Disclaimer one: Unless you've been under a rock since the 1990's you know that J.K. Rowling (aka she whom will not be named) owns Harry potter and all the little fun, characters that go with him.

Disclaimer two: You will recognize the beginning of this story as the "Harry Potter and The War of Innocence" WARNING (again) The biggest change your going to notice is that shad0w2 followed cannon pairings, and for the sake of some one's sanity (who again in unnamed) we shall not!

Last Disclaimer: If you see anything borrowed from you, and you wish to have the credit, shoot us a review and we'll credit you in the next authors note! A few People we would like to mention quickly for their great stories are: chem. prof, oldcrow, bobmin (aka bob and alyx).

This simple but boring disclaimer is to honor the wishes of one of our readers. It will not however happen again. ~ Fox said with a pout.~

Chapter 4

To thine own self be true.

Harry stepped out from his partition and started toward Hermione's until he saw her shadow behind her partition still moving. For a little less than a second he watched Hermione's undefined shadow and then she poked her head around the side and gave a little squeak when she caught Harry turning his body around so he faced away from her. Both of there faces grew red and Harry chided himself for having thought of the Hermione in an intimate way. Harry reminded himself of their physical age, not knowing Hermione was having similar thoughts after catching Harry glancing at her partition.

At the same moment they both whispered, "Bloody Hormones!" neither hearing the other speak.

A few moments later Hermione finished getting dressed and came out from behind her partition. Both decided to act as if nothing had happened moments before though each noticed a twinkle of some secret knowledge in the others eyes.

On the walk to the great hall they spoke amiably as the two friends often had before. Hermione asked questions about the basilisk incident and Harry asking about Hermione's experience of being petrified. Although Harry's answers in the conversation were far more interesting than Hermione's simplistic and very brief explanation of being petrified. Both did an admirable job of keeping their new secrets out of the conversation and were at the great Hall quicker than expected.

Ron had saved them seats and waived them over, and they took them grateful to be back in the great hall once again amongst friends. The minute they sat they were bombarded by a rapid fire questions and answers exercise by Ron. The feast went well and even the up roar Hagrid caused when returning died down to a low rumble of Happiness. All the houses, though the slitherins would never admit it were elated that the threat of a monster killing machine was through and all seemed to return to the norm.

Harry and Hermione went with the flow of the next few hours saying their good nights and going to bed with many congratulatory shakes and smiles on the way to their respective dorms.

Harry slept a couple of hours then was awakened by a nightmare. This happened so often that out of habit more than anything else he grabbed a book from his trunk and made his way to the common room's fire place to read. But unlike most nights he stared at the fire with his thoughts streaming, the book in his lap forgotten.

Harry was contemplating the events that had transpired in order for him to be in the situation he was in. The part of him that was still a wide eyed eleven year old seeing Diagon Alley for the first time wanted him to end the war before it started. And ending Voldemorts reign of terror before it began hence saving everyone he loved in the process. But the part of him that was a 59 year old grizzled war veteran saw things in a different light. That part of him knew there was no way to defeat Voldemort until he gained a body. This older Harry also knew that without the threat of Voldemort there would be no motivation for the ministry to improve relations with other races and without the improved relations there would eventually be a war among the races. The way things were now it was inevitable. Voldemort had used the current racial tension to get several races to turn against the Light wizards during the second war.

Harry frowned starring into the fire as he remembered a quote from a muggle TV show that an American friend had told him about during the war. "Some must be fall, if all are to be saved."

Neither the young nor older side of Harry liked the prospect of the path this would lead him down. And Harry had to ask himself a question he could not answer a question that had been bothering him since he formulated the plan to come back in time. "Do I have the right to play God with peoples lives?"

Harry slouched back in the chair no nearer to an answer now then when it had first occurred to him. His musings were brought up short by a faint pop at his side. Harry tensed and nearly cast a shield wandlessly before his mind caught up to his reflexes and reminded him of where and when he was. Harry turned his head and saw Dobby standing there smiling proudly.

Harry returned the smile and said, "Hello Dobby I take it you got the letters delivered?"

"Yes Mister Harry Potter sir, but the second one was a little difficult sir." Dobby said nodding his head.

"I expected as much." Harry then asked, "Did Griphook have a message for me?"

Dobby nodded vigorously his bat like ears flopping a bit. "Mr. Griphook said he would be having everything in order in a few days Mr. Harry Potter sir."

A sly smile that that even the most cunning Slytherin would have envied slid across Harry's face and with a twinkle in his eye Harry said, "Excellent!"

Harry's face took on a more serious look as he regarded Dobby for a moment. "I suppose its time I let you know what's going on to better help you keep my secret" Harry began.

Dobby quickly interjected with, "That not be being necessary Harry Potter Sir, House elves are not needing to know the why of wizards."

Harry smiled and spoke gently, "Things change Dobby and some secrets are hard to keep without knowing the why." And before Dobby could interject again Harry said, "And besides family share secrets."

"Now dobby please no more interruptions as I tell you this!" Harry said in a business like tone.

Dobby nodded silently and sat down in front of the chair facing Harry. As he did Harry wandlessly proximity charm that was just weak enough to not trigger the Hogwarts wards. He thought to himself that should be enough to warn him if anyone came wandering down the stairs but was fairly certain that wouldn't be something he had to worry about at this late hour.

He then turned to Dobby and asked, "Do House Elves have a way to know if some one is telling them the truth or not? Dobby nodded affirmatively in response remembering to not interrupt.

"Is there any way fool that magic?" Harry asked and got a silent negative response to this question. Harry sighed disgustedly at the idiocy of the Ministry Of Magic for having never hired elves to be truth seekers. For here was a full proof non potion required way of smoking out the truth and the Ministry and the wizarding world in general dismissed it because they thought of House Elves as nothing more than slaves.

Harry then looked Dobby in the eye and began his tale, really only hitting the high points. He then when on to tell Dobby his tentative plan for shaping the future.

Several emotions fell across Dobby's face as he told his tale. And about mid-way through Dobby would every so often twitch and then dart his eyes to the stairs. Harry having watched his twitching for as long as he could let out an exasperated sigh and said, "What is it Dobby?"

"Harry Potter Sir's ms. Grangie is listening on the stairs" Dobby squeaked softly.

The color drained from his face and he squeezed his eyes shut and berated himself for ignoring all of Dobby's warning signs and couldn't help but think, "Old Mad Eye would have a field day with this. I survive 40 years of war just to let a 13 year old sneak up on me!"

~~~A few moments earlier~~~

Hermione was awakened by something, while she wasn't sure what she knew she hadn't had a nightmare. While one could never call the dream she was having pleasant she had awakened before it had taken a turn for the worse. She sat on her bed, her knees touching her chest and her chin on her knees, and tried to place the nagging sensation that she was needed somewhere out of her mind. It was a small ghost of a voice telling her this but she couldn't make out the actual words. So she just sat for a moment with her eyes shut listening to her dorm room and the castle surrounding it. Finally she gave up realizing she wasn't going to get back to sleep. She got out of bed and put on her muggle house robe on pocketing her wand as she strode over to her trunk to find a good book. Hermione decided on a roll of parchment and her potions book instead, thinking to herself that she may have woken up due to the knowledge that she was behind in her studies. If only she had a chance to catch up on all her studies, oh well she thought, she knew Professor Snape would be hardest on her.

As Hermione made her way down to the common room she reminded herself to ask Harry about his notes for class they would be better than Ron's if her memories served her right. She was just about to ask herself again how she could have ended up in her 13 year old self when she heard what she thought was some one talking. It was very muffled and she immediately froze on the stair. After a moment during which she withdrew her wand, as if on auto pilot, she cast a specialized spy spell on her self. It was a combination of the dissolutionist charm, a silencing spell and a muffle magic charm. This combination spell could be done silently and was of her own creation. The muffle magic charm masked your magical aura making it harder to be detected by wards, charms, and some one's natural ability to sense them.

Hermione crept down two steps when a thought entered her mind about how paranoid this looked. She in her night clothes clutching parchments and books with one hand and her wand with the other, creeping into the Gryffindor common room under a complicated spying spell just because she thought some one else was in the room.

"Really! she told herself, "You'd think I was back in the war!"

Hermione crept down a few more stairs until she was finally able to make out that it was Harry speaking but she could still not understand what was being said. She crept closer until she felt a tendril of Harry's magic, surprised, she thought to herself "How does he even know how to cast that charm, what's going on?"

Hermione knew that with the spying spell on her she could get a little closer before setting of the proximity spell. So she did until she could make out what he was saying. She still could not see into the common Room but she dare not move any closer. Hermione's grew wide as she listened to Harry's tale. As she listened it became clear that she was not the only one to travel back in time to her younger body. It seemed to her that from what Harry was saying he was from the future as well.

That's it! , Hermione thought to herself that's why I'm back here , "Harry's spell must have affected me in some way when he touched my hand in the infirmary but the question is how s that possible and an even better question is why?"

She listened for a while longer till she heard Harry say impatiently, "What is it Dobby?"

When she heard the house elf respond she moved into the common room she stopped at the bottom of the stairs watching Harry rise from the chair in front of the fire and turn to face her.

Harry opened his mouth to speak but Hermione raised a hand to stop him.

"Is it true?" she asked. She already new it was but needed to hear it from Harry directly.

A surprised look flashed across Harry's face, this was not the reaction he expected, and she seemed so calm. Looking into her eyes he said, "Yes I'm afraid it is, it was the only way. How much have you heard?"

Hermione's expression was unreadable as she said, "First I need another question answered. How did you bring me back with you?"

Harry's expression could only be described as utter puzzlement. "What are you talking about?"

For a moment Hermione frowned over that question then said, "I had hopped you could explain how I ended up in our second year when the last thing I can remember is" , Hermione closed her eyes and shudder and when she opened them again there was a tear rolling down her cheek , " Dying."

Harry gasped, the shock he was feeling written all over his features. He reached out for the chair beside him to steady himself. Looking across the room at Hermione he could barley believe what he'd heard.

A feeling of loss and joy rushed over Hermione and she began to faint. Harry's rushed to her side catching inches from the floor. He wrapped her in his arms and they both began to weep softly into each others shoulders.

Harry was crying for he had known he would get a second chance with Hermione but had never anticipated it so soon and so complete.

Hermione on the other hand was weeping for so many reasons she could not put a finger to just one. Shock and dismay over a lost child, joy and elation over a reunited love thought lost and the knowledge they were together again in a time and situation in which they could truly change they're destiny's . It was dizzying for her but here was Harry, her Harry holding her as she had wished he would for what seemed like a lifetime.

They were together again and nothing would tear them apart not if she had anything to say about it.

After a few moments they began to calm and pulled back so they could look into each others eyes. "It's so good to hold you again I don't have the words for the joy in my heart!" tenderly caressing Hermione's cheek.

"When I came up with this crazy plan I never dreamed I'd be holding like this so soon. I didn't even know something like this was possible."

A gently playful smile played across Hermione's face and she reached to brush away a tear from Harry's cheek as she said, "I learned long ago when your with Harry Potter anything is possible."

A tug on Harry's sleeve brought the two of them out of their moment. Harry turned to see an anxious Dobby wringing his hands.

"Harry Potter sir is not upset that his secret was revealed to hi miss Grangie? Dobby is sorry but Harry Potter Sir told Dobby not to be interrupting him"

Harry chuckled, "No Dobby this is a very happy moment!"

Out of the corner of his eye he caught a frown from Hermione. "Harry Potter Sir? What exactly does that mean is he your House Elf?" Hermione asked tersely.

Harry quickly turned back to Hermione, "I'm paying him! Aren't I Dobby?"

Dobby nodded vigorously, "Yes Miss Grangie, Harry Potter sir is paying Dobby much! Almost too much Dobby even gets holidays although Dobby not sure what that be meanin."

At this Harry quirked an eye brow and said, "Do you want another raise Dobby?"

Dobby looked almost frightened and hurriedly said, "No Harry Potter Sir! Dobby no complain Dobby is a very happy House Elf!"

Hermione giggled, "I see everything seems to be in order between you, but what about that pillow case and one overly big sock he's wearing surely you can do better than that."

"Of course we can do better than that, I just wanted to give him time to get used to the idea of being paid before I requested he found himself a real uniform." Harry said reassuringly.

He reached out and patted Hermione's hand and said, "Baby steps love."

Hermione bushed and nodded remembering the abysmal failure that was S.P.E.W.

Laughter in her eyes she said, "You will help me come up with a better acronym this time won't you?"

Harry nodded chuckling then he said taking on a formal tone, "Back to the business at hand."

He stood and helped Hermione stand then started to lead her to a loveseat then realizing how it would look he changed direction and headed for a set of comfortable chairs facing the stair cases this time.

Hermione Blushed when realization dawned on her as to the change in seating choices.

"I'm going to ask you the same thing I did Dobby please save your questions to the end of my story, now where was I." Harry said seriously.

The three of them talked until they began to here stirring coming from the stair cases that led to the Gryffindor boys and girls dorms.

Borrowing parchment and a quill from Hermione Harry quickly wrote a note to Madam Malkins, handed it Dobby with orders to get a proper uniform for someone of his size and new stature.

Dobby nodded and popped away, while Harry and Hermione rose to go to there respective dorms to prepare for the day.

At the bottom of the stairs still holding hands Harry stopped and they embraced. Harry ended the hug with a light kiss on Hermione's cheek and then quickly asked due to a bought of curious embarrassment, "Is this summer to soon to start courting you or for appearances should we wait longer."

Hermione worried her lower lip for a moment then said, "Ask me on your birthday that shouldn't raise too many eyebrows!"

Harry nodded squeezed her hand and said," See you in ten minutes."

Hermione smiled mischievously and said, "Make it thirty!" And took off up the stairs.

Harry watched her go for a moment then started up his own stairs shaking his head and chuckling. Nothing in his life had ever been simple but this was one time he was glad that for whatever reason fate decided to make things more interesting.

AN: We both thank you for all the reviews good and bad and ugly. We like all reviews so keep them coming. Life got in the way of this chapter but we will do our best to beat it off with a stick next time. In regard to Fawkes, you have to remember he's supposed to be Dumbledore's familiar which means he can only come to Harry at times when Dumbledore won't be suspicious. A note on Dumbledore he is not evil in this fic, just a well intentioned if manipulative old man trying to do what he thinks is right.