Chapter 42

No Vacancy

Wednesday, 19 February 1997

'Where are all of you?' Hermione linked in after spending several minutes looking for friends.

'Sorry, babe, We're in the empty classroom by the Training Hall.' Ron replied. "You would be totally welcome. Please come on by."

"Who is 'we'?" Hermione asked in curiosity as she started walking that way.

"Just Harry and Ginny. We're messing with some quidditch gear."

Hermione rolled her eyes as to brace herself for the sports conversations going into details she had never been able to understand the appreciation for. But she reminded herself, Ron and Harry had been a lot better about their quidditch obsession this year. Ginny had served to be a much better participant on that subject, thus letting the lads be more articulate on other subjects when she was around. Still though, Hermione knew she had held them all through more study sessions than they wanted, so some quidditch talk wouldn't kill her.

Though when she stepped inside Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. She was expecting something like the game of Harry and Ginny passing the quaffle back and forth with Ron in the middle; Silly, but at least, understandable. She was not ready for what she expected.

"I'm just saying, I don't want to blow the budget on jewels for equipment." Ron actually laughed. He looked very excited as he sat behind a wooden table with what looked like half a dozen golden snitches popped open with various different crystal or jewel interiors. Clearly he was mid-discussion with Harry, who himself was surrounded with several parchments of various incantations, and books, clearly in the middle of revising a spell, saying "And I'm telling you, Ron. Between them and me the budget is 'yes'. We all want this stuff."

Ginny was smiling as she stood in a cleared corner classroom. She had her wand out making very very fine movements standing by a crystal ball projecting and illusion of herself standing in front of a hovering snitch. "I was there when Harry told her. You should have seen Tonks's eyes, they lit up like yours at Christmas Dinner."

"Mione!" Ron welcomed when he saw her. He quickly rose and bid her in with a hug and peck on the cheek. "Don't just stand there, come on in. He ushered in with an arm around her waist.

"Hey Miracle," Harry smiled, "Good to see you." Ginny smiled brightly and waved, "Hi!"

Thoroughly confused, Hermione's gaze bounced between Harry and Ron. "Clearly you three are up to something… and obviously …" Hermione said with a finger pointing to Harry's written incantations. "... charm work involved. What is going on and why wasn't I invited?"

Ginny scowled at Ronald instantly, but her brother cut her off. "Don't give me that look, I did!" Ron turned back to Hermione. "I told you about this Monday!" Ron defended grinning from ear to ear. "You said you weren't interested. I didn't want to interrupt your study plans so I left you be."

"What, when did you discuss this?"

Ron parroted back, "Hermione, Harry had an idea to charm up some quidditch gear, wanna help?"

Hermione closed her eyes and shook her head at the nonsense. She reached up and cupped Ron's face with both hands. "ARGH! Ronald!"

Harry and Ginny exchanged looks of curiosity mixed with concerns.

But Hermione soon sighed and calmed down to a normal discussion. "You need to learn to be more specific. I thought you meant to fly faster or score more." She looked around and waved at the work area. "Clearly you have something more going on. Harry?"

Harry was slow to reply, watching the both of them. "Alright, first I want to confirm I'm not standing at ground zero of a Ron / Hermione fight. You guy's argument's were horrid enough as mates, I don't want to be collateral for you two as a couples fight."

Both Ron and Hermione laughed first which seemed to give Harry and Ginny permission to join in. "I will be a big enough person to admit that is a fair observation, but we are fine, Thank you, though." Standing behind Hermione, Ron raised a pair of thumbs up which reduced Ginny to laughter.

Satisfied all was well with his friends Harry nodded and put his quill down and gestured for Hermione for follow over to follow. "Idea came to me a few weeks back. You know how we had to carry the crystal balls for a week to scry map this place?"

"Of course," Hermione said with a nod.

"Well it occurred to me," Harry continued with picking up a snitch. "What if instead of in our pockets, we had snitches carry the scry balls?"

The potential made Hermione's head spin. "Snitches fly so fast, you could get the job done in an hour."

"Exactly!" Harry said tossing and catching the ball in victory. "They're fast, they naturally are hard to see, but we could even add a little Notice-me-not to help, but this becomes a tool then we can scry enemy locations and get decent intel prior to us attacking them. Get on the offensive. Then Ginny had a thought." Harry pointed to the chaser.

"Well I loved the idea of the scry snitches, and I love making scry maps. But…I'm nosey." she admitted with a wide smile. "What if instead of just giving us the floor plan, they could actually project images of what they scryed?" Ginny finished by posing for the snitch she was working for, which was then duplicated in the illusionary projection.

Hermione smiled, "That would be the ability to plant a bug, like a spy camera, wherever we needed one. But even better, because-

"You're flying it in!" they all said together.

"You all are impressing me. When did you get so clever?" Hermione smiled in admiration.

Harry and Ron shared a look, then together answered. "We learned it from you."

They all laughed, but Ginny interrupted. "I, however, am a proud student of Fred and George Weasley."

"I wouldn't have you any other way babe." Harry confirmed with a peck. "We got one other item over here, "Mione." He led the way to pick up yet another snitch and a round silver backed compass. He gave her the compass and held the snitch next to it.

"Harry, is this-"

"Yep," Harry nodded with a grin. "Upgrading it. Repeat after me: Point me: tracker."

Hermione cocked her head to the side and pressed the inside of her cheek with her tongue as she could tell her own spells were being used here. But she also remembered that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so smiled and followed instructions. " Point me: tracker." A silver glow came over the needle of the compass shifting from north to the right pointing to the snitch.

"Watch the compass," Harry said as carried the snitch with him across the classroom Hermione watched as a small illusionary script of silver numbers, counting upwards as Harring walked away.

"You made a magical tracking device!"

You're damn right I did!" he grinned." We think we're in the neighborhood of the charm work. We are shorter in distance than what I'd like for some of these-"

"Well that likely is because you're trying to charm standard crystal balls." Hermione reflexively. "If you want a greater range you'll need-" She stopped mid though, and looked over to Ron. "That's why you were discussing jewels."

"Yep," a satisfied looking Ron said, putting his hands in his pockets and leaning against the table.

Then she turned back to Harry who had slipped and arm around Ginny in victory. "You want to use the stronger crystal configuration to allow a denser charm charge and longer spell distance!"

Harry nodded. "You've been our tutor for years, 'Mione. Ron and I were never going to beat you in class. But what we care about, the War…"

"Oi," Ginny elbowed mischievously, "I got plans waiting on that too you know."

"Absolutely, the war… we are damned determined to outsmart the others. Give a mate a hand?"

Hermione smiled. "My pleasure."

They four of them worked the scry snitches, Hermionie actually complimenting the foundation spell work they had laid. It was becoming clear for the distances that they wanted to cover to be useful that Harry would need to order some spell jewels so they made a list to try to make an efficient single order.

Then Neville linked in. 'Harry, do you have a minute? I got something important.'

Harry told him where they were and minutes later Nevile marched in parchments in hand. "I got him!" he cheered as he raised the papers in the air.

"Who?" Ron asked first. " Draco?"

"Yes!" Neville hissed in satisfaction. "May I?" he asked as he pointed to a clear area of table.

"Please!" Harry replied exuberantly. "'Mione, can you lock us down please?"

"With pleasure." her smile showed she was just as excited as the rest were.

"What did you find Nev?" Ginny asked as she came to the other side of the table. She drumbed the tabletop with anticipation.

He unrolled his scry map and with his hand written notes on a separate sheet inside. "Alright, I just want to say this cost me a few nights of decent sleep." He paused to look up, "And by the way, bloody hell Ron, you snore worse than a troll!"

Both Ginny and Harry laughed. "Mione, let him have that one."

"Oi," Ron defended. "You ain't no Sleeping Beauty either."

"Boys." Hermione interrupted putting a hand on both of their shoulders. "Do I need to remind you about silencing your curtains?

Ron and Nevilled looked at each other and paused for a moment.

"Yes." Ginny replied coldly, to which the lads slowly turned to look at her. Ginny just smirked and raised an eyebrow. "What? Nobody's a First Year here."

Neville and Hermione did their best to stifle a laugh as Ron covered his eyes with his hands and rubbed up to his temples. Harry shook his head with a grin on his face as he just rubbed Ginny's back. "Anyway, Neville, what did you find out?"

Unable to control the sass, Neville burst out. "I think I just discovered I have an extra roommate!

"Oh barely counts, you know Harry has his own trunk room." Ginny said an eye roll.

Ron just shook his head in disbelief. "A fact I've never been more happy about until now." Which finally got Ginny laughing as well.

Harry stood trying to stop the giggle fit and looked over to Hermione. "Hi 'Mione, How's your day?"

"Fine Harry, thank you." she spit through laughs as she wrapped around Ron's arm laughing.

Finally they got the giggles out and they caught their breath. Harry tried again, "Seriously Neville, what did you find out about Draco?"

"Sorry everyone, I took some night watches. Making the new scry map was a brilliant move as it looks like from Midnight to 0200 Malfoy frequents the Room of Requirement!"

"The Room!" Harry exclaimed, hitting the hard wooden table.

"Two AM!" Ron questioned.

"Ronald," Hermione playfully slapped his arm. "He's working the dead of night to avoid detection."

"Nice work, Neville," Harry said with a nod of respect, "I admit I hadn't thought about the overnight watch. Does he take anyone with him? Doyle, Crable." Harry hesitated a moment but did ask, 'Astoria?"

Neville shook his head adamantly. "Always alone."

"What would Malfoy use the Room for alone?"

"Training?" Ginny suggested. "Harry started the DA there, we all learned spells there."

Ron nodded in agreement with his sister. "And Draco's got at least that new spell he tried on Seamus."

Harry was stewing in his frustration and thoughts, his thumb tapping the table with excess energy. "You know what, to hell with it." With a wave of his wand he opened the door and marched outside, surprising everyone.

Then they followed after him.

"Lightning, you know I am usually queen of the going off half cocked club," Ginny said once she caught up and fell alongside him. "But that's usually because I have you as a backup, and you have a plan."

"And… babe?" Harry asked as he continued to march down the hall as the others finally caught up.

"She wants to know if you have a plan mate?" Ron asked.

Neville added, "That kind of is your thing."

Ginny smiled, "I mean if you just want to beat and hex the information out of him."

"What?" Harry asked, "I'm not heading for Malfoy. I'm heading to the Room."

"What?" Hermione asked jogging behind him. "Harry, before you get all excited, I still don't think you'll be able to get into the Room of Requirement without knowing what's there first."

"Then we work the problem. Find a way around that," said Harry dismissively.

They rounded a final corner to a now familiar hall. The others fell back out of the way and leaned against the fall wall. Concentrating with all his might Harry thought, 'I need to see what Malfoy's doing in here. . . . I need to see what Malfoy's doing in here. . . . I need to see what Malfoy's doing in here. . . .'

Three times he walked past the door; then, his heart pounding with excitement, he opened his eyes and faced it —But he was still looking at a stretch of mundanely blank wall.

He moved forward and gave it an experimental push. The stone remained solid and unyielding.

"Okay," said Harry aloud. "Okay . . . I thought the wrong thing. . . ." He pondered for a moment then set off again, eyes closed, concentrating as hard as he could.

'I need to see the place where Malfoy keeps coming secretly. . . . I need to see the place where Malfoy keeps coming secretly. . . .'

After three walks past, he opened his eyes expectantly…. there was no door.

"Oh, come off it," he told the wall irritably. "That was a clear instruction. . . . Fine . . ."

Ron tried to interrupt, "Harry, points for effort. I get trying this but…"

"I'm not quitting yet." Harry thought hard for several minutes before striding off once more.

'I need you to become the place you become for Draco Malfoy. . . .'

He did not immediately open his eyes when he had finished his patrolling; he was listening hard, as though he might hear the door pop into existence. He heard nothing, however, except the distant twittering of birds outside. He opened his eyes.

There was still no door.

"Damn you. C'mon, you showed up last year when we needed you, when we required you. Now, another student is using you. I don't know what for, but I guarantee it is not good, and likely to hurt people. PLEASE… help me."

Harry paced and thought again… still no door.

Harry swore and punched the wall in frustration.

"Harry?!" Ginny cried in surprise.

He yelped from the contact, sting making him regret it, but also knocking sense back into him. He shook out the pain as he reassured her and them all. "I'm fine, just frustrated." He walked to the far wall joining his friends and slid down it sitting on the floor against the wall. Ginny joined him and took his hand, kissing his bloody knuckles.

"I 'spose I should heal that." Harry acknowledged.

Ginny raised an eyebrow, "Harry, when has blood bothered me?"

Hermione knelt nearby and spoke slowly. "Malfoy already knew exactly how we were using the room, because that stupid Marietta had blabbed. He needed the room to become the headquarters of the D.A., so it did. But you don't know what the Room becomes when Malfoy goes in there, so you don't know what to ask it to transform into."

"It's like apparition rules." Neville reminded. "We have to know where to go, to get there." Hermione nodded in agreement.

"Yet." Ginny added with a growl of frustration. Harry nodded in agreement

"What?" Hermione asked.

"We don't know what the Room becomes for Malfoy, yet." Ginny repeated.

Harry made it clear he was going to stare into the oblivion of the wall. The other three let Harry brainstorm and bid them bye. Ginny on the other hand took her Charms book out and started studying.

Harry smiled as looked over to her. "Gin-"

"I can be supportive too, Harry." she said as she looked over with a grin. "If you want to talk, I'm right here. If you want to sit in silence and just glare at the thing, Merlin knows I've done that before."

"You've been pissed off at an inanimate object before?" he asked with a grin.

"Of course, who hasn't?" Ginny replied, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Do you have any idea how many corners at the Burrow I've swore at after running into them. Six brothers, Mum and Dad, now you. It can be tight sometimes."

Harry chuckled. "I 'spose I could just move out."

Ginny snickered, as she wrapped around Harry's arm and rested her head on his shoulder. "Yeah right… you love the Burrow."

"True." Harry turned and kissed her hair, and took in a breath full of that apple blossom scent. "I love you too, Gin. Thanks."

Knowing what he meant and what was going on. "You just needed a reset. I'm happy to help."

They let it rest for a moment then Ginny took a precautionary look both ways over her shoulders. "Any progress on the other horcurxes?

Harry sighed. "No progress on the lightning. But Hermione and I did find the records for First year, as in FIRST first year, 988 AD."

"Really? What do you know?" she asked, turning to listen intently.

"First class was seventy students total. Helena was a student. Rowena was a teacher. But we just found those records recently. We're now trying to go through them for any confirmation of the tiara."

Ginny nodded understanding. "So you're working the case."

"A page at a time but… yeah." They both took a moment before the obvious finally came to air.

"You know I'm going to be dumb and be here under the cloak at midnight, right?"

"You won't be alone." Ginny confirmed.

"I can handle this, Gin." he said, kissing the back of her hand. "No need for us both to lose sleep."

Ginny shook her head, "Can't. Partners." She looked over at him and smiled.

Harry sighed, "I'll meet you in the commons at 11:45."

As they left Harry and Ginny to stare at the Room in peace and solitude Ron and Hermione made their way back to Gryffindor tower. From her breathing and muscle tension alone Ron could tell something was on his girlfriend's mind … still. He gently pulled her aside to an alcove window sill often used for a bench. They both had a seat as he looked up, smiled warmly, and just asked, "Feel like talking yet?"

Feigning ignorance Hermione tried to deflect with, "About what?"

"About what?" Ron repeated as he shook his head in amusement. "About whatever has been on your mind since about Monday." Playfully he raised a finger and gently tapped her forehead. "Merlin knows you're bright so I try to give you a couple days to suss through when something pops. But this is Day 3… so what's going on babe?"

Hermione smiled and blushed. "Are you always going to be looking out for me?"

"Yeah, pretty much, yeah, that is the job." Ron nodded and gently rubbed her cheek. "But that still isn't an answer."

Hermione sighed. "So we've all completed occlumency." Ron nodded in agreement. "Back at Christmas, Sergeant Tonks gave me the material for legilimency. I've been academically studying that."

Ron shrugged. "Okay, you, learning something, makes sense."

Hermione's discomfort grew more apparent. Ron reacted naturally, taking her hand, allowing his girl to continue. "Sergeant wants me to start the practical practice now. The way she's described it to me. She will legilimens into my mind and then act as instructor to help me legilimens . . ." she paused, seeming to find the courage, likely the point. "...into someone else."

Ron nodded following along. "Right, that makes sense. I mean, with what we went through with mind shielding compared to what Harry had with Snape, that sounds right along the line of Tonk's kinder and gentler approach."

Hermione shook her head. "I'm not worried about her teaching. Tonks has actually impressed me with how well she teaches her subjects. It's 'the someone else' part, I'd need … a volunteer." She swallowed hard, finally getting the words out.

"Right, sure." Ron nodded again. He was listening.

"No, Ronald, this isn't lab partners sharing a cauldron. I'm trying to ask you to let me step into your mind."

"You want to walk around in my head?"he asked to confirm clarity. Hermione nodded affirmative with an apologetic look. Ron shrugged and simply said, "Merlin knows there's enough empty space."

"Ronald!" she scolded with a love tap to his shoulder. "You are quite clever in your own right. This last term has proven that."

"Oh, you know I had to make that joke!" he smiled as kissed her forehead.

"True," she begrudgingly accepted.

"Alright, you want to walk around my mind. Mione, you're on my mind all the time. Odds are I won't notice."

Hermione smiled and rubbed his cheek. "That's very sweet, but I'm rather certain you will notice this." Hermione took her own courage breath. "The material and Sergeant Tonks all warn this can be rather… intimate."

"OH!" Ron exclaimed, finally reaching understanding. He reached out to hug Hermione and felt her relax. Out of respect and privacy, he threw up a silence field around their alcove, a true rarity for Ron. "Look I know we haven't … ya' know. But we're not that far away. I mean both of us are pretty familiar with each other."

Hermione kept in the embrace, comforted as always. "I know. That's why you're the only person I'm even considering asking this."

"Well…" Ron said with a cheeky grin, "That's high praise." That finally elicited the desired laugh out of his girlfriend. Pulling a way to look her in the eyes, he smiled. "Seriously, can you handle the fact I keep memories of you pretty much at the top of the list?"

Hermione smiled. "Now, that's high praise too."

Ron smirked and looked down to the floor too. "I'll be honest enough to admit there are likely a few fantasies of you too. Can you handle that?"

Hermione nodded. " And I promise I'm not going to be looking for them but I'm new and this is totally different from other spells. I'm going to stumble, misstep, open a wrong door-"

"Babe, I get it. You need a safe space to figure out how to do this." He squeezed tightly.

"And I always feel safer around you." She whispered as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Okay 'Mione, I never thought I'd spit out this line, but you're welcome inside me."

They both roared with laughter.

At eleven-thirty at night the common room was quiet, empty, and seemingly devoid of life. Harry made his way down stairs and only waited a moment before he heard footfalls coming down the stairs of the girls dorm. Soon Ginny appeared with a smile and nod.

"Good to go?" he whispered.

"Yep," she replied with a hug. "Let's go try our first stakeout."

Harry nodded and headed for the door.

Only to be called out, "Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley…"

The pair froze and turned around. There in the middle of her common room, seemingly out of nowhere, was Professor McGonagall, her hands clasped in front of her and an eyebrow raised in annoyance as she watched them. "I am aware I do not always carry a watch, but I can read the clock on the mantel and it is long past bedtime."

Ginny shot Harry a glance telling him to take the lead. He did. "Yes ma'am. And I've love to be in bed right now-"

McGonagall cocked her head to the side. Ginny stifled a giggle.

Harry shook his head and hug it low for a moment. "Not what I meant, let me try again-"

"Mr. Potter, the hour is late. May I suggest; brevity?"

Harry subconsciously fell into parade rest as he began reporting to McGonagall. "I assume you are aware that D.M.L.E. denied Draco's warrants?"

"Yes," McGonagall replied in a tone so dry it seemed to sap all moisture out of the air itself. Her expression fell to full ire, and Harry you tell he was no longer in crosshairs.

"We're still working the case, ma'am. We have reliable information Draco is using the Room of Requirement for … whatever his plans are. And that he does so regularly from midnight to 2:00. We'd very much like to either find out what he's doing, or hopefully stop it. Because while I can't tell you what he is up to, I guarantee it is not good."

McGonagall stood and examined, not a boy, but truly a young man, standing before her. There wasn't a hint of deception that most students would have attempted, including himself a few years ago.

She was about to pass judgement when Ginny spoke. "Ma'am, if you need to enforce the rules, play things safe. It's fine. We respect that, I can go back to bed." Ginny volunteered as she took a few steps away back to her dorm. "But please, let Harry do this. You know he only does this type of thing to protect people."

McGonagall looked at both of the young people before her, and quickly thought back over the events of the last year. Quickly, and frankly easily, she made her decision.

"I'm sorry Cadet Weasley, I can't let you do that."

"Yes ma'am." Ginny nodded as she walked to stand by her house head.

"Cadet Potter, unless I am mistaken, auror protocol discourages solo missions, correct?"

Harry and Ginny shot each other with mutual looks of surprise. "Yes ma'am, safety concerns."

"Well then," McGonagall said as he reached inside her robes. She pulled out two Hall Passes and charged them with her wand. "Cadet Weasley, take these and be on your way, it seems the game is afoot."

"Yes Ma'am," Ginny replied quickly, pocketing the passes and returning to Harry's side.

"And Potter, next time, warn me before lights out. I'll adjust the detection charms."

"Yes ma'am," Harry nodded with respect and a cocky grin. "Thank you, ma'am."

The pair dashed out the portrait hole, and reflexively put their links on. Harry reached for his cloak, only for Ginny to remind him with a wicked grin. "When we get closer to the Room yes, but we have Hall Passes tonight.

"Merlin, you're right." Harry said as they started jogging. "McGonagall Hall Passes, she never gives those out. The only one that overrules her isn't bloody here."

Ginny giggled. "Is this what it's like when like, the authorities are behind you?"

Harry shrugged. "How should I know?" It just started this year. Imagine when we actually get badges."

Ginny cackled, "Ginny Weasley, with a badge."

"Merlin's beard, the world is not ready." Harry sassed as he shook his head. Ginny howled.

They maintained their senses before they got near the Room. Then Ginny cast a silence spell as Harry threw the invisibility cloak over them. Arm around each other's waists they walked the final steps and came back to the same wall they stared at hours ago. Harry leaned up against the wall and wrapped his arms up around Ginny as she leaned up against him. They used the links to plan."

"How do you want to do this, Harry? Jump him when he gets here?"

Harry was happy for Ginny's silence spell when he couldn't resist a snicker. "Nah. I already beat the crap out of him once. Nothing more to prove there. If he wouldn't cop to the Dark Mark under Tonks, I doubt he'd ever confess to this. And as soon as we try to catch him, Snape will be on our arses."

"Okay, same question, what do we want to do?"

"Follow, try to catch the door on the close and slip inside. Or at least get a look inside. If we know what room he creates, that will likely tell us a lot of what the hell he's doing."

"Crash his party, gotcha." Ginny nodded under the cloak.

They didn't have to wait long. The footfalls on stone filled the air as someone approached. They quickly checked the Marauder's map and confirmed it was Draco. Harry pocketed the map and the pair stood ready. They watched as Draco turned the corned with his head seemingly on a swivel as he constantly. Now that Harry was calmer while watching him, he could see Draco looked thinner than normal, if possible, even more pale. Draoco clearly thought he was alone as he walked to the other end of crossover hall to look for signs of being seen from that direction. Satisfied he was alone, Harry couldn't help but see what looked like an expression of depression, or desperation, in Draco's eyes. Before he let himself grow too soft though, Harry reminded himself of the image of Seamus's blood spraying from his body and the look of horror in Lavender's eyes.

Soon Draco started to pace. Both Harry and Ginny strained to listen… but Draco didn't speak. He thought to the Room, just like Harry had done dozens of times before. Still though, the pair made themselves ready to catch the door on the close.

Only for Draco to be smart. Rather than push the door open and strut in like he would for any other door at any other time, Draco opened the door just enough for himself to slide around, even turning himself sideways to do it. Then as quickly as possible slammed the meer inches wide opening back close. They had no chance to 'slip in'. It thudded with a deep resonance matched only with the familiar chime of securing magic.

"That little snake!" Ginny hissed.

"He's paranoid as hell, and he's trying to cover himself… damn to hell." Harry growled, taking the cloak off of them both. Harry marched the last few steps and watched the door fade back into the wall. He rested his fist against the stone in frustration.

Ginny drew her wand. "Stand back."

Harry smiled as he turned around and leaned back against the wall. He waved for Ginny to lower her wand. "Love the heart, but that's not going to work."

Harry sighed. "What spell were you planning to use?"

Ginny shrugged, "Bombarda, Reducto, take your pick."

Harry nodded with a half smile, "And where did you learn those spells?"

"Well, you taught me," she gestured as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Harry continued to nod. "Yep, by me, in that room, and before I taught any spell I did a test shot of it against the wall to make sure we didn't blow the room apart. Near as I can tell the Room set up force walls beneath its illusionary projections." He kicked the wall in frustration with his heel as pushed off the wall. "Damn it."

He walked over to Ginny and stared at it again. "He opens it a few inches for a few seconds," he thought out loud. Then he looked up to her with an idea.

Ginny met his gaze agreeing with him. "Snitch could do it. They're small enough and fast enough."

"We need to get some prototypes figured out."

The upcoming weekend was a quidditch match, Griffindor vs. Hufflepuff. In truth they weren't worried about the match, but they needed supplies for celebration and with the holiday the weekend previous the usual supply was low. Still, Harry was able to charm an agreement out of Rosmereta. Come back Thursday, galleons in hand, and some cases could be 'misplaced'. Harry paid in advance.

Ron and Hermione were nowhere easy to be found, and the Marauders agreed when that was the case for any of them, don't look hard. Susan and Earnie had a study date. Luna and Ginny actually had classwork to catch up on and Hanna had a shift in medical.

"Harry, need a hand?" Neville offered. "Got something I want to show you anyway."

"You're always welcome, grab your bag."

Once they were past the Willow the tunnel walk was a Sunday stroll compared to some of their adventures. So much so they used it to catch up. When they finally met about half way Neville stopped them. "Here we are."

Harry looked around. If there was a branch off of this tunnel he sure as hell didn't see it.

Neville shined his lumos onto a stone at belt height. With the light he could see a straight rectangular slit in a rock… with a lightning bolt carved into it.

"Really?" Harry asked with an eyebrow raised.

Neville laughed. "Ginny told me about the other tunnel drop you set with Greengrass. Seemed logical, we wanted to strike a balance of some people with access, but not everyone so…" He pulled out and flipped a Galleon. "Susan had the idea of using the D.A. coins."

Harry nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, that's smart. I like that a lot Nev. Just to be sure, it has to be a D.A. Coin, not a standard galleon?"

Nevilled nodded strongly. "It checks the charm, not the coin." To demonstrate Neville slipped a normal galleon in, to no effect. Then he used his D.A. coin inside the slot. The sound of stone ground on stone filled the tunnel as a four by six food hole opened up in the side for them moments later a familiar blue flame came to life in a bottle set in the recess of the wall.

Harry walked inside and as described he found himself at the top of a spiral staircase twisting counter clockwise downwards around an empty drop shaft about 8 feet across. As he gazed down the shaft he could see the lights from the bluebell flames still lighting one by one in chain reaction down the stone screw. "Impressive work Nev!"

"Thanks Harry," he nodded bashfully. "Just trying to do my part."

"How deep?" Harry asked, peering over again. He picked up a loose rock and kicked it over… he didn't hear the thud.

"Eleven hundred feet."

"Damn, Nev." Harry whistled. " No wonder Hannah and you wanted runes for up and down.

"Yep, Hermione outdid herself."

"They work well?" Harry asked.

"You tell me." Neville said with a smile as he shoved Harry off the edge.

"What!" Harry screamed as he soon plummeted down. Immediately he was falling so fast it was only alternating of the lights and stairs that gave him a reference of height but soo he saw the silver rune of two feathers cross glow red and his descent immediately begin slow. "Arsehole!" Harry said as turned back to see Neville slow falling a few yards above him. "You brilliant bastard arsehole."

Then gently touched the bottom and Neville shrugged. "Yeah I think the runes work fine."

Neville turned the way to a horizontal tunnel. He used his coin in a similar slot and a stone door slid open. Neville gestured and Harry reentered the Chamber of Secrets. He turned around to see he was standing before the carving of Salazar Slythern. Neville had used the mouth as the back door. "Seemed to make the most sense, also" he pointed to the eyes of the snake pillars. "We increased the charm to the eyes to get some proper lighting in here."

Neville walked in showing Harry around like he was showing him a flat. "I have some ideas. I want to break up some of the stone work around the pillars, get some crops growing. We've got plenty of space to store… whatever you want, we-"

"Neville," Harry cut him off with a smile. "Do whatever you want mate. This is awesome. I trust you."

Saturday, 22 February 1997

Quidditch the last reminder of normalcy in their lives. Early spring had cut out the bite the wind brought with the November matches. The Gryffindor team all shared a stupid grin on the way to the pitch. Most of them being combat veterans now able to just play a game. Again, they rocketed through the pitch at speeds the made the audience gauk. Ron patrolled his rings like a rabid animal, and the look in his eyes wasn't far off. By the end of it Harry put the Puffs out of misery, 280 to 0.

During the after party Hermione came up to him. "Harry, could I possibly have a word alone with you?"

Harry gave Ginny a kiss to her hair as she nodded acknowledgement, then left her with the other catchers reliving the match in celebration. "Sure 'Mione, " he said with a grin. Then left the commons and found an alcove that was relatively quiet and mostly empty.

"It's nice to see you like this Harry." She smiled.

"Like what?" he honestly asked.

"Happy." Hermione laughed.

"Oi, you're one to talk. You're a hell of a lot less tense this last year too."

Hermione nodded and giggled. "Guilty as charged. Who knew the cure to so many of the wizarding world's problems was 'date a Weasley'?"

"Merlin knows there's enough of them." Harry grinned as took another sip of butterbeer. They shared a laugh and Harry finally asked. "Alright Miracle, what do you need my help with that Ron's not here for?"

Hermione had a twinkle in her eye, "Ron's birthday."

Harry nodded, smiling as he too was aware of the upcoming date. "I already have my gift in line. But I doubt you're worried about that." he asked then sipped his drink.

"Nope, not worried about you, was hoping you could help me with mine?"

"Shoot," he said with a welcoming gesture.

"Well, you're just as familiar as I am with the limitations of dating here at school." Harry nodded. "For Ron's birthday I have everything else lined up for a nice birthday date…" Hermione's nervousness became palatable, "...except the food."

Harry smiled, putting the pieces together. "Mione, are you asking to use one of the house elves?"

"Yes! And I am quite aware of how much a hypocrite that makes me so go ahead and crack your jokes, but-"

"Sure," Harry said simply with a grin, he even took another sip.

"That's it?" she asked in disbelief. "Just 'sure.' No jokes. No dragging me over the coals of 'I told you so.'?"

"Mione, how long have you covered my arse?" Harry laughed. "How many times have you kept me alive? Now you're telling me you're planning a nice evening for our closest friend's birthday. No problem. Have a good night. Do you have a preference on which elf?"

"Thank you, Harry." she replied with a hug and sigh of relief. "Between the two, my consciousness would be calmer with a free elf like Dobby," Hermione admitted as she let go.

"No problem." Harry smiled. "Dobby!" he called louder.

"Master Harry Potter!" the little cheered as he popped into existence complete with his House Uniform..

Harry knelt down and hugged the little elf. "Hey mate, good to see you." Harry gestured to Hermione. "I trust you remember Hermione."

"Of course Dobby be remembering Miss Grangee." he smiled and bowed deeply to her.

Hermione smiled at the exchange between Harry and Dobby, happy to see Harry greet the elf the same way she had seen Harry greet any other friend. That truly made this whole situation easier. She too knelt down. "Hello Dobby, you look well."

The compliment immediately made the elf blush, which in turn made Hermione smile.

"Dobby," Harry began, "Next week, our friend Ron has his birthday-"

"Seventeenth." Hermione added. Dobby nodded, showing he was following along.

"Hermione here would like to put together, assuming a romantic," Hermione nodded to confirm, "yes, romantic dinner for the two of them. I would like you to help."

"Certainly Master Harry Potter," the elf replied with a deep bow. "How can Dobby help?"

Hermione laughed. "Wow, I didn't know it would be this easy. Er, can I call for you in the next few days to coordinate?"

"Now that Master has told Dobby to be assisting you, of course!"

"That's it?" Hermione questioned. "That simple? He tells you to help me. I call you. You come?"

Dobby looked up with almost childlike innocence and nodded confirmation.

"How complicated do you want this to be, 'Mione." Harry asked with a grin and a sip.

Finally she accepted the good fortune. "None, not complicated at all, thank you Harry."

Monday, 24 February 1997

The rest of the Marauder joined with the others under Professor Remus working on more target practice, while Sergeant Tonks led Hermione and Ron out to their usual place to practice in peace in solitude along under the trees waking from their winter slumber and grass starting to regain its color. Tonks had a face of mirth as they all sat down.

"All right everyone, how are we doing?" Technically she asked both of them, but her gaze was solely on Ron.

"I'm fine, Sarge, thanks." Ron replied through a nervous grin.

Tonks nodded her head, knowing full well where this was headed, she looked over to Hermione. "How are you feeling?"

"Honestly," Hemione brushed her hair behind her ear and looked over to her boyfriend. "... grateful. Thank you again Ron."

"Actually Ron," Tonks continued. "I want to agree with her. You both agreed to having me slip in your mind. Ron, agreeing to let Hermione practice, that shows a lot of trust and support. A lot of maturity. I'm proud of you."

"Er, um, thanks." he smiled nervously.

"Hermione," Tonks said as she turned her attention to the younger witch. "I'll remind you, whatever we learn that is kept in the strictest confidence."

"Absolutely agreed." Hermione nodded.

"Alright," Tonks continued. "Now I just want to be clear, I'm a grown adult with a career in security and law enforcement, and respectfully, I like to think I know you two decently. You'll have nothing to be embarrassed by any accidents here? Understood?" Both of the students nodded. "Okay, for these first few lessons, both of you keep your occlumency shields down. Let's keep things simple. Ron, your job is easy today. Just relax and hang out."

Ron snickered as he rolled his eyes. "That's why you told me to bring my books to this!"

"Why waste time?" Hermione smiled.

"Hermione, you Go Home, I'll be right over." Tonks said as she closed her eyes, took her wand, and cast.

When Tonks opened her eyes again she was in Hermione's library, with the student standing before her ready. "Sergeant." she greeted.

"Just us girls here for now, Hermione. Anything you want to ask?"

Hermione did take a moment to think but shook her head. "I have to say, you have been one of the most careful teachers I've had. Thank you."

Tonks shrugged and put her hand in her pockets and smiled. "I'll be honest with you Hermione, I don't consider myself a teacher. I mean I know I am but to me this is training. I'm dealing with, at least in my opinion, the most dangerous subject, the war. And I like you all, the whole squad, so I have a dream of seeing you all on the other side of this war. So… I'm trying to give my friends every edge I can think of to help you do that." Tonks let herself share a private smile with Hermione.

Then she shook herself out of the sentiment and returned to the lesson. "Anyway, more to the point… Hermione, for ease of visualization why don't you open your eyes and focus on where we actually are."

"Alright." she said and the library around them retired to the three of them sitting at the castle grounds but also with a second Tonks kneeling by Hermione, this one the one speaking looking slightly transparent.

"Am I ghosting?" Tonks asked.

"Yes, why?" Hermione asked.

"Because your mind is trying to make sense of why you see my body over there but my consciousness right here. So it ghosts me in by your side. All very normal." Tonks reassured.

"I know the encantation and I know where I'm going. Do I just target like any other spell?"

"Technically you could," Tonks nodded, "But that is the brute force way that Snape does it. That's how he was being so horrid. I was going to suggest my approach. Figure we would be a little gentler on your lad."

"Please." Hermione said with deep appreciation.

"Alright. Cast the spell, but don't target anyone. We just want to charge the energy in you first."

Hermione nodded, "Legilimens." Her wand and eyes glowed pink.

"Ohhh," Tonks said, looking around at nothing particular. "I can feel that. That is a good strong baseline. I was right, you will be a good legilimens."

Though concentrating on the spell Hermione did grant herself a smile.

Tonks knelt in front of Hermione and was clearly taking a more focused intent here. "This first part is always what's going to feel the strangest. All I want you to do is, in your mindscape, stand up, place a hand on Ron, and say hello. Let's see if we can make contact. It sounds simple, but you've never mindwalked before so especially for your legs and balance, it is going to feel weird."

"Okay," Hermione agreed as she sat up.

Or rather as she tried to sit up, but as she did it felt as if there were a thousand rubber bands stretching her and pulling her back down. She looked over to Tonks in confusion.

Tonks nodded. "Like I said, it will feel odd. Your mind isn't used to leaving your body. Do it a few times and let your subconscious know you can do it safely, it becomes easier. But first… well how much do you trust me?" Tonks smiled warm and welcoming, with a hint of mischief.

"I do trust you Sergeant." Hermoine took another breath and tried to stand up again. This time with force of will she pressed forward and felt the rubber bands snap and she jolted up. She was awkward, wobbly, and unsteady. The ground beneath her seemed to sway like the deck of a ship at sea. "Why does it feel like I'm drunk or my legs don't work?"

"Because these aren't your legs." Tonks explained as she gestured to where Hermione had been sitting. "Look down."

Hermione did, and saw herself still sitting cross legged on the ground, still concentrating on the spell. She looked at her standing self and saw she was ghosting too.

"Great first step, Hermione." Tonks encouraged as she pressed her palms together. "Now remember, right now, you are thought, mind and energy. The only thing that matters… is Ron." Tonks finished with a smile and a wink.

Which both Hermiones smiled at. The ghost replied, "Gods, what he wouldn't give to hear that."

"Why don't you tell him?" Tonks encouraged with a nod and a cheeky grin.

Hermione nodded. She took a step and immediately had to regain her balance.

"Yep, that first step is always a doozy. C'mon, we're just going to say hi to your boyfriend." She pointed over her shoulder.

Hermione focused again, and took another step. She held her arms out for balance like she was walking across loose rock to cross a country stream. Truthfully the ground beneath her felt that loose. Periodically she paused to recenter and rebalance herself. But slow and steady, step by step she made her way across the grass and finally knelt in front of Ron.

"Alright Hermione, Let's see if we can make contact. I just want to reach out and touch him, and try to say hello." Tonks instructed as she knelt beside the Weasley.

Hermione gently put a hand on his cheek, "Ron?" she called.

He continued to focus on his astronomy book.

"Try a bit more energy into it."

Hermione cupped both of Ron's cheeks with her hands. "Ron." she called again.

This time Ron's head jerked up and looked around.

"Good," Tonks agreed, "You're getting there. But a bit more in. He's a big boy and he can clearly take it." The girls shared a laugh at that. With a fresh smile Hermione wrapped both of her hands around the back of Ron's neck. "Ron, can you hear me?"

"Hermione?" Ron asked as he looked around. "Is that you?"

"Yes Ron, it's me!" the witch replied in excitement.

"Contact!" Tonks cheered in congratulations. "Well done."

Wednesday, 1 March 1997

The Quartet took the morning off the run, Neville volunteered to lead the morning run. They gathered round the table for Ron to have the seat of honor. The twin went with an old reliable, variety pack of prank supplies. Ginny's gift had a note attached, 'For the love of mercy, don't eat them all in one sitting.' attached the largest pack of chocolate frogs that Honeydukes carried. "I promise I will try, " Ron joked as he opened one up and tossed it in his mouth with a grin.

"Well, don't come complaining to me if you do." she smiled. "But happy birthday, bro."

Harry passed over his gift that Ron tore open. "Nice one, Harry!" Ron said enthusiastically, waving the new pair of Quidditch Keeper's gloves Harry had given him.

Harry shrugged. "You're stepping up and kicking arse. You deserved them."

Finally Ron opened the last and heaviest gift from his parents. He unwrapped a heavy gold pocket watch with astronomical symbols around the edge and tiny moving stars instead of hands. "Wow." Ron said as he blinked. "This thing does, time, date, calendar, constellation alignment, looks like a few others. I could damn near pass Astronomy finals with this thing alone."

"Make sure you actually write a thank you note this time." Hermione said with a smile. "Happy 17th. I claimed girlfriend rights and I get you this evening."

"Looking forward to it. Any hints?" He asked with a cheeky grin.

"NO!" Ginny snapped. "Stop! I don't even want to hear the hints. I'm heading to breakfast. Harry?"

"Hmm, Girlfriend or third wheel… tough choice." Harry said with a wink to Ron. "Yeah, I'm going with my girl. Happy birthday, mate."

"Thanks… to all of you." Ron said with a smile.