The Ever Changing Face of Death (unedited)

by TheL0sts0uls

After passing through a Veil archway, Hazel Potter and her adopted son Teddy discover they are in the DoM of a parallel world in 1991. Deciding to prevent the events that resulted in a nuclear winter, Hazel becomes an Operative, facing the dangers and traumas that exist in the crossroads between worlds, as she tries to build a life for herself in the new world. Female Harry Potter.

4. Chapter 31-40

Chapter 31: A Sirius Halloween

"Hello Mr. Potter. My name is Emmaline Vance and I am with the Ministry of Magic's Child Services. I am here to ask you a few questions about your treatment at the Dursley residence and your current stay at the Tonks residence." Harry sat in the chair provided to him by Madam Pomfrey as they did their interview at the Hospital Wing, with the Healer overseeing in case of emotional outbursts. Vance looked over her papers. "You lived over ten years at the Dursley Residence, placed there by Albus Dumbledore. Did you meet the man at any point in that time?" Harry shook his head. "No ma'am." Emma wrote down his replies as she continued to ask him questions. "Did you receive medical attention at any time for any injuries, vaccinations or regular checkups?" Harry shook his head. "No. My first checkup was in the summer of 1992, at the request of the Tonks and Peverell family. They had to provide a court order to Mr. Weasley for him to take me there." Vance frowned. "And you were at the Weasley's home, why?"

Harry blushed. "Huh, my mail was getting intercepted by an unknown third party at the time. The Weasleys came over and checked on me before I spent the rest of the summer with them." Emma nodded. "And Dumbledore or The Dursleys gave permission for that?" Harry thought for a second. "My uncle did. I don't know about Dumbledore. He never showed up at their residence. I only ever saw him at school." Emma sighed. "And your years prior, how was your living arrangement?" Harry frowned. "I was given a cupboard under the stairs as my room, despite there being another room in the house. I wasn't allowed much time to shower, few if any proper meals, all of which I had to cook for everyone else too. I received several beatings from my cousin and my uncle, the latter of whom preferred it was done with an old rusty belt. Madam Pomfrey and Healer Tonks have photographs of my scars." Emma nodded. "The images were submitted as evidence. Now, did their behaviour change at all, in the time since Hogwarts?" Harry smiled a little. "I was told they were approached about their illegal activities concerning me and were offered a contract to behave themselves. They kept it until this summer."

Emma looked over the notes. "The contract has been reviewed. Quite the detailed contract. Now, in the period of time from July 30th to September 1st, you were in the custody of the Tonks family. How was it?" Harry's smile widened. "It was great. Andromeda took me for another physical and checked on my health. They celebrated my birthday for me and provided me with my own room. I tried to offer to help with the chores and Andromeda agreed, but with her always doing most of the work. I spent some time with the Peverells in the Tonks residence too. I got to leave the house and see my friends and see the sights in London for a bit. Spent more time among magical families and made a few new friends. Ted and Andromeda are also very thoughtful. They always check with me before making any plans." Emma nodded as she wrote more things down. "Have they informed you about your position as Heir of House Potter?" Harry sighed but nodded. "Before I received a book on my family's history as a present, I had no idea. Ted Tonks filled me in on a few of the legal responsibilities and Andromeda was teaching me some etiquette. I know I don't have to do anything until I am fifteen, but they wanted to prepare me rather than letting me get blindsided or to miss out completely on my responsibilities."

A few further questions and Emma reached the point of the visit. "While not standard procedure, it is requested that we ask the opinion of a child in a custody dispute. Right now, the three parties vying for your custody are Albus Dumbledore, The Malfoy family and the Tonks family, the latter supported by the Peverell family. What are your feelings about the three?" Harry made a face of disgust. "I have had bad relations with the Malfoys from the start. Draco has criticized and belittled my friends for two whole years and remains antagonistic towards me and his father behaved the same way the one time I met him. Dumbledore, while seemingly a great man, has never shown any interest in me outside of school and has failed at any responsibilities he might have claimed to have to me. The Tonks family has been nothing but kind, supportive and understanding. They have made it clear that the time I have with them is up to me and that I am always welcome to stay. The Peverells have shown the same degree of support towards me. I would rather be with the Tonks family until I am of age." Emmaline signed her report and she and Pomfrey took their oaths. "What was discussed here won't be repeated to anyone not part of the Investigative Panel and the DMLE, not even to Dumbledore. My apologies for the disservice our Department has done to you, Mr. Potter. Enjoy your school year."

Harry sighed as soon as she left and Pomfrey came over and offered him some tea. "It has a bit of Calming Draught in it, to help with the nerves." Harry thanked her and drank from his cup as Pomfrey sat down, looking guilty. "I want to apologize to you, Harry. As your Healer at the school, I should have looked harder into the unusual circumstances around you, especially when you didn't arrive for a physical or provide any copies of your medical records. I simply didn't think Dumbledore would have neglected you like this." Harry nodded. "It's ok, I understand. I am grateful for your care this last year. My scars are mostly gone and I am feeling physically better." Pomfrey smiled. "I am sure those morning runs you and Neville perform are doing you quite good too." Harry blushed a bit. "Yeah. I just feel better now. Even my Quidditch practice feels more comfortable." Pomfrey shuddered at the mention of the sport. "You've avoided being long under my care for the last two years from that awful game. I would be thankful if you kept that up." Harry finished his tea and picked up his bag as he stood up. "I'll try. Thank you for the tea and the company." He left the Hospital Wing, feeling more comfortable about his hopes to stay with the Tonks for the next summer. Though if he was being honest with himself, he wanted to spend more time with Hazel and Teddy.

"Never took you as the Butterbeer type." Croaker moved the mug of butterbeer away from him. "I'm not, but then again, I am not here. Maintaining a disguise and all is a bit harder for use without your talents." Hazel nodded as she and Tonks sat opposite from Croaker and Amelia, both dressed in unassuming clothes. They had to step out of the Castle and meet them in a room in the Three Broomsticks to keep their interactions quiet and hidden from Dumbledore. "So, what brings you both here?" Croaker swept the room for eavesdropping spells and animagi and sat back. "Updates on what's going on. Your stay at the Castle prevents us from using our comms effectively, especially with Dumbledore sustaining heavier wards than usual, so an in person briefing at Hogsmeade was the next best thing." Amelia eyed Hazel. " We also wanted to update you on the intel you acquired. Your son's concerns seem to be valid. The release of the Carrows coincided with the dismissal of the girls' governess and their caretakers, both of whom were replaced by those that are more… in line with the Carrows agenda." Hazel bared her teeth. "Marked or sympathizers?" Amelia sighed. "Sympathizers. We approached the former staff at the Carrow Estate and while their oaths covered much of what happened within the Estate and their time was relatively peaceful, they all made it clear they feared for the safety of the girls."

Hazel eyed her. "And the DMLE's response?" Amelia looked at her, guilt clear in her face. "Nothing for now. If your son's hunch is right, the girls will avoid going home until the end of the academic year. We are powerless to do anything until then. Should they show up with signs of mistreatment after their return home, we can then make enquiries and interview the girls." Dora reached out and restrained Hazel, who looked furious. "So you want us to do nothing, just like with Lockhart?" Amelia sank in her seat. "The law is clear. The line between the government overstepping its authority and the right to intervene in cases of child abuse is a tricky one to handle. Hearsay won't give us much." Hazel settled down. "I will see what we can get from the girls. Will a memory help in beginning a proper investigation?" Amelia nodded. "It will now." Hazel sighed. "I'll see if we can reach out to them here, safely. This is why I swear Hogwarts should have a summer program." Croaker sighed. "I don't disagree, but Dumbledore, while a supporter of progressive ideas, is also known for not disturbing the traditions of anyone. Hogwarts has never had a summer program. He will use that as an excuse to ignore the needs of the children."

Dora, certain her partner wouldn't lash out again, turned to her Boss. "What's the word on Sirius Black? Things have been quiet at the castle." Croaker turned to Amelia, who Hazel looked at critically. There was a flinch on her face for a second as his name was spoken. "Sirius Black, as you know, has continued to evade all attempts at retrieving him. We believe he is using a wand he acquired somewhere, potentially from a witch or a wizard that has refused to come forward out of shame from being caught off guard. His last sighting was in Dufftown, as reported by a muggle who recognized him from the reports being made in muggle news media. Her communication led to the dispatching of Aurors, but our dear Minister also sent in the Dementors, causing mass hysteria. Black escaped in the chaos." Hazel rubbed her hair. "Why is Fudge so intent on using the Dementors? It's clear Black can evade them." Croaker nodded. "True. Sadly, we believe the Minister is being instructed to use them by his Undersecretary and by Lucius Malfoy. We believe the removal of his wife from the Black Seat in the Wizengamot has driven the man to seek Black's death."

Hazel sighed. "With the Tonks currently disowned, the only Black descendants with any claim would be Draco and Harry. He must be trying to hedge his bets. Secure the Black Seat, push for Harry's custody from a stronger position and gain control of the Black Family wealth in its entirety." Amelia tapped the table. "That is what we believe. Fudge is following through, hoping to gain some personal glory by having his people catch Black. The Undersecretary probably wants recognition for the idea and the support of the traditionalists." Croaker eyed Hazel. "No, you can't kill her yet. She's too highly placed." Hazel sighed deeply. "Fine. So we will have to double our efforts in the coming days. If he is close, we need to catch him. What's the word about the maps?" Croaker shook his head. "The makers of the two were quite well versed in enchantment. They are exceedingly well encoded. Our Enchantments Division is equal parts overjoyed and frustrated." Hazel frowned. "The passwords don't give you full access?" Croaker waved his hand. "We wish. Your map is a lot more intricate, made by a more sophisticated Enchanter. The one from here is crude, but still well protected."

Dora watched a brief smile of pride on her partner's face that vanished quickly. Her eyes had flickered as they usually did when a memory surfaced and dampened her mood. Dora turned to Croaker. "So, anything else?" Croaker winced. "Your guard duty might get interrupted soon. MI5 has determined the location of a group of weapons smugglers in one of the docks on the Irish Sea. They have intel that suggests Witches or Wizards are part of the defences but aren't frequently there. They want to take the warehouse without calling us first, just in case it's a false alarm." Hazel rubbed her face. "And we are on standby to help clean up their mess if they get unlucky. Great." Amelia gave her a sympathetic look. "I can guarantee some guards at the Castle should you be called. Sadly, Mad-Eye took a bit of a hit from a curse a few days ago in Knockturn Alley. He's still at St. Mungos, recovering. He won't be part of the replacement detail." Dora shook her head. "Alastor must be furious." Amelia smiled. "He was, until I sent him a few bottles of whiskey. I got a notice from the hospital about sending liquor to a patient, followed by a very brief thank you from the staff."

Hazel stood up from her seat. "Well, make sure you send those Aurors with the MI5 assault notice. Well go back to the Castle and see if we can set a few more ward tripwires. I'll find a way to reach out to the Carrow Twins." Hazel eyed Croaker. "I would suggest you ask Lupin about the map, but despite Dumbledore's failures concerning Harry, I don't see the man answering your questions willingly without informing the Headmaster. His Werewolf nature also makes Obliviation and Mind Arts difficult." Croaker stood up. "Well consider it if Black gets too aggressive with his break-in attempts. For now, keep the Castle and the students secure and keep the Dementors in line. Umbridge or Fudge might eventually come in person to command them to take Black if he is in the area. Don't give her a chance and don't kill her or make her disappear." Hazel narrowed her eyes. "Aye, boss. Leave the toad alive and not lost." Amelia watched the two agents leave before turning to Croaker. "Maybe we should insinuate to the Minister to keep Umbridge close to him. Your orders were vague enough for her to look for viable loopholes." Croker rubbed his face. "Agreed. Gods, it's like working with a Goblin." Amelia shook her head. "Don't let her hear you say that."

OW October 31st 1991

Hazel sat back on the sofa she conjured for herself as she read the book on how to read and speak Druidic. While her Runes class was interesting, they focused heavily on Futhark and Runic languages. While the languages were fascinating, they simply lacked the intricacy and almost ethereal quality of Druidic Script. She reached over and petted Isabelle's back, getting a soft purr in response. The summer since she torched Ripper had been very unpleasant. Dumbledore dared to grace her with an appearance after she ignored the people knocking on her door since she arrived at the Cauldron. While a bit of an extra expense, she had tipped Tom well enough to not let anyone follow him up as he brought her her meals. She would explore the Alley in the early morning and late at night, when everyone was suitably quiet and the stores were a bit empty. She bought a few premade potions from the apothecary, as well as getting the food supplies for Hedwig and her new pet. Isabelle was strangely attached to her, refusing to let her out of her sight, but Hazel didn't mind. Hedwig liked her and the three had a few quiet days in the summer, until Dumbledore showed up.

He, of course, started by trying to guilt her on her expenses at the Alley, until Hazel asked him how he would even know how much money she had. She had successfully cornered him into revealing his position as her Magical Guardian. He then tried to use it to force her to return to her relatives but Hazel had been looking a lot into what his position meant. He had no legal authority to force her to do anything not associated with her Magical Education. When he tried to bluff his way, she dropped a bomb on him. "Maybe I should contact my Godmother. Put an ad on the paper or something. She is my rightful Guardian after all." Dumbledore had frowned at her. "Hazel, the woman is mad and dangerous. She is a follower of Voldemort and has escaped Azkaban, probably with the intention of killing you." Hazel scoffed at the man. "So, no different from my first defence teacher. Listen, you old goat. I don't care for the Dursleys or about these wards of yours. I want a summer to myself and I am getting it. So stop sending your stooges after me, leave me alone and I will see you at school. Or I will park myself in the middle of the Alley inviting the Blacks to get on with it. I am sure I will get some peace and quiet after that."

Dumbledore sighed. "Very well, but you will be leaving yourself with not many funds." Hazel hummed. "Sure, how about you stop spending my money on the Dursleys for the care they don't provide. Oh wait, you probably won't. So don't come to me complaining about me using my money to see to my wellbeing when you are the only one squandering it. Go take that high and mighty ego of yours back to your tower before I try and find a lawyer to sue you for every failure you have taken because everything has to go your way. Oh, and if the new Professor ends up being a murderer or a rapist, I am going to make sure you are held responsible." Hazel used a bit of wandless magic to slam the door in the old man's face. The soft string of curses she heard from the door before she silenced it was delightful. The rest of the summer went as expected, peaceful and quiet, at least until she got on the train. Her seating options were either with the two people who constantly shadowed her at school or with the sleeping form of the man she assumed was the new Professor. Better the devil that you know. A few hours of mindless conversations of the walking argument ended suddenly as the train pulled into the station.

Getting dragged into the stupid memory of her run in with the Mirror of Erised wasn't fun at all but at least her screams woke up the Defence Professor and his spell made the Dementors flee. She politely refused his chocolate. Quirrell might have been a bastard but he had a point about accepting strange gifts from people with questionable motives, no matter how nice they seemed. Getting tired of hearing complaints and the bickering of her House, especially about Quidditch, Hazel took the only appropriate response. She stopped spending her evenings in the Tower. Isa had been a bit bothered by their entrance into the Chamber of Secrets but, after inspecting literally every square inch of the place, she settled down. Still mad at her wand's lack of performance, Hazel practiced her wandless magic further. She found some interesting books in the Hogwarts library about Transfiguration and Conjuration and tried them out in the chamber. She had laughed herself silly when she made herself a supremely comfortable bed and sofa, though she had to constantly reinforce or recast the spells to make them last. She kept practicing Conjuration because it just seemed the most useful to her, especially with her relatives literally giving her scraps of everything. She'd never have to sleep on that shitty mattress ever again.

Casting a tempus, Hazel noticed that Curfew was coming up. Not wanting another dressing down from her eternally absent and uncaring Head of House, Hazel pulled the cloak over her and Isa and the two walked the halls back to Gryffindor tower. The fact she found the Fat Lady portrait ripped and torched seemed like a bad sign. The empty dorm was another. A few long and exhausting minutes of going back down the stairs and Hazel found the entire school sleeping in the Great Hall. She looked down at Isa, who was resting in Hazel's crossed arms. "So, do you want to go into that endless sea of auditory torture?" The cat gave her a shake of its head and a pleading meow. Hazel chuckled. "Didn't think so." So Hazel returned to the Chamber of Secrets, overpowered her Conjuration of the comfiest bed she could imagine and the two slept peacefully to the sound of running water and slow breathing. That night she dreamt of thin hands caressing her hair gently and a soft kiss on her hair, before hearing a comforting song, one that felt strangely familiar. In her twelve years of life since that dreadful night, Hazel swore that was the best night ever. The news of the breaking in attempt of Gryffindor Tower didn't spoil at all the next morning. Hazel went ahead and slept there as much as possible the following months and years.

NW October 31st 1993

"You know, you could have asked us to do a bit of recon before you stormed the place. You all might have avoided this mess in the first place." Several bullets ricocheted off the top of the barrier Hazel, Dora and three MI5 agents were hunkering behind as the spells and gunfire dissipated safely behind them. The lead agent looked at her and sighed. "Duly noted. Can you do anything about this mess?" Hazel whipped her wand up and deflected a massive fireball aimed at them before looking over at the agent. "Sure, what's the order of the day? Non-lethal, Lethal or Lethal with exceptions?" The agent rubbed his face. "It was non-lethal, but my three dead agents would say otherwise. Let me call this in and see if we get an updated status on our orders." Hazel nodded and flicked her wand back, resulting in what sounded like a massive crash of water onto the position of the criminals. "Sure, take your time. Not like we didn't have our own duties to deal with." Dora slapped her shoulder. "Oy, be polite." Hazel blinked at her as she casted Glacius across the gap between them and the shooters. The shots and spells noticeably slowed down.

Dora raised a kinetic shield and looked over. She paled. "Hazel." Her partner waved her hand. "Frostbite will set in after about five minutes, I'll defrost them then." The agents looked over and they all had amused grins on their faces as they watched the criminals desperately trying to break through the frozen blocks of ice that Hazel had turned their lower extremities into. Someone who was clearly a witch or wizard seemed to be trying to defrost them all. Eventually the lead agent looked at Hazel and smiled. "New orders. Selective non-lethal approach. Stun as many as you can but as long as you don't take these four targets out, we will be grateful, even if you leave a few of them dead." Hazel looked over the photographs shown to her and whistled. "Want to tell Mad-Eye we found his twin?" Dora shook her head as she looked at the photographs. "Nope. I don't need the bastard pissed at me for comparing him to a gun smuggler." Hazel smiled at her. "Wuss." Dora swallowed her comeback as Hazel shifted into an eagle and took to the skies. The gunfire picked up again as people started exiting the building. Dora heard her partner over the comms. "P4 spotted at the back of enemy formation. P1 through P3 not outside. Standard approach." Dora sighed. "Acknowledged." Dora looked at the agent. "Your 4th target is out there. My partner is starting her attack."

Dora and the agents watched as a shower of spears descended onto the target as Dora's eyes focused on a rapidly descending body. "R1, I swear you better not be free falling." The body shifted into the form of a bird before it pulled out of a dive. A few minutes later, Hazel 's voice came over the comms. "No comment, R2. P4 is alive and restrained. We got a forest of targets in need of stuns. I am sealing the warehouse's exits and windows. Agents can move on the building in two." Dora repeated her status to the agents and after two minutes, the warehouse was properly surrounded by the authorities. She heard her partner's voice speak up over the comms. "Hey, BM. What's the policy on knocking out Muggles with magically crafted aerosols? Asking for a friend." Dora bit her tongue as she tried not to laugh as Horatio entered the call. "Just do it, R1. Boss can handle the clean up afterwards. It's the least lethal idea you have suggested so just roll with it." Hazel responded. "Right then. No agents enter the building until I give out the all clear." The agents kept their eyes on the now windowless building until a few minutes later the building shuddered as it returned to its original form. "R1 to R2, the warehouse is secure. Send the agents in."

Hazel sat at the center of the large space of the warehouse, three people bound together next to her. She motioned to the lead agent. "P1 through P3, all accounted for." The lead agent stored his weapon and smiled bitterly. "Mind if I send a letter to the top brass asking for more support from you guys? I have three letters to write up that I really am not looking forward to." Hazel gave him an understanding look. "Send it up. We have our own missions and orders but if the time is right, I am sure our Boss will happily oblige in less magical operations. I cleared the powder from everyone, including their lungs. Give them two hours or so to wake up, based on body mass and metabolism. The bigger they are, the faster they burn through it." The agent nodded and looked over his shoulder. "You heard her, got everyone looked over and contained quickly. Send for Forensics. I want this place cleared out of any valuable intel, before the associates run for cover." Dora came in from outside. "I dispelled the spears and healed what I could. They all have the equivalents of firearm wounds. The agents can handle the rest." Hazel nodded and raised her hand. "Mission Accomplished, BM." The two look at each other worriedly as Horatio takes a while to answer. "SB spotted at Hogwarts. Get there fast now!" Hazel cursed under her breath. "Damn it! I knew it was going to be tonight."

Hazel and Dora apparated to the front of the Hogwarts gates. Hazel drew her wand and tapped it against the heavily warded gates. "Dumbledore has the place in lockdown. No way in or out through here. Not for you, anyways." Dora looked towards Hogsmeade. "Or for SB. How well will the wards seal a hidden passage?" Hazel shrugged. "One way to find out." The passageway underneath Honeydukes was surprisingly well warded when they both arrived. Hazel eyed the point where the wards met the tunnel. "The tunnel was created with the wards in mind. There are rune sequences along the wall, probably set to act as a repeater and activator. This ward here is reinforced. No way in or out." The five other passageways were equally well sealed or caved in, blocking anyone's access. Hazel and Dora arrived at the Shrieking Shack, their wands drawn. Hazel stopped Dora as they reached the entrance of the passageway. "Look." Dora lowered her lit wand and kneeled down at the ground where Hazel was pointing. "You always clear our tracks. These must be someone else." Hazel conjured a ruler and placed it beside several tracks. "At least two people have been through here, there are two different shoe sizes. Signs of a dog and rats too."

Dora eyed Hazel. "Animagus?" Hazel nodded. "Probably. Let's check the wardline." They walked into the passageway, keeping their wands, or in Hazel's case a ball of light in her hand, lit. They stopped at the wardline and Hazel frowned as she checked the walls. "This passageway wasn't made by the same people as the others. No rune sequences activation points or repeaters. The ward here is the Castle's, weakened by passing through ground and stone." Dora pressed her hand against it and felt it give in quite a bit. She pressed her wand against it and remembered what Hazel taught her about peeling wards. She felt her wand carve a slit into the ward and the two of them entered through it. They watched as it repaired itself before Dora shook her head. "Well, that's unhelpful. Anyone well versed in wards or enchanting can slip right through." Hazel nodded. "Yup. Which means most Heirs and Heiresses from old homes around the age of fifteen." Dora sighed. "Sirius was an Auror and an Heir, even if unwanted by his mother. He would know how to slip through this." Hazel pointed her wand back down the passageway. "Homenum Revelio. Animalis Revelio."

Seeing no responses, the two exited the tunnel onto the school grounds and stared at the closed doors. Dora eyed Hazel. "Any idea on a way in?" Hazel looked to the side of the Castle walls. "Not for a Dog. Boss said SB was in the wards by the time we arrived. Those dog prints might have been him escaping and we missed him." Dora sighed. "Great. Now what?" Hazel smiled. "Now we see if the castle needs wards to seal open spaces from flight." Taking flight as owls, Hazel and Dora split up and checked the several locations with open access to the sky, including the Astronomy Tower, the owleries for the Slytherin and Hufflepuff dorms and a few other opened windows. After finding Nova and Hedwig sitting comfortably in their respective roosts, both clearly not concerned over the events of the evening, Hazel and Dora made for the castle proper. They landed together just to the side of the entrance to the Great Hall, startling the two Aurors and Professor Lupin when they turned the corner into the guard's line of sight, the werewolf lowering his wand when he recognized them. "How did you get inside?" Hazel shook her head. "Can't say. We will be writing a report to the Director and we aren't sure how long it may take to correct the vulnerability. The less people that know, the better." One of the Aurors, whom Hazel recognized as Proudfoot, nodded. "Understood. Hestia and I have scoured the immediate area, no signs of the man. Dumbledore confirmed he is out of the wards now."

Hazel eyed Lupin for a second before looking to the doors of the Great Hall. "We are going to pull out my son and Mr Potter from the Hall. We can keep them safe in our chambers and help reduce Mr. Potter's stress levels." Hazel had to restrain a growl when another voice joined the discussion. "Is that really necessary? The boys are safe in the Hall." Hazel glared at the Headmaster who seemed to appear from just around the corner. Hazel had to restrain herself from raising her wand against him. "Them being safe might be fine for you but I value their mental and emotional health. Harry is aware that Sirius Black may be after him and having the whole school looking at him all night long won't give him any rest for tomorrow's classes. As I have the authority to take them, I will. If you excuse me." Hazel pushed past the old man into the Hall, despite his protests, and she noticed every student's attention being directed towards her, the majority of them very much not asleep. She sighed. "Sirius Black is no longer on the Hogwarts Grounds and the entrances are currently secured by wards. You are all safe. Please take this opportunity to mingle and rest up for tonight." Hazel motioned for Dora to head for Teddy as she made her way to Harry who looked at with a smile. "Hazel." She smiled back. "Harry. Care for a quiet night?"

After he said his goodbyes to his friends, Hazel and Dora escorted the two up to their chambers. Dora sat them at the sofa's as Hazel went to transfigure the bed in the guestroom. "Dobby." The elf popped in. "Yes, Mistress Peverell?" Dora's hair and face went red. "For the last time, we are not married. Get some cups of Hot Chocolate for everyone here." The elf popped away as Teddy and Harry looked at her with amusement. Dora glared at them. "Not a word. Hazel and I are not married." Harry smiled. "Sure, so why did I see a few hickeys on your neck this summer?" Dora blushed as Hazel returned. "Despite what the elves say, we are not married. We are just in a long romantic relationship. Marriage will come later." Harry nodded. "Andromeda explained a few things, including about how members of the old magic families courted each other." Hazel shook her head as she took the cup offered to her by Dobby. "Then you know you don't need to think about it until you are fifteen. Now, how are your friends doing?" Teddy smiled softly. "My roommates are ok but we all just have our own interests. We just say hi in the mornings and at night."

Harry looked guilty. "Daphne and Tracy got into a fight with Draco and his bookends in the Slytherin Common Room over their friendship with me. Daphne dealt well with it and Theo helped her out. Word is that they might be leading a bit of change in the Slytherin students about their behaviour, despite Draco's posturing." Hazel hummed. "Of all the students in their year, Theo could be the best bet in getting Draco to quiet down. He is Draco's better in the Traditionalist's views. Did Daphne say anything about Gemma Farley?" Harry nodded. "She gave her and Theo her support. Some of the older students weren't happy but she is the top Slytherin and the seventh year Prefect, so they all quieted down." Teddy looked to his mom. "Astoria said there were some problems in Ravenclaw. Some of the students were bullying a second year girl called Luna. She stepped in and got Professor Flitwick involved. A lot of students got in trouble for it, even a prefect." Hazel smiled. "You know, I think Astoria barely missed being a Gryffindor. Might explain her being a Hat Stall." Harry chuckled. "Daphne would have been insulted by that."

Teddy drank from his cup. "Are Hestia and Flora going to be ok?" Hazel rubbed his hair. "They have until June to be safe and I promise I will try to get them looked after. Just be patient with them. They are Slytherins, which means they will want to handle it themselves, even if they can't really manage it. Pride is part of ambition, after all." Conversation settled down for a bit until Harry spotted a picture of his parents on one of the tables. "Hazel, did you know my parents?" Hazel shook her head. "Not really. I saw some of your Dad's stunts and his skill as a Chaser, but everything else was hearsay. I didn't know we were related as Peverells until much later. I keep a picture of them since, in a way, they are the only other family I know of. My parents died when I was young too. When I came to Hogwarts, I was told they were Gryffindors so I picked that as my house. Worst mistake I ever made." Harry looked at her oddly. "Why?" Hazel looked him in the eyes. "Because everyone judged me by their standards. I wasn't athletic, brainy or popular. I sought a connection, but Gryffindor doesn't care too well for its students, not like Sprout does, or even Snape for that matter. McGonagall always treated me coldly, as did Dumbledore. I struggled academically for it. My OWLs were trash and I left the school before I completed my NEWTs. By the end of it all I was just… tired of the school."

Harry lowered his gaze. "Sorry I had to drag you back here." Hazel stood up and hugged him from behind. "I am here because of work, Harry. I am also here because of Teddy. He and I grew up to depend on each other. This job is helping us come to terms with the fact I won't be able to see him as often in the next seven years. Yes, there are bad memories here for me. A lot. But being with you, Dora and Teddy here… you are helping me make some good memories. So I am grateful to be here, even if Dora complains about me in the mornings." Dora grumbled. "Who gets up at five in the morning on a weekday?" Three hands went up and Dora glared at them all. "Traitors." Everyone laughed at her and Harry smiled. If he was honest, he picked Gryffindor for the same reasons as Hazel. The Hat wanted him in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. It even offered him Slytherin. He would never regret not going to Slytherin, but he could see himself as a Ravenclaw. That night he and Teddy went to sleep in the guest room, with Hazel placing his parent's photo on his bedside table. Reading his Mom's journals was great and hearing a bit about his Dad from Professor McGonagall was good too. But Harry found moments like today better. With Ted, Andromeda, Dora, Hazel and Teddy, he didn't feel like a kid who lost his parents. He felt like he had what he always wanted: a family.

Chapter 32: Cold Winter Days

Remus winced in pain as he woke up, feeling slightly disoriented. He moved to where he usually placed his discarded clothes during his transformations, his eyes still struggling with the low light of the inside of the Shrieking Shack, but he pulled his hand back the moment it came in contact with a metal bar. The sting of burning silver woke him up completely. He looked at his surroundings and his eyes stopped on a woman reading a book just beyond his reach on the other side of a silver cage, her long white hair tied into a braid and her eyes glowing eerily green. "Why are you here?" The woman turned another page of her book. "Doing my job." Remus frowned. "I am not Sirius Black." Hazel hummed. "No, but you are a close second, aren't you? He was your chum at school after all. A fellow Marauder. Isn't that right, Moony?" Remus winced at hearing his old nickname. "How do you know that name?" Hazel closed her book after marking her place with a leather strap. "Well, based on an enchanted bit of parchment, it was either Moony or Padfoot. You don't strike me as a Prongs or a Wormtail." Remus found a chair being conjured into his cell and his clothes were thrown to him through the bars. "Get dressed. I am in a steady relationship and you aren't even all that appealing to me."

After putting on his clothes, with his bones aching several times while doing it, Remus looked around again. "You letting me out?" Hazel smirked. "Not just yet. My particular orders are to keep the students safe but my backup orders are to aid my partner in capturing Sirius Black. You, as the only other Marauder I can figure, are my source of intel on the man. So let's start on the obvious question. Who are Prongs, Wormtail and Padfoot?" Remus sat in his chair and a table sprang up in front of him. He eyed the witch, unsure of what to make of her. She was hostile to him. His instincts screamed at him to get away from her as fast as possible. Yet her scent was partly familiar to him. "Have we met before in our youth?" The bitter laugh that came from her made him wince. "Oh no, Moony. I had no youth. I was an adult from an early age. Killing someone will do that to you. But no, we never truly met. I believe you might have been among relatives of mine, but this isn't about me." A silver lance landed just beside his hand on the table. Remus flinched before it vanished. "It's about you and Sirius Black. Talk." Remus stared at the witch, those green eyes confusing him. "The Marauders were a group of children. Myself, Sirius Black as Padfoot, James Potter as Prongs and Peter Pettigrew as Wormtail."

Hazel frowned. Three out of four Marauders were the same as hers, but only one name matched the group from her world. "Who is Peter Pettigrew?" Remus blinked at her. "Peter was our friend. A bit shy, not very brave but a wiz at Potions. Whenever our pranks needed a potion to work, he was our guy. He was the last person who had the map before he lost it in our seventh year to Filch." Hazel tapped her fingers on her book. "Where is he now?" Remus looked at her oddly. "You must have been too young to hear. He died after the attack on the Potters. Sirius killed him as soon as Peter confronted him about the attack, on a street in London. Thirteen muggles died with him." Hazel looked at him. "You just said he was shy and not brave. Why would he go after a known killer?" Remus clamped his mouth shut. His mind started working that out. "I… that's what the witnesses said." Hazel growled and Remus felt his wolf react in fear. "I don't care about witness stories or hearsay. I want to know the people. You just told me he was shy and cowardly. Why would Peter confront Sirius about the deaths of the Potters in the middle of a street with witnesses, if he believed the man was capable of murder? Wizards don't tend to care about Muggle witnesses when they go out killing. This doesn't match his personality. Was Black hiding his true self or did everyone get the wrong impression of the incident in London? Let's try something else. Tell me about Sirius Black and not what you think of him now. Who was he to you and to James Potter before Halloween of 1981?"

Remus thought back, a small smile on his face. "He was the jokester of the group. He loved pranks. He and James got on well together, thanks to Orion being close to Dorea. They were practically brothers. We each had our area of expertise and we shared our knowledge for classes. Mine was Charms, Peter's was Potions, James' was Transfiguration and Sirius' was Defence. We were always close, but James and Sirius were closer. Despite messing around, Sirius never allowed his grades to fall. James did for a while, until after his fifteenth birthday. He matured after that, but he and Sirius stayed the best of friends. They both went into the Auror Academy, got assigned to Moody and joined the Order. James was great in a fight, but Sirius was better, even after he took a curse aimed at James. Something about being in the middle of a fight just clicked with him. He often joked about beating Mad-Eye's record." Remus blinked for a bit and looked at Hazel. "You actually remind me of him. You're caring for your son one moment and punching me the next. You don't happen to have the Black Madness, do you?" Remus wanted to swallow his words. Hazel looked equal parts insulted and proud. The rage, though, was quite evident in her now glowing eyes. "Who seemed the most loyal to you? Who out of Sirius and Peter did James Potter trust above all?" Remus didn't hesitate for a second. "Sirius."

Hazel sat back as Remus seemed surprised by his own answer. Hazel wanted to scream and cry. Because Sirius sounded just like her Godmother. Her skill set had been Enchanting and Healing, not Defence, but that didn't mean she couldn't curse like the rest. She was a Black after all. Hazel swallowed the lump in her throat and did her best to keep the tears in her eyes before she looked at Remus again. "We found animal tracks through one of the possible exit routes from the castle. Were any of them Animagi?" Remus looked sad. "They all were, for me." Hazel stood up quickly. "I don't need you falling into a daydream filled with self pity. I need to know their Animagi forms." Remus glared at her. "A scraggy black dog, a Rat and a Stag. Sirius and Peter are the first two, in that order." Hazel cursed. "Damn it all to hell." She glared at Remus. "There are dog and rat prints in the escape route. What are the chances Peter lived? What if every witness got it wrong and Peter was the one attacked, not the other way around? Because everything you have told me says that Sirius would rather fight to the bitter end and die for James Potter." Remus stared at her, feeling how her words matched his own feelings concerning his friends. It certainly seemed more likely. "Then what happened at Godric's Hollow? Why would Sirius turn on them?"

After dispelling the silver cage, Hazel threw the Were his wand back. "Not what everyone assumes. You keep your nose out of the investigation. You might even get a letter asking for help with that parchment of yours. For now, do your bloody job." Remus nodded but he stopped as soon as a wand was at his throat. "One last thing. Keep our discussion between us. I don't want anyone to get wind of it, not even the Headmaster. The wards here are being adjusted and I added several more just for a private chat. You talk and we might lose both targets now. If that happens, you better hope the curse on the Defence Position gets you. Or I will. Got it?" Remus felt his wolf react again. What was it about this woman that terrified his wolf so completely? Those green eyes stared at him, filled with so much rage. He nodded. "I won't say a word." Hazel lowered her wand. "Be here an hour before sunset every full moon. I will seal you in the cage. You miss our time and I will personally drag you out of the castle and let the Whomping Willow give you a licks before locking you up again." Remus watched her leave and for some reason he felt relieved. Keeping his wolf contained was always a fear of his. The fact the wolf feared her made him feel secure in the knowledge he'd never hurt anyone under her watch. Yet something kept nagging at his mind. What was it about Hazel Peverell that felt so familiar to him?

Harry watched the flap that led to the Quidditch pitch get pulled violently by the wing and rained outside. Wood had made them practice in bad weather before, but never this bad and never during a game. The Twins came up beside him and looked at the flap as well. "I think the Slytherins were right to skip this match. This weather ain't good for anything but watching through a window next to a toasty fire." George nodded his head. "Quite right, Fred. Too bad Hooch and Wood are cut from the same cloth. They would send us out to fly under a dragon migration." Harry shook his head. "Why did Diggory agree to this?" Angelina and the girls moved in front of him, the dark skinned girl ruffling his hair in passing. "Because the Hufflepuff team got gutted last year after graduation. Diggory got to be Captain as the only surviving player besides their Keeper, who has also only played for a year. He couldn't say no to an early game to test out his players and the bad weather gives him a bit of help against us." Alicia lifted the tent flap but lowered it again as soon as she got her face drenched. "More like running his teammates into the ground." She turned to Harry. "Diggory is going to be after you a bit. Keep him distracted as much as you can with the snitch or just catch it. Either way, we win." Harry nodded as he settled his nerves.

Wood came up and took the lead as everyone walked out onto the pitch. No one wanted to fly out just yet. The two teams approached Madam Hooch but Harry's eyes locked onto another figure. Fred bumped into Harry's shoulder. "Is your cousin bringing us some good news? Would love to get back under a roof." Harry watched as Hazel walked towards Hooch, the rain bouncing off an invisible barrier over her head as she seemed to be muttering to herself. Hooch sighed. "Can I help you, Instructor Peverell?" Hazel lifted one finger up as she continued muttering before she threw a small disc onto the floor. The effect was instant as the wind and rain stopped entirely. Harry could hear the relief from the stands as the entire Quidditch field seemed to be shielded. Hazel pulled a strap of leather over her pages and closed the book. "I swear, the forgetfulness of Wizards and Witches is as bad as their stupidity. The barrier is the full playable range of the game and it's tied to the leylines so it will hold for the day before the disc burns out from the magic running through it. Why no one thought to make a permanent barrier in case of severe weather is beyond me. Anyways, you knuckleheads can exit the barrier if you want to take an impromptu shower. It's not designed to keep you in or anyone out, just the rain and severe wind."

Hazel turned around as both teams watched her back as she left the field. Wood leaned over to Harry. "I think I love your cousin." Harry gave him the stink eye. "Trust me, she's taken. You are also not her type." Wood shook his head and turned to the equally happy Hooch and Diggory. After everyone was done getting dried off, the game started with the players taking to the skies. Harry did as instructed and kept blocking Cedric's view of the game as the match got underway. They both chased after the snitch a few times until Harry pushed into him a bit, forcing both to lose sight of the golden ball with wings. Harry could hear the stands clamouring as the Gryffindor Chasers kept scoring repeatedly, the Hufflepuff side too untrained to do much against the veteran chasers. As soon as they had a healthy lead, Harry focused on catching the Snitch. Cedric, however, took their earlier roles and reversed them. He kept chasing Harry away from the Snitch as the two fought over getting ahead of the other. As the match dragged on, Harry noticed a change in the soft wind. It suddenly got cold. An amplified voice echoed through the pitch. "Dementors! Everyone is to take cover. Professors that can do it, cast your Patroni now! Have them shield the stands!"

Harry saw several white magical animals shoot into the crowd as he tried to move down to the pitch with the other players. He felt the cold increase and he heard his mother's voice again, followed by her screams. His grip on the broom felt weaker as his vision blurred. The feeling vanished as his vision was filled with a blinding white light. He turned around and felt his mouth drop open. A massive Skeletal Dragon chased the Dementors away from the pitch, its maw open and emitting a blue flame. He watched as several cloaked figures shot out through the barrier, many sporting blue flames on their cloaks, the air filling with a rank smell of burning cloak and flesh. The massive magical creature turned and flew circles around the pitch until it faded away. He heard Hooch call the game to continue and saw the snitch was too close to Diggory. He had heard the last announcement from Lee as well. He rushed down and used his broom to block a throw from the Hufflepuff Chasers as Katie swooped in and caught the ball. His chasers headed straight for the Hufflepuff goals as Harry blocked one of the opposing Chasers. He heard the stands cheer as the point was scored before Hooch blew the whistle. "Diggory has caught the Snitch but Gryffindor scored first." Lee Jordan announced the results. "The scores are 190-180! Gryffindor wins thanks to a quick intercept by Potter and score from the Gryffindor Chasers!"

The teams landed on the pitch and shook hands under the loud cheering from the stands, Diggory giving Harry a big smile. "You're getting good at this, Potter. Nice switch in strategy at the end." Harry smiled and shook his hand. "You were good too. Felt those blocks in my ribs. Still do." Cedric's cheeks grew flushed. "Sorry about those. I know they are legal but I think I hit you a bit hard." Hooch congratulated all of them as Harry moved towards the lockers with the team. He got ambushed by a hug as soon as he got out into the open. "You did wonderfully out there. Your Dad would have been proud." Harry blinked as he saw Andromeda pull away. "You came?" Andromeda smiled. "Of course we did. Ted might have cheered for his old house but I was backing you up completely. Teddy too." Teddy hugged him. "I sorta bet that you'd win, even if Cedric got the Snitch. Didn't think it would actually happen." Harry hugged him back. "Thanks Teddy. It means a lot. Where's your Mom?" Teddy chuckled. "Probably sending Aithusa after the Dementors. She'll probably chase them all the way back to Azkaban. They weren't supposed to get on the grounds. Mom was very mad. At least Aithusa had a bit of fun setting them on fire." Harry felt his hair getting ruffled as he got pulled along, a smile fixed warmly on his face. He loved having a family.

"Happy Christmas Harry." Harry smiled as he got pulled into a hug. "Happy Christmas Teddy." The boys sat at the table as Ted joined them within the Tonks household dining room. "Glad you could join us Harry, even with all the added drama of the manhunt." Harry shifted his chair closer to the table. "It's fine, sir." Ted shook his head. "It will be when you call me Ted." Harry blushed. "Sorry, Ted. Some habits are hard to kick." Ted hummed. "Indeed. Though having others helps with that. Nymphadora being an Alcoholic is a good example of that, since she was one until Hazel and Teddy made her go dry. For the most part." Dora huffed as she sat down, her very much alcoholic eggnog in her hand. "Hey, I wasn't that bad." Ted raised an eyebrow at her. "Really? Aberforth seemed quite sure you wrecked his bar once. Must have been the other seventh year Metamorphmagus from Hufflepuff." Dora blushed. "Yeah, well, a bad break up would do that to you." Ted shook his head and turned to the kitchen. "So, how was last night? Your door was silenced." Dora eyed Teddy as she drank from her eggnog. "Not as good as you might think." Teddy gave her a sad look. "Nightmare?" Dora nodded. "Yeah. Apparently she has those a lot around Christmas." Harry looked between them and Ted noticed.

"Hazel's life has left its scars. She has nightmares that can affect her mood. Didn't know they tended to be around a certain date." Teddy looked towards the kitchen. "Mom has nightmares around Christmas and around the Summer Solstice. Those days she remembers her Godmother the most and I think that hurts her a lot." Harry drank from his hot chocolate. He hoped that he didn't follow suit, especially around Halloween. His day this morning had been great, at least. Presents from his friends at school arrived, including Hermione's typical book, this time on Alchemy as he expressed an interest in the course, after the last year and a half of potions had gone well enough. Snape kept his complaints in class to a minimum and no longer seemed interested in docking as many points as before from him. He still favored the Slytherins, but it didn't seem as blatant. The Weasleys sent Harry a bunch of candy and Molly's usual knitted sweater. The face Hazel had made when he pulled it over his head had been fun to see. The Tonks gave him a few more gifts aimed at adding more personal touches to his room, including a few cool carvings of a stag and a doe. They had been his parents Patroni.

Dora gave him a weird book on personal hygiene which earned her a glare from Andromeda and Hazel while a laugh from Ted. Ted told Harry to save it for when he got himself a girlfriend. Teddy got him a cool necklace made of black dragon scales and leather. It had some enchantments, including some warding against fire. Hazel's gift had been one of the most interesting. It was a pocket watch. Teddy got a similar one too, though his colors and emblems were different. Hazel had smiled. "As an Heir to House Potter, one of the traditions is to have a pocket watch with your family crest on it. It has space for a wizarding photo of your choice. Use it in your Potions class to keep a closer eye on your brews." Hazel had pulled Teddy to her as he opened his and saw the picture. Whatever it was made the young Hufflepuff smile for the rest of the day. His thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell. Dora stood up. "I got it." Harry stood up and smiled as Susan and her Aunt arrived. Andromeda came from the kitchen and hugged Amelia. "Thanks for coming today."

Amelia smiled. "Thank you for having us." Susan came to Harry's side and presented him with a gift. "Happy Christmas, Harry." Harry blinked a bit before he smiled. "Happy Christmas, Susan." He opened the gift and smiled. "Thank you." He wrapped the wand holster to his arm as Amelia and Susan sat at his side, the former speaking up. "You might want to look closely at the bottom." Harry frowned and looked. His eyes widened at the inscribed tag on it as Amelia explained. "James was one of ours. There is a tradition that Auror wrist holsters are stored at the DMLE before being returned to their family. Took a bit of work finding that since there had been no one to return it to at the time. A lot of good Aurors didn't come home that October." Harry nodded, his eyes a bit watery. "Thank you." Susan smiled at him. "So, any Quidditch gifts?" Amelia sighed and Ted gave her a knowing look. Harry smiled at Susan. "Someone sent me a broom but Hazel is having it checked out. I should have it by the time we are at Hogwarts. It was a Firebolt." Susan beamed. "Can I try it when you get it back?" The two chatted away as Hazel and Andromeda set the table after setting the big oven roast and the rest of the food on the table. Amelia looked at Hazel. "Who sent the Firebolt?" Hazel looked at her closely. "We think it was a certain godfather making up for lost time." Amelia sighed and looked at Harry, rubbing her ring finger absentmindedly.

Hazel, for her part, looked over at Harry, feeling a little guilty for having the Firebolt be checked for anything dangerous, even if Harry had agreed to it. She had recused herself from telling Harry about their investigation into Sirius Black as they got back from Hogwarts. The boy deserved better than to feel and see the anger in her voice, especially when it was undeserved. Andromeda and Dora sat him down and explained the likelihood he was innocent and warned him about the dangers should he see a rat or a black dog. Harry's comment on the Weasley's pet rat had made Hazel apparate to the Burrow just a few days prior. Mr. Weasley confirmed that Ron's rat had gone missing some time during the school year. Hazel asked him to keep an eye on it, saying it could have been used to introduce a cursed object into the school. Mr. Weasley agreed to inform her if Ron ever got it back. She was grateful that Harry would also be on the lookout. As everyone sat down and ate, Hazel sat closely to Teddy and her son smiled at her. "Sorry we were so busy this last month, Mom." Hazel kissed him on the hair. "It's ok. I was a student too and I know what December exams are like." The two sat together with Dora on the same sofa as the after dinner party started. Hazel used her Conjuration skills to sporadically make mistletoe appear on the roof. Ted and Andromeda gave each other a kiss that made Dora blush, while Hazel gave Dora one that left her Partner breathless. Still, the kiss Susan gave Harry on the cheek was the highlight. For a non-Metamorphmagus, his face took on a most impressive shade of red.

OW December 25th 1993

Hazel stirred awake in her bed in the Chamber of Secrets. The Castle had been attacked again before the beginning of the Yuletide Recess. Fearing for the safety of the students, the Wizengamot had ordered the school to close down and for all the students to go home for the holiday. Not interested in spending Christmas with the Dursleys, Hazel left a note for McGonagall and Dumbledore telling them she was staying in the Castle. She heard quite a bit of grumbling from the Aurors about the possibility of her being in the Castle and that they were to catch her as soon as she was spotted but they never did. The Hogwarts Elves and Dobby were more than happy to keep her fed and safe. On Christmas Eve, the Elves provided her with a ton of food and she might have overindulged, especially on the dessert. She certainly felt her stomach a bit full but she was too thankful to them to not eat as much as she could. That night she conjured herself a Christmas tree and messed around with the lumos charm, creating several balls of light in a variety of colors, all of them flying through the air. She remembered getting into the bed and rubbing Isa's back. "This was the best Christmas ever, Isa. I only wish I had someone else here with me. I am so tired of being alone." She fell asleep soon after, hence why she was confused when she woke up.

Looking over a table full of breakfast and a few gifts, she thought that maybe Dobby had stayed in the chamber last night with her until she felt Isa pull a bit of parchment to her. Hazel frowned as she read it. Said parchment was soon dotted with wet spots, as tears raced down Hazel's cheeks. Her Godmother had somehow found her way into the Chamber and left her the food and gifts.

To my dearest Hazel,

I am sorry that I wasn't there for you as I should have been. I was a spy within the Death Eaters, meant to be Dumbledore's eyes and ears with regards to the attacks they carried out. My gift in healing allowed me the chance to serve the Death Eaters without having to get my hands dirty. At least, not as much. I won't lie to you. I am a killer. I killed the Longbottoms. I watched as Barty Crouch and the Lestranges drove them to insanity with the Torture Curse. The bastards gloated about it all the way to their trials. I watched my extended family and a close friend of Lily's be driven to madness. I did the only thing I could for them. I gave them a swift and merciful end. Neville and Augusta deserved better than to watch their family wither away, their minds gone forever. Despite this, I cannot help but care about you and to regret never getting the chance to watch you grow. To keep you safe. But I am here now, even if I cannot interact with you directly just yet, for your safety and mine. I will watch over you and protect you until my demented cousin is either dead or gone. Afterwards, I promise to be there for you, always. Happy Christmas, my little sapling.

With love, your Godmother

For the first time in her life, Hazel could say that she cried out of joy. She knew it. She knew her Godmother wasn't just another Death Eater like her mad cousin. She hugged the letter to herself and whispered "thank you." repeatedly. She ate her breakfast slowly, still under the effects of the heavy meal from the night prior before she checked her presents. One was a book on how to take care of unruly hair, which made Hazel giggle. Another present was a book on the Potter family, which she was thankful for. She had looked everywhere in Diagon Alley and found so little about them. The last thing was a wallet. She frowned at first until she read the note attached to it. She opened the wallet and felt new tears fill her eyes. Her Godmother sent a picture of her together with her parents as they dropped Hazel into the woman's arms. She could see the love and joy in her Godmother's face.

Hazel held the wallet to her chest and spent the day quietly in the Chamber, practicing a few of the new defence spells she had been assigned. While Lupin had agreed to teach her the Patronus Charm after another painful run in with a Dementor as she jogged around the Quidditch pitch during a game, he had told her to wait till after the Yuletide for her first lesson. So she practiced the other spells from his class. Or more specifically the classes he missed. Snape had been interestingly direct with his lesson on Werewolves, including the spells needed to conjure Silver Arrows and Spears. He warned that the likelihood anyone of them managed the spell was low, as Conjuration was a sixth year skill in Transfiguration. Hazel had quietly smiled at that. She had Conjuration down wandlessly. So the rest of the day was spent launching arrows and spears at the wall of the chamber. She eventually settled on the spear, as she had an easier time visualizing it. On and on she waved her hand at the wall until it started getting peppered with spears. She made them thinner and smaller to reduce her exhaustion and kept casting it over and over again under the watchful gaze of her cat.

The last few tries at the spell were a bit more frustrating as she used the liquids from her potions kit to test for silver. Silver was used a bit in potions but its presence was dangerous in certain brews, so the Potions kits came with means to detect silver, something she needed now. Unfortunately, it kept coming up negative on her spears. She used every trick of visualization to get the constitution right, even shifting the incantation words, as Snape never bothered to correct anyone's pronunciation. At last she screamed, "Argentum Lanceam." Her last spear was clearly bigger than the rest but she had pushed more magic into it. Breathing heavily, Hazel reached the wall and poured the liquid onto the lance. She watched as the liquid changed color and she slumped onto the cold ground, breathing heavily but with a smile on her face. Isa came up to her and jumped onto her chest, which made Hazel smile. She petted the cat. "Well Isa, at least I know how to defend myself against Professor Lupin now. Just a few more practice throws and maintaining the right visualization and he won't be able to hurt me. I'll be ready for those lessons for the Patronus spell." Hazel felt the cat purr as she closed her eyes. She had a Godmother that cared about her and a means of protecting herself beyond her black flames. This was certainly the best Christmas ever.

NW January 1st 1994

Dora kissed Hazel warmly as she felt her body settle down from a surprise and amorous wakeup call. She breathed heavily as she eyed her partner, smiling contently. "What was that for?" Hazel blushed. "An apology? I tend to freak out on you a lot after a bad dream. Last night was a good dream, so I felt like sharing the warm feeling it left me with." Dora smiled. "I appreciate that. Did you silence the door?" Hazel nodded. "I don't want to traumatize my son, or embarrass you with your family." Dora hummed and turned over, pressing Hazel onto the bed. Hazel seemed to search her eyes. "What are you up to?" Dora blushed. "A little experimenting. If you will let me." Hazel rubbed Dora's cheek. "Ok, but be gentle. I don't… I don't want to freak out on you." Dora kissed her warmly. She pressed her body into Hazel's and the bed started squeaking as Dora gave in to her yearning. She watched Hazel's eyes focus on her before they rolled back into her skull a few times. She bit down into Hazel's neck as Hazel screamed in ecstasy, her legs wrapped around Dora's waist. The two breathed deeply as Hazel stared into Dora's purple eyes. She smiled. "You dropped the shift on your eyes midway." Dora flushed in embarrassment. "Ohh."

Hazel kissed Dora and pulled teasingly on her lower lip before releasing it. "None of that. I told you to be honest to yourself. You know I like it when your real eyes are the ones I see." Dora nodded. "I know. I… will try to not shift them all the time but please understand…" Hazel rubbed Dora's cheek with her hand. "I understand. You look in the mirror and see someone you don't want to be. Trust me, I know that feeling. Better than most. For me though, no matter what appearance I take, the look never changes. Because it's not what's on the skin that bothers me. It's what's underneath it." Dora pulled Hazel onto her side and the two cuddled together. "Did you try it? Being someone else entirely?" Hazel closed her eyes and sighed. "Yes and no." She opened them and looked at Dora. "When my Godmother died, I buried myself in her home. Only came out for Hogwarts. When I did… I was different. I was colder, indifferent. I didn't care about anyone or anything." Dora frowned as she remembered something. "This was when you dated your ex?" Hazel nodded. "We got together just before the Winter Recess. I had no illusions we were going to last. But I wanted to feel something other than pain."

Dora lifted her head from the bed with her hand. "What happened?" Hazel's eyes turned red and Dora shivered. "I tried being someone else. It was intoxicating, exhilarating and it made me feel good." Her eyes shifted to green again. "But I realized I was living a lie. An illusion. Sure, everything looked fine on the surface but no matter what, I knew it was going to end badly and it did." Hazel breathed deeply and sighed. "I don't regret it though. Because I learned who I was from that moment on. I learned what I was forced to become." Hazel's eyes watered. "I also learned what was expected of me. I was supposed to die. My world's Dumbledore planned it from the start." Dora froze. "Is Harry… ?" Hazel shook her head. "I don't know. Without the book, maybe the old man doesn't know and hasn't planned his death yet. Regardless, whatever happens, I won't let Harry turn out like me." Dora kissed Hazel's forehead. "What? A hot badass who is a great mom?" Hazel glared at Dora. "You know that's not what I meant." Dora chuckled. "I know. But that's what I see. I see you suffering and hurting, but above that I see a woman who is a great mom, who does the right thing, even if her methods are questionable and whose very presence makes me happy."

Hazel saw the truth of Dora's words in her eyes and pinned Dora underneath her. "There is a part of me that wants to break that idea you have of me. A part of me wants you to run scared of me like everyone else. You have seen a part of me and somehow like it. Would you still like it if I showed you everything?" Hazel's eyes grew dark and silver in color as magic started to radiate from her. Dora stared at her. "Stop." Hazel's eyes lighten up again, back to their green color, her magic settling down. "So, not ready?" Dora leaned up and kissed her. "No. Because that's not you. No matter what you try to convince me of." Hazel sighed and sat down, making Dora bite her lower lip to suppress a moan. Hazel gave her a devilish smile. "Oh, still raring to go? Even after everything this morning? Even after seeing those eyes of mine?" Dora leaned up and kissed her passionately, causing Hazel's mind to melt. "For you? I'll always want you. I am not afraid." Hazel sighed into the kiss and pressed her waist down, making Dora groan. A few minutes later, after pulling her clothes on, Hazel turned to an equally dressed Dora and kissed her on the lips. "Careful what you promise me, Partner. I will hold you to it." Dora nodded. "And I will keep my word."

Chapter 33: Lessons in Defence

"All right you two, come up here and look over the guns. Pick one and we will get you started. MI5 was happy with the last mission you worked on together, but they would like it if you all fit in better with their raids." Dora rolled her eyes. "Right, like two females wearing skin tight tactical gear doesn't make us stand out already." Quetz glared at Dora. "Coneja, those missions will probably involve you getting some bulletproof gear, so don't be a smart ass." Dora was about to retort when Hazel shoved her shoulder. "Stop picking a fight. This is interesting." Dora turned to her. "You know what she called me." Hazel smirked. "And the more lip you give her, the more creative she will get with her insults in Spanish. Now zip it." Dora wilted under Quetz glare before the blonde witch pulled the cloth off from the table in front of her, revealing a large display of pistols, all of different designs and calibers. "We are starting small today, with your standard issue sidearms from all over the UK and Europe. Pick the one that feels more comfortable in your hand. We will adjust your picks from there as soon as you start shooting." Quetz watched as Dora went for the biggest gun and morphed her hand to match the size. She sighed. "Or you can just cheat. Maldita sean los cambiaformas."

Hazel looked up from her much smaller gun choice, her eyes glowing green. "If I hear Teddy cursing in Spanish before he is fifteen, you, me and your diosa are going to have some words." Quetz swallowed. "Noted." Quetz eyed as Hazel weighed the guns in her hand and smiled. The witch had a good grasp of the weight of a gun slowing her down, not exactly that dissimilar from the weight, shape and grip of a melee weapon. She saw Hazel check the switch on the stock next to the trigger. "I know you acquire these weapons from the non-magical government, but how likely are we going to need a full automatic pistol in our field of work?" Quetz tapped her chin. "Not very. At least not with a sidearm. In your case I'd recommend semi-auto, but knowing you have the option isn't bad either." Hazel hummed and lowered the gun she picked up and took another one. "I'll go semi-auto for now, medium caliber. We might be able to adjust our muscle structure to compensate with the recoil but maybe it's better we try your typical variety of weapon. Especially if it's the standard most criminals carry, as I might end up using their weapons." Quetz chuckled. "That's the spirit. Go and put your safety gear on. I'll teach you how to adjust a localized deafening spell so you can use the firearms freely in the field afterwards, but do try and use the safety gear in house."

Quetz helped both Hazel and Dora get into a proper shooting position. "Aim down the iron sights. Get them as level as you can. Once you are sure, release the safety. Your finger is to be off the trigger until you want to fire. I don't want to hear about any accidental misfires from you two. My friends in MI5 will never let me hear the end of it. Now, as for breathing… " Quetz ran Hazel through exercises, checked her grip and arm position and stepped back. A shot rang out. Then another. Hazel took her time adjusting her grip and aimed. Her last bullet in the magazine managed to hit the target dead center. Quetz showed her how to release the magazine. "Some guns have a bit of lean in certain directions, and your posture doesn't help. Yours was a bit to the right. Take a few shots like you did, compensate and keep trying." Quetz went to work with Dora and her heavy revolver as Hazel kept doing more target practice. She winced when Dora almost smacked herself from the recoil in the face after her first shot. "That, amiga, is why you go for smaller calibers first. Big hands or not." Dora blushed and handed her the revolver. "Right, got it." Dora and Quetz went back to the table and Quetz gave her a few pointers as Hazel kept practicing her marksmanship.

Horatio walked in and watched quietly as Quetz taught Dora how to shoot the smaller pistol. He moved closer to Hazel as she switched out her empty magazine. "Not as easy as it looks, is it?" Hazel pulled the ear protection and safety glasses of her face and shook her head. "I imagine muscle memory will eventually play a part in this, but getting quicker and more accurate with the aim takes some work." Horatio nodded. "We have had a few wizards and witches give up on them for that reason. They had a bit of an issue separating gun accuracy and spell casting aim. The Aurors tried to incorporate both once upon a time but gave up for the same reasons." Hazel thought about it and nodded. "I can see that. Maybe have firearm exercises prior to a mission involving muggles and then a bit of spellcasting afterwards? Get the muscle memory issues cleared out before they are a problem?" Horatio hummed as he looked at Dora, who got some shots onto the target. "Agreed. I'll arrange for that as soon as a proper mission comes up. Croaker wants to see you and Dora as soon as you are free. We got some intel on the Sirius Black case."

Croaker started the briefing as soon as the three were in his office. "Our Enchanters are closer to figuring out how the map works. We hope that in a few weeks we can have working prototypes in your hands to facilitate the hunt. The bit of intel was something one of our younger Unspeakables had seen but had no way of knowing if it was important or not. After reviewing his memories, we have confirmation that Peter Pettigrew is very much alive and has been at Hogwarts. The longest periods of time were spent in the third year boys dorm room near Ronald Weasley, so the Weasley pet, Scabbers, is indeed our not quite dead Animagus." Dora looked at Croaker. "How soon will the DMLE be informed of this?" Croaker sighed and dropped his paper. "Amelia, Rufus and Alastor will be made aware. They are the vetted members of the DMLE. We can't, however, disseminate the information. The memories of the Unspeakable working on the map reveals Pettigrew has entered and left the wards repeatedly this last year. If he hears about the hunt for him, we might lose him forever."

Hazel looked at Horatio and back at Croaker. "So, our orders now are the safe retrieval of both Pettigrew and Black." Horatio nodded. "Aside from guarding the Castle, those are your orders for the new term." Dora stood up. "Anything else?" The two men turned to Hazel. "The fact that Pettigrew is alive and was a member of the group that comprised of Black, Potter and Lupin should dispel any concerns of Black being the actual traitor. Are you able to put aside your feelings for the man from your world and not try to kill our Black on sight?" Hazel saw an image of her Sirius Black flash before her closed eyes. Everyone saw her exposed arms light up as arcs of red light danced over her naked skin. She exhaled deeply and opened her eyes. "No. I can't. I won't kill him outright, but my instinct still tells me to hurt him. If you want him unharmed, I need to be kept from seeing or hearing him." Croaker sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "What happened that you hate him so much?" Dora rushed to Hazel as her body shook at the memory. "Everything. If there are four people I can blame fully for my fate in my own world, they are Dumbledore, Voldemort, Severus Snape and Sirius Black."

OW February 1994

"Expecto Patronum." A thin wisp of white mist erupted from her wand. Hazel grinded her teeth as Lupin watched on. "Try another memory. It needs to be a happy memory. The happiest you have ever been." Hazel closed her eyes. She focused on the memory from this last Christmas. The letter she received from her Godmother. What it made her feel. She focused on it as she aimed her wand. "Expecto Patronum." A slightly larger torrent of mist erupted from her wand, but its shape was irregular. Remus frowned as Hazel discontinued the spell, the latter breathing heavily. "Well, that's odd. Shield Patroni are quite common. Your Patronus seemed to be trying to take corporeal form yet it couldn't." Hazel sighed, feeling exhausted. "Great. Another issue with my magic. Would be nice if my magic would just settle down, for once." Remus pulled out a bar of chocolate and offered it to her but Hazel just glared at him. He sighed. "It's not poisoned or covered in potions." Hazel kept her eye on him and shook her head. "Not exactly a fan, regardless." Remus placed the bar of chocolate on the desk. "Hazel, why do you keep doing this?"

Hazel frowned. "Doing what?" Remus looked her in the eyes. "Pushing people away. You spent the Yuletide somewhere locked away in the Castle. You don't have a group of friends to call your own and you antagonize Dumbledore at every turn. It's not healthy." Hazel glared at him. "You don't have the right to judge me on my personal life." Remus shook his head. "I was a friend of your parents, Hazel. All the way from Hogwarts to that fateful night. I was their friend and in my own heart they were my family." Hazel looked at him and chuckled bitterly. "Oh, I am sure they must be loving you in the grave. Did your friendship stop at me? Did I piss on you as a toddler? Tell me, Lupin, what made you give up on the daughter of your so-called family for twelve years?" Remus looked at her closely. "Hazel, you were living with muggles." Hazel dismissed that. "Who knew of magic because of family, so that's no excuse. Try again." Remus seemed to straighten up a bit. "Dumbledore…" Hazel spat at hearing his name. "Isn't my Grandfather, blood relation or even my real Magical Guardian. Try harder. Why did you abandon me?"

Remus rubbed his face with his hand. "I have a condition. It's not safe to be around me. Especially as a kid." Hazel blinked at him before she laughed. She sat on a heavy closed trunk and laughed at him. "You are in a school with hundreds of kids for ten months of the year, and now you suddenly claim it is not safe for a child to be around you? Really? You are only a threat for a few days of the month on the full moon. Don't give me anymore crappy excuses. You had three tries. You failed at all of them!" Remus yelled at her. "It's illegal for a werewolf to be near a child before the age of nine." Hazel yelled back. "And you and my accursed parents were vigilantes breaking the law since before leaving Hogwarts. Don't you dare use the law as an excuse! You turned your back on them and me!" Remus froze. "You… your parents loved you. They died for you. How can you curse them?" Hazel glared at the man. "I would have rather died with them. I have lived twelve years without any care from anyone. Not my dead parents, not a senile old man and certainly not you. What made you think I would care about anyone in return? Why would I glorify the people who chose to make the war their first priority and their own child second?" Remus sighed. "They were making a better world for you."

Hazel looked around. "You see that better world somewhere? The racists are still in power, securing their authority at every turn, the muggleborns are still treated like shit and when a little girl asks anyone for help, all I get is told to stop making up lies. This world isn't any better! So what was the point of it all? They could have taken me anywhere in the world, away from these cursed islands. They had the money and the right. They could have fled and raised me as a daughter, safe from the nightmare of the war. Instead they stayed, like good little soldiers. They stayed and hid, antagonizing a madman at every turn. How exactly was that exemplary parental behaviour?" Remus shook his head. "You don't understand. We all had a duty to fight." Hazel yelled. "And I have the right to curse the names of my parents for it. You're not the one who gets to see them every bloody time a Dementor decides that I need my tonsils inspected. I see them and I hate them because they should have been there for me! You should have been there for me! My Godmother at least had the excuse that she was dragged off to Azkaban against her will!"

Remus stood up straight, his instincts recognizing something in her voice. "You know something about her. Hazel, the woman is dangerous." Hazel lifted her book bag over her shoulder. "Like you? Sorry Professor, but if you have trouble telling when and how you are dangerous to students, I am not about to take your word for it that my Godmother is any greater threat to me." Remus reached out and held her shoulder. "I am not joking around. She's a Death Eater, Hazel." Hazel looked at the hand on her shoulder and then at his eyes. "Right. So is my Potion's Master, a member of the Board of Governors and a third of the Wizengamot. Either they suck at being dangerous or they are just as dangerous as everyone else, including you." Remus tried to turn her around. "The Aurors need to-" his suggestion was cut off as he pulled his hand away from Hazel, a familiar pain burning his skin. Hazel spun a little blade of silver in her hand, a red line of blood slowly burning away on the blade. "The first Defence Professor taught me a lot. By instruction and example. I don't trust you, Dumbledore or anyone else. I trust myself, because I am the only one who seems to ever care about me. So I suggest you keep your hands to yourself, Professor. I already killed one Defence professor. Don't give me a reason to kill you too. I regretted killing my first professor. You… you I might do it with a smile on my face." Hazel turned around and left, leaving behind a stunned Lupin as he held his bleeding hand.

NW February 1994

Teddy looked over his Herbology assignment and added the final answers before drying it wandlessly. His Mom had kept his wandless training since the start of term, starting with small spells like drying ink, lighting, summoning and banishing charms. She started teaching him a few more based on the stunning and shielding charms he had already learned with a wand, but those were harder to manage for him. At least for now. He turned to the other students at his table. "Done." Hestia and Flora raised their heads from their own assignment. They batted their eyelashes at him. "Would you look over ours?" Teddy smiled and shook his head. "Not until you are done." They both frowned and went back to work as Astoria sighed, lowering her quill onto the table. "Done with mine too. Do you still have to do the one Snape assigned in DADA?" Teddy shook his head. "No, I did that one the day he assigned it." Astoria cursed under her breath. "Why did he even assign it? Werewolves are a third year topic. He gave the same one to my sister's class." Teddy looked between Astoria and the twins, who seemed to be thinking about Astoria's comment.

"Probably because Remus Lupin is one." The Twins looked up and then at each other. "Oh, that is mean." The other girl, Flora he was sure, giggled. "Oh it is. He must have been ordered to keep quiet." Hestia hummed. "But Snape wants the Defence position for himself." Flora continued. "What better way than to get the competition sacked." Hestia finished. "Indeed. Having the students telling the secret to their parents for him instead." Astoria rested her chin on her hands. "I am so happy I am not in Slytherin. I might have gone insane keeping up with all the other Heirs and Heiresses and their plots, only for the Head of House to have his own." The twins giggled as Teddy shook his head. Astoria looked at Teddy. "You knew before the assignment?" Teddy nodded as he pulled out his Charms assignment. "You know how my Mom is. If it can hurt me, she gives me a full lesson on it. She had me pick up on the nuances and habits of Weres, Vampires, Hags and people under Possession." The Twins shuddered. "Nana told us about some cases of Possession. Very nasty." The other twin nodded. "Same with Hags. Some like to make food out of muggle kids. Aurors aren't very friendly to them if the Hags are caught with a kid."

Teddy shuddered. "Yeah, I am staying clear of Knockturn Alley." Astoria smirked. "Please, they wouldn't dare to attack you there. Especially not with that last name of yours." Teddy shrugged. "True, but best to not give my Mom a reason to smite a whole street's worth of people." Teddy's words caused the Twins to eye him curiously as Teddy looked over his Charms homework and leaned closer to Astoria. "Can you help me with the theory?" Astoria looked over and nodded, pulling out her own assignment. "Sure. I need to start mine too. After this, you can help me with the DADA essay." Teddy nodded and started taking down notes. He was glad for his friendship with Astoria. Not only was she fun to be around, but she had a better grasp of theory. They clicked together well, as he showed her the ways to get the practical aspects down and she even found how the theory helped with that. History of Magic though, was a bit of a problem for him. The histories of the two worlds were not that different but some of the dates were. He had to make a lot of excuses to his friends about why he screwed up with the dates and he made sure they never used his assignments as study material.

The four of them eventually finished their assignments and Astoria went to return the books. Teddy felt the twins grip both of his arms from either side. Hestia stared into his eyes. "Why is Lady Peverell asking about our parents?" Teddy blushed. "Your Boggart. If that was real, then it was wrong of them to do that to you." Flora turned his head towards her. "If it was, what could she do? Our parents are the Heads of our House. They are appealing to recover their seats in the Wizengamot. They can treat us however they like and the Wizengamot can't do anything about it." Teddy turned serious. "The laws are different now. Your memories can send them back to Azkaban." Flora's eyes scanned his face. "And if they get away with it?" Teddy shook his head. "They won't. Mom hates people who hurt kids. If she can charge them with a crime, she will. If she can't, she will find another way. I promise you." Hestia pulled his head back to her. "How can you be sure?" Deciding it was fair to trust them if he wanted them to trust his Mom, he looked at them both. "Don't repeat this to anyone."

Hestia and Flora stared at each other and nodded, answering in stereo. "We won't." Teddy sighed. "Lockhart. Mom took care of Lockhart." The Twins blinked at him a few times before their mouths broke into smiles. "Ok. We will trust her." Hestia leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, noble Hufflepuff." Flora kissed his other cheek. "A Lion in the Badgers' Den indeed." The Twins took off and left as Teddy's face and hair were cycling colors. He felt a handkerchief cleaning his cheeks and blushed as Astoria glared at him. "Must you be such a gentleman?" Teddy nodded. "I don't want to be the type of person that has hurt my family before. If I can help people who need it, I will." Astoria stuffed her handkerchief away and searched his eyes. "Try not to let all this go to your head. You are cuter as a Badger, not as a Gryffindor." Astoria kissed his cheek and walked away, leaving a stunned Teddy behind. After checking with Nova, he found his Mom with Dora cleaning out their dismantled firearms, Dora looking a bit frustrated. Hazel turned to him with concern. "You ok?" Teddy shook his head. "Mom, how do I get girls to stop kissing my cheeks?" He watched as Dora started laughing hysterically while his Mom banished her wandlessly, making Dora fall onto her back with a thud. She kept laughing. Hazel conjured a seat for him after silencing her partner. "Ok, tell me what happened."

Remus rubbed his face as he made his way to the DADA class room on the third floor. While the current class was being handled by Hazel due to his latest full moon transformation, the one a few minutes afterwards was his since it was a written test. So he dragged his feet up the stairs and reached the classroom door. He had a split second to react to a spell aimed his way, but he managed to dodge it, a ball of snow manifesting as it impacted the wall just behind him. A lot of voices groaned in disappointment as a familiar one yelled out to him. "Get in Professor and hug the wall after you shut the door." He did as he was told as he watched the students line up again, casting shields. "Viburnum." A light blue spell shot from Hazel's wand and slammed into one of the shields. He watched as the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs deflected the ball back and forward, casting and recasting the shields repeatedly. As soon as he was behind Hazel he watched her cast the spell again. The fifth year students kept deflecting the spell to the other side of the room, those getting tired switching out with other students. A third spell was added to the mix. He watched the balls of blue light hit the walls a few times but the walls were clearly spelled to reflect magic as well. One errant spell was directed towards him and Hazel reached out and batted it back in with her wand, adding another spell for good measure.

The back and forward continued with only a few errant spells aimed their way but eventually the clocks shimmed a warning. Hazel waved her wand dismissively and the entire room's enchantments, shields and spells were dispelled. "All right everyone. Since the only people who were hit by a snowball were victims of their own teammates' questionable deflection." Hazel stared at the Weasley Twins who tried to give her the most innocent look possible. "Messers Weasley, I raised my son throughout his whole life. You have no chance of earning my sympathy with such a plebeian attempt at a wounded puppy look. I have seen better." The classroom laughed as the Twins pouted before Hazel turned back to the rest. "Since the goal of the exercise was to hit the opposing team, let's call this day's exercise in practical magic a draw. 35 points total to both houses for an excellent display of a deflective shield charm and how to use it properly. Please read chapters 17-20 in your textbooks. 17 and 18 will likely require you to have a practical demonstration on the casting of the deflective hex charm ward, so practice that. After which I am certain your DADA Professor will cover the finer details on the theories behind detection charms as outlined in chapters 19 and 20."

The students left the classroom chatting with each other as Hazel waved her wand, reconfiguring the classroom with its desks and chairs. Remus looked on with clear admiration. "Are you interested in taking the job? Those students would probably prefer you over me." Hazel eyed the man. "I think Madam Bones would resign if I did that. She finds my methods a bit too effective. Anyways, while Defence is an interesting subject, I am the last person next to Snape who should teach it." Remus frowned. "Why you two?" Hazel chuckled. "Because Snape may be a little less of a Death Eater, at least by my observations this year, but he is still enamored of the Dark Arts. It'd be like putting an alcoholic in charge of a bar." Remus nodded. "I see your point. What about you?" Hazel blinked. "You don't know much about the Peverell family, do you? I am a poster child for what we are, and that was before I took the name. We might hunt Dark Wizards and Witches but we don't care about using any and all magics in our arsenal. I am a Dark Witch, I just aim my wand at the others who can't take a hint. The class would be less Defence and more Dark Arts." Remus shuddered at the power in her words as she spoke them. "Well, as a Dark Witch, any idea how to lift the supposed curse on the position?"

Hazel summoned her jacket, slipped her arms through the sleeves and dug into her pockets. She brought out an apple and started munching on it. "Already did." Remus looked up from his notes. "What?" Hazel pointed up to the ceiling and he looked up. The skeleton of a dragon hanging from the ceiling certainly looked scorched and blackened. Hazel bit more into her apple and munched away. "Quirrell apparently had all his lessons in the first floor classrooms. He completely ignored the practical aspect of the class, which this room is better suited for. I felt a bit of curse magic trying to latch on to me in class and I traced it to the skeleton. A bit of cursed flame that devours magic and no more DADA curse." Remus blinked at the skeleton before looking at her. "Just like that?" Hazel gave him a toothy grin. "To be fair to our predecessors, all dragon remains have traces of magic on them. Good old Voldemort picked his hiding place well. All scans of the room would have detected the cursed object but the dragon skeleton would have shielded it or they simply dismissed it as a false positive from the magic in the dragon bones and ignored it. I only noticed it now since this is the longest I have been in the classroom here."

Remus rubbed his face and looked at her. "Am I…?" Hazel flicked her wand and Remus shivered. She finished her apple before vanishing the core. "A bit hard to see with Lycanthropy in your system, but there is residue of it. Your own curse probably fought it. It should dissipate in time, but I'd suggest you go see Pomfrey. I'll fill her in so she can give you the proper counter to it." Remus nodded. "I will do that. Thank you." Hazel blinked at him. "Oh, don't thank me. I just gave you a bigger headache than the curse ever was. You're the one who has the distinction of potentially breaking the streak of one academic year Defence professors. If the students of the entire school who Snape has been training to spot a werewolf don't write about your condition to their parents, you will have the responsibility to keep the class going for the rest of your career. So, no pressure." Remus shook his head. "You could take it, you know?" Hazel waved at him. "Nope. I love my real job, though I wouldn't mind having McGonagall's class. Acceptable OWL score my ass!" The door of the classroom slammed shut as Hazel left, leaving Remus sighing as he looked up at the skeleton. He shook his head and gathered his notes for the next class, his mind on the possibility of doing this another year.

A spread of five lances struck the conjured wall in the center of the Chamber of Secrets as Dora watched her partner practice. The Enchantment Division of the Depart of Mysteries had finally managed to unravel the Enchantments on the maps and was able to copy them onto another parchment. They also sent one of the Enchanters to the Castle to adjust them, adding the Chamber of Secrets, its long and winding tunnels and an indicator for the Room of Requirement. While they wouldn't be able to open the room without excessive force, they would now be able to see who entered it, with the map logging the names of the people inside. So Dora kept watch on the copy they received as a test while Hazel practiced her spellwork. Hazel stopped for a second as she dispelled the spears and repaired the transfigured wall. She tapped her index finger on her lips before she grinned. A flick of her hand and six metal spears impaled themselves into the wall. She focused her magic and casted a spell that latched onto the spears. Arcs of red light jumped across from each spear as the air crackled before Hazel ended it. Dora sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Please tell me that wasn't the torture curse."

Hazel's silence served as the answer she needed and Dora pulled her partner to her. Those green eyes focused on her brown eyes. "Why?" Hazel hummed. "Because at one point we are going to be facing more than just criminals and Death Eater fodder. We will have the Inner Circle to deal with. When that happens, the primary order will be to take them down." Dora searched her girlfriend's eyes. "Not for Sirius?" Hazel shook her head. "No. Not for Sirius. I am not planning on breaking my orders, Dora. He's technically yours to catch. My orders are Pettigrew and the safety of the Castle. I can do those without resorting to Unforgivables. For now, anyway." Dora smiled and kissed her. "Ok. Just wanted to make sure. Can I have a go and you can watch the map?" Hazel nodded and conjured her old sofa before summoning the map to her. Dora pouted. "Of course you get the comfy sofa." After receiving a stinging hex to her rear, Dora got started on casting while Hazel flicked her wrist absentmindedly while watching the map. She was saddened to hear her own map was incompatible with the school's wards. It simply had too many inconsistencies with the actual Hogwarts of this world.

Dora switched from curses to Conjurations but she tired out quickly. "You make it look so easy." Hazel looked up and noticed the arrows sticking out of the walls. "I suppose it is easier for me. I spent years as a kid dreaming of bigger and better things. Grand beds, tall ceilings and large yards. As I got older, I started adding details to my dreams. Dark thick curtains on a four poster bed to block out the sun. A library filled with books from all across the world. A garden with a solarium where I could sit and watch the snow fall while I remained comfortable. Sometimes I even had a pool inside the solarium." Dora hummed. "Sounds nice. Working on that?" Hazel blushed. "Maybe. Still focused on finding plots of land that are worth it. The Peverell Estate became Potter Manor and while the place is somewhat abandoned, it's still Harry's house. So I am looking elsewhere, maybe near the Potter grounds. Somewhere we could start building. I at least want it done by the time Teddy graduates. Don't get me wrong, the apartment is great and all, but I want to leave Teddy a proper legacy. Anyways, having an active imagination seemed to have helped me and my conjurations be more than effective. Since my mind is so detail oriented, I can just apply it to Conjuration and Transfiguration easily enough. When it's a simple design, it's almost instantaneous."

After completing the last of her spellcasting exercises, Dora joined Hazel on the couch. "Do I get a say in this new house of yours?" Hazel eyed Dora carefully. "When you manage to put a ring on my hand." Dora stilled. She stared at Hazel who went back to check the map. Her mind started shifting constantly, as did her hair. Marriage. She had now been in a relationship with Hazel for a full year. So far, she had no complaints. Sure, Hazel was a bit bloodthirsty at times and she had those moments where she was clearly depressed from her memories acting up, but she had no doubts she cared deeply about her. But was Dora in love with her? Enough to marry her and call her her wife? A part of her was thrilled at the idea but there was still a part of her that was curious, especially as Hazel constantly warned her that she was only seeing a part of who Hazel was, not the whole. She had stopped Hazel at the New Years and she meant what she said. She wasn't afraid. Not about losing her feelings for Hazel. Never that. But she was afraid that Hazel would push her away. What they had was amazing and wonderful. She never wanted it to end.

Dora found herself pinned to the back of the sofa as Hazel straddled her. "Did I scare you off yet?" Dora looked at the concern in Hazel's eyes. Sighing, she allowed her own eyes to shift to purple before staring at her, she felt Hazel's mood shift and she smiled. "Nope. Just don't think I am ready for that. Not yet." Hazel smiled and nodded. "And I am ok with that. We have quite a few years to get closer to each other. As for the planned house… maybe I am adjusting it to match your tastes. Just a bit. I meant what I said, though. If you want any true, permanent input on my family's life, you are going to have to put a ring on my finger and mean it." Dora nodded. "Got it." Hazel got up from Dora's lap and Dora pouted. Hazel smirked at her, walking away towards the entrance of the Chamber as she summoned the map. "Come on, Partner. We got some patrols to do and more tests of the map." Dora watched as Hazel made sure her steps gave a noticeable sway to her rear. Dora groaned. "Really? Now?" Hazel smiled at her. "Yes now. Come on, the fourth floor isn't going to patrol itself. There are quite a few broom closets to check. A few might even be warded excessively. Who could have done that, I wonder." Dora's mind froze as a smile grew on her face. She could happily say she had the best partner ever.

Chapter 34: Confronting Demons

OW May 1994

Hazel stepped out of the Potions classroom, exhausted from another detention with Snape. The bastard tried to get her to clean up several tanks of leeches, well beyond the amount he usually had anyone clean. Hazel was glad he never specified that he wanted the remaining leeches alive or at all, only the tanks cleaned out. A few wandless vanishing spells, a whole lot of insults and curses about her dead father, and the evening was wasted away. Checking her pocket watch, Hazel noted it was time for curfew. The bastard had held her enough that she was sure to be caught. Head Boy Weasley would be so delighted to award her more detentions if he found her. Joy. She sighed as she returned her watch to her pocket, thinking about summoning her Invisibility Cloak to her hand, when she felt someone was looking at her. She hardly got a chance to cast a shield before she lost consciousness. The moment her mind registered something new, her first thought was that she was seriously getting tired of waking up in unexpected locations. Sure, this was the second time it happened, but that didn't mean she didn't feel like it could become a bad habit. Her thoughts were interrupted when she suddenly felt every nerve of her body light on fire. She screamed in agony, even if a part of her mind knew it wasn't as bad as it had been last year. Still, the difference from getting her blood boiled to getting her nerves to register intense pain seemed rather moot.

The pain receded as she heard a man laughing. "Oh, I have been waiting years to do that. I did wonder who you would have sounded more like. Sure you are a girl, so maybe you sound like Lily, but maybe James would scream the same way. I mean, my master called dibs on them, especially after you were marked for death, but that didn't mean I never fantasized about it. Let's hear that pretty voice of yours again, shall we? Crucio!" Hazel screamed again, even as she retained some control of her arms she turned around onto her stomach before the pain ended. A hand grabbed her shoulder and Hazel conjured a blade into her palm and slashed at him as he turned her around, cutting into his arm. The man cursed. "Oww! What's this, little Bambie has claws? Let me fix that. Crucio!" Hazel tried to fight the pain, holding her scream in, as she felt her body shaking severely. The pain ended and a man's face came into view. Those grey eyes looked down at her, filled with a mad joy. His lower jaw was covered in a bushy and unkept beard, mustache and all. His teeth were yellowish and a bit crooked. "Still alive, Bambie? That's what your dad called you, you know. Man must have forgotten how the movie went or he would have known it was a terrible nickname idea."

Sirius Black laughed at his own joke as he straightened himself out. Hazel tried to focus her magic on her hand before a boot came crashing onto her clenched fist. He pressed hard until bones popped and Hazel whimpered. "Now, none of that. I checked you, you know. You didn't have a blade on you. A conjurer at thirteen? And wandless to boot? James would have been proud." He slammed his foot down on her other hand, breaking even more of her fingers. He sighed happily. "That's better. Can't have you spoiling my fun, Bambi. You did that a lot, you know? I have no bloody idea where you slept but it was nowhere I could find and I thought I knew every inch of the castle. I Imperiused quite a few kids but none of them could find you. Setting you up by sending Malfoy's brat to fight with you was at least entertaining. The boy may be close to being my nephew but man do I hate his father. Always so… pompous. Like his peacocks." Sirius leaned over her face, smirking at her. "Have you seen them? Big albino ones. Bet they'd taste great with a side of gravy." Hazel lunged up and smashed her head into his skull. He reared back. "Oww! There is that Evans temper. You sure you aren't a redhead? My favorite memory from our third year was watching Evans kick James in the balls."

The man laughed as he cast the Torture Curse on Hazel again who fought the effects better, even as her body was shaking uncontrollably. "God, James was bitter for weeks. Still, we both know he still had a working set of balls or you wouldn't be here, now would you?" Sirius looked up at the sky, taking in a calming breath, before looking at the Castle. "Look at them, safely in bed while you suffer out here in the cold. I'd say that your Godmother might save you, but I haven't seen her at all, not since I missed you in Surrey." Hazel gritted her teeth as he cast another Cruciatus at her. She cried as the pain seemed to dull her ability to think at all. She wanted it to be over. Sirius stopped the curse and smiled down at her. "Want to know a secret? Dementors are quite nasty but as an animal they leave you alone. We both got through the bars of Azkaban that way. A bit easier for her but much harder for me. I actually starved myself. Not my most pleasant idea but it worked. Because here I am and here they come." Hazel felt the cold settle into her skin as the grass got covered in frost as soon as he finished his sentence. Sirius smiled down at her. "Now lie there and look pretty, little Bambi. I want to see how Britain mourns their saviour as her soulless body is taken to St. Mungos. Do try and make your last seconds interesting."

0

She watched the man turn into a familiar looking coyote and rush some distance away as the Dementors descended from the sky. She really hated the sight of them. She heard her own screams in her head as one after another the Dementors fed from her. She knew it was the end when the last one grabbed her throat. She closed her eyes and prayed it would be quick. She had hated her life up to this moment. Her only regrets were that she wouldn't be able to say goodbye to Hedwig and Isabella. More than that she regretted never getting to meet her Godmother. To know the one person that actually seemed to care about her. A single tear slipped from her eye as she felt her mind go black. She felt stuck in an empty void, her very being fading away. The feeling vanished as a loud voice intruded into her thoughts. "Expecto Patronum!" The void vanished and was replaced with an all consuming warmth. Her eyes felt heavy as she tried to open them but the bright light made her close them quickly again. She heard explosions, an animal's yelp and trees falling down before thin fingers rubbed her face. Hazel dared to open her eyes and swore she saw an angel. She had warm grey eyes, a thick mane of bushy hair and a smile. She felt tears impact her face. "You're ok now, my sapling. You're ok. He's gone now. Come on. Let's get you back inside where it's safe." Hazel looked into those grey eyes and smiled softly.

…

"I am here, my sapling. Don't worry, we will get you out of here." Hazel blinked in confusion. This felt… wrong. "Avada Kedavra!" Hazel felt her heart shatter as she watched her Godmother vanish into the Veil. She tried reaching out, going to her, but someone pulled her away from the Veil. "No…" her mind saw her Godmother smiling at her before kissing her head. "Please… No…" She heard a man laugh as she felt her legs collapse beneath her. Her vision was clouded by tears that slipped down her cheeks. "No…"

…

Her Godmother hugged her as they were getting ready to return to Hogwarts after New Years at Grimmauld Place. "Don't worry. We will be a family soon." Hazel hugged her back. "Promise?" Her Godmother kissed her hair. "I promise."

…

Hazel screamed at the top of her lungs as she stared at the empty archway. "Bella!" She fell forward, digging her fingers into the ground. "You promised." Tears dripped beneath her, darkening the dirt and stone. "You promised! You said we would be a family. You promised!" A man laughed at her pain, his voice echoing in the large chamber despite the curses and hexes flying everywhere. "I killed Bellatrix Black! I killed Bellatrix Black!" Hazel's felt as if her broken heart stopped beating and her muscles tensed. With a guttural growl she lunged forward, elbowing the person trying to pull her back in the face and chased after the man. Sirius looked over his shoulder and laughed as he ran away from her, leaving the Death Chamber behind. "You coming to get me, Bambi? What did my dear cousin promise you again? A family? Didn't I tell you? James made a bad choice picking that name. Bambi doesn't get to have a mother."

Hazel tasted blood in her mouth as the man dared to laugh at her again. She swung her wand at him, filling it with all of her pain. Every last shred of it. "Crucio!" The mad bastard screamed in agony as the Torture Curse caused him to fall midstep. She looked over him, feeding him every ounce of her pain, even as she felt it trying to consume her. The man punched the ground repeatedly but his screams turned to laughter as the curse dissipated. "Would you look at that! There is some Black in you after all. Do it again! Come now Bambi, you know you want to."

She hears a voice in her head. Do it. He killed her. He deserves to suffer for it. Hazel grinded her teeth. "Crucio!" Sirius screamed again, equal parts pain and pleasure. He laughed to himself as the curse faded. "Again. Show me you were worthy to be a Black!" Hazel screamed. "Crucio!"

The voice returned as Hazel's mind thought about another spell to use on him. Yes. You know the spell. He deserves it. Avenge her death. Finish it. Her Godmother's face flashed before her eyes, smiling at her as they danced around a small bonfire at a beach. They tripped and fell onto the sand and Bella laughed. Her memory faded and was replaced by grey eyes just like her Godmother's staring up at her, filled with madness and misplaced joy. "Ahh, just like mother on the weekends. Again, Again!"

…

"You'll be my mother?" Bellatrix smiled at Hazel and kissed her hands, the two lying down on her Godmother's bed, a warm fire lighting the room sporadically. "Yes. Once the Blood Adoption is done. I'll be your mother."

…

Hazel's eyes filled with tears. Her Godmother's smile vanished again, replaced by Sirius Black's. Magic filled her wand as her mind faded to black.

"Avada Kedavra."

NW April 1994

Dora was startled awake in her bed as Hazel screamed at her side. Her partner covered her face with her hands as tears leaked out from between her fingers. "You promised. You promised! You said you'd be my mother! YOU PROMISED!" Dora pulled Hazel to her, trying to wake her up. "Hazel. Stop. It's only a dream. Stop." Dora hugged Hazel to her as her girlfriend thrashed and screamed in agony. She had no idea what to do. She briefly considered stunning her until the bedroom door was thrown open and Teddy rushed in. "Mom!" Teddy hugged his mother from the front. "Mom! Mom! It's Teddy. Snap out of it! Please!" Dora watched as Hazel's limbs dropped as if she were a puppet whose strings were just cut. Teddy reached up and cupped his Mom's face. Her eyes were filled with so much pain. "Mom! Please. Wake up!" Hazel seemed to look around the room, her eyes empty of anything until they landed on Teddy. They started filling up with tears again, even as Teddy smiled at her. "It's ok Mom. You're awake now. It's ok." Hazel hiccupped as Dora softened her hold on her. Hazel lifted her hands up and rubbed her eyes and cheeks, trying to clear out her tears.

Hazel remained in a daze as Dora placed her back on the bed before sighing. She looked at Teddy. "I've never seen her like this." Teddy looked down. "It's usually on the night before the Summer Solstice when it gets this bad. But sometimes it happens earlier or not at all if she is too busy." Teddy felt his mom's fingers rubbing his hair and he turned to her. She searched his eyes. "I woke you up, didn't I? Through the bond." Teddy hugged her and she wrapped her arms around him. "It's ok, Mom. You needed me. I'm here. That's all that matters." Hazel breathed deeply before turning to Dora. "Sorry for waking you up like that." Dora leaned over and hugged them both. "You told me you had issues. I knew what I was getting into. You don't have to apologize for that." Hazel rested her head against Dora's and breathed deeply again. The three remained that way as they all fell asleep until morning. Dora sat up on the bed, yawned as she stretched out her limbs and looked over at the pair sleeping while sitting up on the headrest. She smiled at the sight, even as she hated what brought it into being. She slipped into the apartment and called on the Hogwarts elves to prepare breakfast as she eyed the clock. It was time for Breakfast at the Great Hall but a bit later than usual. Teddy would likely miss out on his first class if he had to walk down the stairs.

She looked back into the room and found Hazel and Teddy chatting away. "Astoria is still saying I am hers, even though she denies it in front of the twins." Hazel chuckled. "Do I need to scare her away?" Teddy shook his head. "No. She'll just keep teasing me more. I can handle her." Hazel kissed his hair. "Ok, but the invitation stands. Any girls or boys give you too much trouble and I will deal with them." Teddy nodded. He turned to Dora and smiled. "Breakfast?" Dora smiled back. "It's ready." Teddy left the room quickly as Hazel slowly got out of bed. Dora frowned. "Are you going to be ok?" Hazel nodded slowly, almost mechanically. Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper. "Yeah. Sorry if I may be a bit distant today." Dora kissed Hazel on the cheek. "You tell me what you need and I will get it for you, ok?" Hazel kissed her back gently. "Kay." Teddy ate his scrambled eggs. "Still not as good as yours, Mom." Hazel smiled, even if it was a bit faint. "Don't worry, you will have all of summer for me to spoil your pallet again." Dora groaned. "I swear, how is it you can cook better than the elves?" Hazel chuckled. "Because I had two elves teach me how they cooked. I learned from them what elves do for cooking and improved it."

Dora shook her head as she drank her coffee. "Of course you did." The alarm ward on the door tripped and Hazel looked over. "Enter." Pomona walked in as the door opened for her. "Morning you three." Hazel nodded. "Morning. Did my son cause you trouble last night? If he did, I will take the blame. He probably shot out of the basement to get to me." Pomona looked at Teddy. "Well, not shot out exactly. He was in his dorm room when his familiar appeared and whisked him away, scaring his roommates a bit." Hazel sighed. "Nova." A white light filled the room followed by a soft shrill. Nova landed on Hazel's shoulder, who raised up her hand and stroked the bird's chest plumage. "Thank you for bringing him here." Nova nodded before it flew to her perch and dug into her plate of food. Hazel turned to the curious Professor. "Again, my apologies. I had a bit of an emergency last night and my son sensed it. Magic has bound us together and he is aware of certain incidents of mine, regardless of my own desires to keep him out of them." Pomona looked at the boy and smiled. "I see. There won't be any penalties for this incident, considering the circumstances." Pomona turned to Hazel. "You've been quite honest with me and it's clear you aren't well right now. If this happens again, send me a message as soon as you can so I am not overly worried."

Hazel nodded. "Will do and thank you for your concern and understanding. Others in your position aren't as interested in the reasons. Only in the rules." Sprout gave her an understanding look. "Believe me, I am aware. I do what I can for my students. It's only right. Same as you, I believe. My Badgers have been quite happy with you and your lessons." Hazel blushed softly. "Thank you." Teddy finished his meal and stood up, taking his drink with him. He kissed his mom on the cheek. "Take care, Mom." Hazel kissed him back on his head. "You too. See you at dinner." Hazel watched Teddy and the Professor leave the Apartment and sat down, drinking her coffee. Dora stood up. "I've got the first patrol. You rest up." Hazel's voice stopped her just as she grasped the doorknob. "Nymphadora." Something inside of her melted. She'd never heard her full name spoken with such warmth. She turned around and was pulled into a hug by Hazel. Dora could feel slight tremors from her partner. "Remember what I said at New Years?" Dora hugged her back and nodded. "I do." Hazel's voice turned so soft, Dora felt it was the voice of a little girl. "Please. If you promise me something. Don't break it. Please." Dora kissed Hazel warmingly on the cheek. "I promise I will try my best to never do that to you. Ever."

"Wait, Dumbledore tried to ban the use of your Familiar?" Teddy slumped back into his seat at the Quidditch stands. The game today was a rematch of Ravenclaw and Slytherin as the two losing teams were vying for third and fourth place. While Gryffindor had won the cup, the Hufflepuffs had taken it well. They had feared Harry would use his rumoured new Firebolt for the game, but Teddy's cousin decided against it. Despite some complaints from the Gryffindors, Harry trusted his Nimbus 2000 and felt it was the right broom for the game. The Hufflepuffs had taken his gesture well, even as the Chasers for the Gryffindor Team showed everyone what a well organized trio was like. Unlike before, the final game was decided by the Seekers. Both Harry and Cedric took a more team oriented approach in the game, breaking Chaser formations, blocking Beater and Keeper lines of sight. They shot off to try and catch the Snitch whenever they could. Harry even managed to drag Cedric into a wild goose chase, much to their amusement. Harry, at least, got Cedric back for their first game. Flying dangerously close to the ground he managed to catch the Snitch, ending the game with a massive point victory for Gryffindor.

Teddy, for his part, was happy his housemates and Harry were getting along. Today was a clear example of that as Cedric was sitting together with him, the Weasley Twins and Harry while they waited to hear the end result of the runner up game. Teddy nodded. "He tried to use some rule about students having dangerous Familiars on the grounds as an excuse. Mom took the matter to the Board directly and while they didn't like me having a free pass to leave the school, Mom proved that Nova was my Familiar. Dumbledore tried to force through a condition that Nova wasn't allowed to transport anyone or anything in or out of the castle but mom countered by applying it to Fawkes as well." Cedric shook his head. "Right, because it wouldn't be fair for one phoenix to have free reign while the other one was essentially shackled. How did he take it?" Teddy laughed, deciding it was best not to correct him about what Nova really was. No one but family needed to know. "Not well. He tried to claim it was a privilege of the school and his position as Headmaster, but my Mom made it clear that a Headmaster's privileges were administrative. They had nothing to do with infringing the rights of the students who happen to be chosen by Familiars of a magical variety. She pulled out a clause in the Charter that actually guaranteed my right to Nova since the pairing of a Witch or Wizard with a Magical Creature in a Familiar bond bypasses any laws, including the safety one, unless the student actively orders the Familiar to harm another student."

The Weasley Twins shook their heads. "Scary Auror got one over the Headmaster. That's just rich. Right, George?" George snorted. "Right, Fred. I bet you Mom is fuming. She's been a supporter of Dumbledore for years." Cedric looked back to the game, wishing to steer away from that conversation. "There was talk that Bulgaria might make it to the Finals this year. Their new Seeker is apparently one of the best in the world. Still in Durmstrang too. A seventh year this September." He turned back to the others. "Are you all coming to the World Cup Finals? I know my Dad got the Weasleys the tickets." The Twins looked between each other and turned back. "If that's true, then probably. Mom won't come but maybe we can get Charlie to dig himself out of the Dragon Reserve to watch it. Only thing that gets his blood flowing other than Dragons is Quidditch." Cedric and the twins turned to Teddy and Harry. Teddy looked towards the edge of the field where his Mom was keeping an eye out for trouble. "Mom doesn't like Quidditch but she might let me come among friends. She will probably get to run security there too. Also, I would love to meet your brother Charlie. I want to hear what Dragons he has in the Reserve." Harry hummed. "If Teddy can come, I'll probably come along. The only Tonks that like Quidditch are Dora and Ted so they may come too. Though if Hazel gets tapped for security, Dora might be stuck working."

The boys watched as Cho caught the snitch, ending the game for Ravenclaw. Cedric shook his head. "Poor Slytherin. Second year in a row they got wrecked." Harry snorted. "Please. Malfoy deserves it. He has the reflexes and skills for a Chaser, not a Seeker. I feel bad for Theo. He worked hard to get on the team and it's not much better." Cedric watched as Hazel summoned the weather control disc from the pitch and they felt the weather shift back to the slightly colder temperature that they started with. "Think your Mom will stick around for next year, Teddy? The school has been great with her around." Teddy looked over as Hooch and his Mom chatted as they exited the pitch. "I don't know. Mom usually has a lot of training hours and gets called out to do jobs a lot. This year has been a bit more quiet. She thinks the whole Sirius Black manhunt has sent the Dark Witches and Wizards to ground. No one wants to get caught causing trouble while the Dementors are out of Azkaban." Everyone shivered, especially Diggory. "Yeah. I can see that happening. Even the magical creatures have been quiet. Dad thinks the Dementors have an effect on them, even if they don't get targeted. He and the DRCMC are writing an article about that." A soft shrill pierced the air before Nova and Hedwig landed on Teddy and Harry's shoulders.

Teddy rubbed his familiar chest feathers. "Good flight?" A pleasant shrill escaped her beak and Cedric looked over with a smile. "She's beautiful. Dad would give a lot to study her." Teddy shook his head. "She doesn't like being treated like a specimen to be observed. When we registered her as a Familiar, she was added to a protective registry. Mom's worried people might try to figure out how her magic works. Get wards up, make cages and stuff like that. The ICW has a rule about keeping Phoenixes and a few other high tier Magical Creatures protected from scrutiny or observation beyond just behavioural studies." Cedric smiled and nodded. "I suppose you are right. It would be wrong to bind them somewhere, especially when they aren't dangerous." The group was just about to enter the castle when a voice called out his name. "Come back here, Ted. I know it was you!" Teddy saw Astoria rushing towards as the older students turned to him. "What'd you do?" Teddy blushed. "I might have sent The Carrow Twins chocolates on their birthday. They may have been teasing Astoria about that all day." Harry shoved his cousin on the back playfully. "Might want to run. Nova isn't going to save you for something like this." Teddy rushed into the castle as Nova flew behind him while the older students watched Astoria chase after him. Cedric turned to Harry. "Any bets on if she catches up to him?" Harry shook his head. "Nope. I am not getting Hazel mad at me for that."

"So, any plans for summer?" Hazel looked up from the map that sat on the dining table in their shared chamber. She turned pensive. "Not sure. We have the World Cup coming up, The Triwizard Tournament and we still have to do more firearms training. We are a bit busy, Dora." Dora pouted. "Oh, come on. We've been stuck in Scotland for most of the year already. We could use a day away, let alone a few weeks. Mom and Dad used to take me down to France in the summers." Hazel tapped her fingers on the table as checked the map again. "Ok. Say we get a week or two out from under Horatio's watch. Where do we go exactly? France?" Dora hummed. "There is the Canary Islands? The Azores? Hey, we could even get to the Caribbean. After a full year of Security Detail under the DMLE and our own payments from the missions, we are comfortable enough for it." Hazel eyed Dora. "Is there a reason most of your suggestions are known for hot sun and beaches?" Dora hummed and bit her lip playfully. "What, not interested in seeing me in a swimsuit?" Hazel stared at her partner. "Dora, if it weren't for Teddy dropping in at our apartment for lunch or dinner unannounced, you'd practically be a nudist." Dora blushed. "So?"

Hazel sighed and shook her head. "Ok, fine. We will plan an appropriate summer vacation. We will see if your parents and Harry can come along too." Dora pouted. "Not very romantic." Hazel sighed. "Right, so you don't want me to have readily accessible babysitters for the few times we can actually plan a romantic getaway for just the two of us." Dora blinked a few times in thought. "Ah. Right. Point taken. Yes to my family coming along then. Any chance I can get you to wear a dress? Maybe a bikini?" Hazel was about to reply when a name appeared at the edge of the wardline. Followed closely by another. She summoned Aithusa into her hand. "Dumbledore. Don't argue with me and lock down the wards for the perimeter. Black is on the school grounds. Send the students to their Dorms but keep the first and second floors accessible. We will seal them as we make our way down. Alert the Staff and the Prefects directly. We don't want to spook our fugitive." Her patronus flew as Dora and Hazel left their apartment on the third floor. Passing some students, Hazel raised her voice. "All of you back to your dorms or steer clear of the first and second floors. Now!"

Dora eyed the map as they approached one of the staircases down into the second floor, the students rushing past them. "They are in the Castle." Hazel summoned Aithusa again. "Lock the Castle down now. Keep the first and second floors open via the stairs, but lock the outer gates. We'll seal him in and take him down." Her second message sent, Hazel pulled out her own map. "Take the stairs to the first floor and chase after them. Switch into an animal if you have to. I'll follow them from above on the second floor and slip through the floor." Dora eyed her with concern. "Hazel." Hazel sighed. "The longer he stays as a dog, the longer I can avoid hurting him. Please. This is the fastest way to get them both alive. Trust me. If he is back to human form and I am looking at him, you have permission to stun me. Make sure you overpower it too." Dora leaned over and kissed Hazel's cheek. "Good luck." With Dora headed down the stairs to the first floor, Hazel followed the moving names on the map from above. She switched between the floors until her corridor and the one bellow overlapped. She watched the two Animagi take a corner and move towards her from below.

Wrapped in her Cloak and filled with her Family Magic, Hazel sunk into the floor. The high density of magic in the stone slowed her down a bit but eventually she was through. She conjured a massive wall behind her, sealing the hallway and started transfiguring the doors, making them into stone flushed with the walls. A final ward was added, creating a wall that was see-through and accessible from the other side. Only Dora and the targets could enter now. The two Animagi were trapped. Slightly amused by the dog chasing after the rat like a cat would as they crossed into her sealed area, Hazel banished the dog back before aiming for the rat. "Animalis Autem Homo." The spell struck the rat and in its place sprung up a man. Hazel had to plug her nose with the stench coming off of him. The man turned to her and on seeing her jacket pointed to the dog. "It's him, Auror. Sirius Black! He's a mass murderer!" Hazel gave him a toothy grin. "Black will be dealt with. Question is, why are you still alive, Mr. Pettigrew? You've been dead for twelve years, yet here you are." Hazel flicked her wand and the man's entire right sleeve vanished away, revealing a particular tattoo. "My, my, Mr. Pettigrew. Why would the betrayer of the Potter's be hunting down a fellow Death Eater? Maybe because Black never was the traitor and the real one is the former Order member with a slave brand on his arm?"

Hazel summoned him to her and smashed his knee in with her boot. The man screamed as Hazel carved a Druidic Script sequence onto the back of his neck. "Bind this man to this form and no other." The Blood Magic curse activated, eliciting a scream from the man and Hazel grinned. "And just like that, you won't be a rat ever again. Even if you did scratch out the carved flesh. The pain was the least you deserved." Hazel stunned him and allowed him to fall onto his face. "Couldn't agree more, Auror." Hazel turned around on instinct alone. Her eyes met Black's, now in human form again, and her mind snapped. She was no longer a witch in her late twenties. She was just fifteen. She watched Bella being struck by the Killing Curse before she vanished into the Veil right before her eyes again.

Closing her eyes, Hazel tried and failed to repress a sob, her ears filled with the noises of the dead. "I killed Bellatrix Black! I killed Bellatrix Black!" Lost in the memory and filled with decades of pain, Hazel growled as she raised her wand at the man. "Cruc-" Dora's voice silenced her. "Stupefy!" Dora stared at the limp body of her Partner as it got launched into the wall that was behind her. She breathed heavily and turned to a clearly confused Sirius. "Damn it, Sirius. You couldn't wait? You couldn't hold your tongue for just one more bloody minute? Mom was right, you just had to have the last word, didn't you?" Dora flicked her wand and summoned her rabbit patronus. "R2 to BM. P1 and P2 are secured. Send in the retrieval team, but contact HM first. Castle is in lockdown. Also… I might have stunned R1. At her request." Horatio's response came a few minutes later as a large patronus in the form of an eagle landed right before her. "Extraction team on the way, R2. Secure your targets and R1."

Andromeda entered the room with Horatio as Dora finished her debriefing with Croaker. "He took the Veritaserum and is confessing to all his dirty secrets. He made it clear that he wasn't a Death Eater or a Voldemort sympathizer, nor was he the real Secret Keeper. Peter was. Sirius is innocent. At least in that regard." Dora frowned as she looked between the two. "Why are you having Sirius reveal the rest of his secrets?" Horatio, his arms crossed, tapped his finger on his arm. "Standard policy. Just in case someone hides a lie with a partial truth. Andromeda checked him for Obliviations or Compulsions too. All clear. His Occlumency is shredded though, and his mind will need a lot of Healing." Andromeda did give her daughter a cheeky grin. "Besides, there were a few mean spirited pranks thrown my way at school. I needed to see how many of them were his doing." Dora shook her head. "A Black pays his or her debts." Andromeda smiled. "Exactly." Croaker cleared his throat. "Now that we have clear indication to Sirius Black's innocence and to the fact that we do indeed have a Black in our services, how about we return to business? Black's Veritaserum testimony and his mental evaluation will clear him before the Wizengamot, regardless how much gold Malfoy tries to throw around. With Black as the Lord Apparent, Malfoy's chances of securing the Black wealth for his son are gone. He will lose a lot of the Traditionalist support too."

Dora looked at Horatio. "What about Pettigrew?" Horatio smirked. "Funny thing about the Death Eater laws. They might have adjusted them to protect everyone caught with a Death Eater mark, but only after they were caught. Standard Procedure with newly identified and marked Death Eaters was pretty clear. No interference and no outside contacts, with the assumption we are dealing with a murderer, until a day after the arrest. Add in the new laws that allow us to force a Veritaserum interrogation of any suspected murderers and we got ourselves a singing rat. We got quite a few bits of intel, including the potential whereabouts of Voldemort's wand. We will be sending a Curse Breaker Retrieval Team soon, though something tells me someone might have found it first, based on an observation of Pettigrew's concerning his last visit to the area." Dora shivered. "Better them than me." Andromeda looked to her daughter. "How's Hazel?" Dora blushed. "She's not mad about being stunned, except for getting caught off guard. I woke her up as soon as Alastor and Horatio dragged the two targets away. She chose to stay at the Castle." Croaker sighed. "A sensible decision, really. Her reaction, based on your testimony, was not the best." Dora nodded sadly. She turned to her boss. "Might I be excused to go back to her? Teddy might be comforting her but I am sure she could use the company. If only to keep her from murdering Dumbledore."

Croaker lifted an eyebrow. "You told her about his complaints about the retrieval of the second fugitive?" Dora shook her head. "No. Didn't seem like a good idea. I was worried she might redirect her frustration to another inviting target." Croaker opened a drawer and pulled out two identification badges. "Not a good idea indeed. Take these with you. Might settle her nerves a bit." Dora took them both and froze. "Are these… " Horatio smiled. "Your official notice. Congratulations, Operative. You are no longer a Recruit. Same for your partner." Croaker nodded. "We thought about giving them to you around December but Horatio wanted to do a longer observation. Your skills have improved a bit and Hazel has gotten better control over her impulses, the latest incident notwithstanding considering the circumstances. You will keep your callsigns until you find a suitable replacement. Now be on your way. We will deal with the DMLE from here." Dora hugged her Mom and thanked Horatio before she headed for the Apparition point. She bypassed the Hogwarts gate in her owl form and was surprised to see Hazel standing on the Astronomy Tower as she landed and shifted back to her human form. "Watcher Partner."

Hazel gave her a warm smile as she added privacy wards around them. "Watcher. I fixed the new wards in the Shrieking Shack. Since it's a modified ward, you and I have access, even under lockdown. We will see what happens when the Wardmaster Julia commissioned gets to work on the school's wards. If Dumbledore doesn't delay them further, that is." Dora nodded but frowned. "How are you feeling?" Hazel looked out over the stars. "Relieved. He was innocent, so giving him a taste of my Torture Curse at its full force would have been wrong. Thank you for stopping me." Dora moved in and hugged her. "Not a problem. Are you willing to tell me what your Sirius did now?" Hazel shuddered a bit. "On the Solstice. You might want to be ready, though. I am going to be at my worst. There is a reason I disappeared that day last year and left Teddy at your mom's house." Dora kissed Hazel's shoulder. "I'll be ready." Hazel turned around and Dora shifted her eyes back to purple. She wasn't comfortable with anyone seeing them except for Hazel, Teddy and her parents. Not yet at least. Hazel searched her eyes, looking for something. "I love you."

Dora blinked at her as her body flushed and grew exceedingly warm. She had wondered when she would know if she loved Hazel. Those thin fingers touched Dora' lips. "I don't expect you to answer if you are not ready. But I was ready to say it. You stunned me because it was the right thing to do. You could have let me torture him. You could have refused my plan. But you trusted me and you knew what was right. An innocent man will go free and a traitor will face justice. I can go down to the basement and look my son in the eye without any shame or regret because of you today. If being with you every day like this is my fate, I will gladly take it. I just needed you to know how I felt." Dora closed her eyes and felt Hazel's words sink into her heart. She felt so complete right now. Yes, there was that one nagging part of her mind that doubted but she hoped it would be silenced soon. She couldn't say the words and mean them. Not yet. But she could show her. "Hazel. Our Chambers. Now." That night she kept Hazel's arms bound. She hated not being able to say the words she knew her Partner deserved to hear. So she showed her. She showed her for hours what she meant to her. The next day, Hazel had been mute for its entirety, despite taking a Soothing Potion. The home cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner with notes attached to them, however, made Dora smile. Hazel had no regrets about Dora making her lose her voice. Not one.

Chapter 35: What Can Never be Again

Sirius found himself on the receiving end of a rib crushing hug. "Next time you decide to play the hero, leave some goddamned paperwork, Siri. I never believed you were guilty but you didn't make it any easier to fight your transfer to Azkaban from the DMLE holding cells." Sirius hugged his cousin back, a soft laugh on his lips. "Right. I will get right on it. Mind if I borrow your husband for a week or two? I promise, no mixing business and pleasure." Andromeda released him and punched his shoulder. "Business is fine but he is mine. Get your own piece of tail to chase after, you mutt." Sirius laughed. He had been doing that a lot now since he got dragged in front of the Wizengamot. Seeing old Rufus sitting in the judges' chair had been a surprise. "Why was Rufus the one in charge of the Trial anyways?" Ted pushed his cousin-in-law further into their house. "Because he is Head Auror. Dumbledore was voted down as not being impartial after having been your leader in the Order of the Phoenix. Fudge was ruled out after spending so many resources and man hours hunting you down and the Director of the DMLE recused herself due to conflict of interest." Sirius hummed as he got shown up the stairs.

Andromeda turned on the light in the room. "You get to pick from this room or the living room couch transfigured into a bed. Nymphadora has her own apartment and only uses her old room for summer, but with everything going on at work she might just leave it to you for now. She already cleared out much of her stuff anyway." Sirius dropped the small bag he had with him on the bed. "What about my court ordered Healer appointments?" Andromeda nodded. "I'll be incharge of your physical health and diet. Healer Johnson, my coworker, will handle your mental recovery. There are a lot of former Death Eaters about and you have some people in the Ministry concerned for your wellbeing. You will be looked after, I promise." Sirius nodded, before he smiled. "When do I meet my godson?" Andromeda shook her head in amusement. "When the Hogwarts Express brings him back. The Academic year isn't over so he and Teddy won't be back until then." Sirius looked between the two. "You two have another kid or a grandkid already? Where was my invite to the baby shower?" Andromeda glared at the man. "Teddy is Edward. Edward Peverell. He is the son of Nymphadora's very steady girlfriend, Hazel Peverell."

Sirius shook his head. "Little Dora has a thing for mothers? Oh, I can't wait to tease her. She was so cute as an eight year old." He eyed the two of them. "So what's this about me being Lord Presumptive? Walburga was quite clear that I was disowned." Ted leaded back the dresser and crossed his arms. "She may have disowned you as her son, but only Arcturus could cast you out of the family. He never did. We had a nasty strain of Dragon Pox as soon as the war ended. Took out a lot of the older generations. Walburga and Orion went out along with Cygnus and Druella. Arcturus lost Melania but he isolated himself in Castle Black. He died there not four years ago. Walburga never got to be Lady Black and neither did Orion get to be Head of House, so the disownment never got ratified. Arcturus Black refused to cast you out." Sirius closed his eyes, remembering his grandparents. Of the family, besides Andromeda and Alphard, they were the ones he was closest to. He looked from Andromeda to Ted. "I am guessing my paperwork troubles are going to be another issue while I wait for Harry."

Ted chuckled. "Indeed. Good thing Andromeda is a Healer. Carpal tunnel and scratches from Blood Quill will be quite common in the coming weeks. For now though, rest up and build up your strength. You have a lot to catch up on." Ted left the room but Andromeda was stopped by Sirius. "Andi. Did Amelia… ?" Andromeda looked at her cousin and gave him a brief smile. "She had a lot on her mind after Halloween, not the least of which was mourning her family and raising a little girl. She never dated, never courted and buried herself in her work. Lately she's been making more time for Susan and was here for Christmas." Sirius perked up at that. Andromeda placed her hand on Sirius's shoulder. "She recused herself from overseeing your trial but she has been kept in the loop. Trust me, you will see her again soon and you can ask her yourself where to go from there. Dinner will be ready in a few hours. Try and nap for a bit." Andromeda left a pensive Sirius behind. He closed his eyes as he sat on the bed and felt a shudder pass through his body, a symptom from years under the Dementors' watch. He could feel just how exhausted he was. Andi was right. There was a lot for him to recover from. He smiled though at the thought of Harry.

There hadn't been a single day that he didn't think about his Godson and the massive screw up he made. He never should have turned the kid over to Hagrid and Dumbledore. He should have taken him to Amelia, get Alastor to interrogate him and take care of the kid. Grief and his usual lack of forethought ruined all that. He had at least kept tabs on the newspapers since he fled Azkaban. He knew the boy's custody had become a point for debate in the Wizengamot. He had cheered in his cave as he read that the court had ruled in Andromeda's favor after the evaluation carried out by Child Services and the DMLE found cause to deny Dymbledore and the Malfoys custody of Harry. His Godson would be living here, at least for the next four summers. The thought about the coming summer made him smile. He needed to get everything about his Lordship settled. Once it was done, he could invite his entire family out for a relaxing summer vacation. Somewhere away from the British Isles. An old promise he made to Amelia made his smile grow wider. He knew just the place to get everyone to have some fun and for him to bond with Harry. He just had to get through the mountains of paperwork and Healer appointments before he could do it. He layed back on the bed and dreamt about rebuilding his life, one piece at a time.

"Never pegged you for being here today, Severus." Hazel turned slightly as she watched Remus stand next to Snape as the students started filling into the Great Hall. Today was the last day of her Dueling Club meetings for the OWL students and the day the last few weeks of studies and practice paid off. Though she found it odd that the school year wouldn't be ending for at least another week, she was glad for it as it gave her students more time to practice. She had them all focus on finding the memory or thought that gave them the greatest joy. She walked them through the mental exercises to get the necessary emotional state needed to power the Patronus Charm. As first and second years, as well as the NEWT students entered the Hall, Hazel had a feeling they were all here looking for a show. She was certain they were going to get one. The NEWT students had all managed to get a shield patronus up and to hold it well enough, with half of them getting a corporeal Patronus, including the majority of the Prefects. Even Head Girl Penelope Clearwater managed to conjure a beautiful lynx patronus, much to Head Boy Weasley's chagrin, as he only managed a shield. Time to see what the rest could do.

Teddy walked up to Hazel and hugged her legs. She ruffled his hair as he looked up at her, his concern for her clear in his eyes. Though it had been about a month since her run in with Black, the incident had left its mark on her. She had been a lot more withdrawn from the students. Then again, having recurring nightmares of the bastard's face smiling down at her with that crooked grin as he cursed her would make anyone less sociable. At least she hadn't awoken Dora again in a panic. That was an improvement. Hazel knew that the Sirius Black of this world was innocent. She knew it. Yet every instinct inside of her, every bittersweet memory of Bella's time with her, only seemed to fuel her desire for revenge. To hear that man scream in agony as she practiced her less than legal magic on him. But she couldn't do that to him. Not for Sirius Black's sake, as she was sure the man was still a prick. He made it clear in his Veritaserum confessions that he was mainly after Pettigrew and that he only went to Surrey to potentially catch a glimpse of Harry before avenging the Potter's. He wasn't her world's Bella, who had tailed her mad cousin in the hopes of diminishing whatever damage he did while free, only to throw that plan out the window when she realized that her goddaughter needed her more, even if she couldn't reveal herself to her for over a year. No, she couldn't torture him for her own sake. She was a Dark Witch, but she wasn't like the Death Eaters. She wasn't like Tom. She would be better than that, for Dora, Harry and Teddy. They deserved better than a monster.

Still, Black's release and Pettigrew's death only seemed to make things more complicated. The execution took place after the DoM confirmed that the location where Pettigrew had stored Voldemort's wand was empty. Someone had tailed him in his last visit to the area and had managed to bypass what measly protections he had erected around the wand. Someone who went through a lot of trouble to conceal their face from anyone who could have identified him. Hazel was certain it was a man. Her visit to the Crouch Manor had been a bust, but the evidence there and from the Azkaban records suggested that Junior was free. Now he had his master's wand. She wished she could go after him, but Croaker was adamant. It was time to sit back and wait. Burying her swirling thoughts, she returned her full and undivided attention to Teddy, who was going to be helping her out today in the lesson. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Teddy nodded. "Yeah, besides it's fun." Hazel smiled at him as he stepped back, the two of them waiting for the last of the OWL students to arrive. Harry waved at her as he stood next to Neville, Susan and Hannah. The four had done surprisingly well in their exercises, though she had to drag three of them to the Hospital Wing to see a Mind Healer. Finding comfort in impossible dreams was quite dangerous with Patroni.

The Dementors would pull at their nightmares and potentially force them all to experience their dreams being shattered. A catastrophic failure with a Patronus saw quite a few Hogwarts students dead towards the end of the war in her old world. Granger's lessons to the students in their fifth year had been done under bookworm's own watch, with the girl looking for any possible shortcuts to getting past the barrier that kept the Patronus from taking corporeal form. Those shortcuts only worked if the student was able to sustain the imagined happy memory. Not everyone could, especially not in the face of the Dementors. Not that the students had to face a Dementor anytime soon. With Black found innocent and Pettigrew giving the Dementor's Kiss for the massive amount of intel he leaked to the Death Eaters, the creatures were all sent back to Azkaban. Fudge and his Undersecretary left the Session the same as Lucius Malfoy: with unfulfilled expectations. They all deserved it too. At least the whole situation seemed to have calmed Draco down. He didn't seem to be as interested in insulting people. Then again, finding a Boggart in your private dorm room could have been a part of his change too. The Slytherins under her care had quite enjoyed the scream they heard from within the snake pit and his recent quiet disposition was welcomed by all. Hazel hoped his father didn't try and fix him this summer.

With all the students in place and most of the staff, including Dumbledore, watching from the walls, Hazel got started. "Alright everyone. Today is our final meeting and the moment many of you have been waiting for. In the last month I have been giving you the mental exercises and the training required to prepare for a successful cast. Let me be clear. The Patronus Charm is by its nature very complex. It was created in a time when Arithmancy and standard Charm techniques did not exist. If you are a Charms prodigy, don't be surprised your Patronus failed. There is no exact theory, no Arithmancy breakdown and no understanding of the intricacies that define a Patronus beyond the fact it combines elements of Charms, Conjuration and even some obscure branches of magic. Now I have one last bit of advice for everyone here, especially those from magical families. If you have practiced Occlumency, you need to not occlude your thoughts. Maintain your barriers but allow your emotions to run free. You will get better results this way. In time you may be able to isolate the emotional state you need, but for tonight, don't." Hazel watched as the Ravenclaw and Slytherin students, as well as a few Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors went through their exercises to lower the impact of Occlumency on their emotions. She could see the change in their faces.

Hazel nodded. "Good. The incantation is Expecto Patronum. Allow the memory, the thoughts, and the emotions to fill you up entirely. When you are sure you have reached that point of absolute immersion, cast the spell. Like this." Hazel watched as Teddy walked up and flicked his wand. "Expecto Patronum." A winged dragon the size of a person took shape from Teddy's wand and flew about the Hall, the students and Professors looking up at it in wonder. Hazel spoke up in the ensuing silence. "Age's limitation with this spell is due to one's magical capacity. First through third years may have difficulty with the spell but there's a reason I had everyone practice so much before today. Those lacking the magical capacity currently were already informed and will practice again on their own until they reach the threshold required to maintain a Patronus. For the rest of you, let the emotions of joy and happiness fill you and cast. Take your time as you allow the emotions to well up inside of you. In time, you can learn to cast it faster. Go ahead and give it a try." Teddy's dragon landed beside Hazel and tried to nuzzle Hazel, much to Hazel's joy, before it dissipated. Hazel and her son stood back and watched as the fifth years tried the spell first. To the amazement of the staff, more than half manage a corporeal Patronus on the first cast.

The Weasley Twins Patroni were surprisingly distinct, at least in species. They were both monkeys, though Hazel was unsure what they were called. Considering that a few monkeys were known for their surprising intelligence and mischief, it certainly suited them. Cedric's Patronus looked to be a horse as it raced around the room, the boy's enjoyment of thrills and speed quite evident. About the same amount of students in fourth year were able to produce a Patronus, with Cho Chang's being a falcon, darting from one corner of the room to another. Then it was the third year students' turn and Hazel blinked as a grand majority of them succeeded. A bouncing hare made her pause, before she saw it coming from a second year blonde that she remembered being Astoria's friend from Ravenclaw. The girl, along with a few other second years, had their magic at a higher developed state than the rest of their fellow year group and had shown a far greater degree of vulnerability to the Dementors when encountering them on the train. She and the others were given the chance to learn the Patronus and Hazel was surprised to see her achieve it with how unstable her magic felt.

Seeing Astoria rushing to the girl's side, Hazel stored what she knew of the young Ravenclaw and her unique way of addressing her away, before returning her attention to her pupils. The Hufflepuffs under her charge proved to be much more capable than the Gryffindors, with Susan's Patronus looking to be that of a wolf-like dog, rushing around her in excitement while Hannah's was a dove, which flew around her as the girl watched in wonder. Among the Slytherins, Theo's Patronus was a raven, it's head constantly looking everywhere inquisitively as it landed on the boy's shoulder. Tracey's looked to be a majestic eagle, its wing spread quite wide as it took to the air, while Daphne's caused some surprise as a Quetzalcoatl flew and coiled itself around the dark haired girl in protection of her. Hazel barely had time to consider telling Quetz about that when Neville's bear rattled everyone's ears with its roar. Her eyes, however, were drawn to Harry who seemed transfixed by his.

A shy little doe came up to him as he looked on in wonder, as Hazel suppressed the thoughts and images of Lily Potter that flared in her mind. Getting permission from Teddy, Hazel walked up to Harry and placed an arm on his shoulder, giving him a bit of emotional support, the doe turning towards her and trying to nuzzle her with its head. He broke the silence first. "My mother wrote about the spell in her seventh year. How she was the only one besides Dad that could cast it. Hers was a doe too." Hazel hummed. "Patroni can run in the family at times. A sign of the love passed from parent to child." Harry's eyes watered. "I was thinking about her and Dad. About them being proud of me." Hazel lowered her hand and Harry stared as she seemed to feed magic to the doe, making it solid. Seeing her nod, he reached out and felt fur and warmth from the Patronus. "Trust me Harry, they would be proud. As long as you do your best and live your life to the fullest, they will only ever be proud of you." Harry visibly swallowed and nodded. "Thank you, Hazel." Hazel ruffled his hair. "We are family, Harry. You never have to thank me for being there for you." Harry looked up and smiled at her as Teddy came over and hugged him. Hazel directed her attention to the Hall, congratulating the students and asking a few if they wished to continue and practice. Many of them did and Hazel watched over them all, noting the absence of a certain Potion Master. She saved that thought for later as she watched over the kids, the Great Hall filled with wonder and joy well into the descending night. Though she did notice Harry's patronus waver for a moment, as if the form grew unfocused. She wondered what that was about.

OW June 1994

Hazel watched as her Patronus Charm failed again. It had been that way for months but this time she felt worse as her Godmother watched on as they practiced together in the Chamber. Which was odd since Bella had been watching her train for most of the year. Then again, her Godmother had been hiding as a cat for over a year and only now revealed herself, not doing it earlier out of concern that either Snape or Dumbledore would pluck the information from her mind. Hazel had been quite happy about that, since it meant she had never been truly alone, though the fact she spent quite a while petting Bella and getting her to purr was something she found quite weird now. Bella found it hilarious. Hazel sat down and sighed as Bella looked on, pensive. "You're using a memory, right?" Hazel nodded. "It always fails like that. I think I just lack the right kind of memory, something I doubt I will get in the next decade, if at all." Bella looked at her, a guilty expression on her mind. She sat down beside Hazel on the couch. "Perhaps a bit of cheating might help. You are not the first to have difficulty with this spell, and certainly not the first who also happens to be the most vulnerable to the Dementors. Perhaps a bit of a dream can work to fix that."

Bella explained as Hazel watched her quietly. "Happiness is a difficult thing for a person with poor lives to find within memories. But it can certainly be found in your dreams. They are our guides and our hopes as we struggle in the dark." Bella rubbed Hazel's hair. "I dreamt a lot in Azkaban. It helped keep the Dementors away. Lucid dreaming was one of the few things I was grateful to have. I always controlled my dreams and in them I created a world. A place where I was free of the prison, and where I could find a measure of joy. You actually became a part of those dreams often enough." Hazel stared at Bella as she had a wistful smile on her face. "I dreamt of watching you and my niece Nymphadora playing together in the garden as my sister and I watched on. I saw you sitting at the table as I brought plates of food to it, your eyes filled with happiness at the imagined taste." Hazel smiled at hearing that and got pulled into a hug. Bella kissed her hair. "You helped keep the Dementors away for all those years. So I think you could try something similar. A warning though. Never dream of the impossible. The Dementors will use your memories to tear the dream apart."

Hazel thought about it and nodded. "I think I can see how. Did it happen to you?" Bella gave her a soft nod of her head. "One of my first dreams. I dreamt of coming home to you as James and Lily looked on. I loved making Lily laugh and if it was at James' expense, even better. Then the Dementor's sought out my worst memory." Bella rested her chin on Hazel's head. "I was the first person at the house. I walked over the body of the man I called my brother from another mother and I collapsed at the sight of the woman I happily called my redheaded step-sister. I struggled to get to you, pulling you out of the wreckage. You calmed down a bit in my arms actually. I left you with McGonagall as I was called on a mission. I told Dumbledore it would be my last and it was. For all the wrong reasons." Hazel hugged Bella back, feeling the calmness that radiated from her. She tried to look in her dreams and find one that she could believe was real. That she dared to hope to see it come true one day. "I want to try one more time." Bella kissed her hair as Hazel stood up and closed her eyes. She steadied her mind as best she could and focused on her oldest dream, only now it was different.

She carried in her the dream of every abandoned orphan. The dream of coming home to a loving family. To be hugged and kissed and loved without anything expected from her in return. The dream had been with a faceless figure until she saw a picture of her mother. But that dream slowly and surely became hollowed out as her time in Hogwarts stretched on. The dead were gone and any attempts to bring them back were doomed for failure. She had refused to believe that from the Hogwarts books but Salazar's were different. The man was a researcher, and within all his journals he made it clear he had ample reason to seek a way to restore the dead. The death of his wife had shattered his life just as the death of her parents had destroyed hers. He spent decades researching Necromancy and the Veil between the worlds but found no indication that resurrection of the dead was possible. He abandoned that dream and found another worth pursuing. He married again and had children, quite late in his life.

Hazel thought of Salazar's life and her own. She gave up on the dream that Lily Potter would one day come for her. But perhaps she could make the dream of coming home to family more real. Hazel saw herself in her dream of a wonderful home life once more. The house wasn't as suburban or as defined as she remembered, but it didn't matter. The feeling of love from inside felt real. The person who waited for her loved her. The woman who pulled her up and kissed her cheek no longer had red hair or green eyes. She was now a curly haired brunette with grey eyes and a radiant smile. Hazel drew on her moment in the Forbidden Forest and the stories she just shared with her. The dreams of a woman wanting to raise a child. Of a person who waited patiently in Azkaban because she knew she would never have a moment's peace to raise Hazel as her own child if she escaped, only throwing that hope away when Hazel's life was endangered by her demented cousin. Hazel filled her mind with the same woman raising her with love. She felt her wand warm up and flicked it. "Expecto Patronum."

The Chamber of Secrets was bathed in a bright and warm light that blinded both of them until it settled. Bella stared at the Patronus as tears of joy fell from Hazel's eyes. She laughed and giggled happily as a cat came up to her and rubbed itself against her legs, the feel of the fur and its warmth no different from Bella's animagus form. Hazel picked it up into her arms and laughed as it purred against her, Bella looking at her with pride and amazement. "Now what do I name you? Isabella is already taken after all." Bella hugged her from behind and petted the cat, her face filled with wonder at the solid Patronus. "How about Whiskers?" Hazel pouted. "Really?" Bella grinned at her. "Sure. I promise it will drive McGonagall up the walls. I tormented the woman for years as she hunted me down as a cat, trying to figure out who else had become an animagus. She never did find me since I used a spell to mask my scent whenever I took my feline form. I left her so many notes teasing her, all signed as Whiskers. She suspected it was one of us when the cat vanished the year after we graduated, but she had no idea it was me. The return of Whiskers to sow chaos at Hogwarts in my stead. It's perfect." Hazel rubbed her face against her Patronus. "Sure. Welcome to the family, Whiskers."

NW June 21st 1994

Dora shook off the effects of the apparition and looked around as Hazel made her way towards a metal gate, the area around her obscured by a dense fog. "Where are we?" She watched as Hazel pulled a necklace out from a pocket and saw a ring dangling from the chain. "Magic behaves weirdly between our worlds. Things like my world's map don't work here, because the Hogwarts in its pages and the one here are different. But the family rings of people never born in this world work just fine." The moment the ring was pressed into the center of the gate, the magic of the ring triggered and the gate was unlocked. Hazel stored the ring away in her pocket and turned towards Dora. "You wanted to know more about me? Well, as far as I am concerned, the only thing left to show you is right here. You coming?" Dora looked between Hazel and the foggy area behind her. "What happens to you if I don't?" Hazel shrugged. "I'll be gone for a day, maybe longer. My memories on this day for most of my life, since the end of the war, are quite fuzzy. I won't blame you if you decide to stay out of it." Dora sighed but took a few steps forward. "I am not leaving you. I just needed to know whether I needed my wand out." Hazel eyed the mist. "Not really, but if you hear a bark or a howl, don't turn around. Apparate out with your eyes closed."

Hazel walked through the open gates and Dora followed closely, the gates closing behind her. The further in they went, the lighter the fog became. Eventually Dora noticed a shape in the fog. The shape was repeated over and over again as rows stretched out as far as the eye could see. Gravestones. Dora shivered and moved closer to a strangely quiet Hazel. They meandered through several rows and paths and Dora looked to the headstones. She saw the names. "The Black's have their own cemetery?" Hazel nodded. "A bit forgotten now. This is the Black Cemetery where much of the family is buried. The main line of Lords and Ladies are buried in the Mausoleum attached to the currently abandoned Castle Black, along with members that proved themselves worthy. For millennia, this was the Black Family's final resting place. It was abandoned after Alphard, Cassiopeia and Marius Black were all buried here. Can you imagine why?" Dora recalled the names from Andromeda's lessons on the family tree. "Alphard was disliked by Walburga for helping Mom and Sirius. Cassiopeia was barren and Marius was a Squib." Hazel nodded again. "Every Black for millennia was buried here, never mind as to who they were in life, except traitors to the family. Until the war. Arcturus buried his siblings and son without fear of reprisal but the blood supremacists complained. They sought their own cemetery."

Dora looked around, a strange longing building inside her heart. She knew Sirius would reinstate the Tonks family to the Black family soon. These were her ancestors, her relatives. Completely detached from the madness that turned the family into blood purists. These were the graves of her family. "How did you find this place?" Hazel shrugged her shoulders. "I asked the Black family elf. It wasn't in the same location as the one in my world, so I needed directions." Dora watched as she saw newer graves appear. Sure enough, the names of Cassiopeia, Marius and Alphard were clear to see on their graves. Hazel stopped for a second before Marius' grave. "Marius had a wife and children, as well as grandchildren. We will have to inform Sirius about them. They deserve to be buried here with their family, if that is their wish." Dora nodded before she stared at the last headstone. Every other headstone was grey or black. This one was white. She watched as Hazel stared at it before pulling a bottle of firewhiskey out of her jacket. "She introduced me to the stuff on Christmas of 1995. Burned quite a bit of the room we were in, along with my throat. Never touched alcohol again until just before my nineteenth birthday. It was a rough time. Andi was mad at me for a few days, but she understood. She had her own reasons to mark the day."

Hazel conjured a stone seat next to the grave and sat on it, pulling out the stopper on the bottle. "Last chance to leave, Dora. This won't be pretty." Dora sighed and went to look at the grave. She froze as soon as she saw what was engraved on it. "Hazel." Her partner took a swig from the bottle and a bit of fire plumed out from her mouth. "There is nothing buried here, of course. She had grey eyes in my world and was born a few years later. Went to Hogwarts and got Sorted into Ravenclaw, not Slytherin. Studied to be a Healer but found a passion in Enchanting. She became the silent partner of a group of Marauding teens, three of them sorted to Gryffindor. One was a Werewolf with a drive for Potions and a bad case of self pity. The other two were Heirs of Noble Families, looking for a laugh as the weight of their responsibility seemed to suffocate them. And she was a girl who wanted to see them all laugh. She did too, without a single person outside of the group knowing of her part in all of the chaos and madness. Well, all but one person didn't know: a redhead that was sorted into the House of Lions because she was too hot tempered to be an Eagle. My Godmother was the glue of the group, pointing out bullies to target for pranks, enchanting the silverware to get everyone to sprout mustaches and even getting the suits of armor to sing "God Save the Queen" whenever McGonagall walked by them."

Dora smiled and chuckled at that. "Yeah, I can see that being funny for a proud Scotswoman." Hazel smiled, her face flushed. "I repeated it for my fifth year, except with a different target in mind. The woman was a pureblood supremacist so it really got under her skin. Pretty sure that was the one time my McGonagall actually looked at me differently. She knew it had to be me after my Godmother confessed to her about being the bane of her existence for four years. Gods was the woman insufferable when I refused to stay away from my godmother. Why would I give a damn about school rules or even being expelled when there was a person who cared about me right there waiting for me to join them? Dumbledore, of course, got the Scotswoman to leave me alone. He needed his little destiny project to be where he could keep an eye on it. My Godmother wanted to pull me out of Hogwarts but she couldn't pull the Black funds out of Gringotts. She did run one hell of a bill on them, though. Better that than letting her bloody cousin add it to the Dark Lord's war chest." Hazel took another swig, Dora stepping a bit back as a fireball launched from Hazel's mouth as she hissed. Hazel looked to the grave marker, her eyes filling with tears.

"She never found a woman who could keep up with her. She stopped trying to during the war. Her family name and skills made her invaluable to both sides of the conflict. Healing was, after all, a tall order for a Dark Witch or Wizard. Wishing to keep her extended family safe, she became an unmarked Death Eater. She dropped as much information to the Order as she safely could, but the spy in the Order did just as much damage. She went to Azkaban for the Deaths of Alice and Frank Longbottom, whom she killed to spare them the same fate of the two people currently sitting in St. Mungos here, a fate given to them by the people she was forced to follow around." Dora stared at her as Hazel continued, the reality of her words sinking in. Hazel's Godmother taught her how to kill. Not with hate but with love. With mercy. "In my third year, her mad cousin escaped his cell and she followed him. They both found me in Surrey and she leapt onto me in her animagus form. She went by Whiskers but I called her Isabella. Kept the black cat with me all year long until her mad cousin caught me." Dora noticed Hazel starting to physically shake and she sat down beside her, hugging her.

Hazel cried. "He kept me under the Cruciatus for so long that I wanted it to be over. The Dementors that had tormented me all year decided to finish me then. I would have been a lifeless husk if she hadn't saved me. She swore to protect me as she should have done. As my birth mother had asked of her when she swore to be my Godmother. From that day till June 21st 1996, she was my best friend, my guardian, my everything." Hazel tossed the bottle against the gravestone, the glass shattering on impact. Hazel's shudder grew worse as the spilled liquid ran down the white headstone and seeped into the ground. "Voldemort used my love for her to get me into the Ministry and to catch me in an ambush, and she came to save me from my own stupidity." Hazel started shaking uncontrollably. "She swore she would adopt me as soon as her case was reviewed under Veritaserum. That I would be her daughter! For years I dreamt of her becoming my mom! But she died protecting me. Sirius Black took her from me!"

Pulling Hazel into her chest, Dora's thoughts were in absolute chaos as the images of the two worlds that were so at odds with each other fought for dominance. Hazel hiccupped against her. "Sirius was the traitor in our world. He was driven mad by Walburga as she tore into him for breaking tradition. She kept him under the Cruciatus curse for far too long, doing gods knows what to his head. He signed up as a spy for the Death Eaters without a second thought as soon as he could. When the Potter's made him Secret Keeper, the bastard ran straight to his Dark Lord. He took my parents from me. He then took my mother from me! He took everything from me!" Dora held Hazel to her, her chest growing damp. She looked at the headstone and understood why this was hurting Hazel so much. There was no Bellatrix Black in this world. Lestrange's mad rambling in front of the Wizengamot Court was legendary. She was the monster that haunted Dora's dreams since she was eleven years old.

Dora rubbed Hazel's back, her thoughts swirling on her partner's grief. Teddy got to meet her, a version of the mother he never knew. He now knew a version of his grandfather too. But Hazel didn't get that mercy. Bellatrix Black only existed in her own memories and on the carved gravestone before them. A witch that meant everything to Hazel, whom she would never get to see again. She could never exist in this world. Instead there was only Lestrange and her madness. The man Hazel hated with all her heart, the one who took her family from her twice over: his face was the same as that of their Sirius. Dora felt her heart ache at the cruelty of fate. Hazel came to this world looking to give her son a better life. She did that, only now that life was tearing her apart. Dora lowered Hazel onto her lap as she felt her girlfriend fall asleep, from the exhaustion of bearing out her deepest pain and from the alcohol. Caressing Hazel's hair absentmindedly, Dora turned to the headstone, tears falling from her eyes. "I wish I could have met you. Because your girl has become a big part of my life. An irreplaceable part of it. I can only imagine how much of what you taught her she has taught me."

A gust of wind whipped Dora's hair into her eyes as she pulled out her portkey. She took one last look at the headstone. For the longest time she was filled with fear of a woman whose very appearance and madness ruined her life as a teen. She had hated that woman's name so much. Yet here was proof that there could have been more to Bellatrix. Hazel was the living proof that there could have been a caring aunt beneath the evil that now existed. Dora looked down at her partner's tear covered face. For the longest time she had felt that Hazel was keeping something from her. Something important. Now she knew what it was. Her partner kept everything bottled inside, waiting for Dora to be ready. For she herself to be ready to share it. Dora realized now what she knew all along. She loved this woman from another world. Taking a moment to memorize every detail on the gravestone, Dora spoke up. "Thank you, for teaching her, caring for her and saving her. For giving her the love she desperately needed. Without you, I would never have met her. I … would never have fallen in love with her. So please, watch over us. Please, help me care for her in your stead." The wind filled with a warmth Dora could not explain before she activated the portkey, dragging both of them back to Hogsmeade, the words on the gravestone now etched into her heart.

Bellatrix "Isabella" Black

November 2nd 1959

June 21st 1996

Marauder, Sister, Aunt

and Beloved Godmother

The Brightest Star in a Sea of Black,

An Eternal Light in the Void of a Dead World

Hazel stirred awake, the warmth of a blanket wrapped around her body being too much for her current state. She kicked the blankets off the bed and stretched out. She frowned. She knew she was at Hogwarts, she could feel the familiar hum of the wards. She also had trouble remembering how she got here. She also happened to be wearing underwear, which was odd. She only wore it to bed when she could feel Teddy would be coming over. A door opened and a robed Dora came out, her hands rubbing a towel into her currently short pink hair. Beautiful purple eyes focused on her and Hazel's body felt like it was overheating. Dora folded the towel in her hands. "Oh, I sorta expected you to be out till tomorrow. You went through half a bottle of firewhiskey and fell asleep." Hazel blushed, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. "I probably would have if I drank the rest. I usually finish it. Guess I talked too much and the whiskey took me out before I could." Dora hummed as she sat down besides Hazel. A cool forehead pressed into hers. "You didn't want to share that part of yourself with me for so long because of my issues with Lestrange, didn't you?"

Fidgeting a little, Hazel nodded, at least as much as she could. "When Dromeda said you hated looking like your aunt Bellatrix, I knew you wouldn't want to hear about Bella. To me they aren't the same. Not really. Still felt like you wouldn't like it. So I waited." Dora pulled back and kissed Hazel on the head, making Hazel's mind misfire. "Thank you. I think… I think you were right in waiting. I got to hear more about your godmother, enough to sort of know her before I knew her name. She sounded like an incredible woman." Hazel smiled. "She was." Dora pulled back. "You want to shower?" Hazel shook her head. "Low metabolism here. I am still buzzed and I really don't want to have a cold shower while partly drunk. I'll still go for the toilet though." Hazel made a hasty walk to the bathroom as Dora finished drying her neck and face. She picked up the blankets from the floor and placed them back on the bed before Hazel returned. Dora barely had a moment to look before warm lips pressed into hers. She groaned a bit before Hazel pulled away and Dora stared into glowing green eyes. "Are we… ok?" Dora smiled. "We are, Partner. I told you, I am not leaving you." Hazel searched eyes for a second. "I feel like I heard something. Something that was very important. I have a hard time deciding whether I heard it for real or if it was a dream."

Dora blushed. "I might have said something meaningful." Hazel pouted. "Not willing to repeat it when I am wide awake?" Dora hummed as she sat on the bed. "Nope. Not telling." Hazel raised an eyebrow before locking the room tightly with wards. Dora swallowed as Hazel stared at her. "Are you absolutely sure you don't want to say it?" Dora reached up and held Hazel's face. "Say what?" Hazel's eye twitched and Dora leaned forward. "Oh, did you want me to say "I love you."" Dora blinked as Hazel's eyes and hair seemed to shift repeatedly before her hair looked black for a second, before fading to white. "Do you mean it?" Dora felt her heartache at the tone Hazel used, as if she was afraid of the answer. Dora leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss. "Yes Hazel. I meant it. I love you." Tears started falling from Hazel's eyes as she kissed Dora back. "And I love you, Nymphadora." Dora found herself on the bed, her limbs entangled with Hazel's as the two kissed well into the night before falling asleep peacefully. No nightmares or memories visited Hazel that night.

Chapter 36: Recovering the Past

Teddy nudged Harry's shoulder. "It's ok, Harry. Relax." Harry took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Ever since the Daily Prophet announced his Godfather as innocent, he knew he would be meeting him soon. Andromeda had even asked him if he wanted to wait to meet him later and he had been warmed by her concern. At Hogwarts he had been so comfortable with the thought but the moment he got on the train, his nerves started acting up. The hug he got from Ted and Andromeda at the station had been great and they waited patiently as he said goodbye to all his friends. Mrs. Weasley's disdainful looks towards Andromeda and Hazel made him a bit mad, as if she didn't trust them. Hazel's own absence from the meeting was also something that bothered him. His cousin and protector had been terrific the entire school year, always offering him advice, most of it when he asked. She genuinely cared about him, which made her absence all the more noticeable. At King's Cross she hugged him and wished him luck. Her words when he asked her if she was coming along struck him deeply.

"Harry. Nothing would make me happier than to see you reunite with someone far closer to your parents than the people you have already met, but I can't be there with you. Teddy has told you that I have problems. When I was your age, my own godmother came to take care of me. She did so for a few years before a man killed her, just before she could blood adopt me. She would have become my mother if the adoption had been carried out. That man has an eerie resemblance to Sirius, enough that my instincts are to try and hurt him. Your Godfather is an innocent man and doesn't deserve that and neither do you and Teddy. You have a chance to meet him and you deserve to do it without my personal issues getting in the way." She kissed his forehead. "Dora will be with you and you know Andromeda will always look after you. So relax and go meet the man." He nodded as she pulled Teddy into a hug and kissed him on the cheek. "You look after your cousin. I'll be at work keeping busy and then I will be making dinner. You and Dora make sure you work up an appetite. I plan to spoil you both."

Shaking his head, Harry followed Andromeda to the front door of her family's home before she opened it for him. As soon as he was in he heard a man take a deep breath. "You look so much like your father at your age. A bit uncanny." The man stood from the sofa and Harry got a good look at him. His face was still a bit thin from lack of food and there were bags under his eyes, but he certainly looked like he was getting better than from what he saw of him in the Prophet. His long mane of hair was certainly better maintained. The man knelt down and looked up at him. He smiled as he pointed at Harry's eyes. "These are very much your mother's, though. James fell in love with them in his first year, not that he knew what to do about it. Practically drove his mother Dorea up the walls with his ungentlemanly behaviour." Sirius stood up and bowed a bit. "I am happy we get to see each other, Harry. Sirius Black, Marauder, lady's man and former Auror, at your service." Teddy giggled. "I think a certain redhead might find one of those statements of concern." Sirius looked at Teddy and frowned. He looked between the two boys. "Andi said you two looked alike. You must be Edward Peverell."

Teddy bowed his head a little, making Sirius groan. He turned to Andi. "You didn't." Andromeda shook her head. "Oh no, that's all on him. His grandmother taught him the ways of the old families and his mother, who ignores manners as much as my daughter, somehow managed to not break him out of it." Dora bristled. "Oi!" Sirius chuckled before he turned to Teddy. "Andi says I owe a lot to your mother, both with looking after Harry and for keeping me alive. She also told me that she isn't safe for me to be around right now." Teddy nodded. "Mom's a good person but you just remind her of someone who hurt her a lot. She's a Dark Witch too. She hasn't taught me curses but I know she can be scary when mad." Dora snorted. "Personally, I think she's scarier when she gets bored. She gets creative with her magic." The group settled into the house and Harry started to relax. Teddy himself seemed interested in getting to know Sirius and the man didn't disappoint, even if his jokes made everyone cringe. Sirius looked over and Harry. "Heard you did great on your scores. Trying to beat your mom's?" Harry shook his head. "No, but I am trying hard in all my classes."

Sirius chuckled. "Can't believe Moony actually got to be a teacher for Defence. Before the Order, his score wasn't the best in the subject. Not like me and your Dad. Lily had some trouble with the course too in later years, but she got the hang of it. That woman was downright terrifying with a wand." Harry smiled. "Sounds like Hazel. She filled in for Remus on the days after the full moon. She was really good as a teacher and even got Hermione to pay a bit more attention in class. She doesn't like Defence though, even though she could probably beat all the professors at it. She beat Flitwick with only OWL level spells." Sirius blinked at him. "Huh, sounds like I got lucky she didn't curse me." Dora, seated on a sofa a short distance away, shuddered. "Trust me, you were. At work she's a lot more for instant takedown. With you, she would have taken her time. Our Instructor usually left the training room bleeding most of the time when he sparred with her. Not that the bastard ever showed it bothered him much." The conversation became lighter and Dora and Teddy excused themselves as they went back to their home with Hazel. Harry waved them goodbye as they apparated away before getting back inside. The Tonks' house was surprisingly lively for the next few days. He didn't mind, yet for some reason he felt odd. As if there was something missing. It wasn't until the Peverells visited again that the feeling faded away.

Shots rang out in rapid succession as the target took hit after hit in its center of mass before Hazel was forced to change the magazine. This was repeated several times until Hazel stopped one bullet short, leaving the last one in her mag. She took off her safety glasses and ear protection, as it was better than using the charms Quetz taught her, especially when in a crowded environment. She eyed the bullet still in its casing after pulling it free from the mag and a chuckle made her look up. "I am getting the distinct impression you are considering what it would take to conjure a fully functional bullet." Hazel nodded as Horatio came over. "The lead core, copper casing and the shell cartridge are all relatively easy to imagine, though getting the size to be exact will take loads of practice. Getting the primer and the gunpowder under the right pressure and mixture is the hard part. Think Quetz will be mad at me for thinking about taking another job away from her?" Horatio shook his head in mirth. "So long as it gets you and your partner home, she will probably forgive you. Eventually." Horatio looked at the target down the range. "You are getting better at it. MI5 will be quite happy. You get that trick down, they might try and offer you a job themselves. MI6 too." Hazel shook her head as she pocketed the bullet and a spent cartridge before she went to refill her rounds from Quetz' Ammo Locker.

Finishing up with storing her firearms safely in her expanded bag, Hazel turned to Horatio. "You know of the plan for the coming year?" Horatio nodded. "After the Williamson debacle, I had Croaker run all his plans and possible missions by me first." Hazel hummed and the two walked the corridors towards the Training Room. "And you are sure about it?" Horatio eyed her. "Worried about your partner's role in it?" Hazel nodded. "I know she is capable, but this is a long term mission. My charm will aid her immensely but I won't be able to back her up as much. I don't like that. I feel like I am failing her, letting her go out like that on her own." Horatio watched as Hazel pulled her jacket and bags off before she pulled out her gloves and arm guards. She turned to him. "Fancy a spar?" Horatio smiled and went to his locker. Once his own protective equipment was in place, the two started circling around each other, throwing test punches. "I can understand your concern. She's come back injured a lot after missions, while you have only had to deal with magical exhaustion. At the same time, she has been training with you every other day for the last year while you both guarded the castle."

Deflecting a jab and guarding from a punch to his face, Horatio retaliated. He smiled as Hazel mirrored his moves. Of all his trainees, she was becoming his favorite. Sure she was stubborn and bloodthirsty, but she took training, all training, seriously. He could also see why. Hazel was, after all, here at the DoM while her son and partner were meeting Sirius Black. The training kept her mind occupied from her problems. He could relate. A dodge of a sweeping kick and a block from a straight punch and Horatio retaliated with a flurry of punches. Hazel also had the habit of limiting the damage she took. While Nymphadora tended to guard and take the hits, Hazel always dodged and rolled around them, only taking a hit when a counter was a better option. His Operative took a few steps back and threw a few jabs and kicks experimentally before moving closer. "If you signed off on the mission, could I ask you to keep reevaluating her before it starts? I know she's improving but you have a better eye for it than me. You can also suggest areas of improvement. If I can't back her up in the mission, I at least want to push her training further."

The two exchanged punches and kicks, before Horatio took a far jump to avoid a sweep of his feet from Hazel. "Will do." The two continued on, with Horatio enjoying the fight more and more. Before Hazel would have been expending energy and trying to break through him. Now she was more reserved and controlled. He knew she would use a lot more strength and power in a real fight but seeing her have a better understanding of reducing her wasted excess movements was good. The fight ended in a draw after over an hour of trading blows. Horatio sat down with her as she dried the sweat from her body. "Have you settled on the new call signs?" Hazel nodded. "O1 and O2. If we ever get more members we might go with codenames but right now it's just us. Besides, I think we would both miss out on being R1 and R2." Horatio drank from a bottle of water and nodded. "I'll update the comms listing. Word is that the Dark Witches and Wizards are looking to regroup, now that the Dementors and Aurors are off the streets. We are hoping things stay quiet but while the mission is on, you might get called out on solo missions with Auror or Non-Magical backup. Are you up for that?" Hazel finished her drink of water and smiled. "Just get rules on lethal and non-lethal engagements set with them beforehand and I will get the job done." Horatio chuckled. Some bad habits didn't seem to be going away.

"Dumbledore didn't want you to stay on right away as Defence Professor?" Remus shook his head as the two Marauders walked down a sidewalk beside a city street in Muggle London. "Word was definitely leaked by students of my condition, even though nothing ever happened. The Board even received a report from Hazel about my containment, which had actually gone quite well, as well as the report on the destruction of the cursed object that caused the Defence Professors to suffer in the job. The Board was quite pleased with that last part and they agreed to send a thank you to Hazel through Amelia. Despite my condition, there were some requests to keep me in the position and Dumbledore didn't seem entirely against it but he decided to keep his options open." Sirius sighed and looked ahead. "Andromeda filled me in on almost everything. She mentioned she also knew some classified information she can't share with me currently. But the incident around Harry's custody and Dumbledore breaking the law, not to mention his inaction after my arrest and the sudden change of the law after. None of that is painting a pretty picture, Moony." Remus sighed and looked at Sirius. "Alone, maybe it could be dismissed, but yeah. Everything that happened needed to have Dumbledore's support and it did."

Sirius turned to his old friend, the last of the Marauders. "So, we fall back on the old rule?" Moony blinked at him in thought. "Always blame Snape?" Sirius barked out a laugh. "Not that one. The first one, fur for brains." Moony thought for a second and nodded. "Marauders first?" Sirius nodded. "Marauders first." He took a look to the left and sighed. "We are here." Remus looked up at the old apartment building complex. It looked weathered and dark, as if the soot from the smokestacks from the last century was still covering its walls. "Cheery place for a townhouse." Sirius chuckled. "Might have been once. At least before my mother got to run the place. Let's see what she left of it." The two men walked up the stairs of Number 12 Grimmauld Place and Sirius gripped the door with the hand that a certain ring now rested on. It took a bit of paperwork and two week of talks with the Mind Healers before he agreed to take on his Grandfather's ring. The Goblins had been ecstatic to have one of the oldest and largest accounts in Gringotts active again. He had pulled out of a list of investments made to the more Traditionalist sectors of Wizarding Britain and was in talks about seeking reparations from his extended family. For now though, he had a house to deal with.

The wards, recognizing his blood and the ring, granted him passage and control over the building. The door unlocked itself and he was able to push it aside. The two men entered and stared at a painting on the wall. Or more precisely a torched frame of a painting. Remus came up close to it with his wand out, casting a diagnostic. "Cursed fire. Burned the canvas clean off." Sirius stared at it and sighed. He knew who had the answers he needed. "Kreacher." The sound of an apparition pop echoed in the room and Sirius stared at the old elf, its eyes looking at him carefully. "The Heir has claimed the ring, as the scary witch said he would. Will the new Lord Black honor his family? Will he restore the House of Black and bury its lost son?" Sirius frowned "Bury who?" Kreacher's eyes grew watery. "Master Regulus. Scary witch walked through the wards and summoned Kreacher. Asked about Master Regulus and about Bellatrix Black, as well as the location of the Black Cemetery. Kreacher told the witch as she carried a Black Ring, though she refused to wear it. Kreacher showed the witch where Master Regulus died. Witch torched the creatures that killed Master Regulus and retrieved his body."

Sirius felt his heart ache at the memory of his brother. "Kreacher, what became of my brother Regulus before he died." He was glad that Moony was there as Kreacher told of Voldemort using him to store an item in the cave full of Inferi. How his brother turned away from the Dark Lord and sought to acquire and destroy the item but died as he sent Kreacher away with it. Moony held Sirius as he sobbed before looking at Kreacher. "What became of the item he entrusted to you, Kreacher? And why is there a torched painting on the wall?" Kreacher looked a bit ashamed after the last comment. "Scary witch asked for it, claiming she would see it destroyed but that it had to wait. The Dark Lord made others and they needed to be found. Mistress spoke ill of those who would dare go against the Dark Lord. The scary witch challenged Mistress, asking her where her loyalties lied. Mistress spoke of the Dark Lord and the restoration of the House of Black. Scary witch was not happy, claiming the Mistress betrayed the Noble and Ancient House by acting against Lord Black and the Line of Succession. Mistress screamed but the witch lit a black flame onto the painting. Mistress is no more."

Recovering from hearing about his brother's death, Sirius looked at Kreacher. "Kreacher, what did the scary witch look like and whose ring did she carry?" Kreacher tugged his hands nervously. "Lord Black must not hunt her. Scary witch smells of death. Black wards most Ancient yielded to her, without the ring." Sirius stared at the elf, stunned. To cross the Wardline of an Ancient Family's house without destroying it first was unheard of. He sighed. "I promise not to hunt her, Kreacher. I only wish to know what she looked like and who the ring belonged to." Kreacher thought for a second, measuring the truth of his words. "Scary witch wore blackish green snake hide clothes. Her hair was white with traces of black. Her eyes were green until the Mistress angered her. They were red then. The ring she carried made no sense. It was of Bellatrix Black, yet not. Mistress Bellatrix's ring was destroyed upon her marriage. Kreacher remembers it being destroyed. Scary witch said she was an ally of the True House Black, the one of the Old Guard. That the rightful Heir would one day claim the ring and return to Grimmauld as Lord Black." Sirius was silent for a moment before he nodded. "Thank you, Kreacher. See if you can clean the master bedroom and the rest and move out the old clothes to be sorted through later. I will take Regulus to Castle Black soon."

Kreacher smiled and nodded. "Regulus to be buried with the Lords and Ladies. Master Regulus to be honored. Kreacher will serve Lord Black as he restores the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black." The elf popped away and Remus turned to Sirius. "That description matches Hazel Peverell. Why would she let herself be seen if she could clearly sneak inside? And what the hell is she doing with your deranged cousin's ring?" Sirius shook his head. "The rings of the daughters of House Black are destroyed when they are married. Bellatrix hasn't been divorced and has no reason for the ring to exist. I have no clue where Peverell got that ring from. As for Peverell letting herself be seen, she clearly needed Kreacher's aid. That she asked about the things she did is odd. I will ask Andromeda when I see her next." Remus nodded but frowned. "What did he mean by the Old Guard?" Sirius looked at the burned painting. "An old story about our family. It tied us with other houses in an Alliance that saw the formation of the Wizard's Council, before the Wizengamot. Oaths were given binding families to old duties. The Peverells were amongst them, as were the Blacks, the Bones and the Longbottoms. Wonder if this has something to do with the Coalition Andromeda mentioned."

Remus hummed. "That Coalition has been gaining a lot of ground. Abbotts, Bones, Greengrass, Davis, Longbottom, Peverell and several others have been voting as a bloc. Dumbledore has been concerned about them growing strong enough to block legislation, which they have with the support of smaller houses. They have a strong interest in the school and strengthening law enforcement. Been blocking Malfoy since the moment Ted took the Peverell Proxy." Sirius looked at Remus who blushed. "Dumbledore was talkative and the Prophet's been running stories on them, usually around the Wizengamot meetings." Sirius chuckled. "Well, looks like I have a lot to work with Ted and Andromeda. They trust Hazel with Nymphadora and they dote on Teddy like part of the family, so I will trust her to know what she is doing with that thing she took from Voldemort." Remus nodded. "We should probably not mention it to Dumbledore." Sirius opened the sliding door that led to the dining room table. "Good. In the meantime, let's see how much of this place we can clean. I will be looking in the Lord's study before taking Regulus to the Castle. Gods, I need to figure out who to tell about his death." Remus chuckled. "More like who not to tell." Sirius drew the wand he got from Ollivander, it's magic better suited to him than he ever expected from a replacement wand. "Exactly."

Harry felt soft arms holding him up as he stumbled with the portkey. "Magical Travel hates me." Hazel chuckled as she steadied him. "Trust me, it sucks for the most part for everyone. They just hide it better. Dora here would be worse if I didn't give her a hand." Dora huffed. "Oi! I have gotten better. I haven't landed on my ass in over a year!" Harry chuckled as he and Teddy turned to the large iron gates. Harry's eyes took in the old stone structure behind it. "My home?" Hazel touched his shoulder. "Your Grandfather's. James grew up here but he moved out after marrying Lily. The deaths of Charlus and Dorea Potter did a number on him and he stayed clear of the old house." Harry nodded and felt Teddy press into his shoulder for support. He turned to Hazel. "It was your family's Ancestral Home too, once upon a time." Hazel nodded but squeezed his shoulder gently. "It was, but it's yours now, Harry. This is your legacy, not ours. Teddy and I are happy to lay down our own foundations elsewhere. There are a few large plots of land nearby so you might get us as neighbors, at least." Seeing Teddy nod in agreement, Harry moved forward with a key in his hand. He still had to wait a year for his Heir Ring, but the Goblins gave the key to the property easily enough after the full and updated will was read.

The reading of said will caused quite a bit of a storm for Albus Dumbledore. The will named Peter as the Secret Keeper and charged him with treason if any harm came to the family. It also listed Sirius Black as the Primary Guardian for Harry Potter, with the Tonks family third after the Longbottoms, though Sirius' current state prevents him from exercising that responsibility. A full list of Death Eaters and Sympathizers were blacklisted for custody, including the Malfoys. The clause that read that the Dursleys were also banned from having custody of the boy only made matters worse for the old man. He tried to defend his actions as necessary, with the wards needing a blood relation of Lily Evans to sustain the protection. When it was announced that said wards had been successfully transplanted to the Tonks wardscheme, he looked utterly stunned, though she was disappointed that the Assembly didn't do more than reprimand him. Hazel had made her first and only appearance so far as the Head of the Ancient House of Peverell. She made it quite clear that she was letting her Proxy handle the Wizengamot duties. She had also made it clear that any betrothal contracts, requests for Alliances and threats would be promptly ignored or responded to accordingly. She had no tolerance for politics. She had been to that session as support for Harry, nothing more. The kid deserved it after she bailed out on him from meeting Sirius.

Which was why she was here now and not Sirius. The old mutt would have had his own memories of the place but Harry needed to see it with fresh eyes. The boy brought the key forward and pushed it into the lock. The air bristled as the wards granted them all entry, both Teddy and Hazel feeling them welcoming them in as well. Harry and Teddy looked with wonder at the gardens to both sides, the fountains silent and the hedges, trimmed yet looking dull, the effects of a stasis ward collapsing. Hazel's eyes, though, saw something more. She saw the burned and dead hedges, the destroyed fountains and the smashed glass. The Potter Manor here was the same as the one in her world, only different in the regard of when she arrived to see it. Bella had kept her safe in the summer of her fifth year and Hazel barricaded herself in Grimmauld for the sixth after her Godmother's death. Dumbledore's club had forced her to return to Privet Drive on the seventh summer before Hogwarts after Dumbledore had been killed, despite there being no true blood wards there. She had forced the two companions hoisted onto her to go to her home. It had been too late. The wards needed to have been recharged by her as soon as her 17th birthday, but the redirected mail, the manhunts and the isolation forced onto her had done its job. Potter Manor had been destroyed and she had been none the wiser until just after the spring of 98. She eventually knew Dumbledore had planned that to happen. What better way to secure a martyr's death than to destroy any place she could call home. Had Teddy not been her godchild, he might have succeeded.

The doors of the Manor opened slowly and a soft pop echoed out from the entrance. An elf that looked older than Kreacher gazed at the new arrivals. His eyes had trouble picking who to focus on until he caught Harry's eyes. He gave the boy a soft smile. "Master Harry has returned home at last. I am Pauly, sir. The last of the Potter elves. It is good to see you again. The Lord and Lady were quite fond of your visits." Harry blushed. "Thank you, Pauly. We are here to check the Manor and strengthen the wards. I… would like to call this place home one day." Pauly nodded. "Pauly would be glad to take you to the wardstone. Sadly, the Manor is not very clean. Pauly is not as spry as he used to be." Hazel looked through the opening and noticed the thick layer of duet just beyond the door. "Dobby." Dobby apparated in and his eyes darted over the Manor interior. "Oh no, Potter Manor needs a lot of work. Dobby knows not where to begin." Hazel gestured with her head. "Dobby, this Pauly, your elder and the keeper of the Manor. Act in his stead and let him show you what it means to be an elf of the House of Potter. He has waited a long time for a Potter to return home." Dobby nodded happily and the two elves whispered to each other before Dobby started cleaning a path out of the main foyer.

Pauly turned to Harry. "Follow Dobby to the wardstone, Master Harry." Harry and Teddy looked around as the floor and walls were magically stripped away of dirt before them, with Dora following them, though she kept some distance back in case Hazel needed her. Pauly turned to Hazel, his eyes searching hers. "You are a Potter." Hazel raised her finger to her lips and pointed to Harry. "The boy is the rightful Heir. Magic brought me and my son here to this world. We are Peverells now, guiding young Harry to his rightful place, one others would see abandoned for their own plans. Dobby is a Potter elf through me." Pauly nodded, sensing the truth of her words. "Then welcome home as well, Mistress Peverell." Hazel shook her head. "We gave this home to the Potters. It is Harry's home. The Peverells will rebuild elsewhere." Pauly nodded and Hazel reached down and touched his head. "Restore to him what time has taken, so that he may fulfill his final duty to his family." Pauly stared wide eyed as magic spread through him. Though he didn't seem any younger, his eyes shined a bit more brightly. "Mistress be quite kind, to show such honor to an old elf."

Hazel shook her head. "I was betrayed and my home destroyed. Two elves gave their lives protecting what should have been my future, and more likely did as well. I learned a bit of the Olde Ways in a bid to save my son. It seemed only fair, in recompense for my own failures in my world, to aid you and Harry here." The elf bowed. "As Pauly said, Mistress is kind. Pauly will serve Master Harry and teach Dobby to be Potter Family Elf." The elf popped away a bit more loudly than before as Hazel followed after the others, letting her magic reach out into the structure. Like with the Hallows, there was nothing here resembling Family Magic, though the wards clearly recognized her as a Potter, meaning they were probably Blood Wards, left behind by the Peverells to secure the old Estate to the Potter descendants. "A lot to take in?" Hazel nodded at Dora's question. "I walked through similar halls once, torched by Fiendfyre and ruined beyond repair." Dora wrapped her hand around Hazel's waist. "But not here. Because of you. Harry gets to rebuild his family. Mom does too. And you are planning to set roots nearby. You have nothing to be sad about." Hazel kissed Dora's cheek. "No, I don't. Not right now."

Finding the kids looking over the wardstone, with both Harry and Teddy trying to decipher it, Hazel walked into the room. "Have you decided?" Harry looked at Teddy who nodded at him before he looked at Hazel. "Would you hold control of the wards for me?" Hazel looked between the two kids. "I am sensing a conspiracy here." Teddy shook his head and Harry looked at her pleadingly. "You've been helping me discover my family's legacy and have been protecting me since I stepped into the magical world. While Sirius is technically my Godfather, I think the wards would be safer with you. Will you take them until I am ready?" Hazel rubbed her eyes, and threw a weak stinging hex at Dora for smirking knowingly. "Alright, Harry. I will hold control of the wards for now, but you just signed up for a wards course with me. I have been learning Rune based warding on my own with Teddy and if you are going to entrust this to me, I will make sure you know it too. Teddy, your Runes homework just got doubled too." Teddy hugged Hazel. "It's worth it." Hazel rubbed his hair and moved towards the wardstone, drawing out her Blood Magic knife. She handed it to Harry. "You need to claim them first then pass them to me. These are the words to use."

Dora sat back and watched as Pauly stood a bit straighter as soon as the wards settled onto Hazel. "Oh, Mistress Peverell indeed." Dora looked towards the elder elf. "What do you mean?" The old elf looked at her and smiled. "Story of old Peverell Elves who accompanied Iolanthe Potter into the new family. Magic most Ancient laid buried within the Peverell blood, an old oath left unfulfilled by those that came before." Pauly looked to Hazel who was reading from her warding journal as she adjusted the wards for greater protection and concealment. "Mistress Peverell has fulfilled that oath. It gives her strength where magic would fail others." Pauly turned to Nymphadora. "You are her consort, yes? Care for Mistress Peverell deeply. Pauly sees the injuries she carries now. Many injuries. Many are healing, but a few will linger. Mistress Peverell needs you, even as the burden she carries is hers alone." Dora turned to Hazel as she explained the changes she has made to the wards to Harry and Teddy, both seeing the runes shift on the wardstone, wonder and curiosity on their faces. She smiled. "She won't carry it alone. She is my partner." Hazel's eyes met Dora's and she gave her girlfriend a bright smile. Hazel's responding smile warmed her heart. Dora couldn't wait for them to go on vacation soon.

Sirius shook his hand as Ted Tonks dropped another paper on the table in front of him. The two had a lot of paperwork to go over and the dining room table of the Tonks residence was almost covered completely in stacks. "There is no end to them." Ted chuckled. "Well, you missed out on years of paperwork and Arcturus probably stopped as he grew too ill to manage it. How was Castle Black?" Sirius sighed as he looked over the latest document before signing it. "Surprisingly habitable. Arcturus' elf buried Grandfather in the Mausoleum before it too passed on, but the stasis wards on the castle held well. Kreacher has been clearing up Grimmauld for the most part, but I assigned him to manage the Mausoleum for the burial. The elf really did love my brother. He's been quite cooperative after I gave him that duty." Ted nodded, but looked at Sirius with concern. "Sorry we couldn't get much out of Hazel Peverell about her visit to Grimmauld. Dora knows why she asked about Bellatrix and the Black Cemetery and is working on getting Hazel to share it with Andromeda but it's a delicate process. Hazel is distantly related to the Blacks and is protective about the people who raised her. And no, she wasn't raised by Lestrange, despite her proficiency with Unforgivables and the ring she carried." Sirius took the next paper and started reading it. "Well, that's a relief. Heard she took Harry to see Potter Manor. How did he take it?"

Ted shrugged. "Surprisingly well. Pauly had been doing his best with the magic he got from the wardstone. With the Manor's magical ties restored, he and Dobby are clearing the place up. Since Harry is technically a Black too, you could ask him for Dobby to help Kreacher out, after the Manor is back in proper form. They are keeping most of the stuff as is, in case there are old clothes or mementos there that you would like to retrieve." Sirius smiled softly. He had loved living with Dorea and Charlus. They took him in without a second thought the moment he ran away from home. "I'll thank them later for that. Gods, seeing James' old room will be a hell of a trip." Ted gave him his next stack of papers as organized all the signed ones. "I hope this is not an imposition. You are the Peverell Proxy after all." Ted shrugged. "Hazel isn't very trusting with much of the Peverell papers. We get together a bit prior to a Wizengamot Session, discuss the active bills, her stances and what she would like me to question and that's it. She has another legal team handle much of her paperwork, which was almost non-existent. No land taxes, no investments and no contracts to look over from her predecessor." Sirius was about to comment when he heard the doorbell. Ted stood up. "I'll go see who it is."

Sirius signed a few more documents before Ted cleared his throat. "You have a visitor." He looked up and felt his heart warm. "Gods you are still beautiful." Ted made a hasty retreat as Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Really? Young Edward Peverell said you called yourself a ladies' man. Should I be concerned if you are saying similar words to other ladies?" Sirius swallowed. "Ahh. Wasn't aware you were acquainted." Amelia smirked. "The young man is with my niece in Hufflepuff. She has taken him under her wing, at least until she decides to tease the boy." Amelia looked over the stacks of documents. "I can see that paperwork still keeps you busy. I remember the massive stacks Moody made you fill out, especially when you went out halfcocked looking for trouble." Sirius blushed. "How is the old walking sack of paranoia?" Amelia chuckled. "Quite well actually. The last batch of Cadets did rather well in the field and the Dark Witches and Wizards are keeping quiet. He's practically going stir crazy. Dumbledore called him up to the castle a few times." Sirius groaned. "Tell me he isn't the next Defence Professor." Amelia shook her head. "Not yet but Albus is trying to convince him. He has some assignments lined up so he can't accept just yet."

The two went uncomfortably quiet for a bit. Sirius decided to just get it out in the open. "And… how are we, Amy?" Amelia walked up to him and she lifted up her right hand, showing him a familiar engagement ring. He watched as she took it off. "I never wore this while at work. I… had a hard time dealing with everything, Sirius. You were sent to Azkaban, my entire family got slaughtered and I had a one year old niece that needed me. I couldn't think clearly. I left the Aurors for a year and in that time you got shipped off to Azkaban. I didn't know what to believe." Amelia gripped the engagement ring tightly. "But I couldn't part with it. And I never went out with anyone else." She walked up and lifted his hand before dropping the ring in it. "But we aren't the same people anymore, Sirius." Sirius gripped the ring tightly. "No, we aren't. But… I still wish to try. I want to get to know you again, Amy." Amelia smiled. "I would like that." She reached up and kissed him softly. She pulled back and made a face. "But you are going to have to trim your moustache a bit more. You are a bit scruffier. Then again, I hear you're a dog now. Do I need to get a doggy bed for my guest room?" Sirius laughed loudly as Andromeda and Ted watched on, smiling at each other. Their family was finally coming back together.

Chapter 37: Summer of Relaxation

"Why do I get the feeling your daughter and her girlfriend are mad at me?" Andromeda leaned back and looked at the two women who were currently watching over the kids while the adults gathered around the outside patio table, the two witches hidden under the shade of the beach umbrella to avoid the sweltering sun. All around them stretched a wide and untouched sandy beach before the horizon was filled with the wide blue Atlantic Ocean as the group enjoyed a much needed break from the cold British weather. "Because they spent months planning a family only beach vacation and your invitation of not only us but the rest of the Coalition pretty much upended their plans." Sirius frowned. "How?" Andromeda arched an eyebrow. "They can't exactly have a romantic getaway on an island with all of us on it, especially the types of romantic activities that included a certain expectation of privacy. A half dozen kids that they both need to help babysit for isn't the least bit romantic either." Sirius pouted. "They couldn't have said that before we arrived?" Andromeda smacked Sirius on the head. "Of course Hazel couldn't. You invited all of Harry's friends and a few of Teddy's. She wasn't going to let Harry or her son miss out on it." Sirius rubbed his head. "Ok, fine. I am sorry I spoiled their fun. Maybe I can offer them a private stay on their own."

Amelia sat down beside Sirius, her modest one piece swimsuit and thin scarf wrapped around her waist making him think about securing some of his own private time. "Good luck with that. Hazel might leave you a drooling mess with a wave of her hand first. Especially if she is still holding a grudge over the ruined plans." Sirius grumbled. "I didn't do anything to her!" Andromeda nodded. "No, you didn't. But a look alike of yours did. Trust me, I barely got the full story from her and I could see the magic running up her arms. Just leave her and Nymphadora be for now. Let her get used to the idea that you aren't trying to kill her." Julia sat down beside Amelia and placed a few drinks on the table, with Amelia wrinkling her nose at the heavy alcoholic smell coming from them. The blonde looked over towards the beach before turning to Andromeda. "Are we talking about the hot killing machine dating your daughter, Andromeda? You have got to get Nymphadora to let me have my fun with them! I promise, they will both enjoy it. I know this lovely trick with my tongue." Amelia pulled Julia's hat further down her friend's face. "Your daughters and several of the children are within earshot, Julia." Julia pulled her hat off and placed it on her lap before drinking for her glass. "So? I already gave them "The Talk."

Sirius shivered. "Tell me I don't have to give that to Harry, Andi." Andromeda chuckled. "Nope. Already dealt with. Teddy was even there. I was surprised how detailed Hazel went with her son, but it certainly kept him out of trouble. His running commentary helped Harry relax a bit." Julia smirked. "So I heard. Astoria loved teasing the boy but most of it he already knew about. The rest he got easily enough. Heard the younger Carrow Twins were a bit disappointed they couldn't spoil him too." Sirius looked to Amelia. "Speaking about the Carrows, how did they get their seat back? They were convicted killers." Amelia sighed. "Fudge being bribed, most likely. Wish we could deal with that but an election right now is unlikely. Any amendments to the conditions for entry into the Wizengamot will have to wait as well. Fortunately, the two girls are staying at another family's home for now." She drank from her drink as the last few of the adults arrived, including Lord Nott. Sirius eyed the man, still unsure about him. The older gentleman gave him a knowing look. "Easy there, young Lord. I already told you I am on your side." Sirius looked away. "Even after I sent your own son to Azkaban?" Theodore Nott sighed but nodded. "My son made many mistakes, a few that I had a hand in. Whatever I raised him to be, it was not to be a rapist and a murderer. He is there of his own accord. I am quite glad my grandson, however, is growing up quite differently."

The adults turned to the children, with most of the boys swimming in the water, while the girls were applying their sun protection and tying their hairs up. Augusta nodded. "I myself am quite happy with Neville as well. The last two years have done him well." Sirius looked at the boys racing each other in the water. "He reminds me a bit of Frank, though his smile is all Alice." Augusta chuckled and turned to the rest, before focusing on Nott. "So, anything of concern from your less than pleasant contacts, Lord Nott?" Theodore drank from his cup of coffee. "Whispers of the other Death Eaters, mainly those who went unmarked or under the Imperius defence, getting together to sow chaos at the World Cup Finals. I know they are reaching out to the more senior members, looking for support. Also, I have secured a stay at the Manor for the two young Carrows. Their parents were all too happy to hear about them catching my grandson's attention. Not that they really have." Amelia looked to Hazel, aware of the events she had relayed concerning both the World Cup and the young girls. Her own Godmother had apparently kept Hazel away from the World Cup in her world. "We have a small Auror presence planned for the evening, with a few more being secured from the ICW. We are hoping the event improves relations between us and the other Auror departments elsewhere." Nott nodded. "A sound strategy, one our Minister will be happy to support for "international cooperation" purposes."

Sirius frowned. "Is it going to be safe for the kids to be there?" Julia giggled. "Please, if young Edward Peverell is there, they will all be safe." She turned to Amelia. "Are you stocking up on body bags yet?" Amelia sighed. "Yes, unfortunately." Sirius looked from between the two and back at the white haired witch. "You think she can handle them with little backup?" Nott gave Amelia a knowing look. "Is she the one that wrecked Williamson's Manor?" Amelia glared at him. "There a reason you suspect that, Nott?" Nott sat back and hummed. "The Aurors are silenced but there are still whispers. Williamson got sloppy and tried to make a run for it but his escape route arrived too little too late. Lots of former Death Eaters never made it home that night. A few other nights come to mind as well." Theodore raised his hands at the sharper glare he received from the redhead. "Now, none of that. Everyone is pointing at you and your exceptional leadership of the DMLE. Being on the inside here tells me it's more than that. Just curious, is all. I am trusting her with tutoring my grandson after all." Amelia sighed. "She is, though I am hoping for a less messy result." Julia bit her lip. "Does that mean I might get a chance to watch her at work at the World Cup? I might need to get some tickets then." Amelia groaned as Julia hummed happily, while a few of the others shook their heads.

"You boys all tuckered out?" Harry, Neville and Theo dropped onto their towels, the seawater dripping from their wet hair. Teddy came up a bit less tired and pulled out the drinks from the extended bag his mom enchanted to be cold, passing them along to everyone. Hannah helped tie Susan's hair into a braid while Astoria did the same for Daphne, with Tracey just lazily sitting back and tanning under the sun. Luna Lovegood, who had come at Astoria's invitation, worked on a sand castle nearby, humming to herself. Astoria went to check on her as Daphne stood up and loomed over the boys, her wand spinning in her hand. "So, should we try out some magic? Lord Black made it clear that we are out of the British Ministry's jurisdiction and the island is warded." The boys looked between each other, a bit nervous. They had all gotten to see Daphne during the tutoring sessions and every single of them agreed she was scary. Susan complained from under the umbrella's shadow. "Oh come on Daphne, it's too hot out for that." Daphne huffed. "You just don't want to get tanned." Susan bristled. "I don't tan, I get burned. Even with the potion and ointments." Teddy looked at Daphne. "Besides, what would we do? Mom said no dueling training on the island. We are supposed to be taking a break."

Harry nodded as he downed his water, trying not to look too closely at the girls. Andromeda's talk from after last year's Christmas had left him blushing, especially around Susan. The redhead had gone for a black and yellow bikini that really showed a lot of her skin and curves. He had jumped into the water to swim, as well as to hide his reaction. He had seen Neville and Theo blush up a storm as all the girls pulled off their jackets, since none of them wore a one piece except for Luna and Astoria. The former struck him as a quiet girl that kept mostly to herself at school, though she had grown a bit more friendly at Astoria's urging. She had joined some of their study sessions, knowing a surprising amount about Care of Magical Creatures, even though she was only a second year at the time. He turned and looked at Hazel and Dora who were their chaperones for the day. Dora's pink bikini was certainly revealing and even he found he had to look away before he got a reaction from watching her too. Hazel had thankfully worn a one piece, though there was no hiding her lean, athletic build. He was thankful that she at least didn't make him feel anything. That would have been weird, especially with Teddy nearby. His cousin at least seemed to have less of a problem, at least until Astoria teased him. His changing hair colors betrayed him every time, much to the blonde's amusement.

Daphne's humming drew Harry's attention and he watched as she aimed her wand at Susan. "Aguamenti." Susan yelped under the torrent of cold water. "Daph!" The dark haired witch grinned. "That seems to work fine. We can try controlling it and changing it on the fly." Teddy leaned over and whispered something in Astoria's ear as Daphne dodged a shot of water from Susan. A ball of water slammed into her back, making the Slytherin turn around. "What was that?" Astoria waved her wand in a circle. "Aqua Vesica." A water ball the size of a balloon flew from the tip of Astoria's wand and Daphne dodged it, hitting Susan instead. "Oi! Not fair!" Teddy went to the boys while Astoria told the girls, spreading the spell around. The beach turned into a show down as everyone tried to tag the others with the balls. Luna yelped for a second as one went to strike her accidentally but the ball got intercepted by the sandy ground lifting up into its path, before it lowered and evened out. Hazel walked up behind the blonde and dropped a small disk with wards on it next to her. "It should keep the water and air from bothering you." Luna smiled at her. "Thank you, Ms. Potter." Hazel sighed. The weird blonde always called her that. She had searched her memories for the girl but found no one matching her description, so she assumed the girl either died before Hogwarts or was never born in her world.

Not bothering with correcting her for the hundredth time, Hazel turned to the kids throwing water balls at each other. She gestured to the ground and the sand started to shift. Theo casted a ball towards Astoria but a wall of sand rose up and blocked it. The kids froze and turned to Hazel, Teddy looking a big unsure if his Mom would be mad he shared that spell with them. Hazel sighed and turned to Luna. "Want me to make that life sized for you? Your friends can play inside it and you can have me change it on the fly." Luna beamed. "Sure!" Walls of sand rose around the group of teens. "Alright, since you wanted to play, let's play. The first one to the top that then tags everyone trying to get them down gets to sleep in late tomorrow." A massive Castle that matched Luna's design sprang from the sand and half a dozen doors formed out of the sand. "Safe water based spells only and Glacius is for making the floor slippery. Begin." Luna watched as Hazel adjusted the Castle's design while the kids played inside, adding slides and dead ends. Hazel smirked as an older wolf cub popped out of the higher exit and reached the top. The older kids were in for a tough time. Though to be fair, if Teddy slept in late, it meant she and Dora could maybe get some alone time. Teddy knew how to make water based shields after all.

OW July 1994

"A bit more of a flourish." Hazel closed her eyes and waved her hands, flourishing her fingers as she focused on the magic needed for the wards. Charm based wards weren't being covered yet at Hogwarts but Bella wanted her to learn them. The ease of application and the difficulty for the untrained to spot them made them a good medium for keeping unwanted guests away. With the fact she had sneaked out of Hogwarts with Bella and had joined her on a bit of a bike tour of the Isle of Britain, Hazel knew she would have a lot of need for this particular spell and others like it. More than that, getting the spell to be casted wandlessly was important, as her wand was still being difficult and the Trace was still attached to it. She refused to be the reason her Godmother got caught by the Aurors. They had kept to the muggle areas, Bella using hair dye, contacts and a few glamour charms. Apparently, her mom had taken her out one summer on a tour of muggle shops and had shown her how to dye her hair. Hazel had to admit that Bella looked pretty as a redhead. Hazel had dyed her own hair red so that they would blend in as a mother and child.

With a few more waves of her hand she felt the magic snap in place. Bella walked around the spot and ran her wand over the edge of the ward. She nodded. "You got it. Ready for the rest?" Hazel smiled and got back at it. Bella eventually established the more complicated wards, the notice-me-not and muggle repellent wards, and two settled into their little campsite by the beach as the sun started setting over the horizon. The Irish Sea looked quite beautiful lit up, as if the horizon was a blaze. Bella sat on the log beside her and lit the campfire before she pulled out a frying pan. "So, hamburgers or hot dogs?" Hazel thought for a second. "Both?" Bella smiled. "Both it is." Hazel helped gripping the pan as Bella placed the meat on it and they both sighed happily at the smell. Bella leaned back. "Me, Lily, Alice and Marlene took a summer all for ourselves like this, just after our sixth year. The Death Eater attacks were getting worse, so we figured a week or two as muggles would be great and it was. Alice, being Alice, invited Frank over. This resulted in James coming along too. Lily was surprisingly mad. She really wanted a girl's only vacation."

Hazel hummed as she turned the food over on the pan. "Weren't they dating yet? Mom and Dad?" Bella smirked. "Dating? Yes. Being more affectionate? Not yet. Then again, their relationship was usually one massive jump forward every bloody time." Bella pulled the buns out and placed them on a rack to toast them a bit over the open fire as Hazel watched. "Did they do that? Make rash decisions all the time?" Bella sighed as she pulled the buns back. "We all did. They got together and got engaged right out of Hogwarts. I got a partial apprenticeship with my sister Andi at St. Mungos at the time. Then things got worse. The Ministry started fighting back harder and the Death Eaters and the Order were in need of Healers. I got approached by both and James convinced me to spy on the Death Eaters." Hazel frowned. "Didn't the Order have other spies?" Bella shook her head. "Not then. Snape joined later, after your birth. I wanted to look after my family on both sides. Regulus was in the Death Eaters and Sirius was in the Order with James and Lily." Hazel started physically shaking and Bella lowered the plates to the floor and held her. Bella kissed her hair and sang a soft tune as Hazel bit her lip.

Ever since the night Sirius attacked her, her body would suffer spasms of pain whenever she was reminded of it. Hazel had screamed at first but over time she fought the lingering effects of the Cruciatus. When she had gone to the Hospital Wing, the Headmaster and the Aurors had been around. Bella had stayed in the Chamber of Secrets, safely hidden away. For the first time, Pomfrey had looked at her with real concern but the Healer said there was nothing she could do. The nerve damage of the Cruciatus could only recover in time, if ever. Hazel prayed she was the former, as she felt her shaking slowing down in intensity. She breathed deeply until she felt her body growing still, though she felt her skin tingling at the memory. "I am ok… now." Bella rubbed her hair and refused to let her step too far away. The meal was nice as they stared out over the water. "Have you ever gone swimming at the beach?" Hazel blushed. "I … don't know how to swim that well. I almost drowned in that pool in the chamber." Bella cleaned a bit of mustard off Hazel's cheek. "Well, I need to fix that. Swimming is great for relaxing and you never know when you might need to jump in the lake or a river."

Hazel shivered. "Not right now, right?" Bella chuckled. "No, swimming at night should be something you reserve for when you know what you are doing. A wildlife repelling charm is also a good idea. James got stung by a jellyfish during our outing. Never heard the guy moan in pain as much. Not even that one time Lily kicked him between the legs for his less than gentlemanly behavior." Hazel smirked. "How much was it to get sympathy from Lily?" Bella made a gesture with her hand, showing a small gap between her thumb and index finger. "A little bit. Worked though. Pretty sure Lily spent the night with him. Neither of them remembered they weren't alone until after they woke up in the morning." Hazel laughed a little at that as did Bella. "Lily's face was as red as her hair that day. I had planned to take a photo but she snatched the camera out of my hand and tossed it. She couldn't look me or Marlene in the eyes for days." Hazel and Bella stayed outside that night, under the light of the stars. After spotting a shooting star, Hazel wished that these peaceful days would last forever. Her peace lasted till the 1st of September. For the first time in three years, she didn't want to go back to Hogwarts. It didn't feel like it was worth it anymore.

NW July 1994

Hazel stirred awake a little and felt her skin being a bit itchy. She looked around and felt her pillow shift. Dora, sporting some short and pink hair to avoid the heat, leaned over her. "There you are. You fell asleep on me. Everyone else went to sleep indoors. Well, I think the girls are having a sleepover party, but the rest are in their rooms." Hazel yawned a bit. "Sorry, I got a bit overzealous with that sandcastle." Dora hummed, looking in the direction of the mound of sand it turned into after Hazel called it quits. "All the kids had a blast, though. Even if Teddy won. Did you have to try so hard to dislodge him?" Hazel blushed. "He didn't take it the wrong way, right? Do I need to talk to him? Where is he?" Dora pulled Hazel back down onto her lap. "Your son is fine, Hazel. He understood you didn't want to look like you were favoring him. He had a lot of fun. Though now you have people wanting to try the animagus transformation." Hazel hummed merrily, and Dora leaned over. "Amelia said no." Hazel pouted. "Drats. Can I get up now?" Dora allowed Hazel to get on her feet before she waved her hand and releveled the sand on the beach. She turned to Dora and reached out, taking her hand. "So? Any plans for tonight, or did watching kids drain you too?"

Dora pulled her along. "A walk to the other side of the island?" Hazel nodded and the two walked the beach, hand's grasped gently. Hazel looked around. She knew they were in the Canary Islands, or at least nearby. Several old Families sought a summer retreat in the Atlantic during the Age of Exploration. Many bought islands in their entirety before warding them, vanishing them from sight and memory. The nearby larger island was bought by an older family from the Continent but they sold it during the Napoleonic Wars to cover their debts. While the main island became a Magical families destination of choice, the Lord Black of the time had secured the private island they were on as a wedding gift for his wife. It's been safely in the hands of the Head of House ever since. While she had been a bit mad at Sirius for hijacking their vacation, she couldn't deny the fact that Teddy and Harry were clearly enjoying themselves. Harry had invited his friends too, but the Weasley Matriarch wasn't too keen on letting her children into a private place owned by a known Dark Family and the Grangers had already booked a summer retreat with their daughter. While a bit disappointed, the fun the boy had today was all too real. She was happy she could give him a better summer memory.

Hazel leaned into Dora who squeezed her hand comfortably. "Still worried about the plan?" Hazel nodded. "I just… it's the first time we won't be depending on each other in the thick of it. It feels wrong and I don't want to watch you get hurt and not be able to do anything about it beyond prep work." Dora swung Hazel around and the two wrapped each other in an embrace. Dora bit her lip and lowered her libido a bit. Ever since she had confessed to Hazel, her girlfriend's eyes felt different. There was a warmth in them that she knew was only directed at her. Those same eyes were looking at her now, a bit of magic lighting them in the night. "You need to teach me that trick with your eyes." Hazel pouted. "No changing the subject." Dora sighed and rested her head against Hazel's. "I feel it too, Hazel. I feel vulnerable when you aren't watching my back. But you heard Horatio. I need to get better. The training and this mission will push me over my limits. I will be a better partner to you because of it." Dora winced a little as Hazel's grip tightened reflexively. She watched those green eyes grow slitted and red before returning to green as she pulled away, her arms wrapped around her own abdomen.

Dora watched as Hazel walked a bit into the water, doing her best to resist the urge to run her hand over Hazel's back. While she had picked her bikini with the express purpose of teasing Hazel, she found her girlfriend's swimwear even more alluring, and so very much her. A mix of an athletic one piece with a taste of style, it gave an unobstructed view of Hazel's back and legs. Her front was mostly covered, even above her chest, but she had found her hands getting slapped when she tried to caress her girlfriend's chest. That was something she was thankful for. The fact she had a girlfriend that not only called to her physically but emotionally. All of her flings in her last two years of Hogwarts had been just that, physical in nature. Charlie Weasley came close but the man had been too enamored with dragons to have enough room to court Dora over long distance. That had particularly hurt. But Hazel was different. She clearly loved her physically, but that was always second; an extension of the emotional connection they both shared. She was always physically intimate but never overly much. Dora felt warm knowing how concerned Hazel always was about her, especially emotionally. It was part of the reason she was so worried now.

Reaching out and wrapping her arms around Hazel' waist, Dora took a second to enjoy the cool water on her feet. "Nymphadora." Hazel turned around and stared at her, her hand pressing onto Dora's chest, right over her heart. "Promise me you will come back to me whole. You are a part of my life now. I can't … I can't even conceive of pushing you away. So you better come back to me, whole and yourself. I'll never forgive you if you don't." Hazel's eyes shifted into various colors before it settled onto an eerie silver that glowed brightly, sending shivers down Dora's core. "I won't forgive you if you turn your back on us or hurt what we have. Remember that, Nymphadora." Dora blinked, unsure what she just felt but Hazel's eyes had returned to green. "I promise, Hazel. I won't leave you. I'll make it back." Seeing the truth in her eyes, Hazel nodded. The two reached a rocky outcropping overlooking the farthest edge of the island. A wardstone dropped on the ground and Dora felt the magic cover her for a second. Hazel pulled back and stripped out of her bathing suit completely. "This is the only thing I can do that will settle me tonight. Will you let me make love to you?" The ward seemed to have affected the ground as well as she felt it was remarkably soft as the two pressed into each other.

Hazel loomed over her, her face lit by a bright full moon, those green eyes glowing. "I am going to feed you my magic, Dora. I am going to keep feeding it to you from now until the mission ends. This is part of my one condition. Will you accept it?" Dora blinked. "And the rest?" Hazel showed her her hand and Dora watched as a wand literally came out from underneath the hand's flesh. Hazel stared at her. "This wand chose me and it's bound to me. I can pass it along to another so long as my magic is inside of them, but it will always return to me no matter what." The wand changed form until it took on a simple wand design, not its series of lumps of elder wood. "You accept my magic and you use this wand when you have no other choice. These are my conditions." Dora took it and felt the wand reach out to her magic. It touched the faint echo of Hazel's magic that always lingered in her. Dora turned and saw real concern in Hazel's eyes. She nodded. "I'll do it." Hazel smiled before she leaned in. "This part you will like. I promise." Warm lips pressed against her own and she groaned. Magic. Pure, raw and all consuming magic filled her as Hazel made love to her that night over and over again. Dora woke up the next morning exceedingly sore and warm as she turned to her sleeping girlfriend, feeling her partner's magic singing beneath her skin. She decided to pay Hazel back a bit, even if it meant they were late to the breakfast table. She was worth being late for.

Dora sat comfortably at the large breakfast table in the Black Summer House as she drank a hot cup of coffee. She watched Amelia walking gingerly to the table before sitting down. Dora smirked. "Long night of acquainting yourself with Sirius?" Amelia blushed as a cup of coffee was placed in front of her by magic. "You aren't one to talk. Heard your room has been silenced for almost two days straight." Dora smirked happily. "What, my girlfriend and I aren't allowed some good old fashioned privacy?" Amelia shook her head. "No, but don't tease others if you are up to the same thing. By the way, you missed a spot on your shoulder." Dora drew her wand to conjure a mirror but the mirror that appeared was a full sized one. It dropped onto the table and cracked, startling them both. Dora tried to vanish the mirror and accidentally vanished the table, two mugs of coffee crashing onto the floor. Dora sighed. "Hazel? Could you come out for a second? I need some help here."

Hazel stepped out of the kitchen's door, using a towel to dry her hands. She looked at the empty dining room and the smashed cups, before she spotted Dora holding the Elder Wand. She waved her hand and vanished the broken mugs and spilled coffee before conjuring a dining room table. She eyed Dora. "You and I are going to have to practice. The amount of magic in you now and that wand aren't all that easy to control." Dora pouted as two mugs of coffee popped onto the table. "You could have told me that yesterday." Hazel raised an eyebrow. "Really, because when I wasn't with Teddy and the kids exploring the underwater sights via a moving air bubble, I distinctly remember your only coherent words to me were along the lines of-'' Dora rushed up and covered Hazel's mouth with her hands before she sighed. "Ok. You have a point. Can we not bring that up?" Dora shivered pleasantly as she pulled her hand away from Hazel, who only smirked at her as she pulled her tongue back into her mouth. "Right. So, you, me and Teddy are going to practice some wandless magic by the beach side. Bring your more conservative swimwear and be ready for a long day. Remind me to grab Harry too. He needs a bit more practice with his wand and I have a few spells I want him to learn for the coming year."

Dora groaned as she sat on the table. "Great." Hazel glared and playfully slapped Dora's shoulder. "No complaining. You are going to have a long year dealing with problems on your own with no backup. I am going to make sure you can come back safely." Hazel turned around and went back into the kitchen as Amelia hummed with her fresh cup of coffee. "This have anything to do with the briefing Croaker has for me in a few days?" Dora sighed. "Probably. We have another long year ahead focused on Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament. Hazel is being overprotective." Amelia looked to the door leading to the kitchen. "Dora, remember that she came from a world where she lost almost everything that mattered to her. She's building a home here now. She has acquaintances and coworkers, but I think you're the only one besides your family and Harry she truly cares for. Hazel is going to be overprotective of you, regardless of what happens." Dora drank from her coffee quietly before she felt a hug from behind. "Morning Dora." She smiled and ruffled Teddy's hair. "Morning, kid. Your Mom's going to be teaching me some wandless magic later and is dragging you along. Are you interested?" Teddy sat down as a glass of orange juice popped on the table. "Thank you, Leafsby. And sure. I need more practice with the more complicated stuff. Summoning and banishing are too easy now."

Harry sat at the table, rubbing his eyes, as a glass of orange juice popped into existence in front of him. "Morning everyone." He looked around. "I gather that Hazel is probably in the kitchen. Where are the rest?" Dora flushed. "Mom and Dad are going to have the day to themselves. It's their wedding anniversary. Sirius is wherever Amelia left him and I think Susan is sleeping in late." The table looked to Amelia who hummed merrily. "He'll be down, well as soon as he can get out of his room. Might take a while. And Susan will be here in a bit. She's always a little slow waking up in the mornings." The table chatted patiently for a bit until Susan walked slowly into the room and sat down, drinking a cup of hot chocolate. Hazel came out of the kitchen, carrying a large wok full of scrambled eggs and vegetables, as the elves popped in the selection of meats and breads. "Breakfast is ready." Hazel sat next to Teddy and served him and Harry their servings while everyone else served theirs. She looked to Amelia and gave her an appreciative nod, one Dora caught in the corner of her eye. Dora smiled to herself, glad that bad scenario was avoided again. Hazel wasn't blinded by murderous rage with Sirius anymore, but the itch to send him into a spasming fit was still very much alive.

Chapter 38: Quality Time with the Family

Hazel leaned back into the sofa and closed her eyes. Ted Tonks looked at her with a bit of knowing look. Dora came back to the house just as tired before Andromeda whisked her up the stairs. His wife had fled quite early this morning to work, saying her daughter needed a bit of medical work at the DoM. "Rough training session today?" Hazel groaned. "Horatio decided to get creative with our last one. The bastard had me conjure quite a few magical beasts and pitted Dora against them." Ted winced. "How realistic are we talking?" Hazel laughed exhaustedly. "Down to the last detail. I had to put my foot down when he asked me to conjure a Basilisk or a Cockatrice. I didn't want Dromeda to ask me why her daughter needed a Restorative Potion." Ted drank his coffee as he looked at the kids in the backyard, Teddy trying to show Harry how to get into the mental state needed for an animagus. While Amelia vetoed them training the rest of the kids as Animagi, Harry was family. The transformation could also serve as a viable escape should something unexpected happen. "So, that's the reason our daughter had fire burns this morning?" Hazel winced. "Uhm, they weren't from the magical fire dragons are known for. I made sure to remove the curse aspect." Ted sighed in relief. "Good, because Andromeda thought they were. I saw her eyeing the surgical knives before leaving with her healer's kit." Hazel blinked. "For removing the damaged skin or filleting Horatio alive?"

Ted drank from his cup of coffee again. "Both." Hazel sighed and leaned forward. She looked at the lawyer. "Any word about Bertha Jorkins?" Ted shook his head. "Not one since she decided that Albania was a good place for a vacation." Hazel frowned. Moody had been warned to increase his security and to watch out for Barty Junior. While the Ministry Records listed him as dead, the same had happened in her world. He had been Voldemort's eye on her and the Tournament throughout her entire fourth year. Keeping Voldemort's access to Harry and the Goblet of Fire limited was their go to plan for now. Sadly, the reconnaissance she did going into the Crouch Estate hadn't revealed much. There were signs of some changes and damage in the basement, consistent with an unwilling prisoner, but by the time she investigated it, the place was empty. Charging Barty Senior was impossible without Junior as evidence. Hazel wondered if the fact that Pettigrew was dead, Voldemort's wand was missing, and this world's Sirius Black was innocent meant that Barty would have to be the one to collect his master and the wand. The evidence from Pettigrew's memories certainly seemed to point in that direction. Her eyes wandered to Harry outside, his eyes closed in concentration, probably trying to find his inner animal.

"Any nightmares of late for Harry? Weird dreams?" Ted eyed her carefully. "Nothing. He's been resting peacefully. We always check every morning, with Andromeda saying it's to make sure there aren't any lingering effects from his childhood or a symptom of his scar. He's being honest with us." Hazel wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. A pensive and quiet Voldemort was a dangerous thing. Then again, her's had been an obsessive thinker, with her as his primary target. "He asked about you again." Hazel blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "What?" Ted smirked. "He asked about you and your plans for the 31st." Hazel groaned. "Why must you all be so interested in celebrating my bloody birthday?" Ted raised his hands. "Hey, I am just the messenger." Hazel huffed. "Sorry Ted, but Voldemort sent plenty of messengers to me too. They were his gifts as well. As you can imagine, I didn't leave them in any way to deliver a message, except the obvious "drop dead." He didn't take the hint." Ted lowered his hands. "Well, this messenger just wants you to know that the boy wants you to spend your birthdays together. Teddy has apparently agreed on your behalf." Hazel clamped her jaw tight and lowered her head.

Hazel crossed her arms and looked outside. She looked back over the time she had spent with Harry over the last year. "Theodore, be honest with me. What does Harry see me as?" Ted sighed and placed his cup on the table. "Andromeda and I talked about that. He likes being with us and is happy but we think he is connecting more with you. You personally protected him for years and were there for most of his third year. You represent a safety he has come to associate with family. Even with Sirius being around, telling him stories about his parents and everything, he still asks more about you." Hazel rubbed her face. "I didn't set out to raise another son." Ted smirked. "Are you sure about that? All the evidence says otherwise." Hazel glared at him for a second before turning to look at the boys again. Teddy was looking towards her, sensing her emotional distress. Hazel made a motion with her finger and he nodded. "Can I have a private conversation with my son?" Ted stood up and straightened out his pants. "Sure. I'll be in my office looking over the files for the next Wizengamot session. We need to go over those afterwards." Hazel nodded absentmindedly. "I'll be up there soon." As soon as Teddy entered, Hazel patted the seat beside her.

"Theodore gave me a few things to think about, including Harry's request for the 31st. You ok with those?" Teddy smiled and nodded. "I know there are going to be people there you don't like." Hazel sighed. "In the case of Molly Weasley, I think the feeling is mutual." Teddy giggled as he sat down. "Well, yeah. You and Dromeda keep Harry away from her." Hazel looked outside. "Anything? Or is there enough Black blood in his veins that we might have to wait a year?" Teddy looked outside and nodded. "He sees something, but it's still not clear enough. I think he needs his magic to mature a bit more. Think he might be like you? Another late Metamorphmagus?" Hazel rubbed her fingers together, getting a feel for her magic and remembering the time she first shifted. "Not sure. It was too close to my getting the Hallows for it to have been a coincidence. My blood ties to the Black family were far thinner too. We will keep trying over the year but taking it easy, and maybe try getting him started on some wandless practice for now. Enough that he won't need a wand for the transformation and can summon it into his hand in an emergency. The exercises for the Animagus Transformation can help with that too."

Teddy nodded but looked worried. "So, the party?" Hazel sighed. "Fine, I will go." Teddy beamed and hugged her. Hazel hugged him back and kissed his head. "Ted also said something else. About how Harry is looking at me as more than just another family member." Teddy nodded against her. "He told me. When we talked about the wards at Potter Manor." Hazel pulled her son back a bit to look at his eyes. "Are you ok with that? I never thought about having or raising other children. I don't want to take being my only son away from you." Teddy smiled at her. "I know Mom, but Harry needs you too. I am not exactly sure if he will ever call you mom, especially after reading Lily's journals, but he needs someone there for him. He likes Andromeda and the way she has cared for him but he feels closer to us. I wouldn't mind him being more like my brother either." Hazel stared at her son. "Are you absolutely sure?" Teddy nodded and Hazel's shoulders sagged. "Alright. We can have a conversation with him later. For now, just get together with Andromeda as soon as she and Dora get home and plan the party." Teddy hopped off the sofa and kissed his mom on the cheek. "Thanks Mom."

Hazel watched as Teddy returned and spoke to Harry. The smile that grew on his face and his obvious excitement made her sigh. There weren't any doubts about how he saw her now. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the mirror above the chimney. Her own face reflected back at her. Her eyes flickered in color before resting on silver, then red and then returning green again. She never planned on ever having children. She swore that Teddy would be her only priority. Yet she couldn't deny the fact that she had made allowances for Harry. She had made sure he was loved, cared for and protected. She rubbed her hair again before looking at it. There was hardly any black of her original hair left. She had no illusions that it meant something had shifted inside of her. Her magic had shifted several times in her life and her body had reacted accordingly. She had told Teddy there wouldn't be any children from her. Now Harry was joining her family, even if a bit late in life and Dora… Hazel sighed and looked at the picture of Dora inside the nearest glass case cabinet. They had exchanged their feelings. All that was left was the last commitment. Vows. Would she want children too? Hazel closed her eyes. This was going to be a long year. She could feel it. For now, she would wait for Dora to decide. Her lover and partner deserved to make up her own mind on this. Even if the wait left her heart in a constant state of anxiety.

"Happy Birthday, Harry!" The boy smiled and pulled Teddy into a hug. "Thanks Teddy." He looked up and beamed as Hazel smiled at him. Teddy pulled away and Hazel hugged him. "Happy Birthday, Harry." Harry smiled. "Happy Birthday, Hazel." Hazel released him and looked around. "Where is the other birthday boy? Even if we are a day late." Harry pointed to the glass door. "In his greenhouse. He wanted to show the girls the flower garden." Hazel chuckled and looked at Augusta standing nearby. "Heir Longbottom is already looking to court a future lady?" Augusta made a face. "He better not. He is much too young." Hazel smirked. "Right. Don't let Andromeda hear you say that. She was already eying her husband for a few years before they eloped. Astoria seems to have picked Teddy already too." Teddy shuddered. "Nope, too early. Too early for that, Mom." Hazel chuckled as she sat down on one of the sofas the Longbottom brought to the solarium. Since they had three people whose birthdays were nearly identical, it was decided to hold a single large gathering and celebration. Of the available places, Longbottom Manor was chosen for its accommodations and the comfort of certain families. Teddy sat next to Harry. "Did you get your scores for the exams?"

Harry nodded. "Exceeds in Potions, History, Astronomy and Herbology. Outstanding in Transfiguration, Charms, Care, Runes, and Defence." Hazel rubbed his hair. "Nice work. Your work in the Dueling Club paid off." Harry blushed as Augusta turned to Hazel. "Neville did quite well in Defence again. My thanks for your instruction." Hazel nodded at her. "Only doing my best to make sure they are as safe as they can be." Teddy smiled at Harry. "I got a few more Outstandings, but my History was only an Acceptable." Hazel kissed Teddy's hair. "And that's understandable. Grandma would have been just as proud as I am. You have plenty of time before the OWL exams to get your History score up." Hazel looked up as she saw a few more people arrive, a bushy haired girl rushing forward to hug Harry, almost tumbling him back onto the sofa. "Happy Birthday, Harry!" Hazel sat back and looked at the Grangers. She hardly met them in her past life, only passing by them once at the bookstore while Lockhart was posturing. Their eyes were certainly looking up everywhere with clear curiosity. "You must be the Grangers." The dentists turned to her and offered their hands. Hazel shook them as Hermione introduced her. "This is Ms. Peverell. She was the Instructor for the Defence Club at school last year and a substitute Defence Teacher. She's also an Auror."

Hazel gave out a loud sigh. "Hit Witch. There is a difference." Hermione blushed as the Granger laughed merrily. "A pleasure, Miss. Heard you were acting as security for the Castle last year." Hazel nodded. "And this year as well. A new map we developed will help me keep a closer eye on who is on the grounds." The Grangers held Hermione to them. "You were also the one who rescued our daughter from that Basilisk Creature?" Hazel gave Harry a look and he blushed. "Sorry." Hazel sighed. "It's fine, Harry. She is your friend. But if I do tell you something is to be kept secret, remember to do so. I do work a job that needs a level of discretion." Harry nodded as Hazel turned to the parents. "What I did for your daughter I would have done for any other child. I signed up to keep people safe, especially children, no matter what others may say of her background." The Grangers nodded, the mother hugging Hermione to her. "Nevertheless, thank you. She means the world to us." Hazel rested her hand on Teddy's back and looked at him and Harry. "Believe me ma'am, I know the feeling." They turned and chatted a bit with Augusta as the girls came out of the Greenhouses with Neville, Amelia watching over them. Hazel looked around and Augusta noticed. "The Tonks family left Harry with us this morning. They went to bring the cake in from the Alley before fetching Sirius." Hazel nodded her thanks as a group of redheads arrived.

Doing her best not to scowl, Hazel kept a somewhat friendly smile on her face. The younger kids came up to Harry. "Happy Birthday, Harry." He hugged them back. "Thanks Ron, thanks Ginny." As the younger Weasleys went to find Neville, the twins came up and Hazel gave them a knowing look. "If your gifts include your wares, make sure you include the counters and you know it's going to work, boys." The Twins swallowed, nodded and spoke in stereo. "Of course, Ms. Peverell." Arthur watched as the two left after dropping off their gift. "My apologies if their gift isn't all that appropriate." Hazel eyed Harry and Teddy. "Oh, I am sure it will see some use. I am more concerned over the kids getting stuck a certain color or bleeding profusely from their nose. I am skilled at breaking curses, wards and people, not potions or healing. Andromeda is already glaring at me over injuries incurred at work with her daughter. I don't need to get into more trouble with her." Arthur nodded and shook hands with her as Molly Weasley glared at her. "And you think that's a good environment to raise children, where their caregivers get harmed?" Hazel raised an eyebrow. "Right. You included your parents in that statement, Mrs. Weasley née Prewitt?" The woman's face turned red before Arthur turned to her. "Molly, enough. Harry seems perfectly safe and happy with them. Let it be."

Augusta watched as they left. "Not very civil." Hazel sat down. "Me or her? Two of her son's are active in dangerous careers, her brothers were all Aurors that died in the war, and her father made himself quite a target in the early days of the conflict. I won't be called out by people who have no right to judge me and not expect a response. That privilege is reserved to family only." Teddy giggled. "Right, as if you never talked back to Grandma." Hazel pouted. "I was less interested in being polite those years and your Grandma was less than pleased about my choice of jobs. She was also understanding enough not to protest too much. Times being what they were." Teddy nodded as Harry looked at Hazel. "What did you do before you were a Hit Witch?" Hazel winced but couldn't bring herself to lie to him. She looked at Harry. "You know how some Death Eaters got back into society? Like the Malfoys and their allies." Harry nodded and Hazel sighed. "A few fled after the war and hid out in the country where I was. The laws didn't help and people were still suffering. The Aurors were limited in what they could do. I might have taken… payments to make the problem disappear. Teddy's Grandmother didn't approve but we had little money to afford food and my skills weren't tailored to much else."

Harry looked at Teddy, who nodded. "Grandma argued with Mom, especially since she had some money saved, but Mom couldn't sit still. She wanted to make sure I had funds for school and good food too." Harry turned to her. "Are the laws here better now?" Hazel sighed and looked at Augusta. "They're getting there, finally." The old woman touched Harry on the back. "I don't particularly like her prior work either, but she is taking care of you kids now. That work taught her a lot about the worst things people can do to each other. Handy knowledge when writing new laws." Harry nodded and dropped the subject. He stood closer to her and Teddy sat at her other side, a silent show of support that warmed Hazel's heart. Neville finally got back and sat down, breathing heavily. "That… was a lot more trouble than it was worth." Hazel raised an eyebrow. "Careful. The girls might be offended. Being called "trouble" and all." Neville blushed as he looked between her and his Grandmother. "Sorry." Augusta's face softened. "Though we can certainly be troublesome, from time to time." Neville beamed at the understanding look from his Grandmother and Hazel chuckled.

The Tonks finally arrive, with the largest birthday cake Hazel ever saw. Hazel eyed Dora, who sat besides Teddy. "Is this a sign of what I should expect from a Tonks Wedding Cake?" Dora's face went red and her hair cycled through every color before settling on soft red. "Maybe?" Hazel pulled her by her shirt and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Good to know." Dora got a bit of payback on her girlfriend as the group sang Happy Birthday to everyone, with Hazel visibly squirming in her seat, before the cake carved into and the slices were passed around. Spotting a bit of wine on the table, Hazel passed a glass to Dora, who smiled at her but Hazel kept it out of her reach for a second. "The gifts for me that are not child friendly better be back at the Tonks residence or at our Apartment." Dora pouted. "Yes, they are." Hazel handed her the glass and kissed her girlfriend on the cheek. They sat back with the adults as Harry and Neville opened their gifts. Sirius, who sat close to Augusta, gave Harry a few more Quidditch themed gifts, mainly new gear for the growing boy. He also secured the Quidditch World Cup Finals tickets for Harry and the more interested members of the Coalition.

Harry got an assortment of gifts from the rest, including a book on Runes from Hermione, one on Herbs and Potions from Neville, sweets from the Weasleys that Hazel made sure to check without being observed, a book on Wizarding Customs from the Bones family that made Hazel turn to a particularly red faced Susan. Harry thanked Remus, who was invited by Sirius to the event, for another photo album with his parents in them from their years at Hogwarts. He opened Teddy's gift next and lifted up the leather bracelet with charms hanging from it. Teddy chimed in, showing his own. "It's a tradition of ours. The charms represent the people in our family. The tree is Mom, mine's the wolf and Dora is the cute rabbit." Dora's "Oi!" made everyone chuckle. Teddy pulled the stuffing out of the box, showing another set of charms on another bracelet. "I wasn't sure if it was fair, so Mom suggested I make another one. The stag and doe are your parents and the moon and the dog are Remus and Sirius. They are both made from Direwolf leather and enchanted heavily. When you decide on a charm for yourself, ask Mom. She'll add it for you on either or both, as well as ours." Remus looked at Hazel. "Where did you get Direwolf leather? They're extinct." Hazel drank from her cup of tea. "Right. Tell that to the pack that decided I made a tasty meal. I got it the old fashioned way; a lot of curses, magical and otherwise, a knife and a whole lot of patience, not to mention plenty of healing potions. Those bastards had some bloody sharp teeth."

The party, thoroughly terrified of Hazel now, moved outside, with the kids chatting together on the grass, with a few brooms being brought out for them to play with. Though they chose not to play Quidditch, many of them did try some exercising, including a few of the kids wishing to ride Harry's Firebolt. Hazel got as close to Sirius as she dared. "You know your cousin will show you she was always a Black, despite what her father thought, if something happens to him on that broom, right?" Sirius chuckled. "She gave me quite the threat if anything happened to him on it, yes." Sirius eyed her. "Thank you, for not forgetting about us with your gift." Hazel shrugged, doing her best not to draw her Holly Wand. Dora holding the Elder Wand, even if she could summon it at a moment's notice, looked like a better idea everyday. "Just because I want to curse you two everytime you piss me off doesn't mean I don't know what you mean to the kid. Whatever path he picks, he deserves to know everything that came before." Sirius eyed her carefully. "Even the reason he and Neville went into hiding?" Hazel turned to him, her eyes shifted to red and slitted. "Everything. I have not lied to Teddy in my entire time with him. I refuse to lie to Harry. He will know soon enough." Sirius shivered at the sight before he turned away. "It won't make him safer." Hazel nodded. "No, it won't. But Harry will know that he can trust our feelings for him are more than just pretty words. No matter what. That is worth all the sleepless nights he may suffer from knowing the truth."

Deep in a dark and still house, a figure approached a high backed chair kept close to a chimney, the flames licking up at a steady pace, the room covered in orange light and dark shadows. The figure kneeled facing the chair. "You summoned me, my lord?" A raspy voice filled the ensuing silence. "Tell me what has become of your fellows? Do they await my return? Have they made preparations to resume our conquest?" The figure's voice was unsteady. "No, my lord. Those who avoided Azkaban or left earlier have been facing difficulties. The Aurors have been most efficient in dismantling the illegal operations that could have served us. The laws are far less forgiving and Dumbledore's influence and pacifist approach has waned, as seen by Pettigrew's arrest and swift execution. Malfoy has squandered his family's position and the Black Fortune is now beyond his reach." An angry hiss filled the room. "What of Malfoy and this incident at Hogwarts after I was forced to flee? What happened to my family's chamber beneath the Castle?"

The figure swallowed, its short dark, unruly hair failing to conceal the fear in his eyes. "Word is that the Basilisk was killed after the Aurors found and breached the Chamber's entrance. The children of our allies were unable to say further, beyond the fact it's entrance has been hidden and heavily warded by the Ministry. Nothing further has been spoken about it since. Malfoy was blamed for the incident and evidence was submitted that demonstrated a cursed book was responsible, one he supposedly owned. The man spent much of his gold to convince enough of the Wizengamot to doubt the evidence. He was left free, but his seat within the Board of Governors was turned over to Augusta Longbottom. He tried to prevent the transfer of the Black Lordship to Sirius Black and failed to do so as well." The silence stretched longer still. "What became of the book?" The man swallowed nervously. "Destroyed." An ear piercing, inhuman scream filled the room. "I will have Malfoy's hide for this! I gave him that to be protected, not wasted away in a bid to weaken Dumbledore! Bartemius, you are to keep Malfoy out of all discussions. The man has drawn too much attention to himself to serve us now!"

Barty nodded. "Of course, my lord." The room was filled with a piercing wheezing noise. "The others? Have they made any plans?" Barty raised his head a little. "Word is they plan to attack the World Cup Finals after the game concludes, catching the attendees mid festivity. The Aurors have secured small security forces from several ICW nations to guard the event." The raspy voice responded. "Good, good! The lambs of our world must be reminded who they should fear. The Aurors will be disorganized with so many foreign guards. Dumbledore's leadership of the group will be questioned if his own nation can't secure an international event. Do try to observe the planning of the attack. Listen and be vigil, but keep yourself distant from them. Should the Aurors catch wind of the attack, you are not to be compromised. Has Miss Jorkins given us everything we need for our plans?" Barty lowered his head. "Of course, my lord. The woman has nothing else to provide you. Should I bring her here to be disposed of?" The voice seemed to take a moment to think. "No, not yet. There is one last use we may just secure from her. Bring a bit of parchment and a quill, Bartemius. I have some materials you should go and acquire."

The man sat close to the chair and noted down several ingredients, many needing to be acquired fresh from living muggles and other magical creatures. "Return with these soon, Bartemius. We will use Bertha for one final honor. After that, you are to return to your position. Observe the attack on the World Cup and set our plans in motion for the coming year." Bartemius seemed to pause for a moment. "My lord, would it not be prudent to secure another to our side? Perhaps one free from suspicion? It would be dangerous to leave ourselves so vulnerable." A wheeze filled the room. "Perhaps you are right. Pettigrew's end is unfortunate and Severus is too close to Dumbledore for us to approach safely." A few moments of quiet thought ended as the voice seemed pleased with its plan. "Barty, why don't you go see our old friend hiding in Durmstrang? I am sure there is much he would be willing to do to earn my forgiveness for his treachery." Barty raised his head. "Is that wise?" The voice cackled. "Don't worry, Bartemius. My forgiveness doesn't mean you can't exact your own revenge. All I ask is that you wait till the task is complete for you to secure your vengeance on those who wronged you."

Barty smiled at his master. "Of course, my lord. Your generosity is most welcomed." The voice wheezed again. "Go and bring me the potion for tonight before you leave to fulfill our plans. There is much to prepare for in the coming months. But soon I will remind this country that I cannot be slain. Especially not by a mere child! Go so our revenge is that much closer to being unleashed!" The man left the room before the voice spoke again. "Nagini, my oldessst friend. Will you accept the honor of housssing a bit of my sssoul sssoon? The dessstruction of one of my anchorsss isss a concern that mussst be addresssssed." A snake slithered from out of a shadow and curled on top of the back of the raised back of the chair. "Asss you wisssh, my massster." The voice responded, seemingly pleased with itself. "Good. There isss much to be done. Our return and the death of the boy will leave the massssesss in terror. We will ssstrike at thossse who dared desssecrate my ancessstor'sss chamber. They will remember why they feared to ever utter my name!"

Andromeda sat beside Harry on his bed, as Hazel entered the room. The boy threw himself into Hazel's arms and she held him after a moment of surprise. "What happened, Harry?" Harry was shaking. "A dream. Or maybe not. It felt so real. Voldemort. He is planning with someone called Bartemius. An attack on the World Cup and something for the rest of the year. He has a woman. Miss Jorkins. He's planning something for her. A ritual or a potion. I don't know. He spoke to this snake called Nagini, asking if it would house a bit of his soul. Only it didn't feel like he was asking her. The way she responded felt wrong. Like the snake couldn't say no." Hazel sighed and looked at Andromeda. "Would you mind if he spent most of the remaining summer with us? He will be safer there and you can get the others to look him over, with your supervision." Andromeda nodded and drew her wand. "I'll pack his clothes." As Andromeda got to work on that, Hazel pulled Harry back a little, her green eyes meeting his. "I believe that what you saw was real, Harry. The magic lodged in your scar is acting as a link. Was he in some physical form?"

Harry shuddered as he tried to remember. "I didn't see him, but he kept wheezing and asked for a potion." Hazel nodded. "Ok, so he is probably in a body, and an incomplete homunculus body at that. Trust me Harry, not all magic is pretty and you are not to research that till you are seventeen, if ever. Did you hear the ingredients he asked for?" Harry nodded, growing visibly green. Hazel conjured a small bucket and placed it on his lap. "I know, they are probably disgusting, but try and remember them. If we can figure out the ritual or potion, we can create a counter. Something to stop him or weaken him. Where we are going will be perfectly safe and full of people who know loads of weird and dangerous magic. They will help us with this, but only if you are ok with it. None of us will force you to do anything you aren't happy with." Harry hugged her and nodded and Hazel rubbed his head, sighing softly. She watched as Andromeda placed a slightly smaller trunk on the bed. "Ted?" The woman nodded and left the room to tell her husband where they would be going. Hazel rubbed Harry's back. "You remember the moments when we went somewhere new? Like when we went to your family's house? Well, it's that type of magical transport." Harry gave a bitter laugh. "Great." Hazel placed a comm device into her ear and activated it. "O1 to base. Transporting H1 and VIP HP2 via portkey to base. Confirm arrival."

Once Andromeda was with them, the three of them portkeyed away. Hazel's bucket came in handy as Harry emptied his stomach as soon as he landed, the two witches offering him support. A vanished bucket, with its contents, and a breath freshening charm later, Hazel guided Harry down the corridors of the DoM. She turned to Andromeda. "Talk to the Boss and the people working on the scar's removal. Tell them he is here and will probably see them soon. I'll get him to settle down for the night and we will have the check up early afternoon. If he is willing, I will look through his memories of the dream and store them to be sent for verification as soon as we are done." Andromeda nodded and kissed Harry's cheek. "I'll be here with Hazel, Teddy and Dora to look after you. You are with your family so everything will be alright, ok?" Harry nodded, feeling much better after the portkey. They reached an open chamber and Hazel turned Harry to the side. "The entrance is a secret, I need to cover your head. Everything inside will be fine, we just can't have the memories of the entrance method being shown, ok?" After Harry agreed, Hazel covered his head with a black bag she conjured, spun him a bit for disorientation and levitated him towards the wall before applying her ID to it.

Harry shook his head as the bag vanished. He looked around and noted the long hallway with lots of doors, before Hazel spoke up. "This way." A few more hallways and they soon reached one where the door opened and Teddy rushed out and hugged Harry. Dora walked up and Hazel gestured with her head towards the door that led to Dora's apartment. "He might spend the night with Teddy, but think you could have him in your guest room for the rest of summer?" Dora hugged Harry to her after Teddy released him. "What do you say, cousin? Want to spend summer here with me?" Harry smiled. "Sure." The four entered the apartment and Teddy went to show him where they could sleep for the night. "Leafsby." The elf appeared and Hazel showed him the trunk. "Since you would likely yank this out of my hands, could you sort Harry's non-Hogwarts clothes into the drawers of Dora's guest room? I will go with him to select a change of clothes for tonight. He will probably want a warm shower." The elf grinned. "Of course, Mistress Peverell." He and the trunk vanished as Hazel kissed Dora on the cheek. "Dogpile in the kid's room or alone?" Dora smirked. "You think I am missing this sleepover?" Hazel shook her head as she went to check on the kids, tapping her comm on the way. "O1 to BM, you might want to cancel training tomorrow." Horatio's less than pleased voice came up. "Agreed. Now, if you excuse me, some of us are trying to sleep." Hazel pulled the earpiece out and shrugged. Horatio apparently wasn't a night person. Who would have known?

"Anything your Unspeakables managed to figure out?" Hazel watched as Croaker pulled out a stack of papers, her thoughts wandering back to the long night and day prior since Harry joined them at the Department of Mysteries. Dora had joined her as they spent the evening in Teddy's room, the bed Transfigured to be quite a lot larger to accommodate everyone. Wishing to ease Harry's mind, Teddy showed Harry a few of his things, mainly his growing collection of animal claws, something Quetz seemed overly fond of providing these last few years. At the mention of the Griffin claw, Harry asked where she got the Griffin that saved him in his first year. Wanting to entertain the kid, she shifted into her Griffin form. He and Teddy then proceeded to inspect her claws, feathers and beak while Dora looked on, doing her best to hold in her laughter. Hazel guilted her into taking her bunny form and the two kids showered her in a lot of pets and adorable noises. Her girlfriend spent a few minutes later pouting on the far side of the bed, mortified, as Hazel made sure to kiss her hand. Sometime after six in the morning, as the sun finally rose, the kids finally fell asleep. Hazel blocked the artificial windows and everyone just took a space on the bed, Teddy even shifting into his wolf pup form to be more comfortable.

Andromeda managed to join them at noon as the group finally woke up and had their late breakfast. Hazel waited until everyone had their food in front of them before she asked what Andromeda got ready for them. She looked at Harry as he ate some slices of toast. "The people who were figuring out how to remove the scar have made time available in about an hour to look at him. They want to test some of what they have been working on, see if they can remove the magic Dumbledore applied to it. We would be applying a similar one afterwards, but it will be easier to counter with the caster being in the room. They have a good idea of the magic Lily left behind and won't interfere with it, but they need to see how it's interacting with Voldemort's." Harry swallowed. "Mom left some magic on me?" Hazel nodded but gave him a sad look. "The magic she used is Blood Magic, something I have some experience with. My boss gave me permission to pursue it more actively since I got here. An old book of mine detailed the protection she used. It redirected the Killing Curse used on you, but the price for the protection was her own life, as well as the anchor she, uhm, placed on your head."

Harry rubbed his scar. "And some of Voldemort's magic got stuck to me?" Hazel sighed. "We are certain some of it did. We know more but it's safer to not spread the word. This is one of those secrets you don't share." Harry nodded as Andromeda looked at Hazel. "Dumbledore may be removed from his position as Harry's Magical Guardian but he might not be above reading his mind." Hazel rubbed her hair and looked at Harry. "We will have a chat later about something to keep your mind safe. It won't stop the visions but it could protect you from an attack. Other than that, we will see what the experts say. If everything goes well, we will be back here by dinner and we can then see what plans we can make. Depending on how busy we get, Andromeda, Leafsby or a friend of ours will come and look after you two. We can probably get permission so you can practice casting spells here." Harry smiled. "That sounds great." The group finished their lunch and Hazel and Andromeda guided Harry into the Department of Mysteries as Dora watched over Teddy. The Division Head in charge of studies of Soul Magic, an older woman with grey hair, was very courteous to Harry as she had him lie down. The Unspeakables went to work on him for hours before everyone returned to the Apartment. It took a while longer for Hazel to make it to Croaker's office, after making sure the boys were comfortable.

Croaker, finally finding the right report, cleared his throat, drawing Hazel out of her thoughts from earlier in the day. "Soul Magic Division has confirmed the existence of a soul fragment on the boy, enough to create a link with the primary piece. They ran some research on its fragmentation and arrived at the conclusion that Voldemort had made five Horcruxes prior to his destruction and the creation of Harry's fragment." Hazel stopped taping her fingers on her arm and stared at her boss' face. "We only have four pieces, one of which was destroyed." Croaker nodded. "And the memory you provided from Harry suggests that he plans a sixth with the snake, reaching his magical number." Hazel frowned. "Wait. My Voldemort reached a magical number with three horcruxes. How is six a magic number outside of Kabbalah Mysticism?" Croaker eyed her curiously and she blushed. "Transfiguration is similar to how a Kabbalist shapes natural materials, though theirs is closer to Alchemy. I was curious how they worked a set of commands onto a clay automaton. Not to mention how they made them permanent." Croaker clicked his tongue. "Right. Moving on before I decide to see if a Kabbalist might welcome you as an apprentice, the number six isn't a magical number outside of the magics that trace back to the Key of Solomon. Voldemort, however, didn't seem to be aiming for seven horcruxes, but instead seven fragments, himself included. This is evident from the structure of his inner circle."

Hazel watched as Croaker placed papers on the desk, each one a file on a known Death Eater. "Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy held the position at the end of the war of the highest honors. Six Death Eaters followed after as his next top followers. Two spies, Pettigrew and Snape, and lastly one hidden Death Eater, Barty Crouch Junior. 11 Senior Death Eaters in total comprising the Inner Circle." Hazel frowned before she noticed the pattern. "Three heads, three spies, seven Senior Death Eaters, with one hidden member, all totaling twelve. They are magical numbers, but only when he himself is added to the equation." Croaker nodded. "Voldemort didn't trust anyone to be beyond his reach. Everyone answered to him and he was involved with every aspect of his organization." Hazel looked at the first two mentioned. "If Voldemort trusted Malfoy with a Horcrux, would he have trusted Lestrange with another?" Croaker blinked before he looked down at his papers. "Ah, yes. That would make sense. I will have Legal and Financial track all the Lestrange Assets. We will investigate from there. This will aid with the other tasks we have in mind."

Croaker handed Hazel a file and she read it. "You think you can track the soul fragments?" Croaker nodded. "They serve as anchors, right? Which means they must have a connection between them and the main fragment in Voldemort, just as Harry has. The theory is that we can make a tracking system to identify all the pieces. If the snake is added to the list, which the ingredient list suggests that is the plan, we will be able to track it. We need you to have us informed of Mr Potter's movements in the next few weeks in order to calibrate the tracker. We will then use that to identify Voldemort's location. By the time he has a full physical body, we will have a means to make sure he can't hide from us and hopefully have everything else we need." Hazel sighed. "Which means that Harry needs to keep the soul fragment in him for longer." Croaker had a sad look on his face. "Indeed." Hazel returned the file to his desk and stood up. "I need to talk to him about Occlumency and shielding his thoughts. After that, he will be going to the World Cup Finals." Croaker pulled his papers back and organized them. "Then we are done for now. You have your orders for the Cup. Follow them through." Hazel smirked. "Oh, I plan to."

Chapter 39: Message at the World Cup

Dora felt her feet land steadily on the ground as the Portkey dropped them off at the arrival point just outside the field of tents, all stretching seemingly endlessly around the tall stadium built on wooden beams that rose over the horizon. She felt slim hands wrapping around her waist and warm lips kissing her neck. "You take care of the kids today." Dora turned around and kissed Hazel back on the lips. "And you don't get into too much trouble." Hazel chuckled merrily as she turned to Harry and Teddy. "You two have your cloaks and holsters. Keep your bearings, follow Amelia and Dora and enjoy the game. Oh, and be careful with betting. The Irish love their leprechaun gold, which makes for some unfair trades. My godmother was very annoyed when an Irish man tried to con her with it on a visit to Ireland with me." Hazel hugged the two boys before vanishing into the throng of people as Dora guides the two towards the tents. Harry looked up to Dora. "Will she be ok?" Dora looked at Harry and ruffled his hair. "Trust me, Hazel will find us with maybe a scratch or two. The next day's headline will probably show the aftermath, unless Bones deems the images too graphic." Teddy bumped Harry on the shoulder. "Mom feels great actually. Been a while since our magic has been so happy."

The kids' eyes darted everywhere as they made their way to the tent assigned to them. It was not hard to spot. "Over here, Pup!" The waving arms of Sirius Black, standing beside Amelia and Susan, drew their eyes. After hugging the boys, Sirius turned to Dora. "The Weasleys and Miss Granger are a bit further in. We can go check on them after you drop off your gear. Maybe get the kids to wear a team color?" Teddy shook his head. "I am just here to watch. I don't care who wins." Harry thought for a second. "I wouldn't mind wearing an Irish scarf." Sirius nodded and pushed them inside of the tent, with Susan following close behind them, as Amelia checked with Dora. "Your partner?" Dora gestured to the Stadium. "On her way to meet the other Aurors. She spent quite a bit of time practicing her translation charm. Either way, an ICW Observer is on site to keep an eye on the evening's events." Amelia nodded. "Depending on how things go, the Observer will be crucial. If the bastards do come and decide to start early while the crowd is still in the stadium, you might need to help me cover Fudge's exit." Dora made a disgusted face. "Can I stun him and portkey him away? Maybe down a cliffside?"

Amelia sighed. "I wish but no, we will play our part tonight and keep everyone safe. Besides, he has been behaving himself for the most part." Dora sighed but nodded. "Fine, but Harry and Teddy are my top priority. I don't want to ever give Hazel bad news." Amelia shuddered at the thought. "Agreed. Come on, let's see what the kids decide to wear before we group up with the Weasleys." The invitation to the World Cup had been given to most of the Coalition, but the Longbottoms weren't fond of the sport, neither were the Abbotts and while Lady Greengrass and Astoria wanted to go, they decided to stay at home. Lord Nott and his Heir would be at the event, but they went separately, keeping much of their cover and apparent neutrality concerning the Coalition. As the group weaved their way through the masses, Dora saw the familiar sea of red hair. The Weasley kids and Hermione chatted away with the boys as an older member of the family checked her out, spotting her dragonhide jacket. "Please tell me that's not from one of mine." Dora smiled at Charlie. "Nope. My girlfriend's gift. Hebridean Black, I think." Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Haven't heard of anyone using those for jackets. Most people prefer Horntail hide. How are you, Tonks?" Dora hugged the man. "Good. Got myself a great job, found a loving girlfriend and my Mom isn't yelling at me as much."

Charlie gave her a soft smile. "Well, I am one for three on those goals. Still, a World Cup is worth coming back home for. The Twins mentioned you worked security at the Castle last year. Any chance I will see you this year at the Castle? Got a request from the Ministry and everything for it." Dora felt her stomach flip. There was the hope no Dragons would be used in the tournament being shattered. Hazel might be pushing Harry harder on those final option spells when Dora managed to break the news to her. "I'll be around but mostly to see my girl and run security." Teddy and Harry both said "Oi!", getting a thumbs up from the twins as Dora blushed. "And to see these two boys. This is Harry Potter and his cousin, Edward Peverell. My girlfriend, Hazel, is Ted's mom. Oh, and don't go hitting on her or me. We are happily steady and she has a bad habit of cursing people." Teddy giggled. "It's not a bad habit if they deserve it." Dora pouted. "You're supposed to be the reasonable Peverell." Teddy smiled. "Right, and you somehow skipped the Black Madness." Dora stuck out her tongue playfully at Teddy as the Weasleys laughed. They all pressed their way up to the stadium and started making their way up the stairs. A voice she hadn't heard in a while broke Dora's good mood. "They just let anyone in here, don't they?" She gave Lucius Malfoy a smile. "Sorry Lucy, but we got the tickets fair and square. Think we can be civil for the night or is that too difficult for such a gentleman like yourself?"

Lucius' eyes narrowed but a hand stilled his response. Dora bit her tongue as Narcissa Malfoy turned to her. "I am sure we can be civil. We are family after all." Dora smiled. "Right. Even the Weasley's have some Black blood on both sides of the family." Lucius seemed to redden before Narcissa's glare silenced him. She turned to Dora and nodded softly. "Indeed. Is my sister doing well, now that she and you are back in the family?" Dora nodded. "We all are, though we were fine prior to being restored. Glad to see you are doing well, Narcissa. Please see if you can remind Draco not to antagonize family at the school this year. Blacks look after their own, not turn on each other." Narcissa's face saddened for a moment. "Of course. Lord Black was kind enough not to disown us. It's the least we can do. Come along, husband. The Minister awaits us inside." Dora watched the three Malfoys enter, Hazel's wand safely stored in her holster. While she had better control of her magic now, the spells still felt overpowered with it, making the use of the wand more likely in an emergency. She turned and saw Harry's concern. "Is it ok leaving them tied to the family?" Dora smirked. "Ask Sirius. They are a lot more restricted in their behaviour this way. They attack you or him and it is grounds for something far worse than a disownment."

With Harry's fears handled, everyone stepped into the VIP Box. The Minister turned to them and smiled. "Ah, Mr. Potter. A pleasure at last. How are you, my boy? Hogwarts treating you well?" Dora kept a close watch on the Minister, or more exactly the Minister's Undersecretary, as they stood near Harry, the Minister listening to Harry with a surprising amount of interest. Dolores Umbridge looked towards them with clear disdain, her policies being constantly curtailed by her Ted Tonks' legal arguments and the Coalitions' votes. The Coalition knew she was a potential threat from Hazel's warnings but had been hesitant to antagonize the Minister's most trusted aide. That changed when she tried to pass policies that would block anyone not of a Pureblood Family or having the backing of said families to obtain a higher position in the Ministry. Her dad had made an exceptional argument on the financial impact that the policy change would have on the Ministry, which stilled the support of quite a few traditionalists. The Neutrals didn't need to be told twice. The measure was defeated and the woman grew ever more venomous with her language towards the Peverell Proxy. Dora was glad it was her Dad in the Wizengamot and not Hazel. The woman might have never made it out the door after the long winded insults she sent his way.

As soon as the announcer, Ludo Bagman, arrived, everyone in the Minister's Box sat down and settled in for the game. "Surprise you allowed Susan to come." Amelia looked towards Susan, her niece's eyes following the action on the Pitch as well as talking with her friends. She sighed. "I was being dragged here regardless. It didn't feel right not letting her have fun. Besides, with her favorite boys coming, I couldn't think of a reason for her not to come." Dora chuckled. "Careful, Astoria might take that the wrong way." Amelia smirked. "Good thing she isn't here then. I almost threatened to tie up her mother. Goddess, I forgot how much of a handful she could be when she got something that interested her." Dora hummed merrily. "Well, at least Hazel got to avoid that headache." Amelia looked over for a second before looking at Dora. "Don't be too excited. I had to promise her pictures of the aftermath. I swear, her tastes are hard to swallow sometimes." Dora shivered. "Still safer than Lady Zabini and her own acquired tastes. So I am told, anyways." Amelia went a little green. "Don't get me started on that." The game proceeded nicely as Dora kept watch, the kids having a blast. They deserved it really. She hoped it proved to be more memorable to them than what was about to happen.

Hazel knew it was time the moment she heard the first screams. The Aurors had been stationed at all the key points, guaranteeing safe exits for every person around. The tents were positioned for ease of movement should people be forced to flee and the stadium itself was safe enough with guards inside. This left two groups with freedom of movement in the mostly empty grounds. The Death Eaters, who would have to get dressed inside of the enclosed area, and herself. She fingered her wand, feeling it's magic react to hers. Hazel knew she had to be careful. Her Holly Wand was powerful, but the wellspring of magic within her was greater than what the foci could handle. She knew she could overwhelm it again. So Hazel decided on showing some restraint today, which was perfectly fine by her. Though not too much restraint. Binding the morons by their feet and slicing them down their midsections would be tons of fun but a bit boring really, same with impaling them. Tonight was to be more than a tactical strike. It was a message. A message she intended to deliver perfectly to everyone who needed to hear it. So Hazel was leaving out her traps and much of the offensive Conjuration attacks she normally used. She needed to keep some things to herself after all. Sitting under a disillusionment charm, her fingers twirling a small stone in her hands, Hazel waited for the Death Eaters to make their move.

While three turns were the usual means to activate the Resurrection Stone, Hazel had no need for the power for which it was known for. The dead here weren't her own and she had nothing to seek from them. She had made her choice when she battled Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest of her world. She chose to live. The countless dead that hungered for her own damnation would have to wait a lot longer before she joined them. Especially now. Hazel sighed to herself. She had never intended to fall in love again. All her prior experiences with romance ended in disaster, each one more painful than the last. But this Nymphadora was different. She was growing wiser, warmer and more centered. There were still demons that haunted her just as there were those that haunted Hazel. But the nights when they were together helped ease each other's fears. These last few months had been almost blissfully quiet for her mind. She wasn't optimistic though. She knew the Tournament would draw out her memories again, as would Voldemort. More than that, she knew that Dora was now someone she couldn't bear to lose. Giving her the Elder Wand was the best she could do to keep her safe.

Of the Hallows, it was the least stubborn one when it came to another person wielding it so long as her magic ran through their body. The Cloak would always protect those of her magic, like Teddy. The Wand would give Dora the strength to face any opponent head on and succeed. The Stone… would never leave her hand if she could help it. Cadmus' Bane was too dangerous in the hands of others, mostly to themselves. The temptation to summon the dead, to bind them to this realm, was all too real. She had struggled for years not to summon Bella. She knew she could never part with her again if she did and she would never forgive herself for hurting the woman that she loved as a mother. For Hazel though, the stone would serve its other intended purpose. She felt it melt into her skin, it's magic weaving itself into her right hand. Her own Holly Wand may not be the best weapon, but it wouldn't matter with the best shield in her other hand. Hearing the screams, Hazel tapped her comm earpiece and lifted her wrist as her eyes latched on to the procession of cloaked figures. "O1, in position. Targets moving into the central area." A man's voice responded. "Observer, in position. O1, you are cleared to confront DEs. Be safe out there." Hazel smirked. "O1, acknowledged."

She walked up to the Death Eaters as they threw fires towards the tents, muggles floating in the air to their sides, their screams piercing to everyone's ears. Hazel silenced the poor souls before dropping them to the ground. The muggles scampered away as Hazel dropped the Disillusionment charm around her. "Sorry boys, but you guys are in the wrong place. The nearest magical prison is quite a few miles across the open ocean. Want a lift? It's a free one way ticket. Or would you all care for more permanent accommodations? I know a place down under with room to spare." The Death Eaters laughed at her and one of them pointed his wand at her. "Imperio. You should have known better, Auror. Now how about you turn around and cast some Cruciatus curses on the nearest civilian. We will give you a prize if you get them to scream themselves loud enough to lose their voice." Hazel felt the familiar touch of the curse and she smiled as she drew her wand. "Diffindo." The Death Eater's wand fell to the ground sliced in half, accompanied by several of his fingers, as the others drew their own wands. Hazel dodged as blood boiling and dark cutting curses went her way. She reflected several into the ground with her right hand as she slowly advanced before she looked around. Hearing confirmation that all Death Eaters were gathered around her, Hazel showed them just what was in store for them. "Protego Diabolica."

The cursed black flames spread out from behind her and circled around until all the Death Eaters were caught inside of the massive circle of flames. Hazel stretched out her glove on her right hand, feeling the Resurrection Stone singing in joy as it sustained the deadly barrier. "Alright, morons. Lesson One in the Dark Arts. This spell works even better as a trap than as a defence. You are all welcomed to try and flee. You might find that your Portkeys, Apparition and brooms don't work either. Only way out of here is through me." One of the Death Eaters, a woman by her voice, cackled. "Not a problem. Avada Kedavra!" The Death Eaters watched as a slab of stone blocked it before it turned to dust. Hazel chuckled to herself. "Lesson Two. The Unforgivables are not the best spells the lot of you can do, but it is all the justification I need to get started on more painful responses. Let's see if all of you were worth the time your Dark Lord wasted with your recruitment." Hazel took off at a running pace towards them, deflecting spells and conjuring barriers at the Unforgivables before jumping and disillusioning herself. Landing unseen behind them as the bastards with the pointy hats lit the area like a fireworks show, Hazel turned around. "Sectumsempra Dissicio." The modified curse lept from her wand and scattered, its magic striking several targets at once. She watched as a few stumbled around from the sudden loss of blood.

More of the Death Eaters casted killing curse towards her direction, all which she dodged or blocked, until a voice called out to her through the comm. "Observer to O1. All targets have casted a Killing Curse or comparative lethal spell. Full lethal force is now authorized." Hazel's smile turned predatory. "Your third and final lesson, morons. Don't go trying to kill others just to make yourselves feel better. You might just find a real killer up and about and we don't hold back, especially not with scum like you." Stretching out her right hand, a tendril of dark flames reached out to her from the barrier and snapped it's connection to the wider circle. As the black flames wrapped around her hand, she swung her arm around, her new flame whip getting caught on one of the Death Eater's neck. The man's head popped clean off his shoulders and bursted into black flames, his scream lasting but a second. Hazel charged straight at the others, her wand spinning in circles as nearly invisible cutting curses tore through the Death Eaters, many of them dropping their appendages as they stubbled. A few sought to escape and jumped over the black flames, their screams ending as their charred remains hit the ground on the other side. A few of the survivors tossed their wands aside as Hazel tore through the rest. She turned back to the ones who surrendered as soon as everyone else was silenced and lying on the ground in pieces, her spells prying off their hats and masks.

Hazel stared at them all before coming to the first one, summoning his wand to her hand. She eyed him carefully, recognizing him. "Amycus Carrow." She turned and saw his sister not far from him, holding onto her bleeding arm. Hazel turned back to look at him. "I was going to give this back to you. I am not a fan of killing unarmed people, you see. But you aren't just an unarmed person, are you? You dared use the Torture Curse on children barely capable of defending themselves. Worst yet, they were your own flesh and blood. If anyone here is deserving of the term Blood Traitor, that would be you and your sister." Hazel raised her right hand with the whip behind her. "Whatever discomfort your execution will bring me will be made up ten times over as your children will sleep safely for the rest of their lives, knowing neither of you can hurt them ever again." His head and arm bursted into flames as the whip tore through him, just as his sister picked up her wand and casted the Killing Curse at Hazel. Using her feet, Hazel lifted Amycus' body up, forcing it to take the curse for her, before the whip took Alecto's head and wand arm clean off. The rest of the Death Eaters scrambled for their surrendered wands. Hazel gave them just enough time to aim the wands towards her, before they all suffered the same fate.

The ring of black flames faded as Hazel sighed, rubbing the sweat off her brow with her arm as she looked up at the sky, seeing an eerie and familiar mark. Letting the other Aurors under the Observer's command deal with the corpses, Hazel aided in the search of the grounds of the campsite for the one Death Eater she knew was ordered not to take part. She had hoped he would have been close enough to get caught in the Hellflame Barrier, but that didn't prove to be the case. As she searched around Hazel noticed that most of the tents were still intact, the fires contained at the edge of the area. Still, it was a good thing that the stadium had delayed the release of the spectators to avoid getting them caught in the crossfire, as had been planned. Her revealing charms showed no people left behind as she deepened her search before she noticed a pale body lying on the soft grass of the field. She approached it and touched its skin. She closed her eyes, tears threatening to come out as she recognized who it was. "Child of the woods, renowned for your people's songs, return to your ancestors tonight. Your service to the unworthy is now at an end. Rest in peace." Closing the elf's eyes, she looked up and sighed. Bartemius Crouch Junior was definitely here tonight. Whether in anger or accident, he took the life of his family's elf, cast the Dark Mark and fled. Hazel searched around for more bodies but found none. He had entered the area and fled without being spotted or stopped. At least no one else died for it. Still, one innocent life was too much.

"Dobby." The elf popped in and his eyes were instantly drawn to the still figure. He started to cry. Hazel kneeled down and rubbed his head. "She is at peace now. Let her enter the ethereal woods of her ancestors and find rest. Look over her body as it's transferred into DMLE custody. I will have it turned over to you and the other elves as soon as possible. Bury her as is your custom." Dobby nodded. "Thank you, Mistress Peverell. Dobby will watch over Winky. Winky deserved a good family." Hazel aimed her wand up towards the Dark Mark in the sky. "We all did, Dobby. We all did." Feeding on the warmth of her love for Teddy and Dora, Aithusa erupted from her wand with a deafening roar, it's wings stretching wide as it rose into the sky, its white shape lighting up the campsite in its entirety as it pierced through the Dark Mark, dispelling it. Hazel allowed Aithusa to fly through the skies of the area above the stadium, spreading comfort to those who lingered and those who remained safe within the structure, the night briefly turned to day for all of them. It was going to be a long night and they would all need a bit of support to cope with the coming days.

OW April 1998

Hazel rushed down the streets of London, her long hair painted blonde and left loose, as she ran from one street corner to another, her breaths heavy and uneven. She felt her heart grow heavier and heavier until she turned on a familiar road and stared at what was left of the only place she could call home. The area that was Grimmauld Place looked as if it had been blasted from the inside of the building, bodies and debris littered across the street just outside of it. Hazel made her way through the rubble before reaching the entrance. Feeling a trace of the old house wards, Hazel added her own charm based ones to seal the gaps and block the area from view before she dared to look inside. The walls and the furniture were completely destroyed. The stairs, strangely enough, looked somewhat intact. The paintings, however, were utterly ruined. Over five hundred years of the Black Family's history, destroyed in a single moment. Yet that wasn't what made her heart beat wildly. Hazel breathed deeply as she raised her voice. "Kreacher! Dobby!" Neither of the elves answered and Hazel felt her heart sink further. She called them out repeatedly until she pried open what she assumed was the door to the wardstone room on the basement level. Tears filled her eyes.

"No…" she reached down and touched Kreacher's chest, her eyes losing focus as she found no pulse. Half of his body was burned from what looked to be the partial destruction of the wardstone. She struggled with the rubble to reach the other form. She lifted him up slowly. "Dobby. Dobby. Please wake up." The elf's eyes opened and he looked at her. He smiled weakly. "Bad toad woman came to steal Great Hazel Potter's home. Dobby and Kreacher sealed the house but Aurors and Curse Breakers came after. Wards buckled and weakened. Kreacher said it would fail. Kreacher refused to surrender the House of Black. Dobby helped Kreacher activate the old ward that would harm the enemies outside. Dobby and Kreacher had to stay, to keep bad people out of Mistress' home. They did something to wards that hurt the house, but the wards held." Hazel's tears landed on Dobby and his thin arm reached up and touched her cheek. "Mistress should not cry. House elves must protect our family's home. Kreacher and Dobby kept bad men from stealing it. Did… we do good?" Hazel closed her eyes. "Yes. The bad men would have turned this house into a place of evil. You and Kreacher saved it from that fate. Thank you Dobby."

The elf smiled with fareoff eyes. "Dobby resting now, Mistress." Hazel nodded, her breaths turning into sobs. "Rest Dobby. Mistress will protect her house now. So please, rest." The elf's eyes closed and Hazel hugged his now limp form to her chest. "Winky." The former Crouch family elf arrived and looked around before seeing Hazel and the elves. "Miss Potter. Winky is so sorry, Miss Potter. Dobby was a good house elf." Hazel nodded. "Kreacher too. They both were. Could you… could you take them and bury them in the Potter Manor grounds, as is elf custom?" Winky nodded, her little face covered in tears. "Mistress should go. It is not safe here." Hazel lowered Dobby down and waited for Winky to leave with the bodies. She stared at the damaged wardstone and with her blood, Bella's ring and the Black Family Magic's permission, warped it into her control. She replaced the Fidelius Charm on it, feeling how it covered the entirety of what was once Grimmauld Place. She doubted she could ever restore the townhouse fully to what it once was. Those thoughts were the furthest from her mind at the moment, as Hazel took a blade and carved marks into her arms. Without her wand, she was limited to how well the replacement wands lasted. For this she needed full access to her magic, even if it was only a temporary measure, one that would leave her vulnerable for weeks to come, if not months. As far as she was concerned, this was worth draining her magic.

The Ministry guards hardly had a chance to raise their wands as waves after waves of scarlet flame smothered the Ministry Atrium. The witnesses watched as Hazel walked at the core of the flames as a massive dragon made of flames roared, the windows shattering under its power. Spells aimed at Hazel started being consumed by the black flames that engulfed her as she turned to the group of Aurors that arrived from the lower levels. They came with the person she wanted to see. As the dragon rained flames into every office of the Upper floor of the Ministry, Hazel casted Killing Curses, piercing and cutting hexes through her bloodied hands until all that was left was the god awful toad in her pink clothes. The woman kept casting curses at her. "You will pay for this, wretch! The Purebloods will teach you your rightful place soon!" Hazel whipped her hand, slicing the woman's legs at the knees. She fell onto her back, before Hazel crushed the awful woman's wand and hand with her boot. Hazel's face, still marked with tear tracks from the loss of her family and home, loomed over the woman. "You attacked the last place I called home. I lost my two elven friends to you. They may mean nothing to you, but they were everything to me. So, how about I take everything away from you now? If blood matters so much to you, how about we get rid of it all? What do you think, Dolores? Does it sound fair!"

The woman screamed for as long as she could as Hazel held her under the Blood Boiling Curse until there was nothing left in her veins. Dispelling the Fiendfyre, Hazel observed the charred remains of the Ministry before she apparated away. She remained quiet as she carved a few more wooden charms with the names of Dobby and Kreacher for the next few days. Her companions yelled at her for what she did when the news broke out but she didn't care. The message was well received as soon after the remaining Aurors took care not to engage her directly. Tom, for once, didn't enter her mind to gloat or to dismiss her actions. You know, I spent decades planning the take over of the Ministry. Planted dozens of followers in every department under Whitehall, made sure that nothing that happened there went without my notice. One year of open warfare and it fell as easily as a house of cards. You, my dear, tore through its upper floors in less than an hour, leaving unfixable gaps in the wards and dozens of my servants and their collaborators dead. All that just to deep fry a toad of a woman with her own blood. Bravo, my dear. You are truly my equal. Hazel had chuckled at that, but any merriment died quickly as her hands rubbed the carved names of her two house elves. She swore she wouldn't forget them. They stood by her as she mourned the death of her Godmother. She would mourn them as she would mourn any other human being. They deserved that much.

NW August 1994

Hazel sat beside Ted Tonks in their seats in the Wizengamot Chamber as the session got underway, her fingers tracing Winky's freshly carved name on the charm she had made after she came back home. Like the first night since Harry came to visit, Hazel and Dora spent the night together with the kids. She had hugged Harry to her as they slept, knowing what was to come. Voldemort didn't disappoint. The boy screamed in her arms that night as she cooed and whispered reassurances for him before he finally settled down. The humiliation of the Death Eaters did not sit well with the Dark Lord turned into an incompletely homunculus. Based on Croaker's report, with the exception of a few of the more Noble Traditionalist family members like Malfoy, Rowle, Travers and Yaxley, the senior Death Eaters that weren't in Azkaban had been effectively slaughtered at the World Cup. The deaths would have lasting consequences for the remaining family members, most of which she hoped would be positive. Lord Nott and Lady Greengrass would approach the families and offer them the support they would need for the coming years, in exchange for a more neutral stance and for them to distance themselves from other known Death Eaters. Hazel didn't put much faith in the now weakened Crabbe and Goyle families, as their ties to Malfoy were greater, but the others would be looked after. Julia had personally taken the reins on the situation for the Carrow children as they were brought into the Ministry's Department of Child Services.

A few heavy thuds of the mallet by Dumbledore finally brought order to the session. "Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot. Today's session has been called to address the recent events at the Quidditch World Cup which lead to the tragic death of dozens of witches and wizards." Ted rested his hand on her shoulder as she was about to yell at the man. "Don't. Let him make a fool of himself. You and I both know that only one life died that night tragically, but few of them will care." Hazel glared at him as the chamber was filled with loud discussions. Lucius Malfoy stood up. "I petition the Wizengamot that the perpetrator be summoned before the Assembly and be charged accordingly. Witches and Wizards of good standing died in an unprovoked attack!" Amelia spoke over the whispers of the traditionalists. "Really, then why were all of them found wearing Death Eater robes and masks, their personal wands showing signs of heavy curse use? Witnesses placed the Death Eaters at the event tormenting the muggles before an Auror intervened. They then proceeded to cast ever known Unforgivable towards the Auror. You call this behaviour fit for people of good standing?" She turned to Dumbledore. "You call the deaths of criminals guilty of carrying out a violent attack against the muggles of the area, who then attempted an attack on civilians and attempted a lethal attack on a member of the DMLE, tragedies?"

The chamber erupted into loud squabbling until Dumbledore shouted. "Silence! Director Bones, the loss of any life is a travesty." Amelia gave him a smirk. "Then please amend your statement. Among the casualties last night was an elf murdered without signs of self defence. If the loss of any life is a travesty, then the death of the elf should be counted. Or are you going to claim that your latest statement was false?" Dumbledore looked conflicted, which made Hazel smile. Her smile ended as soon as Dolores Umbridge spoke up, that voice making her arms itch. "Madam Bones, are you suggesting we count a… a creature among the dead? Surely you know they are not anywhere near as valuable as witches and wizards whose lines stretch back centuries." Ted ignored the back and forward between them as he watched red tracks of magic arching across Hazel's fingers. "Hazel, keep that temper down. She is too high profile right now." Hazel turned to him. "No different than last time I took her down, though I think Amelia would be mad if I wrecked her office." Ted arched an eyebrow. "I am going to assume that your list of property damage is a lot more impressive than Moody's." Hazel chuckled. "Well, counting Hogwarts, Gringotts, the Ministry and a few other places… yeah. Probably." Ted rubbed his eyes. "Why am I here again?" Hazel hummed. "Because Andromeda would be awfully cross with you if you left me to be Amelia's concern."

Dumbledore seemed to rub his face after the two witches finished arguing. "Madam Bones, will you summon your Auror to face charges?" The dark skinned man in a business suit besides Amelia finally spoke up. "There will be no charges leveled against the Auror responsible, Chief Warlock. The Auror acted under the purview of ICW law and followed its guidelines to the letter. All the deaths attributed to them on the night of the World Cup Final are ruled as acceptable by the ICW." The Traditionalists yelled as Dumbledore tried to silence them. Dolores was the first to speak up. "The area of the World Cup is sovereign British Ministry of Magic territory; the ICW has no precedent to overrule us." The dark man turned to the Minister and the Chief Warlock. "Really? Is Britain not a member of the ICW? Perhaps I should ask for your resignation as Supreme Mugwump then, Dumbledore. As for the venue, it became an ICW concern the moment the Minister solicited foreign Aurors to help in its security. That was the point, correct? To improve international cooperation? Were your words false, Minister Fudge or is your Undersecretary uninformed?" The Chamber descended into whispers as Fudge swallowed visibly. "Not at all, Observer Badawi. But you must understand how violent this incident was." Badawi nodded. "Indeed. I personally watched as several lethal curses were sent towards the Auror. They only responded in full when ALL the Death Eaters used a Killing Curse or comparable spell."

Lucius stood up amid the murmurs. "The Death Eaters are extinct, Mr. Badawi. This Auror murdered several upstanding members of our society, all possibly under the Imperius curse." The observer turned to Dumbledore. "The designation of Death Eaters as terrorists has not been struck from the ICW registry, so Mr. Malfoy's argument is moot. They wore Death Eater robes and masks, used curses, including the Unforgivables, and were all locked within a Hellflame Barrier, which can and will cancel any external influence on their person. They all still proceeded to attack the Auror. My observations and the report submitted by my fellows will corroborate this. The Auror acted well within their legal rights and cannot be charged with any crimes associated with the deaths of the terrorists." Badawi sat down as the Chamber deliberated, Dumbledore seemingly at a loss for words, especially the mention of the Hellfire Barrier. That bit of dark magic hadn't been used since Grindelwald. He turned to Amelia. "Won't you reveal the identity of the Auror? Their actions deserve some degree of correction. Behaviour such as this cannot be tolerated." Hazel decided to speak up. "And what behaviour is that, Chief Warlock? According to the Director of the DMLE, an ICW Observer and several Aurors from other ICW member states, the Auror acted within their rights. Should you be arrested for carrying out your duties to this Assembly? That is what you are suggesting we do. Do we as an Assembly dare to question and charge a witch or wizard for the fact that they carried out their duties as we ask of them every day?"

The Chamber turned to her and the Traditionalists hollered. Lucius stood up. "It was you, wasn't it, Peverell? You are responsible for the extinction of several Magical lines of the Sacred 28!" Hazel raised an eyebrow and conjured a long scroll into her hand. "You might want to be more specific. My family ended many lines prior from the founding of the Wizard's Council and quite a few more before and during the formation of the Wizengamot, long before the Sacred 28 was even put into writing by a less than accredited propagandist." She made it as if she was reading the list, causing the progressives to snicker, as well as the neutrals. Lucius seemed to grow even redder in the face. "I am talking about the dead men and women from last night!" Hazel vanished the paper and tapped her finger before looking towards Madam Bones and the ICW observer. "Boss, you wouldn't know where my last assignment was? I sort of tune most of them out after I give my debriefing. They all tend to blend together after a while." Amelia looked over at Badawi, who nodded. She sighed and turned to the Assembly. "Lady Peverell, in her capacity as a Hit Witch, was the leading British Auror at the scene. She followed British and ICW procedures during the incident. She has the full backing of the DMLE on this matter."

Hazel waited as the discussion settled down before a familiar voice spoke up. "Miss Peverell, do you have anything to say about your unbecoming conduct last night?" Hazel stared at Dumbledore. "Chief Warlock, I followed the rules set out by this Assembly, laws that you signed into law decades ago. Are you saying the laws you yourself supported at the time are wrong? That response of equal degrees of force, whether it's lethal or otherwise, is against the rules? Because I can assure you, I spent quite a bit of time reading the laws before I signed up with the DMLE. Observer Badawi can tell you that I went into excruciating detail about ICW rules of engagement prior to the incident. I take my profession very seriously when I am out in the field. Can you say the same? Or are three full time jobs too much for the Great Albus Dumbledore? Because you certainly love to waste your breath over matters already resolved by the rule of law." The Chamber was left in stunned silence as Hazel sat back before they started discussing the matter among themselves. The session ended without any formal or informal decision being made, with the Traditionalists eyeing Hazel warily. Hazel ignored them. The message was delivered to everyone that mattered and with their coalition in place, the laws couldn't be altered in any way further without negotiations. The risk free attacks for the Death Eaters were a thing of the past now. They now knew the price of waging war. As far as Hazel was concerned it had taken too bloody long to sink in.

"Damn!" Dumbledore slammed his fist onto his desk as he returned to his office in Hogwarts. Fawkes was startled awake and gave Dumbledore the stink eye before burying its head in its wing, hoping to catch some sleep, as Dumbledore fumed over the recent events. Decades of work, all ruined in the last few years and it all stemmed from the same person. Hazel Peverell. He had done his best to research her origins but aside from a fragmented family tree in the Ministry records, possibly due to marriages with muggles or even squibs, Hazel remained a mystery he couldn't get through. Her position as a Hit Witch with ICW certification made her practically untouchable politically unless she acted in a way that violated the laws of the ICW. Even as Supreme Mugwump, he was only capable of exerting power as the head of the International Assembly, not over the collectives' Departments that tended to run independently. They existed as the means of securing the Statute of Secrecy and helped make sure the International Agreements were sustained. Gellert had practically obliterated them during the war and they were barely recovered when Voldemort started his assault of Wizarding Britain, but now they seemed to be fully recovered and exercising their power.

Peverell presented so many complications to his plans. She successfully removed Harry from the safe isolation he had prepared for the boy with the Dursleys, integrated him with other children born to Old and Ancient Families and helped to secure Sirius Black's release. His means of control over the boy were practically nonexistent, even at Hogwarts. Harry Potter was safely protected using the old treaties that allowed students to study at the school, even while members of the Staff were currently in a Blood Feud with the children's families. The rules were never rescinded and were now being used by several Old and Ancient Families, keeping their children away from the control of the Staff. It was absolutely galling. Worst of all, the woman had become popular among the children of the school as she taught them how to get better practical control of their magic. Seeing so many Corporeal Patroni being performed by the students wasn't a bad thing, but that the favorable instruction came from a Dark Witch was. There was no doubt in his mind Hazel Peverell was a Dark Witch. The slaughter at the World Cup proved it. The curses used against the Death Eaters weren't anywhere near as Dark as Voldemort was known for, but their use was brutal and effective. Damage from several of the bodies even showed traces of Severus' cutting curse, as reported by Shacklebolt. That meant one thing.

She was a survivor of the war. He tried to use the Family Tree in the Ministry to uncover her birth name, but nothing came from it. Was she the sibling of a member of the Order of the Phoenix, a former Death Eater that Voldemort groomed in secret like Barty Junior? He had no idea. She was a phantom that clearly knew the Death Eaters. She knew them enough to face them with lethal efficiency and then appear at the Wizengamot Chamber as if nothing important had happened. Her disregard for life and contempt for him reminded Dumbledore of Tom Riddle and the thought froze his heart. He poured over his files from his investigation of Tom during and after Hogwarts. There, in the family tree, was a familiar name. Peverell. Dumbledore sat back, trying to see how this bit of information aligned. Was Hazel Peverell really Voldemort, utilizing the body of a distant relation of his? Was this his way of not only returning but also besting Harry Potter? It would be a master stroke. The boy clearly cared for her. They only grew closer yet this following year as she acted as a guard for the school. She disabled the curse over the DADA position with relative ease and, if the word of the young Mr. Weasley was correct, she was also the one that defeated the Basilisk and rescued young Miss Granger from a cursed book.

Was that the point of possession? The book? It was after that moment that Peverell seemed to appear on the scene causing chaos and undoing the work of the Purebloods. Dumbledore rubbed his eyes. She was either Voldemort himself or a rising Dark Lady. There was no doubt of that. As an ICW certified Auror, she was certainly in the best position to be selected as part of the Triwizard Tournament's security team. He had no way of banishing her from the grounds and if he did, Harry Potter might just disappear with her, leaving Voldemort's victory all but guaranteed. He had no choice but to observe her and to continue to test the boy. The modifications to the Tournament had been less than what he had hoped for but there was only so much they could do safely with the rest of the organizers approval. He hoped that the changes were enough to have a good understanding of the type of person the boy was. If he proved to be the Champion he envisioned, then Voldemort's fate was sealed. If he failed, then Dumbledore would do what was necessary. He stared at the Elder Wand on his desk, strengthening his resolve. He had already allowed two Dark Lords to rise within his lifetime. He refused to allow any more of them to do so. He would do whatever was necessary. For the Greater Good of all Wizarding Britain.

Chapter 40: Another Year at Hogwarts

"This way." Saul followed after his companion from across the Channel, Director Chatelain, as they made their way through the upper levels of the French Ministry of Magic. "Were you able to review our report?" Chatelain nodded her head, her long red hair held up by a clip. "We have and it was quite the tale. However, our own information networks agree with your conclusions. Though you could have dealt with the situation at the World Cup with less publicity." Croaker chuckled. "If that was our goal, then yes, we could have." Chatelain looked at him and smirked. "I suppose so. Our Observer friends are at least pleased with the developments. We are hearing of increased requests for mediation and observation from our former colonies, with Aurors and their departments looking to gain ICW certification and aid. There is much beginning to change out there, with the ICW getting a bit more involved in internal issues." Croaker hummed. "Internal issues don't tend to remain that way for long whether in the non-magical world or our own. Better to have a more competent ICW that can help end dangerous flashpoints than the option of a Nuclear Winter." Chatelain nodded. "In that, I believe most people are in agreement. Here we are." She stood by the fogged glass door and knocked. They both entered as soon as they were summoned inside.

A man wearing a grey business suit and signing mountains of papers looked up, his sandy blond hair peppered with touches of grey. "What can I help you with, Chatelain?" She gestured to Croaker. "My counterpart in the British Ministry brought some concerning information to us. It involves the safety of the students of Beauxbatons, especially those heading to Hogwarts at the end of October. As the Chairman of the Beauxbatons Board of Governors and the former head of our DMLE, we thought you ought to be informed and we may need to request some assistance." The man sighed and placed his fountain pen aside before standing up and presenting a hand to Croaker. "Name's Jacques Delacour. What trouble endangers the Triwizard Tournament Delegation?" Croaker shook his hand. "Director Saul Croaker, of the British DoM. We believe the Triwizard Tournament's details have been leaked to an assumed dead terrorist and that two of the organizers, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Headmaster Igor Karkaroff, might be compromising the safety of the students participating in the tournament in some way." Jacques sat back onto his desk and crossed his arms. "Explain."

Croaker eyed Chatelain, who nodded, before he began. "The terrorist Lord Voldemort is not quite dead. Our Department received the information three years prior and has been working with the British DMLE and the ICW to prevent a resumption of hostilities on the Isles since. Through this investigation, we have discovered several improprieties done by the Hogwarts Headmaster that have endangered the safety of the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, all related in some part to Lord Voldemort. Based on past experiences, we believe the Headmaster wishes to use the Tournament for his own ends, potentially endangering the Champions in the process. We also believe Voldemort seeks to use the Tournament to enact his return, with both men placing one Harry Potter in their sights. Dumbledore will seek to guarantee Potter's involvement in the Tournament and Voldemort may seek to guarantee Potter's victory by any means necessary, before striking him down himself." Jacques winced. "Ahh, I see the concern. And Karkaroff?" Croaker shrugged. "A former Death Eater. A potential entry point for Voldemort's machinations."

Jaques rubbed his chin and looked at Croaker. "I am assuming you have taken measures to mitigate the danger?" Saul shook his head. "Not as many as we would like. The Tournament was founded prior to the Boards of Governors being introduced. The Headmasters and the Organizers have had full independent control over its development. We have seen records of requests for the preparation of pens for dangerous magical creatures but none have been brought into the country so far, so no major paper trails to follow just yet, beyond a possible request for a Dragon. Karkaroff has possibly been all too happy to increase the difficulty, thanks to his school's focus on the more aggressive forms of magics and Maxime has likely been outvoted." Jacques thought back and nodded. "Olympe has looked a bit haggard the last few weeks. That would explain it. The secrecy of the planification has kept her from voicing her concerns to us." Croaker sighed. "We thought as much. As it stands, the only ones who have the information on the tasks will be the organizers and the participants. We can't obtain anyone in the former and the Headmaster will be too on guard for potential interference of his school's Champion in the latter. Karkaroff won't be much different and any attempt to reach out to him could alert Voldemort to our activities, which has to be avoided at all costs." Jacques rubbed his eyes. "Which leaves the Beauxbatons Champion. What's the plan?"

Croaker handed him a folder. "We have a candidate and an alias that will suit us. That leaves securing the position for Champion. Ordinarily that wouldn't be a problem until we did a thorough search of the Beauxbatons records and found one seventh year student who shows to have received additional training, possesses magical talents beyond the norm and is the prime candidate for Champion. We are also concerned as to how the Goblet of Fire might interpret certain rules through magic. A student's skill is unlikely to pose a threat to our candidate but if the Goblet deems her unworthy for any number of reasons, the local student could be left in danger. So tell me, Monsieur. How likely is your daughter, Fleur, to seek the position of Beauxbatons Champion?" Jacques whined. "Apolline is going to kill me." Croaker chuckled. "Perhaps, but if you can help us get Fleur to step down and not submit her name, it would be appreciated. While we are certain our candidate surpasses your daughter's skills, we are concerned over the Goblet of Fire as a selection method making its own judgement as to who should represent Beauxbatons. Your assistance can help keep your daughter safe and your wife from retaliating against you for the oversight." Jacques looked over the file detailing the alias of the Operative, spotting a familiar name. "My daughter is an excessively proud witch. A price of her heritage and the burden it and my job has placed on her. She won't surrender her position without a fight or a suitable replacement." Croaker turned to Chatelain. "We were thinking of offering her a position within our Department of Mysteries. If she impresses our Operatives, that includes the Operations Division."

Chatelain nodded and turned to Delacour. "We will match that offer. Our Operations Division hasn't seen much action since it got gutted during Grindelwald's War, but we are always on the lookout for potential members, though our DMLE has been more than up to the task of keeping our people safe. Either way, her scores in sixth year Enchanting and Charms were quite high. We would welcome her within our Enchantment Division as well." Croaker turned to Jacques. "If the job offers are unsuitable, then she will come with high recommendations to any career or apprenticeship she may see fit." Jacques clicked his tongue. "I will let her know. Is your Operative willing to welcome her into their own training regimen? Fleur would welcome the challenge. She may also be thrilled to take part in the academic competitions that have been added to the event, and will likely end up sweeping the seventh year examinations and practicals as compensation." Croaker rubbed his chin. He eyed Jacques. "That would be fine. Just one question. What are her… preferences in mates?" Jacques stared at him for a second before he swore. "I take it you Operative is… receptive to female company?" Croaker shivered. "Not her I am worried about entirely. Her girlfriend, and partner, is deeply territorial in nature. Any improprieties between your daughter and my operative might result in more… dangerous consequences. Potentially worse than having a Dark Lord on the loose." Jacques nodded. "I will let her and Apolline know."

Harry sighed to himself as Hermione looked on. "What's wrong? Not looking forward to the rest of the year with the Quidditch season being cancelled?" Harry gestured at the staff table of the Great Hall and the retreating figure of Albus Dumbledore. "I just have a bad feeling that I am going to get dragged into this." Neville patted his shoulder out of sympathy. "On the bright side, Hazel is still around as a guard for the school. She looks to be in a foul mood though." Harry winced when he saw the frown on Hazel's face as she sat at the Staff Table. "Her girlfriend Tonks got reassigned to another mission. She won't be around as much until after the schools arrive and even then she is being kept busy out of the Castle. Hazel has been irritated for the past few days from that." Ron scoffed. "Thought it was from all the bad publicity she got, getting called a Dark Witch and all." Hermione frowned. "Doubt it. She's never been all that shy about addressing herself as Dark. Even if the entire country believes it now, I don't think it would matter to her. She doesn't strike me as the type that cares what others think of her." Harry nodded, giving his cousin a brief smile when their eyes locked for a second. She gave him one back in return.

Having Hazel in his life the last few weeks had been great. In a lot of ways she was like Andromeda, always checking with him and Teddy about everything. She was a great cook who always made time for them, even showing him around the Department of Mysteries less top secret areas. She had explained a bit of what was going on after Harry agreed to a removable but weaker version of the Occlumency defence she and Teddy shared. He was constantly working on his Occlumency exercises to make sure that the next time she had something important to share with him, she could trust him. The last thing she told him about was the Tournament and how both Dumbledore and Voldemort might try to get him into it. She warned Harry that there was no way to get him out of it if the Goblet selected him, so instead she was focused on teaching him the skills he might need to survive, including a few spells that were for emergency use only. They only practiced those spells on the weekends because of how magically drained they left him. Learning basic wandless spells like summoning, banishing and levitation were some of his most memorable times in the DoM training rooms, especially when he and Teddy got to show off a bit at the last tutoring meet up. Playing dodgeball using the banishing and summoning charms with everyone was a lot of fun, even if no one tagged Hazel, as she was too fast to pin down.

The first day of school had crept on them quickly and he knew he was going to miss the closeness he felt at sharing an Apartment with her, Teddy and Dora, even if Dora's music made him question how she still had functioning ears. Yet the moments he would miss most weren't the ones where they practiced magic or visited Merlin's Cave in Cornwall or walked through the magical districts of Edinburgh, though the visit to the Ballycotton Magical Sanctuary was amazing. Both Nova and Hedwig had a lot of fun flying with the other birds in the warm and clear blue sky just at the edges of the island. No, what he would miss most were the quieter moments when everyone sat down to watch movies, listen and chat about music or when they were all preparing for dinner, with Hazel letting him and Teddy help while Leafsby complained. It never felt like he was imposing or was an outsider. He felt like he belonged there with them, enjoying just another carefree day. He hoped Hazel didn't mind if he dropped in on her every once in a while. Might even help improve her mood, really.

Harry felt Ron shoved his shoulder for a bit. "Well, are you signing up for the Tournament or what?" Harry sighed. "No Ron, I don't want to be part of it. I would really like a quiet and peaceful year at Hogwarts. No Trolls, no Basilisks, no Dementors, nothing. I doubt I will get it but that's what I want." Ron shook his head. "Sounds boring, to be honest. Think about it! Eternal Glory and a thousand galleons." Harry made a face. "Don't want the galleons and name one person who was a previous champion." Ron made a face as if he would answer before he frowned. He shrugged. "Well, you'd be the first since the Tournament was restarted. That would make it memorable." Harry waved the comment away. "Not interested." The time for the students to head to the Common Rooms arrived and he saw as the first years started to line up as he made his way out the hall. He watched as Teddy came up to him and hugged him. "Stay safe?" Harry nodded. "You too." They parted ways as he watched the Badgers head down to their Common Room. He sat at the Gryffindor Common Room, his hand absentmindedly playing with the charms on his wrist when the Portrait Door opened, revealing Hazel.

She handed papers to Professor McGonagall who eyed them. "Same as last year?" Hazel nodded. "All set. Also, an extra bit of Parchment. None of us wanted there to be any doubt among the Faculty over the coming event." McGonagall read it and sighed. "You don't trust the Champion Selection?" Hazel raised an eyebrow. "Only thing I trust in this world is Death, because let's be honest, you can avoid taxes with the right amount of gold and solicitors. Death can't be bought, cheated, stopped or ignored, only delayed." McGonagall gave her a look. "A bit morbid." Hazel shrugged. "Peverell here. Death and my family are old friends." Hazel walked over to Harry and hugged him. "You try and have some fun this year. Next one is OWLs and it will likely be a bit boring." Harry squeezed her back. "I will." Hazel was about to leave before she turned around. "Careful with your DADA Professor. He's called Mad-Eye for a reason. Expect the unexpected and check for traps on the doors, floors, desks, seats and even the ceiling. You will thank me later when he doesn't use you for target practice. Ask Tonks when you see her next. She spent months with him at the academy. Night, Harry. Professor." Harry waved at her as she left, McGonagall giving him a soft smile. "Go on, Mister Potter. She will be around by morning."

Harry sat on his bed, fully changed into his pajamas, as he pulled out a charm carved out of wood that Hazel made for him. It wouldn't stop a nightmare or a vision, but it would give him enough control to detach himself from the moment. The feelings and emotions that tended to wake him up feeling cold and dreadful were reduced by it, though he would always have trouble sleeping right after. He wrapped it around his arm and felt the magic settle into him, Hazel's always feeling cool and comfortable to him. Harry extinguished the candle and pulled the cover over his head. He dreaded the coming year at Hogwarts but he knew he wasn't alone. His circle of friends had grown and he had a family looking after him. He took a deep breath and turned over, falling fast asleep.

OW September 2nd 1996

Hazel rubbed her eyes as she sat in the library, checking over the Potions book she found in the Potions Classroom after McGonagall forced her to take the sixth year Potions Class. How the new Professor Dumbledore hired would even allow her near a cauldron, she had no idea. The bastard of an old man had seemingly forgotten to take the hint that she wasn't interested in his games, especially after the disaster in the Ministry on the Summer Solstice. She watched as a few Slytherins came up to her table, the Malfoy brat looking her over. "Well, aren't you going to say anything, Potter? You are standing before the new Heir Apparent Black after all." Hazel turned the page over. "Congratulations Malfoy. Bother me a few more minutes longer and I will personally show you what I did to the previous Lord Apparent to the House of Black. His mother apparently fried his brain a few too many times under the Cruciatus Curse, so he wasn't as satisfyingly in pain under my curse as I would have liked. A spoiled and well groomed Heir such as yourself would be a more satisfying experience, I believe." Hazel turned to the next page as Malfoy seemed equally part terrified and insulted. "You have a lot of nerve, being from such a lowborn House. You know the Dark Lord will be coming for you now? He might even let me have a taste of you first."

Slicing her thumb on her canine, Hazel began to focus the magic into her blood and drew it out. "Fill the blustering boy with fear." The old Druidic Blood Magic triggered, causing Draco to pale as Hazel responded. "Funny, according to my Family Tree I am also the Heiress to the Ancient House of Peverell, one of the Founders of the Wizard's Council, while your main family line were either farmers or nobodies. Then again, I highly doubt Malfoy is your real family name. People say it's a Blood Curse placed on you, with your platinum blonde hair too, kept on for centuries as your family seems utterly incapable of fulfilling the conditions to lift it. Bad faith indeed. As for your Dark Lord, I think he will take that last statement poorly. From what I hear he has declared me and Dumbledore to be his to deal with personally. So why don't you run along now before I show you what I spent my summer learning all about before your Lord hears about your words." The Slytherin ponce and his bookends fled as Hazel licked her thumb clean of blood. "Episkey." Hazel watched as the wound healed, even if it was a bit slowly, before she looked up. "You have anything to add about my treatment of your fellow Slytherins, Heir Serpens?" The young man with dark brown hair smirked. "Not really. They came in to gloat and presumed they were your superiors and you handled yourself to perfection. May I?" He gestured to the seat in front of her and Hazel shrugged your shoulders. "Your funeral."

Hazel looked over at the young man as he sat down. Tamlane Serpens joined the Slytherins as a sixth year this September and was a bit of an odd one. He was charming and polite but there were times when he had a hard edge to his blue eyes. Malfoy seemed to have trouble getting him to follow along with the other Slytherins. Serpens turned to look in the direction of the retreating Slytherins. "Is this a common occurrence for you? Slytherins coming to wave their Houses' influence and wealth in your face?" Hazel flipped the page, finding a heavily edited Potions recipe. "Most of my time here, especially Malfoy and his minions. Heir Nott has been a bit more respectful but will still join Malfoy in the end. Had a bit of peace after the dead Dragon in the First Task of Tournament last year, at least until just after the mess that was the Second Task." Serpens hummed. "Odd. I was under the impression Slytherins were supposed to be full of cunning and ambition." Hazel snorted. "You forgot to include Pride. There is a reason the muggle faiths describe it as a sin. Too much of it will see you cut down by your own hubris. Then again, it doesn't take much to die in this godforsaken world." Serpens sat back. "Quite morbid of you. Worried about the Dark Lord coming after you?"

Deciding not to dignify that question with a response, Hazel returned her attention to the Potions book filled with annotations, flipping the pages as she scanned the few spells listed on the edges before she froze. She flipped the pages further and further. She knew these spells. Her Godmother had taught them to her. According to her they were made by a certain greasy bat who then proceeded to share them with certain Death Eaters. Hazel flinched at the memory of her Godmother as she slammed the book shut, starling Tamlane. She bit her lip as she stood up. "My apologies, Heir Serpens. I am afraid my family situation this summer changed and has left me in an improper state. As for the Dark Lord. I honestly don't know and don't care. The man will do as he always has done and everyone else will have to make their own decisions afterwards. Now if you excuse me, I need a moment to myself." He gave her an understanding look. "Of course. My apologies, Miss Potter. Take your time." Hazel pulled her bag on her shoulder as she made her way out of the library. She felt tears starting to leak from her eyes as she pulled the Cloak over her body. It took her a bit before she reached her second floor Prefects' Bathroom and burst inside, making a beeline for the opening of the Chamber. "Open." Hazel's emotional crisis was delayed as she looked at the entrance, noting a lack of reaction. "Open!" Try as she could, her means of entry to the Chamber remained sealed.

"Dobby." The elf popped in beside her. "Great Hazel Potter summons Dobby. What can Dobby do for his mistress?" Hazel felt her earlier problem slipping further and further away. "Are you able to enter the Chamber?" Dobby looked towards the opening and nodded. "Yes, Mistress but wards prevent you from entering." Hazel sighed. "Can you retrieve all of my belongings and the Dragon and Basilisk parts? Make sure no one else has tampered with them either." Dobby popped away as Hazel pulled out another bag from within her school bag. This particular one was a gift that Bella commissioned for her. Using the softer scales of the Dragon's belly, crafters made a bag with a near bottomless extension charm, combined with other charms that kept the contents from smashing into each other and for the weight to be reduced considerably. The outer layer had then been coated with the dragon's scales, protecting it from damage. Hazel had complained to Bella on what was surely the most expensive gift ever but her godmother had shot her down. The money came from the Black Vaults and she felt it was better spent on her safety. The massive multi-compartment trunk and sets of Basilisk hide clothes and armor that were still too big for her came soon after, though the boots she would be able to adjust effortlessly. Hazel's comments on the extreme spending habits of the Blacks had only made Bella smirk at her.

For now though, she was grateful, as Dobby pulled all of her belongings out of the Chamber and into the bag. She would sort through them later when she had the time. Once the elf was done, though he noted the vials of Basilisk Venom and stored fangs were missing, Hazel casted every detection spell Bella taught her on the entrance. Nothing was revealed. The entrance was there, as Dobby saw it from the other side, but it was locked for anyone else using it. Hazel sighed before looking towards the rest of the bathroom. This area wasn't safe anymore. With the Chamber entrance beyond her control, the rest of the Prefect's Bathroom was also vulnerable. She approached the area that held the wards that changed the password. She left her password intact but made sure to add further traps and wards to it, hopefully leaving the next person to modify it to pay the price for running her out of her safe place. Leaving her Sanctuary behind, Hazel wandered the empty hallways under her cloak looking for a place to make her own. Sadly, she knew none would truly be hers. Any place within Hogwarts' grounds would betray her location to Dumbledore and the rest were probably known to Tom, including the Room of Requirement. Even if she could make a safe place for herself there, someone could just block her access to the Room at all. "Dobby." The elf appeared again. "Yes?" Hazel sighed and checked for eavesdropping spells and paintings. She found one painting looking at her funny after she briefly revoked her Cloak and blacked it out while blocking its ability to hear as well. "Take me back to Grimmauld Place. Dumbledore assumes I will spend my nights in the Chamber. Let's not correct him." The elf nodded and apparated her away.

NW September 2nd 1994

Hazel placed her cup of coffee down. "Hogsby, another please." Sprout looked towards her with concern. "Late night patrolling the grounds?" Hazel sighed. "I wish." She scanned the Great Hall, feeling Teddy's concern for her through their Family Magic. Last night had been the first time she dreamt of her ex. She had a good feeling as to why, considering the empty bed she found beside her in the morning. She had grown accustomed to sleeping beside Dora. It was a comfort to know she would be there for her, a constant source of warmth, love and levity. Now that she wasn't there, it left her feeling empty again. Just like the last days after her previous relationship. She couldn't stop the shivers that shook her body at the thought of comparing her two long lasting relationships. Dora didn't deserve that from her but the fear that clawed of her mind and heart refused to go away. Living months on the run had been surprisingly easy for her, even more so when she started killing. The loss of Grimmauld Place only made it more so. It wasn't until Teddy entered her life that she realized why. She had accepted her end and even looked forward to it.

Teddy filled a place in her heart and gave her meaning again, a place she knew he always would fill. Now Nymphadora had done the same and she was terrified. The magic she had been feeding to her gave Hazel some brief glimpses into her heart, but nothing as deep as the bond her Family Magic gave her and Teddy. She craved that connection with her but she couldn't force it onto Dora. So she was stuck with her insecurities while Dora was off at Beauxbatons completing her assignment. Seeing Sprout eyeing her, expecting an answer, Hazel drank from her refilled cup of coffee. "Just feeling a bit of anxiety with my partner getting reassigned to escort the Beauxbatons delegation. First time we have been given separate assignments. I know it's a relatively safe and simple assignment but it's still a concern to me." Sprout smiled at her. "I can say that the next words are quite a bit new to me, but trust Nymphadora. She will be back, safe and sound, before you know it." Hazel sighed but nodded. "Only thing I can do really. Any of your Badgers looking to throw their name into the Tournament?"

Pomona sighed and nodded. "Sadly yes. One of my sixth years and quite a few of the upper year students are considering taking part in the main event. I have warned them it can be dangerous but you know how young people tend to be." Hazel eyed Dumbledore. "That I do." She looked back over the students, smiling at both Teddy and Harry before finishing what little bit of breakfast she usually ate. "Well, if you excuse me Professor, I have to check on the grounds a bit more. Have a good day." Pomona nodded as Hazel pulled on her jacket before stepping out the side door of the Great Hall. She did her best to not think about her fears and instead focused on sweeping the area with her detection spells before checking her map. A soft shrill preceded Nova landing on her shoulder before it started pecking her head with her beak. "Oww, oww, ok. I get it. Stop worrying about Dora and making Teddy feel sad." Nova chirped happily and ruffled Hazel's hair with her beak before settling in on her shoulder. Hazel eyed the bird and smiled, rubbing its chest. "Thank you. Think you'd be willing to take a letter from me to her soon?" Nova nodded and Hazel felt her anxiety lower slightly as she approached the edges of the Forbidden Forest.

Looking over the vast fields she remembered were once used for the Tournament in her world, she started walking along the perimeter, her Holly Wand swiftly casting the familiar spells. She could do them wandlessly but she didn't know who was watching her at the time, even if her magic said no one was, so she kept her more exuberant displays of magic tied to her wand. She noticed a Centaur approaching her from the edge and moved closer, concealing herself from view by anyone watching from the Castle. She smiled when she recognized him. "Have the last few seasons done well for the Herd, Firenze?" The Centaur nodded and walked pace beside her, eying the bird on her shoulder with curiosity. "It has, Huntress. The meat did good to us and the rest was used as fertilizer for our crops. We have passed the last winter without much trouble, beyond the discomfort of the floating creatures of cold and pain." Hazel eyed him. "Was the barrier successful in keeping them away from your homes?" Firenze smiled at her and nodded. "It was. Our mothers were most happy to not have lost any babes to the cold or the dreadful creatures or the winter. We still hunt the Acromantulas away, but we all feel safer within our borders." Hazel nodded but frowned. "Has the Headmaster approached you about the coming months?"

Firenze sighed, his eyes turning towards the Castle. "He has. He has requested we help secure the edges of this area for the construction of a large structure and for the respectful distance of the Herd for the storing of several dangerous creatures within the Forest. He has also asked for our thoughts on the dangerous creatures that currently reside here, and locations that may present difficulty in the cold months at the end of Winter." Hazel frowned. "Well, that is a concern. I will not ask your herd to endanger its relationship with the old man, but be wary. A remnant of an old and dangerous foe of our people seeks to intervene. Keep our young ones safe, but never at the expense of the herd." The Centaur bowed his head. "I will inform the Elders. May your hunts be fruitful, Witch. Fair skies, Harbinger." Hazel and Nova nodded. "May the stars be ever kind to the herd, Stargazer." Hazel watched the Centaur leave as she pondered the last bit of information, with Nova taking to the air and circling the lake, probably looking for anything to hunt after. Hazel eyed the surface of Black Lake as she pressed her comm device to her ear. "O1 to base. Do we have anyone there that knows Mermish willing to go for a dive into the Black Lake? We might have a bit of unexpected intel and it should be verified."

Teddy sat down at his usual table in an unused classroom they had appropriated for studying when he felt two people come up behind him. Keeping his magic safely in his hands he waited for them to strike. They gripped his arms and two warm lips pressed into his cheeks from either side. His face and hair shifted colors repeatedly as he released his hold on his magic. "What was that for?" Flora and Hestia moved away from him and sat on the other side of the table, giving him identical smiles. "You know why, Lion who hides among Badgers." The other, Hestia if he was right, continued with a wink. "You said we would be safe and you were right." Flora hummed. "Lady Greengrass managed to get Nana Fawley to come back and care for us again. Greengrass has also been appointed as our Regent until we reach seventeen years of age." Hestia continued as she pulled her books out from her bag. "All the Traditionalists have been shown the door and told to stay away. Very amusing." Flora chuckled. "Very amusing indeed." Another voice spoke up from behind him. "Oi! You two are here early." The twins gave Astoria a smirk. "Now, now, Astoria. We were only showing our gratitude to the gentleman here."

Astoria sat down beside Teddy and looked at him. "Right, so he is shifting colors because he is bored?" The two girls giggled as Astoria glared at them before Teddy controlled his blush and shift. "It's ok. They were just being friendly. Which class assignments do you all want to start with?" Astoria eyed him before she sighed. "Let's start with Defence. I don't want to think about Moody till our next class." The Slytherins smiled. "Got caught by his trap, were you? What would your tutor say?" Astoria blushed. "I was tired and half asleep!" The twins giggled before looking at Teddy. "Our Badger here spotted the trap on the doorframe and helped us and his friends avoid it. Moody was very happy with him." Astoria glared at him and Teddy blushed. "I warned you about the trap. Mom did too." Astoria dropped her Defence book and slumped on it. "I forgot about the warning. Woke up stunned and hanging upside down by my ankle. Daphne will be impossible in the next few months." Teddy nodded. "Probably. Everyone my Mom tutors got the warning. Remember to do it every time and practice it here and elsewhere where it's safe to try it."

They all started to work as Teddy though back to their first Defence class. Moody felt surprisingly more fun than Lupin had been. He had them all stand up and practice all the spells they should know as second years. He had been pleasantly surprised when everyone got them down perfectly, a few even doing it silently and with point casting. His artificial eye spun around in his head. "The Headmaster had informed me about the little Dueling Club our current resident Hit Witch ran last year. Good to see she got you all to exceptional levels, for fresh second year students. Let's see if you guys have read ahead. How many can do the disarming spell?" He had been practically giddy as everyone got it on the first try after the entire class raised their hands and he asked for a practical demonstration against dummies. "Good, good. Guessing you all got your Shield charms down. So, how about we do this. As this is a regular class length course, you will all spend the next thirty minutes doing some practical work with either dummies or volunteers before you spend the rest with me as we go over the Dark and Dangerous Creatures out and about. Remember, watch those feet of yours. You don't want to get to my age and have a prosthetic. Trust me, it's not the worst thing, but it's certainly an annoyance first thing in the morning."

The class went relatively well after that before he sat everyone down and checked their knowledge on Hexes, Curses and counters before going into the dangers most witches and wizards could encounter in their daily lives, from the Boggarts, to the Hags, Weres and Vampires. He spent a bit of time covering the tells of each: from a Hag's near constant stench of blood of blood and general emaciated appearance, the Weres having injuries and being irritable just after the full moon, to the Vampires and their stiffer movements in daylight and lack of bodily functions such as regular breathing and blinking. He left them all with assignments on the next Dark Creatures they would be covering, those being the artificially created creatures known as Gremlins and how they are known for causing a great deal of damage to muggle technologies, with information on how to spot them and banish them safely, a job usually handled by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and the Obliviators. Teddy and the girls covered that assignment quickly before going over the rest. Astoria looked over at Teddy. "Is your Mom going to host a Dueling Club this year?"

Teddy shook his head. "Don't think so. She has a lot of work to cover alone and her Boss could summon her for any reason, so she might just give a few uncommon lessons. She said she found an old dueling chamber in the Castle and the elves agreed to clean it up for the students. She was going to ask the Heads of Houses and Moody about keeping it open to students but she doubts Dumbledore will agree." Astoria rested her chin on her hand. "Here is hoping we get it. Dumbledore mentioned we would be having academic competitions with the other schools. I doubt they'd bring the younger year students, but Durmstrang and Beauxbatons are both known for having a dedicated Dueling class. If the students compete for the Defence course, there won't be a lot from Hogwarts that will have the right skillset to win, and that's without Durmstrang's Dark Arts course being considered." Teddy shrugged. "Mom might help with some tutoring but she wants to focus on Harry." Teddy clamped his mouth shut as the twins looked his way curiously. "What's happening with your cousin?"

Astoria gave Teddy a shrug. "It's up to you if you want to tell them." Teddy thought for a second. They were in Slytherin but they were closer now to Theo and Daphne. He knew they wanted nothing to do with the blood purists and were happy to be away from the whole Death Eater situation. It would be fair to let them know a bit. "No repeating this to anyone in any of the houses, minus us, Daphne and Theo." The twins nodded without hesitation. He told them of the concern about the Tournament and the likelihood Harry would get dragged into it. The twins grew pensive and Hestia spoke up. "Malfoy will try to turn the Slytherins against Harry with this." Astoria nodded. "Lady Peverell will be running interference soon, making a public statement that Harry isn't interested. We are hoping an oathbound signed document from Harry will keep the disbelievers away, but Daphne and Theo still expect some attacks from Malfoy." Flora looked at Hestia for a second and the two nodded, Hestia speaking up. "We will keep the first and second years in line. They won't follow Malfoy blindly with us running interference." Teddy smiled and Astoria chimed in. "Me and Luna will cover Ravenclaw with Professor Flitwick's aid. You should see if you can have Hufflepuff get ready, especially if Cedric signs up, and spread the word." Teddy hugged her, leaving the young blonde blushing and two Slytherins smirking. Teddy had a smile for the rest of the day, happy Harry had the support of his friends. He wasn't going to handle being a Champion without their backing.