(a/n): Sorry my loyal reviewers. Major changes in work schedule. Now, ironically, it's zero.

Bush bashing was a couple comments. Not in any way. Voted for both of them. Probably wise not to comment further on politics. I was thinking of the historical example of European governments allying themselves with pirates like Blackbeard during the colonization and empire building era. No more appearances by actual public figures.

Why do magicals do what they do regarding non-magicals? I'd guess it's all about the witch-hunt/Inquisition.

Fyreheart disagrees with the likelihood of "...pureblood giving authority to a non-Family entity to determine their marriages..." But governments have a way of determining what powers they'll have. Ginny is a member of a society that seems to have few children. Her mother had 7 over 20 years. Ron (in this story) has proven himself quite fertile already.

On Arthur "growing a set" I suspect, given the right situation, he always had them. Breaking with The Judge, made easier here as he's no longer a Ministry functionary in a deadend job.

Here is much of the goings on at the end of Seventh Year for Harry and most of his friends.

32 – NEWTs at Hogwarts

In many ways it was just like any other year for the young witches and wizards of the school. That was certainly true for almost all of the younger students. A fair number of the graduating Seventh Years were not especially affected by the gathering signs of war. Studying for the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests absorbed most everyone's time.

From the Wizengamot meeting, Susan returned openly. She gathered her and Harry's closest friends. Hannah Abbott, Eleanor Branstone, Zacharias Smith, Joe Cadwallader from Hufflepuff. Luna Lovegood and her current boyfriend Salazar Fawcett, from Ravenclaw. Ron and Ginny Weasley, Colin and Dennis Creevey, Neville Longbottom. "Sirius Black never was a Death Eater" she wrapped up her tale. "Luna, I'm sure Harry would like to have his untarnished version put out."

"Daddy would be more than pleased to publish an interview." Promised the odd Ravenclaw.

Susan still did not know what to think about her most of the time, but she delivered at need. "Thanks Luna." she acknowledged "And, that said, Lord Black is one of the most amazing duelists I have ever seen. I don't think he was really even fighting, exactly. It was like he was more … exercising. The duel lasted about ten minutes, but he could've won it in two."

"Where's Harry?" asked Ginny.

There was never a hint of anything going on between Harry and Ginny, but every once in a while, and despite the other redhead probably being her strongest ally in her relationship with her fiancé, Susan had to repress a wave of jealousy. Answering neutrally "Getting Draco back into hiding."

"Wouldn't mind seeing him suffer his Daddy's fate." Ginny said, bluntly, coldly.

Susan looked displeased, but it was Luna who took up the cause saying "You have a right to dislike Mr. Malfoy, but Draco is only a product of his upbringing. And remember, his circumstances are not much different than Harry's now."

"I agree with Ginny." Neville began talking before his former girlfriend had quite finished "He's been a right miserable prick from day one. I owe Harry a lot for lopping off Bellatrix's head, but I wouldn't piss on Malfoy to put out a fire."

Ron slapped his fellow Gryffindor on the shoulder in delight. Ginny grinned at him and said "A little gross, Neville, but spot on!"

"Grudges serve no great purpose in the Cosmic All." Luna argued in her way "Ongoing hostility only increases entropy and accelerates the heat death of the Universe."

Neville's eyes narrowed at her, but Susan scathingly cut off any remark "Both you and Ron should be the better men! Did either of you offer condolences when Narcissa was murdered?"

"One less Death Eater." Sneered Ron "Besides Malfoy started on me on day one and hasn't let up since. Then what Lucius did to Ginny!"

Hannah stepped forward and drew her wand "Back off about three steps Weasley!" she ordered "Or so help me you've had your last kid with Granger!"

"Hannah!" Susan shouted "Back off! I'm ashamed of the lot of us. Let me tell you, Draco related some stories of Death Eater meetings, and I don't see much difference between them and us. Ron snaps at me. Hannah threatens him. Ginny's got her wand half out! And why can't you and Luna at least be POLITE!" This last directed at Neville, then she stormed off to the one place she could have both privacy and near assurance of being the first to see Harry again.

The door to a particular bathroom swung open and a ghost immediately confronted the intruder, demanding "What do you want?"

"A little peace and quiet." Susan sobbed "I just want to wait for Harry, Myrtle."

The ghost girl studied the living one briefly then cackled "You dumped him! He dumped you? NO! YEeeeheheheheeee! He died and he's coming to share my ubend! YES!"

"Uhh…err" stammered Susan, her emotions washed out by trying to process the ghost's tirade. And she had not quite formed a response when they heard a CLANK and metal grinding against metal. She had never appreciated an interrupted conversation more "Thank Merlin!"

Harry grunted in surprise as he caught her "What's the matter?" he asked.

"HE'S NOT DEAD!" shrieked Myrtle as she circled the pair at almost a blur "YOU LIAR! YEAAAAHHHHHHH!' Followed by a splash in a toilet.

Susan stopped sobbing and starting giggling. Her legs crumpled and she felt him support her. Her arms just dangled over his shoulders, until the fit passed "I'm sorry Harry." She apologized "I know you're not one for criers."

"But then you started laughing." He observed in a confused voice "What happened? If you can talk about it that is."

She related the discussion with their friends, and her reaction, "And then Myrtle … and her reaction… It just put the whole thing into perspective." Susan explained "You need to have a chat with Auntie after we graduate."

"Umm… Sue" he began delicately "You know she's- that is"

Not that Susan was not still grieving, but she'd accepted Amelia's death and "You Harry Potter, are such a Muggle! And you even forgot the paintings of James and Lily. It's a little different in Metacarpus, but you'll see."

"Well, I look forward to it." He replied, somewhat doubtfully, and then "Anyway what'll we do about our quarrelsome friends?"

After a dramatic sigh, she admitted "Not really Death Eaters, so killing's out. Guess I overreacted anyway."

"A little bit." Harry chided her, gently. He held up a finger and thumb almost touching and smiled "So you know, Malfoy and Salazar are getting along just fine. We'll soon have a deal in place to get some of that Slytherin treasure working for us."

Susan smirked in a near Draco-ish way and asked "And just how are we going to justify spending those kinds of sums?"

"We lie." Replied Harry, cheerfully "If anyone asks you, tell them you got it from me. And I'll do the same. True enough to maybe pass Veratiserum, but maybe not. Every once in a while, we got it from Draco. That's more true anyway. Houses Potter and Bones have been paying the bills of this war, lately."

Susan was about to reply when they were interrupted by their friends. Wizards and Witches, despite the GIRLS sign prominently posted on the outside of the door, entered. They were very subdued. And obviously hadn't decided who the spokesman would be as they all began. Ultimately, it was Hannah who won out "We're ALL sorry, Sue." She faced her friend squarely "Me most of all. You just saw someone killed in a duel. Never saw anyone die like that before."

"It's nothing great, glorious, or any of that shit." Harry replied, squeezing Susan's shoulder "Like I said after killing Bella and Greyback. Sirius did what he had to. Actually to get my arse out of trouble. Nev, I don't like Malfoy any more than you do. But he's lost both his parents in just a couple months."

Neville looked down, but he was still angry "A couple of Death Eaters. And how do I know they didn't participate in my parents' torture?"

"I can't say Lucius might not have." Harry admitted "But Sirius is sure Narcissa was, at most, an unwilling Death Eater. Malfoy thinks she knew about Voldemort being a Half-Blood. Not really worthy of leading the Pureblood cause."

Ron backed Neville, though apologetic to Susan "Right, maybe we were a bit harsh. Like Hannah said. But Malfoy insults me, Harry, picks on Neville all the time."

"Pick(ed) Ron. Past tense." Harry countered "And Sue pointed out I really had no logical reason to not shake Malfoy's hand that first day."

Ron scowled "You remember what he said to me? Hand-me-down robe! More kids than we can afford!"

"It was a little chewed up, Ron." Harry replied with a nostalgic chuckle "And remember, we proved him wrong there. But, did you forget? When he introduced himself you laughed at his name… And no, Neville, that doesn't excuse how he picked on you. But, and it might not be permanent, he's an ally now. Ginny?"

She shrugged "I don't trust him and never will. I would appreciate it if you kept him out of my sight unless absolutely necessary."

"I said ally." He replied, with emphasis on that last word "Not friend. So? NEWTs?"

Susan gave a concerned look "I know you've got Apparation down, Flying, Transfiguration. But Harry, what if Professor Umbridge wants to duel you?"

"With those extra lessons? I'd wipe the floor with Shortie." Answered Harry "But I see your point. Everyone! Get this! No one and I mean NO ONE takes a NEWT with any Professor in a room by yourself."

Luna tilted her head in thought, and nodded "I will consider your words for next year, Harry Potter."

x

"Mr. Black, these interruptions of school routine are becoming -" Professor McGonagall began.

Against all protocol, a formally attired Sirius cut in "Might the word you're looking for be Routine? Headmistress?"

"Obnoxious seems more fitting." She countered.

He laughed at the response "I so missed your warm repertoire Minerva I just had to visit."

Breakfast, which had been well under way in the Great Hall, stopped cold. Laughter at this impossible situation just did not happen. For one, the students wouldn't dare. For another, any unnecessary noise would interfere with hearing any slight comment between the two.

"Apologies, Headmistress. And just for the record, no one should be disrespectful to the Headmistress. Especially, those who have to return next year." he finally backed down, though still smiling "I just wanted to come ahead of the owls and papers. With due deference to the lovely Miss Lovegood, the Wizengamot has cleared the 'notorious' Azkaban escapee… Sirius Black … of all charges."

Harry whooped with delight, leapt out of his seat and tackled his Godfather. Likewise his closest friends offered congratulatory cheers and moved to the happily grappling pair as quickly as their locations in the Great Hall allowed. Enthusiasm for the announcement varied depending on Harry's popularity.

"Thank you all." The freed man said as the ruckus faded "Two other notes of importance. The Wizengamot has decided to award, as compensation, a Million Galleons for every year of my imprisonment. I plan to put that directly into the fight against Voldemort. How precisely? I admit I don't know yet. But, House Black, and House Malfoy, hereby denounce their former allegiance and now stand beside Houses Potter, Bones and Weasley."

Harry didn't particularly care for Hermione's intrusion when she congratulated Sirius on his victory. He was quick to disrupt that, although his question was genuine enough "Pettigrew? What happened to him?"

"Ah… now, Ron, Ginny… can I ask both of you to let me finish?" began Sirius "The thing is, your Father challenged Wormtail to a duel."

His request may as well never been uttered as the siblings practically exploded in demands for explanation.

"Calm down! Both of you!" Sirius shouted them down "Wormtail didn't have the courage to accept. He died as he lived. A cowardly rat. He tried to escape and ran headlong into a Dementor."

Thanks to the depredations of Amos Diggory, Harry had nearly as much exposure to the Dark creatures in his year in Azkaban as Sirius in all his dozen. He shivered violently "Better off dead."

"I have an idea of what to do with what's left of him." Sirius continued "But that for later. I'm free to do whatever I like and I'd like to spend at least part of it here with my Godson. As your NEWTs allow, and with the Headmistress' permission, of course."

The stern witch was inclined to refuse such an irregularity, but a look from Harry Potter changed her mind. Minerva had not forgotten the cruel visit from her nephew. Had, in fact, not been allowed to as the Irish Ministry recently informed her they had removed the travel ban. Her brother had died. But Harry read exactly what she needed that day in Hogsmeade, and she had not forgotten that either "Very well." She replied, though not above her own little mischief "But Hogwarts allows no layabouts. You shall work for your stay. For all Lord Black's reputation as a troublemaker, he was an outstanding student. Please make yourself available for tutoring sessions."

"As long as no one calls me Professor." Replied Sirius with a good-natured look of disgust.

A look of understanding passing between them, Harry and Ron bellowed together "Yes sir Professor Black, sir!" They bowed repeatedly

The Headmistress allowed herself a hint of a smile. Inside she was laughing. The youngsters' mock-respect couldn't have been better had she planned it.

x

NEWTs began in earnest. The semi-official tutor found himself quite busy. Critical to anyone who wanted to take Auror training, was a Defense Against the Dark Arts NEWT. In most students' opinion, their current Professor, Delores Umbridge, was an adequate teacher. A bit too interested in the book rather than the doing. Here, Harry's warning to his group of close friends turned out to be unnecessary. Several Aurors, including Mad-Eye Moody, arrived and lined up opposite the NEWT testees. "Don't expect me to go easy on you, Potter." He growled.

"Boys will be boys!" interrupted Nymphadora Tonks "Written tests are one thing. But, as I am sure your professors have said, the only way to prove your abilities is to show it. This test is in two parts. Offense. And Defense. For offense you will start at 100, get five shots to break one of our shields then lose 10 points for each one that doesn't. For defense, you start at zero and score 10 points every time your shield stands up against our attack. Clear?"

Hermione's hand shot up, wanting to know "What is the scale, Ma'am? Where do we get an Exceeds Expectations, versus an Outstanding?"

"Or possibly Troll?" asked the Auror, lightly. To which Hermione frowned as if she had not even considered the possibility of such a grade.

Considerable thought had gone into Harry's grade. Sirius built himself up during almost two months in the Chamber of Secrets under the instruction of Salazar Slytherin himself. And Harry was down there as time allowed. Which meant his abilities had little to do with Hogwarts classroom study. Three or four of the Seventh Years were being tested at the same time, but all other activity stopped when Harry's name was called.

"Go Harry!" shouted Ron "Kick his ruddy arse!" Mrs. Weasley, the younger, glared at her husband. Ron cast his eyes down, then looked back resentfully "You could at least support my best friend!"

Susan, who had already been tested, scoring just ten points above the minimum that Auror Academy would accept. Squeezing his forearm she whispered "We know you could flatten him, but you don't have to."

"You my victim, Alastor?" asked Harry, nearly arrogant.

The man who had followed Harry on his quest for revenge in Amelia Bones' murder had returned to semi-retirement with the Auror Corps. He carried out little projects for The Minister and reported his activities to his real boss. Dumbledore had instantly accepted his return to the fold once he explained it was Amelia's assassination that drove his actions. Alastor was, of course, still "loyal to the light" He grinned maliciously at the young student "Hardly Potter." He countered "Someone more your speed. I think Junior Auror Maggie Smith will suffice."

"Don't worry about it Harry." The young Auror said, brightly "I can remember standing where you are just three short years ago."

Harry only vaguely remembered the woman who was a Seventh Year in that fateful year that led to his imprisonment in Azkaban. His eyes wandered over her athletic frame, deciding she was exactly what the scheme called for. "Thanks for the vote of confidence." He offered, politely.

"As we all seem so interested!" shouted Moody "Let's give them the floor! BEGIN!"

Instantly, she lashed out with the heavy shield battering spell everyone else was using for the test. Harry did not erect a shield as the other participants had done. He, instead, disapparated and as the spell struck the wall where he stood he re-apparated. "Ten for me!" he exclaimed in a gloating tone.

"Perhaps the rules were not made clear." Growled the old Auror "Let me do so now. There will be no Apparating, no dodging, no objects in the path of the spell. Erect a shield and hold it. Are we clear?"

Harry's shield fizzled out on #5. Auror Smith put just enough force into that last shot to finish off the shield and shove him into the wall. "Not too bad at all." She complimented "In fact you should be quite proud. We'll let you catch your breath. Then I'm sure you won't mind tossing a few back at me."

"Got that right." He retorted, glaring at Moody "And, just so we're clear. Again. That there aren't any restrictions on what spells I use?"

Mad-Eye frowned "I think you know enough about Azkaban to not use one of those."

"Definitely not." Harry replied with a nod. Then "Right. Ready Miss Smith?"

She stood there, stiffly holding her wand in front and a glow of green enveloped her "Had one of the best shields in my class." She declared.

Nobody heard an incantation, but Harry's wand lit up a bright blue and a ball of crackling blue raced across the room and impacted. It was identical to what Sirius used during the duel with Lucius Malfoy. And he had been a master of the art. His spells were not quite on Sirius' level, it took six, but the Junior Auror's shield collapsed.

"Potter cheated!" came a screeching accusation. Several angry eyes immediately speared Hermione. But not this time. It came from Pansy Parkinson, who absent Draco's presence had taken over leadership of the anti-Harry faction. "First with that Apparation! Then that spell none of us have seen!"

Auror Smith shook her head "No, he didn't. We never specifically ruled out Apparation until Moody said so. Mr. Potter merely took advantage of a loophole. And I would call it a creative interpretation. And those blue forceballs… amazing… they seem to just target a magical shield."

x

"So nice to see you again, Harry." Said a voice out of the past. And not a particularly welcome one. "Bones. You could do so much better, Harry."

The couple pulled out of a cozy snuggle to confront "Chang. Can't say I've missed you much." Susan said, coldly "Would've expected a mover like you to have at least two promotions by now." She was commenting on the single stripe of rank on the Chinese girl's Ministry robes.

"Watch yourself, Bones." Warned Cho, menacingly "You have no idea who you're messing with."

Susan gave a dismissive grunt and drawled out "Yeeeaaaahhh you and your gang did reeeeaall well against me back on the train."

"A sneak attack from behind?" Cho sneered "You're no match for me, Bones."

Harry stepped between the posturing girls and said "Cho, she's twice the woman you ever were on your best day. Now, to put it as politely as I can … Bugger OFF!"

"You! BA—" she began. Then interrupted her fury and smiled "We'll see each other again, Harry. Soon. Real soon. And you can bet, I'll remember this lovely chat."

The couple watched as she swaggered away, hips bouncing up and down far more than necessary. Susan burst out laughing and queried "Twice?"

"Well, I woulda said ten." Harry replied as if confessing to a crime "But I didn't want to offend TOO much."

She squirmed and giggled as his fingers lightly teased her bare back under her shirt "Cut it you brute!" she complained, not very seriously "But I do wonder what she's doing here."

"Don't care." *kiss* "Too busy" *kiss*kiss* And just as Harry was really beginning to enjoy himself, the nearby classroom doors burst open. He rolled his forehead on hers and chuckled "Perfect timing. What? Come on there, Miss Bones. Show the underclassmen a good example."

Susan groaned as they separated, equal parts of regret at the loss of contact as his attempt at humor "Fine! Off with you then. Apparation for you, right? I got Muggle Studies."

"Yup." Nodded Harry "Gotta agree with Granger on that one. It's at least 100 years out of date. Waste of time. You could learn more on a walk through East London." Susan kissed him on the nose, loudly, and ran off.

x

Susan's test was strictly of the paper and quill variety. Desks were spaced so far apart as to make cheating impossible. She and Hermione made a point of ignoring each other as they entered. Before her murder, Amelia had relayed the confrontation she'd had with Hermione's mother the day of the wedding. Enough had happened since then, however, to sour what had been a friendly acquaintance.

The test had yet to start when Lavender Brown, who sat in the next desk, approached "You hate Granger?" she asked "Don't you Bones?"

"Took you a year to figure that out?" replied Susan. "Hate's a bit strong. But, no, I've got no love for Granger. Why?"

It was the same vacuous smile as always, but something else "Ron should have been mine." Lavender declared "But that Mudblood seduced him away from his destiny."

"Well. .lll." Susan scratched her chin thoughtfully "Nothing permanent, I trust?"

To which the Gryffindor replied "I just need her out of the way for a while. All you need to do is use your womanly influence on Harry to nudge Ron to me at the right moment."

"I can do that, Brown." The redhead nodded. "I wouldn't mind taking Granger down a notch." Both statements, in themselves, entirely true. Harry had disclosed the involvement of the Diggorys in her Auntie's death. But that they had been the ones best positioned to give him leads to Amelia's murderers. She would cast herself in the same role and hopefully have a better result.

And that was exactly what the obsessed, really lovely, young woman wanted to hear. Lavender nodded gleefully, her pigtails bouncing wildly. She whispered every detail of her scheme to slip Ron a substantial dose of Amortentia. And Susan would be highly useful if she found a way to poison Hermoine. Not fatally. Just a ten day coma.

"Would dinner tonight work?" asked Susan as she accepted the phial. She hid it in the folds of her robes and did not look at either Gryffindor girl as Professor Burbage entered.

x

Ron had skipped out of the Apparation testing area quite happily. Proud holder of a Full License. There were also Partial Licenses and Limited ones to less successful students. Slytheriins Greg Goyle and Pansy Parkinson were among those issued Limited Licenses. Full ones to several Ravenclaws, Parvati Patil and naturally her twin, and Daphne Greengrass. Harry half-smiled at roommate and Ginny's former boyfriend Dean sporting his. Ron still hated his classmate for punching his sister. Seamus Finnegan and Vincent Crabbe were among the few outright failing.

"Well… Mr. …ahh Potter" the examiner announced in a disinterested tone "Yes. Potter, Harry J. It's been a long day. Get it over with. Your sequence A,J,C,H,J,F,A begin."

There were lettered spots on the chamber's floor. Harry stepped into the room and popped through the randomly scattered targets. Not missing one.

"Failed." She declared "Send in the next candidate on your way out."

Harry spluttered indignantly "You couldn't even do that Cho! And I bet you didn't when you took the test!"

"Your sequence was A,J,D,H,J,B,A. You made two outright mistakes and missed H by two feet." The Chinese woman countered. "Now stop wasting my time."

"LIAR!" roared Harry. But then he stopped himself "Very well, Miss Chang comma Cho. You may expect an appeal, as is my right, through the appropriate channels."

She blinked at him in surprise "All I ever wanted, Harry..." She said, distressed "…Is the truth about Cedric! *sob* And for you to love me *bawl* Like he did!"

"Me love you? After the way you acted?" he was gob-smacked "Not a bloody chance! And forget the cheap shots you pulled on me! Insulting Susan, attacking Luna! Then …"

"Who?" she asked.

Cho did not even remember the name of the then Fourth Year she, and her mostly Seventh Year friends, had bullied that day back in Hogsmeade. Harry was not sure if he was too angry to be surprised or too surprised to be angry "Don't even come near me!" he warned "Or I swear I'll banish you clear to Gibraltar!"

"I'm sorry Harry!" the now wailing woman exclaimed. She sniffled after a minute or so and offered "I take it back. Here, of course you passed. I-"

He cut her off and snatched away the card "Fuck that Chang! And fuck you too!" he cursed "Her name is Luna. No, Administrator Chang, you made your ruling."

x

"Mr. Potter, you do not lack for drama. Do you?" asked Professor Umbridge.

Harry had not had many incidents with the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Now she was also acting in her capacity as a Ministry employee. He considered her adequate "No ma'am," he replied "but this was not of my making."

"In spite of your lack of respect for Minister Dumbledore," The small teacher began, then handed him an envelope "he seems inclined to accept your word regarding the facts in the case. Your Apparition license."

Harry accepted the scroll with a nod "Thank you. And what about Chang?"

"What do you think should be done?" asked Umbridge. There was a sharpness to her tone that indicated her expectations.

Harry scowled at her, pointing out "This isn't the first time she has used a position of power to persecute me."

"The incident to which you refer, Mr. Potter" she said coolly "was two years ago. Surely there is no need to hold a grudge."

"You sound like Dumbledore. Guess I should have a nice sitdown in Madam Puddifoot's with Voldemort. " He snorted "Nor have I been the only victim of her abuse of authority. Talk to Luna Lovegood."

The witch was clearly displeased "Mr. Ogden, her department head, appears disinclined to gentle discipline. Miss Chang has been demoted two steps in rank and fined three months' salary. I believe that excessive." She stated, waited almost a minute. And when Harry just sat, looking at her, Umbridge pointed out "Perhaps, Mr. Potter, you are unaware of the long association between House Chang and House Umbridge?"

"If you mean Chang sponsoring Umbridge for Wizengamot inclusion in 1657, yes." Harry replied, smiled, and continued "There was the marriage between Daphne Umbridge and Li Chang in 1701. And a Treaty of Eternal Peace and Friendship in 1703. The Military and Mutual Defense…"

That last enraged the Professor as it was supposed to be a secret, She cut him off harshly "Enough showing off Potter! You may go!" Her eyes drilled holes in the impudent boy's back as he departed. Where he'd learned Umbridge Family secrets was obvious 'Bones!' But what demanded immediate investigation was "Where is the leak?"

x

"You talk too much, Harry." Susan's sour complaint cut through the chuckling at his tale.

After blinking in surprise, he demanded "What's your problem? You never liked Umbridge."

"Not the point. Umbridge and Bones have an unpleasant past." She countered, with rising irritation "The point is you don't give away intelligence for nothing."

Ron stopped laughing a mere second after Harry. He pointed out "Not really a bad thing, Sue. In chess anything that isn't an attack is a retreat. The bloody toad will probably go nuts trying to figure out who gave away her secrets."

"And some things are more important!" her voice rose markedly "And stop butting IN!" At that point she glared at her fiancé.

Harry didn't flinch "Ron's right." He said in clipped tones "You're overreacting over nothing." It left him gob-smacked when she emitted a sob and fled.

"That could've gone better." Commented Hannah Abbott.

Harry's glare fell on the blonde Hufflepuff, demanding "Well! You're the expert in all things Susan. Tha bloody hell just happened?"

"I'm on your side Harry." She said, tolerating his outburst "I don't always follow her thoughts. But something about the way you said … upset her. It wasn't just about a piece of House espionage."

He gave a disgruntled look, flicked his wand, muttered a spell that charred stone wall.

x

"I was beginning to wonder if you were showing up!" Susan snapped at her best friend.

Hannah gave a trio of giggly Second Years an evil eye, causing them to flee. Closing the room door she bounced on the redhead's bed, declaring "Harry's a prat, a jerk and a heel."

"You forgot big mouth!" exclaimed Susan.

Nodding amicably, Hannah simply hugged her about the shoulders. Finally, she asked the question that was uppermost in her mind "So? Old friend? Just so we're clear … Why are we mad at Harry?"

"Well if you don't know-" complained Susan with a snarl. She cut herself off and eyed her friend "You don't mean to tell me."

The blonde shrugged "The expert, as he called me, in all things Susan. You'll have to explain it to me."

"And in your yenta-ish way, therefore..." The redhead concluded "… if someone I shared cradles with didn't get that Auntie gave him that information for a real need. Harry might not either."

Hannah sighed, she shook her head and then nodded "That's not it either, but now I understand. But did you ever think Aunt Ami got that tidbit from Potter files?"

"That and any old piece of century past spy data isn't near as important as my engagement." Susan finally decided.

Hannah leaned forward, rapped a knuckle on Susan's forehead and hugged her about the neck "Knew you'd get there sooner or later. Not nearly as dumb as you look."

"Very funny!" giggled Susan. But if she thought the whole situation would be instantly resolved, she would be disappointed. What happened in her absence, she would not learn except indirectly and later. The pair of Hufflepuffs walked into an abandoned classroom that contained the entire NEWT Defense student body. She spotted him in a moment and called out "Harry!"

His reaction decidedly put her off. He only glanced at his fiancé then turned a critical eye to one dueling pair "Better Greengrass, your problem is defense."

"What?" demanded the leading Slytherin female "Just because I'm marrying into the Weasleys, does not mean I'm adopting all the casualness. In fact, I expect my husband to more assume my social awareness."

Harry shrugged "Well I don't much care about social awareness, Daphne. Defense is about keeping you alive. Looking tall and proper is great for a ball. But Ron hit you with three spells when all you had to do was duck. Getting a NEWT here isn't just a O on your record! It's about staying alive people! Anyone! A stunner!"

Seamus Finnegan fired, Harry flung his body to the stone floor. He was instantly up again and he grabbed a fistful of Daphne's robes to keep the now petrified girl standing. Her utterly immobile face managed to convey shock and rage. And a greater embarrassment, the Gryffindor mockingly flicked her nose.

"As we can all see" said Harry with a chuckle "Daphne is still perfectly groomed. Where my tie is all twisted and I think my shirt came out. Of course I can still talk and move."

Millicent Bulstrode bullied her way through the group and shoved Harry away, screeched "LEAVE A SLYTHERIN WOMAN ALONE!" She failed to catch her Housemate as she fell. Daphne hit the floor like a stiff 2x4.

"You caused more harm than I did, just by not thinking." Harry scolded her. "You know, I bet Salazar himself would tell you how stupid that was." He then cancelled Seamus' stunner, healed Daphne's nose almost before it started bleeding. "I didn't think through all the possibilities. For that, I apologize, Daphne."

The whole group stopped! A Gryffindor apologized to A Slytherin! A Gryffindor NEVER apologized to A Slytherin! And yet, one just had. Fact was, her own Housemate was directly responsible for Daphne's injury. Harry couldn't have foreseen it. The Slytherin girl calculated the value of the moment. She was marrying a Weasley. Taking the offered hand and allowing him to pull her up, she nodded "Apology accepted, Harry. And you proved your point. Can't really learn much in a day, but hopefully it's enough."

"I think you'll do fine." Harry told her. He squeezed and released her hand "Just don't worry about mussed hair."

She favored him with a smile and quoted "Function over form?"

"Harry, can I talk to you?" asked Susan. She had been quietly watching from the sidelines. She did not get the response expected. In fact, none at all.

He regarded her coolly and said "We're just revising for DADA. Anything you wanna go over?"

"Not particularly." She replied. They both knew neither of them needed help passing NEWTs after working with Sirius and the painting of Salazar Slytherin. Of course he would not air a private argument. But Susan had figured on being alone all but instantly.

He turned to his best friend and told him "Ron. A reducto. Cadwallader, put up your shield."

"Sure Harry." The Seventh Year Hufflepuff was surrounded in a reddish glow and Ron fired. The shield absorbed the spell. A nod from Harry and Ron fired again. The group all cheered when it held.

Hermione grabbed her husband's hand and forced it down "You can't just order people to shoot each other Harry!" she shouted "Makes you no better than Voldemort!"

"I used to think you were so smart, Granger." He sounded not angry, but disappointed "Y'know for all your rule quoting, you spent our first four years breaking them with me and Ron. And when it comes to Defense, you don't even seem to know the most important rule of all."

She glared at him, retorted in a voice dripping with scorn "And I suppose you'll teach us from your extensive experience?"

To say they had a captivated audience was one of the understatements of the year.

"Granger I've experienced more Dark Arts than you've ever read about." That remark, delivered with the calm certainty of saying a triangle has three sides, was ultimately insulting. Especially as it called into question Hermione's cherished library.

Never lacking for a response, she fired back "That is why you have been hanging with Malfoy."

"Draco gave me a lot of useful information." Harry snapped at her "And when his Mum was murdered, of course I gave him sanctuary. I know a little something about dead parents! Books, everyone, can give you lists of spells. But just like Quidditch, you can only get good by practicing. Getting into the NEWT Class means we were the best of our Year. And whether you get the NEWT or not, keep practicing. And something else I learned the hard way, if you're a one trick act you're dead. The best defense is a good offense, so throw a spell and make it deadly."

Hermione gave him an offended look "Killing Curses land people in Azkaban."

"Yeah? And guess what Granger?" sneered Harry "The Wizarding World owes me one false imprisonment. But everyone there is such a thing as justifiable homicide. Someone tries to kill you, kill them first. Now, what I was saying, in a fight throw spells, move and shield. Just using one will get you killed."

The gathering broke up. Seventh Years had better things to do than watch another Granger/Potter clash. Several did go off to get some practical experience in Defense. And they did not need Harry to tell them to throw spells at each other.

"You wanted to talk." His tone was stiff, not at all inviting.

For her friend, Hannah was offended but she kept her silence. This one wasn't her fight. Where she did intervene was with Hermione.

"I was not finished!" the female Gryffindor "Harry-"

From the Hufflepuff came "Obliviate!" An 'Owl' a Human Messenger, was a memory expert. Hannah was only a trainee, but their first lesson was to be able to as a last resort erase any trace of an entrusted memory. But only that one item. Hannah's spell wiped from Hermione's mind the whole next paragraph of her argument with Harry. And Ron did not even need to be told, the couple retired to their quarters.

"Thanks Hannah." Harry acknowledged, with relief, that he'd avoided another argument with Hermione.

She nodded and said "Good. You owe me. Listen to your fiancé."