Unofficial Portkey Archive

Ron was waiting at the window to let them back in when they arrived at Grimmauld Place. He looked very anxious as he waited for them to transform and hide their Light Bearer uniforms.

"Everything's fallen apart while you guys were gone," Ron babbled as soon as they were in human form again, "Death Eater's struck all over England and they're not just hitting muggles anymore, they targeted several top ministry officials, aurors and their families, and several Order members."

"We know," Hermione replied, "Four masked men attacked Neville when we were in Diagon Alley."

"What happened, is he ok?" Ron asked in a strained voice. Almost everyone liked Neville and the trio had become especially fond of him after he stood with them against Voldemort during the battle in the Department of Mysteries.

"He's fine Ron, Hermione saved him," Harry reassured him.

"I'll put the memory out into the pensieve later so we can all study it," Hermione added. "First though we need to get this down to the potion room and get started if we want to finish before the holidays end."

Ron glanced down at the brown box that concealed the basilisk extract that was so vital to the completion of the petrifaction potion.
"I'll get the book," Harry said, "Hermione take that package down, Ron run interference in case anyone gets suspicious of what we're doing. I'm pretty sure this counts as dark magic."

"No need, the house is empty, everyone is trying to respond to Voldemort's attacks," Ron replied. "Remus was coordinating as each new attack came in until he had to leave himself. Dumbledore said that Voldemort has created some new kind of warriors called avatars, whatever that means."

Hermione paled and gasped, "Harry this is bad. Voldemort has invoked an ancient dark ritual to enhance his follower's powers."

"What? How come we've never heard of this before?" Harry asked.

"It's very dangerous, not just to the people the ritual is performed on but to Voldemort too. Basically avatars gain the power of the one whom performs the ritual so Voldemort would only allow his most trusted and loyal followers to take part. The process is horrible though, it leaves the avatars burnt out empty shells doomed to a cursed half-life because of the unicorn blood involved in the potion component." Hermione explained.

"So basically all of Voldemort's inner circle are supercharged monsters now," Ron said dimly, "No wonder everyone looked like they were expecting to go die."

"Comon, there's nothing we can do about it right now, we just have to trust the Order to hold things together a little longer," Hermione said as she tugged the two boys toward the door.

"Kreacher?" Harry called. The elf appeared instantly awaiting instructions. "Does this house have medical supplies?"

"Yes Master, are you injured?" the elf asked anxiously.

"No, but injured people may be coming here soon, gather the supplies we have and assist anyone who arrives here," Harry instructed. The elf's eyes narrowed with distaste at the thought of having to aid the Order.

"Those who will be arriving are currently doing battle with your master's enemies," Hermione added angrily.

"Of course Missus, Kreacher is eager to aid Master's goals," Kreacher said hastily. As soon as the elf vanished the trio headed for the potion room in the dungeons, Ron still shaking his head at the elf's conviction that Hermione and Harry were dark wizards.

The ingredients and method to making the petrifaction potion were complex, but now that Hermione could use magic the process was greatly simplified. Still, it was only several grueling hours later that they drug themselves back up the stairs, the potion would be left simmering for the next few days. Harry was growing increasingly concerned that not a single member of the Order had yet returned.

Kreacher had assembled a small pile of magical remedies on the dining room table. The trio knew of nothing better to do so they simply sat down and waited. Ginny had gone home to the Burrow with Molly and neither of them had come back but Ron didn't want to send an owl for fear of interception or exposing Grimmauld Place's location.

Then, suddenly, terrifyingly, people started to materialize all over the house. Some were apparating in but many were too injured and had to use unauthorized port keys prepared by their comrades.

"The attacks were just traps," Remus wheezed as Shacklebolt helped him into a chair. He had a silver spike protruding from his shoulder. "Voldemort wanted us to think that it was just more routine harassment so he could wipe us out."

"Don't talk Remus," Shacklebolt said as he flicked his wand and yanked out the spike.

Hermione pointed her wand at Remus and poured a deep blue light into his wound. Shacklebolt did the same and under the combined effect of the two healing charms the injured werewolf began to heal at an accelerated rate. By Harry's command Kreacher had begun helping the other injured, mostly aurors and Ministry officials who were secretly in league with the Order.

"Shouldn't we get Mr. Weasley to St. Mungo's?" Harry asked. Arthur had a deep gash and what appeared to be a puncture wound in his torso.

"No can do Harry," Arthur said between gritted teeth, "can't blow my cover, last time I went to St. Mungo's I nearly lost my job."

"He's right, why else do you think we'd come here instead of going to Mungo's directly?" Shacklebolt said sardonically.

Harry just nodded and tried to stay out of the way. With Kreacher expertly administering the prepared medications and Hermione using her healing charm there was little else for Harry to do since magic was still forbidden to him. Thankfully there was no injury beyond Hermione and Kreacher's considerable talents to heal, especially with Shaklebolt adding his auror field healing training.

By the next morning the true magnitude of the disaster was finally beginning to be comprehended. The Order had lost three of the aurors that it had working on the inside and it had nearly lost two more. Those two had been on official Ministry business so they were treated at St. Mungo's. The Ministry had lost over a dozen aurors from a force that only numbered in the low hundreds and was already stretched thin.

A weary looking Hermione tossed the latest edition of the Daily Prophet down in front of Harry as she sat down to eat. Harry was expecting to see headlines roaring about the latest escalation in the war but instead there was nothing except the newest ministry decrees.

"They buried Voldemort's attacks and they didn't even mention any deaths," Hermione said as she flipped the paper open. "The interesting part is here though."

Vigilante Mayhem in Diagon Alley

"Somehow I expected a little more, er, gratitude or something," Harry said.

"Well I can't say I did, not after Fudge's vendetta against you and Dumbledore," Hermione replied.

"I guess somehow I thought that Fudge would be trying to unite all of the people who are fighting against Voldemort instead of turning many of us into criminals," Harry said glumly. Hermione made a non-committal noise that Harry interpreted as "don't be so optimistic."

After the less injured people began clearing out of Grimmauld Place Harry, Ron, and Hermione snuck away to tend to the petrifaction potion. It was a fairly boring job at this point filled with Harry stirring whilst Hermione did something incomprehensible to the heat source that was designed to harden the mixture. Harry wished he had more time to study exactly how the potion was made so he could be more help but he had to settle for listening carefully to Hermione's instruction.

Without warning Kreacher appeared before them whimpering. "Master, Missus, the one who contradicts Missus, the one with pink hair, and the shackley one are attempting to break into the library."

"Ron can you handle this, it's just stirring, and make sure that you add a chip of granite when the sand runs out of the hourglass," Hermione said frantically.

"Right, right, just go, I can do it," Ron said quickly as he took the silver stirring instrument from Harry.

Harry and Hermione ran up the stairs toward the library before anyone could trigger their defenses. They heard a heated discussion as they scurried down the hall to where Molly, Shacklebolt, and Tonks had been joined by an irate Remus.

"What's going on here," Harry asked loudly.

"What have you done to this door, why can't we get in," Tonks asked angrily.

"No one can get in without myself or Hermione here," Harry replied.

"That's what we've been trying to tell them," Remus interjected. Molly looked very distressed and unsure of what to do.

"You shouldn't be putting spells on things, I can't believe you are so irresponsible," Shacklebolt said, his voice sounded heated too.

"I don't know what's gotten into the both of you," Tonks said darkly, "I didn't want to say anything, but you've not been doing very well in my class, especially you Hermione. You didn't even turn in all of your written assignments."

Harry had to work to keep from smirking and he felt mirth mingled with disappointment radiate off of Hermione. McGonagall had figured it out but the young auror obviously hadn't. Molly seemed a little shocked since she knew Hermione so well. Remus and Shacklebolt were non-pulsed, though for different reasons.

"What spell is this," Shacklebolt asked as he tapped his wand on the door. Hermione's seal burned crimson at his intrusion.

"It's called a nightmare infection curse," Harry said, "It will just keep…"

"Dark magic!" Shacklebolt hissed as he cut him off, "Get back, he might be a polyjuice."

Remus cried out in protest as Tonks hustled him and Molly back. Shacklebolt shouted something Harry couldn't make out as he leveled his wand on him. A bright purple bolt lashed out and instinctively Harry's hand dove for his wand.

"Harry!" Hermione's warning rang in his head and he remembered not to use his still forbidden powers. Moving with unnatural speed Hermione conjured a shining silver shield that was adorned with an otter and placed it in the path of Shacklebolt's spell. The spell impacted against the shield harmlessly but Shacklebolt immediately readied another blast. Hermione pointed at him with her wand and Shacklebolt's wand was wrenched violently from his grasp.

"That's enough!" Harry shouted, "Have you all gone crazy? We're not polyjuiced."

It was Hermione more than Harry's words that froze them in their place though. In an instant everyone in the hall were made irrefutably aware of the fierce power possessed by the young witch that stood before them, eyes blazing, her entire being crackling with energy. Harry had only seen such raw force once before, when Dumbledore stormed into the Department of Mysteries more than six months earlier to save them from Voldemort.

"I can't believe that the people I consider being family would act like this," Harry said scathingly.

"Especially those who have known us for so long," Hermione added acidly. Tonks and Shacklebolt just glowered at them in return, but Harry thought Tonks looked a little hurt.

"Everyone, let's just calm down, we've had a bad couple of days now, we're all on edge." Remus said, always trying to be the middle ground, always trying to restrain everyone around him. Harry saw why Dumbledore made him a prefect in hopes that he would keep his unruly friends in line.

"They shouldn't be messing with dangerous spells like a nightmare infection," Shacklebolt hissed. He holstered the wand that Hermione tossed back to him and was still looking at her apprehensively although her power had receded back to dormancy. It wasn't usual for a sixth year to get the drop on an auror.

"You shouldn't be trying to raid Harry's possessions, Sirius' possessions, and attacking him because of how he decided to protect them. Protections, might I add, that in light of your attempted actions here were wholly justified," Hermione bit out angrily.

"We're only trying to protect you; there may be dangerous things in there," Tonks said gently.

"Then you should have asked us. I have no problem with you all inspecting the library so long as you don't start throwing things out," Harry said. He walked over and opened the door, then tapped the statues on the inside to prevent them from activating when he left.

"We just want to be involved in whatever you're going to do. This is Harry's house, I don't think we're asking too much," Hermione said.

"Kreacher, you can come out now," Harry called to the little elf that had been hiding. "Stay with them, come and get me if they try to remove or destroy anything."

"If you still have a problem, Mister Shacklebolt, then perhaps we should go take it up with Dumbledore. Maybe while we're at it we can ask him why, after the disaster that happened last year, the Order is still making the same mistakes. Maybe," Hermione cut off as Harry interrupted her.

"Hermione, lets just go before this gets anymore unfortunate," he said quietly.

"You know my feelings on this matter Harry," Hermione said tersely. Now the adults were gawking openly at their strange exchange, painfully aware that they were only seeing a tiny facet of some far deeper issue.

"Please Hermione…" Harry said, "You know I'm right."

"I know," Hermione deflated, "but you know that I'm right too."

"I know," Harry sighed. The couple turned and left leaving an even more puzzled group of adults behind. Harry realized that Hermione was right, the Order was becoming more unreliable by the minute it seemed, but he was right too, the Order was doing the best it could and they needed to trust them even if Dumbledore refused to share all relevant information with them.

They met Ron on the stairs leading down to the dungeon and after he assured them the potion was fine the trio returned to the study where they told him everything that had happened.

"Blimey, you're kidding, Tonks and Shacklebolt both?" Ron said incredulously when they finished.

"They seem to be more convinced than ever that we've gone dark or we're irresponsible kids," Hermione huffed.

"Well we have been going behind their back quite a bit," Ron said.

"They don't know that though, their only basis for suspicion is a spell on the library to prevent unauthorized access. Its beyond ridiculous, they have the gall to suspect Harry even after all he's went through." Hermione said.

"It's ok Hermione," Harry said soothingly. He put a comforting hand over hers, which seemed to calm her. Hermione still twitched with barely restrained anger that had been coming to the fore ever since she found out about Dumbledore's withholding of information that ultimately contributed to Sirius' death.

Over the next few days the trio spent most of their time in the study. Ron spent most of his time catching up on the latest quiddich news even though the war had been interfering with the season. Hermione on the other hand was delving into the two books on wards that they had managed to recover before the library was invaded. Harry attempted to balance his time between his two friends but in the end he helped Hermione learn the art of ward crafting far more than he talked about the Chudley Cannons.

Kreacher was beside himself with worry over the library the entire time. Harry finally had to order him to stay in the library where he was supposed to be overseeing the inspection Shacklebolt was making since he kept popping in and out of the study to complain. After Hermione's little display with Shacklebolt the elf was more devoted to her and Harry than ever. Hermione thought that Kreacher seemed to be more stable and even Ron admitted that he muttered fewer insults to those he traditionally didn't like, such as Tonks. Harry wasn't convinced that his improved behavior was a positive sign, but instead yet another manifestation of Kreacher's conviction that he was helping his dark master fool his houseguests. Still, everyone welcomed his improved politeness.

Politeness that was now tempered with near hysterical worry for Harry's library. It took all of four days for Tonks, Remus, and Shacklebolt to go through all the shelves to their satisfaction.

"Master, the pink haired one tells Kreacher that they are done," Kreacher said.

"Comon Harry, now we've got to go stop them from throwing anything out," Hermione said.

"Reckon Shacklebolt will try to hex me again?" Harry joked.

Hermione gave him an annoyed glance, "Don't joke Harry, he just might."

"Maybe we should just let them do whatever they want," Harry whispered so Kreacher wouldn't hear. The little elf was tagging along behind them about fifteen steps as they walked. Hermione didn't reply but he could tell she didn't agree with that option.

The main table in the library was piled with volume after volume of magically knowledge that the three adults had deemed unsafe. Only Remus looked a little squeamish when Harry and Hermione walked through the door.

"We waited, since you insisted," Shacklebolt said tersely, "but all these texts need to be removed immediately and some of them need to be destroyed."

Harry and Hermione went over to the pile to see what they had found. Harry even recognized a couple of books that he and Hermione had already read.

"This could be useful," Hermione muttered out of the corner of her mouth as she indicated a book on advanced shield charms.

"What could possibly be dangerous about a book on shield charms?" Harry asked as he held the book up.

"Dark magic," Tonks piped up.

"No, I think what Harry asked is, how could it possibly be dangerous?" Hermione bit out.

"These particular types of shields use a semi-physical barrier that, when broken either from attacking spells or by choice of the caster, can be turned into a rain of deadly projectiles. Very dark magic." Shacklebolt said through gritted teeth.

"What exactly constitutes dark magic?" Harry asked.

"Anything that has as its main purpose to rend the body, mind, or soul," Remus said.

"So you mean almost every effective combat spell?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"No wonder we've been losing almost every encounter with Voldemort's forces," Harry said in a shocked voice.

Shacklebolt flushed furiously, "We're not dipping down to Voldemort's level and for your information we were facing enemies beyond your comprehension."

"You mean the avatars," Hermione said scathingly, "the ones that have access of all of Voldemort's powers? I kinda doubt you'll be stopping them with a Jelly Legs Jinx and a few stunners."

"Why don't you use elemental magic then?" Harry asked, "Surely it doesn't fall into the category of dark magic."

"It's difficult for most wizards to learn," Tonks said.

"Then why aren't you out learning it instead of trying to put a lid on the only skills useful to combat Voldemort?" Hermione said.

"We hold ourselves to a higher ethical standard," Shacklebolt retorted, "These skills are evil."

"I'm sure we'll all be patting ourselves on the back about our high ethical standards as Voldemort kills everyone we care about," Harry said quietly. "I've heard enough."

"So have I," Hermione said heatedly. She waved her wand and conjured a black obsidian cabinet against one of the open walls. Another flick of her wand sent the collected books flying onto its shelves.

"What are you doing?" Tonks asked hastily.

"Sealing it up," Harry said. Hermione began tracing another symbol in the air in flaming lines. As the spell took shape it burned green for an instant and then flew over to the cabinet to attach itself onto the closed doors. The cabinet resembled a huge armored beetle now with gleaming smooth black surfaces.

"If you want to destroy those books then you're welcome to do so, you'll never get through that seal," Hermione said confidently.

"You can't do this," Shacklebolt shouted.

"I just did, if you don't like it take it up with Dumbledore, you know how eager I am for that discussion," Hermione said. "Harry has been kept in the dark for too long and my patience is gone. Only his patience remains."

"And its beginning to wear thin too," Harry said darkly, his eyes narrowing.

"You can bet Dumbledore will hear of this," Shacklebolt said as he stormed out. Kreacher hurried out behind him to see what the auror was going to do.

"What's happened to you Harry?" Tonks asked sadly as she moved toward the door too.

"I don't want anyone else I care about to die," Harry said gently.

"I can't say I disagree with you really," Remus said when they were alone, "but you two are pushing pretty hard. Wizards don't like to change."

"Remus you know as well as I do that the wizarding world is stuck in the past," Harry said.

"A past that I don't think even existed. They're enthralled with their own myths." Hermione added.

"You know better than anyone that things need to change," Harry said.

Remus winced, "The dark arts are often considered to be dangerous to the person who uses them just as much as the person they're used against. I'll be frank, you two are the most powerful people I've ever met besides Dumbledore, but I still worry that you're too young to fully comprehend the powers you're trying to harness."

"We don't have a choice," Harry said vaguely.

"Let the Order handle it, you don't have to get so involved," Remus pleaded.

"Voldemort decides who is involved and who isn't. He's tried to kill Harry four times now, we don't have a choice Remus," Hermione said.

"I knew I couldn't talk you out of it," Remus said resignedly, "just don't do anything you can't take back."

Harry felt a little queasy as Remus left them still sitting there in the library. Hermione jumped up and went over to the cabinet she had conjured and opened the doors. Harry joined her and together they removed several books including the advanced shield charm book.

The rest of the holidays were rather joyless with Voldemort's supporters attacking all over the place. It was especially brutal whenever a group led by an avatar would strike. The only two places spared from Death Eater assault were Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic itself. Hermione worked feverishly to master the new spells they discovered, especially the modified shield charms. Harry couldn't actually cast the spells but he memorized the incantations and wand movements in preparation for silent casting. The petrifaction potion was a success too and yielded over a hundred vials capable of rendering anything magically frozen.

Tonks had come around to try and convince them to allow the books to be destroyed. She left in a huff when Hermione wouldn't recant the spell. Shacklebolt brought in Bill Weasley to help during the hours spent in front of the cabinet trying to open it or penetrate it with a spell but were unsuccessful and ultimately gave up in frustration. Dumbledore would appear for Order meetings but he didn't talk to Harry or spend any time at headquarters beyond what was necessary for the meetings.

Harry was actually relieved when it was finally time to go back to King's Cross to meet the train back to Hogwarts. Harry packed up the few things that he had brought back with him and took them down to the front door. Ron and Ginny were already loitering about, as was their surly looking guard.

"Where is Hermione, its almost time to go," Harry said.

"She was doing something," Ginny said noncommittally.

Harry hurried back to the room she shared with Ginny and knocked on the door. "Hermione, we need to go, are you ready?"

"Yeah just about, you can come on in," Hermione called back. Harry opened the door to find her stuffing books into her trunk. She was hadn't put on her robes yet, just her dragon hide suit that Harry had bought. Harry felt himself flush, the dragon hide was rather form fitting. Hermione felt his discomfort through their link and laughed.

"I'm sorry Harry, am I bothering you," she teased.

"Er, no, that is, uh, are you about ready?" he stammered as he blushed even deeper.

Hermione waved her wand and her loose muggle clothes appeared over the dragon hide. "Is that better?"

"You'll probably draw less attention that way. Dragon hide is pretty unusual for the London underground." Harry joked back. Hermione levitated her belongings and moved toward the door but before Harry could leave she cornered him. Harry stood pleasantly surprised as Hermione planted a firm kiss on his lips.

"We've only kissed three times in the real world," Hermione said softly. Due to their mind link the couple could kiss quite frequently in their dreams but fear of their relationship being discovered and exploited kept them from expressing their feelings for each other regularly.

Harry gently kissed her back, "Make it four but we'd better go before someone comes to check up on us."

"I know," Hermione sighed as Harry held the door open for her.

The walk back to King's Cross and the train ride were largely uneventful. Harry noticed that there were fewer students returning to Hogwarts than had left, undoubtedly due to fears of Voldemort. Of course Hogwarts was probably the safest place in the entire world when it came to Voldemort but obviously not everyone thought so. Harry's elation at being back in school and having his powers available to him again was short lived though. Standing at the entrance to the main grounds stood four aurors. All of them were equipped with their funny blue eye patches that afforded them a range of heightened senses including the ability to see through invisibility cloaks.

There were at least a dozen aurors scattered around the school and it was clear that none of them were Order members since Harry had met most of the Order's aurors. Harry wished that Ron and Hermione were there with him instead of off attending to some prefect meeting so he could get their imput. Many students seemed relieved to be surrounded by the Ministry's top cops but Harry felt only a deep dread.

Harry had already taken his seat in the Great Hall in expectation of the welcoming back feast when Ron and Hermione finally made it back.

"Its bloody awful Harry," Ron moaned as they sat down.

"They've cut curfew back three hours including for prefects, aurors will patrol at night now." Hermione said.

"Quiddich is suspended indefinitely," Ron added.

"Many people have been banned from Hogsmeade including us," Hermione said.

"All of us?" Harry asked.

"No, just you and Hermione," Ron said.

"That doesn't make any sense, you're just as big of a target as Hermione," Harry said.

"You're the only one banned for your own safety Harry. I'm banned because I've been deemed a high risk." Hermione explained. "Most of the other high risk students are Slytherin."

"They think you might be a collaborator?" Harry asked stunned. Anger coursed through him when he realized that only Tonks or Shacklebolt could be behind this.

"Or maybe under the imperious," she nodded.

"You can't be," Harry hissed under his breath.

"We know that, they don't, and apparently there is no way to tell," Hermione said.

"We can explain it to Dumbledore," Harry decided.

"No, we can't, because Dumbledore isn't responsible. These are Ministry decrees and it wouldn't matter even if they weren't. Dumbledore is on board with all these changes. According to Professor McGonagall he is the one that requested them." Hermione explained.

"Why would he do such a thing?" Harry asked.

"Well it didn't make any sense at first but have you noticed anything derogatory in the Daily Prophet about the Order lately?" Hermione asked.

"You think Dumbledore cut a deal with Fudge?" Ron asked incredulously.

"It would explain all of this," Harry said as he waved his hand around at the lurking aurors.

"I'm almost certain of it. I asked McGonagall a few questions after the meeting but she was hiding something from me, I could see it," Hermione said firmly.

"You read minds now?" Ron scoffed.

"Legilimency," Hermione hissed back softly and Ron's eyes widened as he remembered.

"Speaking of which, when are you going to let us teach you Ron?" Harry asked.

"I don't like it," Ron said stubbornly. "The times you tried to teach me before it left my mind feeling all fuzzy like someone stuffed straw into it."

Hermione sighed, "Do you want Harry to tell you again what it feels like to have Voldemort in your head?"

"Just drop it," Ron scowled.

Dumbledore was absent from the feast so there was no explanation whatsoever about the new auror presence or the new school rules. Due to the new earlier curfew rules everyone was shuffled off to their respective house dorms as soon as dinner had been concluded.

"How are we supposed to study if we can't even get to the library," Hermione fumed as the trio plopped down on the sofa in front of the common room fireplace. Of course Harry and Hermione could use their invisibility charms but that didn't help any of their friends unless they were there to cast it for them.

"I've got an idea," Harry said. "If you want to break a few rules that is."

"An idea to get us into the library? No thanks." Ron joked.

"I'll be right back," Harry said. He went up to his room and returned moments later with a hefty book that Hermione recognized.

"A few rules Harry? Don't you mean a few laws," Hermione said softly.

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked.

"Harry wants to create invisibility cloaks," Hermione whispered.

"How are we supposed to do that? We'll never be able to get the materials needed to weave one, not with all the Ministry bans." Ron said.

"Unnecessary, there is another way to make a cloak besides using demiguise hair," Harry replied, "namely corporeal spell casting."

"You're kidding right?" Ron asked. "I've heard Dad talk about corporeal casting. Most wizards end up in St. Mungo's with something blown off."

"Yeah, the book warns that if it isn't done correctly all the energy that's put into the spell will violently decompress." Harry affirmed.
"So we'll practice in the Room of Requirement. In the mean time Harry and I can cast invisibility charms on people when we're around." Hermione said.

"Yeah, we've already found out that auror eye patches can't see through our charms," Harry added.

The presence of the aurors was soon disruptively oppressive to all the students, though the trio suffered more acutely than most. Every night at a random time after curfew a pair of aurors would enter each dorm and do a head count. As a result Harry and Hermione had to wait sometimes for hours before they were able to sneak out to the room of requirement to practice corporeal casting. Then even with one of them holding a shield charm while the other cast they still suffered some injury in the process.

"I think we're starting to get the hang of it," Hermione whispered to Ron as the trio walked down the passageway toward their charms class. "We've had a cloak last for over a day now and it may be permanent."

Ron shrugged noncommittally and made a funny noise. Harry looked at him askance but had no time to consider his reaction since an auror pair selected that moment to round the corner directly in front of them.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Potter, Granger, and their pet," sneered one of the aurors with a look that would have made Snape proud.

"We'd better be careful, they might try to curse us or jinx our napkins at breakfast," the other said as he smirked at Harry and Hermione.

"That's what you get when you're raised by stinking muggle trash. Uncivilized brutish creatures scurrying about wrapped in their own ignorance."

The trio broke out laughing. "I see you've met the Dursley's then." Harry replied grinning.

The expressions on the bullying auror's faces turned evil. "Don't cheek us you arrogant little twerp or we'll see you expelled along with your little friends."

Harry and Ron's eyes narrowed while Hermione positively scowled at such unprovoked behavior. Harry grabbed Ron and Hermione's arm as he pushed around the aurors to escape down the hall.

"Ignore them, we can't get in trouble now and they just might be able to back their threats up," he pleaded.

"You're right Harry," Hermione said, then added mentally, "I swear your brashness keeps rearing up in me more and more."

"Good thing I've got your calm logical approach dominating my personality now," Harry smirked. "Honestly though, you don't know how much your indignation on my behalf means."

"I think I have a pretty good idea," Hermione said. Harry felt her warm compassionate feelings flow into his mind across their bond and smiled contentedly as he sent his own emotions back to her.

Classes flew by quickly and there was a new sense of urgency in most of the professors. Harry and Hermione also felt a deep sense of urgency to master some of the more useful spells they had discovered over the holidays. By the time the first Hogsmeade weekend drew close Harry and Hermione felt that they had mastered the art of creating invisibility cloaks out of corporeal charms.

"It's just as well we can't go," Hermione said as they waved Ron off, "Gryffindor tower will be largely deserted."

"Yeah, even the first and second years will be busy studying for exams. You can come up to my room so we can begin making enough cloaks for everyone." Harry said.

"It's time to finish the Light Bearer uniforms and finalize our choices for unit commanders too. This needs to be the last meeting of the D.A." Hermione urged. Harry sighed but nodded. He had known that this day would come for a long time now but he was still reluctant. Hermione had convinced him that they needed a force not beholden to Dumbledore or the Ministry and even if he didn't trust his own judgement he trusted Hermione's implicitly.

There were a couple of first years in the common room trying to master a basic levitation spell when they walked past. Hermione stopped for a minute to instruct one of the little girls on her wand technique and Harry grinned at her constant strive to better everything around her. About half way up the stairs to Harry's room Hermione pulled out two slips of paper and stuck them on the wall opposite to each other. The symbols on them burned red for a moment before they and the paper they were written on faded from view.

"Alarm wards," Hermione said, "we can't be too careful. We'll be alerted by a sharp stinging sensation when someone passes them."

The couple conjured chairs and a huge stack of ornately decorated boxes to put their finished products into. Each box had a specific combination necessary to open it. Any attempt to open the box otherwise caused it to destroy its contents. As each box was filled with a uniform, invisibility cloak, and Light Bearer emblem it was shrunk down to a tiny size. Hermione would then stick it in a piece of parchment with labeling to tell them precisely what was in the box before she put it into a larger sack. The sack was charmed to keep a number of frivolous items always on top. It was the perfect disguise since prefects were allowed to keep the illegal items they confiscated for a while before turning them over to Filtch. It wasn't economical to have the prefects running to the grisly old man every time they snatched a Fanged Frisbee or a quick notes quill.

"Do you think we should test these invisibility cloaks somehow before handing them out?" Harry asked.

"If aurors can't see through our charms then they shouldn't be able to see through these either since they're just our charms imbued with a permanent physical form." Hermione said.

"I know, but what if something went wrong. I'd hate for someone to get in trouble from using something we told them was safe." Harry said.

"I suppose we could have Fred and George test them out. They could probably keep from getting caught if the cloak failed." Hermione suggested.

"Good idea, we need to send them a couple anyway," Harry replied.

"This is getting exhausting," Hermione said after another couple of minutes. "I need a break."

"Me too," Harry said as he wiped some sweat from his forehead. They cleared away their work with a wand flick. "Show me those area shield wards again."

Hermione took out a piece of parchment that she had copied the ward information down on. They were becoming more protective of their books and less willing to take them from their secret hiding place in Harry's trunk.

"See, basically it's a modification of the enhanced cylinder shield. It absorbs damage until it shatters and the fragments that remain can be used offensively. Of course when it is expanded and put into a ward it becomes impossible to harness the shards as an offensive weapon except as one might use any physical object." Hermione explained.

"Right, and the bigger the area the weaker the shield is correct?" Harry said.

"Correct, at least that's what the book said, we need to test these wards as soon as possible. Who knows when we'll need them." Hermione said.

Harry and Hermione discussed the complexities of the ward for a while longer before Harry attempted to make one himself. Hermione guided him as he conjured the ward base and then use wand writing to impress the necessary symbols onto the base.

"Alright Harry, now add the seal and the side indicator," Hermione instructed. "You need to begin the other three components immediately. All four have to be created close together to bind their power together so that they will work together when they're deployed."

Harry conjured another base. "Right, first symbol again…."

Harry felt a sharp stinging all over his body and looked up at Hermione. She shrugged slightly and gestured for him to continue since, after all, they weren't currently doing anything questionable. The door burst open unceremoniously and the two aurors that had harassed the trio before stormed into the room.

"Random inspection," the first auror said. "What's going on in here."

"We're studying," Hermione said shortly.

"Right, why are you "studying" up here in the boy's dorm behind a closed door instead of down in the common room or the library?" the second auror asked.

"First years were making too much noise," Harry shrugged. Inside he was seething at their thinly veiled insinuation. Hermione's own indignation was seeping through their link along with apprehension. She was also wondering what made them come to the conclusion that she and Harry were together.

"Are those wards?" the first auror asked suspiciously. When Hermione nodded the aurors exchanged surprised glances. "How can you be making wards already, that isn't a sixth year skill."

"We like to study ahead sometimes," Harry replied.

"Yeah right, check them," the second auror said. Before Harry could protest the first auror muttered some enchantment that caused Harry and Hermione to glow blue.

"This is an outrage," Hermione said jumping up, "You've no right."

"We have every right to enforce school rules," the auror said as he cut off her protest. He looked very disappointed.

"We know you're up to something, we'll be watching," the first auror said as the pair backed out of the room.

"What was that all about?" Harry asked after they had left. "What was that spell and why did we glow blue?"

"Er," Hermione flushed scarlet, "it's called the virtue spell."

"You mean it tests for…that?" Harry asked, outraged when he finally understood what the aurors had been checking for. "That can't be legal, we've got to tell McGonagall."

"Actually, it is legal, it's one of the school rules that students are not supposed to fraternize in that way. I've never heard of it being enforced with a virtue test before, at least not in the last few hundred years. They just were hoping that they'd get to humiliate us with the accusation." Hermione reasoned.

"There's more than that going on here. None of this makes any sense." Harry insisted. "Why would people we've never met be out to harass and humiliate us? I know our press has been bad, but bad enough to inspire this kind of hatred?"

"Alright, but what?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know, but it doesn't feel right. I mean who would have ever thought that Dumbledore would allow a bunch of aurors to run amok at Hogwarts. We're banned from Hogsmeade along with most of the Slytherin who have suspected Death Eater connections but everyone else isn't." Harry said.

"That bothered me too, why ban quiddich as a safety risk when it happens on school grounds and still let everyone go to Hogsmeade?" Hermione said, frowning in thought.

"Well I suppose it would be easier for someone to hide out near the pitch and assassinate someone than it would be for them to attack in the middle of Hogsmeade when its protected by all the professors." Harry said, though he was unconvinced of his own reasoning.

"Come on Harry, we can worry about it later, lets finish the cloaks before we have another random inspection," Hermione said lightly. "Your ward is ruined anyway, they disrupted the process too long."

"Yeah, we've not got much time left before people will start coming back anyway," Harry agreed. He picked up the ward piece that he had already finished and it crumbled in his hand like it was made out of sand or something.

Harry closed the door again while Hermione conjured more of her special empty boxes. The two worked as quickly as they could so by the time everyone began to return from Hogsmeade they had the last of the boxes filled, shrunk, and hidden in Hermione's bag of confiscated items.

Harry was sitting down in the common room while Hermione was off stashing their equipment when people started filtering in. Harry and Hermione making the suspect list was the running joke of the tower after everyone had been on the receiving end of the trio's helpful magic. Harry didn't realize just how thankful everyone was for the potions and spells that had helped protect them from Slytherin jinxes until now though. Several people had brought Harry things from Hogsmeade, mostly candy and other edibles.

"What's all this Harry?" Hermione asked as she descended the steps.

"Our friends brought us some stuff from the village. There, grab a butter beer and some chocolate, it's really good when you've not had any for a while." Harry replied.

Ron stepped through the doorway looking a little ragged. "How's it going guys? Hogsmeade is the same as usual."

"Better now, some of the guys brought us some stuff back," Harry said raising his butter beer bottle slightly.

"Oi, I see you guys already got butter beer," Seamus said as he sat four more down on the table.

"Thanks Seamus, we can always use seconds," Hermione said with a smile.

"Yeah, we appreciate it," Harry echoed.

"Anything for you guys, I'd probably have had to spend a week regrowing bones in the hospital wing if it wasn't for your anti-jinx dust," Seamus replied as he moved on.

Ron glared at him as he retreated. "What a ponce, always kissing up."

"Ron," Hermione scolded, "That was very thoughtful of him. I know he can be a little dramatic at times but he was actually sincere."
"Whatever, you like all the attention," Ron scowled back.

Hermione flushed and sputtered with embarrassment, "That's not fair Ron, it isn't like I asked for any of this."

Ron didn't say anything, he just got up and stalked off toward the stairs.

"Ron, wait, really, what's wrong?" Hermione called after him but Harry restrained her with a hand placed on her shoulder.

"Just let him be, he's tired and upset. He helped too you know, but he hasn't really gotten much of the credit." Harry said as he looked after where Ron had gone with an expression of guilt mixed with compassion.