Monday morning saw Albus Dumbledore visiting Molly Weasley at the Burrow. "Oh Albus its been three days since Fred and George ran off. Can't you find them?" Molly pleaded.

"They did not have trackers placed on them as they were not considered dangerous. I thought even they would have enough sense to not try to escape." Albus grumbled.

"Oh they could be in a ditch someplace. Or even worse in the hands of the muggles." Molly cried. "We've got to find them."

Albus patted her on the back as she threw herself on him crying, "There there. There there Molly. They will turn up just fine. Let's try not to worry about them."

"Oh Albus. I can't help but worry. I swear they're Gid and Fabian reincarnated. And you remember how those two were." Molly grinned wetly at him.

"Oh yes. I know." Albus chuckled fondly, "But we'll keep the search on. I can assure you that we will not give up on finding them."

"Oh thank you Albus. Arthur is just going spare too." Molly said wringing her hands. "Ginny is an absolute mess. She's had several nightmares about them being gone."

Albus looked at the large magical clock on the mantle which showed the family conditions. Percy and Ron's hands said school, Ginny and Molly had their pointing at home, while Arthur Bill and Charlie all pointed towards work. Fred and George though had swung to the word lost. "Speaking of dear Ginny where is she?"

"She was so distraught by Ron leaving this morning I had to give her a calming draught. So she's in bed asleep." Molly said calming down.

"Ahh. Well reassure her that we are doing the best we can and that Ron will be taken care of at school. Please?" Albus asked smiling gently.

"Oh of course Albus. I appreciate all that you're doing to help." Molly sighed, "Are you sure you cannot stay for tea?"

"No. Sadly I must go. The forces of bureaucracy must be dealt with no matter what." Albus said heavily.

"Well try to relax yourself. A man of your age shouldn't burden himself with too much." Molly said, "Wait I can at least give you some biscuits I baked for breakfast. Peanut Butter Cinnamon."

"Well I can wait for a moment I suppose." He cheerfully said.

…...

Harry and his friends walked into the Great Hall to see two familiar redheads sitting at the Gryffindor table.

"RON!" Harry exclaimed going up to his friend.

"Hey Harry!" Ron cheerfully said as he looked over Harry's shoulder at Hermione.

Harry glanced over his shoulder, "Hermione, Ron's back."

Hermione walked up sarcastically going, "Oh, I hadn't noticed."

"Gee. Nice to see you too." Ron huffed.

"Behave you two." Harry admonished.

"Fine, Harry." Hermione agreed, "Welcome back Ron." She unenthusiastically said before sitting down.

"So what did I miss?" Ron asked cheerfully as Susan and Neville joined them.

"Harry and I are boyfriend and girlfriend." Hermione declared firmly with a territorial growl.

Ron looked in surprised disgust from her to him. Harry grinned back with a nod while Hermione stared at him like a cat studying a particularly interesting rodent.

"Oh. Well." Ron deflated as he considered the circumstances. "That's nice."

"So. Guess what? I'm on the Quidditch team." Harry eagerly announced trying to get back into the groove with his friendship.

Ron perked back up and grinning said, "Pull the other one! No way!"

Harry eagerly talked about how it was all due to Neville's accident how he wound up on the team and then about how the practice he's been on was.

Neville sighed as he listened to how happy Harry was going on about the Quidditch. Susan patted him on the arm.

"So when are Fred and George coming back?" an older dark hued boy asked interrupting when he came in and saw Ron.

"I dunno." Ron shrugged. "They went missing."

"What do you mean went missing?" the boy asked.

"You don't keep up with the news do you Lee?" Percy asked dryly.

"No. I try not to and dad says the papers are just part of the Ministry of Truth." Lee Jordan said with a cheeky grin.

Sighing Percy said, "As it is already on the gossip tree I shall tell you this once. My reprobate brothers decided they would rather escape from Azkaban rather than face the consequences of their actions and irreverent attitudes."

"Blimey. I had heard some rumors, you mean they're real?" Jordan exclaimed.

"They did not kill anyone. Fortunately." Percy scowled.

"Still. They got some bollocks on them." Lee Jordan grinned heading further up the table.

"They escaped from Azkaban?" Harry asked as Hermione frowned. "Why?"

Ron shrugged, "Dunno. Mum's going totally spare and Ginny's totally heartbroken. She loved them the best."

"I'm sure they'll turn up at some point." Harry said.

Ron shrugged, "Yeah. They're good at taking care of themselves."

…...

The Weasley twins had managed to reach Edinburgh. They were trying to figure out what to do when they used some muggle slight of hand they had been working on to steal some food and drinks from a store. Hiding in a narrow alley they were trying to figure out what to do next.

"You are never allowed to drive me anywhere again." George grumbled when Fred suggested they steal a car to drive to London.

"What? We walked away from it." he protested.

"We limped away from landing in a bog." George growled.

"It was a soft landing." Fred countered pouting.

"That ride down the embankment wasn't very soft." George grumbled.

"Yeah well we found that farm truck." Fred cheerfully said, "That was a stroke of luck."

"Until you broke it." George stated flatly.

"I didn't do anything to it." Fred protested, "It wasn't my fault."

"Oh I suppose flames are normal." George sarcastically asked.

"It was a French truck. They're known to do that." Fred declared importantly.

"Right." George skeptically agreed.

The two of them sat trying to decide what to do when a young lady surprised them, "Hello boys. You're new in town."

Fred grinning at the woman in her late teens or early twenties jumped to his feet, "Why yes we are. I am Fred and this is my brother George. We are itinerant travelers just passing through. Any help you could render to us would be greatly appreciated."

She laughed smugly before drawing a wand, "Did you know you are squatting on Red Thistle territory?"

Fred and George both stared at her in shock, "You're a witch!" Fred finally exclaimed.

The woman looked at him like he was a bug for a moment, "Well spotted. What gave it away?"

Standing up straighter and smoothing his shirt down Fred grinned in what he hoped was a winsome way, "Well. It must have been the sheer power and grace radiating from you."

She raised her eyebrow asking, "Were you dropped on your head a lot?"

"No but my brother was." Fred said.

When she looked at George he shook his head, "No our other brother Ron. He really was dropped on his head a few times."

"Thanks for sharing. I don't care. Now why did you steal from the shopkeeper?" she asked.

"Here now. You should really speak more respectfully to us. We're dangerous criminals freshly escaped from Azkaban?" Fred declared drawing himself to his full height of 5 feet.

Looking at him totally unimpressed she yawned.

George groaned, "Look we are broke, hungry, and have no place to stay. We stole from him because we thought he was a muggle and wouldn't notice."

"Oh he didn't. But he pays protection money to us and we noticed." she smiled, "So. Nice try."

"Oh. So now what are you going to do?" George asked as Fred slumped realizing he was not charming her at all.

"Well normally I would take you to the edge of the seat and kick you off but you are kinda cute." she said with a casual grin.

"You think I'm cute?" Fred asked hopefully.

"Yeah you remind me of my pet terrier." she said putting her wand away, "C'mon."

Fred and George decided that following the woman was a better idea than trying to argue with her.

She led them for a few yards on the main street before turning and going down a narrow straight alley that rapidly descended into darkness. They could reach out and touch both walls with their fingers as they walked through the gloomy tunnel. Fred and George glanced at each other and wondered if turning and running wouldn't be a good idea but noticed they had someone following them so turned and caught back up with their escort.

The narrow crack passed through some of the natural stone, after several more yards they entered a small open square that allowed them to see the steel gray sky far overhead. There was a fountain with a Romanesque feel to it in the center of the square. On their right a signboard said bathhouse and laundry. Ahead of them a shop declared itself Jimmy Quicktint's Tattoo and tonsorial parlor. A business that simply said it was The Shop and a pub named The Old Toad rounded out the square.

Their escort did not stop at any of them though and continued walking down another narrow tunnel ahead of them. They passed another pair of doors, one on each side, then two even more narrow corridors on either side that had doors mirrored along its length, which ended in darkness. This intersection was barely visible as the tunnel opening was yards behind them as was the one ahead of them.

Just before they reached the other end of the tunnel they came to a dark corridor to their left they could not see down and a set of stair up on their right. They heard someone playing a slow mournful tune on a violin filtering down from above.

The next square they entered had no other tunnels out of it. A fountain sat in the middle with a tall angry looking Roman god in the middle of it. A pair of doors sat opposite each other, their escort heading for the one on the right.

"Uh Where are we?" Fred finally asked. Figuring if he was going to be killed he was going to know where he would die at least.

Their host stopped and turned to them. "You are in what is officially known as Greycloak Square. This square dates back to at least 1000 ad, but has been upgraded, modified and built up since then. At some point someone got the funny idea to call it the Gray Havens. Or more generally the Havens. This is the house of the leader of the Red Thistles. He carries the title of Prince so be respectful, if you can."

Fred started to say something but she put her fingers over his lips, "Actually, better let your brother do most of the talking."

…...

She led the two of them into a comfortable living room that looked like it would have fit into any Victorian lord's house. There were comfortable looking chairs and a long couch arranged n such a way that conversation was possible from any point in the room. A long low table within easy reach of each seat.

A tall middle aged man who looked like he bench pressed small livestock for fun stood in a green livery that had a red thistle over his left breast. His dark brown skin and thin mustache gave him a certain air of mystery. "So who's your friends Pru?"

Smirking she pointed first at one then the other twin, "That's Tweedledum and he's Tweedledee."

"Here now!" Fred protested jumping up,until the man's steel gray eyes turned to stare at him. Fred could feel the bones in his body already breaking just from the man's gaze. He slowly and meekly sat back down.

"You are in the wrong place to get an attitude young man." was all the tall stranger said in a calm, deep, voice.

"Is Nico around?" the girl named Pru asked.

"He's in a meeting. Said not to bother him for anything less than the second coming, or lunch." the man chortled darkly.

"Ahh. So El made it back did she?" Pru laughed.

"Early this morning. They've been at it since breakfast."

"Alright. I'm going to the Toad with this pair." Pru said motioning the twins to get up again.

"Fine. Take your lost kittens with you. I'm not sure they're housebroke yet." He laughed.

"Oh probably not but with some training they might shape up well." She said ushering them out to the laughter of the man.

…...

The twins quietly followed her to the pub they had passed. They were confused but had decided keeping quiet for a change was a better idea. They sat at the table she pointed at. After a few moments she walked over with three mugs of beer and bowls of stew floating behind her.

As their food landed in front of them George grinned broadly, "Thanks."

"Don't mention it. I have a soft spot for knuckleheads." she said enigmatically.

"So. Who was that and what are you going to do with us?"

"That was Joe Donovan. He's Nicodemus' right hand. Nico is the leader of the gang. He is the one who will decide if I get to keep my little lost kittens or not." she said with a sarcastic smile, "So when you meet him. Don't be stupid."

"That is not a problem. I am never stupid." Fred declared with some self-importance.

"No, but you are full of yourself and that is not good either." she said pointing at him with her spoon.

"She has you there." George agreed.

Fred scowled, "Fine I suppose we'll be leaving then."

She laughed heartily, "Oh that's funny. You two are hopeless. You look like you're five minutes from starving to death."

George nodded eagerly. Fred frowned at her. "We can take care of ourselves!"

"Really? You really think you can?" she asked, "You got observed lifting that stuff. So you suck at stealing. I have no idea what you've done but the clothes you're wearing smell like you went through a bog that had burning tyres in it. Plus the black eye looks wonderful on you."

"Well I wouldn't have a black eye if he hadn't hit me." Fred protested.

"I wouldn't have hit you if you'd not been a bloody idiot!" George growled.

"Alright you two. I don't care." She sharply growled, "So shut it. Nico is going to be with Big El until dinner at least. So we have some time to get you cleaned up and smelling like humans at least before you meet with him."

"What if we don't want to meet him?" Fred countered sarcastically.

"You stole from a merchant who pays his protection money regularly and faithfully, on Red Thistle territory, you will meet with Nico or Joe will be the one who decides what happens to you and I wash my hands and find two new kittens."

George smiled broadly, "Then we'd love to get cleaned up and meet your friend Nicodemus."

…...

Amelia sat looking at the map. She had wanted to check it out before she turned it over to Mr Potter but the simulated personalities enchanted into the document had been less than helpful. One of them had been rather crassly flirting with her, another had been rather cheeky, while the other two had tried to apologize for the actions of the others.

Looking at the notes Miss Granger had made about the map she sighed and decided that as Sirius Black and Remus Lupin had created the damn thing she should speak with them. She had managed to contact Remus Lupin and arranged for a meeting with him.

Arriving at the muggle cafe Amelia activated a notice-me-not and SEP field generator once Lupin sat down in the corner booth.

"Miss Bones? Is there something wrong?" Remus asked with a tone of concern.

"Let's just say I have become a bit more cautious about certain things than I had been." She smiled.

"Very well. Then what can I do to help you? You said that there was something involving Harry?" Remus cradled his coffee between his hands as it was raining outside.

"Yes. I suppose you recognize this?" She said sliding the ratty piece of parchment across the table to him

Remus looked at the folded document with a nostalgic chuckle, "Ahh. I wondered whatever happened to that."

"It has changed hands a few times. What can you tell me about it?" Amelia asked.

Remus shrugged, "Its something we worked on to help our schemes and efforts against the Slytherins. Although Sirius wanted to find a secret way into the girls dorms to see Marlene. Its pretty harmless overall."

"So how does it work?" she asked.

"We managed to find a way to tie it into the wards of the castle. I think we managed to convince Alice to help with that." Remus said thinking. "It shows the name of a person and a little pair of footprints showing where they are, which way they are facing and nothing else. Pretty much a limited use."

"So allowing Mr Potter to have this would not cause Minerva to want to strangle any of us?"

Remus chuckled, "Well depending on how much like his father Harry is that is always going to be a possibility. However the map itself is just a tool that can be used or abused like any other."

"Very well. Then I suppose there will be no harm in giving this to Mr Potter." she said pointing at the map.

" I suppose not. I can assure you he will not be able to glean any information about the girl's dorms,other than if anyone in particular is in there, nor is there any secret way into their areas. Sirius gave a Herculean effort to discover any." Remus assured her.

"The interface seems a bit rude." She observed.

"Ahh yes. Our defense mechanism to ensure only those authorized could use it. We did not want our efforts to be misused you know." Remus said.

"Oh and how do you become authorized?" She asked pointedly.

Remus sighed as he leaned back, "No offense Madam Bones but is this an official Ministry investigation or part of another case?"

"No. It is not. I suppose I am being a bit paranoid." she said rubbing her monocle.

"Given the circumstances a bit of paranoia might be a healthy thing. However I would rather hold onto this and explain to Harry personally how to use it." Remus stated, "Plus I think Sirius would feel a bit better seeing this."

"And using it to spy on Harry?" Amelia asked.

"He is the boy's godfather. So I would call it concerned guardianship." Remus said, "We had heard about how Albus had begun to slip over the years."

"Yes. Although how much is age and how much is he has just over-extended himself is yet to be seen." Amelia observed.

"He has always been a secretive man. Keeping his plans close to the vest. Claiming it was for the greater good that he did so. All part of a greater plan. Although sometimes the plan seems to have a few holes in it." Remus sighed with some bitter nostalgia.

"I see. I don't suppose there is anything else you can help me with is there?" Amelia asked hopefully.

"Alas, not really." Remus said.

Dropping her spells Amelia stood and parted ways politely as Remus looked at the map with a wistful smile.

…...

Fred and George had been taken to a roman bathhouse and told to clean up. Their clothes were taken and laundered while a grim looking male attendant ensured they had no spot left uncleaned.

Once dressed and prepared they were taken back to the leader's house by Prudence who had warned them to behave themselves or else.

Joe Donovan had met them with a cold grin and leaned against the wall while they waited. Making small talk with Prudence that Fred and George did not understand as they seemed to be using some sort of local cant.

An older man with silver wire rimmed glasses short gray hair and a thick beard entered the room with a plump woman who was wearing a dark red corset over a deep cut black dress on his arm. Since Prudence and Joe Donovan both turned and greeted him respectfully George stood up. Fred sat scowling.

The man looked at Fred with a dismissive glance and gave Prudence a brief hug.

"Ahh so these are the little lost lambs you are wanting to adopt Prudence my dear?" he asked in a calm, amused tone.

"Yes grampa." she said moving to sit between Fred and George, letting George know it was okay to sit.

"Well, I have to tell you that I am not as pleased about the amount of heat they bring upon us." he said with a slight shake of his head. The plump woman sitting on a chair next to his with her long thick legs crossed demurely. She was studying the boys closely.

"Grampa?" Prudence asked, "Is their claim of being escaped from Azkaban true?"

"Somewhat. They were out in the ban for giving ol Blore enough cheek to make a saddle. Otherwise they are no big deal." the leader said dismissively.

"here now. My brother and I are very skilled and dangerous wizards of great power!" Fred protested strenuously.

The adults in the room looked at him with a very amused expression. Sort of like how a person looked at a well trained puppy when it performed a trick.

"Boys. I am Nicodemus. That was not the name I was born under but I earned that name growing up on the streets, fighting in the gangs, until I took over the Havens. Until you have earned a name you are nothing to me. You are less than nothing." The old man's eyes had gone from a soft blue to glowing bright gold behind the glasses, even though his voice never rose above a soft gentle tone.

George gulped and sat up straighter, Fred looked like he was trying to be unimpressed but shifted nervously.

"My grand-daughter even had to earn her name after she came to us. You are no different." Nicodemus declared looking at the twins.

Fred cleared his throat, "Well that sounds wonderful but I do happen to like my name you know and I think we should be getting on our way."

"Oh and where do you plan to go?" Nicodemus asked in amusement. "Plus there is the little matter of you breaking our rules on our turf. You stole from someone who pays protection regularly and cheerfully. You used magic against him. We need to resolve that little bit of malfeasance before anything else"

"We don't exactly have any money. So I don't know what we can do." George said quickly trying to beat Fred to the punch.

"Well usually in a case like yours we just beat the crap out of you then toss you outside the city limits. However my granddaughter seems to find you cute." He said waving his hand like he was talking about finding a particularly unpleasant chocolate in the box.

"Well we are rather fond of her too." Fred declared trying to sound suave. The cold stare of Nicodemus made his smile fade.

"Yes well. I spoke with Macdougal the shopkeeper you stole from. He could use some help around the shop so you will sign a blood contract to work for him until you are released by us. In return my granddaughter will see to your food, clothing and shelter. You will treat her with the respect she is due. I am rather fond of her." he said looking at them like he expected their gratitude.

"What? You expect us to become slaves?" Fred protested angrily.

Nicodemus laughed, "You will have to work your way up to slaves, right now your options are very limited. She has referred to you as stray kittens. Would you rather become that literally?"

Fred glared at the man but did not open his mouth to George's relief.

"You will see that the path to being reborn as a Red Thistle is hard, and strenuous but worth it." Nicodemus yawned. "Now what do you say?"

George grinned weakly, "I say we would love to join the gang and the life of a slave is the life for us."

Nicodemus nodded, "So there is hope for you boy but each man must find the path to his name for himself. What about you?"

Fred glared at George like he thought he had betrayed them. "I have to take care of him so I guess I'm in."

Nicodemus shrugged as Donovan brought in a tray with a piece of paper on it. There was a silver tipped pen on the tray.

"Uh there's no ink." Fred observed.

"You'll use your blood." Nicodemus explained as he pulled a cigar out of thin air. Lighting it with a flick of his thumb.

Fred picked up the ornate pen, looking at the sharp nib he pricked his thumb with it before he signed his name. When he did a sudden tattoo appeared on the back of his hand of a single cat's paw print. In the center of the pad was a thistle.

"HEY! What's this?" Fred exclaimed shaking his hand before rubbing it.

"That is the symbol of your oath. Don't worry only magicals will see it, but they will know your rank in the gang." Donovan explained. He snapped his fingers and a thistle vine glowed from behind his ear to down his neck. Three tear drops glowed near his right eye going down his cheek. His hands had the words faith and hope across the knuckles. Among other tattoos visible. After a brief moment the glow faded.

Fred gaped before gulping as he looked at the back of his hand.

George did not protest when he signed.

…...

"So do you have any of those tattoos?" Fred asked Prudence when they left.

"Yes and no I am not going to show them to you until you earn the right to see them." she said turning down one of the dark narrow aisles. Unmarked doors set into the walls on both sides, climbing a set of stairs she eventually arrived at another unmarked door that seemed like any other. Opening it she ushered the boys inside.

A small sitting room was revealed within. Two doors led off from it with a window showing a seaside beach. A carpet sat in the middle of the room with a couch and a comfortable chair pushed around a small table. Books sat on a filled set of shelves.

"Okay the door on the right is your room. The privy is at the end of the hall. I'll key the two of you into the door. Don't go wandering off. You won't like it." She said. "That is my bedroom. Try to enter it without my permission and I guess I'll need new kittens. Got it?"

George and Fred looked at each other as the weight of their new lives settled on them. Turning to the tall girl they said in unison, "Got it."

…...

Hermione did not have any more memories resurface over the next weeks. She did hold Harry's hand but that was more staking her claim as Lavender called it than anything else.

Things between Harry and Ron did not seem to be the same as the previous run through life. Especially after Harry told Ron he wanted to take his classwork seriously. Ron grumbled and drifted away a little bit. He and Harry did still talk and compare Quidditch news but Ron moved to spending more time with Seamus and Dean.

The school was thrown into a tizzy one day in late September as Quirrel did not show up for classes. It seemed he had left the school suddenly in the middle of the night with no note or warning. Hermione and the group knew it must have been since the Stone had been removed and returned to its owner he felt no reason to stay. This unfortunately meant they had allowed a chance to capture the Big V to slip away.

…...

Muldoon kept digging through the Hall of Heralds as well as the Muggle Government and the records of Hogwarts. He confirmed that Tom Riddle had been a student there. That he and a great many of the Death Eater elites had gone to Slytherin. That was old news but what was new was a listing in 1926 in the muggle birth records of the Lockwood orphanage.

Tom Marvolo Riddle, born in December to an unknown female. Someone had made sure this information was not in the Hall of Heralds. Which meant the conspiracy of the enemy ran deep as the Heralds were supposed to be neutral chroniclers of all the information in the wizarding world.

So looking up the Riddle family had taken some time in the muggle world. Finally he found out they were from Little Hangleton and the last recognized member of the family had been a Tom Riddle. He had died in 1942, four years after the younger Riddle had gone to Hogwarts.

Cross referencing with the Hall of Heralds though showed that there was a magical family in Little Hangleton. The Gaunts.

He found a lot of information about the Gaunts in he criminal case files. Especially one Marvolo Gaunt. Muggle-baiting. Assaults on Muggles, Assaults on magicals, Assaults in general. He died in Azkaban. He had two children though.

Morfin gaunt was a chip off of the ol block Muldoon observed. Muggle baiting, assault, theft, rape of a muggle woman, crimes which bought him a ticket to the ban for several years. His biggest crime though and last one had been the murder of one Tom Riddle in 1942. For which he received life in the ban which ran out last year. So interviewing him would be a problem.

The daughter, Merope, had one record listed in either the muggle or the magical world. A marriage record in the Little Hangleton church for her and Tom Riddle in 1925. Then nothing else about her but there was an annulment recorded based on her having used false pretenses to lure him into marriage filed by Tom Riddle.

Muldoon looked at the timeline. He checked all of his data and came to the rather unpleasant conclusion that Tom Marvolo Riddle must have become the adversary they now fought. He was not sure how this would help them but it was more headway than they had ever had under Dumbledore.

…...

Amelia Bones had coordinated the various information she had available. Muldoon's research, the information Sirius Black and Remus Lupin told her about the Death Eater's, and the Order of the Phoenix. She had several internal affairs investigations underway for members of the DMLE based on their previous interactions with the Death Eaters. The Imperious curse be damned as she had never believed that defense.

Her biggest fish she wanted to fry was Malfoy. She would love to find a way to fillet and fry that scoundrel over high heat. Unfortunately he was far too close to Fudge and too slimy to have anything proven about him.

She had been able to bring down a rather obnoxious member of the Ministry. A Dolores Umbridge who had lied on her security background checks. Claiming to be descended from people she was not, misusing Ministry powers, misusing Ministry funds, and generally committing enough minor acts that she had been forced out of the Ministry in disgrace. Fudge himself had been the one to offer her the chance to retire gracefully or face a very public criminal trial.

She had huffed and puffed but in the end left in a massive snit, vowing she would make them all rue the day they had turned on her.

Muldoon's report on the identity of the Big V as they had begun calling him has come as a surprise to her. She praised Muldoon's efforts and had him work with Bricker to develop a psychological profile to help her understand their enemy. That way maybe they could finally get ahead of him somehow.

She had several aurors rotating through Hogwart's ostensibly to teach defense but also to watch over her niece and her friends. Moody had asked if he could bring some of his cadets to the school to give a demonstration of auror training, as well as to snoop around and double check on the security. She had chuckled when sending the request off to Minerva as she knew that would make a certain Slytherin professor rather uncomfortable.

Speaking of Slytherins she looked at the notes from her niece. Apparently Malfoy the younger was keeping his rather pointy nose to himself as he tried to consolidate control of Slytherin House. She had a friend in the house who wanted to remain un-named for now. One that was willing to be nice to them but only if no-one knew. Amelia sighed at how the Slytherin mind worked.

…...

Walking into Defense class Harry and his friends paused as they saw the person behind the desk. Harry recognize "mad-eye" Moody, along with Nymphadora Tonks. Sirius had explained she was his cousin and that Harry when he got older might get introduced to her by Sirius. Harry had to write back and explain he was already involved with a girl which got him a very excited congratulatory letter from his godfather.

"Alright. Settle down." The auror barked as he stumped around the room with his artificial leg. "These are a few of the newest cadets. Just last year these maggots were students. So for this week they are going to be working with you, helping me ensure you are going to develop the skills and abilities that will make you worthy of putting on this uniform. Do you understand me?" The man slammed the long staff he was carrying on Draco's desk.

"I understand I have utterly no desire to become an auror." Draco sneered, "I have much higher aspirations."

"Oh yes. I'm sure you do." Moody snorted, "A desire to join the family business eh? Maybe rise to be a lapdog to the dark lord like dear ol dad eh?"

Draco looked like he wanted to say something but the professor just stabbed him with his magical eye. A long moment passed but Draco did not rise to the bait and so Moody moved onwards. "There are four cadets here. They will be helping present the application of the theories we are going to discus. Now open yer books, page 86, the multiple uses and application of salt in defense against the dark arts.

…...

"So you see Harry that if you salt the bones before burning them then that will put the dark spirit to permanent rest." Nymphadora explained.

"Right, okay." Harry frowned, "But what if its a good spirit?"

"Well then you usually won't have to salt their bones or deal with them like that. You'll just have to talk nicely to them." Tonks said.

"Sort of like Myrtle Warren." Hermione said.

"Oh yeah. She's a bit off but not a bad sort." Tonks said, "I used to talk to her sometimes."

"A bit off," Ron snorted, "According to my brothers shes absolutely barmy."

"You try spending your afterlife in a bathroom alone and avoided." Hermione countered. "That would be enough to make anyone barmy."

"Yeah Ron." Neville agreed.

Ron grumbled as he looked to Harry, only to see him shrug and return to discussing when to use which grade of salt with Tonks.

…...

"Mr Potter. A moment of your time?" Minerva asked in November before Harry and his friends left the great hall for classes.

"Yes ma'am?" Harry replied.

"I have spoken with the Grangers. They will be more than happy to have you join them for Christmas. Unless you would desire to remain in the castle with myself and the others who shall stay over." Minerva said with a smile.

Glancing over his shoulder at Hermione who had a knowing smile he grinned back, "Uh no ma'am. I'll be fine going to the Grangers."

"I thought you might. That was all I had to say."

Thank you ma'am." Harry grinned as he ran back to join his friends. Minerva smiling to see them go off holding hands innocently. Thinking back to the last Potter she knew.

…...

Christmas break had come. Harry had packed a few things and was enjoying the train ride home with his friends. Laughing about what was going to happen, about how the classes had gone.

"So you think you can come over to visit us?" Ron asked as they neared London. "I know Mum would like that as would Ginny."

"We can consider it. We had already planned to visit Neville at his estate." Hermione said.

Ron frowned but gave a shrug, "Oh. Yeah. I guess that would be cool to have you come over too."

"Luna said you live not far from her. So when we get together at Neville's you and your family could maybe come over there." Harry said.

"Oh. I'll talk to mum and dad." Ron said.

Neville nodded, "I know my Gramma is looking forward to hosting a dinner again."

"I've never been to a fancy dinner. Is it like upstairs downstairs?" Harry asked.

"Its held on the ground floor." Neville replied causing Hermione to giggle and begin explaining the television show.

…...

Coming through the barrier holding Harry's hand Hermione grinned as she pulled Harry to a tall couple in nice clothes. "Mum, Dad!"

"Hey sweetie. So who's your friend?" The man said.

"Dad. This is Harry. I've been writing to you about him for the last several months." She huffed.

Laughing the man held his hand out, "Hi. I'm Daniel, sometimes, usually though I get called dad."

"Hello sir." Harry replied shaking the man's hand.

"Well he's polite. That's a bonus." Daniel said.

"Yes. I'm Emma, sometimes called mum." Emma said giving Harry a brief hug. She put the back of her hand to her mouth briefly as she looked slightly nauseated.

"Mum?" Hermione asked in concern.

"Oh, sorry. I've just been fighting a stomach bug for the last couple of weeks off and on." Emma said with a smile.

"A stomach bug?" Hermione frowned as they began to walk towards the carpark.

"Yeah. Funny. Your father says I'm acting like the way I did when I was pregnant." Emma laughed slightly wistfully.

Hermione glanced sideways at Harry who was looking confused but silent.

"Yeah well. You'll enjoy the house Harry. We have you set up in the guest room. Right next to our bedroom so no funny business." Daniel said with a warning grin.

"Dad. We are not old enough for that yet." Hermione scowled.

"Maybe but it is a father's duty to set the groundwork early." He grinned, "By the way Harry when we get back to the house let me show you my collection of antique dental tools."

"DAAAD!" Hermione growled as they left the station to Harry's amusement. He had a feeling he was going to enjoy this Christmas.

…...

(review responses)

Jemma Blackwell: Thank you. I'm trying to keep it interesting.

The Ghostly Minion: Wow so much to reply to here. Let me try to summarize things: Yes this will end up with a soul-bond. That is pretty telegraphed so I doubt its a spoiler. Everyone has the motivations and movements but I am also trying to keep within the restrictions of what they would know or "remember" from the future. I put that word in quotes a Hermione's future memories are not entirely reliable the further from the timeline she recalled gets. As for sex Hermione might know what's going on Harry is still a typical 11 year old he knows there is something that should be going on but not quite sure what yet. Sort of like if the dog actually catches the car, now what? Lol. So they are going to be platonic, even if there are forces that might be pushing otherwise. Ginny's proclivities are going to play a part later, much later. Susan is curious about things. And wants to get the information. Hermione has that information and is a peer so would be more comfortable to talk to. Yes I do use darker shades to paint the magical world. To be honest her books were written for kids so had to be shiny and clean. I write for everyone else so tend to look a bit more through a mirror darkly...All I can say is that things are going to keep going interestingly for everyone involved.

Gryffindorforever4242: Thank you.

Dennisud: Thank you. I'm trying to keep it going good. And yes Xeno is going to be involved more as things keep going. The three sided triangle of Harry's life is going to be interesting to resolve.

Honeybear84: Thank you. Hope you enjoy this.

Yaw613: Thank you for reading and glad you enjoyed.

Katmom: Always a lot going on in the funhouse...

KgFinkel: lol. Hope you find whats happened to the twins interesting. There is always a bigger fish. As for Xeno I like playing against type with him. I have plans...lol. Thank you. I think the R key on my keyboard is starting to fail...

Agnar. Okay. We're sorry to see you go but if you must you must. Bye.