Hello all. I've decided to open up a . I'll be adding goals for this story and others depending on how it goes. So give what you can and I'll see what I can cook up. I may even invite back my old beta or find a new one.

pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq

The triwizard tournament was over and everyone was going home. The destruction of paris had shell shocked the magical and muggle world. Of course according to muggle reports it was simply a fire of unknown origin which had gotten out of hand. But those who knew, knew.

Harry spent the remaining time with Daphne on the beaches. He just drank in the time spent with her. He knew one day he'd have to get serious about defending what was his, but for now they could relax and Harry could run his fingers along her back in the yellow-white sand.

"My mom suggested I stop hanging out with you," Daphne informed him. Harry nodded.

"That would be wise of you."

"I'm not going to, of course. Naturally you need me now more than ever."

"Naturally." Harry agreed. "You will do well to keep my cloak on your person. Keep it secret and safe but besides that I can do little more to protect you."

"I'll be as safe as I can be."

"Safe," Harry scoffed. "We thought Beauxbatons was safe. Voldemort made short work of that notion."

"Is Hogwarts safe?"

"The safest. So not really." Harry answered. "But I have allies there."

"Voldemort's allies remain incarcerated."

"Not all of them. Lucius Malfoy walks free." And he'd been in possession of a Horecrux. As far as Voldemort's inner circle went that had to be up there. Harry still hadn't shared what he'd learned about Voldemort's soul with Daphne. There was nothing she could do but worry in regards to that particular predicament.

Harry ran his hand along her calf in the hot sun and she shuddered. Harry entered her mind gently and she gasped at the pressure. He sent a calming wave through her and she stilled in her restlessness.

"Daphne? And Harry?" Harry grimaced. Annoyed at being interrupted. But it was bound to happen.

It was Susan. Harry glanced at her and used occlumency to school his expression to neutral. Daphne sat up on the beach and glanced at Susan.

"Susan. What is it?"

"I have a letter from my auntie. The aurors are gearing up for battle."

Harry flicked a hand dismissively. The aurors could do nothing against Voldemort save slow him down. And even that wouldn't be enough. Harry knew his own power and knew that Voldemort as a fully mature centennial wizard was nearly unstoppable. Only Dumbledore could match the dark lord. Harry was still too weak. He cursed his own weakness but it was true. As a conductor of magical pussance Harry could do a great deal but when it came to raw energy per unit time Voldemort had him beat. They called energy per unit time power.

"She's worried about what other creatures will flock to his banner. This time will be different." Susan went on.

"What's a magical creature?" Harry wondered pensively.

Susan hesitated and glanced at Daphne. She must have gotten the sense Harry was genuinely asking. He was asking himself mostly but the point still stood. Harry frowned, deep in thought. The notion that Voldemort was some sort of unstoppable amortal wraith wasn't so far off the mark. He was stoppable. He could be delayed. He could be destroyed again. But he was immortal so long as he had Horcruxes.

"I don't… anyways. The giants in northern Scotland and western France are unaligned. The dementors remain under ministry control. For now. Auntie doesn't trust them."

"As well she shouldn't," Harry agreed. Dementors were dangerous and finicky creatures. They'd do as much as they thought they could get away with. Under Voldemort's control they'd be allowed free reign over the muggles. The ministry with their little shack of miserable prisoners couldn't compete with that.

"It's a bit late but I have your file. On why your father's vaults are locked. Officially they're sanctioned under the acts which prevent Voldemort's supporters from accessing Gringotts."

"And unofficially?" Daphne pressed.

"The Wizengamot blocks access. Some vote against suspected Death eaters. You'll need a two thirds majority to overturn it."

Daphne winced but nodded. "I suspected as much."

"Well I can't help. Not yet at any rate. I don't have my seat yet." Harry interjected. "If you want to wait that long which is what I would suggest."

"I don't want to wait that long. Ugh. How is this even legal?" Daphne shook her head.

"Lots of crazy lies were passed in the wake of You Know Who." Susan answered. "Lots of exceptions made."

"Like for Lucius Malfoy?" Daphne demanded in frustration.

"Exactly. Money talks as does the imperius curse. Who knows how much of the Wizengamot ended up under You Know Who's influence," Susan shrugged.

"Will they have a united front this time?" Daphne wondered.

"Doubtful. Lots of members were accused of being death eaters last time. Divide and conquer is a classic for a reason. The real problem is Cornelius Fudge. He's a moderate who has been incumbent forever. He could steal votes from some even more ferocious candidate. Like Rufus Scrimgeor."

"I don't know Scrimgeor," Daphne frowned.

"Ex-auror. He's good. He is very anti dark arts. Leans toward the light but is violent enough to get it done. My auntie supports him."

"Good enough I suppose." Daphne sighed. "We need a fighter in charge. Especially if the Wizengamot is going to be divided."

"It's almost time to leave," Susan murmured.

"Almost." Harry agreed.

"Will you keep teaching me? Even at Hogwarts?" Susan asked.

"I'll show you my room. We can duel there." Harry answered.

"I was growing stronger so much faster with your help."

"That's natural," Daphne cut in. "My spell work is more refined than ever."

Harry got up and brushed the sand from his chest. He was in a pair of swimming trunks when he'd been sunbathing. As Harry stood he was struck for a moment. He was hit with a memory. His head pounded with it. It was one of Grindelwald's. He'd ripped the lungs out of a young soldier who'd been fighting him. It had been so casual and so brutal. Grindelwald's aerokinesis was nothing to scoff at. Harry could do a great deal with his now but it was still weak compared to the centennial wizard in his prime.

In this one century four centennial wizards had been born. When was the last time that happened?

The founding of Hogwarts? Perhaps? Perhaps sometime more recent but that was the last time Harry could think of. Could the world handle that much pressure? The entire world. Not just the wizarding one. The muggles could wipe themselves out on accident. Were we so different? The question hammered in Harry's head over and over. Wizards had nearly gone extinct. If we hadn't intermarried with muggles we would have died out. There were so few of us. Could we survive a war amongst ourselves. Would the muggles tolerate that as their cities were burned and crushed. Bullets could easily kill a wizard. Guns were dangerous. Just not as dangerous as the killing curse. Harry didn't like his chances of surviving the killing curse a second time. Or whatever had happened that fateful night in Godric's Hollow. Nobody knew what really happened apart from Voldemort.

And did harry seriously believe that his mother had been the first to sacrifice herself for her son? In the face of a killing wizard like Voldemort? Sacrifical magic could work wonders but was it possible something else had happened? Some magic protected Harry from Quirrel. Would that magic continue to protect him from Voldemort. Harry called on Grindelwald's knowledge and looked within himself. He found only a dry well. Grindelwald had been interested in other things. And Harry's magical protections must be wearing thin. He couldn't count on it to bail himself out of a bad situation. Harry had to be… he had to be almost perfect. Whatever it took. Harry glanced at Daphne.

Except that.

Harry decided. Losing Daphne would be intolerable. Death would be preferable to facing this bleak world alone. Harry helped Daphne up and looked into her blue eyes. He didn't allow a Legilimancy connection to form despite how he could feel she wanted him too. He didn't want her in his headspace right now. He was thinking about scary stuff. Stuff he had yet to tell her. He looked away.

"I need to shower off the sand." Harry decided. He made his way to the Hogwarts express to do just that.

"Me too." Daphne walked with him. Susan fell into step beside her.

"We have a gift for you, Susan." Harry informed her.

Daphne gave him a measured look. The mirrors were precious. They'd been forged from her blood. Harry decided now was the time. Susan needed to be brought fully into the fold.

"Oh?" Susan wondered.

"A mirror to allow you to communicate with us despite distance," Harry answered. "Daphne can give it to you. Keep it well protected."

"I will," she vowed.

"Good. This is more than a trinket. Don't even show it to your aunt."

"Why not?"

"The nature of the connections between mirrors leaves them vulnerable to one another." Harry explained.

"I see."

"This is for your own benefit. You're power will grow. You'll see." Daphne went on.

"You two are kinda scary. You know that right?"

"Of course," said Harry.

"How so?" Daphne wondered.

"Just the things you do so casually. You don't struggle with things others would. You breeze through it. It's not normal. And I'm a part of it. I'm not normal." Susan elaborated.

"Naturally." Harry dismissed.

pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq

-WG