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Chapter 15

Harry and Hermione made their way down the stairs from the Headmaster's office after leaving their charges to Madam Pomfrey and Hagrid, only to come face to face with a pair of very welcome sights being accompanied by Professor Sprout, Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom.

"They insisted on seeing you Mr. Potter," she said, before hurrying away.

The year had been good to Neville. Gone was the timid, pudgy young boy that had once walked these hallways. In his place stood a strong jawed, muscular young man with fire deep in his eyes.

At his side stood a beautiful young woman, with long red hair pulled back into a pony tail, and a small sprinkling of freckles across her nose and cheeks… not many, just enough to add a touch of cute. For a moment they did nothing but stare toward one another.

"Harry…" the young red head said in a rush of breath she didn't realize she had been holding from the moment she had seen him. In a rush of movement she had collided with him in a hug, her face pressed in to the strange material that covered his chest.

"Hey Gin," he said softly, wrapping her in a light hug. "It's good to see you." He let her go and stepped back out of her embrace. "Nev. Sorry we weren't here to help this year…"

Neville waved him off. "No worries mate. Ginny told me you three were off doing something important… Harry where are Hermione and Ron?"

Harry glanced over toward the jade skinned woman and took her hand as she spoke. "Hey Neville, Ginny… It's me, Hermione…" Her voice trailed off.

Neville's eyes grew wide as his mind made sense of what he was seeing. "Hermione?"

Ginny had a look of total incomprehension on her face. "Y-you can't be… Harry?"

Harry just shrugged. "It really is her… there was an accident… as for Ron… we don't know. He left us just before Christmas. He got mad one night, yelled at both of us, walked out of our camp and apparated…"

"Hav-have you talked to Madam Pomfrey?" Ginny asked her eyes never moving from the green giantess.

Hermione nodded. "We just saw her, up in the Headmaster's office with Hagrid… She wants to see me as soon as we are finished here."

Ginny slowly nodded, then turned toward Harry. "And Ron?"

Harry sagged. "We don't know… we were hiding out in a forest… and got into an argument," he said quietly. "We were running out of food, we were exhausted and frustrated… And you know how he is… he started yelling... saying that it was useless and he wanted to give up... go home. He wanted Hermione to go with him," he said squeezing her hand as he spoke.

Hermione nodded. "When I told him no I was going to stay with Harry and finish what we began… he stormed out and apparated away…"

Ginny's eyes filled with tears. "You just let him leave?" she asked.

"We tried to stop him Gin. We really did," Harry said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "I hope that he's alright… and we never heard his name on the Wizarding wireless so there is hope he's ok."

Ginny nodded slowly. "Mum and Dad haven't written me about him… maybe he went home?"

"I hope so Gin," Harry said.

Hermione glanced at her wrist. "He'll be here any time Harry, we need to get downstairs."

Harry nodded. "Come on you two. You won't believe this!" he said heading toward the front entrance.

Steve and Minerva were still standing in the middle of the Ravenclaw common room as the final few students were passing by.

"Was it really necessary for them to give up their wands?" Minerva asked.

"Yes, unfortunately," Steve replied, keeping a careful eye out as they passed. "For a couple of reasons. First, other than a few named individuals, we have no idea who we can trust. Be it from choice or by coercion, any of these students could be dangerous. Second, we will be transporting all in tight quarters, in flying crafts, so it will be for their own safety as well."

Minerva nodded sadly. "After we are done here we will move on to the Hufflepuffs, Slytherin will be the last, and the most difficult."

Steve nodded. "That is what Harry expects, we will want all of the transports on the ground and the others loaded before we deal with them. They will be on a ship of their own and under guard by myself and two other agents. We will transport them and return as quickly as possible."

"You are expecting trouble?" she asked.

He smiled. "Actually we are counting on it."

Somehow that didn't set her mind at ease in the least.

Neville stood wide eyed as the armored form of Ironman descended on twin pillars of flame.

"WHAT IS THAT?" cried Neville, over the whine of the turbines.

"Not what, who!" said Harry, as Tony cut his jets and fell the last six inches to the ground. "Neville, Ginny, meet the one, the only IRONMAN!"

Tony's face plate flipped open revealing his face. "If you had told me I needed to make an entrance I could have done a heck of a lot better than that!" he said with a scowl.

Ginny's mouth hung open. "There's someone in there?"

Tony broke out into a grin. "Of course there is or did you miss the 'man' part of IronMAN?"

Hermione shook her head. "Be nice Tony, JARVIS close his helmet again and keep his mouth from embarrassing him."

"He-!" he began as the faceplate snapped shut and his voice went silent.

After a few seconds of silence, the faceplate opened again. "Why is my AI taking orders from you?" Tony asked, with an angry look on his face.

"He likes me better than you," she said simply, as she turned and walked inside the castle.

"He likes Pepper better too…" he mumbled, following.

Both Neville and Ginny turned away from them toward Harry. "And just what was that?" Ginny asked.

"One of our new friends," Harry said gesturing toward the building. "They are going to help with our Tom problem… By the way how is Luna holding up this year?"

A thundering explosion shook the Slytherin common room, as what once had served as the door flew across the room and shattered against the fireplace, just below the painting of their founder.

The young blond man grabbed toward his wand and tumbled out of his bed as the door to his room exploded inward.

"Knock, knock Ferret!" said a male voice, as two figures stepped through the swirling dust.

Draco Malfoy scrambled to his knees, his long sleep shirt tangling around them as he did. "Potter…" he growled. "So you finally decided to show your face! When my fath-"

"I hope he does hear about this Ferret! I want to have words with him as well!" Harry yelled back.

"Diffindo!" Malfoy yelled, pointing his wand.

Only for Harry's wand to suddenly appear in his hand and with a flick send the incoming spell off at an angle to impact the wall.

"Expelliarmus," Harry growled, and a beam as wide as Harry's arm shot out of his wand to impact the blond, lifting him off the ground and slamming him into the wall, his wand tumbling through the air away from him.

Hermione reached him first and lifted him up by the neck, till he was barely able to support his weight on his tiptoes. "Where is she?" she hissed.

Malfoy's eyes grew wide as he finally focused on the sight in front of him.

"Wha-? Who?" he stammered.

"LUNA!" she said with a harsh tone. "Where. Is. SHE!"

"Lun-?" he gasped. "Lovegood?"

"Yes ferret! Luna Lovegood!" Harry snapped. "She didn't come back to Hogwarts after the Christmas break! We want to know where she is!"

"Wh- Why ask me!" he yelled. "What in Merlin's name are you!" he continued as he began to struggle.

She pulled him away from the wall and slammed him back again. "Your worst nightmare!" she said. "Where? I'm losing my patience! If you don't answer me soon we may just see how you like not having your wand arm!" She grabbed his right arm for emphasis.

His eyes widened, whatever this green troll was she was huge and strong! He had no doubt she was able to do as she said. "Malfoy Manor! She's at Malfoy manor!"

With a flip of her wrist she threw him toward the door, sending him out of the prefects' room and into the hall beyond.

"Get him away from us!" Harry said to the figures of the professors outside.

"Malfoy Manor… that figures…" Hermione said in a low tone. "We have no idea where it even is!"

Harry slammed his hand into the bedpost, shattering it.

The room was silent for a long moment before Harry began to chuckle, and in a moment more it had become a full blown belly laugh.

"We may not know where Malfoy Manor is, but we do know someone who does!" He cackled, leaving Hermione looking confused.

"Dobby! I need you!" Harry said.

A small pop came from near Harry's feet. "The great Harry Potter be calling for Dobby?"