Unofficial Portkey Archive

11. United in Grief

"Harry Potter sir must wake up!" Dobby continually poked Harry.

"What do you want Dobby?" Harry whined.

"Miss Hermy sent Dobby to tell Harry Potter to… to `get his cute bum out of bed.'"

"Please tell me you didn't just say what I think you said," Harry moaned.

"Dobby only repeated what he was told," the elf stated.

Harry found his glasses and looked over to his smiling friend wearing a Mickey Mouse t-shirt and a pair of corduroy shorts. "Dobby, where did you get that shirt?"

"Mr. Grangey gave it to Dobby when he found it in Miss Hermy's things," said Dobby.

"Why were you going through Hermione's things?"

Dobby's ears drooped as if he wasn't sure he was supposed to say, "Miss Hermy asked Dobby to bring her remaining things here. The Grangeys helped Dobby gather them; the pictures on the bookshelves had to be moved to make room for some of Miss Hermy's books and Dobby had to make room for many other things."

Harry looked around the room and noticed most of the pictures that had been moved were now on the walls in their room, Dobby had also taken the initiative to put one of Hermione and the unicorn on the nightstand on Harry's side of the bed; Hermione's had one of Harry with Hedwig. "Did Hermione say anything about these?"

The elf nodded his head; "Miss Hermy called Dobby in and gave him a squeeze when she saw."

"A what? Err, you mean a hug?"

"Yes Harry Potter, but you's waiting too long. Miss Hermy says you are both due at the Grangeys for lunch," Dobby said while literally dragging him from the room and shoving him in the shower.

"I'm not complaining," Harry said a bit later as walked out into the kitchen to find Hermione waiting with his boots and jacket, "but why do we have to meet your parents so soon? We just saw them yesterday."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "They're taking a bit of a long lunch to see you today."

"Me?"

"You really are a bit dense sometimes, aren't you?"

"Hey!"

Hermione stretched up and kissed him, "Happy birthday Harry."

"Right, that's today."

"You act as if it's just another day," Hermione laughed.

"Well, it always has been," Harry shrugged.

Hermione closed her eyes and let out a silent sigh. "Not anymore, now come on, they should be home by now."

"So, do you feel any different now that you're `of age?'" Dan asked a short while later.

"Honestly it didn't even cross my mind until we were about to Apparate here, but it does feel good knowing that I don't have to worry about getting caught again," Harry admitted.

"Again?" Emma asked.

Harry smiled faintly, "I managed to get a couple official warnings."

"But they weren't really his fault," Hermione clarified. "The first time he got in trouble because Dobby did some magic at his relatives, and the other he was actually saving his cousin's life when he was attacked before our fifth year."

"That's right, didn't you say in one of your letters that he got put on trial for that?" Dan asked.

"The Ministry of Magic, hard at work," Harry smartly replied. "Sometimes I wonder why I would have ever wanted to work for them."

"Certainly they're not all bad?" Emma asked.

"Of course there are a few good people working there, but they seem to have a hard time of it. Until Mr. Weasley got promoted last summer he shared an office with another bloke that was hardly bigger than a broom cupboard," said Harry.

"He seems to be doing a lot better now," Dan mentioned. "Hermione said he helped the two of you get passports before you left."

"He was a lot more helpful about that than he needed to be," Harry chuckled as he pulled his from his jacket. "But it is kind of fun having an id with a moving picture." Harry opened it up and blinked, Hermione's smiling face was looking back up at him, "What are you doing in there?"

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked. When he passed it over she softly giggled a bit and fished her own out, "I suppose you two thought this would be rather funny, did you?" she asked the photos. Seeing her parents confused looks she laid the passports open on the table to show the reversed portraits.

"We think because we had our pictures taken together that they're linked; they didn't even seem aware of Hagrid's on the train," Harry explained.

"What happens when you have to present it and the picture moves?" Emma asked.

"Really, if you didn't know magic was real would you believe your own eyes?" Hermione retaliated.

After a peaceful meal they moved out to the sitting room where a large wrapped package sat in the middle of the room. "Happy birthday Harry," Emma told him with a hug. "This is just something Dan and I thought you might find a use for someday."

Harry ripped off the paper to find a black trunk with a large brass plaque simply reading `POTTER.' Slightly confused at first he opened the lid only to find a short staircase leading into a wooden room below. "Thank you," Harry told them with a wide grin. "Where did you find a magical trunk?"

"Dobby actually found it, how does it look? He tried explaining it to us but all either Emma or I see is a half-full trunk when we look inside," Dan explained.

"Really. You can't see the steps?" Harry asked.

Emma shook her head; "Apparently it's charmed to get you past any surprise inspections by a customs official or just some nosy Muggle like Dan or I."

Harry wasn't sure how to feel about what was probably the nicest and most practical gift he had ever received. He made his was down inside when Hermione motioned him; the room below was actually larger than his room on Privet Drive had been and completely lined with shelves, drawers, built-in wardrobes, and one large mirror. There were several books on the shelves, and one of the wardrobes was already full, Dobby had obviously decided this to be a good place for Hermione's extra items. Harry sat down on the single red couch that adorned the room and looked around in awe.

"Do you like it?" Hermione asked coming down to see for herself.

"This is incredible but… it must have cost your parents a fortune," Harry said in a slightly hollow voice. "How can I ever repay them?"

Hermione sat down next to him, "Mum and Dad really don't want you to worry about it. They did mention to me once while we were away what they were planning on doing, and I tried to tell them that you wouldn't want them making a big deal over your birthday, but I couldn't stop them."

"When are their birthdays?"

"They've already past-"

"All right then, they're getting new cars for Christmas-"

"Harry that's completely excessive-"

"Well then you'll be helping me find some other way of properly thanking them," said Harry.

"Well, you can start by going back up there and giving Mum a hug…"

Harry stood up and looked around again. "Why would they do this? They hardly even know me!"

"Harry," Hermione started, taking his hands, "I'm sure they had a good idea of who you are thanks to all the letters I've sent them over the years, and really once you let a person in, which you seem to have done for my parents, you're quite an easy person to love."

"No I'm not, I'm a moody little pri-"

Hermione placed a finger over his lips, "Your self-pity doesn't work on me Harry. I know you too well and I love you just the same."

"You'd have to be completely mental to love me that much," he told her with a small smile.

"Then I guess Ron has been right all these years. Do you think you can still love me knowing that?"

"I think it just makes me love you even more." After a quick kiss they left the trunk to spend a few more minutes with the Grangers before they had to go back to work. Harry made sure to give Emma a very firm hug before leaving.

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Ron, Neville, Katie, Remus, Tonks, and the elves were all waiting in the cottage when they returned. Hermione walked over towards them with a smug smile. "You've been plotting this, haven't you?" Harry asked her.

"Only a little," said Hermione.

"Hermione had an idea while you were away that we all go in on a present for you, granted Neville and the twins put in the most," Ron's ears went red as he spoke. They parted to reveal a wrapped package sitting on the table, which Harry discovered was an ornate chest.

As soon as Harry lifted the lid something gold tried to dart past him, but instinct took over and he snatched it from the air to the laughs of the others. He looked at the snitch in his hand, and then around to the others who were all smiling broadly at him before opening the chest fully to see a complete set of Quidditch gear. After placing the snitch back in its home and securely fastening the strap holding it down Harry ran a hand over one of the bludgers which gave a little twitch against its own restraint and picked up the quaffle, "You guys really didn't have to do this…"

"Of course we did, you only turn seventeen once after all," Ron easily told him.

"Besides, you seem to have this big open field that'd be perfect for a match. We'll leave the hoops up to you," said Katie.

"This stuff isn't cheap," Harry said still looking between them all.

"That's why we all went in on it with the twins and Bill and Fleur," said Neville.

"But I'm not-"

"Harry Potter if you even think about saying you're not worth the trouble I will never kiss you again," Hermione snapped, Harry wisely pinched his lips closed.

"Right then," Ron looked desperate to change the subject, "what say we head out and give some of these a try."

"But what about your brothers? Shouldn't I go thank them or something?" Harry asked.

"We're meeting them all for supper later at Grimmauld Place," Hermione told him.

"Besides not having enough room here we are trying to limit the number of people that know our location," Remus added after watching Harry's expression darken a little.

"And going to the Burrow's out with the damn Aurors watching the place. Winky had to sweep thirteen charms off me before I came over today, prats set a new record everyday," Rom grumbled.

"How has that been going?" Harry asked Tonks.

Tonks rolled her eyes, "Bloody Minister calls us all in at least once a week to scream about how nobody can seem to find `that little brat,' I believe he's taken to calling you. I was thinking about trying to talk Fred and George into brewing up some polyjuice potion so we could send a whole group of people disguised as you straight into the ministry and really make the fool lose his top."

"They'd do it in a heartbeat," Ron smiled evilly. "Can I be one?"

"Really Ron, you could get your dad in serious trouble for helping out in a stunt like that," said Hermione.

"Arthur's a right popular bloke `round there recently. Word spread pretty quick about his standing up to Scrimgeour, and not a person in the building believes him when he says you only stopped by his office to say hi."

"Well, he did help us get our passports," Harry quietly admitted.

"Why's he being so secretive about that?" Remus pondered out loud.

Hermione shifted uncomfortably next to Harry, "Well, he called in a man to make them for us then after he'd finished…"

Harry looked Ron in the eye; "Your dad wiped his memory so no one would know we were planning on going anywhere."

Ron's eyes threatened to pop out of his head as his smile grew, "All right Dad! Seriously, I didn't know he had it in him. Wait until Fred and George hear!"

"I don't think we should really be spreading that bit of information around," Tonks said while grinning herself. "Arthur'd find himself in a world of trouble if that little secret got out."

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They spent the rest of the afternoon on Harry's family property, Hermione and Neville opted to stay on the ground playing with Sirius as Ron, Katie, and Tonks passed around the quaffle with Remus and Harry knocking around a bludger at them. The look on Hermione's face made Harry fairly certain she was plotting something again; it was also a look that made Katie's face turn into a jealous scowl, at least until Harry nearly knocked her off her broom.

"I saw that look," Harry told Katie as she helped him secure the bludger. "I'm sure there's nothing to be jealous of."

"You have to admit they were talking rather close, doesn't that worry you at all?" Katie asked, the scowl returning.

"No, they're just planning something. If I had to guess, I'd say it has something to do with Ron," Harry motioned up to his friend doing loops through the air on his Firebolt.

"What makes you say that?"

"It's something Hermione and I agreed on before leaving. Ron's going to be feeling awfully left out if he's stuck hanging out with three couples."

"And you think they're trying to figure out the right girl for him, doesn't Ron get a say in that?"

"Well it's not like we're going to lock him in a room with a girl and not let him out until he snogs her senseless…" Harry trailed off, really would that be a bad idea?

"What about Padma? She's supposed to be the other Head this year-"

"No, they went to the Yule Ball together and according to Hermione he hasn't exactly been her favorite person since then. There is one girl, but I have no idea if Ron would ever agree to be alone in the same room with her…"

"Who's that?"

"Everything packed up then?" Ron landed next to them.

"Yeah, I'll bring these back to the cottage and we can all go to Grimmauld. Are you and Neville coming?" Harry asked Katie.

"Of course, who could say no to cake."

Harry quizzically looked to Ron who let out a little moan, "You weren't supposed to tell him!"

"Who's making a cake?"

"Winky. She wanted it to be a surprise," Ron glared at Katie, "so you're just going to have to act surprised."

Katie blushed a little, "Sorry. I just figured it's his birthday, why wouldn't there be a cake?"

"Because last year was his first real birthday party and that got ruined by Karkaroff turning up dead," Ron heatedly told her. Harry was really touched by how determined Ron seemed to make this birthday better than the last, which despite the news was the best birthday Harry could remember.

"You never had a birthday party?" Katie slowly asked.

"The damn Muggles Dumbledore sent him to live with treated him like some caged animal," Ron scowled for a moment then his lips twisted up into a shrewd smile. "The twins said they'd be taking off the charms today didn't they?"

Harry had almost forgotten that the month-long prank to the Dursleys was set to end today, "Yeah I suppose. Maybe I should stop by sometime and make sure they actually go through with it."

"You will do no such thing," Hermione's voice came from behind. "If Fred and George happen to forget to reverse the charms then too bad. Those animals deserve far worse after what they put you through." Ron firmly nodded his agreement.

"I suppose I'm out voted," Harry chuckled before popping the chest and their brooms back to the cottage and grabbing his and Hermione's jackets. When he returned Hermione was looking quite oddly at Tonks who had morphed her appearance to have Hermione's nose and bushy brown hair. "What's going on?"

"Oh, Remus and I are just going to walk Sirius home before meeting you," Tonks airily replied.

"And the hair?" Hermione prompted.

Remus rolled his eyes, "Well, she needs to be able to pass as your mother to other villagers now, doesn't she?"

"And whose fault is that?" Harry snickered. Remus shot him a nasty look before strolling away.

"I think she really gets off on embarrassing him," Ron commented. "She makes him take her to the pub all the time. We went along once and there was this girl a few tables over that looked mad enough to burst every time Tonks touched him."

"It seems like we should really feel sorry for her, but really how long can you carry a torch for a bloke before you give up?" said Katie.

"Remus broke down and showed us how you guys met her and her mum in your Pensieve," said Ron.

Harry suddenly looked at Katie in alarm. "Don't worry," she held up her hands, "Dobby stood watch over us to make sure I didn't see anything I shouldn't."

"Sorry about all that," Harry smiled sheepishly at her. "Its not that we don't trust you-"

"I understand Harry. I'm happy enough just being admitted to your little group," Katie smiled at Neville who blushed a bit. "I just hope you know I'll help you all in any way I can."

"As long as we don't take your little Nevy away," Ron smirked. Neville's face flamed as he shot Ron a dirty look.

`,',',',',',',',',',',',',',','

When they arrived at Grimmauld Place Winky took Harry and Hermione on a tour of the house while they waited for everyone else. Harry was forced to admit to himself that the house was incredibly bland, but compared to its condition before he had no complaints. Hermione referred to it as a `blank slate.'

"Is there a reason you've left this up?" Harry asked Winky motioning to the Black Family Tree.

"Winky does not think it right to remove something with Harry Potter's name."

"Do you think you can fix this?" Harry asked while fingering the burn mark above his own name. Winky came up and began rubbing the spot with her thumb as if it were an ink stain. The burn mark slowly cleared and with a snap of Winky's fingers golden thread began stitching itself in the tapestry, putting Sirius' name in its rightful place. "You don't think he'd mind do you?" Harry asked Hermione. "I know he didn't like his family, but I don't like the idea of my name being on there without his."

Hermione placed a soft kiss on his cheek, "I think he'd be proud to have his name anywhere near your own."

When Winky finally allowed them in the kitchen they found the rest of the Weasley family (minus Charlie but plus Gabrielle) had joined their previous party. They had a slightly raucous supper and Harry couldn't help but be annoyed by the fact that Ginny kept trying to draw his attention away from everyone else. Apparently Ron hadn't been able to keep quiet about their visit with Charlie and everyone, Fred and George in particular, wanted to know more about Liz. Thankfully no one asked just why they had left the country in the first place, Harry just assumed Mr. Weasley had told them not to.

After the meal Winky produced a large lightning bolt shaped cake covered in green frosting. Harry was only kept from rolling his eyes by Hermione elbowing his side. Eventually Harry agreed to bring his new equipment by the Burrow on Sunday afternoon, the twins said they'd bring Angelina and Alicia, and with Katie and Neville they figured they would have enough people for two full teams. The idea of a full-fledged match was enough to drive any worries of the Aurors out of Harry's mind.

Ginny tried to corner Harry on his way back from the loo, but Fleur had seen her sneak out after him and saved him from what was sure to be a very annoying conversation. Shortly after that Hermione said she needed to get home to tend to Remus' potion and Harry decided to escort her there.

"You're quite proud of yourself, aren't you?" Harry asked her as he played with the camera Mr. Weasley had given him for his birthday.

"Whatever are you talking about?" she asked without looking back from her potion

"We both saw the look on Fleur's face when Remus mentioned you made his potion right the first time. You like the fact that you beat her at something, don't you?"

"Oh, don't be silly Harry."

"You think I never noticed the look on your face whenever she kissed either Ron or myself? I know it annoyed you to no end that she could turn him into a gibbering idiot, luckily I hold myself together a bit better. You don't like being second at anything and you feel good proving yourself better than her at something." Hermione refused to reply and Harry realized she might not be seeing things as lightly as he did. He walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the side of her neck, "As far as I'm concerned you are the best and I think I'd do just about anything to prove that to you."

"It's just hard sometimes," Hermione softly started. "There'll always be women out there that can make men swoon by simply walking into a room, and I know that I'm just not pretty enough to even come close-"

"Hermione, for starters we both know Fleur only really gets the reaction she does through whatever Veela magic she has in her-"

"Which doesn't seem to affect you the same way it does most men."

"I don't really know why. Before the wedding Winky led me into the room with Fleur, Gabrielle, and their mother and I started to get the same feeling as if someone cast the imperious curse on me. Maybe I can shrug off their magic like I can the curse, and that's kind of the point. The entire wedding, when everyone else had their eyes glued to Fleur I was staring like a brainless twit at you. I was so lost in you that I have absolutely no recollection of the ceremony. You have that same power without any magical help, as far as I'm concerned."

Hermione turned in his arms, "One of these days you're going to have to let me know where you get the inspiration for these little speeches you've been giving because I know I've never helped you in that respect."

"I've been really lucky lately, at least when it comes to you. Seems the first words that come to mind are the right ones," Harry replied before kissing her. "Need any help before going to bed?"

"No thanks, I'll just be along in a minute," Hermione gave him another kiss before turning back to the potion.

Harry got another surprise when he walked in their room: the dressers were gone and his new trunk was sitting up against the wall in their place. He took a quick trip down to verify that all of their clothing had in fact been put away before stripping down and making his way into the bed. Hermione came in a few minutes later and shot him a questioning glance until he explained what Dobby had done, Harry could hear her laughing from inside the trunk. "So do you think I could borrow my jersey back for the match on Sunday?" he asked as she slipped into bed.

"Whatever are you talking about Harry, this is my jersey," Hermione teased.

"Right, that's why it says `Potter' on the back."

Hermione playfully slapped his hand away as he traced a finger along the lettering, "I suppose that will have to get fixed at some point-"

Harry furiously tickled her to put an end to the verbal teasing mostly because he wasn't ready to vocalize the first method that came to mind to fix that particular problem; the way that didn't involve altering the garment one bit. He whole-heartedly agreed with the voice in the back of his head when it said you've only been seventeen a day, there's no need to rush into that talk.

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A very ashen-faced Remus woke them the next morning and pulled them out to the table where Tonks was openly crying, Harry's heart immediately sunk. "Who's died," he quietly asked.

"It's all my fault!" Tonks wailed. Hermione went rigid next to Harry.

"You are not to blame-" Remus started.

"Yes I am! It was my idea! They're all dead because of me! It's just like S - Sirius!"

"Someone please tell us what's happened," Hermione pleaded.

"There's been an attack. The entire city of Eastbourne has been destroyed," Remus slid over a copy of the Prophet.

Muggle City Destroyed, Chosen One Feared Dead!

Late last night, Death Eaters and as many as two giants carried out an organized attack on the Muggle-city of Eastbourne. Approximately seventy-five percent of the buildings in the city had been razed before the Aurors and Hit-Wizards could mount an organized counter-strike. One giant was able to be put down, but the remainder of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's forces were able to escape.

Over a thousand Muggles are confirmed dead but worst of all Harry Potter, the Chosen One, was rumored to have been in hiding somewhere in the seaside town. The fact that the attack coincides with Mr. Potter's seventeenth birthday is anything but a coincident.

Muggles are being told a tidal wave crashed ashore shortly after dusk and teams are currently in place trying to rearrange the rubble in an appropriate fashion while the search continues for any sign of Harry Potter's remains. When asked, one member of the search tem said his chances of survival…

Harry dropped the paper and dashed off to the toilet, luckily he hadn't eaten since the night before so he couldn't make a mess on the way. Eventually he became aware of someone gently stroking his back and looked up to see Hermione's extremely white face.

"He destroyed an entire town… because of me…" Harry weakly muttered in between heaves.

"It's not your fault Harry," Hermione whispered. "It wasn't even your idea to go there in the first place… If I hadn't suggested-" Hermione broke down sobbing. Harry desperately clung to her and they spent the remainder of the morning shivering on the floor.

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Dobby managed to pull them to the table for a very light lunch, which was eaten in complete silence.

"No one here is to blame for this," Remus started. When they all seemed determined to ignore him he tried a different approach. "Hermione, what upsets you about all of this?"

She hiccupped out a few times before whispering, "It was my idea to go there the night before the wedding… If I hadn't mentioned it to Katie we never would have gone there and Harry's name wouldn't have been tied to it…"

"And Tonks?" Remus continued when it was apparent Hermione had finished.

"I told the ministry that's where Harry was. It seemed perfect, send the people looking for him to the opposite end of the country from where he's staying… I should have known You-Know-Who would have heard and planned a hit," Tonks looked ready to make a dash to the toilet like Harry had.

"Harry?" Remus asked.

"He was going for me."

"And how is that you fault?"

"Over a thousand people!" Harry suddenly screamed. "All dead because I was supposed to be there!"

Remus let them all stew in their own misery for a few minutes, "Do any of you feel that anyone else at this table is to blame?" They all shook their heads. "Then stop feeling so bloody sorry for yourselves!" he shouted and banged the table. "Of course it's a tragedy what happened, but no one here could have prevented Voldemort from carrying out another large-scale attack! Use your heads, if the point of the attack was to kill Harry he would have verified he was actually there. We are in the middle of a war with some of the vilest creatures in existence, of course there are going to be casualties, but it is not our place to take them all on. As far as anyone that steps foot in this cottage is concerned we have one target, one single goal: the death of Tom Riddle. Death Eaters, giants, Dementors, werewolves; it's up to the ministry to deal with them. Above all no matter what happens, however many cities are destroyed, what friends we may lose, there is only one person to blame, and we shall kill him or die trying, is that clear!" The room was silent. Dobby stood shaking by the sink and Sirius was cowering in a corner. "Is that clear?" Remus screamed, the other three hung their heads and mutely nodded.

"Harry," Hermione whispered, "can my parents stay here, at least for the weekend? I'd just feel better knowing they're not alone."

"Of course, you don't have to ask that," Harry replied in an equally quiet voice.

"Where will we put them?" Tonks somewhat blankly asked.

"In the guest room," Harry smirked despite his mood.

"Oh good. I was afraid you were getting ready to convert it to a nursery," Remus quipped. Slowly the tension lifted as they all began snickering, then outright laughing.

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The Grangers were slightly flummoxed by Harry and Hermione's sudden appearance in their office, but they were smart enough to realize the news reports were not the entire truth and agreed to cancel the remainder of their appointments for the week and come stay with them. They were brought home to pack some clothes and secured away in the cottage within an hour. Harry held in quite a nervous breath when Hermione showed them to their room, as they were fully aware that it used to be his own, luckily neither of the dentists felt the need to bring up this piece of information.

"Do you think we should cancel the Quidditch match we planned for Sunday?" Harry asked Tonks as Dobby and Winky were serving their supper.

"Actually, it might be a good idea to go through with it. The public's going to be throwing a fit thinking you're dead-"

"What?" both the Grangers blurted out.

Hermione tried to explain just why the wizarding public thought Harry had been in Eastbourne, but was still feeling quite guilty and had to run off to their room to avoid breaking down completely. Harry quickly followed leaving Remus to explain. Emma came in about ten minutes later re-enunciating Remus' words from earlier and brought them all back to the table.

"Anyway," Tonks continued answering Harry's original question, "the Aurors on guard will report back that you're there and word will get around pretty quickly after that."

"But then the Minister will probably show," said Harry.

"Most likely," Remus began, "but the public will need to be informed that you've not died yet-"

"Oh thanks Moony, not yet but soon," Harry cut him off, but by the look on the older man's face he knew he'd been joking.

"Well, I'm hoping you'll at least make it `till Christmas. With the way the goblins treat you I have a feeling that we could all have a jolly good time."

"And if this is the way the two of you will be acting I think I'll be home with Mum and Dad," Hermione broke in.

"Can I come?" Tonks asked drawing a deep laugh from Dan.

"But aren't you worried they'll try and bring either Remus or myself in for questioning?" Harry asked Tonks. "And seriously, if I suddenly show up at the Burrow word could spread about me visiting there and it could be attacked again."

"As long as you don't visit regularly you won't raise the risks of it being a target, and technically now that you're an adult they'll have much less pull over what they can do to you," Remus told him. "All either of us have to say is that an incident occurred in goblin territory and the matter was settled with them. If they demand more answers we tell them to speak with Ragnok and Apparate away."

Tonks nodded her agreement, "The fact that you are apparently on good terms with the head goblin will put a pretty quick stop to any legal nonsense they try and pull."

"But if they are asked in for questioning and flee, won't they be endangering themselves even more?" Dan asked.

"Not as long as they tell them to talk to the goblins, but just to be safe I'll go to Gringotts tonight and try and pass on a warning to Ragnok about the possibility," said Tonks.

"Maybe I should just write him a letter and have Dobby bring it to him. They've met, so he will know it's really from me and I'm still around," said Harry.

"He'll know you're alive," Remus informed them all. "If you'd been killed your will would have gone into effect this morning."

"Oh, would he get a notice since he's one of the witnesses?" Harry asked.

"You asked Ragnok to be one of your witnesses?" Tonks asked incredulously.

"Not really," Harry wasn't sure what the big deal was. "He asked if I wanted him to be a witness so nobody else would see what they'd be getting and try and talk me out of it."

"And Remus is the other witness?" Hermione asked a little putout.

"No," Harry simply replied, "Dobby is, and Ragnok promised we'd be the only three to see the thing until I kick it." Dobby smiled sheepishly from his seat across the table while Winky beamed at him.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing to our world Harry?" Tonks asked with a broad grin. When he shook his head she continued, "Every time you've stepped foot in that building this summer you've upped the ante in showing that you don't care for some of the oldest prejudices that we're plagued with. I don't know of any other Muggle-born who's gotten in to see the head goblin, yet you pull Hermione along with you without a second thought. You go back with a werewolf and get another private meeting, honestly every high-profile place like Gringotts or the ministry has a policy that any werewolf is supposed to be escorted by at least one security agent but they let Remus pass because he's with you. When you go to have your will made up you're the only human who signed the bloody thing and you probably have no idea about what's happening because all this, do you?"

"Nothing's happening as far as I can see, and I really have no intention on doing anything different just to make a bunch of old geezers feel better," Dan snorted at Harry's words, "I mean if I was really trying to make a statement I'd take Grawp shopping through Hogsmeade," Hermione snorted at the mention of the giant.

"I'd hold off on that idea. If anyone saw you hanging out with a giant about now the press would probably turn on you again like your fifth year," Tonks said, briefly killing the mood.

"For what it's worth," Remus put in, "the goblins have picked up that you don't give a damn that they're not human. Their kind, along with far too many others," a pained looked crossed Remus' face, Harry knew he was indicating himself in the group, "have been treated at best as servants for centuries. Far too few wizards look upon them as equals, Albus being the most prominent. I would guess that they're seeing you as his replacement believing you'll help them gain some long-deserved respect."

"What could I possibly do to help them?" Harry asked somewhat alarmed. "I really don't like the fact that they're treated like dirt, but at least Dumbledore could help them politically. I'm just a kid as far as all that goes!"

"No you're not Harry," said Tonks. "I know you don't like to think about it but you do have a pretty spectacular public image."

"And just appearing to be on friendly terms with goblins and house-elves helps to open up peoples eyes," Remus added. "Change is slow to happen, but when a public figure goes against tradition in favor of living in a more peaceful world slowly, the people will follow."

"But I'm not out to change people's minds," Harry nearly whined. "I just treat everyone the way they deserve to be treated."

Emma reached over to lay a hand on his arm, "And you're a better person for it."

"Your parents would be quite proud of the man you're becoming," Remus finished quietly.

Harry felt frustrated almost to the point of tears and as soon as he could find a polite time to do it, he excused himself, took his broom, and Apparated to his field. Everything always seemed clearer when he was up in the air and he had grown so familiar with the area that he could now close his eyes and drift peacefully through the air hearing only the flow of air past his ears and an occasional hoot from Hedwig who always seemed to know when he'd be here.

"Will I ever be able to just be myself?" he asked himself. You're always yourself, Hermione's voice answered in the back of his head. There are people that love you for being the person you are and you should never try to change just to make a bunch of strangers happy. The only person you should really be concerned about disappointing is yourself. "Not exactly," he told the voice. "I'd never want to disappoint Remus, or Hermione, or either of our parents." Well they all love you, and people that truly love you will never be disappointed in you, the voice retorted. Harry opened his eyes to see Hermione and her parents looking up at him in shock, which was understandable seeing as how he was flying upside-down and talking to himself. He quickly landed and greeted them.

"Have you gone completely mad?" Hermione asked. "Since when do you enjoying flying that way?"

"I was just trying something different, after all you can only do so any loops and rolls," Harry replied trying not to sound like a maniac. He didn't think now would be a good time to tell her about when he'd flown upside-down and taken his hands off the broom to run them through the stream just before they left on their trip. "Wanna try it?" he asked with an evil grin.

"Harry, I can hardly handle flying in a straight line at low speeds, what makes you think I'd enjoy doing that?"

He had to bite back his first few responses, not wanting her parents to misinterpret things if he said `I just want to hear you scream.' "One of these days I'll get you up in the air," Harry finally got out.

"It really will be magic if you can get Hermione over her fear of heights," Dan quipped.

"I am not afraid of heights!" Hermione snapped.

Harry smirked and slid back on his Firebolt to make room in front of him, "Prove it."

Hermione looked between the two men, both of their expressions daring her. She would never break with just Harry challenging her, but between the two of them she crumbled and threw a leg over the broom. As soon as Harry reached around her, pinching her against him, he shot off into the air flying straight up until the screaming stopped. The Grangers were pinpricks on the ground when he finally leveled off to hover in the twilight, Hermione had dug her nails into the back of Harry's hand and he was fairly sure she'd drawn blood. "Just what exactly do you think you're doing?" she growled out through clenched teeth.

"Showing your dad you're not afraid of heights, you just don't like the trip up," he simply told her while nuzzling his head in her hair. The sky was extraordinarily clear and they sat watching the sunset over the water, the coast of Ireland just visible on the horizon. "So, do you like it up here?"

"It's beautiful," Hermione said in a dreamy little voice. "I wish Mum and Dad could see this."

"Maybe we'll come up tomorrow and take a picture," Harry suggested.

"That sounds lovely, but do you think we could go a little slower on the way up?"

"Anything for you," he smoothly replied while noting she said nothing about the way down. Once the sun faded completely Harry retightened his grip and pointed the broom straight down. The Grangers could hear their daughter's scream well before she was back on the ground.

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By suppertime on Saturday Harry was ready to kill Remus Lupin. It didn't matter that he was the last of his father's friends; he needed to die.

The day had started well enough. Hermione woke him up with a kiss and a subtle reminder to be wearing more than his boxers when he came out for breakfast, but halfway through his stack of pancakes Remus had to go and make a crack about the Grangers sleeping in the `nursery.' The only sounds that followed for what felt like ages were that of Dan's glass shattering on the floor and Dobby trying to quietly go about clearing it up.

Remus managed to hold in his laughter for an amazingly long time, which Harry attributed to the fact that Tonks hadn't been around since supper and he needed something to amuse himself. Once the Grangers realized it was a complete joke three people around the table laughed uproariously while the other two sat trying to become invisible.

Hermione devoted herself to some new project to try and deflect the questions on what color they were going to paint the nursery. When Emma mentioned that they still had Hermione's crib in the attic Harry made a dash for his broom. He only made it a half a step before Hermione stopped him with a look that clearly told him he wasn't allowed to leave her alone.

Lupin made a remark about not having to deal with dirty nappies since the night James and Sirius never came back from the pub, Lilly had decided to find them so she could maximize the amount of time she had to scream at the pair leaving Remus alone with baby Harry for the night. That drove Harry to summon Remus' wand, throw him in his room and seal the door, but Harry forgot the window this time and soon enough the bastard was strolling in through the front door.

As Dobby was preparing lunch Emma asked that they all come to the table and discuss names which was finally Hermione's breaking point. She caught Harry's eye, subtly pointed to her necklace, and Apparated away. Harry grabbed his own necklace and Disapparated with a crack, reappearing inside his trunk. Winky was called in to seal the trunk lid until nightfall and mercifully they found themselves alone for the first time that day. Hermione kept going with her project to try and keep her mind off the morning so Harry dived into his parents' journals that had made the trip down when Dobby had set things up. There was no way he was going to let Lupin get away with starting the torture they had endured.

Tonks had returned by suppertime and in the short period of time it took Harry to gather up two plates of food the couples at the table were dividing up times to watch the baby if Harry and Hermione made it back to Hogwarts. Dobby had refused to bring food down into the trunk; Dan must have found a way to hold the telly hostage. Winky was even less help, the first time she heard the word `baby' she popped directly to Hermione and began fawning over her completely unwilling to listen to reason.

An hour before sunset Harry slipped under his invisibility cloak, snuck his camera and broom out of the cottage and popped over to the field to meet Hermione. Hovering up in the thin air she let loose a string of words directed towards her parents and Remus that Harry couldn't even imagine uttering at the Dursleys. Hermione did take a picture of another remarkable sunset for her parents, while muttering under her breath that they didn't deserve it.

Under threat of a miss-brewed potion Remus put an end to the teasing, for the night at least. While Hermione worked over the hearth, Harry brewed up the potion to develop magical photos on the stovetop. If he'd been in a better mood there might have been a bit more presentation than simply dropping the prints on the table and stalking off to the bedroom. For the first time in quite a while, Harry put on his pajamas before going to bed.

"Honestly Harry, I'm in no mood for you to have a sudden bout of modesty," Hermione huffed when she pulled back the covers to join him wearing her now standard bedclothes. He knew better than to argue and quickly shed the excessive clothing before hugging her back up to his chest and quietly filling her in on the first step of what was sure to be many in his planned revenge on a certain flatmate.

Harry stayed awake for a while after Hermione had drifted off. The banter they'd been exposed to had been extremely annoying but now he found himself wondering… Harry remembered when Mrs. number nine on Privet Drive had gotten pregnant. The normally thin woman swelled to an enormous size and then one day had shown up to proudly display her new baby girl. Harry had hidden himself on the stairwell and watched the woman cradling the infant, looking down on her radiating love. It was the moment Harry realized what he missed the most in his life, unconditional love. The Dursleys obviously loved Dudley, and it was that love that kept them from kicking him to the curb during the constant tantrums of his youth, and turn a blind eye to his promiscuous behavior later in life, but neither Vernon or Petunia ever looked at Dudley the way that woman looked at her newborn.

One of his hands unconsciously drifted up under her jersey and gently rubbed her flat stomach. Harry looked down on her sleeping face, but his mind's eye was seeing an all-together different Hermione. One that was running her hands over an enormously swollen midsection, the same look on her face that the neighbor so long ago had. The image shifted to Hermione sitting in a chair, her belly replaced with an infant tightly wrapped in a blue blanket. Harry was kneeling next to them, softly running a hand along the dark fuzz covering the baby's head. Tightly closing his eyes to alleviate the stinging he buried his head in Hermione's ponytail, holding onto the image well into his sleep.

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"Good Morning," Emma Granger's cheerful voice woke Harry up the next morning. As he came to he realized that the only movement on the bed during the night, aside from a wad of hair making its way into his mouth, was one of Hermione's hands moving overtop of Harry's, still resting on her comfortingly warm, bare stomach.

"Err, hi." Harry mumbled somewhat nervously. He was, after all, in a fairly intimate position just feet away from Hermione's mother.

Emma sat on the bed next to her daughter to pet Crookshanks, who was curled up by their feet. She tucked back some of Hermione's loose hair to verify she was still sleeping soundly, "You can relax Harry; you're not in trouble."

"Are you sure about that?"

"I think we both know how hard it is to talk Hermione out of something she wants," Emma told him while flashing the same smile Hermione did when he asked a question with such an obvious answer.

Harry pulled his arm out from under Hermione's neck to prop himself up on his elbow which raised a moan of protest from the sleeping girl. "Sometimes this is all just seems surreal. We've only really been together just over a month. I worry about things going too fast."

"Believe me Harry, it's painfully obvious how much the two of you love each other. Not even the torture we put you both through yesterday seems to have made an effect, now come get something to eat. Remus seems to think you'll need the energy for this game you're playing today."

Harry carefully pulled away from Hermione, who made another protest and rolled over to bury her face into his chest, much to her mother's amusement. Eventually he was able to replace his body with his pillow in her arms and slipped out of the bed silently thanking every deity he could name that he'd gotten comfortable enough sleeping with Hermione to not have the morning problem that required him to rush off to the shower. Emma led him off to the table before he could grab any clothes reawaking the nerves he'd just put to bed when he saw her father sitting there leafing through the Sunday Prophet.

"Ah, here's the corpse now," Remus announced. At Harry's confused look he continued, "The public is screaming that the ministry double its efforts at finding your body so there can be a public memorial."

"Too bad, I think I'm busy that day," Harry quipped drawing out a laugh from everyone. "Has anyone bothered to tell the Weasley's that I'm still breathing?"

"That's where I got the paper from that morning," Tonks admitted. "I stopped by to have a word with Arthur about a bloke I saw selling some bogus amulets and found Gabrielle wailing in the orchard. Took a while to get her calmed down enough to listen to me and when I told her you were quite alive she was so relieved she fainted. When I got her inside and saw the article I nearly went down with her. I went back yesterday to make sure they were still up for a match, and Arthur agreed that it's probably a good way for you to `announce' the fact that you're alive."

"Do you think we'll be able to come along?" Dan asked. "When Hermione wrote us about this sport in her first year it didn't sound that exciting, but it could be fun seeing that many people flying around on brooms."

"Hermione didn't think Quidditch was exciting?" Harry asked her parents. "She came to almost every practice session we had at Hogwarts and all the games, except for the one when Hagrid took us to meet Grawp."

"Oh, it was always `Harry's such a smart boy, why does he have to play that dreadful game,' or `When will he learn? He fell over a hundred feet off his broom and still won't give it up!'" said Emma. "Since her first year all we've heard about this sport is how dangerous it is for you, I swear we probably know about every time one of those blooders hit you in a practice session-"

"Mum!" Hermione shouted from the doorway.

"Well, maybe if you avoided having a lie-in I wouldn't be able to tell your boyfriend about all the things you've written over the years that pertain to him," Emma smirked.

"And she's written a lot of letters," Dan winked at Harry. Hermione's face cycled through several shades of red as she joined them.

When Harry came back into their bedroom from his shower he found Hermione, who had gone ahead of him, holding out a certain jersey for him. "Please try not to bleed on it," she told him as he slid it on. It had the same flowery smell that had invaded the bathroom shortly after their coming to the cottage.

"I'll try my best, but it might get a bit sweaty," said Harry.

"Good," Hermione wrapped her arms around him and planted a kiss on his lips, "then it will smell of you again."

As soon as everyone was ready, and with a warning from Harry about not continuing on with yesterday's antics for Ron's mental health, they all traveled to the Burrow. Harry received several pats on the back to say congratulations on being alive; the twins in particular thought it was a great prank especially given that someone had setup a small memorial outside their shop. Saturday had been one of the busiest days they'd ever had with so many people coming in and asking what was Harry's favorite prank, or if Harry could have tricked one more person before he'd died, who would it have been. Harry had a feeling the Minster of Magic was about to have a very bad week at work.

Bill had charmed a few trees at each end of the orchard to act as hoops and soon enough they were engaged in probably the best Quidditch match any of them had ever participated in. The three Grangers were on the ground cheering for Harry's side while the elves and Gabrielle had made up little banners that said `Go Wheezys!' Fred and George spent most of the match sending bludgers at Remus and Tonks, who were the beaters for Harry's side in retaliation for all the essays he'd assigned to them while he was their professor. Katie, Angelina, and Alicia teamed up with Harry and gave Bill quite a workout guarding the hoops for team Weasley. Ron, Arthur, and Fleur didn't have any experience working as a chaser team, but Neville was an abysmal keeper so that didn't seem to matter as much. Ginny, of course, was seeking against Harry but tended to spend most of her time trying to get close enough to him to have a conversation Harry was sure he didn't want, but thanks to his Firebolt she couldn't keep up when he would rocket off across the improvised pitch. It was all he could do to avoid the temptation of feinting to plough her into the ground.

Every so often Harry would swoop down to Hermione and ask what the score was, but she lost track around ninety to one hundred twenty in favor of the Weasleys. She knew he'd spotted the snitch several times but appreciated the fact that everybody was having a great time. When she eventually told him that they'd missed lunch and now it was near suppertime Harry whipped up in the air and came back within a few seconds holding the snitch. In record time the elves prepared a rather hearty meal that they enjoyed out in the garden. Harry had to stop himself from asking why they hadn't been interrupted during the course of the day. He was afraid that as soon as he would utter the words Scrimgeour would walk around the corner with his feral smile.

When Bill stood up to make an announcement all eyes turned to Fleur expecting to hear about an impending generation of Weasleys. The stream of French that came out of the woman when she realized why everyone was staring at her sounded like gibberish to Harry, but judging by Gabrielle's blush it was anything but. Once everyone had stopped laughing they were informed that Bill and Fleur would be moving to Hogwarts where he would be the new Defense professor. No one wanted to bring up the fact that this would leave Arthur completely alone at the Burrow, but it was surely on a few of their minds.

The party broke up just before nightfall with the elves dusting off all of the extraneous spells everyone had picked up during the day before Apparating home.

"Should I have Dobby drop your parent's clothes back home?" Harry asked after they'd returned from the Grangers.

"Mum seemed to think that it'd be nice to leave them here, incase they ever stay over impulsively," Hermione informed him as she tended to her cauldron.

"What were the two of you whispering about in the kitchen?"

Hermione sighed, "She was wondering why Ginny was glaring at me the entire time we were eating. She knows we were relatively good friends but I must have neglected informing her that the two of you had gotten together."

"Ginny was glaring at you?"

"Heavens yes, it was even worse when you stopped by during the match and kissed me. I'm sure if she'd have had a bat I'd be wearing a few bruises."

"You really think she'd be that malicious?"

"Ginny is quite temperamental," Hermione shrugged. "Frankly I wouldn't put anything past her."

"Then we're not going back to the Burrow till she's back at Hogwarts," Harry firmly stated.

"Don't be silly Harry. You seem to have no trouble avoiding her, and for whatever reason Fleur intercepted her every time I thought she was coming to talk, or perhaps scream, at me."

"She did the same for me at Grimmauld Place. Whatever the two of you talked about before her wedding seems to have made her into probably our biggest supporter in that house."

"She's had a bit of a soft spot for you ever since you saved Gabrielle in that tournament," Hermione informed him. "You must have noticed that she's always been a tad more affectionate towards you than Ron."

"I just figured it was because he was dense enough to ask her to the ball," Harry shrugged and helped her clear off the counter.

As they adjourned to their bedroom Harry tugged of his socks and was about to remove his jeans when he noticed Hermione was standing next to the bed blushing furiously. Slowly, he realized that besides the one time in the tent he'd somehow never managed to be in the room with her when she got ready for bed. Harry really had nothing to hide since he slept in his boxers, but so far he'd never actually seen Hermione without a top. Felt, yes; seen, no. Lately it had been even easier for them to avoid seeing each other change, being that they'd been doing it in his trunk but now he was wearing what she usually changed into.

"Do you want me to leave?" Harry softly asked.

Hermione jumped at his voice, "Umm, well, I don't know…" she stammered.

"I'll just go to the loo," Harry started towards the door, but her hand on his arm stopped him. He thought she was reminding him to leave the shirt for her, but her slightly shaking hands intercepted his as he reached down to remove it. She slowly directed them to the button on her shorts, giving Harry a slight nod when he glanced at her. Unable stop his own hands from shaking, Harry clumsily unfastened the button and slid down her zipper. He dropped to one knee as he slid her shorts to the ground and found himself eye-level to her blue knickers. Hermione took a tiny step forward to kick her shorts away and before Harry knew what was happening he found himself lightly kissing one of her thighs drawing a slight whimper from her.

"Just what do you think you're doing Potter?" Hermione asked him while jerking Harry to his feet. He started to stammer an apology but was cut off by her lips meeting his own and her hands gingerly unfastening his jeans and shoving them down his hips and onto the floor. Their lips separated just long enough for her shirt join the pile and with an extraordinarily ungraceful move they landed on the bed. Hermione sat up, straddling his hips and jerked the jersey off Harry, taking his glasses with it and with a very nervous expression reached behind her back for a second before discarding her bra.

Harry silently laid on the bed willing his vision clear to burn the image before him into his memory for apparently a bit too long as Hermione shrunk away from him and reached for the discarded jersey. Seeing her movement and realizing he'd probably just fed her insecurities Harry grabbed her around the waist rolled them over and went about kissing every last bit of flesh he could see. At first the noises that escaped Hermione's lips were slight giggles but by the time Harry had traveled all the way down to her toes and back they had grown suggestive enough for Harry to cast a silencing charm on the room. He tried to dispel any notion she had in her mind that she wasn't an extremely beautiful witch by kissing her long and deep enough to leave them both gasping for air. Harry's fingers glided all over her sweat-covered torso, making several circles around her nipples, to both of their enjoyment. When his hand made its way to the waistband of her knickers Harry searched Hermione's eyes for any sign that he should stop, not finding one his fingers slowly crawled through the mass of damp hair underneath to what lay beyond.

Crookshanks poked his head through the flap to see if the accursed noises had stopped. They had in fact only grown louder, so he made his way to the sofa, hoping the elf would scratch his ears for a bit.

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Something woke Harry up a short time after he managed to drift off. Hermione had made a joke about `returning the favor' and although his body was screaming to take her up on the offer, he told her she didn't have to. She passed out quite quickly after that leaving Harry trapped in her sweaty embrace. It took a while for him to calm down enough to even think about sleeping.

Figuring out what woke him was easy because as soon as he made any movement whatsoever Hermione tightened her grip. On the piece of him that she had once again sought out in her sleep. When Harry tried to gently lift her arm away, hoping the hand would follow, she squeezed much harder, and with her nails. She wasn't asleep much longer after that. To Harry's amazement she didn't remove her hand from where she found it, instead she examined what she found much the same way that Harry had done to her earlier. After a few minutes of repressing twitches Harry was astounded when she lowered her head and began by kissing the nail marks she had left. The last rational thought Harry had that night was making a note to return the favor.

Across the way Remus and Tonks were sleeping soundly, not noticing the charm Harry had put on their bed that was causing it to slowly shrink throughout the night.

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The level of intimacy that Harry and Hermione achieved was the only thing that carried him through the month of August. There were no attacks, and Tonks said even the minister was laying off a bit since the arrival of the news that he'd survived the attack on Eastbourne. One of the Aurors at the Burrow had a camera and the day after their Quidditch match the Prophet had two full pages of him flying around and the group enjoying their Sunday meal. Hermione had been quite pleased by the close-up shot of Dobby and Winky at the table with Harry clearing up the plates around them.

Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and Remus spent the entire month trying to figure out Voldemort's last Horcrux. They had checked all of Ravenclaw's things that were in museums and turned up nothing. The other three possibilities they had all turned up in the hands of one very eccentric collector. The lunatic transfigured Ron into a raven when he overheard him asking Neville who could be barmy enough to keep an attic full of stuffed birds. Apparently they had all been pets at one point or another.

Remus stealthy knocked the collector out and the five of them spend four hours checking every last object in the man's house. All for nothing.

When Harry's impatience grew to the point that flying couldn't completely calm him down he started dueling Remus in his field. After the second time, when they ended up sending Dobby out for a bottle of Skele-gro, Hermione and Tonks stopped watching and merely waited for the winner to call for their help. The day before the full moon Tonks had taken Remus' spot and Harry had to suffer through a few hours of two dislocated shoulders waiting for the Auror to wake back up and fix him.

The day before Ron, Neville, Bill, Fleur, Gabrielle, and Ginny went back to Hogwarts they had a large but somewhat somber dinner in Grimmauld Place where the Weasley's were staying for the night to shorten the trip to Kings Cross. Harry pulled Ron aside and gave him the Marauders Map but firmly reminded him he wanted it back so it better not wind up back in Filtch's office.

When Harry went to bed that night he felt incredibly uneasy, but he assumed it was just because he really wished he'd be getting on a certain train the next morning.

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Remus violently shook Harry and Hermione awake in the middle of the night telling them to come see what was on the television. Breathing a sigh of relief that this was one of the few nights a week where Hermione wore more than just her knickers to sleep Harry led the way out to the sofa. Remus and Dobby were both sadly staring at the telly and what appeared to be a news story about a car crash.

"What's going on Remus?" Harry asked.

"There's been an attack. Voldemort killed a Muggle this time. It was-"

Just as Remus was about to say, a woman's picture appeared on the screen and Hermione let out a wail of protest. It was Diana. Voldemort had made good on his threat against the royal family by killing the Princess.

The news report went on about a car chase on the streets of Paris and a deadly crash, but it was obviously a cover. Tonks had been called in just before Remus woke them up so they didn't have any of the true details. The four of them sat watching the constant news updates straight through morning, Hermione openly crying most of the time. Like most young girls of their generation the Princess' story had been fuel for many childhood fantasies.

When Tonks finally showed back up around lunchtime they learned that the driver of the car had been placed under the imperious curse, possibly by Voldemort himself, and been made to drive the car full speed into a cement barrier.

There was no news about the attack in any wizarding publication that day, and only a small article on page three of the Prophet the next even though the Muggle news was covering nothing else until Mother Theresa passed a few days later, thankfully of natural causes. Hermione sat rooted on the sofa next to Dobby for most of the week while Harry and Remus were both silently fuming around the cottage by day and in the local pub by night with the rest of the men from the village. Harry's resolve finally cracked on Friday night and he wrote a very hostile letter about the insolence of the wizarding world in general, how they had no right as British citizens to casually ignore the death of one of the most influential people of their time and a few other things that he and Remus would go on about after three or four pints. He made a copy and sent one to the Daily Prophet and the other to Mr. Lovegood just before he went with Hermione to meet the Grangers and attend the funeral in London on Saturday. Remus and Tonks insisted on joining them incase anything should happen and together they joined the literally millions of others that had turned out to mourn.

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The Sunday Prophet printed Harry's letter, of course on the front page. It then proceeded to blast him about having no proper wizarding pride and thoroughly dissected the reasons why he was believed to be the Chosen One finding their own conclusion that he really was just a spoiled seventeen-year-old who had gotten a big enough head to think he didn't need to attend his seventh year at Hogwarts, the only thing Harry could agree with in the article was the fact that there really was not much evidence of all the things he'd done over the years. They had also reprinted the picture of him clearing up for the elves with a caption claiming it was a posed photo to try and show him as being humble.

"Well, I think Winky'll be burning all my mail this week," Harry quipped as he set the paper down. He was growing slightly nervous as to Hermione's reaction since he hadn't bothered to show her the letter before sending it.

"Do you realize what this accomplishes?" Hermione asked, flashing him a smile. Harry greatly relaxed and shook his head. "You've just made yourself an outcast. Yes you'll probably receive sacks full of hate mail, but no one will have the gall to say or do anything to you in public, you scare them too much. I think you've just made us invisible."

"And you'll have taken at least some of thrill out of capturing you as far as Voldemort's concerned," Remus added.

"It won't take you off his hit-list, but it sure will lower you a few pegs," said Tonks.

"Or on the other side of things, the public might just like what you've said and tell the Prophet and the ministry to shove off," said Remus. "If that's the case it'll take a few weeks at least for enough people to rally around the idea that you're being mistreated, so either way we'll be quite anonymous for a bit."

Harry thought about what they were saying for a few seconds. Of course he would never be out of danger, but if the risks for him were lowered that also meant Hermione would be much safer, and the danger to her parents would almost become non-existent. "That's good, I suppose. So now what do we do?"

Winky, it seemed, had the answer. "Harry Potter must come to Grimmy Place!" she announced as soon as she popped into the cottage.

"What's wrong Winky?" Hermione asked.

"The Shack-man has come and says he must take Harry Potter to an important meeting!"

"Who? Kingsley?" Tonks asked.

"Yes Tonksie, Harry Potter must come now!"

They all traveled to Grimmauld where they found a somewhat shaken Kingsley sitting at the table. "What's up, Shack?" Tonks asked.

"I'm sorry Harry. You're going to have to come with me. I've got a car out front, we need to hurry."

"What's the Minister done now?" Remus snarled.

"It's not that Minister Remus. I'm to bring Harry here to Downing Street," said Kingsley.

"Downing Street, the Prime Minister?" Harry blurted out.

"And then some," Kingsley muttered. "We need to go, now." Not having a bloody clue what was going on, Harry and Hermione both followed.

Kingsley made a move to say something when Harry held the door open for her, "I'm not leaving her here," Harry firmly told the man who reluctantly nodded.

"I've been working undercover as the Prime Minister's assistant since your little fight at the ministry," Kingsley started as he got in the front seat and took off. "This morning I went in to try and finish up some things that got put off with all the trouble last week but got distracted when my copy of the Prophet showed up, and by the way nice letter there Harry. The fools writing that rag have no idea what they've started by cutting into you like that."

There was a definite nervous edge to his voice, like he was afraid to tell Harry what was going on, "But this isn't about what's in the paper, is it?"

"Only a little," Kingsley sighed. "I was so caught up reading I never noticed her coming in. She stormed straight past me into the office and began shouting at the Minister about the investigation of the Princess' death. I ran in the office after her and somewhere in his mumbling the Minister asked me what our people are doing about it, which at this point is nothing. She must have already been told about our world and between the Minster's rambling and the picture on the front of the paper I was still holding she figured out I was a wizard. She snatched the paper from me and read it over for a bit before asking me if I knew what they meant about you being the `Chosen One.' She's just… I mean I couldn't not tell her so I went on about the war and the prophesy and how everyone thought you were the one that would end it and the Prophet being full of rubbish just because you put them in their place… And she demanded I get you and bring you here, now."

Kingsley was talking very fast and Harry was having a hard time keeping up until he stopped and Harry realized they were already sitting in front of Ten Downing Street. "Who's `she?'" Harry asked when Kingsley looked back with a worried expression.

The Auror gulped, "We need to go in, the Queen's waiting for you."

Harry felt like he was in a horribly bad dream as he was led inside. He really really wished he'd dressed in better than jeans and a t-shirt that morning. Hermione looked like she wanted to cry. He briefly considered Apparating away, but since Kingsley had driven them here there was probably ward up preventing it. By the time they made it to the door Harry's entire body was shaking.

"I need your wand Harry," Kingsley's voice came from far away. Harry pulled it from his pocket and handed it over. After one of his duels with Remus where the werewolf had summoned Harry's wand he took some time playing with his parent's and found his mum's worked almost as well and taken to hiding it up his sleeve. He thought of handing that over too but decided what the Auror didn't know wouldn't hurt him. "You'll have to wait outside," Shacklebolt added to Hermione as he opened the door. Harry was led into the room where he found the Prime Minister and the Queen looking over that morning's Prophet. Two people he never thought he'd meet. "Your Majesty, this is Harry Potter," Kingsley announced before backing out of the room.

Harry had been on the receiving end of plenty of McGonagall's glares, but they were nothing compared to this. He hadn't felt this small since the first time Vernon had dressed him down. "So," the Queen began. "Mr. Shacklebolt informed us that this man who your paper refuses to name is the one behind the murder of my grandchildren's mother."

Harry's back went rigid, "Yes ma'am. He goes by the name Lord Voldemort."

"Lord?" the Minister asked. "I don't remember him being referred to as a Lord."

"His real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle sir. He rearranged the letters to make a new identity for himself."

"And apparently the rumor is that you are the only one to bring him to justice," the Queen continued.

Just like Kingsley had said in the car, he couldn't not tell the Queen, "It's not a rumor Your Majesty. There is a prophecy stating that one of us has to kill the other."

"A prophecy?" the Queen started. "But it must not be true, you're just a boy!"

"I'm sorry Ma'am, but it is true. One of us has to die, and every time we've met so far I've been lucky to come out of it alive."

"If you've met then why haven't you killed him already?" the Minister angrily asked.

"I can't," Harry's voice was beginning to shake. "Not yet. He's done something to make himself immortal, and I haven't been able to un-do it yet." Something caught Harry's eye in the corner.

"Well, when will you be able to un-do it and stop this murderer?" the Queen asked in a hard tone.

"I'm working as fast as I can Ma'am," Harry directed his face to her, but was looking elsewhere from the corner of his eye. "I've had to battle almost anything you could imagine working on this, including a fifty-foot snake and a dragon."

The Queen and Minister both gasped at that and for the first time Harry at least stopped worrying that he'd be disemboweled today. There was another motion in the corner and Harry felt as if someone was watching him from there, listening intently.

"You've had to battle a dragon?" the Minister incredulously asked.

"Yes sir, twice actually. Once when I was fourteen and again this July." Harry casually slipped his hand up his sleeve. He could almost see the eyes of the person watching him. A pair of yellow eyes.

"Fourteen? What could have possibly possessed you to battle a dragon at fourteen?" the Queen asked, most of the edge now gone from her voice.

"It was part of a tournament one of Voldemort's followers entered me in. I didn't have much of a choice. Stupefy!" Harry suddenly pulled his mother's wand and aimed at the corner. The Queen and Minister both let out screams of surprise, which caused two armed Muggle security guards to burst into the room guns drawn and pointing to Harry followed closely by Hermione and Kingsley but Harry was sure he'd heard a body hitting the ground.

"Harry, what are you doing?" Kingsley shouted.

"Accio cloak," Harry whimpered looking down a gun barrel and like that he was holding a wad of silvery material and Rufus Scrimgeour was lying stunned on the floor. Both of the security agents' guns went from Harry to Scrimgeour, though they obviously had no clue what was happening.

"What's the meaning of this?" the Queen demanded. "Who is that and what have you done to him?"

"That man," the Prime Minister started when Kingsley rolled Scrimgeour over, "he told me he was the Minister for Magic!"

"He is," Kingsley grimly announced. "But he's just broken several laws by eavesdropping in here. He'll be fine, Harry just stunned him." The Auror pulled him over to a chair and tightly bound him, cast a few spells to keep him in place and revived him. The Queen sent the guards away; Harry thought he saw Kingsley slyly wiping their memories on the way out.

"Shacklebolt, what is the meaning of this?" Scrimgeour demanded.

"Sir, you've got some questions to answer about what you're doing in this room if you want to avoid ending up in a cell."

"Are you joking man? I'll have you badge for this! You should be arresting that brat over there for attacking the Minister for Magic!"

"This man is in charge of your government?" the Queen scoffed.

"Yes Ma'am, I'm afraid he is," Harry replied as he unconsciously took Hermione's hand next to him.

"And who is this?" the Prime Minister impatiently pointed to Hermione.

"Oh, I'm sorry. This is Hermione Granger, my umm, girlfriend. Hermione this is… well, you know," Harry trailed off. This entire situation becoming too surreal for him, the Prime Minister actually snorted at his lame introduction.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Your Majesty, Prime Minister," Hermione weakly greeted them.

"Oh enough of this, Shacklebolt, arrest him!" Scrimgeour shouted.

"Sir," Kingsley harshly started. "As far as see it, Harry here saw a potential threat to the lives of the Queen of England and its Prime Minister and acted in their best interest. He should be awarded, not arrested."

"If I had the ability I'd see you locked away in the Tower of London for this, Minister," the Queen nearly spat out.

"Actually Your Majesty, you do have the authority to remove his title and give it to another of your choosing, and I'd be happy to escort my boss here to Azkaban," Kingsley turned to Scrimgeour with a slightly evil smile. "You never were a good boss, but I couldn't have guessed you'd do something this stupid."

"What's this Azkaban?" the Queen asked.

"It's their prison," the Prime Minister told her. "But it can't be secure, the other bloke told me of several break-outs."

"You-Know-Who broke out his followers we had trapped there from the last war, but I bet if he went back he wouldn't let Rufus walk out alive," said Kingsley.

"What's this last war?" the Queen asked.

"The wizarding war Voldemort waged in the seventies," Hermione's voice had a familiar lecturing tone. "It ended almost sixteen years ago on the night he went to Godric's Hollow to kill Harry, but after his mother sacrificed herself for him Voldemort's spell backfired and his soul was ripped from his body."

"But you must have been just a baby," the Queen looked to Harry.

"Just over a year old," Harry quietly started. "He'd heard a part of the prophecy and came to do me in before I could become a danger. He killed my parents then turned his wand on me, giving me this scar," he pulled back his fringe. "He finally got his body back a little over two years ago and has been building up his power since then."

"The ministry wasted an entire year trying to deny he'd returned. They made the Daily Prophet print all sorts of lies to paint Harry as some sort of delusional attention-seeker so no one would believe his story from the night Voldemort rose," Hermione continued.

The two most powerful people in the country stared gob smacked at Harry and Hermione as they talked. Eventually the Queen spoke, "Well if this ministry of yours is so ineffectual who could possibly lead it on and actually do some good?"

Harry looked over to Kingsley who looked as surprised as he felt. He also noted the Auror must have put a silencing charm on Scrimgeour, who was trying to shout but only turning his face a nasty shade of purple. A glance at Hermione confirmed the only name to come to Harry's mind was also on hers. "There is one man, he's actually one of our best friend's father and is head of an office in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Harry looked back to Kingsley who smiled slightly.

The Prime Minister looked to Kingsley, "Bring him here. We need to meet this man and see if he's up to the task."

"Oh hold on. Winky," Hermione called out. The little elf popped into the room wearing a pink sundress that had a few paint smudges on the front. She looked around the room curiously obviously not knowing where she was or whom she was in the presence of.

"Yes Miss Hermy?"

"Can you tell us where Mr. Weasley is right now?"

Winky closed her eyes, concentrating for a moment, "Mr. Wheezy is preparing his breakfast in his Burrow."

"Okay, can you tell him I'll be along in a moment to bring him to an important meeting?" Hermione asked. Winky nodded and popped away as Kingsley escorted Hermione away to the closest Apparition place.

"Erm… What was that thing?" the Prime Minister asked.

"A House-elf. I hired her and another named Dobby this summer to take care of the house my Godfather left me and the cottage I'm living in. Most of the older wizarding families have at least one elf to do all the house work, but they're property of their masters," said Harry.

"You mean they're slaves?" the Queen incredulously asked.

"Yes Ma'am. Dobby and Winky are the only two free elves I know of, the rest of their kind think they're a disgrace for not being enslaved but I only agreed to take them on if they would accept wages and time off. It's one of Hermione's dreams to get the rest of their kind the same treatment."

"Hold on," the Prime Minister began, "I thought you said they were your domestic help," he held up the paper with the photo of Harry clearing up for the elves.

"That was one Sunday, actually at Mr. Weasley's house. They had just served up supper for all twenty of us there so a few of us took care of the cleanup. The picture was taken by one of his," Harry indicated Scrimgeour, "little spies he has around trying to track me for some reason."

The door opened admitting Hermione, Kingsley, and a slightly flustered Arthur Weasley. "Harry, what's the matter? Hermione says it's urgent - oh my…" Mr. Weasley may not have known where he was being led, but he surely recognized the two Muggles in the room.

`,',',',',',',',',',',',',',','

Monday morning's edition of the Daily Prophet announced Arthur Weasley's succession of Rufus Scrimgeour, who was currently residing in Azkaban awaiting trail on charges of trying to disrupt the Muggle government and breaking the International Statute of Secrecy. Harry knew the charges were slightly exaggerated, but after the memory charm Mr. Weasley put on the former minister he didn't stand a chance defending himself. It was Hermione that asked Arthur to wipe everything he'd heard that day from Scrimgeour's mind, but not wanting to under-do things on his first act as Minister for Magic, Arthur cleared the very existence of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. All Scrimgeour knew was that he'd snuck into the Muggle's office under a cloak with intent on spying and been arrested by Kingsley.

Delores Umbridge was sacked before lunch. When Percy Weasley tried to resign his post, thinking his father would never speak with him, Arthur surprised many people by keeping the Junior Assistant. Harry always knew Mr. Weasley was an extremely forgiving man, but after everything Percy had said he'd expected him to end up in the broom cupboard that used to be Arthur's office.

Remus and Tonks had gone to her parents for the evening and Harry had made Dobby take the night off just needing some quiet time to unwind from the whirlwind of a weekend they'd just had, but just as he sat down with Hermione to eat the modest supper he'd made, Ron burst through the door.

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at school!" Hermione shrieked.

"I'm in detention with Bill," Ron smirked, "and so are you Harry, grab your coat!"

"What are you on about?" Harry asked.

"We're taking Dad out to celebrate! Even Charlie's come home, and not alone," Ron waggled his eyebrows drawing a disgusted sound from Hermione. "Now grab your coats! Hermione can keep Fleur and Liz company."

So it was, fifteen minutes later Harry found himself in the pub near Ottery St. Catchpole with Ron, Arthur, Bill, Charlie and the twins. "So, this is probably one of the worst detentions I've ever heard of," Harry smirked. "What did Ron do to deserve this?" he asked Bill.

"Cheeky little bugger had the nerve to show up for class," Bill answered and clinked glasses with his youngest brother.

"Now now, Harry," Fred began. "You know you won't be able to avoid the reason we're all here tonight so tell us. Just how did you pull this off?" he pulled out a picture of Arthur standing in between the Prime Minister and Queen, literally bouncing with excitement.

"What, he wanted a picture so I had Dobby fetch a camera." Everyone but Arthur stared at him; there was no way he would be able to wiggle out of this explanation. "Like the Prophet says, Scrimgeour got caught snooping. It happened to be in a meeting between the Prime Minister, the Queen and I. Kingsley's the one who made up the charges and told the Queen she has the authority to replace the Minister for Magic at will, when she asked if we knew of someone better, the only person Hermione or I could think of was your Dad."

The five youngest Weasleys around the table all stared at him for a minute. "Seriously? The Queen of England asked who you wanted for Minister and went with your first suggestion?" Charlie eventually asked.

"What would she want to talk to you about in the first place?" George asked. "I mean, we all know you're a decent enough bloke, but…"

Harry looked to Arthur, who now knew all about the prophecy thanks to the discussion they'd had after Kingsley had taken Scrimgeour away. The eldest Weasley sadly shook his head.

"I can't say much about it, but she'd heard about me being the supposed `Chosen One' and seeing as how Voldemort has taken up killing her family she wanted a word," Harry explained. "And your dad had to go through a bit of an interview on what exactly he'll be expected to do as Minister."

"I've never been so nervous in all my life," Arthur admitted drawing a round of laughter from his sons. "Having her stare me down, demanding to know what I'd do to end all this… I never thought a woman could have a more imposing stare than your mother…"

The table fell silent for what felt like hours until Bill slung an arm over Arthur's shoulder, "She'd be proud of you Dad, just like we all are." Everyone voiced their agreement as Arthur wiped his eyes.

"So you must have done some pretty fast talking, to impress the Queen," said Charlie.

"Well, Harry had laid the ground work before I'd arrived, but as soon as I informed her that the most the ministry had done was to arrest innocent people and lock them away I think she'd decided what she wanted done," said Arthur. "For the first time in all our history the Minister for Magic has a weekly appointment to update the Muggle Prime Minister and the Queen, if she's available, on the status of Magical England."

"You have to meet them, every week?" Fred asked in shock.

Arthur nodded, "It was actually Hermione's idea, such a clever girl. The Muggle Minister asked how they were supposed to learn if there were any major developments and she suggested it like it was the most obvious thing in the world." Harry felt himself blushing a little as Charlie waggled his eyebrows in his direction. Even Ron smirked at him…

"Will the meetings stop after the war's over?" George asked.

"Well, we really didn't discuss it, but I rather hope not. The frequency could be cut down, but I for one believe we need to have some sort of connection to the rest of the world, at least at the top levels of government," said Arthur.

"Oh look everyone," Fred announced, "Daddy's grown into a politician in just a day."

"Oh toss off and buy us another round," Arthur fired back after draining his pint.

"Such language!" George mocked. "Wait until the people discover who they've truly gotten as a Minister, they'll be shocked!"

"What'll really shock'em would be seeing that contraption he's got rolling around the vegetable patch," Charlie suggested.

The seven of them continued on, the decency of their conversation slowly deteriorating as the table filled with empty glasses. Around midnight Bill declared Ron's detention to be over and the pair left, Harry was glad for the first time that he didn't return to Hogwarts. The idea of having to go to class in the morning wasn't a good one. As soon as Ron had left the twins and Charlie turned their attention to Harry's relationship. In the midst of their lewd comments and demands for details Harry looked to Arthur for support, to bad he'd given up on reining them in around a decade ago. The only detail that Harry grudgingly gave up was that they were indeed sharing a room at their cottage.

The fifteen-minute walk to the pub turned into an hour and a half on the way back for the five men. They would have missed the Burrow completely but one of the Aurors standing guard (who were now there strictly to guard and not spy or track) saw them stumbling by the path. Hermione and Liz were waiting up for them and Winky had been called in for extra support. The looks on the women's faces was enough for Harry and Charlie to each try an hide behind one of the twins, unfortunately they picked the same twin to hide behind, knocked heads and fell to the ground cursing.

Charlie was quickly pulled off to Percy's old room after Fred asked if he could change Liz's hair color to match the rest of the family. Winky had her little hands full trying to keep Arthur from burning the house down as he went about fixing himself a snack. George made a joke about Harry being whipped when he shrunk back from Hermione's glare and given the state he was in Harry took it as a challenge. With a move he could still barely do sober he produced a lasso of flame that firmly wrapped around Hermione and allowed him to pull her across the room into his arms, landing them both on the floor.

"Nice move, I'd give it a five," Fed commented as waved his wand, creating a sparkly number three in the air.

"I'd give it a seven," George slurred, sending up a two in the air.

"You're just jealous I landed the prettiest witch in the room," Harry hiccupped out.

"Too bad she's the only witch in the room," Fred mentioned.

"Well, your girlfriends did stop by looking for the pair of you," Hermione informed them as she dodged Harry's somewhat slobbery attempts at kissing her, "but after seeing the state Ron and Bill showed up in they decided they might be better off without you for the night."

The twins decided they needed to find Angelina and Alicia, and after successfully knocking over every table in the sitting room managed to floo away. After checking that Winky had safely gotten Arthur to bed, Hermione Apparated Harry back to their cottage and deposited him on the sofa, not wanting to spend the night inhaling his alcohol addled scent.

`,',',',',',',',',',',',',',',','

"Get off the bed," Harry grumpily muttered the next morning. Through the piercing pain of opening his eyes he could just make out Sirius' shaggy black fur.

"He's not in our bed, Harry," Hermione's voice rang through his head. He was vaguely aware of something foul smelling being shoved under his nose. "Drink," she commanded.

Harry downed the potion and breathed a sigh of relief as the pressure in his brain washed away. "Why am I laying in front of the telly?"

"Most likely Dobby moved you off of the sofa so he could watch the morning news," Hermione chuckled.

"And why was I on the sofa?"

"Because I wasn't about to sleep in a bed that smelled like a pub," she firmly told him.

"I didn't… do anything wrong, did I?"

"Besides keeping me up till four waiting for you to come back from the pub? No, but judging from the state you returned in I'd rather not know what was said in the pub."

"Is anyone tending to Mr. Weasley? It probably wouldn't be a very good thing for the new Minister to show up for work like I just felt."

"I made up that potion at the Burrow and asked Winky to make sure he makes it in alright." Hermione assured him. "I also talked to Liz about meeting her and Charlie for lunch sometime this week before they have to return to Romania."

"But what about the Horcrux? We need to find it Hermione, we told the Queen we would-"

"I know Harry, but we can't continue on as we were. We need to step back and find another way to go about this before we drive ourselves mad."

"You're right," Harry sighed and moved to kiss her only to be held at arms length.

"Harry I love you, but you will take a shower and brush your teeth before you even think about getting that close to me."

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With the Ministry under control of Arthur Weasley the focused shifted from making people feel safe to actually making them safe. In the just under two weeks from the time Arthur took office until Hermione's birthday the Aurors had raided or destroyed every home of the known Death Eaters, something the previous two Ministers shied away from due to the families in questions status. Draco Malfoy was found hiding in the storage space beneath the drawing room of Malfoy manner and thrown in the cell next to his father. Narcissa attempted to sneak into Gringotts the next day and make off with as much money as she could carry. A team of Aurors was waiting next to the track when she returned and she soon joined her family.

Mulciber, Avery and Nott were found in the village pub near the Burrow. Remus and Tonks had gone to meet Charlie and Liz for lunch before the couple left and immediately recognized them; the Department of Magical Catastrophes had to work well into the night cleaning up the ensuing fight, one patron lost an arm but luckily no one was killed.

Hermione was thoroughly engrossed in whatever project that she'd been working on since Harry's birthday so the Monday before her birthday he decided to accompany Arthur to visit Ragnok thinking he'd have some time to find her a present after the visit. Arthur thanked the goblin leader profusely for assisting in the scheme they'd developed to notify the Aurors anytime a vault of a suspected Death Eater was visited and the three of them spend a good while talking about the surreal Sunday that had changed everything. Ragnok had just agreed to come along for Arthur's Friday meeting in the Prime Minister's office when a goblin rushed into the office and told them the Carrow vault was currently being accessed.

The team of Aurors that was kept on standby for just such an occurrence took up their positions at the main exit from the tracks as Harry, Arthur, and Ragnok left through the back door of his office and crept out into the labyrinth. Mr. Weasley had started to tell Harry to wait in the office, but upon seeing the looks on both his and the goblin's faces as they drew a wand and an axe respectively, never finished the sentence.

The trio quickly made their way around a few bends and through some passages that Harry never would have been able to find on his own until they arrived next to the tracks about twenty yards away from a stopped cart in front of an open vault. The goblin in the cart saw their approach and gave a subtle nod to Ragnok and they took to the shadows. Harry slipped on his invisibility cloak as soon as he could hear the voices of the people inside and when their group was around four vaults away from their target the brother and sister from the attack on Hogwarts emerged. The lumpy wizard named Amycus seemed to realize he was being watched and turned his head in their direction. Harry froze, he was walking down the middle of the path and knew he couldn't be seen, but one misstep would give his position away, Arthur and Ragnok however could only retreat further into the shadows. They had agreed on the way down that they would follow whoever was in the vault all the way back up to the main entrance and pin them in with the Auror support. What they didn't account for was a glint of light flickering off of the frames of Arthur's glasses, catching the Death Eater's eye.

Amycus held out an arm to stop his sister's progress to the cart as he squinted in their direction, suddenly his eyes sprang all the way open, "It's Weasley!"

"Aurors!" his sister Alecto shouted looking about franticly and before either Arthur or Ragnok could take a step towards them Amycus turned his wand to the goblin in the cart and fired off a killing curse.

Ragnok made a scream of protest as the pair jumped on the cart threw the goblin's corpse over the side and took off. Arthur fired off a stunner at Amycus, who appeared to be driving but missed. He knew it was probably the most reckless thing he could do, and Hermione would kill him for even thinking about it, but when Harry saw the cart heading in his direction he took two running steps and jumped praying his timing was good enough to land inside it.

It was, barely. Harry landed in the back of the cart with an almighty thud just as another stunner went sailing over his head. Alecto came back to investigate the noise from his landing, Harry knew he wouldn't be able to keep his cloak on at the speeds they were traveling so as soon as he saw her approaching from his crouched position he threw it to the floor and hurled himself at her, shoulder first, with all his weight. It was just enough; Harry sent her flying over the side of the cart, crashing into one of the many pillars along the walkway but not before she'd had a chance to scream his name alerting Amycus to his presence.

Harry turned just in time to duck under a jet of green light, went he got back up the Death Eater had moved from the driver's seat and was lunging at him. Harry braced himself on the seats to either side and threw up his legs, solidly landing one foot square to the man's jaw. The cart glided to a stop and he jumped off, hurling another curse over his shoulder. Harry gave chase barely missing with a stunner as Amycus rounded a corner, he ran blindly around in pursuit and found himself facing a streak of blue light. From his duels with Remus and Tonks Harry had learned some of the curses that his Manticore-hide jacket could easily deflect and threw up an arm to send the curse harmlessly aside. Amycus was momentarily startled by this and Harry used the advantage to summon the man's wand from his slack grip, unfortunately like Harry, he carried a spare and the resulting killing curse exploded a chunk of the wall as Harry dodged away showering his cheek with fragments of rock.

"Scared Potter?" Carrow mocked with a lopsided leer.

"Who'd be scared of a great lump like you?" Harry called as he rained a few more stunners down on him, which were all deflected.

"Orders or not, the Dark Lord will be pleased when I return to him with your corpse," Amycus sneered as he sent a killing curse towards Harry's feet. He was barely able to jump clear of it and the resulting explosion tore through his trousers and sent him crashing to the ground.

"The only corpse around is his," Harry yelled as he struggled to his feet.

"If only Snape wouldn't have stopped me from torturing you that night," Amycus mused. "Dear Severus hardly leaves the Dark Lord's side now, he'll be quite surprised when he finds himself replaced by me!" Harry was forced to dive under another curse. He felt his blood boiling at the very mention of Snape but then his mind drifted to his old potions book and he found himself thinking levicorpus.

The Death Eater gave a surprised yelp as he was lifted up into the air and with another very fluid wand motion Harry bound him in a whip of green flame just as Arthur, Ragnok, and a dozen others came rushing up the path.

"Harry! Are you all right!" Arthur shouted as he neared. The Aurors present formed a tight circle around Amycus who was struggling fruitlessly against his bonds until one of them had the good sense to stun the man.

"Did you pick up-"

"Alecto? Yes, her skull cracked against the rock so we've sent her to St. Mungo's. She didn't put up much of a fight," Arthur quipped as he helped Harry sit. One of the Aurors helped him take his jacket off and began checking him over.

"Could someone grab my invisibility cloak? It should be in the cart." Ragnok snapped his fingers and two goblins hustled off.

"Mr. Potter, what you just did was exceedingly foolish, I hope you realize," Ragnok grinned evilly. "I do hope you're not trying to jeopardize your availability to do business with us."

"But I thought you had to take risks in business?" Harry retorted as the Auror sliced open the legs of his trousers to clean out the rock fragments, Ragnok threw back his head and cackled.

"M - Mr. Potter?" one of the other Aurors called. "What is this?" he gestured to the still bound and dangling Death Eater.

"Sorry," Harry mumbled. He picked up his wand, cast a liberacorpus and dispelled the flames. The Aurors quickly bound and manacled him. "Just a couple spells I picked up over the last year." Harry winced as a particularly large chunk of rock was removed from his leg and the Auror went about closing the wounds.

Once he had finished with Harry's legs and face he dug around his pockets and produced a small tin, "Rub this over scabs before you go to sleep tonight and you won't have any scars."

Harry thanked the man and looked up to Arthur, "So, now what?"

"Now, you go home and try to explain to Hermione just what you were thinking when you jumped on that cart," Arthur smiled at Harry's grimace.

"I was planning on picking up something for her birthday on Friday," Harry admitted.

"Girlfriend, huh?" the one female Auror jested. "What cha gonna get her?"

"I- I don't know yet."

"Maybe some jewelry?" the Auror that healed him smirked.

"Oh, a nice necklace?" the woman put in.

"I already got her one, she never takes it off," Harry admitted.

"Maybe a bracelet?" the healer tried.

Harry shook his head, "One of those too."

"Perhaps it is time to move up to a ring?" Ragnok slyly put in. He ignored Harry's glare and continued, "I believe I could find some nice goblin made pieces that will fit just within your price range, if I remember the balance on your account correctly."

They're all enjoying this way too much Harry thought as he recovered from his coughing fit. Price range my arse.

`,',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',','

An hour later Harry was welcome back to the cottage by a happy bark from Sirius. Hermione came out from their room to greet him, "Harry I've figured out - WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!"

Harry held back a wince, he'd been expecting that, "I ran into the Carrows at Gringotts. Got in a bit of a fight, but we caught `em."

Hermione's expression froze, she went over to the table and pointed to his Pensieve, "You'll downplay it if I let you tell me," she explained at his look. He quickly relented and dropped the memory, ending just before the taunting about her present, into the basin and used the time she was inside to hide the package he had in his jacket. When she returned she looked more relieved than angry, thankfully. "You do know that it will be at least a month before I let you wander off without me," she jested before kissing him soundly.

"I think I can live with that. So what were you about to tell me when I came in?" Harry asked as she gently stroked the marks on his face.

"Oh, for a while now I've been trying to work up a way around Muggle-repelling charms, incase we ever need to bring my parents to Grimmauld Place and I think I've finally got the enchantment right. It's something your mother had started on while she was at Hogwarts; she wanted to find a way for her parents to visit but never completed it. I've enchanted a pair of medallions and I thought we could try them out tonight with Mum and Dad," said Hermione.

"That's fantastic! Do you think you could make a couple more? The Prime Minister and Queen both seemed a bit upset that they couldn't visit the ministry or Hogwarts."

"Harry, we're not even sure they work yet-"

"Honestly Hermione, if you've gotten them to the point that you think they work, then they do," Harry confidently told her. Hermione insisted they make sure everything worked properly before making anymore, but as Harry expected the Grangers had no trouble entering Grimmauld Place that evening and they enjoyed a peaceful supper in the kitchen with Winky. They learned the elf had proudly taken on the responsibility of waking the Minister for Magic every morning and making sure he had a proper meal before heading to work. Mr. Weasley, in turn, showed up at the house around lunchtime several times a week to give Winky some company. Harry realized that they were both currently the sole inhabitants of their respective homes and made a vow with himself to visit Grimmauld more often, no matter what memories it brought up.

"Hermione?" Harry asked as they got into bed that night. She made a noise to indicate she was listening, "I was thinking, after fighting Carrow. I think I should get Snape's book back…"

"I've been waiting for that," she admitted. "We got a letter from Ron today, sorry I forgot to show it to you. He said there's a Hogsmeade trip this weekend. The students don't know yet, but McGonagall told him and Padma-"

"Did he say how things are going with her?"

"Oh yes. It's actually the longest letter I've ever seen from him, mostly because he goes on and on about how she's been dumping all her duties on him."

"Why doesn't he say anything to the Headmistress?"

Hermione shrugged, "Maybe he thinks it would make him look like a bad Head Boy. I seriously hope he isn't letting his marks slip. Between his duties and I'm sure his fanatical approach to being Quidditch captain he can't have much time for studying. Anyway he asked if we wanted to meet up with him on Saturday. We could stop by the castle and pick up the book before meeting him if you want."

"That sounds good. I'll write him back tomorrow and send a note to McGonagall letting her know. I don't think she'd appreciate us showing up without warning."

`,',',',',',',',',',',',',',',','

That Friday was Hermione's birthday but before seeing to anything for her they agreed to stop by the ministry and give Mr. Weasley the medallions Hermione enchanted for the Queen and Prime Minister. Harry was momentarily confused by Ragnok's presence when they arrived in the office until he remembered the invitation Arthur had given him on Monday and much to the young couple's dismay Arthur insisted they present the gifts themselves. And of course there wasn't time before the meeting to go home and change.

The four of them traveled by floo to the Prime Minister's office and had a bit of a hard time introducing Ragnok. The Prime Minister kept thinking he was speaking to a different kind of House-elf and couldn't figure out how Ragnok could be a leader of an enslaved race. It had taken Dobby and Winky a full twenty minutes the day they'd first met to make the to Muggle leaders understand that most elves were perfectly happy being slaves, though both the Muggles and Hermione voiced their extreme dislike of the situation. By the time they had sorted out the Prime Minister's confusion Harry wondered if it would just be easier to give him one of his old history of magic textbooks.

Arthur's war update went over extremely well and Hermione's gifts were most welcome. Harry could see how excited Arthur was about the possibility of giving the Muggles a tour of the ministry or even Hogwarts, now they just had to find the time to do it. The one major concern the Prime Minster had, and Harry had to admit it was a very good one, was how hey planned on keeping the prisoners locked away this time as several of them had already been set free once. Arthur promised to have a few options drawn up by their next meeting.

Seeing as how most of their friends were at Hogwarts, Harry arranged with the Grangers to have a nice meal out, just the four of them, at a small Indian restaurant near their home that Hermione had always liked. Dan and Emma presented Hermione with a white gold tennis bracelet with diamonds, sapphires, and emerald alternating along its length, stunning her almost to the point of insensibility. When she unwrapped Harry's gift of a vine wood jewelry box with her name inlaid with the same gold she knew they had worked together on her presents. Naturally the box was much larger inside than it should have been, but Hermione was struck speechless when she found three matching sets of pendants and earrings to go along with the stones in the bracelet. Eventually coming out of her stupor, Hermione put the diamond earrings on and promptly slammed the top closed on the box when the mirror in the lid let out a shrill wolf-whistle. Hermione's reaction made Harry decide once and for all that it was indeed a good thing to have a goblin-friend.

Hermione was still waltzing on air when they returned to the cottage and when she showed Tonks what she'd received the Auror made several cracks about having to steal Harry away from her before Christmas.

They all sat around the table and Remus and Tonks presented Hermione with a photo album they'd started with several pictures they'd been covertly taking of her and Harry going all the way back to before they moved in the cottage.

Dobby and Winky walked into the room, he was carrying a somewhat lumpy package while she was levitating a cake she'd made for the occasion.

"Happy Birthday Miss Hermione," they chorused. Harry breathed a sigh of relief; he'd been up half the night working with the two of them.

"Thank you, both of you. You didn't - wait, what did you say?"

"Happy Birthday Miss Hermione," they repeated. Tonks and Remus both began snickering across the table as Hermione looked at Harry with her mouth slightly open. Dobby looked slightly frightened by the ferocity of the hugs he received both before and after she saw the knobbly sweater he'd knitted for her.

Harry was more than happy to comply when Hermione asked to go see the sunset. This had become close to a habit for them, but Harry knew it would have to be put on hold soon due to the ever-colder weather. When they came down they found Sirius and Crookshanks patiently waiting for them in the field.

"Hey boys, did you bring a present for Hermione too?" Harry jokingly asked the pair. Sirius dropped something on the ground in between them in response, but Harry couldn't tell what it was until Hermione lit her wand. It was a rat. A dead rat with a silver paw. Sirius barked happily at their shocked expressions.

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