Chapter 826 - Ch: 9-10

Chapter 9 - Hermione's Parents

Amelia once more had a glass of firewhisky in her hand. That it was only lunchtime and she was at work made her feel even guiltier for having it there. In her defence, Lupin and Black also had glasses containing the same liquid in their hands too - and looked as if they needed it as badly as she did.

Neither can live while the other survives

That was the line right there of this bloody prophecy that hit the group like a bludgeoning curse to the gut, all except the two teens.

She was glad Sirius rather blurted out the question Amelia desperately wanted to ask.

"Harry, how can you be okay with this?"

"I'm not okay. Hearing that though didn't change anything. Actually, it did. The prophecy gave Hermione and me a little hope."

There was no way Amelia was letting anyone else ask the next question. She needed to know where this hope came from, because Amelia certainly didn't see any in this prophecy. To anyone else in the country, including herself, this prophecy would be a death sentence hanging around their neck. What made Harry Potter so different?

"Do you know what this supposed power to defeat him is?"

Glancing at Hermione, Harry nodded before answering. "We think so. They say that knowledge is power, we hope to use our knowledge to defeat him. We know why Voldemort didn't die that night, and are taking steps to ensure he will never have that option available again. Only Hermione and I have that knowledge, and we won't talk more about it until we're out of the country."

It surprised no one that Hermione was in complete agreement with her betrothed. "We understand it's dangerous hoarding knowledge, you just need to look at Dumbledore to see where that can lead. Dumbledore used whatever knowledge he has to form his own agenda, and doesn't tell anyone else what that agenda is. We intend to sit down with you three and go over in great detail what needs to be done to strip away Voldemort's immortality."

The very thought of an immortal Voldemort had Amelia reaching for a refill. Sirius and Remus could have used one too, but were meeting with the Grangers after this.

"Hermione and I won't say how we came by this knowledge, but we've also known we've need help with this since gaining that knowledge. Action was taken this morning that will strip Voldemort of his most wealthy supporters, that news will break in the next day or two. It was done through Gringotts, so you know everything was legal and above board. If Death Eaters are stupid enough to sign control of their vaults over to Voldemort, then enjoy watching them squirm as someone has apparently taken advantage of that access to empty their vaults."

Looking down, Amelia noticed her refill was gone - and she couldn't remember drinking it. Putting her glass away gave Amelia time to respond to that simply unbelievable news. Even then, her response was poor. This really was unbelievable though.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"If you are asking me if the rich pureblood Death Eaters can no longer buy themselves out of a trip to Azkaban, or the pages of the Daily Prophet, then my answer is yes. We might end up owning stock in the Daily Prophet too, amongst other properties and companies. One thing I wanted to assure you of, any dark items in these Death Eater vaults will never see the light of day. They will be destroyed by the goblins."

Amelia so wanted another drink, this time to celebrate. She denied herself though, alcohol was a crutch she didn't want to get used to. Since getting to know Harry Potter however, Amelia had found herself needing support of some kind after discovering just a few of the trials and tribulations this young man had faced - and still had waiting ahead of him.

Agreeing to meet with them in Italy on Monday, Amelia could then spend the coming weekend watching the dominoes fall. A piss-poor Malfoy might see her reaching for the champagne, now that really would be something worth celebrating.

-oOoOo-

As Remus left them to collect Hermione's parents, Sirius was left chuckling at his godson's display of nerves while they headed toward the restaurant.

"Harry, today you've met with the leader of the Goblin Nation, and then Amelia Bones. What are you so nervous about?"

"We pretty much knew how each of those meetings would turn out. Everything we did in Gringotts was by the numbers, the goblins' reactions then were rather easy to map out. Amelia will do anything to bring down Voldemort and his Death Eaters. As that is our number one aim, again her reactions were predictable. We don't know how this meeting will go, and that's why I'm worried."

Trying to help his Goodson, Sirius pointed out the obvious. "You hold all the cards here. Hermione is of age to accept your betrothal. As Lord Potter, you are now her magical guardian. Barchoke just sent over the deeds to their house and business, you have them exactly where you want them. Why are you worried?"

"They're Hermione's parents, they're also muggles. I'm saying that not as a bad point, rather to point out they don't have a clue how dangerous our world can be. Simply by being Hermione's parents, the Grangers will have wizards and witches thinking they have no right to live. How do I explain that to them, especially when I don't understand it myself."

Hermione was quietly walking along while holding Harry's arm, dreading this meeting even more than he was. If her father tried to get heavy-handed and impose a solution none of them wanted, Harry's reaction could be bad.

Upon reaching the restaurant, Harry discovered the owner had closed his doors to everyone else. Since 'Ambrosia' was considered the best restaurant in magical Britain, it was causing quite a stir. When the owner came out to greet them personally, a small crowd who's bookings had been cancelled didn't take it too well. Harry thought the owner was trying to cash in on the whole Boy-Who-Lived phenomenon. Finding out he couldn't be more wrong was a very pleasant experience for the teen with the unwelcome and unwanted fame.

The owner eventually turned on one of the people venting their anger at being refused entrance, he soon shut them up. "This young man's Grandfather gave my father the gold to open this restaurant, and then wouldn't take a knut of it back. The Potters will always have a table at this restaurant, it belongs to their family as much as it does mine. That the latest Lord Potter wants to meet his new family here is a great day for 'Ambrosia', and a great honour."

They were then led inside by the owner, only to discover the entire staff lined up and waiting to greet them. Harry felt like a visiting dignitary while Sirius loved it, especially chatting up the two lovely waitresses. By the time they reached the bar and had a butterbeer in their hands, both Harry and Hermione's nerves were shredded.

It was then Remus led Hermione's parents over to be introduced. Her father didn't wait for those introductions though. "Hey dear, I hope your new beau isn't blowing all his allowance trying to impress us?"

The embarrassment radiating from Hermione just added to the spike of anger Harry was experiencing. This man hadn't seen his daughter for ten months and that was how he greeted her?

Hermione mumbled through some introductions before Remus intervened.

"Sorry Hermione, this has to be done formally. Doctors Daniel and Emma Granger, may I introduce Lord Sirius Orion Black, Harry's Godfather."

Sirius took Emma Granger's hand and kissed the back of it before then shaking hands with Dan.

All this had given Harry time to study these two. He immediately understood why McGonagall was Hermione's favourite professor, her mother looked like she was attempting to be the strict Scot's apprentice. Sharp business suit, hair in a bob - with not one strand of her brunette locks daring to move out of place. It was her mouth though that reminded Harry most of their Head of House. His immediate impression was that it had been a long, long time since Emma Granger's lips had formed a genuine smile. With her husband acting the fool, he thought these two were the very definition of the odd couple. Harry didn't have time to think anymore, it was his turn to be front and centre.

"This is Lord Harry James Potter, your daughter's betrothed."

Harry repeated the same procedure with Emma as Sirius, but Dan pulled him in when they shook hands.

"Listen son, I don't want to alarm you but that looked like some kind of demonstration outside. I also heard them mention filthy muggles. Are you sure this place is okay to eat in? Emma and I would be more than happy with a pub lunch, this place must be costing a fortune."

It was in that instant, Harry had his epiphany regarding Daniel Granger. Funnily enough, he had his many years spent living at Privet Drive to thank for it. His impression of Dan was completely formed by Hermione's memories, but her view was tainted as he'd always been dad to her. Viewing Dan with a fresh set of eyes, Harry spotted something Hermione had missed. She missed it because this was the man she'd grown up with, and she'd never met the Dursleys in person.

His Uncle Vernon had many faces. The differences between the one he showed Harry and his 'respectable' persona was vast and startling. His Aunt Petunia too could be hobnobbing with the neighbours one minute, and snarling at him the next. Even Dudley was a master of this skill, he easily pulled the wool over his parents' eyes. These years of experience allowed Harry to see that Dan was wearing some sort of a persona here, he just didn't know why.

All this ran through his head in a few seconds and Hermione's worried 'Harry?' over their bond snapped him out of it. "Those people outside are angry because the owner closed the restaurant so we could have the place to ourselves. We really have a lot to talk about and had requested a private room."

This news shocked Dan. "He closed the entire restaurant?"

Harry couldn't help but smile at the reason. "My grandfather apparently gifted his father the cash to open the restaurant, and Potters are always welcome here." Harry was actually pleased to see her mother take Hermione by the arm and ask where the rest rooms were. She clearly wanted a private chat with her daughter. This was an attitude Harry thought seemed much more natural than Dan's devil-may-care approach. It was Dan's attitude that first alerted him all was not as it seemed with her father.

They sat at the table and waited on the ladies returning. Dan almost had a fit when offered the wine list. "There's no prices on here. Is this restaurant that exclusive?"

The waitress was quick to answer though. "Sir, that wine list hasn't been used in over a decade. The Potter family has it's own private wine cellar here, a cellar that is not available to anyone else. You won't be charged for something that already belongs to Lord Potter."

Harry was more sure than ever Dan was portraying a character he wanted the world to see. His shock was genuine before he recovered and once more played the joker. "But how am I supposed to boast about how expensive the wine is if I don't know the price?"

He received a knowing smile from the waitress. "The Potter family never boast about their wealth, sir. Just mention the name and year on the label, anyone who knows anything about wine will certainly get the message."

With a genuine smile, Dan handed the wine list back to the waitress. "You obviously know far more about this than me, I'll be happy to drink anything you bring to the table."

Sirius was chatting away to the waitress while Harry was listening in to what was taking place between Hermione and her mother.

"He seems very nice, but what exactly does this betrothal mean?"

"Bluntly, it means you're meeting my future husband today."

"Hermione, you're fifteen!"

"I did say future, mum."

"And just how far into the future are we talking about here?"

"We haven't really had time to discuss that, not anytime soon though. We're not rushing into anything here. This ring and these robes offer me a form of legal protection in our world."

"I'm assuming that they have other forms of protection in that world too, and I sincerely hope you and Harry are using them. I have no wish to become a grandmother."

Hermione could feel Harry getting out of his chair as his anger spiked along with hers. Trying to calm him down over their bond allowed Hermione time to form an answer for her mother. Harry's anger though did bleed into her own ire, making Hermione's reaction harsher than her mother had seen from her before.

"Harry and I are nowhere near the stage of needing protection. Rest assured though, mother, when we need it - we'll use it. The children we eventually have will not only be wanted, but loved and cherished too. They certainly won't get any of that from their grandmother."

Storming out of the bathroom with tears forming in the corners of her eyes, Hermione almost sprinted into Harry's waiting arms. The three adults at the table were also on their feet as Emma came back and walked right past the couple standing holding tightly to each other.

Emma sat by Dan, and Harry led an upset Hermione to the other end of the table - placing Remus and Sirius between them and Hermione's parents. Platters of exquisite food were placed on the table and wine glasses filled but there wasn't much appetite left. You could have easily cut the oppressive atmosphere with the supplied cutlery.

After taking two forkfuls of something Harry couldn't even taste, he put his fork down and started to speak. There was a power radiating from Harry that was felt by the other three magicals at the table. Some of this power might have reached the Grangers too, since they sat and listened without interrupting.

"Mr and Mrs Granger, I really wanted this meeting to go well but you only have to glance at Hermione to see we're off to a bad start. I love your daughter with all my heart, these rings we wear tell everyone in our world that Hermione will one day become my wife. There are those in our society who look down on my wonderful betrothed, simply because her parents aren't magical. They call non magicals 'muggles', I believe you met a sample of these morons as you entered the restaurant…"

Harry could see Dan got it, and clearly wasn't happy that 'filthy muggle' shout had been aimed at himself and Emma.

"We wear these rings because your daughter and I are in love. They also offer her protections from these same type of morons. The main problem is though that our society is run by, and full of people, with the same opinions as those morons. So much so, Hermione and I intend to leave Britain - we'll be studying and living abroad."

Holding up his hand, Dan stopped his wife from charging in all guns blazing. They really needed to know more before adopting that approach. "You're talking here as if we, Hermione's parents, don't have a say in this matter. To be perfectly frank, I'm prepared to listen to what you have to say, but will not sit here and be dictated to by a teenage boy."

"I am Lord Potter, Head of the Potter Family, and legally responsible for my betrothed, Hermione Granger. This country didn't learn any lessons from the last magical war, and look to be repeating all those mistakes again. I lost my parents in the last war, no one is touching my family this time. Just by being Hermione's parents, you are now in danger too. We had hoped to sit and convince you to leave the county with us today..."

There was no holding Emma back this time. "Don't be preposterous. We have responsibilities, commitments, lives to lead. Surely you didn't expect us just to walk out of here and head off on some sort of wild adventure because you think we're in danger? These are real lives Dan and I lead, not some fantasy…"

Emma's rant was halted by Harry tossing an envelope that landed right in front of them. Dan opened the envelope and his hands started shaking when he realised what he held. "I'm going to need an explanation for this before I get very angry..."

Harry shrugged, unconcerned. "You are two stubborn people, people who can't possibly understand the danger you could be in. We didn't expect you to come with us today, but I also promised Hermione I would do everything in my power to protect you. Since I now officially own both your buildings, no one can stop me putting protective wards around them. Not the Ministry of Magic, and not either of you. We know you're stubborn, we can't allow you to be stupid too."

Snatching the documents out of Dan's hands, Emma was reading them as Harry continued speaking. "There's a mortgage agreement there that you can sign, or you can tear it up and consider both properties a gift. Pure-bloods consider it appropriate that money changes hands during a betrothal. While there's not enough money in the country to come anywhere close to Hermione's worth, there's certainly precedent for you accepting this as a gift."

Dan was practically growling as he eyed up Remus and Sirius. "Now I know why he turned up with two bodyguards here..."

Sirius had a wicked smile on his face as he answered for both marauders. "Not even close, Dan. These two are very powerful, Harry's certainly more powerful than me. Just over a week ago, a horde of the darkest creatures imaginable tried to kill the three of us - Remus was indisposed at the time. They made a mistake though and threatened the lovely Miss Granger, Harry released his magic and drove them all away. I can think of only one other wizard in Britain who could possibly have managed that. These two saved my life twice in the one night, and were then responsible for me being declared a free man. They've held meetings today with national leaders, more than holding their own. You just see two teenagers sitting there, no one else in this restaurant does. You don't shut the premier restaurant in magical Britain for two teenagers."

It was now Remus' turn to fling his two knut's worth into the ring. "I work for the two of them, and it is the two of them. I don't know what happened between Hermione and Emma but I would bet my pay check Harry does - and also before he spoke to Hermione about it. These two are so close, sometimes it seems as if they can read each other's minds."

Since these were her parents, Hermione thought she should at least say something here. "It's not mind reading, we can communicate through our rings. We share thoughts, memories and experiences. Yes, Harry heard everything that was said in there, that's why this meeting became so confrontational. A slight to one seems to rile the other up more than the person it was aimed at. It's something we're working on but don't hold out much hope of fixing. Harry puts far more emphasis on my safety and happiness than he does on his own, and I'm the same with him."

Shaking his head, Dan just had to ask. "Are you happy with this... I don't even know what this is."

"Oh dad, I've never been happier. Hogwarts has been horrible again this year so we're going to Italy and opening our own school. We're meeting a bunch of our friends off the express and they're coming too, but only for a holiday. The school bit is a secret for now but we're going to be working all summer to try and make this happen. We've already convinced some of the best people at Hogwarts to at least consider working for us. Harry and I seem to grow closer day by day, and we both see our relationship ending up the way we want it to - with me becoming Mrs Potter."

"And where does this leave your mum and I?"

"Dad, I so want you both to come with us, even if only for a holiday. We were sure you wouldn't leave today but the invitation is an open one - come anytime. Harry promised me he would keep you safe, and he always keeps his promises. Yes, we could have handled it better but Harry thought keeping you safe was the most important thing here. Feelings can be mended, these people don't play around. Torture, rape, murder, arson - it's all the same to them. We discovered one wizard this week, who actually worked for the Ministry of Magic, had killed so many people - men, women and children - he couldn't even remember the total to the nearest dozen. The Minister is trying to cover this news up, because it will make some of his friends look bad - so we're leaving Britain behind."

He was almost afraid to ask but Dan had to know. "What happened to this man?"

"He tried to attack Harry, he won't be killing anyone else."

Emma meanwhile had been looking through the documents Harry had tossed on the table. "There appears to be a document missing, I can see only one mortgage here."

Nodding, Harry answered her. "I combined both mortgages, that's why there is only one."

Looking again, Emma's brows furrowed. "That can't be right, we were paying more than this to each of the mortgages."

Shrugging his shoulders, Harry answered as honestly as he could. "I didn't want to charge you any interest, I don't need to make money from this, but the goblins would never have accepted that. Since we really need the goblins to work with us, the combined mortgage is set at an interest rate of one percent. I told the goblin leader these were special rates for my family, he thought it was hilarious. You don't need to sign that today though, you don't need to sign it at all."

Ignoring Harry, Emma focused her attention on her daughter. "Hermione, does your young man understand the sums of money involved here?"

Harry was being quite conciliable with her father but, after her mother's comment earlier, Hermione was in no mood to cut her any slack at all.

"Mother, Harry's given me cards attached to his Gringotts account that could easily cover that amount. Didn't you listen, we're building, equipping and staffing a magical school - which will cost millions. My future husband is incredibly rich, yet all he want's to do is help people. If some people are too stubborn to see and accept that help, I don't know what else to say."

Before anyone could say a word, Hermione clearly had another thought. "Actually I do, take the money then go on a round the world cruise. We'll even pay for it, and you'll be safe. Harry would give every penny he has to keep his family safe, and think it was a bargain. You might not count him as family, having just met, but being my parents is enough for you to be classed as family by Harry. That's who my Harry is, and he considers all the people sitting here as family. His Godbrother and Godsister will be joining us in Italy today, he's making sure they will be safe too."

Dan well understood the two women in his life could be extremely obstinate but he had never seen mother and daughter go at one another like this. Thinking back, that would probably be because Hermione accepted Emma as an authority figure, and always backed off before reaching this point. There was simply no give in Hermione today, Emma was pushing against a stone wall that was many feet thick and immovable. He attempted to play moderator, and also wanted to get a handle on just how much trouble Hermione thought they were in.

"Do you really think that's necessary dear?"

Trying to put the situation into terms her dad could understand was hard. Like Harry, she struggled to understand the situation herself. "Think in terms of Nazi Germany, at the hight of the atrocities. I would be a little jewish bitch, regarded as not fit enough to lick their boots. You and mum, well they would probably place Crookshanks above you in importance - he's part keezel. The last time they actively hunted the muggle-born, wiping out entire families who dared to give birth to a witch or wizard. The people who did all that killing are still out there, and getting ready to start again. Harry and I are top of their hit list, but we won't be in the country…"

The tears were streaming down Hermione's cheeks but her starting sobbing broke Harry out of his daze. Hermione had been viewing some of the atrocities from Voldemort's memories, but her parents had been playing the parts of the victims. Watching these horrific memories play had frozen Harry, until he heard Hermione sob.

She found herself sitting on Harry's lap, held tightly in his arms, with no idea how she got there. As Harry comforted Hermione, Remus and Sirius took over explaining Death Eaters to a couple of muggles.

While this was happening, a worried staff were clearing away their starters and bringing out the main courses. Kissing Harry in thanks, a calmer and more focused Hermione then returned to her own seat. She was by no means finished with trying to make her parents see the danger they were in.

"Dad, mum, we can get you small devices to carry with you. If you find yourselves in trouble, saying an activation phrase would see you whisked to safety…"

"Hermione, this is the most exquisite risotto I've ever tasted, please stop with the hysterics and let me enjoy this. Your father and I have no intention of stopping you spending the summer with your young man. We can see how important this is to you, and might even try to make it over a couple of days nearer the end of summer. I see no need to disrupt all our plans because of your teenage fears for our safety. Your father and I will be fine…"

Turning to Harry, Hermione deliberately spoke aloud so her parents could hear. "Am I too late to accept your offer of kidnapping them? I really can't see anything else working. We could easily ward the building so they couldn't leave but you're right, we'd lose Amelia's support. Without it, we can't win this war. Just promise me you'll shoot me if I ever turn as blinkered and pigheaded as my mother."

After that, the rest of their meal was eaten in silence. Harry and Hermione of course continued to chat over their bond. He had seen clearly from Dan's body language that he wanted to object to Hermione leaving with them. Emma's decision however wasn't even questioned by her husband.

As he sat his cutlery down on an empty plate, Sirius noticed Dan staring at the young couple.

"Once you know what to look for, it's easy to catch them doing it. Of course, they're not even trying to hide it at the moment."

"Is this normal, amongst your people?"

Sirius laughing pulled Harry and Hermione out of their mental discussion. "When it comes to these two, nothing is normal. It was only a few days ago they were on the front page of our national newspaper, standing next to our Minister of Magic. If that's not enough of a clue for you, the Minister came to Hogwarts specifically to meet with these two."

With her dad now staring at them in awe, and her mother pretending this wasn't really happening, Hermione decided to call for reinforcements. Dobby popping into existence at Hermione's side blew the last vestige of Emma's indifference to smithereens. Her eyes almost popped out her head at the little creature wearing what looked like a cutdown version of Hermione's school robe, with what she now knew to be the Potter Family crest featuring prominently on his chest.

"Dobby, this is my mum and dad. If they call for you, will you hear them?"

"Dobby always hears his family. You is family, they be your family, they is Dobby's family too."

Smiling, Hermione rested her hand on Dobby's shoulder. "Dobby works for us but is certainly someone we consider family. Dobby, could you fetch the papers that had pictures of Harry and me in them? My parents might like to see them..."

She never got to say anymore as Dobby was gone, appearing moments later at her father's side and presented him with the relevant newspapers. Dan's 'thank you' had the little guy wearing a wide smile. A gasp from Emma was the only sound she made, her hand covered her mouth as she struggled to make sense of what she was looking at. It was left to Dan to ask the question they needed answered.

"What the hell is that enormous creature in the picture with you?"

"Well, there were people at Hogwarts who didn't believe my Harry had saved the school last year, by killing that monster with a sword that's nearly as famous as Excalibur. Those pictures proved beyond doubt that Harry was telling the truth. The other three people in that picture are coming on holiday with us today."

After seeing that picture, the waitress serving a sweet was exactly what the Grangers needed. Hermione knew sweets weren't usually on the menu at home but her mother had one weakness, she adored tiramisu. In a pique of teenage rebellion, Hermione ordered the richest cake on the menu - with ice cream on the side. She would suffer for the sugar-rush later, but a small victory against her mother seemed worth it at the moment.

After finishing, Harry was able to tell the owner with complete honesty that he'd just eaten the best meal of his life - and would certainly be back here again.

Leaving the restaurant, both Granger parents got to see first hand how the wizarding public reacted to the boy who was apparently going to become their son-in-law one day. If they thought the staring and pointing was disconcerting, what they made of the couple almost being mobbed as they entered the Leaky Cauldron was lost in the melee as Sirius and Remus had to act like the bodyguards Dan had earlier accused them of being.

Making it out the door, Remus soon transfigured their robes into attire more suitable for muggle London. Hermione explained that they wouldn't be using owls to communicate over the summer, and that Dobby would be handling all letters and messages between them. "If you have a letter for me, just call for Dobby and he'll get it to us much quicker than an owl - though don't mention that to Hedwig."

Putting his arm around Hermione, Harry didn't need their bond to understand how hard this was for his betrothed. She was desperate for a hug from either of her parents though it was plain to the rest of them that wasn't going to be happening. He held Hermione tight as her parents said goodbye and left, like saying cheerio to a friend you would see later. Hermione had a job on her hands keeping Harry's anger in check.

"It's just the way they are, Harry. I learned long ago not to expect anything else." While that might be true, Harry knew that Hermione still longed for a hug from her father, or her mother's approval. As neither was happening today, they made their way along to King's Cross.

-oOoOo-

Passing through the brick barrier saw the transfiguration on their robes end, they were actually a little early for the train. There were parents standing waiting though, two with a trunk in tow headed straight for them. The couple bowed so low to Harry, he was actually embarrassed - especially when discovering this was Millie's parents.

"Mr and Mrs Bulstrode, please... Millie is getting used to calling me Harry, can we start from there?"

The woman, who her husband introduced as Glenda, had tears in her eyes, thanking everyone for the opportunity they were giving her Millicent. While there was no sign of tears, it was easy to see her husband, Graham, agreed wholeheartedly with his wife.

It was too much for Harry, who confessed the truth of the situation to them. "We don't really know Millie well but, since she's now the girlfriend of our best friend, we're hoping this holiday will give us all a chance to become friends with her too." From just meeting these two, it was easy to se how much they doted on their daughter. Comparing their behaviour to that of the Grangers was startling, and hurt Hermione despite her protestations over their bond of being used to it.

They were soon joined by Amelia, who also introduced Hannah's parents. They formed a strange group, having luggage with them before the train actually arrived. It was the arrival of the Malfoys though that started the free entertainment, the instant Lucius spotted that Hermione's robes bore the Black crest.

A Lucius who was incandescent with rage challenged her suitability to wear that particular crest immediately, and loudly. "By what right does a mudblood were the crest to the House of Black? Imagine, a mudblood with Toujours Pur on her chest. You'll be the laughing stock of magical Britain by tomorrow. The Black family magic will never accept her, or any spawn that crawls out from between her legs..."

Sirius was reaching for his wand but was stopped by Harry, a Harry who was learning from those memories of Tom's to channel his rage into revenge - and Harry's rage was mighty. "Allow me, Lord Black, since it is my betrothed he is insulting."

With clenched teeth, Sirius nodded to his godson. "Very well, Lord Potter, though this insult to my family will not be forgotten."

"Lucius, you act all superior - and are quite good at it - until you open your mouth and totally destroy any illusion of breeding. This type of behaviour might have been acceptable amongst your Death Eater buddies and that half-blood bastard you called master, in front of ladies it's degrading, disgusting and foul. Mrs Malfoy, I can only apologise - and assure you that the current and future Lord Blacks would never allow a daughter of our house to marry well beneath them for something as vulgar as money."

They had now attracted quite a crowd, so Harry continued playing to them. "It must be terrible to watch your son try to model himself on his father, a wizard with no manners, etiquette or breeding. His magical prowess isn't that great either. He tried to kill me when I was twelve - and a house elf dumped him on his arse."

This drew a lot of laughter from the growing crowd, leaving Lucius trembling with anger. Since there were so many witnesses, and one of them was the Bones bitch, he was powerless to respond other than with a threat.

"I told you then you would meet the same sticky end as your parents, and I still stand by that. You and your mudblood won't graduate from Hogwarts, you can bet your vault on that."

Even someone with the training of Narcissa Malfoy couldn't keep the look of horror from her face at her husband's words. Harry then confirmed what everyone bar Lucius appeared to grasp, he publicly rubbed Malfoy's nose in this revelation too.

"Yes, Mrs Malfoy, your husband all but confirmed his murder attempt on me. Sadly, that's not enough proof for Madam Bones here to arrest him. I would suggest dragging him away though, before his breeding shows true and he does something that will see him arrested. Have you got your mask with you, Lucius? Did you know it was confirmed this week that it's impossible to take the Dark Mark while under the imperius curse? How much is it costing you to stop that fact making the Prophet?"

Harry had to shout the last part as Narcissa was physically dragging her husband away. Harry shouting though just ensured more people heard him, and one glance at Malfoy's reaction told everyone the truth of the matter. Lucius stumbled and almost fell at hearing what he considered a secret shouted across a train platform now full of magical parents.

While all eyes were on Malfoy, Hermione grabbed Harry and proceeded to administer one of her special reward kisses. She loved when Harry let his intelligent side out to play, and Harry had just hurt Malfoy far more effectively than if he'd drawn his wand.

They broke their kiss to find the newly arrived Molly Weasley's disapproval for their public display of affection pouring over them. That disapproval reached Niagara Falls proportions after Molly spotted the crests on Hermione's robes. Before there was an eruption to rival Mount Vesuvius raining death and destruction onto Pompeii, Arthur did the unthinkable and interrupted his wife. He was clearly excited about something, so excited Arthur didn't realise the rollicking he was in for tonight.

"Harry, it's wonderful to see you again, you too Hermione. I've actually got some wonderful news for you, I've managed to get us all tickets for the Quidditch World Cup this summer."

"I'm sorry, Mr Weasley, We won't be in the country this summer. Thanks for thinking about us but we'll have to give it a miss."

The approaching Hogwarts Express drew all the attention away from their conversation, which was probably just as well as Arthur looked as if someone had stollen his precious muggle plug collection. He tried to stumble out a reply.

"The thing is, you see, I kinda used your name to get the tickets. If you can't go, then I don't think any of us will make the final."

Instantly recognising the attempt at emotional blackmail, Harry stood firm. "I'm really sorry, but we won't make it. There's just so much to do..."

Spotting her husband's crestfallen expression alerted Molly that something was wrong. Hearing Harry's last answer saw Molly enter the fray, in her own inimitable style. "What do you mean you won't make it? Of course you'll make it, Harry. You'll be staying at the Burrow after all..."

Deliberately ignoring the lack of an invitation for Hermione, Harry was adamant. "No, sorry we won't..."

Seeing the determination in those green eyes, Molly knew it was time to unleash her big gun. "But Albus said you would be spending part of the holiday with us..."

This was exactly the wrong thing to say though as Harry's attitude visibly hardened. "Albus Dumbledore is a Headmaster, he has no say in where or how I spend my summers."

The disrespect in Harry's voice shocked Molly more than anything else she'd seen or heard here today. "Albus Dumbledore is a great man..."

Harry cut right across Molly before she could build up a head of steam. "Great or otherwise, he still has no say in how I spend my holidays."

With a stern stare, Molly fired off a parting comment before going to search for her brood. "You've changed, Harry, and not for the better. I'll be talking with Albus about this."

While Sirius and Hermione were left jokingly debating about which of them Molly's stare and ire was directed at, Harry had a quiet word with Remus.

"You have got written permission that we can take Ron with us? After that, we may need to kidnap him..."

Hermione's laughter stopped anything more Harry was going to say. The three wizards waited on hearing the reason behind that laughter, Hermione didn't disappoint.

"Molly wants Ginny to be on Harry's arm nearly as much as her daughter does. The chances of me and you leaving here without little Miss Weasley tagging along are nil, especially if Molly has anything to do with it."

Harry so wanted to rant and rave in frustration at the truth behind his betrothed's words but that would have to wait, Neville was approaching with his gran. Harry consoled himself with the fact that it shouldn't take long to get everyone organised, and then they would be off on a well-earned and much needed holiday.

Chapter 10 - Longest Day

They were waiting until the platform was empty before portkeying to Italy, though watching Molly fawn loudly over Ginny - telling her how pretty she was becoming, and how she would make a wonderful wife for someone one day - had Harry had Hermione wanting to leave right away. Noticing the adverse affect Molly's hastily staged production and loud broadcast were having on Millie, Hermione slid up alongside the clearly worried girl for a quiet word.

"Don't worry about Mrs Weasley's rant. That touching performance is purely for Harry's benefit - trying to make him see the mistake he's making in dating me instead of Ginny - and nothing to do with you and Ron. We think she and her daughter have had Ginny's wedding to Harry planned for years. Ginny is rather obsessed with Harry and, as we all just saw, her mother is hardly discouraging that obsession."

Embarrassed at being so easily read, Millie still really appreciated Hermione's kind words. She'd initially thought Ron's mum was having a go at her, for not being pretty enough to date her son. Hearing that Hermione - who Millie thought was very pretty - faced problems because she was dating Harry was a revelation for the girl with absolutely no self-confidence. There was also something Millie desperately needed to find out from this girl.

"Hermione, why are you being so nice to me? We've never been friendly, I was horrid to you back in second year…"

"That's in the past, let's leave it there. I'll be totally honest with you, Millie, if you'll do the same for me. The whole school knew I had two best friends, both boys, and one of them I'm now betrothed to. You don't need to be a genius to see the potential for things to go very bad between the three of us after I got together with Harry. Ron is a very good friend, Harry though is the only one for me. You now being with Ron took all that possible conflict and anxiety away. Hanging about as two couples balances us back up again. So we hope to use this holiday to get to know you better, because Ron is still our best friend. Now it's your turn, why Ron?"

Millie's eyes focused on the boy his mother was now fussing over. "I'll be honest too, but it's just so hard to put into words. I look at Ron and my insides are full of butterflies, he smiles at me and I melt. I'm not explaining this very well…"

Hermione was the one who was now smiling. "You did just fine. He is still one of my best friends though, so don't hurt him. He hurts you, come to me and we'll kick his arse together."

This actually had Millie giggling as she nodded in agreement with Hermione. Their little chat felt like being accepted into the group, something Millie was desperately hoping would happen.

Remus and Sirius had a length of rope that was their portkey to Italy. They were threading it through all the luggage, so people would only have to concentrate on holding on and not worry about their bags. They intended to take an end each, with everyone travelling spaced between the luggage and them. After the twins had finally managed to escape their mother's smothering, Fred and George grabbing onto the rope completed their group. Sirius activated the portkey and only the parents were left on the platform, taking their children's school trunks home with them.

-oOoOo-

The train may have barely arrived at the platform in King's Cross but, back in Hogwarts, things were already settling into holiday mode. Albus sat back in his chair and surveyed his office in peace and quiet, that quiet was rather unsettling though. The special charmed items that had monitored the wards at Privet Drive for over a decade were silent now, and Albus had grown quite used to the soothing whirring over the years. Harry must have let his family know he wouldn't be returning, causing the wards to crash. Albus still wasn't sure how he felt about that, but had no more time to ponder the problem as an owl arrived with even more bad news.

After reading the letter, an angry Albus crumpled it into a ball and tossed the parchment out of the window - just missing the now rapidly retreating raptor that had delivered said letter mere moments ago. Poppy Pomfrey had just resigned from Hogwarts too. Her stating that she didn't require a reference for her new job prevented Albus from even discovering where she had gone. Knowing that replacing Poppy would almost be impossible, but was required by law, just made his already busy summer that much more frenetic.

Had he known that Pomona and Filius were currently in Hogsmeade, preparing to activate their portkeys to Italy, Albus would have had a fit.

-oOoOo-

The portkey delivered them onto a terrace that ran the entire length of a magnificent villa. The terrace protruded over the side of a cliff and provided a breathtaking view of the Bay of Naples, with the gigantic active volcano, Mount Vesuvius, lurking ominously in the background. Even spotting Professor McGonagall sitting having tea with Madam Pomfrey wasn't enough to drag their eyes away from the magnificent display of nature at its finest that surrounded them.

Remus introduced the two house elves that had come as a package deal with the building, Brutus and Cindy. Remus had already allocated rooms to all their guests so called them to order as the house elves began popping away with their luggage.

"Listen people, if you follow me I'll show you to where you'll be staying. The elves are already placing your luggage there and will have dinner ready for us on the terrace at eight."

"But that's two hours away, I'm starving."

Smiling at her friend, Hermione pointed out his understandable mistake. "Ron, we're in Italy now. They're an hour ahead of UK time. You all need to put your watches forward by an hour."

"If I put my watch forward two hours, can I get my dinner now?" Dobby appeared beside Ron, giving him a pastry to munch on as he and Millie fell in line with the rest of the group behind Remus.

Harry and Hermione were joined by Sirius as they made their way over to the two witches having tea. Minerva rose as they approached.

"Mr Potter, Miss Granger, I can only apologise for my behaviour…"

Harry was having none of that. "Professor, that wasn't your behaviour. You behaved exactly as Dumbledore wanted you to, and he used his wand to ensure that you did. We actually saw him obliviate the Minister of Magic, so no apology is necessary. You can stay here for as long as you like. We even have a job offer for you, teaching in our new school."

Before Minerva could answer, Pomona and Filius arrived by portkey. Filius rushed directly over to see how his friend was, while Pomona ran a critical eye over everything she was seeing while making the same short journey. From her widening smile, Harry was assuming she liked what she saw.

The building looked fantastic, and the view was nothing short of spectacular. That same famous view also gave the professor information on their location, information that she was liking very much. "A mild climate, so greenhouses are more about containment than heat. Volcanic soil which, with the addition of a little dragon dung, is the best growing medium in the world. Lord Potter, so far you've impressed the herbologist in me - mind you no more Scottish winters would be enough to do that - now let's hear the rest of your plans?"

As Pomona sat down with the rest of the group, Harry and Hermione realised they were facing another meeting here - one they thought was a few days away and hadn't prepared for. With their three professors all waiting on answers, Harry started off winging what they hoped would be a winning presentation.

"My first point is an obvious one, Hermione and I know practically nothing about setting up and running a school. It would be our intention to pick the right people for the job, and then provide the resources to let them get on with it. Our school days are supposed to be some of the best times of our lives, they shouldn't see us having to fight for those same lives while supposedly in the school's care."

Hermione took over seamlessly from her betrothed, after giving Harry's last comment a moment to sink in. They had spent hours in the infirmary, talking over their bond about what they wanted the Potter Institute to be. It was now time to air those conversations out loud. "Taking into account our time at Hogwarts, we have a much bigger list of things that we certainly don't want to see in our new school. A Headmistress that hides behind a gargoyle and unknown password is a big no-no. She should be at the very heart of the school, and accessible to all."

While that appeared to go down well, Harry thought his next point would be more controversial to three Heads of House. "There will be no division amongst the students, other than the necessary gender ones for dorms and such. No houses, this school and its students will be their family. We don't think labelling eleven year old children, a label that lasts their entire life, helps build a school spirit - rather four separate house ones."

Backing her betrothed to the hilt, Hermione also pushed hard for something that was central to their plans. "We're looking at yeargroups of around twenty students, totalling one hundred and forty by the time we reach seventh year. The Potter Institute is being set up as an alternative to Hogwarts, not in direct competition. We could never replace Hogwarts, there's simply not the room here. If we can open in September, there will be a maximum of eighty students attending the Potter Institute. With that small number, no one should be able to slip through the cracks and get lost. The change in Luna just typifies what we want to do here, Millicent too. Being sorted in different houses forces an expectation of behaving a certain way onto children, children who are really too young to know what they're buying into at that point. Sitting watching an eleven year old Harry almost die at his first quidditch match was not my idea of entertainment, yet the whole incident appeared to be forgotten about because he caught the snitch."

Harry gave a chortle at that point. "We didn't push it because Hermione set Snape's robes on fire and stopped the curse - well a flaming Snape flailing into Quirrell stopped the curse..."

This generated a lot of chuckling, and led Harry nicely onto his next point. "There will be no bigotry allowed here, or bullying of any sort. Arguments on who supports the better quidditch team are one thing, calling someone a 'mudblood' because of who their parents are is unacceptable - full stop. Entering the magical world is a life-changing experience, it's full of wonder, awe and of course magic. Hagrid showing me around Diagon Alley for the first time is still one of my most treasured memories. The darker side of that world can't be ignored however. We witnessed that darker side in the infirmary a few days ago. Poppy?"

The intensity of the emotions Harry was displaying caused two of the professors to miss Harry calling Poppy by her first name, they were far more interested in what their friend had to say. Poppy didn't disappoint.

"Walden Macnair was a Death Eater, he confessed to it. He also confessed that he couldn't remember how many people he'd killed as a Death Eater, and that it was impossible to take the Dark Mark while under the imperius curse..."

Both Filius and Pomona understood immediately that last piece of information was a game changer for magical Britain. It was Pomona who asked the questions they really needed to know the answer too.

"What happened to Macnair, and why haven't we heard about any of this?"

That Minerva answered those questions wasn't nearly as shocking as what she said. "Macnair fired the killing curse at Mr Potter, who somehow sent it straight back to him. I would surmise that Fudge is keeping everything under wraps, trying to protect his friends. I don't know for certain as I was in St. Mungo's, trying to have all the damage Dumbledore did with his compulsions and obliviate spells on me reversed."

Poppy's hand was now resting on Minerva's shoulder. "Min, don't beat yourself up over this. We three watched Dumbledore obliviate the Minister of Magic, only Harry and Hermione saved me suffering the same fate that night."

Pomona turned directly to Harry. "Lord Potter, I find myself unable to return to Hogwarts. While I'm certain I could find alternative employment, even without a reference from Dumbledore, I'm becoming more and more intrigued by your offer. Nothing you or Miss Granger have said here has changed my opinion, rather reinforced it. My main questions though are can this be done, and do you have the considerable resources needed available?"

"We arrived moments before you, so have yet to have a look around. Remus assures me there is a large tract of land behind and to the side of this building, more than enough room to erect a school. After meeting Ragnok this morning, you have my word that funds are in place for anything you need. He has also promised help in any way the Goblin Nation can, including introductions to all the local businesses and..." Harry stopped as Flitwick had just fallen from his chair. The little professor got back on his feet, but needed to hold onto the table for support - his legs were still shaking.

"You met with Ragnok, and he agreed to help? Lord Potter, have you any idea of the enormity of what you just said?"

Answering with a smile, Harry then confirmed that he did. Harry also confirm the offer included design and building aid. Filius immediately accepted any type of employment Harry was offering before turning to Pomona and urging her to do the same. "With that quite unbelievable backing, this project will happen - Gringotts full support is a cast iron guarantee of that. We have a chance to design and build a school the way we want it, without a thousand years of tradition and downright stuffiness hanging over our heads. This is an opportunity to drag our students into the twenty-first century, rather than the nineteenth that the Ministry and Hogwarts seems determined to keep them in."

While on the cusp of accepting, Pomona wasn't being rushed into anything without getting all the details. "Lord Potter, is there anything else up your sleeve that you think we should know about?"

"Only two things. One, it has been made abundantly clear by the majority of pure-bloods that they don't want muggle-borns tainting their society. I want to contact every muggle-born and make them aware that there is an alternative to Hogwarts. Again, I'm not sure how we do that..."

Harry found himself being interrupted by McGonagall. "Mister Potter, that wonderful elf of yours offered to fetch my belongings from Hogwarts. I don't know if it was deliberate or not, but he also brought the book of names - containing details of every magical child in Britain. It will be missed though, so we would need to copy all the information before returning it to Hogwarts."

Harry and Hermione were in no doubt. Dobby knew their plans, and how important this was to them. Both felt the little guy probably made that offer to the professor in the hope of being able to take that book too.

Nodding, and agreeing that book would need to be copied as quickly as possible, Pomona returned her attention to Harry. "Ok, Lord Potter, that's one problem solved. What was the other one you wanted to mention?"

"Only that you stop calling me Lord Potter. Harry, or Potter in class, works for me."

Sirius had sat quietly waiting to see how this would all unfold. He could see both teens were now running on empty but still couldn't help but burst out laughing at that. "This is our fourth meeting today, I'm knackered so you two must be exhausted, yet that's all that's bothering you?" Getting serious, Sirius then gave some vague figures that would nonetheless reassure the group who Harry was asking to change their lives here.

"Professors, I watched in awe as my Godson set aside millions for this project. These two could easily have arranged a few tutors for them and their friends, it's just not in either of them to take the easy option. I am so proud of them for the decisions they're making, and the path they've chosen to walk. Both are very serious about this, something you will have to be to if you sign up. Remus and Poppy are already on board but we don't need decisions tonight. Filius made a fantastic point about building a school the way you want it to be. Even if you decide just to treat this as the holiday you were originally offered, we would still like those ideas to help our plans. Make no mistake, this will happen. I just know the people around this table have the knowledge to take this idea and fly with it - creating something wonderful here."

Harry and Hermione were left blushing at Sirius' praise, that it also got them three tentative yeses meant he was forgiven. The couple understood those yeses would solidify along with their plans. Since these people would have a massive influence in those plans, it should become harder and harder to walk away from something they helped design.

Seeing how well the professors had reacted to Sirius mentioning figures, Harry gave them another one. "Remus has been our lead on this, and will be far more able to answer any technical questions. Remus has clearance to make purchases for the institute, up to and including one hundred thousand galleons. More names will be added to the account as the institute gains staff. Anything higher, needs mine or Hermione's signature. We've just arrived and already I love how warm and light it is here, we should try and use that in the new building."

Again Hermione took over seamlessly from her betrothed. "Remus has pictures, plans and drawings of schools and such, buildings that are specifically designed to work in this climate. Our intention was to sit down and look at them to see what suits our needs. The only thing off the table is we won't be building another castle here, anything else will be considered."

That generated smiles all round, then Harry gave an indication of how fast they needed things to move. "We already have a meeting arranged with Madam Bones for Monday, we can meet again anytime after that. It will give us time to look around, and also refine some of our ideas. Sirius, we really are knackered, and couldn't possibly eat anything after our meal in 'Ambrosia'..."

This had everyone but Sirius staring at them. "You ate in 'Ambrosia'? I've always wanted to try there, but it's almost impossible to get a booking..."

Harry then handed Sprout another incentive. "If we get the Potter Institute open for September, the entire staff will eat there - my treat. Can I say that none of our friends know about the school yet, but most of their parents or guardians do. We don't want Dumbledore to find out about this until we're ready, so I'll let you work out which parents we deliberately didn't tell."

Everyone immediately got that Harry meant the Weasleys. Hermione asked Sirius to apologise to their friends for them, and say they would see them at breakfast. They called for Dobby to show them where they would be staying.

As they walked away, Minerva couldn't help but pass comment to Sirius. "They really are serious about this."

"Yes, including a trip to 'Ambrosia's' for everyone. I'm still getting to know those two but already I get the impression they never do anything by halves." The three professors and the healer all agreed with that. More discussions would have to wait though, as the students had began drifting down for dinner.

-oOoOo-

Luna was standing on her balcony, watching the setting sun and thinking that her chat with Hermione had paid dividends. Luna didn't mind rooming with someone, she had just requested that someone not be Ginny. Harry was becoming a brother-like figure to Luna, and she would rather not spend her time listening to someone constantly lusting after him. Should Ginny begin bad-mouthing Hermione, Luna wasn't sure what she would do. Hermione was her friend, probably her best friend, so she couldn't stand back and let a jealous Ginny gossip maliciously about her.

With Susan and Hannah sharing a room, putting Luna in with Millie would leave Ginny as the only girl with her own room - no one seriously considered Ginny rooming with Millie. The simple solution was to give all three girls their own rooms, and that's what happened.

Hearing someone knocking on her room door, Luna shouted it was open and to come in. She hadn't looked around, not taking her eyes from the beautiful scene in front of her. It took Luna a moment to realise that no one had spoken, despite her hearing the door opening. She turned and saw Neville staring at her, making Luna smile.

Entering Luna's room, Neville immediately spotted her standing on the balcony. The way the setting sun illuminated Luna, Neville thought an angel was standing there - she took his breath away. That this was Luna, a girl he liked and could talk to without stumbling or stuttering, made this revelation all the more startling. When Luna turned and smiled at him, Neville felt his stomach do things that had nothing to do with him needing fed.

"Are we ready to go down to dinner?"

Neville could only nod in answer, though he did offer Luna his arm. Taking that arm saw Luna's smile grow even brighter, and caused Neville's palpitations to shift up into his chest. Having friends was almost a new experience for Neville, was he now ready to start thinking about a girlfriend?

Luna's bubbly chatter all the way down to dinner at least answered one question for Neville. If he was ready to begin thinking about having a girlfriend, Neville already knew exactly which girl he would be asking.

-oOoOo-

Ron went to collect Millie, and found his girlfriend with tears in her eyes. Ron had no experience of dealing with crying girls, especially ones who smiled while they cried.

"It's so beautiful here, things like this don't happen to me. I want you to pinch me so I know I'm not dreaming. Not on the bum though, or we may miss dinner."

Stepping forward, Ron placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Will that do instead?"

"Your kiss will do it every time, and anytime you want more I'm right here."

"I think we better head down to dinner, before I take you up on any of those offers. You know I would love to, but I don't want to push Harry's hospitality. I've got a feeling Ginny is going to push his hospitality to the limit - and beyond. There's just no talking to her on the matter of Harry." Offering Millie his arm, Ron lead his girlfriend down to dinner.

-oOoOo-

Another couple were also enjoying the sunset. Dobby had led them to the master suite, with Hermione having a room next to Harry's. The windows and balcony had the best views over the bay, sitting on his balcony with Hermione in his arms meant Harry was really enjoying those views.

"That felt like being ambushed, and just finished a truly wonderful day."

Hermione didn't need the hint of sarcasm in Harry's voice to know he wasn't serious about the wonderful part. "Who knew meetings could be so exhausting. I hope our friends will forgive us but I really am shattered tonight."

"Ron will have food, and Millie at his side, he probably won't even notice we're not there. I do feel terrible though for inviting them here and then promptly abandoning them."

Hermione couldn't believe she was suggesting this but knew for certain it would help Harry put a very stressful day behind him. "We really need to get to know this place as quickly as possible. What about a nice gentle broom ride around the property, then we can join them for a mug of something before bed."

"You would go flying with me?"

"I believe I used the phrase 'nice gentle ride', that I'm up for."

Dobby popping in with Harry's Firebolt settled the matter. Dobby had already made it plain to Brutus and Cindy that he would help whenever he could, but that his main duties were to look after his master and mistress. Being elves, they could all see the sense behind this arrangement.

-oOoOo-

Ginny was sitting at dinner quietly fuming. She'd found a smart new dress in the clothes her mother had packed for this holiday, a smart new dress Ginny was now wearing. All it got her though was teasing from her twin brothers, since their host, Harry, hadn't bothered to turn up for dinner.

They were just about finished eating when laughter disturbed their dessert, laughter coming from someone not sitting at the table. Harry swooped down onto the terrace, with a laughing Hermione sitting behind him on his broom. Her hair was splayed out behind her like a pennant, an indication of the speed Harry was pushing the broom - yet Hermione was loudly laughing while her arms wrapped around his chest.

There were two round tables in use on the terrace, not surprisingly one held the adults whilst the other had all their friends sitting around it. As they landed on the terrace next to their friends, it was Ron who whipped around and posed the question they all wanted to know the answer to. "Since when did Hermione like flying with you? She hates flying, and refuses to go anywhere near a broom."

"Hey, this was Hermione's suggestion. It surprised me too."

Spotting Ginny staring daggers at her, Hermione laid it on rather thick. "Any children of Harry's will probably fly before they can walk. So their mother will need to improve her broom riding skills. My Harry is a brilliant flier and a great teacher. Sorry we missed dinner but a rather late and very large lunch left us not feeling hungry. We took a quick fly around the property and then Harry headed out into the bay. We flew over the sea, barely skimming the waves, and the beach below this terrace is fantastic. We shot up the face of the cliff with the broom almost vertical, I think Harry just wanted me to hold on tight to him - it was so much fun."

Sitting with Millie and having just enjoyed a fantastic dinner, Ron was in a brilliant mood. Seeing Hermione enjoy being on a broom only added to those positive emotions. "Hey, you think she might try out for chaser? I'm going to take a shot at the keeper vacancy. Imagine the three of us on the team, Gryffindor would be unstoppable…"

They shared a quick mental conversation and instantly reached a decision. They might not want this information getting out right now, but neither could stand there and be part of Ron making plans that had zero chance of coming to fruition. Harry and Hermione knew this news would get out soon anyway, and it certainly wasn't worth lying to Ron over.

"Sorry mate, but I won't be playing for Gryffindor next year. I won't be playing quidditch because I won't be at Hogwarts next year…"

Having managed to hold off exploding at hearing Harry's first sentence, the second took all his anger away. "I thought you were looking at tutors?"

"We would basically be living at Hogwarts, but having all our classes tutored. We decided to open our own school, and have already convinced some of the professors sitting here to join us."

Now the cat was out of the bag, Hermione gave them the good news. "We're hoping you can all join us here at the Potter Institute. Well actually, not all of you…"

Seeing this bitch glance in her direction as Granger mentioned not everyone could attend was the final straw for Ginny. Her middle name was Molly and Ginny was channelling her mother as the redhead's temper shot well past boiling point and erupted - scalding everyone.

"You think you're so clever, Granger, trying to keep my Harry to yourself. Leaving Hogwarts to set up your own school, with the only other girls being beastly Bulstrode, Loony Lovegood and two Puff witches who are so into each other to be no competition for Harry either. My mother won't put up with this, she'll make sure Dumbledore stops all of you. Harry's been promised to me for years, and he saved my life - he's mine!"

Switching from a voice that would have shattered glass to one dripping honeyed words, Ginny then attempted to entice her target. "Harry love, surely you can see what she's up to? The bitch is trying to keep us apart. We belong together..."

Moving to place herself in front of Harry, hoping to stop him roasting Ginny for insulting her, Hermione was almost assaulted by the wave of anger coming from her betrothed. She could see only one possible way to deter Harry's temper from exploding. Hermione grabbed her betrothed and kissed him - hard.

This was like waving a red rag to Ginny's bull, her wand was out and a curse heading for Hermione before anyone could stop it. Harry waved his hand and a shield protected Hermione, with Ron stunning his sister before Ginny could do any more damage.

Their whole night had crashed and burned in a matter of seconds, and so unexpectedly that everyone had been caught flat-footed. When Hermione had managed to focus Harry's anger away from the girl now lying stunned on the terrace, they broke their kiss but still rested their foreheads against each other.

"Thanks, love - you might have saved a life tonight. You too, Ron. My spell would probably have blasted Ginny over the cliff - something we'll need to look at warding against."

Nodding, Ron was more concerned with a crying Mille in his arms. Hermione tried to help.

"Millie, I told you Ginny was obsessed with Harry. Look around you, listen to Ron - none of us believed a word she said. That goes for what she said about Susan, Hannah and Luna too. We didn't want Ginny here, purely because of the way she behaves around us - around Harry. Her mother wouldn't let Ron come on holiday without Ginny being included too. Fred and George, I was going to say our school will open with only first to fourth years - sorry guys. Ginny would have qualified for a place..." Hermione found herself being interrupted by an angry Pomona who, like the rest of the adults, had made her way over to join them.

"Miss Granger, if I am Headmistress here, there will be no invitation for Ginerva Weasley. We all spoke earlier about the behaviour we would expect from our students, her behaviour just now crossed way over any line acceptable to me."

Having a student hit with a stunner saw Poppy swinging into action, her wand had been assessing the damage while they spoke. Her first conclusion was that the girl was merely stunned when she picked up on something else. After triple-checking the result she was seeing, Poppy needed to tell someone.

"Harry, we might have a major problem here. Her reactions were just so bizarre tonight, and with our recent experiences, I scanned for compulsions. I'm afraid I've found some, and need permission to do more."

A worried Ron was first to react. "Who would do something like that, and whose permission do you need?"

While a number of people around the table had their suspicions as to the first part of Ron's question, Remus dodged it in favour of answering the second.

"Ginny's here as a guest of Lord Potter, her parents' signature gives him the right of 'in loco parentis'. You can give Poppy permission to treat her."

It was a shocked Harry who answered. "I almost cursed her, I was about to throw Ginny out of my home. Poppy, do everything you can for her. Anything you need, any help is yours for the asking."

"This is not my expertise but I'll see what I can do. Maybe Remus could get in touch with the nearest mind-healer?"

Nodding, Remus made to rise. "There's a magical hospital in Naples. Will I head there now?"

"Tomorrow should do, I want her to sleep tonight. I haven't even got my infirmary picked, never mind set up..." Dobby appeared next to Poppy with her medical bag.

"Dobby has put an extra bed in healer's room, Dobby knows healer likes to be close to her patients."

As Poppy conjured a stretcher to take Ginny to her room for tonight, Harry and Hermione joined their friends sitting at the table. "Guys, do you know if your parents took Ginny to a mind-healer last summer?"

There were blank looks coming back at Harry from the three Weasley brothers before Fred asked a question of his own. "Why would they do that?"

Hermione couldn't keep the anger from her voice. "Perhaps because Ginny spent most of last year being possessed by Lord Voldemort. If ever anyone needed a reason to see a mind-healer, I would say that one was right up there - wouldn't you."

While the rest of the table were flabbergasted at that news, Poppy was now casting more scans. "I was sure I could see at least two magical signatures here. Surely Molly isn't stupid enough to let Albus try and fix something as complicated as a possession?"

A still angry Hermione couldn't help herself. As Harry had said earlier, they'd had quite the day. "Molly thinks Dumbledore farts rainbows, of course she would let him do anything he said he could. Dumbledore wanted the whole Chamber of Secrets kept as just that - a secret. He wouldn't want a mind-healer examining Ginny in case awkward questions were asked - like how a first year walked about Hogwarts with the darkest object imaginable on her person and Dumbledore didn't know anything about it."

All could see the truth in Hermione's conclusions, leaving Harry no choice but to ask her brothers another question. "If what we suspect has happened, sending Ginny home won't get her the care she needs. You know your mother though, I won't be able to keep Ginny here indefinitely. Your dad did nothing last time, I don't see him helping now. We need another option here..."

The three brothers answered as one. "Bill."

Ron still had Millie in his arms. She had long ago calmed down but neither wanted to move. It was Ron who clarified their answer. "Bill is Ginny's favourite, and he dotes on her. Anyone harming Ginny is in a world of trouble from Bill."

Having been Head of House for all the Weasleys, Minerva of course knew the eldest brother. "Contacting Bill is a great idea. I think we should wait until we have more information however. Ginny really needs to see a mind-healer before we find out exactly what the problem is, and the extent of it."

With Remus confirming he would go first thing in the morning, Poppy levitated the stretcher and followed Dobby as he led the healer to her room. Having just arrived today too, Poppy didn't want to get lost while taking a patient along with her.

Slouching back in his chair and closing his eyes, Harry let out a groan borne of frustration and weariness. "Hermione, can we adopt Ron's method and put our watches forward until it's tomorrow? I just want today to end."

Knowing he didn't expect her to answer, Hermione turned her attention to their friends. "Luna, Neville, Susan, your family know what we're doing here and are mostly supportive. At the moment all we've got is the idea, the people staying with us are going to be working like mad to make that idea a reality. Susan, your aunt's visiting us on Monday. It's for a totally different matter but I can't help feeling she'll become involved with Ginny's case too."

The twins were all for that happening. "Whoever did that to Ginny needs to pay.."

"Dumbledore, mum - even dad. If their meddling, or doing nothing, made Ginny act like that then they need to pay."

Still holding onto Millie, Ron agreed with his brothers. "That was like watching mum's evil twin. I didn't recognise Ginny in there at all, and she was bang out of order with what she said."

Noticing Luna was clinging onto Neville's arm almost got a smile out of Hermione, almost. "Remus spoke with your dad and gran, both will be coming here in a couple of weeks. We hope at the very least to have some plans and a timetable of work to show them by then. Both will wait until they see what's happening here before even thinking about committing to send you here. Hannah, we didn't have time to contact your parents. Millie, we had even less time with you. We're kinda playing everything by ear at the moment, so I suggest a day spent relaxing at the beach for all of us tomorrow. We'll need Remus to take us shopping the first time, I have no idea where the shops even are. After that, I'm sure we'll find our own way."

More than anything, that promise of shopping cheered up the four girls who had publicly suffered under Ginny's tirade. Harry congratulating Hermione over their bond for a job well done cheered her up no end too.

-oOoOo-

Harry and Hermione weren't the only ones having a bad day, things just kept progressing down the road from bad to worse for the Malfoy family.

Since Ambrosia was without doubt the premier restaurant in magical Britain, and Lucius considered the Malfoys to be Britain's premier family, it was vital that they were seen eating there on the busiest day of the year - the day the students returned from Hogwarts.

It was hardly a pleasant meal though, with Narcissa refusing to speak to Lucius and Draco harping on throughout the entire meal about how Harry Potter had gotten the best of him again. Those weren't exactly the words Draco used, but both his parents understood that's what would have happened. Entering the restaurant to see a large picture of the owner standing beside Potter and his mudblood should have warned Lucius this was not going to be a good night - and that same picture was more than enough to initiate Draco's rant.

Things then took a sharp turn down shit street however when the bill refused to accept payment from Lucius' house ring. Three times Lucius tried in vain to pay their bill by his normal method, his growl at the waitress getting louder with each unsuccessful attempt. Eventually the owner was forced to intervene. After listening from the background to the young Malfoy whelp decry Lord Potter for the entire meal, the owner demanded immediate payment by whatever method they could manage.

Having to ask his wife and son for gold to help with meeting the bill did not improve Lucius' mood any, and his wife was mortified with embarrassment for the second time today. Leaving the restaurant, the Malfoys headed straight for Gringotts. Discovering that they no longer had an account manager, and had to get in line to see a teller, almost saw Lucius draw his wand.

Narcissa had a tight grip of his wand arm, and was muttering orders to her husband without appearing to do so.

"We'll visit the vault, then sort this out. You draw your wand in here and I'll be a widow - because you'll be missing your head."

Lucius never uttered a word, leaving Narcissa to speak with the teller. Sitting in the cart, there was so much running through his head - mostly that this couldn't be happening to him.

The goblin cart drivers were currently having to draw lots, each wanted to be the operator who took these pure-bloods down to their now empty vaults. While how and why they had been emptied was a closely-guarded secret, moving that much gold and heirlooms around underground was never going to be a secret for long. The goblin who had drawn the Malfoys wasn't disappointed, closely watching the family as he opened the door to a now empty vault.

Both parents just stood there and stared, though Draco of course had something to say. "This stupid goblin has taken us to the wrong vault."

Spotting the letter, though ignoring the knut sitting beside it, Lucius burst open the wax seal.

I entrusted one of my greatest treasures into your care

You deliberately gave it away to a little girl

This has already cost you everything your family own

It will soon cost you your life - and family line

For this unforgivable failure, that is the price I will extract

Nothing less than the annihilation of the Malfoy name.

LV

Having access to all Tom's memories allowed Hermione to do a reasonable copy of his handwriting and turn of phrase. It would certainly be reasonable enough to convince his followers it was actually written by Lord Voldemort.

Narcissa finally found her voice to correct her son. "If this was the wrong vault, the key wouldn't have opened the door. It's the right vault, just empty." Lucius handing over the note left Narcissa feeling empty inside too.

His mother's reprimand ignited Draco's anger. "This is Potter's doing. He said we would be nothing without our money, and he's taken it all away."

Not in the mood to put up with his son's perpetual whining, Lucius lashed out at the teen. "Talk sense, Draco. How could Potter do this?"

A belligerent Draco wasn't for backing down. "He wasn't on the train today, but I saw him at breakfast in Hogwarts. Severus has been chasing him for days, without catching up with Potter. Potter told the entire school Severus was a Death Eater, and he wouldn't be taking his potions classes again. Potter's even taking that troll Bulstrode on holiday with him. Things have been nuts in Hogwarts lately - McGonagall disappeared too."

Something at the back of his mind prompted Lucius to ask Draco a question. "Did you once tell me Potter was a parselmouth?"

"Oh yes, that was brilliant - the whole school turned against Potter. I set a snake on him…"

Lucius had already tuned Draco out. The note Narcissa held was a death sentence - for all of them. Potter was certainly aware of the diary incident, leaving Lucius clutching at the flimsiest of straws. If there was even the slightest chance Potter could have been involved in this, meaning the note was a fake, Lucius thought it was a chance he had to take. If it was Potter, there was a possibility of not only killing the little bastard but refilling the Malfoy vault - also adding Potter's gold to his own substantial pile. If this actually was his master's note and actions, fleeing the country promptly - and no doubt penniless - was really his only chance to live.

"Draco, this is very important. How would I go about finding Potter?"

There was no hesitation from Draco. He understood exactly what his father was asking here, and had the very answer his father needed. "Granger. Find Granger and Potter will either be there, or quickly come running. He would do anything for her. Can I help, please can I help?"

Lucius knew he had at best a couple of days to save his family. By that time, word would have gotten out that he didn't have the gold to back up any of the promises he intended to make for information leading him to Granger. Lucius also expected that they would be getting evicted from their manor soon too.

He would task Narcissa with raising whatever cash she could in case they were forced to flee the country, allowing him the time to concentrate on getting his hands on Potter. Even if Potter wasn't involved in this legalised robbery, killing the little shit would at least provide some personal satisfaction before the Malfoys had to flee Britain with their tails between their legs. If his master did do this, killing Potter just might be the only thing that could possibly see their master showing them some generosity - and sparing their lives.