A/N- For those who followed my first story, Harry Potter and the Spiritual Heirs, last year you might remember that I went off the grid for the whole summer. I'm working at the same camp this summer so unfortunately I will once again be off the grid. I might get a chapter or two out, but I'm not making promises. Review! –Phoenix

Harry breathed heavily as he fell back on his pillow. His body was sweaty and he could feel his heart going a million miles an hour, but he had never been more content. On his chest, an equally breathless Hermione was laying her head and was pulling the sheets up to cover her chest. Beaming, she turned her head towards Harry and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.

"I love you," she said with a warm smile.

Harry beamed back at her and kissed her bushy hair. "I love you too," he whispered. "And no matter what happens today, I just want you to know that I will protect you with my life."

Hermione turned her face into Harry's bare chest and inhaled deeply. "I can protect you too," she said quietly.

The engaged couple had spent the remainder of their summer holiday preparing for the war during the day, and being intimate during the night. They could barely handle being parted from each other.

With a heavy sigh, Harry turned his head toward the clock on his nightstand and groaned. "Love, it's time to get ready," he said. "Do you want first shower?"

Hermione looked at him and gave him a seductive smile. "Why don't we shower together?"

Blushing bright red, Harry chuckled. "As much as I would love to, we would take too long together. Wouldn't want to be late on the first day of school, would we?"

"I don't really care," Hermione said honestly. "If we didn't need to recruit some students and keep an eye on Dumbledore, I would leave and never go back. I just want to stay with you."

Harry looked at her curiously. "The brightest witch of our age doesn't want to go to school? Merlin, Hermione, what changed?"

Hermione frowned and got out of bed with the sheet still wrapped around her. "I have more important things on my mind than more information about goblin rebellions," she said seriously. "I just don't think that Hogwarts has any more to offer me."

Unable to say anything to that, Harry got out of bed as well and threw on some boxers while Hermione took the first shower. While he got his stuff out for the day, he tried to push back the feeling of uneasiness that he had felt when Hermione announced her new opinion of Hogwarts.

I never thought that Hermione would ever lose that perfect student attitude that I love so much, Harry thought. War really has changed us; I just hope that we can get back to our old lives when it's over. But, what really bothers me is the feeling of resignation that I sense from her whenever we talk about the future. Harry took his book-bag off of the floor and tossed in the books for school before he looked back at the bathroom door with a worried look on his face. What are you hiding from me, Hermione?

A couple minutes later, Hermione exited the bathroom in nothing but bra and panties with her hair wrapped up on her towel. "All yours," she said cheerfully.

"Thanks, Love," Harry said with a smile of his own.

By the time he was done getting ready, everyone was eating breakfast. He took his usual seat next to Hermione and bid everyone good morning.

Breakfast was quiet. None of them were looking forward to going to school, but none of them would complain about it either to the others. After everyone finished eating, the Heirs, their familiars, and Draco said goodbye to Dobby, Winky, Willowsong, and Robin, they used their portkeys to get to Hogwarts.

When they arrived, they went straight to the Great Hall where the rest of school would still be eating and class schedules would be passed out. Draco was, unsurprisingly, nervous. When they entered the Great Hall, Draco went right up to a very surprised Snape while the Heirs went to their respective heads of house to receive their class schedules.

"Mister Malfoy," Snape said softly, but not so softly that Hermione's sharp ears couldn't pick up. "Would you care to tell me where you have been this summer? Your mother is most concerned."

Hermione tugged at Harry's sleeve and nodded her head towards Draco. Harry's eyes narrowed and he stepped forward.

"Snape, I trust that you're not harassing a ward of the House of Black?" Harry demanded.

Snape glared at Harry. "Mister Malfoy would not lower himself to being a ward of your house," he sneered. "Perhaps you held him captive all summer?"

Not far off the mark, Harry thought in amusement. "Draco requested to be taken in as a ward of one of my Houses. Harassing him is a direct insult to me."

"My boy," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "Why would you think that Professor Snape is harassing his student? He was merely showing concern for young Mister Malfoy's whereabouts. Much like I have been concerned with yours." His blue eyes drifted over to Hermione and Harry noticed that they got cold when they noticed her pointed ears. "Miss Granger, would you care to explain why you are now half-elf?" he demanded, not bothering to keep his voice down.

Hermione smirked and shrugged. "Not really," she answered. "It's not your business." She then pointedly ignored him as she received her schedule from McGonagall.

"It is my business when there are other races in my school," Dumbledore insisted, adapting to his grandfather tone.

"You know what I am, you don't need to know how or why," Hermione responded firmly. "That is my business."

Somewhere behind them, Harry assumed from the Slytherin table, someone shouted, "Looks like the mudblood didn't think her blood was filthy enough! Now she's half-breed scum!"

Harry was about to curse the arse into oblivion, but one look from Hermione's calm, slit eyes, forced him to gather himself.

"Any insult to my fiancée is an insult to the Ancient Houses of Potter and Black," Harry announced loudly, his voice carrying through the Great Hall. "I would strongly recommend that everyone remember that."

Harry felt a flash of rage come from behind him and a brief turn of his head told him that it was coming from Ginny Weasley. He was about to get his own schedule when he felt a sudden surge of adrenaline and fear; the type of combination that usually came right before an attack.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw a jet of red light some speeding towards Hermione. Instinct taking over, he placed himself in front of her and raised his wand.

"Protego!" he shouted.

The shield appeared in front of him and held strong when the spell made contact. Once the spell made contact, Harry pushed more magic into it and forced the spell to rebound to its caster. He felt grim satisfaction when the rebounded spell made contact, making its caster erupt in painful boils and cry out in pain.

"Ginny!" Ron shouted next to her. He tore his furious eyes away from his hurt sister to glare at Harry. "What was that for, Potter? Isn't it enough that you weaseled out of your betrothal contract with my sister? Now you want to cause her harm too?"

Harry dispelled the shield charm and glared right back at him. "Your sister attempted to hex my fiancée. I merely protected her. It's not my fault that your sister can't accept what was never there."

Dumbledore stood up and gave Harry a kind smile. "Mister Potter, while Miss Weasley was the one to cast the first spell, I am afraid that you cast harmful magic yourself and have injured your classmate. That will be twenty points from Gryffindor."

Harry didn't look at Dumbledore; instead he turned his gaze towards McGonagall. "You know that that's wrong," he told her. "Are you going to do anything about it? Or are you going to let your loyalty to Dumbledore blind you forever?"

McGonagall's eyes widened for a second before narrowing. "Albus, the boy is right, the punishment is wrong. Miss Weasley initiated the attack and therefore she should be the one who is punished, not Mister Potter."

"I feel that Miss Weasley has learned her lesson," Dumbledore said firmly. "There is no need to punish one who is in pain from a spell that her fiancée thrust upon her."

Harry rolled his eyes and finally took his schedule before taking Hermione's hand. "I would never harm my fiancée. Those who try to harm her however will receive no mercy from me. Next time, Ginny won't get off so easy."

Dumbledore stood and gazed at Harry with firm eyes. "Miss Granger is not your fiancée," he insisted. "You are betrothed to Miss Weasley."

"That contract only bonded me as a Potter," Harry snapped. "It didn't bond me as a Potter-Black. You're over your head with your meddling. You have no control over me. I know that the prophecy that you told me wasn't valid and I know that you've been trying to control my assets. You think that you have the right to make these decisions for the 'greater good', but you don't. You have no right to control peoples' lives!"

Dumbledore smiled at Harry condescendingly. "My dear boy, I am not trying to control anyone. I am merely trying to lead the Light to the defeat of Voldemort. If you would stop fighting me, then we would end this war that much quicker and we could save countless lives."

Harry scoffed at the headmaster. "You could help speed up the war if you were honest with those who fight with you."

Before the old headmaster could respond, Harry led his friends out of the Great Hall. Whispers carried in the hall as students talked about the event that had just transpired. Harry noticed that Hermione had her head tilted slightly towards the Slytherin table, undoubtedly eavesdropping on their conversations. He slowed his pace slightly to give Hermione more time. When she gave a small, affirmative nod, he resumed his previous pace and they left the hall.

"I heard Crabbe, Goyle and Nott talking about catching Draco unawares in order to find out what happened to him," Hermione informed them as they walked towards their first class. "Draco, are they unswayable Voldemort supporters?"

Draco nodded. "Their families run in Voldemort's inner circle. They were planning about getting their marks after the attack on Hogwarts."

Harry looked at Kex who was on his faithful perch on Harry's shoulder. "Kex, do you mind accompanying Draco during school? If you disillusion yourself, then you could provide backup if needed."

Kex nodded in agreement. "Draco can't understand me though, he hasn't given you the oath," he pointed out. "Is it right to ask him to give that oath so soon after he joined us?"

Harry looked at Draco. "It will be his choice. Draco, there is a way for you to understand the familiars."

"Really?" Draco asked in interest. He had been fascinated by the magic that the familiars possessed and he was always eager to learn more. "How?"

"It's a magical oath," Luna told him. "An oath to swear that you're a true friend. But, if you took the oath and then broke it, you would lose your magic."

Draco's eyes widened. "I don't want that. Not that I plan on betraying you guys," he added hurriedly.

Neville laughed in amusement. "No worries, Draco. We know that it's a lot to ask. I don't think it will be that big a deal if Draco can't understand Kex. Kex will be spitting and snarling enough that Draco will have to know that something is going on."

"I suppose," Harry chuckled.

He held out his arm and allowed Kex to walk across it and leap onto Draco's shoulders. Draco winced when Kex's claws dug into his skin, but he didn't complain. Kex chatted happily, though Draco didn't understand any of it.

"Alright, but what will having a pine marten on my shoulder do?" Draco asked.

"Kex is magical," Harry explained. "If you're ambushed, he could shield you and then apparate you to me. You'll be safe with them."

Draco nodded, looking more assured. "Alright, I've got Charms with the Hufflepuffs. So, after classes you portkey back to Potter Manor?"

Harry nodded. "We'll see you at lunch. Meet us outside the Great Hall and we'll show you where we eat now."

The Slytherin nodded in understanding and gripped his bag tighter. Then, with a disillusioned Kex on his shoulder, he started walking towards Charms. Luna then bid her friends, especially Neville, farewell and started walking towards the greenhouses for Herbology. The three remaining Heirs and the two remaining familiars suppressed their heavy sighs and walked down to Potions. School was back in session.

A/N- Sorry for a short filler chapter as my last update before I leave. I'm busy filling out applications and I'm leaving in a couple days. If I don't update, I hope that everyone has a great summer and I hope that you'll continue reading my story when I return to update. -Phoenix