quiet up there. He did another Horcrux detection and his wand jerked far to the right.

Charlie cocked his eyebrow, "What's that pointing at?"

"Item of interest."

Charlie grunted, "Eh?"

"Sorry, only Harry can tell you what's going on but it's the reason I have this sword here in the first place. We've got to destroy it, whatever it is."

Charlie was still looking into the basement. He said, "Snake and hostages first."

It wasn't a question. Ron nodded but since his brother wasn't looking at him he said, "Course."

"Well let's get some light in here." Charlie swished his wand and dozens of lit candles appeared hovering in the air throughout the room.

Ron blinked rapidly at the sudden brightness. At least one of the prisoners started screaming something unintelligible.

Charlie started cursing, "Need to stun her so we can hear that snake moving around." Then he yelled over the woman's wail. "QUIET!"

Ron crouched and looked under the wooden racks. There was a second rack several feet away but under it he was able to see three metal cages about thirty feet away from them. He could only see the bottom foot of the cage but what he saw took him a minute to figure out. There were three women each kneeling in a cage facing away from him. They were completely naked their legs were spread wide and their calves and ankles were strapped to the sides of the cages. Each of them was quivering; they had been hit with the crustaceous. Much of their skin was red where it had been whipped. He shivered and stood, nearly retching.

Charlie's left hand found his shoulder, "What? Did you see it?"

The screaming woman grew silent and started whimpering. "N-No. Looks like the prisoners are in cages, naked. They… Charlie, they've been abused. We can't just stun them and portkey them out."

Charlie looked very angry for a moment then growled. "We'll get them to Poppy bro. Snake first though. I hope they do kill the ones upstairs. C'mon let's move, keep alert."

Charlie stepped into the basement, wand at the ready. His heavy, dragon-hide boots crunched some broken wood. Ron followed, looking to the right as they came in. Ron heard a low hiss to his left, where Charlie was. He felt Charlie stop then moved forward again.

Then it was on them, the snake had been atop the wine rack in front of them, which must have been stronger than it looked. Ron spun to see it land on Charlie who had ducked and twisted. Somehow Charlie managed to grab the snake's body with his hands but, he had dropped his wand. The snake twisted to bite his arm, he suddenly realized he had it too far from the head and thrust his massive forearm into its open mouth. The snake bit down but Ron saw the fangs miss his arm.

Ron cast several stupefy's at the snake but they had no effect. He was terrified of hurting Charlie so didn't dare cast anything stronger. If they got bit they would probably die.

Charlie grunted and moved his right hand up to just under the snake's jaw while the snake wrapped itself around his waist. Charlie's blood was dripping from his arm on them both but he just ground his teeth and started squeezing the snake with his right hand. The snake wrapped one coil around Charlie's waist and got another around his leg. It was squeezing him but Charlie's strength seemed a match for it. Now if Ron could get a blow in he could tip the scales in their favor.

Ron circled them as they twisted on the floor. His spells had no effect and he was too worried about hitting Charlie with the sword.

Suddenly Charlie rolled through the rubble to his left and Godric's sword moved. The blade went into the snake's head, just behind its eyes and pushed forward until it came out the other side. The exposed blade stopped an inch from Charlie's throat, Ron hoped it had missed his arm inside the snake's mouth. The snake thrashed around, blood shot from the dual wound at both of them.

Charlie's muscles bunched as he strained to hold the snake and blade still until it finally stopped thrashing.

Ron barely managed to hold onto the sword hilt with both hands to keep the blade from hurting his brother. Then he saw the green mist coming out of the snake. He dropped the sword and the hilt sunk into the earthen floor as he scrambled to get his wand pointed at the mist and remember the banishing spell.

Charlie shoved the snakes' upper jaw while pulling down with his left arm. When the jaw was open far enough he took his mangled arm out. Still sitting on the floor he backed away from the snake and mist, his good hand scrambling in the debris on the floor for his wand.

Just as the mist finished coming out of the snake's body Bill's voice rang out. "Exsequor Spiritus" The cloud condensed and vanished.

Bill ran over to Charlie and pulled back his sleeve. Charlie held his arm up. There were a dozen holes, all of them bleeding heavily. Bill said, "No fangs."

Charlie nodded, "No fangs." He leaned back against the wall, more glass crunched under him. He was cut in several places by the shards.

Fleur looked the scene over and conjured a tight bandage on Charlie's forearm.

Ron jerked Godric's sword from the snake's head and it tugged him around the row of wine bottles towards the prisoners. He would remember the sight for the rest of his life. There were three prisoners, all women, all naked and bruised. They were crouched in small metal cages whimpering. Each of them was wearing a dog collar that was attached to the roof of the cage, preventing them from moving more than a few inches and they would choke if they didn't keep their necks at the top of the cage. They had each been brutally abused.

Bill banished the cages and collars then conjured bath robes over them. They collapsed on the dirt floor crying. Ron recognized them from school. It was Cho Chang, Marietta Edgecombe and oh Merlin, his girlfriend from last year, Lavender.

Ron dropped the sword and went to the closest girl, Marietta. He helped her sit. His eyes looked her over. Telling himself it was for serious injuries. Seeing nothing life threatening he helped her into the robe. "We're getting you out of here. Calm down."

When Marietta had the robe loosely around her body he tried to get her to hold it but she just looked dazed. He looked at Bill in frustration but he had gone. Charlie and Fleur were there, helping Cho and Lavender into their robes. Both girls looked dazed, Cho's jaw hung at an unnatural angle.

Ron had fantasized about seeing Cho and Lavender naked but seeing them like this made him sick. Ten minutes ago he would have said he hated Marietta for her betrayal of them and Cho was not much better. Now though he realized that Death-Eaters deserved nothing but death and anyone who fell victim to them needed their full help.

Bill returned with Moody, Remus, and Tonks. Moody was carrying a large bag that bulged with various items he found interesting in the manor. In his wand hand he held a small metal box with three spikes sticking out of the top. Remus picked up Lavender as Fleur couldn't carry her. Charlie, even with his bandaged left arm was already carrying Cho, the heaviest of the three girls, easily. Ron scooped up Marietta then remembered the sword.

Fleur stopped him with a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I'll get it." She picked up Godric's sword, cast a quick scourgify on it and returned to the group.

Moody said, "You three side-along them to Hogsmeade station, then head into the school. Get them to Poppy, tell her what happened so she can treat them. Everyone else with them, I'm going to blow this place up." He placed the metal box on the dirt floor and held the tip of his wand on it. The box started glowing. "What cha waiting for?"

Ron had never side-alonged anyone before but he had passed his apparition test. Remus and Charlie vanished immediately. Bill and Tonks went right after. Fleur seemed to be waiting for him. Ron focused and squeezed Marietta tightly to himself then pushed them through to Hogsmeade station with every ounce of magic he could muster.

Ron staggered and Marietta flung her arms around him and held on tightly. He took several steps but managed to keep from falling over. Charlie and Remus were already near the end of the platform with their burdens. Bill and Tonks were walking just in front of them while Fleur arrived a few feet away. "Just hang on Marietta. I'll get you to Poppy."

Ron started walking along the platform. Fleur walked to his left with Godric's sword in her left hand, wand in her right. She looked absolutely deadly. He didn't understand why she was so angry at first but then Marietta's shaking made him think of the situation from someone else's perspective. In that moment Ronald Bilius Weasley did some serious growing up.

Moody appeared on the platform where they had been but Ron didn't turn around to look. He was going to have a hard time carrying Marietta into the school as it was.

Fleur spun and walked backwards while she asked? "Is it destroyed?"

"Going back to look now, I'll meet you all in the school later." Then Ron heard another pop and saw Fleur turn to walk in the right direction again.

Maybe he should have Fleur levitate Marietta? But then he thought she needed to be comforted and stiffened his resolve to make it to the hospital wing. It wasn't that she was very heavy but he lacked Remus' werewolf enhanced strength or his brothers bulging muscles. He didn't try to catch up to the others, just keep putting one foot in front of the other. He relied on Fleur to guide him through the familiar halls. He was grateful for her staying with him and wondered briefly why she was not ahead with Bill. Marietta kept holding him tightly which he thought helped a lot. Eventually Fleur was holding the door open to the hospital wing and he staggered in. He went to the first open bed, which was the closest, and sat her on it. She kept holding him even when he tried to let her go. Fleur tried to gently pry the girl loose but she whimpered and she relented.

Poppy was busy with Cho or Lavender and would take a minute to get to Marietta. Ron wished he could sit and then found Fleur had pushed a tall chair against the back of his legs. He sat, leaning his head in the only place he could, on Marietta's shoulder as she still refused to let go of him.

His head slowly stopped spinning as he caught his breath. Most of last year he had tried to get Lavender to shag, she had refused wanting a bigger commitment than he was willing to make. But all of that was before he grew up. He felt like throwing up and when he gagged Marietta pulled him tighter. She was still shaking, he thought mostly from the Cruciatus curse, something he well remembered. He wished he could get a hand free to get her some chocolate but she wasn't ready for that.

Fleur was back with a potion and chocolate, then Poppy who immediately started flicking her wand under Marietta's robe. He felt her stiffen and nearly scream. Her eyes went wide but she kept quiet. Fleur took that opportunity to feed her the potion. She gagged briefly but then swallowed it and her eyes quickly closed.

Poppy looked at the pain in his eyes, "Well done. Do you need anything? Dreamless sleep perhaps?"

He sat back, slowly releasing Marietta whom Fleur helped lay flat on the pillow. He shook his head, "Just tired. I'll be fine. Any word on what happened?"

Tonks answered from Cho's bed. "They were shopping in Diagon earlier today when it got attacked. They tried to fight back but got disarmed and stunned. They woke up in the basement of Riddle manor, not that they knew that at the time."

Moody stomped into the room. He went to one of the beds and started rummaging through the bag of things he had taken from the manor. He pulled out three wands and handed them to Bill. Ron immediately recognized Lavender's but wasn't sure about the other two. "The dark oak one is Lav's."

Bill stopped and looked at him for a solid minute, "She was your girl last year right?"

Ron nodded slowly, still unable to get up from his chair. Lavender would be sleeping anyway.

Then she called out to him from three beds away. "Ron?"

Somehow he was on his feet and over to her bed. She was huddled on her side, the shaking had stopped but her eyes looked haunted. Poppy had left the vial of Dreamless Sleep on the bedside table. He took her hand and with a hitch in his voice said. "Sorry, we didn't know you were there or we would have come sooner."

"They…" She gulped, he looked around but everyone else had moved to the far side of the room, giving them some privacy. "They were going to feed us to the snake when they got back." Then she lunged at him while he stood there stunned.

He managed to hold onto her while she shook and cried on him. He just patted her back until she began to calm down. "We killed it, sword through the head. No more snake. I think the four left in the house were killed as well, then Moody blew up the place."

She pulled back and then hit him in the chest fairly hard. He just held her loosely as she vented. "I should have said yes. Should have… Should have… Now I'm just rubbish."

"Lav, no, you're not rubbish."

"Well you don't love me, you just wanted my body."

"That's not fair." He said automatically but maybe it was.

She moved to shove him away but he shifted closer to the bed and she relented.

"Last year I was an idiot. I've done some growing up over the last few weeks and understand that now."

"What? What do you understand?"

"That relationships are not just about snogging and shagging."

"So Granger finally beat that into you?"

Ron laughed softly, "No, my brother Bill." He moved to let go and let her lay down again but she clung to him. "Lie down and rest. I'm staying in the castle. We'll talk when you get up. Ok?"

"Are you saying what I think you are? You want to be with me even after this?"

He nodded, "Yes Lav. I think I am."

She hugged him tightly and he responded equally. "Want some dreamless sleep now?"

"Yes." He helped her drink it and moments later she was asleep.

Ron turned back to the rest of the room. Poppy had un-wrapped Charlie's arm and was dousing it with disinfectant. Steam was boiling up from his arm that had to hurt like dragon-fire but Charlie was staring at Cho and didn't react at all to the treatment but Ron could tell his usually calm brother was seething in anger.

Headmistress McGonagall came into the infirmary, though it was nearly 1am she was dressed normally. She went straight over to where Bill, Remus, Tonks, Fleur, and Moody were talking. Ron walked over to them as well.

Before they could greet her she said, "The Ministry has fallen. Volde-mort, attacked just after you left. Information is sketchy, few were there at this time of night but the Department of Mysteries is apparently sealed. Your parents have left The Burrow to go to Grimmauld Place. How did your mission fare?"

Bill answered, "One 'item of interest' destroyed, four dead Death-Eaters, three recovered kidnap victims, and Riddle Manor reduced to a large crater. So very well I think."

Fleur handed Godrics' sword back to Ron when he got close. He nodded but kept looking at the Headmistress.

McGonagall looked across the room to the three girls and then at Charlie who was still standing while Poppy tended his arm.

Tonks answered her un-asked question. "The girls were captured in Diagon earlier and used for entertainment by the Death-Eaters. Lavender and Cho seem to be coping, Marietta is a wreck. She wouldn't let go of Ron until Fleur put her out with Dreamless Sleep. Charlie wrestled a 30 foot snake and got mauled but apparently not bitten. Ron put Godric's sword through its skull. We all apparated to Hogsmeade and Moody used a Dragon-Box he found in the manor to destroy it after collecting that bag of interesting things, including 26 wands, three of which are apparently the girls."

The Headmistress met each of their eyes in turn. "Well done, all of you. With the Ministry fallen, Diagon in shambles, I can only assume that this school is his next target. Filius is currently beginning his defensive charms on the grounds. The final stand may take place here in hours. Harry, Hermione, and Luna are sleeping upstairs."

Ron asked, "What can we do to help prepare?"

Moody's magical eye spun to look at him, "We summon our allies and prepare to kill a Dark Lord. I'm gonna evacuate Hogsmeade meet you all on the grounds." He collected his bag and stomped from the room.

Tonks said, "I'll contact anyone I can through emergency channels and see if I can get them here to help."

"I've already sent Patronus messengers to all Order members."

Tonks nodded and ran from the room.

Remus looked about to follow then turned to McGonagall. "I'll work with Flitwick on the defenses, Bill?"

Bill looked at Charlie. "Bro, you good?"

Charlie flexed the fingers on his left hand and made a fist. His muscles bulged, "Good as ever bro. I'll get the Centaurs and whatever else I can from the Forbidden forest to help out."

Fleur shivered then said, "I'll visit the Merfolk."

Bill looked at her, "You sure?"

She nodded and he kissed her so hard she would have fallen if he had not held onto her.

Ron asked, "What can I do?"

Charlie said, "Stay here with the girls for now, get some rest or go get Harry and them up and moving."

Ron nodded, he knew he was getting tired but he wanted to tell Harry that the last Horcrux was destroyed, then he could come back here and maybe sleep a little. "I think I'll go return this to Harry."

It took him nearly thirty minutes but eventually he was standing in the seventh floor corridor. He stood there for a full minute wondering why the door wasn't there. It was there earlier when he and Bill had gotten the sword from Harry. He finally decided he would have to summon the door needing to talk to Harry, Hermione, and Luna. After pacing back and forth three times while thinking about that a door finally appeared. It was not the heavily barred door from earlier which again puzzled him. He shrugged and opened it.

The room was small, not much bigger than a closet. There was a comfortable armchair facing a single portrait of his three friends. Harry and Hermione were kissing while Luna looked at him and motioned for him to come in.

Painted Luna said, "Close the door Ronald. Oh sorry, Ron."

He stepped in and softly shut the door behind him. He stepped closer to the painting. Harry and Hermione finally parted but looked a bit stunned so Luna continued. "We're not in this time at the moment so the room created us for you to talk to."

He said, "Huh?" as he sat down heavily in the large chair. It was as relaxing as it had looked.

Painted Hermione finally focused on him. "We went back in time just a bit ago. We'll catch up soon again but we are not here right now."

Painted Harry leaned forward, "How did your mission go? Everyone ok?"

"It went good enough. The place was almost abandoned. They were apparently attacking the Ministry at the time. We killed four Death-Eaters, I killed the snake that bit dad. It was a Horcrux and has been banished."

Painted Harry cheered, "Excellent news mate!"

Painted Luna asked, "What else happened there? You look sad or confused."

"Bit of both actually. We found three witches in the basement, they had been assaulted and abused and were about to be fed to the snake."

Painted Harry's eyes actually turned red in anger. "WHAT? WHO?"

Painted Hermione put her hand on his shoulder and his eyes went back to normal immediately.

"They were captured in the raid on Diagon earlier today: Marietta, Cho, and Lav."

Now it was painted Hermione's eyes that turned red as did Luna's. The painting warped and wavered for a minute as it reacted to their anger. It solidified again only when both girls were being held by Harry as they cried on him.

"How are they doing?" Painted Harry asked hesitantly.

"They are all in the infirmary now. Poppy has treated them. Cho's jaw was broken, Marietta had to be knocked out with dreamless sleep to get her to let go of me. Lav…" He choked back a violent reaction of his own then continued; the girls were now also looking at him. "Lav said she should have shagged me last year, now she's rubbish."

This brought the reaction he had expected, all three of his painted friends got very angry. He held up his hand and they quieted. "I told her of course she isn't. We talked a bit more and I guess we're going to get back together when she wakes up. We'll try at least."

Painted Luna knelt and said, "You will not be able to push her into anything sexual for a long time. She has to come to terms and make the first move. I do applaud your maturity. Just a few days ago you would have reacted differently."

(18 months earlier, Christmas holiday 1995)

It was about lunch time the next day and they had yet to reach Uncle Chuck's farm from her parent's home in Cambridge. Hermione had never driven there and after driving around Okehampton for the better part of two hours she stopped at a petrol station and called him. Aunt Mary answered the phone. Hermione said, "Aunt Mary? This is Hermione Jane. I'm trying to find your place, I have the address but can't seem to find it."

"Just a minute dear, let me get Chuck."

That was odd, not even a question as to why she was coming there this time of year by herself. It was just a moment later that she heard Chuck's voice, so much like her father's that she wanted to say 'Hi daddy.'

Chuck said, "Hermione?"

"Yes uncle Chuck. It's me. I have two friends with me from school and need to find your place. Can you help me with the directions?"

"Certainly love. Where are you?"

"Okehampton,on Exeter road at a petrol station."

"Take that west, it will turn into East St, then Fore, and West St, take New road south out of town, when you see the ruins of Okehampton Castle there is a small side road, barely big enough for a car, it's kind of overgrown. Take it, it goes around a sharp corner then through a short tunnel under castle lane and you'll see the farm when you come out of the tunnel. You have one of your parents cars?"

"Yes, the silver one."

"Ok, great. Looking forward to seeing you and your friends, always plenty of room for family." Then he hung up the phone. Usually he was much more inquisitive than this. She hung up her phone a puzzled expression on her face.

Harry asked, "What's wrong?"

"Not sure. Neither of them asked why I wanted to find their place. I got the directions though."

Luna asked, "Could your parents have called them already?"

Harry shrugged, "I doubt even Hedwig can get from Cambridge to the French alps in under a day."

"It's a thirteen hour drive by car, so she shouldn't be there for several hours yet." Hermione added.

"Do you trust them? Was it them you were talking to?" Harry asked.

"It was definitely them. Uncle Chuck sounds just like my father, not even a hint of surprise in their voices though."

Luna said, "Then they are expecting us. That's the only possible answer. Whether your parents told them or something else we will have to wait and see."

Harry nodded, "Ok but wands out, just in case."

Both of the girls nodded as they all headed back to the car.

It was a short drive from the petrol station to the castle. Hermione slowly made the turn onto the narrow lane. It was idyllic and tree covered. Immediately they lost sight of the road behind them and the castle ruins on the left. She went around the curve and then down slightly into a tunnel. It was only about thirty feet long and they were on a wide open country lane. Directly in front of them was an open gate that said Granger in elegant script over it. She recognized her cousin James holding the gate open and waving her in. A large sprawling farm seemed to cover much of the land. There were horses in a large pasture off on the left. Three cars, two of them pickup trucks were parked in front of the house.

Four people were on the porch, two of them standing and waving at them, that was her aunt and uncle.

A couple in their twenties was sitting on the porch swing, Hermione didn't recognize them. Her cousin James was closing the gate behind them. He would be twenty-two by now and looked just like younger pictures of his father. Maybe the younger couple was friends of his? Two of her cousins were missing but that wasn't unusual, they were also adults.

She parked the car and turned it off. Chuck and Mary came down the steps towards them while the others waved. Crookshanks climbed into her lap and looked out the front window. "Well Crooks, is that them?"

Her familiar turned and gave her a soft head-butt and purred.

Luna said, "Merlin! Wands away, we should be perfectly safe. I need to talk to the couple on the swing before I say any more."

They all scrambled and then climbed out of the car as Chuck and Mary got close. Crookshanks ran up onto the porch and investigated the young couple.

Mary hugged Hermione then proceeded to do the same for Harry and Luna.

Chuck surprisingly did the same and then said, "Glad you made it safe. Let's head up on the porch and get some introductions done."

Mary smiled, "Then we'll answer your questions dears."

Hermione snagged Harry's hand and pulled him along up to the porch, following her aunt and uncle.

Luna was off to their left and walked straight up to the couple on the swing. They greeted her warmly but Luna looked very upset.

When the rest of them got onto the porch James walked past where Harry and Hermione stood with a warm smile then went and poured each of them some lemonade. He grinned at the odd look. "Just got back from three years in America, I think you'll like this stuff. I do."

Chuck said, "The couple on the swing is Nick and Penny, old friends of mine from way back."

Something told Hermione she should recognize them but it didn't quite click. They were in their mid-twenties it looked, just a bit older than James. Nick had one of those faces that seemed to always be happy. Penny had a soft smirk on her face, as though she had just learned something that made her very happy. Crookshanks had claimed her lap and was purring loudly as she scratched under his chin.

Nick and Penny were looking at Luna intently while she fumed silently before them.

Mary said, "No need for concern loves. We are part of a slightly different magical society."

Harry asked, "What?"

Before anyone could answer Luna slashed her wand and created a bubble of silence around her and the couple. The three of them started talking rapidly Crookshanks even looked interested in the conversation until Penny started scratching his chin again.

Suddenly Hermione remembered her conversation with Luna from the hotel, when she had nearly died. Nick and Penny, Nicholas and Perenelle FLAMEL! She took a step back and looked at Harry.

He grabbed her hand and met her eyes. Silently he asked her to explain.

She said, "That man Luna is talking to is Nicholas Flamel."
Harry did a quick double take and then looked back at her, "He's not dead?"

She shook her head, "No, and I don't think he is going to be any time soon."

Mary had come close to them now, "Correct love. Oh, look Charles she has Emma's ring already. Don't they make a beautiful couple?"

Hermione just stared open mouthed at her aunt – already?

Luna finally broke the silence bubble and stormed over to them, tears trickling down her cheeks. "I swear on my life I did not know about any of this!" There was a quick flash of magic and she continued, "I'm a bit upset right now but we're safe here. You can trust them." She pocketed her wand and walked very fast across the yard to the fence of the horse pasture. They saw her frustration as she clenched her fists and seemed to be berating herself for something.

James stood and nodded to everyone, "I'm not needed here, best see if I can get your friend to talk this out." He ambled after Luna.

Chuck sat down, the motion drew everyone's attention to him. "The Ministry of Magic has no jurisdiction over my farm. We belong, as I said, to a parallel magical culture. Please Hermione, sit with Harry here and we'll explain it all."

Harry shrugged and guided Hermione to an empty bench and sat, pulling her down with him.

Hermione shook herself then looked directly at Nick. "You're Nicholas Flamel?" She hadn't meant it to be a question but it had come out that way.

Nick leaned forward and grinned, "Shh I'm playing dead again."

Hermione said, "Are you? Again?"

Penny put her hand on Nick's arm, "Ignore him. He is an absolute genius and they are all mad from time to time. To answer your question, Yes we have had to play dead several times through the centuries."

Nick nodded, "Yes, yes, twelve to be precise, approximately every fifty one real years. This one's a bit early but we wanted to make Tommy think we're gone."

"Tom Riddle?" Harry asked.

Penny said, "Yes. He had begun to think the Elixir of Life would give him immortality and we couldn't let him think that. So my grandson told you the stone had been destroyed. Well the one hidden in the school wasn't the real stone anyway. Only Nick and I know what it really looks like, and he alone knows the secret to making Elixir from the stone."

Nick looked sad, "I just missed him." He pointed at Harry, "Found you passed out and the soul fragment floating through the wall."

Hermione said, "Wait, Dumbledore is your grandson? And you were at the school our first year?"

Nick and Penny both nodded. Nick then explained. "It was all a trap for Tommy. Had to catch him out of a body but we missed."

Penny changed the topic. "I'm going back through the veil again. I'll catch Sirius and bring him back to this side."

Harry jumped to his feet. "What did you just say?"

Nick motioned for Harry to sit and chuckled lightly. "We were put to death about four-hundred years ago. It tickled a bit. Penny is able to come and go through the veil, I cannot."

Hermione pulled Harry down beside her and said, "Oh, my God!"

Penny shrugged. "He thinks it's because I was pregnant at the time. I'll make sure I am in time to rescue him.

Hermione couldn't help herself, "How many children have you had?"

Penny looked proud. "Twenty five, generally one every twenty years or so. Elixir fixes everything dear. In fact Mr. Potter, two of my daughters have married Potter men, Luna's mother was our youngest child. You can call us your grandparents though there are a few greats in there."

Nick looked at Hermione, "You my dear are an entirely new strain of magic."

Penny put Crookshanks off to the side of the swing and pulled a small black book from her bag on the floor. The book was covered in a black hide which was worn and faded. "And such a powerful one. I haven't seen a new one as bright, well nearly so, in centuries."

"How do you know that?"

Nick leaned back drinking his lemonade. "Aura's"

Penny clarified. "Early in our immortality I needed a hobby, Nick has always had his Alchemy, I chose to study magical aura's and learned they are similar in families, yours is nothing like your uncle's nor your cousins. In fact it is a perfect counterpart to Mr. Potters, as though one soul was sundered into two."

Nick leaned forward, fidgeting with his glass. "And this fact brings us to the reason for our meeting with you. We are here to help you and there are many ways in which we are equipped to do so."

Harry leaned forward eagerly. "I really don't understand why you are just now coming forward to help us when your grandson seemed to only want me to struggle against everything by myself."

Nick looked pained but Penny answered. "We had to wait for the two of you to finish forming your relationship and come here. Now we are outside of the Ministry of Magic's influence. Our influence over the magical government is very weak, neither of us are truly strong magically and thus have to work in the background. We, Nick and I that is, are the leaders of this magical society. The Queen herself holds our oaths and it is she whom we serve."

"But…" Harry didn't finish his question as Chuck interrupted him.

"What would have happened if you had refused to accept your Hogwarts invitation?"

Harry shrugged but Hermione answered. "Submitted a request to attend Beauxbatons?"

Chuck, "Technically yes you could have. You would have also received a second invitation to join us. We are far more integrated into Muggle society and have our own schools as well as our own branches of the military."

Hermione leaned back. "So it isn't just this small group we are talking about?"

"Certainly not, there are thousands of us." Mary added.

Crookshanks leapt into Mary's lap, after a momentary surprise she was scratching his neck.

Harry finally asked the big question. "How did you know we were coming here? No one is reacting to Hermione being so much older than she should be and Luna certainly did not inform you."

Penny tapped her book and flipped the page she had open onto the small table between them. They leaned forward to read it. The page was titled Time Travel Log. The four of them, Luna Lillian Lovegood, Harry James Potter, Hermione Jane Potter and son (in utero) were clearly listed at the bottom of the page.

Mary squeed loudly and clapped her hands. Crookshanks looked mad at her and jumped into Harry's lap. "Oh you're pregnant Hermione!" Mary said loud enough for James at the pasture to glance back at them.

Chuck picked up his glass and saluted, "Congratulations."

After the shock wore off Hermione said, "Thank you. I thought we would be here explaining but it looks like we are the ones that need the explanation. How did you know to be here before us?"

Penny flipped the book to another tab. This was titled: Important places and times to be there. Today and Granger farm to meet LHH & son was listed in the book. When they looked at her she explained. "We are time travelers like yourselves except we keep track of everyone who travels in time with this book. It exists in all of our times for the last five hundred years. Whatever we write in it shows up to us in all times, we, being immortal, are unaffected by living centuries in alternate time streams. All told Nick and I have each lived for nearly three millennia."

Nick pulled Penny back into the bench. "We're tired of trying to keep the world from destroying itself. The two of you present us with a unique opportunity."

Harry asked, "How?"

"You could, once certain steps have been taken, join us."

Penny continued when he suddenly stopped and looked away. "Neither of us have used additional Elixir of Life since the first goblet three thousand subjective years ago. I can still bear children, my youngest would just be turning thirty two next week. We cannot be killed, and believe me people have tried. Burned at the stake, shot, chopped, stabbed, Veil of Death, Killing curse, nothing affects us in any way."

Hermione asked softly, "What steps?"

Nick answered, "First the birth of your son, then the re-joining of your soul and finally I will make a new batch of Elixir of Life."

Harry couldn't believe this. Hermione asked, "So one of the requirements for this to work is that our magic balances one another? Like you said our soul was once one. I therefore assume the two of you shared a similar situation?"

Nick nodded, "This is very hard for me." He stopped there and Penny continued.

"We have never given immortality to any of our friends or children. It is a deep pain to bear this and you would be in the same situation. We believe now that immortality is more of a curse than blessing. Yes, we never grow ill, are always this age, and will never die. Yet we must watch all others we know and love – grow old and die."

Harry said, "But you have one another, no matter what."

Penny nodded, "Correct. It is our belief that a single individual cursed with this existence would go insane."

Nick said, "We have checked nearly every magical man and woman for a very long time. You, the two of you, are the first to meet our requirements."

Hermione asked, "Beyond our souls matching what else do you require?"

Nick said, "Morality and the ability to do what you must even when you know others will suffer for it."

Penny picked up when he stopped. "We do not know your thoughts but at every critical juncture the two of you have chosen to do that which had to be done. Through ridicule and pain the two of you have maintained your beliefs and never strayed from them, nor one another. This, in any time, is an extremely rare trait."

Nick continued. "This is what tells us that we can work with you to not only overcome your current difficulties but bring you into ours."

"How does this help me defeat Tom Riddle?" Harry asked as Crookshanks curled up in his lap.

Hermione quickly added, "Us." With a sharp look at Harry.

Penny said, "Once your souls, and thus magic, are combined you will be far more than his equal. If he still had possession of his entire soul then you would still surpass him. He has been unable to best you in four encounters to date. Nick and I will teach you how to truly feel and work with your magic."

Hermione took a quick sip of her lemonade, "So once we understand how to wield our combined magic we can defeat him? What about his final Horcrux's?"

Penny flipped to another section in her book and a page titled Horcrux's of Tom Marvolo Riddle Listed was each item, date of creation, destruction, and who was responsible. The last one Nagini was noted as having been destroyed by Ronald Bilius Weasley. The night they went back in time.

Harry grinned and kissed Hermione. After a brief moment of surprise she joined in fervently. It was several minutes later they parted and again noticed the others on the porch with them. When their blushing was under control Harry looked her in the eye and they discussed it as they had for years, silently. With a look and raised eyebrow he asked if she thought it was a good idea. With a slight frown and nod she agreed but had questions. He gave her a similar nod and half smile, confirming that he would not commit them to anything without consulting her.

Harry turned back to Nick and Penny, "We accept your proposal in principle. What do we need to do in the mean time? Hermione will have a list of questions by morning."

Penny and Nick smiled, "I will remain here until Nick returns from France. I will work with you so that you fully understand just what we are asking you to commit to."

Hermione said, "Thank you. This is a very complicated proposal and we would like the time to think it out thoroughly."

Nick stood and held out his hand to first Hermione and then Harry who both stood and shook it. "I will be gone for a month or so. It will take me some time to prepare the ingredients; the stone will remain in France I will return only when the elixir is prepared for you. I look forward to working with you both, in the future and past." With that odd saying he turned and kissed Penny before apparating away.

Penny lurched forward a half-step before regaining her balance. "I hate it when he does that."

Mary spoke into the sudden silence, "Jess and Kate have been working on dinner. Let's move inside and get settled."

Harry looked at Luna and James where they were still standing across the yard. He was very worried about how Luna was coping.

Mary saw him looking and said, "James will look after her. There isn't much to fear on this farm, we're under a fidelius."

Hermione looked at her and then Uncle Chuck, "You had to tell me how to get here. I understand now."

Harry nodded, "That's why we couldn't find it even though we knew the address."

Chuck nodded and smiled. He and Mary headed into the house.

Penny said, "Nick and I released Luna from her secrecy oath to us. She can now speak freely to you about our arrangements. There should be ample time for such discussions here in your past, technically mine as well."

Harry laughed, "Bet that gets awfully confusing?"

Penny smiled at Hermione, "Not for some of us."

Hermione nodded, "I managed well enough in third year. This just has a few more levels to keep track of."

Penny closed her book and tapped it, "And you will have your own book to keep the details straight."

"Cake then."

Harry just shook his head and stood cradling Crookshanks in one arm he pulled Hermione into the house after Chuck and Mary.

Perenelle took a long look at the couple by the pasture. "Sorry granddaughter, he is not the one either, I will bring him on the morrow and perhaps you will finally be complete." She grinned to herself, knowing the future was sometimes fun. She turned and headed into the house.