24th June 2003

"I won't be gone long," Harry said to Draco. He was packing a bag with clothes and potions. "And I've gotten Luna and Blaise to agrre to come over and watch the kids, Andromeda will help so you and Narcissa have nothing to worry about.

"I still can't believe Blaise married Loony Lovegood," Draco shook his head.

"It wasn't a happy story," Harry said, "Anyway."

"Why can't I come again? I'm working on this case too?"

"You don't have clearance to do field work," Harry reminded him, "And it will be an easy take down, theres only the tree of them, and they think they have the advantage of no one knowing Bellatrix is alive."

Draco looked at Harry uncomfortably. "I don't want you to go alone," He said.

Harry shrugged.

"I've already cleared a solo mission with the office-"

"But the Ministry are idiots and are severely understaffed!"

"It'll be fine Draco," Harry said, "I'll be fine, and I'll be back before you know it. Besides, the kids are taken care of, you have nothing to worry about."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Except for you being killed in some crazy lady's fireball and the massive amounts of potions I need to brew for the Ministry."

"I'll be back soon," Harry slung his bag over his shoulder, and I'm not leaving for another few weeks yet. Kingsley still has to review what we've got so far and Luna's not off work for a fortnight."

"You're a stubborn prat. I should come with you, you'll end up getting yourself killed." Draco snapped at him. Harry rolled his eyes.

"I'm the best they've got-"

"Not hard," Draco snapped back with a glare, Harry shook his head.

"Stop your worrying."

"Stop rushing into things!"

Harry gave him a look, which Draco didn't particularly appreciate, but then Harry actually pulled a serious expression.

"I know what I'm doing, Draco don't worry, I'll be careful."

"I don't want to be the one that has to give your children any bad news, Potter." Draco said, he looked away from the tender expression Harry was giving him. Draco didn't want to give the rash prat any ideas that Draco was worried for his well being or anything soft like that.

"Sure," Harry said, sounding more than a little disappointed. "I'd do anything to make sure I'm here for them."

Draco woke in a panic. It was dark in his room, and the big, old, furniture and paneled walls in his bedroom didn't let a lot of the light from the sky in. He could hear something, from upstairs and climbed out of bed, slipping on his slippers and sneaking into the hallway.

Sneaking was near impossible in Grimmauld place, every floorboard groaned twice if you touched it even a little bit. But as he climbed the stairs the sounds got louder and he realized they were cries, cries of fear and pain, desperate cries for a father.

Draco paused.

He was startled by Teddy at his elbow. The brown haired boy was silent. Draco had to do a double take. "You look like your father," Draco said. Teddy looked up at him, and he was looking into the eyes of his third year defense teacher.

"Harry tells me that all the time." Teddy said quietly. Draco looked at the twin's closed bedroom door.

"Should I go in?" He asked, Teddy shook his head.

"Dad's in there," Teddy shook his head "Sirius is having another nightmare."

"Are his nightmare's bad?" Draco asked. Teddy just nodded.

"Really bad."

Draco didn't know if he was supposed to know about his son's nightmares, but Harry certainly looked like he hadn't slept at all last night.

"Teddy told me Sirius woke you," Harry said at breakfast. Draco nodded. "Sorry."

"No," Draco said, "Its fine, really, don't worry about it."

Harry nodded tiredly and put a cup of tea in front of Draco.

"He didn't wake Narcissa did he?" Harry asked, Draco shook his head. "I don't think so, no."

"He did," Narcissa said, entering the room,"A few times actually, but don't worry, I know what Bellatrix did to you."

"What?" Draco shifted his glare from Harry to his mother. "Whats happened now?"

"Nothing," Harry said quickly.

Draco looked between his mother and Harry with a suspicious glance. Then Narcissa smiled.

"Nothing to worry about dear, I'll go and fetch the others and we can all enjoy a nice breakfast, hmm?"

September 1st 1997

Harry stood in King's Cross Station with Ron and Hermione.

"There," Hermione said, pointing to a young girl with her family. They paused at the wall between platform 9 and platform 10 and the little girl turned nervously to her parents.

"I can't believe you're not doing seventh year." Hermione said to Harry, Harry smiled sadly at her.

"I wish I could, I'm only going back for the poster boy effect."

Hermione smiled. "I know that," she said, "and we think Voldemort's hidden one of them there."

He nodded and the three made their way towards the platform.

"I'm not going back," Ron said, "Not really, Harry needs someone to help him."

"Ron," Hermione glared at the boy, looking like she would argue, but shook her head. "I've told you what I think already."

"Harry!"

Harry smiled as he was joined by Ginny, and he chivalrously grabbed her trunk for her.

The train ride was much the same as it was every year, excited students torn between catching up with their friends or catching up on their unfinished homework. Harry Ron and Hermione got a compartment to themselves, but Harry went to seek out and say hello to Luna and Neville, who were in a compartment with Hanna Abbott, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan.

The train arrived at Hogsmede Station as the sky got darker. Harry sought out Hagrid above the heads of the students and waved happily. He helped Hermione with her trunk as they went to find a carriage.

I'm not really a student this year," Harry said, "but its good to be back." Hermione nodded happily, while Ron shrugged.

"It's school," he said, "we have more important things to do this year."

It was heartbreaking to see McGonagall in the Headmaster's old chair, not because she didn't belong there, she certainly did, but it reminded them all of the sting caused by Dumbledore's death.

He glanced towards the Slytherin table, where Draco Malfoy was sitting alone, pale and shaking.

"He looks ill," Hermione said, following his eyes.

"Hope he dies," Ron added, "the bloody prat."

Harry shook his head, "he's frightened," he said quietly, Malfoy looked up, and Harry met the other boys gaze. All Malfoy did was offer a weak glare and look away, composing himself.

"There's proof the ministry's fallen," Hermione whispered to him quietly, "Snape's still here."

Harry looked at the dour man sitting at the end of the table and hot burning hatred coursed through his veins. He wanted to burn the coward where he sat, but now was not the time or place for that.

"Professor Burbage is missing," Hermione whispered to him as they sat down, "the old muggle studied teacher." Harry scanned the head table, and indeed there were two new faces, a man and a woman. They were both short and stocky people, the woman had a very harsh face and blonde hair, while the man had a much more sunken face. The man stood and addressed the students.

"SHUT UP YOU LITTLE BASTARDS!"

Startled, the hall fell silent and people still standing hurried to sit, even if they were not at their house table. The hall stayed silent for long minutes until Hagrid led the first years to the front of the hall, and little Professor Flitwick stood to begin the sorting. The new man stayed standing, picking up his goblet and spitting in it with a metallic twang as Flitwick unraveled his scroll of names.

Flitwick called the names out quickly, the new teacher stood behind him scarring the shit out of the new first years, when the first house was called, and the Ravenclaws made to clap, they were silenced with a glare from the new teacher. With the fact there were half the usual number of students this year, the sorting was unnaturally quick, and it was not McGonagall who stood to address the students, but the new female teacher.

"There have been some key changes to the curriculum this year." She said, "My name is Alecto Carrow, and this is my brother Amycus, we'll be teaching Muggle Studies and Dark Arts, which are both completely compulsory for all students from now on."

"Yeah," Amycus spat. "Teach you little shits some proper magic-"

"Enough!" McGonagall stood from her seat and walked around the table to where the two new teachers were standing. "You might be Ministry appointed, but I will not stand for you speaking to the children with such language!"

The woman lost her steam and slunk away back to her seat, but the man leered at McGonagall.

"You won't last the year, old lady." He hissed at her. McGonagall stood her ground, holding her stern expression and she pointed to the Carrow's still empty seat.

"Sit down, Professor."

Harry smiled at McGonagall- who was the first to challenge Voldemort's power in the Ministry- he stood, and applauded. It didn't take long for the whole of the student body to be on their feet offering their new headmistress their support, and McGonagall shared a little smile as she gestured for them to quiet down.

"Time for some dinner," McGonagall said, "but just a reminder to be strong in these trying times, help each other out, and stay out of the forbidden forest."

The tables filled with food and Hermione turned to him with a near horrified expression.

"This year will be horrible." she said, "They have Death Eaters teaching Muggle Studies?"

"Nah," Harry smiled at her, "it'll be fun. Get the word out, I'm setting up the DA again, and you should do proper muggle studies lessons."

"I'll help, Harry," Neville said leaning over, "I heard you're technically not a student this year, I'm sure you have stuff to do, you'll need a second in command."

Harry beamed at him. "I'll hold you to that," he said with a huge grin.