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.

14. Chapter 14

Anything for Harry: Chapter 14

Luna sat through a reserved dinner, Harry and Hermione had still not emerged from their room.

Kate was sitting in her usual place but was only pecking at her food with one arm as the other was strapped tightly to her body in a sling. Finally Kate sighed and looked at Luna, "I think I'll go to bed early, can you tell Hermione that I'm worried about her and I'll be fine."

Luna swallowed her food, "I will tell them when I see them next."

Before Kate's brothers could offer, Neville asked. "Do you need help Kate?"

She blushed, "Maybe mum's for a little while. I don't feel dizzy, just tired and I can't use this arm yet."

Luna shoved Neville's shoulder and when he looked at her curiously she said, "You never offered to help me get ready for bed." She teased him.

He turned red, groaned and put his head down on the table.

Luna laughed, "Neville didn't mean to imply anything Kate. He just wanted to know if there was anything he could do to help you out. He did not mean helping you change for bed I assure you."

Kate's blush had faded a bit but she nodded, stood, and with a cheeky grin said to Neville, "Thanks for the offer." Neville looked up at that but Kate had already shifted her gaze to look at her brothers, "Don't be too harsh on him. See you all in the morning."

Mary stood and took hold of Kate's good arm to guide her back to her bedroom.

Luna rubbed Neville's shoulders briefly, "They're gone now, just the father and two older brothers left in the room. I think they're going to glare you to death though."

James laughed at that while Jess cracked his knuckles, Chuck just looked at her and smiled over Neville's groans.

Penny came into the room with her black notebook in hand, "James, can I get a lift into town? There are some supplies I need to pick up."

James nodded and stood to get ready Luna presumed.

Jess asked, "Need any muscle?"

Chuck said, "Yeah, get three more bags of feed for the horses."

Jess stopped flexing and groaned before nodding. He also stood and the three of them headed out the front door.

Luna asked Chuck, "What time do you think Hermione's parents will be here?"

Chuck looked at the clock on the wall, "Another hour or two."

"Neville, will you wait in front of their door in case they come out? You can tell them Kate's message and what is going on. I'll wait with Chuck and Mary for Hermione's parents to arrive."

Neville finally lifted his head and nodded before nervously walking from the room.

When he was gone Chuck said, "You like that boy a lot don't you?"

Luna shrugged, "Neville is honest and has never treated me, or anyone that I know of, badly. Unfortunately for me, we're fairly close blood relatives. Penny and Nick are his great grandparents, and my grandparents."

}-{

Dan and Emma's black Mercedes pulled up to the front of the house at half past seven. The doors opened even before it had finished rocking to a stop.

Hedwig took a short flight and landed on Luna's shoulder. She gently stroked the beautiful owl's chest, "He's here girl."

Dan Granger, with Emma in tow came up to the porch quickly and asked, "Hermione?"

Chuck shook his brother's hand, "She's here and safe."

Emma clutched Dan's arm, "What's happened to my baby?"

A pained expression crossed Chuck's face, "Quite a lot apparently but the first thing you need to know is that she isn't the girl you sent to Hogwarts a few months ago, she is from a year and a half in the future, as is Luna here."

He gestured at Luna a dozen feet away, she was watching them and stroking Hedwig's chest. It was obvious the owl trusted her and greatly enjoyed the attention.

Emma let out a gasp, "You said Harry was here to? Is he from the future?"

Chuck nodded, "and another bloke from there arrived this morning, Neville, seems a rather nice chap."

Dan finally released Chuck's hand, "Where is she?"

Chuck sighed, "In their room, hers and Harry's. They are engaged and she's pregnant."

Dan turned bright red and charged the house, Chuck tackled him and they wrestled on the porch for a minute before Dan gave in to Chuck's superior skill. He lay there panting, "I've got to kill him!"

Mary, who had been holding Emma, said, "No you will not Daniel. They are in love and she chose to have his child now."

Emma asked her, "My baby is in love?"

Mary hugged her, "Completely."

Emma went and shook Dan as Chuck backed away and stood. "Can you believe it? Our baby is in love and getting married, and a grandchild? Oh she has to be so happy." She collapsed onto her husband who held her while she cried on him.

Chuck dusted off his jeans, "Well that went better than I expected."

Luna laughed and Hedwig let out a soft bark.

Mary shook her head at her husband, "Just you wait until Kate finds her a husband."

Chuck paled and clenched his fists, eliciting another round of laughter, this time including Mary.

It was several minutes before Mary coaxed Emma to her feet so Dan could stand. "Are the two of you hungry? We kept some dinner warm for you."

Dan shrugged, "Didn't stop for anything but the loo and gas all day. I really need to see my daughter."

Mary took his hand, "We had some trouble earlier, she had a breakdown but Harry is taking care of her."

Emma asked, "What happened?"

Chuck scratched his head, "I had Kate and Hermione duel, for practice. Apparently though Hermione was in a knock down tooth and nails battle just a few days ago in which she killed one of the nastiest witches in the world. Hermione over-reacted and nearly killed Kate."

Emma collapsed onto Mary's shoulder and started crying while Dan seemed torn between charging the house again or comforting her. He chose to comfort his wife though and Chuck relaxed.

Hedwig launched off into the sky and Luna finally came closer. "You can see her memory, and mine, of the fight. It isn't pleasant but she did what we had to do to survive."

}-{

Harry knew they needed to be out in the house, her parents would be here soon, if they weren't already. Hermione was still curled around him asleep. He had drifted off for a little while but the sunset was now shining in his face. He would have to get Hermione up and make her presentable for her parents. This was not a conversation he wanted to face without her by his side. He would rather face Voldemort than have her parents mad at him.

He kissed her cheek and ran his fingers over her scalp. "Time to get up love, we need a shower and some food."

Hermione smiled and snuggled a little tighter into him.

"I know love, I don't want to get up either but your parents should be here soon."

She let out a squawk and jumped out of bed, she looked at the door and for a moment he thought she was going to run out there naked. Then she went to her trunk and pulled out a fresh set of underwear and a bra. He hurried to catch up with her and get himself dressed as well.

He saw her use an expanding charm on her jeans, the waist was getting tight quickly but they were in a big hurry and she didn't comment on it.

Several expertly applied cleaning charms removed the evidence of their recent activities and an air freshening charm got rid of the smell. She stopped just before opening the door and hugged him tightly.

He answered her unasked question, "No matter what love, I'm with you."

With a nod she opened the door.

Neville was standing in the hall, wand at the ready. "Do you mind if I kiss your wife for killing Bellatrix?"

While Harry stood stunned Hermione ignored his words to ask, "Kate?"

"Sleeping in her room, she woke and ate earlier, said she was worried about you. Your parents are in the family room with Chuck, Mary, and Luna. Hedwig's out hunting."

Harry clasped his shoulder, "Thanks mate you're a great friend, and yes I do mind."

Neville shrugged, he'd debated mentioning it at all and instead pointed them in the direction of the family room.

Hermione was already pulling Harry in that direction. They came around the corner and a woman he had met only briefly in Diagon Alley began hugging him, she had bypassed Hermione who had been claimed by a slightly younger version of Chuck. "Thank you Harry, oh thank you." Emma said into his ear.

Hermione's father looked rather shocked as to how tall and developed she was. Then his eyes widened and he said, "Emma she's got your ring!"

Hermione had kept her right hand linked with Harry's left even during the hugs. When they were both released she pulled him close to her side. "Yes, mother, you sent it to me a few days ago or about eighteen months from now."

Harry was very surprised neither of them reacted as expected to the news about time travel until Emma nodded and said, "Yes, Chuck, Mary, and Luna have been explaining some of that to us while you rested."

Mary came closer, "Penny thinks that your pregnancy is going to progress much faster than normal. Apparently three months is the norm for soul-bonded couples like her and Nick. Is it ok if I check?"

Harry could tell Hermione was both confused and happy to learn this. He figured happy about the soul-bond bit, whatever that really meant, but confused as to the three month pregnancy. That didn't necessarily sound like a good thing to him.

Hermione nodded and when her father backed away Mary ran her wand horizontally in front of Hermione's lower abdomen, muttering something. She stood rapidly and smiled, "Looks like Penny was spot on, and the fetus is about a month along."

Emma grabbed Mary's arm, "already?"

Mary smiled broader, "Yes. Do you want to know the sex or wait until the birth to find out?"

"It's a boy." Hermione said.

Mary looked shocked that she already knew this, but then said. "And quite healthy, keep eating a lot."

Hermione pulled her mother into a one armed hug, still refusing to release her grip on his left hand. She patted her mother's back. She hugged him and started crying on his shoulder. He ignored the crowd to return the embrace and told her softly, "You're simply amazing."

}-{

Dan said, "I think the four of us should move to the Horse house for the duration. We need to sort a few things out as a family."

"Luna has to stay with us daddy. I-" Hermione stopped talking and looked at Luna. "Treat her like my sister. I've kind of adopted her."

Dan and Emma shared a quick glance then Dan nodded, "Ok."

Luna smiled brightly.

"If you think it's necessary, sure." Chuck said.

Mary said, "Well let's get you moved out of here and in there."

}-{

The Horse house was the small one on the far side of the corral. It had three bedrooms, all on the second floor. The first floor was one big open room with kitchen and dining room all in one space, making it feel inviting. There was a screened porch on the back, facing the woods, that had two king sized beds on it. As this was winter they didn't plan on using those though.

Luna settled into the smallest room while Dan and Emma took the Master Suite, Harry and Hermione found the middle sized room perfect for them, they didn't want room to ramble about in, they wanted a cocoon.

While Dan and Emma were settling into their room Mary told the teens, "There are permanent silencing charms on all the rooms of the second floor."

Both of them sighed in relief at that while Luna giggled.

Mary patted Hermione on the shoulder, "We'll make sure Neville doesn't feel left out at our place, though Kate's going to be overwhelmed with yet another boy around."

"I need to talk to Kate tomorrow." Hermione said.

"Certainly, if she's up to it I'll send her over after breakfast, nine or tenish."

Hermione hugged her and said, "Thank you aunt Mary. I'm really sorry about all this."

Mary patted her shoulder, "Anything for family dear." She looked at Harry then Luna, "All of you. I'm just glad it was here and I could take care of her myself."

Hermione was starting to cry again as Mary left so Harry hugged her.

Luna patted her shoulder and stepped away, "I'll see you at breakfast. Thanks for including me, sister."

}-{

Emma was waiting in the hallway, Mary was already making her way down the stairs, for a moment Luna thought that Emma was going to knock on the door she had just pulled closed instead she asked Luna, "Can we talk a bit?"

"Sure, can we go down and maybe get some tea?"

Emma nodded and together they headed down the stairs. Mary waved at them from the front door before leaving and closing it behind herself. When they were waiting for the kettle to boil Emma asked, "Tell me about yourself Luna."

Luna fidgeted, "Well, I'm sixteen years old, my father publishes The Quibbler, it's the only free press in the Wizarding world. My mother, accidentally killed herself when I was nine, I have no natural born siblings."

"Natural born?"

Luna nodded and held up her left hand, showing the small white scar in her palm. "Hermione made me a 'blood-sister' she called it. Some muggle custom I assume."

Emma smiled and stood as the kettle began to whine. "Yes, though I imagine it would have more binding effect in the Wizarding world." She took the kettle from the stove and made the tea.

When Emma had placed the tea on the table and sat she added, "I have read a lot of the books she left in her room."

Ah, now her statement made a lot more sense, "Sharing of blood is a very profound ritual to a witch or wizard and yes it implies permanence that can be brutally enforced by one's magic." Luna blew on her tea and took a small sip.

Emma nodded, "So that's what my daughter meant by adopting you." She looked up from her tea, "I guess that means, to some degree at least, I am your mother."

Luna was shocked, and it obviously showed, her hand shook and she spilled some of her tea on the table.

Emma was quick with a napkin to blot up the spill and cover Luna's hand with hers. "I'm not trying to take the place of your birth mother but if my daughter thought so highly of you as to make you her sister I will make every effort to extend that to myself and Daniel."

Luna couldn't hold it back anymore. The tears started flowing of their own accord. She was surprised when Emma pulled her to her feet and led her to the couch where they sat and Emma hugged her.

"It's ok, you don't need to explain it to me yet, just relax and let it out."

Luna could remember times when her own mother had held her, though it had now become quite a distant memory. This was heavenly, to be so openly accepted by Hermione's mother made her truly feel like a part of a family once again. Her father had been devastated by mother's death and had retreated even further into his world of conspiracies and strange creatures. In return Loony had been born of her own grief and loneliness.

No one disturbed them, and Emma didn't press her for answers. Eventually though Luna had cried herself out. Emma handed her tissues from the box by the couch. When Luna had cleaned herself up and recovered some Emma apologized, "I'm sorry to have obviously dredged up so much pain. You must have gone through a lot to get here."

Luna decided to shed some of her painful burden. "I've been abandoned and betrayed by nearly everyone I know."

Emma put her arm over Luna's shoulder and they sat back into the couch.

"When mother died father retreated into a world full of conspiracies. My grandparents, Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, yes that Nicholas Flamel, came and told me I had to go to Hogwarts and spy on Harry Potter for them. That school was a horrible experience for me. Made worse I am certain by the fact that I had created a persona to hide behind that everyone called Loony."

"Why did they want you to spy on Harry?"

Luna wiped some tears away with a fresh tissue Emma handed her, "Because of how he was raised there was a great danger he would turn dark and evil."

"Hermione guessed he was abused while growing up, but evil?"

Luna shook her head, "You should see his back. It's covered with scars from being beaten and no I don't think he could go dark, unless Hermione did first. He'll follow her lead just about anywhere."

Emma shed some of her own tears then, "How can someone treat a child like that?"

Luna chose not to answer that as it would lead to more revelations into Harry's past. "When we got here Penny and Nick were both here, that's when I found out that they had also betrayed me. It seems they only sent me to befriend Harry so that they could meet him."

Emma hugged her yet again, "Family sticks together. Dan and I will, though I admit it may take some adjustments on our part; we'll try to treat yourself, and now Harry, as parts of our family."

}-{

Nicholas was showing Draco into a bedroom he could sleep in for the next few months, there was a brief moment when his back was turned and Draco acted. He whipped his wand free and yelled, "AVADA KEVADA!"

The green beam impacted Nicholas directly in the chest as he was turning around. Nothing else happened to him though, in fact he smiled, a very cold smile that Draco had seen Voldemort himself use.

Then the pain began, an intense burning, throughout his entire body. It rapidly built in intensity until he was curled on the floor, this was far worse than the Cruciatus. Draco twisted in agony but tried to stand in spite of the pain. He had to get away.

Nicholas's voice cut through him. "The pain will continue until you follow the course your magic knows is true. To go against my will is to die."

Draco heard someone else enter the room and the door close. He forced his eyes open and jerked his head to look towards the sound. He saw a small pair of dragonhide boots but had to close his eyes in pain again before he could see who had entered.

A soft female voice asked, "He tried to kill you?"

Nicholas laughed, "Hit me with an Avada Kevada."

Draco steamed in spite of the pain. He had been rather proud to be able to launch the spell with such force, though it had simply vanished into his chest. He felt a sharp kick in his lower back and flipped over from the force. He found himself looking up into the angry face of a young woman who looked surprisingly like his mother.

"Idiot boy, we are immortal! What part of that can't you understand?" She kicked him again and he doubled over in agony. "You are but a tool to us, you will serve or we will find another for the task."

Nick said, "I saw the intelligence there, it exists, but his conditioning may take more effort to overcome than would be worth it."

"The mother will be quite disappointed, but then again she is still young enough to bear more offspring, should she find a suitable sire."

"We must think of alternatives to preserve the girl."

They left arm-in-arm and closed the door to Draco's room. He lay there in pain, a fire burned where he had been kicked but beyond that his magic told him he had finally exceeded his mouth's ability to save him.

}-{

Harry looked Hermione in the eyes, hers were as troubled as he felt. "I can't trust Nick and Penny yet."

She let out a slow breath, "Yes, just look at the way they have treated their own granddaughter. We need to find out just what they really want from us. I'm not sure I buy the line that they just want us to help with the world's problems."

"Could they have made a mistake somewhere that they can't fix?"

Hermione shrugged, "Anything is possible I guess. But if we take their offer will we become like them? Unfeeling for their own flesh and blood?"

Harry put his hand on her swollen abdomen. "I could never take any of our flesh and blood for granted, family is far too important to me."

Hermione put her hand over his on her belly, "I feel the same love. How could anyone become so cold to life? Is that something that being Immortal causes?"

He shook his head, "No, well if they have really been alive for three thousand years, as they claim, I guess anything is possible. I've got a question for you, why are there no other Flamels around? Penny keeps mentioning daughters. Surely some of those twenty five children were male, what happened to them?"

Hermione turned puzzled for a while, "I see two possibilities, either they have had no male children or they have done something with them to change their last name, like give them to other families to raise as their own."

He thought of another possibility and the thought made him ill, "What if they just kill the male babies and try again?"

Hermione paled and gulped several times. "I don't think anyone could be that cold." She wiped a tear from her cheek and he pulled her into a hug.

}-{

Early the next morning Harry and Hermione were woken by a soft knock on the door and Emma called out, "Breakfast is ready sleepy-heads."

He pushed Hermione off of his chest, it seemed to be the only way she slept these days, and answered, "Ok, I'm up."

There was no answer so he turned back to Hermione who was frowning at him. When he cocked his eyebrow in imitation of her she said, "You're supposed to kiss me to wake me up, not roll me over."

He bent and kissed her, morning breath and all. She replied equally and finally pulled away nodding, "That's better mister."

He laughed softly, "Your mum said breakfast was ready, so we need to get moving."

"Grumble grumble, ok I'm moving." She swung out of bed and paused only long enough to hand him his glasses from the bedside table. She had her robe on and was half-way to the door by the time he got them on, "I'm showering, back in ten minutes."

She had let in the smell of bacon and fresh coffee and his stomach grumbled.

He shrugged and went looking for a fresh change of clothes in his trunk. He didn't bother changing into them but did take the tags off and lay them out on the bed then he got his robe on and walked into the hallway, the shower was off so Hermione should be about done, he found a closet in the hall and inside was a large assortment of towels, he chose a light blue one with a shell pattern on it and just before he knocked on the bathroom door it opened and Hermione stepped out.

Her hair was still wet but she had her nightgown in hand and was thus wearing only her robe. She kissed him quickly on the cheek and then was across the hall in their room before he could blink.

He headed into the bathroom and on the steamed up mirror she had written "I LOVE YOU." With a large heart around it.

He closed the door and smiled then undressed and started the shower running.

Ten minutes later he and Hermione were heading down the stairs.

Luna was talking as they got into the room, "Oh this is an excellent poached egg, just how I like it, thanks Emma."

"Poached mother?" Hermione said from the bottom of the stairs.

Emma jumped and then laughed as did Daniel, Emma looked guilty but answered, "Well my new daughter requested them so I figured I'd do some work on her first breakfast with us."

Hermione dragged Harry across the room to the table where she plopped down, "You have more?"

"Yes dear, I made two for you and Harry as well."

Hermione sighed, "Guess two will have to do, though I am eating for two you know." She rubbed the bulge at her waist.

Emma stuttered a moment then turned back to the cooker where she grew busy with clanging pots and pans, apparently making more poached eggs for her pregnant daughter.

Luna laughed while Dan looked back and forth before finally deciding not to say anything. Harry thought him a very wise man and kept quiet about the whole thing himself.

He took the two remaining poached eggs along with four slices of bacon and two biscuits. If Hermione was going to eat more eggs he figured he would have more of the other food.

Soon enough Emma placed three more poached eggs before her smiling daughter, "There one more poached egg for each of you."

Luna giggled, "We're going to need to stock up on eggs if she eats this much after only being pregnant for a few days."

Dan pulled a notepad and pen from his pocket and wrote in large letters, Buy EGGS and put the pad and pen back in his pocket.

Emma asked, "Harry do you drink coffee?"

He nodded around a mouth-full of eggs. Hermione told her mother, "Black."

Emma turned and poured both Harry and Hermione cups of coffee but added some crème to Hermione's before placing them on the table. "Anything else O'Pregnant one?"

Hermione shook her head, her mouth now full.

Her mother finally sat and worked on her coffee, apparently already having eaten her fill.

When they were just about finished Dan leaned back and looked at Harry, whom suddenly felt nervous.

"I am a very practical man Harry, I can see that my daughter, and in fact Luna here, trust you completely. I have also had some benefit of Hermione's letters over the years so I know some of your background. What I would really like to know though is how are you going to support a wife and children at your age?"

Harry sighed with relief while Hermione laughed and patted her father's hand. "You had him worried there for a minute dad."

Dan looked at them in confusion, "Please explain O'Brilliant one."

Instead Hermione turned to Luna, "Could you introduce my betrothed by his official titles please?"

Luna stopped giggling and grew very serious. "Mr. Daniel Granger, I have the pleasure of presenting Lord Harry James Potter, heir to the Potter title and lands, also by dint of inheritance now Lord Black and heir to those titles and lands. Through conquest the current Lord Slytherin, and though it is unproven at this time upon his 18th birthday he is eligible to attempt to claim the title and lands of Godric Gryffindor as the Potter's are descendants of the Peverell line."

Harry was shocked and couldn't stop from gaping at Luna.

Dan said, "How does that help him support my daughter and grandchildren?"

Hermione closed Harry's jaw and answered, "The Potters and Blacks are among the wealthiest of wizard families' daddy."

Harry finally spoke, "I knew that part, what's all this about Gryffindor and Slytherin?"

Luna shrugged, "Obscure information is my specialty. I doubt even Dumbledore was certain you are related to the Peverell brothers but my father is a Questor for the Deathly Hollow's and I know all about those legends and myths. Remember all myths have some basis in actual fact. And since you banished the previous Lord Slytherin, also known as Voldemort, you now hold that title."

Hermione shook her head, "Luna dear, you still didn't make much sense. Can you elaborate further?"

Both of Luna's pale blond eyebrows rose in shock, "You've never read Beedle the Bard?"

"Children's stories? No never." Hermione scoffed.

Luna blinked several times and then took a long drink of her hot tea. "I shall summarize then for now. There were once three brothers, Father thinks they are Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus Peverell, which is a known branch of the Gryffindor line."

She waved her free hand about, "Anyway they managed to get a wish from Death himself, Antioch wanted a wand that was unbeatable, he received what is called the Elder Wand or Death-Stick. Cadmus wanted the ability to summon the dead and speak with them, he received the Resurrection stone, while Ignotus wanted a way to hide, even from Death Himself, he received The Cloak of True Invisibility."

She took a quick sip of her tea. "Thus was born the legend of The Deathly Hollows, the owner of all three has power over Death himself. Now Ignotus is the only brother who lived for long, Death killed the other two and their treasures went wandering in the world. The Cloak of True Invisibility is upstairs in Harry's trunk. I saw Headmaster Dumbledore wearing the resurrection stone, in a ring he wore. My Father has long thought that he also possessed the Elder wand."

Luna sipped her tea and then fiddled with her breakfast, placing a roughly triangular slice of toast in the center then her remaining poached egg centered on it and a slice of bacon, she bit shorter before placing it, atop the egg. "This is the symbol of the Deathly Hollows."

Hermione interrupted, "That was Grindelwald's symbol!"

Luna nodded, "Correct, because he was also a Questor and many of us think he possessed the Elder wand." She lifted her bacon and held it aloft before she ate it.

Harry added, "Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald."

Luna nodded and took a large bite of her poached egg.

Hermione suddenly jumped out of her chair and hugged a very startled Luna. "THAT'S IT!"

It was several minutes later before Hermione managed to calm down and speak coherently. "We need to re-unite the Deathly Hollows so that Harry is the Master of Death and can use that power to kill Voldemort."

Harry shook his head, "I saw that ring, the stone was cracked when Dumbledore destroyed the Horcrux within it."

"But it wasn't shattered?"

"No, it had crack on the face of it."

"Then it still holds Death's enchantment. Where is it?"

Harry shrugged, Hermione answered, "Well the wand was buried with him, the ring could have as well."

"Luna how does the wand pass ownership?" Harry asked.

"Through combat."

"So would being disarmed with Expellarimus count?" He asked slowly.

"Yes, it should."

"Then Draco Malfoy is the current master of the Elder wand. Assuming that Dumbledore was using it the night Snape killed him on the tower."

Dan cleared his throat and when they had all looked at him said, "Well it sounds like you need to find this Arse-Hole Draco and beat him up again. Though this time dear let Harry punch his lights out."

Harry laughed, remembering well the day Hermione had punched Draco.

There was a soft knock on the door and Kate called out, "Hello in the house?"

Dan stood, "Coming Katherine."

There was a despairing sigh from outside and when the door opened Kate looked sadly at her uncle. "Uncle Dan, please remember I prefer Kate."

Dan patted her shoulder and ushered her inside, when he closed the door he said, "Of course Katherine."

Kate ignored him except for a slight hitch to her shoulders as she walked over to Hermione. Harry was relieved to see that Kate was free of the sling today.

He felt the room grow tense as Hermione also stood. Kate started crying and hugged Hermione who gratefully returned it and began crying as well.

Hermione started saying, "Sorry, so sorry Kate."

Kate shook her head and pulled back, "No! That was my first combat situation. I'm glad it was with you and not for real or I would be dead. I saw Luna's memory of the fight with Bellatrix this morning. You could easily have killed me by just choosing another spell."

"But I shouldn't have-"

"No, I should have apparated when you did. I took the threat too lightly and paid for it. Look Jae, I learned that combat is not play time. Eliminate your opponent in the most efficient method possible."

Hermione didn't answer she just hugged Kate once again before pulling away and turning to Harry. "Take me for a walk outside?" she asked.

He stood and with a soft pat on Kate's shoulder guided Hermione towards the front door. He snatched several tissues from the box on the coffee table as they passed and handed them to her.

Once outside he looked around and decided that behind the stables looked like a good direction. He kept his hand on the small of her back and his eyes on the ground for anything that might trip her while she blew her nose and dried her eyes.

She pocketed the tissues and leaned into him her arm went around his back and her head on his shoulder. He moved his arm the rest of the way around her waist and pulled her closer. It made walking more difficult but as they did on the walk from the platform in Hogsmeade they found a rhythm that worked for both of them.

They kept it slow and Harry spent most of his time looking at the dense woods and the ruins of the castle just next door. He really had little interest in horses or anything about them. Both of Kate's brothers were inside the stable, they couldn't see them, but heard them laughing as they tended the horses.

Hermione steered him down a path that lead up a small hill where a gazebo stood. It was quite old and in need of some repair but the benches looked sturdy. She sat so they faced the castle and closed her eyes as she curled into him.

Harry put both arms around her and just held her for several minutes. He didn't know what to say so he just held her, occasionally rubbing her back and when the wind whipped her hair into one of their faces he moved it out of the way.

Eventually she pulled back and kissed him gently. "Thank you."

"Always love."

She smiled at that and he kissed her again.

"Are you ready to talk about things?" She shrugged which he took as an ok. "So assume I manage to become this Master of the Deathly Hollows. What do you think that really means?"

Penny coughed and became visible on the bench ten feet away. Both Harry and Hermione had their wands pointed at her in under a second. She just held her hands up. "Sorry, I like sitting here and meditating. I stay invisible so no one will interrupt me here. I apologize but I can explain what we think the Master of Death means if you like?"

Hermione took a ragged breath and put her wand away. Harry reluctantly pocketed his and then nodded at Penny.

"The one who possesses all three of Death's treasures has the ability to harvest souls or return souls to this world. Think of it as a Grim Reaper with extra powers. Anyone, possibly even Nicholas and myself, is subject to that person's will. Death works with Fate to determine just when someone should die, but the Master of Death would make Fate re-work the skein to match what they wrought."

Penny shrugged, "The Hollow's have never been united though so this is really speculation at this point."

Hermione looked at her sharply, "Is Harry related to the Peverell brothers and Godric Gryffindor?"

Penny pulled out her ever present black book and flicked through it. Finally she found what she was looking for and came to sit beside Hermione. The page she was on folded out into the Potter family tree which did indeed list Ignotus Peverell and beyond him Godric Gryffindor.

Penny stopped the unfolding at that point and waited until Harry and Hermione both looked at her. "Some things in one's distant past should not be taken too seriously. The next name is not one well-regarded but the facts are what they are." When Hermione squeezed Harry's hand he nodded and Penny turned the page. Mordred Pendragon was listed as Godric's grandfather.

Harry jerked away from the parchment and Penny stood taking the book with her. She quickly folded the tree away and pocketed the book. "As I said, some things like one's ancestor's should not be taken too much to heart."

Hermione was hugging Harry hard but still looking at Penny, "What does it mean to be a descendant of King Arthur?"

Penny shrugged, "In this day and age? Not much. The crown is beyond claiming, our current Monarch holds the fealty oaths of all Magical Britain. Such could not be claimed away from her or the line. It is possible that the Lady of the Lake would find him worthy of Excalibur but I do not know where to find her anymore. You do have access to Godric's goblin blade?"

At Harry's reluctant nod she continued, "I would keep it a secret unless you find some advantage to it that I do not see. The goblins of Gringott's do hold more of Godric's treasures for his heir but I doubt a suit of plate armor would be of much use. There may be more there that you can use, I recommend visiting them and inspecting the vault's contents."

Harry took a deep breath before asking, "Penny, where are your sons?"

The change in topic didn't seem to catch her unaware. "I have born seven sons, each of them has changed their last name and lived out their lives. Some have moved to other countries but two of them founded lines that you are inter-twined with, both the Black and Malfoy lines were founded by my sons. Nick has recently ended the Malfoy line and removed Draco to Sirius's care. But the idiot boy tried to kill Nick, and has been removed from existence."

Harry shook his head in disbelief, "Wait, you haven't rescued Sirius yet."

"Draco's dead?" Hermione asked.

Penny finally sat back down on the bench beside them. "Yes, Hermione, he is. His own magic killed him when he tried to harm Nick. Now, I am not the Penny of this timeline. She is currently in France with both the present Nick and the one from my time. So I remember rescuing Sirius it just hasn't happened yet in the present."

"So it worked?"

Penny nodded, "It will work in about six month's time."

Tears began leaking out of Harry's eyes and he buried his face in Hermione's shoulder. Penny looked shocked at the quick emotional outburst.

Hermione just gestured for Penny to move away, she nodded and walked from the gazebo. Hermione concentrated on holding and comforting him until he finally recovered enough to look around. She conjured him a box of tissues and when he had cleaned himself up she vanished them.

"Is she really gone this time?" He asked.

"I think so. I saw her walk back into the main house."

"Now how does one become the owner of the Elder Wand? The last owner killed himself." Harry said.

Hermione shrugged. "Perhaps the next one to pick it up. It's in the sarcophagus."

He thought about that for a moment then shrugged. "Can we believe her other answers or that family tree?"

Hermione rubbed her thumb across the back of his hand while she thought before slowly speaking. "She seemed genuinely surprised about your reaction to Sirius's rescue. In fact she may now think you are too emotional for their proposed immortality."

Harry sat thinking for several minutes before he spoke again, "Tell me if this sounds crazy. Nick and Penny want me to become the Master of Death so I can end their immortality. Somehow they planted the idea in Luna's father's head, so Luna learned all about it so she could inform us?"

Hermione thought for a minute before slowly shaking her head. "Well I can honestly say that I did not think of that. There are far too many if's in that for it to have been a reliable plan. Besides if they wanted to die why don't they just come out and ask you to do it. Why don't they help you acquire the items directly instead of just planting hints here and there like a wind-scattered bread-crumb trail?"

Harry shrugged, "Well that's all we ever seem to get isn't it? Scattered clues and wild guesses have gotten us through our adventures in the past. Why not this time?"

Hermione shook her head, "I refuse to believe that some external force, whether Fate or Flamel or Dumbledore, is responsible for our entire history of adventures. I think it is entirely possible that Dumbledore setup the stone as a test for you, but it was done without the knowledge of my, or Ron's, ultimate involvement."

"But Hermione, there is no way that I could have muddled through those challenges by myself. Just the Devil's Snare would have killed me!"

"Well they did seem to be geared towards our skills. I got a perfect grade on the essay about the Devil's Snare for Herbology. Everyone in the school knows how good Ron is at chess. You're the best seeker in hundreds of years, we defeated a Troll by ourselves and McGonagall knows I like logic puzzles."

"So out of those challenges I might have been expected to know about Devil's Snare, the key, and defeating the Troll. That still leaves chess and logic that were clearly meant for Ron and you."

"So you're saying that Dumbledore knew, back in first year, that Ron and I would accompany you on that mission and deliberately setup challenges for us to overcome?"

Harry nodded.

"In retrospect I am forced to agree with you. Could we have been influenced by either potions or spells to ensure that? I mean I only decided at the last minute to accompany you, though Dumbledore could have known that I would never abandon my only friend."

Hermione seemed to be talking to herself so Harry stayed mute and let her ramble on for several more minutes. To his shame he was not really paying attention but thinking ahead while she tried to puzzle out if their entire life had been subject to manipulation.

He was wondering if he should just abandon the whole country to the madness but that would not involve just himself and Hermione but also her parents, Luna, and now the rest of Hermione's relatives.

He could not live with himself if there was anything he could do to help them and he did not do it. Why was this so ingrained in him? He couldn't have gotten it from the Dursley's. Could it have been because he had ultimately failed to truly stop Voldemort? Well if he was honest with himself then it was really his mother who had stopped Voldemort initially, so maybe he felt he had to finish what she started?

Well that was a good enough reason for him right now, he still wanted to hear Nick and Penny's plan for him actually defeating Voldemort. He knew that, well in the time they had come back from anyway, the portion of Voldemort in his scar was the last Horcrux to be destroyed and Nick seemed to have a plan to remove that. Harry was certainly willing to go through with their plans until after that. One of his greatest desires was to just be free to make his own way in life and he couldn't do that knowing he was keeping a maniac alive.

Hermione nudged him and he shook his head before looking at her. "Yes?"

"Well, I think Dumbledore is responsible for most of the manipulations carried out upon both of us. From me ending up in Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw, to you meeting the Weasleys on the muggle side of the platform in our first year. And us working together on these adventures. I do not believe he is responsible for Tom Riddle's Horcrux's or your parent's deaths. I think Dumbledore could have opposed Voldemort more directly and actually defeated him like he did Grindelwald."

"But the Prophecy." He said.

"He could still have captured him and put him in prison before he got too bad. Grindelwald is sitting in prison to this day in Germany. And I can easily interpret the prophecy to mean that it was fulfilled back in '81."

}-{

That night, after dinner, Penny came knocking at the door of Horse house. Harry and Hermione joined her on a walk up to the gazebo. "I think it is time we settle a few of your questions and begin training."

"I don't trust you," said Harry.

Penny smiled, "And you should not trust us, as Nick and I will not wholly trust you. There is only one soul in this world that I would expect each of you to trust, one another, as I trust Nick." She paused to let that sink into them then sat on the bench beside them. "This job, for lack of a better term, is extremely stressful and precise. We dare not push anyone too far without carefully studying the results."

"But you could go back in time and kill Voldemort before he made any horcruxes" Harry said.

Penny nodded, "This is true, but Nick and I do not claim to be God. We are stewards who seek to balance right and wrong within the world. The two of you may become something far different than us and that is something we can accept."

"So you aren't going to give us a set of rules or directives to follow?" Hermione asked.

Penny shook her head. "Nick and I would accept no one's rules so we would not expect you to follow ours. We are old, far older than any human could ever comprehend, yet we endure. Perhaps we need a respite, or perhaps the world has passed us bye and we can no longer continue the task we believe God has given us."

Harry asked, "Do you want to die?"

Penny looked surprised but then cocked her head to the side in thought. "I am unsure if that is the way we think about it. Granted we're tired of our burden. If you manage to become the Master of Death's three items then we would allow you to try and relieve us of the burden of life."

Hermione said, "What about all the good you have done?"

Penny shrugged, "All of our charities are self-sustaining. They have deep reserves of wealth and resources. Each is run by children of ours or their descendants so we hope they will not become corrupt. Aside from those institutions we are not certain that our meddling has helped or hindered the world. Should we have allowed Hitler to conquer the British Isles, or Caesar to live? Should we have preserved the Roman Empire instead of allowing it to crumble? The world lost hundreds of years of development with its fall."

"How could you have kept Caesar alive?" Hermione wondered.

"How? It was Nick and I whom led the assassins. We were among those to stab him." At their surprised looks she continued, "He was going to destroy the empire if he was allowed to continue, so we stopped him. But, and this is the question that will consume you as it has us. Should you do something or not, there is no longer any question of CAN we do something. Do you understand me?"

Hermione nodded, "Without laws or society you alone must decide if something should be done or not."

Penny smiled and relaxed onto the bench. "Wisdom in one so young." She looked up into the night sky, "Thank you Lord God Almighty." Penny looked back at them, "We struggle with every possibility. Should we go back in time and speak to young Albus Dumbledore and tell him his friend Gellert Grindelwald would become a dark lord?"

"Dumbledore was friends with Grindelwald?"

Penny nodded, "Very close friends for many years. They wanted to make the world better. For the Greater Good but their vision of how to go about those changes became radically different."

"How am I going to be free of this?" Harry said tapping his scar.

Penny smiled, "Rather simply. A person or object may only have a single bond. Currently you have a bond with Tom Riddle. This is how you can experience his emotions and sometimes see what he is seeing. When you complete your bond with Hermione it will sever the bond with Tom Riddle."

Hermione looked very curious, "How do we know that a bond with me will succeed when this one has existed for fourteen years?"

Penny laughed softly before continuing. "It will come down to one factor. Do you love one another more than Tom Riddle hates Harry. Based on all of the information I have that answer is a most emphatic yes."

Both of them looked at her in shock. Harry finally asked, "When?"

"Hermione, have you begun to feel your child's thoughts yet?"

Hermione thought for a minute then shrugged, "There was a moment when I was practicing Occlumency when I felt a presence, it was singular though. That was two days ago now."

Penny pulled out her book and looked something up then took out her wand and cast, "Expecto Patronum!" A small bird Patronus that seemed nearly solid sped off into the night. Finally she looked back at them. "I have sent for Nick, we can do it now, before your baby is talking to you, or we must wait until after the birth."

Harry leaned forward, holding Hermione's hand tightly, "Why do we need Nick as well?"

Penny put away her book and wand before answering, "The bonding of your magic will create a huge magical pulse. Witches and wizards for thousands of miles will feel it. The two of you, plus the bond with Tom simply have too much raw power for it to be contained. Since this farm is under a Fidelius no one would be able to find the precise location but the general region would be known. Nick and I will take you someplace where that pulse will not cause any disruption to the modern world."

Hermione asked, "You already felt it so you know where it happens?"

Penny nodded, "Yes, though we couldn't pinpoint the source I can tell you that it led to the development of magic on the continent of Australia. Prior to that pulse there were no magical Aborigines, within ten years there were hundreds of them."

In a flash of fire Nicholas Flamel appeared, wand in hand and a brilliant blue Phoenix hovering above him.

Before he could say anything Penny leapt to her feet and kissed him.

Harry and Hermione looked away as the two shared a private moment at their reunion.

Nick finally broke away and huffed, "You had better not have pulled me away from the elixir for a kiss. I have," he looked at his watch, "seven minutes and I must be back."

Penny smiled, "It's time to give Australia magic."

He looked at her in confusion, "What?"

Penny pointed at Harry and Hermione, "We take them back to the pulse and they form their bond. The magical pulse from that will be immense."

Nick nodded, "Ptolemy?"

The Phoenix crooned a moment and hovered, his long tail falling among them.

"Everyone grab hold." Penny said.

Nick and Penny took hold immediately, Harry and then Hermione a moment behind them. The four of them vanished in a ball of fire.

}-{

(Present, Early morning after the fall of the Ministry.)

Narcissa was woken, far too early, by a kestrel Patronus with a message that simply said, "It is time." She shook herself to clear the cobwebs and drained the rest of the potion she had on her nightstand and scratched the dark mark on her left fore-arm. The damn thing always itched in the morning.

She rose and dressed quickly, glad she had separated herself from her "husband" a year ago after he forced her to be branded like some common cattle. It was time to be rid of the both of them at last. Fortunately everything she cared about was long removed from the manor and with the Great Father taking her son yesterday her dread of this day was gone.

Narcissa had no real expectation of her son being reformed, he was too much his father's son for that. She was still young enough to bear additional children, ones she could be proud of.

She hurried from her room to her "son's" chambers and found him sitting in a chair watching the sunrise. He had changed clothes and the bed was rumpled so he had at least made it look like he had slept in it. She wasn't sure if Doppelgangers slept, they were magical constructs after all. "Come Draco."

He had looked towards the door when she opened it and now rose without a word.

She straightened his robe and smoothed down his hair, though it had been combed it was not as neat as Draco kept his. She barely restrained herself from hugging this thing or explaining herself to it. Instead she patted its shoulder and said, "Come, it is time."

He nodded and the expression became Draco's serious face.

She went to Lucious's chambers and unsealed the door. He was lying, sprawled on the bed without his shirt on. It was a pity the Mudblood had killed her insane sister yesterday; she had been looking forward to killing them together. With Draco standing in the door she hit Lucius with a CRUCIO! He jerked and flailed around on the bed, when she finally released him he was curled into a fetal ball and quivering.

He struggled to reach his wand but a quick severing hex removed his right arm at the shoulder. She walked closer. He twisted and called out "Draco! Help me!" but Draco did not move.

"He is just here to watch you die."

"No! Master will kill you for this." He hissed out from teeth clenched in pain.

"He's not my Master you fool." She showed him her arm with the brand and removed it at the elbow with a silent severing charm. She paused only long enough to stop the bleeding with a healing spell.

He was scrambling to get his wand with his left hand. She removed his hand at the wrist then quickly removed his legs at the knees.

As he began to bleed-out on the bed she ringed him with Fiendfyre. "Your precious Master will fall, but you will be dead long before then."

The fire leapt onto the bed and began dancing to his screams.

She turned and left the room pausing only to tell the Doppelganger, "Join him on the bed."

Calmly the doppelganger walked into the room and lay into the flames. It made no sound as the fire greedily engulfed it.

Narcissa apparated from the manor. If she was lucky the fire would grow large enough to gain sentience and destroy the entire complex. Only the outer wards would prevent it from spreading uncontrollably to the surrounding lands.

}-{

Ron stood from the soft chair. He had fallen asleep after the talk with the portraits of his friends, which was currently empty. He shrugged and then wondered what time it was, a clock instantly appeared on the wall over the portrait, it said, sunrise in orange letters. He groaned, "Ugh" at the early hour then rubbed his stomach wondering if breakfast was ready this early.

He slid Godric's sword through his belt, careful not to cut it in half with the sharp blade and headed out of the room and down the stairs. He was about half-way down when the Fat Friar floated up beside him.

"Morning young Gryffindor, the Headmistress sent me to find you, they are assembling in the Great Hall, please hurry."

Ron started running down the stairs before he paused and waved at the friendly ghost with a quick, "Thank you sir." The friar was already sinking through the floor but saluted with a ghostly mug of ale.

Ron found the Great Hall surprisingly crowded, when he went up to talk to Harry there were only a handful of people in the castle, now there were nearly two hundred in the Great Hall. Many of them looked ragged and tired, though he suspected there were injured in the Hospital wing.

His mother spotted him and ran over yelling, "RON! THANK MERLIN!" She hugged him and then tussled his hair.

He hated that but before he could say anything she asked, "Who cut your hair?"

"Um, Professor Vector did it yesterday it was getting in my eyes."

"Humph, well she went crooked a bit, let me fix that." She whipped out her wand but he grabbed her hand.

"Leave it mum. It's fine the way it is."

She sputtered for a moment then sighed, "Well if you prefer it that way why didn't you tell me before?"

He shrugged, "Just figured it out, I guess."

Lavender was standing a bit behind his mother, though she was obviously waiting for him to finish with his mother, she was looking at the floor.

Just as his mother took his arm to guide him somewhere he called out, "LAV!" and wrenched his arm free to walk over to the suddenly startled girl.

She looked up and finally met his eyes. She shivered slightly and then stood straighter, "Morning Ron."

He didn't grab her like he wanted to but stood quite close, hopefully that wouldn't spook her but make her feel he wanted to be near her. "Good morning. Sorry, I was thinking in a soft chair and fell asleep. I meant to be in the Infirmary when you got up this morning."

She looked surprised, "Really?"

He nodded, "Sure, have you eaten yet? I'm hungry."

"I was sitting over there but I can't seem to find my appetite."

"Mind if I sit with you?" He kept his back to his mother whom he could feel hovering.

Lavender glanced over his shoulder then back at him and nodded, "Sure." She headed across the hall and he walked with her.

Ron saw most of the Order along with what he assumed was their wives and husbands, many Auror's were clustered near Mad-Eye. The twins were sitting with two immense crates, they were passing out Fanged-Frisbees' and other inventions. He was glad to see they had recovered from the Cruciatus curse so quickly.

Though he had been careful with the sword the entire time he nearly cut his belt in two when he pulled it out and set it on the table. He repaired his belt and sat beside Lavender.

"Why do you have Godric Gryffindors sword?"

"Harry gave it to me for a special project. I needed it lastnight, but I can't find him to give it back yet."

She flinched when he mentioned the events of the previous day and then mumbled to herself.

"Sorry Lavender, I didn't think, I'm sorry." His hand stopped inches from her arm, not sure if she would welcome his touch.

She looked at him and grabbed his hand tightly, "No, I've got to face this and come to terms with it. Cho seems to have already thrown it off though she got beaten the worst for continuing to fight them. Marietta should be in 's but no one thinks it's safe there so Madam Pomfry is keeping her asleep, for now." She paused and took another deep breath, "I will face this like a Gryffindor, life goes on and if you'll have me, my wand will watch your back during the fighting ahead."

"Lav-"

But she cut him off, "I learned my lessons in Diagon, strike to kill not stun. We were taken down by Death-Eaters that were revived after we stunned them."

He nodded, "This is war."

"So can I watch your back? I learned Defense from Harry too you know."

He nodded and finally turned to eat.

She eventually seemed to find her appetite as she began eating hers as well, her shoulder pressed against his.

}-{

The Carrows were unique among the Dark Lord's followers, Alecto and Amycus were twins, who had been lovers since their early teens. They had three children, two boys who were in their late teens, neither had attended Hogwarts, they were certainly magical enough, but their violent behavior would have seen them kicked out. Their beautiful daughter, who was just about to turn 11 fully intended to attend the school. Her darkness was very well controlled.

But the unique part of the twins was their mastery of Necromancy. Voldemort was capable of creating Inferi, but the twins were well beyond his abilities.

"My lord, what is your directive?" Amycus asked while the twins and their sons knelt before him.

"We will attack Hogwarts in three days' time. I would have you add to the undead army as many giants and trolls as you can. Fenrir can show you to their barrows."

"Yes my lord." Alecto said, her face lighting up in glorious expectation of the task to come.

"You may go." He said and they left his presence.

When he was alone in the chamber a red-skinned man shimmered into existence. His ebony horns and nails shone in the torchlight. "Three days is not sufficient to raise much of an undead army." His deep voice rattled from his barrel chest.

"They will raise the most recent corpses, they are the strongest. Skeletons are merely a distraction to our opponents." Voldemort answered the demon in a surprisingly calm voice. "How many can you provide?"

"I have secured agreements from two of my brethren, we shall each be accompanied by our thralls, perhaps a hundred wild-men in total."

"And they will abide by our earlier agreement?"

"Yes, one third of the young women captured will be turned over to us, alive and relatively unharmed. They will of course be killed when our spawn claw their way free of them."