Forever Together Part 1. Hermione's Tear

Disclaimer

The characters and universe created by J.K.Rowling are hers alone. As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I hope this story can be taken in that way. Some of the additional characters are mine and who knows some of them may even be real.

The tale takes Harry, Hermione and every one else from the end of their fifth year at Hogwarts, to the very end. If there is one…. .Harry turned to his wife, she looked no different to him, but the bushy hair was now silver not brown. She returned his stare; the boy she loved was still there hidden under a mantle of years, his white hair short enough so that the lighting shaped scar was still visible on his forehead. There was no need for words they were so in tune that both knew that the time was right. Standing they held each others hand and indulged in a last kiss. The door appeared before them the lightly fluttering veil hiding what lay beyond; side by side they stepped through……. If you would discover how they reached this point, and what happens after please read on…

Forever Together Pt.1. Hermione’s Tear.

1. Of Past and Present

The early morning sun streamed through the windows of the large circular room. The sounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry going about its normal daily activities barely penetrated the thick door of the office. A gentle whispering sound which seemed to come from the many portraits hanging on the walls presented no distraction. The man sitting at the desk gazed into the object placed in front of him, lost deep in thought. He had long white hair and saw the world over a pair of half moon glasses that were perched at the end of his nose.

His age was difficult to gauge - 50 or 150, it was hard to tell. His features looked careworn but his eyes still held a youthful twinkle. He sighed, his shoulders sagged. It was all over now, he thought. Battles fought, won and lost, some survived, and some did not. The last two years had seen events climb to a climax of such immense proportions that the aftershock sent the wizarding world reeling and left this wizard feeling very weary indeed. For his own peace of mind he needed to sort it all out, set the events in order. Could that what the wizarding world had so recently lost be justified? He needed to know.

He continued to stare into the depths of the crystal on his desk, the smooth surface of the object drew him into its core and the images began to form.

The image of a boy, dark hair, which he had inherited from his father and green eyes from his mother, but that was not the sum of his inheritance, it was far more complicated than that. He was a wizard, he had been all his life, but had only known about it since his eleventh birthday, and on that day he had learned the truth about his parents. They had been murdered by the most evil wizard to arise in living memory; the boy had survived because of his mother’s sacrifice. The wizarding world thought that the evil one was dead as well, destroyed when his own spell backfired as he tried to kill the boy; but he too had survived, only just, but enough, and now he was back. The boy had survived four more attempts by the dark wizard and his followers to kill him. By his own skill, determination and with the help of his closest friends he had thwarted the plans of Lord Voldemort, but a few short weeks ago the side of the dark lord had achieved one success and had robbed the boy of the man he considered his only legitimate family, Sirius Black his godfather.

The boy had other family but they didn’t count, they weren’t magical, they were muggles and as unmagical muggles as there could be. His Aunt Petunia, his mother’s sister, his Uncle Vernon and his cousin Dudley, they hated the boy and the feelings were mutual. The only benefit to the boy was that staying with his blood relation provided protection from Voldemort, he was safe while he was with them, and that is why the boy spent his summer holidays in the last place he really wanted to be.

Harry Potter was miserable; he looked at his reflection in the mirror of his bedroom, his untidy mop of dark hair, his green eyes and the present from Voldemort a lighting shaped scar on his forehead, his shoulders sagged and he sighed. It was like this each evening as the darkness slowly deepened in the sky over Little Whinging. His thoughts turned to the events at the Ministry of Magic last month, and the picture etched into his brain of Sirius, the look of shock and surprise on his face as he passed out of Harry’s life for ever.

Harry was finding it very difficult to forgive himself for Sirius’s death and the injuries his friends suffered at the hands of Voldemort’s Death Eaters; the only comfort was that none of them suffered lasting damage. He lay on his bed thinking of all the “if onlys” that would have changed things. Eventually still fully clothed he drifted off to an uneasy sleep.

Harry’s time with his relations was never pleasant, however this year the intervention of the members of The Order of The Phoenix, with his Aunt and Uncle at Kings Cross, had served to make Harry’s life a little easier at number 4 Privet Drive. They had insisted, quite strongly, that he be allowed to keep in touch with the wizarding world and that retribution would follow any reports of bad treatment.

So his Uncle had become a little less bullish. His Aunt had become a little less shrewish. But, no matter how you looked at it, his cousin Dudley was still the fattest pig on two legs that Harry had ever seen.

“I suppose we will have to allow you to use that ruddy bird of yours” said Uncle Vernon in a voice which left the clear impression that permission was being grudgingly given.

“Well it will stop my friends from becoming concerned; or coming round!” replied Harry using his most convincing voice.

“Yes, well see that it’s only at night!” he retorted, colouring up; “we don’t want the neighbours seeing anything out of the ordinary”.

Other than that his relations gave Harry a wide berth.

So at least Harry could now write to Ron and Hermione and let the Order know he was OK. However one of his friends was not to be put off by the seemingly cheery notes Hedwig carried into the night during the first couple of weeks of the holidays, and she made that very clear.

Hermione’s letter had started simply enough.

Dear Harry,

Thanks for the note! Yes I am completely OK now, no muscle aches or anything and NO I have not had my head stuck in a book since I came home (well not all the time anyway!). My mum and dad are very busy at the moment as their dental clinic has just been refurbished and they have taken on a new partner so it looks as if any long holiday away is out for this year.

Harry could hear the words in his mind as if she was saying them herself. He liked the sound of that voice, he found it comforting and calming. She wrote about ordinary things, ‘muggle stuff”, free of dark wizards and lurking death. It was a joy to read. Then her tone changed, this was the concerned voice he usually heard as he regained consciousness in the hospital wing after some accident or near disaster.

I am worried about you. The letter continued. I know that you say you are OK and that things are better for you at home but I don’t think your uncle and aunt are going to change into Mr and Mrs Nice Person over night, they have had too much practice of being the opposite.

And please don’t get cross or upset with me but you haven’t mentioned Sirius and I know he isn’t out of your mind. I don’t know if you want to talk about everything yet but if you do I am here and I can listen!!. Be a muggle and use the phone!.

Harry put the letter to one side, she was right, but did he want to talk about it yet? He wasn’t so sure, but to be able to speak to her….. Why hadn’t he thought of using the phone? Probably because he never imagined his aunt or uncle allowing it but now it might be possible.

Picking up the parchment again and glancing back at Hermione’s neat writing she had finished. I won’t call you in case it causes problems. I really would like to hear from you.

Love Hermione.

“Aunt Petunia would you mind if I used the phone?”

He had waited until Uncle Vernon was out at work. Dudley was off terrorising the neighbourhood with the rest of his old gang. He thought his aunt might be the softer touch.

“Does anyone you know have a telephone?”

“Yes, she is a friend of mine. Her mum and dad are dentists” Harry added in order to make it all as muggle-like as possible.

“Well alright, but if is going to be a long call get her to ring you back, your uncle has a thing about large phone bills.”

Harry dialled the number Hermione had given him at the end of their first year.

“Just in case” she had said.

He heard the clicks of connection and then the phone at the other end started to ring.

“Hello” said the instantly recognisable voice.

“Err hi.” said Harry.

“HARRY IS THAT REALLY YOU?”

Harry winced at the volume of her reply.

“Err yes”

“Oh it’s so lovely to hear your voice I know it’s only a few weeks but I have missed you,…… and everyone” was the hastily added after thought. “Are you really OK, I didn’t really believe all you said in your note, not that you said very much, and you shouldn’t bottle up your feelings it only makes them worse”.

Harry smiled at the speed with which Hermione had managed to say all this, hardly drawing breath.

“I’m fine; it’s nice to hear you too. Look I can’t stay long on the phone but I would like to talk, maybe not about everything, but as you said talking may help and being here is still like solitary confinement. I wish we could meet somewhere.”

“Gosh Harry I don’t know, what with HIM active, urgh! OK I’ll say it, Voldemort; around it might not be easy to find somewhere safe. If anywhere is safe now”.

Before Harry could think of a suitable reply there was a popping noise in the air beside him and an “Oh!!” of surprise from Hermione.

Harry looked at the floor and the sealed roll of parchment which had just landed at his feet.

“Have you just…..?”

“Yes” said Harry “It’s from school, look at the seal”.

“It can’t be OWL results. It’s still too early”.

There were a few moments silence, save for the rustling of parchment. Harry’s letter was short and to the point.

Speed is of the essence and we have no time turner to help pass the Buck. Pack and use the portkey on your bed. AD.

“Hermione read your note to me”. It was the same.

“Can we trust it Harry?”

“I think so, only the three of us and the Headmaster knew about using the time turner at the end of our third year, so it must be genuine. I suppose we ought to get a move on, see you later”.

With a “Goodbye and take care” ringing in his ears Harry went in search of his Aunt.

“I have to go back to school Aunt Petunia and I have to go now”.

“Well there is nothing I can do about it; the Polkisses are coming round for coffee. It’s typical of your lot, no thought for the normal people of this world.”

“It’s OK, no need, everything has been arranged” Harry yelled as he ran up the stairs.

“Well make sure your room is tidy before you go!” his Aunt shouted after him.

Harry rushed to his room. On his bed was a cracked mug which had certainly not been there before. He began to fill his trunk, stuffing it with all his possessions in a very haphazard manner. Releasing Hedwig with a quick “Follow me” Harry, with his hand holding his trunk and Firebolt under his arm, reached out and touched the mug. The familiar navel jerk and he was away.

Harry landed in a heap in Dumbledore’s study, his possessions flying out of his grip.

The Headmaster was sitting at his desk with an amused twinkle in his amazingly blue eyes.

“Hello Harry, I hope you don’t mind me calling you back to school, I will explain all when Hermione gets here”.

Harry had not been happy with the Headmaster the last time they had spoken; in fact he had been furious. However the nights he had spent thinking things out had made him realise that even if the world revolved because of Harry Potter, it did not revolve around him. He had even contemplated the fact that events so recently endured may have made him grow up a bit.

“Are you still cross with me Harry? I don’t feel we parted on good terms, I hoped you would understand?”

“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking Professor. I cannot help but blame myself as to what happened, but at the time I needed to blame someone, anyone, and I picked you. Neither of us intended things to happen the way they did. I hope I can learn from my mistakes.”

“I have the same wish Harry. I have been around for a very long time and have made many more mistakes than you. None have been as painful to me as the ones I made with you. Can we start afresh?”

Harry looked closely at his Headmaster. The old strong Dumbledore was back, he had hated seeing him looking old and weak as he had at the end of last term. Harry made a resolution he hoped he could keep, not to be a prat.

“Yes Professor I would like that”.

Fawkes the Headmasters phoenix resplendent in his red and gold plumage flew from his perch and landed on Harry’s knee.

“’Lo Fawkes, you forgive me too?”

As if in answer the bird lifted his head, and from his throat came the most beautiful and uplifting song. Harry never tired of hearing it and he reached out and gently stroked the soft feathers.

Harry was half way through the cup of tea the Headmaster had provided when Hermione popped out of thin air and arrived in the study; far more gracefully than Harry had.

“Sorry if I’m late Professor but I couldn’t just throw everything into my trunk and I needed to tell my mum and dad what was going on. Hi Harry”. She beamed at him.

“Think nothing of it Hermione. I know you came as fast as you could”. Dumbledore smiled.

Harry gave her a “girls!” sort of look but then a big smile, because he was genuinely pleased to see her.

“Make yourself comfortable and have a cup of tea. Then I will explain why I have brought you both back to school.” Dumbledore took a deep breath and began. “Something has occurred which as far as I am aware has not happened for some three hundred years. It has a bearing on, but is not directly involving Voldemort or his Death Eaters. I have received a communication from the Islanders”. He paused to see if his words elicited any response.

They did.

Harry looked bemused.

Hermione’s eyes widened in surprise.

“But they never contact the outside world, it’s not in there nature to interfere, I’ve read about them in Secluded Sects and Their Serious Secrets by Archie Digwell.”

“Well at least it wasn’t Hogwarts, a History.” muttered Harry.

Dumbledore chuckled. “Harry what can you tell me about Merlin?”

“Err….Well, probably the most famous wizard in both the muggle and our worlds, he has an award named after him, and he was mixed up with King Arthur, if that bit is true?” He replied.

“Well that’s a rather brief synopsis. I’ll expand it a bit.” Dumbledore said, and continued, “Merlin was born in Wales. He lived and performed most of his most famous pieces of magic there and in the south west corner of England. There is no record of his death; he is thought simply to have vanished. The tale is told that like King Arthur he will appear when needed and aid the champion of light, as he did before. Geoffrey of Monmouth was the person who passed the legend down to us, and as he was a wizard himself, there may be a bit of truth in it. That aside, there is one place in the west which contains so much magic that even the muggles have heard of it; The Isle of Avalon. Merlin was deeply involved with the witches and wizards who lived in it, much of his phenomenal power was said to originate from there.

…….A magical community has existed in the Isle for several thousand years, never very large but very skilled, mainly in the more natural earthbound aspects of our gift. That is why they keep themselves apart; they can protect their own group but cannot fight the dark arts.

They are called ‘Islanders’ err… for fairly obvious reasons . So you ask what does this have to do with us?”

Harry shut his mouth as he was just going to ask that very question.

“Every few hundred years the Islanders find themselves with a bit of a problem, a wizard or witch who, when they reach maturity, is not content to follow the secular ways and to leave the rest of the world alone to stew in it own mess. They are always very powerful, and as far as the community is concerned have an unhealthy grasp of both the dark arts and how to deal with them. They become a disruptive influence and general nuisance.”

“Strangely.” He went on. “They seem to appear just when the outside world could do with a bit of help, and in both this and the previous occasions the Islanders have approached the Headmaster of this school and I, like my predecessors, have agreed to take the wizard in.

“Wow!, an Islander student, that will be really interesting, a completely different view on everything that is going on” said Hermione enthusiastically.

Dumbledore looked at her. “No my dear, not a student, he will be a teacher”.

Harry and Hermione exchanged glances. “Defence against the Dark Arts?” queried Harry.

“Quite correct, and he will be here tomorrow, so we need to get you both settled in then you will be ready to meet him”.

“But why us?” said the pair, almost in unison.

“Ahh!.... Well there was this piece of advice, suggestion really, that came with their request. Perhaps if you read it yourselves it will make sense”.

“Not another prophecy?” said Harry darkly.

Hermione looked hard at him “Another prophecy? Was there a first one?”

“Yes, I’ll explain, maybe later”.

Dumbledore handed over the parchment, and with their heads together Harry and Hermione read.

Take two from three. The one who bears the mark and his companion. They need to learn and understand that he will use the power but she will be a channel for it. The crystal he brings with him will help and the mysteries must give up their knowledge and not lock it away.

The pair looked up at Dumbledore and he shrugged his shoulders.

“I assumed that ‘the three’ were you two and Ron. Harry has the mark” he gestered to Harry’s forehead. “So you see one of the two was going to be Harry and I didn’t think ‘she’ meant Ron. However it’s not a prophecy, just advice, and I’m sure the rest of the message will become clear in time.” Harry scowled at the Headmaster. “Not too much time Harry”.

2. Solomon Aegis

Harry and Hermione had left the Headmaster’s study in the company of Dobby the House Elf, whom Dumbledore had assured would be looking after them over the summer. They followed Dobby down several flights of stairs and it became obvious that they were not heading in the direction of the Gryffindor tower. He led the pair down a corridor they had not entered before, or if they ever had, it must have looked very different, and stopped in front of a set of fine oak double doors.

“Harry Potter, Sir and Miss Hermione these are the guest rooms, it is where Professor Dumbledore says you should be staying now.” said Dobby. “Easy for Dobby to keep clean and closer to the kitchens than your common room. We hopes you find them acceptable.”

Harry didn’t think that anyone would dislike the rooms they had just entered. The double doors had opened onto a sitting room with a high ceiling and heavily panelled walls, a large bay window looked out onto the school lawns and the lake beyond.

There were three doors leading off the main room which turned out to be two bedrooms and a bathroom.

“All the comforts of home Harry.”

“I hope not.” He replied with a grin.

“Look all our stuff has been put into the bedrooms already… Oh! yours has a bigger window than mine.”

“Swap if you want.”

“No I don’t think so cos’ I’m closer to the bathroom which might be handy”

Harry was feeling a little uncomfortable about them sharing, partly because he had never lived in such close proximity to a girl before, and also, he had admitted to himself, that he was rather pleased that if he was sharing with anyone it was Hermione, and he wasn’t sure he should be thinking that way.

She on the other hand was very happy with the arrangements, sure it was a bit strange but she knew Harry so well that she felt as safe as if she had been in her own home. Looking at him standing there with a bemused expression on his face she corrected herself, she felt safer, much safer.

After they had settled in Harry took out the Marauders Map to see who was in the castle. Only one or two of the teachers were present, Professor Sprout was pottering around the greenhouses and Flitwick was in his study. Filtch the caretaker and his cat Mrs Norris were wandering around the corridors. Hagrid was not in his hut, though Fang was, so he must be around somewhere. Other than these few, themselves and Dumbledore the castle was empty.

After sorting out all their belongings, they spent the rest of the day walking in the grounds, both deciding that the lack of students made the whole place much more peaceful. They found that they could appreciate the beauty of their surroundings and realised how lucky they were. They returned to the castle by the path that passed Hagrid’s hut but he was still not there. Climbing up the path Hermione started to get out of breath and Harry unconsciously held out his hand to her, she took it and allowed herself to be pulled along and up the steps. They reached the top of the rise and headed out over the flat lawns which surrounded the old castle.

Harry, like most boys of his age, was not given to flights of fancy but as he looked around he thought it was a beautiful day. In the evening sunshine you could see for miles over the surrounding countryside. The surface of the lake sparkled with light as a lazy tentacle from the giant squid lifted out of the water then splashed back down.

Harry mused, what could be better than being in these lovely surroundings, hand in hand with a pretty girl…………… Whoa! Harry’s daydream suddenly ground to a halt. ‘Hang on this was Hermione here, his best friend’. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Well she was undeniably pretty, and not showing any inclination of letting go of his hand. He reasoned if Hermione wasn’t complaining, who was he to argue.

Harry smiled outwardly.

Hermione smiled inwardly.

They returned to their rooms to find the table laid. They suddenly realised how hungry they were and demolished the meal Dobby had provided for them. Fully replete they finished the evening; quietly reading as the shadows grew, eventually retiring to their own rooms for the night. Harry lay in bed and thought how wonderful the last twelve hours had been. He had really enjoyed Hermione’s company and felt a little guilty that he hadn’t read much at all that evening as most of the time he had been stealing glances at her over his book. It just seemed that he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Was there something wrong with him?

Hermione lay in bed and thought how wonderful the last twelve hours had been. She had really enjoyed Harry’s company and felt a little guilty that she hadn’t read much at all that evening as most of the time she had been stealing glances at him, when he had not been looking at her over his book. There was a warm feeling deep inside her, it made her want to laugh out loud, and she had a sneaky suspicion that she knew the cause of it. She smiled another secret smile and fell asleep.

After breakfast the following morning Harry and Hermione made their way to the entrance hall, as a note from Dumbledore delivered with their meal had asked. The three of them waited by the large oak doors which were open letting in the bright sunlight, it was a lovely day, a warm breeze, and a clear blue sky.

Hermione gave a little gasp of surprise as out on the lawns a patch of mist seemed to be appearing. It thickened, so that they could now not see the lake beyond it. Strangely the mist was not affected by the wind, and remained still, while the surrounding trees moved lazily with it.

Then from the mist stepped a figure, tall, but not as tall as Dumbledore, with a frame to match his height. He was dressed in brown, not a drab colour but one that had suggestions of autumn in it. He wore wizards’ robes which ended at his knees showing trousers which were tucked into calf length boots made of soft leather. His shoulder length hair was sandy in colour and was shot through with silver. It had a curl in it which could have given Hermione’s hair a run for its money.

He reminded Harry of an elderly lion.

A movement at his side made the man look down. Harry’s heart leapt and Hermione gasped yet again. For out of the mist had stepped a large black dog. Not as big as Sirius had been, nor as shaggy, for his coat was sleek and shone in the sun.

Harry in his shock did not realise this and a longing “Sirius” escaped from his lips. Dumbledore placed a restraining hand on his shoulder as he made to move forward.

“No Harry, not Sirius”

Harry seemed to deflate and he felt Hermione’s hand slip into his and give a reassuring squeeze.

Harry straightened as the man and his dog walked toward them and the mist he had emerged from evaporated as fast as it had appeared. He noticed that the man walked with a slight limp.

Harry and Hermione followed Dumbledore’s lead as he descended the steps of the castle to greet the newcomer.

“Both Hogwarts and I welcome you, we hope you will be very happy here!” said Dumbledore.

The man said nothing but placed his right hand over his heart and bowed his head.

“Harry, Hermione this is your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. May I present to you Professor Solomon Aegis.”

Professor Aegis turned to Harry and gazed intently into his eyes, smiling sadly. “I must apologise to you Harry, I should have realised the effect my familiar would have had on you. Maybe, once you know him, he will comfort you, as he does me.” His voice was deep, almost a growl.

Harry did not understand how the new professor could have known about Sirius’ other form but felt grateful to him none the less, for his words.

Aegis turned his hazel eyes to Hermione who found herself beginning to blush. He smiled without the sadness now and repeating his hand gesture bowed low to her.

“I am very pleased to meet the both of you, I am sure there is a lot we can learn from each other.”

The Headmaster ushered Aegis into the castle and informed Harry and Hermione that they should meet in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom after lunch. They turned to go out in the grounds in a more concerted attempt to find Hagrid and Harry found himself staring straight into the eyes of the dog. They were brown, like Hermione’s but a shade or two darker and the stare that was returned seemed to bore right into his mind and Harry found a feeling of warmth and comfort wash over him.

Hermione was watching this exchange and saw a smile appear on Harry’s face, a genuine smile, and one not tinged with sadness.

“Come on Harry, lets find Hagrid” and taking his hand she lead him away from the school.

The dog sat and watched them go, then with a wag of his tail ran up the steps of the castle in the wake of his companion.

The pair walked back to the castle at 12 o’clock, they had discovered Hagrid in his pumpkin patch trying to solve his continual problem with slugs. He explained that the flesh eating slug repellent was not working and he had resorted to picking them out by hand. He offered them a cup of tea and some cake but as he had a large slug hanging from his fingers as he did this they both reluctantly declined.

As to his absence yesterday, he had been in the forest with his little brother Gawp who was ‘cumin’ along nicely, thank you very much’ and also trying, without much success, to re-establish contact with the centaurs.

It had suddenly occurred to Hagrid, after they had been talking for about an hour, that Harry and Hermione were at school, out of term time and was fascinated to hear their story of the arrival of the new teacher and surprised that Dumbledore had asked them to be here to meet him.

“No doubt ‘e’ll ‘ave ‘is reasons.” Hagrid had said. “Great man, Dumbledore, don’t always understand ‘im but great man never the less”.

They climbed the stairs to their rooms and found that Dobby had left them a light lunch. As they ate Hermione in a shy voice said, “Harry do you remember yesterday you mentioned a prophecy and you said you would tell me about it..?”

“I said maybe”

“Please Harry”. She implored.

Harry looked thoughtful “Well….I wasn’t going to tell anyone but it was the one that we thought we had lost, the one that Voldemort was after. I know what it said. You see it was originally told to Dumbledore by Professor Trelawney”

Hermione looked sceptical “And he believed it?”

“Yeh! She can do it properly, not very often, only twice so far, but they are real”.

So Harry told Hermione the prophecy word for word and watched her face mirror the horror he had been concealing since he had first heard it.

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.

“Oh Harry! What are we going to do?” there was a catch to her voice and the beginnings of tears in her eyes.

“We? I’m not sure it’s a case of ‘we’. I think it’s down to me alone”.

“No Mr. Potter if you think that for one moment I will let you fulfil this prophecy, without me to help, you’ve another think coming, get used to it, I will be there with or without your permission, ……..and I am sure Ron will too.” She finished quietly.

Harry was about to open his mouth and say something he would have regretted later when a deep voice sounded in both their minds.

“It’s certainly a good place to start. Please would you both come down to the classroom, I need to talk to you in person.”

The pair looked at each other in surprise and jumping up they headed for the door and the waiting Professor.

In the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom Solomon Aegis sat on the front desk and surveyed his surroundings. The dark detectors on the shelves lining the walls were all quiet and unmoving. The shadows in the foe glass were faint and indistinct. He looked down at the dog lying on the floor resting his head on his front feet.

“Not much like home is it?” even though no words were spoken the dog raised his eyes and “Foods good” was the thought that came back.

“I think your stomach is all that you ever worry about”.

“It’s in my genes you know”. Finished the silent conversation.

…………………………..

As he lay in his bed attempting to get to sleep Harry thought back to the afternoon and their discussion with Professor Aegis.

Aegis had asked them to tell him about the time they had spent at Hogwarts, all five years worth. Although the story had taken a good while to go through the Professor had sat and listened to every word.

The weakness of Professor Quirrell.

The foppishness of Professor Lockhart.

The curse on an otherwise wonderful Professor Lupin.

The evil of Professor Moody (aka. Barty Crouch Jr.) but at least he did know his stuff.

The despotic Professor, High Inquisitor, bloody woman, Umbridge as Hermione had put it

“If you will pardon my language” she added.

At this point it dawned on them that throughout the years nearly all their problems had involved the Defence professor and their fates had been well deserved, except for Remus who although still a werewolf was a nice guy. And who were they describing all this to?

Their new Defence professor gave them a look over the top of his reading glasses. “Quite a lot to live up to, at least let us start on the same side and we’ll take it from there.” He laughed out loud.

The telling of the last few months which had led to the fight at the Ministry and the death of Sirius was difficult for Harry but he found that living through the nightmare once again allowed his feelings to surface properly. In the company of Hermione and the new Professor for the first time he really came to terms with what had happened.

Harry had revealed that he was still convinced that the whole affair was his fault. Hermione protested loudly, as she had before, that his views were rubbish.

Harry had been looking at the professor during this and the thought he received was

‘You will always feel some blame, if you didn’t you would be just like HIM. I am sure you learned the lesson; it pays to think very hard before you rush into things’.

Harry had bristled at this, ‘the ministry and Sirius’ death a lesson?’ but then realised that he had discovered this fact himself and merely nodded.

Once the tale was told Aegis asked Hermione if she would stay in the classroom while he had a private word with Harry. They climbed the short flight of stairs to his study, Harry was thinking it was a waste of time as he would tell Hermione all about it once they were alone ‘Maybe’ came the thought back.

Aegis had started by apologising for speaking directly into Harry’s mind.

“I don’t mean to intrude, but is a normal way of communication at home and it is a hard habit to break.”

He then asked Harry to tell him about Hermione and what he thought of her. Harry had been a little nonplussed with the directness of this question but supposed it wouldn’t have been asked if it wasn’t important.

So Harry had begun with “I’ve known her for nearly six years now. We met on the train in our first year. She was so bossy at first but she grows on you and now she’s my best friend. Like Ron is, no not like Ron, it is more than that …I confide in her more, I listen to her advice, don’t always follow it though. She’s the smartest witch in our year, probably in all the years. She is always there when you need her. I find it impossible to think of a time when I won’t need her……

I….I suppose I rely on her to be there. When she was hurt at the Ministry I thought she was dead and that I had lost her for ever, I couldn’t stand that. At the time the feeling was as bad as when I lost Sirius, no… though I hate to say it…it was worse. Is that wrong? Is it wrong to think like that?”

“No Harry not wrong and very understandable. Hermione has been part of your life for a long time and caring about her is very natural.”

“But I loved Sirius, he was my godfather!”

“He was a connection with your parents, the embodiment of the family you thought you had lost, if you like a connection to your past, of what you are. Hermione is something different I think.”

Harry had always been very touchy if anyone cast doubts on Sirius and his feelings for him, he had given Dumbledore a very hard time only a month or so ago, but Aegis was right, his love for Sirius was quite different for the lo………………..feelings he had toward Hermione.

As he thought about her Harry smiled; she just made him feel like that.

Hermione couldn’t get to sleep. She recalled Harry coming out of the professors’ study with a silly grin on his face. “He wants to see you now. I’ll wait here for you”

He sat down next to the dog and began to smooth him, lost in his own thoughts.

In the study the professor had asked several innocuous questions about her parents, how she had coped with being thrust into the wizarding world at the age of eleven.

“Well I was nearly twelve by then” she had responded, and then almost slyly he had dropped in, “What do you think about Harry Potter, tell me about him?”

She realised that she had been staring at Aegis with her mouth open, it was after all a very unusual question.

“It is important that I understand the both of you, to help with what is to come. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise” He said.

Hermione wrestled with her conscience. She was not sure she wanted anyone to know how she considered Harry, especially someone she had only met a few hours ago. How did she feel about him? That warm feeling deep inside was rekindled. Every thought she had ever had about Harry flashed into her mind, everything they had experienced together, good and bad was there for her to choose from.

“I liked him from the moment I first saw him. It sounds silly to say it and I was only eleven at the time. I think, no, I know, both he and Ron thought I was very bossy then. It took a mountain troll to make us friends and now he’s my best friend. He can be so lost and lonely sometimes that it almost hurts, I feel the need to help and comfort him”. She was confused and she could feel herself beginning to blush, her thoughts about Harry whirled around in her head, his untidy hair, his eyes, the way he was always breaking his glasses, the fact that she had to push him to do his homework, his green eyes, her pride in the strength of his magic, his brilliant green eyes. Her thoughts slowed, she had forgotten Aegis was there all she could think about were Harry’s eyes; they looked into her so deeply sometimes.

“Oh dear!”

She shivered and goosebumps covered her arms, this brought her back to reality and Aegis floated back into focus. Hermione looked directly at the Professor shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

“I love him” She said simply.

Professor Aegis had asked her no more questions. “Just as it should be” was all he said.

He had accompanied her to the door and when she had rejoined Harry, the Professor had asked them to meet with him again tomorrow.

As Hermione drifted off to sleep the warmth that she had felt as they had both unconsciously taken each others hands and walked out of the classroom returned.

Her realisation and her acceptance of the fact that she had fallen for her best friend seemed to open up a whole new set of possibilities. She had a wonderful dream that night.

Several days later they were passing their evening sitting side by side on the sofa in their sitting room trying to read. Hermione put down her book, chewed at her bottom lip, and made a decision.

“Harry that first time we spoke to Professor Aegis did err… he ask you any personal questions?” She was hesitant to ask but knew she couldn’t put it off any longer.

Typical boy, Harry hedged his answer “Why?” he became more interested in his book.

Hermione reached over and removed it from his hands, He was trying to read it upside-down anyway.

“Harry Potter you are just being difficult. He asked me about you. Did he ask you about me?”

Harry reddened slightly but remained monosyllabic “Yes”

“And?”

“I said we were best friends”

“Is that all?” Hermione seemed to shrink in on herself.

“Err…No”

“Oh Merlin Harry!” Hermione was rapidly becoming exasperated she desperately wanted a proper answer. She thought the time had come to come clean herself. “Well if it helps… I told him… I love you!”

Harry stared at he his mouth open in shock and wonderment. “You did?”

“Yes I did?”

“Whoa!”

There was silence for a few seconds which to both of them felt like years. Harry cleared his throat.

“I told him that I couldn’t see a time when I wouldn’t need you. You have become a part of me Hermione, I am not sure I could live without you.”

“What do you mean by that then Harry?” girls can be cruel sometimes, from a boy’s point of view.

Harry sighed and raised his eyes to Hermione. He gazed at that face he knew so well but also at the person beneath.

“Hermione” he explained “I grew up starved of any love, my Uncle and Aunt certainly have none for me. Only since I have been at Hogwarts have I sampled any of it at all. Mrs Weasley would mother me to death if she could.” He smiled “Sirius gave me love, in his own way and I returned it, for the short time we had each other. Dumbledore told me it was his love for me that stopped him for telling me the truth, and I suppose that even when I was so cross with him last term that love was still there, he’s more like a grandfather to me than anything else.

What I hadn’t realised was that I have really been in love with someone that I met on that first train ride in our first year.”

“Harry” spoken very softly, Hermione tried to interrupt.

“No ssh, let me finish, I didn’t know it at the time, but I felt it. When you repaired my glasses that day your spell made me tingle all over. Its amazing, but now I look back, almost every day you do something that makes me feel the same way.”

Harry reached for Hermione’s hand and held it with a gentle touch.

“I think I have been the dumbest boy in the world not to wake up to this before. I love you Miss Granger. I think I always have and I know I always will.”

They sat quietly hand in hand, then they drew themselves together, and for the first time their lips met as they kissed.

They cuddled together on the sofa, arms round each other, enjoying their closeness and eventually they both fell into a dreamless sleep.

That was how Dobby found them the next morning when he came in to clean up. He regarded them with his large round eyes and tears came quietly.

‘Harry Potter and his Miss Hermione are happy at last’ he thought to himself ‘This makes Dobby very happy too” and as silently as he had entered the sitting room, he left.

They both knew the love they had for each other was very profound. For the moment knowing that is was there and togetherness was all that was necessary. There would be plenty of time for everything else.

The next two weeks passed in a blur with Harry and Hermione involved in conversation with Aegis, Aegis and Dumbledore and sometimes just Dumbledore. The topics were wide and covered many aspects of the wizarding and muggle worlds. It was only on the day before Harry’s birthday that they both understood that what they were doing was clearing up the past, and setting everything straight, in readiness for a new start, the build up to the fulfilment of the prophecy.

Disclaimer

The characters and universe created by J.K.Rowling are hers alone. As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I hope this story can be taken in that way. Some of the additional characters are mine and who knows some of them may even be real.

3. The Birthday Present.

On the morning of his sixteenth birthday Harry awoke with his mind almost wiped clear of all the doubts and fears he had been carrying around with him for so long. He was feeling very ‘upbeat’ as the muggles would have put it.

This feeling lasted all of ten minutes, for when he met Hermione in the sitting room she smiled, said “Good morning” and completely ignored the fact that it was his birthday.

He was now feeling distinctly ‘put out’ and when she merrily asked if he was coming down to breakfast he could only manage “Suppose” in reply.

The Great Hall was empty save for one table with four places set. Hermione ushered him into one of the places. He was just about to sit when with a pop Professors Dumbledore and Aegis appeared each holding either side of a brightly wrapped box.

“Portkey don’t you know” said Dumbledore unnecessarily. “Also your present”

“Happy birthday Harry!” all three chorused.

Harry’s good mood returned at once. “Thought you had all forgotten ...Silly really”

Harry opened Dumbledore’s present. Inside the package was a shallow stone bowl standing on a small pedestal.

“Wow! a Pensieve. Thanks”

“I thought you might find it useful in times to come, keeping your thoughts in order can be very helpful, as well you know” said the Headmaster.

Harry remembered all too vividly his previous encounters with the thoughts of both Dumbledore and then Professor Snape in the Headmasters own Pensieve, none of the memories had been particularly happy. He glanced at Hermione though and thought he already had one memory he would like to relive again. After all, one’s first real kiss was very important.

Professor Aegis reached forward and shook Harry’s hand.

“Congratulations Harry, I am sorry, but I have nothing material to give you” said Aegis, “However, with your Headmaster’s approval, I have arranged a little trip for you, Hermione and myself to my home. We will be able to go in a few weeks time”.

“Thank you Professor, Hermione has told me that it’s very rare for outsider to be allowed in, it’s a great honour”.

Hermione was so excited by the thought of visiting Avalon that she nearly forgot that it was her turn to give Harry his present. Dumbledore looked at her over his glasses and coughed quietly.

“Sorry, got carried away there for a moment”. She said.

Hermione reached into her pocket and brought out a small wooden box, about the size you would keep a ring in. There was an intricately carved design on the lid, so fine that even with his glasses on Harry could not make it out. His mind began to imagine what could be hiding in the box.

They both knew that their relationship with each other had changed and so far nothing that could be considered inappropriate had been said or done in case it had spoilt the harmony that was evident between them. They wanted to take everything nice and slowly.

He didn’t want to be embarrassed or cause Hermione any embarrassment by his reaction to what might be inside.

“Should I open it?” ‘Stupid question’ he thought.

Hermione nodded. Preparing himself for the worst or best Harry prised open the lid. The box seemed to be empty, but no, lying on the bottom was something that looked as if it was made of gossamer, it was so thin. It was red in colour but its thinness made it look as if it were blushing, and it was in the shape of a heart. He tipped the box so the others could see.

“Be very careful with that Harry” said Dumbledore, “I have only ever seen one other like it. It is very precious.”

“What do I do with it Hermione?”

Hermione looked deep into Harry’s eyes, those brilliant green eyes. She had taken it on herself to do this. She wanted him to know, that whatever else may happen, they had each other.

“If you are prepared to accept it, you take it out and place it in the palm of your left hand.”

“But what is it …Hermione?” He glanced back at the contents of the box. He almost laughed; it looked rather like a piece of Valentines Day confetti.

Harry’s thoughts were brought up short when she replied quietly.

“My heart and soul.”

Harry looked up in wonder, deep into Hermione’s dark brown eyes.

The silence in the Great Hall was palpable, the two professors watched the pair, they hardly dared to breathe.

In Harry’s mind he could hear whispers, whispers of encouragement, of anticipation, of great longing. The whispers he realised were coming from the school; the very fabric of Hogwarts was talking to him.

‘You must have the courage to do what you think is right Harry’.

‘Trust to your own heart Harry’.

‘You have the intelligence to make the right decision Harry’.

Harry’s mouth had become very dry, he tried to swallow. He could not imagine what he had done to deserve a gift such as this. He looked at Hermione, her face shining with anticipation, he looked into those warm brown eyes, it was like being hit with a levitating charm, and he made his decision. Very carefully he placed his left hand over the open lid of the box and turning both upside-down he tipped the contents into his outstretched palm.

Hermione smiled, took her wand and touched the tip to Harry’s palm.

“Credo pectus oris”

There was a brilliant flash of blue white light and the Great Hall rang as if it was a giant bell.

The gossamer heart was gone but in the centre of Harry’s palm was the faint outline of Hermione’s gift, marked on his skin forever.

Harry stared at his hand and sank down into his seat as he looked up at Hermione. His emotions finally got the better of him and a single tear rolled down his cheek.

The professors had gone; they had melted away without Harry noticing. He and Hermione were alone; she reached out her hand and took his left in her right. He stood to face her, and gazed at her. He wondered, as he had before, how or why it had taken him so long to fully understand what she meant to him.

Harry did what Hufflepuff had suggested and trusted to his heart. He leaned forward and kissed her very gently on the lips.

As he did so he felt a burning sensation in his left hand, it caused them to part, and unclasp their hands. They both stared down into their respective palms. Harry’s was as before the faint shape still visible, Hermione gasped for in the centre of her right hand was the same shape indelibly marked.

“Looks as if the feeling is mutual Hermione.”

At those words she beamed at him, threw her arms about his neck and drew him into a tight embrace. The Great Hall rang for the second time that morning.

The rest of his actual birthday had whipped by in a flurry of partly remembered memories.

Ron, Hagrid and Mr & Mrs Weasley had sent him presents; there was a small pile of them on the sitting room table when they returned to their rooms later that day.

There were also two tightly rolled and sealed pieces of parchment, his and Hermione’s OWL results.

Hermione had done what had been expected and received the full ten, all O’s. She had insisted on immediately sending Hedwig to her parents with the news, and the owl, as always when she asked, was only too happy to oblige.

Harry had surprised himself with eight; his History of Magic was not good. As he had found concentrating on the exam difficult, to say the least, he was not surprised; at least it was a pass. The less said about the Divination result the better, he felt sure he should have seen that one coming.

Other than that things were looking up. He had what he needed to continue with his stated decision to become an Auror, but was that what he really wanted?

At the back of his mind Harry did wonder what good OWL’s or NEWT’s, for that matter, would be in helping to face Voldemort.

--------------------------------------------

Several days had passed since his birthday. Despite his joy in understanding that an undeniable seal had been placed on their relationship Harry was still a little worried that Hermione had given him more than she ought, but he had not summoned the courage to talk to her about it.

It was week into August before the opportunity arose for a good long talk with Hermione without the fear of interruption. They were sitting by the lake under the shade of a tree. It was a bright warm summer’s day, the situation was perfect.

“Hermione, I would like to talk to you about my birthday present” mumbled Harry.

She became a little defensive “Didn’t you like it, I thought you were happy.” She gave a little pout “Don’t you love me any more?”

“Of course I did, of course I am, and that’s the last time you say that, never doubt it” he replied answering all her questions in one go. “It’s the most wonderful thing I have ever, or could ever, receive. I suppose it’s just that it’s such a serious commitment for you to make. I know that you will be of age, for a wizard, in September but could it not cause some problems, like with your parents…err Oh Merlin! I’m not doing this very well…might they not get the wrong idea?”

“And what might that wrong idea be?”

“Oh hell! Hermione, you know…… things”.

Hermione couldn’t keep a straight face and burst out laughing at Harry’s discomfort. “Is that what is really bothering you?”

“Yes, and the danger you are putting yourself in by being this close to me”.

Hermione took a deep breath, thought for a moment, then said “OK, let’s be methodical and take every question a step at a time. First off you’re worried what my parents might think, well I wasn’t going to tell them just yet, but I know them, they trust me and I trust you. If anyone else causes problems with us being handfasted, we will deal with that together. In fact we will tell my parents together as well, when the time is right.”

Harry felt a smidgen of concern at the thought of confronting Hermione’s mother and father.

“As for me being in danger, just being your friend is dangerous, as well you know, also it is my choice to put myself by your side. You may be the only one who can defeat Voldemort but I bet he won’t be on his own and that is why I shall be there, and a few others from the DA as well I’m sure.”

Harry’s brows knitted in concentration “But that just gives me more to worry about, what if you’re hurt, what if any of the others is hurt …what if I lose?”

“No! Harry. Don’t think like that, not ever, this is war. This is what Dumbledore and Aegis have been trying to get you to understand. You didn’t start this war, it’s your job to stop it and you have to believe that you can do it ……because I know you can”.

Harry stared at Hermione she sounded so sure, so passionate were her feelings about all this that she was close to tears, and he hated to see her cry.

He felt a little ashamed. “You really believe in me don’t you?” She said nothing but nodded. “Well I guess I’ll have to believe in me too, but you will have to remind me from time to time, if you can think of a subtle way.”

Hermione laughed away her tears and threw her arms around Harry’s neck and kissed him. “That will do nicely” he said when they came up for air.

Disclaimer

The characters and universe created by J.K.Rowling are hers alone. As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I hope this story can be taken in that way. Some of the additional characters are mine and who knows some of them may even be real.

4. Away Day

The message from Professor Aegis had said to meet him in the entrance hall at eight thirty that morning, so duly dressed in their good school robes Harry and Hermione waited for him to arrive.

He came down the main staircase with his dog at his heels.

“Good morning Professor” they both said together. Hermione was going to remark that she didn’t realise that his dog would be coming when it occurred to her that she had no idea of his name. Neither she nor Harry had asked and the Professor had never mentioned it.

“Is …err…he coming too?” she asked lamely.

“His name is Compass and yes he is. Avalon is his home as well”. Answered Aegis.

“That’s an odd name” Harry said before he put his brain in gear. “Err. Sorry didn’t mean to be rude.”

Aegis smiled. “He is supposed to give me a sense of purpose, of direction. Hence Compass”.

“Not so daft after all” giggled Hermione.

“Well at least he can tell me in which direction food can be found. He’s really good at that.”

Professor Aegis took a small white metal disc from his pocket. Harry noticed the dog grip the professor’s cloak in his mouth. Holding the disc out to the two students Aegis said “Grab hold” and as they both touched it they all vanished.

The portkey dropped them in a narrow lane at the back of a shop proclaiming to be ‘Frank Puddy’s Pie Emporium, Glastonbury’. They walked out onto the main street and Harry and Hermione stopped to stare in amazement.

“This is a muggle town isn’t it Professor?” asked Harry.

Aegis nodded. Harry’s confusion was understandable as every other shop appeared to be a magic one. Magic certainly, but magical, he wasn’t so sure. One white painted shop had a sign over its door proclaiming ‘Man, Myths and Majic’, and its windows were full of items that Harry and Hermione found faintly familiar. Healing crystals were on display in the shop next door. At first glance this could have been an upmarket Diagon Alley but something was missing.

The air in the real Diagon Alley almost sparkled with the magic that was present all around. Here there was none.

“I don’t understand professor, all this,” Said Harry gesturing at the street, “but no real magic?”

However it was Hermione who answered him “The muggle legends all say how magical this place is. So some muggles have taken advantage of this and set up these shops. Not all muggles hate the idea of magic. To some it’s a wonderful thing, but just out of reach, so they pretend that they are witches and wizards. It’s as close as they can get to our world.”

Aegis lead them along the High Street while Hermione continued.

“Sometimes they even write stories about what it would be like to be one of us.” She laughed out loud.

“What?” said Harry.

“I bet they would like your story Harry, it would make a good book.”

They both dissolved in peals of laughter that drew attention from passing muggles.

“When you two have quite finished making a spectacle of yourselves,” said Aegis good naturedly, “We need to go this way.”

A short walk down the High Street and across a main road the ruins of a monastery came into view. It was set in the shadow of a steep grass-covered hill. At the top of this hill was a tower which looked as if it had once been part of a church.

The muggle at the entrance to the ruins, there to collect money from those wishing to view the ancient monument, paid them no attention as they walked passed. Harry assumed a disillusionment charm of some sort was in operation, the professor confirmed this stating that without it, it would cost the Islanders a small fortune just to use their front door.

Aegis led them across the grass covered ruins towards a row of dilapidated stone arches which had once formed part of the cloisters of the monastery. He stopped in front of one which to Harry and Hermione looked no different to the others.

“This is the way in, treat it the same as the entrance to platform 9¾, just walk forwards and keep together” He said.

Taking a deep breath Harry and Hermione followed the Professor. As he stepped into the shadow of the arch his form shimmered and vanished, and when the pair moved forward they felt a stretching sensation as if one step had covered a considerable distance instead of one stride.

They found themselves standing in a large cavern with a solid rock wall at their backs.

The cave glittered with light; little pinpoints of red, gold, white and purple flickered in and out of existence making it seem like the walls were in motion.

“Beautiful” said Hermione, “Wow” said Harry.

Aegis smiled “These are the crystal caves; this is where Merlin first found his magic when he was a boy. The caves are full of natural magic and it is said that he passed into a trance and when he awoke several years later he had become a very powerful wizard.”

“What no lessons or essays to write, sounds like he had it easy” said Harry with a grin at Hermione.

The professor had been gazing round the glittering caves lost in his own thoughts; “No I don’t think it was easy for him at all, alone, no food” ….He looked back to them and realised that Harry hadn’t meant for his comment to be taken seriously….. “Yes well the tale is probably not entirely accurate, come on, we go this way”.

They walked a well trodden path that ran down the centre of the caves and turning a sharp bend they saw the source of most of the light which still flickered about them. This was odd because it seemed to be shining upwards from a pool of water which straddled the path. When they reached the edge of the pool they could see stone steps disappearing into its depths and Aegis started down them.

“Ahh!.. Professor I’m afraid I am not very good with water like this” Said Hermione.

“Well that’s alright then because it isn’t water, it just looks like it, see not even wet” Aegis replied as he stepped back up again. “Hang on to Harry and you will be fine.”

Even though she knew the water was not water as her head slipped through the surface Hermione could not help taking a last gulp of air.

The rippling surface had no thickness to it and they found themselves in a short passageway which reminded Harry of the one to Honeydukes cellar that he had used in his third year. This however opened on to a grassy hillside swathed in bright sunlight.

They were back in the muggle world, but no, as Harry looked around the scenery was the same, the tall mound was at their backs and the flat fields stretched before them, but there were no buildings. The town was gone.

“What’s happened to everything?” gasped Harry “Where are we?”

“This is the Isle of Glass, an area around the Tor that has been enchanted err…a little sideways” said Aegis.

“What?” chorused Harry and Hermione.

“Sorry, not a good explanation. The area that contains Avalon is covered by enchantments similar to those at Hogwarts but rather than seeing ruins the muggles here see nothing and we can’t see them. The Isle of Glass is out of step with normal time and is thus invisible” continued the Professor.

“How far does the enchantment extend Professor?” asked Hermione.

“As far as necessary; for your eyes, as far as you can see; for your physical body as far as you walk or fly, but no apparating as you just end up back in the normal world again if you try it.

It was undeniably the same world that was inhabited by the muggles and Harry’s own wizarding kind but there was no evidence that anyone had ever existed, miles of empty countryside was all that could be seen until they followed the path to the other side of the hill. Spread below them on the flat plain was a wizarding village so much like Hogsmead that Harry and Hermione half expected to see Hogwarts Castle in the background.

Solomon Aegis spread his arms wide and gestured towards the village. “There!” He said “Set in the Isle of Glass,…… my home,…….. Avalon”.

The three of them descended the hill by a winding path; the black dog had long since scampered off into the village. “Probably looking for food, it’s his passion”, Aegis had remarked, raising his eyebrows.

Harry smiled and thought that the dog and Ron would get on well as they had that particular trait in common.

Passing through the outskirts of the village it became obvious that the settlement was more like a small town with houses round the edge and in the centre an area which contained shops and grander buildings. All the streets were very narrow and the houses in fairly typical wizarding style seemed to defy gravity in the fact that they didn’t collapse but had little in their construction which would account for this.

The shops could have been plucked from Diagon Alley although none of the names were familiar. The strangest thing of all was how quiet it was, certainly as they passed by people they could hear the occasional low conversation, but the general babble usual in market places was absent, people nodded to each other and to Aegis and Harry assumed that silent exchanges were taking place but his mind could hear nothing.

As they turned into the central square Aegis stopped. He seemed to be listening intently then he turned to the pair.

“I have been summoned to the Merlinium, the ruling body in Avalon” he explained, “You will have to amuse yourselves for a short while, but do not wander out of the central area, stay close to the shops”.

With that he turned and walked towards a building that in a muggle town would have passed for the Town Hall.

Harry and Hermione began to window shop, walking round two sides of the square before they found themselves in front of a bookstore. Hermione looked longingly at the shelves of books inside, Harry smiled to himself as he watched his friend battle with herself and lose.

“Oh Harry, would you mind if….?”

“No, go ahead I’ll join you in a minute.”

Something had caught Harry’s eye, he wasn’t sure he had even seen it, just a sudden flash of light from a shop window on the other side of the square, but he felt compelled to investigate. Nearing the shop in question the light flashed again and now that he was facing the window it was quite blinding. He was left with a secondary image imprinted on the back of his eye and it enabled him to see exactly where the light had come from.

Lying on a small velvet pad at the back of the shop display was a necklace; a fine white metal chain was coiled on the dark blue material and attached to the chain was the object which had reflected the bright sunlight.

About the size of a Phoenix’s eye, in the shape of a teardrop, was what looked to Harry to be a diamond, its many facets glimmering in the light. It wasn’t a clear stone, there was a tinge of blue to it, although Harry thought it might have been the colour of the pad beneath showing through. Also if you looked carefully, deep in the very centre there was a fine shadow which almost seemed to dance with the light.

“Anything which takes your fancy young man?”

Harry jumped. The owner of the shop, a rather stout elderly witch was standing in the doorway. Although he wasn’t sure the woman had actually spoken the words Harry answered

“Oh yes!” ‘But I can’t afford it’he thought.

“Well never hurts to ask, you might be surprised” she replied, obviously understanding Harry completely.

Harry followed her inside and asked about the necklace.

“I thought that was what you were looking at,” ‘I suppose it would be rather appropriate’, she thought to herself, “It has a name you know.”

“Err….. no I didn’t know” Said Harry.

“Well it does, its called Hermione’s Tear”. Harry stared at her in disbelief.

“My friend, no my girlfriend…..err.. her name is Hermione too.”

“Really what a coincidence. Well the tale is that this Hermione, who was the daughter of Helen of Troy, had been distraught by the thought that the love of her life had perished in some quest or other. She was also the Granddaughter of the god Zeus and as such she wouldn’t show her emotions as mere mortals would, no wailing and pulling at her hair, she just shed a single tear and it solidified into the stone you see now.”

Harry realised that his mouth had dropped open and he probably looked rather stupid so closing it he asked “Did her love die then?”

“Oh no! he was saved at the last minute, but if you tell that bit it sorts of ruins the story. It will cost you two Galleons and a good deed.”

Harry was momentarily lost by the sudden change in the conversation.

“Well I can afford the money but it must be worth much more than that ….umm, what good deed do you want me to do?”

The shopkeeper looked kindly at him “You will know when the time comes,” ‘and it will far outweigh the difference’, was a silent thought; “would you like me to wrap it for you?”

“Yes please” Said Harry handing over the money.

Harry bade goodbye to the old woman and walked out of the shop. She spoke so quietly Harry didn’t hear her “Good luck Harry Potter” and she smiled a sad smile.

Harry couldn’t help grinning to himself as he walked back to the bookstore; September the 19^th was Hermione’s seventeenth birthday and in his pocket was the perfect present for her. He was still smiling when he bumped into her as she came out through the door. She had had a wonderful time, books that she had never seen before or even imagined had existed filled the shop, she had even bought two but as they were very heavy the shop was going to send them straight to Hogwarts.

She asked what Harry had been up to, he was desperately trying to think of what to say when Professor Aegis turned up “Well timed” thought Harry “My pleasure” came back.

Very suddenly Harry tried to think of nothing at all.

“I hope you two have been using your time well, I have seen the full council and discussed a few points with them the upshot of which is that the head of the council wishes to see you both; nothing to worry about, she is, I suppose, equivalent to your minister of magic but you won’t find her quite so stuffy. We’ll have a look round and something to eat first though”. Said Aegis.

It was all very well for the professor to tell them not to worry, but as their contacts with things ministry were not usually good, Harry and Hermione did.

The professor lead them on a guided tour of the village. He explained that at any one time there were about a thousand witches and wizards living there. The village was basically self supporting. The land around the Tor was very fertile and provided for most of their needs. Anything which had to come in from outside was shipped through the only real wizard-owned shop in the muggle town ‘The Pie Emporium’.

“Good wizard is Frank, has a West Country accent you could cut with a knife, rather like your friend Hagrid. He has a heart of gold but takes a little too much cider on occasion, it’s left him with a rather red nose.”

“Urgh, I don’t like cider” said Hermione “I much prefer butterbeer.”

“Just as well” Harry quipped “You’d look really silly with a big red nose”

It was only Harry’s seeker reflexes that allowed him to escape the swing Hermione sent his way.

They stopped for lunch at a small pub called ‘The Sword in the Stone’. On seeing the sign Hermione launched into the story of King Arthur for Harry’s benefit. As she crossed the threshold of the hostelry she stopped mid sentence. For in the centre of the pub’s only room was a large squared off block of stone. Sticking out of it was a heavy looking sword. It was obviously very old but still shone brightly reflecting the light from the lamps used to illuminate the room.

“Is that Excalibur?” she said in a whisper.

“That, oh yes” replied Aegis “Have a go if you like.”

Hermione walked up to the stone and almost as if she thought it might bite her tentatively reached out and grasped the pommel of the sword. A low hum reverberated around the room, and all conversation ceased. Hermione quickly withdrew her hand, the humming stopped and she gave a nervous laugh.

“I suppose it does that all the time?” she looked to Aegis.

“No, not really” he considered her thoughtfully, and didn’t see Harry reach for the sword.

The humming started again even before Harry’s hand had closed on the hilt, and when he actually grasped it the vibration was such that bottles and goblets were bounced around on the tables.

Harry felt the sword move under his touch. Then Professor Aegis placed a restraining hand on his and drew him away.

“Better not Harry, I think that is one responsibility you could well do without.”

Hermione was looking stunned and Harry just couldn’t help himself. Putting on a vapid expression he said “Why what do you mean Professor?”

Aegis cottoned on “Well Harry, you pull that sword out of the stone and you would be the King.”

“Oh like Ron, that’s what the Gryffindors called him last year ‘The King’.”

Hermione couldn’t believe it, she had a complete idiot for a boyfriend. “No you twerp King as in the King of England,” she snapped, then she noticed the identical grins on Harry and Aegis’ faces. “OH! Honestly.”

After their meal the three left the central square and walked into the domestic area of the town. Aegis explained that they were to be interviewed at the Merlect’s house, the Merlect being the title of the head of the Merlinium.

They stopped in front of a house which, unlike most of the others, could have fitted into any muggle village without causing any suspicion. As they approached the front door it opened on its own, and once they were inside it closed behind them again.

Seated in the single room which took up much of the lower floor was a female version of Dumbledore. Undeniably old, thin and if standing they thought that she would be tall, identical sparkling blue eyes, even the glasses were the same, her white hair was just as long, but fortunately she had no beard, and that allowed them to see that despite her age she was still very beautiful.

Aegis placed his hand over his heart and bowed his head in greeting.

“My Lady Niniane, I present to you Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, the students of which I spoke about”. Announced Aegis.

“Alright Solomon I know who they are there’s no need to stand on ceremony”. She waved him back and then looked not at Harry but at Hermione. “Come here child”. She said and held out her hand.

Hermione walked forward and placed her hand in that of the old woman. Lady Niniane searched Hermione’s eyes with her own then seemingly satisfied glanced down at Hermione’s palm which she had turned up.

“You are very young to be making this sort of commitment my dear but with circumstances the way they are we must expect exceptions to the normal run of things”. She looked past Hermione to Harry gazing at him over her spectacles. “You feel he is worthy of this commitment, young lady?”

There was no hesitation in her voice when Hermione answered “Oh yes!”

Lady Niniane beckoned to Harry who moved forward to stand next to Hermione, his hand was examined and his eyes searched. Harry was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable as the silent examination took place. He watched the old woman pass her eyes over the pocket in which he had put Hermione’s present and saw her smile.

She placed Hermione’s and Harry’s hands together and both felt a warm tingling which made them look at each other.

“Yes Hermione, I agree with you, I think Harry will do nicely.” She looked up at Aegis. “They have been chosen well, Solomon.” And with that Lady Niniane stood, she was indeed tall, bowed her head in acknowledgement and vanished.

“Wow!” said Hermione.

“Double wow!” said Harry.

“Very deep, as always” said Professor Aegis. “Makes me feel very inadequate. Well I fear it is time for us to leave now. As soon as……..” The front door opened on it own again and Compass padded into the room……… “Ahh! Right on cue.”

The Professor went to a small table in the corner of the room. Sitting on it was a crystal in the shape of a pyramid. Its base was about four inches on each side and its sides were smooth and flawless.

“Gather round if you please and on the count of three touch the crystal”.

The dog stood next to his master and took the edge of his cloak in his mouth.

“One! Two!, Three!”e

There was the familiar navel jerk and with the rushing and whirling of the senses Harry, Hermione, Professor Aegis and Compass found themselves standing, once again, in front of the great oak doors of Hogwarts Castle.

5. Everyone Learns a Little Something.

The last days of August passed very pleasantly for the only two Hogwarts students present in the castle. They filled their time with visits to Hagrid and endless walks in the grounds, making the most of the good weather. The Headmaster and Professor Aegis had preparations to make for the start of the new term and left them to their own devices.

In the course of one walk they had settled in what they were becoming to think of as ‘their’ spot, down by the lake, under a tree. Harry had his back propped up against the tree roots with Hermione sitting between his legs, leaning back, and resting her head against his chest. As he ran his fingers through her hair and down the side of her neck he sighed.

“’S’matter Harry?” Hermione mumbled dreamily.

“Nothing really it’s just…….you know this is almost perfect.”

“What do you mean…almost?” there was a slight edge to the question.

“Voldemort” he replied.

“Ohh”

“And Ron” he added.

“Ahh”

“Do you think he’ll be OK with us? I don’t want it to split the three of us up.”

“I don’t know Harry; I’m not sure how he’ll react. He did make a bit of a move at me last year when we were at Grimmauld Place but I didn’t encourage him. Thinking back I had already subconsciously decided on you and I wasn’t about to muddy the water.”

“Trouble is we both know what he is like, light the fuse and run like hell! And I don’t think he will have any idea that we could get together. I mean the letters we sent him were very non committal, they had no hidden meanings, or anything like that did they?”

“No he wont see anything in those” She answered ‘not if he’s blind’ she thought. “Anyway we will deal with Ron however he is. We just mustn’t exclude him; we must be honest with him. He is our best friend.”

“Yeh you’re right as usual, but even without Ron we must be careful how we act. We don’t want US to be the only topic of conversation this term. What we have is too special, if we are too open then someone is bound to try and spoil it.”

“I am sure we will manage” Hermione said turning round and pulling herself up so that they were face to face. “Even so I think we should make the most of our privacy don’t you?”

Any answer Harry tried to give was lost before it got out as she wound her arm about his neck and drew him to her. Their lips met and she treated him to the most passionate kiss Harry had ever experienced.

Much later still in each others arms she lifted her head and looked at the boy, almost a man, that she had pinned her heart to.

“Happy Harry?”

“Umm…Oh yes. You OK Hermione?”

She giggled “Never better.”

Harry knew that September held more than the return of the other students, it also held Hermione’s 17^th birthday.

He had her present, and he thought it was just right, but deep down he felt that he had been manoeuvred into buying it for her and that rankled. He was also worried that she would not think it an appropriate present, and of course she may already have one just like it. Well he couldn’t do much about it if she didn’t think it was suitable and if she had one just like it he was probably sunk anyway. His original concern he could look into and on the morning of the first he sought out Professor Aegis and asked him straight out.

The Professor looked at Harry with a slight smile on his lips. “Do you ever think fate plays a part in our decisions?”

“Yes, but with Dumbledore and now you around it’s hard to tell what’s fate and what’s not.” replied Harry.

“I will tell you this Harry” said Aegis “There are certain items in this world which although inanimate have a destiny of their own and they are not above a bit of manipulation in order to achieve their aims. If Hermione is meant to have this necklace and it is one of these items, then that is where it will end up. I think it would be preferable that you were the one to give it to her, don’t you? I can assure you that neither I nor the Headmaster had any influence in your choice of her present.”

“Ok that’s a good enough answer, I believe you, but what about Lady Niniane?”

“I don’t profess to know anything about the way Lady Niniane does anything, Harry. She is a woman of the most complex and confusing type, especially where I am concerned. She is a constant worry to me”.

Harry realised that he wasn’t going to get anything more from the Professor and so he had to be satisfied with what he had.

Seeing the preparations for the arrival of the Hogwarts Express from the other side was a new experience for Harry and Hermione. They had seen the teachers arrive over the previous few days and today had helped Hagrid with the boats and the Thestrals. They travelled to the station in one of the coaches and through the window could see Hagrid with his flotilla of empty boats crossing the lake.

“Seems a long time since we were in one of those” said Hermione.

“Want to change anything that’s happened since then?” Harry asked.

“Not a thing” she replied looking at him and smiling.

“What, not even the bad bits?”

“No Harry you need all the bits, bad and good, to get us where we are now, and that’s the bit I don’t want to change.”

They stood hand in hand next to Hagrid as the scarlet steam engine drew into the platform. As soon as it stopped the carriage doors opened and the student body descended upon Hogwarts for the start of a new school year.

As they searched the sea of heads for signs of Ron, Hagrid’s “Firs’ years! Firs’ years this way!” rang out over the noise and bustle on the platform. Hermione saw Ron first, well it was his red hair that she glimpsed, as he climbed down from the train, it looked as if he had grown again over the summer and when he straightened himself out he was a good head taller than those around him.

As he pushed his way through the crowd he winced in pain as some one trod on his foot. He was about to tell the offender off when “Ron! Ron! Over here!” yelled Hermione. He saw them, waved in return, then as something caught his attention he stood very still and stared at his two friends standing at the back of the platform. The look of pain vanished from his face and was replaced with one that was completely unreadable. Harry suddenly realised that he was still holding Hermione’s hand.

-------------------------------------------------

Ron was upset, he thought he knew why he was upset but he wasn’t sure. The morning he was due to go to visit his older brother Charlie in Romania, where he was studying dragons, Hedwig had arrived with Harry and Hermione’s letter.

“Any interesting news dear?” his mother Molly Weasley had asked.

Ron had said little in reply other than that they had been called back to school by Dumbledore.

As he read more of the letter he began to feel that he wasn’t too happy with the way the holidays were panning out. His mother then made it worse by saying what a shame that he already had plans or he could have been with them. Ron was just reaching the conclusion that his trip to Charlie’s was not that important when his international floo booking time occurred.

He was pushed unceremoniously into the fire place and several cracked elbows later he was in Romania. He arrived there in an even worse mood than when he had left the Burrow.

Ron wasn’t daft, he had thought over Harry and Hermione’s letter. Whilst not giving much detailed information about what they had been up to he had read between the lines, called back by Dumbledore, together!, met the new defence against the Dark Arts Professor, together!, been here, done that, together!. He had decided that if he had been in Harry’s shoes those togethers would have been rather special, you could not know a girl for five years and not feel something for her.

To put it bluntly Ron did feel something for her, he thought he loved her, and he reasoned that he was about to come in second place again. Now he was in a right snit about it.

Charlie had noticed that something was not well in Ron’s life. It wasn’t hard to tell. The family trait of a short fuse and extreme response was well developed in his youngest brother. This was despite having five older brothers to give him guidance. More properly it was because of out the five the three who had the most influence on Ron were Percy, Fred and George and none of them ever gave him any confidence.

The level headed Dragon Handler had assessed Ron’s problems, his jealousy and hot temper reminded him of a Hungarian Horntail in the middle of the breeding season. He knew that to lecture Ron would be a disaster so he tired him out helping with the dragons and when he was good and knackered he persuaded him to talk.

The talk soon came round to what was causing all the problems, Harry Potter.

Ron slouched in his chair, swinging his long legs over the armrest. “Sometimes I feel it’s so unfair” he told Charlie “Harry has all that fame and all that money, now he staying at Hogwarts with Hermione.”

“Is that a problem then Ron?” Charlie asked all innocent like.

“Yes it is” Ron face began to resemble to colour of his hair. “I’ve fancied her since the fourth year.”

“Told her this, have you?”

“Not in so many words, but when we were alone at Sirius’ I tried to make her understand. For a whole month I tried.”

“But in that month you didn’t actually tell her?”

“Err…No”

“Why?”

“Because I knew that she didn’t love me back, least not in the same way.”

“Did Harry try to push himself between you, you know set himself up as something or someone better than you? I could imagine what he is like.”

“NO NEVER, Harry wouldn’t do that. He’s my best friend Charlie, I love him like another brother. He can’t help it if he has fame or wealth, it cost him his Mum and Dad, he didn’t ask to be V-Voldemort’s target, he just is.” Ron had a good head of steam going now. He didn’t want anyone to doubt Harry’s motives or personality. He stood and standing in front of Charlie poked him in the chest with his finger emphasising each word. “AND…HE…CAN’T…HELP…IT…IF…HERMIONE…LOVES…HIM…MORE…THAN…ME………SHE…………….JUST…………does. Oh bum!”

Charlie smiled and placed his arm round Ron’s shoulders “I think it’s time I told you something about our family.”

“What’s that Charlie?”

“We are all, and I mean all, very proud of you.” Ron had a look of disbelief on his face. “Look Bill and I may be the oldest but we both know you will do things that will far outstrip us. Mum and Dad may be a bit overprotective but when they were here last year I began to think you were the only brother I had, the way they talked. Fred and George may be the smart arses in the family but they have a great deal of respect for you, and Ginny just loves you to bits.”

“What about Percy?”

“Well Mum says that Percy is just like Great Uncle Wilberforce.”

“Never heard of him.”

“Doubt if you would have, he thought so much of himself that he decided that he wanted to be alone, totally alone. So he tried a charm to make every one in the world vanish.”

“Ohh did it work?”

“Look around you Ron we are still here.”

“So what happened to him? Why haven’t I ever met him?”

“We don’t know where he is, you see when he tried the spell he disappeared, so perhaps from his point of view it worked.”

Ron burst out laughing “Thanks Charlie, I’m glad I came here now.”

“My pleasure little bro’. I reckon if you give Harry and Hermione a chance you will end up the best Weasley of us all. And I don’t mind a bit.”

Ron learned a lot about himself whilst with Charlie, he also learned a lot about dragons and as he learnt he changed. Not deep down, he was still the same Ron, but he now carried a confidence that usually comes when you grow up.

----------------------------------

Ron had come to terms with the way he thought the situation would be between the three of them. He tried to put his feelings for Hermione in the same compartment he usually reserved for his sister Ginny. The feelings didn’t quite match but they were pretty close. How would he react if his suspicions were proved right, he would have to see, he wasn’t that good at Divination.

As the train drew into Hogsmead Station, Ron readied himself. Would it be obvious? Would they try to hide it? He climbed down onto the platform, heard Hagrid’s dulcet tones, then some second year with size ten feet trod on his foot. He was just about to admonish said student when “Ron!, Ron! Over here!” yelled Hermione. He saw them and waved in return……..

There right in front of him was all the confirmation he needed. The way the pair of them were together, it looked right, no embarrassment, very natural, at least until Harry realised that he was still holding Hermione’s hand and went bright red, but he didn’t let go. Ron, after a moments thought, did the only thing he could, he smiled.

If there was any awkwardness it didn’t show. The hellos were said, hugs and kisses exchanged, slaps on the backs for the boys. Neville and Ginny were gathered in and they clambered into one of the thestral drawn coaches and it lurched off back to the castle.

As they clambered out of the coaches at the bottom of the castle steps Harry saw many familiar faces amongst the students walking up and into the entrance hall.

Lavender Brown and Pavarti Patil, Hermione’s dorm mates, were in the company of Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan, their fellow sixth year Gryffindors. Harry could also see Hanna Abbot and Justin Finch-Fletchley in a crowd of other members of the old DA. He briefly wondered what would happen to that club this year.

Hermione was busy catching up with all Ginny’s gossip and neither was paying much attention to where they were going until they both stumbled and fell at the foot of the steps. Harry and Ron instinctively threw themselves forward to catch the girls and as they partly succeeded no harm was done. Hermione was apologising for her clumsiness, but Harry was back scanning the crowd. For he had felt the tripping hex fly past him even if he hadn’t seen who had cast it. At the head of the steps Harry’s prime suspect walked into the entrance hall as if nothing had happened, but Draco Malfoy had a satisfied smirk on his face.

“What’s up Harry” Ron whispered, he could see Harry’s narrowed eyes searching the milling students.

“That was a tripping hex Ron, someone’s playing dirty.”

“No guesses as to who. Where is he?”

“That’s just it I haven’t seen him. I think we need to keep our guard up this year.”

“Great” said Ron “No changes there then.”

Despite his worries over a certain Slytherin, Harry was determined to enjoy the welcoming feast. That the events of last June were to have an effect was evident during the sorting of the first years into their houses.

The Sorting Hat made no attempt to sing or pass any advice as it had before. Simply “Bring the first forward” was all that passed it’s brim.

There was as far as Harry could tell the usual crop of first years. In fact the numbers had risen since Harry, Hermione and Ron were inducted. Families thinking that ‘He who must not be named’ was gone for good, having been destroyed trying to kill Harry for the first time had felt safe, and the result, more children. What was strange was that despite this the Slytherin intake had declined, only by one or two a year, so most people hadn’t noticed. This year it was fairly obvious as the Slytherin catch was only three. It was as if the Sorting Hat was reluctant to assign any students to that house at all.

At the end of the sorting the Headmaster rose, welcomed one and all and gave out his usual notices about the Forbidden Forest. He also warned that Mr. Filch the caretaker would be particularly looking for anyone using items bought from joke shops. Especially if it came from a shop that was owned by former members of the school. Ron tried to look as if it were no concern of his but when Harry then Hermione laughed he hid his head in his hands and was heard to murmur “Those two will haunt me to my grave, no hope, none at all.”

Dumbledore then introduced his new member of staff. Many of the teachers and some of the students looked with pity at Solomon Aegis; they knew what had befallen his predecessors.

The food then arrived and everyone tucked in.

------------------------------

Professor Severus Snape, potions master, head of Slytherin House, and Harry Potter’s least favourite teacher was sitting next to Solomon. He turned to the new master and in his slow drawling voice offered his advice.

“You have no doubt heard that the previous occupants of your post have not fared well. If you want my advice then keep clear of Potter and his friends. They are sixth year Gryffindors, trouble the lot of them.”

“Thank you umm…Severus I am sure that it is well intentioned advice, but I have already met with Harry and Hermione and I look forward to meeting the rest as well.”

“Oh dear, we will be in trouble. Using student’s first names is not the way we do it around here. It won’t help you if you try to be too friendly, they don’t appreciate it.”

“Well Severus, you teach in your way and I will teach in mine. I promise I won’t try to set a precedent.”

Professor Aegis had seen Harry looking towards his table companion, who had just “Harrumphed” and returned to his meal. He shot a quick wink to Harry who gave a small smile in return.

------------------------

When the food had appeared on the table in front of Harry he had unconsciously started passing plates to Hermione so that she could help herself. It was Ron’s suppressed snigger that made him realise what he was doing.

He smiled at Hermione who covered his actions with “Well at least one of you has learned

some manners over the holiday. Thank you Harry.”

Ron’s mouth was too full, even for him, to make any reply so he gave her a look instead.

Eventually the eating frenzy calmed enough for conversation.

“So what’s the new DADA Professor like?” Ron asked Harry and Hermione as they were finishing their pudding. “Looks as if he can take care of himself.”

“Well we haven’t seen him do much magic, but he’s certainly an interesting character and comes from a long line of powerful wizards, so Dumbledore told us”. Answered Hermione.

“Yeh I think this year should be on a par with Lupins and probably not so disjointed cos he’s not a werewolf.” Added Harry as he stared along the row of professors seated at the top table. There he was, sitting immediately to the right of Professor Aegis, ……Snape. He looked just the same as in previous years greasy hair black robes and a permanent scowl; he was looking directly at Harry it seemed as if his feelings about him hadn't changed much. Professor Aegis glanced at Harry as well and then looked to where Harry was looking, at his neighbour; he leaned towards Snape and spoke quietly to him, a light flush of red coloured Snape's normally pale face and he lowered his gaze, his expression thoughtful. Aegis glanced back to Harry and winked at him. Harry with a slight smile turned back towards his friends.

Dumbledore dismissed them all to their beds, as usual, at the end of the meal, and Harry tagged along with Ron and Hermione who with the new fifth year prefects were leading the larger than normal contingent of Gryffindor first years to the common room. As they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady Harry heard the familiar ……Password!...... challenge, and with a very clear voice he heard Hermione say “Forever together” the painting swung outwards revealing the entrance to the tower.

At breakfast the next morning the sixth years did not receive a timetable from Professor McGonagall as they had in previous years, instead was a note with the time of their appointment with her to finalise their NEWT courses. This gave Ron, Harry and Hermione a chance to talk alone and Ron wasn’t shy about broaching the subject the other two felt a bit awkward about.

“So when did all this happen then?”

“All what Ron?” said Hermione innocently.

If Ron had been wearing glasses he would have stared over the top of them at the uncomfortable pair.

Harry looked back at his best mate “If you mean officially, then since my birthday” Hermione nodded in agreement. “But I think for my part its something that’s grown from the day we all became friends. I just didn’t realise it.”

“It’s something that’s very difficult to explain” said Hermione “Like Harry said it was always there under the surface and it might have stayed like that if it hadn’t been for this summer.” Hermione looked pleadingly at Ron “Are you happy for us?”

Ron dragged the moment out as long as he dared. “How could I not be, but I warn both of you, that if you, Harry, hurt my best friend and sister or you, Hermione, hurt my best mate and brother there will be no forgiveness from this Weasley.

Hermione threw her arms around Ron’s neck and kissed him on the cheek. Harry stood in front of his friend and held out his hand, Ron took his and they shook on it. Hermione was blissfully happy the three of them were still friends, it was so important that they should remain so. ‘Forever together’, she thought, ‘Oh! By Merlin I hope so!’

The appointments with McGonagall were set in alphabetical order so Hermione was the first of the trio to enter her office. Her decision must have been an easy one because she was out in less than ten minutes and without telling the boys anything about her courses excused herself and disappeared in the direction of the library. As Harry and Ron were numbers six and eight on the list they waited together in the corridor near McGonagall’s office and were joined by Dean Thomas who turned up just as Pavarti came out.

“Miss Patil, if Mr Thomas is there please sent him in next” came Professor McGonagall’s voice from inside the room.

Pavarti looked to Dean who shrugged his shoulders, got up and disappeared through the door.

“Odd” said Ron.

“Nothing’s ever normal in this place Ron, you should know that by now” Harry retorted.

The two boys waited in silence.

Dean reappeared a short while later, “Thank goodness that’s all sorted” he said. Harry stood to be the next in “No Harry, McGonagall wants to see Ron now.”

“Don’t worry Harry she’s just keeping the best till last” Ron spoke over his shoulder as he went in.

“Oh yes, very funny” said Harry to no one in particular.

Almost as if has been rehearsed as Ron came back out of the office Hermione walked round the corner of the corridor.

As his mouth opened to speak to his friends he was summoned with an “In Mr. Potter, now!” Harry sighed, turned on his heel and walked into the office.

Professor McGonagall was sitting behind her desk, a pile of parchments in front of her.

“Sit down Pott… err Harry”. Harry sat. “Well, now you have your OWL results have you settled on what you would like to do, and which NEWT courses you wish to take.”

Harry looked at his Head of House. “Do you know about the prophecy Professor, about me and Voldemort?”

Minerva McGonagall looked at Harry over her glasses and her normally severe countenance crumbled. She just managed to restrain the comforting hand that was heading towards Harry’s shoulders.

“Yes Harry, I do”.

“Well, my ambitions have changed in the light of this information. I cannot look forward enough to imagine what I really want to do as a career, but there is one thing I would like to do.”

“And what would that be Harry?”

“I would like to survive.” The impact of his words hit the Professor and she stifled a small sob. “It's not just because it means Voldemort will be gone, but because I now have a personal reason to live. I want so very much to stay with her.” His plea was almost more than the crusty old matriarch of Gryffindor House could stand. Harry could see that her eyes held a quiet tear and a sad smile was on her face. He continued “I know that last year I said I wanted to be an Auror but I am not so sure now. I really cannot see past my meeting with Voldemort, and if I am still here I may have had enough of fighting and killing.”

Harry was beginning to lose himself in his despair, he felt it was all so pointless, he had no chance. He was gazing listlessly at the floor and did not see the small wand movement that opened the door behind him. Nor did he see McGonagall beckon someone in whilst at the same time shoo someone back. But he instantly knew that she was there. She knelt beside him. He felt her arms slide around his shoulders, he could smell her hair as she buried her head in his chest, and he heard her voice.

“Harry do you remember our conversation last month. The one about you believing in yourself?”

“Yes, love I do.”

“I think it’s time for another reminder.” she said gently and with that Hermione drew him to her and kissed him soundly on the lips.

Professor McGonagall had suddenly become very interested in what was going on in the courtyard below her window, and she didn’t turn back until she heard Hermione say.

“Better now?”

Harry sighed “Yes, and thanks, and I’m sorry Professor.”

“That’s alright Harry I understand, but you need something to take your mind off Voldemort other than well………” she looked meaningfully at Hermione, “and how are we going to do that?”

“I don’t know Professor”

“Happily I and some of your other teachers think we do know, it will depend on you applying yourself to the tasks set you with greater effort than even NEWT’s would require. You will join the NEWT classes in Transfiguration, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Potions, yes and Potions! I also think you will need some additional help besides Miss Granger. Mr Weasley!” she amplified her voice to reach the corridor. “Please come in!”

The door opened and Ron entered.

Chairs appeared out of thin air on either side of Harry’s, Hermione had disentangled herself from him and sat on his left and Ron his right, Hermione took Harry’s hand and gave a reassuring squeeze.

“Both Ronald and Hermione asked to be included in any plans that you might make Harry and they have delayed confirming their own choices until you decide what you are going to do.”

He looked to both of them in turn “Look guys, you don’t have to sacrifice your own dreams because of me I’m sure I can manage.”

“It seems to me mate that no one will fulfil their dreams or have any kind of future if you don’t succeed”. Harry looked sharply at Ron, he knew that he had said nothing to him about the prophecy, how had he known?

Hermione answered the unasked question “Sorry Harry but I gave Ron the potted version of the prophecy just now, please forgive me but he need to know”.

Harry sighed “Nothing to forgive, it’s not the way I wanted him to hear it, sorry Ron I should have told you before now, but I didn’t know how to tell you.”

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and gave a small sniff, “If you are willing I will outline the lessons we had planned?” All three nodded. “We want to play to your strengths, Hermione will join Harry in Potions, all three of you will study Transfiguration, Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts. Hermione will also do Arithmancy and Ron Care of Magical Creatures and as he is not carrying on with potions I have arranged some study in strategy with an outside teacher.

“Hang on” said Harry “ That means they are doing more than I am”.

Looking at him sternly McGonagall said “If you would let me finish Mr Potter, I was about to say that You will be joining Defence Against the Dark Arts seventh year classes as well as your own and Professor Aegis has some plans for a study group as well. I think that will keep you all sufficiently occupied this year.”

That evening Harry lay in his bed; now back in the dormitory with the other sixth year boys, he had expected his accommodation to revert to normal once term started. He certainly wished that he could have continued to share the guest rooms with Hermione, they had been a little haven of peace, and he knew that he missed her close company, but with school rules the way they were he knew there was no chance. He mulled over the decisions made that day, it was very hard to think about the future when that future included a deadly meeting with Voldemort, but at least Ron and Hermione would share the burden of the worries, even if the final act was down to him. Sleep began to catch up with him and closing his eyes he drifted off.

…………………….

He was looking down from a vantage point near the ceiling; the room was bare save for a high backed carved wooden chair, its occupant hidden in shadows. A door opened and scuttling across the floor was a short fat man with thin unkempt hair. It was clear he was very nervous, his movements jerky and unsure, it looked as if he expected someone or something to suddenly jump out on him. He stopped in front of the chair and bowed low to the form sitting in it.

“My Lord” he squeaked as he bowed.

The figure in the chair stirred and a cloaked and cowled man separated from the shadows.

“What news Wormtail?” the voice was rasping, yet full of menace.

“Forgive me my Lord, the Dementors cannot be persuaded to turn, they find no advantage in your offer. Although they have left Azkaban they did not release our comrades. They have found out that Dumbledore has new allies and they are afraid of them.”

“For once Wormtail the fault is not yours, you will not be punished,….. not yet,….. I am aware that Merlin’s brood have set themselves with Dumbledore’s camp and that one of their accursed tribe is with him at the school. We will deal with all of them in good time, but for now there is an item of power at the school which we must have and it will be up to you, Wormtail, to get it for me”.

The fat man was grovelling so low to the floor that his words could hardly be heard. “As my Lord commands, I will obey.”

The man in the chair stood. Pulled the cowl from around his head and looked down at the cringing man. The slitted eyes burned a sullen red, his deformed nose and completely bald head gave him a skeletal appearance.

“You disgust me…Wormtail…..there is only one reason why I trust you”. He pointed a wand at him. “CRUCIO!”

Wormtail screamed as the pain of the Cruciatus Curse ripped through his body, he collapsed and twitched horribly on the floor.

“Master!, master you said I would not be punished!” he sobbed.

“I lied” came the cold reply.

…………………………..

Harry woke with a start, well he thought that was different, not a nightmare, but certainly some form of vision. He reached to the side of his bed and fumbled for his glasses. Some while ago Hermione had given him a small note book and a pencil bought from a muggle shop and told him to make notes of any dreams he might have in case they were important. He had never needed it before as he never forgot his real nightmares but this was different and he did not want to lose the dream or vision or whatever it had been. By the light of the full moon he scribbled a few words then replaced the pad and pencil, he was just about to remove his glasses when the shining orb in the sky caught his attention. The effect it would be having on one of his friends came clearly to mind. Harry sighed. “Poor Lupin” he said quietly.

His glasses back on his bedside table, Harry lay back and stared out on a rather fuzzy moon and within minutes he drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

Lessons started in earnest the following day and for the first two weeks of the term, Harry didn’t know his head from his heels. All NEWT classes were doubles. So double Potions, double Transfiguration, double Charms, and double, double Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry wasn’t sure he could cope; Ron knew he couldn’t cope, Hermione loved it!

Harry had finally got around to showing Hermione the notes he had made of his dream. Unfortunately he found that all he had written was Voldemort, Wormtail, Dementors and Hogwarts, and now that he had forgotten the details of the dream and it didn’t make much sense.

In his lessons Harry found that;

Snape was being unpleasant and worked them hard.

McGonagall was being stern and worked them hard.

Flitwick was charming. But the charms he charmed were the most complex charms that any of them had ever come across including Hermione.

Aegis threw Harry in at the deep end and then took away his life jacket. In his classes with the seventh years Aegis had him duelling with the older students. Some of them were only too glad to have a crack at the famous Harry Potter. Harry knew that if he wished to survive his classes let alone Voldemort he had to learn, and that’s just what he did.

Draco Malfoy was treating the trio, in fact all Harry’s closest friends, with complete indifference, and that wasn’t normal.

Then came the first study group with Professor Aegis. Set for an afternoon which was devoid of other lessons Harry and Hermione walked quietly to the classroom. The corridor was deserted and they took the opportunity to take each other’s hand and indulge in a moment of togetherness. There had been little chance of privacy and few opportunities to show their feelings towards one another, but the glance which held a thousand words, the exchange of smiles and the odd head to head study period in the library or common room had been enough, but this was an extra treat.

As they weren’t concentrating on exactly where they were going it was only Aegis’s “Ah! Harry, Hermione there you are” which returned them to the land of the living. Their attention returned to the classroom that they had just unknowingly entered and found Professor Aegis, Ron, Neville, Ginny and Luna all looking at them.

Ron chuckled at their predicament “Grins all round” he said quietly, and there were.

They grinned back and settled in the remaining two chairs to form a semi circle around the Professor.

“I won’t insult your intelligence and explain why the six of you are in here together, suffice to say that you trust one another and have worked together before and that for the moment is enough. The conflict that is upon us will not be easy, the ability to mesh as a team, to know each others strengths and protect each others weaknesses is what will in the end determine whether we will be successful or not. We cannot afford to have secrets from each other. Voldemort lives in a world of secrets and mistrust, that is his weakness, that is how we can divide his forces and that, is how he can be defeated.”

“Now anyone know how we can do this?” he asked innocently, a little twinkle in his eyes.

Harry shook his head and started to laugh, the others following suit as the penny dropped.

“Good” said Aegis “It is a very serious state of affairs but you must be relaxed about it.”

The group opened up and talked. They expressed fears, wishes, hopes and expectations. They talked as they had never done before, they talked as Harry and Hermione had talked to Dumbledore and Aegis in the summer, they were beginning their preparations for the conflict that was to come.

As the study group broke up Professor Aegis called Harry to one side talking, quietly he asked, “After our conversation earlier this month are you still giving Hermione the necklace on her birthday?”

“Yes I am” he answered.

“That’s fine, but just a little advice, don’t do it indoors. These mystical items, if indeed that’s what it turns out to be, tend to be a little unpredictable when they reach their destined owner”.

“Ohh OK” ‘great’ Harry thought ‘now I have that to worry about too.’

Aegis smiled.

Disclaimer

The characters and universe created by J.K.Rowling are hers alone. As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I hope this story can be taken in that way. Some of the additional characters are mine and who knows some of them may even be real.

6. Hermione’s Tear

Weekends didn’t seem to exist for Harry and his friends, although there were no set lessons the hours were filled with incessant study, writing essays and generally trying to keep on top of their course work. The other sixth years couldn’t understand why the trio were so busy, there were two whole years to get ready for the NEWT’s, but it looked as if they were preparing to take them next week.

Only Neville, Ginny and Luna knew what was driving the three, Harry had come clean with the prophecy the evening after Professor Aegis’ first study group. The revelation had shocked them all but had further bound the six together, and had caused Ginny to think up a name for them. She had been going through her Ancient Runes work from the previous year and announced to the others that the name Tyr would be appropriate.

“Wow” said Hermione “That’s not bad Gin.” Gazing at the blank looks from Harry and Ron she explained “Tyr was a sky god and the rune Tyr represents victory and protection and is a symbol of cosmic justice”.

“And?” said Ron.

Harry laughed “Ok, it fits; we six are now ‘The Tyr’, any comments?”

“I reckon ‘The Six’ would have made just as much sense” said a totally confused Ron.

They hit the third week of the term running and it occurred to Harry that being on top of his work caused fewer problems for him in Snape’s classes. He was still getting the snide comments from the Professor but Draco Malfoy was strangely quiet. Although on the surface this was an improvement, it was actually more of a worry, as Harry was sure that he was up to something. It seemed that the arrest and continued imprisonment of his father may have produced a more subdued but much more dangerous Malfoy; Harry had preferred it when he was loudly obnoxious. Malfoy was waiting for something.

No one could call the Slytherin common room cheerful and inviting, it was warm but that was to keep away the damp. In one darkish corner Draco Malfoy was addressing his troops.

“Are you two absolutely sure that you have the incantation and the wand movement correct?” Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle both nodded. “Good I want to be sure that Granger gets the full effect of my birthday present.”

Goyle opened and closed his mouth several times. He always did this before speaking; it gave his brain a chance to catch up.

“Draco this curse isn’t exactly deadly; I thought you wanted to get even for your father.”

“Are you sure you thought…..” there was silence. “Never mind….This will be enough to start with, it will get worse believe me. This will shake them up no end and they will never know who hit them. I can move in for the kill later, I am in no hurry.”

Hermione’s birthday dawned bright and warm, as the country was experiencing a bit of an Indian summer. Harry had waited for her at the foot of the stairs to the girl’s dormitory and dared to give her a happy birthday kiss. It was brief and chaste as there were quite a few students in the common room but it still made Harry’s toes curl and Hermione blush. Ron stepped forward and gave her a hug and her present.

“Gosh Ron, it’s a book!”

“Yeh I found it when I was with Charlie, it’s on Romanian Runes and their use in magic”.

“Thanks!” she was smiling happily and turned expectantly to Harry. He stared back non-committally and the smile faltered.

Harry couldn’t bear to see the happiness die and quickly grabbed her hand and said “It’s OK, but not in here.”

Now her curiosity was aroused and she kept glancing at him as the three headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry made a diversion to have a few words with Professor Aegis before he joined the others at the table. Both her boys made sure that Hermione had a good birthday breakfast and during the meal Hedwig appeared and landed in front of her. The card and present were from her parents; Harry had sent his owl to them the day before with a note offering her services.

This sent Hermione’s happiness to even greater heights and earned Harry a hug and another quick kiss.

The Great Hall began emptying as the students departed for their first class of the day, as Hermione stood to leave Harry took her hand.

“Hold on a minute, we need to go outside first” Hermione was about to protest when Harry continued “It’s OK Aegis said it was alright to be a little late”.

Leaving their bags by the doors Harry and Hermione walked down the Castle steps and out across the lawns.

“Harry where are you taking me?”

“Down by the lake, I think it will be safe there”.

“What do you mean Safe?”

“I don’t really know Hermione but Aegis said not to do it indoors”.

“Harry! what are you talking about?”

They reached the lakeside a little out of breath. They stopped and Harry turned to face Hermione, she was looking a bit put out and there was colour in her cheeks.

“It’s your birthday present, I got it for you in Avalon, and Professor Aegis told me to make sure we were outside when I gave it to you….Here!”

Harry held out the small parcel, Hermione took it and began to remove the wrapping. Inside was a wooden box not much larger that the one Harry had received on his birthday, she slowly opened it and let out a gasp of surprise.

“Oh Merlin! Harry its beautiful!” she cried.

She emptied the box into her left hand, the stone was lying on the white metal coils of the chain and the sunlight was making the jewel sparkle as if it was on fire.

“Please put it on for me.” She said.

Harry took the necklace and released the clasp, opening the chain out he reached either side of her neck and inwardly cringing rejoined the clasp.

Nothing happened.

Harry let out his breath, which he hadn’t realised he was holding, and gazed into the eyes of the girl who meant more to him than anything.

He was a little disappointed, not in Hermione, but in the fact that there was no thunder and lighting, no pillars of fire, nothing at all but Hermione with tears of joy in her eyes holding the stone to the limit of its chain so that she could look at it. She was completely at a loss for words.

She looked from the stone to Harry and blinked away a tear which hung on the end of her eyelashes for a heartbeat and then dropped off. Later Harry said he was sure he had seen the teardrop fall in slow motion past her cheek, her lips and her chin, and then it splashed right on to the stone in her hand.

Suddenly everything stopped; there was no sound and no movement. From deep below the ground a rumbling began, never getting very loud but increasing in intensity making the surface of the lake jump and splash.

Then bursting from the ground around Hermione’s feet was a rush of energy like a wind but with no air in it. It soared up in a column high above the trees and then collapsed straight back down sending a wave of energy out in a circle with Hermione at its centre. Harry could see the wave shoot across the lake raising a wall of water, as tall as he was, before it. To either side and behind him the energy flattened the grass and bent the trees and bushes as if it was a hurricane.

“Whoa!” said Harry, which didn’t seem to do the recent events justice.

Hermione looked a little shocked by what had just happened then a sense of suspicion began to show in the slight narrowing of her eyes.

“Did you know that this would happen Harry?”

“Err…. No I didn’t but I was warned that something might. You see I bought it because I

liked it and I thought you’d like it….and I didn’t know when I bought it that it might……I only found out later that it might …….and I’m sorry I’ve messed it all up and now we’re really late for class and ……I’ll find you something else when we go into Hogsmead next and …..I’ll try to make it up to you. Can you forgive me?”

By the time he had finished Hermione’s shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter.

“Harry there is nothing to forgive; you have given me the most wonderful, if mysterious, present that I have ever had. I think it’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, don’t you?”

Harry looked up at her, stared into her deep brown eyes and said “No Hermione, it’s not, that would be you.”

Just sometimes you know when you have said the right thing and for Harry this was one of them.

The duo returned to the castle hopelessly late for their Defence lesson and being preoccupied had failed to notice the three figures which had detached themselves from the shadows of the castle wall. The sound of Peeves rattling the door of the broom cupboard drowned out the softly spoken curses.

The bright sunlight would have made the yellow streaks of magic difficult to see even if they had been looking, but an instant before they struck home something rather unexpected happened.

The stone on Hermione’s necklace flashed into brilliance and the light formed a shield on which the curses not only impacted but which reflected them back in the direction from whence they had come.

Harry and Hermione turned in an instant, their wands at the ready, but it was unnecessary as all that was behind them were three prone bodies lying on the lawns.

Even from the top of the steps Harry could see that it was Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle and they seemed to be in a rather bad way. They were twitching as they lay there and some sort of froth was coming from their mouths. The twitching was not getting any better, in fact it looked as if it was getting worse.

Hermione was just about to say that they ought to do something when from the doorway behind them came three cries of “Immobillus” and the students on the lawns became still. Professor Aegis stopped beside Harry and Hermione, looked down and smiled.

“Had a taste of their own medicine those three” he said “I don’t suppose they will try the epileptium curse again in a hurry. I think three detentions might be in order, once they have recovered.” He pondered for a moment “Do they have some sort of grudge against you? It’s not what I would call a friendly curse to throw at someone.”

“You could say that, the blonde one is Draco Malfoy. The thing at the ministry last year ended up with his father in Azkaban, and I think he holds us responsible”. explained Harry.

“I see, well you better get along to your next class, while I take these idiots to the Hospital wing. Oh by the way Hermione, nice necklace”.

Having regained her composure Hermione replied “Thank-you, Professor it’s a birthday present from Harry… but I was going to ask you, did you see what it did?”

“Yes, good subject for one of our study periods, now off you go, I’ll see you later.

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were noticeable by their absence from the Slytherin table for the next few days. Malfoy was the only one Harry and Hermione saw during lessons, and that was in potions. Professor Snape made no comments about his prolonged absence.

The full story was not learned until the Saturday evening meal when, not unusually, the Headmaster stood to make an announcement.

“I need you all to pay attention to what I am about to say” Dumbledore’s ringing tones easily cut over the whispers circulating the hall. “I have several announcements which will affect you all. First, the Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge has seen fit to resign his position”.

“Jumped, before he could be pushed” whispered Ron to Harry.

“This, needless to say, has left a vacancy and due to the present circumstances it has been decided not to fill the post with one individual. The Ministry in London will be run by Mrs Amelia Bones and she will be joined by, and consult with, the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamont, that is …….Ahh,…… me!”

The murmurs rose to a new level and comments such as “About time” and “Now we’ll see some action” could be heard clearly.

“Secondly”, continued Dumbledore, “All the educational decrees and other rulings issued last year under Dolores Umbridge have been rescinded and the statute for underage wizardry has been lifted”.

A roar of approval greeted this last statement.

“However!!” the Headmaster’s voice soared above the racket, “This is not a license to free magic, merely that you will not be punished for using magic to defend yourselves, if it is necessary. The school rules will still be in force and your teachers and I will deal most strongly with anyone who steps over the line.”

“This brings me to my final announcement. By now most of you will be aware of the cowardly attack made by three of your compatriots the other day. That their attack failed and they were hit by their own curses has not been considered sufficient punishment. When they are suitably recovered, Draco Malfoy and Gregory Goyle will serve detention for the rest of the term. I have also confiscated their wands, until further notice. Vincent Crabbe will not receive any additional punishment, not that he was any less guilty, but he is now in St. Mungo's Hospital and he may not be able to return to the school. Please be aware that transgressions of this nature will not be tolerated and will be similarly dealt with”. He looked down at the silent tables, his manner stern and unmoving, then suddenly he smiled and finished. “Now off to bed with you all”.

The climb up to the Gryffindor common room was the noisiest that Harry could remember. Most of the students were commenting on the justice served out to the three Slytherins, but there were discussions going on about the changes that would now be seen at the Ministry.

Hermione was walking between Ron and Harry as they climbed the steps, she looked thoughtful then turned to Harry and said “You know this means you can play Quidditch again, don’t you?”

“Sorry, what’s that got to do with the new Ministers for Magic?”, Harry had been half listening to Seamus and Neville’s conversation.

“Nothing” replied Hermione with a bit of exasperation in her voice, “Umbridge's rulings have been cancelled, your Quidditch ban has been lifted”.

Harry stared at her, he hadn’t considered the full implications of the changes, but she was right, he could play now, if he could get on the team.

As the information sank in, Ron let out a yell of delight, and shouted up the stairs, ”Hey Katie! Harry can play again, now we’ve got a chance.

Katie Bell had been made Quidditch captain, now in her last year at Hogwarts, it was the natural progression everyone was expecting, she pushed her way down to Harry.

“Great news Harry, selections and training start tomorrow, be there!”

As they filed through the portrait hole Harry caught Hermione’s hand. “Thanks” he said “It hadn’t occurred to me”.

“Oh I expect it would have eventually” she smiled back.

The common room was a noisy place that night, the younger students drifted up to their rooms as the evening drew on until eventually only the fifth years and above remained. The talk was of the lifting of the underage magic laws, inevitably the fact that Hermione’s birthday advantage had lasted all but a few days came up.

“So” said Seamus “Now you can’t show of by doing magic when we couldn’t what are you going to come up with to prove you are of age. What can you do that we can’t?”

“Oh, that’s easy” she stood up and walked to the girls stairs, passing Harry on the way. As she reached him she threw her arms round his neck and kissed him full on the lips. “Night all”, she threw over her shoulder, and walking on, she disappeared up the stairs.

Harry could feel the heat burning up through his shirt collar as he looked round at Seamus who was staring at him with his mouth wide open.

“Well, I think she’s got you there, Seamus, ‘cos if you try that Harry‘ll probably flatten you”, said Ron, with a completely straight face.

There was a moments silence then the room dissolved in gales of laughter.

7. Flying Lions, Crawling Snakes and Dirty Rats

The life of the school settled down to its usual rhythm. Harry, Ron and Hermione found their work load was bearable, just. Although they were learning masses of useful stuff in their regular classes, it was in the study periods with Professor Aegis that the greatest leaps forward were happening.

Harry noticed that even in the seventh year Defence classes, it was only defence that was being taught, but in the classes with the rest of the Tyr offence was also on the menu. They recapped all that Harry had taught the DA the year before, and improved on the power that they could put behind each spell.

Another improvement they made was learning the discharging of multiple spells from their wands. To both Harry and Hermione, brought up in the muggle world, it was like the difference between a single shot pistol and a machine gun, and like the latter instrument great control was required if one’s friends weren’t to be hit as well. Neville seemed to have particular difficulty with this aspect and on several occasions the rest of the team were seen diving for cover as multiple stunning curses ricocheted around the classroom.

After one such episode as everyone was calming down Hermione finally broached the subject of her necklace.

“Let me have a look at it Hermione?” said Aegis, “No don’t bother to take it off”, he added as she reached behind her head to undo the clasp. She leaned forward and held out the stone to him on the end of its chain. He reached out his hand to touch it and as he did so a brilliant flash of blue light made him jump backwards.

“Goodness!” he exclaimed “That was rather reminiscent of the staticus curse, gave me quite a jolt”.

“Looked like an electric shock”, said Harry.

“My Dad collects those” said Rom knowingly.

“No Ron that’s plugs, electric plugs.”

“Oh… Not the same then Harry?”

“No”

Hermione was looking confused “But Professor, Harry has held the stone and it didn’t do anything to him, show him Harry”.

Harry gave Aegis a weak smile and shutting his eyes, just in case, took the stone in his hand. No shock. Harry slowly opened one eye and then relaxed when he realised he was safe.

“Interesting, perhaps it’s an age related protection, you try Ron”.

In response to his Professor’s request Ron confidently reached out for the stone. As he picked himself up off the floor and attempted to flatten his hair which was literally standing on end, Professor Aegis said “Nope, not age related, can’t be a boy, girl thing either”. He glanced down deep in thought and saw Harry and Hermione's hands clasped together resting on Harry’s knee.

“Now I understand, quite clear, quite clear. It’s your special connection”.

“And what special connection might that be?” queried Ron suspiciously, “You never mentioned a special connection”.

……………………….

There was a sudden commotion. Compass who normally curled up under the teacher’s desk partly to sleep and partly for protection suddenly shot across the room, there was a terrified squeak from a darkened corner and a scrabbling of claws. The dog however could not control his legs on the hard stone floor and skidded unceremoniously into the wall. He picked himself up and looked back at Aegis who raised his eyebrows questioningly.

“Rats!” came the thought.

……………………………

Ron however was not to be put off “Well?” he said. “What connection?”

“It was my birthday present Ron” said Harry “Hermione gave me err…” He began to go red “Err..”

“Oh for goodness sake! .Ron I gave Harry the “Credo pectus oris” charm.”

It obviously meant nothing to Ron who just stared at her. Ginny on the other hand put her hands up to her mouth to stifle the exclamation that was dying to escape, but a quiet “Oh that’s beautiful” did creep out.

Hermione looked at Ron as if he had just been awarded the dumb wizard of the month cup.

“I made a commitment to Harry, I gave him my heart and soul, it’s sort of permanent.” explained Hermione.

Both Harry and Hermione held out their hands to show the faint but indelible marks on them.

“Oh! So you’re serious about your relationship then?” Ron had a vapid look but Harry could see a tiny smile at the corners of his mouth.

“Ronald Weasley you are impossible!” Hermione was totally exasperated by the great ginger twit who now burst out laughing.

“Children settle” chipped in Professor Aegis. He continued, “This means that only you Hermione, or you Harry, can touch the stone. Can you take the necklace off Hermione?” She tried but the clasp remained locked. “What about you Harry?” Hermione turned and Harry reached for the clasp which came apart in his hands. “Who did it up the first time you put it on Hermione?”.

“Harry did, necklaces aren’t easy to do yourself”.

“OK do it up again now Harry. It is obvious that he is the only one who can remove it normally. Anyone else would have to do it without unclasping it, and I doubt if that chain could ever be cut”.

“But it won’t fit over my head” Said Hermione.

“Yes, exactly” and the Professor didn’t need to elaborate any more, Hermione looked a little sick at the thought. Harry looked horrified. “We have already seen that it produces a shield to ward off unfriendly curses and return them to whence they came but I doubt that it is all it will do”.

…………………………

He breathed a sigh of relief. Now that he was outside the boundaries of Hogwarts he could relax, not that rats really relax that much. As he scurried through the hedgerows away from the school his small rat mind held a tinge of triumph. Once he was able to resume his human form that triumph became ecstasy, he would live, he had the information, and his master wouldn’t kill him… this time.

He had seen them all, the one’s his master blamed for the incarceration of his Death Eaters. They had been talking with that country bumpkin, and now he, Wormtail, knew that the mudblood had the stone. He also knew that Potter and the girl were the only ones who could touch it, well if he couldn’t remove it the normal way there was always the easy alternative.

Peter Pettigrew sat down on a convenient rock to contemplate what he should do next, and winced in pain. That damn great clumsy mutt had almost got him, as it was he had caught his leg squeezing out of the classroom. He didn’t think he had missed much, it sounded like they were going to discuss Potter’s love life. Love what was the point of love. He had never been loved, the rat he became had always been in him, and he knew it kept others at arms length. He had loved once, but then in their own way all the Marauders had been in love with Lily Evans. Then from the shadows he had watched as the Dark Lord killed her. James had died fighting, he had his chance, but she had died protecting Harry, and his master had killed her without a seconds thought.

As the memories returned to Peter he began to sob. Not for James, not for Lily, and now not for Sirius, but for himself.

…………………………..

September turned to October, as it usually does, and late on in that autumn month was scheduled the first Quidditch match of the season, Slytherin against Gryffindor.

The Slytherin team was a shambles, no Malfoy, Goyle or Crabbe. Malfoy and Goyle had been removed from the team by Professor Snape, Harry reckoned it was because they had been caught rather than what they had tried to do to him and Hermione, and Crabbe was still at St.Mungos.

Gryffindor were fielding a strong team. Katie Bell led the chasers Ginny Weasley and a new girl Evadney Sprocket, a third year.

“Nice girl, shame about her name” Ron had commented when she made the team.

Everyone called her Eve.

Richard Thompson and Harold Winter, both fourth years, were the new beaters, Ron was in goal, and Harry was back as seeker. They had trained as hard as their lessons would allow and had worked on set moves that gave the opportunity for individual variations to be added if the circumstances required it.

They felt confident in their abilities but as Katie gave the prematch talk she cautioned them because she had just seen the revised Slytherin team, they were all huge. Wallace the new captain looked as if he had been hit with an engorgement charm in infancy and the rest of the team were similarly built. Although they would not be very agile it occurred to the Gryffindors that if they were caught in a tackle by any of the opposition then they would definitely come off worse.

“Just be very careful and watch each others backs” Katie advised, “This will be a game of attrition. Harry, we really need an early snitch or else we’ll all end up in the hospital wing”.

It was clear that Katie’s fears were real. From the first whistle Slytherin made no attempts at goal, and their seeker would have had a hard job catching the Hogwarts Express. Their sole aim was to incapacitate the Gryffindor team behind the back of Madam Hooch, who was the referee for the match.

There were many close calls as the Slytherins dived into the attack, but the Gryffindors with their greater agility managed to keep out of the way. The real danger came from sneak attacks. Thompson who was so busy protecting Ginny from a side attack by one of the Slytherin chasers fell to a double crush attack by the two Slytherin beaters who had bounced him from either side. This put him out of the match and on his way to Madam Pomfrey although it looked as if he was still able to move, he waved weakly as he was stretchered away.

Although there were no more serious injuries the Gryffindors were having difficulty in concentrating on the job at hand, having to swerve, this way and that, in order to avoid the Slytherin team. They had scored sixty points and with their faith in Harry had no doubt that they would win but they needed to survive as well.

Ron, who had nothing to do, was intently watching the poor excuse for a match that was happening at the other end of the pitch. It suddenly occurred to him that the Slytherin beaters were not in his field of vision. Some second sense or possibly the roar from the Gryffindor stands alerted him to their presence. Due to the fact that they knew no other moves, and had not the imagination to devise another, the pair were trying the double crush attack again.

As they came in from either side Ron suddenly shot upwards. To them it was as if he had simply vanished, with horrified looks on their faces they pulled on their broom handles in an attempt to avoid the crash. Had Ron waited a few seconds more before moving out of the way the collision would have been a spectacular disaster, as it was it was merely bone crushing and as Ron remarked later it he was glad it was their bones not his. The two beaters bounced off one another shooting off to either side to the pitch, one of them only just missing a stand full of Hufflepuffs.

Harry realised it was becoming necessary to end this match. The Gryffindor team were tiring, the physical demands and nervous concentration needed to avoid serious injury were beginning to tell and they were one team member down.

It was at this stage that Harry managed to even the odds. He was flying high above the stands when he went into a nearly vertical dive, Hermione who had been watching the game with mounting trepidation cried out and covered her eyes, but only for a second as she needed to see what Harry was doing. He was plummeting out of the sky at a reckless rate, he passed through the other players all milling around trying to avoid each other, flying so close to Wallace and at such a speed that his wake had caused the chaser’s broom to spin end on end and Wallace lost his grip.

He could have fallen some fifty feet but fortunately half way down he met one of his team mates on the way up, and the sight of the two of them astride the same broom but facing each other produced gales of laughter from the stands and a mass exodus of the Slytherin supporters who could not bear to watch any more. The combined weight of the two Slytherins caused the flying charm on the broom to collapse and sent it pancaking into the ground.

The reason for Harry’s dive was that he had seen the snitch and he wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass. As he spun out of the dive it was with his arm in the air, and the snitch firmly clasped in his hand.

Madam Hooch blew her whistle and shouted. “GRYFFINDOR WINS!”

The Gryffindor common room held its usual after-match celebration. The margin of two hundred and ten points over Slytherin was not the largest that they had ever had but it gave the team a good cushion in contemplating the harder matches to come and anyway a win was a win and needed celebrating.

Ron was giving a graphic interpretation of his escape from the two Slytherin beaters and if you believed him he had known all along what had been happening behind him and his avoidance had been timed to perfection. Harry smiled, he knew that Ron hadn’t seen anything at all; Ron glanced at him and faltered in his tale, as Ron knew what Harry knew, he smiled back, then continued with gusto.

Harry and Hermione were sitting away from the main celebrations on the sofa, and Harry was having his ear bent. Hermione was not happy with him, she was pleased they had won, but not with the dive that Harry had finished the match with.

“Really Harry, do you have to fly like that, it scares me half to death.” Hermione said with feeling. “If you kill yourself on that broom I don’t think I’ll ever speak to you again”.

Harry looked sideways at her, then she realised what she had said and added “Well you know what I mean, please be careful, for me, if nothing else”.

He slipped his arm round her shoulder in one of their rare obvious displays of affection and they settled to an evening of togetherness.

Much later that evening Professor Aegis sat in his office staring at the object on his desk. He didn’t like this part of his job that much, Dumbledore could do this without any help, but Aegis needed the talisman that was in front of him.

Dumbledore had been doing this for years, but now with the changes at the Ministry, he was hard pressed to have enough time, so doing that which any great leader does, he delegated. Aegis was the unwilling delegatee.

“It’s snooping Headmaster, I know that at home we use mind driven short distance communication all the time, but we all know it’s happening. Just to trawl through the school picking up random thoughts…. It doesn’t seem right somehow”.

“Calm yourself Solomon, it is not snooping, it is pastoral care, and it is essential for the smooth running of the school.” explained Dumbledore. “I have been able to avert several potential disasters, and provide assistance at the right time to those it is almost impossible to keep out of trouble”.

“You mean Harry and his friends”.

“Yes, they are what concerns me now, but before them it was Harry’s father and his friends, and there have been a few other interesting individuals spread about the years. My regret is that I was not keeping an eye on things when Tom Riddle was here. Had I been then none of this Voldemort episode would have occurred.”

Aegis looked quizzically at the Headmaster. “You would have killed him as a child? I find that hard to believe.”

Dumbledore sighed. “No I suppose not, but I would have found some way to reach him and turn him from his path to destruction, for that is were it will surely lead, whether he wins this war or not.”

So with his misgivings somewhat assuaged Solomon Aegis was playing the fisherman. He let his mind, augmented by the talisman, wander the halls of Hogwarts. It was quiet in the main; most students were now in bed, and sleeping soundly. There were one or two still in study and any panic over lessons could easily be calmed by a gentle thought.

He managed to pass quickly over the emotions generated by clandestine meetings in dark corners of deserted rooms, he didn’t feel ready to cope with that just yet.

His mind stopped in the Gryffindor common room, only two students were there and he knew their minds instantly, both at peace with each other slowly, slipping into sleep. There was a tinge of regret to Harry’s thoughts which he now voiced to his companion.

“You know Hermione”. His voice was quiet, clouded with sleep. “The thing I regret is that I can’t show you off to my parents. I know they would love you as much as I do, but it’s just impossible, I’d like to think that they would be happy for me.”

Hermione snuggled closer. “Oh Harry” and a small tear was her only reply.

Aegis moved on, and amongst the sleeping minds there was one who was not yet asleep. The sadness in that mind was palpable, there was also a resignation that the sadness would never go away. For a muggle child the thoughts would have been a bedtime prayer. ‘Mum and Dad I know that you are there somewhere…… even if I can’t find you……. I will go on looking for you for as long as you both live. There has to be some hope, I will not believe there is none. …………..Oh by the way Gryffindor won at Quidditch today…Harry caught the snitch you should have seen him……….’ Professor Aegis sent out a calming thought and Neville Longbottom drifted off to sleep.

Why was it always the Gryffindors? They had more emotional problems than all the other houses put together, but if you analysed the reasons it was obvious. The Hufflepuffs, the caring sharing house, bounced all their problems off each other resolving most of them in the process. The Ravenclaws were so organised that either their emotions were shallow or work related, only rarely did emotions get the better of them but when they did, Wow! The Slytherins were very introverted, existing only for the self and what they could get out of it, so when things went badly they just made the best of it.

The Gryffindors flying in the face of adversity were only able to share their woes when they had a relationship like Harry and Hermione’s. Aegis had to admit that he was impressed with the resolve which the members of that house possessed, he knew that they would be the backbone of any real resistance to the plans of Voldemort.

He leaned back in his chair raised the small glass of Ogden’s Firewhiskey and drank a silent toast… ‘The Flying Lions’.

Autumn was in her full glory, the leaves of the oaks and elms in the Forbidden Forest had turned a lovely russet brown colour, the odd evergreen fir stood out, the lasting dark green of their needles looking almost black in the reduced sunlight. It was still reasonably warm but when the wind took it into its mind to blow it came from the north and then the temperature would plummet.

It was on such a windy day that the trio found themselves on a rare combined visit to Hagrid’s hut. All three were wrapped in cloaks and scarves as they picked their way down the well worn path to his door.

“Ron, ‘arry, ‘ermione!” Hagrid greeted his friends with glee “Don’t know ‘ow you knew it was today timin’s perfect”

“What do you mean Hagrid?” Said Ron “We didn’t know anything.”

“Oh didn’t yer, well never mind yer here now that’s all that matters. ‘e only arrived ’alf an ‘our ago, I got ‘im out back in the paddo’k”

Harry and Hermione exchanged nervous glances, they knew only too well the sorts of animals that Hagrid found this exciting. It was a testament to Ron’s new status as the only one of the three continuing with Care of Magical Creatures that he looked almost excited as Hagrid.

“Great, a new animal” he enthused “Lead on Hagrid, let’s see the beast”.

But it was Harry and Hermione who received the most pleasant surprise, for standing in the paddock, grey hair sleek and gleaming, ruffling his grey feathers, and staring at them with a steely eye was none other than Buckbeak the Hippogriff.

Hagrid told them that it was due to the changes at the ministry that Buckbeak had been allowed to return. The time he had spent on the run with Sirius and then in Grimmauld Place hadn’t harmed him much, although he had put on a little weight, due to lack of exercise. Hagrid wasn’t allowed to use him any classes but at least he had the Forest to roam in.

Harry and Hermione remade their acquaintance with the Hippogriff who returned their bows and seemed pleased to see them. Ron introduced himself in a far more confident manner than Harry had in his third year and was instantly accepted by the animal. Harry thought Ron’s abilities with animals was really starting to show and wondered where this might lead him in the future.

They spent a wonderful afternoon in Hagrid’s company; he produced large steaming cups of tea and some cakes. Harry normally avoided anything that Hagrid cooked, but Hermione who was usually the same looked at the offering and tried one.

“Hagrid these are delicious!” she squealed, Harry looked at her as if she had gone mad, “Where did you learn to make them?”

Hagrid blushed, at least his cheeks, the only bit of his face you could see, reddened. “Well yer see Olymp didn’t think much of my cookin’ so she taught me, an’ I suppose ‘cause she’s French an’ the French are good cooks, she must had taught me well”.

Harry and Ron didn’t need any second prompting as they grabbed a cake each and stuffed them into their mouths. Muffled cries of ‘ummm!’ and ‘great’ could be heard as they wolfed them down.

Hagrid looked at them, and with a little wink which he directed at Hermione said “Do yer know that’s the firs’ time I seen you two eat anything of mine, you usually take it back to the school with you”.

Hermione giggled and the two boys looked at each other for support, then looked to Hagrid and gave him two identical cakey grins. Hermione shouldn’t have taken a sip of tea at that moment as it took several minutes for her to stop coughing when she choked on it seeing the vapid expressions on Harry and Ron’s faces.

Later on as they returned to the castle they continued to enthuse about Hagrid’s new cooking skills. Harry was glad that Hagrid hadn’t continued baiting them about his old rock cakes, as he wouldn’t have had the heart to tell him that he once used one to support an old, wobbly, wardrobe in the dormitory in his second year, and it was still there.

……………………..

The small bald man cringed in front of his master.

“Well Wormtail, I hope for your sake you have made progress in your task”.

“Yes master if have ascertained the whereabouts of the item you seek. I was able to gain access to the castle, I heard them discussing it with the one from the Isle. It is in the possession of Potter’s mudblood companion. I will take it from her at the opportune moment.”

The man who called himself Lord Voldemort looked with distain at the quivering form of Peter Pettigrew.

“The opportune moment is now Wormtail; the crystal must not be accessible to Potter when he comes of age. It seems to me that if you get both the crystal and eliminate the mudblood then a double blow will be dealt. It will put the Potter whelp at a great disadvantage, I may be able to strike earlier than I had planned. Do it Wormtail, and do it soon.”

“It will be as you command, but the girl is well guarded, I will need to pick my time.”

“That is no concern of mine you fool, take Walker with you, I want you back here by the end of the year. There are other plans in progress that Bellatrix and I need to involve ourselves in. If you do not succeed hope you never see me again”

Wormtail scuttled out of his masters presence. Voldemort sat in his high backed chair

“Bellatrix” he summoned her. From the shadows, as if she had been there all the time,

Bellatrix Lestrange approached him and bowed low. “I need you to advance the release of my followers from Azkaban, offer the Dementors anything, it is not as if we will ever have to pay it. With the crystal in my possession and the rest of the Death Eaters free nothing will be able to stand in our way. Dumbledore and Potter will be finished”. He began to laugh, the cackle was harsh and high pitched. The woman joined in the sound and was bloodcurdling.

Peter Pettigrew stood on the other side of the door and listened to the sounds within. Not for the first time in his life he regretted the actions that had lead him to serve the Dark Lord. He sighed, he knew he was dammed, and there was nothing he could do about that. He had to go and find Walker; there was a mudblood to kill.

Disclaimer

The characters and universe created by J.K.Rowling are hers alone. As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I hope this story can be taken in that way. Some of the additional characters are mine and who knows some of them may even be real.

a/n Sorry this is quite a long chapter, it’s just the way it happened to come out. I hope you like it. Solomon

8. Parents Lost and Parents Found

During the last two weeks of the term Hufflepuff played their Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. It was the only day which had any decent sunshine though it was bitingly cold. The match was very close and it was only due to Cho, now in her final year and Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, catching the snitch from under the nose of the Hufflepuff seeker that made the difference and gave them the win.

After the game Harry was walking back to the library to check on Hermione who had decided to study rather than watch the match when he was intercepted by Professor Aegis.

“Mind if we have a word Harry? I was just on my way to my office for a warming hot chocolate”.

“Yeh ok, I don’t suppose Hermione will be expecting me just yet”

Aegis looked thoughtful for a moment “She knows you’re with me now”, he said, “I think I just gave her a bit of a fright, please apologise to her for me, and I will replace her ink bottle”.

Harry sat warming his hands on the steaming mug of chocolate and looked at his teacher who was staring at the fire blazing in the grate “What did you want to talk about Professor?”

Aegis looked up “Sorry Harry, lost in a world of my own then. This isn’t an easy subject but how much do you know about Neville Longbottom’s parents?”

“All of it” said Harry sadly.

“Ah, well, that makes things a little easier, did you know how it preys on his mind, that he worries about them every day, and talks to them in his mind before he goes to sleep each night?”

Harry shot the professor a stern look “No, I didn’t and I don’t think Neville would be pleased to know that someone was snooping around his mind”.

“I understand Harry, it wasn’t done just to be nosey, it is one of the tasks the Headmaster has set me. I don’t find it particularly easy but I have to let my mind roam the school looking for other minds that might be in turmoil, calming them where I can and preventing brewing trouble from boiling over. Haven’t you wondered how the Headmaster seems to know what is going on all round the school and is suddenly there if there is a crisis?”

Harry nodded “Yes, it makes sense though I thought it was just the way the Headmaster was, you know, sort of all powerful”

“No Harry, it is well to remember that no one, not the Headmaster, and certainly not your friend Voldemort, are all powerful, every one has their faults and weaknesses…… Well now you know how, there was one other bit of information that came my way in Gryffindor tower that evening and it concerns you.”

Harry wasn’t sure he liked the way this conversation was going. Had Aegis been snooping in his head as well? His anger began to rise.

“Please be patient and let me finish, I was going to say that I know what you are thinking, but I feel that would be in rather bad taste, what I mean is that I know you are angry, but you must believe me when I say this is only done to help and not to pry. This task does, however, make me very uncomfortable.”

Harry barely controlled his temper “Then why do you do it? Tell the Headmaster how you feel”.

“I could Harry, but then he will only pass it on to another, and the only other candidate for the job was Professor Snape”.

Harry’s anger evaporated at once, the thought of the potions master using his mind skills on the whole school was more than he could comfortably cope with. He had only known the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for a few months but Harry knew who he would prefer to be fishing for thoughts and it wasn’t Snape.

“Sorry Professor, I suppose I had never thought how difficult it must be to control a school such as this, especially in the present circumstances. What was the thought you got from me?”

“It was your disappointment that you could not show off Hermione to your parents.”

“Yes that’s true, and what about Neville?”

“Neville is aware that his mother and father have not lost their minds but are lost in their minds”.

“There’s a difference?”

“Oh yes Harry, a very great difference, and because of that difference, we may be able to help you both”.

Harry told no one of the details of his conversation with Professor Aegis, nor the information that the Professor had divulged to him before they parted. He kept it very close to his chest, and had to be careful not to dwell on it too much, as when he did, a small smile crept on to his face, and on at least two occasions he was asked by Ron what he thought was so funny.

The last day of term found Harry feeling both excited as to what the holiday might bring, but also very nervous as Hermione had decided that it was time for Harry to meet her parents. She had been to see Professor Dumbledore and had asked for permission to take Harry home with her for at least some of the holidays. The Headmaster had thought about and then finally agreed. There had been many arrangements made to ensure their safety, but as protection wards had been in place around Hermione’s home since the end of her first year the problems were not insurmountable.

Harry had spent the Christmas holidays at Hogwarts for five of his last six years. Last year had he been sent to Grimmauld Place and that house didn’t hold too many happy memories for him. He hoped that this year might be different. Hermione had everything under control so Harry decided for once in his life to relax and be the passenger.

The Headmaster had called them both to his office and explained the procedures which would keep them safe and the rules they had to abide by if they wished the holiday to go as planned.

“I have to make this very clear to both of you” Dumbledore explained “You will not be allowed out of the confines of Hermione’s home except to visit Diagon Alley or St.Mungos. Then only with an escort and you will only travel by a means which I have arranged. You will also keep these on you at all times”. He handed them both a small glass ball.

“They look like marbles” said Harry.

“Emergency portkeys I think” said Hermione.

“Quite right Miss Granger. If there is any trouble, any trouble at all, you grip the marble, say or think ‘Portus’ and you will be brought here to this office. You understand all my instructions?” they both nodded, “Right then, off you go, and have a good holiday”.

They walked back towards the Gryffindor common room, down the stairs and to the portrait of the Fat Lady. Hermione was lost in thought so Harry said “Forever together”, it always made him blush for some reason. The Fat Lady smiled at him “Yes dear I am sure you will be” and swung outwards to reveal the entrance.

“You know it’s odd” said Hermione as she climbed over the threshold.

“What’s odd?” Harry asked as he followed her in.

“Dumbledore said we could only go to Diagon Alley or St.Mungos. Why would we want to go to the wizards’ hospital?”

“Perhaps it’s just a precaution, in case one of us gets hurt. You know trips, falls, things like that, aren’t most accident supposed to happen in the home?” Suggested Harry

“Umm… I think he’s up to something”

Thankfully before Hermione could pursue this line of thought any further Harry caught sight of Ron and rushed over to find out what he was up to. He had just received an owl from his mother, he was going to spend a week or so at the Burrow and then it looked as if he was to spend Christmas at Grimmauld Place. Harry didn’t envy Ron one bit and it was obvious Ron wasn’t too chuffed about it either.

“I tell you what” said Hermione brightly, “If we can arrange it Ron could actually spend Christmas with us”.

“Oh I don’t know, I would feel like I was intruding, you don’t want me there.” He smiled. “Don’t want to cramp your style”.

Harry could see Hermione inflate, he’d seen Mrs Weasley do exactly the same thing on a number of occasions and he knew what was going to happen next.

“Ronald Weasley! What on earth do you think we are going to be doing that would stop us from wanting you there?” Harry could see the crescendo building. Then just as Hermione drew breath to deliver the final tirade she stopped, reddened and said “On second thoughts I don’t want to know”.

“Ron, mate, if Hermione and her parents don’t mind then I’m fine with it. Just the three of us, it would be fun”.

The journey to Kings Cross was uneventful and as the Hogwarts Express drew into Platform 9¾ Harry, Ron and Hermione bade farewell to their friends collected their luggage and passed through the gateway to the muggle station. Harry looked back to see Neville struggling with his trunk. Professor Aegis had caught Harry just before he had left the castle earlier that day and had told him all the arrangements had been made and he would be contacted about when to make his move. Neville had managed to get his trunk on a trolley now, and Harry really hoped he would have a happy time as well.

As the noise and bustle of the muggle Kings Cross assaulted Harry’s ears he was brought back to reality and his nerves began to rise again. He looked around but couldn’t see Mr or Mrs Granger, but who he did see was Remus Lupin and standing next to him was Molly Weasley.

“Professor Lupin, Mrs Weasley how nice to see you” said Harry.

“Remus, Harry, Remus, not your Professor any more, remember?” answered Lupin.

“Harry, Ron, Hermione, lovely to see you all”, said Mrs Weasley in a businesslike manner.

“Ron we will wait for Ginny and then you will be coming with me. Harry, Hermione you will go with Remus and he will take you to Mr and Mrs Granger.”

“See you two later in the holidays, I hope” said Ron. He clapped Harry on the back and Hermione stretched up on her toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“See you” they both chorused, then Harry and Hermione followed Remus toward the station entrance.

Before they reached the main doors Lupin took them to one side towards a line of telephone boxes. He glanced around to see if anyone was watching, then opened one of the boxes and removed the telephone book.

“At the count of three your hands on the book please, one, two, three, Portus!” There was the familiar sensation of a portkey at work and the three of them found themselves standing in a secluded garden at the back door to Hermione’s house.

“Right you will be OK from here on” said Remus “No need for me to hang about.” He gave Harry a nudge with his elbow. “You’re on your own now, be brave, and behave”. He winked at Hermione and “Portus!” he was gone.

Hermione opened the door and went in “Mum! Dad! I’m home” she called out.

A woman’s voice answered from the depths of the house calling to her husband. “David! Hermione is home”

A few moments later it was as if to Harry’s eyes that a older, taller version of Hermione swept into the kitchen and threw her arms around her daughter, almost lifting her off her feet. There was so much bushy brown hair in that hug that Harry imagined himself looking at the back of Hagrid’s head. No sooner had Hermione and her mother parted then her father appeared and this time Hermione’s feet did leave the floor. Harry could feel the warmth of the love in their greeting wash over him and he took a little of it for himself.

He was conscious of the fact that Mrs Granger was looking intently at him, he was just considering making a run for it when she smiled at him. Turning to Hermione she said “Dear, don’t you think you should ask your friend in and introduce him to us.”

Hermione looked grief stricken “Oh Harry I’m so sorry” she raced across to him, grabbed his hand, and pulled him over the door step. “Mum, Dad, this is Harry……Harry Potter”.

Hermione’s father stepped forward and held out his hand, “Very pleased to meet you Harry. We have heard a lot about you of course and I think we meet briefly in Diagon Alley once a while ago.”

“Thank you sir”

“Oh dear, so formal,” said Mrs Granger, who walked up to Harry, glanced at her daughter and then to his surprise drew him into a hug, “Welcome Harry, welcome to our family”.

“Thanks Mum” said Hermione quietly.

As for Harry he was having a little difficulty in controlling the lump which had risen in is throat. He was embarrassed to feel his eyes misting a little.

“Thank you very much Mrs Granger. You don’t know what it means for me to have a welcome like that”.

The rest of the evening was spent in unpacking and settling in and for Harry and the Grangers getting to know each other better. Bit by bit Harry’s story came out, from the loss of his parents, through the years with the Dursleys and then to the last six years at Hogwarts. If he was a little economical with the dangers they had all faced and played down his part, he was full of praise for anything that Hermione had done to enable them to come through it all.

Mr and Mrs Granger were not fooled that easily. Hermione had told them all about Harry’s exploits as they had unfolded and although, with Harry’s retelling, they now realised how much involvement Hermione had had in these adventures, they were still aware that without a doubt on several occasions this young man had saved her life.

It was later after both Harry and Hermione had gone to bed that her parents were sitting quietly in the front room. Mr Granger put down his copy of the Daily Telegraph and looked over at his wife who was filling out a crossword puzzle.

“That’s quite a remarkable young man you know.”

“Who’s that dear?” Mrs Granger said from the depths of her puzzle.

“Harry, quite remarkable.”

“Yes it’s about time our daughter thought of something other than books”.

“What do you mean, am I missing something?”

“Oh David, for such an intelligent man, you can be awfully dense at times. She can’t keep her eyes off him, she is watching him all the time, ready to help, or to encourage. As for him the only time he doesn’t look like a lost puppy is when he’s looking at her. Besides have you seen Hermione’s necklace, you don’t get a present like that, from a passing acquaintance.”

“Harry gave that to her? I thought it was one of these fake glass fashion statements youngsters wear these days, you know like pre-torn jeans.”

“No, Hermione told me, its real and very old and I get the impression it’s not just for show, but she wouldn’t tell me any more”.

“Natalie, do you think I should have a chat to Harry, about things, err…Hermione and such?”

“Don’t you dare, just let things follow their natural course”.

“Beats me how you can cope with all this. I don’t understand how you know what is going on.”

Mrs Granger laughed “That’s because I am a woman”.

“Yes, well there is that I suppose”.

The objects of their discussion were having very different nights. Hermione was laying wide awake, thinking, how was she to tell her parents about her birthday present to Harry, without them going ballistic. Harry was fast asleep.

Harry’s nights remained peaceful and uninterrupted for the next week. Each morning he awoke in the Granger’s guest room and each morning he marvelled at the size of it. It was just a normal sized double room but when you have spent eleven years living in a cupboard it was like a palace.

He was concerned about Hermione. She had been a little distant with everyone last night and Harry knew she was preparing herself for talking to her mother and father. He had a horrible feeling it was going to be today.

Hermione waited until after breakfast then she fixed Harry with a stare he knew so well.

“Harry front room please” he knew better that to argue.

Hermione faced her parents. “Mum, Dad would you come into the front room I have something I need to tell you.”

Mr Granger looked at his wife over the top of his reading glasses and saw her mouth ‘I told you so’. They stood as asked and trooped into the room were Harry was sitting trying not to look like a scared rabbit.

Hermione stood in the centre of the room and cleared her throat. ‘Oh Merlin thought Harry she’s going to give us a lecture about it.’

But she didn’t. She knelt down in front of her mother and father. Her father looked worried. Her mother smiled at her.

Hermione looked shocked “You know already!” she accused.

“No” said her father.

“Yes” said her mother. “Not the details, but I have the general idea”. She glanced up to Harry and included him in her smile. “Why don’t we all relax and you can tell us about it”.

So Hermione got to do her lecture in the end. She told her parents all about the summer holidays, Harry’s birthday, the trip to Avalon, and about Professor Aegis. Then she told them about her present to Harry.

She explained her actions to her bemused father “Harry has to do something very special, for all of us, muggles too, and he can’t do it on his own.” She looked at him. “He thinks he can, but he can’t. He doesn’t want to put anyone else in danger, but like it or not we will be there for him when it counts. Me, Ron, and the others. I wanted him to know that I will always be there”.

Harry had moved so that he was sitting on the floor next to Hermione, she took his left had and turned it over. The heart shaped mark was more visible than usual and quite easy to see.

“Lovely sentiments dear” said Mr Granger “But it does seem a bit one sided.”

Hermione held out her right hand, the mark now plain to see. “Harry shared the spell, I just held his hand and it jumped.”

Harry looked Mr Granger squarely in the eyes. “The commitment is mutual, sir, I don’t know where it will lead us eventually. Hermione has given me a reason to want to continue to live and to do that Voldemort must be defeated. It is essential that you understand that Hermione’s safety comes at the top of my list of things to do. I would die to protect her and I would die inside if anything happened to her.”

Hermione had climbed on the sofa next to her mother who was looking intently at her hand. Both of them had the start of tears gathering at the corners of their eyes.

Mr Granger sat back and ran his hand through his hair. “Remarkable young man, just like I said the first night eh! Natalie”.

His wife drew her gaze from Hermione’s hand “David, how come you never gave me anything like this when we started going out”.

Mr Granger gave his wife a filthy look, then said to Harry, “Come on son, you and me, in the garden, I need some fresh air, lets leave these women to weave their spells.

It hadn’t been too bad, there was some talking, some assurances and some promises made and now Hermione’s mother and father completely understood that these two young people needed each other. They had a task to complete and if they succeeded, then, well we’ll see.

A week before Christmas two things happened to make the holiday. Ron arrived, his mother had relented and allowed him to come, and he had a letter with him. The letter was addressed to Harry and it was very short.

Dear Harry

All preparations have been made. It will be up to you to break the news on Christmas Eve. I will see you then.

S.A.

“Ok Harry spill, that letter’s from school, I examined the envelope it’s the same as the ones our yearly letters come in.”

“Surprised you didn’t try to steam it open” said Harry scathingly.

Ron went a little red “It had a charm on it to prevent that” he said.

“Honestly Ronald, how could you try something like that? That’s awful!” said Hermione in her most disapproving voice.

“That’s just what Mum said, she made me do all the washing up for a week. Without magic!”

Harry laughed “Well I’m not going to tell either of you what I hope will happen, if it works the wait will be worth it. Now I need to see your Mum and Dad Hermione, I have to ask them a favour.”

Christmas Eve morning dawned bright, but cold, Harry looked out of his bedroom window to the frost covered street below. He poked Ron who was still snoring on the camp bed that had been added for him. Unintelligible noises told Harry that he had made contact of a sort.

Slowly Ron’s head emerged from the bed clothes.

“Wazthetime” Ron mumbled.

“About eight, it’s going to be a lovely day” said Harry.

“You’re far too cheerful for this time of the morning.” Ron yawned and scratched his head.

At breakfast Harry maintained his cheerfulness, much to Ron’s annoyance and Hermione's curiosity.

“Right you three we have a little trip organised we leave at ten o’clock” said Mrs Granger.

“Where are we going Mum, I thought we had to be very careful where we go, does Professor Dumbledore know?” said Hermione all in a rush.

“Err... wait and see, yes you are right, and yes he does” she replied.

As it got closer to the appointed time Harry began to loose his cheery disposition as it was replaced with nervousness and worry. Hermione picked up on his change almost immediately. He was sitting in the front room in one of the armchairs. She squatted down at his feet and laid her hand on his knee.

“Need to talk, Harry?”

“It’s OK really, I’m just beginning to have doubts but if I tell you, it will spoil it”. He looked very uncertain as to what to do. He smiled a weak smile and looked as if he was about to say more when there was a rap on the back door. Mr Granger opened it revealing Remus Lupin carrying an old football. Harry was saved from divulging his fears.

Remus gathered everyone into the kitchen and instructed them all to touch the ball. Then with a whirl of colours and blurred shapes they were off. Mr and Mrs Granger had been travelling by portkey to and from work for the last three weeks in the accompaniment of a member of the order and Ron Harry and Hermione had used them on many occasions so all of them remained standing when they arrived at the portkey point at St.Mungo’s.

There was the usual hustle and bustle in the foyer, witches and wizards in various states of disrepair were trying to get to the appropriate floor for their particular predicament.

“Fifth floor Harry?” asked Remus.

“Yes we need to meet them in the tea room.”

“Who are we meeting Harry?” whispered Hermione.

“Wait and see, only another moment” Harry pleaded.

They climbed the stairs to the top floor. Hermione noticed Harry giving a furtive glance to the doors leading to the fourth floor.

As they entered the tea room the first thing most of them noticed was a hat. This hat had a stuffed vulture on the top and it belonged to Neville Longbottom’s grandmother.

They walked over to Neville and his grandmother who were sitting alone at a large table. Harry asked Mrs. Longbottom if they could join her and she nodded her consent.

“Hello Nev’ how are you?” said Harry.

“Ok I suppose, I always find coming here a bit depressing, you know why” he replied.

“Yeh I do” commiserated Harry. He then turned to Mrs Longbottom “Would you mind if I talked to Neville on his own for a moment” she said nothing but shook her head in consent.

As Harry and Neville walked over to the window, Harry looked back to see Mrs Longbottom and Remus engaged in conversation.

“Don’t know what’s the matter with Gran today”, remarked Neville “She has hardly said a word to me since breakfast, but look at her now” he nodded towards the distant table. “Really odd”.

“I’m afraid it’s my fault” explained Harry “She knows something you don’t and I think she would have found it hard to keep it from you if she spoken”.

Neville looked strangely at his friend “Are you going to tell me what’s going on Harry”

“Not yet, I want to ask you something first, then I’ll tell you. You believe that your parents are lost in some sort of limbo and you have been hoping to find them, haven’t you?”

Neville sagged “Yes, you’re right Harry, but it is difficult to keep that hope up.”

“Never lose hope Neville” and Harry began to tell him of Professor Aegis’ fishing trips at Hogwarts. “You see Nev’ it boils down to this, you have a strong desire to find your parents and see if you can help them, I have a strong desire to talk to mine. I need to tell them well… that’s not important.” Harry continued quietly. “My Mum and Dad are dead, and their souls are free. Your Mum and Dad are alive, but their souls are trapped, lost, somewhere inside their heads.”

“I don’t understand Harry, where is all this leading?”

“Professor Aegis believes that using the right kind of spells we can attract the souls of my parents to the bodies of yours, they would only be able to stay there for a short time, but they might be able to find your Mum and Dad and bring them out of hiding”.

“You mean they might get better?”

“Oh Merlin Neville, I don’t want to give you false hopes, it is possible, but when their souls are freed they may not want to stay, they could leave with my parents”.

“But Harry I wouldn’t be any worse off, my parents don’t really exist at the moment anyway”.

Harry was finding this very difficult. He wanted to be positive but he needed to be realistic. “Neville if this fails your parents will leave forever, they will die”.

Neville looked as if he was being torn in two, he looked at Harry “What do you think?”

“The decision must be yours, you have so much to lose, my part in this is secondary and quite selfish, if I was honest about it.”

Neville glanced over to the table “It’s about Hermione isn’t it.”

“How could you possibly know that?” Gasped Harry.

“I probably sleep worse than you, sometimes, you tend to mumble a lot, it must have been preying on your mind.” Neville seemed to straighten, he had obviously made a decision. “It’s tearing me apart seeing Mum and Dad the way they are. It’s been nearly fifteen years and they haven’t got any better, physically they get worse”. He smiled sadly at Harry. “I think it’s time for some alternative medicine”.

The closed ward was bare and the only two occupants were sitting in chairs staring at a glittering mobile that was spinning lazily in front of them.

“That’s all they do for hours on end. Poor dears”. said the Healer in charge “What can I do for you, I didn’t expect to see you again today Mr Longbottom, Mrs Longbottom,” addressing Neville and his grandmother, “I am not sure all these people can really stay, it might be too disruptive”.

“Don’t worry yourself madam” said a growly voice from the door. Everyone turned to see Professor Aegis standing there with his familiar by his side.

“OH goodness no dogs, no dogs allowed!” the Healer shrieked.

“He goes where I go” said Aegis.

“Then you’ll have to leave. Yes all of you!” the Healer felt she was rapidly loosing control.

“Later, please take a seat.” With a small wave of his hand the Professor conjured a chair directly behind the Healer and with another wave she sat down hard and appeared unable to get up again.

Aegis strode over to Harry and Neville, nodded in greeting to Neville’s grandmother, and said to the two boys. “Have we reached an agreement?”. Neville nodded. “You want us to try?”

Neville swallowed “Yes Sir I, that is we, do” he said, including Harry.

“Very well, then this is what you must do. Harry you must concentrate very hard on your parents, you have to call them, ask them to come and help, you know that they will only be able to remain for a few minutes. So you must be quick. They will know what to do in contacting Neville’s parents, once they have found them, it will be up to Neville to convince them to stay.” The Professor studied Neville. “It will take a great force of mind to do this, but I have no doubt that you are up to it.”

“When will we know that you have cast the spell Professor” Said Harry.

“Not me, dear boy, beyond what I can do”

“Then who?”

At that point Hermione gave a little shriek and Mr and Mrs Granger who had been at the back of the group trying to look inconspicuous unconsciously stepped back.

A mist had formed in the middle of the ward and out of it stepped Lady Niniane. A gasp sped round the assembled onlookers. Harry saw the Healer slump in her chair, she had fainted. Aegis bowed in greeting.

Ron said “Bloody hell!” and Remus looked daggers at him for it.

“Solomon is every thing ready, are all involved here?” Lady Niniane asked.

“Yes my Lady.”

“Good, you may assist me”

“Yes my Lady”

Harry was sure she rolled her eyes skywards in a creditable impression of Hermione’s favourite action when she was exasperated with him and Ron.

The black dog padded over to sit in front of Neville's parents. Their eyes which had never left the mobile turned down to stare at the Labrador. They relaxed, their stares vacant.

The Lady Niniane began an incantation in a language that Harry had never heard before, her voice was very low and very compelling.

Aegis looked to Harry “Go and stand behind Compass, take Hermione with you. When I say take Hermione’s Tear in your hand and think very hard about your mother and father and what you want them to do. Hermione you just concentrate on Harry, give him support”.

They both walked over to stand in front of Neville’s parents as instructed. Frank and Alice Longbottom were still looking down at the dog.

The Lady Niniane’s voice rose slightly then fell to a low murmur.

“Now Harry”

Harry thought, Harry concentrated, Harry willed the souls of his parents to come to him. He was not aware that Hermione had put her arm round his waist. That she was leaning in to him. Her mind was bombarding his with thoughts of comfort and encouragement. He was aware of the stone in his hand becoming very warm, he was aware that the power in him was growing, reaching out far beyond the confines of the ward, far beyond the confines of the world, past the boundaries of reality. To a place that was quiet and peaceful that was plain and beautiful all at the same time. Then his power began to contract, drawing him back to the presence of his friends, to the ward, to now, but he didn’t come back alone.

The others in the ward saw an explosion of white light spread out and away from Harry and Hermione. It expanded to fill everywhere with its radiance. It stretched beyond the ward, beyond the hospital, beyond the city, to a place that everyone goes to but very few ever return from, and then slowly the light diminished and died.

One of the figures sitting in the chairs in front of them lifted her head. Harry stared into a pair of eyes as intensely green as his own.

“Hello Harry, my you have grown, you look just like your dad when he was your age but I see you still have my eyes”

Harry was trying very hard to keep himself together. He felt Hermione give him a reassuring squeeze.

His mother’s voice was joined by another. “We have watched you from the beginning my lad, you have coped better that we ever imagined.” Harry stared into the face of Neville’s father, but he knew that the soul was that of James Potter. “I know that the task before you will be difficult to carry out, but you will not have to do it alone. Your friends will be paramount in aiding you, never turn away from them, their help will be willingly given and you must willingly accept it.”

The soul occupying Neville’s mother spoke again. “I see that you have decided to accept at least one person’s help” said Lily Potter “Will you not introduce us?”

Harry felt he was on the edge of a total collapse; He was sure that if Hermione had not been there he would have been on his knees. He gathered his thoughts and though his voice was very shaky he said “Mum, Dad, this is Hermione, I so wanted you to meet her. I hope you approve that we have chosen each other. Now that I have finally found her and realised what she means to me I wanted you to know.

The green eyes in Neville’s mother’s face twinkled, Harry’s mother replied “We have watched you grow together over the years, we could not be anything other than pleased that you have both accepted your love for each other”.

“Harry” his father said “I will ask only one thing of you. Protect what you have found; she will be your salvation.”

“Hermione” Harry’s mother said. “Comfort him when he needs it, understand when he is difficult, and love him always, for he is the protector of you all.”

Harry dared to glance away from his parent’s presence to Hermione. Tears were flowing silently down her face but she smiled and nodded when she saw him looking at her.

The voice of James Potter spoke again “Harry our time is very short and we know what we must do, know that we are content to watch you and that we are happy to be together, Goodbye my son”

“Goodbye Harry”, Lily’s voice already sounded distant.

“Goodbye Mum, Goodbye Dad” Harry managed to croak out. Then he collapsed into Hermione’s arms.

For a few seconds there was absolute silence then Lady Niniane began to murmur another incantation. The tone was one of invitation and encouragement.

“Now Neville it’s your turn” said Aegis.

Neville moved to stand where Harry and Hermione had stood, it was clear that he was very nervous. Neville concentrated on his parents willing them to respond to the summons, trying to remember how they once were, but his memories of how they were now kept intruding, He needed help and he knew it. He felt someone grasp his left hand and another grasp his right. In the reflection in the window behind his parent’s seats he could see Harry to his left and Hermione to his right standing with him.

There was a hand now on each shoulder and standing behind him was Ron, a good head taller than all of them. The four students stood together and tried again but it wasn’t enough. At the door to the ward there was a commotion, it burst open and two more people entered. Almost as if they had been drawn by some strange force, Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood walked

up to the four standing in front of the Longbottoms. They stood next to Ron joining their hands with his on Neville’s shoulders.

The Tyr was complete and a gentle golden glow surrounded them.

Their heads were bent in concentration and the glow began to pulse. It brightened so that those watching had to shield their eyes. Then suddenly it faded. Neville’s mother opened her eyes, Harry noticed they were blue.

She looked at the group in front of her. Her voice was very weak “Neville, is that you? I think your father and I have finally managed to find our way home.”

Neville stood rooted to the spot, his friends released their hold on him and Ron gave him a gentle push forward. Neville stumbled towards his parents who stood on unsteady legs and drew him into a loving embrace.

Harry turned to look at his companions, etched on to each face was an expression of awe and happiness. The happiness was not for themselves but for one of their own, the happiness brought forth other emotions and none of the five could hold back the tears. As a group they turned away from Frank, Alice and Neville Longbottom to give them the privacy they needed, and moved towards the others who had witnessed the event.

It was clear that everyone there was affected in the same way and at Remus’s urging they all moved to the far end of the ward.

The Lady Niniane and Solomon Aegis stood slightly apart from the others quietly talking. Harry separated himself from Hermione’s arms and went over to them. He bowed to the Lady Niniane.

“I don’t know how to thank you for what has happened here today. Neville has had so much sorrow to cope with, to see him like this is wonderful.”

“I approve of this boy Solomon” the Lady Niniane addressed the Professor, then she turned to Harry. “Even though you have received solace, you think first of others, in one so young, this is quite amazing. I am sure it will bring you a reward you were not expecting.”

“I didn’t do this for any reward, and that” Harry said indicating the family reunion, which now included Neville’s grandmother. “Would be reward enough”.

The Lady Niniane smiled “Rewards have a habit of being offered especially when they are not sought young man. Now I must go.” She turned to Aegis. “Solomon you are using up a lot of favours, but if Harry needs my help again I will do what I can. Contact me”.

Aegis bowed his head “Yes my Lady”.

“Solomon Aegis if you ‘yes my Lady’ me one more time I shall lose my temper. You know perfectly well who I am, moderate your response accordingly.”

Harry’s Defence against the Dark Arts Professor looked as if he wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole. He bowed once more and replied. “Yes Mother”.

The mist appeared behind her and with a swirl of her cloak Lady Niniane turned, walked in to it and vanished.

Harry turned to Hermione, and grinned. She had sidled up to him during the final exchange, and slipped her arm through his again, seemingly unwilling to be parted from him. Professor

Aegis regarded both of them for a moment and said. “Family can be a problem sometimes”.

He began to gather everyone together and gesturing towards the doors, “I feel it is time we should all leave” he said. Remus nodded in agreement, and they began to file out of the doors. Harry and Hermione were just crossing the threshold when they turned in response to “Harry!” and the sound of someone running. Harry was nearly knocked off his feet by Neville who threw his arms round him and pounded him on the back.

“Thanks mate I don’t think we will ever be able to repay you for what you did today” Neville said with a voice cracking with emotion. “This goes far beyond friendship.”

“I’m glad it was successful, remember we both got something out of this, Nev’, but you were the one who took all the risks” remarked Harry. Neville smiled, nodded, and turned back to go to his mother and father. “Oh by the way Nev’, Happy Christmas”.

Hermione was glued to Harry’s side again “You’re really rather special you know”. She whispered in his ear.

“It wasn’t just me, didn’t you realise it was all six of us, working together that made it possible”.

It suddenly occurred to her that it was indeed all six of them. How had Ginny and Luna known that they were needed and how had they got to St.Mungo’s. Her questions were answered as they reached the foyer.

Mrs Weasley was being mollified by Remus and Professor Aegis and it seem as if the worst was over. It appeared that Ginny and Luna had been together at the Burrow and had suddenly dashed into the fireplace and flooed to St.Mungo’s. They were apologising to Mrs Weasley saying that they didn’t know how but Harry had somehow summoned them and they knew he needed them at the wizarding hospital and they couldn’t wait for her. Once all that had transpired had been told to her she sat weakly with Ginny and Ron at her sides and tears rolled down her face.

Ron decided that he should return with his mother for the night but that if Mr and Mrs Granger didn’t mind he would return to their house the following morning. So it was a slightly depleted group that ported back to the Granger’s kitchen. Remus took his leave saying he would bring Ron back the next day.

Harry noticed that Mr and Mrs Granger seemed a little distracted by all that had happened and as he and Hermione settled in the front room they remained behind in the kitchen to talk. Harry sat on the sofa and the events of the morning began to catch up with him. Hermione was curled up next to him with her head on his chest and had already dropped off to sleep. Harry extracted his arm from under her and draped it round her shoulders and then followed her into dreamless sleep.

That was how Mrs Granger found them some two hours later, she stood at the doorway and her breath caught in her throat.

“David” she called quietly, “Come here but be quiet, I don’t want to disturb them.” She was joined by her husband who stood behind her and encircled her waist with his arms.

“Well my dear, if we hadn’t already decided, I think that that sight would have made up our minds. We ought to let them sleep until dinner; it’s obviously been very exhausting for them”.

She nodded and they returned to the kitchen.

Later that evening after a delicious meal the four of them were ensconced in the front room. Harry and Hermione were sitting on the floor in front of the fire and Hermione’s mother and father were together on the sofa.

Mr Granger cleared his throat, “Ahh… Harry, err…I, that is we would like to err…..you see it’s like this.”

Hermione regarded her father with a look of astonishment. She had never, well almost never, seen him at a loss for words. Her father gave his wife a pleading look, she continued.

“What David is trying to say, and making a complete cod’s ear over it, is this. We watched today not really understanding everything, but we did learn a lot about you. We saw what you did and why you did it, we also heard what you said to your parents about Hermione. We saw the way your friends reacted to you and the way they feel about you. We have also, over the last couple of weeks, watched the way you behave around Hermione.”

Harry wasn’t sure whether to be pleased, surprised or worried by what was being said so he just nodded and waited for the axe to fall.

“We know that you are both very young, in our terms, for serious commitment, but that in your world Hermione is of age and you will be next July. We are also aware of what you face and although it frightens us silly to think that Hermione will get mixed up in this fight, we know that there is no way we could stop her. What comforts us, Harry, is that you will be there, because we know that you will keep her as safe as you can. If you come through all this safely, it is clear to us, that to two of you are suited and possibly fated to be together. When you first came here I welcomed you to our family, if you remember, we would like to make that more of an official welcome. We cannot replace what you have lost, but if you would do us the honour we would like you to consider us your mother and father as well as Hermione’s.”

To say that Harry was taken aback would have been a severe understatement; he didn’t know what to say. He looked at Hermione who was sitting in shock with tears welling up in her eyes. She returned his look and mouthed ‘Please’.

Harry stood “I have never really had anyone I could or would wish to call my family. I know Mrs Weasley has tried but she has enough of her own to worry about. I will try to live up to your expectations of me, and if you are prepared to have me as your ‘son in waiting’ I would be very proud to call you…….um what do I call you?”

“Well Harry” piped up Hermione “I’ve always found that Mum and Dad work quite well.”

She leapt to her feet and wrapped him in a warm hug.

Harry grinned and looked at the Grangers. “Mum and Dad”. He said.

It was a Christmas like no other for Harry. Ron reappeared mid morning, and the youngsters partook of all the traditional festivities. Food was taken almost to excess. Ron managed to leave excess far behind. Carols were sung. Games were played. Presents exchanged. Harry was over the moon with a selection of muggle clothes the Grangers had bought him, he was able to discard all Dudley’s old hand me downs. Ron and he swapped boxes of Chocolate Frogs and Hermione gave him a new watch. Harry for his part had found an interesting book on ancient artefacts for Hermione; at least he hoped it was interesting, and an Eagle feather quill for Mr Granger.

For Mrs Granger Harry was at a bit of a loss. He had little experience of present buying and none if the recipient was his surrogate mother. He had spent some time trying to get it right and so when all the other presents had been exchanged he sat next to her on the sofa.

“I hope you won’t take this the wrong way” Harry said hesitantly “I wanted to give you something that would remind you of Hermione and me.” He smiled “So it ought to be beautiful and magical, err…. Hermione’s the beautiful bit.”

He held out a twig he had picked up in the garden and a piece of an old wire coat hanger. He wound the wire around the twig several times. At this point every one in the room, even Hermione, thought that Harry had overdosed on happiness and had lost the plot. As he held his present in his hand he lowered his gaze to it and concentrated. He used no wand, no mystical signs and no incantation, but the twig and wire glowed. The light surrounding them became so bright that it was hard to look at them, then it was impossible. Slowly the light faded and in his hand Harry held a single red rose.

“I hope you like it” he sounded a bit light headed “The steel from the wire is in the rose. It won’t fade or loose its scent, I hope it will last for ever, like us.”

“Bloody hell! um sorry” said Ron.

“Gosh Harry that’s amazing, how did you do that with out a wand” he was pleased that Hermione was impressed.

“You just have to want it enough, well that is what it said in the book” he replied.

Mrs Granger took the present, smiled at Harry and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you son it is perfect”.

Mr Granger looked at his daughter and then at Harry “ Remarkable” he said to no one in particular.

The rest of the holiday passed too quickly for everyone. Ron had returned to Grimmauld Place for the New Year and then all too soon it was time to head back to Hogwarts.

The last day of the holidays was busy for everyone. Harry and Hermione packed everything into their trunks which were to be taken directly to Hogwarts. They were to spend their last night at The Leaky Cauldron as it was closer to Kings Cross, and the Weasleys would all be there for added protection. They said goodbye to Mr and Mrs Granger and ported out of the kitchen.

They spent the afternoon walking the crowded street of Diagon Alley getting the last minute things that everyone forgets they will need. Remus was constantly at their side keeping a wary eye out for trouble.

Trouble in Diagon Alley had an address, number 93, the home of the recently formed Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes. Harry and Hermione hadn’t seen the shop before but Ron had.

“Touch as little as possible and don’t eat anything,” he said “Unless you want to go back to school as something other than yourself.”

The shop was quite small but the twins assured Harry that there was ample room for expansion and considering how busy it was there was certainly a need. The range of items on display was really quite frightening.

Hermione was closely examining something in a display case, but to be on the safe side she had her hands firmly planted in her pockets. “Will it really do that?” she asked Fred or was it George.

“That? Oh yes, and its goes such a pretty colour” he replied.

“That is really rather disgusting you know”

“I think our Hermione has led a very sheltered life.”

Remus cast a glance over Hermione’s shoulder to see what they were talking about. “Well I haven’t, and I think it’s rather disgusting too” He said.

“Sells well though” said Gred or was it Forge.

They left the twins shop grateful that they were all in one piece and the same shape they had entered it. Harry fell in beside Remus as they continued down the alley and took the opportunity to talk to him as Hermione went inside another bookshop, just for a look.

“Thank you for looking after us this holiday, I hope we weren’t too much trouble for you.”

“Not at all Harry” Remus replied “It was wonderful to see you enjoying yourself for once”.

“Will you still keep an eye on err… Hermione’s Mum and Dad”.

“Oh yes, the Order is bound to look after them now, the wards on their house will remain. If there is a problem this alarm will go off” he said, patting his pocket, “and we can be there in minutes, they’ll be fine.”

Harry was concerned for the new members of his family, as muggles they had no protection of their own. Remus’s assurances were all very well but they seemed to be a soft target.

It was dark by tea time and so everyone returned to The Leaky Cauldron for a final meal before an early night.

It must have been about eight or nine o’clock that evening the pub was nearly empty save for the Weasleys, Hermione, Remus and Harry, the adults were all huddled in one alcove talking quietly amongst themselves when an appalling noise rent the air. Remus jumped to his feet and looked with horror at the alarm he pulled from his pocket. “It’s the Grangers!” he shouted.

Hermione screamed “NO!” then “HARRY!”

For Harry, at Remus’s exclamation, had reached out and grasped the stone of Hermione’s necklace and vanished.

9. Hide and Sneak

From the moment Harry vanished from the Leaky Cauldron it took less than two minutes to decide who was going and activate the portkey but by the time they ported into what was left of the Granger’s kitchen it was too late. The house had been almost totally destroyed and there was no sign of Mr or Mrs Granger.

Remus and Arthur Weasley fought their way through the rubble to the front of the house. The stairway seemed to be the only part of the building still reasonably intact. Standing on the stairs was Harry. He was covered in dust, his usually messy hair was in an even worse state, he stood there shaking with rage, his wand held out in front of him. He had a very wild look in his eyes. He did not move but said through clenched teeth. “Fetch Hermione, NOW!”

With the destruction of the house the safety wards had collapsed so nodding to Mr Weasley, Remus apparated away.

Arthur Weasley stumbled round to the foot of the stairs and could now see what Harry had been pointing his wand at. Part of the front door was still recognisable, the thing next to it wasn’t. It had obviously once been a man but it was now charred to blackness, it mouth fixed open in a silent scream.

“Harry” said Arthur gently “It’s over for now, why don’t you come down to me?”

Harry seemed incapable of movement, so Mr Weasley slowly moved up to him and laid a hand on his extended arm. At his touch Harry came back to reality with a start, he lowered his wand and turned to him.

“I’m sorry Mr Weasley, when I got here the house was already starting to fall apart. It was only a few seconds before that”, he gestered to the corpse, “came through the door, I only just had time to….” He paused.

“MUM! DAD! HARRY!” The cry from Hermione shattered the slience.

Harry ran down the stairs to stop her in what remained of the hallway and protect her from seeing what he had done. She flew into his arms.

“Oh Harry, what’s happened to Mum and Dad, where are they?” she was almost in hysterics.

“I’m sorry Hermione there wasn’t time…..I wasn’t very gentle with them, I hope they’re alright.”

He turned to the side of the stairway and struggling with the door he opened the cupboard under the stairs. Huddled in the dark space were Hermione's mother and father, lying very still, but alive.

Fifty yards away Peter Pettigrew was crouching amongst some bushes, his face showed a look that was a mix of fear and abject horror. He could not believe what he had just seen.

The plan had gone so well, he and Walker had avoided all the wards that had been placed around the mudblood’s home. They had approached the path to the door, and then Walker, who had been in the lead, arrogant sort Peter had surmised, must have tripped an unseen alarm. He had walked closer to the house, and when he felt in range, had let fly with multiple reductor curses. Walker had started on the upper floor, and Peter had worked with him.

Within seconds the house had started to collapse. Then Walker, the idiot, had marched up to the front door, which had been blown open, and taken one step inside. It was what had occurred then that Peter couldn’t understand.

Instead of two frightened or disabled muggles and their daughter the mudblood, Harry Potter was standing on the stairs.

Wormtail had reverted to his rat like reactions at this point and backed off. He had seen the boy, he had seen Walker raise his wand and begin “ADVRA……. But then “INCENDIO” had rung out. Etched on his brain Wormtail saw Harry his hair on end looking dirty and dishevelled, with an aura of power surrounding him. Then the flames projected with such force that they almost reached him in the road and reduced Walker to a charred corpse in seconds.

Wormtail ran, reached the bushes he was currently hiding in, and vomited in fear. He knew he had to run, not back to the Dark Lord, that was certain death. He would hide, he was good at that, he would not tell the Dark Lord what had happened, he would go to Hogwarts and bide his time. Finishing his task was what mattered, only that would save him now. Wormtail shifted into his rat form and scurried through the grass to safety.

Back at what was left of Hermione's home, Dumbledore arrived, and he took only a few seconds to survey the scene.

“Arthur, please take Harry and Hermione, use their emergency portkeys, and go to Hogwarts.”

Hermione did not want to leave her parents but Dumbledore was insistent. He looked at her kindly. “Poppy is on her way and we will get your mother and father to the infirmary as soon as possible.” He turned to the Order members, “Now close off this area and question any witnesses.”

Madam Pomfrey duly arrived and after ascertaining that it was safe to move them, ported the Grangers to Hogwarts. After a short while the reports came back that all useful information had been gathered. The order was given for the wizards to shield themselves. Dumbledore drew himself up and raised his arms “Localis Oblivious”, there was a white flash of light, and the memories were gone.

The wizards apparated and ported away Dumbledore was the last to leave, sirens from the muggle fire brigade could now be heard as they rushed to the scene. He stopped in what had once been the Granger’s front room, bent down and picked up something and with one last look around he quietly vanished.

Harry, Hermione and Arthur Weasley ported to the Headmasters Office. Hardly had they touched down then Hermione was off running out of the door in the direction of the infirmary. Mr Weasley tried to call her back but Harry stopped him.

“Let her go, we’ll follow in a minute, Merlin! I feel so tired”. Harry slumped down in one of the armchairs by the desk.

“Here Harry eat this” said a voice from behind them.

Mr Weasley jumped sideways holding his hand to his chest. “Good grief Solomon, you’re going to give me a heart attack, creeping around like that!”

“Sorry Arthur, I’ve been practicing Dumbledorian Apparation, it is a bit on the sneaky side”.

He handed Harry a large bar of Honeyduke’s best. Harry nodded gratefully and began to eat.

The chocolate took effect very quickly and within five minutes Harry was feeling much better.

“I would like to go to Hermione now” he said. “And I need to know how…err…...Mum and Dad are” he added self-consciously.

Mr Weasley turned to him sharply, then a look of sadness crept onto his face, Harry regarded him, puzzled for a moment, then he realised. “I hope you didn’t misunderstand that, you and Mrs Weasley are still very much family to me, its just that with Mr and Mrs Granger, Hermione and I are all they have, I….. don’t think I’m explaining this very well.”

“It’s alright Harry I understand now, I wasn’t aware that things between you two had got that far”.

“They haven’t really, but in time they will, if we are given the time. Mr and Mrs Granger are just trying to make us happy.” Harry could feel his anger building. “And because of that, they were attacked, why does it have to happen this way?” He calmed himself. “Can I go to Hermione now?”

The three of them made their way down through the silent corridors to the Hospital Wing. Harry stood in front of the oak doors, took a deep breath, and walked in. He had only taken a few steps when he was almost knocked flying by Hermione, who rushed into his arms, clung to his neck, and whispered in his ear “They’re going to be OK, Oh thank you Harry”.

Harry smiled “Glad to hear it”.

They walked together to the beds hidden by curtains. Mr and Mrs Granger were propped up in bed stoically taking whatever Madam Pomfrey was doing to heal them.

“Ahh Mr Potter, thought I would be seeing you soon,” she gave him the quick once over, “No major damage to you then, and fortunately no major damage to them either. Both have nasty bumps on their heads, something to do with being pushed into a cupboard, I understand.”

David Granger opened his eyes, he could see the nurse standing to one side, on the other was his daughter and her young man. He looked tired but happy, still covered in dust and grime. In his daughter’s eyes he could see a fierce pride in what that young fellow had done, at goodness knows at what risk to himself, but thank God he had done it.

“Harry” Mr Granger’s voice cracked, not just with tiredness. “I don’t really know what to say, except thank you son, you have allowed me to keep both my daughter and my wife. It’s a debt that’s very difficult to carry and impossible to pay.”

“No debt sir, it’s already paid in full” Harry said with a meaningful look at the girl by his side.

“Harry,” Dumbledore called from the shadows of the infirmary. Harry left Hermione talking to her father and walked over to him. “They are going to be alright I understand.”

“Yes sir.”

“That’s good, we will need to talk about what happened tonight, but for the moment I thought you might like to return this to its owner.” Dumbledore held the rose Harry had given to Mrs Granger for Christmas. “If it’s going to last for ever then she will have to look after it. Off you go.”

Harry carried the rose back into the light around the two beds. He carefully placed it on Mrs Granger’s bedside table, and looked round to see Hermione and Mr Granger staring at him. He smiled at them, then sat in the chair by her bed and waited for his new mum to wake up.

Over the next few hours the complete story of what had happened came out.

Muggles who had witnessed the event spoke of two men. One was undoubtedly the corpse, the other by description was Wormtail. Their approach and partial destruction of the house was described. As to what occurred when the man entered the house they said was a back draft, ‘You know, like in the movie, the way the flames shot out of the door was incredible.’ None of the wizards had any idea what they were talking about but David Granger did and explained it.

“You did that Harry?” he asked “Quite remarkable”.

What was more remarkable was how Harry had managed to get to the Granger’s at all. He said that when he heard Remus shout something snapped, he knew what he wanted, he knew where he had to be, and he knew the stone on Hermione’s necklace would help. Then he was there. He found the Granger’s standing in shock by the stairs, and none too gently pushed them into the cupboard.

He mounted the stairs to get a height advantage and when he saw the intruder he had originally intended just to set fire to his clothes. He need to delay him until help arrived, but when he heard him start the killing curse he poured all his power into that simple incendio spell and didn’t turn it off.

Harry was shocked by what he had done. He had killed someone. Self defence, protecting others, it was easy to say but hard to live with. Mr Granger with his muggle logic tried to allay his fears.

“Sometimes Harry it’s the only way, sometimes the bad guy won’t take no for an answer. If you really want to avoid having to do it again listen to your Professors and learn as much as you can, only with knowledge and experience will the path you tread become clear. For what it’s worth for our family’s sake I am glad you acted the way you did.”

“Odd though isn’t it Harry?” said Mrs Granger, “That all the time you were being so badly treated by you Aunt and Uncle they unwittingly kept you in the safest part of the house”.

Dumbledore looked up “Yes I had not considered that, indeed ironic.” But there was a merry twinkle in those shockingly blue eyes.

For the second time in as many terms Harry and Hermione met the Hogwarts Express at Hogsmead station. The rest of the Tyr, except for Neville bundled off the train and sought them out. They wanted to know exactly what had happened as all they had been told was that every one was safe. The story was regaled once again. They were appalled as to the damage the two Death Eaters had wrought, but proud and encouraged by the way Harry had acted, even if he was still having some problems with it.

It wasn’t until their first study period with Professor Aegis that they had a real opportunity to discuss all the implications. Harry’s ability to seemingly apparate was due to the need to do it and the augmentation of Harry’s innate power by the stone of Hermione’s Tear. As to the effects of his incendio spell Aegis put this down to Harry’s state of mind.

Ron put it very succinctly “You mean he was pissed off.”

“Not exactly how I would have put it Ron, but essentially, yes”. Said the Professor.

On their release from the Hospital the Granger’s were lodged in the same guest rooms that Harry and Hermione had occupied the previous summer. It became increasingly obvious that they would not be safe if they returned to the muggle world, but being at Hogwarts was rather like imprisonment as they could not leave their rooms. It had been possible, by a rather circuitous route, to contact the remaining partner at their dental practice and inform him that under the circumstances, having no home left, they were taking a sabbatical. Locums could be hired to cover their absence. They might be away for some time.

It was considered that they could go abroad, but Hermione had scotched that one, not wanting them that far away. The answer came from a patch of mist that appeared in the common room of the guest quarters.

Harry, Hermione, Dumbledore and the Grangers had been discussing this very problem when the mist appeared and Lady Niniane stepped into the room.

“It occurs to me that a sanctuary is needed for David and Natalie, I offer Avalon. There they will be left in peace to study or work as they see fit. We are more tolerant of those less gifted in the arts than normal, and Hermione will be able to visit when necessary.”

It took a while to explain to Mr and Mrs Granger just what was being offered. In the end both agreed that this would be an ideal arrangement and plans were set in motion to that effect.

“Professor Aegis?”

“Yes Harry.”

“I thought it was very rare for an outsider wizard to get into Avalon?”

“Yes, it is Harry.”

“But Lady Niniane offered sanctuary to err….Mum and Dad as if it was the most usual thing in the world.”

“Yes, well, I had to do some very fast talking, and I have used up all my favours for the next thousand years. It just goes to show that sometimes mothers can’t say no.”

“Thank you Professor.”

“That’s alright Harry it’s my pleasure…….and Harry”

“Yes Professor.”

“It will get easier.”

“What will?”

“Calling Hermione’s parents Mum and Dad”

The winter snow sparkled in the weak sunlight. This was the time of year when the castle looked as if it had stepped from a fairy story. The rugged slopes of the surrounding mountains were softened by the white blanket that covered them. Except for the hardy most students remained in the relative shelter of the buildings, even Hagrid was forced to take his lessons in a large barn close to the Herbology greenhouses.

The Granger’s had departed for Avalon, through the mist, half way through January. Professor Aegis had escorted them himself; Harry and Hermione had been there to see them off.

Hermione had smiled and Harry laughed out loud for as Mr and Mrs Granger vanished in the mist David Granger’s voice floated back, “Remarkable, truly remarkable!”

The two students had promised to pay ‘Mum and Dad’ a visit, in a few weeks, once they were settled in their new home. For now they returned to the punishing schedule of their lessons.

Two weeks into the term Neville arrived back at school. It was said that he had been off sick with wizards’ flu. Harry was playing and losing a game of wizards’ chess with Ron, Hermione was sitting next to them reading as usual, when the portrait hole opened. Neville rushed into the common room, stopping in its centre obviously looking for someone. Dean Thomas called out a greeting and on hearing this and seeing Neville, Harry, Ron and Hermione stood to welcome him back. Neville walked over and stopped in front of Harry. Harry could see the emotion in Neville’s eyes.

“Good Christmas Nev?” said Harry with a smile.

Neville placed one hand on Harry’s shoulder and held out his other. Harry took it and they stood sharing a silent communication.

“Yeah Harry, the best, thanks to you.”

“No Nev’ remember it was all of us working together, that’s what did it.”

“Well you may be right, but whatever happens from now on, I am right beside you. If you asked me to I would walk up to Voldemort and spit in his eye.”

“It’s being friends that’s the important thing Nev’.” Harry looked over at Hermione, whose eyes were damp with tears of happiness. Harry gazed round at the students that had gathered around them, and he spoke to them all, “Remember, Forever Together, that’s what it will take, that’s what we must remain.”

Potions classes were presenting Harry with something of a problem. Malfoy had taken to ignoring him and had done so since he had returned after the attack on Hermione’s birthday. Even with the lack of any verbal exchanges there was an obvious tension present whenever Draco and Harry were in the same room. Harry knew that he was up to something but he had no proof.

Professor Snape was acutely aware of the tension and held Harry and Hermione back after one particularly tense class.

“Potter you and Miss Granger will have to take extra care and try to head off any trouble before it gets out of hand. I cannot act in your defence if Mr. Malfoy does nothing against the rules. He is only allowed his wand in the presence of a teacher, but remember, using magic is not the only way to attack.”

It was clear that Snape had been badly shaken by the actions of his students last term. While not wanting to be overtly friendly to Harry he realised how serious the situation could have become.

“What are you going to do to them Draco?” Pansy Parkinson asked him one evening as they sat together in the Slytherin common room.

“I’m not saying yet” he replied “But I have it all worked out. I’m not in any hurry, there will be a time when she is vulnerable then I will have her”.

“Aren’t you going to get Potter as well?”

“That’s the beauty of it Pansy, getting the mudblood will hurt Potter more than attacking him directly. Two low life’s with one stone.” He laughed at his own joke.

----------------------

His trip back to Hogwarts had been relatively easy but rather uncomfortable. He had kept himself safe by shunning any connection with wizard kind, he had travelled as a rat hitching rides on muggle vehicles. The last had been a camper van so at least he had fed well. As luck would have it the van had passed close to the lake at the other end from Hogwarts Castle. The muggles had stopped and got out to view the old ruins standing on the hill.

“What’s this place called dear?” the man said.

“I don’t know. It doesn’t appear to be on this map, perhaps the scale is too big.” His wife replied.

“Never mind, will look at the other map later. I am surprised that some corporation hasn’t bought these old buildings up and turned them into a hotel or something. Looks a good site.”

Strangely although they had their cameras with them they took no pictures, they returned to their van and drove away. Half a mile down the road they had even forgotten that they had stopped at all.

Their unknown passenger had slipped away and was hidden in the bushes by the side of the road. The scene to him was very different, he could see the castle in all its glory, lights shining from the many windows becoming brighter in the gathering gloom of the evening.

In the weeks that followed Wormtail watched, he was afraid of the Potter boy, he would not

act unless he was out of the way. He had seen what he could do, he didn’t want to be burned to a crisp like Walker. He spent as little time on the school grounds as possible, aware that the Marauders Map would show his location. Only during lesson time did he feel it was safe. He had seen Harry, Hermione and his former owner only once in the last few weeks, they had emerged from the castle and spent a few moments surveying the snow covered countryside. The sun had peeped out from behind a cloud and the jewel at the mudblood’s neck had sparkled.

‘I will bide my time’ he thought to himself ‘I will wait for the right moment. I know that James’ boy is the only one who can remove it. Terrible wizard that he is I will have to find someway to persuade him, if not there are other ways. I wonder how clever will you be Miss Granger without your head?”

The rat turned and scuttled away back to Hogsmead where he had found a nice warm sewer to hide in.

Disclaimer

The characters and universe created by J.K.Rowling are hers alone. As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I hope this story can be taken in that way. Some of the additional characters are mine and who knows some of them may even be real.

a/n Thanks to all those reading this tale, if you like it please review, if you don’t why are you still reading it? This is a little light interlude.

10. A Trip to the Moon.

Hermione was sitting in her usual spot of the common room surrounded by books and scribbling feverishly on a piece of parchment.

“What’s she up to tonight Harry?” Ron asked “I thought you said you had finished all your homework”.

“Yeah we have, I think that’s next week’s. You know she likes to keep ahead”.

“You know I’m sort of glad you ended up with her.”

Harry looked sharply at his friend “What do you mean?” he said slightly louder than he intended. Hermione looked up at them with a frown.

“Don’t get narked. I just mean I don’t think I could ever have kept up with her” he paused unsure whether to continue. “You know I fancied her something rotten in the fourth year.” He sighed. “She never encouraged me so eventually I gave up. You are very lucky, but I realise that you two are meant for each other.”

Ron hadn’t admitted this to Harry before. Harry knew but only from what Hermione had told him. He wasn’t even sure that she had realised how taken with her he had been. He shivered, a straight fight for Hermione between him and Ron would have blown their friendship apart. He gave silent thanks to whatever deity had steered them around that potential disaster.

Harry placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I didn’t know you were that smitten, I’m sorry”.

“All water under the bridge now mate” said Ron brightly “I have my sights set on another quarry now, and I need some help from you”.

The weekend before St.Valentine’s Day was set aside as a Hogsmead weekend. For Harry and Hermione this was to be their first Valentines together. Hermione was rather excited and was extremely put out when Harry asked Luna Lovegood if she would like to come along with them.

“What are you playing at Harry? I know that we really get on well with each other but honestly, I thought today would be ours!” she was definitely not happy.

“It will be. This is for a friend to sort of make up for a disappointment”.

“And what disappointment would that be. Is it so important that you would let ruin our first Valentines together?”

Harry decided that understanding a jealous woman was quite beyond him, they seemed to become very irrational. He readied himself for the worst and said “He was disappointed that you are going out with me instead of him, he was really quite serious about you for a while. However he hasn’t let that bother him or get between us, and as he is our best friend I would do anything to help him.”

Hermione looked shocked and embarrassed. “Ron…..Ron was serious, I thought it was just a crush. Oh……I love him like a brother but ……Oh goodness!”

“It’s alright Hermione, you know he’s happy for us and accepted the way things are, it doesn’t bother him. Anyway he says he has his sights set on another target”.

“Luna!?”

Harry nodded slowly. The look on Hermione's face was so unexpected that Harry began to laugh.

Hermione scowled “Don’t make fun of me Mr Potter” she threw her arms around him and drew him to her. “Alright I won’t complain, and I think you’re wonderful you know”.

That Saturday morning Harry, Hermione and Luna Lovegood left the confines of the school and walked the path to Hogsmead. The day started out dry but still quite cold, the three spent a little time doing the round of the shops but then by mid morning a steady cold drizzle started falling from the sky.

At Harry’s suggestion they made for the Three Broomsticks. Surprisingly, Ron was also sheltering in the pub, and they joined him at his table. Harry as usual stood a round of butterbeers, then after a short while, he excused himself looking pointedly at Hermione as he stood up.

He waited in the doorway sheltering from the rain and before long Hermione joined him. They exchanged conspiratorial looks then, hand in hand, at Hermione’s insistence they headed out for Madam Puddifoots.

Back inside the Three Broomsticks the silence at the table Harry and Hermione had vacated had lasted for almost five minutes. Ron was sitting on his hands staring at anything except his target of choice; he was just about to start to hum under his breath to try to perpetuate his indifference when Luna broke the impasse by giggling.

“I don’t think Harry and Hermione are coming back, are they Ron?”

“Err……umm….No……Perhaps they’ve got sidetracked”. He didn’t sound very convincing.

Luna began to sing a very quiet rendition of ‘Weasley is our King’. Ron was so nervous he could hardly speak.

“Err………Luna?”

“Yes Ron ‘that’s why we all sing, Weasley is our King’ what?”

“Do you err…….umm” words failed him again.

An old wizard sitting at the next table shook his head. “Don’t know what’s wrong with the youth today” he turned in his seat and faced Ron who had the look of a boy who was trying to ask a girl out and completely failing. “If you’re going to ask the girl out just get on with it, the worst she can do is laugh and say no.”

Ron looked shyly at Luna “Would you laugh and say no if I asked you out?”

Luna laughed, “No” she said.

Ron sat and thought for a moment “That means you would go out with me then?”

“Yes” she replied.

Ron broke into a wide grin, outside the rain had stopped and the sun came out. “Could we go for a walk? I need to talk to you about something” he looked at the old wizard who was leaning back in his chair to eavesdrop on the conversation. “In private!”

They walked down the village street, and stopped just after they had passed the last house.

“I’ve wanted to ask you out for quite a while” said Ron “But I haven’t been able to pluck up the courage.”

“That’s funny I’ve been wanting you to do that since the last Quidditch match of last year”.

“Gosh, that long?”

“Hmm” she nodded. “I’ve been wanting to do something else as well” She jumped up to reach and kissed him quickly on his cheek. Then made to turn away in embarrassment and slipped. She would have fallen but Ron grabbed her and held her up. She was facing him supported in his arms her head buried in his chest. She looked up. The top of her head was level with his chin, he looked down, and he could see the brightness in her eyes. It seemed the right thing to do. He lowered his head and very gently kissed her on the lips. Her arms which had been hanging loosely at her sides came up to encircle his neck, and she returned the favour.

Harry had not been all that keen to return to the site of his disastrous outing with Cho the year before, but summoning all his Gryffindor courage he entered the tea shop with Hermione on his arm. The decorations did not seem as lurid as they had before, he didn’t know if that was a fact or just that you had to be in a certain frame of mind to appreciate them. He managed to block out all the other couples by the simple expedient of not taking his eyes off Hermione.

They ordered a pot of tea and two toasted currant buns, and sat quietly at one of the tables by the window. This was really very pleasant, there was none of the awkwardness that he had experienced last time. He even relaxed enough to risk looking at what was going on at the other tables. The couples sitting on either side of the little round tables that littered the room were struggling to remain unobtrusive as they reached over the cups, saucers, jugs of milk and pots of tea that formed a barrier between them to hold the hand or partake of a quick kiss with their partner.

It suddenly occurred to Harry that his situation was different, Hermione was not on the other side of the table she was sitting next to him, as close as she could. This was a much better state of affairs, no crockery to negotiate, he slipped an arm round her shoulder and felt her lean into him. This is what Valentines at Madam Puddifoots was all about, he understood now.

After about half an hour, Harry, who had periodically glanced out of the window, thought he could see a vague shape which could have been Ron. Using the sleeve of his robes to clear a patch of glass of the condensation which built up in the shop, and not just from the hot tea, he saw a sight that made him smile.

“Look Hermione” brown bushy hair touched black as they both looked through the small peephole. Ron and Luna were walking back towards the castle hand in hand. Ron was obviously on cloud nine and was paying little attention to anything except the young witch with him. Luna was looking up at Ron but as they passed the tea shop she glanced to the window that Harry and Hermione were glued to. She threw them a smile and they could quite clearly see her mouth ‘Thank you’.

“Well” said Harry “At least someone is happy.”

Hermione gave him a dangerous look “And you’re not!”

“Me… couldn’t be better”. He quipped. He kissed the back of her hand and then ducked the swing she took at him.

He had seen them from the entrance to his sewer. Leaving the tea shop they had walked past him less than six feet away. “She is your weakness Harry. I can tell, you would do anything to save her, you will have your chance to be her hero. Then when the necklace is in my hand….”

Ron returned to the Gryffindor common room late that evening. Harry and Hermione were cuddled up on the sofa in front of the fire, Ron walked past them without seeming to see them.

“Get on OK mate?” Harry asked.

“Great” said Ron continuing to walk to the stairs.

“Did Luna enjoy Hogsmead?” Hermione asked.

“Great” said Ron he floated up the first step.

“Special lesson tomorrow Ron, double potions just you and the Slytherins” said Harry trying not to laugh.

“Great” said Ron as he disappeared up to the dormitory.

In the common room Harry and Hermione dissolved into fits of laughter.

Over the weeks that followed Ron paraded his attachment to Luna for all to see. A lot of the interest that had been channelled towards Harry and Hermione’s relationship shifted to Ron and as far as Harry was concerned this was a blessing. He was never one to court attention, whatever Professor Snape may have thought. The lack of attention allowed both Hermione and Harry to have some quiet moments to themselves as well as concentrating on their work.

To his continual amazement he was still well up with his course work and even ahead in Defence Against the Dark Arts. Professor Aegis didn’t let up at all but Harry was finding that the standard sixth and seventh year lessons weren’t stretching him as much as he imagined they would.

The study periods with the Tyr were a different matter. All six were increasing in power and in the ability to work as a team. But Harry still felt a need to increase his knowledge; it was Aegis himself who gave him the answer.

“The best way to expand the mind is to pass on knowledge to others Harry. Why do you think all the Professors are so clever?” he said with a sideways wink to Hermione, who rolled her eyes expressively.

“You mean restart the DA. Will the Headmaster allow it?” asked Harry.

“Err… yes and… yes.” replied Aegis. “He will even go as far as to make it a legal school club, on one condition.”

“What condition Professor?” asked Hermione.

“You must accept suitable candidates from all the houses”.

“But Professor, that means Slytherin” Harry complained.

Professor Aegis gave Harry a look “When I was fishing a while ago I seem to have overheard someone standing in his common room and saying ‘Remember, Forever Together, that’s what it will take, that’s what we must remain.’ You were spot on there Harry, but it has to apply to all that are willing. Whatever background they may come from, if they are willing to fight under your banner you must accept them, you cannot have too many Nevilles on your side.

“Do we have to throw open the doors then? Last year it was by recommendation and word of mouth that we chose the members” said Hermione

“No, it would be pointless diluting the DA with unsuitable members, use your friends and contacts, if you wish I will speak with Severus and see if he knows of any likely candidates.”

Harry scowled, he was not happy about this development. “Remember Harry what could have happened at your sorting if Hagrid hadn’t warned you about Slytherin”.

“How did you know that?” Harry said in surprise.

“An older and wiser wizard than I told me. However I am more inclined to agree with your sentiments about the Sorting Hat’s thoughts, I think you are well placed”.

Harry discussed these developments, initially with the Tyr, and then with an impromptu meeting of the old DA members. In both cases there was resistance to the idea of allowing Slytherin in, but in the end it was conceded that if the allegiance was there then no student should be refused.

Hermione, as before, looked into advanced charms which could be used to ensure allegiance and this time she promised that a spotty face would be the least of any traitor’s worries.

Ron meanwhile, being an old fashioned boy, from an old fashioned family, in a world that was not really up to date, continued to woo his young lady, slowly and sedately. It was a new experience for him to have someone to care and worry about that was not a member of his family or have a first name that began with H. He began to understand that if Harry felt the same obligations for all his friends, as he did toward Luna, then the weight on his shoulders must be immense. He finally understood what sort of person Harry really was, he felt privileged that he was his friend and very glad he wasn’t him.

Most evenings for as long as homework would allow Ron and Luna would take a stroll down a little used corridor. At it’s end was a window which opened out onto a flat area of roof which was sheltered on three sides by the castle walls but had a breathtaking view out over the lake to the mountains beyond. They would sit together wrapped in a cloak to keep warm

talking about things, unimportant to the world in general, but very important when you are falling in love.

On one such evening they sat together looking up at a sky that was crystal clear. The stars were very bright and the crescent moon had risen and its light was dancing over the surface of the lake.

“I wonder what it’s like up there?” mused Luna.

“Where?” said Ron gazing into her eyes.

“On the moon, Silly” she said nodding in its direction.

“Made of cheese, isn’t it?” said Ron not really paying much attention to the conversation.

“Sometimes I think you are just making fun of me. I’m not that daft. I was put in Ravenclaw for a reason you know. I read in a muggle book, that, if you were there, on the moon, that you would feel all light and floaty, and your insides would sort of turn over.”

“Well, that settles it” said Ron as he leaned toward Luna to kiss her, “I’m already there”.

11. A Tor of the Shops.

The second half of the spring term saw the reactivation of the DA. There were now thirty two members and half of these were Gryffindors. The rest of the DA was formed with seven Hufflepuffs, six Ravenclaws and three Slytherins. Even with the inclusion of the Slytherins it was decided that using loyalty charms was unnecessary, the stakes were too high now.

Hermione was a little disappointed as she had found a charm that if broken would cause the traitor to speak backwards for the rest of their lives. Ron considered Harry’s situation after he had heard about this, and as he watched her telling Ginny about yet another charm which made you lose a years worth of memories every hour, he thought she looked rather forbidding, really quite scary.

“Harry, are you sure you are going to be OK with Hermione? I mean look at her” he said.

“She gets very passionate about things she considers important” Harry replied “Fortunately it seems that I am one of those things, but I do worry that she thinks more of my safety than her own”.

Ron still looked a little doubtful, “Well I think I will make an extra effort to stay in her good books from now on. I have no desire to end my life as a radish.”

Harry spent extra time with Daphne Greengrass, Malcolm Braddock and Tracey Davis, the three Slytherin members. He wanted to know them as well as possible. It was hard, especially for Harry, to let go of six years of animosity toward that particular house.

By the end of the first week he was sure he could trust them all. The two girls were a bit of an anachronism, from their family histories neither of them should have ended up in Slytherin. Daphne’s parents had been in Ravenclaw, whilst Tracey had one Hufflepuff and one Gryffindor to her name. Both families had been affected the last time Voldemort had risen, it was very strange, though it did occur to Harry that the Sorting Hat could have been playing games again.

Malcolm Braddock’s family was Slytherin through and through. Some of his close relatives had been Death Eaters but his immediate family had kept very clear of all that.

Ron was against trusting Malcolm. “If your relations are bad then it’s bound to rub off, he’ll be a bad egg, you mark my words”.

Harry studied Ron thoughtfully “Thanks a lot mate, next time I see my Aunt and Uncle I’ll try and see how much of them has rubbed off on me”.

“Bloody hell, Harry, I didn’t mean………….” he got no chance to finish.

“No I know you didn’t, but you cannot paint all Slytherins slimy. You, no we, all have to give them a chance.

Professor Aegis had taken the resolution of the Slytherins’ plight one stage further. A temporary disillusionment charm was applied to them which became active when they entered the Slytherin dungeon this meant that their house mates would essentially ignore them, not that they paid them much attention before.

Harry realised that this could work to the DA’s advantage as things may be said by other Slytherins in their company which should have been kept secret.

Harry was using the rest of the Tyr to help in teaching the DA. It improved their individual strengths and gave him time to see the general picture. By the end of the term Harry felt that the DA was beginning to gel, there were still many gaps and weaknesses to attend to but he was pleased with the progress.

Although Harry and Hermione had promised to see David and Natalie Granger as soon as they could, it had become obvious that this would not be until the holidays. On the last day of term Professor Aegis asked them to stay behind at the end of class.

“Well you two, I think it will be alright for us to travel to Avalon tomorrow after the train has left in the morning.”

“Are we using a portkey like before?” asked Hermione.

“No we’re using the nimbus limen; the arch is being watched and we don’t want to draw attention to it just now.” Aegis replied.

“How did he say we were getting there?” said Harry, as they left the classroom.

“The nimbus limen, Harry, the cloudy doorway, the mist” said Hermione, rolling her eyes as if it was the simplest thing to understand.

The following morning found the three of them in Aegis’ office. The nimbus limen appeared as it had done before and they stepped into it and then out of it in front of the same cottage where they had met Lady Niniane. Harry loved this way of travelling, no disorientation, no cracked elbows and it was fast. The only drawback was that his glasses became clouded with little drops of water and he couldn’t see a thing.

Cleaning off his glasses, Harry could now see the cottage and standing in the doorway were the Grangers. Hermione flung herself down the path and into a fierce three way hug.

Harry walked up to the happy reunion only to be instantly included. Mrs Granger hugging him as warmly as she had her daughter, Mr Granger stood back and held out his hand, Harry took it gladly.

“Good to see you again son” he nodded toward Hermione “Been looking after you OK?”

“Yes da…sir, really OK”

“Don’t worry Harry, it took me ages to cope with my in-laws and we’re not even that to you…. yet”. David Granger confided.

Natalie Granger cast an eye over her husband and surrogate son. “Come inside and see our new home, as comfortable as any on our side of the division. This place is so relaxing; I could happily stay here for ever.”

Harry and Hermione allowed themselves to be shown round the cottage. In truth they had only seen the main downstairs room before; it was a surprise how large the rest of the house was. There were five bedrooms upstairs and a bathroom. Hermione was given a room with a window looking out over the front and Harry’s next to hers looked over the back garden.

Like many old cottages the ceilings were low and the doorways even lower. Harry cracked the top of his head several times before he learned the knack of ducking just at the right moment. That evening the four of them were sitting in a smaller downstairs room at the back of the cottage. Mr Granger had told them in a muggle home it would have been called a snug.

Harry and Hermione were curled up together on a sofa that must have had a distant relation living in the Gryffindor common room. Their ‘Mum and Dad’ had been telling them all that had happened since they had arrived. Their initial welcome had been a little muted as a lot of the villagers were very wary of them. There had been little contact across the division (that was what the islanders called the sideways shift of the Isle, which separated it from the rest of the world) for such a long time, that they had become rather unsure of any non-local.

However the Grangers’ medical training and willingness to learn had gained them respect with the local healers and this had eventually spread to the rest of the islanders. Now they were accepted for what they were and were very happy with their situation.

Harry lay in his bed that night and spoke to no-one in particular “You know, I don’t think I could find a nicer set of in-laws if I tried.”

“That’s a lovely thing to say Harry” said Hermione’s voice much clearer than it should have been. He looked up but she wasn’t there.

“Where are you?”

“In bed, Silly, I don’t think these walls keep out much noise.”

“Wicked... I love you.”

“Love you too Harry, goodnight.” Harry heard a silvery giggle from almost next to him; he sighed, smiled and closed his eyes.

The two weeks of holiday passed far too quickly for Harry’s liking. Normally he was very glad for a holiday to end but this was not one of them. The four had spent nearly all the time together walking, talking, having picnics, being a family and generally enjoying the warm weather.

Harry and Hermione had several opportunities to explore the centre of the village on their own and renew their acquaintances with the shops. It was their first visit that caused Harry the most problems. He wanted to show Hermione the shop where he had bought the necklace, and if the truth be known, show Hermione off to the old witch who ran it.

He confidently led her past the bookstore, down across the square to the corner where the shop was, but it wasn’t there. It wasn’t just that it was a different shop, it really wasn’t there. It was an empty space. Harry couldn’t understand it, he paced back and forth explaining to Hermione that this is where it should be. He was making such a commotion in the normally quiet square that a wizard emerged from one of the adjoining shops to see what all the fuss was about.

“A jewellers shop, you are looking for a jewellers shop?”

“Yes,” said Harry “right here, there was an old witch…, when we were here last year it was here.”

The wizard thought, then seemed to make a connection, “You must mean old Eleanor Wicca. Yes that would be it, well, well old Eleanor, who’d have thought it.”

“So where is she and where’s the shop?”

“Well I couldn’t rightly tell you that, you see old Eleanor’s shop vanished.”

“Vanished, but when?”

“Oh let me think, it would be about one hundred and fifty years ago now” he scratched his head in thought “yes that’s about right.”

“But that’s not possible, I bought Hermione’s present here last August.”

“Did you now? Quite possibly you did. If she needed to sell you something then she wouldn’t have let a little thing like one hundred and fifty years get in the way. She was a very powerful witch was old Eleanor.” Said the wizard and shaking his head at the wonder of it all he retreated back into his shop.

Hermione could see the look of total bewilderment on Harry’s face, and for once she was totally lost for words.

On the last day of the holidays the four were sitting in the meadow which stretched as far as the eye could see, the Tor and village at their backs. The field was a blaze of yellow, buttercups and dandelions thickly mixed with the green of the meadow grass. They had just finished a simple but delicious picnic and were starting to gather things up.

“Harry dear could you collect up the goblets for me?” asked Mrs Granger.

“No problem Mum” replied Harry as if it was the most natural response in the world.

Hermione gave a little gasp, her mother smiled; her father said “Well done son.”

“Thanks Dad” Harry grinned.

-------------

For another Hogwarts student the start of the holiday had been quite different. On the other side of the division, some seventy miles to the east, the portkey deposited a blond haired youth on the doorstep of a large house which had seen better days. Unseen by the muggles that lived around it Malfoy Manor was slowly decaying. Draco Malfoy, heir to the Lord of the Manor banged on the large door with his clenched fist. The house elf Kreacher opened the door.

“Ahh! The young master has returned from school. Kreacher wonders why he did not use his wand to open the door” his laugh was more of a hiss.

“It’s none of your damn business why I do anything, Elf. Tell my mother I am home” Draco had put on his most superior tone. Inside he was worried, if his mother knew why he had no wand, he was in trouble.

The house elf scuttled down the hall to a door at its end, he opened it and bowed low to whom ever was inside the room.

“Mistress, the young master is back, knocking at his own front door like a common traveller” Kreacher announced.

“Draco come here instantly” he heard his mother’s voice, then “Kreacher go!”

Draco Malfoy knew he was in for it by the tone of his mother’s voice; he had no choice but to obey.

Narcissa Malfoy was tall, thin and blonde. She sat on a rather uncomfortable fancy chair looking as if there was a nasty smell under her nose. If there was, it was Draco. As she caught sight of him the rage in her boiled over.

“You worthless little worm, just you be thankful that your father is away, how dare you get caught by that jumped up magician who calls himself your Headmaster.”

“It wasn’t him” Draco confessed “It was something that Potter and his mudblood did, it caused our spells to backfire, Vincent is still in hospital.”

“You think that makes it better?”

“No, but at least I’m not the only one who’s had that happen when they’ve taken Potter on” he smiled but his victory was short lived.

His mother’s face paled if that was possible, “You stand there wandless and have the gall to besmirch the Dark Lord’s good name, you are either very brave or very foolish, Draco. Your father will not be held in that place for long, pray that you can correct your mistakes before you meet him again. Why did you come home anyway? You should have stayed at school as you did at Christmas. I have no time for you now. Stay in your rooms until it is time to return to school. Kreacher will see to you needs. Now go”.

Draco looked both hurt and defiant as he turned away “Yes mother, as you wish.”

------------------

Harry and Hermione stepped out of the mist onto the lawns in front of the castle. Harry had made up his own name for this type of travel, he called it ‘Demisting’ and as they demisted Professor Aegis greeted them back.

“Hello you two, have a good holiday?”

“Wonderful” said Hermione.

“Great” said Harry “Oh, Mum and Dad said to say thank-you to you.”

“Ahh” Aegis raised his eyebrows and smiled “Progress Harry?”

“Yeah.”

Disclaimer

The characters and universe created by J.K.Rowling are hers alone. As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I hope this story can be taken in that way. Some of the additional characters are mine and who knows some of them may even be real.

12. Fairy Tails and Nursery Rhymes

The summer term started under dark skies and pouring rain. The mountain streams that drained into the lake turned into raging torrents and the castle shook to thunder as it rolled around the hills.

Wormtail had forsaken his sewer to escape being washed away. He had found a hole in a dingy corner of The Hogshead tavern, it was warm, there was plenty of food and he could listen to the rumours spread by the patrons.

The seamier side of wizard life was keeping clear of involvement with Voldemort. They knew what happened last time and they were not about to throw in their hand with a potential looser. The feeling going around was that if the Potter kid was disposed of then they might reconsider their stance. They wanted power but only if it came easily with no risk to themselves, that was always their way.

Peter Pettigrew took note of this talk and he began to persuade himself that he could walk away from his master. Voldemort might be a powerful wizard but he only had Bellatrix and a few die hards with him now, he would need to pull off something spectacular to win more support. For now Peter was comfortable, he would continue to wait, if he felt the risk was worth it and the opportunity was there he would act.

------------------------

Bellatrix Lestrange was very worried, she had to tell her master that Pettigrew had vanished and that Walker was dead. Dead, killed trying to kill a mudblood. She could feel the pain of the curse already, it hadn’t been cast yet but she knew it would come. She hated being afraid but she loved causing fear, the delight she reaped from seeing abject horror in the faces of her victims was the most pleasurable of feelings.

Voldemort was incensed. He watched Bellatrix crawl out of the room, his brain still humming from the curse he had used. They would all pay for the disloyalty they showed to him, did they not realise that he was unbeatable.

Potter would die, Dumbledore would die, and he would destroy Hogwarts and the Ministry. All those prissy wizards from the Isle of Glass would suffer unimaginable horrors. Now he had two more names to add to his list, Hermione Granger the mudblood trash who was Potter’s pride and joy and Solomon Aegis who sought to teach Potter to destroy him.

They would die; they would beg to die before he was finished with them.

Voldemort looked around the room, it was dark, he liked the dark. It was damp; he did not mind the damp. It was cold; the cold meant nothing to him. It was empty, he was alone, forever alone, it was the only way to ultimate power.

-------------------

Harry was sitting in the warmth of the common room surrounded by the Gryffindor members of the DA. Hermione had been talked into telling some of the muggle fairy tales she had been told by her parents when she was much younger. Those from purely wizarding families had never heard anything like them before. They couldn’t see the wonder in producing a giant bean stalk from five beans; it just needed the right charm. And as for the BFG, giants weren’t friendly at all, they were downright horrible.

“I’m not surprised that muggles are so mixed up if they’re told all that rubbish” Said Lavender.

Ron leaned over to Hermione “What I want to know is why you call them fairy tails? Fairies don’t have tails.”

“T A L E S Ron you know stories” came the exasperated reply.

“Oh why didn’t you say so in the first place?” he disappeared under a pile of thrown cushions.

Harry had really enjoyed the first week back. The reformed DA was working well, and by working with Hermione he had no worries about his studies. Even Quidditch was looking up. Slytherin had lost both the matches they had played, Ravenclaw had beaten Hufflepuff as had Gryffindor. So this term there were only two matches left, Hufflepuff against Slytherin and Ravenclaw against Gryffindor. It was almost certain that the Quidditch Cup would be awarded to the winner of the Gryffindor-Ravenclaw match. Harry knew they were in with a good chance.

Harry also had a sneaking feeling that his good luck would not last, it never had before. When he confided this to Hermione she told him with such sincerity that now that everyone was working together, luck had nothing to do with it, things were going well because they were doing it right. Harry wasn’t sure what ‘it’ was but Hermione sounded so confident that he was inclined to believe her. That was until his dream.

----------------------

Harry was at a party, he thought it was a birthday party, but he didn’t know whose.

He was holding hands with Draco Malfoy not in the girl-boy holding hands sense, they were making a bridge. Facing each other arms outstretched in front of them holding hands. Their arms were moving up and down in time to a rhyme everyone was singing and all the other children were passing under their arms in a continuous line.

As the rhyme reached its climax their arms briefly trapped each child in turn until as the last word was spoken their arms imprisoned the child then between them. There was a whispered choice and the child was released to stand behind Draco.

The process was repeated, the trapped child was Neville, he too ended up behind Draco. Again and again Harry’s friends were caught and each time they joined the file behind Malfoy. Harry was beginning to hate this game. As each person went to Malfoy’s side, his smile became wider and wider.

“What’s the matter Potter, no one like you any more?”

Hermione would pick his side, he knew it. He only needed her and he could win the game. She was getting closer and the rhyme was nearing its end. She passed through the arch of arms giving Harry a wistful smile. The child behind her was caught, he chose Harry’s side.

Harry looked away from Hermione to this child, there was definitely something wrong. The child looked wrong, short, fat and very untidy, his hair was thin and unkempt, his front teeth were worse than Hermione’s had ever been.

It was Wormtail; he moved to stand behind Harry holding on to his waist. Harry could feel him breathing in his ear, then a squeaky voice said.

“Play the game Harry, all I want is the mudblood, we’ll get her next time round you’ll see.”

Harry watched as the line passed through, he could see Hermione getting closer and closer, he could see the fixed grin on Malfoy’s face, and now he could hear the words of the rhyme.

“Here comes the candle to light you to bed” the children all chanted “Here comes the chopper to chop off your head.”

Hermione was too close he was sure that this time she would be caught. The chanting continued and Wormtail’s voice was loud in his ear “Chop, Chop, Chop, Chop, Last man’s head!”

Harry closed his eyes, not wanting to see who had been caught he fought with all his might to remove himself from the game. But he had no choice, he reluctantly opened his eyes and stared straight into the eyes of…… Ron. He was leaning over him and poking him in the chest.

“Chop Chop Harry, get a move on or you will be late for breakfast”.

“Bloody hell Ron!” Harry shouted louder than he intended.

“Sorry mate, just thought you should know.”

“No I’m sorry, you just woke me from a dream, got a bit of a shock, that’s all” said Harry calming down.

“Not one of HIS type dreams?”

“No this one had Wormtail in it and Draco Malfoy and a nursery rhyme.”

“You’ve been listening to too many of Hermione’s fairy tales, you have”.

“Yeh, perhaps your right”, Harry pushed Ron off his bed “If you get out of the way I’ll get up.”

As he dressed he thought about the dream ‘I wonder if Hermione knows that rhyme, it’s very familiar but I can’t place it, I must remember to ask her’ However the dream faded as dreams do and the details of the rhyme faded as well. Nagging him though, at the back of his mind, he still had that feeling that something was wrong, he just knew that they all had to be careful.

---------------------

The defence study group with the Tyr had reached new heights. Professor Aegis had set out the room of requirements to resemble a small street with doorways and windows lining each side. Each of the group had to run the gauntlet with the other members of the Tyr trying to stun them. ‘Stun or be stunned’ Aegis had called it.

It took Harry three goes to manage to get to the end, partly because he didn’t like having to stun Hermione, but after she had knocked him off his feet twice he decided to take the gloves off. He caught her fair and square and she went flying.

Reaching the end of the test he ran back to her to make sure she was OK and spent the rest of the afternoon apologising to her.

The Professor arranged for some members of the Order of the Phoenix to assist him in testing the Tyr as a group. What the students lacked in experience was more than covered by their ability to work together. The members of the order may have known each other well, but the teenagers had grown up together, they could practically read each other’s minds.

Tonks, Lupin and Shacklebolt were all rather embarrassed to find themselves fairly beaten. They called it a draw because Professor Aegis had done a Dumbledore and silently appeared behind Harry and stunned him. That was a big mistake as it took him two days to get rid of the daisies that started growing in his hair when Hermione hexed him in retaliation.

----------------------

The weather had shown a marked improvement since the start of term, as Harry sat in the library immersed in study one Sunday morning the sun burst through the window and hit the back of his head. He felt the warmth and made a sudden decision. Slamming his book closed he looked over to Hermione who was frowning at the disturbance.

“It’s no good. I can’t go on. It’s just too much to bear any more.”

Hermione was horrified “Harry what ever is the matter? Is it your scar? What is it? Please tell me, what is wrong?”

She was really worried, by Harry’s expression it was clear that it was something serious.

“If I have to sit here and study for another second I am going to explode” Harry said with feeling. “We are stopping now and we are going to have a break. Ron and Luna can do it and so can we.”

“But” said Hermione.

“NO buts” said Harry.

“What?”

Harry cut her off “NO what’s either.”

“If you would just let me finish Harry. What about going out into the grounds? I’m sure we could persuade Dobby to provide some food, we could have a day off.”

“What?” said Harry.

“You’re right” said Hermione “We have been working hard and we need a rest.”

“Oh” said Harry.

Hermione laughed. “Come on before I change my mind.”

Half an hour later found them walking along the side of the lake. They were further away from the castle than they had ever been, even during the last summer holidays. They were technically still within the boundaries of the school but they were completely alone. Students rarely came this way.

The shore of the lake turned away from its depths to form a small bay. A grassy bank stretched away from the water forming a small clearing in the woods that normally lined the waters edge. It was a perfect spot. Hermione spread out the blanket she had brought and Harry put down the bag Dobby had provided which was full of food. They settled themselves down looking back to the water but the lake didn’t occupy their gaze for long.

Harry found himself feasting on Hermione’s features mere inches away from him. There wasn’t much need for talk, then she moved out of focus as she closed in on him and he felt the softness of her lips as they met his. He felt her arm snake around his neck and she pulled him to her.

Hermione lay back drawing Harry down with her, she moved one hand and ran it through that untidy mop of hair she loved so much. She felt his arms slide beneath her encircling her back and pulling her even closer, if that was possible.

They stayed like that each wrapped in the other enjoying their closeness for what to them felt like years but was probably only a few minutes. The feeling was wonderful, they both felt so safe, they both felt so comfortable, they both felt that this is where they wanted to be forever, and they both felt so warm.

Really warm, warmer than they ought to be. Their embrace relaxed and as they parted they saw the source of the heat. The stone on Hermione’s necklace was pulsating; a delicate blue radiance rose and fell, like a beating heart.

‘Just like a heart, like mine, it’s beating in time with my heart’ thought Harry.

“Oh look” said Hermione “Look at it; it’s beating in time with my heart.”

Harry looked up at her “Really? Mine too.”

Hermione reached out and placed her hand on Harry’s chest she could feel his heart beat, sure enough their hearts were beating together.

“This is amazing Harry, feel” and without thinking she grabbed his hand and placed it over her own heart.

It took about two seconds for Hermione to realise what she had done and for Harry to respond in the only way he knew.

“Wow” and blush furiously.

The spell broke and the pulsating light faded and died, there was an embarrassed silence.

“That was really lovely Hermione” Harry said allowing his hand to fall away.

“What was Harry?” she asked shyly.

“All of it” he replied.

-------------------------

The DA was meeting twice a week. Harry had split the membership into five teams and had Ron, Neville, Ginny and Luna each teaching their skills to a team in rotation. The remaining team was taught by Harry and Hermione in tandem trying to get each team working as a group.

The plan was to produce five independent teams who could work through and around the Tyr which would form the spearhead. Harry knew they weren’t ready to take on any major fight but he hoped that by the time Voldemort had recruited more supporters they would be. Harry was delighted to hear from Fred and George that the DA members who had already left school were meeting in secret to hone their skills and would come to Harry’s aid at his request.

It was after the Slytherin verses Hufflepuff Quidditch match that Harry and Hermione had a quiet talk with Professor Aegis and the Headmaster. They were sitting in the Headmaster’s study.

“We can at least put a dent in any frontal attack” said Harry “But we wouldn’t hold them for long.”

“Harry, it has never been my intention to use the student body in a major battle, but the DA would give those less able a chance to get away.” Said Dumbledore “The DA is what it says it is, a defence association it’s not a battle group.”

“Professors, would you expect a major fight anyway?” asked Hermione “I would have thought that Voldemort would have favoured sneak attacks, wasn’t that how he operated last time. Divide and conquer?”

“Yes Miss Granger you are absolutely correct, in muggle parlance he is a terminist”.

“I think you mean terrorist, Headmaster” said Aegis.

“Right, that as well, but seriously, he is the master at sowing dissention and mistrust.

Then when confusion is at its greatest he strikes. That is why he needs so few Death Eaters to complete his takeover. Once he is seen to be winning, wizards will flock to him just to avoid the inevitable retribution”.

“Can we win against someone like this?” said a rather downcast Harry.

Aegis looked over to Dumbledore, then reached out a hand and placed it on Harry’s shoulder.

“You have several advantages over Voldemort, Harry. You have friends and you have love. He has neither.” Professor Aegis looked between the two students “You also have a very good personal reason to want to win, and she is sitting next to you, Voldemort only has a quest for power to drive him on.”

‘And did but you know it young man you already have all the power that Voldemort craves. You have more followers in this one building than Voldemort ever had. It would sadden you to know how many people would willingly give their lives to help you succeed. None of Voldemort’s followers would act in such a way.’

“I really believe you can win, Harry. I have promised to do all in my power to help you, and I will.”

Dumbledore considered the younger Professor ‘Yes’ he thought ‘I will be content with this.’

eheHeH

13. The Rat’s Revenge

They were half way through the summer term and all formal lessons had stopped. Those students sitting OWLS and NEWTS were deep in revision. Only Professor Aegis continued with structured lessons, he knew that even NEWT level Defence would not be enough, he had to push his students for their own safety.

Unsurprisingly Harry was proving to be the best at Defence Against the Dark Arts in both the sixth and seventh year classes. He had worked alone with Aegis on a new spell which enabled him to produce a shield which had so far proved impenetrable. Although this shield would stop any incoming spell, Harry was able to fire spells out through it. However there was one disadvantage, to do this he needed two wands, one to hold the shield, and one to cast the outgoing spells, and he wouldn’t always have two wands.

Hermione had not been able to find out anything about this new shield spell and this worried her. Harry had only told her that it produced something called Jupiter’s shield and there was nothing about it in any of the books she had looked at.

When Harry and the Professor felt they had perfected the shield, Hermione and Ron were asked to help to test how effective it could be. When the time came, Hermione stood next to Professor Aegis and whispered in his ear.

“If you hurt Harry I will never forgive you, and you’ll have daises in your hair for ever.”

Aegis gave her a tight grin “My dear if I manage to hurt Harry then Harry should never forgive himself. Ready Harry?”

Harry nodded, he concentrated, he held his wand pointing upwards “Aegis maximus”

Like a fountain, energy poured from his wand to form a dome around him which shone a steel blue colour.

They had started with simple hexes, all three of them firing together, and slowly worked their way up to stunners and reductor curses, the shield repelled them all. The air in the room sparkled and crackled with all the spent magic that was flying about. Hermione had even tried some of the more exotic curses she had found whilst looking for the unrequired loyalty charms for the DA.

Eventually the only curses his shield had not been tested on were the unforgivable ones. Harry wasn’t keen to test against them and Hermione was definitely not in favour of the idea. Ron thought they were all barmy, but it couldn’t be put off for ever so after a short rest Harry re-established his shield.

Aegis nervously licked his lips and intoned “Crucio” Harry stood as still as a rock, there was no effect.

“Holding OK Harry?” Harry nodded; “Imperio” Hermione could see the effort the Professor was putting into trying to make Harry do something, again to no effect. Aegis let the curse die and Harry let his shield drop. He smiled at Aegis and poked out his tongue. The Professor laughed. Hermione was shocked.

“So you could hear the command then Harry?”

“Oh yes, but there was no compulsion, none at all.”

Hermione was practicing the wand movement Harry had been using and was muttering the incantation under her breath, then suddenly she realised something “Hang on Harry’s shield spell, it’s your name Professor!”

“Come on Hermione, you’re not living up to your reputation today. I thought you had worked out what my name meant a long time ago.”

“Oh I did, but I thought it meant protection”

“So what is a shield?”

“Ahh hadn’t thought of that”

Harry squared his shoulders and stood ready to resume the test “Right” he said “Only one more curse left to try”

Hermione’s cry was instantaneous “No Harry you mustn’t!”

All Ron could manage was “Oh Bugger!”

Professor Aegis cut in “Ron’s quite succinct as always, but I have to agree with Hermione on this one Harry, let me explain. When you produce a shield, even one as powerful as yours, your life force is bound in to it. The Avada Kedavra curse works by stripping the life force from the body. If the curse hits your shield it will still work as it can still reach your life force which is held in the shield. I hope that makes some sort of sense?”

“Oh yes, I see now” said Hermione “That means that only a shield which doesn’t use your own magic could hope to deflect the killing curse. Do you think my necklace would be able to stop it?”

“It is possible certainly, we don’t know how powerful the necklace is, but its power is its own not yours, so yes it’s possible.”

Hermione looked very nervous “Should we test…?”

“NO! I forbid you to try; we just do not know enough about the stone. Besides if it did work think what would happen to the person who tested it. One or other of you would end up dead.”

There was silence as the truth of that fact sank in.

When the Tyr met the next time Aegis wanted all of them to attempt Harry’s new shield and to everyone’s surprise, except their teacher, Ron produced the strongest shield after Harry.

“OK Ron now you need to practice extending your shield to cover the four of you”, advised Aegis.

“Sorry, don’t you mean six?” Ron asked.

“No, Harry and Hermione will have to protect themselves. This will be your task, for the moment just do as I ask, I hope that we will have the time to perfect our strategies, but that will depend on Voldemort”.

It was hard to prepare for something when you are not sure what you are going to face but that is what they tried to do. The Tyr prepared, the DA prepared, and the Gryffindor Quidditch team prepared for their match against Ravenclaw.

The exams were due to start the following week so the Saturday of the final match was a chance for everyone to let their hair down and relax. The only house that didn’t seem to be entering into the sprit of things was Slytherin. The three Slytherin DA members could only report that Malfoy and his crowd were keeping themselves to themselves, using charms to keep others away when they were talking, but they could learn nothing more. Harry was convinced that they were planning trouble.

Match day duly arrived and as usual for early June it was warm and sunny. There were just a few clouds floating lazily on the gentle breeze, but nothing that would produce rain. In all, perfect conditions.

Katie Bell led the Gryffindor team out onto the pitch and strode to the centre to shake hands with Cho Chang the Ravenclaw captain. Madam Hooch tossed the coin; Katie won and elected to defend the North end. Harry scanned the stands, Gryffindor red and gold stood out at the North end and Ravenclaw blue at the South. The centre stands held the yellow of Hufflepuff but only a smattering of Slytherin green was in evidence. The others had seen this as well but assumed that there was a no show because of the dismal efforts of their own team that year. Harry thought there were other reasons, and had asked Neville, Luna and Hermione to keep a good look out for any signs of trouble.

Madam Hooch blew her whistle and Harry’s attention switched to the task at hand. The teams were very evenly matched; it was going to prove to be a hard game. The crowd watching were thrilled by the speed and agility of the chasers on both sides.

The quaffle was moved around with frightening speed and only the skill of the keepers kept the score firmly pegged at 0-0. After half an hour of frantic activity Harry realised that catching the snitch was the only way points were going to be scored. If he saw it there would be no reason to muck about, a quick catch was becoming imperative.

Harry and Cho saw the snitch at the same time; Cho was much closer to it. Even with his superior speed he wasn’t sure he could get to it first, he realised that for the first time he was going to lose the race. Harold Winter, a Gryffindor beater, swung his club and connected with the bludger as it flew past him. It rocketed across the pitch and just as Cho was about to close her hand round the snitch the bludger caught the tail of her broom and sent her into a spin.

Harry needed no second opportunity, he urged his Firebolt to even greater speed and as the snitch veered round Ron’s goalposts Harry cut the corner and snatched the snitch out of the air. For the third time that year Madam Hooch blew the final whistle and shouted

“GRYFFINDOR WINS!”

The stands coated in red and gold erupted, they had won the Quidditch Cup.

Two things happened in quick succession. Harry heard a shrill whistling noise and shot upwards to avoid a bludger which had appeared out of nowhere. He glanced around and shouted to Ron who had not seen a second bludger heading straight for him. It connected with a sickening thud knocking him off his broom and into the sand under the goalposts.

Hermione, Neville and Luna fought their way off the stands and started to run around the outside of the stadium to the entrance to the pitch. As the reached the point furthest from the castle they were stopped in their tracks by a terrified scream, echoing out from a small clump of trees some hundred yards away.

They looked at each other “Slytherin” they chorused, and as the scream was repeated they turned and sprinted towards the sound. Hermione was the fittest of the three and soon began to outstrip the others, she was soon quite a distance in front when again without any warning yet another bludger streaked over Neville and hit Hermione hard on the back of her head.

The force of the blow lifted her off her feet and spun her through the air. She hit the grass and rolled several times before coming to a stop and lay without moving. Neville rushed towards her yelling to Luna to go and get help. He didn’t stop to see her turn and run back to the stadium but skidded to a stop beside Hermione’s body and fell to his knees.

He very gently brushed away the hair that was covering her face. He could see blood trickling from her ears and nose, and one leg was bent at an impossible angle. Her eyes were closed and a faint blue tinge coloured her lips.

Neville heard laughter; he looked up and in the trees a short way ahead a group of students were finding the scene in front of them particularly funny. One of the students produced a scream, like the one they had responded to and a fresh peal of laughter sounded. Neville made to stand and confront the group when almost as if growing out of the ground a man materialised in front of him.

------------

Wormtail was taking a risk and he knew it, but the end of the school year was getting ever closer. He was running out of time. He reasoned that Harry and Ron would be occupied with the Quidditch match and hoped that none of his friends would be using the Marauders Map. Even if they were if he could get close to the stadium then his name would disappear in amongst the hundreds of others watching the game.

As he scurried through the grass, still some way away from the pitch, he came across a group of students hiding in a clump of trees. Slytherins by the look of their robes, and yes that was Malfoy’s brat, even if he were trying to hide is trademark hair in a hooded robe, he recognised his voice.

“It’s a faint hope I know but if Bulstrode and Goyle manage to get their part right Potter and Weasley will be out of the way and we can deal with the mudblood. Are you clear what you are to do with that third bludger Pansy?”

“Yes Draco don’t worry I know exactly what I am doing Granger won’t get away from me.”

“Good she’s bound to come running when her precious Potter gets knocked off his broom and she has to come round this side of the stadium. One good scream Pansy, she won’t be able to help herself, she’ll come and investigate. Then she’s as good as dead.”

‘What is that little toad up to’ thought Wormtail ‘Sounds as if he is after the same goal as I am. I wonder what he has against Hermione Granger.’

From the distance of the Quidditch pitch a whistle blew and ‘GRYFFINDOR WINS’ could be heard instantly drowned out by the roar from the crowd.

After just a few minutes three students appeared running around the outside of the stadium.

“There she is,” Malfoy gloated “now Pansy.”

Pansy Parkinson took a deep breath and a piercing terrified scream rent the air. The running students stopped, she screamed again, they turned and then ran toward the sound.

“Here she comes, so predictable” Draco turned to Pansy “make sure that thing hits her good and hard.”

Wormtail watched the girl release the bludger and control its flight with her wand. He knew now what they were going to do, this would be his chance. If they killed the mudblood so be it, then at least he wouldn’t have to do it himself.

With surprising speed the rat shot through the grass converging on the running Hermione who was herself being tracked by the speeding bludger.

He saw the bludger strike and lift the girl off her feet. She flew through the air and thudded into the ground near him.

The boy was kneeling over her when Wormtail changed back into human form. He gave him no chance.

--------------

“Stupefy” Before Neville could react the spell blasted him off his feet. He did not hear the now genuine screams coming from the students in the trees, nor see the man pick up Hermione and carry her off.

Harry was bending over Ron who was staring back with unfocused eyes.

“Ron, Ron, are you OK?”

“Surei’mfinewedidwindidn’twe?” the words tumbled out all slurred together.

Harry sighed with relief “Yeah, we won, well done mate”.

Madam Pomfrey bustled up, gave Ron the once over, then smiled up at Harry.

“No real harm done, he’ll be fine by the time the party gets going” she said.

Harry smiled back but the smiled died on his face as in his mind he heard Hermione cry

“Harry, help me!”

Within seconds he had leapt on his Firebolt and shot into the sky. Once he was clear of the stands he could see a still form lying on the grass and to one side half a dozen students racing back to the castle.

Landing next to the body he could see it was Neville, he knew he’d been stunned. Harry raised his wand “Enervate” Neville began to stir.

“Nev where’s Hermione she called me?”

“She was hit by a bludger, hurt bad, then this man grows out of the grass and stunned me”.

“What man? There’s no one about now”.

“Not seen him before, small, fat, untidy. Had a face like a rat”.

Harry’s face paled with anger “Wormtail” he looked around, there was nothing to see. Only the Whomping Willow standing stock still on the top of the ridge. Harry stared and after a few seconds the branches began to thrash and writhe. “That’s it. Nev get Dumbledore or Aegis, tell them Wormtail at the shrieking shack. OK?”

“Sure Harry.”

“GO! And hurry.”

---------

For such a small fat man Peter Pettigrew could move very fast, even carrying Hermione’s dead weight. He reached the Whomping Willow, and poked the knot at its base with a long stick, the tree stopped moving. Stooping low he carried Hermione into the tunnel entrance and disappeared from view.

He knew this tunnel well from his schooldays and he reasoned that he would be in the Shrieking Shack ready and waiting for Harry Potter to turn up, as he was sure he would.

Somewhere deep down inside him Peter Pettigrew was still the same scared little schoolboy who had graced the halls of Hogwarts. He had convinced himself that he wasn’t really evil he was just weak and always did what the bigger and bolder boys told him. At school he had fallen in with James, Sirius and Remus, he followed them, and he’d idolised them.

Then he met Voldemort, he was going to be at the top of the heap, and Peter had followed as he had so many times before. But unlike the Marauders, Voldemort did not let go of his followers, Peter was trapped and he had to obey. So he was right, he wasn’t evil but he was certainly damned.

If Harry arrived in time and he could persuade him to undo the necklace, then the girl wouldn’t have to die, he didn’t really want to kill anyone. He knew he owed Harry a debt, this would be his payment, the stone for the girl, everyone would live and he could return to Voldemort.

---------

Harry watched Neville run back toward the Quidditch pitch; he looked at the thrashing branches of the Whomping Willow. He considered his Firebolt; he knew where the passage led, should he fly? Should he follow Wormtail down the tunnel?

He knew where he needed to be, and as he had at Christmas he concentrated on his destination. He didn’t have access to Hermione’s Tear, he wasn’t sure it would work without it, so he concentrated especially hard, and he vanished.

Peter was in the shack; five minutes that’s all he would need get it all set up then wait. He burst into the upstairs room to find Harry Potter standing by the fire place his wand pointing straight at him.

Pettigrew panicked, in his minds eye he saw the devastated house, Potter on the stairs and then the flames that had incinerated Walker. He swung the girl from his shoulder and held her limp form in front of him like a shield. The long curved blade that had taken his hand, two years ago, was held in the sliver one which had replaced it; he brought the knife up to the girl’s throat.

“Well Harry didn’t expect you yet, now I shall have to improvise. Put down your wand and remove her necklace and I will let you both go. I owe you that; I owe James and Lily that too.” He sounded far more confident than he felt.

Harry was having considerable difficulty in controlling his temper. He could feel himself shaking, but he knew that if he lost control he would lose Hermione. He decided to play for time.

“I can’t remove it, Hermione is the only one who can do that”.

“Tsk… silly boy, I have seen you do it, when you were with that new Professor. I’d have learnt more if it weren’t for that pesky dog.”

Harry could see the wild look in Wormtail’s eyes he knew he didn’t have long before things got out of hand. He moved the point of his wand fractionally and thought very hard

‘Obdofores’. The door behind Wormtail slammed shut and he turned fractionally distracted by the sound. ‘Accio knife’ Harry shouted the summoning spell.

The spell did not work as well as it should as the silver hand had a much stronger grip than normal. The knife did not fly to Harry, which was perhaps just as well, but Wormtail’s grip was broken and the blade clattered to the floor.

In fury Wormtail flung Hermione’s limp body towards Harry. In Harry’s desperation to catch her he fumbled with his wand and it slipped from his grasp.

In a few short seconds the tables had been turned. Harry now had Hermione in his arms with no means of defence. Wormtail reached into his robe and pulled out his own wand.

“Harry I don’t have much time, you will take the necklace off and give it to me or I will remove it myself. The Dark Lord requires it before you come of age. I cannot refuse him”.

“It won’t come off. I’ve already told you!” shouted Harry, where was help when you needed it?

“Then I will take her head, I will get it then.”

“And just how do you intend to do that now? You have no knife.”

“Oh Harry! There are many nasty spells and enchantments out there to use. Ones I doubt your teachers would dare to pass on to you. I think a nice severing charm will do.”

“But you can’t control the depth of a severing charm” said Harry still stalling. He suddenly remembered Hermione’s wand, it must be in her robes somewhere. There it was, deep in one of her pockets. “Won’t that kill me too, I thought you didn’t want to do that?”

Harry was carefully stretching his fingers trying not to be obvious. He almost reached the hidden wand when Wormtail raised his own.

“No more time Harry” “Conseco sectus” he cried out, drawing his wand from his left to his right. A silver blue band of energy shot outwards aimed directly at Hermione’s neck. The wand now forgotten Harry drew her to him instinctively trying to protect her.

“Nooo!”

The spell never made contact. With a brilliant flash of white light the stone at Hermione’s neck burst into life, and repelled the spell back to whence it came. Wormtail shrieked and held up his arm as if to ward off the severing charm. Harry closed his eyes, the shrieking stopped suddenly.

Harry looked again Wormtail was standing as before, his arm raised, his silver hand pointing skyward. There was a look of absolute horror on his face, his body shuddered and the silver hand detached from his arm and fell to the floor with a dull thud. Harry would have sworn that Peter Pettigrew’s eyes looked at the stump of his arm and then moved to look at Harry. Peter’s body gave another shudder and collapsed, his head falling from his shoulders and rolling away to the corner of the room.

There was a moment of complete silence. The only movement in the room was of Wormtail’s head rocking back and forth till it came to rest.

Harry’s attention switched instantly to the girl in his arms. He gently lowered her to the floor, cradling her head in his lap.

“Hermione, Hermione” there was no response. Her lips were bluer than before, she was alive, but her breathing was very shallow. Harry did the only thing he could think of and that was to think at her ‘Hermione hold on, listen to me, help will be here soon’ It was as if someone had thrown a switch. With a click Harry mind was inside Hermione’s head. He repeated his plea, then.

‘Harry’ the response was very weak ‘Something’s happening, something’s pressing on me, I can’t breathe. It’s inside my head. Help me please!’

Harry stayed with her; he kept his mind linked with hers. He could feel a suffocating presence it was making it difficult for him to move his thoughts further into her mind and then in the distance he could see it. To him it looked like a dark cloud pushing forward trying to smother everything that was Hermione. He wasn’t going to let that happen, ‘Inurgeo’ the incantation was thought gently but firmly.

The spell fanned out in front of him, it didn’t occur to Harry that he had no wand in his hand, in fact he had no hand only his mind to work with. The spell was there nevertheless, it made contact with the cloud, the cloud resisted, he increased the pressure of the spell and slowly, very slowly the cloud was pushed back.

If it took him forever he didn’t care, he took his time, he pushed from one side then the other, from above then below, he was totally committed.

Harry didn’t hear the cracking of people apparating into the room. Dumbledore, Aegis, Snape and Madam Pomfrey appeared first, followed by Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks.

Dumbledore took in the scene with one glance.

Pettigrew’s body, well most of it, and the two students.

Harry was kneeling on the floor Hermione’s head cradled in his lap; he was bent over her, beads of perspiration standing out on his forehead he was totally focused on Hermione.

Madam Pomfrey was bustling forward to tend to Hermione making to shoo Harry to one side.

“Poppy wait! Dumbledore was kind but firm “Please wait, I think we need to see exactly what is going on here. Solomon if you please.” Dumbledore indicated Harry and Hermione.

Solomon Aegis closed his eyes and concentrated. “Harry is inside Hermione’s head he is ……Ah! I see now”. He looked to Madam Pomfrey. “The bludger has fractured Hermione’s skull, she is bleeding. Harry is in there and he his pushing back the blood. We dare not disturb him if he falters now Hermione could die”.

“I need to see what he is doing, he must be so careful, I ought to stop him… please” implored the Nurse.

“I am sorry Poppy, if we go blundering in we could upset the link. We must trust Harry, he will be careful, I really don’t think he wants to make a mistake.

Harry continued to push the cloud back; as it shrank in size he could see its point of origin. The blood vessel had a tear in it and it was back through this tear that he was pushing the blood. Once it was all gone he thought ‘Resarcio’ and the wound began to seal itself.

As he moved away from the now sealed wound he gazed at the beautiful symmetry of his girlfriend’s mind. Then close to where the blood vessel had ruptured he saw a patch where the symmetry had been destroyed. It looked like a delicate spider’s web that someone had torn, the broken strands dangling and out of place. He stopped his retreat and lovingly took the severed ends and reconnected them. With repeated thoughts of ‘Adiungo’ each strand was meticulously joined back together.

Each join shone as a little gold bead in the fine threads of Hermione’s mind. When he had finished he drew back, much like an artist would examining a completed canvas, to see what he had done. As he moved his mind further away he could see that, like stars in the night sky form constellations, the little gold beads formed a pattern. Glittering and shining in the distance there was a perfect five pointed star sealed in Hermione’s mind forever.

He slowly withdrew his mind from her, and began to recognise his surroundings. Hermione’s face came into focus, it was battered and bruised; the blood from her nose was drying. Weakly Harry tried to brush it away, but it wouldn’t come off.

He looked up as if seeking help and saw familiar faces all around him. Closest to him was Madam Pomfrey looking back at him with an expression of wonderment on her face. He smiled at her and collapsed.

Disclaimer

The characters and universe created by J.K.Rowling are hers alone. As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I hope this story can be taken in that way. Some of the additional characters are mine and who knows some of them may even be real.

a/n Only one more after this to reach the end of Part One. Be assured Part Two is on its way and looks as if it will be longer. Solomon.

14. Out and About Again

When Harry opened his eyes he realised that he was yet again in the Hospital wing. Outside darkness had fallen but the gentle glow of candles allowed him to see that he was not alone. He expected to see Dumbledore, Pomfrey or perhaps Aegis in the chair next to his bed but to his surprise Natalie Granger was sitting there.

“Hello mum; how’s Hermione?” he said weakly.

“Oh Harry.” She leaned forward and gave him a hug. “We just don’t know yet, she still hasn’t woken up. We do know one thing though.”

“What’s that?”

“You saved her life. Poppy said that if you hadn’t stopped the bleeding when you did it would have been too late……she...she would be dead” Harry’s surrogate mum burst into tears.

Her sobs brought two people into Harry’s line of sight, Madam Pomfrey and David Granger.

“Ahh Mr. Potter, back in the land of the living again I see.” said Madame Pomfrey “You need to rest; you very nearly exhausted yourself completely. It could have been very serious for you.”

“I don’t matter; I want to know about Hermione. Will she be OK?”

“I disagree with you there. You do matter to a lot of people actually, as for Miss Granger she has a good chance but we won’t know until she wakes up. It’s the damage the blood may have done, we can’t say how badly she will be affected.” Madame Pomfrey moved away shaking her head. “And that’s one thing that nobody can do anything about.”

Harry was worried now, should he tell Madame Pomfrey that he had repaired the damage he had seen, should he have even tried? It was all he could do to look Mr Granger in the face, what if Hermione didn’t get better because of what he had done?

David Granger reached out and squeezed Harry’s shoulder, “Thanks son” was all that he said. The world crashed down about Harry’s ears, they were thanking him and he may have caused so much harm to their daughter. What was he going to do? He was panicking now. He felt he was walking towards a precipice and if he fell over the edge there was no coming back.

‘Whoa Harry take a deep breath’ said the voice in his mind. It was a deep soothing voice, one he knew well. ‘Relax and calm down, nothing will be as bad as you think. We need to talk, I’ll be right there’ Silently and in the blink of an eye Professor Aegis appeared by the side of his bed.

Harry’s eyes held a wild look, his panic was subsiding but not completely gone. “Poppy I must talk with Harry alone, if you would be so kind.” He indicated that she and the Grangers should retire to the office. It looked as if Madame Pomfrey was about to complain but Professor Aegis added “Please” and they filed out.

“Right Harry, what was all that about? It’s not like you to lose control like that.”

“It’s Hermione.”

“OK, reason enough, what about her?”

“Madame Pomfrey said that if she was damaged inside then she might not be alright. But there was damage, I saw it, and Madame Pomfrey said nobody could do anything about it.”

“Yes, I’m afraid that is the case, it’s not something that’s within our powers to repair.”

“But that’s just it Professor, I saw the damage and I mended it, what have I done?”

“Stay calm and tell me exactly what you saw and did while you were in Hermione’s mind, all the details Harry, it may be very important.” said the Professor.

So Harry described everything as he could remember it. Pushing back the cloud and sealing the damaged blood vessel, then seeing how perfect her mind was, all except one bit. The care with which he joined the broken ends and the spells he used. Then finally the pattern he saw as he moved away, the five pointed star formed of little golden beads.

Aegis was looking strangely at Harry. “A five pointed star you say, could you draw it for me?”

“Yes of course, but there’s no need, that’s it there.” Harry pointed to the cover of one of Madam Pomfrey’s healers books that was lying on the trolley near his bed. “It’s a pentagram isn’t it?”

Aegis sighed with relief “Yes Harry and if that is what you really saw then I don’t think we need to worry about you harming Hermione any more. You may have changed things a little but caused her harm… no. The pentagram is the oldest magical symbol there is and will do nothing but good to your young lady. For that pattern to emerge, it is to coin David Granger’s words, ‘quite remarkable’.”

The relief that flooded through Harry was incredible; he relaxed back in his bed with a wide smile on his face. He looked over to the still silent form of his girlfriend lying in the next bed and he felt a tear run down his cheek.

“I will talk with Poppy and the Headmaster” said Aegis “Rest for you my lad, and don’t worry I have every confidence that she will be fine.”

Harry spent two days in the Hospital, recovering from the strain of the spells he had used on Hermione. He rested, as he had been told, spending most of his time sitting next to Hermione holding her hand and waiting for her to wake up.

He had talked to Madam Pomfrey and now she understood what Harry had done she was far more confident that Hermione would be alright. Like Professor Aegis she did not know what effect Harry’s repair would have, she was still amazed that he had been able to do it at all.

Harry tried not to think about how he may have changed Hermione, would it strengthen their bond, weaken it or maybe destroy it completely? Forever together he willed it to be so.

Harry was due to go back to Gryffindor tower that evening and was spending his last few minutes with Hermione “Sorry love, but they won’t let me stay tonight” It was like the time she had been petrified. He talked to her as if she could hear and respond. “I’ll be back in the morning; we’ve both been excused exams, so I’ll look in on you.”

He leaned over her and kissed her goodnight.

“That’s nice Harry, see you in the morning” her arms encircled his neck and she held on to him.

“Madam Pomfrey! Hermione’s awake!” Harry called out.

The school healer shot out of her office with Hermione’s parents in her wake. She fussed over her patient and the Grangers crowded around. Harry stepped back and took in the scene, he couldn’t believe it. He sank onto a bed and burst into tears, burying his head in his hands.

He felt someone sit down next to him and he looked up, David Granger was there, Harry could see the moisture in his eyes as well. He put his arm round Harry’s shoulder, sniffed, looked to Hermione’s bed and said. “Good isn’t it son?”

Harry smiled “Yeh really good”.

Hermione continued to improve over the next few days and it appeared that she had suffered no lasting effects from the blow to her head or to Harry’s repair but she was still very weak.

It was decided not to tell her the details of Harry’s work until she was completely well again.

Hermione was kept in the hospital for two weeks. During that time her strength slowly returned but it was not until the second week that she was able to stand unaided. Madam Pomfrey assured her that with time and gentle exercise all her weaknesses would fade.

Harry was with her nearly all the time, initially he read to her, then he helped her hold the books so that she could read, then he exhausted himself running back and forth to the library carrying the piles of books that Hermione could get through in a day. Eventually he decided that it was time for Hermione to start some exercise of her own.

The first trip was just to the next bed, then halfway down the ward, then to the large oak doors at its end. Madam Pomfrey watched the exchanges between the two students. In her time at Hogwarts she had seen thousands of students interacting in similar ways, but only once before had she seen such harmony. They had been a year older than these two, but it was like seeing James and Lily all over again.

In one of the brief moments Harry was not sitting at her bedside he was with Ron and Luna walking by the lake in the morning sun. Harry and Ron were discussing Ron’s last exam, fortunately he was doing better than usual, when Harry was distracted by the rhyme that Luna was singing to herself.

“….say the bells of Old Bailey, I’m sure I don’t know says the great bell of Bow, Here comes the candle to light you to bed, here comes the chopper to…”

“Luna! What is that rhyme? its’ driving me mad, you see I had this dream……Oh Merlin!” The dream came flooding back to him.

“Sorry Harry? That rhyme, oh it’s a muggle nursery rhyme. It’s called Oranges and Lemons.”

Two days after her release from hospital Hermione found herself in the Headmasters study. Harry and Professor Aegis were there as well and for the first time they discussed in depth the events of the last three weeks. Hermione’s last memory was of leaving the stands at the end of the match, then nothing until she awoke in the hospital. Harry described how he thought she had called for him, but Neville had said that she had made no sound.

Professor Aegis had a theory about how Harry was called but he did not want to divulge it until he was sure. Harry then told the story of the events in the Shrieking Shack ending with Wormtail’s attempt with the severing charm. Hermione shuddered at the thought of what had happened then and was glad that she didn’t witness it first hand. Then they talked over Harry’s prolonged stay and spell work in Hermione’s head in great detail, finally telling her of the repair to her mind and the possible significance of the pattern that had been left by it.

The more she thought about all of this the more she was convinced something had changed in her and now she was going to try it out.

‘I love you Harry’

Harry turned to look at her in shock, she just came out and said that in front of Dumbledore and Aegis, and she wasn’t even blushing. The two Professors, discussing some fine point, continued as if nothing had been said.

‘I really do love you’

It was loud and clear but Harry had been looking at her and now he knew that nothing had been said.

Hermione giggled in Harry’s mind, he shivered, it was like having a goblet of freezing water poured down his back. Goose bumps appeared on his arms.

‘What on earth is happening to me? Am I hearing things?’ thought Harry.

‘Yes of course you are. It’s me.’

‘Wow’

Harry must have made an involuntary noise, during this silent conversation, which drew the attention of the Professors. Neither Harry nor Hermione saw the exchange but Dumbledore flicked his eyes from Aegis to the students and then Aegis concentrated for a moment. He nodded to the Headmaster, then closed his eyes.

It happened very quickly. Professor Aegis was physically thrown backwards off his chair, Dumbledore was laughing, and Harry and Hermione spun in their seats to see what was going on.

Professor Aegis grumbled as he picked himself up off the floor. “Don’t know why I let you con me into doing that Headmaster. No one, not even Voldemort, will get at Harry or Hermione that way again”.

Harry glanced at Hermione. “Professor what happened? I thought I felt your presence then you were blocked out.”

“It would appear that the effect of your repair work is starting to show. In more ways than one.” said Dumbledore “The professor and I could sense your silent exchanges, I got him to check”.

“Yes well” continued Aegis “I could tell you were talking in there but when I tried to dig deeper I was rather forcibly thrown out. It seems you have a private line to Hermione that won’t allow snooping.”

“Harry?” Dumbledore called, Harry turned to face him. There was no warning “Legilimens!” Harry flinched at the spell but nothing happened. He vaguely felt the Headmasters mind but then it was if a steel shutter dropped, there was no mental intrusion at all.

Professor Aegis was looking at the stone of Hermione’s necklace. At the Headmaster’s spell the stone had produced a single pulse of light, and he noticed that this was repeated when the same spell was fired at Hermione.

“You are correct Solomon, they both have a perfect shield.”

“But Professor how is this possible?” said Harry “ My efforts at Occlumency were not that successful and Hermione has never studied it at all. I know that Voldemort couldn’t stay in my mind, but I couldn’t keep him out like that.”

Solomon Aegis stood and paced the floor. There was silence as he considered the problem,

then it was obvious that something made sense to him.

“I think Harry’s piece of artwork in there” he said, pointing to Hermione’s head “Is maintaining a contact between their two minds and the stone is providing the power to produce the mental block and it can now do it for both of them.”

“We must find out more about the stone.” Professor Aegis was beginning to see all sorts of possibilities in these developments. “Harry would you please take off Hermione’s necklace?” Harry reached round her neck and did as he was asked, “Fine, now both of you hold the chain so that you can see the stone.”

They lifted their arms, each holding one side of the chain, the stone was suspended between them. “Both of you concentrate on the stone, look into it, focus on the shadow inside.”

It was as if their minds were holding hands, they moved towards the indistinct shadow which seemed some distance ahead. As they approached, the shadow began to take form, two figures became apparent, one remained in the background, pale and indistinct but both Harry and Hermione realised that this form was that of a woman of great age and she remained perfectly still and quiet.

Harry thought she seemed vaguely familiar but he concentrated his thoughts on the closer, more distinct figure. He could see that it was a young girl, again there was a familiarity about her. He exchanged a mental glance to Hermione who looked back down to the young boy in front of her.

“Who are you?” Harry and Hermione asked together.

The boy-girl looked up at them “I have no name, I am just here waiting.”

“What are you waiting for?” they chorused.

“For the evil to go away, then my journey can continue.”

“Do you know where you are going?”

“Yes, to be with you, and you will need this to make it happen” The boy held out his hand to Hermione and the girl held out her hand to Harry. Hermione took the boy’s hand in her right; Harry took the girl’s hand in his left. The three of them formed a circle.

The mark on Harry’s palm began to burn, it wasn’t painful but he could feel something passing to him over that contact. He knew from her expression that Hermione was having a similar experience. Then a light began to pulse around them, which became brighter and brighter and when it faded Harry and Hermione found themselves standing back in the Headmasters office.

They were holding hands and the necklace was fixed around Hermione’s neck again.

“Wow!” said Harry “That was amazing, that little girl…..”

“Girl Harry? no it was a little boy” they looked at each other in confusion. “Well whatever, we held hands and something passed between us, it made my hand tingle, but it was a little boy.”

Harry opened his mouth to argue but Professor Aegis stepped in “Don’t worry about the details, it’s probably just because Harry’s a boy and Hermione’s a …. Well obvious, you see what I mean?” He gave the Headmaster an ‘I hope they don’t ask too many questions about that’ sort of look. “Was just this one awareness present or anything else?”

“Now you mention it there was someone, or something, very faint I thought it was a woman, old, very old, but she didn’t say anything. Right Harry?”

“Yes, I thought it was a woman. I thought I had seen her somewhere before but I admit I didn’t pay it, or her too much attention as I was concentrating on the little girl” Harry replied.

Hermione’s eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips.

“That is very interesting, two awarenesses. Well then” Solomon Aegis said brightly “I am now sure that it was the stone which called Harry to Hermione’s aid when she was attacked. Harry’s repair work has forged a link between these two young people and the stone is using that connection to divide its power.

“What about the little girl err… or boy?” said Harry “What was that all about?”

“That I think was the stone connecting itself to you, rather like Hermione’s birthday gift to you Harry. I am sure it will take time before we can be certain but I would expect to see the effects of this become more evident over, maybe, the next few months”. He sat looking very thoughtful. “This is very complex Wiccan magic, very old.”

“That’s who it was!” exclaimed Harry.

“That’s who what was, Harry?” asked Hermione.

“The second presence in the stone. It was Eleanor Wicca, the old lady who sold it to me in the first place.”

“You bought the stone from Eleanor Wicca?” Harry nodded. Aegis shook his head in wonder “Fascinating” he said.

“There’s a little more to it than that isn’t there Solomon?”

Dumbledore and Aegis were alone, Harry and Hermione were on their way back to the Gryffindor common room.

“Yes Headmaster, the shadow in the stone is a life force, the awareness of the stone if you like. However it should be a single entity. Normally I would expect it to have the appearance they both saw, that of an elderly woman.” Dumbledore raised his eyebrows questioningly, “Err… the stone was created by a woman, ‘ancient Hermione’ we could call her, some five thousand years ago, thus the appearance. Why she should look like old Eleanor I don’t know” Aegis said by way of explanation.

“The splitting of the life force and the creation of the boy for Hermione and the girl for Harry suggests to me that the stone now has two purposes. The original life force provides protection, both physical and mental, and it seems now that it can protect the both of them due to their new found connection. The addition of the child or children, that is an entirely different matter.

---------------

Somewhere far to the north and east of Hogwarts two figures stood on a rocky outcrop. Their cloaks were flapping in the cold, fierce, easterly wind, which was piling up the sea to send it crashing onto the cliffs that surrounded the bleakest place on the planet. The land was grey, all rock, no vegetation had ever gained a foothold on this place. The building was grey and streaked with salt from the spray which gave it a diseased appearance. It was massively built, it needed to be, simply to stand up to the weather that remained in turmoil all year round.

The figures walked toward the entrance of the building, the slighter figure, possibly a woman, was having difficulty in keeping her balance, the wind was pulling at her so. Her companion made no move to assist her, and when she stumbled merely turned to her to admonish her for her inabilities. Even in the half light which permeated the area his red eyes glowed with an intensity which would have sent many into mindless hysteria. They reached the iron-banded door, the man with the flaming red eyes raised his arms and the doors swung open to grant them access. Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange walked into Azkaban prison.

They had not entered the prison alone. Tall grey-cloaked figures glided in around them, their faces were completely hidden by their hoods, and the air cooled noticeably as they passed. The only sound they made came from beneath their dark hoods as they drew in long slow rattling breaths. They knew this prison well, but not as inmates, as until twelve months ago they had been the guards here. The Dementors had returned to Azkaban, they were not here to stay, but had finally agreed to help Voldemort and had returned to Azkaban for one last night.

The Aurors guarding the prisoners hadn’t stood a chance. The Dementors using their knowledge of the prison had surprised them, the wizards cried out in shock but the cries were weak, and faded as the happiness was drained from them, as they collapsed the Dementors bent over them granting each one a last kiss. With this kiss their very souls were drawn out and devoured, their bodies left as a living empty shell. Bellatrix followed after the Dementors gathering an arm full of wands, a testament to the numbers that had ‘almost’ died.

There were almost one hundred inmates secreted in cells throughout the prison but Voldemort was only interested in a few, these the Dementors had set free. They had, on their release, fled in terror from the Dementors, but now seeing the Dark Lord in the courtyard they approached their master with equal trepidation.

Bellatrix smiled at their discomfort “Crucios’ all round boys?” she laughed.

“Silence!” the order hissed out “I will not have you making decisions for me Bellatrix. Take care it is not you who suffer my wrath.”

The Death Eaters made no sound, they knew that obedience was the only thing which would keep them alive.

“Take these” Voldemort indicated the pile of ex-Auror wands “And go from here if you value your worthless skins. I will call you in a few days. Come to me then.”

Many of the group grovelled on the ground as they searched through the wands to find one reasonably compatible, and in ones and twos they began to apparate away. Voldemort called to a tall man with white blonde hair.

“Not you Lucius, you will come with me.”

“As my Lord commands, I will obey” Lucius Malfoy’s voice had lost none of its superior tone, despite the twelve months incarceration. He was however looking with some fear at the Dementors which were gathering in the courtyard, Voldemort turned to them.

“As promised, the prisoners we leave behind are yours, I have no interest in them, once you have finished with them then you may do as you please. Remember, if you can, that when the time comes I, Lord Voldemort, will be able to give you more souls to feed on…. For a price.”

With Bellatrix and Lucius hanging on to his cloak tails the three vanished and hell returned to Azkaban.

a/n Here it is the last one.

15. Where Do We Go From Here

At breakfast the following morning Harry, Hermione and Ron received a note asking them to meet Professor Aegis in his office. As the three trouped up the stairs they passed Ginny and Luna who were on their way to sit the last paper of their OWL exams. They wished the girls good luck and Ron received the usual tongue in cheek remark back from his sister

“How long is it going to take you to learn Ron? If you work hard you don’t need good luck” said Ginny, Hermione giggled and Ron harrumphed.

They walked into the Defence classroom and then up to the office. Harry immediately noticed something strange. Every other year he had entered this room at this time of year he had seen the signs of an imminent departure. This time there were none. Professor Aegis was seated behind his desk.

“Staying on then Professor?” Harry couldn’t help but ask.

“Not got the sack yet Harry. Unless you know something I don’t?”

“No sir” Harry smiled.

“OK, please take a seat, I have something to tell you.” He pointed to three comfortable arm chairs that had popped into existence in front of his desk. “You were aware that the Dementors left Azkaban last year?” they nodded “Well they returned last night, we lost twelve Aurors and over eighty prisoners in the attack.”

Hermione drew in a sharp breath “Were they killed or…” she left the comment unfinished.

“No, not killed but it might have been a blessing for them if they had been. Unfortunately that is not all. Nearly twenty prisoners were unaccounted for.”

“Let me guess” jumped in Harry “Voldemort’s Death Eaters.”

“Got in one. All the ones captured last year plus a few others. Some of those who had been in before the Dementors err… resigned may not be in too good a shape, but all the others will be fighting fit. Voldemort has his troops back. I thought you should know before it becomes common knowledge, you will need to alert the rest of the Tyr and the DA members.”

Aegis stood and walked to the window overlooking the courtyard. He stared out not really seeing anything. In his mind he was reliving the past. He turned back to the room and looked at the three students sitting in front of him.

“This summer is going to be difficult for everybody; Voldemort won’t hesitate to strike once his forces are ready. He will start small and build the terror; he will go for the weak and defenceless first, I am afraid that we are running out of time.”

Ron was looking very uncomfortable “Does this mean that they will come after Hermione again. Didn’t Wormtail say V-Voldemort needs the stone on her necklace before Harry’s birthday?”

“I don’t think anyone is safe Ron, though I hope that Hermione will be in no extra danger because her necklace is not what Voldemort wants. Pettigrew got it wrong, he didn’t know there was another stone in the castle.” The three students stared at him with dumfounded expressions. “The stone he needs to keep Harry away from is this”.

Solomon Aegis lifted some papers on his desk to reveal a crystal pyramid, its base about four inches on each side.

“But that’s the portkey we used to get back from Avalon” cried Hermione.

“And you’ve been keeping it in plain sight on your desk?” said Harry disbelievingly.

“One of those strange quirks of life is that the thing you want most of all is often just sitting there right in front of you waiting to be noticed.” Professor Aegis looked pointedly between Harry and Hermione. Harry got the idea straight away, Hermione blushed slightly. “From what Pettigrew told Harry he was here in the castle, he could have walked into this room and taken it without any trouble.”

Ron stared at the crystal, its smooth facets seemed to draw him into it; he broke his gaze with difficulty. “So are you going to tell us what it does, or is it another secret that we can’t be told yet?”

Harry thought Ron was pushing his luck, Professors often didn’t appreciate being talked to in that way, he imagined how Snape would have reacted.

“I understand your concerns Ron, but although I know what I can do with it I don’t know exactly what you will be able to get it to do. That is what we will be working on over the summer.”

Ron was shocked “What no summer holiday, are we staying at school then? I’m not sure I can cope with that, I mean Oh Bloody Hell that’s not fair……..” He mumbled and moaned but Harry knew wild Hippogriffs wouldn’t keep him away from anything like this.

Hermione had been sitting quietly thinking, as usual. “This has to do with the message that the Headmaster received before you came.”

“Quite correct.”

“What message was that then?” said Ron.

Harry explained that it was the message that persuaded the Headmaster to call Harry and Hermione back to school at the beginning of the last summer holidays.

“I take it that I didn’t get a mention then?” said Ron a little glumly. “Mind you I’m not sure that I am all that worried, do you still want me to help?”

Harry looked at his best friend and smiled “Do you know if you had asked me that this time last year I would have said no to both you and Hermione. Then I didn’t want anyone else involved, not that I wanted the glory or anything like that, but I thought there was no chance of defeating Voldemort. I wouldn’t have wanted to bring you down with me. Now I can’t imagine beating him without you, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and Luna at my side. Remember that Voldemort divides and conquers; if he can’t divide then he can’t conquer. Of course I want you with me,” he looked at Hermione, “with us.”

Hermione thought for a moment, “Then I have to learn how to use the crystal…, to be a channel for the power…,it doesn’t seem to make much sense, we don’t even know what power the ministry is holding, what about the ministry?”

“All in good time” Aegis reassured her, “I would suggest that at the end of term you and Harry go directly to Avalon, we will see if we can get the others to join you there after a couple of weeks. It will be the safest place for the moment. We will see how we progress then we may get to the ministry before the next school year starts. For now act normally and enjoy the last week of term.”

Harry met with the rest of the Tyr later that same day. All six were sitting by Harry and Hermione’s favourite spot down by the lake. He had decided that the time had come for him to have a serious talk with them all.

“Well guys, now you know the score and you’ve seen what has happened this last year. I want you all to think very carefully where we all go from here. Now that the Death Eaters are out Voldemort will be after my blood, literally, it is going to get very dangerous to be close to me.

I will understand if anyone wants out, its’ not your fight it is mine.”

‘Oh not again’ Hermione was disappointed that despite all they had been through Harry still felt he should be tackling Voldemort on his own, and she was going to tell him so. As she drew in her breath to argue the point Neville interrupted her.

“Hang on Hermione, we all know where you stand, and you all probably know where I stand but I think its time we all got a few things straight. I thought Harry had decided not to be a prat anymore but it looks like I was wrong. He looked directly at Harry. Everything we have in this world is threatened by Voldemort and his followers, my family, your family, Ron’s family, even this old school. Everything Harry, everything, and I am not going to sit by and let that excuse for a wizard take any of them from me, …from us.” Ginny was sitting on the ground next to him, her eyes fixed on his face. Neville could see the shining in her eyes. He reached over and took her hand; he drew it to his lips and then kissed the back of it. “He is never taking anything I hold dear from me again.”

Neville looked up at the others. This was a very different Neville than the one who had been at the ministry a mere twelve months ago. He had changed, he had found his family and without raising any suspicions had found someone who cared for him as much as he cared for her.

Ginny looked defiantly at he brother daring him to say anything, Ron wisely kept quiet. She turned her gaze to Harry.

“You know the way we all feel about you, about all this. Luna and I have talked this over even if it weren’t for these two” indicating Ron and Neville “we would want to be with you all,” Luna nodded in agreement, “we may be the youngest but neither of us is afraid to face what is coming, the alternative is too horrible to imagine.”

Ron breathed a sigh of relief “Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about her anymore, she’s all yours Nev’, good luck.” Ginny glared at him and stamped an imaginary foot.

Hermione turned to her boyfriend. “Well Harry you know how I feel, so the pack is complete, everyone is with you and everyone stays with you. What have you got to say to that?”

Harry had a sheepish look, “Thanks guys, some real help will make all the difference” he smiled to himself “But I guess I will have to make do with you lot.”

The bucket that appeared over his head discharged its contents all over him, it was very wet and icy cold.

“I was only kidding honestly Oh Merlin! This is really cold,” he looked at Hermione who was putting her wand back in her pocket and asked imploringly “You wouldn’t happen to know a good drying charm would you love?” The laughter rang out across the lake.

The DA held a meeting the day before the end of term. Word had slowly leaked out about what had occurred at Azkaban prison even though it didn’t appear in the Daily Prophet. As usual news like this wasn’t going to stay quiet for long but the details of the Death Eater escape was only known to the members of the DA.

Harry had to warned them to be on their guard, he was going to be more worried over their safety than that of his closest friends over this summer. His advice had been unequivocal ‘watch for movements in the shadows then stun first and ask questions later’ he wanted to see them all safe and well at the start of the new school year in September.

On the evening of the leaving feast it came as no surprise that Gryffindor had retained the house cup. What did cause Harry some consternation was that no one or at least no Slytherins were held accountable for what had happened to Hermione. The bludger that hit her was never found and as Malfoy had the excuse that he had no wand he was in the clear. Peter Pettigrew took the rap for that as well.

Harry accosted the Headmaster about this and Dumbledore regarded him over his half moon spectacles and replied “I am well aware as to where the finger of suspicion points but without proof remember ‘innocent until proven guilty’ Harry.” That had a rather familiar ring to it.

The morning that the train was to take the school back to London Harry helped Ron pack his trunk and get Pig into his cage for the journey. They carried the trunk down the spiral staircase met Hermione, Ginny and Neville in the common room and set off for the station together. Luna was already waiting on the platform for Ron. With all six helping they heaved their trunks onto the train and found an empty compartment. Harry and Hermione left the train and returned to the platform.

The four were hanging out of one of the windows and were joined by Seamus and Dean. Harry thought that Neville looked particularly happy to be going home, smiling with Ginny hanging onto his arm. The whole of Gryffindor knew about his parents but that was a far as that particular piece of information travelled. Harry was very proud of his house for that. Hermione watched as Harry waved to Neville then saw his little sigh; she knew exactly what he was thinking and gripping his hand gave it a little squeeze.

“Mum and Dad will be really pleased to see us both tomorrow” she tried to take his mind off his thoughts.

Harry smiled at her appreciating her efforts. ‘I know and I’m very grateful to them but there will always be a little bit of me that will miss my own.’ He thought at her.

‘I wouldn’t expect anything else Harry and neither would they but they do love you, not as much as I do but they do’

‘You know at St Mungo’s I never told my Mum and Dad that I loved them.’

‘Do you think they didn’t know that?’

‘No, …though they never said they loved me either’

‘Have you ever doubted it?’

‘NO’

‘Didn’t need to be said then did it?’

‘No’

Hermione put her arms round Harry’s neck and drew him into a kiss. The wolf whistles from the watching students were suddenly drowned out as the train whistle sounded and the scarlet engine slowly pulled out of the station.

As their lips parted Harry gazed into Hermione’s glistening eyes. “Forever together?”

“You better believe it Harry, forever together.”

“Great let’s go.”

Another a/n. This is the end of Hermione’s Tear but not the end of the story. The second part of Forever Together (A Time to Live and a Time to Die) is being written at this moment, and it will take Harry and Hermione through their final year at Hogwarts to the meeting with Voldemort.

I am actually going off to Norway to study Trolls for a week, and as I need to get a couple of chapters down the line before I start to post the next part, it may be a few weeks before it appears. I will post the whole of part one as a single piece before the first chapter of part two is posted.

I hope you have all enjoyed the story so far, thanks to those of you who have read it from the first post, and especially thanks to all those who have reviewed. Until you write something you don’t realise how important the reviews are. Finally thanks to my own version of Hermione who has beta read the story for me, and provided inspiration for the personal interaction between the two main characters.

Solomon.

a/n

A short note to bring Part One back, for any that missed it the first time round, and to record it as completed. Sorry for anyone expecting another chapter, but Part Two is up next.

Pt.2 is slightly longer, and I hope will be as well received as its predecessor. I have tried to stay true to the feel of the first five HP books, because that is where my story starts. I have read HBP, and used some ideas from it, but not the plots (see below). It disappointed me a bit,(none of us like change), and found it difficult to throw of the implied conclusions that it leaves you with (but I have only read it the once). However I am sure JKR had a good reason for this, so I will not take it personally (tongue is firmly in cheek here).

However the ‘real’ books turn out JKR has released these wonderful characters on the world. Unless we are told not to we can do with them as our imagination see fit and that is the important bit. A lack of imagination is a sad thing, if you can’t imagine something then it will never happen, if you can then anything is possible.

So just to finish off and clear the mind.

Although HBP was released mid way through the writing of part two of Forever Together I have not used any of its plots in the story. I have utilised some of the new devices, terms, names etc. which fitted but I have not changed my story to fit them. So thanks JKR, it saved a lot of delving into Latin dictionaries, and the like.

For anyone who has not read Part One, and is intending to read Part Two, it will help if you do, but it is not essential (I think). As with Part One the so find the same with Part Two. The characters and universe created by J.K.Rowling are hers alone. As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I hope this story can be taken in that way. Some of the additional characters are mine, and who knows some of them, and the geographical locations, may even be real.

Solomon.