(a/n): Hi all and thanks for being here.

Fulfilling a request to have a recap. It definitely changed the original outline of this chapter. Pushed all the goodbyes and future planning to next chapter (for instance). Bits of the past to be found in conversations and commentaries.

You look at Hogwarts in the movies and it's huge. Plenty large enough for two hospital wings. I don't see any reason why any House could not have its share of Death Eaters. JKR focused on Slytherin, yet a central DE was a Gryffindor. So why not the other two?

Grindewald didn't seem to really have a motivation in canon. Just a forgotten old man. Here, not only does Snape's bloodline explain Dumbledore's loyalty, but also the former Dark Lord's comeback. More about him here.

35 – Graduation

"And why aren't you following, Granger?" Hannah wanted to know.

Hermione ignored her and addressed herself to Susan "Ironic isn't it? Despite my best efforts, I keep finding myself deeper and deeper involved with Harry Potter."

"If you have something to say…" Susan grumbled "Say it and get out."

The Gryffindor persisted "I have a life-debt to you. I was highly suspicious of Harry's motives when Ginny committed herself. Tell me, please, Lady Bones how does your House treat its vassals?"

"You're right, Hermione." Susan admitted, her tone softened noticeably "I apologize, my House is an honorable one and you can expect that loyalty and respect will be returned in equal measure."

Hermione nodded and said "Thank you. And if I may presume, that also means I can point out when you have acted like an idiot?"

"WHAT?!" Susan choked down a healthy dose of indignation "And no, Hannah! You can't hit her!"

Hermione gave a smirk and said "Well, that expression alone was worth it. Nevertheless it is truth. I would not know how long your troubles with Harry have gone on. Those are things Ron would not share with me. But it is painfully obvious."

"Why should we trust anything you say, Granger?" a heated Hannah demanded.

This time, Hermione DID acknowledge her "Because I am a witch of my word. And, not even counting my oath to Susan, Harry rescued Ron at considerable risk to himself. I quite imagine House Potter will be adding a member. Or will House Weasley be adding two."

"If we're not careful, we might all end up married to each other." Quipped Susan.

Hermione giggled, then shook her head "Off topic! I suppose I should explain. It must be apparent that Harry and I have come somewhat to terms. It's hard to stay hateful when a man has saved your husband. Even if Ron saved him first."

"Just an observation, no offense intended." Susan qualified "But, two years of hate? You can erase that in two hours?"

Hermione shrugged rather sheepishly "Yes and no. But you can cover a great deal of topics when helped by magic. He did not tell me how, but apparently he has become expert in the closely linked disciplines of Legilimency and Occlumency."

"I know." Susan commented off-handedly, then glanced at her friend.

Hannah took the hint, she held up her left hand, thumb and forefinger together. Last three, grouped in another spread "I know nothing. Messenger's Honor." She pledged.

"Right." The Gryffindor acknowledged "Professor L- I mean Remus wanted to use Legilimency on Harry to see if they could make sense of Cadwallader's actions. Then he insisted I use the spell. And he's really quite manipulative. Do you know where he got that?"

Susan nodded and almost answered, then stopped herself "Sorry, classified. Go on, what did he do?"

"Told me he's not good with little details. Talked about my logical mind." She almost sighed.

Hannah smirked "I'm impressed."

"Yeah I was too." Hermione admitted sourly "Barely took five minutes to replay the game in the spell. And he was totally truthful about those pains. He never actually saw the Dark Mark. But, every time, Cad- err Justin- The thing is, Harry must have a tremendous threshold when it comes to pain. And that's where the manipulation came in."

Susan guessed "You felt when he felt?"

"Yeah, but that was just part of it." Hermione shivered "He pulled a nasty trick on me. Besides seeing the Quidditch Match, Harry dropped in memories of his Azkaban time. It was really horrible."

Hannah crossed her arms "And this has what to do with you calling Sue an idiot?" she demanded "Azkaban being bad isn't news. I can sympathize and all, but you got way off topic."

"Well, I don't know if this part was intentional or not, but I felt what he feels for you." She explained "Harry loves you so much… I do not understand how, or why … You do realize there – it is entirely possible he could break up with you. Soon."

Susan frowned, angry at the remark, finally she asked "What makes you say that? Yes, we've had some arguments. But what couple doesn't?"

"You haven't known Harry as long as I have." Hermione explained "You cannot just listen to what he says. You have to listen to what he DOES NOT say. Sometimes it's more important anyway."

Susan was getting impatient. Hidden behind her well schooled political mask, she decided she understood Harry's rejection of a life-debt connection. "Get to the point, please." She said, without apparent weariness.

"You were the one who worked out Harry's innocence." Hermione answered "And yet, three times since then, you have questioned: First his fidelity and now, twice in as many days, his motives and actions. Taking that rose from Justin… well, in like circumstances I'd be looking into Wizarding divorce law."

x

For disease outbreaks, the Hospital wings were equipped with isolation walls, much like the clear and magically reinforced wall that separated duelists from spectators in the Wizengamot chamber. Justin Finch-Fletchley was now secured behind such a wall. Madam Pomfrey emerged from within "Mr. Lupin, given your relationship to the primary victim" she was saying "I seriously doubt your commitment to maintain my patient's security."

"At the moment." He countered "I am the only available Auror. I shall do my duty."

She looked at the three students "What are you three here for? Get out!"

"Wait." Said Susan "We done, Granger?" Hermione nodded "Madam Pomfrey. I need to see you. Privately."

Feeling weary, the mediwitch waved a hand "Very well. You two! Out!"

"That was interesting." Hannah commented when they were alone "And it wasn't all you had in your arsenal, was it?"

Brown eyes bored into sky blue "I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Information still flows between Houses." Said Hannah in a worried tone.

Hermione asked "Meaning?"

"You weren't going to point out that Justin being a Death Eater meant he'd joined the same people who murdered Auntie Bones?" she asked, pointedly.

The Gryfifndor shrugged "Yes, but in retrospect that would have been a mistake."

"Like you suppressing Sue's scene at the Gryff wing?" it was not really a question.

Hermione recovered heroically "Professor McGonagall would have approved. I did it to prevent more fighting."

"And no one to thank you for it." Said Hannah "Except, that is, me. Well, let's hope that they don't ever come back and bite us in our collective arses."

Hermione waved her off "I did it for a lot of reasons. Thanks, the least of them. I think we both know what to do from here. By the way, do you know what she wanted to see Madam Pomfrey about?"

"I do." answered Hannah. And there she stopped "If you think of anything else we need to do, let me know."

x

Susan was having the most troubling Healer visit of her short life. "Well?" she demanded, irritably "These tests don't require THIS much intrusion!"

I understand, Miss Bones." Madam Pomfrey replied, in a sympathetic voice "Please believe me I would not ask without a very good reason."

Reluctantly, the redhead stripped naked below the waist "Confirming a pregnancy only needs a potion and a couple of spells." She complained.

"I realized that." the Mediwitch said, patiently "And this is where it becomes unpleasant. I must ask. Is Mr. Potter violent with you?"

Susan guffawed "That's the MOST ridiculous thing I ever heard!" she did qualify "Well…we don't always watch what we're doing. Banged elbow, bumped knee, I bet we both have our share of those." Her face colored brightly.

"In the absence of further evidence… you were the adopted daughter of our Chief Auror." She commented, examining the patient's hips, front and back. And when the patient winced "I'll assume… ahh…I thought as much. Feel that? That?"

Susan grunted, both times "Ouch! OUCH! O U C H!"

"These bruises are why I asked the question." Madam Pomfrey explained "They are very recent. I cannot know how you will take this. You were approximately five weeks pregnant."

Tonelessly, Susan asked "Was?"

"Yes child." She confirmed, sympathetically "Likely, it happened on the Quidditch Pitch. The injury was likely caused when you fell, landing on one or more rocks."

The teen processed it through as best she could, spoke hesitantly "Harry and I were kissing … we stopped. I …maybe him… about to again. Ron. Ron pushed us. Ron made me miscarry?"

"Ah-ahahah!" the Mediwitch cut her off "Now I may be duty bound to protect my patient, physically. That said, I can testify that had Mr. Weasley NOT acted as he had, you and/or Mr. Potter would be in critical condition or possibly dead." Susan held up a hand with a point that went unheard "I also remind you of the incident you yourself witnessed at King's Crossing. How was Mr. Potter to know that Mrs. Granger was pregnant?"

Susan sighed "You know, I feel like one of those wild North Sea storms that never got started. And all because of a butterfly over Malta."

"Something like that." agreed Madam Pomfrey "Now, as your Healer. I strongly recommend the following. This in the following order. 1) A good night's sleep 2) A long talk and maybe a good cry with that fiancé of yours."

x

A not dissimilar scene of 'eager to fight' Death Eaters who had gathered near Potter territory, were in the general area of Metacarpus Mansion. They could not locate the Bones property exactly, which troubled many of the inexperienced witches and wizards. The trio of leaders were not having fruitful discussions.

"I fail to see why these potions could not have been completed weeks ago!" Alecto complained. She was not one to wait patiently. This witch had to be constantly acting.

Her brother was far more relaxed, twirling his wand between his fingers and simultaneously agitating a simmering brew "Calm yourself, Sister." He advised "Or if you must do something, why not get that next generation of our Lord's servants started?"

"Must you be so crass?" demanded the nominal leader "Regardless, Amycus has a point. These potions must simmer for the next eighty-eight hours. And they have a twenty minute window of viability. Your presence shall not be required for some time."

Amycus took a placating approach "Perhaps, Severus, you could explain this approach."

"Little different from the attack on Potter." Answered Snape "However, the critical difference is that we know the Bones girl will be here and must be taken. Our Master said alive! The mistake we made at Potter's was dispersing our forces Five will be enough to lay all anti-apparation wards to trap the girl. The rest of us will all blast through the foyer. Remaining together at all times we will, as a group, search the place."

Alecto raised a scornful eyebrow "All that… forty-five of us… for the sake of taking one teenage witch?"

"Overestimating an opponent is, at worst, an unnecessary precaution." Snape quoted the oft-quoted axiom "Underestimating one … on the other hand … like, admittedly, happened… is potentially fatal."

Amycus commented lazily "Or actually was, in several cases. Fortunate for you, it was, that the Dark Lord was inclined to accept your version of events."

"And UN-fortunate for you, it will be, Amycus, should you choose to disobey my instructions in this affair." Snape sneered.

The response was instantaneous. Amycus pointed his wand "Is that a threat?"

"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" half a dozen of their group intervened "Kill yourselves all you want AFTER the mission!"

Alecto smirked at Amycus "Yes, dear brother. Play later. Actually, for me, no reason not to have a bit of fun with my new pet." She disapparated, leaving behind the echo of her sinister laugh.

x

After half a century of practically a starvation diet, Gellert Grindelwald was eating more than the average wizard and gaining weight. A bit of fat. But mostly muscle from exercise. His improved health was only making him more determined to pay back his rescuers. The stone floor of his room was more comfortable than that of his prison cell and the door opened from the inside, yet he was still essentially a prisoner. A knock, also still something of a novelty. Completing his 50th situp, he grunted "Enter!"

"I see you are taking this seriously." The visitor commented.

The escapee made no effort to rise, merely panted slightly "Indira….Dumbledore has been improving and studying all the time I've been imprisoned. My encounter with that mere child taught me I am in no shape to fight a pigmy puff. Let alone 'the Greatest Wizard of our age' But I will be."

"Well, you asked to see me?" the spymaster asked, and waited.

Grindelwald nodded "Indeed I did. Not all of your minions are as well trained as they might be in silence. The lines of battle seem rather blurred in England. See to it I am updated on current events. With a particular emphasis on Harry Potter and this 'worse Dark Lord than me' Voldemort."

"Is that all, My Lord?" Indira bowed, with a hint of sarcasm.

Grindelwald waved a hand and replied "Make it so."

x

"Good morning, Mr. Weasley." A soft female voice injected itself into Charlie's consciousness.

The #2 Weasley offspring snapped to, found his wand without looking, eyes barely opened and fired "Avada Kedavra!"

"Now, now." The voice chuckled. Surely he hadn't missed!? And, as if in answer to the question "No, you would not have… that is, assuming you actually had a wand, my boy. I do realize that men need to display their prowess."

Charlie's eyes opened, treating him to the same face he had seen previously, almost "You seem younger."

"Why thank you, kind sir." his now girlish kidnapper tittered "It was with purpose however. Even as I am now, you might not have been taken as off guard than by an old woman."

Giving a suspicious glare, he demanded "How do I know this is even your real identity? What was your name again? And where are we?"

"May will do, in either form, my friend." She replied "We are currently in a Muggle house. A rented room. Well within the borders of Surrey. Has that any meaning for you?"

Charlie surged out of the bed "FOOLISH WOMAN! YOU'VE DESTROYED MY MAGIC!"

"Silence!" snapped May, tossing him his real wand "Here, idiot! Try a spell. But I warn you, anything more dangerous than Alohamora and you'll sleep for a week. Get me?" Charlie hardly had the chance to begin forming the incantation of the Killing Curse before an all-encompassing black consumed his senses. May immediately contacted one of her lesser minions, and ordered "He will be out for days. Signal me when he wakes."

x

Susan listlessly followed the instructions of Madam Pomfrey. Grunted greetings at whomever she encountered. Mechanically disrobed for bed, unconcerned for any of the strife that continued in the great Magical School. Morning shone into her face and she snapped at it "Bugger off!"

"Well good morning to you too!" said Hannah in a falsely excited tone.

The world did not look any better with the sunrise than it did in the Hospital Wing. Susan gave her best friend a haunted look and grunted "Hmpf." She did not need to see to make her way to the shower.

"Well sorry for living!" Hannah called out.

Susan ritualistically lathered up her hair, let it lay all soapy. Washed her arms, breasts, belly and stopped. Her hands brushed the bruises on her belly and she broke down, sobbing.

Hannah knew to the minute how long her friend's showers lasted. It was a sixth sense of hers. And when she did not appear she called out "SUE!" No reply, sent her looking. Finding her in a heap of misery on the shower floor, Hannah rushed in, uncaring of her perfectly groomed appearance and meticulous uniform. It was useless, she knew, to get any details. So only pausing to turn off the water, Hannah sat beside her in the puddle and gathered her into an embrace. For …well… Hannah lost track as her friend cried and blubbered on.

"You are a mess." was Susan's first rational statement of the morning.

To which Hannah laughed briefly, then "You want to tell me what happened?"

"I did." Replied the redhead "Err…Didn't I?"

The blonde looked quizzically and answered "Well, maybe, but this girl don't speak Gobbledygook."

"Sure, right." Susan acknowledged "I guess if there's one person that can get this story before Harry, it's you."

When she was done, Hannah just hugged her again "That'd take anyone around the bend. What now?"

"Kill Justin?" Susan remarked.

Hannah sighed "Seems a lifetime ago. I was talking to Ernie about the 'Heir of Slytherin' Everyone was sure it was Harry and that he petrified Justin. Never thought I'd be trying to convince YOU not to."

"Wouldn't count on it, Han." Susan felt surprise at how easily she said it, and meant it. "I get the sense this is how Mr. Potter's friends felt about Pettigrew."

x

Harry Potter: a young wizard who is among the wealthiest in Britain. To most a dream life of power, comfort and Galleons to boggle the mind. But he had lost things that no pile of gold, in his opinion, could replace. His parents as a toddler. Knowledge of any part of his heritage for a decade. All but the smallest part of his wealth for more years. Found guilty of a crime he did not commit, an irreplaceable year of his life. Large sums of that wealth stolen while being cruelly starved and beaten in Azkaban. Loss of his loyal Hedwig, her neck crushed before his very eyes, though no wizard would call it murder.

He did have pluses in his life. He made two great friends practically on arrival at Hogwarts. And between them, scored some real victories for the Light. And though they were not blood related, he had a family. Worth more to him than any mere mountain of coins. His family actually had an official member. Exactly defining his relationship to Ginny was a source of some amusement. The consequences of Harry's imprisonment were not all negative, He almost completely broke with Albus Dumbledore, finding a powerful new ally and advisor in Amelia Bones. Whose wisdom led to replacement of most of the stolen money. And a romance with schoolmate, and that powerful witch's niece, Susan Bones. Clearing his Godfather's name.

Lately though, the minuses were starting to pile up again. The brutal murder of Amelia Bones. Trouble in the form of Cho Chang interfering with his NEWTs. Though victorious, the duel involving Sirius and Lucius Malfoy. Leading to an alliance with Draco, far the lesser of two evils, but still the cause of a sour feeling. The cause of much unhappiness was an accumulation, lately, of escalating arguments with his fiancée. Worse was the gutting of Kiln Keep his ancestral home and the loss of irreplaceable portraits of Potters going back centuries, most he never had the chance to speak with. Worst, just yesterday, the attempt on his life leading to the current crisis.

Now it was Ron's condition that caused the nationally hailed Boy-Who-Lived extreme anxiety. The night before, he and Ginny took responsibility for his best friend's twins. Now toddlers, they had also begun to talk. Shaggy-haired Hugo woke up crying "Wake up Unca Hawwy! It's Daddy!"

"Auntie Inny!" little Rose, whose vocal skills had not found the letter 'G' pulled on the Sixth Year's top. Finally with enough force to bang her aunt's head quite sharply.

Jolted awake, but aware enough to not swing, Ginny merely cursed "Bloody hell Rosie!"

"Whazza matta kids?" asked Harry, groggily as he attempted to wipe sleep from his eyes.

Ginny understood in a way only a raised magical would. She lurched into a sitting position and looked around, spotting Harry halfway down the appropriated corridor. Urgently, she carried her niece over and less than gently nudged his side with her foot "C'mon Harry! Something's wrong with Ron! The kids know it!"

"Right, sure." He picked up on the urgency, even if he did not understand why. And in moments, he was mostly dressed closing the distance in Ginny's wake with an equally disheveled boy in his arms.

x

Susan Bones was too busy getting through layers of Gryffindor guardians to notice how easily she succeeded. She spotted, first a waving flame, that rushed by her. It could only be Ginny. Just seconds later, footfalls warned her of another approaching from the same direction "Harry!" she shouted "I need to … talk … to you."

"It's Ron!" he replied, breathless. Dancing surprisingly nimbly, he spun and told her "You'll… have to.. keep up!"

Offended, she yelled at his retreating back "I can't run and talk!" Susan could have sworn Harry had just flipped her off. And well it was that Hogwarts was soaked in magic, or something would have shattered. And she stomped off in the same direction. Rather like Harry's exit from the 'Hufflepuff hospital' Susan's penetration went unimpeded, not a courageous Gryffindor who encountered the smallest of Seventh Years barred her way.

"Wha'd'you want?" a harsh male voice demanded.

Susan quickly took in the red hair, connected the faint memory of Ron's wedding. "Hello Bill." She said, tightly controlling her expression and voice.

"NO Hufflepuffs here!" the senior Weasley snarled.

Temper flaring, she caught his forearm "Listen to me you oaf! Harry just outran me and I need to see him. Either get out of my way or…"

"That's who you are!" Bill shook her by the shoulders, roughly and contemptuously shoved "It's that Mudblood boyfriend of yours that's left my brother…grrrr…. Get out of here … or I won't be responsible for my actions!"

Susan was dumbfounded "My FIANCE is Harry Potter!" she countered "Now move or be moved!"

"Why you little bint!" Bill snarled and went for his wand.

From behind the wood door came a female voice that Susan did not know, calling out "William! William!"

"Count yourself lucky!" he opened the door and slammed it in her face.

Not quite sure how long she stood there, trembling with unspent adrenalin, when that door did not open she threw up her hands in frustration and left.

x

It was hours later, near supper time. There weren't a lot of Gryffindors in the Great Hall but rumors permeated the school. Anything and everything. That Ron died was by far the worst. An emotionally drained Susan took her friend's advice and napped in her dorm room. Right now, she was in her long established seat at the Hufflepuff table absently stabbing at a plate of long cold mashed potatoes. Actually they had originally been roasted potatoes, but that's how long she had been sitting there.

Tensions between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor kept escalating. Professors or Slytherin and Ravenclaw prefects escorted the feuding Houses around the castle. The only good news was that there were two days before the end of school. Maybe summer break would cool tempers.

Finally what Susan was waiting for happened. Harry's arrival. She was still mourning the end of her pregnancy. She did not blame Ron. Madam Pomfrey had been completely right, Justin and only Justin was to blame. She scrutinized him for a clue as to what Ron's condition might be. The silence of the moment was shattered by the same girl Harry fought with. As wands were confiscated at the Great Hall's entry, she could only have been using a WWW product. Over Tabitha Cadwallader's head appeared a giant version of the old POTTER STINKS badges

Harry looked utterly weary, but his response was visible to all and profane regardless of Muggle or Wizard society. More insults were hurled between the two Houses.

"Miss Cadwallader, that was uncalled for." The Headmistress scolded "Nor was your gesture Mr. Potter. I insist you apologize to each other."

Tabitha's response was to cross her arms and stomp toward the door. Harry was far less demonstrative, he may as well not have heard her at all.

"How is Ron?" Susan braved the anger of her own house and the loathing of Harry's to ask her fiancé that question.

He looked at her with anguish in his eyes "Alive." He said dully "He … a lot of medical doubletalk… Pomfrey said his lungs don't work right. He died while she was treating him. Twice! She doesn't know if he'll walk again."

"I'm sorry Harry." She replied softly. She leaned her head on his shoulder and hugged his arm.

A bit of energy rushed in and he demanded "Why is that little bitch walking about free?"

"Tabby you mean?" asked Susan, hesitantly "Err…no one's - that is, what charge?"

Glaring at her, he answered "Well, if Ron hadn't come back… murder!"

"Don't you think-" she began.

Harry cut her off angrily "No I don't! And don't YOU start defending her!" And, with an impressive head of steam did something unknown in Hogwarts history.

Already, the raised voices had attracted the attention of nearer students. The Great Hall fell silent as Harry marched right up the steps to the Head Table. He planted his hands and leaned over the Headmistress. No one could hear what was being said, but he looked off to the right and gestured. Professor Sprout looked offended, but the gesture was apparently repeated by McGonagall. A heated discussion ensued, at the end of which had Headmistress McGonagall summoning "Miss Cadwallader, come here at once."

"Yes ma'am." The Fourth Year obeyed, asking "What's this about?"

With an unhappy look at Harry, Headmistress McGonagall announced "You are to be held in isolation until the arrival of your parents and Aurors. Mr. Potter, speaking on behalf of the Weasley Family has asked for you to be taken into custody pending charges of attempted murder."

"Wh-what? N-n-no!" the younger girl looked nervously about.

Harry sneered at her "Hope you have as good a time in Azkaban as I did." Seeing the misery the remark caused a crack in his harshness.

"Did you think she just wanted to protect her brother?" asked Susan in a critical tone.

That turned Harry's head, "Just whose side are you on?" he wanted to know.

"You know better than that!" now she was offended. Deeply so. Arguing, they had done. Harry just insulted her, and publicly.

Harry shrugged "You didn't answer. And while we're at it, why did you need to fight with Bill?" He'd seen his best friend die. His home was in ruins. And all his fiancée wanted to do was fight.

"Because I had something IMPORTANT to talk to you about!" she shouted, hands gesturing wildly "But you know what? It can wait until you get your head out of your arse!" And she stormed out of the Great Hall thinking thoughts not unlike Harry's. She WANTED to tell him about her pregnancy. What, in her hormone-crazed mis-carried mind, could even run close second to that?

x

Luna Lovegood, in her sage way, commented "You need not worry, Harry. The universe will find its balance."

"Luna, just now, I'm really sorry." He said "I couldn't give a-" he bit off a word struggling with politeness "Look, I'll talk to you later."

Quietly, Hannah approached. She spoke softly, without a hint of anger. "A word in private, please, Harry."

"Miss Abbott! You will return to your place forthwith!" the Head of Gryffindor ordered.

Hannah spared her a look "I'm here to HELP Professor Burbage. And, all due respect, tomorrow is our last day. What can you really do?"

"Anyone who does that, can have my time." Harry half-saluted her, making sure the shocked Professor neither heard nor saw his response "I assume you want to explain your friend's insanity?"

The blonde Hufflepuff sighed "Harry, please. Sue,,, she learned something yesterday that's on her mind. It shook her… a lot."

"I don't suppose you're gonna tell me what I T is?" he was not asking.

Long blonde hair swished back and forth in denial "Thing is" she was clearly frustrated "If … what I mean is, she probably would have told you before me. It just didn't work out that way. That said… sorry Harry. It's not mine to tell and I guarantee I can easily obliviate it."

x

Hannah's preparation of Susan to encounter her fiancé that night were in vain. And what the Hufflepuff women discovered was that Gryffindors were as effective as placing barriers in the way of the unwelcome as they themselves had been shortly after Harry's release from Azkaban when they walled off virtually all contact between the pair.

"Where is Harry?" they asked younger students.

The reply, in several forms, was "Ask a Seventh Year."

"Come on Neville!" Susan complained "We've been friends since before Hogwarts."

The lean man that had grown out of the shy, pudgy boy adamantly refused "All I can tell you is that I saw him with Mr. Black earlier."

Susan rolled her eyes in frustration "I already KNOW that!"

"Yes I know exactly where Harry is." Replied Ginny to direct questioning when they caught her heading for her brother's hospital room.

Hannah gave an annoyed look when nothing else was forthcoming "Oh! Of course!" she told her friend "Sue, you asked the wrong question." And with exaggerated politeness "Ginny would you please tell us where Harry is?"

"Of course." Ginny replied easily "Chamber of Secrets."

The Hufflepuffs nodded, slapped their foreheads and as one "Of course." Hannah continued "You can get us in? Right?"

"I can." Acknowledged the younger Gryffindor. Who then resumed her course to her brother's room. And only by a very bizarre map could those locations be said to be anywhere near each other. Which Susan pointed out. And Ginny nodded her head "Oh! Right! Sorry. But you asked if I CAN get in."

Susan and Hannah had to move quite rapidly to catch her as she moved off again "Obviously!" Susan grumbled "I wanted to SEE Harry! So, Ginny, please. I am asking to open the Chamber to let me into it."

"AHHHH! Why didn't you say so?" Ginny replied brightly, paused. Answered "NO! I'm going to see my brother."

Susan caught her elbow and said "Wait! Please. Right, look-"

"Let go of me or lose some fingers." Ginny cut her off.

Susan complied "I thought we were friends."

"Right now, you're just a couple of Hufflepuffs. Stopping me from visiting Ron " said Ginny with a contemptuous note in her voice "And you. You're doing a fine job making Harry miserable. And that I will not tolerate!"

Susan's temper flared. "I'M-"

What was becoming a confrontation was interrupted by a patrolling Pansy Parkinson leading two younger Prefects. And moments later Professor Flitwick joined the scene. "Miss Bones! Miss Abbott!" he ordered "Back to your dormitory at once. Miss Parkinson see to it they arrive. Miss Weasley, you and I will proceed to the Hospital Wing."

"Yes sir." Went all around. Susan protested "But I need to see Harry!"

The small Professor glared her into submission, then said "Miss Bones, this school does not revolve around either yours or Mr. Potter's love life. Am I clear? Very well. Off you go!"

x

"I trust you all had a pleasant meal." Headmistress McGonagall stood and spoke. This was the customary end of year speech. Last Year's House Cup winner, Hufflepuff's, banners were fluttering above. "It is my decision that the results of the Quidditch Match will stand. The disgraceful behavior of BOTH Houses occurred after the game ended. Therefore, Hufflepuff will hold the Quidditch Cup for the 1997-1998 school year. And a well played game to Gryffindor."

The applause lacked the enthusiasm of previous years. Likely because of what was coming.

She coughed for attention, not in the tittering manner of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher "HAARRRUMPFF! And that is the last positive comment to be made about the other day! It has been pointed out, by several of you, that not much can be done to Seventh Years at this time. There is such a thing as collective punishment. The House Cup is awarded each year to the House awarded the most points. Second place is awarded to Ravenclaw with 301 points. Tied for last place with 3 points are Hufflepuff and Gryffindor."

A gasp ripped through the Great Hall. History had not recorded such a low score.

"There are specific punishments to be handed out." the Headmistress' iron voice declared "A current member of the Hufflepuff team will be barred from playing next year. That will be determined in September. Miss Weasley, there were ample witnesses, besides myself, to note you giving orders during the aftermath of the attempted assault on Mr. Potter and Miss Bones. You will not be Gryffindor Captain next year."

Harry was on his feet shouting in defense of his loyal friend. And there was solid support from the rest of the Table.

"BE SILENT!" McGonagall's booming voice commanded obedience "And Mr. Potter, referring you to that service you did me. Do not expect to call on my favor again. Understood?"

The cryptic comment went unexplained. The only other witness to the confrontation between the Headmistress and her Nephew was Susan.

"Mr. Malfoy, if you would, reveal yourself to accept the House Cup on behalf of Slytherin." She said.

A nondescript boy, apparently Third Year by seating, morphed into the long missing Prince of Slytherin. And he stood smirking at his Housemates. "An honor, Headmistress." He said with an appropriate bow.

"NO!" the senior Slytherins shouted as one "TRAITOR! DROPOUT!" or other derogatory remarks.

He sneered at them "Even you, my beloved Pansy? Well, a good excuse for this …. House Malfoy denounces and disavows the engagement between its Head and the daughter of House Parkinson. So mote it be!"

"Well!" an offended Pansy snorted.

Draco was not done offending. He approached Daphne Greengrass and bowed formally "It is customary to present a request for negotiations for marriage to the senior member of the House present." He announced "Would Your Ladyship convey House Malfoy's initial offer to your Father?" He ritualistically handed her a stylized scroll.

"You may not be aware, My Lord…" A surprised Daphne answered "I am engaged."

Draco nodded, replying "And no offense intended. I personally wish your marriage all success. You are not the subject of the proposal." He violated perfect protocol by looking away from her, towards her sister.

Astoria Greengrass arrived at Hogwarts nursing two great crushes. For her sorting, the universal, but completely forbidden one on Harry Potter. The other Draco Lucius Malfoy (oh!…even the name made her drool). From the day she arrived, the younger Greengrass watched the boys feuding from the sidelines. Imagining that, though all but non-existent to both, they were fighting to claim her hand when the time came.

"Who speaks for you?" asked Daphne

Anyone who knew the Malfoy scion, knew he'd planned a surprise for that question. His expression only confirmed their expectations "My Chief Negotiator is Sirius, Head of House Black." He replied "And though somewhat unusual, I ask you indulgence in allowing an advisor. Harry, Head of House Potter."

"I'll SCRATCH YOUR EYES OUT!" Pansy screeched, and launched herself like a wildcat. Lack of wands had taken the heat down a notch at Hogwarts, but a publicly jilted lover. The black-haired Slytherin would not have used her wand if she had it.

Harry, who was dead-on accurate by instinct in First Year, had trained hard with the help of Sirius and Slytherin's portrait. He grabbed what came readily to hand, a glass of pumpkin juice as it happens, the drink sprayed all over a dozen students. But it was a bulls-eye. His target was five feet from her target when she emitted an incoherent squeak and hit the marble floor…out cold, with a trickle of blood on her temple.

"SLYTHERIN STAND DOWN!" the voice of Professor Slughorn roared. On his orders, the now graduate was quickly removed for treatment. The reduction of his House's numbers did much to avoid a free-for-all.

Draco looked like he'd swallowed a mouthful of troll dung. He inclined his head perhaps an inch and said "Thank you, Potter."

"Welcome." replied Harry somewhat curtly.

Susan gave an appreciative nod and clapped her hands.

"Might I presume to ask for an introduction?" asked Draco, as if nothing had occurred.

Dean giggled a bit "You'd think he knew her. Same dorm for five years."

"Hush!" even Neville, who possibly more than Harry had cause to dislike the Malfoy heir, was impressed. On the social scale, the Greengrasses were higher than the Weasleys, but lacked House Potter's standing.

Daphne signaled her regally "Astoria, a gentlemen requests formal introduction. Do you so desire?"

"The gentleman has my permission." The younger Greengrass felt rather proud of keeping her voice impersonal and neutral. As soon as she managed to speak with him privately, she would INSIST on Draco explaining. In the meantime, she had mere seconds before a grasping of hands would reveal her pounding heart "The noble Malfoy comes from acceptable stock. Negotiations may proceed."

He took her hand, bowed over it and touched her knuckles to his forehead "Acceptable stock?" he quoted in a voice pitched for her ears alone.

From that point, the Slytherins were of no interest to Harry. It was a well known if infrequently seen gesture, but for Harry it was special. Amelia had taught it to him weeks before her gory murder. He gave a particular red-headed Hufflepuff a longing look.

And Susan started over to him in a very conciliatory frame of mind. Nasty looks from Gryffindors, from fellow Seventh Years right down to the youngest grated on her. It was the first thing she said "You know, rude Gryffindors are really starting to piss me off!"

"Oh?" asked Harry. That one syllable dripped with sarcasm "Might have something to do with murdering Hufflepuffs." He watched her run out, a bit disappointed and surprised, that Susan had not stood her ground. A second surprise came when he locked eyes with Hannah Abbott. Rather than anger, fury, she just shook her head sadly and set out in pursuit. The pair had some real problems and neither knew of the very real tragedies the other suffered.