Chapter 829 - Ch: 15-16

Chapter 15 - Surprise Meetings

It was a nervous Arthur Weasley who was shown into Amelia's office. His summons was not only totally unexpected, the tone of it was rather alarming and abrupt too. One glance at Amelia's stern face told Arthur this meeting would have to be played exactly by the rule book.

"Good afternoon, Madam Bones. What can I help you with today?"

A well-known voice coming from behind Arthur saw that rule book being tossed out of the office's imitation window. The angry words from his eldest son though were like a serrated dagger ripping through Arthur's gut, with Bill's obvious accusations against him dripping from every syllable.

"You can start by telling me how our Ginny was left in such an appalling mental state, the Italian mind-healer reported the incident to his ministry as a severe case of child abuse."

Arthur whipped around to see his eldest son looking angrier than he'd ever seen him before. Anyone harming Ginny though was always going to face Bill's ire, and it was a gobsmacked Arthur who realised his eldest son's ire was focused on him.

"Bill, what are you doing here? I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. What's wrong with Ginny, and why weren't we contacted if she was ill?"

"Ginny is so ill, the Italian Ministry won't let her return to a country where she was allowed to get into such a state. A temporary guardian has been appointed to watch over her, and Ginny won't be allowed back into Britain until this matter has been resolved to everyone's satisfaction - especially Ginny's, her new guardian's and mine."

It was at this point Arthur's knees buckled. "They're taking my daughter away from me? They can't do that - can they? Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on? What's the matter with Ginny, and will she be alright?"

Helping his father into a chair, Bill pulled over another one so he could sit facing the man who had raised him. "Dad, Ginny spent her entire first year term at Hogwarts being possessed by an artefact of Voldemort's. I have recently come into contact with one of these things, and believe me when I say, our Ginny never stood a chance. Harry physically saved Ginny from the danger but, instead of her seeing the proper healers to make her healthy again, someone messed with her memories of the incident. The mind healer Ginny is seeing now says that was absolutely the worst way to deal with something like this. On top of that, someone else had cast compulsions on our Ginny to chase after Harry in a romantic way."

His father was struggling to believe what he was hearing when Amelia interrupted. "Arthur, this cannot be kept as a Weasley family matter. Bill and Harry have put things in place to appease the Italian Ministry for the moment, but soon they will be approaching us and looking for answers. I'm making this an official Ministry investigation, and we really need those answers now. Let's start with why Ginny never saw a mind healer after this incident?"

There were fat tears now running down Arthur's cheeks as he recounted what was easily the worst day of his life. "I have seven children, and love every single one of them. After six sons though, gaining a daughter was simply something special. I was sitting in Dumbledore's office, thinking Ginny was dead - and Ron might end up in the same condition as he and Harry tried to rescue his sister. Harry Potter helping both of them walk into that room was a simply indescribable explosion of emotions. I was laughing, crying while hugging everyone in sight. Trying to imagine my life without my two youngest children in it is worse than any nightmare."

Amelia removed what was left of her bottle of fire whisky and poured three glasses, Arthur drank his down in one swallow. Fortified by the fiery spirit, Arthur was able to continue with his story.

"Albus was dealing with Harry as we took Ron and Ginny to the infirmary. Poppy had Ron's ankle fixed in a jiffy, the castle's elves supplying him with a meal meant everything was right again in Ron's world. Examining Ginny, Poppy claimed she was physically fine but her magical reserves were extremely low. She expected her to make a full recovery within a couple of days though. I'm afraid my mind just shut down after that. Hearing Ginny was going to be fine left me sitting there grinning like a loon. Who has gotten guardianship of Ginny?"

Seeing his father actually terrified over this matter, Bill felt it was only fair to answer his question. "We didn't want Ginny being handed off to some stranger, and it wasn't really practical for me to take on the role. Harry then made a suggestion that suited everyone, with Ginny having the final say. Poppy Pomfrey has been awarded temporary guardianship. She now works for Harry in Italy, so both Ginny and her are staying at Harry's house. Ginny actually fired a curse at Hermione after discovering she was now betrothed to Harry. Ron had to stun Ginny as Harry shielded Hermione. Ginny's reaction was so out of character, Poppy scanned her to check for any compulsion spells."

Wanting to be certain he had everything in order, Arthur asked for confirmation. "So Poppy's her temporary guardian, they're staying with Harry in Italy, Ginny's receiving treatment and they expect her to make a full recovery?"

"Yes dad, but what happened after you got Ginny to the Hogwarts infirmary that day?"

Taking a deep breath to recover from what he'd just heard, focusing on the 'Ginny will be fine' part helped immensely, Arthur continued with his tale. "When Albus entered, he'd also brought Harry along for Poppy to check over. Your mother was immediately fussing all over the lad - she treats Harry as one of her boys - and then Albus had a quiet word with me. He said that, since Ginny had been injured within Hogwarts, he would take care of everything. No mention was made of any possession, or the need for a mind-healer, and certainly you-know-who being involved was never brought into the conversation. Poppy told me Ginny would eventually be fine, and Albus Dumbledore just promised to take care of everything. Why wouldn't I agree to that?"

Bill needed a sip of his own firewhisky to stop him shouting at his father for being so trusting. They had never seriously considered Arthur to be willingly involved in any of this but could easily imagine Dumbledore pulling something like that off. Arthur just continued with his story.

"Ginny was a bit quieter when she came home that summer, we put it down to recovering from her experience. She never actually talked about what happened, and Ron was trapped before reaching her so never saw anything either. Harry is a modest lad who you would never hear boasting about anything he did. Your mum and I nearly had a fit when we saw those pictures of the basilisk in the papers."

Suppressing a shudder of dread that passed through him even thinking about that, Arthur switched to a happier memory. "That was also the summer we won the prize draw, and used that money to take the family out to visit you in Egypt. It's never been a secret who Ginny's favourite brother is, and we thought this special treat would help our little girl recover from her experience. She returned to Hogwarts on the first of September and then left from Platform nine and three quarters straight to holiday with Harry. None of her letters home indicated any sign of trouble. We got our daughter back but are going to lose her anyway…"

Watching as his father fell to pieces in front of him, Bill moved over and put a reassuring hand on Arthur's shoulder. "When I had the discussion with Ginny about choosing Poppy as a temporary guardian, I made it plain to her I would always be her brother - no matter what. That same rule will apply to you - you are her father. I have to say though, until we get all the facts of this, Harry won't let anyone who could possibly have harmed our Ginny anywhere near her. That boy is scarily protective of his family and friends. He certainly counts a few Weasleys as being part of that exclusive group."

They had been fairly certain who had cast those memory charms on Ginny, Amelia now asked the question that would determine if Arthur got anywhere near his daughter again. "All the mind-healer could tell us was that the compulsion charm was cast by a different person than the one who messed with her memories. Have you any idea who could have done this to Ginny?"

The moral boost Arthur had received from Bill's comments was instantly washed away by that question. He has his suspicions, but that was all they were - until he spoke with his wife.

"Ginny has been obsessed with Harry Potter, long before she met him. We figured it was harmless, reckoning that at least half the witches around Ginny's age would be the same. Ron becoming Harry's best friend had her in a tizzy, then coming down to breakfast and finding Harry sitting at the table last summer had Ginny racing straight back to her room. She spent most of last August unable to talk to the boy who was staying with us. That she was going on holiday with Harry, well I could see Molly casting something on Ginny to give her a bit more confidence. I have no knowledge that she actually did, I'm only guessing here. I'm also wondering if such a spell, normally pretty harmless, could manifest itself differently due to what had already been done to Ginny?"

Seeing that as a distinct possibility, though she would enquire of the mind-healer for more information to be certain, Amelia decided to put most of her cards on the table. Arthur was, after all, a Ministerial Head of Department.

"The only way to discover the truth would be to ask Molly, and I really don't want to do that at the moment. Everyone sitting here knows Molly Weasley can be difficult, if not downright bloody minded. Molly would go absolutely crazy, whether she cast that spell or not, and I just can't see her believing the word of some Johnny Foreigner over that of Albus Dumbledore. I'm building a strong case against the Headmaster but Fudge is protecting him - since our Minister of Magic seems to have lost all of his other supporters."

Taking a sip from the tumbler she'd been nursing, Amelia then gave Arthur some more shocking news. "There's going to be stories hitting the papers on Thursday, and I guarantee you they are all true, that may see your Molly changing her opinion of Dumbledore. The rumours of him casting compulsion charms on Hogwarts professors is one hundred percent true, Minerva needed to go to St Mungo's to have them removed. Hogwarts has lost six professors, three of them Heads of House, and its Healer. Harry Potter has effectively left Britain, and actively seeking Italian citizenship for himself and his betrothed. Since he's also spending a small fortune in Italy building a new school, I don't see their Ministry refusing his request. You know what's happening at Hogwarts next term, both Dumbledore and Fudge desperately need that tournament to be a success - it may be the only thing that saves their jobs."

Of course Arthur knew about the Triwizard Tournament, it was one of the other matter's mentioned that had him staring at his eldest son for some answers. Bill eventually obliged.

"There's no way the matter with Ginny will be resolved before September. She was in contact with that vile thing for ten months, and then left for a year after her mind being messed with. The mind-healer she's seeing reckons it could take a year for Ginny to fully recover from this, and she might never recover fully if she returned to Hogwarts. Ginny will be attending the Potter Institute, at least for next year, that's simply non-negotiable dad."

If sending Ginny to Hogwarts hampered or stopped her recovery, Arthur couldn't really argue with that. Bill then continued with what he knew would be the much harder sell. "Ron of course wants to attend the same school as his best friends, and the twins are begging Headmistress Sprout to let them go there too. Those will be decisions for you and mum to make. When the story breaks about Ginny though, and it will, where you send those three to school will determine how the public - and Harry - sees your part in this. Sending them to Hogwarts would certainly be seen as condoning what Dumbledore deliberately did to our Ginny."

"Why is Harry's opinion so important?"

"Dad, Ginny stays in Harry's house - will be attending his school - and he is scarily protective of her. No harm will come to Ginny while Poppy and Harry are there. Dumbledore deliberately did that to Ginny not to help her, but to stop news of what had happened inside Hogwarts getting out. You just said Ginny didn't mention it all last summer, Dumbledore did that to her."

The knut finally dropped for Arthur. "Your mum and I will need Harry's permission to visit his house - to see Ginny."

"Unless Harry approves a portkey for you, there's no other way onto his property - his wards are unbelievable. That portkey will only work for whoever it's issued to. I have one but it wouldn't let me take you there with me."

"I'm desperate to see Ginny, she she's alright. What do you want me to do?"

Amelia let out a sigh of relief as she could once more help Harry, she was pretty bloody useless with the horcrux this morning. "We're only buying time here, Arthur, time that Harry needs to carry out his other plans. On Thursday, the country will discover that Harry Potter is prophesied to face Voldemort, and only one of them can survive. I recently heard the prophecy myself in this very room with Harry and his family, the firewhisky bottle came out that day too. Nothing is more important than the final defeat of Voldemort, so we don't want him having to fight the Ministry, Dumbledore and the Weasleys at the same time. To help Harry I managed to get Fudge off his case. Thursday's headlines will see Dumbledore being far too busy trying to save his own skin to bother about anyone else. You can help by not having Molly demanding her children come home at once, hopefully giving us the time we need to accomplish what we must."

Arthur could easily see there was a lot more going on here than he was being told, it also wasn't difficult to decipher that Bill was heavily involved in whatever these going's on were. Knowing that the 'scarily protective' tag also applied to Bill, especially where his family were concerned, meant Arthur trusted him to do what was best for them here. While Arthur nodded his agreement, Amelia still wanted to make sure he fully understood her position on this matter.

"When the story of what Dumbledore did to Ginny breaks, I will be showing up at the Burrow and demanding answers. It would seem neither you nor your wife knew what Dumbledore was up to but you must know I'll have to take action if Molly cast anything stronger on your daughter than what you suggested earlier."

Once again, Arthur could only nod in agreement before pleading with his son. "Bill, can you get me in to see Ginny?"

"I can ask, dad, I can only ask."

Arthur had loads more questions but didn't think they would be answered. He left Amelia's office silently praying that Molly had indeed cast nothing stronger than what he'd suggested on Ginny. Arthur knew how badly Molly wanted to add Harry to the Weasley family. Had she crossed the line however, there may not be a Weasley family left to add to.

Poppy Pomfrey was an inspired choice as Ginny's temporary guardian, not a single voice could be raised against her unimpeachable character - though Molly's voice would certainly be raised when she discovered this. With Bill already based in Egypt, Charlie in Romania, Molly would be heading for Azkaban and their youngest three sons would all probably stay in Italy with Ginny. This was a disaster waiting to happen, and Arthur really needed to see Ginny to assess the extent of the problem for himself.

-oOoOo-

Arriving back at where she now considered home, Hermione immediately set about tracking down her parents. Dobby informed her they were sitting down on the beach so she headed there while Pomona dragged Harry away to see some drawings of the Institute. After the decent down to the beach, Hermione spotted them sitting on a couple of deck chairs, under a thatched parasol. As she approached, her mother suddenly shot up and hurried toward her. Hermione found herself once more wrapped in her mother's arms.

"Oh thank goodness. We were so worried, and we have to repeat all this tomorrow again."

"Tomorrow's mission has been postponed..."

As her mother clung on tighter at hearing that, her dad wanted to know if anything had gone wrong.

"It didn't go exactly to plan but no one was hurt and the job got done. It just means we're going to take a bit more time to plan the next one more thoroughly. Watching you jump out that chair, and the fact you made it down here, must mean you're feeling a lot better. Are you up for a day's shopping with the gang tomorrow?"

"I might have made it down here but I have no idea how I'll get back up. Your father and I were just talking about sleeping on this beautiful beach tonight when you arrived."

Hermione started laughing before answering her mother. "Harry says he's got getting you back up covered, he'll be down shortly. Dad, that invitation was for you too."

"Of course, you'll need someone to carry the bags."

"Don't be silly, Dobby will pop away with them when no one's looking. There will be four boys shopping with us tomorrow, and none of them have ever been muggle shopping before. Mum and I will have our hands full with the girls, you get to take Neville, Ron, Fred and George shopping..."

All talking stopped as Harry shot over the cliff and rocketed vertically down toward the sand below. He pulled out of the dive at the last second, zooming across the beach to their location. He stopped right beside Hermione and kissed her cheek.

"Harry, stop showing off, and scaring my mother. Mum, it will be a far gentler ride back up there, or that will be Harry's last kiss for a while."

Dan could easily see she was joking about that last part, and called Hermione on it. "Yeah, for at least ten minutes. That was some flying son, you didn't have much margin of error there."

"Thanks, I love flying, and I love this broom. It seems to know what I want to do before I do. I'll take it nice and gentle on the way up, Emma."

With Hermione coaxing and coaching, Emma was soon behind Harry and holding him in a death grip. Harry flew gently out over the waves, flying in a wide circle and increasing height slowly. By the time they passed overhead to complete their third circuit, the broom was fifteen feet in the air and Emma wore a wide smile. As they approached for the fifth time, a now laughing Emma was confident enough to wave as they passed.

"That boy of yours is pretty special, Hermione. It took me years for your mother to gain that level of trust with me. Now I suppose we have to face all these stairs."

"Yes Harry's pretty special, but he also has an unfair advantage. He has all of my memories of mum to work with, and me constantly offering advice. We also don't have to climb those stairs. Dobby!"

The elf instantly appeared and, almost as quickly, had transported them both to the decking above. As Hermione was busy thanking him, her father had a question. "Why didn't you just call Dobby to get your mother and I back up here, and then you could have flown with Harry?"

Dan's answer arrived before Hermione could open her mouth. Harry glided his broom toward them, an overjoyed and giggling Emma riding passenger. As soon as they landed, she kissed Harry in thanks, kissed Dan - while telling him how wonderful it was - kissed Hermione and then kissed Dan again. They walked away, arm in arm, her father turning his head and nodding before they made it inside.

"Thank you so much, Harry. I've never seen mum so happy, and couldn't tell you the last time I heard her giggle. I loved those drawings too - things are really starting to come together."

Harry too was in an incredibly good mood, and fired off a string of suggestions to his betrothed. "Francesca wants to come here tonight, I'm suggesting we make dinner buffet again and let her. That way, everyone can have a say on the design of the institute. When that's over, we drop the shopping bomb on our friends, checking with Remus before the meeting. Then we can sit down and talk with your mum and dad."

"Do you think they'll go for this?"

"Hermione, they're the adults. We tell them everything we know, answer all the questions we can, but the final decision is up to them."

"Mum's out of the temporary infirmary now, and their bedroom has a double bed in it."

"Did you speak with the elves about that?" Harry didn't need to be in Hermione's head to know the answer, it was written all over her smug face. "You, Miss Granger, are a little minx..." Harry playfully chased her back into the house, both of them were laughing.

-oOoOo-

There was no sign of humour on the face of Severus as he entered Hogwarts and headed straight for Albus' office. A busy headmaster was shocked to see him, but managed to force out a welcome anyway.

Deciding there was no point in putting this off, all the information would soon become public knowledge, Albus just dove right in. "Severus, to say I have news would be an understatement. Pomona, Filius, Septima, Bathsheda and Poppy have all resigned."

This barely registered a raised eyebrow from Severus but Albus knew the next part would get his attention. "I managed to coax Horace out of retirement, he demanded to be head of Slytherin again though."

The sarcasm was dripping from every syllable Severus uttered. "I'm not sure if you are aware, Headmaster, but that is currently my position within Hogwarts..."

Dismissing his sarcasm out of hand, Albus cut right across Severus. "I had intended to install you as my Deputy, and have you teach Defence Against the Dark Arts."

That would indeed have been a more than acceptable compromise but Severus was well acquainted in dealing with Albus. "You said intended, Headmaster. Am I to understand those plans have changed?"

"With Minerva already resigning, I was forced to go to Fudge with my hat in my hands. He's agreed to support me, but that support has a price. He want's Umbridge here as Deputy, mainly to keep an eye on me and the tournament. I would still like to offer you the defence professorship, and will of course continue paying you the same salary as you are on now."

Severus gave the impression he was deep in thought, while inside he was doing his happy dance - well as near to happy and dancing as he got. He was here to ask a favour of Albus, one he was sure would now be granted. Severus was also going to be receiving the same pay for a lot less work, and doing the job he really wanted. While being Deputy might have sounded nice, Severus was well aware of the extra work that came with that promotion. He couldn't see this Ministry person doing all Albus' work for him, like McGonagall had for years. Rather than giving Albus an answer, he played the old wizard at his own game and went off at a complete tangent.

"Are you aware the Potter brat has declared a Blood Feud against House Malfoy? Narcissa has approached me and asked for help, since Lucius somehow managed to squander the entire Malfoy fortune before getting himself killed."

Albus never even heard the last bit, he was far too busy concentrating on this opportunity to solve a couple of his own problems. Helping Narcissa would see a grateful Severus accepting his offer, meanwhile Albus solved two of his currently pressing problems - recruiting a pair of Professors to fill Hogwarts vacancies.

"If my memory serves me right, I remember Narcissa Black being particularly gifted at charms. It just so happens Hogwarts has a vacancy for someone possessing those talents, a vacancy I would be more than happy to interview her for. Free boarding would of course be available for young Draco, and I'm sure we could swing free tuition too - if his mother was a professor here."

"I will gladly pass on your offer, while taking some time to consider my own position within Hogwarts. I assume you've considered people for the other three vacant head of house posts? Aurora I believe was a Hufflepuff, and I'm certain Hagrid was a Gryffindor."

Knowing Severus was only suggesting appointing Hagrid as Head of Gryffindor to see that house suffer, Albus ignored that part but confirmed Aurora was the new Head of Hufflepuff.

"And what of the Potter brat? Will my godson be safe inside the castle."

"I will have a meeting with Harry after the welcoming feast, we'll need to know what tutors he has engaged too." A thought struck Albus. "I met with the Steward of House Potter and was assured Harry would be on the train come September first. I wonder if all these staff changes will affect those tutoring plans? I must contact them and make Harry aware of these changes in circumstances."

Severus sported the ruse immediately, saying Potter would be on the train did not mean the brat would be attending Hogwarts. He was about to make Albus aware of this but stopped himself. Albus tended to believe whatever he wanted to, and Severus would certainly be celebrating if Potter was no longer in the castle. Now, if only Potter would take a few of his friends with him, that would make Severus even happier.

Both wizards left Albus' office thinking they'd come out ahead in the negotiations, a sure sign of a good meeting.

-oOoOo-

The buffet meeting with Francesca went very well, with everyone excited their opinion was being asked for - and actually listened to. Harry loved the pool idea but wanted one side of the winding ribbon of water to be straight, so it could be used for those interested in serious swimming - rather than just larking about.

Minerva asked about kitchens, and the Italian Ministry's position on house elves. Francesca as usual had the answers they were looking for at her fingertips.

"The kitchen, food preparation and storage will all be under the leg of the Pi that houses the staff quarters and assembly hall, there will also be general storage areas, utility rooms and elf quarters under there too. Our Ministry's views on house elves are entirely different to those of Britain. The elves would be employed by the Potter Institute, rather than bonding to an individual. There are also strict rules on the treatment of any elves working here, and a formula which dictates the minimum number of elves you must employ to ensure they are not overworked."

Hearing that, Dobby then put his little hand up - looking for permission to ask a question. This was a first for Francesca. That this elf was not only invited to attend the meeting, but felt comfortable enough to ask a question, said an awful lot about the people she was dealing with here. She was delighted to let Dobby ask his question.

"Dobby knows there are elves back in Britain who have been given clothes because their families have run away. Dobby was wondering if any of them could come and work here?"

Instead of Francesca, that question had all eyes focusing on Harry. "We need to discover what the Italian Ministry's position on this is, and whether these elves would take the kind of employment bonding Francesca just mentioned. Dobby, if any of these elves are hurting, invite them here now. Even if they don't want to come and work here, we will offer them shelter until they find somewhere to settle down."

Remus immediately added this item to the list of things he needed to discuss with his contacts in the Italian Ministry. Francesca then asked if news of the new school could be published in the Italian papers, after it appeared in Britain of course. No one could dispute this would help find applicants for the posts they needed filled.

Harry instantly agreed, wondering if they should take out adverts for these posts in the papers too. Francesca joking that, if Harry gave them an interview, the Institute would get those adverts for free saw the young man in question reach an instant decision.

"Remus, the Ministry is pushing for us to visit them - can we tie that in with a press conference?"

This had Remus laughing. "They're still politicians, Harry. I don't think there will be any problems organising that, the opportunity of getting their picture in the press - standing beside you - practically guarantees it."

This move of his godson's intrigued Sirius. "What's the plan? I know you hate publicity - almost as much as you hate your fame."

The smile on Harry's lips reminded both marauders' of his father, James, just before he pulled a prank. "We're going on a charm offensive. We want the country to know we're here to stay, and this is not some little rich boy's latest fad. Francesca, we'd love if you could be there with us too. Again, letting the country know we're using Italian everything in the construction of the Institute. The Headmistress and her Deputy should make an appearance as well. We can't predict or control what stories will start to come out of Britain about us, but I want the Italian people to know exactly what we're doing here. After the story breaks in The Quibbler, the Potter Institute will have nothing to hide."

With only Francesca there not knowing about horcruxes, everyone else understood what was being said here. Harry might have secrets but the school wouldn't.

After everyone had their say, and also their fill from the buffet, Hermione mentioned them all going shopping tomorrow. To say the teens were excited would be a gross understatement. Hearing that Sirius would be accompanying them, Francesca offered to show them around Naples, since it was her home city - if they could leave after ten am. She had a meeting first thing in the morning that couldn't be broken. Harry tried to keep a straight face as the silent pleading in Sirius' eyes would put Padfoot to shame. Harry saying that would be great, and much appreciated left his godfather wanting to turn into his dog form to howl in delight - while wagging his tail like mad.

-oOoOo-

It was a warm evening so Hermione suggested the meeting with her parents could take place on her veranda. Emma had her now customary cappuccino while the other three enjoyed a fruit drink the house's elves made from locally grown produce. It was delicious but Hermione wasn't paying it the respect this wonderful concoction deserved at the moment. Taking a large gulp, she then got straight to the point.

"There are silencing charms around this veranda, so there is no chance of us being overheard. We all got off on the wrong foot that day in the restaurant, looking back though it was probably inevitable. Neither Harry nor I were able to explain our bond properly, we're still learning and every day is like a different adventure as we discover new things about it. That thing being sucked out of Harry's head left Voldemort's memories behind, and our bond allows me access to them. We had all that knowledge of just how bad thinks could get, and also knew you wouldn't believe us. That frustration, and mum upsetting me riling Harry right up through our bond, was responsible for the trouble we had that day. I'm glad to see we seem to have put that behind us now..."

Dan reached out and took his daughter's hand. "When those wizards burst into our kitchen, your mum and I were more helpless than babes in the woods. You came and saved the day, all is forgiven."

With a wry grin, Harry took over. "I think we all can agree Britain isn't safe for both of you at the moment, certainly unaccompanied. Hermione and I love having you here but we don't want you to think of this as some sort of prison. While your old lives have to be put on hold, the world literally is you oyster. Whatever you want, your greatest wish - we can help make it happen. Magic, money, whatever it takes."

An emotional Emma reached out and took Dan's other hand, their daughter was still holding on to the one he'd offered a moment ago. "Hermione, Harry, I think our greatest wish is sitting on this veranda. You have no secrets so you both know our family has never been this close. I'm just sorry it took your dad and I almost being murdered for us to see what fools we were being. Watching you two together is wonderful too. Seeing how you practically complete one another, it gives us something to aim for."

Here was an opening Hermione wasn't expecting, she seized the moment. "Mum, dad, our bond is precious to us. I can honestly say it's the greatest thing that's ever happened to either Harry or me, but we still have to work hard at it - so we get the most out of it. I've watched you both for nearly fifteen years, and Harry can see all my memories, between us we can't think of anyone who would benefit more from a bond like this than you two."

Still holding Hermione's hand, Dan's other squeezed Emma's without him even consciously thinking about it. "But we're not magical, sweetheart - is that even possible?"

"To the level that Harry and I share everything, probably not. Realistically, what we're looking at here is sharing emotions. Mum won't tell you if she needs a hug, and you would never initiate something without her permission. This should at least get you passed that hurdle. The magic will be in the bracelets, and they will trickle-charge just from you being around witches and wizards. Harry and I will pump our magic into them to kick-start the reaction, the rest will be up to you."

Excitement and panic was coursing through Emma's body in almost equal measures. Was this something she wanted to do? Putting off making a decision, she started asking questions. "Where ever did you get such things? I can't imagine you can buy something like this from your corner shop. Are their any side effects?"

She didn't expect the reaction she got, a look of terror briefly passed on both teens faces - before Harry got himself under control and provided some answers.

"The goblins tracked these down for us, cost is immaterial. Trust me, you couldn't put a price on what Hermione and I share. We didn't consider the possible side effects until it was too late, we dived right in like Gryffindors. Hermione has now seen me at my very worse, lying silently crying in my cupboard and wondering what made me so different that I deserved this treatment..."

Harry had to stop for a moment as he suddenly had his arms full of Granger girls. Dan looked ready to go looking for another knife - and then use it on whoever had done that to Harry. Getting himself back under control, having Hermione and Emma clinging to him certainly helped with that, Harry gave them the bad news that neither of the teens had considered at the time.

"Hermione is my very best friend, and both of us are working to ensure we are everything to each other as we get older, but just the thought that I could have lost that terrifies me. She's seen who I really am, and what it took to get me here, yet still loves me. You don't need me to tell you how special Hermione is, and I want that special someone by my side for the rest of my life. The bond helps us move toward that goal every single day but the initial part was the scariest thing I've ever faced. That's really been the only downside to the whole experience, something that we could possibly have avoided if we'd known what would happen - and had time to discuss it before putting the rings on."

Hermione gently kissed Harry's lips as Emma sat back in her own seat and reached for Dan's hand. "I'm ready whenever you are. Dan. These two have been open and honest with us since meeting them in that restaurant, it's time for us to do the same. I can't go back to being that cold version of myself again. If these will help us move forward, I'm willing to give it a try."

Dan's wide smile provided its own answer but he replied anyway. "I'm in, but with one condition. If I act like a buffoon again, one of you needs to slap me around the back of the head."

He leaned over and kissed his wife, before turning to watch Harry take a pair of open bracelets from an exquisitely made box. The bracelets were just under half an inch wide and about an eight of an inch thick - also clearly made of a high carrot content gold. Five stones, they surely couldn't be diamonds, were in alignment down the centre of each bracelet. Carvings, that Hermione was telling them were runes, also made each of the bracelets works of art - and probably worth a fortune each.

"The stones act as battery cells, collecting ambient magic and storing it to power the runes. If you're sure about this, Harry and I will push magic into them before you put them on."

With both her parents nodding, they each held a bracelet between their hands and used their rings to pour magic into the stones. Those stones were sparkling with magic as Hermione slipped her bracelet onto her father's wrist, while Harry repeated her actions with Emma. All held their breath as nothing appeared to happen for at least ten seconds, before a visible pulse of magic jumped between the two bracelets.

Emma was heard to mutter an 'oh my' before her eyes slowly rolled in her head. Dan didn't even manage that before his eyes closed. Harry was using his magic to stop either of them slipping to the floor, though Dan and Emma's hands were still joined.

Hermione was running medical scans on them, scans that were telling her they were sleeping - and their biorhythms had synchronised. "Maybe we didn't think this through enough, or pushed too much magic into the bracelets, or both."

"Hermione, let's just move them onto you bed. They'll be comfortable there."

"Great idea, I'll be comfortable on that couch."

"We'll be comfortable there, we need to monitor them all night."

As they levitated Dan and Emma onto Hermione's bed, she couldn't resist chuckling. "This is the first time I've ever had to put my parents to bed. Do you think they'll give us a rollicking for spending the night together?"

"Since your dad hasn't stopped grinning since you put that bracelet on him, I would say probably not. We'll need to get some sleep anyway, shopping tomorrow."

"Harry, I'm willing to bet Luna, Ginny, Millie, Susan and Hannah won't get much sleep tonight either. All were far too excited to sleep when we came up here after dropping that little surprise on them."

-oOoOo-

Most of the witches and wizards in Britain considered Bellatrix Lestrange to be mad. In fact, that was probably one of the kinder adjectives that would be used when describing Voldemort's ruthlessly vicious attack dog. Sitting in her cell in Azkaban, Bella's madness was still nursing a massive grudge against her cousin - a cousin Bella swore she would slowly and painfully torture to death first chance she got.

Bella had waited years for the right person to come along, and then he was there. Donald Carrick was probably the biggest dick on the planet, and Bella wasn't speaking in an anatomical sense here. The prick was so full of himself, she'd been able to slowly manipulate him into getting ready to forgo all the Azkaban security precautions and enter her cell. Donald was so stupid, Bella had him thinking it was all his own idea too.

Donald may be the first person, in over a decade of her trying, stupid enough to even consider entering her cell, but he certainly wouldn't have been leaving it alive. He had been Bella's ticket out of this shithole, she was so close Bella could almost taste her freedom, and then that bastard Black only went and beat her to the punch.

No one could figure out how Black had managed it, so all the security arrangements within Azkaban had been immediately changed and upgraded - including the guards. Her one shot at getting out of here had been snatched away from Bella's fingertips by Sirius fucking Black.

She was pulled out of her musings by a voice Bella thought she'd never hear again.

"Did you miss me, Princess? You've no idea the strings I had to pull to get back here. We have some unfinished business though that will make all that effort of mine worthwhile."

"Donald, how did you manage to return?"

"It was actually a rather brilliant idea of mine, if I do say so myself. I pretended to be such a shit auror that Bones the bitch went complaining to my Uncle Cornelius. He asked me what I wanted to do, and Bones was so gad to see the back of yours truly, she never raised an objection to me being transferred to the Azkaban guards. We'll need to wait a few weeks, until I can get put on the night shift, then I'll come calling on you."

"Donald, my husband is in the next cell..."

"Don't worry, Princess, I'll put up silencing charms. Wouldn't want anyone getting jealous, especially when he hears you moan and scream. Catch you later - it's not like you're going anywhere." Donald strode away, chuckling at his own joke. Had he looked back, the calculating expression on Bella's face would have told Donald the joke was on him.

She was well aware Donald wouldn't have to 'pretend' to be a shit auror, and that this boastful prick was desperate to put the name Bellatrix Lestrange at the very top of his list of female conquests. Bella had deliberately acted all demure and broken since they had first met, hoping to entice him into making the very move he was now promising to do.

Donald was of the opinion that he could easily handle her, and she had carefully nurtured that belief. He obviously thought his size and weight advantage would be more than enough to force the waif on the other side of the bars to do his bidding. Bella would do everything to encourage that belief, right up until she tore his throat out. If Donald Carrick was crazy enough to bring a wand with him into her cell then Bella could guarantee there would be moaning and screaming - it just wouldn't be coming from her.

Chapter 16. Slices of Pi.

Inviting Francesca to go shopping with them turned out to be a masterstroke, her local knowledge proved to be immense and invaluable. She knew all the best places to shop, so all they had to do was say what they were looking for and she could lead them right to it. When the group split along gender lines to shop for clothes, Sirius appeared as if he was about to rebel, until Francesca offered him a very acceptable solution.

"If you really want to, we can return here to shop - when it's just the two of us?"

That was an offer Sirius couldn't wait to accept. When he claimed that was a date, Francesca's smile had him as happy as a dog with two tails.

As a clearly pleased Francesca led the ladies to the clothes shops she recommended, Hermione was keeping a very close eye on everyone else in their group. This was a massive culture shock for her five female friends and they all appeared to be coping with it well. Susan and Hannah were reminding Hermione of her Gryffindor roommates, Lavender and Parvatti - they were almost drooling at the multitude of fashions on display. Ginny was practically clinging to Luna for support, though the youngest Weasley seemed far more excited than scared. Luna was having the best time of her life, mainly because she was experiencing all these new adventures surrounded by friends.

Milly was the one who drew Hermione's focus, leading to her taking the girl's arm. "Are you alright?"

"To be honest - no. I think I'm in shock here. Things like this don't happen to Millicent Bulstrode - at least they never have before. I've never been further than Diagon Alley, yet you could easily fit all of those buildings about ten times over into this place - it's so light and spacious too. Are you sure we can pick some of these clothes? I've no idea what those price tickets say but everything looks so expensive."

Doing some quick sums in her head, Hermione pointed to a lovely sun dress modelled by a mannequin. "What if I told you buying that would see you get change from three galleons?"

That got Millie's attention. "Are you kidding? Harry gave us all much more than that as spending money."

"I know, but that money is not for spending here. Anything you like is on me, you can spend some of your galleons when we hit the magical shopping centre."

The other girls had been listening and Susan quickly cut in. "Hermione, I thought we were spending the entire day here? I've never seen anything like this before. Beautiful clothes in wonderful colours, all laid out so you can browse before you buy."

"Today is merely a fact-finding mission, and to pick up some much needed summer clothing. We will be returning here again while you're on holiday. Remember, PI students will be able to spend weekends visiting here during the school year too."

Looking all around her, Hannah neatly summed it up for all of them. "This has Hogsmeade beat hands down."

Francesca steered them into a shop specialising in teenage girl fashions and no more needed to be said. While her mother latched onto Ginny and Luna, Francesca stuck with Hannah and Susan. Hermione and Millie hit the racks too.

"You just look for something you like, see if they have it in your size, try it on and then buy if you're happy with it."

"What if I like the whole shop?"

"Then you should have brought a bigger trunk to Italy with you."

-oOoOo-

With Sirius appearing to have entered a world of his own, though Dan felt certain he wouldn't be alone - there would be a certain female Italian Architect in that daydream too - it was left to the dentist to deal with the four boys who'd never set foot in a muggle shop before. They'd entered a sporting goods emporium, thinking that would be best for what they needed.

Ron made an instant lunge for a Holland football top, proclaiming to Harry he just had to have the bright orange shirt with the lions on it. Dan recognised it as the top worn by the team at last year's World Cup - held in the USA. That's why it was on the sale rack, and a reasonable price too, but he couldn't understand the other's reactions to Ron's pick. His twin brothers were looking at it in awe, as if Ron had found the perfect garment for himself, while Harry was having a good laugh. Neville liked the shirt, but asked if it came in a different colour, showing he had no concept whatsoever of a football top.

Seeing the amount of merchandise the boys were looking at soon attracted the shop's sales assistants over. That the boys were obviously British tourists saw their eccentricities being put down to simply that. As long as they were spending money, their strange behaviour was being totally ignored. Harry too had an armful of clothes but asked Dan if he could look for some games that could be played on the beach, since he had actually never been on one before coming to Italy. Anything that helped to get them a bit fitter as well would be a bonus.

As the purchases began to pile up, the concerned manager also approached Dan - only to be pointed in Harry's direction. All those concerns were wiped away the instant Harry presented his black credit card Gringotts had provided him with. The manager actually arranged refreshments and snacks for these shoppers who appeared to be ringing up over a week's worth of sales in one visit. Loaded down with bags, and Ron proudly wearing what he considered his Gryffindor/Cannons shirt from the shop, they headed off to the food court where they were to reunite with the other half of their party.

It was no surprise that they arrived first, or that Ron loaded up with food again. They sat at tables, leaving seats for when their girlfriends/partners arrived. This was why Harry found himself sitting beside Dan, and offering an apology.

"I'm sorry about this. After last night, you and Emma deserved some peace and quiet to discover and discuss what those bracelets did for you."

With a genuine wide smile, Dan instantly rubbished that idea. "I'm sitting here, drinking a great cup of coffee, and yet I know Emma is close by - and also very happy. You gave us both that ability, so no apology necessary. I'm also watching as the two women in my life become closer than they've ever been, something you also played a large part in - and certainly have my undying gratitude for. I feel like you're saving our lives all over again so there is absolutely nothing to apologise for. I think it might actually help that we will have some experience of what these bracelets do for us before we get around to sitting down and talking about it."

"I see what you mean. Hermione and me kinda dived in at the deep end and had to rely on each other to sink or swim."

"I understand what Emma and I experience is only a fraction of what you share but this is more than enough for us. We all have little things or thoughts that should never see the light of day."

Harry was actually blushing as he answered Dan truthfully. "Hermione and I don't. I'm sitting chatting to her father so of course she's listening in, it's almost like she's sitting here with us. We have no secrets and are having to learn to deal with each other's stray thoughts - it's probably the hardest thing for us to master."

Dan didn't understand so Harry tried to explain. "We all have thoughts or opinions that we would never say out loud. Me just having those thoughts though means Hermione sees them. Throw in both of us are teenagers and you can guess where those thoughts sometimes lead."

A now blushing Harry had even more news for Dan. "Hermione can't believe I just told you that but I want there to be no secrets between us either. I love your daughter very much and intend to be with her for the rest of our lives. Achieving that means more to me than anything else we're doing, and you know how serious we are about the Institute and our other project."

Like any father, Dan had always wondered how he would react when he met his daughter's partner. Not her first crush, or her first boyfriend, but the person she would spend the rest of her life with. Dan was as certain as he could be that person was now sitting across from him - so did the only thing he could think of. He offered Harry his hand and said, "Welcome to the family, son."

Harry gladly took his hand before noticing the concerned look on Dan's face.

"Emma's worried about something..."

Harry was able to offer instant reassurance. "She's worried because Hermione just burst into tears. She's currently reassuring Emma that they are happy tears, and both of us can expect to get hugged to within an inch of our lives when she gets here."

Dan was left shaking his head as he felt Emma's mood change back to the happy one she'd been radiating all morning. Even after such a short time experiencing these bangles, Dan was already certain he never wanted to give this up and go back to the way things had been before. Considering the level of his daughter and Harry's connection, there was no way these two would be parted now. The more he got to know the young wizard sitting across from him, Dan found himself happier at reaching that conclusion. Something was bothering Dan though, and he decided just to ask the question.

"You and Hermione have been thrust into a bond, in itself a massive event, but you both also seem to be lurching from one crises to the next. When do you two get a break? You're both supposed to be on holiday."

Deciding again that honesty was the best policy with someone who would be family one day, Harry let Dan know what his 'normal' summer holiday usually consisted of. "Last summer, after facing a sixty foot basilisk and Voldemort at Hogwarts, I was imprisoned in Privet Drive. My relatives worked me like a slave and I was fed barely enough to keep me alive - and that wasn't even my worse summer. The year before, letters from Hermione and Ron were being blocked - putting doubt into my mind that I had really made friends at Hogwarts. After an incident where magic was used, I was locked in my room as bars were installed on my window. Food, if you could call it that, was passed through a cat flap that had been cut into my bedroom door. My family were determined I wasn't returning to Hogwarts and only having Hedwig locked in there with me got us through that time. Ron and the twins eventually turned up in their father's flying Ford Anglia and pulled those bars off the window."

Harry needed a moment to continue, the emotions were still a bit raw after having experiencing that episode again when Hermione and he shared memories the night they bonded. "Just knowing I'll never be alone again puts me light years ahead of where I was this time last year - hell, any year. Having your daughter in my life is wonderful, sharing this bond with her is easily the best thing that's ever happened to me. Yes we've been busy but this is still by a wide margin the best summer of my life."

Dan was struggling to understand how people could treat a child in that manner, but especially Harry, when a pair of welcome arms wrapped around him from behind. The kiss on his cheek from Emma was also a very welcome surprise as he watched Hermione slip into the seat beside Harry and kiss whatever troubles he had away.

"You were right, dear, they really are good for one another." Emma whispered in his ear, then moved around to sit beside Dan. "We were making our way here when Hermione practically broke into a run. What were you both talking about?"

"Oh, I was concerned about the amount of work and responsibilities these two were taking on when Harry told me what happened in his previous summers - purely to emphasise how much better things are now. We waited on you both coming before ordering anything. What do you want?"

By this time Hermione and Harry had separated, allowing her to answer. "Just a juice, and something to keep us going for the next bout of shopping. The elves spoil us at home, so need to go overboard buying things they will certainly make better than what's on sale here."

Emma quickly agreed, claiming the cappuccino the elves served was the best she'd ever tasted. Dan and Harry joined the food queue to get their ladies what they wanted.

-oOoOo-

The group had then hit the Naples magical shopping centre with even more enthusiasm, again in awe of how light and spacious everything was. With everyone having gold in their pockets too, it was an excited bunch of teens who took the shops by storm. This time Hermione and Harry stuck with her parents, Dan and Emma being the 'visitors' here.

Hermione had her mum help to choose a few robes, looking at material, style and colours, with the intention of using these to help design PI's uniform robes. Harry and Dan were working for the institute too, buying a range of brooms that would then be assessed for teaching beginners, casual flying and quidditch use.

It was therefor a very happy group who arrived back at the house, only to find a reception committee waiting on them. Dan and Emma tagged along to see what was so important that no one else could make the decisions.

Remus went first, having both good and bad news. "The building work starts tomorrow, the company doing the foundations dropped other work to get right on this. There's going to be a fair bit of prestige associated with working on this building, and everyone wants to be involved." Getting the good news out of the way, Remus then gave them the shock he'd received at the Italian Ministry this morning.

"It would seem that European OWL and NEWT courses are rather more advanced than the ones taught at Hogwarts. I was asked this morning which version we would be teaching our students?"

Harry and Hermione thought the answer was obvious, looking at Remus, Minerva and Pomona - he could see they were troubled by this. "Remus used the word 'prestige', one I'm very happy to have associated with what we're trying to do here. How much of that prestige would disappear if we weren't teaching and sitting the advanced courses? Is there a problem having those courses available for September?"

Pomona knew Harry was correct, but admitted it put a lot more pressure on them as all their course work and lesson plans would have to change. With the work needed to get the school up and running and now the extra burden of new courses to learn and produce as well was leaving the senior staff worried about the imposed deadline of September the first.

Knowing what to look for, Dan could clearly see Harry and Hermione were discussing this problem over heir bond. This was exactly what Dan had meant earlier, the adults were standing back and looking to these two teens for answers. It was time to offer them some help.

"It's now crystal clear to Emma and me that neither of us can return to our old lives anytime soon, if at all. Both of us have a range of skills that can help here, and neither of us is the type to sit about and do nothing for long. If we can take over a lot of the administration details, that would free the staff up to work on these new courses. Sirius should be available for advice on anything magical that we need help with."

A smiling Emma took Dan's arm, displaying her obvious support of her husband's idea. Harry pounced on their offered help like a starving man at a feast.

"That would be brilliant. Minerva will soon be contacting the new first years we hope to entice to come here. If you can check the muggle-born addresses and find a central city, then we can book a hotel with conference facilities to have a meeting. If that were to be in place before her visit, they could personally be invited along. For all muggle-born students, we can supply them with rail tickets and at least one night stay in the hotel."

Pomona and Minerva's initial reactions were rather muted to Dan's offer, feeling the Grangers were encroaching on their turf, that was before hearing Harry's plans though. Neither witch would have a clue how to arrange what the Grangers were already nodding in agreement with. Asking about phone lines and internet access also left both of the witches floundering too.

Hermione of course picked up on this and offered reassurance all around. "When that story breaks in the Quibbler tomorrow, there will be more than enough work to go around. Headmistress, how would you feel about having a couple of muggles teaching Muggle Studies?"

She barely had time to watch Pomona's face light up with a wide smile before her view was blocked by a delighted Harry kissing her. Feeling her parents arms wrap around both of them too gave Hermione a feeling of happiness that was worthy of generating a patronus.

Emma summed it up for all three Grangers. "I've got my daughter back, my husband at my side and we're going to work for our future son-in-law - that sounds like a plan to me. Keeping our family close is going to be the new Granger mantra."

Thinking of taking their intake discussion a stage further, Harry asked Dobby if he could get the twins to pop in. A bewildered Fred and George were then hit with a totally unexpected question from Harry.

"Guys, how do you think you did in your OWL's?"

Being nervous was a new look for the twins, one that didn't suit them. That nervousness didn't interrupt their ping-pong style of communication however, with each still flawlessly finishing the other's sentences.

"Well you see…"

"It's a bit complicated…"

"Mum is determined we're going to work in the Ministry…"

"Fred and I have other plans…"

"You can't work in the ministry without good grades…"

"Mum will be upset at us but we're well used to that…."

"It will put an end to her Ministry obsession though…"

"Totally worth it…"

It was left to an astonished Hermione to state in plain language what the twins had apparently done. "You deliberately tanked your OWL exams - how could you?"

"It was rather easy actually…"

"Yes, if I say so myself - we seem to have a talent for it."

Harry was left shaking his head but this might just play into their hands. "If these two sit the more difficult OWL's next year, it would give each of their professors a bit of practice with the new coursework. With only two students sitting them, and promising to do their best, it shouldn't overly tax the Institute's resources. All the other students attending would still have time to catch up on anything we should already have been taught. Having students who failed their OWL's in Hogwarts pass the harder versions at the Institute would also be a good advert for us, and might be the carrot needed to get both your parents on board to let you attend here."

The professors could instantly see the advantage of having a couple of students to work with as they wrote their OWL course, Fred and George looked nervous though.

"Eh, about that, Harry."

"Bill met with our father…"

"Dad wants to come and see us…"

"And Ginny…"

"Before he mentions anything to Mum."

"He hoped to see us before the news broke…"

It only took a glance between the teens and their minds were made up. They knew Bill intended to meet with his father, asking if Arthur could come to the Institute gave them a good idea how that meeting had gone. "Invite your dad for dinner tonight. Tell Bill I'll alter his portkey to include your father. You are welcome to have a family dinner served somewhere else, that will let you talk things out between you."

The twins each grabbed one of Harry's hands to shake, before both then quickly hugged Hermione and shot off to speak with Bill.

Dan was left shaking his head. "And I suppose you two class this as a quiet day?"

Slipping her arm around Harry's waist, Hermione couldn't help but smile as she answered. "Trust us, dad, this is a quiet day for us."

-oOoOo-

It was a nervous Arthur who portkeyed to Italy with his eldest son. The portkey entry point was still the terrace, so Arthur was faced with everyone else staying there getting ready to sit down to dinner. He was so wrapped up in the reason for his visit that the stunning setting hardly registered with Arthur.

Millie was sitting down to dinner with Susan and Hannah, having told Ron he needed time to deal with this family matter. Arthur approached Harry to apologise for all the trouble this had caused him, he didn't get far.

"Lord Potter…"

"It's just Harry to my friends, and everyone invited to my home is automatically considered at least that. Mr Weasley, go talk with your family. hopefully we can catch up later. Oh, Poppy will be there too. Ginny and her are becoming very close, Ginny probably couldn't handle this meeting without Poppy beside her."

Arthur gladly shook Harry's offered hand, any words he had died in his throat at the mere mention of his daughter's name. Bill led him away to meet with the rest of his children, the elves had transfigured the room being used as an infirmary to hold the Weasley dinner meeting.

Entering the room, Arthur's attention was instantly on his four youngest children. He noticed at once all were fit and healthy, as well as impeccably yet casually dressed. Pulling Ron into a hug, Arthur tried to break the ice from his somewhat frosty reception by keeping things light.

"That's a fabulous shirt, where did you get it?"

"Harry took us all shopping, to muggle shops. you would have loved it, dad."

Nodding in agreement, Arthur then moved on to the twins. "I hope you are both behaving yourselves?"

Pulling them in for a hug, George was first to answer - though Fred was soon backing his twin up.

"Of course we are."

"You've seen this place, it's fantastic!"

"Wait to you see the school Harry's building…"

"Yeah, we wouldn't like to be barred from PI for pulling pranks - before it even opens."

"We had also to promise to do our best…"

"Shows how much we want to come here…"

Shaking his head was Arthur's usual response to dealing with his twins, it felt like a little normality had returned to his life. Arthur then moved his attention to his beloved daughter. Seeing Ginny practically hiding behind Poppy, and the clear apprehension on her face his presence was causing, was breaking her father's heart.

"Ginny, I'm not here to take you back to the Burrow. You have four brothers and Poppy here who wouldn't let me - and don't forget Harry would certainly put a swift stop to that idea too. The Headmaster at this new school of his might actually look after its students…"

Ginny whispered her first word. "We've got a Headmistress… I want to go here…"

"You have my promise there will be no Weasleys attending Hogwarts while Dumbledore is headmaster. I will never trust that wizard again."

A lot of the tension left the room after Arthur said that, Ginny still practically hiding behind Poppy was killing him though. "I think I'll go home now. I just had to see you were all well.." Tears were running down his cheeks as Ginny then tentatively approached her now crying father.

"Stay, have dinner with us…"

Arthur didn't move, rather waited until Ginny began to wrap her arms around his waist before pulling his daughter into a needy hug. There wasn't a dry Weasley eye in the room so Poppy got them all to sit at the table. Ginny ended sitting between her father and Poppy, with Bill sitting across from her, as the Weasley family began to repair bonds that should never have been placed under that amount of stress in the first place. This was merely the first step however, but then that's how all journeys begin.

-oOoOo-

The promised training with Moony saw Harry and Hermione rising at six thirty, only to find all their friends - along with Dan, Emma and Sirius - were up too. Breakfast was going to be after training so, like the Pied Piper, Moony led them all down to the beach. The marauder had figured a few laps up and down the beach would soon show him who was serious about this training. To his great surprise, everyone stuck it out. The three adults were dead on their feet but refused to quit. Sirius then led both Grangers over to a safe area for a seat to watch as Moony had the teenagers start on wand work.

"I'm so glad Remus told us we would practice shooting this afternoon. I barely have the strength left to lift a gun, far less hold it steady enough to hit anything I aimed at."

Sirius offered a crumb of comfort to the struggling Emma. "The cruciatus curse really screws with your body, especially your muscles and nervous system. I thought you did fantastic this morning." Dobby popping beside the trio with a tray of fruit drinks brought relief to all of them who were struggling after expending more physical effort jogging on the sand than they had in years. They sat and stared as Remus had the teens shooting spells at stationary dummies to practice their accuracy, before he then animated a few of those dummies - increasing the degree of difficulty by a fair margin.

It was a proud father who watched on as Hermione began knocking her dummy over, before almost choking on his fruit juice as Harry blew the arm clean off one. Emma's jaw was hanging open too before Sirius commented on what they had just witnessed.

"Hermione is a really powerful witch, second only to Harry in that group. Harry's power though is awesome, I don't have another word for it. They have the power and knowledge but not the training, that's where Remus comes in. He'll have them practicing until what they do becomes instinct. With their bond, that will make them a formidable couple."

It was a tearful Emma that asked the million galleon question. "Will it be enough to achieve what they seem to be heading into?"

Thanks to their bracelets, Dan now knew instinctively what to do. He had his arm reassuringly around his wife and kissed Emma on the cheek. "They have a family that will be with them every step of the way. Between all of us, we'll make sure they come out the other end in one piece."

Now that was something Sirius could put his name down for. He left the Grangers and went over to offer Moony a hand. Even if he only took over training the others, that would allow Moony to concentrate on Harry and Hermione. Sirius intended to do everything in his power not to make a liar out of Dan. Those two simply had to survive what was coming their way, no other option was acceptable to the marauder.

-oOoOo-

The Quibbler was renowned for the eccentricities of its owner, reactions to the papers headlines were usually somewhere between laughter and being completely ignored - not today.

That the paper was suggesting Voldemort wasn't really gone was one hell of a bombshell to drop on someone while they were sitting down to their morning bowl of cereal. That was only the beginning though, the paper contained more shocks than the packet of cereal had free gifts. That Harry Potter was prophesied to confront the Dark Lord offered a smidgen of comfort until even that smidgen was brutally ripped from their grasp with the news that their saviour had left the country.

The Potter family instigating a Blood Feud against the Malfoy and Parkinson families also caused an impact of seismic proportions. These were two wealthy and powerful families that just lost their heads of house, supposedly murdered by muggles.

There were also meticulously detailed accounts of how the Ministry and Dumbledore had wronged the last of the Potters, actually forcing him to leave the country.

Before the meat of these articles could be consumed, readers were distracted by what amounted to nothing more than an advert for a new magical school. While the drawings of this wonderful building were certainly - to say the very least - eye-catching, what really drew the reader's attention was the name. In what was an understandable miscalculation, the owners and staff of the Institute had overlooked one vital piece of the psyche of the British witches and wizards.

With Voldemort trying to come back, and Harry Potter prophesied to banish him, parents the length and breadth of Britain instantly reached the decision that they wanted their children to attend the Potter Institute. When it came right down to it, they trusted Harry Potter with their children's safety - rather than the Ministry of Magic or Albus Dumbledore's Hogwarts. A quick glance at the list of professors teaching at the Potter Institute offered all the encouragement they needed to make their decision.

Most wouldn't even wait on the time it would take to send an owl to Gringotts to declare their family's interest in the Institute, witches and wizards floored or apparated to the bank in their droves.

-oOoOo-

Albus wanted to rant and rage at what he was reading here but the overwhelming reaction he experienced was fear - fear of being the headmaster of Hogwarts who saw that grand institution close its doors forever.

At least the tournament wouldn't be affected, as the Institute was currently only accepting students up to fourth year. That would be scant consolation though, as Albus imagined his embarrassment as headmaster if the other schools turned up to a half-empty Hogwarts.

Unlike those in Italy, Albus immediately recognised what the parents' reactions to reading this would be. It was now imperative that Harry Potter attended Hogwarts, by hook, crook or magical goblet.

-oOoOo-

At the Burrow, Molly's reaction to the Quibbler was as explosive as any of the fireworks Fred and George had ever cobbled together - she certainly reached a volume of noise the twins could only dream of emulating.

"This is a scandal, how dare they say these things about Albus. Harry can't leave Britain, that poor boy is receiving bad advice. We need to send him a letter - no, we need to meet in person..."

Arthur let Molly rant for a few more minutes but, with no let up in sight, he eventually had to take action. He lifted his now empty breakfast plate before slamming it back down on the table with enough force to break the crockery. More importantly however, it shut Molly up.

Before she could start again, Arthur got right to the heart of the matter. "Molly, as head of the Weasley family, you will answer me honestly and wholly. Did you cast a spell on Ginny when we met her in the station. If so, I demand to know what it was. The very future of our family rests on those answers, lie to me and the family magic will cast you out."

With those words, and the intensity of Arthur's glare, Molly forgot all about everything else happening in the world and concentrated on answering her husband truthfully. One slip could see her cast from the family, and she would demand to discover why shortly, but she could make no mistakes here.

"I saw Ginny looking heartbroken at Harry standing with his arm around Hermione, I tried to help our daughter. I cast a spell on her to increase her self-confidence. Ginny was holidaying with the boy she's had a crush on since she was seven, I just tried to give her a little helping hand. Ginny was mortified that first summer when she couldn't even speak to Harry, and never mention her elbow ending up in the butter dish at the boy's first breakfast here. She was so in awe of Harry Potter, the boy never got to see the real Ginny Weasley. I tried to help her with that, what mother wouldn't do their best for their children. Now Arthur, I think it's time I had some answers from you..."

Instead of answers, Molly watched as her husband shed tears before breaking down in front of her. "That's what I thought, that's what I hoped for. Oh Molly, we won't lose our family after all."

Just mentioning losing their family had Molly reaching for her wand. "Who's trying to harm my babies?"

Rather than answer her, Arthur moved to the floo and contacted Amelia. Molly would be questioned under truth serum and Arthur thought it wouldn't be the worst idea in the world to have a few aurors in the Burrow when she discovered Ginny was staying in Italy. He might also need those aurors present when Arthur revealed he had dinner with Ginny and four of their sons last night.

-oOoOo-

Reading the Quibbler was also life-changing for Jillian Green, however it was entirely different reasons from most of magical Britain that saw the young witch heading to Gringotts. The lines for registering interest in the Potter Institute were massive, and suited Jillian. She was able to see a teller much quicker than expected, and also discovered the goblin who handled their account was available to meet with her too.

After waiting around twenty minutes, Jillian was shown into an office she was well used to. Her account manager was there, but so was another goblin who was clearly further up the food chain than Arteck had reached.

"Miss Green, I would like to say it's nice to see you but I fear I know why you are visiting today."

"Arteck, I would like to know how the Malfoy and Parkinson deaths - as well as the Blood Feud - will affect the orphanage. You know better than I how tight our finances are. Losing both their monthly contributions would put us in severe financial trouble."

"I'm afraid it's worse than you know, Miss Green. Not only have you lost both those small contributions, another six families who also publically supported the orphanage have fled the country. In fact, our sources at the Ministry tell us there might be another four children heading in your direction. Some of those families left young daughters behind. With no gold to arrange advantageous marriages in their futures, the families abandoned them to their fate."

Arteck had to send for refreshments as the witch sitting in front of him appeared ready to pass out. After taking a sip of whatever she had been offered, Jillian couldn't stop the tears flowing as she asked the all-important question. "What do we do now? The orphanage survives from month to month. We have no savings but bills will still need paid and the children must be fed."

It was then the other goblin spoke. "Miss Green, I'm afraid your orphanage has been caught in the middle of a power struggle. Through no fault of you or your establishment, the majority of your funds have suddenly dried up. I know the people involved here and they would never deliberately set out to harm your establishment. This has been an oversight, one your prompt action gives us time to try and avert this situation becoming a disaster."

Jillian perked up at hearing this. The orphanage was her life, she'd been there since being left on the doorstep as a baby. The twenty-seven years that had passed since that fateful night had seen a young Jillian volunteering to help as soon as she was old enough to be helpful. She now ran the orphanage, although there wasn't exactly a lot of competition for the job. While she worked extremely hard and gave her best for the orphanage, she knew better than anyone outside possibly the two goblins in this office with her, there was no room in their budget to pay wages to a manager. Not only was the orphanage home to all the children in her care, if it closed she had nowhere else to go either - nor any gold to take her there if she did.

This Goblin just offered Jillian the one thing she didn't have moments ago - hope.

Barchoke continued with his pitch. It wasn't something he would usually do but the goblin was confident his client would act immediately to help. Miss Green was also known to the goblins as one of the most honourable witches the bank did business with. Every knut that entered the orphanage was cherished and used to help the children under her care. For a goblin, what could be more honourable than that.

"As I said, I know the people involved. They will probably want to visit first..."

"Any time, sir. They will probably need to contact the press themselves if they want pictures and an article..." Jillian stopped as the goblin actually laughed at her.

"Miss Green, I can assure you that press coverage is the last thing they would want. They are a totally different proposition to those who offer a few galleons for the positive press they gain. I will contact them today but also know they are very busy. If they can't make it before the end of the month, I will personally guarantee your establishment funds for the following month."

Jillian was in tears again, and missed Arteck's look of astonishment at Barchoke's unbelievable offer. Jillian eventually left that office a lot happier than she'd entered it. The door had hardly closed before Arteck just had to ask what had Barchoke making that astonishing offer.

"You know what happened with my wife and son, my family ends with me. There are a few obnoxious cousins floating about, ready to fight over anything I leave. Apart from being the right thing to do, can you imagine their faces if I spent every Galleon helping orphaned witches and wizards?"

The office then shook with the sound of goblin laughter.

-oOoOo-

There wasn't much laughter in the Minister of Magic's office. Not one known for her sunny disposition, Dolores was off on a rant about uppity half-bloods who didn't know their place - and what this new school could do to the country.

It was then Cornelius had his epiphany. "Dolores, This school is only going to be able to accommodate a percentage of the students Hogwarts holds. Remember, this is Potter we're dealing with here. Who is he likely to take?"

Like pulling the curtains open and discovering an unexpected sunny day, Dolores' expression changed to as near a smile as she got. "He'll take all the mudbloods and half-bloods, leaving Hogwarts for the pure-bloods..."

"Exactly! Can you see anyone from this Institute of theirs ever finding employment at the Ministry? They will be lucky to find anyone in Britain who will employ them..."

"Meaning all the mudbloods and half-bloods will need to stay abroad. No one who really counts will give this Institute the time of day, which will clear our country of all these undesirables in a generation - far more effectively too than any legislation we could try and push through the Wizengamot."

Both were now smiling at the implications this Institute would have on their society. Cornelius had one final suggestion on how to deal with this. "When all the furore over this matter has died down a bit, I'm sure we could sneak a bill through the Wizengamot that will stop any qualifications awarded to Institute students being recognised within Britain."

Dolores was enthusiastically nodding along to that idea. "After all, it's not as if any members will have relatives attending Potter's school. They will basically be voting to give their offspring a bigger advantage than they already have." Neither could see that bill fail, permanently ostracising within Britain anyone who attended the Potter Institute. An increase in funds for Amelia's department should publicly show them as 'doing something' amid claims that you-know-who was trying to return, while decrying as much as possible he could ever return.

-oOoOo-

After breakfast, everyone at the Institute grabbed one of the brooms that Harry had bought yesterday and took to the air to watch as work began on the foundations for the Potter Institute. Emma was once more clinging onto Harry as Remus took Dan up to see this momentous moment.

The brooms allowed them to see everything that was happening, without getting in the way of the workmen. As the ground was cleared and the shape of the Institute was marked out, everyone got to see for themselves the scale of the project being undertaken here. Since they had all been involved in the planning of the building, each person on a broom knew exactly what went where as the giant π took shape below them.

Pomona flew over to Harry and Emma. "This brings it all home, this is really happening. I don't think I've been this excited - or scared - since I was a teenager. Lord Potter, I can't thank you enough for giving me this opportunity."

"Headmistress, my betrothed and I are teenagers - so we know about being scared and excited. I just want to say that having you as Headmistress takes away a lot of our fear for this project. We want to thank you for taking on a task that, if you'll excuse the pun, gets larger every day."

Sirius then joined the conversation. "I have to say my godson doesn't do things by half - but this has totally blown me away. Harry, this is humongous - the biggest Pi in the world!"

Not able to resist, Harry just teased back. "I'm glad the scale of this managed to take your mind off the architect down their in the white hard hat. I'm surprised you even noticed anything else."

Not even trying to pretend he hadn't noticed her, Sirius almost pouted in reply. "Francesca's working, I can't interrupt her while she's busy."

Harry had to almost bite his lip to stop from laughing, though Hermione had no such compunction as she giggled loudly by his side. Harry eventually took pity on his clearly smitten godfather. "I'm glad you're not going to keep my architect from her important work, but she will still have to eat lunch..."

That was all the encouragement Sirius needed as his broom took off like a Francesca seeking missile on a mission to ask the lady to lunch with its rider, to the accompaniment of much laughter from those he so abruptly left behind.