August 14, 1993

Sirius whistled as he walked into the kitchen. Just a quick stop at the leftover cake and then he'd be on his way.

Except instead of finding cake in the kitchen he found three grinning wizards watching him with anticipation.

"Yes?" he asked carefully.

"What do you think, Moony," Harry said, his grin never faltering and his eyes not leaving Sirius.

"Oh, most definitely," Remus replied.

"Took him long enough," Barty said. All three snickered without breaking eye contact.

"What's this about then?" Sirius demanded.

"Oh, you know," Harry said casually. "Just wondering which speech you're going to use tonight."

Speech… Oh no they hadn't. Sirius glared at all three simultaneously, mildly impressed that he was able to effectively do so. Well, effectively might not be quite the right word, seeing as none of them were in any way cowed by his attempt.

"Silencing charms, Padfoot," Remus said with a smirk.

And okay, fair, but still, that didn't mean they had tolisten.

"I'm sure Sabrina will be suitably impressed," Barty said, and if Sirius didn't know him he would have almost thought Barty was approaching sincerity. But he did know Barty, so he scowled.

"Very romantic," Harry added.

"Mmhmm. I particularly like the third one," Remus said. The other two nodded along.

"Oh yes, that one was very good," Harry agreed.

"Are you sure she's going to say yes?" Barty asked, probably just to annoy Sirius, and Merlin but it was working.

"Now listen here you little piece of…" Sirius glanced around, then mouthed the next word just in case Ivy was anywhere nearby.

"Come now, you know you love us, Black," Barty said before Sirius could finish his point about what a terrible person Barty was.

"I love these two," Sirius said, pointing to Remus and Harry. "A little less at the moment, but most of the time at least, and that does not in any way extend to you."

Barty just smiled as if he found the whole thing incredibly amusing, which he probably did.

"Aw, we love you too, Siri," Remus .

"You. All of ," Sirius said.

"My house," Harry retorted.

"Disowned," Sirius said once more for emphasis before turning on his heel. No cake was worth the grief his best friends and the other guy who unfortunately lived here were giving and could potentially continue to give him regarding his imminent proposal.

"Good luck," Harry called out.

"Don't mess up," Barty yelled.

"Remember we'll still love you no matter what happens," Remus said.

Sirius flipped them off just before making it out the door. He was going to go deliver the most epic, romantic proposal in the history of romantic proposals. That would show them.

"And you're sure that'll work?" Harry asked.

Remus nodded solemnly with all the wisdom of the universe, or in this case, all the wisdom of having known Sirius the longest. "He will now propose flawlessly in the most perfect way possible out of sheer spite."

"Cheers," Barty said, lifting up his glass.

"Cheers," said the other two.

August 15, 1993

"Oh, how about this Quarterread. It says their looking for someone to write about newly discovered species."

Luna nodded. "That one could work. Any others?"

Ivy shuffled through a few of the other letters. "Well, these are all the ones that just looked boring, but I guess maybe there's something in there that could be good." She gestured to another pile. "These didn't even have anything to do with creatures at all. There was even one asking if you would come in for a photo shoot of some kind. But just you."

Luna frowned. "Well no one is going to learn anything that way."

"Not about creatures anyway," Ivy said with a smirk. "They'd learn all about you though."

Luna shook her head.

"Reject pile," they called out together. Ivy laughed and tossed the offending papers up in the air, which Luna then obligingly lit on fire. Ivy sighed in contentment. What a great way to spend a Sunday morning.

August 17, 1993

"Harry, I ambeggingyou. Make him stop."

Harry looked up at Remus with worry and confusion. "Make who? What happened? Who did it? Where'd they go?"

"Sirius."

Ah, so probably no one trying to kill Remus or anything. That was good at least. Harry relaxed a bit in his seat. "So, er, what did he do?"

"He's been engaged less than three full days," Remus said matter of factly.

"Um, yes?" Harry couldn't help but wonder at the non sequitur.

"Three days. That is all it took. And now he's determined to make all the rest of us married too."

"Well I'm already married," Harry's brain supplied to his mouth quite helpfully.

Remus did not appear impressed. "Yes, thank you for the reminder. Somehow I must have missed that with all the love eyes you two send each others way."

Harry grinned and shrugged unapologetically.

"But it's not you he's after, is it. It's the rest of us."

"The rest of us being?"

"Well, me, for starters. And… Well I don't know if he's actually spoken to his cousin yet or not. Merlin, I hope not," Remus muttered at the end.

"Tonks? He's trying to set you up with Tonks?"

"Yes," groaned Remus. "Make him stop."

"Okay… Anyone else?"

Remus opened his mouth and shut it promptly. So that would be a no. Harry suppressed a laugh, but Remus wasn't fooled if his glare was anything to go by.

"Just make him stop."

"How?" Harry really did want to know. Remus had known Sirius longer, so surely he had a better idea of how to get Sirius to stop.

"I don't know. Go all scary Lord Slytherin on him or something."

Now it was Harry's turn to look unimpressed. "Really?"

"Just make it stop," he practically whined. This was not the Remus Harry knew. He silently cast a small detection charm just it case.

"You are a grown wizard," Harry began, invoking the tone Ron had once used in a moment of wisdom when Harry himself had not been particularly eager to actually talk to a girl, much less ask her out. He felt it was appropriate for this conversation. "You are capable of handling this."

Remus was free to take "handling this" as a sign for dealing with Sirius or for talking to Tonks like Sirius was apparently trying to get him to do. Harry wasn't picky.

"I'm a werewolf who has made too many questionable life choices and is now trying to avoid being set up with a woman I have exchanged maybe a dozen words with who I am also apparently fated to marry."

"Well I wouldn't say fated per se," Harry said cautiously. On the one hand he really wouldn't mind Remus and Tonks getting together in this world, but on the other hand he realized that all relationships were unlikely to pan out exactly as they had in his world. Different life experiences and all that. "And also being a werewolf is not a bad thing," he added on, since Remus obviously needed the reminder.

"So you're not going to be any help."

Merlin, but Remus's look was making him feel guilty. No wonder Ivy had perfected her puppy dog eyes. He had thought Sirius was to blame but now he was having some serious doubts about his previous assumption.

"Fine, I'll talk to him," Harry muttered, to Remus's triumphant look.

"Hey Sirius, you said Tonks wants to meet, right?"

"Oh, Dora? Yeah. Why? You actually thinking about telling her everything?"

"Maybe? Well, at least some. See how that goes first, then maybe tell her the rest? Or later? I don't know. Haven't quite figured that out yet."

"Okay, so, you want me to invite her over."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, thanks. And hey, maybe lay off of Remus for a bit with the whole matchmaking thing?"

Sirius pouted and seriously, how was Harry supposed to deal with these people. "But they need to find true love, love."

"Yes," Harry agreed, "but just maybe not right this second?"

Sirius sighed dramatically and wow had it really only been two years since Harry and Ivy came back to Britain? He could have sworn it had been longer.

August 19, 1993

"Thank you for meeting with me, Lord Peverell," Tonks began formally. It was weird and Harry wanted to bring it to a swift end.

"Just Harry is fine," he said, with perhaps a touch of pleading in his voice. "Really," he said for emphasis.

"Alright then,Harry, thank you for agreeing to speak with me."

"Of course. So I understand you have some questions?"

Tonks nodded. "Lestrange. What do you know?"

Harry sighed. "Not much, to be honest. I don't know how she got out, I don't know where she is, but I do have a good idea what she's after."

"And that would be?"

"Ivy."

"What makes you say that?" Tonks obviously wasn't disagreeing with his statement, but did seem curious as to why he thought that.

"Because Voldemort is gone," Harry said simply, willing to let the other questions come as they may.

"But he's been gone for a long time. Why now?"

Harry couldn't remember if she had been willing to say Voldemort's name at first or not in his world, but to her credit she at least hadn't flinched at it.

"Because now he's gone for good."

"And he wasn't before?"

"No."

Tonks furrowed her brow. "How was he not gone before?"

"Before his first demise he had taken measures to ensure his immortality. Those measures are no longer a concern."

"You took care of them then, you mean."

Harry nodded.

"Then why haven't you said anything? Why not tell everyone what you did?"

"Why should I? The majority of the wizarding world comfortably believes that Voldemort was defeated nearly twelve years ago. What good would it do to say otherwise when he isn't a concern anymore?"

Tonks shook her head. "Sorry, it's just, how do you know all this? No one had even heard of you until a few years ago, and now you're saying that not only did you know You-Know-Who wasn't actually dead, but that you knew how to get rid of him for real? He is dead, right? All the way?"

"All the way, yeah. No coming back this time."

Tonks looked at him curiously but did not press. "Okay, but you said he's gone and that's why Lestrange broke out now. How would she know when no one else did?"

"The dark mark disappeared when the last piece of him died."

"Wait, did you say the lastpiece? You know what, I'm not sure I want to know. There's nothing illegal here, right? I don't need to investigate this, right? Please tell me I'm right."

"Nothing you need to investigate," Harry said, leaving out the part where it was maybe slightly illegal, some of what he had done, and also the part where she wouldn't actually be able to investigate, given the magic covering all traces of his previous horcrux-hunting activities.

Tonks sighed in relief, clearly willing to believe it, at least for now. "Alright, so back up, you said the dark mark disappeared? Why haven't we heard anything about that?"

Harry let out a low chuckle at that. Oh if he but had the time to list all the reasons. "And who would have you expected to have told you, hmm? Anyone with a dark mark was either in Azkaban, unaccounted for, or acquitted. Most probably wouldn't have even thought much about it disappearing in the first place, probably assuming it had finally faded away with time. In the years between Voldemort's first demise and his final one the mark had faded already. Anyone not in Azkaban was probably relieved to see it gone for good, and I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to draw that kind of attention to themselves."

Tonks grimaced but nodded, not having an argument for that. "Lestrange then?"

Harry shrugged. "A fanatic. And loyal, even still. Possibly the most loyal of anyone left. I think it is likely that she held out hope that her lord would return, and when the dark mark vanished for good she must have realized that it was over. And who else would she have had to blame?"

"Except Ivy Potter," Tonks said, nodding. "And that doesn't worry you?"

"Of course it does," Harry nearly hissed. "But I'm doing everything I can. Sirius will be at Hogwarts, and Remus and I will continue working from here. No offense, but I don't entirely trust the Ministry's response or ability to handle this."

To Harry's slight relief Tonks just shrugged. "No offense taken. I mean, this whole thing had everyone pretty worked up, you know? No one has ever escaped Azkaban before and none of our usual tracking methods have worked." She huffed. "We don't even know if she's still in the country, for Merlin's sake."

"Well, if I see anything I'll let you know."

"Before or after you take care of it?" Tonks asked dryly.

Harry just smiled.

"So what did you end up telling her?"

"Just about Voldemort. Didn't go into specifics, but gave the general idea."

"And the rest?"

"We'll see. I guess if she and Remus do end up together eventually then yeah."

"Fair enough."

"So…" Harry began. "How's operation get Remus and your cousin hitched coming along?"

Sirius smiled. "I'm not giving up."

"Didn't think so."

"Remus asked you to stop me, didn't he."

"Yep."

"And he thought that would work?"

"Well, desperation leads to all sorts of hope, I guess."

Sirius nodded. "I suppose I'll just have to change my approach then."

"How so?"

"Less persuasive talk, more inevitable interaction."

"You're terrible."

"They can thank me when they're married. I'll even give a perfect best man speech."

"Keep this up and they might just have Barty do it," Harry said, just to see Sirius's reaction.

He was not disappointed.

"Harry, why is Sirius practicing a best man speech?" Remus asked with false cheer.

Harry groaned.

August 24, 1993

"You ready, Neville?"

Neville nodded. Harry could tell he was nervous, but he was doing an excellent job of hiding it.

"Nothing to worry about. You'll find one."

"But what if I don't?" the boy blurted out. "I mean, what if none of them work?"

"Did Ivy ever tell you how long we were in Ollivander's?"

Neville shook his head. "She said she blew up a wand though." Suddenly a worried look crossed his face. "Am I going to blow up a wand?"

Harry patted the boy's shoulder. "Probably not. I don't think it happens all that often. And if it does, it will be fine." Neville did not appear convinced. "But it took Ivy close to a hundred and fifty tries to find one that fit. So if the first few don't work, don't worry, and don't give up. We'll find one eventually."

"A hundred and fifty…"

"Most people don't take that long, I think."

Neville nodded, even if there was a lack of reassurance present on his face.

"How did you convince Gran to get me a new wand anyway?"

Harry cleared his throat. "Ah, well, we were just talking about the patronus lessons, and I mentioned how maximum power will never be reached if you're using a wand that's not a right fit. And we talked for a bit, and eventually she agreed that you ought to get your own wand."

Thankfully Neville didn't press that particular question further. It wasn't like Harry could say, "well, you see, in another world you got a new wand and became a total badass who killed Voldemort's snake."

"So is that why you're taking me? Because you're the one that told her I needed a new wand?" Neville looked embarrassed at having asked the question, but Harry answered before the kid could apologize or take it back.

"Maybe. I'm not entirely sure. She did ask that I spend some more time today talking to you about a few things, so this works out well." Because multiple universes were out to make his life as terrible as possible apparently. "But yeah, that might have had something to do with it. I was pretty excited she asked, to be honest. It's not every day you get to see someone meet their wand."

Neville smiled shyly at Harry, who relaxed a bit. He really like Neville (both of them), and he was happy to see the boy gaining a bit of confidence a little earlier on, even if some of that confidence had come by necessity after being dragged around with Ivy and friends the last two years.

"Ah, here we are. Want me to come in or wait outside?"

"Inside, please."

"Alright then. After you."

"Thirteen inches, cherry with unicorn hair," Ollivander said fondly, as Neville picked up the fourth wand of the day.

And this was the one that Harry remembered, so he was fairly confident in the results.

Neville gave it a twirl, and out popped a silvery mist, not entirely unlike that of a patronus…

Neville, catching notice of both Harry and Ollivander's raised eyebrows, grinned sheepishly and ducked his head. "It feels nice?"

Ollivander chuckled. "I would expect nothing less from a wand so well matched."

Harry too laughed a little. "Thinking happy thoughts, then, are we?"

Neville just blushed.

"So, what was it you needed to talk to me about?"

Ah yes, the second reason Augusta had asked him to take Neville today. The part he had been mentally avoiding. The karmic retribution, even if it felt like he had the short end of the stick both times. Was it really too much to ask that he be allowed to forget that awful, awful day? Apparently not.

"Well, you see Neville… Actually, you know what, I'd better put up some privacy charms first." It was bad enough that Harry had to speak the words and that Neville had to hear them. No one else needed to be subjected to this conversation.

Privacy charms overpowered and in place, Harry took a deep breath. "Alright. So, you may have started to notice girls. Maybe you noticed that they are pretty?"

This wasn't a terrible start, was it?

Neville looked at him with mild disbelief mixed with dawning horror. "Is this…the talk?" he whispered.

"Ah, yes. That would be it."

"Um, well I've already sort of had it, you see."

"Wait, really?" Harry almost allowed himself a sigh of relief. "But, uh, who gave it to you?"

"Well Fred and George explained a lot of things."

Feeling of relief gone, having died a horrible death. Was it too much to ask that he be swallowed up by the earth now?

"And then Percy explained a few more things."

Potentially slightly better. Not great, but the potential was there.

"And then Thomas said some stuff too, so, er, yeah."

"Okay, for now, let's just forget about anything the twins said, yeah?"

Because two fifteen year old boys were probably not Augusta Longbottom's idea of a suitable explanation.

"Actually, whatdidthe twins say?"

"Well, they said some things about kissing, and how to not do it unless you ask first, and how you should only do it if you really like someone, and that you don't have to if you don't want to."

That was not actually a bad start.

"And to be careful so you don't make babies."

And there it went.

"Okay…" can do this, Harry, he thought to himself. "Not completely terrible, but let's not focus on the babies just yet, hmm? What did the others say?"

"Well, Percy explained how a lot of things worked. He had pictures."

How illegal was it to obliviate a minor, really? And himself. Would that even work?

August 25, 1993

"Are you still 'recovering' from your talk yesterday?" Sirius enquired.

"It wastraumatizing," Harry defended.

"For who though," Barty asked.

"Thetwins, Barty. And apparently Percy had pictures."

Luna and Remus both winced appropriately. That's why they were his favorite people right now.

"Why'd you have to do it again?" Sirius asked.

Harry leveled him with one (1) unimpressed stare. "Because for some unknown reason Augusta thinks I would make a suitable father figure. I didn't grow up with a dad. How am I suppose to know what a suitable father figure looks like."

"Well you've done fine so far," Remus pointed out. Again why Remus was one of his favorite people right now.

"Well, it's not like any of us have fathers to ask anyway, so it's not like we're going to judge you," Barty said, which, coming from Barty, was practically admitting he was impressed.

"Well, technically you could talk to yours if youreallywanted to," Sirius said teasingly.

Barty chuckled nervously. "Yeah, that won't be happening," he said.

Remus patted Barty's arm. "We understand. No need to face him again."

"Yeah, we'll go with that," Barty said under his breath.

"Barty," Harry said, suddenly suspicious. "Anything you want to share?"

"Yes, actually," Barty said, face breaking out into a wide grin. "I'm leaving the country."

"What?"

"What for?"

"Please tell me you didn't do what I think you did," Harry muttered mostly to himself.

"I'm going to get a history mastery."

Harry let out a huge sigh of relief, earning him curious looks from Sirius and Remus, which he ignored.

"Alright, but why leave the country?"

"Well, funny thing, that. See, there isn't anyone with a history mastery in Britain to study under, and isn't that just sad. So away I go!"

Suspicion started creeping back in. Barty was far too cheerful right now.

"So where you going then? Australia?"

Barty gave Sirius an offended look mingled with horror. "Why would you evensaysomething like that?"

"Wishful thinking?" Sirius shot back.

"And here I thought we were almost neutral acquaintances, Black."

"Wait, what's the matter with Australia?" Harry's confusion was genuine.

"I think I would like to visit there sometime," Luna said. Harry couldseethe respect growing in Sirius and Barty's eyes for some untold reason.

"Er, well I'm going to Greece," Barty said. "So no, uh, no demons, probably."

Wait,what?

"Just try not to commit any murders while you're there," Luna said.

Harry's eyes snapped back to Barty, suspicion back in full force. "Barty, whatever it is, just tell me," he said, bracing himself for the inevitable.

"Well, we're now all officially orphans?"

"Barty…" Harry groaned.

"Why did you kill him?" Remus asked.

"Because I didn't want him alive anymore?"

"That's fair," Sirius said.

"No it'snot," Harry protested. "Barty, you can't just…No more murder."

"It was only one," Barty said petulantly.

"No more murders," Luna said.

Barty nodded and ground out an apology.

"Why's he listen to you but not me?"

"Because I'm a good minion," Barty said.

"He does make a good minion," Luna said, agreeing.

"No he's not. He's not even listening to me," Harry cried out.

"Who said I wasyourminion?" Barty asked with confusion. Harry couldn't tell whether it was real or feigned.

He looked between Luna and Barty for a moment. "Oh, that makes much more sense," he said finally.

"So no more murder," Luna said scoldingly, pointing a finger at Barty as if he were a misbehaving child and not a grown wizard who had committed murder sometime recently.

"Yes ma'am."

"Next time just come talk to us. There are plenty of other ways of destroying someone without resorting to murder."

And that would be why Barty had chosen Luna, most likely.

"Were you ever really mine?" Harry asked. Wait, that did not come out like he wanted it to.

"Until she showed up, yeah," Barty said, jabbing his thumb in Luna's direction.

Harry sighed. "Yeah, that's fair."

Luna patted his arm. "There's plenty of people willing to be your minions if you want them."

That was not at all as reassuring as Luna was probably trying to make it.

August 26, 1993

"Luna, do you want one?"

"I'm fine."

"Great. Anyone else?" Sirius did not understand why no one was throwing up their hands in excitement. "Blaise? Ivy? Neville?"

"I don't even like flying that much," came Neville's response.

"But,quidditch," Sirius protested.

"I'm not on a team either," Blaise said.

"We just got brooms last year," said Ivy.

"Harry?" Sirius said pleadingly.

"I er, already got one?"

"Youwhat?"

"Well I kind of had them on pre-order for Luna and I?"

Sirius gave Harry his very best I've-been-betrayed look. "Luna, is that why you said no?"

"Well yes, I've already got one."

"Fine," Sirius ground out. "ThenIwill admire and purchase this lovely feat of magical engineering which is the Firebolt, becausesomeoneforgot to tell me, and also because quidditch."

"Is quidditch even a reason?" Neville asked softly.

"Yes, and it's a good one," Sirius proclaimed. He would convince them yet.

"Alright, now that the quidditch shop had been sufficiently searched, how about we go get the actual school supplies."

Sirius and Harry both grumbled about quidditch, but everyone nodded and followed Remus back into the Alley.

The Alley waspacked. More so than usual, even, because it seemed like everyone from Hogwarts had decided to do their shoppingtoday.

Luna glanced at Ivy, who gave her the most innocent looking grin possible.

Harry noticed the exchange and groaned. At least it wouldn't be like two years ago. He wasmarriednow, and not above using Luna as a shield to protect him from the witches who thought they still had a change of catching his eye. Luna would protect him. She was nice like that.

"So how many letters did you end up sending out?" Blaise asked.

"One hundred and seven," Ivy replied. "I ran out of owls."

"That's still not too bad," Neville said. "That means you got at least everyone in our year, right?"

"Yeah. Plus the fifth years. The twins wanted to remind everyone of their plan."

"Does that reminder involve threats?" Blaise asked casually.

Ivy shrugged. "No idea."

"Do I want to know?" Neville questioned.

"No," came the joint response. Neville was perfectly willing to take that answer at face value.

"Ivy had something to do with this, I just know it," said Harry, looking for a clear path through the sea of people.

"Seeing that almost everyone in her year is here today? Probably," Remus agreed.

Just then someone ran into them, well, mostly into Remus, seeing as Harry stepped behind him just in time.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Professor," came averyfamiliar voice.

"Not to worry, Miss Granger. And please, call me Remus. I'm not your professor anymore. Have you met Henry before? This is Ivy's guardian, Henry Peverell. Henry, this is Hermione Granger. She's a Gryffindor in Ivy's year."

Harry sent a mental glare Remus's way both for his choice of name usage and also for his obvious amusement at Harry's discomfort. Some people were easier to face alternate versions of than others, and Hermione was not one of those. But he couldn't send anactualglare Remus's way because Hermione would certainly pick up on that and that would not do at all. Remus knew that too, if his smirk was anything to go by.

"Hello, Miss Granger," Harry said, shaking her hand. "I've heard a great deal about you. And please, just call me Harry."

"But Ivy always calls you Uncle Henry," she said, brows furrowing slightly.

"Yes, well, she's stubborn like that. Says Harry and Peverell don't go together or some other such nonsense," Harry said with a wink.

Hermione giggled and then Harry found himself with a face full of cat.

"Oh, Crookshanks, get down from there. I amsosorry," Hermione said, pulling her cat off of Harry.

"Believe me, that is hardly the worst animal I've had in my face," Harry said.

Hermione didn't look like she was buying it.

"Ivy's godfather is an animagus," Harry explained. "He turns into a giant dog and likes to use it at the worst times. Oh, and Ivy and Blaise just got wolves and somehow I got stuck with them. And that's not even to mention some of the other things Ivy has tried to bring home. So no, a cat is really quite tame in that regard. Even if it is a rather smart cat," Harry said, scratching one spot he knew Crookshanks liked. Some things were universal constants.

Hermione, now convinced that Harry was being truthful, relaxed and stopped trying to pull the cat away. "He does seem like a smart cat, doesn't he. They said he was part kneazle."

"Well, that would explain it then," Harry said with a grin.

"Do you know where Ivy is? I've been meaning to find her before I went to the bookstore."

Harry grinned a huge grin on the inside, and a normal one on the outside at the predictability of that statement. "I knew she had something to do with this," he said. "Well, last I saw she was headed towards the apothecary. She was will Neville and Blaise if that helps."

"Thank you," Hermione said. "And it was very nice to meet you, Lord Peverell."

"You too, Miss Granger. And it's Harry. Or Henry if you must."

"You can call me Hermione then," she said. "Bye then. And goodbye Professor, it was nice to see you again."

Remus gave her a little wave as she walked off.

"Bye, Hermione," Harry said softly, smiling as the small, brilliant witch walked away.

"Ivy, for the love of Merlin, Morgana, Circe, Hecate, Isis, Odin, and all the other ones I'm leaving out, please tell me what the twins are planning."

"Sorry, Percy. Can't. They made me promise not to."

"You don't understand. Ineedto know. I'm Head Boy this year. I can't have them messing around especially on the first day back."

"Percy, they made mepromise."

"Yes but… . Well, fine. I… Why would youdothat?"

"It's the only way they'd tell me what they were planning," Ivy defended.

Percy sighed. "And what did you think of their plan?" He asked, adding "dare I ask" under his breath.

"Oh, I think it's brilliant."

Percy groaned.

"If it helps all the other fifth years know. And a few of the third years. And probably Luna."

Percy wanted to cry, he really did.

"But don't worry, it'll be great. And no one is going to get hurt or anything."

Somehow Ivy Potter telling him not to worry did not, in fact, make him not worry.

"I hear you made Head Boy. Congratulations, Percy."

"Thank you Lor… I mean, Harry. Thank you."

Harry grinned. Eventually he would wear everyone down to the point where they'd call by his name and not his title. Well, all the people he cared about at least.

They chatted for a few minutes, both waiting for their respective relatives who were stuck somewhere in the bookstore with an enthusiastic Hermione Granger. Harry knew from personal experience that it could be a while, so he was happy to talk to Percy in the meantime. And when Ron came out suddenly, looking like he was attempting a high-risk escape plan, he just gave the boy a wink and let him duck around.

"He really looks up to you, Harry."

"You think I'm doing alright?"

"Yes. You're good for him to be around."

"Thanks, Luna."

"I think he imprinted on you, Harry."

"Padfoot?"

"Hmm?"

"Shut up."

August 27, 1993

"I got it!"

Harry blinked, just to be sure he wasn't seeing things that weren't there, but it was true. There, in all it's shimmering glory, was a fully corporeal patronus. Adragonpatronus. Honestly, he didn't know what else he had been expecting.

"Congratulations, Ivy," Neville said enthusiastically. Blaise and Draco soon offered their own congratulatory remarks.

"That was great, Ives. Good job."

Ivy beamed. "I've got to go tell Charlie."

She dashed off and Harry briefly thought about sending a patronus of his own to warn the Weasley's of the upcoming dark-haired missile about to be launched through their fireplace. Of course then he'd have to explain what a missile was and that would be a rather long conversation so…

Except…

"Wait, is Charlie even in the country?"

The boys all shrugged.

"Ivy, no international travel without me," he yelled out. "Ivy…"

August 29, 1993

§And if ssomething happenss, go to Ssiriuss right away. Have you got all that?§

§Yess, yess. Go to ssmelly wolf baby if baby sspeaker iss in trouble. I undersstand you ssilly sspeaker.§

§For the lasst time it'ss a dog, not a wolf baby. And sshe could be in danger.§

Apparently snakes could scoff and show their disdain very well.

§Ssilly sspeaker. Big mother ssnake issn't letting anything happen to her babiess.§

Harry wasn't sure if he should be relieved that Ivy had practically been adopted by a basilisk, but if it kept her safe he could deal with it.

August 30, 1993

"Whoa."

"Yeah."

"I'm not seeing things, right?" Neville asked shakily.

"Nope. You really did it kid," Harry said with a grin. "Congratulations."

With that he thumped Neville on the back, and watched with amusement as Draco fished something out of his pocket and handed it to a very smug Blaise.

Neville's patronus was impressive. Partly because he actuallyhadone, after only a few weeks of practicing, but also because it was a massive bear that towered over everyone and everything. Harry didn't see how anyone would be giving Neville a hard time ever again. Not with a patronus like that.