Hey everyone,
Anyone know a good cover-story for what happened to Lupin that one time he got so ill that Snape had to cover for him? Please know that, according to the Full Moon calendar of 1993, the November full-moon was on the night of the 29th.
So if that was when Snape took on the role of substitute, that would clash with the events from PoA. I checked the chapter "A Grim Defeat" and it seems like the match took place sometime in mid-November and Snape subbed before then.
The facts don't add up, so if you guys could come up with something, I'd love to hear it. And if I like it enough, it'll be added to the chapter in the story.
Either way, on with the 25th,

Venquine1990

Chapter 26
I Trained Him Well

25th of June 1995
Potter Quarters, Hogwarts
Lily's POV

"I hate saying this, but we're probably not going to get an answer to that question until we get enough people upset with Dumbledore that they'll force an answer out of him.

I think we better just focus on the here and now, instead."

Amos' statement, while it slightly annoys me, is also something I can agree with. At the same time, it also makes me very happy as it proves that the man is starting to see Dumbledore in the same light James, Harry, Hermione and I have been seeing him in for all these years.

Then I remember something that was said the other day and I tell everyone that I know something we can focus on.

Everyone looks at me and I stand up. And when the others join me, I guide them out of the private chambers. And it really doesn't surprise me to find Albus waiting on the other side of the new portrait and its guardian.

The man wants to open his mouth, but I interrupt him and say: "I'm sorry, Albus, but you'll have to wait. Duty calls.

Not just that of a mother who needs to take care of her growing son,

But of a Patron who feels obligated to thank their Patron God for their new chance at life."

The man splutters, I just know that Harry, Hermione and James are suppressing smirks, snorts and a potential giggle, and we pass the man and head downstairs.

Then, as if the God was listening in or as if he has a radar that tells him when he is mentioned by one of his Patrons, the God appears in a cloud of smoke and smoothly falls into step besides me.

"I heard the words Patron and God.

What do you need? How can I help?"

I wink at the fiery divine being and say: "You got it the wrong way around, Lord Hades. It's not me who needs your help. It's going to be me who will be helping you."

The God seems genuinely interested as we head downstairs.

From the corner of my eye, I notice that the Diggories are, while trying to make it look inconspicuous, blocking Dumbledore from reaching either me or James.

The sight makes it very hard for me to keep the smile on my face from growing or turning into a self-satisfied smirk instead of the respectful smile I had sent Lord Hades earlier.

I sneak a glance over at James and notice that the man seems to be trying to keep himself from walking with tension in his step.

I give the man a subtle move of my head and motion for the whole thing taking place behind us. James pretends to check out a portrait and spots it as well.

He looks back at me and the satisfaction on his face equals the satisfaction in my heart.

And when we reach the Entrance Hall, I instantly spot the Weasleys, who seem to have been waiting for us in the middle of the hall or something.

The sight and the chance of this being the case gives me great gratification.

And while James was walking behind Lord Hades and myself before, he moves over to walk in front of us and reaches the Weasleys first.

"Greetings and good morning, Lord Weasley. I do hope that you and yours have had a pleasant night and rest."

Yet again Lord Potter makes a reappearance.

Arthur seems temporarily startled, but then the man smiles. And while he clearly doesn't have the same experience that James was raised with, he still tries his best as he replies:

"Greetings, Lord Potter. Me and mine are certainly well-rested. Though it seems like, like me and mine, you and yours have had quite the eventful evening and morning."

James nods and while it's hardly noticeable, his shoulders slump just a slightly. The subtle change an indication of him going from Lord Potter to just James, even if it's only something you can spot when you know what to look for.

"Very nice, Arthur. I guess you and your family practiced a little before you came down, huh?"

The sudden change startles the other man and James snorts and assures him that my husband will gladly teach him to switch so flawlessly between his role and his inner character.

And instantly everyone in the family seems to relax. Arthur releases a deep sigh of relief and admits that he and his family had been afraid that they'd have to live up to their new roles whenever they weren't in private chambers.

James shakes his head and says: "That's a mindset that only a small group of Purebloods live by."

Yet then things almost go wrong as young Draco walks by and mutters: "Yeah, the right kind."

Instantly this statement makes most of the Weasleys bristle and I quickly grab Harry's hand in an attempt to comfort and calm him down.

Harry looks at me and I give him a subtle headshake and a look that silently tells him: "Just let your father handle this."

Harry blinks between James and myself and the look in his eyes proves that he really is used to doing things by himself, that he struggles to adhere to my advice.

I smile reassuringly at my son and then James proves the truth behind my advice.

"Heir Malfoy, please take this advice that was taught to me by my mother, the late yet great Lady Dorea Potter née Black.

A True Heir of even just a Noble House knows where and when to voice their opinion. Only those who do not want to succeed in life let their mouth run away with them."

Harry, Draco and the younger four Weasleys are all staring – Ron and the twins even gaping – at the man, who just calmly stands between Arthur and the young blonde.

Then Malfoy huffs, turns his head so much his nose is almost aimed straight into the sky and walks off.

"Watch out for the wall, Heir Malfoy."

It really is only better that James speaks up, because – thanks to the boy having his head lifted up so high and his eyes closed, he almost walked straight into the wall to the right of the doors leading into the Great Hall.

The boy seems startled that James even warned him and looks shocked that he was so far off from his actual goal.

And Ron seems willing to adhere to James' advice as he tries very hard to keep himself from snickering, his face even turning red with the effort it takes him.

And yet Draco proves that he is too proud to be grateful. He sends my husband a furious and even disgusted glare and then stomps into the Great Hall.

And Crabbe and Goyle, who had been walking a bit behind the blonde, try to push past Harry and me as they follow the boy.

Yet I already saw this coming and cast a silent sticking charm on my and my son's feet. And while Harry almost loses his balance, I help him regain it.

The two bulky boys look shocked when they realize that their effort was in vain. And yet, because of what I saw happen over the last few years, I focus on the next person.

"Don't even try, Professor Snape. I was the one to cast the spell, not my son."

And while Snape did walk around the corner, he falters before he can stride over to where my son is standing, the boy equally shocked that I spoke up like this.

Yet nothing of this bothers me or makes me feel like putting anymore interest into the topic. Mostly because of Lord Hades, who has gone to stand behind my son and I.

And so, because I am determined to help the God with his own personal issues and thank him for reuniting me with my son, I step up.

"Arthur, do you and your family know how to send a call out to your own family's Patron Goddess?"

Yet the man doesn't seem to have even known that House Weasley even had one. I wonder what Septimus, the man's father did and didn't tell him, yet decide to find out later.

"It's Lady Hera, Arthur. That's why House Weasley has always been known as the House loyal to their own family above all else. And why, regardless of how different its members might be, the family will always get along – at least for the most part."

Arthur nods and mutters that that makes sense. Then Lord Hades explains that they need to either just hold each other close and focus on everything their House and his sister/sister-in-law stand for or create a small fire grate and sacrifice some food in her name.

Instantly the youngest three Weasley boys vote for the latter option. But before the other Weasleys can either agree or disagree with this, a powerful voice speaks up:

"There will be no need for either."

And in a bright flash of soft golden light with a pink hue covering the light, a beautiful goddess appears before us all.

The goddess' skin is actually hot-pink in skin-tone, which is complemented by her pink aura, she has wavy golden blonde hair of which most is kept up with both a ponytail and a fishnet and beautiful blue eyes that are accented with pink eyelids.

The goddess wears a beautiful pink dress of which the fabric of long wide sleeves are attached together through golden badges and buttons. Her dress also has a small top attached to the dress and has a layered train and she wears a simple deep pink crown.

I'm a little shocked that Lady Hera decided to appear before us with the same suddenness as Lord Hades did the other night.

And then the Goddess herself proves that my husband's Patron God is actually the reason for her sudden appearance. She turns to him and states:

"I must say, Hades. Zeus and I really didn't think that you'd show your face outside of the Underworld after that stunt of yours a few weeks ago."

Lord Hades seems genuinely hurt by these words. And while I did hear some rumors going around in Elysium and among a few of the workers there, I wonder what might have happened.

Yet then Sora suddenly speaks up and says: "Lady Hera, you – you know that I worked together with Herc only weeks ago to beat Hades.

But last night Hades explained everything, especially his motivation behind why he has been trying to accomplish for the last few years.

And while I might be Herc's friend and I know that you and the King of the Gods are Herc's parents – Hades kind of had a good reason to be annoyed and upset with Herc's dad, really."

Lady Hera seems genuinely shocked to hear Sora defend House Potter's Patron and even Lord Hades' own eyes are wide as he stares at the brunette.

For a few moments a tense silence hangs over the Great Hall. Lady Hera looks between Sora and Lord Hades for a few times and then turns to her brother entirely.

"Explain yourself, Hades. Please."

What worries me is that Lord Hades seems genuinely shocked to hear the Goddess asking this of him. The look on his face almost makes it look as if he was expecting her to order him to do this or as if he expected her to just refuse to give her a chance.

"What happened between this family? What was this event that Lady Hera and Sora are talking about?" I can't help but think to myself.

"Just hear me out, Hera. Because I'm sure that your lovely hubby-hubby already told you his side of the story and I just know that it's quite different from mine.

Unfortunately – or should I say, unfortunately for Zeu – ahem – for my brother dearest – I have them over there to vouch for my side of the story."

Hera looks shocked to see her brother aim, not at my family and me – but at the students seated in the Great Hall.

"Surely you didn't –." But before the Goddess could voice her concerns, we all shout NO! Which really startles the ethereal being.

Hades reassures her that that's not what he meant. His eternal sister nods and then encourages him to start explaining.

Hades snaps his fingers and two thrones made out of onyx appear within the Entrance Hall, one behind him and one behind Lady Hera.

He seats himself, takes and releases a deep breath to prove that this whole thing still deeply bothers him and says:

"As you probably know, Hera, Ares got interested in a certain mortal about 50 years ago. A guy named Adolf Hitler." Hera nods.

"Well, to be more specific, our dearest little God of War was only interested in Hitler's own love for war, conquest and victory. He didn't care one Knut about the rest of the guy's character or his real goals, let alone what he would do with the realms he wanted to conquer.

He just focused only on helping the guy win and conquer and be victorious in as many aspects of war as possible.

And in any other situation, I wouldn't have cared two Knuts myself about this. Or better said, I wouldn't have cared – if he had decided on this if Hitler had lived a few centuries ago – when the world of mortals was less populated than it is these days."

"Hades, I am well aware that the mortals have really gotten better at increasing their numbers these past few decades. I can sense that as the Goddess of family.

But surely you can't fault Ares for a war leading to lots of warriors, soldiers and other fighters dying in battle?"

Lord Hades grimaces and it's obvious that he wants to glare at Lady Hera for interrupting his explanation.

Then Hermione steps up and speaks: "Lady Hera, while you're somewhat right, you're also both wrong and still not seeing the full picture.

After all, Lord Ares easily could have advised Hitler to train his men to be more careful and to fight more conservatively.

But that's not the problem with this war. The problem with the Second World War, as it became known, is that the majority of deaths – was amongst the civilians.

In fact, the word genocide was first used in 1944 and was used to describe one of the worst war crimes ever committed by any nation. It was used to describe the horrible mass killings that took place in Nazi occupied territories.

And thanks to Ares helping Hitler, and through him his Nazi armies, almost the whole continent of Europe fell under the Nazi occupation between 1938 and 1945.

That's why Lord Hades is so furious with Lord Ares, and with your husband for defending him. The Second World resulted in almost 55 million civilian deaths.

And those are all deaths – that Lord Hades needs to document, so that they can be properly sent to either Elysium, the Fields of Asphodel or Punishment."

Then Sora speaks up again, something that again seems to shock Lord Hades.

"That's why he's so annoyed with Herc's father, Lady Hera. He's been trying to get Athena's help for years, decades even. But Herc's dad keeps blocking him and just telling him to educate his own staff into being able to help him.

He's making things harder for Hades instead of helping him or even listening to Hades about the Underworld, which is his domain, not Herc's dad's."

Lady Hera stares between Hermione, Lord Hades, Sora, my own group and some of the students seated in the Great Hall.

She then finally turns to Lord Hades again and asks if all of this is true. Hades seems genuinely caught off guard by the fact that she's willing to listen. Something that would have surprised me had this whole thing not been running out of hand for 50 years now.

Hades sighs and looks away.

Then he mutters confirmation and that it all resulted in him still being 20 years behind and that, thanks him either being needed to work on the papers or forced into another one of Zeus' parties, he hasn't visited Elysium – or us, his Patrons – in years.

And this last bit seems to really bring the severity of the situation home to Lady Hera. Yet the Goddess still speaks up and asks Lord Hades why he refused Athena each time she came to visit him.

Lord Hades stares at the Goddess for several long seconds and I mutter my belief that, like me, the underlings working at the castle must have blocked Lady Athena as well and never told Lord Hades that she had been around.

Hera winces and mutters I see. Then Lord Hades asks us to excuse him for a moment and disappears into a puff of dark smoke.

"Who wants to bet that he went down into the Underworld to rage at this new bit of info?" Lea asks and Axel snorts that that's just a guarantee.

And indeed, when the God returns in another cloud, he is still panting and seems to have really exerted himself and his vocal chords.

Lady Hera sighs and says: "Now everything makes sense. Why you never seem to enjoy yourself at our parties, why you seem to always need to either talk down or avoid Zeus, why you always seem so willing to leave as soon as it becomes appropriate.

I just don't get why my husband would be so stubborn, why he thinks he knows your realm better than you or why he felt the need to push you to such extremes as using the Titans to take him out."

And while just the idea of the Titans being anywhere other than their legendary cage horrifies me, Lord Hades quickly corrects her.

"Time him out, not take. I just wanted to make absolutely sure that Zeusy-High-And-Mighty got put into a long enough time-out that I could get the help I needed without him talking you guys into siding with him the way he was siding with Ares.

I know Olympus, Hera, and as much as it annoys me, I know that it needs Zeus as its ruler. I also know the mortals of Thebes well enough to know they look up to him and that chaos would reign in that town if he were to be permanently removed or something.

Not to mention that I do still, somewhat, respect him for being a leader of both Olympus and that portion of the Mortal world for the past several centuries.

I just hate that that went to his bloody head so much that he thinks he can tell the whole universe how to run itself.

That and that he believes that all realms work the same way that Olympus does and that, because things are so peaceful and well-organized and suited for Olympus it can work everywhere.

Basically, that his ego made him blind to how the world needs multiple different aspects of things – such as light and darkness and character – to properly function.

And that a system that might work in one location will just cause trouble in another. The fact that he blinded himself to this notion just bothers me.

Probably because I've been linked to the very nature of the Fields for the past 800 years or so. I guess it allowed me to grow in a way that Zeus never got the chance to."

Lady Hera seems genuinely impressed with the last part of Lord Hades' explanation and statements. Yet she also nods and again states that, now, a lot more things make sense to her.

At this I speak up and ask: "So do you think you can explain all of this to your husband? That's kind of the whole reason I wanted the Weasleys to call you here.

I figured that, if Lord Zeus didn't want to listen to his older brother, he might listen to his wife. After all, most good husbands know how and when to do so. And considering how long you've been married, I figured Lord Zeus must be a good husband, if nothing else."

Lady Hera giggles softly and her next statement makes me – and a lot of female students in the Great Hall burst out laughing:

"I trained him well."

Good one, Hera.
Well, that covers most of what I wanted to cover when it comes to the 25th. I'm debating on whether or not I should add a chapter that will cover the Weasleys and how they discussed what their new status might mean for them going forward.
If you guys are interested in that, I'll try to write and post it as soon as possible. If not, I'll just move onto the 26th and get everyone back to reading. And I don't think it needs to be said, but Dumbledore is NOT going to like the ending of the first chapter.
Or the start of the second,

Venquine1990