Salvation Takes Time

Salvation Takes Time

Author: Jason Thompson

September 20, 2005

Spoilers: Up to PoA for sure, after that, it's a crap shoot.

Dedication: Dedicated to the usual suspects; Genova aka Schweet, Bri, Mary, Duchess, Dale, Blaire, Red, Stone Cold, Ice Wing, Arashi, Aslan, Vega, Tony D, Jen Zimmer, Louise, Sairs, and Queen Angel who have allowed me to bounce my ideas off them, and Krac, cause she has the evil bunny slippers.

Salvation Takes Time

Prologue

"The problem with hiding in a cave in the Highlands is, of course, the constant smell of mold and mildew." Sirius Black's voice broke the relative silence of said cave, it wasn't a complete silence, the fire he'd built was crackling and the heavy rain outside was making a gentle rumble around them. The fugitive wizard smiled at his companion. "Wouldn't you agree Buckbeak?"

The hippogriff gave him an indignant reply before he threw it a dead rat. They'd been holed-up in this cave for nearly two weeks, the only time he'd left was to get that hyper-active owl off to Harry. Dumbledore had actually sent him the little owl with instructions for him to lay low until things calmed down before trying to seek shelter in one of the Black Homes, most likely 12 Grimmauld.

He smiled at the animal who provided him a look of epic annoyance. The animagus grinned and said, "I'm sorry my friend, but being fugitives gives us few options for places to stay. You're right though, we have many more problems…" Both fugitives looked up at the sound of apparition deeper in the cave. He reached into his tattered robes for his wand, realizing far too late that he was unarmed. "Chief among them, I'm unarmed and an unknown wizard is here."

They backed up towards the mouth of the cave, Sirius grabbing a heavy rock along the way. He wagered he'd need surprise and even then, if the wizard or witch was skilled he'd get one chance to disable or disarm them before the hexes started flying. He hid himself in the shadows and waited.

A dark figure crept into his sightline, wand out and in front of them in a classic Auror's posture. For most wizards in a dark cave, this might be a welcome sight; however, Sirius was first and foremost a fugitive so he took no solace.

He slowly raised the stone and prepared for his moment. He'd knock the Auror out; take their wand and move on to another hiding place. As the intruder came close enough to him, a voice called out in the darkness, "Lumos." Just prior to light erupting from the wand, he recognized the voice as female. He was greeted with a young witch with chin-length hair that perfectly matched the pink of the bubble gum she was chewing. She smirked at him, her violet eyes glittering with mirth as she blew a bubble then said. "Wotcher Sirius, how's tricks?"

He was so flabbergasted by her casual greeting that he lowered his rock slightly. He was defeated by a punk-kid, likely just graduated from training and she'd caught him without a struggle as he couldn't do anything now before she could fire off any number of incapacitating spells. She quickly surprised him by wrapping him up in a hug. "I've missed you cousin."

Sirius quickly realized who it was he was with, "Nymphadora?"

She pulled away from him with a grimace. "You know I've always hated that name!"

He grinned at her, "I didn't even recognize you."

She winked and stepped back before her pink hair shortened and darkened. Her eyes changed as well to the same grey-blue of her mother's as well as her black hair. "Metamorphmagus. Found out while I was at school. It's why Amelia Bones recruited me."

He frowned at his cousin suddenly, “I'm sorry Nymph, I can't let you take me in. I'm innocent, Harry needs me."

She grinned, "I know Sirius, Dumbledore asked me to bring you to him. My Partner, Kingsley is picking up Remus and Arthur's bringing Harry. He has a proposal."

He narrowed his eyes at her, "What kind of proposal would require Dumbledore sending out a girl still in Auror training after a fugitive?"

She grinned and he watched her hair color change until it was a shocking shade of orange and her eyes became an unnatural blue. "I'm your closest relative that you wouldn't try to kill and isn't in Azkaban. Plus in a way, I'm involved in this plan of Dumbledore's. Now if you're done being distrusting?"

"What about-"

"The hippogriff? Don't worry, Hagrid and Dung will be along to collect him and take him to one of the family homes."

He sagged and tossed the rock aside, she smiled gently then holstered her wand and pulled out a saucer emblazoned with the Hogwarts logo. "Portkey, I hate 'em, considering my clumsiness but they're the only way to get in without a floo."

Sirius nodded his agreement before grasping the plate. A few minutes later they felt the familiar tug on the cores and they were gone from the cave.

&&&&&&&&&

Sirius looked around the room wildly for a moment, praying he hadn't been suckered and it wasn't a Ministry holding cell. Seeing the familiar sights of the Headmaster's office, he sagged and released a breath. A moment later, four more people popped into existence. Remus and a black man that Sirius assumed was Kingsley were clutching a tea cup while Arthur and Harry held a small cushion from a chair between them.

The red-headed man nodded politely to Sirius and said good night to Harry before leaving the office quietly. The dark-skinned man nodded to Tonks and turned towards the desk where Dumbledore sat, "By your leave Headmaster."

The old wizard smiled and his hand extended towards the door, "Thank you for your assistance, Auror Shacklebolt. Good night."

The auror nodded to Harry and then Tonks who replied with "Night Shack." He exited the office and pulled the door shut behind him.

"Gentlemen and lady," Dumbledore smiled to Tonks, "Please make yourselves comfortable." The quartet found places to sit. Harry and Sirius sat at the two chairs in front of the desk, Tonks took a seat on the nearby couch while Remus leaned against a bookcase. Dumbledore picked up a bowl off the corner of his desk and held it out. "Would anyone like a toffee?"

The adults politely refused but Harry reached out and took one. Sirius was certain he heard him mumble about not getting dinner from the Dursleys, when he looked towards Remus he saw a scowl on the werewolf's face which suggested that Remus heard it too. He turned back towards the older wizard and said, "Pardon me Albus, but you had a proposal?"

His white beard concealed an amused grin and stifled a chuckle before he spoke. "Straight to the point, good. I'm sad to inform you Sirius that our dear Nymphadora and her training-partner Kingsley Shaklebolt cornered and killed you while attempting an arrest outside of Liverpool."

He turned to see Remus and Harry's stunned expression and a smirk on Tonks' face. He turned back to Dumbledore with a confused expression, "I don't feel dead."

"That's good, Sirius. During his first year, young Harry secured the Sorcerer's Stone from Voldemort. The stone had many uses, especially in potion creation. Nicholas Flammel used some of those potions to live a very long time, but there were other age-related potions that the stone was capable of creating. Flammel recently sent me the last dose of one of those potions."

He stood up and walked over to a silver tray near Fawkes' perch and picked up a sealed vial. "This potion reverses the aging process Sirius. It is my intention for you to use this potion and pose as a Hogwarts student entering your fourth year."

Sirius' eyes widened and he looked to Harry, the boy had a strange mix of concern, worry and hope in his eyes and Sirius felt some of that hope rise in him. "I pose as a fourth-year Gryffindor both to hide from the Ministry and…"

Dumbledore smiled wide, "And spend time with a young man, who I am sure wants nothing more then to spend time with his Godfather." He turned to Harry and spoke, "It may not be exactly the relationship you expected to have with Sirius, but I think it will be better for you both to have a more normal relationship as opposed to Sirius trying to write while hiding in safe houses."

Remus stepped forward, "So we fake Sirius' death and his will…"

Sirius smiled, "My will was simple Moony; Harry's my heir and the Lord of the House of Black. The money and properties are split between you, Harry, Andromeda and her family." He turned to Harry and grinned, "Just think of the mayhem we can cause! The Marauders ride again!"

Harry grinned, "That's great, but won't you need an assumed identity, Sirius?"

Tonks stood up and carefully crossed the room. "That's where I come in. Mum and Dad have agreed to pose as your parents Sirius, or should I say, Ickle Brother?"

The older man laughed, "Perfect, I always loved you mother Nymph. I know the perfect name, 'James.'"

Remus and Dumbledore both smiled and nodded approvingly while Harry raised an eyebrow, "My father?"

The Animagus grinned, "Yes Lil' Prongsie. Your father was one of my best friends and his family took me in after I turned sixteen and ran away from home. The least I could do is honor the memory of your father in any way I can." They ignored the mumbled comment from Remus that sounded suspiciously like 'What would Padfoot know about honor' and turned back to Dumbledore, "What about the students? Will I be 'transferring?'"

The old wizard smiled, "No Sirius, I think a memory charm or two placed in the Hogwarts letters of the majority of fourth year students and a select number of Gryffindors in the other years placing memories of James Tonks as a friend of Harry's will cover it. Harry of course will know, as will the Weasley children and young Miss Granger. They will all, save Harry, be placed under the Fidelius charm so that they will be unable to tell anyone you do not wish to know, Sirius will be the secret keeper as it is his secret to keep." He looked them all over for a moment, "Is that acceptable to everyone?" They all nodded.

"Excellent, Remus, could you take Harry back to Privet Drive please? After Sirius takes the potion, Nymphadora will take him to her parents' home. You'll stay there over the summer both recovering from you incarceration and getting used to your new persona."

Harry stood up and turned to his Godfather, "Write me when you feel up to it, James." He smirked at the name, "Ron's family is trying to get tickets to the Quidditch World Cup match, and maybe I can talk them into taking your mangy arse along."

He shook his head at the boy, "You'll have to do better then that Pronglet, I learned from the master."

"My father?"

Remus clasped Harry on the shoulder and chuckled, "More like your mother, she'd tear Sirius up one side of the Common Room and down the other; much like young Hermione does to your friend Ron. In fact, before we take the portkey back to Privet Drive, let me tell about the time in seventh year Lily caught Sirius on a date with a pair of sixth year ladies from Ravenclaw…"

&&&&&&&&& End Prologue &&&&&&&&&

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Salvation Takes Time

Chapter One

Harry stumbled out of the fireplace and landed face down on the floor of the Weasley kitchen. He was really growing to dislike magical travel as thus far they all seemed to have left him face first on the floor or ground at some point. He'd either crashed or fallen off his broom playing Quidditch countless time, the portkey back to Privet Drive from Hogwarts left him in a heap on his bedroom floor while Mooney tried to stifle his laughter, the Knight Bus ride was an unabashed nightmare and the less said about his mishaps with floo powder, the better.

Two pairs of hands grabbed his upper arms and hauled him up and he found the eager faces of Fred, George and Ron. As Fred and Ron cleaned him up, George looked at him eagerly and asked, "Did he eat it?"

Harry shook off the wobbly feeling the trip gave him and nodded awkwardly, "Yes… What was it?"

Fred smirked at him while George brushed the last bits of soot off Harry's shoulders with an equally wicked expression. Fred then proclaimed proudly, "Ton-tongue toffee, our latest invention."

As Harry had come to expect over the last three years, George picked up where his brother left off, "We've been looking for a test subject all summer."

Both twins cast an annoyed look at Ron who frowned and said, "Need I remind you that it was James and my idea to use that fat muggle as a test?"

There was laughter at the kitchen table and Harry found two red-haired men he'd never met. He had seen them in pictures enough to recognize them as Ron's oldest brothers, Bill and Charlie. The stockier of the pair got to his feet and held out his hand, "How're you doing, Harry?"

The other man, Bill, looked up from his breakfast and grinned, "Nice to meet you Harry."

Ron gestured to the men, "Harry these are my other brothers, Charlie and Bill."

Harry smiled, "A pleasure." He then shook their hands in turn.

Fred and George looked about ready to pump him for information when Mr. Weasley appeared in the Kitchen with a pop and looked far angrier then he'd ever seen him. He turned on the twins and fumed, "That wasn't funny Fred! What in the name of Merlin did you give that boy?"

Fred didn't even attempt an innocent expression, he merely allowed a wicked gleam to shine in his eyes, "I didn't give him anything, I dropped it. It's not my fault that he didn't have the sense not to eat something off the floor."

Harry watched as Bill, Charlie and Ron all tried desperately not to laugh, Arthur turned on all of them, "THIS IS NOT FUNNY! Things like this hurt relations between Wizards and Muggles! After all the work I do and my own sons-"

George shook his head, "We didn't do it because he's a muggle dad, we did it because he's a bullying git!"

Fred nodded and turned to Harry, "Isn't that right, Harry?"

Harry nodded, "It's true Mr. Weasley."

Arthur seemed to deflate for just a moment before shaking it off, "That's not the point, and you just wait until I tell your mother-"

Mrs. Weasley chose that moment to enter the kitchen from the next room, "Tell me what?" She narrowed her eyes at the twins for just a moment before she noticed Harry. Her face immediately softened, "Hello, Harry dear." She gave him a quick appraisingly look, "My word, you are much too thin Harry! I'll just make you a quick breakfast before I start lunch. You and James really need some meat on your bones." Harry noticed out of the corner of his eye that Arthur, Fred and George all seemed to relax as Mrs. Weasley doted on him, perhaps Mr. Weasley hadn't really wanted to tell them.

She turned to her husband and the suspicious look returned, "Tell me what, Arthur?"

Mr. Weasley frowned and looked away, "Well… George and Fred… They… I-ah, I've talked to them already…"

She stared at the twins for a very tense moment before turning to Harry again, "Sit down, dear. I still have some eggs and sausage; I'll make some for you and James."

Harry suddenly smiled, "Siri- James is here?"

"I arrived a few days ago Pronglet."

Harry turned around at the familiar voice behind him. Sirius, now officially James Sothis Tonks stood in the doorway with a smirk on his face. Harry was surprised at how different his Godfather looked from that night in Dumbledore's office. He was much younger of course, though some of his features still shone through, his grey-blue eyes were now alive with both mischief and youth. His face was softer but still aristocratic and had a fullness that marked a young man who was eating well, despite what Molly might think. His hair was shorter and no longer messy and dull, Harry could see a hint of the haunted expression in his eyes but it was buried deep down underneath the mirth on his face.

Sirius looked alive, Harry crossed the room and the two young men crushed each other in a brotherly hug. Harry laughed and pulled back, gripping his Godfather's forearms, "You look great!"

Sirius laughed, "I feel great, even after the potion reversed my aging process, I was still very ill. Andromeda and Ted pumped me full of nutrient potions for the first week and fed me almost as well as Mother Weasley here. Then Nymph took me out and got me a new wand at Ollivander's and she put me through the paces, otherwise with all I was being fed I'd be as large as that obese uncle of yours."

The pair suddenly found themselves being ushered to the table by Molly. She sat them down and dropped plates in front of them. "I'll be just a few minutes cooking the eggs and sausage."

Ron sat down across from them, "She's been feeding Snuffles about five times a day."

Fred and George flanked Harry with a pair of chuckles. Fred clasped his hands over his heart and said. "'You simply must eat James, you need your strength.'"

George laughed, "'You're nothing but a bag of bones, why look, you can still see your feet.'"

Molly returned moments later with a pan of eggs which she split between them. "Tuck in boys."

James smirked into his plate and Harry tried to swallow his chuckle then began to eat himself. He was grateful for the meal after the last few weeks at Privet Drive. As he ate, he noticed Fred and George watching their parents out of the corner of their eye, seemingly waiting.

After Mrs. Weasley gave them the sausages, Mr. Weasley whispered in his wife's ear for a moment then said he was going out to the shed to work on some muggle devices he'd brought home a few weeks ago, Mrs. Weasley puttered for a few minutes then said she was going to check on him, though Harry noticed a strange grin on the woman's features as she exited.

Harry looked around the table to see several different expressions on the Weasley Brothers faces. Fred and George looked relieved, Bill and Charlie were smirking and Ron had turned a rather unappetizing shade of pale. "That's disgusting!"

Bill laughed, "What's the matter Ron? Not in the market for another baby brother or sister?"

Harry knew he missed something, but after Bill's comment he decided that was for the best. The idea of Molly and Arthur… he crushed the thought before it became a mental image. Fred and George leapt up, Fred then said. "Never mind that…"

George continued for his brother, "We have something for you Harry." George reached into his pocket and produced a folded piece of parchment. Both twins then chorused, "Happy Birthday Harry!"

Harry smiled enthusiastically, his birthday was a few days earlier and the Weasleys (as well as Hermione, Hagrid, and the Tonks family) had sent him birthday cakes he was still excited to receive presents. He picked up the parchment and looked it over, flipping it over in his hands. It was completely blank. Harry knew Fred and George were jokesters, but he didn't think their sense of humor was so eccentric. "It's just a piece of parchment." He then held it up to them, "I'm afraid I don't get the joke."

George beamed, "Oh you will."

Fred took the parchment then produced his wand while George waved all of them around the parchment. Fred then tapped his wand to the parchment and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Suddenly the parchment sprang to life; lines began drawing themselves and resolved into words. "Messrs. Fredrick and George Weasley Proudly Present to You the 'Weasley's Wizard Wheezes' Official Catalogue: Offering Magical Pranks for All Occasions." Harry immediately turned to James with a grin; they'd used the same charm as the Map.

He heard one of the twins say, "James offered up the charm for the parchment and we kept the password to honor our idols."

James pretended to wipe a tear away, "Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs would be proud to see someone taking up their fight against gits and arses." They shared a laugh before turning back to the parchment.

He opened and read through it, chuckling at the product names and descriptions. He finally stopped at a potion marked new and read the description aloud, "'Marauder's Delight: Is there someone in your life who's especially slimy, disgustingly greasy hair, oily skin, perhaps even foul tempered? Slip them a little of this and they'll be a joy to be around, bright shiny hair, healthy color and a joyful attitude. We guarantee it to bring a tear to Prongs' eye.'"

Ron laughed, "We even tested it on Pansy Parkinson a couple of weeks ago, I was shocked, because she was rather pleasant to talk to, smarter then I thought someone who clung to Malfoy's coat-tails to be, she actually knew who Viktor Krum was."

Harry just nodded politely, hoping that Ron might give him a clue to who Viktor Krum was. But quickly decided that some teasing was required, "So, when's the wedding then Ron?"

"Pardon?" Blue eyes narrowed to wary slits while Ron's mouth became an annoyed frown.

He shrugged, "It's just you sound like you fancy her is all."

Ron's knuckles cracked menacingly, "You're dead Potter."

However before Ron could make good on his threat his older brothers pounced on the opportunity to pick on him allowing Harry and James to finish their breakfast and escape the suddenly boisterous kitchen. The last thing he heard clearly was Charlie's voice saying. "Little Ronnie Parkinson…" Then Ron roared and the sounds of wrestling overtook the teasing voices.

As they slipped out the back door and sat down on the porch Harry turned to his companion and said, "Hey Sirius, who is Viktor Krum?"

Sirius shrugged and his eyes twinkled with mirth when George's (or maybe Fred's) voice carried out to them, "OW! Bloody Hell Bill!"

"Bulgaria's seeker, I guess he's the youngest seeker on the international circuit in years. Ron and the Twins haven't shut up about him in three bloody days." He pointed to the catalogue in Harry's hand, "I have to admit, Fred and George have cooked up some ingenious little items. I especially like the 'Puking Pastilles.'" He then said, "Shut it off will you Harry, they're worried about their Mother's reaction."

He pulled out his wand and tapped the parchment, "Mischief managed." The parchment then cleared completely and Harry pocketed it. "So, did you get your letter?"

James grinned, "And my books and my robes and did my homework assignments for the summer, as far as the Ministry is concerned I'm James Tonks and speaking of homework assignments…"

The rumbling in the kitchen was quickly subdued by a familiar shrill tone. "Honestly Ronald! Shouldn't all of you be beyond this rough-housing?"

James smirked, "Well, it's probably a good thing Hermione didn't know your father and I when we were Bill and Charlie's age."

The door sprang open and Harry suddenly found himself crashing off the porch with Hermione tangling him up in her arms. "Harry!"

He laughed and returned her hug, "It's good to see you too, Hermione." He noted strangely that her cheeks reddened slightly when he said it but set the thought aside.

After a few moments, she pulled herself out of his arms and to her feet. He quickly followed suit and the pair sat down on the porch while ignoring James' smirk and the strange expression on Ginny's face. Hermione spent a moment smoothing her skirt before she turned to him. "How was your summer?"

He shrugged, "As good as a summer with the Dursleys can be expected to be. I landscaped the backyard."

She gave him a sympathetic expression, "And your birthday? Did you enjoy the cake my mother and I baked?"

He smiled, "It was great Hermione."

She blushed again and looked away, Harry also noticed a frown mar Ginny's face for a moment. Finally, Hermione coughed and said, "Your homework, did you keep up on it?"

He nodded, "I finished it a few days ago."

She gave him a mildly stunned expression before a smile stuttered its way onto her face. "You did?"

He nodded, "Well, the Quidditch Cup you see. I knew if I didn't finish my work, you'd houn-" He flushed and coughed at her raised eyebrow and amended his statement, "Be disappointed in me so I finished it all."

She grinned at him, "It took me a day to get Ronald to even start his, so despite your motives I'm proud of you and I'd be happy to review your work."

&&&&&&&&&

It had taken several hours for life at the Burrow to settle down, shortly after Hermione offered to check over Harry's homework Percy came storming into the kitchen in a snit about some report he was writing for his job at Gringott's. Bill then remarked that as Percy's supervisor, he'd let it slide, followed quickly by the twins calling Percy a boot-licker, which only renewed verbal hostilities between the Weasley brothers (mostly Percy and the Twins) the argument got so heated that shoving resumed and a second brawl broke out in the kitchen and it took a jet of red sparks from the wand of an extremely annoyed and disheveled Mrs. Weasley to stop it. The boys immediately froze in position; Percy had George in a headlock while Fred and Ron were on the floor, Bill and Charlie were trying to stifle their laughter.

She sent Bill and Charlie out into the back yard to set up the tables for dinner while she sent Ron and Ginny out into the back yard to De-gnome the garden, Percy went back to his room to finish his report. She then shooed Harry and Hermione off into the other room.

As they were exiting the kitchen, Harry heard Molly say. "As for you three, don't think I don't know about those blasted Order Forms. It's bad enough that Fred and George want to sell these things, but you're a grown man, Sirius!"

Harry heard the newly young man reply, "Ah, but Mother Weasley, as you know, Sirius Black is no more, I'm James Tonks, a fourteen year-old boy. Can I help it if your sons corrupted me?"

"Don't argue semantics with me young man!"

Harry bit down on his laughter, he wasn't sure until this moment, but his Godfather may have been a genius. Hermione turned to him with a morbid grin, "I think Dumbledore made a huge mistake bringing him back to Hogwarts."

Harry shrugged, "I don't know Hermione, he wants to bring out the best in his students and who better to bring out the best in Gred and Forge than a Marauder?"

She smiled at him, "It scares me that that might be one of his reasons Harry."

&&&&&&&&&

"Who knew that your mother had so many pots and pans?"

Fred and George both smirked at Sirius and said simply, "We did."

The dark-haired man smiled, "Well it was good practice for this year's detentions."

The twins laughed and left the kitchen for their bedroom-slash-laboratory before Bill and Charlie could return. This left him with the chance to actually catch up with Harry. He knew the boy had to have a thousand questions about his father and mother and it would be his greatest pleasure to let Harry know all about Lily and James as well as Remus and maybe even himself.

He stepped into the sitting room and found Harry sitting at a small table in the corner with Hermione. The table looked to be loaded down with books and quills and parchment. The young girl was looking over Harry's essays and other assignments with an expression that reminded him of two women he loved dearly, McGonagall and Lily. The girl was very clearly in love with the learning process. She finished the parchment in her hand and gave Harry a pleased expression, "This might be some of your best work Harry. I don't see any reason for Professor Binns not to give you an 'Outstanding.'"

That was the moment something interesting happened and Sirius' plans of re-forging the Marauders were forced to change. Harry blushed slightly and looked down and away. Because he looked so much like his father, Harry's expression rang clear. It was the same look James had when Lily would tell him that she loved him. It was an expression of stunned admiration.

Molly gently touched his shoulder, "Help me in the kitchen dear?" He followed her into the kitchen and she handed him a bag of potatoes to wash while she set the carrots out to begin peeling themselves. "You saw it then. I remember seeing James and Lily bringing Harry to Diagon Alley for his first birthday. It was right before they went to Godric's Hallow, I knew all of you through the Order of course but I had never seen any of you outside that setting. I was very pregnant with Ginny as well as taking Bill to Madam Malkin's for his first set of school robes."

She turned to look out the window to see Bill and Charlie bashing the tables together and repairing them over and over again. She smiled at the boys then turned back to him. "James was showing Harry a snitch he'd bought him and Lily frowned and said that she wouldn't let Harry play that barbaric sport. James retorted that it was a child's snitch and would teach Harry eye-hand co-ordination and help his reflexes."

He grinned, "Prongs told me the day before about buying it and we spent an hour coming up with that argument. Besides being the truth, we felt that would be the best one."

She nodded at him, "Lily looked at James for a long time before she said that she knew that wasn't why he bought but she didn't care because he believed that it would be good for Harry just the same. James gave her such a bashful smile, so unlike the one he'd flash in meetings after you two had done something fool-hardy and bull-headed." She nodded out towards the room Harry and Hermione were in, "Harry flashes that very same smile every time Hermione is pleased with him."

She sighed, rubbed her forehead for a moment then turned back to him. "That's what makes it so hard James, knowing how he feels for Hermione when he's the one person my only daughter wants."

&&&&&&&&& End Part One &&&&&&&&&

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Harry watched as James passed through onto Platform 9 ¾ with an amused expression. James and the Tonks' women (Andromeda and Nymphadora) had arrived at the station together to help keep up appearances. Dumbledore had explained that it would help re-enforce the Memory Charm he'd placed on key Hogwarts letters if he was seen with his family. Harry wondered if it was perhaps to help re-enforce James' feeling of safety, with the masquerade firmly in place he'd never have to worry about returning to Azkaban.

Also, it allowed Tonks the chance to tease her "little brother" one more time.

Ginny and the twins passed through the barrier next followed by Hermione and himself. Ron and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would bring up the rear of their make-shift caravan. When they passed through the barrier, he noticed that they had other people there to see them off. Bill and Charlie were there as well as Remus.

The Weasleys gathered en masse and began the long process of saying good-bye to each other as well as Mrs. Weasley imploring the Twins to avoid trouble. He then watched Andromeda have a seemingly heartfelt good-bye with James that had his Godfather actually looking around uncomfortably. The younger Tonks woman merely pulled her brother into a hug, and with a smirk planted two dramatic, wet kisses on each cheek before letting him go.

Harry and Hermione shared a grin, after the last week, they needed a few light-hearted moments. The Quidditch World Cup match had been exciting, with Ireland taking the cup in spite of Viktor Krum (Who Ron did seem to have an unhealthy fixation on) catching the Snitch in a spectacular display of flying. Shortly after the match all Hell broke loose.

Masked Wizards raided the camp site sending curses and Unforgivables in every direction. Bill and Charlie had drawn their wands and leapt into the fray while Mr. Weasley sent Harry and the others into the forest to hide before he joined his oldest sons. He, Hermione and Sirius had gotten separated from the Twins, Ginny and Ron and had then run into Malfoy who taunted them (At the same time proving the memory charm had been successful by referring to Sirius as James and taunting him about his Mudblood father) before running off. Harry then noticed that his wand had gone missing.

Then Harry saw a strange sight in the night sky. A gigantic floating skull of emerald smoke appeared in the sky with a smoke-like snake coming out of its mouth. He'd heard his Godfather mumble, "No… Not him…"

He'd asked what James meant when Hermione went pale and told him it was the Dark Mark, Voldemort's Mark.

The Aurors arrived later and quickly gained control of the situation, then proceeded to accuse him of casting the Dark Mark. A house-elf named Winky was found stunned in the forest carrying Harry's wand. They cast a spell on the wand and found that it had cast the Dark Mark. There was an argument between Mr. Weasley, Barty Crouch, Amos Diggory and Ludo Bagman which ended with Mr. Crouch sacking Winky who had belonged to him.

When they'd returned to the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley was beside herself with worry and clutching the Daily Prophet. She and Mr. Weasley had a tense discussion about an article before he returned to his office. Harry then pulled Ron, Hermione and James out of the room and explained to them about the dream he'd had of Voldemort killing that man. The four of them had a heated discussion that ended with both Hermione and James telling him to go to Dumbledore when they arrived at school.

They made the trip to Diagon Alley with little in the way of excitement. Though, when they got to Madam Malkin's Harry found that he was buying more then just a new set of school robes, James, Mrs. Weasley and surprisingly, Hermione spent a great deal of time helping him get fitted for a set of dress robes. When he'd asked why, James and Hermione shrugged and told him it was required while Mrs. Weasley got a knowing smile on her face. When they returned to the Burrow, James and Harry had had quite a laugh at the expense of Ron when his mother had given him his dress robes.

They were velvet, maroon in color with worn-looking moldy frills at the cuffs and collar. James remarked that they more closely resembled a dress than dress robes which sent Ron into a mild snit.

He was jarred from his memories by Remus' hand on his shoulder and his smile, "A word Harry?"

He nodded at his former professor and followed him away from Hermione. Harry frowned, "Is this about?" He pointed vaguely at his scar.

The werewolf smiled and shook his head, "No, this is about…" He looked around to make sure no one was listening and continued in a more discreet tone, "Padfoot."

He immediately relaxed, "Oh, what is it?"

The Marauder smiled, "When Sirius was in school with me, he was rather…" He frowned trying to find an appropriate term, finally he settled on, "Amorous, starting around fourth year. I'm afraid that young 'James' will take after his cousin in that respect."

Harry frowned. He didn't understand what the older man was getting at, "'Amorous?'"

Harry felt a hand clap his shoulder and he found himself flanked by James and Ron, "He means I was as randy as a three-balled Kneazle." The now-youthful Marauder smiled wistfully, "I was legendary, if I do say so myself." He made a show of winking at Ron and Harry then said, "You two stick with me and I'll have you knee-deep in knickers by Christmas."

Harry and Ron's reaction to the boast were polar opposites. Ron grinned widely and wickedly while saying, "Really? You promise?"

Harry went pale and then stuttered out, "'Knee-d-deep in kn-knickers?' He then searched the platform wildly to make sure no one had heard his voice crack.

James moved around Harry to Ron's side and draped an arm casually over the red-head's shoulders. "Oh yeah" He drawled. "Ron, my boy, haven't you ever noticed just how many lovely buxom young girls there are in Hufflepuff with poor self-images?" His eyes lit mischievously, "Come with me boys, I'll teach you everything I know about the fairer sex."

A sarcastic snort came from behind them and Harry turned to see Hermione glaring at James. "That, James, should take less than an hour." Ron and James turned around to face the fuming brunette.

Remus snorted in laughter, "Amazing Hermione, you know, Lily once told him the same thing."

The young woman completely ignored the former professor as her eyes narrowed upon James, "Honestly! Have you no shame, James?" She then reached forward and gripped Harry's forearm before leading him off to the train. "Come along, Harry."

With a smirk, James then yelled. "No Hermione, I don't have any shame. However I do have a nine inch," He arched an eyebrow when Hermione and Harry turned back to him, "Wand."

He winked at Harry while Hermione squawked and led them more forcefully onto the train, but not before Harry heard Remus say. "Easy there Padfoot or she'll snap that wand."

&&&&&&&&&

When they'd found a compartment, James handed Harry a stack of letters for him to read concerning the "death" of his Godfather. The first was a letter from the Child Services Office of the Ministry telling him that Sirius had adopted him prior to his imprisonment. The office had suspended the process while waiting for his trial, Dumbledore had written them approving the adoption not long before Sirius' "death." The second letter was also from the Child Services Office, and explained that Sirius' will had named Andromeda Tonks his guardian and instructed him to get in touch with her should he have any legal issues in the wizarding world between now and becoming a legal adult.

The third letter was from Gringott's and informed him of the specifics of Sirius' will. Sirius had spilt the vast Black fortune three ways; Moony and the Tonks family received a quarter of the monies and properties a piece. Any dark relics found in the vaults (That he never had the chance to inspect) were to be given to the Ministry either for study or destruction.

The remainder of the Black fortune was Harry's to do with as he saw fit. He'd also named Harry his heir, meaning on his seventeenth birthday he'd be the Patriarch of the House of Potter and the House of Black. The monies had been transferred to his name while an additional trust had been transferred to the one his parents had left him. The note closed with a request for his presence to review a list of properties he now had access to.

The next note was from Mr. and Mrs. Tonks:

"Dear Harry,

"My name is Andromeda, I am one of Sirius' cousins (One of the few he trusted as my sisters Narcissa and Bellatrix are both faithful servants of the Pure-Blood doctrine Sirius despised) and as you have no doubt been informed by the Ministry, I am now your guardian.

"My son James has spoken very highly of you as well as my daughter Nymphadora and it is my wish to get to know you better.

"My role in your life can be as small as a representative of your interests legally and as large as a close aunt or cousin; that is up to you though I hope you'll choose the latter. With that in mind, I cordially invite you to spend the Christmas Holiday with my family.

"I hope to hear from you soon Harry.

"Sincerely,

"-Andromeda Tonks

"Post Signing; please ask my son to write (Preferably in a public place.)"

Harry closed the letter from Mrs. Tonks with a smirk, Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom were in their compartment discussing the World Cup and Harry felt the need to follow his guardian's wishes. "James, tell your mother I appreciate her letter and she's asking you to write home. She misses you terribly."

Much like Ron's older brothers had a few days earlier, his roommates pounced on the opportunity to pick on James for being a Mother's Boy. Surprisingly, Ron subdued them in favor of finding the Twins and showing them the catalogue as well as finding out if Fred and George had found out any information about the secret his mother, Bill and Charlie were teasing them with on the Platform.

James cut him a dirty look, though his blue-grey eyes were dancing with humor. "That was a dirty trick, Harry."

Harry grinned and turned towards the window, he noticed Hermione sitting across from, she rolled her eyes slightly and turned to the "Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4." He watched the heavy rain fall against the window as they made their way north.

The compartment door opened again and Harry turned to face a fuming Draco Malfoy, as always the pale faced boy was flanked by Crabbe and Goyle who seemed to look more like a pair of Gorillas with each year that passed. "Think it's funny, Potter? That your blood traitor Godfather gave you, a dirty half-blood Gryffindor, my birth-right?"

Harry didn't reply, but James did. "Actually, I think it's rather funny, if only to finally see some color on a Malfoy."

Hermione then said. "Why did you even come in here?"

Draco whipped his head towards her with his scowl deepening, "Silence Mudblood! Your betters are speaking!" Harry started to rise to his feet, "If you think anything changes now Potty, just because you're a Lord-"

Harry rose to his full height while his jaw set angrily, "It does change things Malfoy." He stepped forward, "If you ever speak a word to Hermione in a way she doesn't approve of from now on, I'll cut your mother off and dissolve her marriage to your Death Eater father. You'll be a bastard in the eyes of the law and they'll take every knut you have to your name." He looked hard into Draco's eyes, daring the Slytherin to say something. This was a carefully planned response that he, James and Ron had decided on for the first time Malfoy ran his mouth off either about the Black fortune or Hermione. They'd rehearsed it all right down to the wording and the cold look in Harry's eye as James knew it would strike hard at what Malfoy cared for most, money and power. He spoke again in a voice that could freeze a flame, "Get out."

After just a moment of hesitation, Draco led his minions out of the compartment. Harry slumped back into his seat, Hermione smiled at him strangely. "Thank you Harry."

He shrugged while trying to ignore the burning in his face. Despite practicing the speech actually talking like some puffed-up Wizard like Gilderoy Lockhart was embarrassing. She turned back to her book while Harry picked up Ron's discarded copy of the Daily Prophet to hide his face. He was reading an article on the attack at the World Cup by a reporter named Rita Skeeter when he heard Hermione announce she was going to go change into her school robes.

A moment later a wad of parchment came over the top of his newspaper and hit him in the nose. He lowered the paper and looked at James with an annoyed expression. His friend then motioned to his left with only his eyes. Harry followed his eyes and his brain stopped operating correctly. Hermione was up on her toes, digging through her trunk which they'd stored overhead and he had a spectacular view of her denim-encased backside.

His newspaper fluttered out of nerveless fingers, forgotten as he was presented with conclusive evidence that his best friend was a girl. As the thought made its way through his brain it began to re-classify everything he thought about Hermione and he suddenly realized that she was not only a girl, but a pretty girl.

He'd noticed girls at some point last year and though he couldn't pin down the exact moment he remembered one incident clearly. He'd been eating breakfast before the match with Ravenclaw; Katie Bell entered the Great Hall talking with Oliver Wood. The Quidditch Captain pointed out that her shoe was untied and as Katie kneeled down to tie it, Harry noticed her blouse had fallen open slightly giving him a glimpse of soft skin and white cotton. It was a life-changing moment for sure, if only because he now had trouble looking Katie in the eye without blushing.

Since that moment he began to notice the girls of Hogwarts in a brand new way; Angelina's long legs, the way Alicia twirled her hair, the way the Ravenclaw Marietta Edgecombe's skirts were just a few millimeters shorter than most girls, and that Susan Bones of Hufflepuff had a pretty smile and she filled out a sweater much better than most girls as well. He'd also developed a crush on Cho Chang of Ravenclaw.

Yet somehow Hermione had passed by without his notice until this very moment. He couldn't understand either, now that he realized that Hermione was in fact a woman like the others, he realized that her legs were much nicer without the need for shortened skirts, she did twirl her hair when she read as well as bite her lip and though she wasn't as buxom as Susan Bones she certainly filled out a Hogwarts sweater well. He now wanted to see her caught up in reading as he was wondering if the sight was as alluring as the memory.

With her robes gathered, Hermione closed her trunk. She turned around and gave him an amused expression. He suddenly realized that he must have looked rather comical. "Are you alright?"

"Wha?" He blushed at his failed attempt at speech and tried to clear his throat.

Hermione laughed, it was a lovely sound, and said. "You're acting very strange Harry."

She left him alone a moment later with a very amused James. His friend smirked at him and said, "All right there, Harry?"

He was completely gob-smacked as he turned to his Godfather, "Padfoot, she's a girl."

James' barking laughter rang through the compartment before he said, "Of course she is Harry."

"How did I not notice before?"

James stood and sat back down next to him, "Because it was more important to you that she was your friend than her being a girl, until now of course."

Harry's face suddenly fell, "She's pretty too, what am I going to do?"

"Well, let's start small, go get changed into your robes, then we'll worry about wooing young Hermione." He nodded mutely and got his robes out of his trunk before leaving the compartment himself.

Ron returned as he left and after taking one look at Harry's expression he turned to James and asked, "What did I miss?"

James smirked and said, "Oh just young Harry growing up." After he closed the door he heard that same barking laughter and he sighed, it was going to be a long time before his friend let him live this down.

&&&&&&&&&End Part 2&&&&&&&&&

Harry was as miserable as he was wet when he Ron, Hermione and James slipped their way through the Entrance Hall. On top of the torrential rain outside, Peeves had decided to bomb them with water balloons. As they approached the doors Professor McGonagall called out to them, "Mr. Potter? Mr. Tonks? A word please."

Harry turned to see Ron shrugging and entering the Great Hall, he gave Hermione a pleading expression and she smiled at him, luckily he was flushed from the cold so she couldn't see him blush. "Ron and I will save you a seat Harry."

He smiled gratefully and followed James over to their head of House. She gave the pair one of her more stern expressions then said, "Listen very carefully you two. Twenty years ago, James Potter and Sirius Black along with Remus Lupin spent their days playing pranks on students and faculty alike. I know very well that you two, in particular Mr. Tonks, would like nothing better than to relive their 'glory.'" She frowned when she said "Glory" then continued. "I'm asking you both to refrain from following too closely in their footsteps. After all, Mr. Black and the Senior Mr. Potter were responsible for much of my gray hair." She finished with a ghost of a smile.

James grinned widely, "Oh but Professor McGonagall, had they known you would look so lovely with it, Cousin Sirius and James would have worked that much harder."

It seemed Professor McGonagall was torn for just a moment between smiling gently and hardening her face suspiciously, she settled for the latter. "Mr. Tonks, flattery will only get you," She grinned, "The benefit of a doubt." She waved them towards the Great Hall and said, "Scoot."

They entered and crossed the Hall to the Gryffindor table, as they did Harry noticed Daphne Greengrass look their way from the Slytherin table. Unlike so many others, she was both perfectly dry and perfectly groomed. The blonde-haired fourth year girl was generally considered to be the Slytherin ice queen. She was widely considered beautiful but she was separated from the affairs of those around her. She locked eyes with James and gave him an appraising look. He noticed from the corner of his eye that his friend smirked slightly at her and she raised an eyebrow at him.

Harry nudged his friend, "What was that about?"

James smirked, "She heard my exchange with Hermione on the Platform. She's interested in seeing my 'wand' so I offered to escort her on the first Hogsmeade weekend."

They found two open spots at the table and sat down. Ron grinned, "Heads up Harry."

Harry looked up and found an out of breath third-year standing in front of him. Colin Creevy was short with blonde hair and an ever-present camera, he also looked at Harry like some sort of conquering hero. "Hiya Harry! James!"

James nodded in a friendly manner while Harry helped his friend, "Hi, Colin."

He smiled widely as he did anytime Harry actually talked to him, "Hey, guess what Harry! My brother starts this year! My brother Dennis!"

Harry smiled slightly while Ron was biting his tongue and Hermione rolled her eyes. James then said, "Hey, that's great Colin."

The excitable third-year barely registered what James had said, "He's really excited!"

Harry wasn't sure, but he thought he heard Seamus Finnigan mumble, "'He's' excited?"

Colin must not have heard him as he plowed on. "I just hope he ends up in Gryffindor! Keep your fingers crossed, eh, Harry!"

Harry smiled, "I will, Colin." He turned to his friends with a shrug, "Why is he worried? I always thought that siblings were sorted into the same house."

Hermione smiled, "There is the Patil Twins, Parvati's a Gryffindor and Padma's a Ravenclaw."

As he absorbed the information, Harry looked towards the staff table. He noticed quickly that in addition to the absences of McGonagall and Hagrid he didn't see the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Hermione gave voice to his thoughts, "Where's the new Defense teacher?" She turned to them with a worried expression, "What if they couldn't find anyone?"

Ron frowned as his stomach loudly grumbled. "I wish they'd hurry up, I'm starving!"

It was almost on cue that McGonagall ushered in a long line of first years. This year's group looked almost miserable as drenched as they were and it was a toss-up whether they were shivering from nerves or from being cold. Towards the back of the group was a curious sight. One of the smallest of the group was trailing behind wrapped up in a coat so large it had to be Hagrid's. Despite being soaked to the bone, he looked positively thrilled to be there. His eyes found the Gryffindor table and Colin in specific. He waved as enthusiastically as possible while swimming in Hagrid's coat at Colin and mouthed, "Fell in the lake."

After the Hat sang its song and McGonagall began sorting the students, Harry turned to the others. "That wasn't the song the Hat sang when we were sorted."

Fred and George leaned in their direction and Fred whispered, "He sings…"

George picked up mid-sentence and perhaps mid-thought, "…A different song every year."

Ron nodded while looking longingly at his still empty plate. "I imagine it's a terribly boring life being a hat. He spends the whole year thinking up his next song I'd bet."

"Creevy, Dennis."

Harry looked up to the front to watch the tiny, wet little boy hop up on the chair while still wrapped up in Hagrid's huge jacket. The hat barely had time to drop nearly all the way to Dennis' shoulders before shouting out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Once the hat was off, Dennis leapt from the chair and nearly bounced over next to his brother with a huge grin, "I fell in the lake! It was brilliant! I fell in and right away something threw me out!"

George nodded, "It was probably the giant squid."

Usually it took the mere mention of the giant squid in the lake to frighten many a firstie. However Dennis seemed to be from different stock, he gave the twins an awestruck look and said "Really? Wow!"

The twins gave each other perplexed looks while Colin pointed in Harry's direction. "You see him Dennis? With the black hair and glasses? That's Harry Potter!"

Harry tried to smile, but faced with a pair of adoring Creevy brothers, it came out as more of a grimace, especially when Hermione stomped on his foot and motioned for him to say something. "Hi."

Harry watched Ron eagerly pick up his fork and knife as Kevin Whitby made his way to the Hufflepuff table and followed suit himself. After McGonagall cleared the chair and hat away, Dumbledore rose to his feet. "I have two words to say before we eat, 'Tuck in.'"

As the food appeared on their plates, Ron and Harry gave a shout of "Hear! Hear!"

Ron stuffed his mouth full of mashed potatoes, swallowed and said, "That's better!" He then began shoveling his food into his mouth, ignoring the semi-disgusted looks from his friends.

Sir Nick floated by them and paused, "Ah, it was a real shame what happened in the kitchens. It put the feast in danger."

Ron looked up from his chicken and said around a full mouth. "Whaf?" Hermione scowled when he sprayed food all over the table.

The ghost nodded carefully considering his head, "Yes, Peeves tried to attend the feast and when the Baron refused he had a bit of a tantrum. He gave the House elves an awful fright."

Hermione's goblet dropped from nerveless fingers and the table cloth began to turn orange with pumpkin juice. "H-house elves?" Ron slowly inched away from her while Harry tried to calm her, the brunette would have none of it. "Hogwarts uses House elves?" Her voice rose in pitch with each word until it reached a rather shrill tone.

The ghost nodded, "Oh yes, I believe has the largest number of house elves in Britain."

His friend shook her head, "But… I've never seen one."

Angelina Johnson leaned towards them, "Well of course, that's the mark of a good house elf. They spend most of the day in the kitchen and come out late at night to clean the common rooms."

Hermione looked baffled, "They get paid, don't they? Sick leave, vacations, pensions that sort of thing, correct?" She was almost pleading.

Ron laughed into his pudding, "Oh come on, Hermione! A house elf? Paid? They'd never accept it."

Hermione threw her utensils down with disgust, "I will not eat a meal made by slave labor!" Her tone made it clear she'd be furious with anyone who did. With a mournful sigh, Harry set his fork and knife aside and pushed his plate away. Ron pounced on Harry's plate and shoveled it onto his own.

James tapped him on the shoulder and smirked as he shoved a mouthful of cake into his mouth and made a very pleased noise. Harry's shoulders slumped and he looked at the food before him longingly. He did notice Hermione nod to him in a pleased fashion, he smiled tiredly and propped his chin on his right fist. Ron motioned to Hermione's plate and James nodded, they split up her food (ignoring her scowl) and polished it off as well.

A short while later as the majority of students (save an annoyed Hermione and a famished Harry) finished their meals, Dumbledore rose to his feet and drew their attention. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I have some start of term announcements. Mr. Filch has asked me to inform you that the list of banned items is posted by his office and now numbers one-hundred thirty-seven. The forbidden forest is off limits to all students as is Hogsmeade to all first and second year students."

He looked the students over briefly then continued, "I also regretfully must inform you that this year's Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place-" Harry Fred and George nearly leapt to their feet in protest had the doors to the Great Hall not slammed open. The entire Hall turned to the doors to see a form darkening the entrance. A large man stood in a black traveling cloak and carrying a long staff stood before them. He removed his hood and revealed a mane of wild grey hair. He began to lumber towards the front of the hall, a flash of lightning illuminated his face and Harry noted the multitude of scars crisscrossing his face. His nose was so badly mangled that Harry wagered a portion of it to be missing. His right eye was narrowed suspiciously but his left eye was truly strange. It was lashed on like a pirate's eye patch; it was a bright electric blue and was spinning madly.

He walked strangely and Harry noticed an odd thumping sound as he did. As he passed him, Harry realized that one of his legs must have been artificial. As he reached the Head Table, he held out a hand to Dumbledore that only barely resembled a human hand. The Headmaster took it and then addressed the Students again, "I am pleased to present our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Alastor Moody."

James mumbled from next to him, "Bloody Hell, Ol' Mad-eye Moody." As the others turned to him, he grinned. "Mum told me about him, retired Auror; supposedly the best, but also as mad as a hatter."

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As I was saying before Professor Moody's dramatic entrance, we will not have a Quidditch Cup this year in favor of a very special event. Hogwarts is to play host to the Tri-Wizard Tournament." A gasp escaped nearly every student save the Muggle-borne and raised students.

"The Tri-Wizard Tournament was established seven centuries ago between the schools of Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons as a way to enhance international relations. Each school selected one champion and those three champions competed in uniquely challenging events until a winner was determined. It continued for centuries until the death toll became too high." He coughed and gave them something of a sheepish smile. "There have been a number of attempts to restart the Tournament and now thanks to the Office of International Magical Co-operation and the Office of Magical Games and Sports, Hogwarts was lucky enough to host this year's tournament.

"The three schools have agreed upon a new precaution. We are instituting an age-restriction. No student under the age of seventeen will be allowed to enter their name to our judge, and I personally will insure that no trickery takes place." His eyes briefly found Fred and George who had an outraged expression, his eyes twinkled for a moment then he spoke again. "The students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for most of the remainder of the year, upon their arrival I expect all of you to be on your best behavior. Those of you who are of age and think you have the mettle to compete for the honor of Hogwarts, the Tri-Wizard Cup and the prize of One-thousand Galleons will be able to enter your names then."

He smiled, "Now, I know that it is late, so if the Prefects would be so kind as to escort our students to their houses for bed. Good night."

Fred and George grumbled as they got to their feet and turned to James, "I don't believe this!" Said George.

Fred nodded and continued, "We'll be seventeen in April, why can't we get the chance to compete?"

George nodded, "It's not right! It's even more of a travesty than Hermione's house elves."

Fred nodded again then said. "That's it, I'm entering and Dumbledore can't stop me. These Champions will get to do all sort of things you couldn't do otherwise."

George picked up once again on his brother's thoughts, "And the thousand Galleons."

Hermione folded her arms over her chest and gave the Twins an unimpressed humph before saying. "You two? You are going to fool Albus Dumbledore into letting you compete? I find this hard to believe."

The Twins puffed up and George said, "Well it is…"

"…The Marauder thing to do." Finished Fred with a smirk; then turned to James and said, "Right Tonks?"

The dark haired boy grinned and held up his hands, "Don't drag me into this. I've already angered Hermione twice today, I'm likely to be castrated if I get her upset again." Hermione nodded to the Weasley brothers before he said with a wink; "Though it is rather Marauderish to try and enter."

"All right, let's call it an evening for now. You have class tomorrow." The group looked up to see Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff sixth year prefect and Quidditch Captain.

Fred and George nodded silently. They still hadn't really gotten over Cedric beating them last year, despite Gryffindor winning the Quidditch Cup anyway. James asked "Hey Cedric, are you going to enter?"

Cedric smiled and shrugged, Harry had met the older boy a few times before the World Cup, mostly through Quidditch and knew him to be modest. "I don't know, I hadn't really thought about it." He folded his arms over his chest then and assumed a kind but stern expression. "But that's beside the point, get to bed, all of you." They started towards Gryffindor Tower when Cedric reached out and grabbed Harry's shoulder. "Harry?"

Harry stopped and noticed the others stop a discrete distance away, "I just wanted to apologize for my father the other day, all that 'better man' stuff. He wasn't there, I saw that dementor attack you and I tried to offer up a rematch. You're a hell of a flyer and next year we'll see who's better when we don't have dementors breathing down our necks."

Harry grinned and shook Cedric's extended hand. "I'll see you later Cedric, g'night."

The older boy nodded and made his way towards the Hufflepuff common room. The one incident of note on their trip to the Tower was finding Neville caught by one of the trick steps. Most of the older students knew which steps to avoid, however Neville's absent mindedness caused him to forget about the steps. Ron and George helped the boy out and continued on their way. The whole trip, Fred George and Ron continued to plan ways to get around the age restriction and then win the Tri-Wizard Cup. On more then one occasion, he caught Hermione rolling her eyes and grinning at him.

He smiled each time she did; he loved it when she would actually get into the spirit and allowed them to be boys. When they finally entered the tower and Hermione noticed the fire, she scowled again and he heard her mumble, "Slave labor."

In a moment of courage, Harry reached out and squeezed her hand gently. Hermione turned to him with a surprised expression, which quickly became a thankful one before she disappeared up the girls' staircase.

He noticed as Neville and the Twins disappeared up the Boy's stairs that James was caught up in a moment of nostalgia. He walked over to the chess in the corner and ran his fingers over the chairs. He turned to Harry and grinned, "Ron, Lil' Prongs, come here." He waved Harry and Ron over and they sat down, "Do you know how many times your father and I sat at this table with Moony and Wormtail, plotting our next prank? How many discussions we had about girls and dating and sex were had over this chessboard?" Harry shook his head and Sirius smiled, "Did you know your father proposed to your mother right here?"

Harry smiled, "Right here? Tell me?"

His Godfather grinned, "Another time. I am knackered, besides Lily always said 'always leave them wanting more.'"

Harry frowned, "Sometimes I hate you Padfoot." James got to his feet and made his way to the staircase, Ron was only a step or two behind already yawning a pulling his tie loose. Meanwhile Harry tried to feel the presence of his parents in the chair he sat in, he hoped to find some hint of them, when he received none he frowned and followed them up the steps.

"If I had a knut every time Prongsie said that to me…" He trailed off as he pushed the door to the Fourth Year's dorm open. Harry found the dorm much the same as it was last year with the notable exception of a sixth bed. He didn't think the room felt any more cramped, so he had to wonder if the castle had expanded their dorm.

They quickly got changed for bed, Seamus and Dean had turned in and Neville was already drifting off. Ron turned to Harry as he got under his covers. "Would you enter Harry? If the twins got around the restriction, that is?" He shrugged and got into his own bed. Ron smiled sleepily, "I might, think of the fame, not to mention a thousand galleons." He yawned and mumbled good night then rolled onto his side and soon Ron's snoring was shaking the windows.

Harry turned to James to say good night but his other friend was snoring as well, only marginally less loudly. Harry sighed and cast a silencing charm then removed his glasses before nestling into his warm sheets. As he drifted off to sleep he had an image of himself. He had found a way around the restriction and he'd been selected as Hogwart's Champion. He'd won the Tournament, and it was a very pleased Hermione who handed him the trophy, even going so far as to kiss him on the cheek. The smile he had as he fell asleep was almost painfully wide.

&&&&&&&&&End Part 3&&&&&&&&&

Harry frowned as he exited the Divination classroom for the day. Ron's comment to Lavender about seeing Uranus had earned them all a detailed analysis of planetary movement or some such nonsense. It was the perfect end to a strange and often disgusting first day of classes. After collecting bubotuber pus in Herbology, they tried to feed disgusting creatures called blast-ended skrewts for Care of Magical Creatures. Hermione ate her lunch in a manner reminiscent of Ron and disappeared to the library.

Then he Ron and James had gone to a double session of Divination with Trelawney in which she'd threatened that his fears were about to come true before he'd nearly nodded off. She'd made some accusation concerning Saturn at the time of his birth then had the class try to determine planetary position at the time of their birth. It was during the assignment that Ron had made his unfortunate remark and now they were loaded down with homework.

Ron groaned as he slung his bag over his shoulder and said. "Miserable old bat. This'll take all weekend."

James cuffed the red-head over the head, "Hey, it's your fault! You have to keep comments like that down."

Harry sighed in annoyance, "I should have taken Arithmancy with Hermione. I hate her homework assignments."

An arm looped through his and Hermione's cheerful voice announced her arrival. "You have homework in Divination? Professor Vector didn't give us any." Harry tensed up and tried to avoid blushing as he realized it was Hermione's arm that had looped through his almost possessively. He caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye and noticed his friend in a cheerful mode, which was a change from last night.

James groaned and Ron grumbled, "Bully for you and Vector then!"

A drawling voice stopped the quartet in their tracks, "Weasley!" They turned to find Draco Malfoy with his ever-present trio of Slytherin-sycophants; Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson. The pale pureblood brandished that day's copy of the Daily Prophet in front of him. "Read any interesting news today?"

Ron started to speak but James cut him off. "Did they finally out your fathers as Death Eaters? Or has the affair between your mother and a goat finally come to light?" He raised a finger, "Wait I know, the Prophet declared you and your father to be a pair of prancing-poufters."

Draco smirked, "Better then that, you son of a blood-traitor, the Weasleys are famous." He cleared his throat and began to read an article by Rita Skeeter which reported some run-in Mr. Weasley had with muggle police at Moody's house the day before. The article went on to accuse Mr. Weasley of incompetence then brought up the incident from second year with the Angila, as well as criticize him for having to modify the police officers' memories. The Slytherin re-folded the paper and pointed to the picture of the Burrow. "Is this your mother, Weasley? She could stand to lose a few pounds."

Ron lurched forward reaching for his wand, but Harry stepped in front of his friend, "What about your mother Malfoy? That expression she has, as if she was just served a steaming pile of dung, is that permanent or is it because you're around?"

Malfoy reached into his robes for his wand with a scowl then suddenly paused, his face went white and his expression became pained, he turned and raced out of the Entrance Hall, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy exchanged confused looks before following him a moment later.

Harry turned to his friends to see a smug expression on Ron's face. "I'll be damned, their spell worked."

James smirked a moment later and slapped Ron on the back, "Brilliant!"

After exchanging a confused look with Harry, Hermione turned to Ron. "What spell?"

Ron pocketed his wand and then folded his arms over his chest smugly, "A little spell Gred and Forge perfected. It's a charm that sends your stomach into fits; you can cast silently and with a very discreet wand movement. They're putting together a spell-book for the spring catalogue. I'm afraid Malfoy will have to find a bathroom before he messes himself."

All three boys turned to their straight-laced friend with mildly worried expressions as she mulled over the idea of Ron hexing Draco in the hallway, with a spell Fred and George created no less. Finally, the bushy-haired girl surprised them by smiling, "Well done, Ronald." She looped one arm through Harry's and the other through Ron's and led her friends to dinner.

They made their way down to the Great Hall without further incident and sat down at the Gryffindor table. Ron eagerly began to pile casserole on his plate, James was doing much the same. Hermione placed a more modest portion on her plate but once again she was shoveling food into her mouth at top speed.

Ron and Harry exchanged a looked before Harry said, "Library?"

She nodded as she washed down her mouthful with pumpkin juice, "I have loads to do."

Ron frowned and spoke through his full mouth, "Buf you zed thaf Vecfor-"

Hermione scowled, "Don't talk with a full mouth and I didn't say it was for class." She quickly cleared her plate of dinner and took another drink of pumpkin juice before gathering her things. Harry then noticed James look him in the eye and motion his eyes towards Hermione.

Harry flushed and took a nervous drink before stammering, "U-um Hermione… Would you, I mean would you like some… err… would you like me to come?"

Hermione gave him an amused expression then said. "No that's all right Harry. You and Ron and James enjoy dinner, I'll see you tonight."

Harry nodded and blushed before looking down at his plate. Hermione rose from her seat and at almost the same moment a sharp kick struck Harry's shin. The sudden attack caused him to leap from his chair and yell loud enough for the entire hall to hear. "OW! Bloody Hell!" The look James gave him was even more severe than his kick. He grimaced and tried to ignore his throbbing shin, "Are-are your sure Hermione? I mean… I'd like to come along."

She smiled at his latest bout of strange behavior and simply said, "All right."

Just as the pair was about to leave the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall swept into the room and she quickly made a bee-line for him and Hermione. "Mr. Potter, Professor Dumbledore will see you now concerning your letter."

Harry exchanged a look with Hermione then frowned, "'Letter?'"

She nodded, "Yes, Mr. Tonks gave me your letter this morning." She handed him a slip of paper and said, "Here is the password."

Hermione followed him out of the hall and towards the stairs. They arrived on the second floor before Hermione wagered that the meeting was regarding the dream he'd had that caused the pain in his scar. They came to a stop outside of the large stone gargoyle that protected the entrance to Dumbledore's office. Hermione's hand found his forearm and she gave it a comforting squeeze. "I have to go to the library; I'll likely be there until Madam Prince sends me away."

Harry smiled, "I'll come find you, I don't know how long this might take." She smiled and continued down the hall towards the fourth floor staircase and the library. After she disappeared he pulled the scrap of parchment from his pocket and read the password aloud, "Bubble-gum."

The gargoyle moved aside and Harry stepped onto the stairs as they began to rise towards the office. When the stairs came to a stop he entered the Headmaster's office with a touch of reverence. He found Dumbledore at his desk with his dinner before him, the elderly wizard looked up from his plate with a kind smile and he waved Harry towards a seat. "Ah Harry, sit down. Would you care to join me for dinner?"

It was as he sat down that Harry realized that he hadn't really eaten a proper meal since breakfast before they left the Burrow. He smiled gratefully and said, "Thank you sir."

With a pop a plate and utensils appeared before him, a moment later another pop announced the arrival of a goblet filled with pumpkin juice. The pair ate in comfortable silence for a few moments before Dumbledore took a napkin and dabbed at the corners of his mouth. "Now Harry, young Mr. Tonks tells me he is concerned about a dream you had a few weeks ago. Would you care to tell me what happened?"

Harry told him every detail of the dream he could remember. Frank Bryce, the Riddle House, the mention and presence of Wormtail, the weak voice of someone he assumed to be Voldemort, the snake called Nagini and the jet of green light that woke him with a start. He then explained that upon waking that his scar was hurting terribly for long enough that it worried Harry enough to decide to tell James and Hermione.

Dumbledore sat quietly for a long time before he stood from his desk and beckoned Harry to follow him. He led him over to a cabinet which opened to reveal a stone basin on which many runes and symbols were carved. He looked inside the basin, it seemed to be filled with a silver liquid and it gave of a bright glow. Dumbledore then said, "I'm guessing you've never seen a pensieve before Harry." Harry shook his head, "With this, we can access your memory and I can review it for further research. What I want you to do is gather the memory of the dream and that night in every detail. Imagine it very clearly in your mind." Harry tried to draw the memory to him as clearly as possible, recalling every detail he could.

"When you are ready I want you to imagine yourself pushing that memory to the inside of your skull near your right temple." Harry nodded and imagined himself doing just that. Dumbledore then took his wand and pressed it against Harry's right temple. Harry felt a very brief, sharp pain in his temple then as Dumbledore drew the wand from his skin Harry noticed a long silver string being drawn from his head sticking to the end of the wand. When the string came free of his head, Harry suddenly realized that he could no longer recall the night of the nightmare.

Dumbledore dropped the string into the pensieve and smiled. "You did very well Harry, especially for a first attempt. I will study your memory and return it to you in a few days." He closed the cabinet. He then went to the shelves of books behind him and plucked a book from them and moved to the desk, "But for now, I wish for you to study this." He handed the book to Harry.

Harry looked the book over and read the title, "'Occlumency: A Mental Discipline.' What is Occlumency sir?"

The Headmaster sat down at his desk and gave him a gentle expression, "Harry, Occlumency is a way for Wizards and Witches to control their thoughts and organize their minds. That book will teach you the basics, and when you're competent in the techniques in that book, I will help you take the next step in this discipline. Occlumency is a difficult skill to learn, but I believe it may help with these dreams in the future Harry, should they occur again. For now, I think you should take your leave, I believe you promised young Miss Granger you'd meet her in the library?" He smiled and his eyes twinkled mischievously.

Harry blushed slightly before grabbing his bag and stuffing the book inside. "Good night, sir."

&&&&&&&&&

He found her behind a pile of books in the back of the library near the history section. The only other student he'd seen in the library was Neville who was glued to a book on North American fungus and their uses. He walked over to her table discreetly and found her engrossed in a book about the history of house elves. A lock of hair wound around her finger while she chewed gently on her lip.

Harry found himself nearly enraptured by her in that moment. The crush he'd developed on the train was becoming more encompassing with each passing moment it seemed. He wondered why, Hermione was certainly pretty, but there were other girls he'd found pretty without being completely dumbfounded by them.

Perhaps it was that he knew her so well, there was a difference between finding Susan Bones or Cho Chang pretty and finding Hermione pretty. He didn't know them, Susan seemed like a sweet girl and he could imagine that Cho was an interesting person, but for all he knew Cho could be a bore and Susan Bones could be an even bigger harpy than Pansy Parkinson.

He knew Hermione, he knew that she was intelligent and knew about nearly everything. He knew she was kind, almost to a fault and fiercely loyal to those she cared for, like himself. He knew that when she cared for something she was passionate about it, like the plight of the house elves.

He knew her so well that the prospects of kissing her because she was Hermione were almost more exciting than kissing her because she was pretty. At the same time, that very same thing frightened him into inaction, because loosing Hermione would hurt him far more than loosing a pretty girl he didn't know.

As he was about to announce his presence she closed her book and looked up at him with a grin, "Are you standing on ceremony?" His brain froze and her laughter led him over to the table as he sat down heavily in the vacant chair next to her. She leaned over to speak to him and in that moment Harry was grateful that Hermione was still wearing her jumper over her blouse as he didn't know what seeing the skin beneath would do to him.

"You've been acting strange since the Express. Are you all right?" He nodded mutely and fought off the blush he knew was trying to turn him scarlet at the moment. She reached over and patted his hand gently, "Are you sure? Because you know you can tell me anything." The contact was enough to turn every inch of his body tense and she noticed. She frowned in a worried fashion and her eyes bored into him. "Did I upset you Harry? Did I do something wrong?"

A part of him wanted to say yes just to get enough space to be able to think properly again. That part was shouted down quickly as it would require willingly hurting Hermione's feelings. "No, you've never done anything wrong. You're my best friend."

She smirked slightly, "Even over James and Ron?"

He grinned, feeling slightly more at ease. "You are and occasionally, mostly during a meal, especially over James and Ron."

She nodded, "Good, and if you finally figure out what's wrong I want you to know I'll listen."

He blushed, "What if it's embarrassing?"

She squeezed his hand, "Harry, unlike Ron or James, I'm a girl. Girls don't use embarrassing secrets to pick on each other. Well, I don't use embarrassing secrets to pick on anyone at least." She grinned, "You do know I'm a girl right, not just some bloke with breasts?"

He nearly choked on his tongue, first at the shock of Hermione saying the word "breasts" then to prevent from saying something catastrophically stupid. In fact the effort it took to not say any of the clumsy things that sprang to mind was so large that he shuddered.

He then noticed something strange in her eyes, as though she was studying him for a moment. He could see the wheels beginning to turn behind her eyes. She was thinking of something… it was a moment of horror that came as he realized that she was putting it together. Her eyes flashed for a moment, she'd found him out.

It wasn't like he was subtle. He'd been stammering and stuttering in front of her for two days and how many times had her grin or laugh or voice caused him to flush like his Uncle Vernon in a rage? Of course she'd figure him out; he'd been transparent about his feelings after all.

He felt completely exposed and his first instinct was to run screaming out of the library. The only problem was that she had a grip on his hand. She smiled and then said, "So, what did the Headmaster want?"

His shoulders sagged with relief as she let him off the hook. He knew for certain that there'd be no way she would just ignore his pathetic crush on her, he was sure in a few days after she'd prepared her arguments she'd explain to him that she didn't think of him that way and that it would be for the best if he realized that. She'd spare his feelings all the while stomping out any hopes he had of kissing her.

He smiled weakly as that line of thought caused the bottom to drop out of his stomach. He didn't look forward to that conversation. "You were right. He wanted to talk about my dream. He showed me a thing… I think he called it a 'pensieve.' He helped me put the memory of the dream in it. Then he gave me a book on something called occlumency."

He couldn't help but grin at the way her eyes widened in anticipation when he mentioned a pensieve. She'd probably read all about them and their uses by now, some of that "light" reading that made Ron quake in fear. Then the way she practically bounced in her chair when he brought up the book on occlumency was simply adorable. "What book Harry? Was it 'Pathways of Thought' I found that to be wonderful and informative, though 'Make Your Thoughts Your Own' was charming in its approach."

He reached into his bag and pulled the book out. She took it and nodded approvingly, "From what I've read, this is the best for beginners. I just couldn't find it in Flourish and Blotts, it's very rare."

He smiled, "Were you planning to learn occlumency?" Then he blushed, "Silly question."

She grinned slightly, "It's not silly Harry and yes I wanted to try. The ordering of one's mind is something every wizard should attempt and someone skilled in occlumency would be able to repel attacks from others."

He nodded, "Well, you could study it too…" He coughed and stumbled on, "I would appreciate the help… and well…"

She laughed lightly, "Harry, if you'd like to spend time with me, just ask. I'd be thrilled to, not because it's the chance to learn but because I'd be helping you. You're my best friend too Harry, even over Ron and James, especially when we're eating together."

He looked down at the table, 'Friend' he thought, 'of course.' Sometimes he wondered if his father was this awkward around the girls he fancied. She cracked the book open and began to read it. After a few minutes (he had to fight not to look at her while she chewed on her bottom lip) she looked up and said. "All right, we'll start with a basic exercise. This will help you concentrate and help you in recalling detail. I want you to close your eyes and begin by taking slow, deep breaths."

He did as she asked and began to breathe slowly. Her voice was very gentle and soothing. "In… out… steady… good… I want you to clear your mind… push every thought out one at a time until you can only hear my voice. Concentrate on breathing, use each breath to expel your thoughts." It took a while, but eventually he began to quiet his mind and he slowly fell into a relaxed state almost like those last moments before he drifted off to sleep.

When she spoke again, it was almost as from far away. "When your mind is clear and calm I want you to build an image in your mind. Someplace soothing, someplace private, where you can be away from everyone, I want you to make it as detailed as possible. I want it to be clear, so detailed that you could almost actually go there and if your mind wanders while you do, I want you to clear your mind again and start from the beginning."

He vaguely registered nodding as he tried to imagine what kind of place he'd find soothing. He finally decided on a beach. He'd always wanted to go to a beach somewhere and lounge about on the sand. He decided it would be a tropical beach, on a warm summer morning. The white sand stretched out before him until it was swallowed up by the crystal clear ocean before him. The waves gently lapped at the beach until the sand was swallowed up the endless blue.

Clouds scattered across the morning sky were lit up in pinks and oranges by the sun as it crested the horizon. He turned and looked down the endless beach to see palm trees swaying gently in the mild breeze as was the grass that was at the end of the white sand. He took a step forward into the surf and noticed that the wet sand gave way easily under his bare feet and squished into the space between his toes. He felt completely relaxed as though standing in the wet sand with warm water lapping at his shins would protect him from all the world's troubles.

Why hadn't he come here before? Why couldn't he find a place where the most excitement to be found was a school of very tiny fish that raced around his legs under the water and a tiny crab that skittered across the sand just out of reach of the tide?

"Are you there?"

Harry shook his head and the beach slipped away as the library resolved itself around him. He turned to Hermione, "Yeah. I was on a beach, standing in the tide." He smiled as he recalled the scene very clearly in his mind, "There were these little fish…"

She smiled at him, "Good Harry, very good. That place you went to, I want you to try and reconstruct it every day for at least an hour. Each time I want you to recall even the smallest detail, the stronger that image is the easier it will be to recall it. This is a very basic shield, concentrating solely on a meditative image like this will also help you to order your thoughts."

She reached over and squeezed his forearm, "You did very well Harry, you'll be teaching me in no time at all."

He felt his cheeks become scorched, "Ah… well…"

When Harry recalled the event later, he'd realized that Hermione actually giggled as she stood up. "You can be so cute." But he was simply stunned when she left a fleeting kiss on his right cheek and gathered her things. "Come along Harry, Madam Prince will need to lock up soon. You were gone for almost two hours."

He stood up and gathered his bag then followed her out of the library all the way to the tower. When they arrived she handed him the book then said good night before disappearing up the girl's stairs.

Harry just stood in the middle of the common room staring at the staircase she'd left through with a dumb expression on his face to be sure. Finally the Twins broke him loose. George nudged him in the side, "All right there Harry?"

Fred laughed and said, "I've seen this before George, remember when Wood got that crush on the recruiter for the Arrows?" He snapped his fingers in front of Harry's face, "Potter! Wake up!"

Harry managed to snap out of his daze and mumbled, "I'm going to bed, good night."

The Twins' laughter followed him all the way to his dorm.

&&&&&&&&&

Harry frowned at the chessboard in front of him. James' disapproving tone broke the silence, "C'mon Pronglet, you can not be this bad." His king looked as thought he was begging to differ. James had already crushed most of Harry's pawns, his knights, a bishop and his Queen was looking rather frightful at James' knight.

His friend was trying to teach him to play chess after watching Ron tear Harry to shreds the other day. However it was rapidly becoming evident that chess was never and will never be a game that Harry would excel in.

Admittedly, chess wasn't his biggest focus. He'd been studying with Hermione much more than in previous years, for his classes as well as his study of occlumency. As she'd requested that first night, he'd spent at least an hour a day working on the focusing exercise she'd taught him. He'd spent the time looking for the smallest detail, he'd even counted and named the little fish that seemed to enjoy racing around him while he stood in the surf.

They'd also done other exercises designed to teach him to clear and/or order his thoughts. Once he'd mastered those exercises she'd help lead him through the process of constructing a mental shield, something designed to prevent people reading his mind.

The occlumency studies were taking up such a large part of their free time that Hermione had become disheartened in her quest for House Elf Rights. This, coupled with a long discussion about them with James and Angelina Johnson, Hermione had disbanded S-P-E-W before it ever really began.

Thinking of Hermione had started to set Harry on edge. It had been nearly three weeks since that night in the library when Hermione had seen right through him and she'd yet to come to him and tell him what he felt was wrong. It wasn't that he wanted her to run into the common room and break him into jagged little pieces but the waiting was becoming excruciating, even without her strange behavior.

Hermione had taken to hugging him over almost trivial things as well as sitting much closer to him than before. She had picked up a habit of touching him when they spoke, just the day before they had sat in the common room discussing McGonagall's essay on transfiguring rocks into animals. She was sitting on the couch while Harry had sat down on an ottoman in front of her. She'd been explaining some of the finer points when he made a joke. It wasn't a particularly funny joke yet Hermione laughed lightly and then touched his knee.

The result had been instantaneous; Harry looked down at her hand and coughed uncomfortably while he tried to fight off his latest blush. He looked back up to see Hermione with a strange expression on her face. She was looking at him as though she was expecting him to do or say something but he had no idea what. There was a brief flash of disappointment on her face before she removed her hand and continued her explanation.

Another curious change in her behavior was holding his hand when they were walking in the halls. It was not every time and rarely when Ron and James were around, but when they were walking to class or out to the spot near the Quidditch pitch they used to study occlumency her hand would grasp his and once or twice she even laced her fingers through his.

He didn't dare ask about her behavior or even comment on it as it always gave him a pleasant feeling while she did these things and he was afraid she'd stop if he mentioned it.

He sighed, "Sorry Padfoot, I think I'm just hopeless at this."

His friend smirked, "You know, I bet I could teach you chess if I had bushy hair and better legs." Harry scowled but he continued on, "It's amazing really, Hermione can teach you a discipline that most people fail to grasp after they're done with Hogwarts but I can't teach you a simple board game. Maybe I should bat my eyelashes at you," He did just that, looking about as obnoxious as Harry had ever seen, then said. "Did that help?"

Harry shook his head and gave his friend a mock-scowl then said, "Prat." Harry moved his protesting queen and realized too late why she was protesting as James' knight swooped in and cleaved her in two. He groaned and tried to ignore the way his king was waving his fists at him.

Harry moved his remaining bishop and put James in check. "Check."

His Godfather shook his head in a saddened fashion and clicked his tongue before saying, "Oh Harry…" His rook then slaughtered Harry's bishop. "I just cannot believe that you are this b-"

Harry was crashed into from behind so forcefully that he jarred the table which toppled his now grateful king, arms wrapped around his neck tightly and brown hair obscured his vision. Hermione's voice sounded in his ear, "Thank you so much!"

The first sound Harry made sounded something like "Gurk" but he managed to croak out, "Hermione!"

He could hear James laughing while he said, "Let the poor boy breathe Hermione. He's turning purple."

She released her vice-like grip and turned him around. He found his friend absolutely beaming at him, even though it looked like she had tears in her eyes. "Your card was just beautiful Harry." She then reached into her shirt and produced a necklace with a little snitch charm. "And this is wonderful!" She surged forward and crushed him in another hug, "You and Ron… you've never asked… How did you know it was my birthday?"

She pulled back and looked at him, he started to stammer and James broke in. "He wrote your parents first week back and asked of course."

She smiled widely, "You are… just wonderful Harry." Again she hugged him tightly, this time kissing his cheek before she let go. "Thank you!"

She then seemed to float out of the common room. Harry watched her leave with a baffled expression, his hand slowly drifting up to lightly touch the spot on his cheek her lips had touched. He then said, "She kissed me…"

James chuckled, "She did."

A silly smile tugged at his lips and he said, "She thinks I'm wonderful…"

"You're welcome."

He turned around slowly, "You?"

His friend's eyebrows waggled, "Me."

Harry smiled, "What did you write, Padfoot?"

He folded his arms over his chest and presented Harry with a smug expression as he said, "'Happy Birthday. Affectionately, Harry.'"

He frowned slightly, "'Affectionately?'"

James grinned wickedly, "Would you have preferred something else? 'My undying passion,' perhaps? Maybe, 'Love you, can't live without you' would have worked better?"

Ron entered through the portrait hole at that moment with a stunned expression, "I just saw Hermione in the halls. Blimey, she was practically bouncing towards Lavender and Parvati." He sat down and immediately began to help James set up the chess board while he talked to Harry, "Why didn't you tell me it was her birthday Harry? I could have signed your card too!" He scowled at his friend for a moment.

James frowned at both of them, "You mean you two didn't know Hermione's birthday?" He scowled and muttered, "I couldn't have been like this at your age," before he said, "I won't ask you Ron, because everyone knows Harry's birthday. Harry, do you know Ron's birthday?"

Harry frowned and turned to Ron with a sheepish expression. His friend just shrugged as though it didn't bother him, "Not really, no."

The animagus shook his head, "At least you're consistent."

Ron and James launched into a game while Harry stood from the table and made his way to a more comfortable chair. He found a piece of parchment and quill and quickly wrote, "September 19^th, Hermione's birthday." After blotting it, he pocketed it before he could put it in his trunk to remember.

Lavender and Parvati entered the common room a moment later, they saw him and giggled before whispering to each other. Harry sighed, as much as he enjoyed Hermione's reaction to "his" gift, he wasn't too sure he'd enjoy the looks her roommates were giving him. As he thought about her lips on his cheek and the feel of her hugging him, he realized that it was more than a fair trade.

&&&&&&&&&End Part 4&&&&&&&&&

Harry awoke early on Halloween morning, he could hear Ron chewing Seamus and Dean's ears off about Viktor Krum, leaving Harry to wonder if his friend had gone to bed at all, as he was prattling about the Durmstrang student when Harry'd gone to bed the night before. Instead of using a silencing charm, Harry took the opportunity to work on the latest occlumency exercise he and Hermione were working on.

He'd started again by breathing and clearing his mind and then he imagined building walls inside his mind to shut the room out from him. Brick by brick he built the walls up until he could no longer hear his friend talking, or James' snoring or anything else. From there, sleep was a simple matter.

Ron was re-telling the story of the World Cup match for the fiftieth time, when Neville of all people, snapped, "Yes… Yes Ron, the Wronski feint, youngest international seek in a century! We've heard it! Kindly shut the fuck up!"

Harry bit down on his laughter for a moment when he heard Dean and Seamus break into laughter while James snorted loudly. Harry sat up slowly and found Ron sitting at the foot of his bed. He held his sock in his hand while his left foot dangled in front of it. The look on his red-headed friend's face was priceless. He almost wished that they roomed with Colin Creevy, as his friend's face should have been preserved for all time.

Dean was pulling on a jumper while Seamus was looking at his hair in the mirror. James had paused in the middle of gathering his supplies for his shower. All three of them were looking back and forth between Ron and Neville, who was the only one besides Harry in bed and it looked like his pudgy friend was still trying to sleep. He rolled over and pulled one of his pillows over his head.

Harry turned to Ron with a grin, "All right Ron?"

Ron smirked, "I guess it's true what Mum says about the Longbottom temper."

Harry climbed out of bed, quickly showered and pulled on a pair of jeans and a jumper then followed Ron and James out of the dorm. They found Hermione in the common room reading over one of the more advanced occlumency text that Dumbledore had given her and Harry when they completed the basic techniques.

When he told Dumbledore, the headmaster was unsurprised that she'd been studying the techniques with him. He'd even said he would only have been surprised if Harry hadn't asked Hermione to help him. Their studies were progressing well. Harry was now able to clear his mind rapidly and the meditative beach he'd created could be recalled almost instantly.

They'd been able to create several basic shields in the last two weeks and Hermione was beginning to construct more advanced shields herself. Harry was not far behind her but he was still learning to order his mind properly, Hermione came to it almost naturally.

He found that the occlumency was helping him in his classes as well. As he became better at focusing on details his Transfiguration work, both practical and theoretical had improved and his grades had seen a dramatic jump as well as McGonagall's opinion of him. His charms were also showing remarkable improvement, he'd even been able to understand his potions lessons though Snape made certain his grades didn't improve at all. He and Ron had been able to fake their way through Divination assignments by merely making up creative and horrible deaths for themselves.

Meanwhile, DADA had become very interesting and challenging. Moody had made a point that in addition to teaching them about creatures and protection from hexes he taught them dueling techniques, after each class he'd assigned them to learn a different defensive charm or spell. Harry had mastered "Protego" as well as two strong protective spells. Moody had promised that in the second term he'd begin teaching them offensives spells starting with "Stupefy."

The most interesting lessons came at the start of the year however. Moody had demonstrated the Unforgivables. He'd displayed the Cruciatus on a spider which upset Neville greatly. The Killing Curse was nearly as upsetting to Harry, as he watched the green jet erupt from Moody's wand he realized that it was the same spell that killed his parents.

Finally there was the Imperius curse; he performed it on each of them so they'd know what it felt like. Harry proved to be able to fight off the effects of it as well. Moody had remarked that with further training Harry might able to resist it as well as the Cruciatus.

The night before, the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrived and the students from all three schools were treated to an extravagant dinner. The students from the French school seemed to only take delight in complaining about everything they encountered, especially a young lady by the name of Fleur Delacour. Harry might have been insulted by the behavior of the Beauxbatons students had he not been enraptured by the lovely Miss Delacour, like ninety-five percent of the male students of Hogwarts.

Ron, however, was enraptured by Viktor Krum. From the moment the stern-looking young man had exited the ship Durmstrang's delegation Ron had sounded very much like Colin Creevy sounded to Harry. His star-struck expression and constant praise of him had earned Ron more than a few eye-rolls.

After the dinner, Dumbledore announced that entrance to the Tri-Wizard Tournament would begin that night. Then he presented to the students the Goblet of Fire. It was an overly-large, nondescript wooden cup; it was filled with blue flames as he placed it upon the stool that the Sorting Hat traditionally sat upon.

The naming of the champions would occur after the Halloween feast tonight and students over the age of seventeen had until the feast began to enter. Harry had the feeling that Ron and James were so eager to get to breakfast for the chance to see who thought themselves able to face the Tournament and even more interested in seeing how the twins planned to defeat Dumbledore's age line.

When the four of them arrived at the entrance hall they noticed the Goblet displayed in the center with the age line glowing brightly around it. Students from every house milled about the hall, all of them watching it intently some had even brought some of their breakfast out into the Entrance Hall to eat quietly.

They found Colin and Dennis talking animatedly while the older Creevy brother was snapping picture after picture of it. Next to them was Ron's younger sister Ginny talking with a third-year Ravenclaw girl Harry had never met before. The girl's long hair was a dirty-shade of blonde and her blue eyes seemed almost painfully wide. She regarded the world around her in a rather detached fashion, as though none of it really interested her.

Harry then noticed that she wore a necklace made of radishes and her ear rings were a pair of corks from bottles of butter beer. Ron stepped forward and spoke to Ginny, "Gin, did anyone put their name in yet?"

The younger Weasley flashed Harry a smile then turned to Ron. "All the Durmstrang kids came in and put theirs in a little while ago. I haven't seen anyone from Hogwarts yet."

James clapped Ron on the back hard and said, "I guess you'll just have to wait a little longer to talk to Krum." Ron shook his head while James and Harry laughed.

The blonde turned to them and her eyes fixed on Ron, "Hello Ronald."

Ron grimaced slightly, "Hello Luna." Hermione nudged him and he coughed before saying, "Harry, Hermione and James, meet Luna Lovegood."

The Ravenclaw distractedly took their offered hands. Harry turned towards the Goblet, "I imagine some of the kids came last night after the dinner. I reckon it could be embarrassing if the thing spat your name out in front of the whole school."

The others nodded while a large group of Hufflepuffs entered the Hall. This group was rather boisterous and seemed to be crowding around someone. They began pushing someone forward and giving them encouragement. Cedric emerged from the group with a bashful grin and approached the Goblet. He turned back to his friends and said, "Are you sure about this?" They just waved him forward. Cedric laughed and dropped a slip of parchment with his name on it into the Goblet. When he did, the flames turned red briefly and a few sparks flew out of the Goblet.

The Hufflepuffs cheered loudly while he moved onto the Great Hall.

A few moments later Fred and George entered with Lee Jordan. The trio was laughing to each other as they approached, "Wish us luck."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at them while Ron smirked and said "What did you try?"

Fred smirked, "Aging potion."

George nodded, "Just a drop, we only need to age couple of months."

George then moved confidently towards the Goblet. He paused only to take a breath then stepped across the line. When nothing happened he turned back to the group with a smirk. He reached into his robe and produced a slip of parchment. Harry noticed nearly everyone in the hall watching his friend as George dropped his name into the Goblet without reaction from it. With a whoop, Fred joined his brother within the line.

Their celebration was short lived as the Goblet began to spark and shudder almost angrily. A wave of energy erupted from within and Fred and George were thrown out of the circle. They landed on the floor in a heap. A moment later they got to their feet and everyone began to laugh at the long white beards on the pair's faces. Seeing this, Fred and George began to laugh themselves. Dumbledore sent them up to the Hospital wing.

Harry and the others entered the hall, leaving Ginny and Luna behind. As they sat down, Ron leaned towards James and whispered. "What about you Padfoot? You could probably get by the age line. You know far more spells than even the Seventh Years, why don't you enter?"

Their friend shook his head, "It would draw attention to me, the Goblet might even recognize me. You may not have seen pictures, but my looks are strikingly similar to my dearly departed cousin. It's possible that my magic could be recognized by a powerful artifact like that. Hell, Dumbledore and I had to let Moody in on the secret because he recognized me immediately."

Further down the table, Dean and Seamus were discussing some of the Hogwarts students who had entered their names in the Goblet. It seemed that among the candidates to join Cedric were a Slytherin named Warrington, who Harry had played Quidditch against, and two members of Ravenclaw's Quidditch team by the names of Chambers and Bradley. It seemed that none of the Gryffindors had entered their names thus far. Ron slid down closer to them, "Personally, if it's not one of us I'd like to see Chambers in the Tournament."

Seamus nodded enthusiastically, "As long as it isn't that pretty-boy Diggory." There was a cheer outside the Hall and Seamus started looking for whoever it might be to enter the Great Hall.

Harry shrugged, "I don't know, I think Cedric would do well."

Angelina's voice broke the impromptu huddle, "I did it, put my name in." They all turned to see Angelina Johnson, a dark-skinned sixth-year Gryffindor that Harry knew mostly through Quidditch. She was one of the best chasers ever to play for Gryffindor. She was also stunningly beautiful as well was one of the first to accept Harry in first year.

Ron nodded while James said. "No beard, so I'm assuming…"

She smiled at the black haired youth. "My birthday was last week, Tonks."

Ron then said, "All right! We know it'll be a Gryffindor, I hope it's you Angelina."

Hermione smiled as well, "I hope it's you as well, Angelina."

She smiled at her housemates before sitting down next to Alicia and Katie and discussing her chances. The quartet finished their breakfast and exited the Great Hall a short time later after deciding to visit Hagrid for a while. As they turned towards the large doors on the far side of the hall, they parted admitting Madame Maxime and the delegation from Beauxbatons. The giant woman instructed her students to line up and one by one they entered their names into the goblet.

Ron turned towards them for a moment after tearing his eyes from Fleur. "What do you think will happen to the students who aren't chosen? You reckon they'll be sent home?"

Hermione shook her head, "No, I'd imagine they'll stay to support their Champion. Otherwise why would they bring students who weren't of age?" As she spoke she motioned to a much younger blonde girl in a Beauxbatons' uniform talking with Fleur.

As the last of her students entered their name, Madame Maxim ushered them out of the hall and across the grounds towards the giant carriage they had arrived in the day before. Hermione led the four of them out of the school and across the grounds towards Hagrid's hut.

&&&&&&&&&

They knocked on the door and were treated to the strangest sight they'd seen at Hogwarts when it opened, and that was saying a lot. Hagrid was dressed in a horrible brown suit with a yellow and orange checked tie. His normally wild hair seemed to have been tamed by a quart of dirty motor oil as it was slicked back into a pony tail. "It's abou' time. I was wonderin' if yeh fergot where I live!"

He ushered them into his one-room home and sat down for tea. The four of them were dumbfounded by the appearance of their friend. James was the first to recover and managed to ask about the skrewts. The normally wild-haired man smiled, "Oh dey're growin' so big, nearly three-feet long now, though they've started killing each other." He sounded rather like a proud parent as he poured them each a cup of tea. "I had to put 'em in separate boxes, there's 'bout twenty of them left."

The group sat around his table drinking tea and discussing the Tournament. "You jus' wait. It's gonna be amazin'. The firs' task…" He shook himself, "Ah, I'm not suppos' ter say." Ron tried to urge him on but Hagrid would have none of it. "I don' wanna ruin the surprise. I'll jus' say, it'll be like nothin' yeh've ever seen!"

Not long after two, Hermione smiled and looked at her watch, "Harry we need to study our occlumency lessons for the day."

Hagrid nodded, "I heard abou' that from Dumbledore 'Arry. He mus' think a lot abou' yeh to let yeh study somethin' that advanced."

Harry smiled slightly, "I don't know Hagrid, Hermione's doing most of the studying, then she teaches me." He stood up and offered Hermione a hand up. She smiled and took his offer then led them out of the hut. Harry's wasn't sure but he thought he heard Ron and James laughing as she led him away.

She reclaimed his hand as they crossed the grounds. Harry turned to her before the silence became oppressive and said. "I wonder what got into Hagrid."

She smiled at him briefly before saying, "I don't know, maybe he has a meeting with Dumbledore or someone later today."

He shrugged. A short while later they arrived at the little clearing behind the Quidditch locker rooms. Harry pulled out his wand and transfigured a few rocks into a large red blanket and several pillows. Hermione gave his work an appraising eye and smiled, "Well done Harry. You're really improving." She punctuated her praise by squeezing the hand she held before she sat down on one of the pillows, only then did she relinquish his hand.

Harry cleared his throat and said, "What are we studying today?"

She smiled and began to fold her legs beneath her until she found a comfortable position. "No new techniques today, just meditation."

Harry nodded and sat down, he then found his own comfortable position in front of her. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes then released the breath and began to regulate his breathing in counts of five. Breathing in for a five count and out for the same five count. His mind was soon clear and the image of the beach quickly materialized around him. He'd added to the image over the weeks. He'd gone to the library and researched tropical countries. He'd found that the pictures of Hawaii were most like his beach and began to adjust his beach to the pictures he'd found of the Islands. He'd seen pictures of a place called Na Pali on the island of Kaua'i and found it simply breathtaking.

Not long after reading about Na Pali and the Kalalau trail he found that the green hills and mountains that framed the shore crept into his beach. There were a few black volcanic rocks that had sprouted from the water nearby, Hawaiian geese now flew over head and when he looked into the water he could see along with the friendly little fish that played at his ankles, schools of reef triggerfish sailed through the water looking for a meal. On the horizon humpback whales would leap out of the water to breathe occasionally.

He'd told Hermione about it and she had been pleased that he'd actually put thought into making His place as real as possible. Many of his dreams now took place here, he'd played with a dog in the surf, he'd watched his friends lay about here and in one odd dream he'd helped Ron and the Twins build an ice cream parlor.

He also had dreams here spent in solitude, but he never felt lonely here. He always felt that someone was nearby, someone who cared about him. He sat just out of reach of the waves. A breeze ruffled his hair and carried the scent of the near-by forest to him and he smiled.

It was in this moment that Harry made a decision. After he graduated from Hogwarts, he'd go to Hawaii and see if he could find His Place on the islands and if he did he'd slap down a house and spend the rest of his days standing in the surf.

He grinned as he could imagine Ron and James' reactions to that. Both would immediately learn the phrases needed to woo young Hawaiian witches and follow him for the sheer joy of meeting island girls. Hermione would come along as well and spend her days happily reading on the beach or studying local fauna.

If he was honest with himself he found that he didn't want James and Ron along so much as Hermione and in addition to spending their days in the surf he wanted to find a private spot on a beach like this and spend his days entwined with her…

He shook himself free of his thought and the beach faded back into the recesses of his mind. He opened his eyes to see Hermione sitting in front of him, a serene expression on her face. The sun was sitting low in the sky and when he checked his watch he noticed they didn't have much time before the feast began.

He reached out a hand and ignored the subtle tremor of nervousness then touched her hand, "Hermione?" Her eyes fluttered and then opened, she graced him with a gentle expression. "We need to get going, the feast will be starting soon."

They ran up to the castle and into the hall to find they were among the last to arrive. They took their place along side James and Ron who were talking with the clean-shaven Twins. The Goblet had been moved to the front of the Great Hall in place of Dumbledore's chair.

When they sat down, Ron immediately launched into an explanation of Hagrid's behavior earlier. "Before we left Hagrid threw on this retched cologne and followed us out. Then as we were following him up to the castle we caught sight of the Beauxbatons group, Hagrid saw Maxime and he turned bright red!"

Harry looked up towards the head table and saw his large friend glancing towards the Headmistress of Beauxbatons with a funny expression. Harry grinned when Ron remarked that their children would be "bloody huge." He turned towards James and Hermione and noticed his friends in a seemingly serious conversation. He decided not to interrupt and turned back to his dinner. He noticed that unlike previous Halloweens, this feast was dragging along. The anticipation for the naming of the Champions as well as this being the second extravagantly heavy meal in as many days harmed his appetite. Finally he set his plate aside before desert was served.

It seemed forever before their plates disappeared and Professor Dumbledore lowered the lights until only the flickering light from the carved pumpkins remained. Every eye turned towards the head table to see Dumbledore speaking with Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch.

When he finished his discussion, Dumbledore moved in front of the Head Table and addressed the eager students. "It seems that the Goblet has reached its decision and we now humbly await its pronouncement. When the champions' names are called I ask them to move to the front of the hall and proceed towards the door to my left into the next chamber. Once all three are named and gathered in the next chamber, Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch will give you your first instructions."

Everyone's attention was now fixed upon the Goblet, awaiting any change. Without warning the flames turned from blue to red, suddenly a tongue of flame erupted and a piece of parchment was expelled. It sailed casually through the air only for Dumbledore to pluck it casually from its fall. He unfolded the singed parchment and read aloud. "The Champion from Durmstrang is Viktor Krum!"

Applause rang through the hall from all three delegations as the stern looking Bulgarian rose to his feet and strode confidently to the front of the hall. He exited into the next chamber to shouts from Karkaroff of "Bravo, Viktor!"

Silence quickly settled over the students again and they all concentrated on the Goblet again. As though it was waiting for their attention, the flames again turned red and another eruption of fire shot a new piece of parchment into the air. Nimble fingers caught it and Dumbledore's voice rang across the hall. "The champion of Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!"

The blonde rose from her seat and left the hall to loud applause of her own. Ron chuckled slightly as he noticed many of the other Beauxbatons were going through various types of grief and disappointment.

The silence that settled this time was especially tense between the Hogwarts' students. Many sixth and seventh year students seemed to be casting speculative and appraising looks at each other. Harry leaned forward in his seat, wondering who'd represent their school. It seemed that the Goblet was taking a long time to announce their champion.

Just as Harry felt that the Hogwarts students would riot if a student wasn't named the flames turned red and sparks began to spout out of the Goblet. A long flame shot into the air and expelled a piece of parchment. Every Hogwarts student leaned forward as Dumbledore caught it.

He opened the parchment and spoke even before he read it. "Hogwarts' Champion is…" His face went gray and he spoke in a shocked tone, "Harry Potter."

&&&&&&&&&End Part 5&&&&&&&&&