Chapter 27

Hell Hath No Fury

"How the hell is that even possible, Professor?"

"As I said Harry, I don't know," Remus scanned the scene trying to think rationally. "Harry, I hear you've taken a 'be prepared' approach. I don't suppose you have anything like potion vials with you?"

"Actually," Harry said as his pack to the ground. "Potions is a focus class of mine this year, so yes." he replied, pulling out a few.

Remus took two then nodded to Harry. "Excellent, can you get me a blood and hair sample from any of those wolves we've killed before they revert back to human?" Harry dutifully did start. He took out his knife and trimmed the hair easily. He was collecting blood from the wounds when Remus came with wand and crystal ball in hand scrying. "Something is very wrong with these creatures. Harry, forgive me, who is our medical contact on link?"

"Hannah Abbott, sir."

"Get her to stop treatment on these bites as much as possible. At least until I can look at them." He continued to get a sample of saliva from the creatures's fangs.

"Hannah, Order from Professor Lupin. Stop, repeat, stop treatment on the wolf bites."

"Stop treatment?" Hannah's confusion came over loud and clear.

"Correct. If it is needed to save a life, go ahead, but if they can wait an hour do so. The Professor is adamant something is wrong here."

"Okay… Oh, Harry, you do not want to see the expression that Madam Pomfrey is giving me, and I'm sure it's meant for you two."

"Then those two can duke it out later! It's over our heads."

"Understood."

Harry turned to the Professor, "Is there a reason I just created a fight between the four of us."

"Yes, Harry I'm certain there is, but I don't know what it is. But I feel it would be best for me to scry those injuries before any treatment is done on them."

Tonks apparate to Godric's Hollow shortly and relieved the Cadets back to Hogwarts. Remus was only a few steps behind the sixteen year old. He burst into the medical ward capturing every eyes attention. He shrugged, nothing new there. He scanned the room and quickly found the distinct redheaded Weasleys.

"Mr. Potter," Madam Pomfrey called as she stepped in front of him. "I will have you know that I am not accustomed to having my medical decisions being overruled by a student!"

"I'm sorry, but what part of 'Order from Professor Lupin,' was unclear." Harry sassed back.

"Frankly, the 'Order', I do not take Orders from either of you, I answer to Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore."

Harry wanted to yell. He wanted to scream. He wanted to chew out the matron. But … he knew none of that would actually do any good. He clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth. "Alright, If I apologize and promise to work on protocol, can I please go check on my best friend and lil' sis who were just treated like damn chew toys?" His sass did start to seep through the cracks of his self control towards the end.

The realization of just what they were doing did give Pomprey a pause for thought. She relaxed her stance in acceptance. "Perhaps, I am not yet accustomed to war triage… as much as your earlier years did seem to try." She stood to the side and gestured with her hand.

Harry marched forward to the team as Remus finally caught up with his hands up in surrender. "Poppy forgive me, but something is not right with all of this. Give me a moment for some samples and scrys and I promise I will stay out of your way."

"Well, I would think so," the matron greeted, but saw the look of worry in Remus's eyes. "But I do remember your work here previously so I suggest we all count this as battle stress."

There were several civilian guest patients in the bed closest to the door, but in the back Hermoine was fighting tears as she kept a grip on Ron's right hand as he sat up in bed. His shirt was gone, but his shoulder had a bandage over his bite. Ginny was bouncing between his left side and Luna in the next one over, the blonde's left calf wrapped in gause. Harry didn't run, but he did march determined back to their area. The guilt was plain on his face. "Guys, I am-"

"I swear to Merlin, Harry. If you apologize, I will freeze your bloody mouth shut." Ron snapped but still a fraction of a smile. Hermione was concerned enough she didn't even try to correct his language, but smiled because Ron's spirit was still there. Harry nodded and opted to move to the other patient.

He leaned over to hug Luna. "Oh, thank you Harry, but I'll be okay. We both will." Even after the attack Luna still smiled brightly now that she was out of the battle.

Harry reflexively fell into holding Ginny tight and pressed a kiss to her scalp. She strongly returned the hug.

"Alright no apologies then. How are you two?" Harry asked.

"Something was bound to get to some of us sooner or later. At least we walked away from this." Ron shrugged.

"Oh Merlin," Hermione said, "You find your courage, and look what it leads to."

"Mione, I'm okay." Ron reassured with a gentle rub to her cheek. "I'm just adding some scars to the collection."

Ginny and Harry exchanged a look, and just shook their heads for a moment.

"Does Professor Lupin know why the wolves are ill?"

"Ill, Luna?" Ginny repeated, crossing her arms in slight confusion. "What do you mean? What makes you think they're ill?"

"Well you can see they are missing their magic. Perhaps that's why they were so angry tonight?"

"Speak for yourself," Ron replied, "Any creature that can transform like that, seems pretty damn magical to me.

"Well when you look at them, all you can see is dark." Luna went on to explain.

"Okay, that I will agree with. Sodding flea bags." Ron strongly nodded his head in agreement, until the movement jarred his bite making him jolt in pain.

Reflexively Hermione's hands came up to Ron's chest in an attempt to offer some small treatment. She turned to Harry, "Hannah said Professor Lupin ordered stop treatment on the bites. Why?" she asked, confused.

Harry shook his head. "We don't know, but something strange is going on. Did you guys notice the moon tonight?"

"We were a bit… distracted tonight babe," Ginny said as had a seat on the small stand between the two beds.

"It was a crescent moon, not a full moon. And you guys know that the Professor is a werewolf and he's been a human all night, including during the attacks."

"That is true," Luna added. "He stuck with us the entire fight. And was very clearly fighting back, even…" she let her voice drift gently away."

"Even what?" Ginny asked kindly, with a gentle rub to her shoulder. Luna couldn't help but look around nervously.

Harry came over and leaned on the bed and grinned. "Please tell me I do not have to give you the 'friends' conversation again."

Luna's delicate smile returned, "No, you all have been quite clear and kind and thank you. I've just never seen this with any professor but tonight Lupin seemed actually… frightened."

Hermione's head rose in shock. "When a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is scared…"

"So what?" Harry said matter of factly. "It proves he's human. We're fighting a war. Hell, I get frightened often."

"You hide it well mate." Ron nodded.

"I'm experienced with fear…. I don't recommend it." The four shared an understanding look.

Finally Remus came with Hanna beside him. "Make way please. Mr. Weasley, Miss. Lovegood. I do apologize but I do want to get a look at your injuries and a few samples."

The visitors all stepped away as Hannah started to take off Ron's dressing. "Sure Professor, but what is going on?" he asked. "Are we going to turn tonight?"

"No! That is absolutely not going to happen." Remus explained with stern eyes looking at both of them. Once the bite was visible Remus took another empty vial and his wand. He cast 'sanguinem' and blood apparated in it. The Professor drew out his crystal ball and with it and his wand scryed over his injury. Shaking his head at the results. Then they came over to Luna and repeated the process. Apparently with the same frustrating results.

Remus took a step back and looked at both of them, crossing his arms in thought and in frustration. "Miss Abbott, let us take this a step at a time. Would you please attempt to heal Mr. Weasley?"

"Gladly, sir, " she said with a cheered voice as she took her wand and cast 'episkey'. They all watched in relife as wounds closed.

Except for Remus. "You should not be able to do that."

Hannah smiled and turned to the Professor. "Oh, I'm in Madam Pomfrey's healing apprenticeship. That's like entry level spellwork there."

"I don't mean your ability to cast the spell. I mean that spell ought not be able to heal a werewolf's bite. Continue to Miss Lovegood please."

As the nurse changed patients, Hermione took her spot back and pressed a tender kiss where the injury was. "Never took you for the sentimental type, Mione," Ron smiled. "But thank you."

She shrugged, "I care."

Hannah moved over to Luna and her calf healed just the same.

"None of this makes sense." Remus repeated.

"Not to be selfish or anything," Ron swallowed hard. "Am I, are we, werewolves now?"

Remus paused, thinking, both of what the answer was and how to say it. "I-I truly do not know." Remus answered with regret.

Finally Harry spoke up. "Professor, we get you don't know what is happening. But none of us are strangers to mysteries. Why don't you tell us what you do know? What pieces do you have already?

"Logical and reasonable approach, Harry, thank you. Right, There was no venom in your wounds. There was no venom in the wolves saliva. There was no lunar energy in the wounds, the saliva, in the bodies of the dead or the living. Magically speaking I cannot find a reason why those wolves turned. But clearly yes, we fought werewolves. We saw them revert back. But why did they? A proper wolf's time is from moonrise to moonset. Instead we saw it only lasted about an hour. Why? And I'll admit a valid question is why was I not affected? Was it random?"

"Couldn't be." Ron answered confidently. When eyes turned to him, he simply answered, "Timing and placement was too perfect." Remus raised his eyes clearly not connecting the creatures with the larger problems. All eyes fell on Ron as he continued. "You expect me to believe that it is completely coincidental that this happened on Bonfire Night? And from what we were told in Hogsmeade the wolves were in the crowd when they turned. They knew it was going to happen. They positioned themselves to be in places of maximum damage. This was planned. And that doesn't even take into account the warning Harry got to even plan the resistance. This was planned days in advance, minimum."

"You have something with that, Ronald." Remus nodded his head. "In fact that strategy, placing oneself in the heart of a civilian population when one is about to turn is a known habit of a particular werewolf."

Slipping into anger more, Hermione answered. "Let me guess, Greyback?"

Remus nodded.

"Bloody hell, that man is getting higher and higher on my list, and I haven't even met him yet." Ron said.

Ginny cut in. "Tabling that for a minute. Professor, tonight, this week, whenever, what do we do for my brother and best friend?"

Remus took a breath and clearly changed his thinking. "With the wounds healed, there is nothing more that can be done tonight. The true test will be the full moon in a few weeks. I will ask you two to submit yourselves to some sort of safe confinement. Something better than the shack. Well work that out between now then then. I will brew up Wolfsbane potions for each of us so that even if you turn, your mind will still be your own. In between then and now I will research the samples and scrys I've taken to try to determine what happened and why. And as hard as it may seem, I encourage you to live your lives as normal as possible."

"Normal?" Harry asked. "You remember we're in Hog - ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!" he screamed in pain as the Riddle headache burned from his scar to his body. The students all took a step back as Harry fell to his knees in agony.

Ginny however kept her wits around her and quickly went straight for the flask in his bag. She quickly unscrewed the cap but looked to see Harry's teeth clenched in paid. She looked up to see Hannah already coming. The nurse took her wand and quickly gestured as she cast 'maducare bibe'. Moments later Harry relaxed on the floor. Ginny looked up to Hannah. "You need to teach me that spell." Hannah nodded.

After a few minutes later Harry started to return to clarity. "Ow, oh gods, that one sucked." He looked to see a beautiful pair of chocolate eyes surrounded by a curtain of freckles and red. He faked a cocky grin to make her smile even a little. "Good news everyone, we pissed off Riddle."

Aware that the family visit was inevitable, Ron pleaded, and barely convinced Professor Lupin and the others not to mention it was a werewolf bite. Remus simultaneously disagreed and understood. "Just until the full moon test. If something happens we'll shoot straight. But she worries enough, I don't want her worrying about it more when she doesn't need to."

Reums sighed deeply, before nodding. "Realistically… neither of you… any of you are children any longer. There are so many unknowns. I will give you your first moons… but not the second! You have family, you will need them, they deserve to know the truth. Right now we are still determining what the truth is.

An hour later Molly did flame over, Ron and Hermione getting the treatment Harry and Ginny had received after Liverpool. Luna was now sitting upright and on the edge of bed, with Harry and Ginny on either side of her offering friendly hugs and goofing pokes. Luna's smile was coming through, especially after watching Molly.

Molly did come and offer a hug to a young blonde witch that had grown up in her orchard. "Your father is fine. He helped Arthur and I defend at Ottery St. Catchpole. House Abbott did apparate in a team which aided greatly." she said pointedly to Harry, with his hug. Then hugging Ginny she informed. "Bill, Fleur, and the Twins coordinated with a squadron from House Bones. He tells me that London was a little rough but all of them are back at their places with just scrapes and bruises. All in all we fared far better than it could have been."

They shared what they knew of similar stories from Hogsmeade, Godric's Hollow, and Glasgow. Finally, Molly promised to give Mr. Lovegood a report of Luna, then gave everyone another round of hugs before she departed.

The papers the next day called it 'The Howling'. The lead story being Werewolves Attack: House Hold Line Against Howling. It was noticed that yes, the civilian houses had deployed defensive forces, but so far none of the articles suggested any connection. Rather it was spun as 'Noble Lordship and House Masters seeking to secure their lands and people largely rose to protect their people, or as was suggested their property and workforce. There was no exploration of why, nor observation that it was not a full moon. Tabloid level journalism, but the Marauders appreciated that it was on the whole positive.

Luna was unusually Luna. Ginny tried to wait for Luna herself to bring it up but finally during their Thursday group Muggle study she finally posed the question. "Luna, are you okay? Because Harry and I both will totally listen to you."

"Oh I'm fine,"she said as she leaned back, proudly kicked her shoe off and raised her leg up over the table.

Harry laughed at the display. "No Luna, she means, about the fact you may be a werewolf now."

"Oh, I'm not." she replied with confidence and certainty.

Ginny reached out for her hand. "I'm glad you believe that so strongly, but… if you are…"

"We're still your mates, we'll help you through." Harry finished, Ginny nodded in agreement.

"Well thank you, but I'm not. No color change or anything, see," she replied, holding her arms out for them to look at.

Ginny and Harry exchanged looks and moved on, clearly Luna was in another of her 'unique points of view' that they likely would never understand and ran more risk of hiring feeling in the process than what would be gained. They returned to their studying

Ron was quiet for a few days, and everyone was understanding. He kept to himself, even from Hermione. Intellectually they all understood. He was processing. Hermione gave him till Friday night, then she couldn't tolerate at least not checking in on him. She found him by the target range. Fall was making a surprise appearance after the snow and cold from earlier, not that either mattered to Ron. The Weasley lad curiously was putting in repetitions with his bow and arrow. His aim was horrible, but Hermione got the distinct impression that was the exact reason he was here. Every time he emptied his quiver he accio summed his arrows back.

"Hey stranger." she said as she walked over for a hug.

Happily Ron received and reciprocated. "Sorry, ya, I probably deserve that."

"Ronald," she said with gentleness. "You've been thinking and processing. I'm bright enough, I get that. But I do miss you." She tenderly took his hand. "I love you. I want to help. How can I help?"

Ron scratched his head with his free hand. "That's just the thing, ain't it? There's nothing to do. It's a lot of 'sit around and wait' till the moon. It reminds me of like waiting for Dad to get out of St. Mungos last year."

"It's the 25th, two weeks away. I looked it up," Hermione smiled sheepishly.

Ron rubbed her cheek and pulled her close to kiss her forehead and hug her closer. "I know, first in astronomy, remember?" Hermione laughed but really just enjoyed being back here in his arms again. Breaking away he did sigh and his shoulders fell loose. Ron's gaze returned to the target.

"May I ask where this archery interest is coming from?"

"Not everything can be done with a spell, Mione." Ron said, releasing another shot.

"Alright, what is it you feel you will need to shoot an arrow for that your ice knives or a good dozen or so spells I know you can do would be insufficient for?

Ron smiled, "Nagini." He fired again.

"You plan to kill Nagini with an arrow?"

"Yep." he said, firing again.

"That's going to have to be one incredible arrow."

Ron nodded. "I'm working on it."

Hermione smiled very brightly and between shots she leaned in and kissed him. "I love this cleverness on you. Even if I don't understand it." She looked around and noticed the house colors being added to the quidditch pitch. "Are you going to play tomorrow?"

Ron nodded. "Pomfrey and Lupin both signed off on it. And I bloody need it. Need to either play some quidditch or shoot something."

"Language." Hermione said with a smile, happy to be able to do so. Ron looked back at her with a cheeky grin.

"We should talk though," he said with hesitation as he finally put the bow down.

"Please, that's why I found you."

"Hermione… I love you… I do.. But if I am a wolf… I don't expect you to sti-"

"Ronald Weasley!" her voice cried. "I am going nowhere."

"You didn't sign up for a-"

"NOWHERE!" she repeated. "If you have some new 'furry little problem' as Lupin calls it we will manage it together. I am not leaving one of the kindest men I have ever known because of some… diagnosis of illness."

"It's a curse, Mione."

"I don't care!" She slipped her arms back around his torso. "It's going to take more than lycanthropy to change how I feel."

Ron took her into his arms again gratefully. "Okay… and thank you."

"You are very welcome," she said, kissing his lips. "Ginny's right. You blokes can be so stubborn sometimes."

Ron laughed, "Guilty as charged." He took a moment to collect his thoughts. "How's Luna?"

"Actually she is surprisingly herself. Harry and Ginny are her study team for Muggle Studies, you know. She is absolutely certain there is nothing wrong with her. I don't know if that is denial, or lack of understanding, or just…"

"Luna being Luna?" Ron offered. Hermione nodded in agreement. He took a courage breath. "Okay, we should seriously talk about what if I'm a werewolf?"

"Well Ron, I'm sure you won't be surprised, I have been thinking about this. And Harry, Ginny, and the Professor and I have been talking."

Ron shook his head and smiled. Of course Hermione would have researched this already. "What's our plan, Miracle?"

"Well, we're going to create a new room from the Room of Requirement. We're calling it the Turning Room. Still designing now, but given how quickly one can create there, we're confident we can make it comfortable for all of us."

"All of us?"

"There will be a guest and visiting area. Ron, none of us are going to let any of you do this alone." Ron kissed her forehead again. "Lupin has agreed to teach me his wolfsbane formula. If you turn, then we'll both carry some like Harry does for his headaches, just in case there is another out of moon transformation like we had this week. Then for the moons we'll be in the Turning Room."

Ron smiled and hugged her tightly. "Thank you."

"You are very welcome." she replied. "Besides, once a month, I'm no fun to be around either."

Ronald burst out laughing. "Merlin, Hermione, I can't believe you made that joke."

"Oh come on. It was going to come up sooner or later." Hermione smiled. "And you've cheered me up so often. I'm happy to return the favor."

Saturday, 9 November 1996

The early winter had retreated and even the snow had fallen away. Frosty grass crunched underfoot as they strode down to the stadium. Quidditch was finally a return to normalcy. No war, no Death Eaters, almost no one trying to kill them, though some of the bludgers aimed at the Gryffindor team would make one wonder. The Auror flight training showed in the pitch with them regularly rocketing at speeds and angles few had seen before. Ron had something to prove after the last week so brought focus to the field he never had before. He blocked goals with a vengeance. He had a hunter's grin, and when the crowd greeted a particularly good save with a rousing chorus of the old favorite "Weasley Is Our King," he enjoyed it, and allowed himself to raise a fist in victory but then focus for his next target. The combined tactics of Ginny and Katie with Demelza as backup made them lethal.

In the stands Remus and Tonks were sitting next to Hermione. The auror leaned over to her student. "This is less sport and more…" she paused looking for the right word.

"Slaughter?" she offered. Tonks nodded. "You work us hard ma'am, you have to expect we'll play hard." The two witches shared a smile till they had to cheer for Ginny scoring another goal.

The game was already being a shut out to Slytherin, but in the final moments seekers Harry and Harper finally gained eyes on the snitch and what seemed to be some form of barrel roll mid air fight in flight… Harry rose victorious with the gold in his hand. The crowd erupted as it was announced "Gryffindor wins! 275 - 0!"

The team all fell into a mass mid air hug. Ginny grabbed Harry by the collar and fiercely kissed him, who fully returned it. Ron raised and fist over to Hermione, who was wearing Ron's old jersey, and happily cheered.

The Gryffindor team left the pitch arm in arm, punching the air and waving to their supporters. The atmosphere in the changing room was jubilant. "Party up in the common room, Seamus said!" yelled Dean exuberantly.

"Ron, let Gin know I'll be up as soon as I lock the gear up. No need to make her wait where there's a party. She earned it. You too."

"Oh and catching the snitch is nothing, just 150 points, ya bastard! Sure, I'll let her know. But hurry up would ya, Ginny might wait but I can guarantee the butterbeer won't."

Harry did hurry, but he did the job right, mostly because I didn't want complaints that he'd encountered from being the next team in after other people didn't. So once everything was picked up and locked up, he merrily jogged up to the castle with a smile on his face. He got inside and kept jogging down the halls, maybe a little faster than he should, but he really didn't care.

As he turned a corner, his attention was taken by a familiar voice calling, "Hey Potter."

Harry turned to see Ginny in her school skirt uniform leaning on the wall, with a cheshire cat smile on, next to a broom closet cracked open. "Hey babe, you did awesome today. I am so damn proud," he said with a smile.

"You weren't so bad yourself." she replied.

"Common room party?" he asked, pointing with a thumb over his shoulder.

"Too crowded, I thought we deserved a more … private celebration," she smiled as she opened the door and slipped inside.

"Um, okay, mild surprise, but no complaints." Harry replied with a grin as he joined his girlfriend inside and closed the door. He turned back to her with an expression of utter pride and held both cheeks in his hands. "You, Crimson, were utterly brilliant out there. Fantastic." He pulled her close to kiss her forehead in appreciation and took a deep smell of her hair.

'That's different.' Harry thought. Gone was the apple blossom smell he had long appreciated. Now he was picking up something harshly lemony, which itself smelled artificial. It was so jarring he pulled back puzzled. "Babe, are you trying a new shampoo or something?"

"I thought I'd try something new, problem?" she asked with big brown sultry eyes.

Harry shook his head clear. "No, not really. Just the difference got me. You know, your hair is one of your most attractive features I pay attention to. If you want to change, I can adapt." he smiled.

"Good." Ginny said as her hands slipped under his jersey and started playfully scratching along his back, as she reached up to kiss him.

When their lips met Harry was jolted again. Kissing Gin always had passion, she always tasted sweet and felt warm and comforting. This time though… it felt oily, slick, bitter? He pulled back again.

"Everything okay babe?" she asked with a pouty lip.

"Just things seem off, to me at least."

"To me you seem fine. Maybe you knocked your head during that fight for the snitch?"

Harry shook his head again. "Probably, sorry."

"Harry, don't worry. I will make this simple for you. We both have had a hell of a week. I for one am just gagging for a shag again, and thought my boyfriend could help me out?" she smiled seductively.

The sentence, in fact the single word jarred Harry to his very core. He took a step back to see the eyes, the hair, the figure that he had been appreciating closely for months now. But it smelled, tasted, and acted… wrong. He lowered his hands and walked back and his hand reflexively brushed his wand. Then the pieces started to sort out in his mind. 'Wand… magic… polyjuice. The picture it formed made him want to retch. "Romilda?"

The figure before him smiled, "You really are going to be a hell of an auror. Can't fool you can I? Come on Harry, is it really cheating if I'm wearing her body? We can just forget your clever mind figured it out and have some fun."

Harry reached backwards to open the door and stumbled out backwards, clearly losing balance, and falling halfway across the floor.

"Harry?" a too familiar voice asked from down the hall to his right. He looked down the hall towards the Gryffindor tower to see Ginny, this one dressed in her quidditch uniform, jogging towards him. "You okay babe?" she asked in curiosity.

"Well… shite." Romilda-Ginny swore as she saw the second redhead approaching. "See you 'round." she said with a wink and ran the opposite direction.

Quidditch Ginny was confused, to say the least, so see herself running out of a broom closet Harry had fallen out of. Then she saw a panicked Harry back peddling till his head struck against the hard stone wall of the castle hallway. She slid and kneeled down beside her boyfriend. Her voice now showing concern and gentle hands came to his shoulders. "Harry, what happened?"

Head spinning, Harry held up a trembling hand. "Gin, I - I just had a hell of an experience. Humor me. Our first field mission we had a hell of a conversation late into the night. About what?"

Her eyes welled with tears. "Oh Harry, please, no. Don't make me bring that up. I'd rather talk about what Riddle did to me in the chamber than hurt you. Please no." Instinctively she fell into a hug with Harry. As she did, Harry was greeted with the familiar scent of apple blossom. The scent was right and the reaction right. He turned to press his lips to hers… that was Gin.

When they broke apart he kept looking into her comforting hot chocolate eyes. "Sorry. Vane… polyjuiced herself … into you."

"She what?!" Ginny growled. "I'm going to bloody kill her." She looked around but Romilda had already disappeared out of sight, lucky for her.

Harry pulled himself up, looking sick to his stomach and wracked with guilt. "Gin, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I thought she was you. I-I kissed her. I-I…"

Ginny quickly reached for Harry's head to look him in the eyes. "Harry, she was wearing my body! You were tricked. I'm not mad at you in the slightest. I'm going to bloody hex her!" She hugged him tightly. "First though, this has gone far enough. Harry, we really ought to report this to a teacher."

"Thank you, Gin. Ya, you're right. We're all Gryffindor, McGonagall is the obvious choice. I'll take care of it."

"Hey, I'm sticking with you. Make sure your eternally forgiving soul doesn't let her off too easy."

Harry was silent on the walk to the Professor's office. He dreaded it but knew it was needed. He knocked on the door and announced. "It's Harry."

The door opened, magically, as the Professor was still sitting behind her desk. "Harry, Ginny…" then after just looking at their faces, her tone dropped an octave. "What's wrong?"

The teens sat in the seats across from their teacher as she gestured to them. Ginny held his hand in support. "I really hate being this person, ma'am." Harry paused to take a courage breath. "I regret to inform you I need to file a complaint against a student… for attempted sexual assault."

"What?!" the elder witch stuttered. "By whom and against whom?" the tone of her voice showed she was taking this gravely seriously.

Harry took another breath, "By Romilda Vane against me."

"Oh… oh Harry." McGonagall replied. She took a breath as well. "Considering the nature of the conversation, I feel we should have Sergeant Tonks on this conversion. While I admit I handle academic consequences, this also should be legal as well."

Harry rubbed his temple on his right forehead as the Professor cast her patronus. "Sergeant, I need you in my office as soon as possible please." The spectral cat leapt down from the table and quickly bound for and through the door. Then she returned her attention to the young man. "While we wait, are you alright, Harry? Or at least will you be?"

Harry sighed. "Yes, stress 'attempted'. In truth I am more annoyed than anything. In reality, it was a kiss but what rattled me is she polyjuiced herself to look like Gin."

"That much I can confirm. I saw myself running out of a broom closet." Ginny added.

With Harry's relative safety clarified McGonagall was free to let her anger rise, and it did. "Of all the desperate, low, vile, and downright stupid…. " she stopped herself before speaking too ill of a student in front of other students. Her lips pursed tightly together.

"Don't mind me, Professor," Ginny said. "I agree with you."

The Professor took a breath. "I'll ask the obvious question. How bad did you hex her after."

"I didn't ma'am."

McGonagall looked at Ginny.

"Me neither, Harry was in such shock after realizing what was going on, we were both only concerned with him."

"Lucky witch." McGonagall said, not quite as under her breath as she hoped.

Both teens finally chuckled from the stress.

Finally Sgt Tonks arrived and Minerva brought her up to speed. "Lucky witch," was Tonks reply also.

Harry shook his head in disbelief. "Such a bad joke."

"I'm not kidding, Harry." Tonks said in a tone of voice matching the sentiment. "Do you not realize that you and Ginny here are two of the most dangerous mages in this school, likely wizarding Britain?"

"Not that bluntly." Harry replied. Ginny grinned.

"I've made you that. The restraint you show so often is commendable. Think about it." Tonks took out her cop book and pen, well as an owls' recorder from her breast pocket. "Returning to the matter at hand. Minerva, may I use some of your parchment?" The elder witch gave the auror a stack. "Harry, what I need from you is to give me your account of the incident, which will be written down. Likely, I will ask for a memory pensive for the event."

"Not that I really want it, but technically don't I need a guardian here?"

"D.M.L.E. has already been receiving reports about you and from you. I think that plus Professor McGonagall's presence will be fine. If you would like the Weas-"

"Gods, no." Harry replied with a shared look to Ginny.

"Understood," the auror said with a smile and nod. Tonks set the feather. "Recorder begin: This is Sergeant Tonks taking a statement from Harry James Potter on Saturday, 9 November 1996, regarding the incident of the same day. Interview witnesses Professor Minerva McGonagall and Cadet Ginevra Weasley present. Mr. Potter, in your own words please tell us what happened."

Harry crossed his legs and laced his fingers together, preparing for yet another interview. He went over the events from leaving the pitch, to the real Ginny meeting him in the hallway. It was uncomfortable, but he'd gone overworse, especially with Gin, so he continued without much difficulty. He hated that he was experienced in making confessional statements by now. Tonks listened and wrote down relevant details. "Mr. Potter, forgive me, truly, I need to probe a little deeper. May I ask a few questions?"

"Go ahead."

"You said even though the suspect was physically altered, you believe by polyjuice, to Miss Weasley's physical appearance, you could tell it was not Miss Weasley. How?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "She didn't smell right, taste right, and didn't know what she was talking about."

"Can you be more specific, please?"

"When I kissed her forehead I got a good smell of her hair. I greatly appreciate the scent of Ginny's hair, it's like apple blossoms from the orchard back home. Vane wasn't even close, lemony, artificial." He groaned in discomfort. "When she kissed me, she didn't taste right. Again, kissing Gin is sweet, warm, and comforting. Vane was oily, slick, and bitter. Finally, when I started questioning her phrase was 'just gagging for a shag again'. It was the 'again' that was the final nail that something was up. Because that's one activity that neither Gin or I have gotten up to."

Ginny shook her head at the insanity of the situation, but again split in two. First in appreciation and pride in Harry, and still wanting to hex Vane into the middle of next week. But as this did seem to be working the system towards progress, she sat and let the professionals do their jobs.

"That explains why you feel the suspect was not Miss Weasley. By your statement, the suspect left the scene still in the form of Miss Weasley. On what basis do you feel that was Romilda Vane?"

"When I put the pieces together, I actually called her Romilda. Her response was that she 'couldn't fool me.'

"What made you choose Romilda out of everyone else in the school?"

Harry shrugged. "She was the only one to make an aggressive pass at me before."

Both the elder witches eyebrows raised. Tonks raised a hand as she knew McGonagall's reaction was to question, but the Auror wanted to work the process in standard procedure. "When was this earlier aggressive pass?"

Harry growled in frustration. "It was the first Thursday of October. I remember because it was the same day I gave the first letter to the Weasleys to Mrs. McGonagall for review."

Tonks rose and flipped a page back on the calendar on the wall nearby. "Let the record show the first First Thursday of October was 3 October 1996."

Tonks changed to a clean sheet of paper. "Let this begin as the statement from Harry James Potter on Saturday, 9 November 1996, regarding the incident of Thursday 3 October 1996. Interview witnesses Professor Minerva McGonagall and Cadet Ginevra Weasley present. Mr. Potter, in your own words please tell us what happened."

Harry fell back into his chair. A Death Eater patrol was seeming more enjoyable to this. He tried to take solace that this was a good experience in being an auror at least. He already knew it wasn't always going to be spellfire fights. There was going to be a lot of this. Harry just always imagined himself on Tonks's side of the questions. But he detailed the locker room incident. He felt bad when he mentioned the hex he threw at the end. But that only lasted for a moment when all three of the ladies in the room smiled.

"Recorder, stop." Tonks finally said.

"How much trouble am I in for the Flipendo?" Harry asked.

Tonks shook her head and smiled. "Harry, compared to what I have trained you to do, you were extremely benevolent."

Professor McGonagall nodded. "You'll face no academic consequences for anything I've heard here, Harry. If anything you have impressed me on many levels."

"What kind of charges and consequences are we looking at for Romilda?" Ginny asked.

Tonks read over her list. "Assuming Harry is willing to press charges." He nodded. "I see two charges sexual harassment, one charge attempted sexual assault, one charge sexual assault. Assuming Miss Weasley is willing to press charges, I can see one charge of false impersonation, and possibly slander and/or defamation of character."

Ginny was surprised she had any ability to press charges. "Um wow, yes. How?"

Tonks smiled briefly. "False Impersonation is fairly self evident. The slander, well, I won't deny the fact you, Crimson Witch, are a public figure and, respectfully, a model, where your image is literally a professional asset. An individual used that without your authorization."

Both the teens looked at each other. This was a lot bigger than either of them had thought. "Consequences?" Harry asked.

The Professor and the Auror exchanged knowing looks. "Age?" the auror asked.

"Sixteen, she's about two weeks younger than Harry".

"Anything prior?" Tonks asked.

"No, unfortunately."

"Unfortunately what?" Ginny asked with her anger rising again.

"Miss Vane's record is fairly clean. She's barely had any detentions previously. I will definitely be adding many and I will see what else I can add myself…"

"But?" Ginny asked.

"But for the out of school suspension or expulsion that I would see appropriate, we would need Professor Dumbledor's authorization, who's attendance this term has been spotty at best. My reflex reaction would be to move her out of the Gryffindor Tower, but the only way to do that would be to put her in private quarters and I feel she would see that as more rewarding than punishing."

"Legal actions?" Ginny asked.

This time Tonks was the one to grouse. "We'll press charges, but I can guarantee the defense's position will be that she's a minor, and this is a first offense. Probability is she will get probation, likely to expire when she reaches seventeen."

Ginny was livid, her skin felt hot. "Let me get this straight. She steals my body, tries to assault my boyfriend and the odds are at worst she's looking at probation and detention?"

The elder witches exchanged looks. "Minerva, I would appreciate your witnessing my pensive capturing of Harry's memories of the incidents."

"Certainly. That should take you another, what fifteen minutes?"

"Harry is a friend I would like to be gentle, likely closer to thirty." Tonks looked up to Ginny. "This is going to be boring psychic work literally in Harry's head. No need to keep you. If anyone asks, we'll be occupied for the next half hour."

"Yes ma'am." Ginny said, standing and marching to the door.

"Miss Weasley," Minerva called with a steel look in her eyes. "Congratulations on your victory today. Don't party too hard."

Ginny nodded as she left and it took every ounce of self control to not slam the office door. Once in the hall though, she marched in rage, headed straight for Gryffindor Tower. Just outside the Fat Lady Hermione found her. "Hey there you are. Where's Harry?"

"Where's Vane?" Ginny growled.

"What happened?" Hermione asked, registering the seriousness.

"The bitch polyjuiced into me, and tried to seduce Harry. Tonks and McGonagall say she might get some probation and detention."

"What?!"

"So I ask again, where - is - Vane?"

"Inside," Hermione said, opening the door and falling in behind the fire mage.

Ginny stepped into the party that was absolutely in full swing. Using her targeting skills she scanned the room, until she found the unmistakable curly black hair and dark eyes trying to duck around a pillar.

"Vane!" the Crimson Witch shouted out at the top of her lungs. As the target of her rage finally in sight, Crimson's eye grew alight with fire and her aurora emanated flames. The party fell silent as the two ladies became the center of attention. "You sure as hell weren't afraid to get close to Harry. Don't you dare try to hide from me!"

Crossing her arms, feigning annoyance. Romilda walked around the pillar into plain sight. The distance between the two witches emptied.

"You want my face? You want my place?! You want a shot at Harry? You do it the right way. You come through me! Go for your wand!"

Murmurs echoed through the crowd.

"What?" the brunette asked in total confusion.

Hermione stepped out from behind the burning redhead with her arms crossed. "I think she is calling you out, Romilda. And frankly, I don't blame her."

"Looks like we got ourselves a proper witch dual." Ron cheered on.

"What?!" Romilda repeated in shock. "She's a fucking auror!"

Katie stepped to the front of the sideline. "Maybe you should have thought of that before making a move on her man."

"Seven!" Crimson started the count, as she held her wand arm down to her side.

"Six." Hermione took the next.

"Five." Ron added.

"Four." from Katie.

"Three." from Lavender.

"Two." from Seamus.

"One." Neville said, with a grin on his face.

With reflexes faster than any of them had seen before, Crimson's hand flew up and her wand extended. 'Petrificus Totalus' she threw to the brunette before she could even take aim.

Romilda's arms snapped to her sides. Her legs sprang together. Her whole body was rigid, her jaws were jammed together so she couldn't speak. Only her eyes were moving, looking at the blazing Crimson Witch approaching in horror. Stiff as board and off balance she began to sway and even started to fall forward, but as she did Crimson caught Romilda by her face and pushed her hard back upright into the pillar behind her, hitting with loud crack and thud. Crimson took her wand to the underside Romilda's chin and glared at her.

"Two things you need to understand. One, you are alive because of the spell I chose. Two, lots of people like to talk about how similar Harry and I are. That's true. But there is an important difference you need to learn. Harry's type that will sacrifice himself to save someone. Me? I'm the type that will make the world burn to protect him. Stay away!"

Quickly Crimson turned around to the crowd. "She'll be fine in an hour. Party on." Ginny dismissed her Crimson flames.

Seamus and Neville exchanged a look then started the chant. "Weasley Is Our Queen! Weasley Is Our Queen! Weasley Is Our Queen!" To which the Common Room erupted in agreement.