Forever Together Part 1.  Hermione's Tear by Solomon Aegis

Rating: PG
Genres: Romance, Action & Adventure
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 27/05/2005
Last Updated: 11/09/2005
Status: Completed

"‘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." The troubles and tribulations of Harry's sixth year at
Hogwarts.When he realises that his best friend is more than that, and it changes things
forever.




1. Of Past and Present
----------------------

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.

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 Ageis
----------------

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.



3. The Birthday Present
-----------------------

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.



4. Away Day
-----------

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
19th 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
-------------------------------------

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 17th 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.



6. 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.

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

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.



8. Parents lost and Parents found
---------------------------------

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

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.



10. A Trip to the Moon
----------------------

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

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.”



12. Fairy Tails and Nursery Rhymes
----------------------------------

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

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.



14. Out and about again
-----------------------

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.



15. Where do we go from here
----------------------------

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.



16. A bit at the end
--------------------

**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.