Chapter Seven
The young members of the ARA were in the Room of Requirement.
The group has grown as time went on.
What started off with the study group has added members from every year of Hogwarts.
And from every house.
There were people like the Creevey Brothers from Gryffindor.
Astoria Greengrass and several others from Slytherin.
Rose Zeller and several other Hufflepuffs.
And Ravenclaws made up of people like Orla Quirke, and several others.
The only criteria for membership was that you can't be affiliated with Dumbledore or Voldemort's faction's.
That and you must have no bigoted ideologies rolling around in your head.
The room was formatted perfectly for their needs.
Every member was excited for this specific lessons as Harry promised he had a surprise for them.
They waited patiently for Harry to arrive.
The speculation was rife.
Many asked Hermione if she knew what Harry was up to.
But even she didn't know.
Suddenly the room became dead silent.
In walked Harry and with his five duelling dummies.
Everyone was familiar with them as they were often used in their training.
The group parted for Harry as though he was Moses parting the red sea.
"Gather around everyone" Harry said and so they formed a circle around him.
"I know you are all excited about what I have hinted at this week" Harry said with a grin.
"And I am pleased to give you. Your tutors for this lesson" Harry said pointing at the duelling dummies.
The crowd instantly began to loudly talk all at once.
Most of the chatter being how such normal looking Duelling dummies could be the surprise.
Those who knew Harry well recognised that crooked grin.
As such they simply remained silent waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Harry allowed the crowd to talk for a while before he called their attention once again.
With a grin he said "I understand your feelings. You have a right to be critical. In fact I am proud of you all for not simply taking me at my word. There are many in this world who would pounce on and take advantage of such a mentality" Harry said.
"And as such I will prove my words with actions as I always have" Harry said confidently.
"Salazar, Godric, Merlin, Helga, and Rowena" Harry called loudly.
"If you please" Harry said.
The crowd gasped as the Founders and Merlin each left their portraits.
That in its self isn't anything new or unusual.
But what really shocked them was the heads of the duelling dummies began to change to match the Founders and Merlin.
"As you can see I have found a way for our esteemed tutors to finally be able to interact with the world" Harry said proudly.
The dummies that appeared to be normal dummies from the neck down bowed to Harry.
Harry had used the knowledge he gained from the Enchanting Lessons from Fleur's memories to modify them.
The idea came to him when he wondered why Magical's never made sculptures as lifelike as they do portraits.
From there it was a hop skip and a jump into applying his idea to the duelling dummies he and the ARA kids use in their lessons.
"You once again astound us Mr Potter" the Merlin Dummy said.
"I am grateful for your praise" Harry replied.
The crowd were in awe as the duelling dummies began a much more interactive lesson with the youngsters than they had ever experienced from the Portraits before.
The fact the dummies could also use magic (although no where near to the levels they could use in life) was also a bonus.
The students were amazed at Harry's ingenuity.
He did things on his own terms. Never accepting what is and isn't possible unless he comes to that conclusion himself.
It was due to this he had pushed magic in ways no-one ever even considered before.
And that kind of mentality leaves traces on those who come in contact with it.
Every young member of the ARA was inspired.
Harry's wonder at magic was ingrained in them.
And the seeds that were planted in this day would one day sprout into something the likes not seen since the ancient days of Atlantis.
When the lesson came to an end the Founders and Merlin asked Harry to give a demonstration to the students present.
Something he was more than willing to do.
They all stood around in a circle again leaving a large gap in their centre.
Harry placed a large column of duelling wards between him and them for their protection.
With that done Harry made his way to the centre of the column.
The Founders and Merlin all took up positions around him.
Which if you imagine them being on the face of a clock
Godric stood at 12 o'clock.
Rowena at 3
Salazar at 6.
Helga at 9 with Merlin at her side.
An unspoken signal set them off.
The duelling dummy Founders and Merlin began firing off spell after spell at Harry.
Harry side stepped, twirled around, ducked, and dodged each and every attack.
The wand in his hand flowing through the air sending his own attacks back.
Harry had the power advantage obviously as the dummies had a set power limit they could use (being only as much as the common Witch or Wizard)and only a temporary reserve to draw from.
But with all their knowledge combined even Harry was having difficulty.
They definitely deserved their legendary reputation.
The students were in awe.
It was clear what the Founders and Merlin were trying to impart to them especially after Hermione being one of the first to figure it out explained to the others.
"Harry is a magical power house" she said proudly.
"He is also about as skilled as they come" she added.
"However what the Founders and Merlin are showing is that even with limited amounts of power. A group of Witches and Wizard working together with enough skill could hold off someone of Harry's level" she said.
This was exactly what the Founders and Merlin intended.
After all when Dumbledore and Voldemort usually arrived on the scene most people paled in fear before them.
Their reputations precede them and thus they win the mental battle before even a spell is cast.
And that's why most people would rather flee before them.
It gives the other side a huge advantage.
With that cleared up they turned their attention back to the duel.
Harry was slowly beginning to sweat.
Something none of the students had ever seen before.
His all powerful demeanour crumbling down.
As such they began seeing Harry as just another Magical.
Sure he had far more power and knowledge to back it up.
But he wasn't like some were beginning to think of him, Dumbledore, and Voldemort a completely different species.
Despite being pushed more in this duel than he had been since his duels with Grindlewald Harry was smiling.
He revelled in the challenge before him.
His mind a whirl with strategies.
It was obvious he couldn't simply over power them as they covered for one another seamlessly.
Due to that Harry instead began noting their limitations and any small mistakes he could take advantage of.
Godric was obviously an up close and personal fighter.
And Harry noted he was having trouble staying in formation.
Helga was too focussed on making sure her allies were defended that she left the occasional opening on her self.
Salazar was a cunning combatant but it was clear he preferred fighting from a distance.
Then there was Rowena who seemed delayed by a millisecond as her mind seemed to constantly weighing the pro's and con's of each spell in her repertoire.
Merlin was by far the most complete combatant of the lot, and the one with shockingly little Harry could take advantage of.
So much so that Harry was glad he never had to meet him in his living prime.
At best the only strategy Harry had was to wait out the limits of the dummy body.
And thus he began implementing his strategies.
Godric was the first one defeated.
Harry lured him out of formation and took advantage of that to quickly dispose of him.
Helga was next.
Her panic over Godric brought a moment of hesitation on her part and that was all Harry needed.
He then used an Illusion spell to create an army of Harry's.
Merlin, and the two remaining Founders while knowing they were mere illusions lost track of Harry within them.
Harry used that advantage to creep up on Salazar.
The man not liking close distance fights was easily taken care of.
Rowena with none of her friends that knew her best to compensate for her soon began delaying her tactics more and more.
This resulted in a chance Harry easily used to take her out of the duel also.
All that was left was the Merlin dummy.
And while alone Harry could overpower the dummy he felt that would be a wasted opportunity.
Instead he held his power levels back to equal that of the Dummy.
They battled spell for spell.
Neither giving an inch until the Dummies power reserves ran out.
The students were in awe at what they saw.
Harry was also glad as thanks to duelling the Merlin dummy he picked up some new tricks he never would have thought of alone.
This worked out well for Harry.
After all the confrontation in the Ministry was fast approaching.
Dumbledore still had people of his order protecting the "Prophecy".
And Harry suspects Voldemort would soon find a way of dealing with the curse Harry struck him with.
"Hell all he needs to do is remove the memory my curse keeps making him relive" Harry thought to himself.
As such he needed to prepare for the possibility he was going to have to fight both of them.
It was partially this line of thought that made him create the new Duelling Dummies that the Portraits could "possess" for lack of a better term.
And boy was he glad he did, as it taught him he still had more to learn.
And thus any conceit that was beginning to develop in his was quickly wiped away.
"I can't afford to get to big for my bridges" Harry thought to himself.
That was the same mistake both Dumbledore and Voldemort had made and like hell would Harry allow himself to begin acting like them.
Following the session the Founder's and Merlin each returned to their portraits.
The dummies needed to be fixed up due to the damage they sustained in the lesson.
However Harry promised he would produce more of their kind so they would be free to interact with the real world as they saw fit.
Something the Portraits were all thankful for.
After all being beyond the limits of their frames made them feel almost alive again.
And the students all quickly left.
That was except for Hermione.
Who lets just say approved of Harry's genius in a similar way she did with the calculator.
It was getting difficult not to give into their teenage hormones but both had wills made of iron.
And always knew when to pull back before any mistakes were made.
That's not to say they couldn't enjoy themselves up until that point however.
Something they routinely found themselves doing when they had any free time and no pressing isues they had to take care of such as school or ARA stuff.
The Winter break soon came.
Once again Harry left Hogwarts, returning to Grimmauld place.
A lot had changed since Harry had been back at Hogwarts for his repeated Fifth year.
Sirius had since been voted into being the new Supreme Mugwump.
Something apparently made possible due to the Delacour's and the European Veela Enclaves backing.
Harry was deeply proud of his Godfather.
And though the man complained about his work load it was clear he was loving every moment of it.
Despite his increased work load he still made time for Harry.
Something he was grateful for.
They along with Remus, Tonks, and Portrait Lilly and James (who had possessed two duelling dummies) often spent their time in the Muggle world doing normal family activities.
It was great having his portrait parents able to interact with the world.
It was almost like he had revived his parents.
It was definitely nice having them back. Even if it did lead to the uncomfortable moment in the Black family Library once and interrupted them in the act of doing what couples do.
And if that wasn't the most mortifying experience Harry had ever endured.
Especially as he didn't' think their Dummy bodies would be able to do such acts.
It would be Sirius who explained that Dummy James Transfigured their bodies to match what they knew in life.
An idea that quickly spread to the founders and Merlin's portrait's too.
Thankfully Harry had set some ground rules that if they were going to get up to that sort of thing they would do so in the privacy of their own place.
Which turned out to be the Cottage in Godric's Hollow
James quickly re-named it the Shag Pad, which earned him a slap round the head and a berating from Lily.
"I'm immediately regretting creating these improved Dummies" Harry thought to himself.
Another downside to having the Dummies around was when Walburga's Portrait possessed one once.
She made her escape from Kreecher's room in her new body cackling madly and screaming about purifying the house of her ancestors.
She even gained an accomplice in Phineas Nigellus Black who also possessed another dummy.
As his Portrait was under constant monitoring he had to sneak in through Walburga's.
The only one in the house he would have been welcomed to.
After all despite him having the name Black he was a stooge for Dumbledore due to being bound to obey whoever the current Hogwarts Head teacher is.
He obviously saw this as a chance to gain some intel for Dumbledore.
However they were quickly discovered.
Mostly due to Walburga not having a stealthy bones in her body.
Not that the Dummies had those however.
This resulted in a duel between Sirius and Harry and the two possessed dummies.
Harry quickly took care of Phineas.
He locked him into the dummy to prevent him being able to return to Dumbledore and tell the old man any of their secrets.
As for the duel between Sirius and his Mother's dummy it was far more vicious.
The first thing she did was try to cast the Cruciatus on Sirius.
Sirius quickly dodged the curse thanking whatever lucky star he was born under for giving him this opportunity.
And with a vicious almost gleeful smile Sirius quickly defeated his Mother.
He then took his time making sure she suffered every curse he remembered her using on his and Regulus when they were kids.
He eventually finished her and Phineas off gleeful use of Fiendfrye.
It destroyed her before she could return to her Portrait and as he was locked into the dummy by Harry.
They thus left behind a pair of empty picture frames in their wake much to Kreecher's dismay.
And other than the needing of a new carpet due to it being having two singed human body shapes burned into it, Harry saw the positive in the situation as it brought to light a huge security flaw in the dummies he hadn't foreseen.
One that Harry had to rectify immediately.
He did so by making sure only "approved" Portraits could posses them.
And thankfully there were no more issues after that.
Christmas day was a great day for everyone at Grimmauld Place.
The people made merry.
All enjoying the raucous atmosphere.
Harry was once more amazed that he could experience such festivities with a house filled with family.
There were many present.
There were every inner circle member of the ARA.
There was also newly invited members also such as the Patil twins and their parents.
Along with them also came one Lavender brown and her parent's.
Speaking of Lavender the poor girls relationship with the weasel indeed turned out to be due to Love Potions.
That family really couldn't help themselves.
"Bunch of rapists" was what was usually spoken when referring to them now.
The Weasley always hid behind the laws that allowed purebloods to do as they wished with anyone of "Lesser" blood short of killing them.
Ironic considering they portrayed themselves as being better than Death Eaters who are known for similar atrocious behaviours.
But they had stepped too far this time in targeting a pureblood in Lavender Brown.
The controversy of the case involving them resulted in both Percy, and Arthur losing their jobs in the Ministry.
Unfortunately nothing could be done about Ron at Hogwarts as he was under Dumbledore's protection.
And the man had made sure over the years to make Hogwarts a sovereign state within Magical Britain.
Something that would need to be looked into sooner rather than later.
Thankfully the Founders think they have a way of effecting the original charter that Hogwarts was founded on but tit would take some research to see if it was still relevant.
Thankfully no-one here seemed to be thinking too much about that kind of thing right now.
Instead they were letting loose. Something they all needed.
Sirius was dancing with Amelia.
The pair being followed round by a suspiciously persistent bit of mistletoe
resulting in kisses that skirted the edge of propriety much to Harry and Susan's embarrassment.
Remus was happily debating academics along with Hermione, Luna, and Padma.
This year however was made even more special due to his parents portraits being able to share in the activities.
And thanks to James's Transfiguration discovery they could partake in the food and drink like any other normal person.
Not that it did anything for them. It was just nice to participate.
There were also the Founders, as well as Merlin's Portraits in their Dummy forms flitting round the room enjoying being able to participate also.
A feeling shared as well by the newest one to join their midst
That of a woman with flowing blonde hair sat between Luna and Xeno.
Harry had created a Portrait of her deceased Mother using the Resurrection Stone.
And he instantly put her Portrait on the approved list for being able to possess a Dummy Body.
Of which there is now a room full of them for their use.
As you can imagine Luna and Xeno were touched by this gift.
And seeing just how happy it made Luna, well that alone made Harry's Christmas worth it.
That the woman was also a spell crafter brought an interesting perspective into ongoing academic debates.
Which was now along the lines of how Rowena's Diadem worked.
Something all the Ravenclaw's in the room were interested in.
And just to indulge them he brought out said Diadem and it's inventor happily shared some of the secret's behind it.
Harry who had been examining the Diadem for years already figured out quite a bit of what the founder was saying.
Instead he was intrigued by the spell Pandora was working on before she died.
The best way to describe it would be to call it Groundhog Day in a Charm.
Which would allow the user to relive the same day over and over again.
But as with all Time Magic's it was temperamental and dangerous.
Unfortunately Harry has zero knowledge on Temporal Magic's.
But it certainly did sound intriguing.
And maybe now he had finished his Dummy project he had an opening in his schedule for something else to work on.
Though he would have to make sure he had all the safety protocols in place before he did so.
After all the last thing he needed was dying a stupid death experimenting on that before he finished dealing with Dumbledore and Voldemort.
"Maybe I should start with examining the Time Turner" instead Harry pondered.
He soon shook such thoughts away.
After all this was a time to enjoy himself not think of work.
Little did Harry know that the moment he put such thoughts aside Sirius who often worried about Harry's workaholic tendencies sight with relief.
Not that the man could talk as since becoming Supreme Mugwump of the ICW he too was slowly turning into a workaholic.
Chapter Eight
Harry and the others returned to Hogwarts.
And one thing became abundantly clear almost immediately.
Dumbledore who ruled over the place like it was his own personal kingdom seemed to be absent quite often.
Harry however knew that he was off on his pointless quest for Voldemort's Horcrux's.
Not that Harry minded as he could do with a break from the old mans constant surveillance attempts.
While it was fun dodging him at first it soon lost it's amusement.
Especially when he instead began targeting those close to Harry instead.
The amount of listening charms he found on them was unreal.
"The man has no shame" was the common consensus within the ARA.
But now that he is off searching for ghosts Harry could work with more freedom in preparing his friends for their O.W.L's
His goal was to move the old man even further down the list of highest scores.
Something everyone about to take their O.W.L's were determined to accomplish.
None more so than Hermione.
She was obsessed with knocking Riddle and Dumbledore down a peg and proving that Muggleborns were just as good if not better than their counterparts.
Harry was sure she would have achieved this in the other timeline.
She received straight O's after all.
But she still finished outside the list of top scoring individuals.
Harry suspected this was due to her taking the O.W.L's in this country and given how corrupt they were probably worked to knock her down a few spaces.
"Can't be seen as being beaten by a Mudblood after all" Harry imagined a distinctly Lucius like voice saying.
A hypothesis he want to put to the test by having her take hers abroad this time.
And because he suggested this to Hermione the others also wanted to take their O.W.L's abroad also.
It was going to cause quite the stir.
Especially when it becomes known they wanted the foreign O.W.L's as they haven't been watered down over time like the British Counterparts.
However to get so many people out of the castle for long enough to take their O.W.L's abroad isn't going to be an easy task.
And would require a lot of research on Harry's part to make that goal achievable for them all.
And as they look up to him so much he will move heaven and earth to make it a possibility.
Due to this Harry began spending most of his time when not in N.E.W.T lessons or on ARA business he could usually be found in the Library.
There he would go over every law, or item on the Hogwarts charter that could facilitate his friends desires.
As you can imagine seeing him work so hard for them also made them work harder too.
Nobody wanted to let down Harry who put so much faith and effort into them.
And while they suspected from an outside perspective it might look a little Culty.
In a manner similar to the Death Eaters and Order's devotion to their leaders.
Everyone here knew the difference.
In those other organisations they are mere pawns for the leaders games.
Harry however doesn't see them that way.
He doesn't even see them as followers.
He wants everyone to be seen as equals.
And as such the ARA works more as a meritocracy than anything else.
You are respected for what you bring to the table.
And every member wants to be able to offer something.
From their youngest in their first years at Hogwarts all the way up to the Inner Circle who run the day to day operations of the ARA.
Everyone wants to contribute.
A mentality even Harry has.
It was for this reason he always kept time available for a pursuit he was honestly not a fan of, but did none the less.
What is that you ask?
Why attend the usual Slug Club meetings hosting by Slughorn of course.
He and Hermione had become a regular fixture at these meetings.
Obviously old Slughorn wanting to collect them.
Little did he know that it was him who was being collected.
After all the man has a vast network which would be beneficial to the ARA.
The question however is how to go about doing so.
The man was the quintessential Slytherin.
He was cunning, and ambitious.
His entire life revolved around having enough doors open to him as possible.
And so after an evening of wining and dining with various individuals.
The room began to empty.
Before long it was just Harry and Slughorn left.
"Is there anything I can do for you Mr Potter?" Slughorn asked.
Harry smiled.
"The game has begun" Harry thought.
"I was wondering if you can tell me what you know about Horcrux's Professor" Harry said.
His tone and expression a perfect match for Tom Riddles all those years ago.
Slughorn immediately began to pale.
"I...er...Don't know what you're talking about Mr Potter" he went from stammering to speaking far too quickly.
Harry grinned like a predator eyeing his prey.
"I think you do sir" Harry said.
"I have it on good authority you once told another student about them once upon a time" Harry said.
"You can't prove that" Slughorn almost shrieked.
"Oh" Harry said.
"Maybe an old friend of yours could" Harry said.
And in walked the Lilly Portrait controlling a dummy.
Slughorn took a step back.
"It can't be" he gasped.
"Hello Horace" the Lilly dummy said.
"But you're dead" the potion's professor said.
"Indeed I am" the Lily dummy replied.
"And it's partially your fault" she said.
B...bu...but" Slughorn stammered.
"Now now Horace" she said with a tender smile.
"I don't blame you" she said.
"You don't" Slughorn said as though grasping onto a life raft.
"No. You were simply fooled by his charm. You weren't the first and certainly not the last" Dummy Lily said.
"I'm so sorry" Slughorn said breaking down into tears.
"All those deaths. Their blood is on my hands" he croaked.
"It's not to late to make amends" She said to the man when he calmed down.
"Tell me. I'll do anything" he said sounding desperate.
Harry felt bad taking advantage of a man at the end of his rope. A rope Harry pushed him to no less.
That was a Dumbledore move after all.
But desperate times and all that jazz.
"You can join our organisation" Harry said.
"It's a secret society with the aim of improving the world for EVERYONE" Harry explained.
Dummy Lily then began telling Slughorn about the ARA.
Everything they have accomplished.
And also everything Harry had done.
He was amazed when Dummy Lily explained her origins as a Portrait.
And how Harry had managed to give them a body.
"I thought you were the real thing" Slughorn said amazed as he began examining her with a keen eye.
"I always knew you were something else my boy. Even with Albus' warning against you" Slughorn said in his praise.
"I can see you are nothing at all like Tom Riddle though" he said with a smile.
"And also nothing like Albus" Slughorn added with a pause.
"Perhaps that's what the world needs right now" he said sounding much more determined.
"Not two old men who refuse to live in the here and now. Who are only bothered about their own legacies" Slughorn said as he held out his hand.
"I would gladly join your cause. Especially if like dear Lily here said is true and I can make amends for my actions" he said.
Harry smiled and took the Professor's hand.
"We would be glad to have you. And perhaps you would be willing to aid our Potions division. They are doing some interesting things with Polyjuice and Werewolves" Harry said.
That hint was enough to get Slughorn even more connected.
Sure it was the old carrot instead of the stick approach but it seemed to have worked.
And thus Slughorn, joined Flitwick, and Sprout in joining the ARA.
"Now if only he was head of Slytherin I would have three of the four heads of houses as part of the ARA" Harry thought.
"Oh well that will come with time" Harry thought to himself.
Slughorn soon fit right in with the ARA operations.
He was as Harry suspected intrigued by the treatment of Werewolves with Polyjuice potion and instantly began working with Andromeda and Harry on improving it.
The man had many insights into potion making due to his lengthy career.
He too like Andromeda saw the potential Harry had to become a master brewer.
They just lamented that he seemed stretched a little to thin to accomplish that any time soon.
Little did they know Harry was working on improving the Time Turner design.
This was made possible by examining the Time Turner that brought him from the future thanks to his Pensieve.
and comparing it to his fully functioning one he used almost every day.
Slughorn also worked with Andromeda in making sure the ARA brewers were of a standard level of competency.
Which with the two of them was far easier than doing so alone.
He soon became her number two in the ARA cell under her control.
But possibly the thing he liked the most about being part of the ARA was being able to talk to Salazar and Lily.
Any free time the man had he would often be there talking to them about anything and everything.
You can also imagine his relief when upon giving his vows to be not betray the ARA he was told that all of Voldemort's Horcrux's have been destroyed.
Just hearing that was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
Although he grew even more distrustful of Albus upon hearing that Harry himself was one of those abominations and the old man had never done anything about them.
An act that seemed abhorrent to Slughorn.
Chapter Nine
Time moved on as it was want to do when you're busy.
It came to near the end of the school year before Harry made his move.
All his research had led to this.
And so two weeks before the fifth years were due to take their O.W.L's Harry got up from the Ravenclaw table.
He began walking towards the staff table.
Where sat Hagrid, Flitwick, Sprout, McGonagall, Snape, and Dumbledore.
The former seemed happy to see Harry.
But the latter certainly didn't.
Which given what Harry now knew about Dumbledore warning people he was just like a young Tom Riddle he could see why.
"What can we do for you Mr Potter" Dumbledore said with a cold tone.
Harry smiled.
"At least I'm not 'Harry my boy' anymore" he thought.
"I come to bring it to your attention that these students will be leaving Hogwarts for the following three weeks" Harry said as he took out a piece of parchment with a list of names written on it.
"You arrogant little" Snape began before a glare from Harry cut him off before he could continue.
Harry's eyes then slid passed him like he wasn't worth a moment of his time.
He lamented that Snape found out that he had to withdraw the memories that were tormenting him.
But Harry supposed it was only to be expected.
"No good thing lasts forever" he thought.
"As I was saying before your pet Death Eater interrupted" Harry said.
And he rose his hand to cut off Dumbledore who was no doubt about to say "Professor Snape has my full confidence".
"These people will be leaving the castle for three weeks. They have the permission of their guardians to do so and even the Muggleborn amongst them are entitled to go" Harry said.
"And where will they be going?" McGonagall asked in a arctic cold tone.
"France for their O.W.L's" Harry said.
"But we have their O.W.L's scheduled for just afterwards" McGonagall complained.
"And if they wanted to take the watered down British version that would be fine" Harry said making her, Dumbledore, and Snape scowl.
"But as it is the British O.W.L's are only really recognised in this country. Ask the former Supreme Mugwump here, he'll tell you it's true" Harry said eyeing Dumbledore.
The man in question scowled.
"And before you think of arguing against their right to do so I will remind you of Article six subsection nine of the Hogwarts charter" Harry said.
"Any person be they parent or student are entitled to seek alternatives if they feel their education is at stake" McGonagall replied automatically.
Harry nodded.
"And as that applies to their examinations also they are within their rights to take this opportunity. Especially as like I previously stated the British ones have been compromised" Harry said turning around to walk away.
As he did many of the students who had dropped silent and stared at the latest confrontation between Harry and the staff had the good graces to look away as though they weren't just listening in.
Harry made his way back to the Ravenclaw table.
"That went better than I thought it would" Hermione said.
Harry grinned.
"Use their own rules against them and there is little they can do. But I wouldn't put it passed them to close that loophole by next year" Harry explained.
"They can't do that" a random Ravenclaw said.
"Those with power will do whatever they will to keep their power. This is no different" Harry explained calmly.
Just then from the corner of his eye he saw Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall leave the Great Hall.
"Probably gone to see if any rules in their charter allow them to prevent the students leaving" Harry said.
"They'll be disappointed" Luna said with a smile as she looked off into the distance.
"That they will. I double and treble checked to cover our bases" Harry said.
"My hero" Hermione said latching onto him theatrically making the other nearby students laugh
And so the time came for thee students on "the list" to leave.
They made their way to France using an international Portkey.
At first Dumbledore tried to get the Portkey blocked.
Stating that they were all minors and thus not allowed to leave the country unaccompanied by an adult.
That argument dropped dead however when Harry pointed out that not only is he and emancipated adult, but there were also Auror Tonks, and Mad Eye Moody leaving with them.
The latter seemed to hurt Dumbledore like he was physically struck.
The two have not been on the best of terms since the end of Harry's repeated Fourth year.
A situation that has only gotten worse as time went on.
Especially with Mad Eye keeping and eye (pardon the pun) on the Order and the Death Eaters.
And thus the group left.
Harry lamented how much he hated Portkey Travel.
And International ones are even worse.
Thankfully he had long since gotten passed the stage where he would land on his behind every time he used one.
It didn't stop him feeling nauseous though.
A sentiment shared by many of the others who came with them.
Poor Neville, Susan, Tracey even threw up.
A few stomach soothing potions later and vanishing the mess and they were off to meet their host for the duration of their stay.
It was Appoline, and Gabriel.
The later darted into Harry like a bullet.
"Hello Harry, How are you? Wow you got bigger. Is this your girlfriend?" She said in rapid fire French.
Harry smiled at the excitable little Veela.
"Hello Gabriel. I'm good thank you and yourself? I have been training hard and looking after myself. You seem to have grown yourself. And yes this is my girlfriend Hermione" Harry replied in perfect French.
"Impressive Mr Potter. But you need to work on your accent a little" Appoline said with a grin.
"Thank you Madam. I have been studying several languages both magical and Mundane as of late" he avoided the word Muggle as it was considered rude here.
A sentiment he was starting to agree with.
Especially after he learned the root of the word, which was an insult to imply none Magicals were stupid and beast like.
Appoline and Gabriel then took the group to their lodgings for the next few weeks.
A place not many people are welcome for obvious reason's.
That place being the enclave of the Veela here in France.
Harry wasn't sure what he was expecting when he agreed with their offer to house them.
But it certainly wasn't a large spacious castle made of what looked to be crystal sitting on a wide open prairie.
Harry was awestruck by the beauty.
They were given a brief tour of the lands.
They got to see so many wonders that it made their minds falter at times.
How could such a place exist.
It was like a fairy tale come to life.
Harry was also glad that everyone seemed to be in their right mind around the Veela.
Of course Harry made sure the males among them could control themselves long before they came here.
The last thing he wanted was to cause an issue with their hosts.
But imagine his surprise when it was Daphne, Tracey and most surprisingly of all Hermione who were being effected by the Veela.
Thankfully not to the extent most males would be, but it was noticeable.
The Veela however didn't seem to mind.
In fact they found it amusing.
They entertained their guests with a feast of French delicacies.
Sang songs, and told stories that were passed down in their oral traditions.
It was really quite an honour to get to hear them.
Harry's favourite was hearing of how in times past the Malfoy family gained their name.
Apparently they were once called by another name but they earned their new one meaning Bad Faith from an attempted deal they made with the Enclave.
They were mere an up and coming Merchant family back then.
And they tried to broker a deal that would benefit both them and the Veela of the Enclave.
But this was merely a ruse.
They used it to capture several of the Veela.
Only to be stopped by a pair of brothers names Edward and Alphonse Eric.
The pair were legendary Alchemist's rumoured to be the students of a young Nicholas Flamel.
However unlike their teacher they used Alchemy as a combat art.
Something that interested Harry to no end.
Sadly their knowledge died with them.
"Maybe when this is all over I'll ask their shades to teach me"
But he put such thoughts aside to hear the end of the story.
Apparently the Brothers didn't take kindly to the deal being made in bad faith and asked Magic herself to judge the actions.
And as such she cursed the family.
Not only would they be branded with that name for eternity but their numbers would be limited to one each generation until they had atoned for their misdeeds.
"Yeah not happening any time soon" Harry thought.
A sentiment shared by many who listened to the story.
By then it was getting late and they were shown to their rooms.
The time they had in France soon flew by.
Obviously due to most of them being here for their O.W.L's.
Something they sat with the current O.W.L year at Beauxbaton.
It was nice being able to see the school Fleur spoke so highly of.
And Harry could see why.
"If for any chance I end up back in time again I'm coming here" he vowed to himself.
An added Bonus for Harry came in the fact he actually got to meet the elusive Nicolas Flamel.
The aged Alchemist had gone to ground after the events of Harry's first year at Hogwarts leading to the rumours of his and his wife's deaths.
Thankfully those rumours are woefully inaccurate.
They simply didn't want to get involved with whatever craziness Dumbledore had intended for them.
Especially after he tried to trick them out of their stone.
But they remained close to the Madam Maxime of Beauxbaton.
After all she was the Head of the school they founded.
Sadly Harry didn't have a lot of time to learn from them.
But fortunately they had a compromise for him.
One in the form of a Portrait of the pair that they had commissioned in the Early Twentieth Century when they thought there was a chance they wouldn't' survive Grindlewalds reign of terror.
Harry thanked the pair profusely.
And in return he gave them something of his own creation.
An Alchemical de-aging potion he created based on an ancient Potion devised by Merlin himself.
Both Nicolas and his Perenelle examined his creation.
Stating while it was rough round the edges he had obvious talent as an Alchemist.
They looked forward to what he could come up with after a bit more study
They then drank some of the potion each and their aged withered appearance gave way to their more youthful selves that haven't been seen in centuries.
Both smiled as they examined their bodies for any deficiencies.
"Thank you my boy" Nicolas said.
Harry smiled not minding being called the mans boy.
It lacked the same connotation he associated it with when Dumbledore says it.
Sadly his time with them was short.
As was their time in France as a whole.
But it was a celebratory group who returned to British Shores.
Harry assuring them they all did great in their exams.
The lowest mark anyone would have gotten was an EE+ which was the equivalent of British O+ .
He was sure Hermione may have even broken his record in some of the exams.
The group then settled back into Hogwarts life albeit after explaining everything they experienced to those they left behind.
"Typical Potter. The Mudblood not good enough he has to stay with Veela" Malfoy and Ron yelled at once when they next made their way into the Great Hall.
"Jinx" Harry said with a smile.
"Lets see how long it last's this time" he thought.
Chapter Ten
Over the next few weeks Harry began adding lessons in Alchemy to his already busy schedule.
Thankfully he had finished upgrading his Time Turner.
With it he could now go back in time a whole day.
All it required was treating the Temporal Sand to an Alchemical treatment.
This drastically improved the half life issue's the sand had from it's standard Potion treatment.
Of course this also meant he had to completely rework the Runic formula as the previous one wouldn't have been adequate to his needs.
But thanks to his new improve Time Turner.
Of which he produced three more with the materials he was able to acquire from the "Black Market" something he was aware of from his time as a Master Auror.
But what he wasn't aware of until Sirius mentioned it was that it was founded by a Black hence the name.
"Typical" Harry thought.
He of course handed one of his creations to Hermione replacing the one she had been using up till now.
According to her Dumbledore actually pouted when she handed it back.
She assumed he was hoping to have something over her.
Such as "remember how I allowed you to use the Time Turner".
It was similar to how he occasionally contacts Remus with his "remember how it was I who allowed you an education".
But as it was clear from his actions he had no desire for actually helping werewolves he simply wanted a loyal spy.
Remus doesn't care one bit about the old mans "I'm so disappointed in you act" he puts on.
Something Hermione channelled when after his pout he tried the same thing on her.
"I expected better of you Miss Granger. You could have been great" were his words.
"B tch I am great" was her angry retort.
And so wonders never cease.
It took her five years at Hogwarts but Hermione Granger finally earned herself a detention.
Which earned him a go in the Broom Closet of his choice.
Harry wasn't sure if it was that he did something smart in upgrading the Time Turner or the thill of mouthing off to a Professor.
If he was honest it was probably a little bit of both.
He gave one to Sirius.
Which the man who was over encumbered by his work load was immensely grateful for.
That Harry suspected he and Amelia also used it for some "alone time" was none of his business.
And then there was the final one he gave to Luna.
And low and behold within a week of using it she found the damn Crumpled Horned Snorcack.
As it turns out they exist in the space between time.
"So what you are saying Luna is that they are fourth Dimensional beings and couldn't be perceived by us lowly mortals" Harry said with a grin.
Hermione smacked him round the head.
"No need to gloat Harry. It isn't an attractive quality" she mocked.
"Yes dear" Harry replied which got everyone present laughing.
Sadly not all was well around then.
On a seemingly perfect day where Harry had nothing to do.
So he sat out by the lake basking under the sun.
Harry began feeling something trying to encroach on his Occlumency Shields.
It took a while for him to figure out what it was.
"Bloody Voldemort" Harry thought when he realised the fifth years (at least the ones who didn't' go to France) were taking their History of Magic O.W.L today.
Harry sighed.
He thought he had lost the connection to the noseless wonder when the Shard of his soul in his scar was destroyed.
But it seems they are still connected at least tangentially speaking at least.
"I should have listened to Grindlewald about that" Harry thought.
The man was an honest to Merlin Seer.
And thus had more insight in how things relating to fate actually worked.
And he said while they were connected by the Prophecy there was a minute chance they could still remain connected mentally.
Harry sighed as the warnings that seemed so astronomically unlikely turned out to be a fact.
Harry gingerly lowered the power of his shields just enough to appear as though Voldemort was breaking through with his repeated efforts.
All the while he made sure his memories were safely contained and no stray thoughts could be picked up.
But Voldemort seemed so proud of himself for "Breaking the brats feeble defences" he didn't notice.
Suddenly he saw Sirius once more in the Department Of Mysteries.
Something Harry didn't appreciate.
So he began thinking of and channelling all the love he felt for those around him.
The more he did so the more pain he felt from the bond with Voldemort.
It wasn't until he buffeted the moron with how he felt for Hermione that he herd a distant scream of pain in his mind before the connection was cut abruptly.
Harry then returned his shields to full strength
Harry pulled out his Mirror and contacted Sirius.
"He's trying to lure me into the D.O.M" Harry said in a cold emotionless tone of voice.
Sirius nodded.
"Do you wanna go with our plan?" His Godfather asked.
Harry nodded.
"But I have a Marauder worthy amendment" Harry said.
Sirius instantly perked up.
"James, Remus get in here!" he yelled.
Soon he saw the faces of Remus and portrait James in a dummy body also appear in the mirror.
Harry then began explaining his idea which had the three howling with laughter.
"Switch you are a genius" they all praised.
Harry smiled his anger now abated.
He and Neville, Luna, Susan and Hermione went through the whole act of pretending to head to the Ministry to "rescue" Sirius after making a scene about it in order to gain a certain Dungeon bats attention.
They then made sure Snape was following them on the Marauders Map.
They knew he probably sent a Patronus off right away to Dumbledore so instead of heading to the Thestrals like they did the first time they took him to Grawp.
The Giant who along with his brother Harry has been avoiding like the plague as of late.
He felt bad about it as Hagrid was one of his first friends.
But the man simply can't keep a secret and was far too loyal to Dumbledore despite everything.
As such Harry knew the old meddler would pump Hagrid for any information about Harry.
But that's not to say they can't use the arrival of his brother for deal with one of their problems.
And so just before they got to Grawp they ambushed Snape.
He was no match for the group who took him by surprise.
As such Harry didn't even have to do anything.
But when the Defence professor was down Harry made his way over to him.
He pulled a phial out of his pocket.
"Bottoms up creep" Harry said.
He downed the Alchemical Polyjuice.
Which allowed Harry to combat the issues of not using a human's hair.
Snape instantly began to expand, while taking on the distinctive appearance of Madam Maxime.
The woman gleefully gave Harry her hair as he apparently got away with calling her a half breed one too many times for her liking.
Harry then covered Snape's body with Au de giant.
Grawp was instantly aroused sporting a battering ram that could take down Hogwarts front doors.
"How did Hagrid's dad ever" Harry began to ask before being smacked around the head by Hermione.
No body was feeling guilty about what was about to happen to Snape.
Especially as he apparently earned his mark by doing something similar to a Muggleborn.
Instead they turned away and then made their way to the Ministry via Thestral.
They had an act to play after all.
They arrived at the Ministry pretty much as Harry did in the last timeline.
They made their way to the D.O.M.
"What a surprise no Order member protecting it today. What a coincidence" Harry thought
They followed the script so perfectly that the Death Eaters that were Disillusioned didn't suspect a thing.
They didn't make their appearance until Harry picked up the "Prophecy" orb he placed here a few years ago.
Harry instantly detected it was the one he replaced the original with.
"Guess no-one ever discovered the switch" Harry thought trying to keep the smile off his face.
Just then Lucius, Bellatrix, Crouch Junior, and the Lestrange's appeared.
"Hand over the Prophecy Potter" Lucius demanded.
Harry looked at him noticing the silver hand.
"New gift from your master" Harry said.
"My lord is quite generous" Lucius preened.
"Sure he is. And I'm Arnold bloody Schwarzenegger" Harry mocked.
"Who?" Lucius asked.
"Old pureblood Wizard. Invented the Time Turner to go back in time to kill the Muggleborn John Connor" Harry mocked.
"Sounds like out kind of person" Lucius said proudly.
Harry and his friends rolled their eyes at the man's inability to tell sarcasm.
What followed was a bit of a stare off.
Lucius and the Death Eaters threatening Harry and his friends.
Eventually Bellatrix lost patience.
"Silly rabbit Trix are for kids" Hermione said as she sent a powerful Bombarda at the witch who in another life carved a slur into her arm.
And from then all hell was set loose.
Hermione and Bellatrix squared off.
So did Crouch Junior and Neville.
The Lestrange's were handled by Luna and Susan.
And Harry was against Lucius.
The man proved to be no challenge what so ever.
As such he lost his arm again along with his leg.
"You put the left leg in. You put the left leg out" Harry mocked.
"In out in out you shake it all about" Harry said levitating the fallen appendage.
"You do the hokey cokey and you turn around" Harry said as the leg kicked the downed Lucius in the face.
"And that's what it's all about" Harry grinned.
He summoned Lucius wand and then turned his attention to watching his friends in action. hoping the man bleeds to death in agony.
He was indeed proud of them and their efforts had truly paid off.
The Death Eaters were taken by surprise for sure.
They thought these little kids were going to be child's play.
But they were point casting, and hurling curses completely silently.
Curses the Death Eaters had never even heard of.
"Retreat!" Rabastan Lestrange yelled.
"No we need the Prophecy!" Bellatrix yelled back keeping them here through fear.
"Call for backup then you cow" Rudolphus yelled back.
"Now now is that any way to talk to your wife" Luna said with a grin.
"Probably knows she's getting it behind his back from old snake face" Hermione commented.
"You dare!" Bellatrix yelled.
"What are you gonna do about it?" Hermione challenged.
"I'll make you pay Mudblood" Bellatrix yelled before she began hurtling the Crucio like it was confetti.
"Boring" Hermione replied as she conjured marble barriers as Harry, The Founders, and Merlin had taught her.
"What's this about Purebloods being stronger?" Hermione mocked as she batted away a cutter.
She began dodging and twirling around the battle field.
Suddenly however she was distracted by incoming.
More and more Death Eaters began entering the D.O.M
"Did the poor baby think we were all there were?" Bellatrix cackled.
"Hand over the Prophecy Potter or we kill your friends" Bellatrix yelled.
"Sure" Harry said happily and threw it over.
Bellatrix caught it shocked that her threat worked.
Her eyes rose from the orb to Harry and back to the orb.
"Fool!" She yelled.
"Kill them all" she ordered the death Eaters.
When suddenly there was a huge bang.
The orb exploded in her hand sending shard of glass through her body.
She crumpled to the floor as blood began to pool around her.
"And she calls me a fool" Harry commented.
"Hey she was mine" Hermione complained.
Harry wrapped his arm around her.
"Sorry love, I'll make it up to you" he said soothingly.
"You better" she demanded.
"Hey Daph are you guys ready" Harry yelled confusing the death Eaters.
Then from behind the crowd they heard "thought you'd never ask" in Daphne's voice.
The Death Eater minions were mowed down by the other members of the ARA youth.
"You know I think they actually thought we came alone" Susan said.
"Tell me how we almost actually lost to them in the first war" She demanded.
"We had Dumbledore as our general" Neville replied.
And that was it for the chatter the Death Eaters and the ARA youth restarted their battle.
And it was a blood bath.
There were no stunners from the youth this time.
They battled with the intent to kill, or at least maim.
They used every technique Harry, Merlin, and the Founders had taught them.
They also covered for one another making it so not a single one of them received more than a cut.
It didn't' take long to dispose of the Death Eaters and they then made their way back out of the D.O.M
They soon came into contact with the Order Of the Phoenix who were taking on more Death Eaters and what was left of Greybacks pack it seemed.
Their Stunners only strategy was however causing them to lose fighters at an amazing pace.
"See what using only stunners gets you" Harry said with a sigh.
"What a waste" Hermione replied.
"Well what's say we show these armatures how it's done?" Susan asked.
"Might as well" Luna replied.
And just like before they ran rough shot through the Death Eater ranks.
Of course this time the Order Members also proved to be a hindrance.
"Dumbledore was right. You're just like him!" One of them yelled.
"You can't just kill them" Another yelled.
It was pretty much what you would expect from Dumbledore's sycophants.
"Man they really drank the Kool-aid" Hermione commented.
"Just be glad it's not us" Harry said as he put up a huge shield that blocked all their stunners.
"What should we do with them?" Neville asked.
"I don't fancy playing kids games with them. But I don't fancy killing them either" Tracey commented.
"I'll leave it up to you" Harry said not wanting to push his opinions onto he others.
"Fight back coward!" They heard from the other side of Harry's shield.
But before Harry and his friends could do anything the older members of the ARA made their appearance.
Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Andromeda, Amelia, and Mad Eye were all there.
So too was the James, and Lilly dummy as well as the Founders and Merlin's dummies.
"You are all surrounded" Amelia yelled.
"As head of the DMLE I suggest you surrender now or be considered hostile" she warned.
"But we're the good guys!" one member of the Order Yelled back.
"You have broken into the Ministry as part of an illegal paramilitary group!" Sirius yelled.
"And what are you?" Said an irate looking Molly Weasley.
Sirius smiled "by ICW law we are an organised and registered militia" Sirius said.
None of the Death Eaters or Order members seemed to put much stock in that and instantly began attacking.
"Well we tried" Amelia said.
And they began taking down Order member and Death Eater alike.
Sirius ended up duelling Molly Weasley.
The woman was screaming at him for being a bad role model for Harry.
"He needs a mother like me!" she finished
"Oh shut up you tart" Dummy Lily yelled back unable to keep quiet anymore.
Dummy Lily then sent a mouth melding curse at her.
Molly's mouth lips began to meld together.
And she instantly began to panic but was then hit with a node blocking curse.
Now Molly was really beginning to panic as she couldn't breath.
She soon passed out from oxygen deficiency.
"Man Lil's you are terrifying" Dummy James said but he actually looked more like he would much rather jump her bones there and then.
"But you're dead" Arthur began to stammer.
"As a door nail" Dummy James said Transfiguring the Weasley Patriarch into exactly that.
Similar situations were going on all over the Ministry.
Amelia came instantly into contact with Kingsley.
"Put down your wand Kingsley" she warned.
"I can't do that Amelia" she said with a sad sigh.
"Then you're fired" she said with a scowl.
She knew the man was one of Dumbledore's flunkies but never thought he would be this unreasonable.
"If you say so" Kingsley said as he began hurling spells at his former boss.
Amelia sighed and began to defend herself.
Kingsley was one of the best in her Auror division.
But he was nothing compared to her.
Especially after the training she received in the ARA.
The Founders and Merlin were task masters.
They lamented at how sloppy the magic users of the present had become.
They set a high bar with their expectations and everyone in the ARA wanted to meet them.
Herself included.
As such it wasn't long before Kingsley was disarmed (quite literally) his wand and portkeys were removed from his person.
She then sent him to the DMLE holding facilities with a Portkey of her own.
"The place is gonna be filled to capacity by the end of the day" Amelia lamented.
But the undisputed main event was definitely in the duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort.
Dumbledore had come thinking that if he could repel Voldemort his fallen stock would be returned to as it was.
All his positions and power returned to him.
As such he fought like his life depended on it.
Voldemort however was here simply to strike fear into the heart of the Ministry.
His Death Eaters had suffered far too many set backs as of late.
The public were looking at them as more of an annoyance than with the fear they deserve.
With that in mind he instantly began duelling Dumbledore the moment he saw him.
"If I can kill him I will sow so much fear into the populous" Voldemort thought to himself.
It was almost exactly as Harry remembered with a few minor differences.
However their duel soon came to an abrupt end with the yelled enchantment of "Expelliarmus!"
Voldemort's yew wand went flying out of his grasp.
And so did the Elder Wand from Dumbledore's.
Both gasped at the perpetrator.
"But you're dead" they both said.
What stood before them was none other than Grindlewald.
He smiled at them both.
In his mind he was thinking "I missed that spell" but what he actually said was "Jinx".
Both tried to speak but their voices were sealed.
Grindlewald then smiled "farewell" he said with a grin.
He proceeded to make his way to the Floo past all the press and arriving Auror's who were answering Amelia's summons.
They all parted before Grindlewald.
"Stop him" someone said but a glare quickly put pay to that idea.
He entered he Floo and made his escape.
When he appeared on the other side of the Floo he exited the fireplace.
"Well that couldn't have gone better" he thought to himself as he looked down at the two wands in his possession.
The Elder Wand thrummed with power.
"Yes I missed you too" he said.
He then used the Elder Wand which responded gladly.
His Transfigurations came to an end revealing Harry.
Soon Grimmauld place began to fill up with people.
"I can't believe you did that" Hermione said darting towards him.
She grasped him and pulled him into a toe curling kiss.
"Got to admit it took balls" Neville praised when they separated.
Many more things along that line were said from the youngsters and the adults.
Sirius then contacted Harry through his Mirror.
It was mostly to make sure he was okay.
He also praised him for a successfully committed prank.
Unfortunately he couldn't be there to celebrate.
He was needed in the Ministry which was in chaos after Grindlewald was just spotted defeating both Voldemort and Dumbledore.
And while Sirius, Cyrus, and Amelia were needed elsewhere it didn't stop the party that seemed to just kick off.
After all it was a huge victory for the ARA and a huge step towards bringing peace back to the magical world.