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Harry Potter and the Three Travelers by shlamboozle
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Harry Potter and the Three Travelers

shlamboozle

Disclaimer: People who are not me own all things Harry Potter. Damn it.

4. Just another Monday

There was a man with thick matted black hair standing in front of Harry. In one hand he had his wand, and in the other, he held Slytherin's gold locket just out of Harry's reach.

"Give me that!" The man simply shook his head, and prodded Harry in the shoulder with his wand. "I need that, give it to me!" He shook his head again and started laughing as he resumed poking Harry. "Seriously, stop poking me and give me that locket!"

The man was laughing in a very high-pitched voice, and kept prodding at Harry. "Get off me; I need that!" The laughing intensified, and Harry could only think that it was a very girlish laugh for a man.

"Harry Potter, sir!"

"Stop laughing." Harry said as he opened his eyes, only to see Dobby's large, green eyes staring back at him. "Dobby! What the hell are you doing here?"

"Dobby was sent to wake Harry Potter by his Hermy. She is waiting to talk to him through his talking glass." The elf was bouncing with pride from successfully completely his mission, and Harry identified the laughter he heard in his dream as actually being Hermione waiting to talk to him through their mirrors.

"What the bloody hell could you possibly need to talk about this early?" He still hadn't even reached for his mirror, but was sure she heard him, "And why did you feel the need to call in Dobby to wake me up?"

"Because Harry, I'd been shouting at you for nearly twenty minutes before I gave up and asked him to help, and by the way, I believe Hedwig might own him an apology." Harry peeked over his blanket to see Dobby holding up the back of his hand, which had obviously been poked several times by his faithful owl.

"Well, Hermione, I think you might owe Dobby an apology for sending him here in the first place." Harry could see Dobby's face cross with fear; he thought he had failed his favorite wizard. "Dobby, it's okay, really. There's no reason for her to be dragging either of us out of bed this early." Harry crawled out of bed, and went over to thank his owl for guarding him while he slept. "Don't be mad at Dobby, girl, he's just following orders, even if they were bad orders." Still blurry-eyed from sleep, it took him a moment to realize Dobby was leaving a small puddle of tears on his bedroom floor. "Dobby, are you alright? Hedwig didn't peck you too hard, did she?" Then Harry realized the elf was staring towards the floor, and followed his gaze to his own feet.

He had fallen asleep wearing his socks, and Dobby immediately recognized them as the ones he had made for Harry two and half years ago. Harry had worn these socks into the maze that year, and since then, they seemed to bring him luck whenever he brought them back out; for some reason, when Harry got dressed yesterday, he grabbed them. "Harry Potter is wearing…" Dobby squeaked out in almost a whisper.

Harry kneeled down in front of his friend and said, "Of course I am. They're my favorite…" Dobby mouthed his last word while looking like Christmas had come early.

"Hello?" Apparently Hermione was growing a bit restless waiting for Harry to talk to her, so he set Dobby (who was still looked to be in shock) on his bed, and picked up his mirror.

"Yes, can I help you? What could really be so important that you had to wake both Dobby and myself?" She smiled slyly, but refused to look Harry in the eye.

"It's Monday."

He waited for her to continue, but when she didn't, "Okay, it's Monday. Why should I care?"

"Because, if you hurry up and get ready, Tonks can come over and bring you to the Ministry where you can take your Apparition test." She looked slightly smug, but still wasn't looking directly at Harry, who realized it might be because he was only wearing his boxer shorts and socks.

"You woke me up to take a test? What about Ron? I thought we were going to take it together."

"Really Harry, you know his nerves. He was scared enough the first time, and that was with just me, if you were there with him, he'd probably splinch himself." Harry didn't really like the thought of pushing Ron aside, but she did have a very good point.

"Do I really need to point out that I could go in at anytime, not just first thing in the morning? Tonks will probably hex you for waking her at this hour."

"Really Harry, I've already called Professor Lupin, and he said he'd wake her shortly, so I'd assume he's Apparating over to her flat right now." A small part of Harry's brain kicked in, Remus couldn't Apparate, but he told Hermione he would wake up Tonks, so were they staying together? Maybe at Headquarters, but that didn't make much sense since they both had their own homes…

"Harry, you're blanking out again."

"Oh, sorry. Just thinking about something you'd said." He could tell she was about to ask what, so he quickly lied, "Just wondering what Ron would leave behind if we had to test together." She seemed to believe him, but still had a bit of a shrewd look on her face.

"Anyway, I suggest you hurry up and get ready, before Tonks finds you without…" She trailed off and Harry again realized just how little he was wearing. He could only imagine the teasing he would receive from Tonks if she saw him like this, talking to Hermione. "And if you're up for it, I thought we could meet for lunch after your test, and maybe chance a trip to Flourish and Blotts to see if they have any extra information to help us find the you-know-what's."

Harry looked over to his nightstand, and sitting there next to his wand was the necklace he had retrieved with Dumbledore. He wondered briefly if Hermione was really just trying to get him out of his relatives' house to avoid any more confrontations. "Alright Hermione. But any work we do looking into it needs to be done here. Just to help keep up the protections on the house, I'll just have to sneak you up here when my Aunt isn't looking."

"But you always said she was extremely nosey. What if she overhears us talking about it all?"

Damn. She always found the weakness in his plans. He looked absently around his room trying to think of a way to quiet his room, and he spotted Dobby. "I'll just have to hire Dobby to do a little work on my room while I'm out" he said with a smirk.

><><><><

Harry had quickly showered had forced a few sickles at Dobby (when Harry tried pulling out a Galleon, they all seemed to be burning hot), and the little elf promised that when Harry returned nobody would ever hear what was going on in his room again.

As he was trying to talk the elf down to a simple silencing charm, Harry heard a knock coming from the direction of the back garden; he bolted downstairs trying to beat his Aunt to the door, unfortunately she had been in the kitchen cleaning up after Dudley's early morning snack. When Harry arrived he found Petunia looking aghast at the young woman in front of her, who happened to be sporting neon green hair at the moment.

"Wotcher, Harry, ready to go?" His Aunt spun around to see him entering the kitchen, and Harry could see her inner desire to scream at the top of her lungs.

"Sure thing Tonks. Sorry Aunt Petunia, I guess I forgot to tell you that I have to go into London today to take a test," really he had never even planned on taking the test, but neither of the women in the room needed to know that "Tonks here just stopped by to escort me, and apparently forgot all about the time I asked her not to show up with funny-colored hair." Tonks raised an eyebrow at this; as if to ask why he felt the need to lie, but thankfully she went right along with Harry.

"Sorry about that Mrs. Dursley. Sometimes I just completely forget what color I'm wearing at the time." She quickly morphed her hair to a modest length, and changed it to jet-black.

Harry had to fight back the smile as his Aunt dropped the spoon she was clutching, the last hint of color in her face disappearing. "I'll be back sometime after supper, Aunt Petunia" he said, while rushing Tonks outside, where he was about to Apparate the two of them to the Ministry, before she stopped him.

"Hold it there Harry, you might be able to get away with popping around to most places, but if you get too close to the Ministry, they can pick up who's leading who. Not that I mind having a guy leading for a change." Harry simply shook his head at her smirk, and placed his hand on her arm, allowing her to guide him into the atrium of the Ministry of Magic.

><><><><

After Tonks had shown Harry to the testing center on level six, she left to attend to some Auror business (he knew better than to ask what). Harry signed in for a testing slot, and being the only one there this early, didn't have to wait long until his instructor from Hogwarts, Wilkie Twycross, came out of the office.

"Well, good morning Mr. Potter. Didn't think I'd be seeing any of you students this early in the morning." Harry really had to fight the urge to tell him it was not his idea at all to be up this early while on holiday. "So, as I remember you caught on pretty easily to the basic form of Apparition, so if you would like we could brush upon the better points of Side-Along Apparition instead of a review, if you wish."

Harry held back a chuckle as he remembered traveling with Hermione recently, "Actually sir, I'm already proficient in that area."

"Really? Well, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised as much as Albus went on about you. I suppose he was the one to show you?" Harry nodded. "Well then, if you feel up to it, we can test you for both licenses at once."

"Err… There's a separate license for that?" Harry had been unaware that he had possibly been breaking two laws.

"Oh my yes. We need to monitor the people attempting that purely for the safety of the others involved. Now the third form of Apparition; have you ever attempted to Apparate to a person instead of a place?" Harry shook his head. "Well, Destination, Determination, and Deliberation are still the main focus of what you are doing, simply instead mentally placing yourself say, in your back garden, let your mind see yourself standing next to someone. It usually works better with people you have a strong emotional connection to, but under the right circumstances, pretty much anyone you've met will work."

A nasty though popped into Harry's mind "Wait, does that mean that any-old time, I could be walking down the street, and Voldemort could pop up next to me?"

The older man surveyed Harry in a way that very closely resembled Dumbledore, "Technically, it is entirely possible, but the emotional connection required doesn't agree well with the kind of anger I assume ol' Tom holds for you, unless of course he's a complete masochist." The shock of hearing somebody else using Voldemort's given name must have shown on Harry's face, "Of course I know what his name was. Never forget a student as brilliant as that. Sheer Determination in everything he did, and unfortunately, he almost always succeeded. `Cept when it came to you, `eh boy? Though I do suppose the trade-off for proving him wrong could've gone better on your side of it all."

The only other person to be that frank with Harry had been Mad-Eye Moody, and it left him feeling quite uncomfortable, "So there's no license required for that type of Apparition, but I assume it's a bit risky to try?"

"I doubt you have anything to worry about there lad, if half of what Albus said is true. Now for starters, this room will allow you to Apparate out, so why not pop on over to the front steps of Gringotts. I'll meet you there just as soon as I'm sure you've not left anything behind."

Harry did as he was told, and a second later, he was rejoined by Mr. Twycross.

"Excellent. And hardly a sound as you left. Almost seems like you've gotten a bit more practice than I was aware of. No matter about that, care to try and take me along somewhere? It doesn't have to be far, but if you're up for it, it has been a while since I've had a bar of Honeyduke's finest." He winked at Harry, as a show of confidence, and without another thought, Harry latched onto the older man, and brought them both to the road in front of the candy store. "I say! Albus certainly taught you very well. I've never seen a student pick that up so quickly." The old man seemed about to burst with happiness. "I don't suppose you be up for trying to Personally Apparate?"

Harry was a little out of breath, but the enthusiasm pouring out of Wilkie was very contagious. "I suppose, who do you want me to try to meet? I am supposed to be meeting a friend for lunch later, maybe try and join her a bit early?" Harry inwardly wondered why his mind again seemed to immediately jump to her, but decided not to dwell on it for now.

"That would be fine, but it would work best if I knew where she was, and you didn't. Any chance we can make that happen?" Harry quickly pulled out his mirror and explained to Hermione what he was about to attempt. In the end it took Twycross to convince her to assist, and when she told him her secret destination, the old man jumped in surprise. Harry had been too far away to hear what she had said, but when the older man came back shaking his head, he got a little worried. "That friend of yours has a lot of nerve, though I suspect she might have been trying to call my bluff. Ah well, if you think you're ready, she should be in place by now."

Harry mentally checked himself, and then concentrated with everything he had on being next to Hermione. When he stepped forward into the Apparition, the feeling of compression was there, but it was somehow much warmer, and almost comforting. Fearing he had done something horribly wrong, Harry refused to open his eyes until after he had felt himself over to make sure his entire body made the trip; finally looking up, he realized why his instructor had been a bit surprised by Hermione's choice. Harry had shown up in front of her, while she sat on the front steps of the Shrieking Shack. When he realized where they were, Harry broke out laughing, and was soon joined.

"Harry, I can't believe you actually did that! My tester didn't even go into it at all, just handed me a brochure and told me to stop by with any questions, really, well done!" She was positively beaming at him, and Harry noticed the warm feeling from a moment ago hadn't gone away. "Mr. Twycross asked that once you met me here, you should bring us both back to him, and he'll give you your licenses."

When Harry guided her back, Wilkie was amazed at how quiet they were upon arriving, and quickly finished off two licenses for Harry. "Well, Mr. Potter, I suppose you'll not have any reason to stop by and see me again, but if you're ever in need of some pointers, feel free." With that, the old wizard disappeared without a sound.

"Well then, what do you say to the Three Broomsticks for lunch? My treat since you seem to have done so well" said Hermione brightly.

"Great, just let me pop back down to London. I told Tonks I'd let her know how I did." She agreed to get them a table, and Harry traveled back to the Atrium, walked up to the security desk, and asked for an interdepartmental memo. Taking the pale violet paper, he quickly scrawled,

Tonks,

Passed all three tests, got both licenses. Thanks for picking me up this morning.

Harry

After the guard showed Harry how to send the note on its way, he started for the exit to rejoin Hermione when he walked straight into Mr. Weasley.

"Oh, Harry, I was hoping to see you today, just never thought you'd be here this early! I say did you come here alone? When Remus mentioned bringing you by I assumed he would be with you." The red-haired man was looking around expectantly for one of his regular guards.

"Don't worry Mr. Weasley, Tonks came with me earlier. I just received my licenses, and was on my way out to meet Hermione for lunch," Harry felt a bit guilty mentioning her to Ron's father, since he hadn't even gotten around to writing his other best friend yet.

"Ah, of course. Congratulations, I suppose, though I believe there was never a doubt you would pass. I was asked by both Ron and Ginny to deliver these to you if I saw you today," he took two envelopes out of his briefcase and handed them over. "They seemed quite insistent that I be sure you got them, so please find some time to reply soon, if you can." Again Harry felt horrible for ignoring the Weasley's after coming back from Hogwarts.

"Of course Mr. Weasley, I'll write back tonight, promise." Arthur patted Harry happily on the shoulder before continuing his way down towards his office; as Harry emerged outside the visitors' entrance, he was surprised to find Hedwig waiting for him on top of the phone booth. She glided down to his shoulder and nipped his ear before he Apparated the pair of them to Hogsmeade to claim his free lunch.

><><><><

When Harry first entered the Three Broomsticks, Madam Rosemerta tried to shoo him back out the door for bringing in an owl, until she realized who she was talking to. As much as he still hated his fame, it was handy from time to time.

After Harry had told Hermione everything Twycross had told him, she passed on word from her mother that Harry was welcome over for supper anytime he wished. "Is she hoping for another chance to question you, or are you just trying to keep me away from my Aunt and Uncle?" asked Harry.

Hermione's cheeks turned slightly pink, "Well after what happened two days ago, I might have mentioned to Mum that it couldn't hurt to keep an eye on you. Oh that sounds horrible, I know, but I know how much your Uncle aggravates you, and I was serious when I said you shouldn't have to go back there, it's just not safe."

Harry chuckled to himself at her accusation. No matter how awful his relatives were, Harry knew that their house was probably the safest place for him to be, at least until his birthday. Ron and Hermione knew that Dumbledore insisted he return there every year, but Harry had never gone into depth on just what was protecting the house. He decided it was time tell her, but not in a pub. It was still early, and if they went straight back to Privet Drive, they might even be able to look into a few of the memories Dumbledore left behind for Harry.

After Hermione had paid for their lunch, Harry popped the three of them back to his room on Privet Drive. Hermione laughed a little at the mess Harry had been able to make in such a short amount of time, before settling herself in for his explanation.

It was hard for Harry to try and casually explain things that all revolved around the death of his Mother, but Hermione proved a very patient listener. He finished with telling her that two weeks seemed to be all he really needed to stay, so he planned on packing everything right before the Weasley wedding, and only come back to pick up his trunk.

Hermione registered how much thought he had put into his plan in an instant, "Well then, where are we going after then? I know you want to spend some time in Godric's Hollow, have you looked into any rooms there?"

"Not yet, I was planning on having Remus help with that. He's just about the only person I know that knows the area, and I imagine it might be a bit hard for someone my age to rent out a three bedroom flat."

"Three? Who all are we taking?"

Harry thought the answer was obvious, "Just you, Ron, and myself. I'm not about to ask the two of you to kip out on the floor, and I suppose after all of these years, I'd rather not listen to Ron's snores."

"Well, I'm sure my parents would be willing to help pay-"

"No. Trust me, they don't need to-"

"But Harry-"

"No. I had planned on doing this alone, then you and Ron got into the mix, but that's it. The less people know about what we're doing, the safer everyone is."

"Please Harry, at least promise me that you will ask for help if we need it. There really are plenty of people willing." Not wanting to push the issue, he decided to change the subject.

"I ran into Mr. Weasley at the Ministry, and he gave me a couple of letters."

"Oh. Do you want me to leave you alone to look them over?"

Harry definitely heard the disappointment in her voice, "No, I wasn't trying to get you to leave or anything, I just promised Mr. Weasley that I'd reply tonight, besides, I'm sure I'll end up telling you what's in them anyway. You haven't heard from Ron yet have you?"

Hermione rolled her eyes "I received a letter from him yesterday in which he tried to tell me off for leaving him alone on the train, before he went on about how I was welcome at the Burrow as soon as I could get away from `the Muggles.' I mean honestly, it's not like they're my PARENTS or anything." Harry tried to hold back a laugh from her outburst, "HARRY! It's not funny! Doesn't he realize that other people have families too, and they might actually want to spend some time with them?" Her words made a brief shadow pass over Harry's face, "Shit! I'm so sorry Harry, you know I wasn't trying to say anything about you."

There was a single tear dropping down her cheek, and Harry knew the last thing she would ever deliberately do was throw the fact that he didn't have a family of his own in his face. "Hermione…" Her nervous look amplified, "You swore." It took her a moment to realize he wasn't mad. "Why didn't you tell me he'd written? I assumed I would have heard from him sooner than this as it is."

"Well, maybe you should read his note, it might say." He set the note from Ginny aside, not really sure if he ever wanted to open it, and opened the other.

Harry,

Just what did you think you were playing at? I understood that you wanted to try Apparating back to London, but you didn't have to take Hermione, and leave me all alone, without saying good-bye! Then you send that crazy House-Elf to the train, who petrifies Ginny and me when we try to find out what you and Herms are up to! Really, I know you like him because he's helped you out a couple of times, but he's a menace.

Anyway, Mum says you need to stay with the Muggles for at least a little while, but it shouldn't be a problem if you come out a couple days before the wedding. Just write back and let us know when you're coming, but no guarantees you get your own room; apparently it'll be a full house.

Let us know soon, and be sure to write Ginny, she keeps crying every time somebody mentions your name.

Ron

Harry wordlessly handed the note to Hermione, and then eyed Ginny's. Deciding to get it over with, he ripped it open.

Harry,

I've decided not accept what you told me at the funeral. I was watching Bill and Fleur earlier today, and I realized that even though times are hard for couples such as ourselves, it's our ability to hold onto the things that matter that will bring us to the other side of all of this. Remember what McGonagall said in the hospital wing? Dumbledore would be happy to think there was a little more love in the world.

I don't know what Hermione told you to not take the train home, but you need to stop listening to her all the time. Sure, she's smart, and does have a few good points to make some times, but she's just going to get you in trouble. I'm sure it was also her idea to send that deranged House-Elf after Ron and I, knowing how she feels about them, so I won't hold it against you.

Mum said something about you having to stay with the Muggles for a while, but I'm sure if I ask her you can come stay with us a lot sooner. Just be sure to apologize for not being on the platform, you have no idea how unpleasant she was, and I'm not sure I want to know what Dad had to say to her to get her to calm down.

We're your family, remember that Harry, so come home soon.

Love,

Ginny

Harry dropped the letter in disbelief, and walked over to the window, not noticing Hermione picking it up. Ginny had "decided" for him what needed to be, and on top of that, had insulted two of his closest friends. He didn't know if he wanted to laugh at her attempt to win him back, or be angry for what she said; in fact, he thought her letter sounded an awful lot like the one Percy had sent Ron back in their fourth year.

"Well, I must say, Ginny is sounding much more adult-like than you made her seem, Harry." He spun around to see Hermione holding both letters in her hands.

"Well, I suppose I might have exaggerated a little when I said that was why we broke up, but really, with what she says about you and Dobby in there, I don't see why you should want to defend her."

Dobby, who had appeared as soon as Harry spoke his name, looked between the two sullen teenagers before shouting, "Who has hurt Harry Potter and his Hermy? Dobby will make them pay!" Hermione immediately jumped off the bed and grabbed the elf by his shoulders.

"Dobby, you will do no such thing. Harry's just received some letters that were a little less than nice, there's no need for retribution, right Harry?"

"She's right Dobby, but I have to ask, what did you do to Ron and Ginny on the train?" The little elf pulled down on his ears so fast, all three of the hats he was wearing slid down to the floor.

"Dobby is sorry Harry Potter, but your Wheezy's didn't believe him when he told them he had already made it to the platform, and was about to leave. They were removing their brooms from their trunks to go find Harry Potter and his Hermy, so Dobby thought it best to petrify them. He knew Harry Potter would not want his friends hurt looking for him!" Harry and Hermione both went for the elf to calm him down, while Hedwig looked on in annoyance. She still hadn't forgiven him for that morning.

"Since you're here Dobby, would you mind standing guard as Hermione and I go back in the Pensieve?" She sharply looked back at him.

"What about the letters? Aren't you going to reply?"

"I will, later. I did promise Mr. Weasley after all." Harry quickly shuffled through the tubes Dumbledore had left him, having decided to show Hermione the memories he had viewed in his lessons. He had forgotten that two of them needed to be translated from Parseltongue until she asked him what the people they were watching were hissing at each other. When they finally came out of the memory Harry had gotten from Slughorn, Hermione's expression couldn't have been more thoughtful.

"I suppose you want to rush home and look something up?" Looking slightly embarrassed, she simply nodded. "Right, follow me out to the back garden. It's where Tonks Apparates to, so it should be good for you too."

They both said good-bye to Dobby, who disappeared before anyone could try to pay him, and were just making their way down the stairs when Dudley came around the corner heading up. When he saw the pair of them, his expression turned quite evil.

"Well, look at this. The freak snuck a girl up to his room. I wonder what Dad will think about this when he finds out?"

"Dudley, I might be underage yet, but Hermione here isn't, and let me tell you, she wouldn't think twice about turning you into something a whole lot worse than a pig." To help show his point, Hermione was casually pointing her wand down at the chubby boy, but he didn't seem fully convinced, so Harry decided to try another approach. "Get out of the way," he hissed at his cousin in Parseltongue, still clearly in his mind from his recent translations. It had the desired effect, as his cousin turned around and bolted out the front door, not even bothering to shut it behind him.

"Harry, you really shouldn't tease him like that. He just doesn't know-" her voice stopped when they reached the sitting room, and she gazed around not knowing what to make of the unnatural cleanness of the room. "Harry," she was looking at the wall of family photos, "where are you?"

"Taking the pictures."

She tutted away his sarcasm, "Your cousin resembled a pig in a wig when he was young, though I assume you've noticed."

Harry laughed a little, and pulled Hermione outside through the spotless kitchen. "It should be safe for you to Apparate to here if you ever feel the need to come collect me, just let me know you're coming so I can warn them," he gestured back to the house, "and before you ask it, I'd love to come over for supper some time, just let me know when, and I'll pop over." Hermione smiled brightly and hugged Harry before Disapparating.

When Harry got back to his room, he went to his desk and tried to decide the best way to reply to Ron and Ginny's letters.

Ron and Ginny,

First off, I'm sorry Dobby had to petrify you both, but from what he tells me, you were both about to jump off of a moving train, so I can hardly blame him for keeping you both safe. Also, I'm sorry that I didn't get a chance to say good-bye to either of you, I just got caught up in the idea of talking to certain portrait, and at the station, Hermione and I both just really wanted to get home.

I got my Apparition licenses today, so I can come to the Burrow when the time comes, but I really should stay here until just before the wedding, maybe just a day or two early if you need help setting things up.

Tell your Mum I'm sorry I missed her on the platform, and I'll see you both soon.

Your friend,

Harry

He didn't think he had it in him to write Ginny her own letter, so he settled for the joint one, hoping she would take the hint. He looked over to Hedwig, who had been watching him write. "I'm sorry girl, but I think you're gonna have to sit this delivery out. Dobby?"

"Yes, Harry Potter sir?" Harry's little fiend looked as happy as ever as he appeared once again in his room.

"Dobby, how would you feel if I paid you eleven Sickles to take this letter over to Ron and Ginny at the Burrow?"

"Dobby would be most happy to take Harry Potter's mail where ever it needs to go, but he must not try to pay Dobby so much, he will do it for the honor of serving the greatest wizard he knows!" Harry sighed, knowing he was going to lose, and eventually haggled Dobby up to five Knuts.

Left with just his owl for company, he went back to his reading from the previous day. He had spent too much time in the last year trying to pretend things were better than they really were, and it had cost him more than he ever could have imagined. He needed to start seriously planning his next steps if he ever hoped to accomplish his task. Hermione would help him, she always did, but this was so much larger; he was beginning to think they might need more help, but who? The Weasley's? It was going to be hard enough for Mrs. Weasley to let go of Ron when the time came, much less help them. The twins might be able to help, but he doubted they could leave their shop unattended for long periods of time. Lupin…

Remus didn't have any of the standard entanglements, as far as Harry knew, but involving him surely meant Tonks as well, unless Harry was prepared to ask him to keep everything secret from her. He would have to ask Hermione's opinion the next time he talked to her, which would probably be tonight, knowing her. Grinning broadly, he picked up the book he had borrowed from her and began reading…


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