Realignment

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King's Cross Station – 8th of January, morning

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As usual platform 9 ¾ was overcrowded with students and their families. The parting after Christmas was always especially tough to everyone. The thought to part after the most important family celebration of the year, and not to see each other for more than five months – as only a few used the Easter Break to go home – dampened the mood, counteracting the happiness to see old friends again.

Dean and Seamus greeted him friendly, only hesitating for a moment before they extended the greeting to Daphne too. The other Gryffindors – while more reluctant to speak with them – at least nodded in their direction and seemed ready to accept the weird friendship with the snake. The Slytherins, on the other hand, mostly shared a hateful glare, even more directed towards 'the betrayer' Daphne than towards him. Harry hoped that there wouldn't be any more attacks on her.

The attack: He had to do something about it. Daphne had urged him to promise that he wouldn't attack Nott, that he would leave the issue to Professor Snape. Grudgingly he had agreed without much enthusiasm. But attacking and pranking was quite a different matter, wasn't it? He would speak with the twins about the matter, he decided. Harry was certain that telling them about the coward attack would stir their wraith. Together they would certainly find some interesting ways to get back at the blasted coward. Affectionately Harry patted Balou. Since he had heard about him viciously defending Daphne, he loved him even more.

"Hi Daphne – long time no see," the greeting was backed up by an open smile of Millie and a more reluctant one on Pansy's side. The smaller girl curtly nodded towards Hermione and Neville, before she hurried away, Millie following her with an apologizing smile. "See you later, Daphne."

"Cyrus, nice to see you."

Roxanne's tone told everyone how much she liked to see him, his escort party mostly unsuited to lift her mood. Narcissa hugged her shortly – the women exchanging some whispers under the scrutinizing looks of their husbands – while Lucius was barely able to nod half-decently. Draco only glared, his stare trying to melt Harry and his expression towards Hermione and Neville not much friendlier.

Astoria was the only one from the group who seemed to really enjoy the moment. She spoke shortly with her sister, before she even hugged Harry, baffling everyone around. "Welcome to the family." While this was enough to darken Draco's look for another grade, Astoria leaned towards Harry's ear and whispered something. Whatever it was, it caused him to pale visibly. Harry waited until the group had walked away before he answered the quizzical stares of his friends.

"She told me about the consequences should I hurt you or Mother." Under the good-natured laugh of his friends Harry pondered about something Astoria had said and winced, leaving it to everyone's imagination which part of the body the threats encompassed.

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You want to use a single word to describe the meeting with the Weasleys? It would be 'disagreed', Harry mused in a failing attempt of humour.

"Hello Harry," someone greeted. Harry assumed it to be George because his brother deeply bowed towards Daphne, his kiss on the hand causing her to giggle: "Milady."

Hastily Harry evaded the Weasley hug. Merlin, did she really expect him to endure such a gesture after what had happened? With a look of disappointment Molly Weasley stepped back a bit and started to bumble about Christmas, how much they had missed him – never did she mention Hermione who only received a short glare – how much she hoped that he would visit them again in the summer break. "It had always been so nice… blah-blah-blah… and I always saw you like a son… blah-blah-blah."

Struggling to blank her out Harry concentrated on Arthur. He was a bit too reluctant, a bit too polite but at least able to address Roxanne and Agatha. "Señorita Hernandez," he greeted Anne, leaving Harry with the question how he knew the Spanish lady. Ginny and Ron were standing at the rear of the group, Ginny nearly unable to look in the direction of Harry and his friends while Ron did his best to compensate this by his glare full of blazing anger.

What surprised Ron apparently – certainly not more than Harry – was how fearsome Neville's reciprocated glare was. When Ron dared to grimace in Hermione's direction, Neville grimaced back, baring his teeth for a moment and growling a bit. Shocked by this Ron hastily walked away, his family following a few moments later.

How much had Neville changed in the past two weeks, Harry mused. How much had the Ritual changed him?

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Pinegrew Manor – shortly before New Year's, Midnight

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"You may watch the Ritual, Harry, but not Remus and Sirius," Roxanne had declined his wish. "They don't belong to the family. It's a Ritual of the Congregation and it's our duty to keep it secret. We'll even hide the composition of the Ritual's ingredients from Neville, Hermione and Augusta."

"But why are Hermione and Augusta allowed? And what's the Congregation? You mentioned it already a few times."

"You'll see at the Ritual, Harry. Hermione and Augusta are very important parts of it. About the Congregation we'll speak later, Harry. You'll have to learn about it before your fifteenth birthday, but Agatha and I decided that it would simply be too much in the moment. For now you have simply to know that it is a group of mostly witches and that Agatha, Anne and I are part of it and Daphne will be after the summer. But now back to the Ritual: You may watch, but you have to be completely silent. No word, no gasp… nothing. Are you able to do this?"

Harry stared at her. According to Anne this Ritual was really important to Neville. It would allow him to be the wizard he should have been from the start. He really didn't want to mess this up and Harry knew how possible some kind of reaction on his part was. "Could you… could you cast a Silencio on me?" Roxanne smiled softly and agreed.

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They entered the room: Anne at the lead, followed by Agatha, Augusta, Neville, Hermione, Roxanne, and Daphne at the rear. Harry closed the door behind them, sensing the magic that bound the door. Only Agatha, Anne or Roxanne would be able to open it again. Looking around Harry noticed the content of the unknown room under the roof of the manor. For a moment he thought that it had a glass roof, but then he realized that it was simply open, a magical barrier protecting against the winter chill. Stars sparkled above him – the only illumination besides a number of candles at the walls and surrounding the slate of blue granite in the centre in the form of a cross.

With no seat visible Harry waited near the door, not daring to enter further, should he disturb anything with his reactions. Silently Anne gestured Neville to take his place, while Roxanne took a number of herb bundles from the sole other fitment of the room, a table.

A bit hesitantly Neville took of the robe he was wearing; revealing that he only wore a loincloth below. Harry smiled. He would have had problems with this too, being self-conscious with six women around. One was his grandmother, one his girlfriend, the other four beautiful women. They wore silk robes too, each one in a different colour and with different runes on them – but nothing else. The bare feet and ankles were quite visible, drawing Harry's stare more than once to Daphne. And the curves of the women were well enough visible to tell him that nothing else was between silk and skin now.

At least they weren't nude, Harry trembled. He had read about that in some books and he wasn't sure how he would fare with that sight.

During that time, Roxanne had handed out the herb bundles and the six women took positions around Neville. Anne, Agatha, Roxanne and Daphne were standing like a cross around him – Harry assumed that they symbolized the four directions of the sky – while Augusta was at Neville's left, Hermione at his right.

The four ladies started to sing something. He didn't understand a word, only assumed that it was some kind of Celtic language because some words sounded familiar to a Gaelic song he knew. The melody was calming and did much to sooth Neville's mind. If this all was strange and opaque to me, Harry mused, how much did it affect him?

The smell of the burning herbs filled the room. It was quite pleasant, but Harry felt a bit light-headed after a while. Watching Neville laying there with outstretched arms and legs, unprotected from the looks of the ladies around. No, he didn't want to switch position with him. But he would like to have Daphne looking at him as Hermione did now with Neville. She sent him all her love and reassurance, all her best wishes that this would go smoothly. And Augusta saw this too. Shortly she smiled towards Hermione, before she concentrated on the Ritual again.

The song ended and Daphne – why her? Harry pondered – distributed brushes and small paint pots to everyone around.

"I'm Augusta Longbottom," suddenly a deep voice thundered through the room. "I'm your past. I send you to your future." She inscribed some runes on Neville's stomach and shortly the signs flared up.

"I'm Ana Hernandez," a second voice announced. "I'm the Fire. I'll spur your emotions and empower your flame of life."

"I'm Agatha Pinegrew," a third voice followed. "I'm the Earth. I'll provide you with the ground to grow up and the surface to rest steadily upon."

"I'm Roxanne Greengrass. I'm the Water. I'll heal you in the time of need; I'll refresh you in the hour of thirst."

"I'm Daphne Greengrass." Harry heard the slightest of trembles in her voice. It was her first Ritual, she had told him before. "I'm the Air. I'll let your imagination fly and allow your ideas to grow unhindered."

Each announcement was followed by some signs inscribed on his feet and arms, ending with Daphne 'improving' Neville's head.

"I'm Hermione Granger." Harry had no idea how Hermione was able to steady her voice. Her face showed everyone how much this Ritual, this moment was moving her. "I'm your future. I accept you from your past." Her sign was set over his heart and she clasped hands with Augusta, setting their hands together on his chest, while the others started a new song.

Three times they followed the cycle and the night was well advanced when they left their positions at last. Neville was still on the slate of granite and Harry realized that sometime the boy had fallen asleep. They left the room, closed the door. Only then did Roxanne answer to his questioning look and lifted the Silencio spell. "He has to spend the rest of the night in there. Hermione and Augusta will fetch him in the morning."

"But all went well, yes?"

Roxanne looked at Anne and the Spanish lady nodded exhausted. "Yes, all went well."

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Present

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"You have changed."

Since Luna entered their compartment, she had stared at him. Slowly she had made him nervous as Harry had no idea what she was seeing. And that she sensed something was out of the question. The time he believed her only to be a little weird was long gone. Even Hermione was willing to accept now that Luna Lovegood was a very special case.

Perhaps she has a very special gift, something like Daphne, he wondered. Perhaps it is changing her too.

"I have a new name, Luna. Officially I'm now Harry Potter-Pinegrew. But not to confuse everyone I'll stay with Harry Potter for a while."

"Not that, silly," Luna smiled. "Something else changed. You're inner balance is far better now. Your emotions are less restricted, less struggling to overwhelm you. And there are far less Wrackspurts around your head."

"That's good, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's good," Daphne answered instead. "Really Harry, you should read your own newspaper more often."

The statement was surprising enough to catch even Luna off-guard. She was excited to hear about Harry's family share of the Quibbler. "See? I always meant that you have an open mind. It's something you inherited from your parents." She smiled in open joy and for a moment Harry felt bad that he ever had listened to some of the stupid comments about her.

"You know, Harry," Hermione started, her eyes fixed on Luna. "With all those brainless articles about you in the Daily Prophet, why don't you give Luna a chance to make an interview for the Quibbler? Perhaps Colin could make a few photos. And we could ask Cedric, Viktor and Fleur, perhaps they're willing to speak with her too. Not the usual phantasmagoria. No, she'll write about the real Harry."

Harry had frowned at the start, but now his face was thoughtful. Anxiously Luna awaited the answer when Harry asked: "What do you think about this idea, Daphne?"

Daphne hugged Luna shortly before she grinned back: "It's Hermione's idea. And it is about the Quibbler. Naturally it's fantastic. But I leave it to you to say yes, sweetheart."

She fluttered her eyelashes in an exaggerated way. Luna smile nearly split her face, Hermione sniggered and Neville only shrugged: "No escape, Harry-boy."

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The opening of the door and the sight of the new arrival was greeted by an angry hiss. Balou had so far slept most of the time in Daphne's lap, even ignoring the presence of Crookshanks who had been begging Hermione for some treats for the last hour. They were nearing Hogwarts now, nearly time to change into their robes.

Ginny was standing there very downcast, nearly unable to look Harry in the eye. The compartment was – aside from Balou's hissing – completely silent. Neville was the most relaxed of the four friends, his stare nothing in comparison to the glares of Harry and Daphne. Even Hermione's expression seemed to ask 'what do you want', unwilling to speak with her former friend.

Ginny tried to speak several times, but only hiccups left her throat. Her face showed the time she had spent crying before coming here and after a few very long and uneasy minutes she shook her head in defeat and started to run away. Only Luna's sudden grip prevented her flight. The blond girl struggled to pull her childhood friend into the compartment, but was too weak. Hermione, Daphne and Harry watched the whole spectacle with frowns until at least Neville reacted to Luna's pleading look. He put his arm around Ginny's waist and pulled her onto the empty seat at his side.

With a sigh Luna closed the door and locked it with a little charm, preventing any further attempt to escape. "Speak," she ordered.

Pale Ginny stared at her, her hiccup only intensifying. Startled she sank into her seat as Daphne pulled her wand out. Only grunting shortly in her direction, Daphne cast a Silencio spell on the door. "Speak," she repeated a bit less angry. The fear of the girl was too palpable now to shout at her.

Ginny stared wide-eyed at Daphne, her pale face telling about a possible fainting. She opened and closed her mouth like a fish, but no word left her throat. With a deep sigh Daphne put her wand away and stepped forward, gesturing Neville to switch places with her, while she seated herself next to Ginny. Not too forceful she grabbed her hand, pressed it a bit and tried to calm her own face, to suppress the anger and to show reassurance.

"It's okay, Ginny. In the moment we don't really like you. But we don't hate you." A hiss from Balou followed. "Okay, most of us don't really hate you."

This brought the smallest of smiles on Ginny's face.

"We won't hurt you. But perhaps you should refrain from giving Balou any treats in the near future – if you like your hands without scratches."

A new smile, a weak nod, her voice was only a trembling whisper at the start. "I'm sorry."

Harry showed only a blank face, not willing to accept her apology so fast. Hermione seemed to share his opinion and waited for more. Only Neville was oddly more interested in Daphne in the moment. Thoughtful he watched her, watched how she handled the issue.

"Go on," Daphne nudged her gently.

"I was a prat."

"Yes you…" Harry stopped as someone kicked his shin. None of his friends looked in his direction so he didn't know who the culprit had been.

"I understand that you don't want to be my friend anymore. And I understand that you won't trust me around Balou anymore. I only wanted to tell you, that I'll never do something like this again. I was so angry at that moment. I… I only ever wanted to be your girlfriend, dreamed about it since reading those stupid books about the boy-who-lived."

"That's not who I am, Ginny. I've never been like that." Harry's voice was surprisingly soft. Daphne had been right: He didn't hate Ginny; he even understood her reaction in a way. But that didn't excuse it. And he certainly didn't trust her in the moment. She got that right.

Ginny sighed and nodded weakly. "Now I know. Perhaps – after a while – you're willing to give me a chance to get to know the real Harry. I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore; I accept that you've chosen someone else. But perhaps we could be friends again. I really miss you, and Hermione and Neville too."

She didn't look up, but Daphne sensed how her trembling intensified with every minute she was waiting for an answer. None of his friends except Luna looked in Harry's direction. They didn't want to pressure him in any way. Luna had her dreamy look again and stared at something above Harry's head.

"It's too early, Ginny," Harry decided in the end. Ginny nodded again, still looking down. It was weird for Daphne to see the vivid girl in this state. Perhaps there had really been more than simple hero adoration. Not that it excused Ginny's manner in any way. Daphne still didn't regret the punch to her face, but almost gently she said: "Perhaps we could start with being polite to each other again. What do you think, Harry?"

Did he really want her around? She was Ron's sister and Molly's daughter, two reasons to stay away from her. But on the other hand he never had problems with Arthur or Charlie. And he really liked the twins. "Okay," he agreed in the end. "We'll try this. Still not friends, Ginny, but we're housemates again."

"Thank you."

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Hogwarts – Great Hall – Evening of January the eighth

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There wasn't a real welcoming feast after the winter break, nothing comparable to the first meal of a new school year. But nonetheless a large number of students had started to gather in the Great Hall. The students of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang had returned the day before and now they mingled with their new friends. Especially the open and charming – if they wanted to be – Beauxbatons girls had collected quite a number of friends among the Hogwarts' boys. And at least the girls of Ravenclaw had started some groups for common learning with them.

Another group entered the Hall and Harry followed them with his eyes. Fleur was – as always – leading the group. The other girls apparently had accepted her position as the Alpha She-wolf in their pack, had accepted her status as their Champion after days of lamentation. In the beginning – Harry noticed – not everyone had been convinced about her participation. As if her Veela status would have made an impact on the Goblet. But certainly seeing how brilliantly she handled her Dragon in the first task had been proof enough. Not only had the tactic – to use a sleeping spell – been graceful, but the pure fact that she had been able to cast a spell powerful enough to have this effect showed her magical strength. Professor Flitwick had once mentioned Fleur Delacour's talent for Charm spells, but it had still been impressive.

As the mentioned girl walked in his direction, Harry watched another girl with a frown, another Beauxbatons girl, who had been especially distraught after the choosing two months ago. She had been at Fleur's side when they entered and now turned towards the Hufflepuff table. Her motions were a bit stiff, a bit odd, but she tried to hide it, showed a smile to everyone. Could it be? He mused. She reminded him of something. Her behaviour, her stance and her smile were far too familiar to him.

"Hi 'arry," Fleur greeted him, waving a letter on front of his face to get his attention. Shortly following his stare, she grimaced. "That's Claire Roussevalle. Shall I introduce you?" She smirked, glancing in Daphne's direction: "But I don't know if she would be interested in someone who's already… taken."

Harry blinked, pondered for a moment and shook his head. "No, that's … that's not necessary. How are you, Fleur?"

"Better," she smiled back "far better now after two weeks with my family. It was especially nice to see my little sister again."

"You have a sister? Is she at Beauxbatons too?"

"No, she's too young. She'll start school next year. You'll meet her in February. Gabrielle will accompany my parents to watch the second task. They want to show her Hogwarts." On his quizzical look she explained: "My parents are thinking about sending her to Hogwarts for education."

"Wouldn't that be difficult for her?" Daphne asked, her voice expressing her sympathy. "The first school year is tough for most students, but to leave your home country too, with most students around speaking a foreign language. Are they sure about this decision?"

Fleur's face hardened: "There are others reasons more important to my parents' decision." Her face softened again and she nodded slightly: "But I agree with you." Sighing she turned to Harry again: "I've a letter for you… from Charlie. See you tomorrow." With a wave she departed, leaving the letter on the table.

Slightly frowning Harry fetched the letter, opened it and started to read while his friends continued their conversation and even shortly discussed Harry's interest in Claire Roussevalle. "You should be careful," Hermione teased Daphne. "Perhaps she has Veela blood too. Men are sometimes a bit fickle." Daphne punched her for a response but at least grinned only, certain that Harry had been thinking about something else as he watched the French girl.

"He's writing about Christmas with his family and how his days had been with the Delacours. Apparently little Gabrielle adores me and wants my autograph," he groaned shortly under the well-meaning mockery of his friends. "He even met Anne at the Christmas Ball. She mentioned something to him about Dragon problems in Spain. They're searching for someone qualified to handle the matter. Wouldn't that be interesting? To visit Charlie in Spain would be far more interesting than in some Romanian backwater village."

"I assumed you would be tired of Dragons now, Harry," Neville teased.

Harry shrugged. "They're still very interesting creatures. It's certainly not a bad attitude that they want to defend their eggs, be it original or false ones."

He read on and frowned deeply. After a look around he whispered: "He's writing about Ginny too. Before he left there had been quite a dispute at the Burrow. Charlie wrote that Molly wanted to stir Ginny in my direction again, even mentioned some kind of perfume of compulsion." His face slowly turned red with anger now. "Blasted cow," he struggled to stay low with his voice. "Ginny declined the idea, but Charlie heard his mother arrange a conversation with Dumbledore."

"That old goat," Daphne hissed. Hermione only nodded, her agreement telling how much her opinion about the Headmaster had changed.

"You'll have to be careful," Neville whispered urgently. "Perhaps they'll try something like this without Ginny's knowledge."

"That would be possible," Daphne agreed. "I don't think that Ginny would be a willing participant in such a plan. Her grief and regret were for real."

"Perhaps I should write Mother about it. She could send us a few flushing potions, just in case." Harry wasn't amused in the least about the prospect of a love potion or something similar.

"We'll do that," Daphne agreed. "Don't worry. We Pinegrew ladies watch out for our men."

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A/N

I'll be on vacation from the 12th onwards (only for a week). I'm not certain about finishing another chapter until then.

And I've still to decide about Gabrielle Delacour staying at Hogwarts the next year (remember: This story and its sequel is about the years four and five of Harry). What do you think about her?