Salvation Takes Time by JWT6577

Rating: R
Genres: Romance, Action & Adventure
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 4
Published: 14/12/2005
Last Updated: 20/01/2006
Status: In Progress

Dumbledore makes an offer to Sirius after Book 3 and it changes everything.




1. Prologue
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**Salvation Takes Time**

Author: Jason Thompson

September 20, 2005

Spoilers: Up to PoA for sure, after that, it's a crap shoot.

Dedication: Dedicated to the usual suspects; Genova aka Schweet, Bri, Mary, Duchess, Dale,
Blaire, Red, Stone Cold, Ice Wing, Arashi, Aslan, Vega, Tony D, Jen Zimmer, Louise, Sairs, and
Queen Angel who have allowed me to bounce my ideas off them, and Krac, cause she has the evil bunny
slippers.

**Salvation Takes Time**

**Prologue**

"The problem with hiding in a cave in the Highlands is, of course, the constant smell of
mold and mildew." Sirius Black's voice broke the relative silence of said cave, it
wasn't a complete silence, the fire he'd built was crackling and the heavy rain outside was
making a gentle rumble around them. The fugitive wizard smiled at his companion. "Wouldn't
you agree Buckbeak?"

The hippogriff gave him an indignant reply before he threw it a dead rat. They'd been
holed-up in this cave for nearly two weeks, the only time he'd left was to get that
hyper-active owl off to Harry. Dumbledore had actually sent him the little owl with instructions
for him to lay low until things calmed down before trying to seek shelter in one of the Black
Homes, most likely 12 Grimmauld.

He smiled at the animal who provided him a look of epic annoyance. The animagus grinned and
said, "I'm sorry my friend, but being fugitives gives us few options for places to stay.
You're right though, we have many more problems…" Both fugitives looked up at the sound of
apparition deeper in the cave. He reached into his tattered robes for his wand, realizing far too
late that he was unarmed. "Chief among them, I'm unarmed and an unknown wizard is
here."

They backed up towards the mouth of the cave, Sirius grabbing a heavy rock along the way. He
wagered he'd need surprise and even then, if the wizard or witch was skilled he'd get one
chance to disable or disarm them before the hexes started flying. He hid himself in the shadows and
waited.

A dark figure crept into his sightline, wand out and in front of them in a classic Auror's
posture. For most wizards in a dark cave, this might be a welcome sight; however, Sirius was first
and foremost a fugitive so he took no solace.

He slowly raised the stone and prepared for his moment. He'd knock the Auror out; take their
wand and move on to another hiding place. As the intruder came close enough to him, a voice called
out in the darkness, "Lumos." Just prior to light erupting from the wand, he recognized
the voice as female. He was greeted with a young witch with chin-length hair that perfectly matched
the pink of the bubble gum she was chewing. She smirked at him, her violet eyes glittering with
mirth as she blew a bubble then said. "Wotcher Sirius, how's tricks?"

He was so flabbergasted by her casual greeting that he lowered his rock slightly. He was
defeated by a punk-kid, likely just graduated from training and she'd caught him without a
struggle as he couldn't do anything now before she could fire off any number of incapacitating
spells. She quickly surprised him by wrapping him up in a hug. "I've missed you
cousin."

Sirius quickly realized who it was he was with, "Nymphadora?"

She pulled away from him with a grimace. "You know I've always hated that
name!"

He grinned at her, "I didn't even recognize you."

She winked and stepped back before her pink hair shortened and darkened. Her eyes changed as
well to the same grey-blue of her mother's as well as her black hair. "Metamorphmagus.
Found out while I was at school. It's why Amelia Bones recruited me."

He frowned at his cousin suddenly, “I'm sorry Nymph, I can't let you take me in. I'm
innocent, Harry needs me."

She grinned, "I know Sirius, Dumbledore asked me to bring you to him. My Partner, Kingsley
is picking up Remus and Arthur's bringing Harry. He has a proposal."

He narrowed his eyes at her, "What kind of proposal would require Dumbledore sending out a
girl still in Auror training after a fugitive?"

She grinned and he watched her hair color change until it was a shocking shade of orange and her
eyes became an unnatural blue. "I'm your closest relative that you wouldn't try to
kill and isn't in Azkaban. Plus in a way, I'm involved in this plan of Dumbledore's.
Now if you're done being distrusting?"

"What about-"

"The hippogriff? Don't worry, Hagrid and Dung will be along to collect him and take him
to one of the family homes."

He sagged and tossed the rock aside, she smiled gently then holstered her wand and pulled out a
saucer emblazoned with the Hogwarts logo. "Portkey, I hate 'em, considering my clumsiness
but they're the only way to get in without a floo."

Sirius nodded his agreement before grasping the plate. A few minutes later they felt the
familiar tug on the cores and they were gone from the cave.

&&&&&&&&&

Sirius looked around the room wildly for a moment, praying he hadn't been suckered and it
wasn't a Ministry holding cell. Seeing the familiar sights of the Headmaster's office, he
sagged and released a breath. A moment later, four more people popped into existence. Remus and a
black man that Sirius assumed was Kingsley were clutching a tea cup while Arthur and Harry held a
small cushion from a chair between them.

The red-headed man nodded politely to Sirius and said good night to Harry before leaving the
office quietly. The dark-skinned man nodded to Tonks and turned towards the desk where Dumbledore
sat, "By your leave Headmaster."

The old wizard smiled and his hand extended towards the door, "Thank you for your
assistance, Auror Shacklebolt. Good night."

The auror nodded to Harry and then Tonks who replied with "Night Shack." He exited the
office and pulled the door shut behind him.

"Gentlemen and lady," Dumbledore smiled to Tonks, "Please make yourselves
comfortable." The quartet found places to sit. Harry and Sirius sat at the two chairs in front
of the desk, Tonks took a seat on the nearby couch while Remus leaned against a bookcase.
Dumbledore picked up a bowl off the corner of his desk and held it out. "Would anyone like a
toffee?"

The adults politely refused but Harry reached out and took one. Sirius was certain he heard him
mumble about not getting dinner from the Dursleys, when he looked towards Remus he saw a scowl on
the werewolf's face which suggested that Remus heard it too. He turned back towards the older
wizard and said, "Pardon me Albus, but you had a proposal?"

His white beard concealed an amused grin and stifled a chuckle before he spoke. "Straight
to the point, good. I'm sad to inform you Sirius that our dear Nymphadora and her
training-partner Kingsley Shaklebolt cornered and killed you while attempting an arrest outside of
Liverpool."

He turned to see Remus and Harry's stunned expression and a smirk on Tonks' face. He
turned back to Dumbledore with a confused expression, "I don't feel dead."

"That's good, Sirius. During his first year, young Harry secured the Sorcerer's
Stone from Voldemort. The stone had many uses, especially in potion creation. Nicholas Flammel used
some of those potions to live a very long time, but there were other age-related potions that the
stone was capable of creating. Flammel recently sent me the last dose of one of those
potions."

He stood up and walked over to a silver tray near Fawkes' perch and picked up a sealed vial.
"This potion reverses the aging process Sirius. It is my intention for you to use this potion
and pose as a Hogwarts student entering your fourth year."

Sirius' eyes widened and he looked to Harry, the boy had a strange mix of concern, worry and
hope in his eyes and Sirius felt some of that hope rise in him. "I pose as a fourth-year
Gryffindor both to hide from the Ministry and…"

Dumbledore smiled wide, "And spend time with a young man, who I am sure wants nothing more
then to spend time with his Godfather." He turned to Harry and spoke, "It may not be
exactly the relationship you expected to have with Sirius, but I think it will be better for you
both to have a more normal relationship as opposed to Sirius trying to write while hiding in safe
houses."

Remus stepped forward, "So we fake Sirius' death and his will…"

Sirius smiled, "My will was simple Moony; Harry's my heir and the Lord of the House of
Black. The money and properties are split between you, Harry, Andromeda and her family." He
turned to Harry and grinned, "Just think of the mayhem we can cause! The Marauders ride
again!"

Harry grinned, "That's great, but won't you need an assumed identity,
Sirius?"

Tonks stood up and carefully crossed the room. "That's where I come in. Mum and Dad
have agreed to pose as your parents Sirius, or should I say, Ickle Brother?"

The older man laughed, "Perfect, I always loved you mother Nymph. I know the perfect name,
'James.'"

Remus and Dumbledore both smiled and nodded approvingly while Harry raised an eyebrow, "My
father?"

The Animagus grinned, "Yes Lil' Prongsie. Your father was one of my best friends and
his family took me in after I turned sixteen and ran away from home. The least I could do is honor
the memory of your father in any way I can." They ignored the mumbled comment from Remus that
sounded suspiciously like 'What would Padfoot know about honor' and turned back to
Dumbledore, "What about the students? Will I be 'transferring?'"

The old wizard smiled, "No Sirius, I think a memory charm or two placed in the Hogwarts
letters of the majority of fourth year students and a select number of Gryffindors in the other
years placing memories of James Tonks as a friend of Harry's will cover it. Harry of course
will know, as will the Weasley children and young Miss Granger. They will all, save Harry, be
placed under the Fidelius charm so that they will be unable to tell anyone you do not wish to know,
Sirius will be the secret keeper as it is his secret to keep." He looked them all over for a
moment, "Is that acceptable to everyone?" They all nodded.

"Excellent, Remus, could you take Harry back to Privet Drive please? After Sirius takes the
potion, Nymphadora will take him to her parents' home. You'll stay there over the summer
both recovering from you incarceration and getting used to your new persona."

Harry stood up and turned to his Godfather, "Write me when you feel up to it, James."
He smirked at the name, "Ron's family is trying to get tickets to the Quidditch World Cup
match, and maybe I can talk them into taking your mangy arse along."

He shook his head at the boy, "You'll have to do better then that Pronglet, I learned
from the master."

"My father?"

Remus clasped Harry on the shoulder and chuckled, "More like your mother, she'd tear
Sirius up one side of the Common Room and down the other; much like young Hermione does to your
friend Ron. In fact, before we take the portkey back to Privet Drive, let me tell about the time in
seventh year Lily caught Sirius on a date with a pair of sixth year ladies from
Ravenclaw…"

&&&&&&&&& End Prologue
&&&&&&&&&

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2. Chapter One/Part One
-----------------------



**Salvation Takes Time**

**Chapter One**

Harry stumbled out of the fireplace and landed face down on the floor of the Weasley kitchen. He
was really growing to dislike magical travel as thus far they all seemed to have left him face
first on the floor or ground at some point. He'd either crashed or fallen off his broom playing
Quidditch countless time, the portkey back to Privet Drive from Hogwarts left him in a heap on his
bedroom floor while Mooney tried to stifle his laughter, the Knight Bus ride was an unabashed
nightmare and the less said about his mishaps with floo powder, the better.

Two pairs of hands grabbed his upper arms and hauled him up and he found the eager faces of
Fred, George and Ron. As Fred and Ron cleaned him up, George looked at him eagerly and asked,
"Did he eat it?"

Harry shook off the wobbly feeling the trip gave him and nodded awkwardly, "Yes… What was
it?"

Fred smirked at him while George brushed the last bits of soot off Harry's shoulders with an
equally wicked expression. Fred then proclaimed proudly, "Ton-tongue toffee, our latest
invention."

As Harry had come to expect over the last three years, George picked up where his brother left
off, "We've been looking for a test subject all summer."

Both twins cast an annoyed look at Ron who frowned and said, "Need I remind you that it was
James and my idea to use that fat muggle as a test?"

There was laughter at the kitchen table and Harry found two red-haired men he'd never met.
He had seen them in pictures enough to recognize them as Ron's oldest brothers, Bill and
Charlie. The stockier of the pair got to his feet and held out his hand, "How're you
doing, Harry?"

The other man, Bill, looked up from his breakfast and grinned, "Nice to meet you
Harry."

Ron gestured to the men, "Harry these are my other brothers, Charlie and Bill."

Harry smiled, "A pleasure." He then shook their hands in turn.

Fred and George looked about ready to pump him for information when Mr. Weasley appeared in the
Kitchen with a pop and looked far angrier then he'd ever seen him. He turned on the twins and
fumed, "That *wasn't funny* Fred! What in the name of Merlin did you give that
boy?"

Fred didn't even attempt an innocent expression, he merely allowed a wicked gleam to shine
in his eyes, "I didn't *give* him anything, I dropped it. It's not my fault that
he didn't have the sense not to eat something off the floor."

Harry watched as Bill, Charlie and Ron all tried desperately not to laugh, Arthur turned on all
of them, "THIS IS NOT FUNNY! Things like this hurt relations between Wizards and Muggles!
After all the work I do and my own sons-"

George shook his head, "We didn't do it because he's a muggle dad, we did it
because he's a bullying git!"

Fred nodded and turned to Harry, "Isn't that right, Harry?"

Harry nodded, "It's true Mr. Weasley."

Arthur seemed to deflate for just a moment before shaking it off, "That's not the
point, and you just wait until I tell your mother-"

Mrs. Weasley chose that moment to enter the kitchen from the next room, "Tell me
what?" She narrowed her eyes at the twins for just a moment before she noticed Harry. Her face
immediately softened, "Hello, Harry dear." She gave him a quick appraisingly look,
"My word, you are much too thin Harry! I'll just make you a quick breakfast before I start
lunch. You and James really need some meat on your bones." Harry noticed out of the corner of
his eye that Arthur, Fred and George all seemed to relax as Mrs. Weasley doted on him, perhaps Mr.
Weasley hadn't really wanted to tell them.

She turned to her husband and the suspicious look returned, "Tell me what,
Arthur?"

Mr. Weasley frowned and looked away, "Well… George and Fred… They… I-ah, I've talked to
them already…"

She stared at the twins for a very tense moment before turning to Harry again, "Sit down,
dear. I still have some eggs and sausage; I'll make some for you and James."

Harry suddenly smiled, "Siri- James is here?"

"I arrived a few days ago Pronglet."

Harry turned around at the familiar voice behind him. Sirius, now officially James Sothis Tonks
stood in the doorway with a smirk on his face. Harry was surprised at how different his Godfather
looked from that night in Dumbledore's office. He was much younger of course, though some of
his features still shone through, his grey-blue eyes were now alive with both mischief and youth.
His face was softer but still aristocratic and had a fullness that marked a young man who was
eating well, despite what Molly might think. His hair was shorter and no longer messy and dull,
Harry could see a hint of the haunted expression in his eyes but it was buried deep down underneath
the mirth on his face.

Sirius looked alive, Harry crossed the room and the two young men crushed each other in a
brotherly hug. Harry laughed and pulled back, gripping his Godfather's forearms, "You look
great!"

Sirius laughed, "I feel great, even after the potion reversed my aging process, I was still
very ill. Andromeda and Ted pumped me full of nutrient potions for the first week and fed me almost
as well as Mother Weasley here. Then Nymph took me out and got me a new wand at Ollivander's
and she put me through the paces, otherwise with all I was being fed I'd be as large as that
obese uncle of yours."

The pair suddenly found themselves being ushered to the table by Molly. She sat them down and
dropped plates in front of them. "I'll be just a few minutes cooking the eggs and
sausage."

Ron sat down across from them, "She's been feeding Snuffles about five times a
day."

Fred and George flanked Harry with a pair of chuckles. Fred clasped his hands over his heart and
said. "'You simply must eat James, you need your strength.'"

George laughed, "'You're nothing but a bag of bones, why look, you can still see
your feet.'"

Molly returned moments later with a pan of eggs which she split between them. "Tuck in
boys."

James smirked into his plate and Harry tried to swallow his chuckle then began to eat himself.
He was grateful for the meal after the last few weeks at Privet Drive. As he ate, he noticed Fred
and George watching their parents out of the corner of their eye, seemingly waiting.

After Mrs. Weasley gave them the sausages, Mr. Weasley whispered in his wife's ear for a
moment then said he was going out to the shed to work on some muggle devices he'd brought home
a few weeks ago, Mrs. Weasley puttered for a few minutes then said she was going to check on him,
though Harry noticed a strange grin on the woman's features as she exited.

Harry looked around the table to see several different expressions on the Weasley Brothers
faces. Fred and George looked relieved, Bill and Charlie were smirking and Ron had turned a rather
unappetizing shade of pale. "That's disgusting!"

Bill laughed, "What's the matter Ron? Not in the market for another baby brother or
sister?"

Harry knew he missed something, but after Bill's comment he decided that was for the best.
The idea of Molly and Arthur… he crushed the thought before it became a mental image. Fred and
George leapt up, Fred then said. "Never mind that…"

George continued for his brother, "We have something for you Harry." George reached
into his pocket and produced a folded piece of parchment. Both twins then chorused, "Happy
Birthday Harry!"

Harry smiled enthusiastically, his birthday was a few days earlier and the Weasleys (as well as
Hermione, Hagrid, and the Tonks family) had sent him birthday cakes he was still excited to receive
presents. He picked up the parchment and looked it over, flipping it over in his hands. It was
completely blank. Harry knew Fred and George were jokesters, but he didn't think their sense of
humor was so eccentric. "It's just a piece of parchment." He then held it up to them,
"I'm afraid I don't get the joke."

George beamed, "Oh you will."

Fred took the parchment then produced his wand while George waved all of them around the
parchment. Fred then tapped his wand to the parchment and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up
to no good."

Suddenly the parchment sprang to life; lines began drawing themselves and resolved into words.
"Messrs. Fredrick and George Weasley Proudly Present to You the 'Weasley's Wizard
Wheezes' Official Catalogue: Offering Magical Pranks for All Occasions." Harry immediately
turned to James with a grin; they'd used the same charm as the Map.

He heard one of the twins say, "James offered up the charm for the parchment and we kept
the password to honor our idols."

James pretended to wipe a tear away, "Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs would be proud to
see someone taking up their fight against gits and arses." They shared a laugh before turning
back to the parchment.

He opened and read through it, chuckling at the product names and descriptions. He finally
stopped at a potion marked new and read the description aloud, "'Marauder's Delight:
Is there someone in your life who's especially slimy, disgustingly greasy hair, oily skin,
perhaps even foul tempered? Slip them a little of this and they'll be a joy to be around,
bright shiny hair, healthy color and a joyful attitude. We guarantee it to bring a tear to
Prongs' eye.'"

Ron laughed, "We even tested it on Pansy Parkinson a couple of weeks ago, I was shocked,
because she was rather pleasant to talk to, smarter then I thought someone who clung to
Malfoy's coat-tails to be, she actually knew who Viktor Krum was."

Harry just nodded politely, hoping that Ron might give him a clue to who Viktor Krum was. But
quickly decided that some teasing was required, "So, when's the wedding then
Ron?"

"Pardon?" Blue eyes narrowed to wary slits while Ron's mouth became an annoyed
frown.

He shrugged, "It's just you sound like you fancy her is all."

Ron's knuckles cracked menacingly, "You're dead Potter."

However before Ron could make good on his threat his older brothers pounced on the opportunity
to pick on him allowing Harry and James to finish their breakfast and escape the suddenly
boisterous kitchen. The last thing he heard clearly was Charlie's voice saying. "Little
Ronnie Parkinson…" Then Ron roared and the sounds of wrestling overtook the teasing
voices.

As they slipped out the back door and sat down on the porch Harry turned to his companion and
said, "Hey Sirius, who is Viktor Krum?"

Sirius shrugged and his eyes twinkled with mirth when George's (or maybe Fred's) voice
carried out to them, "OW! Bloody Hell Bill!"

"Bulgaria's seeker, I guess he's the youngest seeker on the international circuit
in years. Ron and the Twins haven't shut up about him in three bloody days." He pointed to
the catalogue in Harry's hand, "I have to admit, Fred and George have cooked up some
ingenious little items. I especially like the 'Puking Pastilles.'" He then said,
"Shut it off will you Harry, they're worried about their Mother's reaction."

He pulled out his wand and tapped the parchment, "Mischief managed." The parchment
then cleared completely and Harry pocketed it. "So, did you get your letter?"

James grinned, "And my books and my robes and did my homework assignments for the summer,
as far as the Ministry is concerned I'm James Tonks and speaking of homework
assignments…"

The rumbling in the kitchen was quickly subdued by a familiar shrill tone. "Honestly
Ronald! Shouldn't all of you be beyond this rough-housing?"

James smirked, "Well, it's probably a good thing Hermione didn't know your father
and I when we were Bill and Charlie's age."

The door sprang open and Harry suddenly found himself crashing off the porch with Hermione
tangling him up in her arms. "Harry!"

He laughed and returned her hug, "It's good to see you too, Hermione." He noted
strangely that her cheeks reddened slightly when he said it but set the thought aside.

After a few moments, she pulled herself out of his arms and to her feet. He quickly followed
suit and the pair sat down on the porch while ignoring James' smirk and the strange expression
on Ginny's face. Hermione spent a moment smoothing her skirt before she turned to him.
"How was your summer?"

He shrugged, "As good as a summer with the Dursleys can be expected to be. I landscaped the
backyard."

She gave him a sympathetic expression, "And your birthday? Did you enjoy the cake my mother
and I baked?"

He smiled, "It was great Hermione."

She blushed again and looked away, Harry also noticed a frown mar Ginny's face for a moment.
Finally, Hermione coughed and said, "Your homework, did you keep up on it?"

He nodded, "I finished it a few days ago."

She gave him a mildly stunned expression before a smile stuttered its way onto her face.
"You did?"

He nodded, "Well, the Quidditch Cup you see. I knew if I didn't finish my work,
you'd houn-" He flushed and coughed at her raised eyebrow and amended his statement,
"Be disappointed in me so I finished it all."

She grinned at him, "It took me a day to get Ronald to even start his, so despite your
motives I'm proud of you and I'd be happy to review your work."

&&&&&&&&&

It had taken several hours for life at the Burrow to settle down, shortly after Hermione offered
to check over Harry's homework Percy came storming into the kitchen in a snit about some report
he was writing for his job at Gringott's. Bill then remarked that as Percy's supervisor,
he'd let it slide, followed quickly by the twins calling Percy a boot-licker, which only
renewed verbal hostilities between the Weasley brothers (mostly Percy and the Twins) the argument
got so heated that shoving resumed and a second brawl broke out in the kitchen and it took a jet of
red sparks from the wand of an extremely annoyed and disheveled Mrs. Weasley to stop it. The boys
immediately froze in position; Percy had George in a headlock while Fred and Ron were on the floor,
Bill and Charlie were trying to stifle their laughter.

She sent Bill and Charlie out into the back yard to set up the tables for dinner while she sent
Ron and Ginny out into the back yard to De-gnome the garden, Percy went back to his room to finish
his report. She then shooed Harry and Hermione off into the other room.

As they were exiting the kitchen, Harry heard Molly say. "As for you three, don't think
I don't know about those blasted Order Forms. It's bad enough that Fred and George want to
sell these things, but you're a grown man, Sirius!"

Harry heard the newly young man reply, "Ah, but Mother Weasley, as you know, Sirius Black
is no more, I'm James Tonks, a fourteen year-old boy. Can I help it if your sons corrupted
me?"

"Don't argue semantics with me young man!"

Harry bit down on his laughter, he wasn't sure until this moment, but his Godfather may have
been a genius. Hermione turned to him with a morbid grin, "I think Dumbledore made a huge
mistake bringing him back to Hogwarts."

Harry shrugged, "I don't know Hermione, he wants to bring out the best in his students
and who better to bring out the best in Gred and Forge than a Marauder?"

She smiled at him, "It scares me that that might be one of his reasons Harry."

&&&&&&&&&

"Who knew that your mother had so many pots and pans?"

Fred and George both smirked at Sirius and said simply, "We did."

The dark-haired man smiled, "Well it was good practice for this year's
detentions."

The twins laughed and left the kitchen for their bedroom-slash-laboratory before Bill and Charlie
could return. This left him with the chance to actually catch up with Harry. He knew the boy had to
have a thousand questions about his father and mother and it would be his greatest pleasure to let
Harry know all about Lily and James as well as Remus and maybe even himself.

He stepped into the sitting room and found Harry sitting at a small table in the corner with
Hermione. The table looked to be loaded down with books and quills and parchment. The young girl
was looking over Harry's essays and other assignments with an expression that reminded him of
two women he loved dearly, McGonagall and Lily. The girl was very clearly in love with the learning
process. She finished the parchment in her hand and gave Harry a pleased expression, "This
might be some of your best work Harry. I don't see any reason for Professor Binns not to give
you an 'Outstanding.'"

That was the moment something interesting happened and Sirius' plans of re-forging the
Marauders were forced to change. Harry blushed slightly and looked down and away. Because he looked
so much like his father, Harry's expression rang clear. It was the same look James had when
Lily would tell him that she loved him. It was an expression of stunned admiration.

Molly gently touched his shoulder, "Help me in the kitchen dear?" He followed her into
the kitchen and she handed him a bag of potatoes to wash while she set the carrots out to begin
peeling themselves. "You saw it then. I remember seeing James and Lily bringing Harry to
Diagon Alley for his first birthday. It was right before they went to Godric's Hallow, I knew
all of you through the Order of course but I had never seen any of you outside that setting. I was
very pregnant with Ginny as well as taking Bill to Madam Malkin's for his first set of school
robes."

She turned to look out the window to see Bill and Charlie bashing the tables together and
repairing them over and over again. She smiled at the boys then turned back to him. "James was
showing Harry a snitch he'd bought him and Lily frowned and said that she wouldn't let
Harry play that barbaric sport. James retorted that it was a child's snitch and would teach
Harry eye-hand co-ordination and help his reflexes."

He grinned, "Prongs told me the day before about buying it and we spent an hour coming up
with that argument. Besides being the truth, we felt that would be the best one."

She nodded at him, "Lily looked at James for a long time before she said that she knew that
wasn't why he bought but she didn't care because he believed that it would be good for
Harry just the same. James gave her such a bashful smile, so unlike the one he'd flash in
meetings after you two had done something fool-hardy and bull-headed." She nodded out towards
the room Harry and Hermione were in, "Harry flashes that very same smile every time Hermione
is pleased with him."

She sighed, rubbed her forehead for a moment then turned back to him. "That's what
makes it so hard James, knowing how he feels for Hermione when he's the one person my only
daughter wants."

&&&&&&&&& End Part One
&&&&&&&&&

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3. Chapter One/Part Two
-----------------------

Harry watched as James passed through onto Platform 9 ¾ with an amused expression. James and the
Tonks' women (Andromeda and Nymphadora) had arrived at the station together to help keep up
appearances. Dumbledore had explained that it would help re-enforce the Memory Charm he'd
placed on key Hogwarts letters if he was seen with his family. Harry wondered if it was perhaps to
help re-enforce James' feeling of safety, with the masquerade firmly in place he'd never
have to worry about returning to Azkaban.

Also, it allowed Tonks the chance to tease her "little brother" one more time.

Ginny and the twins passed through the barrier next followed by Hermione and himself. Ron and
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would bring up the rear of their make-shift caravan. When they passed through
the barrier, he noticed that they had other people there to see them off. Bill and Charlie were
there as well as Remus.

The Weasleys gathered en masse and began the long process of saying good-bye to each other as
well as Mrs. Weasley imploring the Twins to avoid trouble. He then watched Andromeda have a
seemingly heartfelt good-bye with James that had his Godfather actually looking around
uncomfortably. The younger Tonks woman merely pulled her brother into a hug, and with a smirk
planted two dramatic, wet kisses on each cheek before letting him go.

Harry and Hermione shared a grin, after the last week, they needed a few light-hearted moments.
The Quidditch World Cup match had been exciting, with Ireland taking the cup in spite of Viktor
Krum (Who Ron did seem to have an unhealthy fixation on) catching the Snitch in a spectacular
display of flying. Shortly after the match all Hell broke loose.

Masked Wizards raided the camp site sending curses and Unforgivables in every direction. Bill
and Charlie had drawn their wands and leapt into the fray while Mr. Weasley sent Harry and the
others into the forest to hide before he joined his oldest sons. He, Hermione and Sirius had gotten
separated from the Twins, Ginny and Ron and had then run into Malfoy who taunted them (At the same
time proving the memory charm had been successful by referring to Sirius as James and taunting him
about his Mudblood father) before running off. Harry then noticed that his wand had gone
missing.

Then Harry saw a strange sight in the night sky. A gigantic floating skull of emerald smoke
appeared in the sky with a smoke-like snake coming out of its mouth. He'd heard his Godfather
mumble, "No… Not him…"

He'd asked what James meant when Hermione went pale and told him it was the Dark Mark,
Voldemort's Mark.

The Aurors arrived later and quickly gained control of the situation, then proceeded to accuse
him of casting the Dark Mark. A house-elf named Winky was found stunned in the forest carrying
Harry's wand. They cast a spell on the wand and found that it had cast the Dark Mark. There was
an argument between Mr. Weasley, Barty Crouch, Amos Diggory and Ludo Bagman which ended with Mr.
Crouch sacking Winky who had belonged to him.

When they'd returned to the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley was beside herself with worry and clutching
the Daily Prophet. She and Mr. Weasley had a tense discussion about an article before he returned
to his office. Harry then pulled Ron, Hermione and James out of the room and explained to them
about the dream he'd had of Voldemort killing that man. The four of them had a heated
discussion that ended with both Hermione and James telling him to go to Dumbledore when they
arrived at school.

They made the trip to Diagon Alley with little in the way of excitement. Though, when they got
to Madam Malkin's Harry found that he was buying more then just a new set of school robes,
James, Mrs. Weasley and surprisingly, Hermione spent a great deal of time helping him get fitted
for a set of dress robes. When he'd asked why, James and Hermione shrugged and told him it was
required while Mrs. Weasley got a knowing smile on her face. When they returned to the Burrow,
James and Harry had had quite a laugh at the expense of Ron when his mother had given him his dress
robes.

They were velvet, maroon in color with worn-looking moldy frills at the cuffs and collar. James
remarked that they more closely resembled a dress than dress robes which sent Ron into a mild
snit.

He was jarred from his memories by Remus' hand on his shoulder and his smile, "A word
Harry?"

He nodded at his former professor and followed him away from Hermione. Harry frowned, "Is
this about?" He pointed vaguely at his scar.

The werewolf smiled and shook his head, "No, this is about…" He looked around to make
sure no one was listening and continued in a more discreet tone, "Padfoot."

He immediately relaxed, "Oh, what is it?"

The Marauder smiled, "When Sirius was in school with me, he was rather…" He frowned
trying to find an appropriate term, finally he settled on, "Amorous, starting around fourth
year. I'm afraid that young 'James' will take after his cousin in that
respect."

Harry frowned. He didn't understand what the older man was getting at,
"'Amorous?'"

Harry felt a hand clap his shoulder and he found himself flanked by James and Ron, "He
means I was as randy as a three-balled Kneazle." The now-youthful Marauder smiled wistfully,
"I was legendary, if I do say so myself." He made a show of winking at Ron and Harry then
said, "You two stick with me and I'll have you knee-deep in knickers by
Christmas."

Harry and Ron's reaction to the boast were polar opposites. Ron grinned widely and wickedly
while saying, "Really? You promise?"

Harry went pale and then stuttered out, "'Knee-d-deep in kn-knickers?' He then
searched the platform wildly to make sure no one had heard his voice crack.

James moved around Harry to Ron's side and draped an arm casually over the red-head's
shoulders. "Oh yeah" He drawled. "Ron, my boy, haven't you ever noticed just how
many lovely buxom young girls there are in Hufflepuff with poor self-images?" His eyes lit
mischievously, "Come with me boys, I'll teach you everything I know about the fairer
sex."

A sarcastic snort came from behind them and Harry turned to see Hermione glaring at James.
"That, *James,* should take less than an hour." Ron and James turned around to face
the fuming brunette.

Remus snorted in laughter, "Amazing Hermione, you know, Lily once told him the same
thing."

The young woman completely ignored the former professor as her eyes narrowed upon James,
"Honestly! Have you no shame, James?" She then reached forward and gripped Harry's
forearm before leading him off to the train. "Come along, Harry."

With a smirk, James then yelled. "No Hermione, I don't have any shame. However I do
have a nine inch," He arched an eyebrow when Hermione and Harry turned back to him,
"Wand."

He winked at Harry while Hermione squawked and led them more forcefully onto the train, but not
before Harry heard Remus say. "Easy there Padfoot or she'll snap that wand."

&&&&&&&&&

When they'd found a compartment, James handed Harry a stack of letters for him to read
concerning the "death" of his Godfather. The first was a letter from the Child Services
Office of the Ministry telling him that Sirius had adopted him prior to his imprisonment. The
office had suspended the process while waiting for his trial, Dumbledore had written them approving
the adoption not long before Sirius' "death." The second letter was also from the
Child Services Office, and explained that Sirius' will had named Andromeda Tonks his guardian
and instructed him to get in touch with her should he have any legal issues in the wizarding world
between now and becoming a legal adult.

The third letter was from Gringott's and informed him of the specifics of Sirius' will.
Sirius had spilt the vast Black fortune three ways; Moony and the Tonks family received a quarter
of the monies and properties a piece. Any dark relics found in the vaults (That he never had the
chance to inspect) were to be given to the Ministry either for study or destruction.

The remainder of the Black fortune was Harry's to do with as he saw fit. He'd also named
Harry his heir, meaning on his seventeenth birthday he'd be the Patriarch of the House of
Potter and the House of Black. The monies had been transferred to his name while an additional
trust had been transferred to the one his parents had left him. The note closed with a request for
his presence to review a list of properties he now had access to.

The next note was from Mr. and Mrs. Tonks:

*"Dear Harry,*

*"My name is Andromeda, I am one of Sirius' cousins (One of the few he trusted as my
sisters Narcissa and Bellatrix are both faithful servants of the Pure-Blood doctrine Sirius
despised) and as you have no doubt been informed by the Ministry, I am now your guardian.*

*"My son James has spoken very highly of you as well as my daughter Nymphadora and it is
my wish to get to know you better.*

*"My role in your life can be as small as a representative of your interests legally and
as large as a close aunt or cousin; that is up to you though I hope you'll choose the latter.
With that in mind, I cordially invite you to spend the Christmas* *Holiday* *with my
family.*

*"I hope to hear from you soon Harry.*

*"Sincerely,*

*"-Andromeda Tonks*

*"Post Signing; please ask my son to write (Preferably in a public place.)"*

Harry closed the letter from Mrs. Tonks with a smirk, Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom
were in their compartment discussing the World Cup and Harry felt the need to follow his
guardian's wishes. "James, tell your mother I appreciate her letter and she's asking
you to write home. She misses you terribly."

Much like Ron's older brothers had a few days earlier, his roommates pounced on the
opportunity to pick on James for being a Mother's Boy. Surprisingly, Ron subdued them in favor
of finding the Twins and showing them the catalogue as well as finding out if Fred and George had
found out any information about the secret his mother, Bill and Charlie were teasing them with on
the Platform.

James cut him a dirty look, though his blue-grey eyes were dancing with humor. "That was a
dirty trick, Harry."

Harry grinned and turned towards the window, he noticed Hermione sitting across from, she rolled
her eyes slightly and turned to the *"Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4."* He watched
the heavy rain fall against the window as they made their way north.

The compartment door opened again and Harry turned to face a fuming Draco Malfoy, as always the
pale faced boy was flanked by Crabbe and Goyle who seemed to look more like a pair of Gorillas with
each year that passed. "Think it's funny, Potter? That your blood traitor Godfather gave
you, a dirty half-blood Gryffindor, my birth-right?"

Harry didn't reply, but James did. "Actually, I think it's rather funny, if only to
finally see some color on a Malfoy."

Hermione then said. "Why did you even come in here?"

Draco whipped his head towards her with his scowl deepening, "Silence Mudblood! Your betters
are speaking!" Harry started to rise to his feet, "If you think anything changes now
Potty, just because you're a Lord-"

Harry rose to his full height while his jaw set angrily, "It does change things
Malfoy." He stepped forward, "If you ever speak a word to Hermione in a way she
doesn't approve of from now on, I'll cut your mother off and dissolve her marriage to your
Death Eater father. You'll be a bastard in the eyes of the law and they'll take every knut
you have to your name." He looked hard into Draco's eyes, daring the Slytherin to say
something. This was a carefully planned response that he, James and Ron had decided on for the
first time Malfoy ran his mouth off either about the Black fortune or Hermione. They'd
rehearsed it all right down to the wording and the cold look in Harry's eye as James knew it
would strike hard at what Malfoy cared for most, money and power. He spoke again in a voice that
could freeze a flame, "Get out."

After just a moment of hesitation, Draco led his minions out of the compartment. Harry slumped
back into his seat, Hermione smiled at him strangely. "Thank you Harry."

He shrugged while trying to ignore the burning in his face. Despite practicing the speech
actually talking like some puffed-up Wizard like Gilderoy Lockhart was embarrassing. She turned
back to her book while Harry picked up Ron's discarded copy of the Daily Prophet to hide his
face. He was reading an article on the attack at the World Cup by a reporter named Rita Skeeter
when he heard Hermione announce she was going to go change into her school robes.

A moment later a wad of parchment came over the top of his newspaper and hit him in the nose. He
lowered the paper and looked at James with an annoyed expression. His friend then motioned to his
left with only his eyes. Harry followed his eyes and his brain stopped operating correctly.
Hermione was up on her toes, digging through her trunk which they'd stored overhead and he had
a spectacular view of her denim-encased backside.

His newspaper fluttered out of nerveless fingers, forgotten as he was presented with conclusive
evidence that his best friend was a girl. As the thought made its way through his brain it began to
re-classify everything he thought about Hermione and he suddenly realized that she was not only a
girl, but a pretty girl.

He'd noticed girls at some point last year and though he couldn't pin down the exact
moment he remembered one incident clearly. He'd been eating breakfast before the match with
Ravenclaw; Katie Bell entered the Great Hall talking with Oliver Wood. The Quidditch Captain
pointed out that her shoe was untied and as Katie kneeled down to tie it, Harry noticed her blouse
had fallen open slightly giving him a glimpse of soft skin and white cotton. It was a life-changing
moment for sure, if only because he now had trouble looking Katie in the eye without blushing.

Since that moment he began to notice the girls of Hogwarts in a brand new way; Angelina's
long legs, the way Alicia twirled her hair, the way the Ravenclaw Marietta Edgecombe's skirts
were just a few millimeters shorter than most girls, and that Susan Bones of Hufflepuff had a
pretty smile and she filled out a sweater much better than most girls as well. He'd also
developed a crush on Cho Chang of Ravenclaw.

Yet somehow Hermione had passed by without his notice until this very moment. He couldn't
understand either, now that he realized that Hermione was in fact a woman like the others, he
realized that her legs were much nicer without the need for shortened skirts, she did twirl her
hair when she read as well as bite her lip and though she wasn't as buxom as Susan Bones she
certainly filled out a Hogwarts sweater well. He now wanted to see her caught up in reading as he
was wondering if the sight was as alluring as the memory.

With her robes gathered, Hermione closed her trunk. She turned around and gave him an amused
expression. He suddenly realized that he must have looked rather comical. "Are you
alright?"

"Wha?" He blushed at his failed attempt at speech and tried to clear his throat.

Hermione laughed, it was a lovely sound, and said. "You're acting very strange
Harry."

She left him alone a moment later with a very amused James. His friend smirked at him and said,
"All right there, Harry?"

He was completely gob-smacked as he turned to his Godfather, "Padfoot, she's a
girl."

James' barking laughter rang through the compartment before he said, "Of course she is
Harry."

"How did I not notice before?"

James stood and sat back down next to him, "Because it was more important to you that she
was your friend than her being a girl, until now of course."

Harry's face suddenly fell, "She's pretty too, what am I going to do?"

"Well, let's start small, go get changed into your robes, then we'll worry about
wooing young Hermione." He nodded mutely and got his robes out of his trunk before leaving the
compartment himself.

Ron returned as he left and after taking one look at Harry's expression he turned to James
and asked, "What did I miss?"

James smirked and said, "Oh just young Harry growing up." After he closed the door he
heard that same barking laughter and he sighed, it was going to be a long time before his friend
let him live this down.

**&&&&&&&&&End Part
2&&&&&&&&&**



4. Chapter One/Part Three
-------------------------

Harry was as miserable as he was wet when he Ron, Hermione and James slipped their way through
the Entrance Hall. On top of the torrential rain outside, Peeves had decided to bomb them with
water balloons. As they approached the doors Professor McGonagall called out to them, "Mr.
Potter? Mr. Tonks? A word please."

Harry turned to see Ron shrugging and entering the Great Hall, he gave Hermione a pleading
expression and she smiled at him, luckily he was flushed from the cold so she couldn't see him
blush. "Ron and I will save you a seat Harry."

He smiled gratefully and followed James over to their head of House. She gave the pair one of
her more stern expressions then said, "Listen very carefully you two. Twenty years ago, James
Potter and Sirius Black along with Remus Lupin spent their days playing pranks on students and
faculty alike. I know very well that you two, in particular Mr. Tonks, would like nothing better
than to relive their 'glory.'" She frowned when she said "Glory" then
continued. "I'm asking you both to refrain from following too closely in their footsteps.
After all, Mr. Black and the Senior Mr. Potter were responsible for much of my gray hair." She
finished with a ghost of a smile.

James grinned widely, "Oh but Professor McGonagall, had they known you would look so lovely
with it, Cousin Sirius and James would have worked that much harder."

It seemed Professor McGonagall was torn for just a moment between smiling gently and hardening
her face suspiciously, she settled for the latter. "Mr. Tonks, flattery will only get
you," She grinned, "The benefit of a doubt." She waved them towards the Great Hall
and said, "Scoot."

They entered and crossed the Hall to the Gryffindor table, as they did Harry noticed Daphne
Greengrass look their way from the Slytherin table. Unlike so many others, she was both perfectly
dry and perfectly groomed. The blonde-haired fourth year girl was generally considered to be the
Slytherin ice queen. She was widely considered beautiful but she was separated from the affairs of
those around her. She locked eyes with James and gave him an appraising look. He noticed from the
corner of his eye that his friend smirked slightly at her and she raised an eyebrow at him.

Harry nudged his friend, "What was that about?"

James smirked, "She heard my exchange with Hermione on the Platform. She's interested
in seeing my 'wand' so I offered to escort her on the first Hogsmeade weekend."

They found two open spots at the table and sat down. Ron grinned, "Heads up
Harry."

Harry looked up and found an out of breath third-year standing in front of him. Colin Creevy was
short with blonde hair and an ever-present camera, he also looked at Harry like some sort of
conquering hero. "Hiya Harry! James!"

James nodded in a friendly manner while Harry helped his friend, "Hi, Colin."

He smiled widely as he did anytime Harry actually talked to him, "Hey, guess what Harry! My
brother starts this year! My brother Dennis!"

Harry smiled slightly while Ron was biting his tongue and Hermione rolled her eyes. James then
said, "Hey, that's great Colin."

The excitable third-year barely registered what James had said, "He's really
excited!"

Harry wasn't sure, but he thought he heard Seamus Finnigan mumble,
"'*He's'* excited?"

Colin must not have heard him as he plowed on. "I just hope he ends up in Gryffindor! Keep
your fingers crossed, eh, Harry!"

Harry smiled, "I will, Colin." He turned to his friends with a shrug, "Why is he
worried? I always thought that siblings were sorted into the same house."

Hermione smiled, "There is the Patil Twins, Parvati's a Gryffindor and Padma's a
Ravenclaw."

As he absorbed the information, Harry looked towards the staff table. He noticed quickly that in
addition to the absences of McGonagall and Hagrid he didn't see the new Defense Against the
Dark Arts professor. Hermione gave voice to his thoughts, "Where's the new Defense
teacher?" She turned to them with a worried expression, "What if they couldn't find
anyone?"

Ron frowned as his stomach loudly grumbled. "I wish they'd hurry up, I'm
starving!"

It was almost on cue that McGonagall ushered in a long line of first years. This year's
group looked almost miserable as drenched as they were and it was a toss-up whether they were
shivering from nerves or from being cold. Towards the back of the group was a curious sight. One of
the smallest of the group was trailing behind wrapped up in a coat so large it had to be
Hagrid's. Despite being soaked to the bone, he looked positively thrilled to be there. His eyes
found the Gryffindor table and Colin in specific. He waved as enthusiastically as possible while
swimming in Hagrid's coat at Colin and mouthed, "Fell in the lake."

After the Hat sang its song and McGonagall began sorting the students, Harry turned to the
others. "That wasn't the song the Hat sang when we were sorted."

Fred and George leaned in their direction and Fred whispered, "He sings…"

George picked up mid-sentence and perhaps mid-thought, "…A different song every
year."

Ron nodded while looking longingly at his still empty plate. "I imagine it's a terribly
boring life being a hat. He spends the whole year thinking up his next song I'd bet."

"Creevy, Dennis."

Harry looked up to the front to watch the tiny, wet little boy hop up on the chair while still
wrapped up in Hagrid's huge jacket. The hat barely had time to drop nearly all the way to
Dennis' shoulders before shouting out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Once the hat was off, Dennis leapt from the chair and nearly bounced over next to his brother
with a huge grin, "I fell in the lake! It was brilliant! I fell in and right away something
threw me out!"

George nodded, "It was probably the giant squid."

Usually it took the mere mention of the giant squid in the lake to frighten many a firstie.
However Dennis seemed to be from different stock, he gave the twins an awestruck look and said
"Really? Wow!"

The twins gave each other perplexed looks while Colin pointed in Harry's direction.
"You see him Dennis? With the black hair and glasses? That's Harry Potter!"

Harry tried to smile, but faced with a pair of adoring Creevy brothers, it came out as more of a
grimace, especially when Hermione stomped on his foot and motioned for him to say something.
"Hi."

Harry watched Ron eagerly pick up his fork and knife as Kevin Whitby made his way to the
Hufflepuff table and followed suit himself. After McGonagall cleared the chair and hat away,
Dumbledore rose to his feet. "I have two words to say before we eat, 'Tuck
in.'"

As the food appeared on their plates, Ron and Harry gave a shout of "Hear! Hear!"

Ron stuffed his mouth full of mashed potatoes, swallowed and said, "That's
better!" He then began shoveling his food into his mouth, ignoring the semi-disgusted looks
from his friends.

Sir Nick floated by them and paused, "Ah, it was a real shame what happened in the
kitchens. It put the feast in danger."

Ron looked up from his chicken and said around a full mouth. "Whaf?" Hermione scowled
when he sprayed food all over the table.

The ghost nodded carefully considering his head, "Yes, Peeves tried to attend the feast and
when the Baron refused he had a bit of a tantrum. He gave the House elves an awful
fright."

Hermione's goblet dropped from nerveless fingers and the table cloth began to turn orange
with pumpkin juice. "H-house elves?" Ron slowly inched away from her while Harry tried to
calm her, the brunette would have none of it. "Hogwarts uses House elves?" Her voice rose
in pitch with each word until it reached a rather shrill tone.

The ghost nodded, "Oh yes, I believe has the largest number of house elves in
Britain."

His friend shook her head, "But… I've never seen one."

Angelina Johnson leaned towards them, "Well of course, that's the mark of a good house
elf. They spend most of the day in the kitchen and come out late at night to clean the common
rooms."

Hermione looked baffled, "They get paid, don't they? Sick leave, vacations, pensions
that sort of thing, correct?" She was almost pleading.

Ron laughed into his pudding, "Oh come on, Hermione! A house elf? Paid? They'd never
accept it."

Hermione threw her utensils down with disgust, "I will not eat a meal made by slave
labor!" Her tone made it clear she'd be furious with anyone who did. With a mournful sigh,
Harry set his fork and knife aside and pushed his plate away. Ron pounced on Harry's plate and
shoveled it onto his own.

James tapped him on the shoulder and smirked as he shoved a mouthful of cake into his mouth and
made a very pleased noise. Harry's shoulders slumped and he looked at the food before him
longingly. He did notice Hermione nod to him in a pleased fashion, he smiled tiredly and propped
his chin on his right fist. Ron motioned to Hermione's plate and James nodded, they split up
her food (ignoring her scowl) and polished it off as well.

A short while later as the majority of students (save an annoyed Hermione and a famished Harry)
finished their meals, Dumbledore rose to his feet and drew their attention. "Now that we are
all fed and watered, I have some start of term announcements. Mr. Filch has asked me to inform you
that the list of banned items is posted by his office and now numbers one-hundred thirty-seven. The
forbidden forest is off limits to all students as is Hogsmeade to all first and second year
students."

He looked the students over briefly then continued, "I also regretfully must inform you
that this year's Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place-" Harry Fred and George
nearly leapt to their feet in protest had the doors to the Great Hall not slammed open. The entire
Hall turned to the doors to see a form darkening the entrance. A large man stood in a black
traveling cloak and carrying a long staff stood before them. He removed his hood and revealed a
mane of wild grey hair. He began to lumber towards the front of the hall, a flash of lightning
illuminated his face and Harry noted the multitude of scars crisscrossing his face. His nose was so
badly mangled that Harry wagered a portion of it to be missing. His right eye was narrowed
suspiciously but his left eye was truly strange. It was lashed on like a pirate's eye patch; it
was a bright electric blue and was spinning madly.

He walked strangely and Harry noticed an odd thumping sound as he did. As he passed him, Harry
realized that one of his legs must have been artificial. As he reached the Head Table, he held out
a hand to Dumbledore that only barely resembled a human hand. The Headmaster took it and then
addressed the Students again, "I am pleased to present our new Defense Against the Dark Arts
professor, Alastor Moody."

James mumbled from next to him, "Bloody Hell, Ol' Mad-eye Moody." As the others
turned to him, he grinned. "Mum told me about him, retired Auror; supposedly the best, but
also as mad as a hatter."

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As I was saying before Professor Moody's
dramatic entrance, we will not have a Quidditch Cup this year in favor of a very special event.
Hogwarts is to play host to the Tri-Wizard Tournament." A gasp escaped nearly every student
save the Muggle-borne and raised students.

"The Tri-Wizard Tournament was established seven centuries ago between the schools of
Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons as a way to enhance international relations. Each school
selected one champion and those three champions competed in uniquely challenging events until a
winner was determined. It continued for centuries until the death toll became too high." He
coughed and gave them something of a sheepish smile. "There have been a number of attempts to
restart the Tournament and now thanks to the Office of International Magical Co-operation and the
Office of Magical Games and Sports, Hogwarts was lucky enough to host this year's
tournament.

"The three schools have agreed upon a new precaution. We are instituting an
age-restriction. No student under the age of seventeen will be allowed to enter their name to our
judge, and I personally will insure that no trickery takes place." His eyes briefly found Fred
and George who had an outraged expression, his eyes twinkled for a moment then he spoke again.
"The students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with
us for most of the remainder of the year, upon their arrival I expect all of you to be on your best
behavior. Those of you who are of age and think you have the mettle to compete for the honor of
Hogwarts, the Tri-Wizard Cup and the prize of One-thousand Galleons will be able to enter your
names then."

He smiled, "Now, I know that it is late, so if the Prefects would be so kind as to escort
our students to their houses for bed. Good night."

Fred and George grumbled as they got to their feet and turned to James, "I don't
believe this!" Said George.

Fred nodded and continued, "We'll be seventeen in April, why can't we get the
chance to compete?"

George nodded, "It's not right! It's even more of a travesty than Hermione's
house elves."

Fred nodded again then said. "That's it, I'm entering and Dumbledore can't stop
me. These Champions will get to do all sort of things you couldn't do otherwise."

George picked up once again on his brother's thoughts, "And the thousand
Galleons."

Hermione folded her arms over her chest and gave the Twins an unimpressed humph before saying.
"You two? You are going to fool Albus Dumbledore into letting you compete? I find this hard to
believe."

The Twins puffed up and George said, "Well it is…"

"…The Marauder thing to do." Finished Fred with a smirk; then turned to James and
said, "Right Tonks?"

The dark haired boy grinned and held up his hands, "Don't drag me into this. I've
already angered Hermione twice today, I'm likely to be castrated if I get her upset
again." Hermione nodded to the Weasley brothers before he said with a wink; "Though it is
rather Marauderish to try and enter."

"All right, let's call it an evening for now. You have class tomorrow." The group
looked up to see Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff sixth year prefect and Quidditch Captain.

Fred and George nodded silently. They still hadn't really gotten over Cedric beating them
last year, despite Gryffindor winning the Quidditch Cup anyway. James asked "Hey Cedric, are
you going to enter?"

Cedric smiled and shrugged, Harry had met the older boy a few times before the World Cup, mostly
through Quidditch and knew him to be modest. "I don't know, I hadn't really thought
about it." He folded his arms over his chest then and assumed a kind but stern expression.
"But that's beside the point, get to bed, all of you." They started towards
Gryffindor Tower when Cedric reached out and grabbed Harry's shoulder. "Harry?"

Harry stopped and noticed the others stop a discrete distance away, "I just wanted to
apologize for my father the other day, all that 'better man' stuff. He wasn't there, I
saw that dementor attack you and I tried to offer up a rematch. You're a hell of a flyer and
next year we'll see who's better when we don't have dementors breathing down our
necks."

Harry grinned and shook Cedric's extended hand. "I'll see you later Cedric,
g'night."

The older boy nodded and made his way towards the Hufflepuff common room. The one incident of
note on their trip to the Tower was finding Neville caught by one of the trick steps. Most of the
older students knew which steps to avoid, however Neville's absent mindedness caused him to
forget about the steps. Ron and George helped the boy out and continued on their way. The whole
trip, Fred George and Ron continued to plan ways to get around the age restriction and then win the
Tri-Wizard Cup. On more then one occasion, he caught Hermione rolling her eyes and grinning at
him.

He smiled each time she did; he loved it when she would actually get into the spirit and allowed
them to be boys. When they finally entered the tower and Hermione noticed the fire, she scowled
again and he heard her mumble, "Slave labor."

In a moment of courage, Harry reached out and squeezed her hand gently. Hermione turned to him
with a surprised expression, which quickly became a thankful one before she disappeared up the
girls' staircase.

He noticed as Neville and the Twins disappeared up the Boy's stairs that James was caught up
in a moment of nostalgia. He walked over to the chess in the corner and ran his fingers over the
chairs. He turned to Harry and grinned, "Ron, Lil' Prongs, come here." He waved Harry
and Ron over and they sat down, "Do you know how many times your father and I sat at this
table with Moony and Wormtail, plotting our next prank? How many discussions we had about girls and
dating and sex were had over this chessboard?" Harry shook his head and Sirius smiled,
"Did you know your father proposed to your mother right here?"

Harry smiled, "Right here? Tell me?"

His Godfather grinned, "Another time. I am knackered, besides Lily always said 'always
leave them wanting more.'"

Harry frowned, "Sometimes I hate you Padfoot." James got to his feet and made his way
to the staircase, Ron was only a step or two behind already yawning a pulling his tie loose.
Meanwhile Harry tried to feel the presence of his parents in the chair he sat in, he hoped to find
some hint of them, when he received none he frowned and followed them up the steps.

"If I had a knut every time Prongsie said that to me…" He trailed off as he pushed the
door to the Fourth Year's dorm open. Harry found the dorm much the same as it was last year
with the notable exception of a sixth bed. He didn't think the room felt any more cramped, so
he had to wonder if the castle had expanded their dorm.

They quickly got changed for bed, Seamus and Dean had turned in and Neville was already drifting
off. Ron turned to Harry as he got under his covers. "Would you enter Harry? If the twins got
around the restriction, that is?" He shrugged and got into his own bed. Ron smiled sleepily,
"I might, think of the fame, not to mention a thousand galleons." He yawned and mumbled
good night then rolled onto his side and soon Ron's snoring was shaking the windows.

Harry turned to James to say good night but his other friend was snoring as well, only
marginally less loudly. Harry sighed and cast a silencing charm then removed his glasses before
nestling into his warm sheets. As he drifted off to sleep he had an image of himself. He had found
a way around the restriction and he'd been selected as Hogwart's Champion. He'd won the
Tournament, and it was a very pleased Hermione who handed him the trophy, even going so far as to
kiss him on the cheek. The smile he had as he fell asleep was almost painfully wide.

**&&&&&&&&&End Part
3&&&&&&&&&**



5. Chapter One/Part Three
-------------------------

Harry frowned as he exited the Divination classroom for the day. Ron's comment to Lavender
about seeing Uranus had earned them all a detailed analysis of planetary movement or some such
nonsense. It was the perfect end to a strange and often disgusting first day of classes. After
collecting bubotuber pus in Herbology, they tried to feed disgusting creatures called blast-ended
skrewts for Care of Magical Creatures. Hermione ate her lunch in a manner reminiscent of Ron and
disappeared to the library.

Then he Ron and James had gone to a double session of Divination with Trelawney in which
she'd threatened that his fears were about to come true before he'd nearly nodded off.
She'd made some accusation concerning Saturn at the time of his birth then had the class try to
determine planetary position at the time of their birth. It was during the assignment that Ron had
made his unfortunate remark and now they were loaded down with homework.

Ron groaned as he slung his bag over his shoulder and said. "Miserable old bat. This'll
take all weekend."

James cuffed the red-head over the head, "Hey, it's your fault! You have to keep
comments like that down."

Harry sighed in annoyance, "I should have taken Arithmancy with Hermione. I hate her
homework assignments."

An arm looped through his and Hermione's cheerful voice announced her arrival. "You
have homework in Divination? Professor Vector didn't give us any." Harry tensed up and
tried to avoid blushing as he realized it was Hermione's arm that had looped through his almost
possessively. He caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye and noticed his friend in a
cheerful mode, which was a change from last night.

James groaned and Ron grumbled, "Bully for you and Vector then!"

A drawling voice stopped the quartet in their tracks, "Weasley!" They turned to find
Draco Malfoy with his ever-present trio of Slytherin-sycophants; Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson.
The pale pureblood brandished that day's copy of the *Daily Prophet* in front of him.
"Read any interesting news today?"

Ron started to speak but James cut him off. "Did they finally out your fathers as Death
Eaters? Or has the affair between your mother and a goat finally come to light?" He raised a
finger, "Wait I know, the Prophet declared you and your father to be a pair of
prancing-poufters."

Draco smirked, "Better then that, you son of a blood-traitor, the Weasleys are
famous." He cleared his throat and began to read an article by Rita Skeeter which reported
some run-in Mr. Weasley had with muggle police at Moody's house the day before. The article
went on to accuse Mr. Weasley of incompetence then brought up the incident from second year with
the Angila, as well as criticize him for having to modify the police officers' memories. The
Slytherin re-folded the paper and pointed to the picture of the Burrow. "Is this your mother,
Weasley? She could stand to lose a few pounds."

Ron lurched forward reaching for his wand, but Harry stepped in front of his friend, "What
about your mother Malfoy? That expression she has, as if she was just served a steaming pile of
dung, is that permanent or is it because you're around?"

Malfoy reached into his robes for his wand with a scowl then suddenly paused, his face went
white and his expression became pained, he turned and raced out of the Entrance Hall, Crabbe, Goyle
and Pansy exchanged confused looks before following him a moment later.

Harry turned to his friends to see a smug expression on Ron's face. "I'll be
damned, their spell worked."

James smirked a moment later and slapped Ron on the back, "Brilliant!"

After exchanging a confused look with Harry, Hermione turned to Ron. "What spell?"

Ron pocketed his wand and then folded his arms over his chest smugly, "A little spell Gred
and Forge perfected. It's a charm that sends your stomach into fits; you can cast silently and
with a very discreet wand movement. They're putting together a spell-book for the spring
catalogue. I'm afraid Malfoy will have to find a bathroom before he messes himself."

All three boys turned to their straight-laced friend with mildly worried expressions as she
mulled over the idea of Ron hexing Draco in the hallway, with a spell Fred and George created no
less. Finally, the bushy-haired girl surprised them by smiling, "Well done, Ronald." She
looped one arm through Harry's and the other through Ron's and led her friends to
dinner.

They made their way down to the Great Hall without further incident and sat down at the
Gryffindor table. Ron eagerly began to pile casserole on his plate, James was doing much the same.
Hermione placed a more modest portion on her plate but once again she was shoveling food into her
mouth at top speed.

Ron and Harry exchanged a looked before Harry said, "Library?"

She nodded as she washed down her mouthful with pumpkin juice, "I have loads to
do."

Ron frowned and spoke through his full mouth, "Buf you zed thaf Vecfor-"

Hermione scowled, "Don't talk with a full mouth and I didn't say it was for
class." She quickly cleared her plate of dinner and took another drink of pumpkin juice before
gathering her things. Harry then noticed James look him in the eye and motion his eyes towards
Hermione.

Harry flushed and took a nervous drink before stammering, "U-um Hermione… Would you, I mean
would you like some… err… would you like me to come?"

Hermione gave him an amused expression then said. "No that's all right Harry. You and
Ron and James enjoy dinner, I'll see you tonight."

Harry nodded and blushed before looking down at his plate. Hermione rose from her seat and at
almost the same moment a sharp kick struck Harry's shin. The sudden attack caused him to leap
from his chair and yell loud enough for the entire hall to hear. "OW! Bloody Hell!" The
look James gave him was even more severe than his kick. He grimaced and tried to ignore his
throbbing shin, "Are-are your sure Hermione? I mean… I'd like to come along."

She smiled at his latest bout of strange behavior and simply said, "All right."

Just as the pair was about to leave the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall swept into the room and
she quickly made a bee-line for him and Hermione. "Mr. Potter, Professor Dumbledore will see
you now concerning your letter."

Harry exchanged a look with Hermione then frowned, "'Letter?'"

She nodded, "Yes, Mr. Tonks gave me your letter this morning." She handed him a slip
of paper and said, "Here is the password."

Hermione followed him out of the hall and towards the stairs. They arrived on the second floor
before Hermione wagered that the meeting was regarding the dream he'd had that caused the pain
in his scar. They came to a stop outside of the large stone gargoyle that protected the entrance to
Dumbledore's office. Hermione's hand found his forearm and she gave it a comforting
squeeze. "I have to go to the library; I'll likely be there until Madam Prince sends me
away."

Harry smiled, "I'll come find you, I don't know how long this might take." She
smiled and continued down the hall towards the fourth floor staircase and the library. After she
disappeared he pulled the scrap of parchment from his pocket and read the password aloud,
"Bubble-gum."

The gargoyle moved aside and Harry stepped onto the stairs as they began to rise towards the
office. When the stairs came to a stop he entered the Headmaster's office with a touch of
reverence. He found Dumbledore at his desk with his dinner before him, the elderly wizard looked up
from his plate with a kind smile and he waved Harry towards a seat. "Ah Harry, sit down. Would
you care to join me for dinner?"

It was as he sat down that Harry realized that he hadn't really eaten a proper meal since
breakfast before they left the Burrow. He smiled gratefully and said, "Thank you
sir."

With a pop a plate and utensils appeared before him, a moment later another pop announced the
arrival of a goblet filled with pumpkin juice. The pair ate in comfortable silence for a few
moments before Dumbledore took a napkin and dabbed at the corners of his mouth. "Now Harry,
young Mr. Tonks tells me he is concerned about a dream you had a few weeks ago. Would you care to
tell me what happened?"

Harry told him every detail of the dream he could remember. Frank Bryce, the Riddle House, the
mention and presence of Wormtail, the weak voice of someone he assumed to be Voldemort, the snake
called Nagini and the jet of green light that woke him with a start. He then explained that upon
waking that his scar was hurting terribly for long enough that it worried Harry enough to decide to
tell James and Hermione.

Dumbledore sat quietly for a long time before he stood from his desk and beckoned Harry to
follow him. He led him over to a cabinet which opened to reveal a stone basin on which many runes
and symbols were carved. He looked inside the basin, it seemed to be filled with a silver liquid
and it gave of a bright glow. Dumbledore then said, "I'm guessing you've never seen a
pensieve before Harry." Harry shook his head, "With this, we can access your memory and I
can review it for further research. What I want you to do is gather the memory of the dream and
that night in every detail. Imagine it very clearly in your mind." Harry tried to draw the
memory to him as clearly as possible, recalling every detail he could.

"When you are ready I want you to imagine yourself pushing that memory to the inside of
your skull near your right temple." Harry nodded and imagined himself doing just that.
Dumbledore then took his wand and pressed it against Harry's right temple. Harry felt a very
brief, sharp pain in his temple then as Dumbledore drew the wand from his skin Harry noticed a long
silver string being drawn from his head sticking to the end of the wand. When the string came free
of his head, Harry suddenly realized that he could no longer recall the night of the nightmare.

Dumbledore dropped the string into the pensieve and smiled. "You did very well Harry,
especially for a first attempt. I will study your memory and return it to you in a few days."
He closed the cabinet. He then went to the shelves of books behind him and plucked a book from them
and moved to the desk, "But for now, I wish for you to study this." He handed the book to
Harry.

Harry looked the book over and read the title, "*'Occlumency: A Mental
Discipline.'* What is Occlumency sir?"

The Headmaster sat down at his desk and gave him a gentle expression, "Harry, Occlumency is
a way for Wizards and Witches to control their thoughts and organize their minds. That book will
teach you the basics, and when you're competent in the techniques in that book, I will help you
take the next step in this discipline. Occlumency is a difficult skill to learn, but I believe it
may help with these dreams in the future Harry, should they occur again. For now, I think you
should take your leave, I believe you promised young Miss Granger you'd meet her in the
library?" He smiled and his eyes twinkled mischievously.

Harry blushed slightly before grabbing his bag and stuffing the book inside. "Good night,
sir."

&&&&&&&&&

He found her behind a pile of books in the back of the library near the history section. The
only other student he'd seen in the library was Neville who was glued to a book on North
American fungus and their uses. He walked over to her table discreetly and found her engrossed in a
book about the history of house elves. A lock of hair wound around her finger while she chewed
gently on her lip.

Harry found himself nearly enraptured by her in that moment. The crush he'd developed on the
train was becoming more encompassing with each passing moment it seemed. He wondered why, Hermione
was certainly pretty, but there were other girls he'd found pretty without being completely
dumbfounded by them.

Perhaps it was that he knew her so well, there was a difference between finding Susan Bones or
Cho Chang pretty and finding Hermione pretty. He didn't know them, Susan seemed like a sweet
girl and he could imagine that Cho was an interesting person, but for all he knew Cho could be a
bore and Susan Bones could be an even bigger harpy than Pansy Parkinson.

He knew Hermione, he knew that she was intelligent and knew about nearly everything. He knew she
was kind, almost to a fault and fiercely loyal to those she cared for, like himself. He knew that
when she cared for something she was passionate about it, like the plight of the house elves.

He knew her so well that the prospects of kissing her because she was Hermione were almost more
exciting than kissing her because she was pretty. At the same time, that very same thing frightened
him into inaction, because loosing Hermione would hurt him far more than loosing a pretty girl he
didn't know.

As he was about to announce his presence she closed her book and looked up at him with a grin,
"Are you standing on ceremony?" His brain froze and her laughter led him over to the
table as he sat down heavily in the vacant chair next to her. She leaned over to speak to him and
in that moment Harry was grateful that Hermione was still wearing her jumper over her blouse as he
didn't know what seeing the skin beneath would do to him.

"You've been acting strange since the Express. Are you all right?" He nodded
mutely and fought off the blush he knew was trying to turn him scarlet at the moment. She reached
over and patted his hand gently, "Are you sure? Because you know you can tell me
anything." The contact was enough to turn every inch of his body tense and she noticed. She
frowned in a worried fashion and her eyes bored into him. "Did I upset you Harry? Did I do
something wrong?"

A part of him wanted to say yes just to get enough space to be able to think properly again.
That part was shouted down quickly as it would require willingly hurting Hermione's feelings.
"No, you've never done anything wrong. You're my best friend."

She smirked slightly, "Even over James and Ron?"

He grinned, feeling slightly more at ease. "You are and occasionally, mostly during a meal,
especially over James and Ron."

She nodded, "Good, and if you finally figure out what's wrong I want you to know
I'll listen."

He blushed, "What if it's embarrassing?"

She squeezed his hand, "Harry, unlike Ron or James, I'm a girl. Girls don't use
embarrassing secrets to pick on each other. Well, I don't use embarrassing secrets to pick on
anyone at least." She grinned, "You do know I'm a girl right, not just some bloke
with breasts?"

He nearly choked on his tongue, first at the shock of Hermione saying the word
"breasts" then to prevent from saying something catastrophically stupid. In fact the
effort it took to not say any of the clumsy things that sprang to mind was so large that he
shuddered.

He then noticed something strange in her eyes, as though she was studying him for a moment. He
could see the wheels beginning to turn behind her eyes. She was thinking of something… it was a
moment of horror that came as he realized that she was putting it together. Her eyes flashed for a
moment, she'd found him out.

It wasn't like he was subtle. He'd been stammering and stuttering in front of her for
two days and how many times had her grin or laugh or voice caused him to flush like his Uncle
Vernon in a rage? Of course she'd figure him out; he'd been transparent about his feelings
after all.

He felt completely exposed and his first instinct was to run screaming out of the library. The
only problem was that she had a grip on his hand. She smiled and then said, "So, what did the
Headmaster want?"

His shoulders sagged with relief as she let him off the hook. He knew for certain that
there'd be no way she would just ignore his pathetic crush on her, he was sure in a few days
after she'd prepared her arguments she'd explain to him that she didn't think of him
that way and that it would be for the best if he realized that. She'd spare his feelings all
the while stomping out any hopes he had of kissing her.

He smiled weakly as that line of thought caused the bottom to drop out of his stomach. He
didn't look forward to that conversation. "You were right. He wanted to talk about my
dream. He showed me a thing… I think he called it a 'pensieve.' He helped me put the memory
of the dream in it. Then he gave me a book on something called occlumency."

He couldn't help but grin at the way her eyes widened in anticipation when he mentioned a
pensieve. She'd probably read all about them and their uses by now, some of that
"light" reading that made Ron quake in fear. Then the way she practically bounced in her
chair when he brought up the book on occlumency was simply adorable. "What book Harry? Was it
*'Pathways of Thought'* I found that to be wonderful and informative, though
*'Make Your Thoughts Your Own'* was charming in its approach."

He reached into his bag and pulled the book out. She took it and nodded approvingly, "From
what I've read, this is the best for beginners. I just couldn't find it in Flourish and
Blotts, it's very rare."

He smiled, "Were you planning to learn occlumency?" Then he blushed, "Silly
question."

She grinned slightly, "It's not silly Harry and yes I wanted to try. The ordering of
one's mind is something every wizard should attempt and someone skilled in occlumency would be
able to repel attacks from others."

He nodded, "Well, you could study it too…" He coughed and stumbled on, "I would
appreciate the help… and well…"

She laughed lightly, "Harry, if you'd like to spend time with me, just ask. I'd be
thrilled to, not because it's the chance to learn but because I'd be helping you.
You're my best friend too Harry, even over Ron and James, especially when we're eating
together."

He looked down at the table, 'Friend' he thought, 'of course.' Sometimes he
wondered if his father was this awkward around the girls he fancied. She cracked the book open and
began to read it. After a few minutes (he had to fight not to look at her while she chewed on her
bottom lip) she looked up and said. "All right, we'll start with a basic exercise. This
will help you concentrate and help you in recalling detail. I want you to close your eyes and begin
by taking slow, deep breaths."

He did as she asked and began to breathe slowly. Her voice was very gentle and soothing.
"In… out… steady… good… I want you to clear your mind… push every thought out one at a time
until you can only hear my voice. Concentrate on breathing, use each breath to expel your
thoughts." It took a while, but eventually he began to quiet his mind and he slowly fell into
a relaxed state almost like those last moments before he drifted off to sleep.

When she spoke again, it was almost as from far away. "When your mind is clear and calm I
want you to build an image in your mind. Someplace soothing, someplace private, where you can be
away from everyone, I want you to make it as detailed as possible. I want it to be clear, so
detailed that you could almost actually go there and if your mind wanders while you do, I want you
to clear your mind again and start from the beginning."

He vaguely registered nodding as he tried to imagine what kind of place he'd find soothing.
He finally decided on a beach. He'd always wanted to go to a beach somewhere and lounge about
on the sand. He decided it would be a tropical beach, on a warm summer morning. The white sand
stretched out before him until it was swallowed up by the crystal clear ocean before him. The waves
gently lapped at the beach until the sand was swallowed up the endless blue.

Clouds scattered across the morning sky were lit up in pinks and oranges by the sun as it
crested the horizon. He turned and looked down the endless beach to see palm trees swaying gently
in the mild breeze as was the grass that was at the end of the white sand. He took a step forward
into the surf and noticed that the wet sand gave way easily under his bare feet and squished into
the space between his toes. He felt completely relaxed as though standing in the wet sand with warm
water lapping at his shins would protect him from all the world's troubles.

Why hadn't he come here before? Why couldn't he find a place where the most excitement
to be found was a school of very tiny fish that raced around his legs under the water and a tiny
crab that skittered across the sand just out of reach of the tide?

"Are you there?"

Harry shook his head and the beach slipped away as the library resolved itself around him. He
turned to Hermione, "Yeah. I was on a beach, standing in the tide." He smiled as he
recalled the scene very clearly in his mind, "There were these little fish…"

She smiled at him, "Good Harry, very good. That place you went to, I want you to try and
reconstruct it every day for at least an hour. Each time I want you to recall even the smallest
detail, the stronger that image is the easier it will be to recall it. This is a very basic shield,
concentrating solely on a meditative image like this will also help you to order your
thoughts."

She reached over and squeezed his forearm, "You did very well Harry, you'll be teaching
me in no time at all."

He felt his cheeks become scorched, "Ah… well…"

When Harry recalled the event later, he'd realized that Hermione actually giggled as she
stood up. "You can be so cute." But he was simply stunned when she left a fleeting kiss
on his right cheek and gathered her things. "Come along Harry, Madam Prince will need to lock
up soon. You were gone for almost two hours."

He stood up and gathered his bag then followed her out of the library all the way to the tower.
When they arrived she handed him the book then said good night before disappearing up the
girl's stairs.

Harry just stood in the middle of the common room staring at the staircase she'd left
through with a dumb expression on his face to be sure. Finally the Twins broke him loose. George
nudged him in the side, "All right there Harry?"

Fred laughed and said, "I've seen this before George, remember when Wood got that crush
on the recruiter for the Arrows?" He snapped his fingers in front of Harry's face,
"Potter! Wake up!"

Harry managed to snap out of his daze and mumbled, "I'm going to bed, good
night."

The Twins' laughter followed him all the way to his dorm.

&&&&&&&&&

Harry frowned at the chessboard in front of him. James' disapproving tone broke the silence,
"C'mon Pronglet, you can not be this bad." His king looked as thought he was begging
to differ. James had already crushed most of Harry's pawns, his knights, a bishop and his Queen
was looking rather frightful at James' knight.

His friend was trying to teach him to play chess after watching Ron tear Harry to shreds the
other day. However it was rapidly becoming evident that chess was never and will never be a game
that Harry would excel in.

Admittedly, chess wasn't his biggest focus. He'd been studying with Hermione much more
than in previous years, for his classes as well as his study of occlumency. As she'd requested
that first night, he'd spent at least an hour a day working on the focusing exercise she'd
taught him. He'd spent the time looking for the smallest detail, he'd even counted and
named the little fish that seemed to enjoy racing around him while he stood in the surf.

They'd also done other exercises designed to teach him to clear and/or order his thoughts.
Once he'd mastered those exercises she'd help lead him through the process of constructing
a mental shield, something designed to prevent people reading his mind.

The occlumency studies were taking up such a large part of their free time that Hermione had
become disheartened in her quest for House Elf Rights. This, coupled with a long discussion about
them with James and Angelina Johnson, Hermione had disbanded S-P-E-W before it ever really
began.

Thinking of Hermione had started to set Harry on edge. It had been nearly three weeks since that
night in the library when Hermione had seen right through him and she'd yet to come to him and
tell him what he felt was wrong. It wasn't that he wanted her to run into the common room and
break him into jagged little pieces but the waiting was becoming excruciating, even without her
strange behavior.

Hermione had taken to hugging him over almost trivial things as well as sitting much closer to
him than before. She had picked up a habit of touching him when they spoke, just the day before
they had sat in the common room discussing McGonagall's essay on transfiguring rocks into
animals. She was sitting on the couch while Harry had sat down on an ottoman in front of her.
She'd been explaining some of the finer points when he made a joke. It wasn't a
particularly funny joke yet Hermione laughed lightly and then touched his knee.

The result had been instantaneous; Harry looked down at her hand and coughed uncomfortably while
he tried to fight off his latest blush. He looked back up to see Hermione with a strange expression
on her face. She was looking at him as though she was expecting him to do or say something but he
had no idea what. There was a brief flash of disappointment on her face before she removed her hand
and continued her explanation.

Another curious change in her behavior was holding his hand when they were walking in the halls.
It was not every time and rarely when Ron and James were around, but when they were walking to
class or out to the spot near the Quidditch pitch they used to study occlumency her hand would
grasp his and once or twice she even laced her fingers through his.

He didn't dare ask about her behavior or even comment on it as it always gave him a pleasant
feeling while she did these things and he was afraid she'd stop if he mentioned it.

He sighed, "Sorry Padfoot, I think I'm just hopeless at this."

His friend smirked, "You know, I bet I could teach you chess if I had bushy hair and better
legs." Harry scowled but he continued on, "It's amazing really, Hermione can teach
you a discipline that most people fail to grasp after they're done with Hogwarts but I
can't teach you a simple board game. Maybe I should bat my eyelashes at you," He did just
that, looking about as obnoxious as Harry had ever seen, then said. "Did that help?"

Harry shook his head and gave his friend a mock-scowl then said, "Prat." Harry moved
his protesting queen and realized too late why she was protesting as James' knight swooped in
and cleaved her in two. He groaned and tried to ignore the way his king was waving his fists at
him.

Harry moved his remaining bishop and put James in check. "Check."

His Godfather shook his head in a saddened fashion and clicked his tongue before saying,
"Oh Harry…" His rook then slaughtered Harry's bishop. "I just cannot believe
that you are this b-"

Harry was crashed into from behind so forcefully that he jarred the table which toppled his now
grateful king, arms wrapped around his neck tightly and brown hair obscured his vision.
Hermione's voice sounded in his ear, "Thank you so much!"

The first sound Harry made sounded something like "Gurk" but he managed to croak out,
"Hermione!"

He could hear James laughing while he said, "Let the poor boy breathe Hermione. He's
turning purple."

She released her vice-like grip and turned him around. He found his friend absolutely beaming at
him, even though it looked like she had tears in her eyes. "Your card was just beautiful
Harry." She then reached into her shirt and produced a necklace with a little snitch charm.
"And this is wonderful!" She surged forward and crushed him in another hug, "You and
Ron… you've never asked… How did you know it was my birthday?"

She pulled back and looked at him, he started to stammer and James broke in. "He wrote your
parents first week back and asked of course."

She smiled widely, "You are… just wonderful Harry." Again she hugged him tightly, this
time kissing his cheek before she let go. "Thank you!"

She then seemed to float out of the common room. Harry watched her leave with a baffled
expression, his hand slowly drifting up to lightly touch the spot on his cheek her lips had
touched. He then said, "She kissed me…"

James chuckled, "She did."

A silly smile tugged at his lips and he said, "She thinks I'm wonderful…"

"You're welcome."

He turned around slowly, "You?"

His friend's eyebrows waggled, "Me."

Harry smiled, "What did you write, Padfoot?"

He folded his arms over his chest and presented Harry with a smug expression as he said,
"'Happy Birthday. Affectionately, Harry.'"

He frowned slightly, "'Affectionately?'"

James grinned wickedly, "Would you have preferred something else? 'My undying
passion,' perhaps? Maybe, 'Love you, can't live without you' would have worked
better?"

Ron entered through the portrait hole at that moment with a stunned expression, "I just saw
Hermione in the halls. Blimey, she was practically bouncing towards Lavender and Parvati." He
sat down and immediately began to help James set up the chess board while he talked to Harry,
"Why didn't you tell me it was her birthday Harry? I could have signed your card
too!" He scowled at his friend for a moment.

James frowned at both of them, "You mean you two didn't know Hermione's
birthday?" He scowled and muttered, "I couldn't have been like this at your
age," before he said, "I won't ask you Ron, because everyone knows Harry's
birthday. Harry, do you know Ron's birthday?"

Harry frowned and turned to Ron with a sheepish expression. His friend just shrugged as though
it didn't bother him, "Not really, no."

The animagus shook his head, "At least you're consistent."

Ron and James launched into a game while Harry stood from the table and made his way to a more
comfortable chair. He found a piece of parchment and quill and quickly wrote, "September
19th, Hermione's birthday." After blotting it, he pocketed it before he could
put it in his trunk to remember.

Lavender and Parvati entered the common room a moment later, they saw him and giggled before
whispering to each other. Harry sighed, as much as he enjoyed Hermione's reaction to
"his" gift, he wasn't too sure he'd enjoy the looks her roommates were giving
him. As he thought about her lips on his cheek and the feel of her hugging him, he realized that it
was more than a fair trade.

**&&&&&&&&&End Part
4&&&&&&&&&**



6. Chapter One/Part Five
------------------------

Harry awoke early on Halloween morning, he could hear Ron chewing Seamus and Dean's ears off
about Viktor Krum, leaving Harry to wonder if his friend had gone to bed at all, as he was
prattling about the Durmstrang student when Harry'd gone to bed the night before. Instead of
using a silencing charm, Harry took the opportunity to work on the latest occlumency exercise he
and Hermione were working on.

He'd started again by breathing and clearing his mind and then he imagined building walls
inside his mind to shut the room out from him. Brick by brick he built the walls up until he could
no longer hear his friend talking, or James' snoring or anything else. From there, sleep was a
simple matter.

Ron was re-telling the story of the World Cup match for the fiftieth time, when Neville of all
people, snapped, "Yes… Yes Ron, the Wronski feint, youngest international seek in a century!
We've heard it! Kindly shut the fuck up!"

Harry bit down on his laughter for a moment when he heard Dean and Seamus break into laughter
while James snorted loudly. Harry sat up slowly and found Ron sitting at the foot of his bed. He
held his sock in his hand while his left foot dangled in front of it. The look on his red-headed
friend's face was priceless. He almost wished that they roomed with Colin Creevy, as his
friend's face should have been preserved for all time.

Dean was pulling on a jumper while Seamus was looking at his hair in the mirror. James had
paused in the middle of gathering his supplies for his shower. All three of them were looking back
and forth between Ron and Neville, who was the only one besides Harry in bed and it looked like his
pudgy friend was still trying to sleep. He rolled over and pulled one of his pillows over his
head.

Harry turned to Ron with a grin, "All right Ron?"

Ron smirked, "I guess it's true what Mum says about the Longbottom temper."

Harry climbed out of bed, quickly showered and pulled on a pair of jeans and a jumper then
followed Ron and James out of the dorm. They found Hermione in the common room reading over one of
the more advanced occlumency text that Dumbledore had given her and Harry when they completed the
basic techniques.

When he told Dumbledore, the headmaster was unsurprised that she'd been studying the
techniques with him. He'd even said he would only have been surprised if Harry hadn't asked
Hermione to help him. Their studies were progressing well. Harry was now able to clear his mind
rapidly and the meditative beach he'd created could be recalled almost instantly.

They'd been able to create several basic shields in the last two weeks and Hermione was
beginning to construct more advanced shields herself. Harry was not far behind her but he was still
learning to order his mind properly, Hermione came to it almost naturally.

He found that the occlumency was helping him in his classes as well. As he became better at
focusing on details his Transfiguration work, both practical and theoretical had improved and his
grades had seen a dramatic jump as well as McGonagall's opinion of him. His charms were also
showing remarkable improvement, he'd even been able to understand his potions lessons though
Snape made certain his grades didn't improve at all. He and Ron had been able to fake their way
through Divination assignments by merely making up creative and horrible deaths for themselves.

Meanwhile, DADA had become very interesting and challenging. Moody had made a point that in
addition to teaching them about creatures and protection from hexes he taught them dueling
techniques, after each class he'd assigned them to learn a different defensive charm or spell.
Harry had mastered "Protego" as well as two strong protective spells. Moody had promised
that in the second term he'd begin teaching them offensives spells starting with
"Stupefy."

The most interesting lessons came at the start of the year however. Moody had demonstrated the
Unforgivables. He'd displayed the Cruciatus on a spider which upset Neville greatly. The
Killing Curse was nearly as upsetting to Harry, as he watched the green jet erupt from Moody's
wand he realized that it was the same spell that killed his parents.

Finally there was the Imperius curse; he performed it on each of them so they'd know what it
felt like. Harry proved to be able to fight off the effects of it as well. Moody had remarked that
with further training Harry might able to resist it as well as the Cruciatus.

The night before, the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrived and the students from all
three schools were treated to an extravagant dinner. The students from the French school seemed to
only take delight in complaining about everything they encountered, especially a young lady by the
name of Fleur Delacour. Harry might have been insulted by the behavior of the Beauxbatons students
had he not been enraptured by the lovely Miss Delacour, like ninety-five percent of the male
students of Hogwarts.

Ron, however, was enraptured by Viktor Krum. From the moment the stern-looking young man had
exited the ship Durmstrang's delegation Ron had sounded very much like Colin Creevy sounded to
Harry. His star-struck expression and constant praise of him had earned Ron more than a few
eye-rolls.

After the dinner, Dumbledore announced that entrance to the Tri-Wizard Tournament would begin
that night. Then he presented to the students the Goblet of Fire. It was an overly-large,
nondescript wooden cup; it was filled with blue flames as he placed it upon the stool that the
Sorting Hat traditionally sat upon.

The naming of the champions would occur after the Halloween feast tonight and students over the
age of seventeen had until the feast began to enter. Harry had the feeling that Ron and James were
so eager to get to breakfast for the chance to see who thought themselves able to face the
Tournament and even more interested in seeing how the twins planned to defeat Dumbledore's age
line.

When the four of them arrived at the entrance hall they noticed the Goblet displayed in the
center with the age line glowing brightly around it. Students from every house milled about the
hall, all of them watching it intently some had even brought some of their breakfast out into the
Entrance Hall to eat quietly.

They found Colin and Dennis talking animatedly while the older Creevy brother was snapping
picture after picture of it. Next to them was Ron's younger sister Ginny talking with a
third-year Ravenclaw girl Harry had never met before. The girl's long hair was a dirty-shade of
blonde and her blue eyes seemed almost painfully wide. She regarded the world around her in a
rather detached fashion, as though none of it really interested her.

Harry then noticed that she wore a necklace made of radishes and her ear rings were a pair of
corks from bottles of butter beer. Ron stepped forward and spoke to Ginny, "Gin, did anyone
put their name in yet?"

The younger Weasley flashed Harry a smile then turned to Ron. "All the Durmstrang kids came
in and put theirs in a little while ago. I haven't seen anyone from Hogwarts yet."

James clapped Ron on the back hard and said, "I guess you'll just have to wait a little
longer to talk to Krum." Ron shook his head while James and Harry laughed.

The blonde turned to them and her eyes fixed on Ron, "Hello Ronald."

Ron grimaced slightly, "Hello Luna." Hermione nudged him and he coughed before saying,
"Harry, Hermione and James, meet Luna Lovegood."

The Ravenclaw distractedly took their offered hands. Harry turned towards the Goblet, "I
imagine some of the kids came last night after the dinner. I reckon it could be embarrassing if the
thing spat your name out in front of the whole school."

The others nodded while a large group of Hufflepuffs entered the Hall. This group was rather
boisterous and seemed to be crowding around someone. They began pushing someone forward and giving
them encouragement. Cedric emerged from the group with a bashful grin and approached the Goblet. He
turned back to his friends and said, "Are you sure about this?" They just waved him
forward. Cedric laughed and dropped a slip of parchment with his name on it into the Goblet. When
he did, the flames turned red briefly and a few sparks flew out of the Goblet.

The Hufflepuffs cheered loudly while he moved onto the Great Hall.

A few moments later Fred and George entered with Lee Jordan. The trio was laughing to each other
as they approached, "Wish us luck."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at them while Ron smirked and said "What did you try?"

Fred smirked, "Aging potion."

George nodded, "Just a drop, we only need to age couple of months."

George then moved confidently towards the Goblet. He paused only to take a breath then stepped
across the line. When nothing happened he turned back to the group with a smirk. He reached into
his robe and produced a slip of parchment. Harry noticed nearly everyone in the hall watching his
friend as George dropped his name into the Goblet without reaction from it. With a whoop, Fred
joined his brother within the line.

Their celebration was short lived as the Goblet began to spark and shudder almost angrily. A
wave of energy erupted from within and Fred and George were thrown out of the circle. They landed
on the floor in a heap. A moment later they got to their feet and everyone began to laugh at the
long white beards on the pair's faces. Seeing this, Fred and George began to laugh themselves.
Dumbledore sent them up to the Hospital wing.

Harry and the others entered the hall, leaving Ginny and Luna behind. As they sat down, Ron
leaned towards James and whispered. "What about you Padfoot? You could probably get by the age
line. You know far more spells than even the Seventh Years, why don't you enter?"

Their friend shook his head, "It would draw attention to me, the Goblet might even
recognize me. You may not have seen pictures, but my looks are strikingly similar to my dearly
departed cousin. It's possible that my magic could be recognized by a powerful artifact like
that. Hell, Dumbledore and I had to let Moody in on the secret because he recognized me
immediately."

Further down the table, Dean and Seamus were discussing some of the Hogwarts students who had
entered their names in the Goblet. It seemed that among the candidates to join Cedric were a
Slytherin named Warrington, who Harry had played Quidditch against, and two members of
Ravenclaw's Quidditch team by the names of Chambers and Bradley. It seemed that none of the
Gryffindors had entered their names thus far. Ron slid down closer to them, "Personally, if
it's not one of us I'd like to see Chambers in the Tournament."

Seamus nodded enthusiastically, "As long as it isn't that pretty-boy Diggory."
There was a cheer outside the Hall and Seamus started looking for whoever it might be to enter the
Great Hall.

Harry shrugged, "I don't know, I think Cedric would do well."

Angelina's voice broke the impromptu huddle, "I did it, put my name in." They all
turned to see Angelina Johnson, a dark-skinned sixth-year Gryffindor that Harry knew mostly through
Quidditch. She was one of the best chasers ever to play for Gryffindor. She was also stunningly
beautiful as well was one of the first to accept Harry in first year.

Ron nodded while James said. "No beard, so I'm assuming…"

She smiled at the black haired youth. "My birthday was last week, Tonks."

Ron then said, "All right! We know it'll be a Gryffindor, I hope it's you
Angelina."

Hermione smiled as well, "I hope it's you as well, Angelina."

She smiled at her housemates before sitting down next to Alicia and Katie and discussing her
chances. The quartet finished their breakfast and exited the Great Hall a short time later after
deciding to visit Hagrid for a while. As they turned towards the large doors on the far side of the
hall, they parted admitting Madame Maxime and the delegation from Beauxbatons. The giant woman
instructed her students to line up and one by one they entered their names into the goblet.

Ron turned towards them for a moment after tearing his eyes from Fleur. "What do you think
will happen to the students who aren't chosen? You reckon they'll be sent home?"

Hermione shook her head, "No, I'd imagine they'll stay to support their Champion.
Otherwise why would they bring students who weren't of age?" As she spoke she motioned to
a much younger blonde girl in a Beauxbatons' uniform talking with Fleur.

As the last of her students entered their name, Madame Maxim ushered them out of the hall and
across the grounds towards the giant carriage they had arrived in the day before. Hermione led the
four of them out of the school and across the grounds towards Hagrid's hut.

&&&&&&&&&

They knocked on the door and were treated to the strangest sight they'd seen at Hogwarts
when it opened, and that was saying a lot. Hagrid was dressed in a horrible brown suit with a
yellow and orange checked tie. His normally wild hair seemed to have been tamed by a quart of dirty
motor oil as it was slicked back into a pony tail. "It's abou' time. I was
wonderin' if yeh fergot where I live!"

He ushered them into his one-room home and sat down for tea. The four of them were dumbfounded
by the appearance of their friend. James was the first to recover and managed to ask about the
skrewts. The normally wild-haired man smiled, "Oh dey're growin' so big, nearly
three-feet long now, though they've started killing each other." He sounded rather like a
proud parent as he poured them each a cup of tea. "I had to put 'em in separate boxes,
there's 'bout twenty of them left."

The group sat around his table drinking tea and discussing the Tournament. "You jus'
wait. It's gonna be amazin'. The firs' task…" He shook himself, "Ah, I'm
not suppos' ter say." Ron tried to urge him on but Hagrid would have none of it. "I
don' wanna ruin the surprise. I'll jus' say, it'll be like nothin' yeh've
ever seen!"

Not long after two, Hermione smiled and looked at her watch, "Harry we need to study our
occlumency lessons for the day."

Hagrid nodded, "I heard abou' that from Dumbledore 'Arry. He mus' think a lot
abou' yeh to let yeh study somethin' that advanced."

Harry smiled slightly, "I don't know Hagrid, Hermione's doing most of the studying,
then she teaches me." He stood up and offered Hermione a hand up. She smiled and took his
offer then led them out of the hut. Harry's wasn't sure but he thought he heard Ron and
James laughing as she led him away.

She reclaimed his hand as they crossed the grounds. Harry turned to her before the silence
became oppressive and said. "I wonder what got into Hagrid."

She smiled at him briefly before saying, "I don't know, maybe he has a meeting with
Dumbledore or someone later today."

He shrugged. A short while later they arrived at the little clearing behind the Quidditch locker
rooms. Harry pulled out his wand and transfigured a few rocks into a large red blanket and several
pillows. Hermione gave his work an appraising eye and smiled, "Well done Harry. You're
really improving." She punctuated her praise by squeezing the hand she held before she sat
down on one of the pillows, only then did she relinquish his hand.

Harry cleared his throat and said, "What are we studying today?"

She smiled and began to fold her legs beneath her until she found a comfortable position.
"No new techniques today, just meditation."

Harry nodded and sat down, he then found his own comfortable position in front of her. He took a
deep breath and closed his eyes then released the breath and began to regulate his breathing in
counts of five. Breathing in for a five count and out for the same five count. His mind was soon
clear and the image of the beach quickly materialized around him. He'd added to the image over
the weeks. He'd gone to the library and researched tropical countries. He'd found that the
pictures of Hawaii were most like his beach and began to adjust his beach to the pictures he'd
found of the Islands. He'd seen pictures of a place called Na Pali on the island of Kaua'i
and found it simply breathtaking.

Not long after reading about Na Pali and the Kalalau trail he found that the green hills and
mountains that framed the shore crept into his beach. There were a few black volcanic rocks that
had sprouted from the water nearby, Hawaiian geese now flew over head and when he looked into the
water he could see along with the friendly little fish that played at his ankles, schools of reef
triggerfish sailed through the water looking for a meal. On the horizon humpback whales would leap
out of the water to breathe occasionally.

He'd told Hermione about it and she had been pleased that he'd actually put thought into
making His place as real as possible. Many of his dreams now took place here, he'd played with
a dog in the surf, he'd watched his friends lay about here and in one odd dream he'd helped
Ron and the Twins build an ice cream parlor.

He also had dreams here spent in solitude, but he never felt lonely here. He always felt that
someone was nearby, someone who cared about him. He sat just out of reach of the waves. A breeze
ruffled his hair and carried the scent of the near-by forest to him and he smiled.

It was in this moment that Harry made a decision. After he graduated from Hogwarts, he'd go
to Hawaii and see if he could find His Place on the islands and if he did he'd slap down a
house and spend the rest of his days standing in the surf.

He grinned as he could imagine Ron and James' reactions to that. Both would immediately
learn the phrases needed to woo young Hawaiian witches and follow him for the sheer joy of meeting
island girls. Hermione would come along as well and spend her days happily reading on the beach or
studying local fauna.

If he was honest with himself he found that he didn't want James and Ron along so much as
Hermione and in addition to spending their days in the surf he wanted to find a private spot on a
beach like this and spend his days entwined with her…

He shook himself free of his thought and the beach faded back into the recesses of his mind. He
opened his eyes to see Hermione sitting in front of him, a serene expression on her face. The sun
was sitting low in the sky and when he checked his watch he noticed they didn't have much time
before the feast began.

He reached out a hand and ignored the subtle tremor of nervousness then touched her hand,
"Hermione?" Her eyes fluttered and then opened, she graced him with a gentle expression.
"We need to get going, the feast will be starting soon."

They ran up to the castle and into the hall to find they were among the last to arrive. They
took their place along side James and Ron who were talking with the clean-shaven Twins. The Goblet
had been moved to the front of the Great Hall in place of Dumbledore's chair.

When they sat down, Ron immediately launched into an explanation of Hagrid's behavior
earlier. "Before we left Hagrid threw on this retched cologne and followed us out. Then as we
were following him up to the castle we caught sight of the Beauxbatons group, Hagrid saw Maxime and
he turned bright red!"

Harry looked up towards the head table and saw his large friend glancing towards the
Headmistress of Beauxbatons with a funny expression. Harry grinned when Ron remarked that their
children would be "bloody huge." He turned towards James and Hermione and noticed his
friends in a seemingly serious conversation. He decided not to interrupt and turned back to his
dinner. He noticed that unlike previous Halloweens, this feast was dragging along. The anticipation
for the naming of the Champions as well as this being the second extravagantly heavy meal in as
many days harmed his appetite. Finally he set his plate aside before desert was served.

It seemed forever before their plates disappeared and Professor Dumbledore lowered the lights
until only the flickering light from the carved pumpkins remained. Every eye turned towards the
head table to see Dumbledore speaking with Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch.

When he finished his discussion, Dumbledore moved in front of the Head Table and addressed the
eager students. "It seems that the Goblet has reached its decision and we now humbly await its
pronouncement. When the champions' names are called I ask them to move to the front of the hall
and proceed towards the door to my left into the next chamber. Once all three are named and
gathered in the next chamber, Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch will give you your first
instructions."

Everyone's attention was now fixed upon the Goblet, awaiting any change. Without warning the
flames turned from blue to red, suddenly a tongue of flame erupted and a piece of parchment was
expelled. It sailed casually through the air only for Dumbledore to pluck it casually from its
fall. He unfolded the singed parchment and read aloud. "The Champion from Durmstrang is Viktor
Krum!"

Applause rang through the hall from all three delegations as the stern looking Bulgarian rose to
his feet and strode confidently to the front of the hall. He exited into the next chamber to shouts
from Karkaroff of "Bravo, Viktor!"

Silence quickly settled over the students again and they all concentrated on the Goblet again.
As though it was waiting for their attention, the flames again turned red and another eruption of
fire shot a new piece of parchment into the air. Nimble fingers caught it and Dumbledore's
voice rang across the hall. "The champion of Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!"

The blonde rose from her seat and left the hall to loud applause of her own. Ron chuckled
slightly as he noticed many of the other Beauxbatons were going through various types of grief and
disappointment.

The silence that settled this time was especially tense between the Hogwarts' students. Many
sixth and seventh year students seemed to be casting speculative and appraising looks at each
other. Harry leaned forward in his seat, wondering who'd represent their school. It seemed that
the Goblet was taking a long time to announce their champion.

Just as Harry felt that the Hogwarts students would riot if a student wasn't named the
flames turned red and sparks began to spout out of the Goblet. A long flame shot into the air and
expelled a piece of parchment. Every Hogwarts student leaned forward as Dumbledore caught it.

He opened the parchment and spoke even before he read it. "Hogwarts' Champion is…"
His face went gray and he spoke in a shocked tone, "Harry Potter."

**&&&&&&&&&End Part
5&&&&&&&&&**



