A/N – I think the chapter title tells you what's going to happen here.

Chapter 8 – Lo and Behold It's HIM

Wednesday morning found turned out to be a very busy one for a number of people.

Remus Lupin was up early preparing himself for his monthly transformation. Usually he dreaded these days but this month his "furry little problem" was more of an annoyance than anything else. He very much wanted to get started helping Harry with sorting through the Black Family artifacts. Remus planned to have that particular task finished before the fourteenth so that Harry could decide their fate before anyone else knew. Once the will was publicly read it could be contested. As far as the goblins were concerned, the official will reading was complete since any beneficiary who would have received anything of value was at the first one.

Remus knew that there were many influential purebloods that will strongly object to the disposition of the assets and use their formidable monetary influence to object. Dumbledore as well had his own agenda to keep Harry on a leash. No, it was best if Harry dealt with everything Black before the fourteenth. As accepted head of the Black family it was within his rights to do what he wanted with the artifacts.

Remus sighed; he just had to get past tonight.

/Scene Break/

Albus Dumbledore was still deep in thought about the events of yesterday. Something was not right about the boy. The little brat had always been a complete puzzle to him. He had set him up in an abusive household where he would be isolated and shunned by his family and the society he grew up in. Anyone who took notice in the boy would be scared off or obliviated.

He had even managed to get Sirius Black out of the way, shamed Remus Lupin to stay away and manipulated the Potter will so that it was under lock and key until the boy became an adult. He chuckled. If his plans came to fruition, Harry would never see his seventeenth birthday and the Great Albus Dumbledore will have defeated Lord Voldemort after the "Dark Lord" killed "the boy who lived".

The problem was that the boy wasn't following the program. Yes, he was withdrawn and made a friend of the Weasley boy on schedule, but who thought that anyone with his upbringing could end up caring so much for others.

He should have seen it coming that Halloween with the troll. Saving Granger and becoming friends with her upset the balance he had been hoping to achieve. With each year, Granger had been by his side and they worked well as a team. Not even Weasley could split them up. With this stronger relationship both Harry and Hermione had become too defiant. This would not do. He had already enlisted the youngest Weasleys and Molly. By keeping Potter and Granger apart for the whole summer there would be an opening for Ron and Ginevra to move in.

Sirius was another problem with the plan. His appearance also gave the boy more backbone and confidence. With Sirius out of the way now, the grief would help weaken the boy's resolve over the summer.

He was actually surprised by Harry's note a few days ago. The grief and self-loathing that the boy was prone to must be doing their thing. With Harry not at the will reading and his authorization for Dumbledore to act on his behalf there was a chance to strengthen his plan. Albus suspected that Sirius had left Harry the bulk of the Black Estate, however the title of Lord Black was hereditary and the next in line would b e Draco Malfoy. Dumbledore's plan was to slip a marriage contract to Ginny Weasley into the inheritance and gain even more control.

Yes, this plan was starting to go all pear-shaped over the past year, but fate (and a well-placed stunner) had given Albus a chance to set everything right.

The only loose end was the question of just who was in that field yesterday.

/Scene Break/

Hermione woke up to a brand new day with excitement and trepidation. Tonight the four of them would have their first meeting. She was very nervous about the fourth member of their group. How was he going to react? Would they even meet again after tonight? The prophecy said they had to work together. But how would that be possible with all the history behind them?

She then remembered last night with Harry. He was such a kind and gentle wizard and she could not think of anyone better – even though he was so clueless sometimes. For instance that question he asked yesterday.

/Flashback/

"Hermione can I ask you a question?"

"You just did." Hermione was in a silly mood.

Harry sighed, "OK can I ask you a question after this one?"

"Yes, you may."

"Why me?"

"You're kidding right?"

"No. Why choose me? You are beautiful, intelligent, and independent. Any boy would be lucky and honoured to have you as his girlfriend. And yet you choose the socially inept, maladjusted recluse who attracts so many psychopaths that both his government and The Dark Lord and his herd of degenerates have tried to kill him."

"Harry, you forgot that you are smart, resourceful and gentle with those you love while at the same time you will defend those people with your life. Not to mention your heavenly eyes and Quidditch-sculpted physique that have half the female population of Hogwarts swooning."

"But I'm just so afraid I'll muck this up. You are so important to me and I feel like the luckiest wizard alive!"

"Just keep remembering that Mr. Potter and you won't mess this up. I feel like the luckiest witch alive."

They hugged each other and ended up in a very passionate kiss.

/End Flashback/

Hermione bounced out of bed. She was going to meet Harry and Luna for breakfast in this morning.

Harry had given her and Luna necklaces that Jeeves had made into portkeys like Harry's ring. They would take them from anywhere to the manor and back. She was looking forward to trying it this morning.

She first had to talk to her parents. She got ready for the morning and once she was dressed she went downstairs. Dan and Jean were sitting in the Kitchen with their coffee.

"Good Morning mom and dad." Hermione bounded into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of juice.

"Morning honey," said Dan, "Did you invite Harry over Saturday?"

"Actually dad, Harry has invited us over. He wants to show you his Manor."

Jane asked, "'Mione, why do I know about this manor? Yesterday the idea of it just came into my head."

"Mine too," piped Dan.

"Well the place is protected by very ancient magic. Only those people granted access to it have any knowledge of it. If access is revoked they forget it ever existed and any memories they ever had of being there. This leads me to these," she held out two rings, "These can take you to the manor if you are in danger. You just have to touch them and say 'Take me to Potter Manor' and you will be there. The manor has five guest cottages on the grounds and Harry insisted you have a safe place to stay should you need it. The conflict in the wizarding world is starting to heat up and we are not sure at this moment who we can trust. So if you see any magical people other than me, Harry or anyone who we say is trustworthy approaching, please use the rings. As of right now, there is no one else you know on that trusted list. This includes all the staff from Hogwarts or anyone from the Ministry of Magic for now."

"Hermione, we don't want you to be in danger. Is there anything we can do?"

"No, this is something I am destined to be a part of. I can't escape my destiny. I just want you to be safe."

"Hermione, we are glad that you trusted us enough to tell us the truth. You have grown into a strong, independent and beautiful woman. Harry is very lucky to have your love."

"I know. And what's better is that he knows. He even wondered yesterday why I chose him?"

Jane smiled, "If he keeps that up, he sounds like a keeper."

Dan realized what they were talking about and had the smile that unnerved Hermione yesterday, "Tell Harry we'll see him on Saturday and thank him for thinking of our safety."

"I will Daddy."

/Scene Break/

Harry woke up in his lumpy bed at Privet Drive. "Man I am not going to miss this place." He made a point of getting dressed moved around the hose making sure he was seen. "God the Order must be pretty bad guards if this is fooling them," he smiled to himself.

He thought of the past couple days and realized that his happiness with him and Hermione as a couple was allowing him to see the rest of his life with a sense of optimism that he had never had before. Hermione represented a present and a future worth living for and that was something he had never had in his life.

Hermione and Luna were coming by at 9:30 for breakfast. He traveled to the Manor and finished the last remaining pieces for tonight. First, he added His name to the book. He then sent another patronus messenger to give Him the time to arrive. It was now 8am. Harry had one more thing to do.

Hermione's parents were coming on Saturday. He went to Gringotts to update his will.

/Scene Break/

Ron woke up staring at his ceiling. How had this gone so wrong? He had befriended Harry like his mother and the headmaster had told him. But then Granger got in the way. He followed the revised plans in order to get in between her and Harry by trying to get her to notice him and go out with him instead. The new plan Dumbledore came up with had to work. He was tired of living in poverty.

/Scene Break/

Ginny got up early that morning determined to find out what happened yesterday. She was sure Harry was up to something and Loony was part of it. She was also pretty sure the Loony was spying on them. She had to find out. She muttered, "Nothing and I mean nothing is going to mess up our plans. Potter is mine until he dies."

She headed out determined to keep an eye on Luna today. Once she got in view of the Lovegood house she found a secluded spot and kept watch.

/Scene Break/

Luna woke up like every other day full of happiness at the wonder of being alive. She looked out the window and could not help seeing the red hair of the girl watching her house. She chuckled. Ginny didn't make sure she was hidden from the third floor.

She got ready to leave and checked to make sure she had time. She had about an hour before she had to be at Harry's. She might as well have fun.

Bidding her father goodbye, she confirmed with him that she would be back sometime tomorrow. She grabbed her knapsack and ran out the front door yelling about Nargles and Crumple-horned Snorlacks. Ginny went running after her. Luna kept her going for over almost an hour. She slipped into the woods and yelled, "Found it!" and activated the portkey. Seconds later, a thoroughly exhausted Ginny ran into the woods. How was she going to find Luna in this dense forest?

/Scene Break/

The same morning found a figure asleep in his bed. The light started to shine though the window but was quickly banished by grumbling and a spell to cover the window. As he rolled over a silvery light filled the room and he grudgingly opened his eyes again to see a large stag in front of him. He got the message and the stag shimmered out of existence.

"Interesting," he thought, "I now know where Potter Manor is. Potter has not yet lied to me. Perhaps there is more than just a shred of truth to his story." He rolled over again and tried to go back to sleep. He was definitely not a morning person.

/Scene Break/

Hermione, Harry and Luna were still in stitches after breakfast. Luna's description of her running Ginny ragged for almost an hour. "She's probably still there," she said snickering.

"Luna, you are so …" Hermione burst into fits of laughter again.

"It serves her right. She was such a poor spy to begin with. Following me was her choice."

The three of them finally calmed down and started to prepare for that evening.

"OK," Harry started, "if He's going to come he will be here at 8pm."

"What are we going to do if hedoesn't come?" asked Hermione, "I mean, without him the prophecy is useless. How do we even know that the prophecy was meant for now and not another 100 years from now?"

"He'll be here," stated Harry, "I saw it in his eyes the other night. If he wasn't coming he would not have given the oath."

"I agree with Harry," said Luna, "this is the right time for the prophecy. I fear if it isn't now, there won't be another chance."

Hermione nodded, "You guys are right. I guess I'm just a bit nervous in anticipation of tonight."

Harry put his arm around her, "We're all a bit nervous Hermione. I just keep thinking back to my meeting the other night though. I think it struck a chord with him. It's kind of like when I first read what Sirius sent me and everything in my life started falling into place."

For the next hour they discussed the meeting and came up with an outline of an agenda for how they thought the meeting should flow. It being a nice day, they decided to go for a walk through the woods. They followed a different path than yesterday.

A short time into their walk, Hedwig swopped down and held out her leg to Harry. Harry took the letter and said, "Hello girl. Are the elves treating you properly?"

Hedwig hooted in what seemed to be a contented manner.

Harry stroked her feathers, "Thanks Hedwig. Why don't you go back to the owlry and get your beauty sleep?"

Hedwig playfully cuffed him on the back of the head with her wing and launched into the air again.

Harry looked at the letter, "It's from Neville."

Dear Harry,

Something has happened and I wanted to warn you about it. The day after we returned from Hogwarts, Dumbledore showed up here and had a talk with Gran. Gran initially asked me to stay, but Dumbledore said that the two of them needed to talk in private. They talked for about an hour before he came out of the room with that obnoxious twinkle in his eye and said goodbye to me and left.

I went into the study and Gran asked me to sit down. She said the Headmaster is concerned with the company I'm keeping. He wants me to distance yourself from your, Hermione and Luna. In his opinion the you and Hermione are a bad influence on anyone who gets close to them and it seems that Luna's Dad already refused the Headmaster's similar request last week.

I wanted to interrupt, but Gran asked me to let her finish before I said anything. She continued on that Dumbledore suggested that I get closer to Ron and Ginny since they were being prepared over the summer to "deal with the situation." She told him that she would speak to me about the situation and get me to make the right choice. After talking a bit more about the situation he thanked her and left.

I was livid at that point and started to defend my closest friends. She stopped me in my tracks and told me to listen. She said, "I don't know everything that went on in that school this year, but obviously your involvement with these three students has changed you. I have never been more proud of the man you are becoming. The headmaster is up to something and I'll be damned if I counsel my grandson to stand against the people responsible for helping him realize his potential. The Longbottom and Potter families have stood side by side for nearly a millennium. There is nothing that Albus Dumbledore can say that will change this. If Albus sees your friends as a threat then they must have a very good reason to distrust the Headmaster."

I'm telling you Harry, I had never felt as close to my Gran as I did at that moment. We spend the rest of the morning talking and I told her about Umbridge and the DA.

I hope you are safe. If you can arrange it somehow, Gran would like to meet you but we know that Dumbledore will be trying to cage you up this summer. If you can make it, please send us an owl.

Oh, speaking of Luna, what do you think of me asking her out? Do you think I have a chance?

Your friend,

Neville

P.S. I wasn't sure how I was going to get this letter through to you and then Hedwig appeared at my Window. She is one smart owl.

Harry smiled, put the letter down and looked at the girls. Hermione was grinning. Luna was absolutely beaming. She whispered, "Of course Neville."

The three of them agreed that Harry should wait until after the meeting and write Neville back tomorrow inviting Him and his Gran over for dinner on Saturday with the Grangers. Luna would invite her dad as well. Harry also told them that he would make emergency portkeys for Neville and his Gran and Luna's father.

The three of them decided to relax after lunch and save up as much energy as they could for the meeting that night. Harry had the elves prepare two bedrooms in the Manor for the girls and had them prepare one more in case their guest decided to stay the evening.

At 7:00 they ate a light dinner. The three of them were beginning to feel their nerves. The elves had prepared the study for the evening and then at Harry's request had made themselves scarce.

As the time wound down, they sat in silence since none of them could think of anything to ease the tension. At the top of the hour they heard a soft pop from the entranceway and a dark figure with a billowing cape appeared at the doorway.

"Hello Tom, you're right on time. Won't you please come and join us?"

A/N – Now you know who He is. The next chapter will explain why. I know many of you were convinced it was Snape. I kind of wrote it that way very carefully. Before any of you cry foul, the next chapter will explain. Stay tuned for Chapter 9 – Riddle Me This Riddle Me That