Unofficial Portkey Archive

A/N All of these characters still belong to Jo Rowling, darnit. Oh BTW this is one of favorite chapters.

Chapter 31: Warfare and Reconciliation

*****************Head Student's Common Room, Hogwarts************

March 9, 2006
7:00 am

"Goddammit, Harry I am not some fucking little girl for you to protect anymore." Hermione snapped furiously as she sat down on the couch with a huff. Over to one side Hedwig and Crookshanks looked at their masters like muggles at a tennis match, both with what if they were human, would be considered perplexed looks.

Harry glared back at her as he followed her into the room, "I am so fucking sorry I blocked that stunner meant for you then, dear." He snapped and paced, throwing furious glances at her every so often.

"I could have stopped it just fine, you prat, anyway it left you open...SHIT!" Hermione got up, went over to the bathroom, and slammed the door. Harry could hear the water running as he threw himself down on the couch she had just left. Crookshanks paced over to him and jumped up in his lap, purring furiously. Harry looked down at the huge kneazle in his lap and laughed bitterly, "Think she will forgive me this time?" Harry asked the cat and after petting him for a moment he got up. Grabbing some clothes from his room, he headed back out the door to go use the prefect's shower.

After a few minutes, Hermione came out of the shower in a towel, her hair dripping. "Harry, HARRY" she called as she looked for him. "Damn prat ran off, well screw him." She went into her room, changed quickly and left the room in a huff.

Twenty minutes after she left, Harry returned, he had been held up by some first years having a problem with DADA coursework, and as their teacher he felt he should try to help if he could. He ran up to the room, "Hermione? Hermione?" He glanced quickly thought the rooms in the suite, but he couldn't find her. "Damn it, well hell, I guess she didn't want to be bothered with waiting to talk to me." Harry stormed, than grabbed his bag of books and left. Hedwig hooted, softly, mournfully. Crookshanks replied with a despondent "MEW."

*************************Great Hall******************************

7:45 am

"Harry, where's Hermione?" Ron asked as Harry met him coming out of the Great Hall. The anger was pouring off him, enough to make even Luna stand up and pay attention.

"Fuck if I know, she's blocking her location," Harry muttered.

Ron glanced over at Luna who was holding his hand. She shrugged at him, with a tiny smile, "Luv, can you make it to class alone, I think I need to talk to Harry." Luna nodded, as she could plainly see the need. Standing on her tiptoes, she gave Ron a quick kiss on the cheek, and waved as she hurried down the hall to her class. Ron's automatic grin faded as he turned back to his friend, his brother by choice. Taking a deep breath, he grabbed Harry's arm and jerked him to the side.

"What" Harry snapped irritably as Ron pulled them into a seldom-used side room. Ron's wand flicked and the door closed and the walls lit white with a silencing charm.

"I believe that is the question I should be asking you, mate." Ron replied with a small, tight smile, which he dropped at Harry's expression. Hermione's usually the one who stands up against him when he's in one of these moods, but I have a feeling that she's the cause of this one way or another. Ron thought bleakly, and then summoning the courage that placed him into Gryffindor in the first place, "Ok what are you two fighting about then?"

Harry eyed him balefully, "What makes you think we had a fight?"

Ron returned his glare evenly, and in a tone dripping with sarcasm, "Ohh let's see, the fact that you two aren't normally more than one, two yards apart at any given moment, the fact that you are so pissed that your eyes are flashing right now..."

"They are?" Harry asked worriedly.

"No, Harry, but you just admitted that you were fighting by the fact that you didn't know and had to check." Ron replied with a small grin, now that he wasn't in danger of being turned into a toad. "And remember mate, who my parents are, I've seen a lot of fights. The only exception is when you and Hermione fight, stuff tends to blow up."

Harry sighed in response, and slid slowly down the wall he had been leaning on. "Bloody Hell...Ron I, I mean...we were training this morning with Moody and Tonks and Lupin. She was looking the other way and one of them fired a curse at her, and I blocked it..."

"And let me guess, you covering her got yourself stunned." Ron immediately deduced the outcome.

"Sort off, I mean Lupin almost got me, but I was able to deflect enough that it only hurt. Anyway as soon as they left, Mione blew up and started yelling me about letting my damn hero complex out again, and how she was a big girl now, and she could have blocked it. And then we get back and she storms off to the bathroom, so I go to use the prefects' and when I get back she's gone no note, no anything. Couldn't even stay around to let me..."

"Harry" Ron interrupted, "How long was it before you got back?"

"Twenty or thirty minutes, I don't know, I started to go right back after my shower, but I got delayed by some of my DADA students, and..." Harry replied, rambling a little.

"Mate, could she have waited a bit then left?" Ron asked placatingly.

"Hell if I know." Harry replied, as a thoughtful look flitted across his eyes.

*********************Great Hall**********************

12:00pm

Potions and Transfiguration had passed slowly with a chill in the air. Harry had finally found Hermione, but she hadn't said a word to him, either mentally or verbally, all morning. Ron was certain that Snape was warring within the entire class; over whether or not say anything. On the one hand, he would have dearly loved to insult Hogwart's "Golden Couple", but on the other hand there was the fact that Harry and Hermione both, along with Ron, Luna, Dumbledore and Lupin had risked everything to literally drag him from Voldemort's dungeon. In the end Snape let his uneasy truce with them stand and let them pass unmolested, verbally or physically, very possibly out of a sense of self-preservation if nothing else.

Draco, also wisely took discretion to be the better part of valor and let them be. It was only a short while ago that he had secretly renounced Riddle, and he kept his undisclosed peace with them as well. The other Slytherins however, weren't as smart. Ron barely kept Hermione from literally squashing Pansy Parkinson like a roach, when she bowed to her baser instincts and commented on the situation. Ron had been told that it had been Pansy, not Draco that triggered the attack on Hermione's parents, and he was still amazed that he had been able to get Hermione out of there before she struck Pansy down. Especially since Harry, who would have normally fulfilled that function, had just hurried ahead before the confrontation had happened.

In Transfiguration it wasn't quite as bad, they did talk at least, but only what was necessary for class. Ron, who was still playing the part of observer, noted with an inner grin that though they might be angry at each other, they still subconsciously showed just how close they really were. Which was amply demonstrated by the fact that both sat as close as they possibly could without actually touching, and that as soon as the other wasn't looking, they would glance over worriedly, a sick look on their faces.

Finally they all sat down for lunch, Hermione at least four seats from Harry instead of her more usual seat, damn near in his lap. Ron caught Ginny and Luna's eyes and flicked his gaze over to Hermione, then back at them, then at the door. Ginny immediately got the hint. With a muttered word to her blond-haired future sister-in-law, she and Luna got up, grabbed Hermione's elbow, and with a brief sound of surprise, led her from the hall. To coincidentally the same room that Ron had questioned Harry in this morning.

Ginny towed Hermione into the room. Luna following closely closed the door and cast silencing and locking charms on it for good measure. "Ok Hermione, what the hell are you two fighting about?" Ginny asked; a little annoyed with her friend, or rather de facto siblings, now.

"You know I could squash you two like bugs, maybe turn you to newts..." Ginny didn't look impressed, and Luna, Luna was probably looking for Nargles in her hair or something as she looked back at Hermione dreamily. The two sixth year Gryffindors did their house proud as they mutely stared down the girl whom on any given day was possibly one of the three most powerful entities in the school. Finally Hermione sighed, "Damn Harry, he...he tried to do his damn protect, Mione act this morning in training and I called him on it." Hermione replied as she glared down at her feet.

"So let me get his straight, Hermione" Ginny replied, she bit her lip to keep from laughing. "The man, who truly loves you more than life itself, defended you, probably at his detriment, and you are mad at him for it."

"Yes..." Hermione snapped, then took a deep breath, "No, I mean I was, I'm not a little girl, Gin, and he..."

"Do I even need to explain his side" Luna put in languorously from the side.

"No dammit, it's just that I was going to apologize, I mean I stomped off to the shower, but I came out, I was going to apologize, but he was gone, the prat, he didn't even stay long enough for an apology, see if he gets one now." Hermione crossed her arms and glared first at Luna, then at Ginny.

"Did you wait anytime at all, maybe he had to go somewhere, it does happen Hermione?" Ginny asked.

"No...not really" Hermione replied in a thoughtful tone.

Ginny's brown eyes twinkled, "then get your arse in there and talk, or think or whatever you two do, to him. I really don't want to waste the remainder of the day, with you two fighting, I mean I already spend enough time with my or rather our parents, I don't need to be reminded of them at school."

Hermione looked thoughtful for a long instant then without a word to the other girls swept out of the door, overriding Luna's locking charm with a wave of her hand to Ginny's amusement and Luna's astonishment. She strode purposefully down the length of the Gryffindor table, and stopped behind Ron who was sitting next to Harry discussing an upcoming Quiddich practice. "Ronald, move." She snapped in a tone that brooked no argument. Ron got up and moved, and Hermione immediately dropped into his seat, determinately looking straight forward, not at Harry.

At the staff table McGonagall looked down at the drama at her house's table. She too had noticed their behavior this morning in class, and that they had started the lunch apart. Damn they really are like James and Lily. She thought for the thousandth time, as she was reminded forcefully of the times that pair had fought. At least they both have learned control.

Harry glanced over at her from the corner of his eye, he couldn't take it anymore, I'm sorry Hermione; I'm an arse.

Eyes still not meeting his, No I am Harry

No, Harry I came out and you were gone and I thought...She trailed off in her thoughts, as she noticed the eyes of the rest of the Gryffindors and she suspected, without turning around, several staff members on them.

Harry immediately realized her thoughts; we could apparate out of here.

We're not supposed to be able to do that remember? Remember no one can do that in Hogwarts? Hermione replied humorously, wistfully wishing they could be allowed to be seen doing that very thing.

They both continued the silent act, not looking at each other though both really wanted to. I'm sorry, Mione I was going to apologize when I got back from the shower, but I went to the prefects bath since you were in ours and in no mood for company, and I got held up, and I...

A single soft chuckle escaped her lips, causing the Gryffindors to look up hopefully, I got out of the shower, and you were gone, and I stomped off without waiting for you to come back, I was mad when I came out and you were gone.

If they want a show, Harry thought to her as he turned his head to finally meet her eyes, Merlin, I've missed your eyes all morning.

"Not as much as I've missed yours love," Hermione replied verbally, though in a whisper so soft only he could hear it.

Harry finally said his first words out loud of the whole conversation, "orchideus." A beautiful bouquet appeared in his hand and almost shyly, he handed it to her. She responded not with words, but with a fist knotted in his hair as she pulled his lips to hers, to the accompaniment of raucous applause from the Gryffindor onlookers. She pulled away slowly, both of them gasping for breath, each with a tiny little smile. Dropping her head to his shoulder, they sat there like that for the rest of the lunch. After almost another twenty minutes of comfortable silcence between them, the bell rang and Harry started to get up only to stop at a look from his other half. He sat there, waiting, as the rest of the school, dutifully filled off for afternoon classes.

Hermione looked at him questioningly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She glanced around at the rapidly empting Great Hall. Harry, She sent with a thought.

Yeah, Mione?

Sure, in my bag. Why? Harry replied in his thoughts, wondering where this would lead, getting there just as she uttered the answer.

"We're skipping class this afternoon" Hermione said with a huge grin as she noticed that they were more or less alone. Rising slowly, methodically, she stretched, which did highly interesting things to the uniform shirt she was wearing, then with a strength that would have surprised the uninitiated, pulled him to his feet to meet his lips once again.

Harry pulled apart just enough to reach back into his bag, and with a very practiced moment, and after verifying that no one else remained, swept the invisibility cloak over them both. "Where to Mione?" Harry whispered to her, as they stood invisibly pressed against each other in the middle of the Great Hall, and then bit back a small moan as she moved, just a bit, against him.

Hermione giggled, as she felt something against her hip, "I don't know, check the map?" And moved a bit more.

"Damn it, I will have to walk dear" Harry growled throatily, and pulled the Marauder's Map shakily from his pocket. "I...I really solemnly swear that I am definitely up to no good." Harry managed through the distraction, and the lack of blood flow to his brain.

As the map filled in, "up anyway," Hermione whispered with another giggle. She glanced down at the map in his hands, with the look that Harry privately found irresistible, the one she got when she was plotting something. "Snape's office? Or McGonagall's?" Her scheming was momentarily interrupted, as she felt fingers start to slide up her outer thighs under her uniform skirt, "Or right here." She touched her stomach with her wand, "inconceivous."

"Or right here," Harry agreed, "Silencio". Careful not to pull the cloak off of the two of them, he lowered her to the floor, as he felt her fingers near his belt buckle. He silently returned the favor, hooking his thumbs under the waistband of her knickers, and sliding them down and off, with a movement almost as practiced as that with the cloak. Harry gave out a little moan as fingers reached into his trousers and squeezed gently. Taking him in her hand she guided him, gently to and into her.

"GOD" Hermione moaned as he slipped home then began to move in time to her. Without a conscious effort or decision, their minds, thoughts, feelings became one. Harry's hands slipped up under the lip of her shirt and slipped her bra out of the way, his thumbs stroking in gentle circles in time with his hips. With a brush of his lips against hers, his tongue asked for entry, and received it agreeably, Neither of them said a thing, they were way too far gone for that, though if Harry could have spoken, he would have gasped in pleasure at the little growling, purring sounds coming from his mate.

Each felt a building pressure, and their hearts started hammering in time with each other, as each felt not only the reaction of their own bodies, but that of their lover though their shared link. With their hearts beating as one, they started rocking together, faster, faster, faster...Finally they reached the edge together, and with a final thrust, they fell over the precipice as one, shuddering and panting, even their breathing in time with one another, "OOOHHH GOD!"

They collapsed together, Harry rolling onto his side so as to not lie on top of her. With a twinkle in her eye, Hermione looked at him, her head propped up on her elbow. "Love, we really don't have to have a fight to make an excuse for this."

"I was just thinking the same thing" Harry replied bending his neck forward a few inches to kiss her forehead tenderly. "Hermione" Harry said in a suddenly serious tone.

"Yes?"

"I love you," Harry replied with all the feeling he could muster.

"I know, me too," Hermione replied as she kissed his lips softly, then with a smirk worthy of any of the original Marauders, "Snape's Office now?" as she picked up the map from where it had fallen next to them, studying it just to make sure.

"Why not" Harry replied, as they started more or less getting dressed, still under the cloak. "Now aren't you glad we learned how to control that?"

"Yeah, otherwise Dumbledore might have a few more shattered tables to deal with." Hermione giggled as she responded, smoothing down her skirt.

*******************Charms #1*********************

1:15pm

"Ron, what happened to Harry and Hermione?" Pavarti asked in a sidelong whisper from the table one over from the one he and Neville were sharing. The Gryffindors were at their normal seats near the rear of the class. A seating arrangement that normally annoyed Hermione, but since she wasn't here after all...anyway when she was here, it didn't matter, they usually had already covered the subject being taught, either in DA or in training, or just because Hermione had gotten bored and read two or three books ahead, a situation just like today's for the teens. At the front of the class Professor Flitwick was going over delaying charms, in combination with other charms to put off a spell's activation. As all the DA members had long since learned that trick from Harry in conjunction with laying traps for Death Eaters, they really didn't have to pay attention.

Ron shrugged, and looked down at his watch, still forty-five minutes of this. Ron groaned as he looked at his watch, and then replied to Pavarti. "I don't know they didn't look sick." He replied though he did have his suspicions.

Seamus on the other side of Pavarti and Lavender decided to voice them for him, "Probably having make up sex. It's even better than normal sex."

"Just how do you know, Finnegan?" Lavender snapped in response, quietly, she was still angry with Seamus, over something and had been since the Valentine's Ball.

"Why are you offering?" The Irish wizard replied with a suggestive leer.

"You couldn't handle her Seamus." Pavarti put in and everyone but Seamus laughed. At the commotion Flitwick, finally noticed that none of the seventh year Gryffindors were actually paying attention to his lecture.

"What is so funny Mr. Weasley?" Flitwick squeaked from on top of his desk.

His ears turning red, Ron carefully looked down at his desk, "nothing sir."

***************Headmaster's office************************

"Hello, Indy, what brings you to these shores?" Albus Dumbledore said to the wizard in the fedora and the leather bomber jacket who had just knocked on his door. "I thought that you were still in Egypt."

"Well, Albus, I was, but that dig was pretty well tapped out, and there wasn't much there anyway. It was just another of those I go on to pretend I'm not a wizard anyway, just some grad students, you know how it is at a Muggle university; I'm using the Henry right now anyway, as a cover name. Its kind of hard to explain when you look half as old as you should be under the proper name." The wizard finished his explanation in a decidedly Midwestern American accent, and collapsed into to one of the armchairs facing Dumbledore's desk. He glanced around at the portraits and noticed, barely suppressing a laugh that the more "respectable" former headmasters and headmistresses were glaring at him. "Got anything to drink around here?"

Dumbledore replied with a twinkle sparkling in his eye, "Now I would never have such a thing around here, this is a school after all, Indy." He waved his hand over the desk and two shot glasses, each half filled with firewhiskey, appeared along with a decanter similarly filled.

"Well bottoms up" Indy took the glass and hammered the shot, Dumbledore repeated his action. He gestured toward one of the portraits with his glass, "Albus, it looks like one of your predecessors doesn't like American mudblood filth dirtying your chairs." Though he used the hated epithet, his tone was light.

"Don't worry about Marguerite, she hates everyone, she's still mad that my Head Girl threatened to incinerate her portrait the next time she commented on her skirt length." Dumbledore commented wryly as Holcomb glared at them.

"And you let a student, get away with insulting a former Headmistress? The shame Albus" Indy chuckled at his own question.

"Well she is dating my great-great-great-grandson." Dumbledore replied with a small smile, then with a sigh of getting to business, "As much as I like reminiscing old friend, what brings you here, if it were a social call, you would have probably flooed ahead first."

"Well I was planning on stopping by later this week, but something came up. You remember that dig I did in '74 when I found that fragment of Rowena's diary?" Indy asked, Dumbledore nodded, and he continued. "Well I reopened it the other day, and we found something else in an area we hadn't checked yet, it looks like the site may have been the old records storage for Hogwarts at some time, here." Jones dug inside his jacket and removed a cardboard tube. He withdrew an ancient parchment from the tube and carefully laid it on Dumbledore's desk. "The old English portion is understandable but the Runes seem to tell the story, and I'm afraid that my ancient Egyptian is much better than my Celtic. What do you make of it?" He pointed at the serpent decorating the top.

Dumbledore frowned slightly as he recognized the emblem of Slytherin, it was after all one of the four on his sword, and one a fourth of his students wore every day. Dumbledore pulled a piece of blank parchment and a quill from his desk and began taking notes. After about fifteen minutes, in which the silence was only broken by the sound of Indy refilling his glass and the soft sound of Fawkes trilling, he lay his quill down. Dumbledore closed his eyes slowly and sat like that for a long minute. He opened his eyes, poured himself another shot, and took a long sip. He then finally spoke, "You know what this means?" Dumbledore said, a touch of fright in his voice.

"I know what I think it says, but like I said earlier, my Runes stink." Indy shrugged, though he knew he was right, he could tell from Dumbledore's face.

"Let me have one other person look at this, just to be sure." Dumbledore quickly wrote a note on a scrap of parchment and held it out. Fawkes hopped over, grabbed it in his golden beak and vanished.

"Who?"

"You know that Head Girl I mentioned?"

*********************Hogwart's Dungeon, Outside Snape's office***************

"That was fun," Hermione laughed at Harry's returning leer, as she grabbed his arm and swung it merrily. They were without the invisibility cloak, though in a much more proper state of dress than an hour ago, or even five minutes ago.

"Do you think Snape will think something is up when he notices all of his papers on the floor?" Harry replied thoughtfully, his eyes glinting happily.

"HARRY" She snapped, laughter choking her voice, "He'll assume...."

"I'm kidding, Hermione, I replaced all of them, as we left, no trace, just like Sirius taught us." A cloud passed their eyes at that unthinking statement, but it didn't last, their euphoria was too strong. "Anyway should we go to Creatures, or...." Harry broke off with a suggestive look that caused a little weakness in her stride.

"We better not, it is Hagrid after all, and he had the afternoon session special to show something new." She replied with a touch of annoyance, mixed with a sense of lost hope at missing Hagrid's new find But before she could go on, a brief flash of fire erupted above their heads, gone as quick as it came, and a note accompanied by a single red feather floated down. "Think we are in trouble, love?" Hermione muttered as she pocketed the feather and opened the note.

Hermione,

Please come to my office as soon as you can. If Harry is with you, have him stay in class. If you would, make sure you are not seen coming here, just in case all of the eyes in the walls have not been removed.

Albus Dumbledore.

"Looks like I get to go to class by myself," Harry replied from were he had read the note over her shoulder.

"Looks like" Hermione replied as she bent her neck slightly and kissed him on the cheek. "See you later, dear" Hermione silently vanished from in front of his eyes.

"No magic in the halls, dear, I'll have to deduct points" Harry laughed to himself at his own joke and headed down the corridor, towards the main floor and out. Maybe he could visit with Hagrid before class, he sure wasn't going to go to the last half-hour of charms.

************************Headmaster's Office*************************

"You wanted to see me sir?" Hermione asked quietly from behind Indy's chair, having apparated in, just like Dumbledore, without a sound.

"CRAP" Indy jumped in his chair at the sound of her soft soprano, spinning and going for a wand, only to find Hermione's already pointed between his eyes, the tip already glowing a sullen red. He raised his hands slowly.

"Please Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, Hermione nodded and put away her wand. Dumbledore hid his face behind his hands as he fought back a laugh, Serves Indy right, going for his wand, Harry or Ron probably would have hexed him.

"Sorry" Hermione muttered, a little embarrassed at the reaction that was instinctive after almost seven years in the Wizarding world.

"No matter, Hermione Granger meet Dr. Henry Jones, Jr." Dumbledore indicated the American wizard with a wave, and on hearing the name, Hermione's eyes lit up.

"It's good to meet you sir, your paper on the ancient wizards of Central America was particularly enjoyable, the part on the use of blood magic and its comparison to modern-day dark arts..." Hermione gushed, only to be cut off by a wave from Dumbledore.

"Call me Indy, can I call you Hermione? Shakespeare, A Winter's Tale right? I'm sorry about going for my wand, I've been a little jumpy lately" Hermione nodded silently, she knew that feeling well. Indy turned to Dumbledore and smiled, "Albus I don't quite remember your students having such a knowledge of wizard archeology, or being quite that fast on the draw." He finished with a raised eyebrow.

"Circumstances Indy, you know how it is" Dumbledore replied with a wave, "Hermione please come over here, I would like you to check my translation on something Dr. Jones has brought. Translate it and we'll compare results."

Hermione nodded and walked over behind his desk. She was immediately intrigued by the parchment, and started scribbling on a blank parchment that Dumbledore had placed on his desk without a word. With a glance she thanked him and read and scribbled on. Once again silence reigned, except for the scratching of her quill on the paper. As she went through the text, she turned gradually paler, and whispered something to herself, as if trying to verify a fact to herself that she did not quite believe.

"Let me compare this to something, sir, just to verify its authenticity." Hermione said quietly, and with Dumbledore's nod, "APPERO SWORD". Indy had his second chance to jump as the Sword of Ravenclaw apparated the quarter mile or so from her and Harry's suite to her hand. She didn't draw it however; she just carefully copied down the Runes on the guard of the sword. She had remembered them of course, but she wanted, needed to make sure. "Envesco" The sword vanished again, and she glanced over at the top of Dumbledore's parchment where identical runes where written. "I assume that you got the runes from the Headmaster's sword?" Hermione asked and she got a slow nod. "That's what I was afraid of, since we seem to have the same translation. Though I can't seem to translate the last bit, the rune keys don't seem correct."

Indy looked intrigued at the pair, and asked, "I brought this to Dumbledore's attention because it seems to authenticate legends of the old Chamber. About how the chamber would bar and remove non-pure bloods from the school." But his blood grew cold at the grim headshake of the two.

"Hermione would you like to explain," Hermione looked grim, and she glanced uncharacteristically at the firewhiskey on Dumbledore's desk, Dumbledore snorted and poured her a shot, "you're of age in more ways than one dear" He said quietly as he slid it over.

Hermione picked up the shot and slammed it, after letting the liquor settle her nerves for a second, "you were close, Dr Jones, what you said matches what is in even the restricted History of Hogwarts. However, this parchment is a security parchment, or its ancient equivalent. You have to have the runes on one of the Founder's swords to properly translate the document. It says: The Chamber of Secrets holds the power to purify the world. Those of blood impure or without the touch of magic will not survive its true awakening. The guardian of the chamber, I assume it means the Basilisk, protects against the impure within, while the chamber will protect from without. The Sword of the Heir, will unlock the power, and cleansing fire will engulf those who are not worthy."

Hermione paused, the translation finished, and turned to Dumbledore, as if Jones were not in the room at all, "This has to be Riddle's end game, he didn't have the Sword of Slytherin in the fifties when he was here, and Ginny sure didn't have it five years ago. He'll attack and try to activate the Chamber. I do wish I knew the last little bit." Hermione finished with horror in her eyes, God, I wish Harry were here, I need a hug right now. Hermione thought almost desperately, at which she got a worried thought in return from the direction of Hagrid's hut, it's ok Love. She felt Harry calm down, as she replied.

"I assume that you were just talking to Harry?" Dumbledore said with a grin that was unsuited to the topic, but was suited to other things, not under discussion. Hermione nodded silently, "Good, have him come here, and have him go ahead and bring Ron too, I think we may need to plan something around this discussion"

Hermione nodded again, and walked to the window overlooking Hagrid's hut where she could see many little black dots, seemingly running from something, belching fire, or something else noxious at them. Harry get up to Dumbledore's office and bring Ron. Hermione thought at Harry as she could see the little black ant sized person representing him pause his running out by Hagrid's hut.

She saw Harry duck something, and "heard" Be right there. She saw tiny Harry reach out and grab his fire haired friend and head off behind some bushes and vanish. He appeared behind her in the next instant.

"What's up Mione" Harry asked as he and Ron brushed something off their robes.

Ice Harry?

"Hagrid found out his Wyvern could shoot ice." Harry replied verbally to her silent question. "Not that I mind terribly having an excuse to leave, we get enough things shot at us, but..."

Hermione wordlessly thrust her copy of the translation under his nose, and Harry tilted it so Ron could see her neatly scripted translation too. After they both had read it, "So I didn't end the Chamber's threat, and Godric and Rowena were right a thousand years ago."

"It appears so, Harry" Dumbledore said sadly.

"Wait I'm not so caught up on my recent events in this country," Indy put in with a confused look. He looked around at the people in the room, but no one looked as if they wanted to fill him in, not from their expressions anyway.

Dumbledore relented however, "How long have you been out of touch, Indy?"

"I've been in Egypt for the last eight years, or in the Himalayas, I'm not up on current events in the Wizarding world or the muggle for that matter, except to know I should be careful in the Middle East, and back home we've been distracted somewhat for the last few years anyway." He replied evenly.

"Henry, Riddle has returned," Dumbledore paused at his quiet exclamation, surprised that anyone in the Wizarding world didn't know that perilous fact. "Harry killed the basilisk guarding the Chamber almost five years ago, in one of Tom's first attempts to regain power since his return. There have been...difficulties since, you noticed the rebuilding in Hogsmeade?" Indy nodded, he hadn't really thought about it. "Riddle's forces almost destroyed it last June, they were stopped in great part by the actions of the three you see here."

Sudden realization flashed across Indy's face, "Wait you're Harry Potter?"

"Yeah" Harry muttered, "That would be me." He shook his head slightly and the scar appeared for a second from under his messy mop of hair, that he grew longish to help cover it. Uncomfortably he looked at Dumbledore, "If you are done with us sir, Ron, Hermione and I will get together with Mad-Eye and Remus about this." Dumbledore nodded and the three quietly left, by the door this time.

The door closed with a slight thump as the three wizards left, and Dumbledore turned to his guest with a slight frown. "Harry is a bit sensitive about his fame, as are you Indy."
The archeologist nodded, he knew what it was like to have fame thrust upon you unwittingly.

A/N Ok slowly we start to reveal the endgame...and oh yeah, I hope ya'll like the resolution to their fight. Next Chapter H/Hr visit Harry Parents....

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