Disclaimer: I do not, in anyway own the wonderful world of Harry Potter, or Charmed. I am just dabbling in the world they left for us.

Chapter 46

No Fate...

Time, Date, Place: Unknown

In a sunny garden, a golden-haired toddler in a bright white robe walked beside a babbling brook, just outside the shade of an ancient willow tree. The sunlight twinkled on the water as it ran. The cool grass beneath her feet made no sound as she wobbled toward a great boulder. On it sat an elderly, gray cloaked woman, her color fading as if to become one with the stone.

"Come play with me!" the young girl shouted, tugging on the senior's sleeve. The silver headed woman smiled but stayed seated. The young girl pouted and stomped away.

As she put the finishing touches on a flower crown, the fair-haired girl saw something out of the corner of her eye. A bright, shining ball of golden twine the color of her own hair rolled toward her.

"And who do we have here?" she asked, picking up the ball of thread. The ball jingled. "Oh, no, I'm afraid you can't do that. You see, she's stuck the way she is." Suddenly, the thread began to glow ever so faintly. It jingled louder. "Oh, well, if they insist, I suppose we can try." The pre-teen girl stood and tossed the twine lightly toward the elderly woman.

The woman was shocked when, moved by a force she'd never felt, she caught the object. Instantly she was younger. She took the ball in her hands and rolled it between them, shaping and forming it. When she was satisfied, she tossed the bundle back to the now teenaged girl. The moment the twine left her hands she slipped back into her boulder-gray state.

"You're back! Amazing!" the blonde said to the ball of twin as she danced away from the elderly lady, curls bouncing. "What wondrous things you've already done! Now, what shall we do today? Would you like to fall in love? Would you like to be a champion? Each day, you are what you determine to be."

Just then, the wind blew lightly through the garden, bending the grass low. A think cloud diffused the sun's rays on the ground, and an uncertain voice came on the breeze.

"This is the chosen one?"

"Well, I certainly chose him." The old woman's voice was dusty from neglect, but her eyes shone as she spoke. "He is the dragon slayer, unicorn defender, monster killer, and lady rescuer. He has faced the shadow of death, conquered his fears, and found his true home. He has been prepared."

"But is he ready?"

"Oh, yes, I also choose him," the young woman replied, "He is kind, compassionate, loyal, intelligent, loving, brave, honest, and growing stronger every day. He is the beloved of all things magical. He is the twice-blessed, Chosen child of a thousand hopeful dreams. He is more ready today than he was yesterday."

The women found each other's eyes and nodded. "Surely, he will defeat the serpent," they chorused.

The wind chilled and grew stronger, rumbling into the glade. The branches of the willow tree flailed, tangling and twisting. Behind them, a shadowed man stood. Light and darkness danced across his ever-changing face. The clear, uncertain voice rode on the wind to the waiting women's ears.

"What is to be is not yet determined. I choose him to carry the fate of many. I shall set a final task to the Chosen One, the true test of all that he was and is and is becoming. If he succeeds, Good will reign. But if he fails, Evil will triumph once and for all."

The young woman, golden hair and bright white robes still swirling in the wind, cupped the ball of twine in her hands. She brought it to her face and whispered.

"Take heart then, for there is yet no fate."

~HPGW~

Hogwarts-

Room of Requirement

"We should call ourselves the Knights of Salem." Harry said to the crowed assembled in front of him. There were a few mumblings at this, but most were nodding their heads in agreement.

"Why change the name?" A voice called out.

From the raised platform, Harry looked out at the sea of faces before him and answered the posed question. "We are not exactly a sanctioned group, not that we were before, but with all that happened over the last year and this past summer, I think the name change will serve us well."

"Why, was the name 'Dumbledore's Army' not good enough?"

"Dumbledore's Army was named as such because the Ministry was afraid that the Headmaster was building up his own personal army to combat them and take control; or at least that was what Fudge thought," Harry replied with a smirk, "But if we are to use this group as it was intended, to prepare for the battle outside these walls, how would it look if we came charging into battle with our name being connected to that of the Headmasters?"

"That would not be a good thing." Hermione put forth.

"Anyway," Harry continued, "We are an 'unofficial' student organization led by me, a student, and when we are out there fighting, "the good fight", we do not need to be associated with the Headmaster."

"So we are going to be going out of the confines of the school and pick fights with Death Eaters?" another person asked.

"Last year, you all asked me if this was just for fun, and you were told that it was to help teach us what the Ministry wouldn't. Not to mention, prepare us for what is out there when we do leave the safety of the school." Harry stopped abruptly so that he could calm himself down. Once he was calm once more, he continued.

"We are in a War and in War we must do things that we wouldn't normally. Will we go out and actively look for trouble? The answer is no, however, if the school is threatened, or if there is an attack on a place that cannot adequately defend itself then I would hope that we, the Knights of Salem, would do everything within our power to show those who spread fear and chaos that we will not stand for it."

A few cheers rang out as he finished. Harry nodded and smiled, "Now, there have been a few changes to the way that this group is going to work, but first is there any objection to the new name?" There was one hand that went up.

"Yes Neville." Harry acknowledged with a smile.

"What does it mean, why did you choose it?"

Harry's smile grew and then turned to look at his bushy haired friend s and said "Hermione, would you like to do the honors?" as he waved her forward. Nodding, she stepped up, next to Harry, and began.

"We, or rather Harry, came up with the name, but to make sure that it was the right name for us I did what I do best; research." She paused momentarily, smiling widely and then continued, "After doing a ton of research, I found that the word 'Knight' means defender. No surprise there. When I went in search for the meaning of the word 'Salem' I was surprised at what I found. The word Salem means Peace. So for all intents and purposes our name means The Defenders of Peace."

Everyone just looked at the bushy-haired Gryffindor in awe.

"Also," Hermione continued, clearly not finished with what she was saying, "I will have you know that when I was at the tail end of my research I actually came across the name in one of the books I was using. It turns out that back when Hogwarts was created, Lord Gryffindor brought together some of his closest friends to defend the school in the event that it needed to be defended. He called his group of friends the Knights of Salem."

With that said, Hermione stepped back a little bit, giving Harry the go-ahead to take over. "After Hermione presented her findings to me, I can tell you that in that moment, I knew that what we were going to be doing was the right thing. And anyone not up for it…then you should leave now."

Nobody moved when Harry had finished speaking. Taking that as his cue to continue, he took a breath and said, "I have been talking for quite some time now and I ask that you bear with me for one more moment and all line up to sign the new contract that would be great."

"Is the parchment charmed like the last time?" a voice yelled out.

Not knowing who it was, Harry just answered to the entire group. "Yes, it is, as we really could do without a repeat of what occurred last year. I do ask that you all sign the contract before I answer anymore of your questions." When nobody moved, Harry gave a sigh, "There is not a jinx on this one; however, if you wish to continue in this group, then you must sign the parchment."

Again nobody moved. They just sat there, eyes either on Harry or the floor in front of them. Just as he was about to speak, two people holding hands stood up and made their way to where Harry was standing. When they got to the front, one of the two picked up the quill, but instead of signing the contract, he turned around to address all of those who had yet to move an inch.

"Last year the Ministry ran a smear campaign against Harry and the Headmaster and even tried to control Hogwarts with a toad-like lackey. Yes, the DA was started as a way to practice the practical side of defensive magic, but it was also preparing us for the war that was and still is brewing behind these walls. So if Harry asks me to sign a bit of parchment, that he has said has no jinx on it, then I will take him at his word and sign it in hopes that I can learn to better defend those whom I care about deeply."

Harry smiled as his friend signed the new contract. "Thanks Nev."

"No problem Harry." Neville said, as he handed the quill to Luna, who quickly signed it as well.

With their signatures now on the parchment, Neville turned back to the crowed who were watching curiously. He gave a slight smile and said, "See, there is nothing to worry about. There is no jin…" But Neville never got to finish what he was saying due to the fact that as soon as he and Luna had grabbed a hold of each others hand they vanished into thin air.

After Luna and Neville's unexpected departure, at least it was unexpected to those who did not know what the parchment would do once signed, Harry came to stand next to the table where the contract was set to address those in front of him, for what he hoped would be a final time. "Before any of you ask, yes, both Neville and Luna are safe and are with Ron as we speak."

Pausing he turned to face Ginny and Hermione he said, "Maybe you two should head on down. I will be there as soon as I can and hopefully it will be with some of this lot." Nodding in response, Hermione and Ginny stepped forward to face the crowed that sat before them.

Those who had yet to sign the contract were caught off guard when the two Gryffindor's eyes flashed the most brilliant of white, just before their entire bodies were engulfed in white flames.

After Hermione and Ginny had gone, Harry looked at the group before him expectantly. "Look, I now this is all happening fast, but it is now crunch time, and you have to make a decision. As of this moment, you all have five minutes to decide whether or not you sign the contract before I leave with or without you." Harry said, pausing to let the information sink in. When nobody moved, he gave a sigh and added, "If you do not sign the parchment before the five minutes are up, then you will leave here with no memory of the ever being a student led group called the DA or the Knights of Salem."

Even before Harry had finished making his statement, there had been a flurry of movement. Students were rushing forward and signing the contract one by one and then were vanishing on the spot after having done so. Soon it was just Harry left in the room, along with Cho and Marietta.

"Ladies" Harry acknowledged.

"Harry," Cho said as she took a step forward, "We are both really sorry about what happened last year and…"

"Look Cho," Harry began with a sigh, "If we did not want either of you here then you would not have been allowed through the door. But right now, you both have about a minute before you are not able to be apart of the Knights, so if I were you then I would be in a hurry to sign the parchment so that I don't miss a thing." Nodding in understanding, the two Ravenclaw's picked up the quill, signed their names and were whisked away to join the others who had gone before them.

Harry gave a heavy sigh as he looked around the empty room. 'That was a lot harder than it should have been' he said to himself just before he vanished from the Room of Requirement in a swirl of white fire.

When he reappeared in the Sanctuary, he quickly walked down the long hall towards the large group assembled around the fire-place. After a quick 'sonorous charm' on himself he called out to them. "As you were told when you got here, this is the Sanctuary," Harry said, gesturing to the room they were occupying, "And this will be the common room for the Knights. But what you were not told is that the Sanctuary used to be the Chamber of Secrets."

The faces that stared back at Harry were a mixture of awe and fear; the fear being that Salazar Slytherin might jump out at any second and kill them all where they stood for daring to step foot into his secret chamber. Giving a smile, Harry continued, "This place has been purged of anything and everything dangerous so there is nothing to worry about. On another note though, if you could all gather around me and get with your respective house that would be great."

Once everyone was in their groups, Harry waved to Ron to start making his rounds to each group. "What Ron is passing out now is our new way of contacting all of you about the KoS meeting times."

"KoS?" Somebody asked.

"Knights of Salem." Harry replied.

"You want us to wear rings?!" A male voice exclaimed, effectively changing the subject.

"The gems in each of these rings match that of your house you belong to. However, once you put on the ring on, it will become invisible to anyone who is not apart of the Knights." Ginny answered, as she came to stand next to Harry, who turned his head and gave his girlfriend a smile.

Then, turning back to face the group in front of him, Harry continued where she had left off, "As well as the invisibility charm on the ring, which no-one but myself can break, there is also a mind link spell. Once the ring is on your finger, each of your minds will become linked to it and by proxy, to mine. This will enable me to discreetly pass along our meeting times. Before you ask, no, this will not allow me to hear your thoughts. It will only allow me send mine to you when it pertains to a meeting….or crisis."

"Harry, don't forget to..."

"Appoint house contacts, yea I remember, thanks Hermione." Harry said, cutting her off. "Okay, I need Susan Bones, Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom to come over here with me for a moment."

As the three that had been selected made their way over to Harry, who began speaking to them in hushed, but quick tones, Ron stood up and explained what was going on. "The three that Harry has chosen are going to be you contacts when it comes time for a meeting. So, seeing as none of you speak parseltongue, Harry is imbuing their rings with a sort of portkey charm that will allow for travel while in Hogwarts to get here as well as a location outside of the schools wards in case we are needed elsewhere."

"And if I hear of any of you giving your house contact a hard time, then you will be out of this group in a heartbeat." Harry exclaimed in a loud voice. "Also, when it is time for a meeting, you are to locate the contact for your house and they will do the rest. But, and I cannot stress this enough, you need to make sure that you are either touching the contact or you are touching someone who is touching them."

While everybody was admiring the rings that they were wearing, and after Harry took a quick breather, he continued, "Okay, I have kept all of you for a good chunk of the day, and spent most of it throwing a ton of information at you so, if you want, you are now free to go about the rest of your day and I will let you all know when the next meeting is."

Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna all smiled at Harry as he turned around, after having called the meeting to an end. "If any of them want to leave the Sanctum, can one of you show them how?" Harry asked, looking at all of his friends.

"Of course," Hermione began, "Where are you off too?"

"I think I may go for a walk." Harry commented thoughtfully.

"I'll go too." Ginny said, as she slipped her hand into his.

"If it is okay with you Gin, I was actually hoping to be alone with my thoughts right now." Harry replied with a sigh. However, when he saw the looks that his friends were giving him he smiled and said, "Guy's I'm fine, I just have a lot on my mind right now and need some time to ruminate."

"Ruminate?" Hermione questioned.

"Oh you know; to rest, to think upon, to sort through, to…" Harry began to reply.

"I know what it means Harry, I just never expected for you to know the word or even use it correctly in a sentence." Hermione said, cutting Harry off.

"Well you met my Aunt. She likes to use big words in her column and since I read it all the time I pick up on her vocabulary and then use the words I like. And I do like that word by the way." Harry said with a smile, "Anyway, I will see you all at Dinner."

"See you later mate," Ron called out, "Have fun ruminating."

Just before Harry vanished, thanks to his personal portkey, he saw Hermione whip around to stare wide-eyed at her red-haired friend, who simply looked back at her in confusion and said-

"What?"

A/N: Hello all! I do apologize for the long wait, however, exams are now over and i am back. I hope you all like the chapter. Thanks to RoseMarieLynn, who wrote the opening scene. Anyway, I hope you all like it. Thanks for reading.

Mudbloodpotter