Unofficial Portkey Archive

Here we go again, Thanks once again to Lady Starlight for putting up with me, and for betaing this fic.

Chapter 15: A New Day
******************************Godric's Hollow**************************
September 2, 1997.
5:30 am

"So do you have everything you will need for a bit?" Remus asked as he looked around the house, that for almost eleven years, in a single act, he had thought he had lost his soul in. He took in the newly repaired living room, a pair of tasteful leather sofas were sitting facing a brick fireplace, with several small combination bookshelves/tables framing each one. An oak coffee table provided for a place to rest a large tome or a drink. Further built-in bookshelves lined a pair of walls, and framed the doorway to the rest of the house. They were only partially full, still waiting the books of at least one of the persons who might, hopefully occupy this house in the future.

In a bow to the current occupants and the Muggle ancestry of the permanent ones, a modern entertainment center was set up in the corner, with a widescreen television and stereo. But of course the house had been more Muggle than Wizarding even when James and Lily were here so that was not a real change. The walls were freshly painted; new carpets lined the floors, all in all, the house was pristine, at least compared to how it had been at the beginning of July. He glanced up the repaired stairs to watch Jane coming down in her pajamas and yawning slightly.

It was amazing what two dozen house elves that were then Obliviated could do in a month, but the Potter home was proof. Sirius had left moneys separate from those given to Harry, to fix up the Potter home, but Lupin had not done so, it had never seemed a priority. But even before Harry had come to him, wanting a way to hide the Grangers, he had already been expecting the request and had started the renovations. The house at Grimmauld was not really an opinion as both Harry and friends needed it as a place away from Hogwarts, and it was known to too many. Godric's Hollow was destroyed; every child in the Wizarding world knew that.

Godric's Hollow, on the other had was known but to a few, and now with a Fidelius Charm on it, once again, it might as well not exist. And this time, no one will violate the trust. Lupin vowed silently. There were ways to break the charm, of course, too many people knowing, enough magic could overload it if someone knew close enough to where it was, but it bought time. Even a Dumbledore or Voldemort could not break the charm without a truly monumental effort and expenditure of power, and the amount of which, and the time it would take would be suicidal. Even Tom Riddle was not secure enough to let Harry have that free a shot at him.

Lupin had left other precautions. He had warded and trapped the site to almost within the levels of Hogwarts. There were five unregistered Portkeys scattered about the house, and another two on bracelets the Grangers wore at all times. Muggle weapons were secreted about the house, toys that Roger was quite familiar with. And as soon as any ward was compromised, he would know. There was really nothing else he could do, but still he was slightly worried.

"I think that we are fine for now Remus." Roger said softly as he extended a hand to take Remus'. He looked back at his wife as she came up next to him; she bit her lip absently as she looked to Remus.

"Keep them safe Remus," Jane said softly as she hugged Roger's side, "both of them." She glanced up at Roger, "And tell Harry...thanks."

"I'll try Jane," Lupin replied, his throat tight. "I owe them that much at least. I'll be back in a week, or you know how to get hold of me at any time." He took a step backwards and vanished with a soft pop to mark his passage.

Left behind, Jane crawled around the front of her husband, and sighed as he rested his chin on her hair. "Well what should we do, now?" His chest muffled her words.

"Well I guess we could work on that little sister to Hermione, we always talked about and never got around to." Roger replied with a small grin. Jane giggled, softly.

"Alright."

***************************Little Hangleton*****************************

A pair of hooded, sullen red eyes watched as a sallow, dark-haired man came into his presence and kneeled. The owner of the eyes rose slowly from a black, throne-like chair and moved towards the man. Flat slits for nostrils, like that of a snake flared as he stood on his heels, and regarded the prostrate man in front of him. An ebony wand twitched in a thin, skeletal hand as his arms crossed.

"Tell me Severus, please tell me why after your failures that I allow you to live?" Behind the man, curled at the base of his throne, a harsh, female voice laughed. "Silence Bella," Voldemort said without turning. The dark haired woman contented herself with gazing at Snape reproachfully. "I have given you considerable...latitude since your success in your mission, but Lord Voldemort's gratitude has its limits. Tell me, why your efforts to find Potter have failed."

"Sire, I..."

"Oh yes, Severus, I had forgotten, Potter...found you this summer, and humiliated you. Tell me Severus, how a boy, that you have repeatedly told me was an average wizard at best, and his Mudblood...companion, killed eight of my followers, including Antonin Dolohov?"

"I do not know my Lord," Severus replied softly, he took a quick breath, "however Potter is known to be at Hogwarts now. Perhaps we should..."

"Silence," Voldemort snapped. He began to pace heavily, "Even with Dumbledore gone, Hogwarts has impressive defenses. I doubt that we will have such easy access again. More's the pity." He sighed and returned to his throne. Long fingers ran over the crown of Bella's head as she crouched next to the throne. "It does not matter in the end, I suppose," Voldemort replied contemplatively as Bella let out a soft moan as his hands knotted in her hair. "Potter is merely an annoyance, now that his mentor is gone. He will come after me in time and I will swat him like an insect, just like I did to his parents." He gestured towards the door, "You may leave Severus." Snape glanced up and hesitantly rose to his feet, he turned to leave. "Aw, yes, I have forgotten one, little detail Severus," Snape started to turn, "CRUCIO."

Snape fell to his knees screaming, writhing as a thousand red-hot knives tore into his flesh. His screams almost drowned out Voldemort's words. "I do not easily forgive incompetence Severus, remember that."

*******************************Hogwarts*********************************

Brown eyes slipped open to find themselves, alone. Green tinged light was starting to creep over the distant mountains to lighten the window as Hermione knelt next to the bed and pulled on a set of sweatpants and a loose shirt of Harry's. She sighed softly as she looked back at the crumpled sheets next to her spot on the bed and slipped on a pair of trainers. She left the room silently, and headed out of the suite, down the stairs and out onto the lawn of the castle.

Finally, on the long, twisted path around the lake, she found her quarry.

Hermione fell in at his side as Harry ran along the path, almost at a sprint. His hair was plastered to his forehead on this brisk, Highland morning, for once obscuring his scar, and sweat had turned his light gray t-shirt, dark. His breath came in short pants as he rounded a bend and kept going. Hermione didn't have time to frown as she kept up with him; her eyes were worried, but her throat and mind too busy with the business of supplying and using oxygen to comment.

After another two laps of the lake, Harry stopped and bent over, his hands on his knees. His eyes flicked to hers as he fell to the ground under an old oak tree bordering the lake and leaned back against it. His wand flicked and a pair of water bottles appeared, he tossed one to Hermione and took a long drink.

You ok? Hermione asked as she sat down next to him and leaned against the rough bark. Harry shrugged. Still worked up about the Slytherins? Harry shrugged again. Hermione growled, grabbed his chin and kissed him forcefully.

You were saying something? Harry asked with a sudden, slight grin and she punched his shoulder. OWW, he replied; that bloody ring hurts.

Your fault, you gave it to me. Hermione quipped, her eyes twinkling.

Harry rolled his eyes as he reached over and pulled her to him, she half sat on his lap, it was pretty much a given that they were the only ones out here at five thirty in the morning. Sure, blame the boy. He frowned, How long until Blaise tests us?

Today most likely, Hermione replied instantly. She pulled Harry's wand from a sheath at the small of his back and flicked it. A small pop of light, and her planner with a carefully repaired star on the front, appeared on the grass. She opened to the front, to find her class schedule. As Heads, her and Harry had already had theirs delivered to them. You won't like it...

Let me guess, Harry muttered, you have a class today that I...we don't.

It's Tuesday, so yeah I have Runes, way over in the Archive Wing. Nice ambush spots she remarked absently as her fingers drummed on the page. She glanced up as the tree above them rustled as a pair of school owls took flight and headed back to the Owlery for the day.

Then I'll...

How about your Fiancé? Harry replied. Hermione smiled and kissed his cheek and settled back against his shoulder.

I really like the sound of that you know...I just wish...

Someday Hermione, someday you can stand on top of the House table and announce it for everyone to know, but even after the deadline with Ginny passes, one way or the other...

Hermione scratched her nose, idly; she reached around and slid his wand back in its holster. How far do we take it today if they want to play? Her thoughts were resigned as her eyes frowned into his. Unconsciously, she rubbed up against his hand like a large cat, as Harry's fingers stroked through her hair over her right ear.

I'm not loosing you...if they want to go that far...but I doubt that they will today, probably try to scare one of us, humiliate you... Hermione shivered as the sweat soaking her shirt started to dry, Lets go up to the castle, I need a shower.

Hermione laughed out loud as she rolled off his lap and kicked to her feet. You do stink, Potter, you're lucky I love your dumb arse...water conservation is good. She stated suddenly as an afterthought and crooked her eyebrow at him before taking off for the steps of the castle at a run, still an hour before almost anyone, especially a certain red-haired someone would wake.

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

7:15 am

"Honestly Ron," Hermione growled as she flicked her wand at his plate. It shot away from him, and he looked after it mournfully. "Do you really think that's all we do?" She snapped in a low voice. She glanced up and around, but the only other Gryffindors of their year or last, that had yet joined the trio at breakfast, was Neville, and he didn't look entirely awake. It seems that while the Head Students were, visiting the Slytherins last night, Seamus and Dean had decided that they should welcome their last, first night at Hogwarts with a minor party. According to reports, from Neville who had then wandered down several yards and laid his head on the table, they were still in their beds, along with the majority of the sixth and seventh year female population, passed out. He had mentioned quickly that they all seemed to be fully clothed, though, to better assuage the Head Girl.

"Well if I had a whole suite to myself..." Ron replied softly and waggled his eyebrows suggestively. Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. She turned her head to look at Harry. He, like Neville had his head down, but it was in a paper. He frowned as he read an article describing the loss at sea of a small cruise ship that seemed to have been destroyed by a Kraken, it had been reported to the Muggles as having hit another iceberg. Green eyes flitted to hers and a fleeting smile was shared, but not much else. She cut her eyes to Ron, and he sighed.

"Leave her alone Ron," Harry turned the page and looked up and around. "And for future reference, the incantation is...Si..len..ci..o, alright?" Hermione grinned as she looked down at her plate.

Any retort was lost to the ages, as Remus Lupin started down the table; he started at the far end, among the first, second and third years, all of who seemed to have actually woken up this morning. Gabrielle was surrounded by at least three other girls and several boys her age and a bit older. Lupin bent down and handed schedules out to the underclassmen, and explained classes. He waved his wand once and conjured a map for a blond first year boy and explained gently to a timid third year girl that Hagrid really wouldn't let his beastie of the day eat a student the first day no matter what the fifth year boys may have told her.

Remus came up to them, nudged Neville and slipped a schedule under his head as he moved without batting an eye. It was definitely a different experience having a Marauder as House Head. In fact, McGonagall had already been supposedly muttering to herself about what she was thinking when she had given Lupin her House. He handed a schedule to Ron and watched with little pity as Ron groaned. "Bloody Hell, a double first thing?"

"Yes Mr. Weasley." Remus replied lightly as he sat down next to them, and poured himself a cup of coffee from the carafe on the table. He leaned forward, his job done for the moment, and took a sip. "I'm to pass on their love, Hermione," he mentioned quietly after a moment. "To you as well Harry." Hermione returned a small, tight smile and nodded. "Interesting meeting you had this morning." He commented obliquely.

"They won't listen, Remus," Harry replied softly.

"No, Harry," Remus, agreed, "they probably won't, but I understand, you had to give them one warning. Sometimes it sucks to be the good guys." He added philosophically. He glanced around to each side. The nearest student or person was still Neville, who looked asleep, "That project you asked about seems to have worked. Mad-Eye has come around to our side, he and Tonks extracted them last night, they should be safe, or at least as safe as anyone can be for now." He shrugged slightly. Remus stood and set his cup down on the table. His voice raised to just a hair above normal, "It was good to talk to you...Mr. Potter, Miss Granger," He handed her a stack of schedules, each bearing the name of a tardy Gryffindor, "It would prove embarrassing for our House if the remainder of your year mates did not join us for class today."

"Yes Professor Lupin," they sing-songed in time and he rolled his eyes. Lupin wandered off muttering things better left unsaid.

Let's go Mione. Harry glanced over and handed Ron his bag. "Here Ron, meet us in Charms, ok?" Ron staggered slightly as he took it. He further groaned as Hermione dropped hers on him as well.

"What the bloody hell do you have in this bag, woman, seriously?" Ron snapped. She smiled, kissed him on the cheek and headed out of the Great Hall at Harry's back.

So Mad-Eye and Tonks were able to extract the Greengrasses? Hermione inquired as they started up the first moving stairway. She didn't break stride as she summoned a helmet from the nearest suit of armor to block a spitball from Peeves. He blew a raspberry at her and vanished through the nearest wall in search of easier targets.

Harry absently pulled her from the last step to the landing just as the stairway started to move away. He waved at a greeting from Lady Elinor in her portrait as they started up to the fifth floor. Yeah, at this rate half of England will be under a Fidelius by summer. He caught her eyes with a slightly frown, but a casual brush of his hand with hers, reassured him.

So, how do you want to do this...Greengrass never was one of Pansy's crowd, in fact I've heard that she's kind of like Fred and George, just ambitious as all hell. They probably would have ended up in Slytherin if it weren't for that pesky braver than whatever thing...

Yeah, I know someone like that. Harry shot back and a brief, alluring smile answered him before it vanished. I would like to use her against Blaise and his crowd directly, but probably a better use would be to try to get her to keep the younger ones and the merely ambitious, not evil, ones to at least stay out of it. Harry paused as they stepped off the stairs at the seventh floor landing, and cocked his head slightly. Of course...

If we could get her and others to openly come out in favor of the light, now that her family is safe from Voldemort? Harry just nodded as they approached the Fat Lady. She smiled and nodded them in, their status allowing them access. "I'll go check the girls quarters Harry." She walked over to the spiral stairs, "Wait for me?"

"I can come up now, I am the Head Boy," Harry announced in his best Percy voice and Hermione laughed. She vanished up the stairs. Several banging doors later, and a single sleepy first year later, she reappeared. "That's all of them, I don't even think there was a seventh year bed slept in." Hermione chuckled evilly, "I think that requires a rather...moist wake up, don't you Mr. Potter?"

"Aye, Miss Granger, that it might." They quickly checked the remaining dorms, Harry peeking in each and finding none present. They came to the last, the Seventh Year boys' room and without knocking Harry and Hermione strode right in. Hermione came in and sighed.

She leaned against the wall where Harry's bed would have been, and looked around balefully at the scene. Dean, Seamus, Pavarti, Lavender, Ellen Thomas and Gretchen Banks, both year mates of Ginny's, and some sixth year boy she didn't recognize were sprawled on beds and chairs. Seamus was buried under the two sixth year girls, while Dean was supine on his bed, his feet on the headboard with his head hanging off the edge. Pavarti and Lavender were curled up together on Neville's bed, with the blonde's soft snore's disturbing Pavarti's unbound locks. At least they have their clothes on. Harry observed and then watched as Hermione picked up a lacy, pink bra with her wand, which seemed to have come straight out of a Morgana's Secret catalog. Or do now anyway. He corrected himself.

It's not that I mind that they party; Merlin knows we all need it, but it the first frigging day of class? Hermione replied exasperatedly, they could have waited until Friday or Saturday, and we would have joined them...maybe. She added quickly remembering their plans to look into a possible Horcrux. Anyway...her wand flicked and a shimmering bubble enveloped her and Harry. A jab at the ceiling and sudden, impossible rain showered down on the Gryffindors.

"WHAT THE FUCK..." Seamus snapped as the girls stirred and rolled off of him. He rolled a bit and fell of the bed and looked up, blinking rapidly. Dean opened and closed his mouth for several seconds, like he was trying to get a drink, before opening his eyes. Pavarti and Lavender squeaked loudly and moved apart. Harry was absently happy to see several wands in hands.

"Get up guys," he snapped loudly as Hermione canceled the Fire-Fighting Charm. The bubble died around them as he strode forward and pushed a schedule into each hand. "You guys have about fifteen minutes to get to your first class now. You're lucky, if it had been McGonagall still as Head instead of Lupin..." Harry shrugged and Dean, at least, nodded. Hermione flicked her wand again and the people and the room dried instantly. He laughed as Seamus muttered something under his breath about "damn bloody prats."

Harry pointed his wand and a large clock appeared floating in the room, counting down to class starting. He and Hermione left with identical, small waves as they headed out the door.

***********************Charms # 3***************************

To the great consternation of the majority of his students Flitwick had immediately launched into an in depth discussion of the Analytica Charm, a charm to determine the composition and contents of an object almost as soon as the bell faded to silence. He stood on his desk, and periodically waved at the board, to draw notes up there as he spoke. "As you can see," he squeaked, "this charm also incorporates the Schematicus and Projectorum Charms to display the results obtained. The base of the Charm is of course a modified, Revealo..."

Harry tuned him out as he watched Lavender, slowly, walk around the classroom, handing out small, locked black boxes that rattled suspiciously. He took his from Lavender and watched disinterestedly as she gave Hermione a mean look. She'd get over it; he wasn't worried. Besides, Hermione dried her out. Harry looked down at his notes, as his self-writing quill copied down what Flitwick was saying. He glanced over at Hermione to find her scribbling "Hermione Jane Potter" on a corner of her parchment before darkening it out again.

"Mr. Potter, if you could attempt the charm?" Flitwick said to him from his perch, and Harry sighed.

His wand slipped into his hand, Analytium. A soft, yellow glow enveloped the box, before his wand floated out of his hand and the tip began to write flaming letters in the air:

One chick aged 6 mos.
Two Wingnuts 5/16
One Pencil, # 2 lead.

His wand settled back into his hand and with a slight swish, the lock clicked open. Harry glanced in the box and tilted it so Flitwick could see. "Excellent Mr. Potter, ten points to Gryffindor." An annoyed muttering was heard from the back of the class, from several green and silver wearing participants, but no one comment was distinct enough to draw a warning.

The rest of the class passed quickly, with Flitwick progressing to a whole lecture on detection charms and their related cousins, intrusion wards. Harry's attention sharpened as Flitwick covered the latter. He and Hermione had spent much of Sunday morning and afternoon looking into the subject as research for the Nottingham lead, and suddenly Harry wondered just where Flitwick fell in this conflict. He was on the side of the light, yes, but an Order member? But that didn't make sense either as no one knew of the possible lead except the four that had been in the kitchen.

The bell rang and students quickly gathered bags, wands, quills and books and scampered out of the room, grateful to only receive three feet on the charms covered today. Harry and Ron waited for Hermione, she always had the most books to pack after all, and they headed out of the classroom together, unconscious of Flitwick's eyes on them the entire time.

Hermione glanced to either side as they left the Charms classrooms and started across the outdoor bridge to the Archive Wing where Runes was normally held, two floors directly below the Library. "Are you two, honestly, going to do this every time I have a class and you don't?"

"Nope." Ron asked simply as they came to a set of moving stairs upward. He stepped on them and waved, "I'm going to the, um...Library to meet up with Luna." He chuckled at the pair's expressions as he took off up the stairs. Hermione gave him a half-arsed glower before continuing on down the corridor.

You didn't answer Harry. Hermione reminded him.

He shrugged and thrust his hands into the pockets of his uniform slacks. He glanced over at her as they walked, I just want to walk you to class, Hermione. I would rather be holding your hand, but I'll take what I can get. Harry admitted finally after they had passed several empty classrooms without a word, walking a good foot apart, and periodically checking themselves as they drifted together like magnets.

Can I just kick her arse and have done with it? Hermione took a breath and stopped as they reached the classroom. Her gaze communicated what she couldn't say out loud or do for the moment. She settled for a mental caress as Harry gave her a jaunty two-fingered salute and headed off.

His meanderings lead him to the Quidditch Pitch and he sat, still in the middle of the field, looking upward at the great golden hoops at the north end of the stadium, the end that for his entire Hogwarts career had demarked the goal that his teammates had defended. It was possible that that was very much no longer the case. Remus had received back his Captain's badge with only a nod, as Harry had already given up the Captaincy. It had been both unfair to himself and the team to keep it, as his focus was nowhere near Quidditch, and somewhere inside he knew it never would be again.

In his mind's eye, he could see pickup games at the Burrow and at Godric's Hollow, with Ron, Ginny, the twins, even Hermione playing. But any further organized play...who knows. He knew, inside, that even though Ron professed to want to be an Auror, he would rather play Quidditch any day and who knows after all this was over, maybe he would have a shot at a team. But Harry, who knew that he was good enough to play professionally, also knew he never would, it just didn't seem to be him any longer.

Harry absently stood and walked over to the sidelines and glanced up at the Gryffindor stands, at the spot were Hermione had stood and watched him every time he had ever played, even when she was mad at him, she had showed. The rampant lion banners fluttered in the light September breeze as he headed back off towards the castle, still undecided if he would play at all this year.

Back in Runes, Hermione frowned to herself as she felt the subtext of Harry's thoughts, not the thoughts themselves, but the annoyance and frustration. She quickly returned to jotting down notes on the Cambian series of Runes that Glyph was currently covering, in just a bit too much detail for even her, I mean, who really needs to know that this series is a derivation of a derivation of Atlantian devotional runes. She shook her head and finished the page she was filling, and flipped to another. Just as Glyph was starting on how the symbol for E'srack was really just a slang term for E'srackiantiza the bell rang. Hermione tossed her books in her bag and joined the rest of her class in exiting the room.

She paused for a moment, outside of the classroom, half expecting Harry to be waiting, but he had given her the latitude she wanted, even though she knew that it griped his very soul to leave her unprotected, even though he knew she was more than capable of taking care of herself. She headed off down the hall, humming a soft tune.

Hermione stopped suddenly as a change in the air made itself known. She took another step, turned a corner and found herself surrounded by six Slytherins. A sudden pall fell over the hall as Hermione realized that there were no witnesses, no one at all around. In her haste to get to lunch and find Harry and Ron, she had taken a short cut through a section of the castle that was basically empty. Her eyes flicked around, cataloging her adversaries. Of them, Grayson Sneade was the only one she recognized, a sixth year Slytherin older than she was, who had been sent back twice, the first for failing all of his OWLs through a severe lack of studying and the second time for being caught cheating on the same. The rest, a mix of sixth and seventh years had drawn wands, as Sneade stepped up to her.

"It seems that you are all alone Mudblood," he sneered as he paced closer. Hermione rolled her eyes slightly as she glanced about. "I doubt that anyone would miss you until afternoon classes...imagine what we could get to in that time."

"Do all of you work from the same notes?" she asked, as she felt the power start to seep into her bones. A small, half-smirk lit her lips as she placed a hand on her hip and cocked her head challengingly. She glanced pointedly over Sneade's shoulder...

"Do you...gentlemen have a problem?" Harry's tone was deadly as he stood in the center of the hall. Sunlight from a window behind him, cast his face into shadow, except for a pair of glittering green orbs that seemed to have a light all their own. "Hermione, are you alright?"

"I'm fine Harry, there's only six of them after all," Hermione said with a small smile as she pushed past Sneade. She brushed next to a tall, blond Slytherin that bore an odd resemblance to Draco, and the situation fell apart.

Draco's doppelganger, Jason Johns, snapped out and grabbed Hermione's elbow. "I got the..." His statement never was completed, and probably in the long run it was better for him, even with what did happen...

Hermione instantly twisted like an eel, spinning, her other elbow came up and shattered his nose. His hands shot to his broken nose, and just in time for her right heel to impact the side of his head. He crumpled as Hermione continued her spin, her toe touched ground as her wand came into her hand.

Harry spun the other way as wands appeared in the other five Slytherins' hands. "Put them away, now," he snarled as the tip of his wand lit red, he glanced down at Johns. "That is one hundred points from Slytherin, and a month of detention for assaulting a Head Student."

"Well I say she assaulted him," Sneade snapped, a bit disbelievingly, "He's the one on the floor." His tone was shocked, amazed.

Harry looked down at Johns again, pointedly and sighed, "He does appear to be down, yes." Harry glanced over at Hermione, "Miss Granger."

"Yes, Mr. Potter," Hermione replied without looking to him.

"I am afraid that will be one point from Gryffindor...your follow up was a small bit off." His face was carefully bland. "Now if you will excuse us?" Harry asked as he motioned for Hermione to precede him down the hall. They turned, and a heartbeat later, a chartreuse curse shot from behind and impacted Harry in the leg. He staggered, and turned. Blood was staining his jeans as he turned and fury was darkening Hermione's eyes. NO, MIONE!

Yeah, I know that I'd kill them were they stand, but, examples need to be made. Harry's wand flicked and a banishing charm impacted a hastily raised shield and tossed Sneade and his shield back ten feet against a wall, it flickered and died. With another wave, Sneade's wand flew over to land in Harry's hand. Harry didn't even look up as two charging Slytherins went flying backwards from crashing into Hermione's Impediment Jinx. The other two Slytherins vanished into the school.

Sneade shook slightly as Harry slowly brought the tip of his wand to bear on Sneade's forehead. "You sir have attacked me, with my back turned," he growled. "I seem to be bleeding so I can only assume that it was through your incompetence that I was not killed or seriously injured. Therefore, Mr. Sneade, I challenge your worthless, snake-hugging arse to a duel, you will meet me on the on the Field of Honor at dusk, you may have a second who will fight in your stead, however if you choose that course, any fate that he suffers will be visited on you. I remind you...sir...that since we are at Hogwarts, this duel is unfortunately only to incapacitation, however any curse 'cept an Unforgivable may be used, so you may die anyway. Do you accept, or will you apologize to myself and Miss Granger...now."

"I'll be there you worthless, Mudblood loving piece of Dragon shit." Harry took a deep breath, and for a heartbeat, Sneade thought he had just committed suicide. He never realized that only a small hand on Harry's arm kept him from death at that moment.

"Very well, choose your second and fail to meet me at your peril," Harry replied and purposefully turned his back on the Slytherins once more. Hermione fell in at his side, her eyes holding a combination of fury and worry. She did not say a word until they had reached the second floor hallway and stopped in a small alcove.

Heedless of any eyes that might catch her, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him for a long moment, Are you ok? She knelt next to him and touched his wounded leg gently, she only frowned slightly as she pulled a small orb from a pocket, and they vanished in fall of color.

Hermione stood as they reappeared in their common room. "Take off those jeans." She snapped. Harry groaned slightly as he peeled them off over the cut and sat down on a cassock next to the couch, he watched silently as she used her hands to pinch the nasty tear closed. Sutureus, Hermione muttered as she slowly ran her wand down the length of the wound, biting her own lip as the brief sting of the spell was echoed in her thoughts. "Really, Harry, are you alright?" She asked softy as she glanced up at him.

"I wasn't kidding when I accused him of incompetence...that was a bone breaking charm he tried and missed the bone." Harry muttered and a brief fleeting smile answered him. He summoned a clean pair of jeans from their room and pulled them on. "Hermione, let's go see McGonagall..." he laughed to himself, bitterly, "she's not going to be happy about this."

"You think?" Hermione replied sarcastically as they left the room.

**************************Headmistress' Office, Hogwarts********************

Harry's prediction seemed to be dead on as he, Hermione, Remus, Slughorn and a very put-out Umbridge crowded McGonagall's office several minutes later. McGonagall had rapidly run out of invective, though in the time that she had railed on them, even Dumbledore's portrait had seemed impressed. Now she was seemingly content to glare at them, alternating between Hermione and Harry. McGonagall hadn't spoken to either of them for a minute, though in all truth she knew this wasn't their fault. She just wanted to get it out of the way. With a long-suffering sigh, she did. "Very well Mr. Potter, I will notify Filius, I assume that he will be acceptable as a referee?"

"Yes, ma'am." Harry replied softly, his eyes meeting hers. She nodded briefly, accepting the wordless apology for the necessity that he was to under take, just as she knew this was not the last one to occur. This was preferable, if only just so to open warfare between Slytherin house and the rest of the school. Word had arrived on the wings of black owls during the lunch hour, while Harry and Hermione were having their run in with some of the second string, of new attacks. In particular, a loss of another former Gryffindor at the hands of Lucius Malfoy.

"I cannot believe that you are condoning this...behavior Minerva." Umbridge simpered. She pushed her way to McGonagall's desk, shoving aside Hermione roughly on the way, and almost starting a second duel right there until Remus frantically calmed Harry with a hand on his shoulder. She spun to Harry, "You are catering to Potter's fantasies of being some great wizard. He..."

"Delores, be silent." McGonagall snapped as she looked to Slughorn, "Horus, Remus do you have an objection?"

"No, Minerva, I do not." Slughorn replied with a small frown. Remus shook his head regretfully.

"Very well, you two should return to your classes, I dare say that your second years may be up to no good by now Remus." Slughorn and Lupin nodded and left. Harry and Hermione started to follow, but stopped as Umbridge reached out and grabbed Harry's arm.

"You spoiled, half-blooded little brat," she hissed. "I am the overseer for the Ministry for this school, you will retract this...challenge to a son of a noble house or I will see you and your," She sneered at Hermione, "I will see you and your little friend here expelled and in Azkaban. I will see you and your little wh..." McGonagall rose from her chair, her wand in her hand.

Harry pulled his arm from her grasp hard enough to stagger her. "Shut, the fuck up, you little toad," Harry hissed, almost silently. A subtle hint of power danced around the edges of the room as he took a step back. "Let us make one thing perfectly clear...Delores," Harry whispered with a tone that conveyed only his total and utter loathing for the toad, "you touch me again, and you will not have a hand." She opened her mouth to speak. "You say a word and it will be you on the pitch facing me, next." He took a step towards her and glared down at her, "Me and mine will never, ever submit to any of your abuses, ever again. Your entire existence here is predicated on my, and the Headmistress' good will. I do not care that you have the ear of the Minister, I have been on the outs with the Ministry before, I am sure I will be again."

"Mr. Potter..." McGonagall hissed.

"Sorry Headmistress, I apologize for saying such things in your presence...however, ma'am," he said his next words carefully, "I am a Gryffindor. I chose to be one, and I will be damned if I ever bow to a half arsed, wanna-be tyrant again." Several portraits applauded and Hermione's lip twitched. McGonagall frowned, but gave him a small, accepting nod after a moment longer. Harry returned a quick, apologetic smile and left without another word to her or Umbridge, who was apoplectic in the corner.

*****************************Quidditch Pitch*****************************

6:00pm

A large, multivariate crowd filled the stands of the Quidditch Stadium this late afternoon. In the end, McGonagall had decided that this should not be a private affair and had let the student body attend. A formal duel had not occurred on Hogwarts grounds for the last fifty years, not since the days of the Grindelwald war, but the precedents were clear...almost a thousand years of them in fact. Duels had been uncommon, but definitely not unknown to this school, the protocols were well established. Hermione had read them in Hogwarts a History.

Harry was standing with Ron and Hermione, waiting. His black dueling cloak bore the ensign of the Head Boy, while its ruby lining told of his house. Hermione shrugged slightly as they watched Grayson Sneade being accompanied, or rather if certain sources were correct, escorted to the pitch by Vincent Crabbe. There had already been stories bandied about of Sneade wanting to back out, but certain elements of Slytherin House would not let him, mainly Crabbe's current boss. The pair of Slytherins were dressed in identical emerald and silver dueling robes, the Slytherin crest tiny, so as to not give much of a target.

Hermione leaned close to Harry, I can't exactly give you a good luck kiss, she glanced around, and pointedly up at the Gryffindor stands, screw it. She rose on her toes slightly and kissed his cheek, lingering a tiny bit too long for just good luck, but not so much that anyone would notice. "Harry, don't play with him, just end it. Just make your point and go." Harry nodded.

"Yeah mate," Ron agreed with Hermione, but no one commented on the event, "he's only a pawn, just demonstrate how easy it would be, and go with it. I'm hungry."

"We'd hate to keep you from your food, Ronald." Hermione snapped, and took a breath. Ron just nodded, accepting what she didn't say.

"I'll be fine," Harry replied. "You two just watch my back..." He glanced up at the Slytherin stands to find Blaise with Pansy hanging off him, both glaring, "this won't be the last one." Ron and Hermione nodded and Ron left, heading towards McGonagall, Flitwick, Lupin and Slughorn. Hermione fell in behind him and to his right, her wand in hand. The job of a second was not only to take the place of the primary if needed, but literally to guard his back. There was always a chance, if slight, that someone would take this opportunity to attack.

The crowd fell to silence as Flitwick cast a Hovering Charm on himself and floated to the center of the pitch, halfway between the combatants. "Sonorus. A CHALLENGE TO AN ATTACK HAS BEEN GIVEN." Flitwick sighed a small sigh, "WILL THE OFFENDED WITHDRAW?"

"If he apologizes and makes restitution, aye, if not?" Harry shook his head.

Flitwick looked to Sneade, "WILL THE CHALLENGED ACCEPT THE TERMS FOR WITHDRAWL?"

Sneade glanced back at Crabbe, and then up to the Slytherin stands. "No." His voice was approximately level as he replied to the diminutive wizard.

Flitwick muttered something under his breath in a long lost language; he nodded, "VERY WELL." He floated back, and McGonagall motioned to Remus. His wand flicked and a tall, hard, crystal wall appeared between the professors and the combatants. "BEGIN."

The duel was over almost before it began.

Sneade's wand snapped up, "OSSEIN DIFFINDO" The chartreuse curse from before shot towards Harry's head, and time slowed. Of all those on the field and in the stands, probably only Hermione and maybe Ron and Luna, no one was ever sure exactly what Luna did and didn't see, followed the action. Only they saw as Harry's wand flicked twice, the Bone Breaking Charm shot off through the northern center hoop as a glowing sapphire shield defected it. A searing red beam impacted Sneade between the eyes as a simple stunner hissed back across the pitch. He fell over backwards. Stunned.

As was the crowd, a shocked silence fell over the stadium, as Harry silently summoned Sneade's wand to him. He knew as he turned his back that Crabbe's wand raised to his back, just as he knew that if a word slipped past the large Slytherin's lips, Crabbe would meet his ancestors. Hermione glared at Crabbe until the fat Death Nibbler put his wand away and raised his hands.

Harry's left hand gave an absent wave and the protective wall vanished. Harry tossed Sneade's wand to Flitwick, nodded to McGonagall and started back towards the castle. "Let's go eat," Harry said softly to Hermione and Ron. Ron clapped him on the back and they left without another word as a thousand eyes followed them out of the stadium.

Far above, lost in the glare of the late afternoon sun, on the very top of the highest box, a flare of fire erupted, and a single golden feather floated down.

A/N: There you go, next chapter, back to business....and yet another surprise ....

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