AN: Some of you have asked what the corkscrew from the previous chapter was supposed to signify. A simple Google search for the search terms "tea leaves divinations corkscrew" will reveal the answer.

Chapter 26: Invasion

"The chair recognizes Professor Huang," Dumbledore said, with a polite nod to the yellow-robed wizard.

"Thank you, Supreme Mugwump," Professor Huang said with a dry cough. "As you will note in your agenda, the Magical Congress of the United States of America has serious concerns about the inviolability of the floo networks in light of the rapid expansion of Muggle technology. The fear is that…"

Severus Snape walked around the table as the various delegates from the ICW debated the topic, his sharp, beady black eyes roaming over every inch of the meeting room. Nobody at the table seemed to notice he was there, continuing their tedious discussion of mundane trivialities without pause. The Hogwarts newest Defense Against the Dark Arts professor pursed his lips as he focused the different delegates one by one, until his eyes at last fell upon Harry Potter, who was sitting at the table looking as if he were trying his best not to fall asleep. The potions master grimaced as he was once again forced to see the spitting image of James Potter, the evidence of Lily's utter repudiation of him by embracing his most hated and bitter enemy.

Something was off about all of this, but Professor Snape could not put his finger on exactly what it was.

"Thank you, Madame Mercier, I believe we can all take this suggestion back to our respective governments for deliberation," Dumbledore said with his typical serenity. "And now—"

There. Severus Snape swiftly pivoted, his wand materializing in his hand as he pointed it towards an empty space behind the table. All around the walls of the room collapsed into magical fog, blurring most severely behind where Harry Potter, or rather, the memory of Harry Potter sat. The objects in front of the boy remained more substantial. That was expected, since this was Potter's memory.

But then the fog parted where the DADA professor was pointing, and another Harry emerged, his bespectacled visage calmly regarding Professor Snape as if it were studying him. This was not expected.

"You really are better at this than Sirius," Potter said simply as the memory around them froze in place. "It's been months since he could detect my conscious mind, but you were still able to. The Headmaster was right to have me continue my studies with you."

It was impossible. Outrageous. How could this boy, who just a few years ago had failed to show any remarkable talent, suddenly display such subtle control at mind magic?

Severus smirked. "So, you finally realized I am inside your mind," he said with as much casual disdain as he could muster. "I've been dissecting this memory for over twenty minutes. If I were the Dark Lord—"

Harry Potter shook his head, a knowing smirk finding its way onto the boy's lips, a smirk all too unbearably reminiscent of the boy's late father. "That was hardly twenty minutes, Professor. You and I both know this is the fifth memory you've visited."

Severus Snape stood stunned for a moment. It was undeniable. The boy had been aware.

Severus nodded. He hated, hated, that he had to concede that Potter was greatly exceeding his expectations, but the evidence was irrefutable. There was nothing to gain from trying to deny that the boy's skill at occlumency was anything less than competent. Begrudging acknowledgment was better than appearing the fool.

"Since you have managed to discover my intrusion and have yourself been found out, there's little point in continuing the subterfuge. Now let's see if you are strong enough to—"

There was a brief flash of white and then Severus Snape found himself staring into the vibrant green eyes of Harry Potter, eyes that were so much like Lily's. They were back inside the professor's office, his wand still pointed at the boy from across the round table at the center of the room. There was a pleased look on James Potter's son, an all too familiar smugness about him. The boy had cast him out of his mind. With ease.

"Well, thank you, Professor. I think this session has really given me an idea of how my occlumency studies are going. There are definitely some things I need to improve."

The boy was being polite. It was really the most insufferable thing about him, that false modesty! Potter was turning away from him, without even being dismissed, damn him!

As Potter started to leave his office, the boy's eyes roving over the shelves of potions ingredients that lined the walls of the room, Severus Snape seethed. No, unacceptable! Before Potter managed to get halfway to the door, he whipped his wand forward once more. "Legilimens!" he said forcefully. And then he was back in the boy's head.

This time, he swore, he would find something secret. Something embarrassing. Even if he had to use more force than might be entirely healthy to get it.

Weasley Seer

Snow was falling in Hogsmeade, a light sprinkling of white powder that gave the little magical village a sort of Christmas card quality to it that made the experience of the last visit to the little community before the holiday break even more charming. The town was always busiest on the days Hogwarts students were let out to visit, in fact forty percent of the community's economy was based on the frequent weekend visits from students and influx of adult wizards who would stop in during that time due to that very fact. On weekdays when students were all ensconced within the school's castle walls or during the summer months when the children returned home, the village became a much more sleepy, subdued place with most shops closed most of the day—with the exception of The Magic Neep (the local greengrocer), Madame Pudifoot's, The Hog's Head, and The Three Broomsticks. The locals did need to eat, afterall. But on a day like today, the streets were full of running, shouting, laughing children and the village shops were not only fully open for business, there were active enchantments outside each one enticing potential clients to enter.

Ron and Hermione walked side by side down the busy streets, cheerfully chatting together with big smiles on their faces. While the Fifth Year Prefect and the second youngest instructor in Hogwarts history walking together was not a surprise to anyone, the fact that they were doing so without the presence of the third corner of their "Golden Trio" was a little unusual. What was much more noteworthy, and the reason some of their schoolmates would suddenly turn and excitedly gossip together once the two had passed, however, was the fact that the pair were holding hands as they walked. So it was, despite the cold, that Hermione Granger had a rosy glow on her cheeks and Ronald Weasley wore a shit-eating grin that nearly split his face.

In Hermione's free hand she carried a small bag from Tomes and Scrolls while Ron had a package from Spintwitches tucked under his other arm. While she as a prefect and he as an adjunct member of the Hogwarts faculty were in part tasked with supervising the students, along with several senior staff members, they were also out to enjoy themselves. The pair came to a stop outside of Honeydukes, as a group of Hufflepuffs emerged, some munching on levitating sherbert and others with honey colored toffee sticking to the sides of their mouths. The pair entered the shop, staying together as they went to pick up each of their favorite sweets as well as to get some for Harry.

"Bloody shame Harry has to miss so many Hogsmeade trips," Ron commented as he grabbed some Whizzing Fizzbees. He'd gotten a taste for the confection now that he had a bit more spending money. "All those 'planning sessions' with Snape," Ron said, scare quotes audible in his tone, "I bet the greasy git arranges it on these weekends on purpose just to spite Harry."

"You know there's a reason why Harry needs so many extra 'planning sessions.' Besides, I think it's admirable that Harry is taking his responsibilities as an instructor so seriously," Hermione remarked. "Harry really is gifted as a teacher, don't you think Ron?"

Ron nodded. "He's bloody brilliant. Harry's even got Neville casting defensive charms confidently, and even Remus wasn't able to get him to do that well!"

"And I'm proud of you, too," Hermione said, beaming a smile at Ron. "Everyone I talk to says your classes with Professor Trelawney are going really well. I must say I wasn't sure you were up to it, but you've really grown up."

Ron's cheeks burned red at the praise. "Hey, aren't the blue ones Harry's favorite flavor sugar quill?"

At Hermione's nod, Ron added a dozen of the sweets to their bag and the pair went up to the register. He rummaged through his robes and pulled out 34 sickles and set them on the counter with the sort of confidence that he had never had before he had been hired as an assistant teacher.

"After this do you think we should stop by Zonko's?" Hermione asked. "While I don't really care for pranks and gags, it really is unfair that Harry can't come out."

Ron shook his head. "Nah, no need. Harry and I have an arrangement with Fred and George. They'll be opening their own joke magic shop in a year or two and are going to put Zonko's to shame. Trust me, Harry's good on gag products."

The pair exited Honeydukes and looked around for where to go to next. Students were still bustling around the village in small groups of red, blue, and yellow trimmed robes.

Hermione pursed her lips.

"Ron, have you seen any students from Slytherin out here today?"

"No, why?"

Hermione let go of Ron's hand again, turning to look around Hogsmeade with a more critical eye. She thought back to when the Head Boy and Head Girl went down the list of students being released for the Hogsmeade weekend. She couldn't recall a single Slytherin student being called.

"Ron, I think we need to get back to Hogwarts immediately. I think there's something really wrong."

Back in their first year or even their second year, Ron Weasley would have blown off any concerns the "bossy, know-it-all" witch might have had. Since that time the youngest Weasley boy had gained an appreciation for Hermione in more ways than one. Not only was she a girl—it had taken him a while to realize that fact—and a pretty one at that, she was also perhaps the most clever person he had ever met, with the possible exception of the Headmaster.

Ron gulped, then nodded and started heading for the path back to the castle with Hermione leading the way. They had almost made it to The Three Broomsticks, the last major building before Hogsmeade Station and then the path back to the castle, when they heard the first pop. Then there were half a dozen more and men with black robes and silver and white masks were appearing all over town.

Death Eaters.

"Get down!" "Take cover!" Hermione and Ron yelled simultaneously.

And then the mayhem began as the Death Eaters began hurling curses indiscriminately. The pairs warning had given the villagers and students out on the road a little extra warning and the initial attack involved a lot of screaming and running, but fortunately none of the curses managed to hit their intended victims.

Ron dodged a yellow hex, grateful for the reflexes gained over the summer training with Harry, and began heading for the cover of the inn. Hermione followed behind, her wand pointed over Ron's shoulder ready to shield the two of them at a moment's notice.

"We've got to get the other students to safety!" Hermione said as soon as they got to the outer wall of The Three Broomsticks.

"We need to let the Order know what's going on," Ron responded.

Then a curse slammed into the woodwork above them.