A tap on the window made Hermione jump and she looked up at the curtains from her desk. She was working on her summer homework, and she could tell that Harry was dreadfully bored. She could feel him lounging in the back of her mind and idly poking around in her memories of Hogwarts to see if there were any nuggets of information that he didn't already know.
A small part of her was vaguely embarrassed for no good reason even though she had obviously given him permission, but honestly, the barrier between their souls grew thinner every day and he knew her better than anyone. Compared to sharing a soul, what could he possibly find in her memories that would be an issue? She knew that he wouldn't snoop around anywhere she didn't want him to, regardless.
The fact that his first thought had been to look for any tidbits of magical or mundane knowledge he didn't already know was telling.
She got up and opened the drapes to find Hedwig's amber eyes staring back at her. She felt Harry perk up as he reached to mingle his soul with the shining spark of his familiar.
Hermione opened the window and let the owl flutter into the room and land gracefully on the back of her desk chair. There was a letter tied to her leg.
Oh my god I completely forgot about Sirius.
For someone so brilliant, Harry could still be a bit of an idiot sometimes.
Look, it's not my fault that he went and got himself locked up, so I never had a normal childhood… oh wow that got unexpectedly dark, sorry. I was trying to make a joke and then-
Don't apologize, Death Walker. I'm pretty sure that you would be an idiot even if you weren't broken. Especially if you grew up with Sirius.
I wonder if Albus told him about everything. I hope the old man didn't convince him to come back to Britain or something equally… wait could we get Sirius exonerated now? We couldn't go public with it, but we could get Fudge and Bones to quietly sign something.
Let's get you a body back, get Bones on board, then figure it out from there.
Right. Order of operations. Cool. What does Sirius have to say?
You can read it, he's your Godfather.
Hermione let Harry take control while she floated within his soul. It was still strange, having her boyfriend pilot her body like a-
Nope, she wasn't going to think about that. Harry had enough problems with dissociation between flesh and soul without her adding her own issues to the mix.
Huh. Dumbledore asked to borrow his house?
I guess Hogwarts isn't a great spot for clandestine vigilante meetings. Even if they're technically sanctioned by the minister.
Who we mind-controlled.
Yes. Shush.
It doesn't sound like Albus told him about my temporary discorporation, so I'll keep that to myself for now. Let me write a quick reply so he doesn't get antsy and decides to come check on us or something stupid.
Sure, sure. I'll just hang out and flip through ye olde scrapbook of Harry Potter's memories-
I mean, that's fine but um… I don't know if-
Oh god…
I don't know what you were expecting.
WHAT IS IT WITH YOU AND RIPPING OUT SPINES?
…
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I kind of thought that it would look like you?
In the middle of a complex ritual circle in the basement of Flamel's lab was Harry's new body.
Or at least what would become Harry's new body.
Right now, it looked like a fleshy version of a department store mannequin, with a featureless bald head and generic body that was roughly the same size as Harry's. It was more than a little bit disturbing.
"I'm going to assume that this is not the finished product?"
Nicolas chuckled. "Certainly not. The body is primed to receive and bond with a wayward soul, and the ritual will ensure that the soul's sense of identity will be reflected in the body. If anything, it will look more like Harry than Harry's old body did."
That's mildly concerning. But so was having my body incinerated by sentient hellfire, sooooo… let's do this thing!
"Harry's excited to get started."
"I'm sure he is. The process is very simple, I will activate the runes and Harry will possess the body. The ritual will take it from there. I will admit that I have no insight whatsoever into how it will feel for Harry.
Meh. Can't be worse than being eaten by Dementors.
Both Harry and Hermione shuddered. Neither of them was keen to experience anything like that again.
The runes around the room glowed with bright white light as the magic of the ritual activated on Flamel's command.
It's been a pleasure, Ice Queen. Thanks for letting me crash on your metaphysical couch, but I think that it's time for me to find my own place.
You're insufferable; get out of my soul. Also, I love you.
Love you too. See you on the other side.
She felt empty as soon as he was gone.
…
Harry gasped and opened his eyes. Holy shit, he had eyes.
And skin.
Wow, a lot of skin.
And there were particles in the air that he was breathing, and they were being converted to sensory information and it was really really bright and vibrations in the air were moving against the membranes and cells inside his ears and his brain was processing the information and releasing hormones and his spine was bouncing electrochemical signals through a network of cells to his body and-
Holy shit, that's right, he had a body again.
That would explain all of the… everything.
Harry flooded his magic through the new flesh, feeling it saturate and bond with his power.
He tried to focus his mind and soul and connect with the tissues and nerves and bones. This wasn't a body; it was his body.
Wow, that was some intense combination of dissociation and dysphoria though. Maybe next time he would be a bit more careful about being discorporated.
He sat up and looked around. Flamel and Hermione were watching him apprehensively from outside the ritual circle and Hermione looked vaguely embarrassed even though she was smiling and-
Ah. Right. Clothes.
He conjured his standard white button down, black slacks, black vest, and black dress shoes and socks. He chuckled to himself at the memory of Hermione making fun of him for conjuring his socks. He stood up and flexed his new muscles.
"So… do I look like me?"
Hermione glanced at Flamel briefly, who nodded, before running forward and throwing her arms around him.
He had missed her hugs.
She pulled back and ran her hand gently down his face, looking oddly nervous for a moment.
He smiled widely and kissed her.
The firestorm of rapturous sensation was overwhelming after so long in the muted, peaceful comfort of the Dark.
He wouldn't have it any other way.
…
"This… is the entrance to the Ministry of Magic?"
The aging red phone booth stood innocently in front of them.
"Yes, it is a bit mundane," Hermione shrugged. "I can understand the need for secrecy but… we have magic, we could have done literally anything."
They went inside the phone booth and dialed 'MAGIC' on the outdated rotating dial.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."
Harry opened his mouth before Hermione preemptively silenced him with her power. Spoilsport.
"Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, here for a meeting with Amelia Bones."
She ruined so many opportunities for chaos.
…
"Wand."
The wizard at the security desk hadn't even looked up from his paper.
"We don't use wands."
"I'm afraid that all visitors…"
He trailed off as he took in Harry's face, his eyes quickly glancing up to the Mark on his forehead, which had stubbornly stuck around even with the new body.
"Good morning. I'm Harry Potter and this is Hermione Granger. We've quite outgrown the need to use wands to do magic…"
He couldn't help but let his eyes flash green like a lens flare. He had so few opportunities to mess with normal wizards anymore.
"...which I hope isn't an inconvenience for the Ministry."
"Oh... of course… I'll just…"
The man looked rather flustered. Wonder why.
"...You can go through, Lord Potter. So sorry for the…"
He trailed off as Harry and Hermione walked away.
Ha! First appearance of Lord Potter! Do you want me to take your cape for you, milord? Maybe shine your conjured shoes or-
Shut up. You'll be stuck dealing with it eventually too, Lady Granger.
He was just responding in kind to her snark; he wasn't sure why Hermione almost tripped into the elevator doors.
…
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Potter. I admit that I am a bit unsure as to why the Minister is insisting that I meet with you.
Harry shook Amelia Bones' hand, her grip firm and humming with tightly restrained power. She peered at him from behind her monocle with a neutral but vaguely wary expression. Her righteous soul loomed large in her spartan office, a shining spark of highly condensed light and magic. She was not the barely constrained thunderstorm that was Mad-eye Moody, but she was equally as intense. This was not a woman that he wanted to cross. He very much hoped that their war never put them at odds with her.
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Madam Bones. Your reputation precedes you. We have come to deliver grim news that must not leave this office until the time is right, and to invite you to a meeting requiring similar secrecy later this month."
They sat across from each other and the Head of the DMLE leaned over her desk towards him.
"Under other circumstances, I would be asking why I am getting this type of news from two fifteen-year-old Hogwarts students." Her eyes flicked from him to Hermione and back. "But you are not just any student, are you, Death Walker?"
Harry kept his face carefully blank.
"No, I am not."
Harry took a breath to steady himself. Amelia Bones was intimidating.
"Lord Voldemort has returned to corporeal form. He is the one who leveled Hangleton and the surrounding countryside. It is time to go to war once again, Madam Bones."
…
"MUDBLOODS, TRAITORS AND FILTH IN THE HOUSE OF-"
Harry waved his hand and unmade the fabric of reality within the poisonous portrait. He was sure that Sirius wouldn't mind.
"Oh…" Molly Weasley looked decidedly off balance. "Thank you, dear. We've been trying to find a way to get rid of her since we started using the house as headquarters, but…"
"She definitely seemed like an… opinionated painting. Happy to help. Has Albus arrived for the meeting yet?"
Molly's eye twitched as she led them to the kitchen.
"I'm still not sure why the headmaster is allowing you to attend. The Order is for adult witches and wizards who know the risks."
Harry just stared at her.
He could understand the sentiment, but did she really not know…
"Mrs. Weasley, while I appreciate your concern, the Order is being reformed at Hermione and I's request. We, along with Albus, are facilitating the war against Voldemort. We're not actually joining the Order. If anything, the Order is joining us."
The redheaded woman looked dumbfounded.
"But… you're just children…"
"Yes, well, I would also prefer not to have an immortal Dark Lord after my soul, but c'est la vie."
Harry and Hermione walked into the dining room with a very concerned looking Molly following behind them.
Apparently Albus liked to make a dramatic entrance, since the room seemed to be almost full but he hadn't arrived yet. Harry couldn't really blame him, but now this was a bit awkward as the other strangers noticed the teenagers in their midst.
Harry spotted Lupin talking to Professor McGonagall and a pink haired woman in her twenties. He internally sighed in relief at the familiar face.
"Hello, Professor Lupin. It's been a while."
"I did hear that you had quite an eventful year. However, I'm not a professor of anything anymore, so please just call me Remus. Harry, Hermione, this is Tonks. I'm sure you'll get along swimmingly."
"Wotcher. So, you're the overpowered punk who cut off Mad-eye's arms and leg. He was very excited about it."
Professor McGonagall almost spit out her drink. Apparently, she hadn't heard that bit before.
Harry couldn't help but laugh. "He wasn't too happy about it at the time. I did tell him that he should be glad that I finally landed a hit, but he was too busy cursing and bleeding all over my shoes to listen."
As if you don't conjure your shoes. I bet you don't even take your shoes off like a normal person. You probably just dismiss them or transfigure them into equally edgy slippers.
You lost your leg to stand on now that you transfigure your clothes too, Ice Queen.
Not as many legs as Moody, by the sounds of it.
Harry suppressed a snort as Tonks laughed with him and several of the other adults around them looked either worried, queasy or both. "Whatever you did, it was all he could talk about when we met up for our regular sparring practice. Care to share your trick? I can never get one over on the old bastard."
"Well, since I've already used the 'trick' to feed Voldemort through the woodchipper and he probably won't let me get away with it again-"
"WHAT?"
Hmmm. Apparently Albus hadn't told everyone about that yet. Harry wondered if it was Voldemort or the whole woodchipper thing that set them off. Hermione just groaned.
Luckily, the ancient headmaster chose that moment to arrive and take over the meeting.
…
It felt good to be back at Hogwarts, even if he missed Hermione. He had gotten used to being with her twenty-four-seven while he was a wraith. Not feeling her thoughts and her soul as if they were his own left him with a strange hollow sensation he hadn't had before his discorporation. He knew that he could go see her anytime, but it wasn't the same.
He sent a general feeling of love and longing over their link, and smiled as he felt her love and happiness in return.
He could take a trip south later. For now, though, he had training to do.
High in the mountains, miles away from the ancient school and any other humans, Harry took a deep breath. He was reasonably confident that he could at least keep it from rampaging, but it was always unpredictable.
"Fiendfyre."
Blazing frenzied emerald flames appeared between his outstretched hands. His power sang under his skin, and he could feel the furious soul of the demonic fire raging against him as it fought to break free of its chains and consume the world.
He knew that his wide smile was absolutely feral.
…
"We still have to address the issue of the Defense Against the Dark Arts post for this year."
"We could just have Fudge send someone expendable who isn't too incompetent. The curse didn't even hurt Moody, although maybe getting dismembered or the Dark Lord returning counted?"
…
