In the Crosshairs
Dragon Voldemort
Chapter 88: Rogues
Hermione already on her stomach, on the bed, opened The Daily Prophet, and read as Ron kept snoring.
=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=
Wednesday 19 February 1997
America Adds Potter to List of Known Terrorists
In a strong show of support, Secretary of Magic Charles Kelly announced that any person listed under the British Suspected Dark Wizards Control Act will be automatically listed as a known terrorist and thereby prohibited from entering the United States of America. Now listed are Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Gia Prescott. In a round of international cooperation, the Australian Ministry, the Canadian Ministry, the French Ministry, and a substantial number of other countries are considering similar moves in response to swelling public outcries.
"Guessing that means we're not going back there?" Gia asked, nearby as she dressed.
"Unlikely," Hermione said, "Though…gotta live somewhere."
"They'd rather it be none of the above," Gia said.
"I know," Hermione grumbled, unsure to the idea.
Richard appeared, landed, handed off the Portkey.
"Where's—?" Gia asked.
"A couple of birds dancing in the air interested him," Richard said, "Be a few minutes, but didn't want me to be late for school."
Richard went for his bedroom.
"I need to leave," Gia said, her eyes glanced at the clock.
Hermione glanced at Ron, the snores continued, and she stood. She put Harry's Portkey into her holster, and followed Gia.
"Thank you," Gia said.
Hermione and Gia went down the stairs, and through the back sliding door to leave the house. Snuffles followed.
"Here," Hermione said as her wand came out, "Inlusio! Inlusio!"
Her and Gia blended in, as Snuffles followed.
"We're invisible," Gia said, "Right?"
"No," Hermione said, "Think of a chameleon, same thing, blend in, hopefully enough."
Her feet against the pavement, Hermione accompanied Gia along the path to Pine Court, continued.
"Appreciate you doing this," Gia said, "I mean…with everything going down, you go for a snog and you're in for a ride."
"Never expected this from my letter either," Hermione said, "A mountain troll and I've attracted two blokes."
"Was it really that scary?" Gia asked.
"Age eleven," Hermione said, "Yes."
"From that to wanted criminal," Gia said.
"I know," Hermione said, "Trust me, we're as frustrated as you are."
Snuffles bounded around them, followed, chased, went ahead, and back.
"Have a stick?" Gia asked.
"Harry'd love that," Hermione said.
Blue flashing lights lit them out as they turned the corner on to Macy's. At the small convenience store with a petrol station, a handful of police cruisers. Hermione's wand back out.
"Inlusio!" Hermione said, wand aimed twice, "Inlusio!"
From the entrance, Andy with her mother behind her, pushing. Kristen glanced toward Gia and Hermione, blinked several times, before she continued to push on Andy.
"Got it all wrong!" Andy protested.
"Save it for later," Kristen said.
Andy was pushed into the back of the cruiser, and Kristen closed the door. Kristen spun around, returned to the store.
"Suppose tonight's going to be interesting," Gia said.
"Some people choose to be jerks," Hermione said.
"And some jerks choose to be real arseholes," Gia said, "Recruit and trick others into doing the same."
A turn onto Ashton Lane, they followed a group of students, toward the walkway that crossed the creek behind the school.
"Hear about that car Monday?" asked one tall though thin boy.
"Totally cool," said the other one, in uniform, "Heard it scared the shit of that girl's boyfriend.
Hermione shook her head, held Gia's hand, as they crossed the footbridge. A set of shoe depressions in the soil, Hermione slowed to inspect them, and Gia stopped too. Snuffles went underneath the footbridge. Hermione crept along the two fresh set of footsteps, ones that led off the path.
"Let's…" Gia muttered.
"See them?" a deep male voice whispered.
"Supposed to come this way every day," another voice whispered, sounding younger.
"What's that?" a deep male voice asked.
A gust of wind blew, bits of stale dead leaf formed the outline of two, focused on Hermione, hand pointed, as Hermione realized those were also under Disillusionment.
"Now!" the younger voice exclaimed.
Two teenagers stood there in gray sweats. A tall male with black hair, freckle on the face, one Hermione nicknamed as Freckles. The other, a shorter fatter one with brown hair, one Hermione named as Chubby. Both teenage boys had their wands aimed at Gia and Hermione, when Hermione's disillusion failed.
"Aw ha!" exclaimed Freckles.
Gia reached forward, yanked the wand out of Chubby's hand.
"Avada—" Freckles started, wand aimed toward Hermione.
Faster than Hermione had done before, her wand cooperated, jumped into her wand as her hand pointed, the charmless disarming, and Freckles' oak wand flew into Hermione's hand. Both boys jumped them, tackled the girls to the ground, Freckles onto Gia, Chubby onto Hermione. Hermione kicked Chubby's crotch.
"Ow…" Chubby muttered.
Freckles tackled onto Hermione, and Hermione rolled them both onto the ground. Hermione felt the stress, each push, each pull, leaned back onto the recent training, struggled against Freckles. Freckles wrenched loose, retook his oak wand.
"Crucio!" Freckles shouted, wand aimed at Gia.
Gia gritted her teeth. Hermione understood her mistake, had watched Gia's torture as Chubby tackled her to the ground, and he took Hermione's wand.
"Crucio!" Chubby shouted, wand aimed at Hermione, stepped back to stand up.
Earlier, Harry sat on the sand. Seagulls in the air, the birds flying. Harry wished to fly again, a broom is all he needed… wondered if any old broom would give him the freedom his Firebolt had. More than a few minutes, until he realized that Gia also had to get to school.
"Damn," Harry said as he stood, "Sorry fellows, no food on me."
Harry closed his eyes, thought of home, the bedroom, and stepped onto an old pair of underwear. He opened his eyes.
"Harry?" Ron asked from the bed, "Um…are they ready to go?"
Hoot!
"Hi," Harry said to Hedwig. He turned, stroked a couple of feathers, and brought out an owl treat.
Crookshanks entered the bedroom, jumped up on the bed, laid down next to Ron, and Ron petted that furry belly. A tail wagged against the duvet.
"He's trained you," Harry snickered, "Let's find…GIA! HERMIONE!"
Harry apparated downstairs, into the dining room, empty. He apparated up into the lavatory, again, empty. He ran back into the bedroom, this time, Ron on his feet in his underwear, same as Harry.
"You didn't see them?" Harry asked.
"No," Ron said.
Harry felt it, the tingle.
"Ow," Ron muttered.
"Disillusion!" Harry snapped, wand back out, aimed at himself, "Inlusio!"
Ron did the same as Harry grabbed Ron's shoulder. Harry thought about the girls, the need to protect, but needed enough to understand the whole picture, a focused flick and swish. Ron's and Harry's feet onto the grass, the two boys ahead with their wands aimed at Hermione and Gia, a stone throw's from the practice football field of the school.
Wrath flew threw Harry's mind, hadn't had a chance to utter a word, to think, when a bright cyan flashed from his wand, split as it struck both Freckles and Chubby, who collapsed to the ground.
"Huh?" Gia asked.
"Hi there," Harry said, "Got your message."
"Our underwear warriors?" Hermione asked.
Two sets of eyes on Harry and Ron, both sets admiring them and their nipples.
"Managing alright?" Ron asked, "Best to go…"
Harry's toes kicked Freckles, Chubby, neither stirred, and he leaned down, ignored the blood that flowed out of their mouths. A fast frisk, removed a roll of parchment, grabbed the wands. Snuffles sniffed at the two on the ground.
"Harry," Gia said.
A flick of his wand, aimed down, Disillusionment over both Gia and himself. Hermione activated Harry's Portkey, Ron grabbed on. Harry escorted Gia to the portable classrooms.
"That was…" Gia started.
"Not here," Harry said. "Let Sirius chose."
Harry handed her the two wands, she put them into her purse. Up the steps, Harry held the door.
"Who's pranking us?" came Mr. Cooper's voice, "Her dog!"
Harry and Gia went around, to the corner. Harry leaned over, kissed Gia, and let her disillusionment drop, renewed his own. Harry watched Gia sit down, Snuffles laid down next to her. Harry walked back, opened the door, and went out. Sirens behind, Harry's curiosity got to him, and he slipped back. Paramedics in white, one man ran over, carrying a bag while a second wrestled a gurney.
"What a day!" Kristen grumbled, Frank with her as they crossed the field, "First my daughter, now this."
Harry approached, kept his distance.
"Lots of footprints," Frank said.
"It's a crime scene, STOP!" Kristen said.
That man, the first paramedic knelt at Freckles and Chubby, opened the mouth of Freckles.
"What the—blimey!" the paramedic said.
Harry could tell the disgust as the man tried to fish out.
"That's—?" Frank asked.
"A gallbladder," the paramedic said.
Fingers to the neck, the paramedic shook his head. Another to Chubby, again shook his head. The paramedic stood.
"Guessing they drowned in their own blood," the paramedic said, "Coroner will know."
Both paramedics left.
"I'll make the call," Frank said, as he walked away.
Harry's nerves got to him, though he released the disillusionment, approached.
"Kristen," Harry said.
"You're—" Kristen started.
"Must talk," Harry said, "Mind?"
Harry nodded, they went for the footbridge, but not the path, to the side. Harry turned to her.
"Hermione escorted Gia," Harry said, "Ron and I realized the mistake, ran after them, and in the nick of time. Those blokes were attacking the girls, we had to act."
"Understood," Kristen said.
"Ron and Hermione should already be at home," Harry said, "Gia—she's in class."
"Did you get why?" Kristen asked.
"Guessing the million on my head?" Harry said, "I need to move, too exposed here."
"Of course," Kristen said, "I can—"
"Turn around," Harry said, "You'll swear I vanished."
"Nobody's that—" Kristen started as she began to turn.
Harry disapparated.
Kristen spun back, Harry was already missing from her sight.
"Harry!" Kristen shouted, wanting that underwear clad boy back.
"Chief?" asked Frank as he approached her.
"Harry was here a moment ago," Kristen said.
"We're taking so many footprints…analysis is going to have fun," Frank said.
They went to the path, walked. Coroners already moved over to transport the bodies.
"Have you asked Harry to that price on his head?" Frank said.
"He said it was a million," Kristen said, "Which is strange."
Kristen thought about her coffee mug in the patrol car as they approached it. Took her a moment.
"Close my door?" Kristen asked.
"Not that I remember," Frank said.
Kristen pulled out her torch, approached the patrol car cautiously.
"You're being silly," Frank said.
"Weird doesn't begin to describe things," Kristen said.
Kristen peered down, a dark box she didn't recognize was on the passenger floor, a couple of stray wires came out of it.
"Everybody stay back," Kristen said, "It's…hope it's a gag, but we're not taking chances."
"That's…" Frank started.
"Call in the squad," Kristen said.
Ron felt the arousal before him and Hermione landed in Gia's bedroom.
"Try rescuing me starkers," Hermione said, her eyes flickered down at his tent pole in the underwear.
"Good idea." Ron rubbed her shoulders. "Think I should try some more healing, you know, make sure you're alright, inside and out."
Ron worked her chest with his hands, pushed her down onto the bed, onto her back. His underwear dropped as he went down, the knees to either side, leaned down over her.
"Tell me what happened," Ron said as he undid her jeans.
She described it as Ron worked at her.
"Harry felt it first," Ron said, "Took us both there."
"Good to tip the rescue boys," Harry said as he apparated in.
"It was his idea to sign up for those self–defense course," Hermione said, "Gave them a tough time at it."
"Nice tip," Ron said to her.
"Good," Harry said, "Cause I fucking killed them."
"What?" Hermione said, "Thought you stunned them."
"No," Harry said, "Dead, I don't even know the curse I used, they struck, they threatened you and Gia. All for…"
Harry opened the parchment roll in his hands, on the bed, which had clear pictures and diagrams of Gia's usual route to school, and of the two girls; "EM" in the corner of the parchment. Harry went for the door.
"Excuse me," Ron said to Hermione.
Ron followed Harry down the stairs. Ron grabbed Harry's shoulder.
"Need to curse you again?" Ron asked.
"My anger killed them!" Harry said as he spun around, bottle green eyes on Ron, "I wanted them dead for striking—I didn't cast that curse, my anger did, and they dropped dead."
"What did you use?" Ron asked.
"Hell if I know!" Harry exclaimed.
"No curses," Ron promised.
"Ta," Harry said.
Ron threw a punch to the stomach. Harry pushed back, they disapparated. As if they were pulled through a tight tube, their feet landed on sand, the waves of the beach. Ron pushed back, and they fell onto the sand. One leg over the other, their crotches went across each other, as they wrestled. Ron pinned Harry down onto the sand, sat mostly on the stomach.
"Need more?" Ron asked.
Harry laid there, bottle greens aimed up at Ron's. Neither pushed further, the stare, the glare, the images that went through both.
"Doubt they'd leave us alone," Ron said.
"Still," Harry said, "Their lives ended with me."
Ron turned over, sat on the sand, Harry sat up.
"Doesn't feel right," Harry said.
"There's going to be more," Ron said, "But promise me that no death ever sits right with you."
"Yeah," Harry said, "It doesn't."
"I love you," Ron said, "A good friend."
Ron's hand went to Harry's back, patted.
"Come here often?" Ron asked, changing the topic.
"Isle of Wight, at least Richard thinks so," Harry said, "Bit safer for morning runs. Town's crawling."
"Make Gia a Portkey," Ron said.
"I…" Harry muttered, "That'd save so much trouble."
"Three taps, home," Ron said, "Enchant her shoes?"
"Hmmm…" Harry said, "She's using them now."
Water washed up, lapped at their toes, as they sat there. Ron wondered a bit about those blokes, and how they died.
Kristen peered over the reports, the one on her daughter, the one about the bomb planted while she was tending to the main report, the two people killed behind the school. Frank entered.
"Came from the morgue," Frank said, "Only way the coroner wouldn't put it off, and when he opened up…it was vindaloo inside, like a blender got in, liquidated their internal organs."
"How?" Kristen said, "Harry admitted to taking them down to the ground—nobody can do that."
"We can't buck the Provost for too long," Frank said.
"We have a duty to get to the truth," Kristen said, "You can't protect anybody if you're letting the monsters off the hook."
That afternoon, Ron felt Crookshanks rub against his feet, at the dining room table. Harry across from Ron, read into Currents of Time.
"Not homework," Ron said.
"Get a bit tired…" Harry said.
Ron glanced at Hermione, the Apparation Theory open, a book Ron knew she was going to read cover to cover before attempting anything. Another brush by Crookshanks, the clock that ticked off the minutes on the wall.
"There's all sorts of…" Hermione muttered.
A noise, Harry's wand aimed and drawn, and Ron turned. Sliding glass door opened itself, closed. Ron's wand aimed too, at nothing they'd notice.
"A capital offense," said Sirius as he appeared. Gia appeared next to her.
"You've got the serviceable wand," Harry said.
Gia walked over, sat next to Harry.
"Too true," Sirius said as he stashed the twelve inch oak wand into his tattered suit. Sirius transformed as the front door opened, closed.
"No!" Andy protested, out of sight of Ron.
Kristen entered, her eyes toward Harry.
"Know you're frequent targets," Kristen said, "I still want you to report attempts—"
"They'd be public records," Harry said, "Training up our assailants."
"I mean it," Kristen said, "I can help you leave your cult."
"I already tried," Harry said, "They followed me here."
"It's why you're so busy," Gia said.
"I can't help if I'm blind," Kristen said, "And right now, I'm trying to keep the Home office from taking you in, understand?"
"Yes," Harry said.
Ron held Hermione's hand beneath the table.
"Turned those blokes into soup," Andy said, "Such freaks!"
Kristen's hands to Andy's shoulders.
"I deal with many odd people at work," Kristen said, "Treat them with respect—we'll work with your counselor."
"Waste of time," Andy snapped.
"Like robbing stores—are banks next?" Kristen asked Andy, "You're headed into nothing but trouble, I'd like to help—"
"Rubbish!" Andy shouted, "Controlling FREAKS!"
Andy wrenched out of the grip, ran, followed by the stomps up the stairs.
"Can any of you get through to her?" Kristen asked.
"Can you do anything?" Hermione asked Ron.
Ron turned, faced her.
"How?" Ron said, "She's got to be willing to listen first."
"Please see what you can do," Kristen said, "She needs therapy. And I need…"
Kristen went into the kitchen.
"She's unwillingly," Ron said, "All I can do is turn her into a puppet, strip her of free will, of choice."
"Don't see Harry," Gia said Thursday morning to Ron, "Care to walk me to school?"
"Um…sure," Ron said.
Ron followed Gia toward the door.
"Don't hit on her too much," Hermione said.
Ron went down the stairs, behind Gia, and they stopped. Ron's wand in hand,
"Inlusio!" Ron said to her, and repeated it to himself.
Gia zippered up her jumper, and they went out the front door into the cool air, some clouds above in the wind. Snuffles ran around them.
"You don't always go silent on those," Gia said.
"Takes practice to go silent," Ron said, "Even more effort to make it wandless."
They walked along. Ron spotted a bit of canary yellow, hoped the disillusionment worked.
"Harry…he…" Gia started.
"Gifted," Ron said, "When he wants to master something, he masters it. Hermione waits until she's studied it, and it'll work. Me? I bumble along, usually getting it right."
Ron, unsure if he actually spotted Mad Eye Moody, turned with Gia onto Ashton Lane. Ron renewed the Disillusionment, this time silently and focused. They walked along, Ron wondered, this was close to yesterday. Bridge creaked a bit as they walked across it. Gia pointed, they went across the grassy field, to the white portable classrooms. Beyond, the new building started to tower over the temporary ones.
"It'd be nice if everything could be sorted out," Gia said, "You know, so a girl can walk to class by herself."
"You're important to him," Ron said, "Important to me."
Between the buildings, Gia turned, Ron watched her go inside with Snuffles. Ron went back, across the grass, back to that footbridge, when a bush exploded. Ron's wand out.
"Inlusio!" Ron whispered, as he ducked.
"There!" came the shout, another red curse, one that struck the rubbish bin.
Ron broke into a run. A glance at canary yellow ahead. Ron turned right, into a stairwell, crouched. He focused on Hermione.
"Egodefrat!" Ron snapped as he swished and flicked downward at himself.
Harry reached the end of the beach, to the rocks that this shore turned into. Seagulls soared above. Harry thought about it. Back home, back to that bedroom, and Harry disapparated.
"Where've you been?" Hermione asked as Harry apparated.
"Where's Gia?" Harry asked, collecting his Portkey from Hedwig's perch.
"Send Richard back and wonder why she's already left?" Hermione said, "She's got a SCHEDULE!"
"Sorry," Harry grumbled.
Hermione stood, held his hands.
"I know you want to run more," Hermione said, "Get up earlier, because yes, she needs at least one of us with her. Ron went when you didn't show up."
A pop, Ron apparated.
"Well?" Harry asked him.
"Made it safe," Ron said, "Thinking of walking back, except got ambushed."
"At least you made it," Hermione said.
"You're right," Ron said to Harry, "It's bloody crawling."
Harry reached, closed the Apparation Theory book on the bed.
"End of debate, end of studying," Harry said to Hermione, held her hand, "Come."
Hermione followed, Harry led her down the steps, into the living room. He turned to her, Ron loitered on the stairs.
"Apparate there," Harry pointed to the other end of the living room, the fresh plaster to the walls, the new hardwood floor.
"I…" Hermione started.
"We have serious money on our head," Harry said, "Every wannabe assassin is out to get us. Even a few feet gets you through a door, a wall, a hedge, or out of a chokehold."
"What if—" Hermione started.
"Put you back together," Ron said.
"Close your eyes," Harry said, "You want to be there, every fiber in your being, you want to be there. Use the wand and say the charm if you want to, you simply want to be there."
"Lighten the load and leave your clothes behind," Ron said.
"Boys!" Hermione snapped.
A thought to Harry. "Ron's going to bang you unless you move."
A pop, Hermione's torso to the other end, her waist down to her toes remained in front of Harry.
"Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Not pleasant," Hermione said.
"Remember the spell?" Harry asked Ron.
"Lemme get the book—" Ron said.
"You promised!" Hermione snapped.
"We promised nothing about bugging you," Harry said.
Harry caught her glare, the anger.
"Argh!" Hermione muttered.
"Simple," Harry said, his wand in his hand, aimed. Harry focused. "Egosanodefrat!"
Ron's wand out, aimed. "Egosanodefrat!"
Harry watched, heard the pop, as her torso and waist switched places.
"Not helping," Hermione said.
"Let me," Harry said to Ron. "Ergosanodefrat!"
Her waist and legs disappeared, appeared beneath Hermione.
"See?" Ron said, "Back together, we can—"
"Not now," Harry said to Ron.
"Ta," Hermione said to Harry.
"Focus and use the charm," Harry said to her.
Hermione's wand out, she swished, flicked, eyes closed, and uttered it. "Egodefrat!"
A pop, she appeared by that other wall.
"And back," Harry siad.
Again, she repeated it, the charm, and appeared next to Harry.
"Calls for a celebration!" Ron said, "First apparation."
"Premature," Hermione said, "Like you."
Ron blushed.
"Kitchen," Harry suggested.
"Through walls?" Hermione snapped.
"Yes," Harry said, "We've got enemies in case you haven't heard."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Or apparate up into bed," Ron said, "Could go for a bang."
Hermione glared at Ron.
"He'll tease you more until you Apparate," Harry promised.
A glare, however, she did close her eyes, the swish and flick, less audible, and she vanished. Ron ran, Harry apparated into the Kitchen, Hermione stood there. A glare, she disapparated.
"Where to?" Ron scratched his head.
"Like that idea," Harry said, "Stay here."
Harry focused, disapparated, apparated into the lavatory, behind Hermione staring into the mirror.
"It's all fun and games to you," Hermione said.
Harry worked her shoulders.
…
Hermione stood there, stared at those green eyes in the mirror, her knickers in the reflection, his jockstrap.
"It's deadly serious," Harry said, "But I'm up for making it a game for practice."
Hermione wondered.
"Ready?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded. His hand to her shoulder, she felt the pull, through that constriction, realized that Harry was apparating them both, down into the living room, where Ron was.
"Hide and seek," Harry said, "We hide, you find us, and travel only by Apparation."
"That's childish," Hermione said.
"I'm in for it," Ron said.
"Anywhere in the house, but the study's home base, and yell if you splinch," Harry said, "You're it, and you follow in thirty seconds."
Harry and Ron disapparated. Hermione thought about it for half a minute, the most likely for them, and she apparated into Andy's green bedroom, the beads that hung down in the doorway.
"Darn," Hermione muttered, she'd wanted the other.
Hermione concentrated, apparated into Gia's bedroom, to the closet.
"Gotchya!" Hermione said, wand aimed at Harry in the corner.
Harry disapparated.
"Argh!" Hermione muttered.
Hermione apparated downstairs, into the dining room. In the study, still being renovated, stood Harry with his grin.
"Find Ron," Harry said.
"Why would I want to?" Hermione asked.
"Shopping?" Harry asked.
"We've got bounties!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Good," Harry said, "Use those to—"
Hermione apparated into the kitchen, empty. She apparated into the lavatory upstairs, empty. Richard's bedroom with its cyan paint, empty. Andy's bedroom with its green yet again. Yellow of the master bedroom and the double wide bed. Basement, with the furnace in the distance. She apparated into the laundry, where Ron's blue eyes and red hair and he smiled for a moment.
"Again," Ron said.
Ron disapparated. Hermione mulled it over, realized her next trick, once she found them. Hermione apparated into the dining room, a glance to nobody in the study room.
"Aw, back in," Hermione muttered.
Hermione apparated into Gia's bedroom.
Hoot!
"Have you seen Harry?" Hermione asked the bird, Hedwig.
Hermione apparated back to Richard's bedroom, before it occurred to her. She apparated further up, in the attic, her feet on the plywood, and her wand in her hand, aimed.
"Defratinhibre!" Hermione snapped.
Hermione spotted the wide eyes as she approached, touched Ron.
"Disapparation Jinx," Hermione said, "If you'd bothered to read it, you'd know all about it."
"Release and I can continue," Ron said, "This is fun."
"Immature and pointless," Hermione said, "We have more important—"
"No, no we don't," Harry said as he held her hands, again, the bottle greens that focused on her, "We escort Gia to school, under SEP or disillusionment, and we're still getting ambushed along the way there or back. We can't go out except under disillusionment, that's why I'm now running with Richard on the Isle of Wight!"
"There?" Ron asked.
"I know that won't last," Harry said, "We'll have to find another spot, but it's safest, for now."
"That's why he's been using your Portkey," Hermione said.
"Ron's warned me off apparation," Harry said.
"Supposed to be fatal to muggles," Ron said.
"Dunno why I can," Harry said, "I want to know why."
"You're breaking rules Harry," Ron said, "Don't want it to be a trap."
"Release the jinx," Harry said to Hermione, "Let him hunt you."
Hermione did this, Harry disapparated first. Ron grinned. Hermione disapparated.
Harry flicked his wand as he left the house Friday morning, Gia with him, the Disillusionment Charm over her, him, and Snuffles. Harry held her hand.
"No fast way yet?" Gia asked.
"Haven't found it," Harry said, "At least nothing written. Know we've done it, but according to Ron, you ought to be dead from it."
"Oh," Gia muttered.
"It's why I won't risk it," Harry said, "Unless…no other choice."
"Ta," Gia said, "Suppose there's that."
"Maybe a book has it," Harry said, "But I won't know until then."
"It was nice," Gia said.
"I know," Harry said.
Harry glanced, spotted Mad Eye Moody wrestling down a man in canary yellow.
"I definitely know," Harry said, holding her hand a bit tighter.
Another turn, along the paths beneath trees devoid of their leaves, the warm air against his skin.
"You got school?" Gia asked.
"Yep," Harry said, "Not sure if I'll be around for lunch."
"That's not too far," Gia said, "And I see your other friend around too."
A right.
"Normally—" Gia started.
"And it's mapped," Harry said, "Go around."
Harry unsure if he spotted a nodding approval from Mad–Eye Moody, ahead. Harry's wand out, he renewed the disillusionment charms. Away from some students, they went to the main road in front of the school, turned left, around the standing gymnasium to the field full of the portable classroom. They went into the one, to the corner, the grid of desks behind them. Her hands went across him, Harry felt through her blouse, and he kissed.
"Wish I could go starkers," Gia said.
"School," Harry said, "I know, it sucks."
A smile to her face, Harry kissed her again.
"Later," Harry said.
Harry closed his eyes, disapparated. A moment later, the dirty laundry that loitered beneath his feet, supplemented by the heavy apple scent.
"Ready?" Hermione asked.
Harry grabbed his book–bag, slung it over his shoulder. Harry activated his Portkey, Ron and Hermione held on. Feet to the wood, they landed. A glance, the ceiling of the dormitory restored.
"Dobby is proud to serve breakfast," said the elf standing nearby.
"Thank you Dobby," Harry said.
Dobby snapped his fingers, vanished. Harry paced the dormitory while Ron and Hermione ate breakfast.
"Have a bite," Ron said, "Splendid this is."
"Absolutely," Hermione said, "You have no idea what you're missing Harry."
Harry started to head for the door, however, he stopped at the display by Dean Thomas' bed; a chopping block, an effigy of Harry, head on the ground, axe leveled into the block, the fake corpse with its neck on the block.
"Splendid," Harry said, "Wonder what else."
Harry spun, back to the trunk next to his own bed, opened it. Along with the required items, a fake left hand covered in fake blood.
"Wonder how long," Ron said.
Harry made for the door, down the stairs.
"Not long I suppose," Harry said, passing all the signs of "Die Potter Die" affixed to the walls.
They entered the common room. One effigy hung upside down from the ceiling, fake blood clung to a slit on the throat.
"See how much they like us," Harry said.
Harry made for the portrait hole, stepped over the snare that appeared, and left the dormitory.
"Hope all these traps are tuned to us," Harry said as he slowed before the stairs.
A glance down, the square, and Harry lowered himself, tapped on it with his foot.
"Blimey!" Ron exclaimed as an arrow shot from a nook, striking down the stairs.
Harry pressed again, nothing, and a third time, still nothing.
"Slide," Harry advised, stepping up to straddle the railings. Harry slid down, kept his balance.
"You next," Ron said to Hermione.
Harry jumped, avoided the immediate tile at the base. He turned around, Hermione flailed her arms.
"We need brooms," Ron said, "Even school brooms."
"Jump," Harry said to Hermione.
Hermione fell forward, Harry jumped and pushed her away from that square. Ron slid down, he jumped, though his foot hit that square, and stumbled forward. Fire, flames raced up the stairs.
"Blimey," Hermione said.
"Doubt we'll last the day," Harry said, "Ask the Minister to raise the suspensions?"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione went along the corridors, more jumps, more snares, came to the first floor office, entered.
"Good morning," Professor McGonagall said, "See Hagrid—come back at lunch."
A puddle, Harry avoided that, came to the marble stair case. Harry jumped, slid down the banister.
"Did you even check?" Hermione asked.
"Why bother?" Harry said, "I'm assuming it's all booby trapped."
Hermione's wand out, she went side to side, Ron followed her, jumped half the stairs. A left, down the next set of steps, they went out into the cool weather. Down the path, they approached Hagrid's Hut, only Neville stood there.
"Only one's not a coward," Hagrid said.
"Hi," Neville said.
"Good seeing you Hagrid," Harry said.
Hagrid took out notes, and began to quote them.
…
A few minutes before noon, bit of a drizzle invaded the trees, the ring heard in the distance. Ron watched as Neville shifted his weight.
"Here," Hagrid offered, "Lunch."
Harry nodded, Hermione with him, Ron and Neville followed. Went up the steps into the hut. Fang at their feet as they sat around the table. A move of his umbrella, sandwiches showed up on plates.
"Not the greatest of cooks," Hagrid said.
Ron reached, worked into one, tasted the tuna within. Hermione grabbed one. Neville ate into his.
"No beer," Harry said.
"Not at school," Hagrid said, "Need The Three Broomsticks for that."
"Pardon me Rubeus."
A green face, Professor McGonagall's showed in the fireplace.
"Professor!" exclaimed Hagrid.
"An attack was made on Ginny," said Professor McGonagall.
"What?" Ron asked as he stood.
"Tell them to head to the Hospital Wing," said Professor McGonagall. Her head vanished.
"Sorry," Harry said as he stood.
"Go," Hagrid said.
"Stay," Harry said to Neville.
Ron was out the door first, feet ran, his heart racing, and wishing he could apparate into Hogwarts. Harry bolted next to him. Harry outpaced Ron.
"Wait up!" Hermione said.
Ron slowed down a bit, let her catch up. Harry grabbed her shoulder, Ron's. Ron felt the pull, the rush, as he stepped onto the steps before the front door.
"We…" Hermione stammered.
"Shh!" Harry snapped.
Ron entered the castle with Harry and Hermione. Up the stairs, a scream. Auror Tebworth stood there, the eyes on Auror Blackmoss, fragmented in a thousand pieces. Ron's wand out, casting the Disllusionment Charm, as was Harry's and Hermione's.
"Can we save him?" asked the Minister.
"Guessing he forgot you can't apparate in Hogwarts," said Auror Tebworth, "Call the squad."
Ron, Harry, and Hermione went around the Minister, stepped carefully, one stone at a time, up the steps. Disillusionment fell as they approached the Hospital Wing.
"Hehe hehe," said Seamus Finnigan as he left the Hospital Wing.
Dean Thomas turned, in his canary yellow, showed off his left arm, the metal skeleton with articulated fingers.
"They say I can charm it to seem as real as your nards Potter," Dean Thomas said, "Go and see the payback from my friends…not as effective as you were."
Dean Thomas walked ahead. Ron went with Harry, Hermione behind them, into the Hospital Wing.
"What happened?" Ron asked as he went in through the privacy screens.
Ginny on the bed.
"They…attacked me," Ginny said, "Couple of first years tried to break it, the Professor stopped it, but no thanks to that Auror…Blackmoss was it?"
"Is it true?" asked Madam Pomfrey, "I can…"
"You can check," said Professor McGonagall, "But it seemed fatal."
Ron held Ginny's hand, as the witch in green entered.
"My arms should heal over the weekend," Ginny said to Ron, "But no broom practice until Monday at the earliest."
"Unfortunately," Professor McGonagall said, "The Minister bought the Auror's testimony naming you three—" she tapped on Harry, Ron, and Hermione, "As the assailants."
"They weren't there!" Ginny protested, "Not even impostors."
"You're not the only one disliking this miscarriage of justice," said Professor McGonagall, "Mr. Potter, it'll be a week, so return Monday the third of March."
"Ta," Harry grumbled.
"Get well sis," Ron said.
Ginny's fingers pressed on Ron's. He picked up the hand, kissed it.
"Unless you plan to bang her," Harry said, "This office."
Harry pointed. Ron and Hermione followed Harry into Madam Pomfrey's office. Professor McGonagall followed.
"I'm truly sorry Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall said.
"Ta," Harry grumbled as he activated his Portkey.
Ron and Hermione held on, the jerk behind the naval, and they were pulled back to Noigate.
"What gets me," Hermione said as they landed.
"An Auror that splinched," Ron said.
"Yet you—" Hermione started, eyes glared at Harry.
"I don't know how," Harry said, "Yes, yes, I am—I can apparate at Hogwarts."
"Maybe it's gone wonky," Ron said, "Lets Harry apparate, kills the Aurors."
"Dumbledore wouldn't do that," Hermione said.
"How long has Hogwarts been warded against Apparation?" Harry asked.
"Since it was founded," Hermione said.
"Maybe it's breaking down," Harry said, "Still—forget you saw that Hermione. You too Ron, forget it, let it drop from your minds."
"We…oh," Ron said.
Harry grabbed his book–bag, disapparated. Ron thought of Harry, apparated down into the dining room.
"See?" Harry said, "Getting better at it."
Hermione walked in, through the door.
"Not as good as you," Ron said to Harry.
"Think I can rely on yours," Harry said.
Ron knew he grinned as he sat down. Book bag to the table, parchment and quill, and his journal, Ron began to pen into it, wondered a bit about Ginny.
Harry apparated into the gymnasium, Gia dribbled the basketball. A twist, a jump, she threw it, and the hands of the next boy blocked it. Gia came over to Harry.
"Seemed safer to practice over walking," Gia said, grabbing her school bag.
Snuffles walked over, and Harry activated his Portkey. Jerk behind the naval, moments later, in Gia's bedroom. Snuffles went out the door.
"Faster than walking too," Gia said.
Harry went out the door, she followed. A glance into the empty bedroom of Richard.
"Guessing Jen's," Harry said.
Down the steps, to the dining room. Harry sat across from Gia; Ron and Hermione already at the other end.
"Alright," Harry said, "Can you tell?'
Harry glanced into Gia's eyes, the curiosity, the anticipation; Harry went a bit deeper, buried feelings for Richard, and her blue eyes went wide.
"Yes," Gia said, "He's been cute, handsome too."
Harry caught her eyes, ones that drifted down across him, the black hair, the bottle green eyes, the grin, his nipples on his chest, and her admiration for the rest beneath the table.
"She likes us cute and handsome blokes," Ron said.
"Overstatment," Hermione said.
"I'm being gentle," Harry said to Gia, "You can control your thoughts, but an implanation, a suggestion, a question, can overcome it. To a skilled wizard, the untrained mind is an open book, so we'll work you up."
Harry's feet touched hers beneath the table.
"She might be the first muggle…" Hermione muttered.
Harry caught Ron's gaze toward Hermione.
"Think of—" Harry started, his eyes on Gia's.
Knock! Knock!
"Hello?" asked Kristen's voice, in the distance, "Oh, it's you."
"Evening entertainment," said the familiar voice, the footsteps.
Green and gold suit, the red haired Fred entered the dining room.
"Gred!" Ron exclaimed.
"Got speech issues?" Fred asked.
"Suppose there's a reason?" Ron asked.
Harry knew, kept quiet, though he smartened up his papers, put them into his book–bag.
"Since when do I need a reason?" Fred asked.
"You have one," Harry said as he stood.
"All inappropriately dressed for a night on the town," Fred said.
"Like we could," Hermione said, "Haven't you read The Daily Prophet?"
"It's okay," Harry said, "Come."
Harry stepped around the table, motioned. Ron and Hermione stood, and Gia. Harry wrapped his arm around Gia, followed Fred back out into the living room.
"You have bounties!" Kristen protested.
Harry let Gia loose, stepped to Kristen.
"We'll be fine," Harry said, "Fred's…trustworthy there."
Ron laughed, headed for the door. Harry chased.
"We're going along with this?" Ron whispered to Harry.
"Don't worry," Harry said.
They went outside, followed Fred around the corner of the house, into the growing darkness of the evening. Fred took out a big metal hoop.
"Grab on," Fred said.
Jerk behind the navals, a blinding light over came them as they landed, fireworks lit up the room, the green room, the familiar living room of Fred and George.
"SURPRISE!" came the shout from the others in the room.
Spots in the eyes wore off, the crowd that was gathered; Fred of course, George, McGonagall, Dumbledore, Tonks, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, and others. Harry's eyes landed on the greasy haired git, Snape, a glare, the assurance he wasn't here on pleasure.
"Happy engagement," Harry said to Ron, "We're celebrating."
"You knew?" Ron asked Harry.
"Maybe," Harry said, "Besides, it's an excuse for them to meet up."
Harry went, picked up the young Edward, the bubbly face beneath the red hair coming in.
"Hello my friend," Harry said, "You're growing."
Gia stood next to Harry, tickled a bit on Edward's sides. A grin.
…
Ron went over to the buffet, took a toffee from the bowl, ate it. Everything turned sideways, Ron stumbled, fell over, watched from the floor.
"Drunk already?" asked Snape.
"Expect that from perspective toffees," George said to Ron, "It'll pass."
Hermione laughed. Ron closed his eyes, the sense of normality returned to him. He opened his eyes.
"Ron," Harry said, his hand reached down.
Ron took it, stood back up.
"Avoid the candies," Ron whispered to Harry.
Ron grabbed a plate, glanced at the rest of it.
"Nothing lethal or poisonous," George said.
"No," Ron said, "It's your reputations."
"Try the chicken," George said.
Ron avoided the chicken, went for the steak instead. Harry reached for the chicken.
"Eating?" Ron whispered.
"I do get hungry," Harry said, "From time to time."
Ron watched Harry nibble a bit into the chicken, while a pair of antlers grew out of his head. Harry shrugged, continued munching, until the antlers grew to an impressive size. Gia reached up, felt them.
"Catching things?" Fred asked.
"Suppose half the food is like this," Arthur said, coming over to inspect the antlers.
"Dunno," Harry said, "Livens things up, don't you say?"
"Somebody's in the spirit," George said.
Ron turned to Hermione, working a bit on a salad. The festivities continued until the voice came to them all.
"Think their engagement is official," said Dumbledore, "Time to ponder the future of our couple."
Hermione went over to Gia with Edward. Ron stood with Harry.
"Know Kristen's furious as I am," Amelia Bones said, "Mandates to ignore—"
"Mandates?" asked McGonagall.
"As you may recall," Snape said, "After two weeks ago—"
"No qualms about membership," Dumbledore said, "The Order has been laid to rest until further notice."
"We disbanded?" McGonagall asked.
"I'll be sponsoring an informal card club," Dumbledore said, "Meet as we want, play something like poker or bridge, with light conversation."
Ron understood the hint.
"You all, like me, should be concerned about Monday," Dumbledore said, "It's an act that affects us all."
"As I read it," Snape sneered, "It is Potter's affair."
"Until we're named," said Arthur Weasley, "One stroke of the quill, no hard evidence required, and those draconian restrictions come to force. No wands, nothing permitted, no self–defense tolerated."
"I'm not even a citizen anymore," Harry said to Snape, "No rights to anything."
"I would not put it quite like that," McGonagall said.
"How would you put it?" Harry snapped, "Open Potter season?"
A raised hand, Snape quieted down.
"Harry summed it up succinctly," Dumbledore said, "With self–defense now a capital offense, it should scare all of us, because it's clear that Voldemort's plans are having some measure of success."
"I have not managed to get any hint to what the full plan may be," Snape said.
"It astounds me that the Wizengamot could pass such a thing," Arthur said, "Nobody is safe from this, and it's worse than the Ministry edicts given during the first war. Why not list them as Dark Wizards and bring back the edicts?"
Harry stepped forward.
"It'd include Voldemort," Harry said, "It's 'Suspected' and Voldemort ain't that. Voldemort's got the Ministry and Wizengamot under his thumb, gets things passed that applies to me, not him. He's still got the right to self–defense!"
"Disturbing," Dumbledore said.
Dumbledore sipped at a tea cup.
"How'd it get so bad?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"You've been in Azkaban," Amelia Bones said, "Wizards and Witches of the Wizengamot are being replaced a handful at a time. Avid supporters of the Minister and they'll rubber stamp about anything; and the Minister talks to the Muggle Prime Minister, restrictions get carried over.."
"Mind clarifying?" Dumbledore asked.
"Muggles are required to enforce the restrictions," Amelia Bones said, "Police are prohibited from offering protection, they're prohibited from pursuing charges against anybody after Harry. An order of non–treatment has been pushed to hospitals. They've been listed as dangerous individuals, to be tracked."
"Potter fumbled again," Snape said, "How surprising."
"Go over your record?" Harry asked Snape.
"Enough," Dumbledore said, "Clear that Voldemort intends for Harry to be easy prey. That's never been Mr. Potter's fault, has it Severus?"
A moment of silence, Ron recognized the uncomfortable look, the eyes to eyes, understood.
"With a common foe," Dumbledore said, "An alliance with this EM and the Death Eaters should be expected."
"As what happened today to Ginny?" Arthur Weasley asked.
"Likely," McGonagall said, "Only that dead Auror claimed it was these three, the others only spotted the uniforms of yellow."
"Harry, do take credit," Tonks said, "You're not an easy target."
Harry summoned over Monday's newspaper.
"All this—hogwash makes it harder," Harry said, "Instead of Voldemort and his Death Eaters, it's now every person corruptible with Galleons or Stirling. Half the population?"
Ron caught the glare from Snape, knew Harry's next words.
"Let you gossip," Harry said, "I need to get back to work, saving my arse."
Ron followed, Harry escorted Hermione and Gia. Up the stairs, to the first landing, Harry took out his Portkey, activated it. Ron, Hermione, and Gia touched it, held on.
"Happy engagement," Harry said, "Gia, lets get back to it."
Harry escorted Gia out of the bedroom. Ron gave a light push on Hermione, went down on the bed with her.
Date: Thu Sep 28 04:02:01 2023