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Disclaimer: It’s JKR’s not mine. It’s J.K Rowling’s stable of characters, settings, and ideas; not mine. I’ve never profited from my writings and frankly never plan to.

Life at Lupin Manor was filled with training and plotting against the responsible parties for Harry’s newfound status as the second most hated wizard in all of Great Britain, aside from Voldemort that is. It had taken a couple of weeks of owls, but finally they had managed to set up all of the final details for the meeting with Dumbledore. After the negotiations for the details of the meeting had been changed from Snape's presence to Moody’s, the remainder of the meeting planning had gone extremely smoothly.

Harry and Hermione’s training was going faster than either would have ever imagined possible. Initially, Remus and Sirius had been amazed at the progress the couple were making in their animagus transformations, until one day Hermione objectively said, “Well, it wasn’t like you were putting in twelve hour days when you were perfecting your forms. From the sounds of things, you were sneaking around the castle at ungodly hours just to get a couple of hours of practice in a week.”

With the point conceded, it wasn’t nearly as surprising when they both had gotten to the point that they had mastered the ability to transform. However, while they could transform at will they still needed to work on the hardest part of the process which was to train their bodies in the transformation for long enough so that they exhaustion they felt now after transforming, would eventually go away. Leaving them with the same mastery of their forms as Sirius and unfortunately Pettigrew.

Harry’s occlumency training was going quite well as Sirius had pushed Harry to the point where he could block almost any attack Sirius could send at him. Being that Harry was a natural at legilimency, he had found the art to be rather easy and instead they spent the majority of their lessons discussing the responsible use of the restricted art.

It had been decided amongst the marauders that Harry would teach Hermione occlumency when they went to the Granger’s house. It was necessary as a means of protecting the varied secrets that they had begun to accrue within their little extended family.

The trial of Ginny Weasley was also growing closer and closer, and they had exchanged letters with Ron indicating that the entire Weasley family would be there in support of both Ginny and Harry. The prophet had mentioned the trial several times and Harry was well aware that it was going to be a media circus, especially in conjunction with the smear campaign the prophet and ministry were running against him simultaneously.

It was the morning of the meeting with Dumbledore as Harry and Hermione were sitting in their usual morning place in the kitchen. They were sitting around the table as they read the day’s prophet in companionable silence. It had become their custom to wake up early and walk into town, grabbing a copy of the paper to see what new outlandish claims had been made against Harry.

This particular morning it had been asserted in the paper that the Potters had struck a deal with Voldemort, to give their lives in exchange for Harry to be trained as Voldemort’s apprentice. It had come as a surprise to everyone else when they found that Harry didn’t take the personal attacks in the paper seriously, and he often was able to make light when the others in the house had difficulty doing so.

Harry smiled as he read the paper and said, “So what do you think of my new nickname love?”.

Hermione giggled and replied, “Oh do you mean the dark apprentice? Well, it seems rather like they stole that from Star Wars, doesn’t it?”

Upon seeing Harry’s baffled expression she covered her surprise and said, “We’ll watch all of the movies this summer when we get back to my house love.” Harry nodded and she softly asked, “Are you sure it doesn’t bother you, when they disgrace your parents’ name like that?”

Harry pulled off his glasses and ran his hands over his eyes tiredly before he said, “I’ll always know the truth about my parents. What these idiots in the ministry and at the prophet think, it really means nothing to me.”

Hermione smiled softly as she caressed Harry’s cheek. Harry leaned into her gentle touch before she said, “You’re a remarkable person Harry Potter.”

Harry slowly pulled away and with a wistful smile on his face he said, “I really need to get ready for the meeting later love. Would you like to join me for a run?”

Hermione bit her lip and then shook her head in the negative before she replied, “I imagine I’ll be running after the meeting is over. It’s the only way I’ll get any sleep tonight.”

Harry smiled and gave her a deep kiss before walking out of the room with an extra bounce in his step that he reserved only for her.

As Harry began to run around the short two hundred meter track that Remus had set up in the ballroom, his mind thundered with a million questions he by all rights should demand that Dumbledore answer. Harry’s frustration melted into drive as he began to push himself harder and harder around the track. Five kilometers became ten as his sweat cascaded down his back and chest, before he knew it his legs simply screamed for him to stop as he felt the very blood in his veins turn into battery acid and burn through his very being.

By the time he had finished Harry quickly divested himself of his t-shirt and was pulled from his fatigue by a cat call coming from the other side of the room. Harry quickly turned with his hands on his hips as he continued to breath heavily from exertion. Hermione was standing in the corner of the room by the entrance and was watching Harry like the cat that had just caught the canary.

Harry smirked as she blushed, before she walked over to him and sweetly said, “As much as I love watching you all sweaty and without your shirt on, you need to get ready for Dumbledore and Moody. They’re going to be here in less than an hour and a half.”

Harry’s eyes widened before she added to his retreating figure, “I set out an outfit on your bed. Once your all cleaned up I want to talk to you about something.” She heard Harry grunt his approval before he vanished up the stairs. He never heard the happy sigh that came from Hermione as she realized that this was what life with Harry could be.

When Harry had gotten out of his shower and dressed himself, he walked out of the bathroom connected to his room to find Hermione sitting on the edge of his bed with a small smile on her face. Harry was wearing a smart pair of khakis with an emerald green pull over, and looked the roll of powerful and confident young wizard just as Hermione had hoped he would. She gently asked, “Are you ready to find out a few things from Dumbledore?”

Harry sighed as he nervously ran his hand through his still damp hair and said, “I really don’t know love. I mean something tells me that whatever Dumbledore tells me it won’t be the whole truth. That’s just how the old codger works.”

Hermione nodded and her reply was cut off as Harry continued, “I can’t help but think that this whole prophecy thing is really going to change things.”

Hermione took a deep breath and said, “I can’t help but agree with you Harry. Your parents wouldn’t have mentioned it unless it seriously changes the whole way you look at your life.”

Harry furrowed his brow in thought for a moment before his face cleared and with a cheeky smile he said, “So did you enjoy the show earlier in the training room?”

Hermione blushed and replied, “I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t. Working out has certainly done wonders for you love.”

Harry smiled as he stood and offered his hand, “I’m quite pleased that you approve.” Harry gave her a gentle and chaste kiss on the lips before he said, “Let’s go grab a snack before Dumbledore gets here.” Hermione smiled as they left Harry’s room to prepare for his date with destiny. They reached the kitchen only to be completely and utterly surprised as Albus Dumbledore and Moody were already sitting at the table eating an early lunch with Remus and Sirius.

Harry frowned and with no warmth in his voice said, “Headmaster, I’m afraid that you are early for our meeting.”

Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled as he said, “I must apologize Harry, but Alastor here insisted that we get here early to check for any bugging devices.”

Harry warily looked at Moody and said, “I hope your not planning on sipping from your flask the entire time you’re here.”

Moody chuckled as his eye spun around taking in the entire room before he said, “Not to worry lad. I carry a flask around but I don’t drink from it that often.”

Harry relaxed slightly before helping Hermione to her seat before taking his own as he made himself a sandwich and watched the two visitors carefully as though to sense their intentions for the day. Moody carefully hid a grin as he was happy to see how cautious Harry was acting in the encounter. Hermione also noticed Harry’s tenseness as she grasped his hand and squeezed it gently before she whispered into his ear, “You’ll be fine Harry.” Harry did visibly relax after she said this, and he leaned over and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips as his thanks.

Dumbledore smiled and said, “I am happy to see my assumption about the two of you was correct all of those years ago.”

Harry’s eyes narrowed and he brusquely asked through gritted teeth, “What do you mean sir?”

Dumbledore flinched slightly upon hearing Harry’s tone and he replied, “You and Ms. Granger, it was obvious you‘ve cared deeply for each other since Halloween of you first year and I suspect that it would have been earlier if not for Mr. Weasley’s interference.”

Harry relaxed slightly apparently appeased with Dumbledore’s answer and the rest of the table lapsed into a very uncomfortable silence feeling the tension between the old wizard and the young one.

By the time the early lunch had finished and the dishes had been done Harry walked up to Dumbledore and said, “Let’s have our discussion first, and if you answer everything to my satisfaction, then and only then may you watch us train this afternoon.”

Dumbledore sighed as Harry led him to the library and the privacy it allowed. The doors to the library opened as Harry merely gestured with his hands and Dumbledore’s eyebrows nearly shot off of his head. Dumbledore didn’t notice the carefully concealed smirk Harry had, as he had just unleashed the only wandless magic had had been able to pick up in his week of training.

Dumbledore took the offered seat and he heavily said, “Harry, I understand that you have every reason to be angered with me. However, I must insist that at the time there wasn’t a better solution than living with the Dursleys and the protection your mother’s blood had provided.”

Harry arched his eyebrow as he sat on the edge of the large table before he tonelessly said, “At this point it doesn’t really matter to me what you think was the best solution. The truth of the matter is that it wasn’t your to make in the first place.”

After a moment of watching Dumbledore squirm in his seat he continued, “But, that’s not why I asked to be here today sir. I want you to tell me about the prophecy concerning me.”

Dumbledore paled slightly before he gravely said, “I do not believe that would be a good idea Harry.”

Harry frowned and asked, “Why is that?”

Dumbledore looked decidedly uncomfortable before he said, “You are too young to carry the burden the prophecy places upon you.”

Harry gave Dumbledore a long and hard look before he simply said, “You mean like the burden of knowing of the existence of a prophecy that places a great burden upon me but not having any idea what I can do.”

Dumbledore made to speak but Harry continued his little rant, “Or perhaps you mean the burden of carrying the guilt around with me that I made it possible for Cedric to die because I spared Wormtail. You know headmaster, its not like this can be worse than having the nagging feeling that Voldemort is after me for more than simple revenge.”

Harry caught the slightly panicked expression that flashed across Dumbledore’s face as he mentioned this and he pressed on, “That’s it isn’t it sir, is it? I’m a threat to Voldemort, that’s the only reason he’d have tried to kill me when I was a baby and now three times since I’ve been to Hogwarts.”

Dumbledore let out a resigned sigh and he said, “I’m afraid that you have deduced a part of the prophecy that you wish to know.” After a moment he added, “I will give you the general supposition of the prophecy, and I will show you in its entirety when we return to Hogwarts for school in the fall.”

Harry grudgingly nodded and Dumbledore said, “The prophecy states that you Harry, are the only one with the power to defeat Tom Riddle. It also states that either of you must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.”

Harry frowned and asked, “What exactly does that infer?”

Dumbledore simply replied, “Divination is a vague discipline Harry. I believe that it indicates that either you must kill Tom or he must kill you to fulfill the prophecy in full.”

Still sporting his thoughtful frown, Harry nodded and then said, “I don’t want to become a killer sir. But, I will if I need to. I’m not stupid, and frankly I assumed it would be something bad, but I’ll need to hear the entire prophecy before I set up how I am going to do this.”

Dumbledore smiled appreciatively and said, “I will offer my aid in your training if you wish it. There are other obstacles we must overcome before you can face Riddle, but I am confident that if we bide our time we can succeed.”

Harry smiled slightly and asked, “Will you ever just come out and tell me the things I deserve to know about my life, or will you always persist in making everything a puzzle of some sort?”

Dumbledore replied without a hint of hesitation, “I’ve always found puzzles to be so much more gratifying when solved as opposed to being told the answer.”

Harry pulled his glasses off and pinched the bridge of his nose before calmly replying, “Sir, the thing you are neglecting to remember is that it isn’t your life that is being put on the line.”

Feeling slightly more comfortable with the tone of the conversation Harry said, “You knew that there was a spy in Hogwarts because the cup had been turned into a portkey. Yet you used me as bait to pull Barty Crouch Jr. out of hiding. I was almost killed because you treated my life like a chess piece.” Harry voice became cold as he asked, “Who made you the chess master?”

Dumbledore sighed and noticed that Harry kept repeating the same idea over and over, who made him the one to decide to play games with people’s lives. Deciding that he needed to begin regaining Harry’s trust, Dumbledore sighed and said, “Harry, the diary you destroyed in your second year was a dark object that was more than an enchanted diary. It contained a piece of Tom Marvolo Riddle’s soul. The object was called a horcrux and it and several other objects are the key to how he did not die on that fateful Halloween all of those years ago.” Dumbledore pinched his beard thoughtfully and added, “These objects are what have made Tom immortal.”

Harry opened his mouth to say something but before he could speak his mouth snapped shut and he took on a very thoughtful look for a few minutes. Finally he said, “It makes sense. Everything he said in the graveyard, it makes more sense now.” Harry turned his entire focus on Dumbledore and asked, “What do you know about them?”

Dumbledore sighed and said, “I have a suspicion that he has made up to seven of them including the piece that still resides in his body. We are fortunate however, because with the connection you share with Tom, you should have an easier time of disabling them than anyone else, aside from Tom, would.”

Harry slowly stood and with a smirk said, “True Gryffindor eh?”

Dumbledore chuckled and with a twinkle in his eye said, “It is the choices we make that determine who we are. But family isn’t a matter of choice, is it?” Harry laughed and rolled his eyes at Dumbledore before leading the way back out of the library and down to the training room.

When they reached the training room they found Hermione dueling Remus and Sirius in a mock exercise they had invented that involved Hermione using projectiles to block curses. Harry sent Dumbledore a quick grin before jumping into the battle as he wielded his wand. Hermione shot Harry a grateful look as they began to summon and conjure more things to block the various curses.

As Harry and Hermione were blocking the hexes Moody walked over to Dumbledore and conversationally said, “They’ve been training these two in creative but useful ways Albus.”

Dumbledore smiled as he watched the pair work together and he said, “They are very advanced for their ages. While Ms. Granger uses her impressive intellect in combination with her magic, Harry has a creative ability in the art of magic that allows him to use his magic very effectively. How else do you think he managed to create a patronus powerful enough to chase away over one hundred dementors?”

Moody turned towards Dumbledore as he magical eye focused on Harry and Hermione before he quietly asked, “Can we use them in the order?”

Dumbledore sighed heavily and said, “I am afraid their are extenuating circumstances that would prevent them from directly becoming members of the order. However, they will be welcome to work with us and attend meetings I believe.” Moody nodded his agreement as they watched the young witch and wizard work together for a few more minutes before Remus called for a stop and they all walked over to Dumbledore and Moody with expectant looks on their faces.

Harry had a strangely peaceful smile on his face and asked, “So what did you think?”

Dumbledore smiled and said, “I think that I have just witnessed a very impressive display of magic from two of the finest students Hogwarts has ever had the pleasure of hosting. If you wish to continue your training when you return to Hogwarts I believe I can provide an ideal room from which to continue your specific training and perhaps teach some others as well.”

Hermione’s face lit up at this and she excitedly asked, “Professor Dumbledore, can we maybe start a school club for defense?”

Dumbledore frowned and replied, “Normally granting such a request would be my pleasure. However, seeing as how the public hasn’t totally bought into the ministry’ smear campaign they intend on catching you doing something potentially incriminating this year. In all honesty I believe the ministry is doing this for an additional reason than the one I previously mentioned to you. I believe there are many in the ministry, minister Fudge included, that would like to have you as a token head for them.”

Harry sighed and then patiently asked, “What does that have to do with starting a defense club sir?”

Dumbledore smiled slightly as he readjusted his glasses and said, “The minister believes that I am acting against him by wishing to inform the world at large of Tom’s reemergence. If I allow anything beyond the regular curriculum in defense he may assume I am raising a personal army amongst the students of the school.”

Hermione broke in and asked, “What if we make it an illegal club? If we make it look like we are going behind you back, they can’t blame you, can they?”

Dumbledore pinched his beard in thought before he nodded and said, “I believe that would be an acceptable compromise Ms. Granger. I believe the room I was mentioning earlier would suit the purpose quite nicely. Unfortunately, I will have to leave the recruitment and privacy of the group up to yourself and Harry here.”

Moody chimed in, “If you need any help organizing the group or on deciding what to teach, feel free to send me an owl, I’d be glad to help.”

Harry smiled and replied, “Thanks for the offer Mr. Moody.”

Moody looked aghast, “Call me Mad Eye or Moody, but never call me Mr. Moody, makes me sound as old as Albus here.”

Dumbledore chuckled and said, “Be that as it may, I believe we have seen what we have come to, and Harry and I have had our conversation as well. If you wish to see either myself of Alastor here again this summer, you merely need to send an owl as he stated earlier.” With that Dumbledore turned and followed Moody over to the fireplace where they each mumbled their destination before vanishing in a swirl of emerald flame.

After they vanished Hermione anxiously turned towards Harry whose expression had dropped from a smile to a frown and she concernedly asked, “What did the prophecy say Harry?”

Harry sighed and replied, “Let’s go grab some dinner in the kitchen and we’ll talk about it there.” The other three marauders shared a worried look before following Harry into the kitchen trying to prepare themselves for the bad news ahead.

After they made a small dinner and had served themselves, Harry quietly said, “I’m the only one who can kill him.”

Hermione squeezed Harry’s hand in asked, “The only one who can kill Voldemort love?”

Harry nodded and then in a stronger voice said, “It’s not that I’m scared of dying or of even being hurt by him. I just don’t want to become him in the process.”

Sirius was the first to break the heavy silence following Harry’s admission and he said, “You won’t be him simply because you’ll have to kill him.”

Hermione interjected, “You have something Voldemort doesn’t Harry. You’ll feel every death that happens because of Voldemort, as if it was you that had caused it. Voldemort doesn’t feel anything and that’s why you’ll win. You’re fighting for all of us and he’s only fighting for himself. Our love will give you the strength that you need, if you let it.”

Harry silently listened as Sirius and Hermione had their say, before he folded his hands on the table and looked down at them. After a moment he quietly said, “I don’t want to become a killer, but I will so everyone else can live in peace.” Harry excused himself as he took care of his dishes and walked up to his room.

Hermione looked at Remus and Sirius desperately wanting to console Harry but not certain of what she could do. Remus understood the young witch’s plight and softly said, “There’s nothing you can say that will make him feel better Hermione. But he does need you up there.” Hermione nodded and started off in a near sprint to the stairs and Harry’s room.

Hermione reached Harry’s door and hearing nothing to indicate he was upset knocked once and waited a moment before opening his door. Harry was sitting on a mat on the floor with his eyes closed and his legs crossed. Hermione immediately recognized what he was doing as a form of deep meditation to enforce his occlumency shields. Hermione ran across the hall and grabbed a book before returning as she sat on Harry’s bed and glanced occasionally over at him while he meditated.

After a couple of hours Hermione decided to try her luck at pulling Harry out of his meditation, just as she had the day he left the Dursleys. Harry’s eyes opened much more slowly this time although he had a serene smile on his face before he asked, “Hello love, how long have you been sitting here?”

Hermione smiled at Harry’s at ease manner and said, “I’ve been reading and watching you for a couple of hours.”

Harry slowly stood up before he yawned and said, “I’m feeling a lot better about everything now. I guess I just needed sometime to think and put everything into perspective.”

Hermione walked over to Harry and wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him into a hug before she murmured into his chest, “I’ll always be here for you too love. Please don’t push me away.”

Harry leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead before he asked, “Could you still love me even if I become a killer?”

Hermione pulled back and in a fierce voice she replied, “I always will love you Harry. Killing Voldemort won’t make you a murderer, but it will make you a savior.”

Harry smiled slightly as he pulled away from Hermione and said, “I’m not going to be a savior. I’m just someone who has a future to fight for and I’m making a stand to ensure that I live long enough to see it.”