Beta's: 5/8/2015

Me, myself, and I. Pretty sure we still managed to get it wrong…

Chapter 18, September 1st

Her daughter lay completely naked on her side in her bed. Her short hair tousled about her pillow with only a thin sheet covering her from the waist down. Ellen tried her best to see her as more than her sixteen year old baby girl, and failed. She stood in the frame of her bedroom door just watching her sleep as she had done a few times in the past for a long time. For the last three months this room had been heartbreakingly empty, but even with her there now, something was drastically different. She even looked different and not just because she had cut her hair. Ellen was under no delusions that Hermione had cut her hair as a message to her and Jake. They never let her get more than a trim or slight thinning before. The message was crystal clear the second they saw her in the kitchen when they came home from their practice yesterday. Hermione was her own woman now and their opinions were just that. Ellen sighed quietly to herself as she slowly closed the door to Hermione's bedroom. Her young man was thankfully not in there when she checked. Ellen was just not ready for that scene yet.

The question of where he happened to be was answered as she walked into the kitchen. Harry Potter sat on their chesterfield drinking tea from a tea service she didn't recognize reading from a very strange book. She watched for a while as he would mumble to himself taking notes on the tablet next to the book while occasionally sipping from his tea.

"Earl Grey, no sweet, splash of milk yes?" His voice shocked her out of her assessments and thoughts.

She gathered herself quickly from her surprise at him noticing her watching him. "I didn't realize you knew I was here. Tea would be lovely Harry."

Harry nodded while fixing her cup apparently unbothered in the slightest with her actions. Once she sat on the settee and accepted her tea she fixed the young man before her in her gaze. "What are you doing?"

Harry put his tea cup down to fix himself another one. "Atonement I guess you could call it. I'm not actually sure I can get it to work without Hermione's help but I'm trying to make arrangements for her to be able to come here on weekends. I've taken more than my share of her time from you. Least I can do is try to help you get some of it back. Pretty sure it's going to be against the rules to do this but it wouldn't be the first set of rules I've broken."

Ellen raised an eyebrow at his comment. "That is very considerate of you. I for one would welcome the chance to see Hermione more regularly this year. It has always been hard on us to only receive post and one or two holiday visits." Ellen took a long sip of the tea and found it perfect, and couldn't help but slightly hate the boy for it. He had no right to be so considerate. Ellen sighed deeply. "I'm trying Harry. I really am."

Harry nodded to her. His downcast expression was poorly hidden behind a neutral mask. "I know and I appreciate it. Hermione said you would. She never wanted to be estranged from you or Mr. Granger. I can't really do much to help the situation but I am trying as well."

Ellen nodded. "Did Hermione ever tell you how Jake and I got married?" Harry shook his head. She sighed looking down into the dark liquid of her tea losing herself in old memories. "I was sixteen myself at the time. My mother did not approve of Jake but I was so besotted with him. We had been seeing each other romantically for a couple of years when we decided to advance our relationship to a more intimate level. So in love with each other neither of us gave much thought to the consequences or how it would affect our future."

Ellen took a sip of her tea. "Mother was so furious when I told her I was pregnant. She forbade me from ever seeing Jake again and informed me that I would be giving the child up for adoption as soon as it was delivered. By this time Father had already gone looking for Jake with a few of my brothers and uncles. I sat in my parent's sitting room full of shame, wracked with guilt, scared of my future and worried my father would find Jake, who didn't even know yet. My Jake however proved to be difficult to catch. When my father confronted him at his parents' house he slipped out the back, gotten into his auto and drove to my house before the argument between his parents and my father had become very heated. I was in my room crying when his face appeared in my window."

Ellen smiled at the memory of his concerned face and the reunion. "He asked me to marry him right there, half hanging out of my bedroom window. He'd saved up some money from odd jobs and such and asked me to run with him. He had a widowed grandmother in Scotland he said would take us in until we could figure out what we were going to do. I remember how fast I agreed to his plan. Anything to be with Jake. And so, we eloped that night. It was over a decade before either of us tried to reconnect with our parents in any fashion. A few days later when Jake turned sixteen he enrolled in the Royal Navy with his Grandmother's permission. With help from our friends and his grandmother we managed afford a very small flat in Blackpool for me to live while Jake settled into service. I suffered a miscarriage six months later while Jake was at sea."

"I am very sorry to hear that Ms. Granger." Harry's sympathetic voice reached out to her. Ellen nodded letting him know she heard him.

"It's an old wound. The pain never really goes away, but you learn to live with it. I didn't find out until much later but it seems it was something in my family that happened sometimes. The doctors told me I afterward I would never be able to conceive again. Jake… he took it well. Devastated we'd lost the baby but whatever he was going through he pushed aside to help me get through it. His Officer was very understanding and did his best to keep Jake close to home as much as he could that first year and I had a lot of support from our friends and Hermione, Jake's Grandmother. Jake served for four years before he resigned. Both of us had long ago decided to attend University to get our medical degrees. We worked hard, graduated with honors and began our careers dreaming of the day we could open our own practice. It was just after the new year in 79' when a miracle happened. I was pregnant."

Ellen couldn't help but chuckle remembering Jake's antics. "I swear that man treated me as if I was made of glass during the entire pregnancy. No complications and Hermione was born alive, well, and completely healthy the following September. You see Harry, Hermione is not just our daughter but the greatest gift we have ever received. I wasn't supposed to be able to have any more children and I haven't been able to get pregnant since. No doctor has been able to explain how we were able to conceive. You cannot imagine the tests I had to go through all during my pregnancy or the ones taken after."

"I understand Hermione's commitment to you having gone through it myself in my own way. I don't like it, and I hate to say it but I understand my Mother a lot more than I thought I ever would. Jake understands but he can't accept it yet. Hermione is our little miracle child. To be honest, we were not really surprised to learn she was magical when she turned eleven. But from that day forward we have had to deal with her being in a world outside of our understanding. Among my sisters and brothers or Jake's we can't say anything, we can't boast of her accomplishments from your world. When they ask, we have to make things up or just vaguely say she is well. We lose her for nine months a year to that school and as she has gotten older more and more of the holidays. Last year she left us during Yule vacation to go to you Harry, and she didn't even come home for Spring break. The year before that, she didn't even bother coming home for either. And this last summer she has been traipsing with you all over the world getting hurt and doing only you know what. So Harry, I am trying to be understanding. I am trying very hard to be accepting. But Lord help me I am struggling. I want you know Harry, I agree with what Jake said to you last night. He could have said it differently but I can't deny I feel the same way."

Harry busied himself with fixing them both another cup of tea. "I can only imagine how hard the last three months have been for you and Mr. Granger. Honestly, I can give you loads of rationale for our running. I can describe in vivid detail all the things we were caught up in before it came to this but really, it's only going to make you hate me more, if that's even possible. Thank you for trying Ms. Granger, it's far more than I feel I deserve. Even if it's only for Hermione's sake you are trying, I appreciate it."

They sat in silence for some time sipping from their tea and not looking at each other. In the end Ellen decided to broach a topic that had been on her mind for some time now. "The way Hermione's letters read you two were well off. Harry, why come back at all? Why now?"

Harry sat looking down at his shoes and shrugged one shoulder. "Honestly, mostly for you and Mr. Granger. My parents were pretty well off when they died and we've been living off that for the most part. Yeah, we could have stayed gone for a long time if we wanted to. Years maybe if we managed it right. But, you are here and I know very well how much the run was hurting Hermione. She'd never say it and she was really good about keeping it hidden but I know how much it was hurting her. The other reasons… well, they're a lot less straightforward."

"Something to do with this wizarding war I take it."

Harry nodded. "Voldemort has to be stopped sooner or later. When the Prophecy was made Voldemort was on a rise to power that nothing was going to stop. People were dying in spades all over the country. His people were very close to taking the Ministry and the common witch and wizard was terrified of crossing them. Fear was rampant and the resistance was little more than a handful of like minded holdouts who had resigned themselves to death for the most part. There were only two people the Prophecy could have been meant for and he had just enough of it to figure out whom. He targeted my family first and killed my parents. He hit me here," Harry raised his head and pointed to the scar on his forehead. "With what is known as the Killing curse. There is no defense to it. My Mother did something and sacrificed herself to fuel an old bit of magic that somehow forced the spell to rebound and kill Voldemort instead. I was one when this happened."

Harry took a long drink of his tea. "He'd done something himself to safeguard himself from death. Immortality was his greatest achievement and that day it was put to the test. It worked and his spirit stayed here in the world while his body was broken. End of fourth year he kidnapped me and used my blood to bring himself back to a body. Would have killed me then but for a freak bit of unknown magic that saved me. He's more focused on killing me now than ever while at the same time once again rising to power and trying to take over the Ministry and cowing the populous into inaction."

"I can't win against him. Even if we went back into Magnadane and lived there for the next hundred years, I'll never be able to beat him because we don't know how he became immortal. Because the Prophecy has been outed and now everyone knows it existed no one will ever try. A month ago while at Arx Tutela we found a recent Daily Prophet. They're calling me the 'Chosen One' now. It all plays right into Voldemort's hands because now everyone is under the belief that only I can defeat him so no one will even try. Dumbledore is probably the strongest wizard on our side but since the prophecy he's never seriously tried to take on Voldemort. He's been our side's greatest champion against him in both wars but when you look at the histories you see a subtle change right before Voldemort killed my Parents but right after the time the Prophecy was made. It doesn't matter how good I get, I can't kill that which won't die. The way I figure it Dumbledore has a plan; he might even know how Voldemort attained his Immortality. If so we need to go to Hogwarts to find out."

"Hermione and I had a hard look at the Prophecy since it doesn't matter how much I don't believe in it, everyone else does. So we broke it down and looked over every possible outcome that it presented figuring the odds. There is a one in three chance Voldemort will win outright. According to the Prophecy if I can't beat him no one will ever be able to. Because people believe in it, it gives it power so instead of being a hint to the future it's almost writing it for us. So if I can't beat him, no one will ever challenge him again and he will rule undisputed for all time. There is a one in three chance I will win and defeat him, which is of course the preferable outcome. Then the last part, a one in three both of us will be killed in the final confrontation. If you look at this from Dumbledore's perspective, two out of three to see the end of Voldemort and peace return to our world. More than enough reason to do what he's done to me over the years."

"The way the Prophecy reads the most likely outcome is we are going to end up killing each other. There's this one line, 'And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ...' It's had us both up nights and that's the truth. That's the line that makes us uncertain. In one, he wins, I die, in another I win he dies. Finally either could mean both of us have to kill each other which has had us thinking we do something that maybe backlashes and takes us both out. I don't know how, maybe something my mother did is still lingering around or something. Our wands did this freaky connecting thing the first time we fought. Maybe that's what kills us. The horrible part of this is before this can even happen we have to figure out how he attained immortality, and shut that down."

"I take it by the fact you are here and going back that you found your reason to fight."

Harry nodded solemnly. "When we ran I thought I was doing it to keep us safe from you, Dumbledore and Voldemort. It wasn't until we were in Virginia I started to see things differently. At Arlington things became so much clearer but the feeling wasn't something I could put into words until about halfway through our stay in Magnadane. I wasn't running to be free; I was running because I was scared to be free."

"When you are chained by a situation like mine the load is heavy and can easily bring you to your knees. When you are running from that same situation, the load isn't any lighter; it just takes you longer to realize it's still there. It will crush you just the same. It will just take longer to do it. To be truly free of Dumbledore, Voldemort, everything, to be truly free, I was going to have to settle this. That meant I had to accept my role in this war. If I really wanted my Freedom, I was going to have to fight for it. I realized that would mean I would have to work with Dumbledore at some point. We are making the choice to work with him, not for him because if there is even the slightest possibility we can survive this war, we are going to grab for it. Hermione has you here; we both have friends who will need us this year. Our lives have always been in the isles. If we allowed you, Dumbledore or Voldemort to drive us from our home then our freedom is an illusion because we allowed you to dictate the terms of how our lives are lived. To be truly free, a person stands or falls by their own choices and merits, not the choices of others. This is my life, my home, my freedom at stake. Whether I die in this war is immaterial. Only how I live will matter. I chose to live free. If need be, I will die that way."

After Harry finished talking Ms. Granger left him alone for the rest of the morning until it was time to make for Kings Cross. Hermione woke up early and joined him at his research and together they added their own alarm ward to let them know if anyone breached the wards at her parents' house. The rest of the morning she spent with her parents answering questions and talking. Harry stayed clear letting them have their privacy and making sure they had all their things ready for the trip. He figured they would have to find a way to Diagon Alley at some point but he wasn't too worried about it. It was highly unlikely any of the teachers would give them something they didn't already know so there was plenty of time to work on booklists.

The trip to Kings Cross was awkwardly silent. With only the saddlebags to worry about Harry once again gave them some space to say their goodbyes until the weekend when Hermione promised to visit. All too soon side by side they walked through the portal and onto the platform of 9 ¾.

Harry stood looking around taking in the familiar scene of his peers rushing about, saying their goodbyes till holidays to their families, and the reunions with old friends. "This is weird."

"I know. I went through it yesterday when we got to Mum and Dads."

Still working as one they started walking toward the train. "I suppose we should get a compartment."

Hermione sighed still trying to get used to the idea of going back to school. "Yes I suppose. I wonder who is going to be our Defense Teacher this year…"

"Knowing Dumbledore, it's going to be Snape. Look at the edges of the Platform. Every able bodied wand in the Ministry is over there keeping watch. I doubt he could have gotten say, Tonks or Kingsley to do it now. He's always struggled with keeping someone in the position. I bet it would be loads easier to get a Potion Professor than a Defense one. Especially since we've had one death, one mind wiped, one sacked for lycanthropy, and one imprisoned for a year in a trunk. The only reason we had one last year was Fudge pushed that 'Educational Decree' through and she got attacked by a herd of Centaurs and had to be rescued by Dumbledore in the end. You ever wonder what happened to the ones before we started school? Madam Pomfrey said the curse on the job went back as far as 75' or something."

Hermione led the way down the hall looking for a spare and free compartment. "I looked it up once. If you think what happened to our last five was bad, you should have read what I did on the stretch of them between 82' and 89'. It was brutal. I think the last one is still in St. Mungo's Mental Ward in a straitjacket gibbering like an idiot."

"Here's one. It's amazing Dumbledore could hold onto his job with all that going on." Harry stated as he opened the door to the empty compartment. "It's pretty scary to think about really. It's no wonder Voldemort gets away with so much. Look on the bright side though love, if Snape does get the job we'll be shot of him by the end of the year. Maybe one of Luna's creatures will bite his ear off or something. I'd love to see him explain to Voldemort how he got his ear bit off by a Nargle."

Hermione hummed while closing the drapes over the compartment window. She turned around after Harry had closed the door and pushed him into one of the seats.

"You Mr. Potter are going to fulfill one of my naughty's. I always wanted to have my way with you on the train…"

As she straddled his lap and right before she fused her mouth to his she heard him groan. "By all that is good and decent in this world please do so…"

XxXDaRXxX

"There they are. I told you he'd be here."

Moody kept his normal eye on the Potter and Granger while letting his magical eye spin around looking for threats. At each of his sides stood the Aurors Tonks and Jones. Both women turned when he spoke to look through the crowd at the two kids they had been so concerned about all summer.

"Blimey! Harry looks good. Hermione better be as good as you said Mad-Eye, she's going to have her hands full with the witches at Hogwarts this year." Tonks commented.

"Harry's going to have problems too. I don't know if they dressed that way on purpose but there is no doubt that Hermione is growing into an attractive young woman."

He barely caught Tonks giving Jones a knowing wink and the answering blush before Alastor chucked evilly at their comments. "Albus'll have his handful with those two back. When you get to Hogwarts Tonks make sure Poppy's got plenty of supplies on hand. I don't think she needs to worry about Potter staying with her this year but I can guarantee he's going to be responsible for half her beds being full. I've no doubt Granger will fill the others."

"You are taking way too much enjoyment out of this Mad-Eye." Jones wryly commented.

His amusement grew from a chuckle to an outright laugh. "O, Aye. I can't wait for the reports from Tonk's. I don't care what Albus thinks, I got my money on Voldemort marking the Death Eater's kids this year. His ranks are not what they once were in the last war. He'll need the resources. Despite his year head start he's not gained as much ground as he could have now that people believe he's back. That prank Potter kicked it all off with set people on their ears. We've had four attacks in muggle areas stopped because instead of running in fear your common wizard through his lot in. Granted none of these attacks actually had Voldemort in them, but still, it's more than we expected. I don't know how long it's going to last but people have hope, and that is something we didn't have the last round. That is all thanks to those two kids. "

"Not to mention the failed attack on Amelia and her promotion to Minister." Tonks chimed in.

"Exactly! By Merlin does it feel good to have a competent Minister for once in my lifetime. Voldemort still got some werewolves, giants and Dementor's on his side and a good number of fighters but it's not as bleak as it could be. WE got Potter and Granger! I like our odds better. You don't believe me; pick a fight with those two. Tell me when you do. I want pictures."

"They can't be as good as you claim they are Moody." Jones scoffed. She liked the kids, for what little she knew of them, but Moody was just taking things too far.

"You don't think so eh? Look at them. Their eyes haven't stopped moving since they came onto the platform. Ten coins say they have spotted every Auror stationed here, picked out every possible threat and noted the distance to themselves. See how they move? Potter's got that bag of his over his shoulder, they came light. No weighty trunks to slow them down, no big packs to make fast movement awkward. Pay attention to how they walk. It's smooth, easy and balanced. Look there, Granger's top heavy but keeps her weight even on the balls of her feet. Potter's got that bag on his shoulder but notice how it's sitting so he only has to shift his weight slightly to drop it. Look! You can barely see where their wands are stowed but both have them in quick draw range. Vigilant those two are."

Moody's eye caught the fact many in the crowd had taken note of Potter and Granger as well. Some covertly watched while others openly stared. Reactions were mixed but he was pleased overall with what he saw. People, he knew, subconsciously reacted no differently than any animal on the planet when you broke it down to brass tax. Everyone was fundamentally either a predator, or prey. A person with a weathered eye could easily tell who was which by their reactions. There were many in the crowd who took note of the kids and very slightly shifted their body weight away. A subtle response to the subconscious recognition of two people a lot higher up on the food chain than they themselves were.

Others, and there was only a few of these, looked hungrily at them. Mad-Eye took note of these comparing the faces to profiles of suspected Death Eaters and found most matched up. With his magical eye he caught Granger closing the window draping of the compartment they had chosen.

"I was really skeptical when Albus started preaching about how important Harry was last year. At the time I couldn't understand what Albus was playing at with the boy's role in this war, Prophecy or no. But I've had my chance to test the kids and let me tell you something Jones, anytime you want to find out how good those two are be my guest. I'll bring you something to read while you recover in hospital."

Moody turned to look at Tonks. "Better get into position Tonks. You're still riding the train as a Seventh Year Hufflepuff yeah?"

Tonks nodded changing her features to match her assigned disguise. She shed her Auror Robe handing it to Hestia revealing the fact she was already dressed in the appropriate attire. "Yup. Gives me an excuse to wear this thing outside of my apartment for the first time since I graduated."

XxXDaRXxX

He looked around the crowded station but couldn't see them anymore. "I'm telling you Susan I saw them just over here."

Susan Bones looked around but didn't see them either. Neville had come running to get her saying that Harry and Hermione were here but when they got to where he saw them they were gone. "I'm not saying you didn't Neville but there not here now. Do you think they got a compartment?"

Neville nodded. "I bet they did. Harry's never been fond of crowds. Come on, if their on the train we can find them." The train had become crowded as students went down and back looking for friends or trying to find free space. They searched the entire train but couldn't find them anywhere in any of the open compartments until they arrived at one almost to the back. The curtains were closed but the door was unlocked. Neither of the teens was prepared for what they heard or saw as they walked in.

The sound of a young woman panting and a suckling sound reached his ear before the sight of what was before him registered. A young woman was straddling someone. She was completely bare to the world from her waist up and Neville could just see top of her bum from her loosened pants. Someone had their head buried in her chest where she was holding him with both hands. The person she was straddling was holding her bare back steady while she slightly bucked against him. There was so much skin…

At the sound of the door opening both occupants suddenly realized they were no longer alone earning an 'Eep!' from the girl. She threw herself into the man's chest fisting his shirt and looking like she was trying to burrow into him. The action pushed them both prone on the long seats.

"Bloody Hell Harry, you didn't lock the door?" came a very familiar muffled voice. "Of all the stupid… Please tell me it's not Draco at least?"

A familiar face and one he had been looking for came up from her shoulder while his arms tried to cover as much of her body as they could. "… I didn't know you were going to attack me the second we got in here Hermione. Not that I am complaining mind you…"

Suddenly a hand was blocking his vision. Without realizing it his own hand came up to remove the obstruction. "Move that hand any higher Longbottom and you will not like where my hand goes next." Susan warned him.

Realization hit him suddenly and he shut his eyes tightly while dropping his hand. It didn't do any good to block the images he had already seen as they seemed to be burned into his retinas. So much skin…

"Hey guys, can you give us a moment to get decent?"

He heard Susan reply while he felt her firmly pull him out of the compartment. "Of course Harry."

Once back in the safety of the hallway Neville stood looking anywhere but at the compartment. Both of them could hear the scramble from inside as they got dressed or fixed their clothes. He could feel the burning blush all over his face and knew from a side glance at Susan she too was embarrassed by what they had witnessed.

"Well. We found them." Neville mumbled to Susan.

"I could have done without finding them like that to be Honest. And do not get any ideas Neville. We have not been dating nearly long enough." Susan stated firmly.

Neville couldn't help the smile that crossed his face as he imagined Susan and him doing something like that. The only thing that rang in his head until the glass was tapped letting them know the two inside were decent was that she said nearly long enough. That meant she would do things like that with him in time. The opening of the compartment door broke him from the imagery and brought out of his imagination.

Both teens walked in, this time to two fully clothed friends. Hermione was sitting on the seat with her arms crossed over her rumpled shirt while glaring at Harry. All four teens were red faced.

Harry broke the silence first. "So… Hi!"

Laughter broke the tension and even Hermione chuckled while shaking her head at Harry's attempt to break the ice. "It's good to see you guys again, how was your summer?"

Susan raised an eyebrow looking knowing at Harry. "I lot less interesting than yours apparently. We," Susan indicated both herself and Neville, "did not go on the run, send a countrywide prank, and whatever else only you know what."

Neville chuckled before he finally pushed the last few moments out of his mind. "That's not to say we have not had our own adventures though. Susan got attacked a month ago."

The joking mood died while Harry and Hermione turned to look at Susan in concern. She shrugged her shoulder in response. "Auntie and I got lucky. You Know Who himself came for her. We still don't know what happened but just before they breached the wards, they left unexpectedly. It was almost twenty minutes later before anyone showed up to check on us. Auntie took me to stay at Neville's for the rest of the summer.

"Bloody Hell that's a close one. Ranks right up there with me getting out of the Graveyard. You guys okay though yeah?" Harry asked.

Susan nodded with a slight smile. "Auntie got elected Minister a few weeks ago. I think our escape had a lot to do with it. She thinks that was why she was targeted in the first place. You Know Who knew she would never join him, so wanted her killed to stop her from getting the Minister's seat. I haven't seen her much since then though."

Neville nodded along with Susan's points. "Grans been real busy too. Minister Bones has been rallying people to the Ministry like a Valkyrie. Grans has been pulling in her share of the 'Old Dames' to help out in the Wizengamot to get measures through. Speaking of Gran and Minister Bones, have you talked to anyone since you got back?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, we only got back yesterday and we've been at my Parents house. They don't even take the Prophet since I canceled our subscription last year."

Neville blinked. "Then you don't know…"

"Know what mate?" Harry asked.

The compartment door slid open before Neville could say anything. "Wotcher guys!"

The brunette seventh year Hufflepuff greeted them as she stepped in.

"Tonks!" Susan, Harry and Hermione greeted back almost immediately. Neville looked around confused since he didn't recognize her.

The girl they called Tonks looked around sniffing for a moment. "Smells like sex in here." She stated before eying each of them up critically. Neville's eyes widened while he noticed Harry smirked.

Hermione's blush turned even redder before she leaned over to hide her face in Harry's arm. Susan also blushed looking uncomfortable. After the strange girl looked at each of them she raised her shirt a bit to sniff that. "Wow, I need to wash this thing once in a while. That could actually be me…"

Harry raised his head and laughed at the girls antics. Getting a grin of appreciation in return. She flopped down next to Susan with a wide smile on her face.

"Good to see you back in the country young man. You have any idea how much trouble you caused this summer?"

"Loads Professor Moody said. Glad we could spice up your holiday." Harry easily returned. "What are you doing here Tonks? Dumbledore got you on guard duty already? I've only been back a day."

Tonks pifft'ed. "The world does not revolve around your ego Mr. Potter." Tonks stated in a poor but recognizable imitation of Snape causing all four to smile. "I am actually on duty. Supposed to be guarding the train but thought I would check in on Hermione. With only you for company for the last three months it's had to be hard on the poor girl."

Hermione finally brought her face out from Harry's arm and gave Tonks a knowing smirk. "O it's definitely been hard Tonks. I've survived and look forward to surviving more."

The innuendo was not lost on the metamorph who smiled wickedly. "O I love the new you Hermione. I can see Harry's been rubbing off on you…"

"O yes, but I quite enjoy it, truth be told."

Tonks slapped her knee gawfled uncontrollably at her remark. Harry coughed uncomfortably and changed the conversation. Hermione had gotten really good at innuendo over the time on the run. "So, Neville, you mentioned something happened while we were gone?"

For his part Neville looked back and forth confused by the conversation for the most part knowing he was missing something but focused when Harry started talking to him. "Huh? Yeah. You need to talk to McGonagall alone when you get time once we are at Hogwarts."

Harry asked, "Whys that mate? This have something to do with course lists or something?"

Neville shook his head. "No. While you were gone and after the attacks on Susan's McGonagall came to see Gran. You were named as the principal inheritor in Sirius Black's will and she was concerned you didn't know about it. Gran looked into it and they came up with a plan to help out."

Susan picked up the story when Neville stopped. "Dame Longbottom floo called Auntie at work and let her know what was going on. Between the three of them they hatched a plan to keep both You Know Who and Professor Dumbledore from getting your inheritance. They weren't going to do anything until we heard what was going on and started badgering them to do something."

Neville nodded. "We had to tell them a lot Harry to convince them to help. They didn't seem to know any of the stuff we'd been through, and even less about you. Gran did research and told McGonagall what to do and who to contact. Minister Bones wasn't Minister yet but we figured there was a chance that something would happen and it would end up going through the DMLE in some fashion. She took care of things from that end."

"Professor McGonagall talked to your account manager and he allowed her to go into your family vault on the sly once she convinced him of what was happening. She's got everything from the Black and Potter vaults in this little chest thing. Auntie did what she could within the law to see you were able to claim your inheritance and now you are head of both the House of Black and the House of Potter. You're emancipated but Dumbledore is your Stewart until you turn seventeen, he technically still controls your houses. Not that it matters since everything you own is with Professor McGonagall."

Harry looked flabbergasted at the two teens. "Guys… wow. I hadn't even thought about since we decided to let it go. You didn't have to. Thank you guys so much. I don't even know how to pay you back for that."

Hermione smiled happily at him while rubbing his arm. Neville waved off his comment. "Harry, you've done a lot for us with the D.A. last year and everything. You taught us a lot and both of us got solid 'E's on our O.W.L.s in Defense. We weren't going to let you get buggered if we could stop it."

Susan smiled. "It was our pleasure Harry. If by chance you decided to continue the D.A. however, I would be appreciative."

Neville watched as Harry and Hermione looked at each other for a moment appearing to be lost in thought. A few moments passed before Harry smiled widely and turned his attention back to them. "Done. I think we'll call it the Defense Association though, I'm not Dumbledore's man anymore."

Their conversation was halted for a moment when the Express whistle blew and the carriage jerked signaling that the Hogwarts Express was on its way to Scotland.

Author's Notes

Okay, Chapter Eighteen revision is done. For those of you interested in the story instead of my drivel, by all means leave a review telling me what you think of this chapter, and then hit that 'Next' button. Enjoy the read. As always thank you to all reviews and readers. You are noticed and appreciated.

Fic Recommendation: Faery Heroes by Silently Watches