Chapter IV Preparing for the alternative

AN: We have got a betareader gaschalk and he is pointing out points we missed, let's give our beta a thank's as well.:

:-: Fawkes letter and Harry's response :-:

The days passed and the Dursleys continued to be courteous and very familiar with Harry - and his bodyguard. It was late evening two days before Harry's birthday and all five residents, Dursley's, Harry and Tonks were watching the box with moving images and sound as magicals called it. The Dursleys called it a TV and it wasn't even truly TV. They had an old 007 James Bond movie Octopussy playing in the VCR. Harry was trying to see how agent 007 changed the eggs, but before he could see the move to exchange them … there was a startling flash in front of Harry. Fawkes was there with a letter.

:-:-:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Office
ALBUS PERCIVAL WULFRIC BRIAN DUMBLEDORE
Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards

Harry, it was good that you were able to handle the events that unfolded at your aunt and uncle's residence. I feel, however, that I must caution you. As you know underage magic is still prohibited outside of school, even in the year to come, so please be careful not to perform any magic unless in imminent danger.

You may or may not be aware but there will be a Will reading for Sirius and it will take place within a few days. Given the current danger that you would be facing, due to Voldemort's return, I can not allow you to to leave the safe of your aunt's house. I'll take care of anything that is left to you and send you a letter detailing what bequeathed to you.

I will be sending your school letter later with Fawkes and Mrs. Weasley has promised to help with buying your textbooks for the year to come. After thinking about things, I have come to the conclusion that you need to continue with your Potions class. Professor Snape has strict rules on both the grades needed to continue in the class and who is allowed to take it. I was, however, able to convince him that you have to be allowed in the class.

Furthermore, I have taken the liberty in selecting Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology and Charms, in addition to Potions, for your next year's courses. These are the basic classes but in along with these classes you are permitted to select up to four electives. When you peruse your school letter you will see a list of additional classes you may choose from.

Your OWL results will be recorded in your permanent file and forwarded to you, though a ministry issued letter, in a week or two.

With the hope that the rest of your summer is peaceful.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts school for witches and wizards.
Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards

:-:-:

"HE HAS SOME NERVE!" snarls Harry.

They had paused the video, to read the letter and then after reading the letter, to take a break and let off some steam.
A lot of steam. Harry insisted on informing Amelia of this new development, by letter.

:-:-:

Best Regards Madam Bones -

Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Harry smiled a little when he wrote her title. While she holds that title in the magical world he would always think of her as a special cross between police chief, Scotland Yard detective, and MI 5 special agent. During his brief meetings with her she has always impressed him with her professionalism and drive for truth and justice.

I have enclosed a letter of Dumbledore's delivered by his phoenix, Fawkes. Tonks will be bringing this letter, Dumbledore's and a draft of a letter I have written to the public. I would like for you to have a chance to review the draft before I send it out, Tonks can explain in more detail about that. If you have some suggestions to make regarding the draft please let me know. In this letter I mention that I will not be attending Hogwarts any longer.

As part of my holdings I am owner of a ranch, or perhaps more accurately, part of a ranch in south Texas which I intend to use. I intend to invite those, who wish to come with me, to come practice magic for the next two years. If you and Susan want, she is welcome to come by. I will not charge any tuition fees. I expect there will be many who will come, in which case I plan to ask for 15 gallons per person monthly for food supplies.

I, of course, will be at Sirius' Will reading. I've already been to Gringotts a few times and my part of it has already handled. However, for it to be legal, the official reading of the Will must be completed. As you may have seen in the documents I have now been declared to be of age, or I will be in a few days.

I have offered Tonks a job to be my personal bodyguard. Since she would be hired by me her salary will be paid by me. This is entirely contingent upon whether or not you can give her a leave of absence. If this would compromise her authority as auror please let us know. The alternative is that you assign her as my bodyguard and I would still pay her salary, in effect I would hire her services from you. I hope this is negotiable. She said this would be ok with her auror job or at least she implied it was when I asked her.

I wished to ask if I could 'rent' some more aurors on a rotating schedule during school time. Officially, they would be security guards to increase safety for the children, but they may also be teachers. Thus, unofficially, it's teachers I want to borrow - - - hmmm - - 'rent'.

I asked Tonks to relay to you a discussion Albus had with me right after the ministry fiasco. I am hoping that she's done so. If she has then you should understand why I have to train. I also need to get as many as possible around me trained well so that we have a chance to survive … the next battle. I am absolutely convinced that V will attack Hogwarts, if I am there.

With all junior D.E.'s at Hogwarts there is every reason for the rest of us not to be there. I am ready to open my private school in the US for all who take an oath that they do not intend to attack me and my friends and that they do not support V directly or through proxies.

I will be a target for V. no matter where I am. Hogwarts has been fatal or near fatal for those close to me. Including the first year I was there before V had recovered a body.

With that, I wish you and yours a good summer.

Harry James Potter.

:-:-:

"Harry, are you sure you shouldn't be in Slytherin?" questioned a laughing Tonks.

"I am absolutely sure that, if I had not protested against the hat's attempts to get me there, I would have been there."

"What? ? "

"Yeah, the hat definitely wanted me to be in Slytherin."

"But. . . You're a Gryffindor to your core, well … when you aren't sneaky."

"Actually, I fit in all the houses, I am eager to learn - but only where I feel the need for it.
"I am loyal and can work hard for what I want.
"I have goals I want to reach, and I am ambitious,
"But I am also shrewd, when I have to be.
"I can and have run straight into danger to save others like a Gryffindor, you have probably seen that."

"Yes and that you do without requiring or calculating how to get something back from it. It is something that makes you entirely not suitable for a Slytherin. They would definitely want to have something in exchange for what they do."

"Yes, I'll adjust the letter for the papers a bit, we'll fix it all tomorrow."

:-:-:

:-:-: july 31 : Harry's day - :-:-:

With all that has happened around Harry, he had completely forgotten all about his birthday. This is why he was completely surprised by the appearance of a cake at breakfast. Along with the cake was an envelope which turned out to be cinema tickets, two of them, for December 2nd. The tickets were for James Bond 007 Goldeneye and the premiere was set for November 21st.

It was a reminder to Tonks too that she didn't have anything planned or set for his birthday but it was summer and summer means beaches, and the sea. With that thought in mind she knew just the spot.

"Harry. My trunk in thirty minutes." As Harry nodded in affirmative she left and was gone in seconds.

"Thank you Uncle Vernon and thank you Aunt Petunia, it will be fun to see my first movie. Thanks also for the cake I guess Dud will be happy to have a bite of it too."

"This is what we should have been doing years ago but I hope you can find a way to come from that school of yours. The tickets are for the first Saturday and since it was a Saturday I could get good seats. I figured that if you need something you can buy it but I had hoped this might be fun for you too, the Bond films are quite popular."

"Yes I could actually, I do have some gold behind my name, but I haven't earned it. I know it's there to be used but I don't care about it. Still, if I get to live beyond my teens I might learn how to handle it. Well I better get ready. I need to see what my guard has planned for the day."

"Guard, isn't she your girlfriend?"

"Well she is older than me by six years, if I'm not mistaken. At present it matters but in say ten years, no one will bat an eye if we date or get married. Right now she is just a good guard and teacher on how to appear and act around girls. Sorry Uncle Vernon but I better go ahead and leave before she gets annoyed but thank you for the tickets."

:-:-:

When Harry finally meets up with Tonks she calls out "Happy Birthday Harry! Thanks for meeting up with me. I made a quick stop at Auror HQ today and did a schedule adjustment so I have today off. We are going to have so much fun! We are at one of the channel islands, Guernsey, it is on the south side and there is plenty of daytime sun. Petit Bot Bay Beach is a local small resort that is great for lazy days. I did place some notice me not spells in this hidden little crevice. It's good to have a place to retire to. It's a little early to start worshiping the sun but we can take a walk inland maybe find a place to have a lunch later. I do have some different meal vouchers that are good in … well … in regular places. So lunch and dinner are on me today."

"Wow, this will be the first time I see the sea."

"We can go together today but if you go by yourself you can easily find good spots at beaches when the tide is low. It can be just beautiful and perfect but shifting tides can also make it a nightmare. When water rises from low to high tide the difference can be more than ten yards. If there are nowhere to escape to other than the cliffs it can also be deadly. This is why you never stay where you don't know if it's low or high tide without a way out or to be able to get away fast. Let's see if we can find a timetable of the tides so we can be prepared and watch for the changing of the tides."

"Wow, yes, thats so cool. Thank you.

All told they had a good day. They both came away a little crispy due to sunburns because they forgot to use sun block but Harry got to see the sea and the rising of the tides.

:-:-: Tonks periodic test Aug 1 :-:-:

"Auror Tonks, if I'm not mistaken, you are late for your range test. Yesterday was your last day for that period. We need to discuss this further but not in front of Lord Potter as he doesn't need to hear this. Tonks I am bending the protocols a little, don't make me regret it, but I will give you till noon to complete your testing. Since your testing will take long why not show Lord Potter around a him to see what my staff have to do three times a year but keep him away from anything overly dangerous, Auror Tonks. I would say all danger but he is a Potter and has the Potter luck."

"Thanks, I'll certainly try. He really is a trouble magnet, trouble seeks him out, not the other way around. We'll see what happens. I had planned to do them yesterday but a birthday happened to pop up and with all time in training I just totally forgot about it. Also isn't it in regulations that we can't have visitors down there?"

"Right you are. Harry, this is an auror badge, I will activate it to recruit level, it will provide you access to most areas here as long as you are with an on duty auror. If ever you need to call upon support tap it with your wand three times. That opens a communication line you will have thirty seconds to talk. If that function is used say your name and the reason the communication line was used. If there are combatants around we need you to tell us about them. Do they appear to be Death Eaters or not, how many there are, is anyone injured, where you are located and so on. The information you relay may change depending on the situation but that should give you an idea what to relay. Auror Tonks can fill you in further but for now place your wand on the badge. Good now state your name while keeping your wand on the badge.

Harry did as instructed and Amelia then placed her wand on the badge too. "I, Amelia Bones, with the authority of my office, hereby grant the right to Lord Harry Potter to wear this badge, recruit level. Now Harry you can remove your wand, please don't disappoint me. Go ahead and show him around Tonks and good luck at the rage."

:-:-:

"Welcome to the aurors Harry. I told you she would like to recruit you. Now you can get some good opportunity to test your skills and do me proud."

"She did, but can she do it like that? Don't I have to fill out the application? Go through some testing to verify I have the right temperament for the position?"

"I think she has the application ready and waiting for you to sign but for now she can, if needed, use the excuse that it was the easiest way for you to be around here. Normally you can't come and walk around alone unsupervised, even at your level. She will say you need to be supervised to be allowed down here. Now, if you have no other immediate questions, on to the range."

:-:-:

After a lot of walking, going alternating directions and down different corridors they came to what looked to be open area. Harry was asked to sit and wait for her while she took her test. Looking around he was surprised by the number of aurors present, but he soon found out, there was a recreational area close by. You could have meals or just some soft drinks or just relax and of course you could tell, those who would listen, some stories of past actions.

He watched Tonks and saw that others did to as she prepared to do her testings. Harry did not really know how it was completed but he had a general idea. He saw she hit five stationary objects first then moved and hit five mobile targets. Both the stationary and the mobile targets were different sizes and after that it was shoe moved to take down an 'attacker' who held hostage without damaging the capture. Finally, she hit a rather big round target. Harry thought she did well.

However when Tonks come to sit beside him he could tell, she was not pleased. "89, 76, 69 and 380. The first three are out of a hundred, the requirement, are 80, 70 and 60. The next level 90, 80 and 70 the last level gives you a well done. To get excellent you need 95, 90, 85. But you need to understand … you can get a zero if you miss one or more of them. The results are reached by multiplying all five, then dividing them by five, same for both stationary and mobile. If you have four top results and one full miss the result will be zero regardless of your other four scores. One zero and well, the test is just not accepted."

"A zero - Oh that suck's, but you didn't." Harry say, with a smile.

"No, but I didn't do very well. My scores were a: one, four, and one below next level. I used to do better. Does it matter? Yes it most certainly does! If the subject taking the test doesn't pass the test, then said subject will have a week as a cleric churning out paper and parchment work, cleaning archives or other such duties of the like. One must be able to count on one's partner in and out of the field. If it ever came to spell fight one should feel confident that one's partner could hit the broadside of a barn. This is why we do the test three times a year." stated Tonks in a slightly snooty voice towards the end.

"We need to make sure those in the field haven't become lazy or complacent. The ones that do well earn an extra twenty-five gallons monthly. While the excellent rankings can earn 100 galleons extra plus we then have some jobs that require better rankings. To pass from your level, recruit, there are five levels you would need to pass before you would be accepted for auror on duty. When you make it to auror on duty you receive an extra fifteen galleons monthly. Being an auror on duty is better than being an auror doing clerical work. Hit Wizards, need five tests in a row with rankings at above excellent."

"Wow, well they have a reputation to keep up, don't they?"

"Yes, it could be that and it could be something to brag for others. One of the tests, Power, shows me at 380 which is not bad there are some that just squeaking past 230. Ok so when we break my score of 380 down the first digit is spell speed. The following two figures are the power level. The mathematics involved in figuring this out are past my ability to explain but think of a one as the lowest. Let's say that's the level to smash an egg while zero two increases the amount of eggs smashed to somewhere around ten. Zero three would be a hundred and a zero four tells your spell is able to smash a thousand eggs simultaneously. So I used smashing eggs to equate the power levels but the higher the number the more powerful the spell. Now it's your turn to give it a try. I can see on the faces of my colleagues that some of them are sceptics they don't think you will do well. However, some would just like to see what a VIP can do. Go ahead and enter, make me proud."

:-:-:

Well it's showtime was it not? Harry thought if this was a real battle he would have his exploding chest spell chain. But that spellchain was not just to show off. Tonks had said that the hit wizards did five spells to each target so Harry supposed a different spell chain would be good. Maybe five bombarda would do ok and without verbalised spells it would be harder to identify the spell till it hit. Besides it did look cool. So, with that thought, five balls the size of watermelon looking like they were made of fire were moving through the air. Then without moving to stand in front of the next target as Tonks did Harry sent another five bombarda on the way. It certainly was a show, first five heavy blasts and before anyone had recovered from the other five blasts hit. It must have been heard throughout the entire building.

When he reached the hostage target it did give him something to think about. A quick time freeze spell, that he learned from the goblins, was performed soundlessly in parseltongue with his left hand holding the basilisk wand.

He thought of the reducto as his power spell and with parselmouth it was even better. As this was going to be a single spell there was no need to distribute the power throughout the chain. Then one spell was on the way, fast as a lightning bolt.

Harry had not been looking around while sending the spells but now he could see gobsmacked expressions so he made a little comment. "Close your mouths or you may swallow some flies… so any results to share?"

The results did take a bit longer to come in then it took for Tonks but they finally appeared. It would have to be verified because the scores were so high but it showed his results as:, 99, 99, 100, 897.
"How did you get such high scores?" Asked Tonks.
"My chain hits home without me having to directly aim. Oh and the 'hostage' is under a ten minute time freeze. So ….proud?" he asked Tonks in a whisper,

"When I'm past my surprise I might tell what I think of your scores. I saw that you killed the snake and I've seen you in training so surprised? No, not really, but proud oh hell YES! Let's get the hell out of here as it wouldn't be long before this is spread". Tonk's figured it was going to be worse than being in a grasshopper swarm in Sahara.

:-:-:-:

Harry and Tonks reading The letter in the newspaper Aug 2

Dear friends, Honorable DA members, Hogwarts students, parents and as orientation to others.

I'm writing this letter and submitting it to you by owl from where I am currently residing. The letter may come to you personally or by a backup as I hope to have it published for everyone through The Prophet and The Quibbler.

You are currently not permitted to write to me because a certain headmaster who has taken the law into his own hands. He has taken it upon himself to place wards that prevent letters by owl from reaching me, no matter who sends them, not even Gringotts bank statements can come through. However, if you wish to discuss the suggestions below, you contact the head of the auror office.

The home I reside in during the summer months had a burglary by muggles recently. Uncle Vernon and I were injured, but we have been healed. The thieves were taken care of by the Ministry aurors who came to our aid in less than a minute after the alarm sounded. They recorded the magic I did in the middle of the night and thought something was very wrong and came - thanks for that help.

After what has happened at Hogwarts over the years, at least in the five years I been there, I don't feel I can remain silent any longer. As students we haven't had more than one teacher of Defense Against of Dark Arts, worthy of the title professor. The one professor we did have was driven away because he had some "problems" the day or more precisely the night of the full moon. The only other professor that could actually teach was a Death Eater in disguise who sent Cedric and me to that which could have been certain death for both of Death Eater in disguise does not improve the statistics regarding capable DADA teachers in Hogwarts.

Unfortunately, Cedric and I decided that we would would share the victory for Hogwarts. But before we understood the seriousness of our situation Cedric was killed. I have had to live with the reason he was taken away. The reason that saved me from certain death too. The reason was because he was the spare, they decided he wasn't necessary.

To begin the recap of the Hogwarts years let's start with the first teacher we had in defense. This teacher had Voldemort riding around on the back of his head as a parasite, enough said. Second year, the professor for that year could do one spell - the Obliviate charm, he was a buffoon. During the third year we had the one competent teacher named Remus Lupin, he was good. Fourth year was a Death Eater in disguise. In fifth year we had the, as I like to think of her, Ministry appointed Pink Toad who took it as her duty to restrict our education. One who refused us all an education. This Ministry appointed educator thought it perfectly acceptable to torture us with blood quills. These quills are illegal both to possess and use for anything other than specific monitored and regulated contracts.

In addition the teacher for history and the current curriculum, those who think about it will understand, it's a scheduled nap time. Next up…. Potions class. For anyone who is not in Slytherin, it is a grueling experience. Suffice to say the current potions class sends shivers down your spine and it's not because of the subject. I really don't need to say more.

Or maybe I do, at least for me that is. First year I have encounters with what's left of moldy old Voldi in the form of one possessed teacher. How about in saving a first year student from a sixty foot basilisk and living to tell the tale. It certainly wasn't on any classlist that I saw and it certainly wasn't on my 'to do list'.

Actually, there's no reason for me to continue at Hogwarts. I learned more during our private defense meetings than I have done in all the years combined. So why even return.

Since I'm not yet considered old enough to have the right to decide for myself it is almost assured that I will be FORCED back there. Well . . . they are gonna have one very rude and unwilling individual. One they have to forcibly move to the classes as I'm not going freely. I plan to ignore all the lessons and when I'm 17, I intend to skip them entirely.

I've already bought the books I need to read. Due to the fact I'm a minor I may not practice magic with my wand outside of Hogwarts. I have decided to concentrate on the topics that do not require a wand instead. Subjects like History, Muggle's, Potions, Herbology, Runes and Arithmetic. Later I will focus on wanded magic once I have reached the age of 17.

The money I save, four semester fees or two school years, more than the costs I have because of buying extra books and extra ingredients for potions. I even have some leftover to visit the botanical gardens.

On to that, I have been spinning an idea I got in the middle of the spring semester, if some of us banded together then we could, with our tuition fees, employ one or more tutors to help us.

Another option is to take us to the United States, and school us together there, then we can practice wanded magic. To take the test for NEWT, it's 150 galleons plus 20 gallons per subject for up to 50 testee, then 1 galleons per subject and tester. So it is entirely possible for us to do it together.

I ask you to continue to learn defending your selves whether we do it together in groups or if you stay at Hogwarts.

I hereby offer, to all who take an oath not to hurt me or my friends, if you do not support Voldemort and his followers, directly or indirectly, to join me and learn with me. Expect to pay 15 galleons a month for food and cost of living. Remember that Hogwarts will charge 4,000 per semester.

If we make potions that we can sell, we have an income and with enough money we can also reduce our monthly costs. We could possibly even expand the library. I need teachers of course for myself and they can teach more than just me.

- Welcome. -

If you haven't sent in your course application to Hogwarts yet, you have time until August 10, before they can claim the tuition fee. If you have sent it in, but change your mind, send an immediate cancellation. A cancellation can not be denied if it arrives before August 8. Cancellations sent later may mean that the school may require half a semester fee just like if you leave during the semester, the school has the right to retain the entire tuition fee. However, you can still leave Hogwarts to come with me any time of year, but it's better for me if I have the opportunity to plan.

By August 15, I need your request to study with me. We use the same basic Hogwarts curriculum but considerably modified.

(Sincerely,)

Harry James Potter.

P.S.

To Headmaster of Hogwarts
Albus Dumbledore,

As I no longer count myself as a student of the school you represent, I see no reason for you to interfere with my schooling. As I no longer attend Hogwarts I have no school affairs for you to talk to me about. I see no reason for you to send Fawkes to me in the future, any official letters can be sent thru owl post. Through all the years of your guardianship you have prevented me from receiving letters from all others. If you have anything you want of me personally, send it through aurors, where they scan it for illegal spells.

DS

"So, what do you think?" Harry asked Tonks as they read it in The Daily Prophet as they had a late breakfast. She read it slowly and nodded assent. Of course she had seen it and helped with the wording of it.

"This will screw some. Chances are that they have to close Hogwarts. They can't run the school with fewer than 50 pupils, and that's what I think will be left."

"But all. . . . Yes zoinks… holy Jupiter… I had only thought of students in my age group, but now that you mentioned it, the entire Hogwarts class, all years and new first years to. What should I do? Should I limit my classes or student intake?" Asked a now worried Harry.

"Do you have the capacity to implement it? With all the different students ages?"

"There will be some busy days but if we plan it out and help each other - yes - it should work. I'll also send a letter to Mcgonagall and Flitwick if Hogwarts closes. I can offer them jobs with me which will in turn lighten the course load. I could involve Poppy and Pomona Sprout too and maybe expand with a few more, but I think most will be from Salem."

"Yes, it may cause some loyalties to sway. You will need to remind them that they must be absolutely loyal to you and not to Dumbledore if they accept working for you."

"Thanks for the help, it's needed."

:-: new meeting Amelia Aug 2 PM :-:

Amelia had asked Tonks to bring Harry to the Ministry after lunch.

"Auror Tonks, your test yesterday. You should have reminded me that the periods start from January and through April. The second begins May to last day of August and the last is September through the rest of the year. I was a wrong by a month, you still have the rest of the month to retake the test to have a better result than yesterday, I'm sorry."

"Oh - I knew something was wrong, as I had it planned out I thought I had lots of time. With all compressed time I thought I had lost time or planned it wrong and you scared me when you told me I was late. I thank you for letting me know, but it's okay."

"Harry, I do have a document for you to sign, whenever you feel you are ready for it. Your O.W.L. results are not published yet. They were forced to investigate them as some unnamed persons have accused many students of cheating. The performance of a certain group of students during the tests are indeed falling outside the normality, a lot of out of normality. It could not be without suspecting of group cheating. Some have done way beyond others, while overall the students of your year have truly poor test results. Some have been questioned, one of them was my niece Susan. I know from speaking with her, that the students all credit you for the excellent or above scoring. All of them that scored high unanimously say YOU TAUGHT them. Your students had a higher average of performing a corporeal Patronus than the aurors I have here. They all credit you and your teaching. Your score in defence was well above the normal scale used, hence the delay."

"You mean the D.A.'s scores were that good? Yes we had a few meetings since the ministries, or rather, I should say Fudge's toad was dumped on us and didn't do the job."

"Never before has anyone performed a Patronus charm on a O.W.L. test. Add to that none, and I mean NO ONE, has had the same results you did at the range. Five hits, in each set of five targets. That's twenty five hits all at centerpoint in less than ten seconds, at the stationary. The score would be five times a hundred, as they were done five times Mister Potter. That would have earned you five times one hundred, BUT, each spell did impact the hole target area, hence it was impossible to tell if it was a little off center, therefore you only received a ninety nine, as they were set as one test not five.
"The same goes for the mobile. Just let me tell you, the staff down there was a little upset, you said you froze time for about ten minutes. Well, they are not used to being unable to undo spells on that target. Yours held against all their attempts to undo them, they were not in a good mood as they completed their reports. The power spell was an eight in speed. Let's say, I'm bespelled to fire a cutting curse at Tonks and she is twenty five feet away from the two of us. You see the spell coming towards her and do a shield spell to save her as my spell is two-thirds of the way there and about to hit. Your spell will be in time to save her. That is the speed. The ninety seven, well... just let me say... the whole score was removed from archive and all were told it was a functional error and to never talk about it."

"I'm sorry I caused you problems. Someone, we shall not mention names… cough Tonks cough… told me to do her proud, so I put a little effort into it."

"Don't be sorry. You did very well. Now, I hope you do understand why I would like you to sign this." Amelia said and handed some papers over to Harry for him to read.

"Application, for the aurors? With my name filled in? I can't do that, I'm still in school."

"You sign it and you are officially in a trial run for the aurors corps. You are of age, you have a lot of impressive O.W.L. results, and your defence results are past N.E.W.T. level. Do not forget that you have more than a year in that special training that is beyond what the aurors have also. But let's come back to that later, can you manage 657 students? There are that many who have asked to come with you. Most people also want to have it confirmed prior to the Hogwarts deadline, in case they have to choose Hogwarts. That is if you can't handle them. Had you expected this many?"

"I was initially not prepared for it when I first drafted my letter, but I have asked Gringotts to work with us to have a place set up that can cope with up to 700 students to begin with and then extend to 1000 if needed. The headmaster of Salem has allotted 16 teachers to come and help me. It will be more expensive than I expected, but I can afford it, and I'm willing to start it up and begin running it. Can I have some of your aurors to work with me? It would help. They are parents themselves and they would also need to show that they do not support Voldemort and his followers. In addition, all mail is setup to be sent through Gringotts, for scanning for anything harmful, when we are up and running. All transport is taken care of with their help also. The school's location is not easily found and we have no direct mail exchange. The wards are designed to redirect mail to Gringotts London, there they are scanned for trackers, howlers and boobytraps in all forms. They are then set to arrive on Saturday and outgoing mail departs from school on Monday morning. The students have the opportunity to write back over the weekend. What's new is all mail that is not private is school business and if it's not private it's to be addressed to the school office."

"Okay, they need to know where to go and when you start?"

"You'll get a letter tomorrow that explains how I imagine we'll handle it and how to get there. I expect, a maximum of one person per portkey and it will be open for a very short period of time. I think that a minute between each one and if I have ten slots for incoming and one in every minute it will still take more than an hour, but that's the way it will have to be. At that point they will still be in England, a portkey over the Atlantic results in terrible travel sickness. They will arrive here and the goblins will establish a portal, without the travelers noticing much and they end up in the United States. I have all the documents ready over there thanks to Gringotts they were very accommodating. That we are in the United States should be a secret even if I have already mentioned the possibility. To anyone that asks we have a house in a meadow, the house is called 'TEXAS' and meadow called the United States, not that they need that additional information. It means that when I present the place to the students I tell them that it is a house in a meadow. Then they can write home about the house in a meadow. If they then happen to mention that we are also in America then that is all they have to say and not lied."

"Good, three aurors with injuries that have resigned from the job due to the injuries. I have told them about this job. They were little reluctant before they realized that the whole family could go. They have injuries similar to Alastor Moody but not as extreme. They are excited to do the work. The income they gain does play a good part in that to."

"Well, there was a group that we initially did not reach, but thanks to Gringotts, they have been reached. The new first-generation magic users who came in to switch pounds to galleons, also received a copy of the letter."

"Have you had any reaction from Hogwarts?"

"Like from Albus? … Yes, Fawkes tried to flame in, but as I had the anti magic field on, he did not make it. However, four teachers have accepted the offer to transfer if Hogwarts closes down. Minerva was interested to come but the position she holds at Hogwarts is so important so, for the children's sake, she couldn't leave them with such a short notice. However, she has asked to come next year, even if Hogwarts is in operation."

"Anti-Magic, you said, explain yourself."

"Oh? I found this, it prevents someone that might try to snatch me away with a portkey or by side apparition. But all the magic around me is prevented as well, if it's active. I may have the functions active or dormant independently. At the Dursley's, I have all three active all the time after Albus last used Fawkes to send his letter. When I'm here I have them all idle."

"An object that is discreet?" Amelia asked and didn't know how she would describe the functions by the law. They were defensive in nature and in that way it was nothing she knew that would make it against the law.

"I don't advertise it. The fewer that know of it the better and it's best that no one knows about it. I think it can save the lives of both me and my bodyguard, if a situation should arise. An animagi can't regain its natural form, nor can Tonks change from the look she has when the magic suppression is active, the invisibility cloak works, but not invisibility spells or glamours. We haven't tested polyjuice potions."

"How … what's its radius? Or is it line of sight? '"

"50 feet or about 15 meters, radius."

"Good, use it but keep quiet about what it does. Tonks, anything to report?"

"Everything has gone well. The Dursley's are still surprisingly nice, actually. They are polite, and hold conversations with magicals as well as normal folks. If you have time, it might be good if you come to visit and ask how Vernon is recovering. It's been a little bit of time since Harry helped him. I think it cements their position, it could be important to build on it. Dudley, he has a little magic in him and with a wand he would certainly be able to meet part of the first year's course. His children, when he has a family, can possibly have more power. Petunia is completely muggle, but I managed to find out why. Remus told me that in her childhood she successfully stated an unbreakable oath without knowing about magic. She was seven years old and a year later she had of course forgotten all about it and talked too much. She came close to losing her life. Therefore she hates magic, but made peace with it after Harry saved their lives. I think the the wording used also prevented Dudley from being active magic user. He is just very weak, magically." Tonks explained to her boss and a listening Harry.

"Woooooww - Dudley at Hogwarts - what a sight." Laughed Harry.

"Yes, but it's important for him to know about it for the future. Be sure to inform him before he starts to play with girls." Amelia stated rather demandingly looking at Harry.

"Okay, we'll do it together, - - - soon. The first thing to prepare for is the Will reading at Gringotts and, because I expect that Dumbledore to make an attempt to abduct me on my way in, I have prepare for that. Well, Amelia, do you think that you know four people who could work as administrators at my new school? If you do, could you bring them here and put them to work." Harry said begging Amelia for pity and competent clerical workers.

"Four did you say? Okay, to begin with three maybe four of the men we just talked about have wives that may be able to help. They will probably even be happy to help. Starting salary?"

"Same as an administrative post here."

"Now Harry, sign the application. You technically will be on leave but you will still be an auror. You need to read a few small books about how to perform in different situations, but it's not as an auror I want you. There must be a legal reason to be here. Yes, you sign it and you're an auror. Not on active duty mind you, but it gives you a reason to be around. I might go beyond that and accept Snake as a full timer. I do like the thought of Snake training my aurors in that school of yours even if they don't know who is training them."

"Oh. Did I hear you right, you would like your aurors as students in my school?"

"Not all of them and not as full time students. You asked for four aurors right? I figure if I have one or two receiving a little extra education and two teaching and then have them on a rotating schedule then anything you teach them gives them a boost. Auror Tonks, do you have anything to say about that?"

"I have seen a lot of what my friend can do, and yes Harry might not know how to arrest a drunk punk that is rude and lewd in a bar, but he can take down an opponent. He is way better than all of my colleagues. I have been with him and received more than a year of extra training. I can do a little more than most, but Harry here outclassed me during training. If you ever send me on a possible life threatening mission do me a favor and give me Harry as my second."

"Let me read this paperwork over a little more and I might sign it later. Right now it's a good time to go to Gringotts and see if we have any new information. But first I want to take the test for a license to apparate."

:-:-:

After the test was complete and he had his license Harry and Tonks left the Ministry. He was somewhat surprised at the large number of students who had chosen to follow him from Hogwarts. He had thought a 100 or if maybe 150 as a maximum would accept. With the amount that did accept the offer he now needed to go to Gringotts and make sure he straightened everything out.

:-:-:-: Back to Gringotts :-:-:-:

Once he had reached Gringotts he had found it to be quite a long and involved discussion. Harry had also found at the conclusion of the talk that he could have the whole school up and running, with up to 1000 students and 150 staff, without affecting his new private income significantly. However at first, Regnok felt that Harry was wasting money unnecessarily.

"Regnok, I mentioned before that I wanted to learn about your culture and it was great to do that in the training periods. But this can be a good time for you to establish a small branch at my school as well. We could have it setup now that the individuals you assign to work there can act as a teacher in the subject of goblin culture. We wouldn't start the class immediately but we could have things in place for later. As you know those that go to my school will be shaped by us and they will be our future. If I can make them see you as individuals, have them look up to you or at least see you as equals then I see it as a win. Isn't that worth working for? We can have it setup so each year would take the class, the only class that would be taken all 7 years, if we continue the school. The costs incurred for the class would only be paid back when they have left school and have a job with steady income. In this way, we as a business, have a long time secure income afterwards. We bring in all the learning materials, we have the basis. There is thus no tuition fees, but a form of student debt. It would be less than a standard muggle college education and promote better understanding of your culture."

"Can I participate and invest in your school, Lord Potter?"

"Haven't I said I'm just Harry? I'm more than willing to let it become a joint project but we should be balanced or clear with the requirements. I see it more as a political investment but if there is too little gold generated from it as income you may start having second thoughts about it… I don't want to be rude, but….. "

"Do not worry Lord Potter-Black, I do know when to be familiar and when to address you by rank. I see the benefits beyond the gold from this. As a total part of our common interests?"

"During the trial years, I want to have it be free. To do what I must do one or two years as its beginning is an economical risk. That risk is my own to take and I don't want to potentially burden our common budget with something that can go wrong, very wrong."

"Not a chance. I will give you two years of hands-free interference and free reign on budget. We have a very good history of solvency and in fact I have been looking for something new to juggle or play with for a long time. I think this could be fun and I want to be involved from the beginning. It also gives me the opportunity to set up our part of the tunnel connection there. OK?"

"Tunnel connection? Sir." Asked Harry

"You have had a ride in our mining carts down to some vault's that our customers never see. Another thing they never see is the jumps, most of the family vaults are in the alps. If you could go right up from the vault you would find that you are in Switzerland. Most smaller vaults, like trust vaults, are under the seabed half way to France, most european small families have their vaults there to."

"I didn't notice any jumps when I went to the vaults."

"Normally you humans do not. You see it as the rail going in air over large shafts we goblins, however, do see the gates and that's why you need us for the ride. If you just walk down you will find nothing well you might, as there are some of our own for short time use. If we, for some reason, need to walk some humans to… no .. that wouldn't matter. If we were to open a tunnel connection at your school then you and your students could take a ride to their own trust vaults just as they would if they started from here."

"You mean I can go down here and come up at my new school?"

"When it's complete and open then you could as long as a Gringotts goblin was with you. Actually YOU are one of the few now living humans that knows about this. We can move you internationally as well but, because you need travel permits from the countries you are traveling to, our fee are a lot higher for this than with other services."

"It sounds like it would be great if you finish that connection, OK, partner." Harry said as they both stood up and shook hands.

Tonks knew what status Regnok had and just smiled. Harry had no idea that he could compare what he just did to something like shaking hands with individuals like the Pope or Jesus himself. It was extremely odd for a human to do what Harry did but he didn't know the true extent of Regnok's status. She also knew that he was not only had the economic backing for the project but also the power.

:-:-: DE's in the alley Aug 02:-:-:

Happy with his agreement with Regnok Harry left Gringotts to head to the shop of the Weasley Twins. They hadn't walked for long before they heard screams of pain and they figured out that it was a random Death Eater attack. A couple being tortured, a couple of dead bodies and they retreat. Harry made a series of quick line of sight jumps. It was a new thing he learned during his goblin training but now that he had his license to apparat no one was going to really question him about that. Once he was close enough he activated his ring.

He then calmly walked toward them and he saw that one had turned to him and pointed their wand at him. He could then see they had all turned their wands on him and he heard more than one voice begin to say "Avada KED". . . Normally, if one paid attention when a spell was being cast, they would see a very brief flicker of magic at the tip of the wand in this instance Harry was pleased to note that didn't happen. He was pleased the ring worked in battle. Once the spells from the death eaters had no chance of being fired he deactivated the ring and a quick chain of five "Reducto" and the death eaters were only a memory. Harry had been practising the opening sequence for his own spell chains and the possible need to prioritize the magic used and the magic of the suppression the ring omitted.

The Aurors seemed to arrive in a blink but that might be because Tonks sounded the alarm when she first heard the screams. Harry had gotten to know Kingsley and recognized him when he arrived. "What happened?" asked another auror.

"I do not know if they killed anyone before I arrived. Hopefully I prevented that. Once I arrived they had begun to say the killing curse and all of them were aiming at me when I was within sight of them. I was in a bit of hurry to interrupt them. My Reducto chains are the quickest chains I can do so I fired that toward them. The funny thing is they did not even bother to think of a defence or a countermeasure to that."

"Are any of civilians critically injured? Was anyone subjected to torture spells like the cruciatus?" the unnamed auror asked without any reply… before turning to Kingsley.

"No, it looks like they were stopped in time. They were lucky. I need at least three witnesses who can tell me what happened here before Potter became involved in the fight. As for you Potter, I can take your accounting later. Tonks go ahead and get him out of here."

Harry and Tonks canceled their plans for the day and went to the DMLE office for a short report to Madam Bones. They made sure to leave copies of the memory of the event for review.

:-:-: To the Twins chop Aug 03 :-:-:

The next day as they entered the twins' shop, "Ah our discreet" began one twin. "silent sponsor and partner." ended the second twin. "Welcome to this little world of pranking" began Forge,

"heaven. What can we help our honored guest" ended Gred.

"Nah Gred not a guest . ." said Forge.

"Right Forge he is our co owner. . ."countered Gred.

"Or perhaps little brother is better." stated Forge.

"What can we help you with today?" said the twins in unison.

"Thanks guys but I have no problem at all right now. Also thanks for the front row seat to the 'ping pong tournament' that one experiences in talking to you. Our heads just need to be on a permanent swivel around you two. But seriously, I told you when I gave you the money it was yours no strings attached. What I wanted to ask is what your investment needs were. Maybe something which could enable you to expand?"

"Expand?" They both asked in stereo.

"Yes, why not? I understand that you have considered opening in Hogsmeade but I say forget it. Consider other locations instead. I would like, if possible, to have two very talented inventors in my group. Your budget would be 5000 galleons a month. You could create a second secret company, a shell company if you like. You could then sell your prank company here to that company and immigrate. By doing this there would be nothing to connect you to this shop. We can hope at that point V. can't or won't link the store here to you and me. We can hope your employees would be a bit safer. Ok maybe not entirely safe, but safer. You would still own the store but like I said through a shell company. More importantly, I need you both to come to my new school as teachers of the younger students. You, as teachers, could give them the basics on how to be sneaky and devious, how to think outside the box. I am also assuming that both Ron and Ginny have registered for the new school."

"Harry how many students"began one twin.

"do you think will leave Hogwarts?" finished the second.

"From what we have heard," began Forge.

"We have altered our plans for Hogsmeade" said Gred.

"hmm. . . yeah they went kerplunk." Forge said.

"Fast" stated both twins.

"I am expecting more than 650 as of yesterday morning. " This was met by two long, low, whistles.

"Harry you will drive Hogwarts to close." stated the twins.

"Yes that is the most likely outcome but it's not my fault. I only put the offer out there. The fact that I got almost all of Hogwarts to come to a brand new school that I myself open really says something. Hogwarts must not be that highly valued by most people. How can that be my doing?" questioned Harry. "Well, back to why I am here. What do you think? Potions is your specialty and your spells or charms aren't lacking either. Moreover, you two are good at dueling. The salary would be 275 galleons a month each, this includes room and board for permanent teachers. Retained earnings during the period when students have free and temporary teachers are the only monthly salary during school. The hourly rate is 3 gallons for a teacher's time. Interested?"

"That second amount you said. With a budget of - - - Is that a fantasy amount?"

"Ah ...well let's say for example, you invent a powder that makes the entire room dark. For those who still know how to see anyway, maybe because of training, equipment, or potions previously taken, they are not affected. Things like that, are a means to winning a battle, or perhaps better, a way to win a war. Things like that could be added to the teaching."

"How long do we have to arrange it?" they asked.

"If you decide now you have until the first days of September. You don't need so much here really, just pack up everything and close down. It takes an hour or two at most."

After a silent conversation between the twins Gred said "We're in."

"How are we doing this?" questioned Forge.

"Be ready by August 15 you will be employed by me as of August 16 th. Begin by reading these supplemental books on potion making. They discuss the preparation that goes into making a potion and explain things regarding the ingredients. Things like why to use a specific caudron or stirrer. They then talk about ingredient interaction and what causes certain reactions and why. After that you can review the texts for the class and develop a lesson plan. I can try to help or I can point you towards someone who can. If I were you I would plan at least the first few months of lessons."

"Don't we have to have a masters in the field we are to supposed teach?"

"Get good results with your pupils and I'll show the difference between your lessons and the masters 'Snape' had. After that no one will question you. But, if you would feel better about teaching with a masters license, hold out a few years. You can study and read about the master program then take the test. After that you would be a potions certified manufacturer."

"You have really" began Forge.

"didn't need to convince us" continued Gred.

"that you are an angel." said Forge.

"Where do you hide your halo and wings?" asked the twins in unison.

"Another thing I want you to start looking at is the process for becoming an animagus. I can recommend some books to read and help instruct you in the meditation if you need it. Or even help to get you a tutor for one on one help. That is one thing I will try to get as many people as possible to take an interest in."

"May we sell our products there?" asked Forge.

"Let's say we are wary of what could be released. I can say to leave laughing from the lessons because the professors moo or croak should not be something we encourage."

"I think we understand." said the twins.

"Who can we tell about your offer?" asked Gred.

"Take it easy with telling the family. I would rather you not say anything to them, I usually I don't mind sharing news like this with family, but Molly, well she is too much of a disciple of the religion of Dumbledore. He is someone I want to avoid for the a time being. He will try to find or create his spies among those who come to the school. What he doesn't know is that I have a little surprise in store at the school's first welcome feast, mostly addressed to him but it can apply to Voldy as well."

:-:-:-: Snape's mistake :-:-:-:

When the pair had gone a little ways down the street, away from the twins' shop, Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck begin to rise. He knew there was someone staring at him from behind, thinking quickly he activated all three defenses in his ring.

"Potter!" snarled Snape. "The headmaster asked me to give you this letter."

Harry turned and looked at Snape. It was a long minute before he said "Oh yeah? And what has he come up with now? This isn't the way I have instructed him and others to contact me."

Snape did not listen to Harry, most likely just hearing 'bla bla bla' with his mind supplying the 'he is arrogant just like his father' in the place of Harry's question.

Snape still had the letter but after Harry spoke he almost forced it into Harry's hand. He then said "ACTIVATE" Harry just had a 'gut-feeling', maybe from all years with Snape, that now things were beyond simple words. When nothing happened Snape aimed his wand at Harry and began the incantation to his first spell,"Stupef..." Before his had completed saying the spell Harry had deactivated the rings and a heavy blast hit and destroyed Snape's chest. It was Harry that managed to say the first spell. His "Reducto" was fired fast and without hesitation. Harry was fully aware of what he had done but he had anticipated that it might just come to it sooner or later. Now that it had he felt it was a little like revenge for the lie Snape had told. They had the rat but Snape had lied to Fudge and it was a lie that ultimately cost him his life.

"Tonks be careful with that letter it's a portkey that has been activated inside a suppression field. The field is down now but I don't know if the portkey is idling or if it is nullified because of the field. If it still actually works and depending on where it was set to deliver the recipient it could someplace dangerous. "

"Thanks for the warning Harry. I will put it in this bag for evidence. This bags were specifically designed with portkeys in mind so they are secure. When the aurors take a look at it the can scan it to see if it is still functioning and record the magical signature if there is one. This could help build a charge of attempted kidnapping against whoever sent it." Replied Tonks.

Harry saw that all the bystanders milling around had seen what had transpired. Harry bent over the body slowly and pulled up the sleeve of Snape's left arm. He exposed Snape's Death Eater's mark for all to see. When the aurors arrived he showed it to them. He did do a little mental whistle cause, man, they had a quicker response time than he had ever seen before. Before the responding aurors took control of the scene, the bystanders had all seen the mark on Snape's arm.

:-:-:-: Back at DMLE :-:-:-:

"Tonks, you're his bodyguard, what happened exactly?" Asked Madam Bones who was not pleased at all with the situation.

"Snape stopped us after we left Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes and said the headmaster asked him to deliver a letter to Harry. He then reached out and shoved the letter into Harry's hand. At that point he said a word which I believe to be the activation phrase for a portkey. All this was done in a matter of seconds I never had a chance to react. Was there anything I could have done to prevent it? I don't know. I can say that Harry's response time is phenomenal and I wouldn't suggest having him see you as a threat. He tends to fire with deadly force and ask questions later.
"Snape is a well known person. Granted he known as the dungeon bat or as the Hogwarts dementor largely because of his role as a teacher at Hogwarts. After Snape and Harry saw each other everything went tits up very quickly. Potter's accustomed to fighting or to battle and while I know Snape attempted to fire a spell I did not hear the beginning of the spell so I don't know what he attempted to cast. I can say he flew backwards due to the force of Harry's spell and was covered in blood. I would say this all happened within seconds from when Snape first stopped us and pushed the parchment in Harry's hand until it was completely over. "

"Was that violent a response really necessary?" Asked Shacklebolt with a sharp look towards Harry. Harry knew both Shacklebolt and Snape were in Albus' pigeon club.

"When he failed in his attempt at delivering the portkey he went on the attack. He started to fire an offensive spell. If you think about it any spell aimed against me, even a tickling charm, has the potential to put me in life threatening danger, either directly or indirectly. This is the reason all spells against me, other than when in training, I take to be potentially life threatening. I am a survivor Shacklebolt I aim to live past my 17th birthday, I want to marry and have kids, the whole nine yards. It is with this in mind I reacted as I did. I have no idea on whose behalf he was acting. Was it Albus or Voldemort? In my mind and given our history, it was the last."

"Mister Potter, may I see your wand?" Amelia asked as she got an idea.

"Certainly ma'am." Said Harry. With a flick of his wrist his wand was in hand and pointing straight up as he handed it to her.

"Auror Tonks! Was this the wand you saw Harry use in fight with Mr. Snape?"

"Yes it was." replied Tonks.

"What spells has Harry done with it before and after the meeting with Severus Snape?"

"Well just before we left to come to the alley Harry did three cleaning spells. One on each of our shoes and one on the carpet that the shoes walked on. Once that was done there were no other spells till we reached the alley and Snape stopped us, Ma'am,"

"There was nothing between that and the situation, now?"

"No Ma'am."

"Good. Auror Shacklebolt please perform Prior Incantato on this wand and tell me what spells come after the three Scourgify spells."

Kingsley did as ordered did. "Nothing Ma'am. The reducto should show but there is nothing showing."

"Then both of you, Auror Tonks and Auror Shacklebolt, have seen the results of the prior incantato of Mr. Potter's wand. That proves he did not use any wanded magic on Severus Snape. Thank you Mr Potter, here is your wand back."

"Why can you not defend yourself without killing people in the process?"

"Auror Shacklebolt" began Harry. "A shield charm would have been too late to do me any good and if I had fired a stunner it would have been to late as his would have already been fired. From there it could have evolved into a full fledged fight. I don't know about you but I wasn't prepared to put the bystanders at even more risk by letting that happen. My reductos is almost instantaneous, as soon as I start to have thought them, they are already fired. I follow it up by saying the words but that is more for those around me. If anyone was paying attention then they would know the vocalization of the spell incantation was heard after the spells have already hit the target. It should be pretty clear that anyone attempting to attack me, I'm no sitting duck. If Dumbledore wanted to speak with me, he should have choose the path I had given him to reach me. He should not alienate me, by attempting to mindrape me thru legilimency, as he did a few days ago. If it was Dumbledore who ordered Snape to pick me up, then he is guilty of attempted kidnapping. Since I was the subject to a variation of this during the triwizard tournament I changed my typical spell response to be more offensive. Dumbledore knows this, especially after what happened at the Dursley's. I will no longer use classroom spells when I defend myself. If he truly sent Snape to collect me then, at the very least, he should have thought of this response as a possibility especially since I wasn't expecting it. Snape is or, as Dumbledore says, was a Death Eater. I do not know whose side he was truly on and I really don't care. Whoever try to grab me they were in the wrong. In addition to all of that, Snape and I have never had, what you could call, a friendly relationship. Since I first met the man in my first potions class years ago he has been antagonistic to me because of his issues with my father and he was the one that put Voldemort on the hunt for my family."

"Well now it's over."

"Yes it is and actually it's a nice feeling. Snape had made it his goal to anger me both in and out of Hogwarts. It truly was only a matter of time until we would meet in full combat. Today he attacked me unprovoked and I defended myself, probably more violent than he, Voldi or Dumbles thought I could or would do. Considering Voldi lost five men yesterday, it could well have been him who sent Snape. I don't think Snape could have or would have been able to deny the job. I was and still am convinced that Snape was acting on Voldemort's behalf. We'll need to see what Dumbledore has to say about it. At the moment is there anything else I need to do?"

"Try not to engage anyone else in combat and if you do, try not kill them. At least for a few days in any case. The paperwork is a nightmare." pleaded Amelia

"I will defend myself when I need to and as I have said there is one spell that I use almost instinctively when in a hurry."

:-:-:-:

The next day the Prophet reported on the attack in Diagon Alley on the first page. The picture of the bloody remnants of Snape, with bare forearm and mark visible, spoke in a language all on their own. They also included a few comments and pictures of the five attackers from the day before.:-:-:-:-:
/ / / The Daily Prophet Aug 4 1996 / / /

Another Death Eater revealed at Hogwarts.

By Rita Skeeter.

In the afternoon two days ago five masked Death Eaters attacked the public at large in Diagon Alley. But fear not readers, before anyone came to life-threatening harm Lord Potter-Black came to the scene. Once he arrived all five D.E.'s turned their wands against the young man. It is reported that all five D.E.'s began to cast the killing curse, but before any of them had them finish the spell Lord Potter-Black had launched into action. This powerful young Lord sent a chain of powerful spells that prevented the D.E.'s from killing anyone - ever again. The battle was over and the brave young Lord was triumphant and uninjured. The Aurors arrived surprisingly quickly but since the fight was over they merely checked to make sure the attackers were disarmed and that none of the bystanders had been seriously wounded.

We had been asked to hold back on reporting that event, and naming those involved, to allow the aurors time to investigate but have since received the official release to report it to the public. As you can see from the pictures they are all wearing the D.E. masks.

Alright loyal readers don't stop reading just yet. Yesterday there was another attack this time aimed directly against the Lord Potter-Black. A person, who was reported to be on the side of the light, tried to first kidnap the young Lord by a portkey letter. This would be kidnapper tried to activate it but for some reason it did not work. Upon seeing the portkey fail the kidnapper turned his wand against the heroic young Lord in an attempt to subdue him and incapacitate him for some nefarious purpose unknown . But never fear readers Young Lord Potter-Black was not going down without a fight! The young Lord beat him to the draw, as it were, firing a reducto spell and the kidnapper flew back landing a few feet away with a destroyed chest. The picture below clearly shows on whose orders the kidnapper may have acted. Now, I know you are all wondering who was the kidnapper right?

Well far be it from me, your favorite intrepid Prophet reporter Rita Skeeter, to keep this information from you. This would be kidnapper was none other than Professor Severus Snape of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Most Hogwarts alumni know him by his nickname the 'Bat of the Dungeons' and his foul temper. Professor Snape came under scrutiny during the aftermath of he-who-shall-not-be-named's defeat as a possible Death Eater but was vouched for by Professor Albus Dumbledore.

Professor Dumbledore was and still is headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and upon assisting Mr. Snape out of his legal difficulties he then installed him as a professor at the school. A question comes to mind as I think over this information and I would love to have feedback from my loyal readers on it.

Is there a correlation between hiring Professor Snape to teach potions at Hogwarts and the now lack of able bodied Aurors? As you may or may not be aware potions NEWTS are required to obtain a position as an auror recruit. Well just a little to something to mull over and as I previously said I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Now dear readers back to the story! While at the scene of the attack the aurors questioned Lord Potter-Black. The young Lord insisted that, in view of the incident earlier this week, it was most likely that Snape had been given the task to deliver the young Lord to his enemy by his true master. As Lord Potter-Black is not a student at Hogwarts anymore the young Lord felt there was no reason for the headmaster to use a teacher to act against a former pupil. That is if the one in power at Hogwarts hasn't gone down the road leading from the light to the dark.

Now readers I have done my due diligence and confirmed some information. From what I have been able to gather the lessons with Professor Snape, where Harry Potter was a student, show that Snape's ability to teach were not particularly high. A variety of memories, from multiple students of all houses, give startling evidence of Lord Potter-Blacks time at Hogwarts. This reporter received, as part of the earlier interview with Lord Potter-Black, information that was later confirmed by other students. Information showing that anyone who had taken a potions class without decking the man, showed admirable restraint and was truly a miracle. For more information on the classroom experiences of your children, see pages 4 to 9.

I am sad to report that Headmaster Albus Dumbledore could not be reached for comment regarding Professor Snape's lessons and whether they are run in accordance with School bylaws. We also are searching for information to see if the previous attack in Diagon Alley was in any way linked to events precipitating the death of Severus Snape.

The spokesperson for the head of the AUROR OFFICE ensures the public that Lord Potter-Black was acting in self-defense. They go on to state that though Lord Potter-Black's response was somewhat violent that given the events leading up to this and the risk both present and in the possible near future, there was no alternate choice to make. Lord Potter-Black was cleared from possible criminal charges. The Aurors confirmed they could find no legal reason, the now late Professor Snape had, to level his wand at the young Lord. It has been deemed that Lord Potter-Black acted in self defence and nothing else.

Please do note, we have used the young Lords current legal name Lord Potter-Black. For more complete information on this see pages 11 to 15. The short answer however is Lord Potter-Black was declared to be of age more than a year and a half ago by at least five ministry officials. He has chosen to now accept and take on the responsibility of a Lord of two and possibly more prominent families. For more about how Lord Potter came to be Lord Potter-Black see page 16.

We have found another interesting tidbit to share. Listen to this loyal readers! After Lord Potter-Black's open letter and his generous offer to his classmates he received positive responses from more than 650 current and future students of Hogwarts. Lord Potter-Black told us, during a one on one interview, that he was thinking it would only involve his closest friends and perhaps a few others. He states when he did his first estimate on the number of potential students it stayed at or below 50. He states that he has now adapted and modified his original plans. He further states his school is prepared and ready to accommodate up to 1,000 students.

For security reasons he states he is keeping the school location a secret. He maintains this is to keep the students safe from attack. In addition to this security protocol he states admission to the school requires a vow to not support he-who-must-not-be-named directly or indirectly. This is to insure that no one intends to harm him or his fellow classmates. Those who support he-who-must-not-be-named directly or indirectly can not be considered for admittance to his new school. He clarified that to spy on the school or its students with the intention to report it to others is classed as damaging indirectly and those that fall under this category are not accepted.

Now readers I am sure you are thinking why would anyone send their child to this school right? I mean parents are basically sending their child to an unknown location and they can't visit. What could possibly encourage them to do this? Well I have the answer! It might surprise some to hear that what attracts people the most to Potter's school is the fact that they do not charge tuition fees. Crazy right? The only thing they charge is 15 galleons monthly to cover a portion of the household budget. Thats it, thats all that has been requested and that is only for the food that students eat. The school student base has grown well above what it was originally intended to be. But Lord Potter-Black has not flinched at the numbers or at the cost. He has gone on to state he will greet and welcome all who know that they can meet the school requirements not to support he-who-must-not-be-named. To that end he has provided a new contact address for parents and family to remain in contact with the students.

((Marauders CENTERS - C / O Gringotts London.))

As previously reported Lord Potter-Black has promised that no Death Eaters will be teachers or staff at the school or allowed in its vicinity.

The Deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts, Professor Minerva McGonagall, stated when asked that Hogwarts can not be in operation with fewer than 100 students. Per yesterday's date the accounting of incoming students was no more than 14 registered for start in September. She wanted to assure me and the public that there was still time to enroll. Students enrolled already in Hogwarts are automatically carried over to the list för next semester, if their guardians do not request for them to transfer or leave. Well dear readers those requests to leave or transfer have been pouring in and out of the potential incoming first years only 3 responded in the affirmative to their Hogwarts letters .

Professor McGonagall went on to state that if the school does not meet the minimum requirement for student enrollment they will not open and no tuition fees will be required for those who were notified.

It seems like an old tradition coming to rest when the Lord Potter-Black pulls out of Hogwarts.

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"Harry, you've really messed things up for them. What do you really think? Whose mission was Snape out on?" asked Tonks later in the evening.

"Honestly?" asked Harry and when Tonks nods in the affirmative says, "Voldemort. At least, to the public and the authorities that inquire, that is what will be said. If you think this through logically you will realize that Dumbledore will say that he asked Snape to give me a letter. But Dumbledore is a master at politics and double speak so he will talk himself free without making any oaths of truth to back up the stories he tells people. He didn't create any portkey, or at least it won't be his magical signature they find on it, and that he hadn't ordered Snape to pick me up. That leaves Snape as the sole bad guy, the double agent turned triple agent. What a combination, a letter from Dumb-dumb and portkey from Voldi."

"Did you read the letter he sent?"

"No, I really didn't want to deal with the aggravation. I left it with the aurors unopened. If they want to read it they can and they probably will since it is evidence in an active investigation. However, Kingsley knows about it and he's going to tell Dumbledore that I have not opened it or read it. If the letter remains in evidence and doesn't get 'lost' then if I want to know later maybe Amelia can tell me."

"Did you know that you are on her roster of active aurors now?"

"No, I didn't know but she had upgraded my badge as I was signing the application. Now I can move around the ministry without supervision. Is that why she has given me quite a lot of leeway? But, no I did not know I was on her active list. Well on the bright side the badge she gave allows me an easier time coming in with you."

"If you work a little more with her you may get the whole auror academy to move into your school. She has already begun to explore avenues on how it can be done. She sees the benefits both for and of your school. So that you get access to good teachers and she gets a cheaper education for them. I think it might be a good collaboration."

"Are you allowed to tell her your code name?"

"No and do not ask anything along that line."

"Not all aurors are … well. . . have code names, right?"

"No not all and do not dig any deeper in that area. I won't tell you about any other operatives that may or may not be in the auror force. Again that's even saying there are any, I will not confirm or deny anything."

:-:-:

Harry had a feeling and he made a call

"Dobby" Called Harry …a few seconds later and there was a quiet pop.

"Ooooh !" squeaked Dobby. "The Great and Kind Master Harry Potter Sir remembers Dobby. What can I being doings for youse Great Harry Potter Sir?" Almost cried poor Dobby.

"Dobby? What happened to you? You aren't looking so good. Are you sick? Can elves even get sick?" Asked Harry looking very worried as he took in his little friends appearance.

"Dobby's time it runs out sir. I has no master, I has no work, with no work I has no magic. With no magic an elf will not last long. But I is happy to serve the Great Harry Potter sirs as long as I can."

"Don't you work at Hogwarts? The magic you need can't you get that from there? What about the other elves are they well?

"No - Dobby stays at Hoggywarts for Harry Potter Sirs. But nows Harry Potter Sir be leaving. Now Dobby get no magic from Hoggywarts."

"But how can I help you? You are a free elf. Don't you like that?"

"Dobby needs a master. Dobby helps master Harry then Dobby get magics. Days ago Dobby did help Master Harry sirs and gets magic but nows no magic from Hoggywarts. The be's no students and all elvsies cries."

"You helped me a few days ago? How?"

"Bullet sir. The bullets to hit The Great Master Harry Potter Sirs but Dobby be tryings to stops it . . . Dobby be's failing sirs. Dobbys magic not be's strong magic, not strong to be's stopping. Dobby onlys be's slowing and moves hit place. Dobby be's moving to no danger place. But first The Great Master Harry Potter Sirs be's locked in room. The Great Master Harry Potter sirs needs out so's Dobby helps his Harry Potter sirs. Harry Potters sirs needs auror but no auror comes. Dobby makes aurors need go to Harry Potter Sirs. Aurors come. Dobby lifted them off time lots of minutes … no aurors, Professor Whiskers sirs be's coming stops Harry Potter Sir. Helps bad uncle. Harry Potter sirs be's in problem with bad minister. New minister be's no good minister. Dobby need master . . ." with that Dobby finally stopped to breath and Harry was finally able to ask the questions that had built up.

"Dobby would you like to bond with me ?"

"Y E S, Dobby would likes to be The Great Master Harry Potter's Elf."

"O... k... great so how do we make that happen?" said Harry. Who was by now just a little hesitant because of all the Great Master Harry Potter sirs but he thought that he may be able to get that to stop after he talked with Dobby a little more.

"The Great Master Harry Potter sirs asks Dobby if Dobby likes to BOND to Great Master Harry Potter Sirs!" wails Dobby.

"I did, didn't I?"

"No, Great Master Harry Potter Sirs did ask Dobby if Dobby like to bond, but nots asking Dobby to bond. The Great Master Harry Potter asks the question but did not have the feelings for the bond, it was only words."

"Ok Dobby thanks for helping me to understand. Let's try this again, would you like to bond with me as friend and helper? To be my true friend and help me when I am in need? You would be a Potter Elf either till you asked to released or forever more?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Thanks you Great Master Harry Potter Sirs. The bonds be forming and Dobby can be's feeling it. Dobby be's living and be's a Potter elf."

"It is great to have you as a Potter house elf Dobby. Now Dobby you said something about other elves. Were you talking about the elves at Hogwarts?"

"Yes at Hoggywarts. It be's closing and the elves be's needings to work. Working be's giving us elves magic and elves need magic. If there be's no work there be's no magic. No magic no elves."

"I see Dobby. Ok I think I know a way you can help them. I have the new school that everyone is coming to. We will need help running it and taking care of everyone. There would be lots of things like cooking and cleaning to do. Do you think they would be willing to help me at the new school? Then if we, the students, decide later to go back to Hogwarts they could go too?"

"OOOOO! Dobby can be's asking. Dobby do's that right away. Thank you Great Master Harry Potter sirs." and with a pop Dobby was off.

"Only you Harry. Only you have that magic touch with elves." Laughed Tonks.

"Well what else was I to do? Awww! Nuts and I didn't get to talk to him about the name he uses when talking to or about me. Oh well next time I see him I guess. Plus it is good for us anyway we were going to need the help lots of help. That is unless you wanted to be the one cooking the meals or doing the laundry?"

"The only time you want me to do laundry or cook is if you want the building demolished. Anyway I wanted to let you know I got answers that we, Amelia and I that is, were seeking. If you remember, when your uncle was attacked and you were shot, she was speaking with me about the possible slowing of the bullet and your door Harry. It was locked before we unlocked it and at the time we thought it was your accidental magic that got you past it. Wow, were we off. Ok so we were at your place within about minute. I am estimating the time it took for us to get away was no more than five minutes but I just thought it was my imagination. I have really got to tell Amelia about this. I will also ask her if we can keep it out of the official dossier. We also really need to stop underestimating house elves."

"Well yes, I have seen what my gun can do. So if I was shot with it, in the same place I was previously hit, it would have definitely caused more damage. The little fellow just might have saved my life by slowing it down. That and he altered the place where I was going to be hit. I mean, if it hit me, going at fuuuullll .. speed and hit myyyy heart... oh crap! I would be dead."

"Well Harry, while he is a little unusual, he is really useful even invisible and in the background. The weapon that was used was a pistol, a Beretta 96A1, it's a .40 caliber or roughly ten and a quarter millimeters. If it had impacted your chest, going at full speed, you most certainly would have died before any help could have reached you. So yes in this instance he saved not only your life but also the Dursleys' lives."

:-:-:

A couple of days later came the reading of Sirius Black's will. They had talked about using, or not using, the trunks at Gringotts, and found it was like a ritual. To walk from the alley and into the bank only this time for a Will reading. Even Tonks, who was seldom never more than a meter away from Harry, if they both were outdoors, was not near him for this event. She was off totally by herself and dressed in a suit usually used when dealing with a relative's death.

In collaboration, with Amelia and Regnok, Harry had been allowed to use a polyjuice. This would allow him to look like one of the aurors on her staff that was not going to be in the Alley at that time. The purpose of this was, so that if Dumbledore had some scouts out, neither he or they would see Harry Potter walking to the bank.

When it came time to hear the will, and the name Harry Potter was read, Albus Dumbledore stepped forward stating 'Harry Potter was unable to attend the reading himself and has requested that I represent him."

'No documents have been presented to verify that Dumbledore. Either show them here and now or sit and be silent."

"I am his legal guardian here in the magical world."

"As I said before produce the documents to prove it. Since they have not been provided, step back, any further disturbance and I will summon the guard to have you removed. Is there anyone else who legally represents Lord Potter-Black?"

The timing of the question worked perfectly as Harry noticed the polyjuice was wearing off and he was about to regain his own appearance.

"Thank you Master Goblin I'm here. I must say it was interesting to see how someone, that claims to be the champion of the light, tried yet another time to take what's mine. I have already informed you Albus Dumbledore that you have no claim over me in any way. As of my last birthday I was declared of legal age and have I accepted the responsibility. It has been printed in the newspaper for all to read. You and several ministry officials declared me to be of age during my fourth year, remember? 'The Triwizard Tournament? Does the name help ring any bells? You see in addition to being my self-appointed guardian, supported by the Wizengamot that you are the head off, you did kidnap me from my rightful guardian. You sit two important ministry seats, no make that three. You are or were the Headmaster of Hogwarts, the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and the holder of an order of Merlin 1st class that entitles you to a seat on the Wizengamot. So when you and two other ministry officials proclaimed that I was of age to be in that tournament you declared me to be legally of age. Since then, whether you like it or not, no one has legal guardianship over me but me. You stole it from those who should have rightfully had it long ago. But that is all in the past now. The minister himself has shown that he is of the same opinion when he called me to stand trial in front of the full Wizengamot. As you know that's for legal adults only."

"Very well, now that all will recipients are here, we can proceed. Lord Black chose to use a self-updating memory screening crystal. The crystal is one that bonds to the client. It's very much like the magic paintings, only this keeps updating until the client dies. Hence it's the true last will. It is the one thing we have been offering many years but due to the cost there are few that choose to use it. This type of will may also possibly connect the deceased, from beyond, to those on this side. For that option to be active, the person named in the will must be present. If the testator has any hesitation then he or she must consider all alternatives … before dying. At the time the will is to be read, the crystal show and option is passed and the choice is locked. Any later replay will consider no alterations. Also contrary to the paintings the testator are not capable of free speech.

"The crystals are approved by the Ministry as verified and certified for wills. All variations must be presented and during the will it is shown. Any updating of the content, if options are given, will be done then. The crystal can not choose to show something that is not already included in the premise. That is, any of the variations that may occur must be anticipated and then transferred while the person was alive. However enough about that. I now give over the floor to the late Lord Black. "

With that Harry and the rest could see the image of Sirius soar above the box on the table.

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