Harry Potter and the Enchanter's Key

The First War

Twenty years ago, there was waged a horrible war in the wizarding community. A terrible wizard, who had emerged after a decade of transformation had developed a following of loyal, albeit dark, but loyal followers. It was during this span of 15 years that one man ran so ramped throughout the wizarding world that his name was never spoken. It was never spoken by those scared of him; however there was a group of powerful wizards that fought against this great, dark wizard. It was the Order of the Phoenix that stood against this wizard and fought until his untimely defeat at the hands on a one year boy. How is it possible that the Order of the Phoenix headed by possibly the greatest wizard of modern time, Albus Dumbledore, didn't defeat the great wizard Voldemort, but a small boy with a small patch of untidy black hair, and piercing green eyes... Harry Potter, how is it possible that he managed to live, and defeat the dark lord?

It was during the day of his defeat that wizards threw all conspicuousness aside; however for the Order of the Phoenix, it was a new beginning. They had lost members in the war, most noticeably the Potters, James and Lily, who were murdered at the hands of Voldemort himself who then turned his wand upon Harry, a fatal mistake. And the Longbottom's, Frank and Alice, who were tortured with the Cruciatus Curse until they went insane at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange. Both had produced a child in the month of July, Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom.

Months before either were born, a tall, fluttery woman with large glasses and dresses that gave her the impression of being a large insect had applied for position of Divinations teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That night, coupled in the Leaky Cauldron, a very popular pub and portal to wizarding street Diagon Alley, with none other than the headmaster of Hogwarts and founder of the Order, the very faulty Sybll Trelawney, great-great granddaughter of legendary Seer Cassandra Trelawney, gave a prophecy of her own. Within that room she gave a prophecy, a prophecy that had to deal with the end of the Dark Lord, his reemergence, and the death of either he, or the one that he marks as his equal.

And while it is thought that only Albus Dumbledore had heard the whole thing that in fact was not the case. For on that fateful night, there had been a speck on the windowsill that no one had paid the slightest attention to, a red bug with black spots, a beetle to be precise.

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Owl Post, Yet Again

"Wake up!" Came rising the snappish voice of Harry Potter's aunt, Petunia Dursley.

Harry woke up and looked around himself, not quite sure what had happened. The last thing he remembered doing was writing a letter for both Hermione and Ron, which was asking both of them to get him out of Number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging. Then the next thing he knew, he was back at the Department of Mysteries and the last thing he saw before being snapped awake was his godfather, Sirius falling backward into the veil, and the laughter, the terrible laughter of Bellatrix Lestrange. He felt is face; he was drenched in what was undoubtedly cold sweat.

"Wake up!" The hissing voice came rising up to his room once more.

Groggily getting up, Harry placed his glasses on his face. Looking at once toward the cage of his beloved snow owl, Hedwig, he noticed she was gone.

"Get down here boy!" The voice this time was not of Aunt Petunia, but his uncle. A wide, large mustache wearing man named Vernon Dursley.

Trying to flatten his untidy hair, he opened the door and went down the stairs, arriving at once in front of the three Dursleys. Uncle Vernon stood there, his face already a light shade of purple as he finished yelling. Aunt Petunia, a tall, bony person with entirely too much neck, looked Harry over with a sneering glare. Dudley, Harry's cousin, was still wide, but he had finally grown taller than he was wide, and was wearing a suit which suggested to Harry that they were going somewhere and without him at that. He closed his eyes as he imagined himself heading over to Mrs. Figg again. She was the lady the Dursley's always gave Harry to whenever they went somewhere. Harry always thought her to be nothing more than a batty, cat-loving, old lady. However he found out last year during a Dementor (former guards of the wizarding prison Azkaban) attack that she was actually a Squib, or a person who wasn't magically inclined, but participated in the magical world. She had been watching him ever since he had been placed on that doorstep in Privet Drive 15 years ago. Even though he now knew this, he doubted she would change her ways about trying to conceal to the Dursley's that Harry might actually be able to enjoy himself at her house, which was the last thing the Dursley's wanted, for him to ever be happy.

"What did you want?" Harry asked somewhat upset at them, he hadn't wanted there company ever since he had gotten back.

Sirius' death weighed heavy in his heart still even though it had been a month. He had tried to repress it so much that he forgot he wouldn't be getting a cake or card from Sirius that summer when the rest of his birthday things had come. Ron had gotten him a large assortment of different pranks from Fred and George's joke shop which Harry had helped pay for. Hermione, ever studious, even in the period they were in had gotten him something that greatly surprised him. Somehow, she had sent him a somewhat large picture of just the two of them with a note that said how much she missed him and she hoped he, Ron, and she would soon be together again. He had scanned the picture several times, as if looking for some hint of Ron. Upon looking at the back of the note, he had found that the picture had been taken in their fourth year by Colin Creevey, a positively ecstatic Harry-fan who was a bit too enthusiastic. Harry had almost forgotten they had had that picture taken during the time Ron and Harry were at a bit of a row spouting from Ron's jealousy of Harry being placed in the Triwizard Tournament, a competition between the three largest wizarding schools in Europe. They had tried hiding themselves, but Colin found them in the end. Thinking of the picture brought a strange smile to Harry's lips. Apparently, that fact didn't slip past Uncle Vernon.

"What are you smiling about? No matter, I'll tell you this only once boy, we are leaving to go attend to Marge, and we're leaving you in this house. Now we expect to find this place in one piece when we return, we'll be gone for a week." Said Uncle Vernon who looked through the small slits his eyes made in the great fat face of his.

"A w..week?" Sputtered Harry, who couldn't believe his luck, a week free of the Dursley's.

"Yes... a week, now I told you, no... none.... of that business that you do at that freak of a school you attend, you know what I mean boy, don't do it."

"Promise." Harry said this automatically, he had wanted to get that letter off quickly, the quicker he obliged, the quicker they were gone.

Uncle Vernon could sense the anticipation Harry had, but thought better to leave it alone as he turned and ushered his family out of the house, turning to Harry one last time.

"I warn you boy, one slip-up, and you'd wish those dementy-whatsits had gotten you last year." Uncle Vernon said with a slam of his own door, leaving Harry completely by himself.

"Me, free?" Harry looked at his hands as if he had done something to grant this wish.

Walking back up the stairs, he looked over and saw that Hedwig had returned, but unlike her usual midnight flights, she hadn't returned with something dead in her mouth, however in her mouth was a letter. Harry took the letter and stroked Hedwig's beak a little before turning the letter over a few times and opening it:

Hey Harry,

So sorry about your godfather... but I've got extraordinary news Harry! While I was with my grandmother in Diagon Alley, I came across some very interesting news in Herbology and Beyond. Apparently, there is something called a Potterkey. Upon asking what it was, they told me that it was a key of some sort, a bloody good key at that Harry, because it can bring your parents back.

Harry stopped reading, he didn't know who this was from, but whatever they were telling him, he liked very much. He reread the last line several times before deciding to go on.

I asked the guy who was telling several other people this, he wore deep red robes, and he had his hood up, so I couldn't see his face. But he looked over to me, and told me that very few people knew. The other wizards and witches left, and he told me that it was hidden in London at the moment, and that several members of some sort of Muggle law keeping force, policemen or something like that, were guarding it. I think you could past them Harry, just think, your parents!

Just go for it,

Neville

Harry had still not put the letter down after reading it. Neville Longbottom? Neville was a round-faced, very forgetful boy who Harry had known for the five years he had gone to Hogwarts, both being in the same year and House, Gryffindor. However, for as long as he had known Neville, Harry had never known him to talk to strangers, or be so daring as to say to Harry that he should blatantly break the rules just to get a key that Harry wasn't even sure existed. However there was a pang of desire inside of him. What if it was real? A voice said inside of his head What if it was real? What if he could bring back his parents back? How much he would love to talk to them, to hug them, to just be with them. Then what about Sirius, could this key bring him back as well, then Harry's family would really be complete. His mother, Lily. His father, James. Their best friend, Sirius Black. As images of the three, most noticeably the picture of his parent's wedding, popped into his head, he looked up and noticed the large picture of himself and Hermione he had placed on the wall. Immediately, her voice pierced through the pictures and entered his head with so much force that he would have assumed she was in the room with him.

"How could you possibly take that seriously Harry? You don't even know who that's really from! Neville has never written you before, and you know how well V..Voldemort can manipulate people. You should send this to Professor Dumbledore, and I'll see if I can find anything about a key that can bring people back from life."

Harry could only smile as he remembered her voice, why was he still wearing that dumb smile? Looking back at himself in the mirror that was placed on the inside of his drawer door, he saw the smile. That was the smile that Uncle Vernon was very suspicious of. It was also the same smile that he had twice conjured upon his face as he thought of Hermione. The bushy-haired girl had been Harry's friend since their first year at Hogwarts, and she had been there for him when he needed her the most, specifically during a time in their fourth year when his best friend Ronald Weasley had deserted him out of jealousy. Then just as suddenly as Hermione's voice had entered his head, another voice rang out.

"There is no spell that can bring a person back from the dead." The voice belonged to Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Harry remembered him telling that to Harry and Sirius after Lord Voldemort's return in Dumbledore's office. A pang of sadness hit his stomach, Sirius being the cause. He had tried hard not to think about Sirius' death since it happened, but sooner-than-later, he realized he would have to cope with it. Or would he? What if this key, the Potterkey existed? It wasn't a spell, it was a magical object, so maybe it could bring his parents, and maybe even Sirius back to life. Sitting on his bed, he mulled it over and over. Looking at the chart he had created for himself to mark the days when he would return to Hogwarts, he could see that it was the third week of July. No one had come for him, though he wasn't sure why they would. Still clutching the letter from Neville, he realized that he had forgotten to finish his letters to Ron and Hermione. Releasing his grip on the letter, he walked over to his desk and finished writing the nearly identical letters, that had expressed how bored he was at Number Four Privet Drive and how he wished they would come from him. Oddly enough, he didn't describe the letter from Neville, or even the fact that he had gotten one from Neville. Deciding that he didn't want to worry the two of them about a letter that he himself hadn't taken seriously, he went to tie them to the legs of Hedwig when he suddenly looked at his alarm clock, the reflection showing him that picture of Hermione and himself. Sitting back into the chair, he sighed loudly.

"Am I mental?" He asked himself. "I must be, having these weird feelings for Hermione. I mean, she's my best friend, apart from Ron."

"Well, most find that talking to yourself is very mental." Answered a voice in his head. "But Hermione has always been there for you."

That was very true, and Harry found that at times, his thoughts lingered on Hermione, and he had found himself looking at that picture a lot. Grabbing Hermione's letter, he scribbled a few more words:

I've missed you loads too Hermione and I hope to see you very soon.

Finishing up, he tied the letters to Hedwig who took flight. Harry watched her until she disappeared.

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The Potterkey

That night, Harry had had another dream, but unlike the ones he had been having for the entire summer, this one was quite different. It had begun with Harry talking to Hermione about how he was supposed to get to Hogwarts from where they were, Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Hermione giggled, and Harry had blinked, and suddenly they were in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Hermione was busy telling Harry how much she wished he would come with her to the mountains to see house-elves during Christmas break. Harry was telling her that house-elves wouldn't be in mountains, they'd be in homes.

"But they are there Harry, they aid the giants." Hermione was telling him.

Harry found her to be gibbering when suddenly Neville Apparated next to them. Hermione turned her attention to him, and had begun to yell.

"You just broke the rules! You're not even supposed to be able to Apparate or Disapparate in Hogwarts!"

"Sorry Hermione, hey Harry, did you see the Potterkey?"

Harry was about to reply that he had seen nothing when he was abruptly awaken by someone's voice.

"Harry, Harry Potter?" came a voice that sounded far, from outside. It was also three in the morning, as Harry found out after looking at his clock.

Looking around, he found himself very shocked to see a young wizard outside his window, on a broomstick no less. Without knowing even who he was, Harry yanked the boy out of his window and into his room.

"What are you doing? Do you know how many Muggles there are around here?" Harry said while rubbing his eyes from the sleep that was in them.

"So sorry chap, oh, by the name is Miniscus Reading." said the young wizard who had extended his hand.

"Reading?" Harry said groggily as he shook the young man's hand, also noticing that he was about three inches taller than Harry.

He had messy black hair kept very short, but long enough to get in his face, which held piercing green eyes. He could've passed for Harry himself, had he not smiled, where instead of fine kept teeth, he had straight, yellow teeth. Closing his mouth quickly, he moved his hair out of his face.

"No chap, Reading, you know, like the street name." replied Miniscus who was busily dusting off his robes which were a deep blue, and picking up his broomstick, a Cleansweep 600, the same kind Cho Chang flew.

"What are you doing here?" asked Harry who had finally shook his sleepiness away and finally realized that he had another visitor from the wizarding world.

"Well, I'm here to talk to you of course, the famous Harry Potter. Bloody brilliant of that Longbottom, to send you an owl and all. Guess I should've done the same... oh well." answered Miniscus who had looked around, as if expecting something.

Harry looked at Miniscus a bit more hard than he meant to when he realized that he hadn't offered him a place to sit. "Oh, you can sit here if you'd like." Harry had offered him his chair which Miniscus Reading took eagerly.

"Thank you, I've always wished to speak with you. I assume from Neville that you've heard of the Potterkey." Miniscus looked up at Harry who was in the process of sitting down, but froze once he heard Miniscus.

"You know about the Potterkey?" sputtered Harry who had finished sitting down and was staring at Miniscus.

"Why of course I do, I was next to Neville when that old wizard told everyone in the store about the Potterkey. From what I heard of you however, I would've thought you would jump for the opportunity, but you're here asleep."

"What do you mean from what you heard of me?" Spat Harry who was getting angry at the accusations this stranger, Miniscus Reading, was throwing at him.

"Well, I've heard everything about you, from the way you thwarted the Dark Lord's, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, attempt at getting the Philosopher's Stone, then how you found the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets and stopped the younger version of The Dark Lord and saved Ginny Weasley. Of course everyone knows of your bravery when you faced off against Sirius Black and that werewolf Remus Lupin."

Hearing Sirius' name come from Miniscus didn't sound too good to Harry, it was almost as if he spit it out. His anger continued to rise as he listened on to this poor informed young wizard.

"Then two years ago, you somehow got away from the Dark Lord while Cedric Diggory died, and you won the Tri-Wizard tournament. And last year, taking your friends into the Department of Mysteries. No one outside of the people in there actually knows what was going on in there. We only know that you got out of there, and Albus Dumbledore dueled against the Dark Lord who has risen again."

His anger soared as he heard Reading spit out Dumbledore's name as well. His anger was so much that he didn't even realize that Miniscus seemed to relish in saying Voldemort's name.

"What are you here for?" asked Harry who was trying to calm down his raging anger.

"Well, I'm here to take you to the Potterkey chap that is if you want to."

The discussion had gotten back to the Potterkey. Harry had started to calm down as the idea of getting his parents came back to him. Along with that came his curiosity toward the thing.

"How do you or Neville even know if the thing truly exists?"

"Well... I flew past where it is when I came to see you. Only you can touch it, which is why I didn't get it for you chap. Bloody brilliant magic that is. The Muggles are keeping it in some museum. Fudge really has gone the lengths for this one."

"Fudge knows about this?" It had to be real, if the Minister of Magic knew of its existence.

"Of course, he did place it there you know, strict secrecy. At the museum, they've labeled it as a key from Egypt so that Muggles won't get what it really is."

"And how do we get there?" asked Harry who's curiosity was reaching its high point. He really could get his parents back.

"Broomstick, you've got one right?"

"Yeah, but... well it is three in the morning."

"Good then, grab your robes, and I'll take you there."

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Neville Longbottom

Harry felt quite elated as he pulled on his robes and wrapped his cloak about himself. If it were all true, then he would get his parents back. How much he wished to see them, to know them, to talk, eat, sleep, and do so many more other things with them. He couldn't help but smile as he grabbed his Firebolt, but then the smile faded slightly. The Firebolt was a present from Sirius, and it was Harry's recklessness that got his godfather killed. Stalling at that moment also brought Hermione's voice back into his head, still telling him not to even think of leaving. With these thoughts conflicting with his happiness, he had spent more time standing there then he thought he did, because Miniscus came to ask him what was wrong.

"Nothing." lied Harry who had followed Miniscus over to the window.

With a swoosh, both flew out the window and were headed toward the center of London. Looking down, Harry saw only darkness, save the street lamps. No automobiles were out, and it seemed that everyone from Surrey all the way to downtown London were asleep. Soon, Miniscus took a slight turn left and Harry followed, and both landed outside a large building, square, and very high. As Harry got off his Firebolt, he noticed that several police cars were parked outside of it. Miniscus walked up the steps followed by Harry and they came upon a door. Suddenly Harry finally began to truly think:

"Wait, I'm only sixteen, I'm still not allowed to use magic outside of school." said Harry who backed up a bit.

Miniscus turned to look at him and noticed the expression on Harry's face, one of confusion and a tiny bit of fear. Laughing, he turned back toward the door.

"Alohomora, don't worry Harry, I'm seventeen, I can use it." Miniscus said as the door opened.

Stepping inside, they both looked around at the complete darkness.

"Lumos." muttered Miniscus as a light came from the tip of his wand, which looked remarkably old, but very defined as if he had just polished it.

The two continued to walk in silence, even though Harry had a billion and one questions to ask. Like why Miniscus was doing this, why he himself was doing this, then suddenly Hermione's voice broke into his head again.

"I can't believe you Harry; you threw away all caution to follow something that probably isn't even real."

Again, the voice penetrated into his head so hard that he thought she was standing right next to him. Looking to his side, he realized he had been foolish to think she was there. Laughing at himself he looked forward, but the light was gone.

"Miniscus?" Harry let out very silently as he walked forward, still not seeing the light Miniscus' wand should have been making. He also realized that when he looked to his side, he had hears a slight pop.

Moving toward a wall, his heart began to race, Miniscus had obviously Disapparated, leaving Harry to himself. Cursing himself silently, he walked further, not remembering where the door was, and having allowed that young wizard to lead him deep into the museum. Why did he allow that to happen? Was his love for his parents so much that he would believe anything that would give him sight to his parents? It wasn't the first time either; he had allowed something like this to happen in his first year at Hogwarts. He had come across a mirror named the Mirror of Erised, which let him see his parents in the reflection of the mirror. Shaking the sight of his parents from his head grudgingly, he continued, his hand in his robes, clutching his wand. If anything happened, he would use magic to get out. As he continued to walk, a light hit his eyes. At first he thought Miniscus had reappeared, but this wasn't the case, he was in a square room, its walls being decorated with masks and drawings, and the middle was a thick stone pedestal on which lay a key.

"The Potterkey?" asked Harry who stared at the key for another minute.

Walking over to the key, he read the label underneath it, true enough it read about having been found in Egypt. Looking at the key, he noticed intricate details on it, the key itself was gold, and it had a red phoenix emblazoned upon it. They key was about 5 inches high, and 2 inches thick, which meant it wouldn't be fitting any new house doors.. Harry's mind began to race as did his heart. So many things were going through his head; the very first and most prominent were his parent's faces. Reaching to touch it, he was close to grasping the glass around the key when a figure hurtled into him.

Harry's glasses were knocked askew as he lay spread out on the hard marbled floor of the museum, whoever it was that had run into him still lay atop his chest, breathing hard.

"Geroff." Harry managed to say urgently, hoping no one heard them.

Looking up Harry could see the blurred edge of light coming from up ahead in another room. Without bothering to find out who hit him, he pulled the person aside into a shadow area where the two were covered in darkness. The silent wheezing of the person next to Harry was not the only thing he could hear, footsteps could be heard as well. Just noticing everything was blurry; Harry felt his face, his adrenaline making him forget about his glasses. Searching the floor madly, the footsteps were getting closer. The steps were closer now and Harry still couldn't find his glasses. Looking to his side, he saw the light even closer than before, and he finally found his glasses. Pulling himself back into the darkness, he saw the torches held by the guards, whose footsteps echoed around the room, turn off. The two guards walked off through the room and into another, turning back on their torches and whistling. Their footsteps died out as Harry shoved his glasses onto his face and turned with a glare at the person who had run into him.

"Neville?" Harry asked very surprised, the anger subsiding from him because of the curiousness of the moment, but he felt pangs of desire whenever he caught glance of the key.

"H... Harry?" asked Neville, just as surprised.

"What are you doing here?" both asked.

"Trying to get the key." replied the same.

"That's non-sense, you wrote to me earlier and told me all about the key and to get it." said Harry as the adrenaline left his body, and the aches of Neville running into him coming back. He rubbed his ribs, frightened that they may be bruised.

"You wrote to me about the key." replied Neville who was rubbing his head, the body-part that launched into Harry's side earlier.

None of this was making the slightest bit of sense. Harry rubbed his head out of confusion, thinking about it way too hard. Neville saw him rub his head.

"Did... you hit your head too? I'm ever so sorry."

"No, I'm just thinking about what you've just told me." said Harry as he stood up, dusting his robes off, helping Neville up, he looked past the key toward where he had come in, the exit. "C'mon Neville, we need to leave, someone wanted us here when we shouldn't be."

With that, both got up, very quietly. Tip-toeing there way out of the room holding the mysterious key, Harry tried to retrace his steps when he stopped dead in his tracks, pulling Neville and himself into a deep and dark crook.

"So, all attention d'rected toward the key eh?" Came a voice from the room ahead.

"Yeah, and what a weirdo that gave it to us, a bowler hat he had on his head, lime green at that, what weirdo goes around in this type of day with a lime green bowler hat on?" answered a second voice.

Harry turned to Neville and mouthed the word "Fudge", but soon realized that not only could Neville not see him, but Neville was so terrified that he had shut his eyes tightly. The two guards passed back into the key room and their footsteps pounded off into the distance. Harry pulled Neville back out and both somehow made their way to the exit, which was still unlocked from Miniscus' spell. Outside, Harry breathed in the crisp air, still feeling slightly angry at the confusion he was in, but curiosity seeping through.

"Neville... were you visited by a young wizard named Miniscus Reading?" asked Harry, pulling Neville aside.

"M..Miniscus came to you too?" stammered Neville. "He came to my house, asked me if I wanted to go get the Longbottomkey, but I"

"Longbottomkey?" interrupted Harry, the moon reflecting off of his glasses. "Did you receive a letter that looked like it was from me?"

"Yeah, I told you, I got it earlier this morning."

"I got one that was written by you, and it told me about the Potterkey."

"Potterkey?"

"Yes, apparently someone wanted one of us to get our hands on that key."

"Who... and why?"

"I don't know... that Reading has something to do with this... I know he does." Looking out, he could see the sky was turning green, light was coming soon. "We need to go Neville, we shouldn't go for that key again. How did you get here Neville?" Harry asked as he grabbed his Firebolt.

"Broomstick, grand mum bought me a Comet a few weeks ago, she'd freak if she saw what I was doing with it though."

Harry nodded to him and walked with Neville to get the Comet Four-Ninety. Kicking off the ground, Harry felt the confusion and anger rush away from him as he rushed away from the earth. Soon enough the buildings were large squares. The night air was sharp, and the moon was now starting to share the sky with the sun. Looking at Neville, he waved good-bye before the two parted ways.

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To The Burrow Another Time

The next three days after that experience saw Harry at his most restlessness. He could barely sleep a wink because every time he went to sleep, the key would loom large in his dreams. Whether he was dreaming of Quidditch, or whether he dreamt of the Department of Mysteries, the key was always there, and he could never touch it because Neville would somehow run into him. Waking from this dream yet again, he found it to be the morning, and Hedwig had returned with two letters. Getting up groggily, Harry walked over to the desk where Hedwig's cage was, and patted her feathers softly as she clicked tiredly. Taking the letters from her, he bade her goodnight and as she slept, he read.

Ron's letter told him that the Weasley's would be coming for him that day. Excitement entered his mind as he reread the letter, that meant that he would be leaving, despite having had the house to himself for four days. During the summer, he realized that he did want the company of his two best friends, whereas he hadn't felt that way during the beginning of June.

Hermione's letter told him that she would be going to the Burrow that day and would come with the Weasley's to get Harry. However unlike the two sentences Ron had written him, Hermione wrote a lot more, including the fact that she was so happy he liked her present. She also had written that she wanted to talk to him when they arrived at his house. That was about the last thing she had written, and it had Harry the most worried. Had she found out about his late night trip? Or did this have to do with the weird feeling he always got these days when he thought about her, like the goofy smile he was wearing on his face. Placing there letters in that small hole underneath the loose floorboard, underneath his bed, he went down to have himself some breakfast.

Spending the rest of the morning packing his things, along with taking everything out of that hole, which now only consisted of letters, as he had eaten the cake, Harry couldn't help but think of what Hermione wanted of him. He also couldn't help but be excited by the fact that he had two weeks at the Burrow before heading back to Hogwarts. After finishing his packing, he watched Hedwig who was asleep, then he turned his attention to the large picture still hanging on his wall, he had forgotten about that. Going over to reach it, he jumped several feet back, scared to death by a loud crack right next to him. Another crack could be heard downstairs. Looking over while clutching his chest, he smiled. George Weasley stood there, grinning like a madman at Harry.

"Hey there Harry, nice to see you've grown what, an inch?" George said, still grinning.

"Oy! Harry!" Came the voice of Fred Weasley who was coming up the stairs, opening the door to find George there. "I see... guess I should practice my targeting a bit more."

Harry couldn't help but laugh as the twins looked each other over.

"Well... Harry, what's this?" Fred found the picture of Harry and Hermione still hanging on the wall.

"N...nothing." replied Harry who was trying to get past the two to get it, but George was doing an excellent job of keeping him at bay while Fred grabbed it and looked it over.

"Hmmm, where's ickle little Ronnie? And where in the world did you get this from?"

The pictures of Harry and Hermione were smiling had their arms around each other. Harry felt his face blushing furiously as he tried to act non-chalantly about it. "Just a picture you know, Colin Creevey took it of us in our fourth year, Ron was still mad at me."

"And he had good reason to, look at this George, you'd think Harry and Hermione were me and Angelina, the way their all over each other and all. You know how Ron feels...." Fred stopped seeing the expression on Harry's face. "Uh, I mean, he'd be pretty upset to find out he wasn't in this picture."

"What do you mean how Ron feels?" Seeing the Weasley twins exchange a look, he pressed on. "You mean Ron still has that crush on Hermione?" Harry couldn't help but start laughing when he suddenly heard four distinct sounds come from downstairs.

"Guess the rest are here, well Harry, we'd love to stay, but I'm sure Ron wouldn't want to see this just yet." and with that George Disapparated.

Fred walked over toward Hedwig's cage and grabbed it slightly. "See you soon Harry." Fred Disapparating too with Hedwig.

"H..Harry?" Came the voice of Ron who was headed up stairs.

"I'm up here Ron!" yelled Harry, happiness filling him up again.

Ron came up the stairs, followed by Ginny Weasley, his younger sister who slightly blushed as she saw Harry, but managed a smooth hello. Next came Hermione, and when she came up, Harry couldn't help but stare in surprise, his stomach flipping. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he knew he had never saw Hermione like that before, save the Yule Ball. She smiled at him as Mr. Weasley, Ron and Ginny's dad came up the stairs, still looking amazed at everything.

"Elekticky Harry, I just used it downstairs, the lights come on and off with a switch, how amazing! And what's this?" Mr. Weasley had just ventured back off into Dudley's room where there was a loud gasp, followed by laughter. "The things Muggles do without magic."

Harry laughed along with the rest of the group before tearing his eyes away from Hermione, turning them instead onto Ron. Ron, who was watching Harry oddly, regained his former expression of a smile.

"So Harry... what have you been up to?"

"Not much, but... I should tell you all this when we get to your house Ron." Harry said, his face turning dead serious.

Ron nodded when Hermione stepped up.

"Well, if we want to hear what Harry has to say, we better hurry up and get his stuff to Ron's house." Slapping her hands authoritatively. "Ron, go get your dad, hopefully he hasn't broken anything of Harry's cousin's. I need to talk to Harry."

Ron, raising an eyebrow at the request of Hermione grabbed Ginny and headed off toward Dudley's room. Hermione sat on Harry's bed and watched him as he decided where he was going to sit, smiling as she watched him sit right next to her. Hermione was about to say something when the three returned, grabbing Harry's trunk and taking it down the steps. When they left, Harry turned to Hermione who was looking at him raptly.

"Harry... we've been friends for five years, and I'm sure you've noticed... that Ron"

"Has a crush on you, I know. I'm okay with it seriously." Harry said as he watched Hermione, who looked like she was struggling with saying something.

"That's not just it Harry, it's that... there's another I really like, you know." Hermione got out of her mouth as quick as possible, desiring to look at her shoes rather than Harry who was rather shocked to say the least.

"You mean Krum?" asked Harry who realized quickly that it was the wrong thing to say.

"No! I mean... we're just friends now, pen pals. He would like to come back; he's starting to hate it over in Bulgaria."

"Oh..."

"Harry, Hermione, time to be off!" Came the voice of Mr. Weasley from downstairs, with one last look at each other, they walked downstairs at the same time, reaching Mr. Weasley who was the only one still there. "Ron told me you two were talking, and as much as I would love to let you two continue, I've only got so much time on this fireplace before it's shut off from the magical world again. Ron and Ginny have taken your things, Hermione, you first."

Hermione looked at Harry with a weird smile before turning toward the fireplace that was no longer boarded up. Grabbing some of the Floo-Powder from Mr. Weasley's pouch, she yelled out the name of the Burrow before disappearing in the now green flames. Harry was about to do the same when Mr. Weasley grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Harry, I hate to tell you this, but I lied to Hermione, I've got much more time than needed here, I had wanted to try out so many of the Muggle's things, but now I need to talk to you." Pulling Harry back, he sat him down, sitting across him in one of the Dursley's large lounging chairs. "Harry, about what has happened with You-Know-Who, I'm aware that you have not been getting the news. You need to know some things, such as the fact that his supporters have broken back out of Azkaban."

The news hit Harry like a sack of bricks, but in that instant, a grim smile formed inside of his head.... he would get revenge for the death of Sirius. Surprised by his own wickedness, he just nodded to Mr. Weasley. "So there have been attacks..."

"Many attacks Harry, they've killed and tortured over twenty Muggles, the second war has truly begun. Which is why I am talking to you now... I know what you are thinking Harry, and I must advise against you trying to stop any of the attacks that may happen around you. It is a job that only Aurors and fully trained wizards should atte"

"But they killed Sirius! They've tortured the Longbottoms!" said Harry exasperatedly, he couldn't believe, no he could believe Mr. Weasley was telling him this; he just didn't want to hear it.

"And those are horrible events, none-the-less Harry, I don't want you running off and getting killed, Molly wouldn't want you to run off and get killed."

"Fine." Harry said, his anger boiling.

"Good." Mr. Weasley said with a that's-that sound in his voice, getting up with Harry, he gave the green-eyed wizard a bit of Floo-Powder, Harry yelled out 'The Burrow" a bit more angrily than he meant to, and within a few swirling, vomit-inducing seconds, found himself in the kitchen of the Weasley's, a loud crack next to him told him Mr. Weasley decided to Apparate to his home. "Ah, I see Ron, Hermione, and Ginny must have taken your things upstairs, you should go with them Harry, they've missed you terribly, especially Hermione, and she got her only a few hours ago."

Harry nodded and found himself on the steps of The Burrow, a taller-than-wider, house with more going on inside than most rich people. Going up the steps he heard yelling, followed by laughing, and as he reached the very top of the house, which was the floor on which Ron and Harry would be sleeping, he found out what was going on.

"What do you mean you gave it to him just for remembrance, he has plenty of pictures of the three of us!"

"Yes, but he has none of just me and him, he has plenty of the two of you."

"Ours are at least normal sized; you look like Lockhart, giving Harry this poster."

"It's not a poster, it's a picture."

"And I rather like it." interrupted Harry as he watched Ron and Hermione who were in a shouting match, or at least Ron was shouting. Hermione looked much more contempt to talking normally.

Ron stopped yelling and looked over to Harry, as did Hermione, who smiled widely, Ginny, who looked more shocked by his sudden appearance rather than the fact that Ron and Hermione were yelling, and Fred and George who were both hardly hiding the sniggers they were giving.

"Well, as much as we would love to stay and hear the lover's quarrel, we need to be back to the shop, good Lee Jordan is watching over it, and I'm sure he would love to get back to working with Bagman over at the Games department." said George as he and Fred Disapparated.

"Stupid gits... I can't believe you Hermione." said Ron, who was about as red as his hair.

"What is there to not believe Ron, it's not as if I sent him a picture of me in a swimsuit."

"Waiting for his Christmas present were you?"

"I'm done with you Ronald Weasley." said Hermione, walking out of the room and down the stairs, Ginny looked at the two in the room, then followed Hermione out.

"And you... liking it are you?" Ron had rounded on Harry.

"Yeah, a problem with that?" said Harry, the anger he had from his conversation with Mr. Weasley had not gone away, and if he had to begin yelling at Ron he would.

Ron was about to answer when Mrs. Weasley's voice came from down the stairs, calling them to lunch. Breaking off their beginning argument, the two went downstairs, Ron not looking at Hermione as he walked ahead of the two, Harry trading glances with Hermione. The four of them got downstairs into the kitchen where Mrs. and Mr. Weasley sat. The two were an odd, yet comparable couple. Mr. Weasley was a tall and thin man, much more like Percy, Bill, and Ron, and to some consent, Ginny who was becoming tall as well. Mrs. Weasley was a short and plump woman, much more like Charlie and the twins. Mrs. Weasley had just finished placing sandwiches on the table as Mr. Weasley helped himself to one, his face behind the Daily Prophet, the main wizarding newspaper in England. Ron sat a little distance away from Harry and Hermione, though that was a hard thing to do, considering that the scrubbed table they ate on wasn't that large. Ginny sat next to Ron who thought she was on his side, and had begun talking to her. Harry and Hermione sat next to each other and continued to exchange glances.

"Expecting those letters tomorrow, so I think we'll head off to Diagon Alley at around say 3 on Saturday." Said Mr. Weasley, placing the paper down and finishing another sandwich.

"Tomorrow is Saturday dear." said Mrs. Weasley, pouring him a cup of coffee.

"Oh yes, too right you are Molly, right, so we'll be going once you've gotten your letters, up early everyone."

That night, while Ron was snoring rather loudly, Harry couldn't sleep, he kept replaying all that had happened that day, and was quite surprised at Ron's behavior. Suddenly, he heard a slight tapping on the door, jerking over, he saw Hermione looking at him, dressed in her night gown. She still looked different to Harry, but he couldn't figure out why. Getting up, he followed her outside the door where she had motioned for him.

"What's wrong Hermione?"

"I wanted to talk to you Harry, about today."

"About Ron?"

"Yes... and about you."

Harry looked at Hermione, then looked back toward the snoring Ron. Moving down the steps gently, they made their way past George and Fred's room where they could hear snoring, past Hermione and Ginny's room were they could see Ginny softly sleeping, and into Percy's room where all that was left was the bed, Percy having took everything when he left. Sitting on the bed, Hermione sat amazingly close to Harry, who could smell the shampoo in her hair, strawberry.

"Harry, Ron is very upset with us."

"Tell me about it, you'd think he thought we were together or something."

"Yeah..." said Hermione, a bit leading.

"Want to tell me something Hermione?" Harry said.

"Not yet... I mean no. Can we just watch the sky?"

Harry didn't oblige, and both moved to lie on the bed, sitting up so that they could look out of the window. Harry hadn't noticed that he had wrapped one arm around Hermione's waist, and she had laid her head on his shoulder.

"Harry, I don't think I've ever asked you this question before..."

"What question is that?"

"I've heard you tell me before, but truthfully, do you truly like Cho, I mean, after that date and"

"No... after Sirius" Harry faltered after thinking about his godfather.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't"

"No, it's alright... I... I know Sirius is dead, you know? And it hurts, but I know I need to get over it, in order to do what I need to."

"Kill Voldemort?"

Harry looked over to her.

"You know?"

"Know what?"

"The Prophecy?"

"I don't know any prophecy, but I can just feel it, since the moment I first met you, and knew who you were, I knew you would do it.

Harry smiled and subconsciously pulled Hermione closer, who also didn't seem to notice. "Hermione, I've never told anyone, what I'm about to tell you."

Harry told her all about the prophecy Professor Dumbledore had told him, Hermione paying very close attention. As he finished, Hermione unintentionally grabbed him closer to herself.

"I can't believe you have that much pressure on you Harry."

"It's not mu"

"Yes it is Harry, and you should stop trying to act like it doesn't bother you. I know it does, I know it can eat you alive, having the pressure of the future of the wizarding world on your shoulders like that. You're brave, but don't be stupid, you'll need help."

"But the last tim"

"I know Harry, we let you down in the Department of Mysteries, but we'll practice more, the D.A will be much stronger this year."

Harry didn't say anything, he just watched the moon play against the stars, and the next thing he knew, he had Mrs. Weasley right in his face.

"Wake up the both of you!"

Harry jumped awake, realizing where he still was, Hermione was awake to, and both made to separate themselves as Mrs. Weasley left the room, mutterings of what they were doing in there coming from her. Both looked at each other and suppressed guilty smiles as they left the room and headed downstairs, hoping they would get there before Ron.

They didn't get there in time, as Ron was sitting there, arms crossed over his chest as he watched them come and sit at the table.

"Fancy seeing you two come down at the same time, do something last night?"

"Not at the table Ron." said Mr. Weasley who had come into the room, fully dressed. Gulping down a cup of coffee, he took a bacon sandwich from Mrs. Weasley, pecked her on the cheek, and left. When they finished eating a brilliant breakfast of eggs, bacon, and sausages, four large barn owls came flying down and through the windows, landing on the empty table, each brandishing a letter.

"Ah, the Hogwarts letters." said Mrs. Weasley as Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny took the letters from the barn owls, who left with a sweep of their large wings.

"Can I read this upstairs mum?" said Ron who got up, without thinking of whether or not she would say no. She didn't, and he disappeared up the steps.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other, both still saddened by Ron's attitude toward them, but Hermione opened her letter and smiled. "Our O.W.L's, we've finally gotten them." With that, she buried herself deep into her letter.

Harry raised an eyebrow before opening his; he wasn't sure how well he had done. His eyes widened though as he read the sheet of paper that hosted his O.W.L results. Looking up at Hermione, both smiled.

"19 Harry, I've gotten nineteen O.W.L's! It would've been twenty, but Hagrid did interrupt that Astronomy practical exam didn't he?"

"I've gotten 15... didn't do so well in Potions or History of Magic for that matter."

"I wonder what Ron got?" asked Mrs. Weasley as she took the letters from the two and looked them over, patting both on the shoulder before going off to ask Ron.

Harry and Ron looked over the rest of their letter when they came across the form for what they wanted to study in their sixth year. A long list of subjects flowed from Hermione's letter, Harry's wasn't quite as long, but did have a nice amount of things inside of it.

"Let's see, I think I'm through with Muggle Studies... ooh Arithmancy must stay, should I continue with Ancient Runes?"

"Hermione."

Hermione looked up at Harry who was smiling. "Calm down, you're the brightest person I know; you could probably take every course offered and still pass amazingly."

Hermione smiled, tears leaking out the sides of her eyes. Hugging Harry tightly, she placed her letter on the table when they both heard a loud scream from the top of the house.

Document created with wvWare/wvWare version 1.0.0

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The Diagon Alley Shootout

"17! 17 O.W.L's Ron! That's brilliant, only Bill and Charlie have gotten 17!"

"It's not that great mum."

"Nonsense, that's better than even Harry!"

"Really?"

Harry could feel the heat rush to his face, but tried to ignore it as Mrs. Weasley brought Ron down who was as red as Harry was. He had a weak smile on his face as Harry came and went to shake his hand. Ron suddenly remembered everything again and looked shrewdly toward Harry.

"So how many did you get Harry?"

"15."

A smile came over Ron's face and he shook Harry's hand vigorously. Going over to sit with Hermione, he looked over her paper, not surprised at all. Harry came back and sat next to Hermione who looked at him with a very 'proud' look in her eyes. Smiling back at her, the three looked up as Mrs. Weasley came back over from the fireplace.

"I just told Arthur the news. This is such a great achievement Ron."

Seemingly, Ron was getting even redder.

"Oh... how does a new set of robes sound? No you just got those... a new owl? No... actually, you're father got quite the raise after what happened at the Ministry, sorry Harry, so how about a better Broomstick?!"

"Mum... you just got me one."

"I know, I know, but this one will be better, you deserve it Ron, 17 O.W.L's, I can't believe it, and a prefect."

Mrs. Weasley walked away, still talking about Ron who was a red as tomato and verging on the color of a red pepper. Ron slumped in the chair he was sitting in, apparently trying to hide.

"She embarrasses me so much."

"It's not embarrassing Ron, you did really good." said Hermione as she looked over his paper. "Have you decided what classes you were taking?"

"Anything as long as Trelawney and Snape aren't around me. What are you taking Harry?"

Harry jumped, partly because he was more worried about something that he hadn't been telling them, and because he was shocked that Ron was talking to him without yelling. "Uh I'm not sure, I didn't do too well on the potions exams, and I needed to do well in order to get into N.E.W.T's potions so that I can become..." Harry just realized that he hadn't truly told them what he had been trying to do. "An Auror."

Ron tried hiding a snigger but burst into out-right laughter. Hermione looked at Harry before laughing as well. "An Auror Harry, that's totally out of the question! You can barely stay out of trouble!" At least that's what he thought they would be like. However, both Ron and Hermione looked at him as if it were the best thing that suite him.

"Fits you perfectly Harry." Hermione said.

"Couldn't imagine you doing anything else... maybe a Quidditch player. Could you imagine Harry working for the Ministry?"

Harry pictured himself walking around with a pencil mustache and a lime-green bowler hat when Hermione spoke yet again. "Harry, you've got enough to fill your classes, did Professor McGonagal tell you everything you needed?"

"Yeah... look, I'll just write to Snape, you all don't have to worry about it."

"But Harry..." Hermione began, but was interrupted by the appearance of Fred and George who still had grins on their faces from yesterday.

"Hey Harry... hey Hermione. Say, you two really made a home out of Percy's old room didn't you." George said with a sly grin.

"Now now George, it's obvious our little friends here are finally growing up. Oh Ronniekins."

"Lay off it." Ron said, his face going back to that beet red.

"C'mon Ron, seriously, you should be happy that they've found each other." said Fred looking over at Ron.

"But we haven't found each other..." said Harry looking up at Fred and George. Looking pas them toward Ron and Hermione, he could see Ron's red complexion lighten up and could see Hermione getting redder, a tear in her eye. "I mean... I'm not sure; can I talk to Hermione alone about this?"

Fred and George nodded, but Ron shook his head.

"No way, I'm not leaving you two by yourselves again." sad Ron as he folded his arms over his chest.

"Whoa, I can sense tension in here, why not go outside, let's play a little game of Quidditch? Anyone?" said George as Fred left for the backyard. Looking from Harry and Hermione, to Ron.

"Alright, but it's me and Fred. George, you can have Harry." said Ron as he got up and was soon following Fred out.

"Fine by me Ronnie, you've just given me a bloody good flyer, hope Fred doesn't fly into you two much, his targeting is a bit off."

George walked out into the backyard of the Burrow followed by Harry, but Hermione called him back in. Hoping Ron wouldn't catch this; Harry turned back in and sat down.

"Harry... this is getting out of hand. Ron is so jealous of you, you know that... but... but"

"Hermione... about what you told me yesterday in my room. Am I that other your interested in?" asked Harry as he looked at Hermione, who was very red, and near the point of bawling her eyes out.

Silently and slowly, Hermione nodded. Harry suddenly felt very weird. He felt as if he had eaten a boulder of Honeydukes Chocolate, drinking not only a liter of Butterbeer, but a jug full of pepper-up potion. He wasn't sure if he was as red as Hermione, who was trying to look out the window, then look at the table. Harry wasn't sure at all what to do. Looking down at her, she suddenly looked up, and their eyes met. The moment seemed to last for an eternity to Harry, but soon they were moving closer to each other. Their lips almost touching when a voice came from the backyard, calling them. The moment broke and both looked at each other very sheepishly. Getting up at the same time, both walked out of the Burrow and into the backyard where several gnomes were running away from Hermione's cat Crookshanks. Both decided not to smile when they came out, as both saw Ron looking at them rather suspiciously. George and Fred were already in the air. Harry gave one last smile to Hermione before kicking off on his Firebolt that Ron had thrown him. Ron kicked off moments later, flying very close to Harry.

“Harry, what was that all about?” asked Ron as he stayed with Harry who did a few barrel rolls and a dive.

“What was what about?” said Harry as he watched Ron out the corner of his eye.

“You and Hermione, Harry.”

“Ron, would you”

“Fellows, chaps, we thought you were on separate teams.” said George as he threw a ball to Harry.

Harry caught the ball glad that an opportunity came where he wouldn't have to talk to Ron. He couldn't figure out what had gotten into Ron. Ron was his first friend, aside from Hagrid, and his best friend. Only once had their friendship been tested, and if it weren't for Hermione, Harry didn't think he would have passed it. Hermione obviously would be there for him now, but he didn't want the waters of his friendship to ripple and wave. Ron and Fred moved away and toward each other as Harry through the ball, a quaffle, back to George who had come closer.

“Don't worry about Ron mate; he can be very possessive.” said George as he threw the quaffle at Fred, who caught it with ease, passing it over to Ron.

“What is there to be possessive about?” Harry asked as Ron threw the quaffle right at him.

Harry caught it hard in the chest and almost flipped backward off his broom. Harry could hear Hermione call out his name, and as he steadied himself, he saw Ron turn very red and go back down to the ground. Fred and George looked at each other sullenly before following Ron down. Harry came down last and as he landed, Ron and the twins were walking into the house. Hermione however had stayed and came up to him with a hug, but he pushed her off, just as Ron walked past the window. Harry, sighing, walked past a congregation of gnomes and sat down upon a bench. Hermione followed and sat close to him. Harry felt he had no choice other than to put his arm around her shoulders, and she complied by nestling closer to him.

“What in the world has gotten into Ron?” asked Harry as he watched the afternoon sun.

“You know what's gotten into him Harry, you just don't want to admit it.”

“Admit what?”

“That you know that Ron is jealous.”

“Look… Hermione, you gave me this speech two years ago.”

“I know, but things have changed. We've changed Harry, you and I could possibly have something happen between us that for once, all three of us can't enjoy. For years it's been the three of us enjoying everything, and now it'll only be you and me.”

“But what about you and Ron?”

“It couldn't happen. I thought I liked him, back in our second year, but I realized that through all of that, there was only one person I really wanted. It's been that way since our first year, but I was much too young, too silly to really think about it. I didn't really think about it until our fourth year. It was you Harry, all along it's been you.”

“He”

“Harry, Ron believes you get everything in life, even if a lot gets taken from you, it never ceases to amaze him how much you get.”

“Does he want dead parents, a dead god father? Does he want to bear the burden of a prophecy that places the weight of the entire wizarding world on his shoulders?” Harry began asking these questions out of spite, his anger rising.

“Don't get upset Harry, just look at it from his point of view.”

“That's just it Hermione… I want to look at things from his eyes. He's got a full family; he lives in the wizarding world. He lives every day knowing that Voldemort won't try bursting down his front door just to kill him to fulfill some stupid prophecy. If you ask me, Ron has it all; I should be the jealous one.”

“Oh…”

Hermione didn't say anymore, neither did Harry. They watched the sun and sky until they heard the arrival of Mr. Weasley. Mr. Weasley of course was very loud in making his pride over Ron known through out the house, despite the fact that everyone who could hear was within ten feet of him.

“Brilliant Ron, just brilliant! Perhaps you'll be Minister of Magic in the future. Now where are the other two?”

“Outside.” Harry could hear the sneer in Ron's voice.

“Well then, get them in here, we need to be off; the Floo-Powder ready Molly?”

Mr. Weasley's voice trailed off and Harry and Hermione could hear Ron approaching. Breaking their embrace, they watched Ron come over to them, his face very red.

“Dad said to hurry up, we're going to Diagon Alley.” Mumbled Ron before he turned around and walked back into the house.

Harry and Hermione exchanged worried looks before following Ron into the house where Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stood at the fireplace, waiting for the three to show up. Ginny stood next to her mother whom she was several inches taller than.

“Well, everyone ready? Then Ginny, you should go first followed by Hermione, then Harry, then Ron.” Mr. Weasley said, beaming around at everyone. If Harry wasn't certain, he'd think Mr. Weasley was related to Gilderoy Lockhart.

Ginny and Hermione disappeared into the flames and all that were left were Harry and Ron. Harry grabbed a handful of powder and turned toward the fire when Ron grabbed him from behind. Harry spun as Ron looked down into his eyes.

“We need to talk.”

“We'll talk later.”

Ron wanted to say more, but Harry had yelled Diagon Alley, disappearing into the green flames. Harry reappeared, very dizzy, on the cobblestone-paved street of Diagon Alley. Turning around, he noticed that several fireplaces were placed along the walls just before the exit from the Leaky Cauldron. How could he have missed them after all of those days he spent prowling around in his third year? Ron appeared out of the way he had just come out himself, wiping soot and ash off of himself. Harry realized he should be doing the same when Mr. and Mrs. Weasley appeared from the fireplace.

“I must say, it is an improvement, only buying for two.” said Mrs. Weasley as she led the way down the paved road.

Harry tried to keep to the back, and Hermione followed his lead, walking stride with him. Ron had his father to deal with, who was all over him. Mr. Weasley was so proud that it was hard not to feel rather proud of Ron, who was very red and was trying to hide his face as several girls from their school passed.

“Hello Ron! Hi Harry… and Hermione.” came the voices of Parvati and Padma Patil, and their best friend Lavender Brown. The girls blushed upon seeing Harry, then their faces wavered suddenly as they saw Hermione walking arm in arm with him.

The girls passed very quickly and Harry found himself in Flourish and Blotts, the wizarding book shop. They looked around and finally got their books (Ron and Ginny not having to get second hand) and were on their way out to the center.

“Now, you've all got until 3 to meet us back here. I'll get your things for school, and Ron, you meet us in a half an hour outside of Quality Quidditch Supplies.” Said Mrs. Weasley as she and Mr. Weasley walked off.

Harry glanced at his wrist, forgetting he had gotten rid of the broken watch. Looking up, he saw only Hermione looking at him. Ron was still there, and Ginny was walking off with some friends from her year. What had followed was a very awkward moment that Harry never thought would end, however it did end, and it ended with the familiar, drawling voice that Harry had hated since he stepped foot into Hogwarts.

“So, are the poor Weasley's happy they got money? Or are they still saving from three years ago. A thousand Galleons only goes so far Weasley.”

“Back off Malfoy.” Said Harry, stepping up, his eyes only on Draco Malfoy, who looked at him with just as much hatred.

“Well Potter, I'm surprised you're here, thought you'd have been done in at your own house by the Dark Lord.”

“I'm just fine Malfoy.”

“I don't need you fighting my battles Harry.” Said Ron as he pushed Harry aside, pulling his wand out.

However at that exact moment, a jet of blue light hit at Ron's feet, making him jump back. Draco looked just as stunned, Harry however was seething. Just ahead of them, behind Malfoy stood five people, their robes billowing in a wind that just appeared. The five pulled their hoods down, revealing themselves to be Nott, Macnair, Crabbe, Goyle, and someone Harry thought he knew, but he wasn't sure. Pulling his wand out as well, he moved closer to Hermione, trying to cover her.

“Tisk, tisk, can't have a Weasley harming Luscius' son, can we?” said Macnair, a sinister smirk covering his face. “And look at this men, we've garnered yet another concert with precious Harry Potter, oh what treasure the Dark Lord would give us if we killed Harry Potter.”

“You'll kill no one.” Harry found himself saying, quite surprised.

“Harry, don't take this into your own hands.” Hermione said as she gripped his left arm.

“Wee little Potter's got himself a girl friend.” Said Nott, laughing.

He didn't get to for long though as a sharp blast took his wand from his hand, sending him backward into a wall. Harry had used the disarming spell against him, Ron catching Nott's wand. Macnair shot a red spark at Harry who dived behind a barrel to avoid it. Hermione moved back against a wall as Crabbe and Goyle came nearer. Ron used a stunning spell, who fell into Crabbe, just as Harry used the body bind curse. Both fell and Ron and Harry ran over to Hermione.

“Thank you!” she said, wrapping her arms around Harry, then around Ron. As she backed away, she suddenly screamed. Ron raised an eyebrow when a strong pair of arms wrapped themselves around him. Macnair lifted Ron up and was trying to pry lose Nott's wand, but Ron wouldn't let go.

Harry went to help when suddenly he couldn't move, but he was falling. He realized he had been magically bound, but who could've done it? The fifth death eater still had not moved from his position, but a cold voice gave Harry a very accurate idea of who it was.

“Now Macnair, we wouldn't want to seem uncivilized, dueling like a Muggle. Set the Weasel down… accio wand.”

Nott and Ron's wands came flying into the hand of Luscius Malfoy who threw Nott's to it's owner, then threw Ron's to the ground. “Pity… Dumbledore still sends children to do his work, still hasn't changed. Reading, grab the girl, we'll be on our way, and as for you Potter…” said Malfoy, pointing his wand at Harry, who was moved to a standing position, albeit he floated off the ground by a few inches.

The fifth Death Eater, Reading, grabbed Hermione, who began to kick and scream. Ron was grabbed roughly by Macnair, Nott helping Crabbe and Goyle. As the six began their exit, some spell broke the stone in front of Luscius and Draco, who had gotten very quiet during the duel. Luscius looked up to see Arthur Weasley, Nymphodora Tonks, and Kingsley Shacklebolt running up to them.

“Let them go Luscius.” Said Mr. Weasley, his wand pointed right at Malfoy.

“Ah… Arthur, I couldn't possibly do that, the Dark Lord would not be pleased.”

“And neither would he be pleased to know that six of his followers were dead because they wouldn't follow a simple command.” came the voice of Albus Dumbledore, who was coming from the back side of the group.

Malfoy and the others looked around, weighing their chances. Harry on the other hand wanted them to try and fight, knowing they would fall, hoping they would fall. However he found himself falling, Malfoy had lifted the curse upon him.

“We know when to fall back… gentlemen.” And with that, they Disapparated. Luscius having taken Draco.

Harry pounded the ground hard, they had gotten away again. Harry got up, helped Hermione up, and together they helped Ron up. Mr. Weasley, Tonks, and Shacklebolt came running up to them, dusting them off.

“Impressive battling boys…” said Kingsley as he patted them on the back.

“It wasn't enough.” spat Harry, his anger rising.

“No… you held them off long enough for us to get here, that was impressive, you held off full grown wizards, and Death Eaters at that… are you alright Ron?” asked Mr. Weasley as he dusted his son off.

Ron looked very ill, his face was slightly green, and he was wobbling. “I think I'm going to b” he didn't finish, because he was too busy running toward a barrel and vomiting into it.

“C'mon you three, we need to find Molly and Ginny. I'm sure she's gotten everything for everyone. Thank you Tonks, Kingsley, Professor.” Said Mr. Weasley as Ron returned and Professor Dumbledore finally walked over to the group.

Harry looked over to Dumbledore, seeing whether or not he would reprimand them for trying to fight Death Eaters again. Dumbledore however was smiling down at him from behind those half-moon spectacles that he wore.

“Harry, I must say that I am proud, however… I should tell you this now. Vengeance is not the answer to defeating Lord Voldemort. That is something he will prey upon until it consumes you, and he will have you right where he wants you. I must also tell you that a certain item you've seen before won't help you.” Dumbledore smiled again before sweeping his long robes, disappearing.

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