Cheerfully humming to herself as she finished sharpening her favorite axe, for it was important to keep any and all weapons serviceable when the dangers of one's job was only matched by the dangers of living in Hell, Millie's smile gained a noticeable touch of fondness as she looked at the company calendar.
Yes Blitzo had labeled the special day as the 'Return of the brat'.
But considering her boss had been supportive of her idea to host an end-of-the-school-year party for her son, the female Imp knew that he was also looking forward to having Harry back in Hell.
Even if it was mostly because they could take on more profitable missions for the company.
Moxxie of course had raised the objection that Harry should spend a week relaxing at home before they allowed him to go on a job. A move that was firmly supported by both Loona and herself since it was important to make sure that her son's skills hadn't gotten too rusty while he was playing the part of a first-year student.
But she was confident that Harry would prove to be both able and willing to serve as their back up as soon as possible.
Especially since he would undoubtedly feel the need to unwind after his hard work in preparing for his exams.
She was confident that he would ace them, for he had often complained that he wasn't learning anything new.
But considering that public school systems graded how closely a student's answer matched what was the government said it should be, she suspected that he would find the exams almost as challenging as a regular student.
Fortunately, Stolas, and to a much lesser extent his brother-in-law, were more than happy to offer her boy an education that allowed him to come up with his own methods of tackling a problem.
Which coincidentally translated quite nicely into their line of work considering that there was no single way to kill somebody.
One needed to be not only skillful with the tools they possessed, but also possess the ability to think outside the box when confronted with a situation that defied textbook thinking.
And while her son was book smart, his family and friends down in Hell had taught him how to hold his own in a fight.
Something that would prove to be very useful by the time the week was up.
…..
Having spent the past seven years slaving away to accomplish her dream, with this year and her fifth year being the most difficult, Tonks was very familiar with the immense relief that came from finishing the last examination of the school year.
But if she was being honest with herself, she couldn't recall the last time she had heard a first-year express their joy in the same manner as her housemate was currently displaying his.
"Fucking hell that was annoying! Can't believe I have to put up with six more years of this shit!"
Chuckling as she proceeded to give Potter a supportive pat on the hat, a move which earned her an annoyed look from the green-eyed Puff, Tonks's smile gained more than a slight mischievous edge to it as she proceeded to add to his mood.
"It gets better. Once you're in fifth year, the exams get tougher since the Ministry starts playing a role in your education. Besides, if anyone has to complain it's me. If my NEWTS are high enough, I get a chance to do this all over again BEFORE I even begin Auror training."
Receiving a disgusted groan from the black-haired first year, the pink-haired Metamorphmagus felt her teasing expression morph into one of gratitude as Potter proceeded to prove that he could be more than just a moody little bugger.
"Considering they were high enough to meet the Bat's ridiculous standards, I don't see you having to worry about passing any government-regulated tests Tonks."
Beaming in the face of this compliment, Tonks decided to switch the topic of conversation back to her first-year housemate.
"Speaking of passing, how'd you think you did? I know you'll probably ace everything, but considering the previous week was divided between studying AND having to serve detention in the dungeons, well that would make anyone anxious."
Especially since Snape had been in a state of near-apocalyptic rage after Harry had used various loopholes to escape the first two weeks of detention.
But after it was proven that Hagrid had run out of tasks to 'burden' him with, the rumor mill said that it was dragon related and that her housemate had seen fit to keep this to himself until Snape had conned the Gamekeeper into admitting that Harry's detention had largely become a means to enjoy a late night tea and biscuit, the Potions Master had finally managed to gain the support of the headmaster to enforce his punishment.
Still, apart from the late-night angry mutterings, and occasional sightings of a list that bore the name 'Justice for Past Crimes', Harry had by all appearances endured his punishment well.
Which was why she was largely unsurprised by his answer to her question.
"Oh I think I did all right. It was irritating to give the politically correct answer, but considering Granger finally has gotten the hint that I won't tolerate her attempts to promote the politically correct line, it could have been worse."
Frowning a little at the reminder of Hermione's behavior, which had been both more focused and subdued ever since their night in the forest, Tonks decided to address these concerns in a largely indirect manner.
"Speaking of your year mates, how do you think the rest of them did?"
In truth, she should have expected the answer such a question would bring.
"Well that depends on the subject really. The Snakes, especially the more inbred ones, will probably get more leniency in their potions class since Snape is a biased marker. The Ravenclaws will have managed to continue supporting the stereotype of their house despite the small number of Asians in it."
Frowning in confusion at this oddly racist statement, if only because she had recalled her paternal granddad saying something similar after he had one to many pints in him, Tonks allowed a small proud smile to cross her face as Harry showcased a trait that proved, if one looked closely enough, that he had been sorted into the right house.
"My fellow Puffs? Well they certainly put in the effort to study. So I'm sure that any normal, unbiased teacher would reward their efforts. Which is more than I can same for some of the Lions. Honestly, I'm surprised that Granger hasn't gone postal on her housemates considering how whiny they can get."
Though agreeing in principle with her housemate's description of the first-year Gryffindors, for it was obvious that apart from Hermione, and perhaps Longbottom, the majority of this year's batch of lions were a bit..lacking when it came to proper study habits, Tonks merely raised an eyebrow as she decided to redirect the conversation back to her initial concerns.
"Is there a danger of that happening? Hermione going postal I mean. I know you don't necessarily like the girl."
"That's an understatement."
Pausing to shoot her dismissive housemate a reproachful glare, Tonks continued voicing her concern.
"But it's obvious that her house isn't exactly doing anything to help her get through whatever is bugging her. I mean, I know you don't exactly like hearing her give a recap of what you learned in class. In all honestly even I think the girl could give it a rest sometimes. But the way she is now? Gotta say I'm getting kinda worried."
Having half expected Harry to dismiss or ignore her concerns, the pink-haired Hufflepuff was slightly caught off guard by how insightful her housemate's comment was.
"Considering she was knocked unconscious by a killer right after we came across an already horrific scene, plus the fact that her only identifiable rescuer is a guy who told her time and time again to adjust her attitude, I think that perhaps she's finally come to the realization that maybe she isn't as clever as she thought she was."
It was harsh, but no less plausible excuse for Hermione's subdued behavior.
But before she could think of ways to try and help the poor girl, Harry was already reverting back to his usual attitude.
"Honestly, I thought you would have picked up on it considering what you're going to have to deal with when you become an Auror. Or does the Ministry not provide a course about victim counseling?"
Shooting her smirking housemate a small glare, for even if his confidence in her abilities was heartwarming he was sadly still correct about the Ministry's neglect in several key areas of law enforcement, Tonks could honestly say that she would miss these little chats of theirs.
Conversing with the Twins, and her more age-appropriate friends was fun of course.
But Potter's 'unique' perspectives were as amusing as they were thought-provoking.
Something that she would sadly have to do without once she graduated.
For even if she got in to the Aurors, it would take some time to break down the barriers that sadly existed between new recruits and veteran corps members.
Which meant that the only things that would probably help her get through the days were time spent at home with her parents, and writing letters to her friends.
Not the worst thing in the world of course.
But she would be lying if she said if she preferred it to what she was giving up.
Especially since the Twins had told her about a new secret betting pool they had set up.
It was wrong, and betrayed the trust of her two youngest friends.
But she had to admit that the idea of the two of them pairing up in the future was very cute.
If only because she was a sucker for a storybook relationship.
And nothing was more 'storybook' than a couple who started off their relationship disliking each other.
…..
Shuffling in the direction of her dorm room once it became obvious that her only female friend wasn't going to do more than send looks of pity in her direction, Hermione could only scowl as a most unwanted presence decided to interfere with her desire for solitude.
"So how'd you think you did on that last test Granger? Personally, I don't see why we have to learn about some war from over a hundred years ago. But since you're probably the only one in our year who can keep all those Goblin names straight, I just want to know how badly I did."
Earlier in the year, she would have wasted no time in explaining to her ginger-haired housemate how he could improve his academic talents. Which coincidentally had provided her with more than enough proof to dismiss Malfoy's claim about how one's blood purity automatically translated into magical aptitude.
But considering Ronald had never really halted his efforts to make her feel unwelcome in the House of the Brave, though she had to confess that his efforts were far less mean-spirited than they were before that incident with the Troll, the bushy-haired Muggleborn was in no mood to provide comfort to the youngest of the Weasley brothers.
"Maybe if you hadn't treated Binns's class as a place where you could catch an extra hour of sleep, you would have been more prepared for the exam."
Feeling oddly satisfied as she watched the redhead flush with anger, Hermione felt her own expression morph into an angry frown as the youngest Weasley reacted to this comment in a way that was as infuriating as it was expected.
"Yeah well I'm sorry if most of us lack whatever it is that makes it possible to think Binns is something worth listening to. You gotta be the only one stupid enough to think that the Ghost actually cares about whether or not people are awake in his class."
Fists clenching at the use of the S word, though she wasn't sure if her anger came from past experiences with the word or the fact that she was being accused of being it by Ronald of all people, Hermione decided to take the best course of action for her well being.
Ignoring the redhead and going back to her dorm.
Yes this would reinforce her housemate's perception that she was more 'Raven than Lion', which had actually caused the Twins to occasionally point out that she put the 'Griffon in Gryffindor", but she had no choice.
For the events in the Forrest had been a wake-up call for the bushy-haired Muggleborn.
It was a harsh lesson, but sadly one that was needed in order to truly appreciated the argument that Potter had been advocating ever since she had made his less-than-welcome acquaintance.
Knowledge was useless if you were too scared, or too weak to use it.
And considering she had no desire to be in a situation where she was forced to rely on the likes of Potter to keep her alive, she had delved into her studies with a drive that many would call obsessive.
Of course, her new study regime had badly frayed some of the less hostile relationships she had previously enjoyed at Hogwarts.
But such things didn't matter much to her anymore because of the 'lessons' she had learned from her book.
With two pieces of information being the primary reason for her newfound purpose.
The first had little to do with learning spells, and more to do with the way the book highlighted the similarities between Britain's magical community and various Muggle societies.
Thankfully, the average Witch and Wizard were opposed to the type of extermination policies that had been practiced by the Nazis. But at the same time, those who clung to this horrid belief, at least secretly, had managed to exert their influence to ensure that Wizarding Britain was only a few steps away from adopting the same structure as South Africa during the Apartheid years.
It was terrible to exterminate an entire people based on the lines of their ancestry. But to impose economic and social restrictions based on it was more tolerable.
Which meant that no matter how she looked at it, her life would always be at risk if she didn't put in the effort to increase her power.
The second reason of course had to do with the fact that the Book had revealed a truth that she had been trying very hard to deny over the past year.
Potter was better than her BECAUSE he was getting knowledge from a source that wasn't Ministry approved.
Her book sadly could not tell her exactly who was providing her academic rival with this special education. But it was clear that if Potter continued as he was now, there was no way on earth she could ever bridge the gap between.
Her only solace was that her magical and innate 'instructor' had made it clear that it WAS still possible to catch up to him.
Provided of course she was willing to bend, if not outright break the rules she had clung to her entire life.
It pained her to do so, but considering she never wanted to be in a position where she had to rely on others to get her out of danger, especially someone like Potter, she would do anything it took to keep her from repeating that night in the Forbidden Forest.
For knowledge was power.
And power meant never feeling helpless again.
…..
Though she was immensely proud of her career, and genuinely enjoyed watching her students grow and develop into proper witches and wizards, even if her heart broke every time one of them decided to misuse the knowledge she had taught them, there was one aspect about her job that she absolutely detested.
The never-ending mountains of paperwork.
Yes, it was essential for her profession. And yes she enjoyed seeing just how her students used her lessons to deepen their understanding of one of the most complex, yet essential fields of magic.
But the fact remained that the end-of-the-year exams were always the most stressful.
Her burden was eased somewhat by the fact that her role with the fifth and seventh years was more advisory than as a direct examiner. Probably one of the few areas where she was less disproving of Ministry involvement at Hogwarts.
However, that still left her with over one hundred transfiguration tests to mark in less than two weeks.
And unfortunately, the already limited time she had to complete this important task was being cut short by the simple fact that her responsibilities extended beyond the reach of the classroom.
"I'm sorry for the abruptness of my departure Minerva, especially since I know full well how busy we get during this time of year. But I'm afraid that the matter is urgent. I had always known that Lucius wouldn't hesitate to continue his master's ways, but I had never suspected that he had the support to be so openly blatant about it."
The timing was bad, but it wasn't if McGonagall could refute Dumbledore's argument.
Especially since she fully heartedly agreed with his concern.
She knew that the Malfoy patriarch had never abandoned his dream of reforming Magical Britain to suit the needs of the Blood Supremacists, even if his master's defeat had caused him to walk more slowly than he would have liked to avoid suspicion.
But to propose a bill that was aimed to 'Adjust the nature of the Ministry's relationship with it's Muggleborn Population'? That was as bold as it was terrifying.
For she knew that such legislature would only be the start of a process that would ultimately culminate in the type of world that Voldemort had wished to establish.
The only difference being that instead of society being controlled by one egotistical monster it would be controlled by many.
Which was why her next words to the understandably concerned Headmaster were that of a friend rather than a colleague.
"Then you must do what you can to stop this Albus. Amelia will no doubt do what she can to put a stop to it, but considering the majority of Wizengamont either supports his viewpoints or cannot see what a slippery slope this is, only you have the authority to put an end to this."
Though her words caused Dumbledore to nod his head in thanks, the Scottish Witch had nevertheless seen the slight grimace at the use of THAT particular word.
Which served to highlight just why he was the only one who stood a chance at halting Malfoy's efforts to carry out his former master's vision.
Power could only be trusted in the hands of those that never sought it out. And despite all his power and knowledge, Albus had rejected any efforts to get him to take a more direct role in the governing of their society. Instead choosing to accept only ceremonial positions that wouldn't interfere too much in his ability to run Hogwarts.
But there were times where his desire to protect his students involved the need to do so in the halls of the Ministry instead of the grounds of the castle.
Which was why she wasn't too surprised by his last command before he left her office.
"During my absence, ensure that security on the Third Floor Corridor is maintained. I do not think that this move by Lucius has anything to do with it, but one can never be too careful."
Nodding her head to show that she understood her position, the Deputy Headmistress waited until the Headmaster was out of the room before she cast her gaze towards her liquor cabinet.
It had been her intention to reward herself with a bit of a nightcap after she had finished grading the fourth year papers.
But now, with the increased workload of managing an entire school AND ensuring the protection of a treasure that had no right being here, she couldn't afford to relax.
For even if there was no immortality and gold-giving stone within the castle, the fact remained that the school currently housed hundreds of students who were now no longer restrained by the need to spend every day studying.
A nightmare that had the potential to be scarier than anything short of Voldemort returning to power.
….
Although his ability to cast certain charms was far weaker than it had been at the height of his powers, the Dark Lord was still sufficiently powerful enough to cast a simple Alert Spell.
Yes it meant that he had to use his less than plentiful reserves of patience to ensure that Quirrell's efforts were flawless since it was not a spell the fool was familiar with. At least to the level of perfection that was needed to keep a Wizard like Dumbledore from sensing it.
And yes it meant that he only had a limited amount of time to reach the stone.
But considering the defenses that stood in his way, Voldemort was confident that he would be returned to his former glory by the time the old fool realized he had been tricked.
Which was why he had taken to remaining concealed outside of the so called 'Forbidden Corridor' after he had posted his letter.
It was almost amusing considering how quickly Dumbledore reacted to his fake Ministry notification. But since Lucius had spent the past decade of his 'disloyalty' weakening the Ministry to the point where it could no longer seriously challenge his rule, he supposed that he could respect his aged adversary's haste in dealing with this supposed threat.
But for now, his mind would banish his thoughts of Dumbledore as he focused on defeating the stone's first line of defense.
A Cerberus was an adequate guardian for such a treasure since its hide was almost as magically resistant as that of a full grown dragon's. Which meant that he would need more than a solitary wand to defeat the three-headed beast.
Fortunately, it's owner had been more than willing to prove that he had not learnt from the mistakes he made fifty years ago.
It was strangely poetic to see such a savage beast being defeated by something as simple as an enchanted heart. But he had no time to dwell on this amusing sight since he had five more challenges to get through until he claimed his prize.
And it was here that his greatest foe revealed that he was beginning to fall into senility.
Yes his more brutish followers, as well as his more clever ones, would fall victim to a plant that was simple enough to be defeated by an attentive first year student.
But that was because their understanding of the magical arts was focused on the more direct principles of magic rather than the subtle.
Luckily for him however, he understood both.
"Lumos Maxima!"
It was a bit degrading to use such a simple spell. But since he hadn't instructed Quirrell on how to conjure Fiendfyre, and lacked the energy to do so himself, Voldemort would have to settle for more basic spell casting.
The same was true of Flitwick's defense.
He could have smashed the door, after deactivating the numerous spells that would alert the castle to such a direct attempt.
But again, the simplest solutions, in this case a summoning spell and object freezing spell, were best.
The Troll of course was easy enough to deal with. A simple animation spell causes the oversized club to knock the beast unconscious.
The chess game on the other hand required more thought since he suspected that the pieces would simply attack anyone who stepped foot on to the board. Luckily however he was more than capable of devising a strategy that would claim factory in five short moves.
The protection left by Severus on the other hand stalled him longer than it should have.
But only because he had taken the time to admire the use of cursed fire and the latest example of his treacherous servant's cunning.
A shame that he would have to probably kill Severus for his changing loyalties, but perhaps he would reward the sour-faced Potions Master with a merciful death as a reward for both his magic and intellect.
Of course even if he were to accidentally consume one of the provided poisons, or more accurately if Quirrell was to do so, he suspected that it would do nothing thanks to the Unicorn blood running through their veins.
That particular thought brought a scowl to his face as he safely stepped through the flames to face the last barrier between him and his return to power.
He still had no idea who had sent him the blood necessary to keep his servant's body stable long enough to claim the stone.
It could have been one of his numerous servants that had successfully avoided the fate of their more loyal comrades. It wouldn't be enough to completely erase the sin of abandoning their master for the past decade, but perhaps he could be a touch more lenient with them since they decided to return to his service before he returned to power.
But at the same time, the level of disrespect that was in that letter was far beyond anything his servants were capable of. So long as they were unaware of the true state of their master.
In fact, if it wasn't for the mocking nature of the letter, he would have suspected that it had come from Bellatrix.
Her devotion to him, unrivaled by any of his Death Eaters, meant that she would go to any lengths to aid her master. And it was more than likely that her stay in Azkaban had done nothing to curb her more…troublesome personality quirks.
But even if her already tentative grasp on sanity had begun to slip, Bellatrix would never seem him as anything but her lord and master.
Sadly however, he could not dwell too long on this mystery since he was now confronted with something he had not expected.
And while he was confident that he could overcome the final barrier to his return to power, the magic of the Mirror, combined with the subtle, but unmistakable traces of Dumbledore's magic, would require time.
Time that was running out.
…
ANNNNND here is a good place to end the chapter I think lol
Got a lot covered before the first REAL confrontation between Harry and Voldemort. Already have an idea on how THAT situation will play out. Less clear is the journey on how to get there since there is no golden Trio.
And just a little announchment before I summarize the segments for this chapter…but as of this chapter…this story now has 3000 followers, and has been read/viewed 1.031 million views. Always nice to have one's work recognized as being enjoyable.
Now, on to the summarization.
1st segment don't really have to go into too much detail. Millie just being the excited mother to have her boy back home. And her concerns about how Harry is not really suited for government approved education.
2nd segment of course is also self explanatory. Some bonding moments between Tonks and Harry over the end of the examination period. With Harry providing his pov in regards to how the other first years did. As well as commenting on Hermione's new attitude.
3rd segment. In regards to Hermione, it is my opinion that THIS is what would have happened to her if she didn't have friends to support her. Tonks is a friend of course…but the fact that she will soon be graduating, and the fact that she is in a different house, isn't enough. The Twins are friendly, but their personalities are too different. And Ron….well Ron isn't much help. Sooo…with that in mind, combined with the less than friendly relationship she has with Harry, the fact that she was in a situation where she could do nothing to protect herself…..AND a little book that has most of the answers she seeks (Again NOT the Diary, though I see the potential for it in the future) I believe its plausible that Hermione would take a route that was quite similar to Tom Riddle. Though she lacks, at least currently, the racist hypocrisy of Riddle, but the arrogance is similar.
4th segment is merely my take on how Dumbledore was convinced to leave Hogwarts while he knew that someone was after the stone. If it was simply a request to meet with Fudge over a budgetary issue, I doubt that he would be persuaded to leave. But an international incident, or in this case a blatant attempt by Malfoy Sr., a man known for his political maneuverings, to introduce Nazi/Jim Crow like legislature? THAT I think would motivate Dumbledore to leave the castle.
As for the last one. Again rather simple. Just Voldy's viewpoint on going through the all the defenses, and his thoughts regarding on who V is. I know a lot of you have more or less guessed who it is. So I wont say who at this point. However I WILL say that they will make an appearance next chapter.
Both pleased and surprised by how long this took to write, as well as what I wrote. Just goes to show you that when one has something to write, you can accomplish a lot in a short amount of time lol.
Anyways…hope you all enjoyed this.
Plz review…no flames.
Til next time.