Chapter 35—The World just loves me

A/N: I made a unforgivable error in the last chapter which has been corrected. My appologies for any confusion I may have caused. A couple of deaths were grossly in error and corrected.

"Harry, Harry Granger, yelled Fleur who was exiting a boutique."

"Hay Fleur, fancy meeting you here in Paris." I smiled.

"Well I do live here in France and how are you doing Hermione?"

"Just great, this afternoon we hit the museums and the National library!"

"No change there I see." Fleur giggled.

"You staying here in Paris for your summer break?"

"No just this week for the museums and then a week of sight seeing. Then we are going to join Dan and Emma in Australia for a while." Hermione stated.

"Well you just have to stay at Delecour Manor for your time here." Fleur looked enthused. "Plus I will throw in a tour guide, me!"

Not taking no for an answer we ended up at Fleur's place. She had an ulterior motive in that she got to show "The" Harry Potter her friend from England and her father had told her too invite us there. Jean Delecour had heard that we were in France and wanted to talk.

/Scene Break/

Harry and Hermione, how great to see you two, I am sorry that I did not pick you up but I am very busy with work, which is why I sent Fleur to hunt you down. The French Mafia has you to on their most wanted dead list as you have found out recently. They will know that you all are in France by this time and while you are safe here at the manor the minute you go sight seeing you are in danger."

"We are not going to hide while we are here in France but I think we can handle their thugs." I laughed.

"Unfortunately that's what they were Thugs but the Mafia has upgraded their hit team to some of the best hit men and women money can buy just for you two." Jean replied.

"Don't worry you two, Mon papa has some special gifts for you." Fleur added.

"Yes these little toys." Said Jean as he handed over derringers to Hermione and I.

"Ah Jean, we can't be carrying these here in France or England they are illegal." Hermione expounded.

"First you will notice the little switch on the side up is safety on, down is safety off. The fun thing is these do not fire bullets and can only be used by magical's with wands. When you pull this trigger you fire a very wide spread bludgeoning spell meant to eliminate all it hits."

"How do we reload it and how many shot per load?" I asked.

"Neither, it uses your magic to reload. So when you use your wand in one hand and this in the other you become quite dangerous. Come let us test them in the back yard."

The back yard was acres of land and all we could say was:

~"I sure am glad I am on this side of these toys!" I gasped on the first firing.

~"Yes quite deadly, definitely not a toy for the halls of Hogwarts." Hermione pointed out.

/Scene Break/

Fleur showed us some very interesting sights. Alas our excursion to museums and libraries was enough for me and before Hermione could drag us to more Fleur showed us some of the top tourist attractions in France

Famous for its wines and cheeses, France gave us breaks from endless touring, walking and sight seeing. We were now attracted by historic cities, a beautiful countryside, such as the castles of the LoireValley. With the agreeable climate, some excellent beaches on the French Riviera were in our play time.

Mont Saint Michel is a small tidal island located just off the coast of Normandy. A spectacular and well-preserved Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Michel stands at the peak of the rocky island, surrounded by the winding streets and convoluted architecture of the medieval town

We headed up to the Arcachon Bay area, pacifically the Dune of Pyla. Being the tallest sand dune in Europe we arrived at the summit of the dune for the view which is spectacular with the Atlantic coast and the inlet of the bay on one side and a large pine forest on another. The Six Mafia Thugs that Popped in were not part of the scenery.

It again marvels us how the bad guys all have to run their mouths before doing anything. Me I would just get close and blast you dead. The French mafia were better that the English Deatheaters so we were not complaining of the advanced mouthy warning. When we said no to surrender the hexes/curses started. That caused the hidden Mafia reinforcements to charging up the Dunes, that added another twenty or so that had been hiding in the forest. It was impressive to our ego's that they sent so many for so few.

Two of the attackers were sending spells rapidly at me… mostly stunners and incapacitating spells but one or two were unknown curses. The rest of the six were trying to do in Fleur and Hermione. We needed to finish these Deatheaters before the other twenty got in spell range.

~"Get ready to flame these turkeys." I linked.

"Fleur get behind me or Hermione as its going to get hot real quick." She did and it did! Hermione and I turned on the flames and six got a full body super crispy hot foot. Of course that did not stop the other twenty who were now getting into casting distance.

~"Harry! Let's try Jean's guns!" Hermione was already aiming.

It was sad that there were going to be so many widows. When we fired they went backwards and down. The front was mostly red pulp which smeared the remaining bad guys with their blood and body parts. The force of the spells and the body parts leveled the rest, then came the sounds of POPs as French Aurors 'apperated' in and secured what was left of the bad guys. Hermione was right; these guns were not for use at Hogwarts.

"Harry and Hermione, I am glad the guns worked well." Jean stated.

"Yes Jean they did but how did you get here so fast?" I asked as Hermione nodded her head in agreement.

"We will know any time you use those guns here in France. I also know you two and had twenty Aurors on standby to assist and pick up the pieces. You now have the Mafia bosses really pissed so watch your backs."

/Scene Break/

Australia was really interesting; we got to chase kangaroos with our brooms. Miles of nothing but kangaroos and Bushmen, sharks in the salt water and crocodiles in the lakes.

By mid August we were home and visiting Gringotts. I had needed to discuss something with Ragnok that had been bothering me. Hermione thought I was nuts but we have more money then we know what to do with and the Goblins have the talent so why not? I wanted property and warding and the Goblins were the best. I also wanted my vault contents out of the reach of Dumbledore and the Ministry. We reached an agreement of place, size and the work would begin immediately

/Scene Break/

.

Happily we were now on the Hogwarts Express and heading to Hogwarts. We saw a man in dingy clothing who appeared to be our new DADA professor. R.J Lupin was asleep in Ron's compartment as we passed; Neville joined us in our expanded compartment a little later.

"Dumbledore wants the new Professor to teach me more advanced garbage that I will never be able to remember no less perform." Neville moaned.

"Neville you are more than capable, look how you have been saying no to the Fumble-up." I objected to his lack of confidence.

"Well that's partly true but that's with McGonagall with me. Last time he convinced me to start a club called DA which I am to lead to teach fellow students. Me teach?"

"DA? What does that stand for?" Hermione was always curious.

"Well I wanted to call it Defense Association but Dumbledore said to build confidence in the ranks that is should be called DA in public but it really stands for Dumbledore's Army."

~"You know Foxy, Dumdum is really around the twist, do you think its got to do with changing what was in the future or is that the past?"

~"It's possible but it could just be a fragment of time that has to happen. Still I think your right that the old fraud has gone around the twist."

"Well Neville you could always change things a little and make it a dancing class and not defense training. Couldn't just imagine Dumdum call on his troupes to engage the enemy and everyone breaks out in the Rumba. The Dancing Academy", I joked.

"Is there anything else being pushed at you from Dumbledork? Hermione asked.

"No just a lot of viewing old memories in a pensive and talk of the Elder Wand." Neville sighed.

~"Harry the Elder Wand is known by a lot of names like the DeathStick and the Wand of Destiny. It's supposed to be the unbeatable wand given by Death to the Peverell brother.

"So more bull from the big shit, we will just have to wait to see where Dumbledork want to lead us in his merry chase to the sanitarium."

The welcoming feast was normal except for the introduction of the new DADA Professor Lupin. Of course Dumbledore and Snape, immune from any of their actions, were sitting with Lupin at the head table.

/Scene Break/

We had just finished Professor Lupin's class and were headed to the Great Hall for lunch with dread. It was not the lunch that was dreaded but the double potion class that Friday afternoon brought. Most students were not in high spirits nor eating with gusto, was it Potion Friday?

~"Well let's get it over with, no use getting into trouble for being late." Hermione groused.

~"You will do your outstanding performance as usual my dear so don't worry."

~"Yes and get graded as a failed potion as usual." Hermione said as we took our seats in the Potion classroom.

Neville and a red-faced Ron Weasley had just barely found their seats in the classroom but were still late and Snape was there to applaud it, "Ten points each for being tardy, now take your seats."

I had a smile on my face at how forever the same those two were in there actions, the smile infuriated Snape. "Twenty points from Gryffindor Mr. Potter for smiling in class."

This of course was typical of the greasy louse; I had long given up trying to change the same smile James Potter had during his dating Lily, or so I imagined. I turned from the ugly to Hermione and my smile got larger.

Snape sneered, intimidated and used his usual snarl, "I expect even the most moronic of my potion students to be able to produce this potion. So what are you dunderheads waiting for the instructions are on the board."

So with care and diligence we attacked the potion knowing that we would never get that "A" from Snape. So after a miserable afternoon and reaching our emotional limits we cleaned up our spaces and gathered up our book bags to leave. Crossing thought the door was like the get out of misery card and our spirits rose considerably. School was temporarily over and the weekend awaited our enjoyment.

/Scene Break/

It was a clear bright day for England and the walk was enjoyable.

~"So my love what is on the agenda for today?"

~"The Three Broomsticks for breakfast or course and then HoneyDukes for a refill of our stock. Then I was hoping to stop at Gladrags to see if there is anything new and of course Scrivenshaft's.

~"Not going to the Hogshead for the DA meeting and barbeque?" I chuckled.

~"I think it best we not get involved with that, he will be keeping his options open with you and Neville. I don't want him to have the option to throw one or both of you to Voldemort to see who dies."

~"With the scar and Horicrux being dealt with by us in France shows he had plans based on those items or he would have sent you there himself. So he is not telling us anything but he has his plans to do something. It's just unnerving and twisted."

~"Say Hermione is it getting cold or is it my imagination?"

~"Your right Harry it like Dementors we best find an alley and Phoenix flame to a roof."

If there were any people looking it might have been funny. One silver, one white Phoenix sitting next to each other on the roof of a building with fifty Dementors floating in to feed on the town. What was funny was one or more of the Dementors spotted the Phoenix's and somehow informed the rest. The Dementors made it out of town as fast as they could fly, it seems that light and dark didn't mix well.

After some necking in a bird form the two flamed to an alley to continue their day.

Later at 'The Three Broomsticks':

"Hay Neville over here." I shouted in the loud room. Neville headed over to us but Ron headed to a table full of Gryffindore's.

"So how did your meeting go?" I asked.

"You were right about the DA, most were happy for a dancing club because Professor Lupin is doing such a great job. Ron ruined it by insisting on a dueling club. I think he is being paid by the Headmaster to keep me in line."

"That good is it…so how many are in your club?" I was surprised that they had a whopping six. There was Ron, Neville, Seamus, Parvati, Ginny and Michael Corner. I bought a round of butter beers and we chatted over the club and its doomed failure. After awhile Hermione and I headed back to the castle.

That evening we headed to the Great Hall, we had no sooner entered when we heard Ron and Draco verbally duking it out over who was a pureblood and who was rich and who was a looser.

~"Let's take a seat away from them before we get hit with a stray spell." Hermione suggested. However the only available seating was halfway down the table so we kept our eyes open.

~"Here comes Snape, bet he grabs Ron and compliments Draco." I chuckled as we watched it happen just like I said.

~"It's a real shame that the teachers especially Dumbledore doesn't interfere in these yelling matches. It's almost like they don't see them happening. Hermione grumbled.

Classes continued for the next three weeks before another confrontation occurred. Flitwick had paired up off at random and Hermione's luck was with Ron the mouth. As in first year Hermione could not help but correct the idiot which got an unusual reply.

"Oh shut up, you know it all mudblood…" Ron said. Half of the class gasped, and I growled at the red head and started towards them. Hermione, however, laughed at him and replied.

"Well at least this mudblood can cast the spell, pure-blood." She said, stressing the last two words. Before Ron could react, an irate Flitwick was there.

"MR WEASLEY!" GO TO PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL'S OFFICE AND WAIT THERE UNTIL SHE FINISHES HER CLASS! AND ONE HUNDRED POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR FOR SUCH LANGUAGE!" Ron stomped out of the classroom.

~"You OK there dear?" I asked as I rubbed circles in her back with my hand.

~"I should learn one of these days to let him rot in his ignorance and stupidity. One good thing is he still can't do the spell."

/Scene Break/

Ron was unfortunately out of action for about two weeks worth of detentions. He also lost his Perfect's badge. Draco must have missed him as he went after Hermione, "Hay Mudblood…" SMACK! Hermione had answered with a slap to the face. Not being smart he tried to draw his wand and got my fist in his face. His two thugs dragged him away.

~"Paws did you notice that the teachers don't seem to notice that anything happened?" Hermione asked.

~"Think there is a spell of some sort in effect?"

~"I think we need to hit the library tonight." Hermione said and I should have known, when in doubt hit the library.

/Scene Break/

"Mr. Potter would you join me in my office, please." The Headmaster asked.

~"Ah? What? Did he just ask and say please?" I asked stunned

~"Must be a real big manipulation he's going to ask." Hermione thought that it was funny.

So it began again, "Ah Mr. and Mrs. Potter I am glad you could join us." That meant Snape but we had brought McGonagall.

"So Headmaster what is the problem?" I asked.

"Oh, not a problem in the least but you see Neville, he is your friend, right?"

I nodded and waited.

"Well your friend Neville is having problems in his DA club and needs your excellent assistance." Twinkled Dumdum.

"Oh dear Headmaster we are pacifists and are against all violence. I'm afraid we could not possibly assist in furthering violence." Hermione smiled.

~"You really don't believe they will accept that, do you?"

"But surely you wish to help your friend Neville in his noble attempt to keep us all safe?" Dumdum continued.

"Well that is his path and not ours… I started and was interrupted by Snape.

"You wish to squirm under the Dark Lords pain curses like your friend Neville, how so like James Potter you are."

"Thank you Snivelius, you sum up the whole picture so slimily." I smiled.

"Why you…"

"Now Severus it's not of any consequence if they wish to die painfully because they are not part of the DA." Dumbledore twinkled.

"Such depressing conversation, if you are finished Headmaster my husband and I have other more stimulating things that we can be doing. Please excuse us." Hermione purred.

~"Well my dear do you feel suitably embarrassed that we will not support our friend?" I asked.

~"Some how I am getting more and more in the opinion, they made their bed so they can just lay in it."

/Scene Break/

Transfiguration was now getting to be fun. We were all attempting to become animagus, yea right, we were being shown. After a few days McGonagall was ecstatic that I and Foxy had one hand that turned into a paw.

~"Say dear are you up to a run, we haven't done one in a long time?"

~"Yes dear but remember to slow down, while I love riding on your back a little run would do me good."

That evening the ForbiddenForest was upset with a couple of unusual animals running through the trees and glens. When the Acromantula showed the Phoenixes made a bright impression on the spiders.

/Scene Break/

We had a great run and our bath was very stimulating. Hermione kept me up halve the night but who was I to complain. She was warm, cuddly and down right sexy. Complaining about a little loss of sleep seemed very petty.

Our arrival at breakfast with our arms round each others waists was not noticed and allowed us to slip into our benches with little notice. Then the rumors started and it seemed that there were runners updating the rumors every minute.

Somehow the DA had determined that the "Elder Wand" was in danger of capture by Voldemort in the Ministry's Department of Mysteries. The fools, Neville, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, Seamus Finnigan, and Michael Corner had gotten there and there was a big fight with Deatheaters and a bigger fight with Dumbledore and Voldemort. Everyone that went had been injured and currently resided in the Hospital at Hogwarts. We visited Neville for a very short time because he said, "Dumbledore said that we needed to…"

~"Foxy what do you think, just another fool led by the nose by Fumble-up?" I asked.

~"I am afraid you are correct, Neville appears to be a faithful pawn of Fumble's."