Malfoy Manor…
Hermione and Ally looked around in fear. One moment they had been watching Harry and talking about his flying skills, the next they woke up here, wherever here was. The two girls were in a stone room. Somewhere along the way, they had had their wands taken from them. In fact, all jewelry and their school books had been taken from them.
When Hermione regained consciousness she found Ally weeping in a corner of the dank room. What little wandless magic they had learned was enough to light the room and provide some added warmth. There was a single, heavily locked door and the walls glistened with moisture and lichen. Other than that, the room was bare of furniture, windows, everything.
Now the two young women sat huddled together in the corner of the room, facing the door. After what seemed like hours it was opened and Lucius Malfoy stepped into the room, followed by Draco. Hermione's eyes narrowed seeing Draco and Ally gripped her hand tighter.
"You can't get away with this," spat Hermione, going for a show of bravado.
"And a good evening to you as well, Miss Granger. See Draco? That school of your has been failing to teach the mudbloods their proper place in our society. Well, no matter. Our trap has been properly baited. Now to see if we catch any flies," Lucius said in a conversational tone to his son. "I suspect we have ample time if you want to play, Draco," he added, almost as if it were an afterthought. The vicious gleam in his eyes gave lie to his tone, however.
Draco stepped up to Hermione, shoved his hand into her blouse and yanked down hard, tearing her clothing and exposing her bra. When Hermione whimpered and tried to push him away, he grabbed the front of her bra and pulled hard. The bra gave way, but not before the metal closures in the back ripped open her skin. She cried out in pain and flinched way.
Draco sneered. "Nice tits, Granger. I'll take great pleasure in leaving my mark on them."
Ally's expression grew fierce and she pointed a finger at Draco. "Incendio!" she shouted, and then screamed in pain as her index finger flared with flame.
The wash of flames caught Draco off guard, hitting him in the face and one side of his head.
Draco howled in agony and clutched at his burned flesh. Then he kicked out at Ally, who was whimpering and cradling her burned hand. Ally gasped and cried out in pain when Draco's boot connected with her chest.
Lucius ran forward just in time to receive an off center kick to the balls by Hermione. His normally pasty complexion turned whiter and he grabbed his son by the scruff of his neck, dragging him out of reach of the two girls.
Harry was over southern England and cursing when the portkey trace finally faded into nothingness. Grumbling, he started spiraling in to a landing, bleeding off speed. He wanted to get his bearings and consider his next move. He was about fifty feet from the ground when he felt a burst of fear course through him. Coupled with that emotion was an ardent plea for help.
He halted his descent and climbed to a higher altitude. He had to be close! His magic flared and he scanned the countryside with his mage enhanced sight. On the horizon he spotted a country manor house that glowed from the power of its wards.
He put his broom in motion again, taking off for the distant house. He wasn't sure if it was the source of the plea he had felt, but it was the only magical structure in the region that he could spot. He landed only a few hundred yards from the manor and then put his broom back into its container space.
Walking slowly towards the house, he was overcome by another wave of emotions. This time the fear had an added element of pain. He was sure it could only be coming from Ally. As an empath, she could be broadcasting her own emotions.
Harry stopped and frowned. He recognized this place! He circled around to the back of the property until he had found a good hiding spot.
"Fawkes," he murmured, his eyes glazing over. Then he reached and pulled a parchment and quill out of another container. He scribbled a note to Dumbledore, then repeated his call to Fawkes.
After a moment of silence, a phoenix appeared in the sky above him. The phoenix folded its wings and plummeted downward. It flared its wings suddenly and appeared to hover right in front of Harry. He blinked surprise as he looked at a small, pure white phoenix. This definitely wasn't Fawkes!
The two stared at each other for a moment, and then Harry reeled with vertigo as the phoenix bonded herself to him.
Harry wizard, are you in trouble? Came the thought. The voice in his mind was clearly female.
"I'd like to spend time talking to you, gentle phoenix, but my friend and sister are in danger. Can you take a message to Fawkes, companion of the wizard, Albus Dumbledore?" asked Harry, offering the parchment to the small phoenix.
Niamh can and will, Harry wizard. Then we will have much to talk about. Go, save your mate and nestling. Then we'll talk.
Harry blinked in surprise as the little phoenix grabbed the parchment and vanished in a flash of flame. It dawned on him that he had just bonded to a phoenix. Shaking his head, he peered over the brush he was hiding behind and examined the manor carefully. He had been here once before, he had even dueled Voldemort here.
A moment later he slipped into the shadows and entered the house, sliding from room to room. He had to stall for the twenty or so minutes it would take for the Aurors to arrive after Dumbledore got the message he'd sent.
Harry found the girls locked in a basement room and then found Draco and Lucius being healed in a room on the first floor. His reaction to finding the girls and the shape they were in was enough to alert the occupants that he was nearby. The house shook with his anger.
Lucius and Draco exchanged panicked looks and had the girls brought up to them by Nott and Avery.
Harry watched, enraged, as Hermione tried to hold her torn clothing together and still help Ally, who was injured and not breathing well. The two girls were shoved into the study where they fell to the floor. Harry started to move forward, but stopped when Lucius pulled a staff from a case. The staff had a carved cobra for the end piece and its eyes glowed balefully.
Harry blanched and flinched back from the staff. It was a dangerous, dark object and he could feel sucking at his power even while encased in the shadows. Lucius held the staff in both hands and his eyes took on a red glow, pulsating in time to match the eyes of the cobra. He smirked and smacked the wall with his staff. There was a moment of silence just before both Malfoy Manor and Harry Potter exploded.
Harry screamed in agony as he was ripped from the shadows. Although everyone else in the room seemed to be shielded, Harry was ripped to pieces by flying debris. He stumbled and collapsed on the ground, bleeding from dozens of wounds.
Lucius tilted his head back and laughed. Glancing around, he saw the crowd of shocked people, Ministry Aurors and Dumbledore, standing out on his front lawn. Lucius smirked and gestured with his staff, freezing them all in place.
"FOOLS!" he roared. "For years I needed only but to find another mage I could use to tap the Staff of Tsaris. Voldemort was nothing! He worked for me! I created him, set him up as the Dark Lord. It was I who truly controlled things, behind the scenes of course.
"But now it is time for me to come out of hiding. Potter here has boosted the Staff of Tsaris, and me, so I am powerful beyond all reckoning! And I shall rule our world!"
He turned to look at his son, who stared at him in awe. "Stand, my son. This will be your birthright. These puny wizards will be your playthings and servants," he said to the eager Draco.
Lucius reached out to clasp Draco by the shoulder when a voice interrupted his gloating.
"You can't give what you don't own. And you certainly can't give it to a dead son." came a voice as cold as ice.
Lucius whipped his head around. Harry Potter stood a few feet away, his body glowing a bright red. Harry held out a hand to Draco.
The younger Malfoy writhed and then he began to scream as his clothing burst into flame. Harry raised his hand and the heat coming off Draco doubled, and then doubled again, causing everyone but Harry to step away from him. A moment later Draco collapsed to the ground, a smoking husk.
Lucius screeched and whirled to strike Harry with the Staff of Tsaris. Harry ducked and pulled his own staff from its container space. Lucius snarled and swung again. Harry's staff glowed bright blue as he raised it to block Lucius' blow. The two staffs touched and, with a flash of light, the Staff of Tsaris broke in two.
Lucius stumbled back in shock and black, acrid smoke poured off the two pieces and billowed high into the air. The two clouds merged and slowly formed into the figure of a cloven hoofed creature with horns. The figure leaned down and reached into Malfoy's torso.
The blond man screamed pitifully and begged for mercy as the creature drew out a splotchy white orb of light from Lucius' chest.
Lucius went limp when the orb was removed from his body. The figure swallowed the orb and, throwing back its head, bellowed in triumph. It then looked around carefully. When it spotted the two girls weeping on the floor not far way, waves of satisfaction flooded the room. The figure reached out for them, but paused when Harry stepped between it and them.
"Stop," Harry commanded, his voice echoing with power. With the destruction of the staff, his full Mage power flooded back to him.
"You cannot stop me, mortal. I am free of my prison at last!" the figure said, it's voice vast.
"But I can stop you, Tsaris. This is not your realm and you do not hold sovereignty here," Harry replied grimly.
"Stand aside, mortal. I will taste virgin souls before I taste yours," Tsaris commanded.
When the figure moved once more towards the two girls, Harry held up his staff and his full power blazed, throwing back the night. His staff sang with the energy coursing through it and the figure faltered in its advance, covering its eyes and hissing in outrage.
"I return you to the hell from which you came," Harry said. With his words still echoing across the clearing, he slammed his staff into the ground.
There was a cracking sound and the ground split open under the figure. From deep beneath the earth came an eerie red glow and Tsaris screeched before falling into the bottomless pit. Then the earth shuddered again and the chasm closed.
Harry turned and saw Dumbledore and the Aurors cautiously moving closer. Fawkes rode on Dumbledore's right shoulder. On his left was the phoenix Niamh.
"Oh good," he said, his voice casual, "the cavalry has shown up."
Then he pitched forward and darkness claimed him.
Hogwarts Infirmary…
Lily Evan-Potter paced back and forth in the central corridor. In one bed lay her daughter, suffering from burns and multiple broken ribs. In another bed lay the girl she considered most likely to someday become her daughter-in-law, suffering from some mild bruising and severe psychological shock from nearly being raped.
The third occupant of the infirmary worried her even more. Currently that bed was hidden behind curtains and Madam Pomfrey had been in there for over an hour.
Both girls and Lily anxiously awaited Madam Pomfrey to come from behind that curtain and tell them about Harry's condition.
"Mum, please sit," Ally pleaded. Then she grimaced. The bone knitting potions were still doing their job and she wasn't supposed to talk or move unnecessarily. Lily moved to the chair placed between the girl's beds and sat down.
Hermione lay curled up on her bed. She watched everyone, but had said very little since they had brought them all back to Hogwarts nearly two hours ago.
Lily leaned over Hermione and brushed the hair from her eyes gently. "Hermione, are you alright?"
Hermione stared at her for a moment and then her eyes filled with tears. Lily scooped the girl up into her arms, holding her while she wept. Hermione clutched at her as if afraid someone would tear her away.
"Oh, dear. I've been waiting for that," Poppy said, sticking her head out from behind the curtain. The medi-witch walked briskly to a cabinet and pulled out a potion. She handed it to Lily and, between the two them, managed to coax Hermione into drinking it.
"I'm sorry, my dear," said Madam Pomfrey gently, "but I absolutely had to wait for you to start realizing what you had gone through before I could do much to help you."
It took a while for Hermione to calm down, but she eventually released Lily and smiled gratefully. Lily pushed hair away from the girl's forehead before turning to watch the medi-witch examine Ally.
"Poppy, please, how is Harry?" Lily asked.
Poppy snorted. "That one? I'd be out of business if more students were like him. He's got a lot of cuts, which I've healed, but he'll be sporting some new scars. He arrived magically exhausted. But in the short time he's been here, his magic has been flooding back into him. He's already more powerful than Dumbledore, and the Murchesen Index is still climbing!"
Hermione sat up on her bed, horrified. "Oh, no, Madam Pomfrey. You mustn't tell them."
Poppy stood up straight and frowned. "Miss Granger, not that it's any of your business, but I know exactly how strong Mr. Potter is. It's in his records, which I've read extensively. What happens between my patients and myself is confidential."
Hermione relaxed back on the bed. "I'm sorry, Madam Pomfrey. I just knew Harry was afraid to let his Mum and sister know how much power he has."
Poppy's expression softened, while both Lily and Ally exchanged a glance.
"Aye, I can understand that, Miss Granger," Poppy said after a moments reflection. Then she turned and removed the curtains from around Harry's bed. She frowned at the sight of the white phoenix, but kept her opinion to herself. The little phoenix had been helpful, supplying tears for some of the larger wounds. "He'll sleep for now. He might wake up later, or could sleep until morning. Either way, he's in no danger now."
"What's with the bird?" asked Ally, carefully trying not to move.
"The bird, Miss Potter, is Harry's phoenix," replied Dumbledore from the doorway. "I was quite surprised when she showed up in my office earlier this evening. I had been wondering how Harry would contact me when he found you two, but I never expected he'd sent his familiar with the message."
"Harry has a phoenix for a familiar?" asked Lily incredulously.
"Well, he does now. I'm not sure he even realizes yet. The bonding is quite new. And more extraordinary, a white phoenix," replied Dumbledore proudly.
The aging Headmaster walked into the infirmary and conjured several comfortable chairs for the adults.
"A white phoenix," murmured Hermione, wondering at the significance of it.
"I'm surprised, Miss Granger. I would have thought with Fawkes being my familiar you would have looked up the legend of the phoenix. No matter, it is an interesting tale, suitable to tell two students confined to infirmary beds," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. There was a flash of light from behind him and Fawkes appeared, landing on the back of his chair.
Lily and Poppy took the other two seats. It was rare that the Headmaster told these stories and few people wanted to miss them when he did.
"Legend has it that it was the phoenix that brought magic to mankind long before the start of recorded history, even before the loss of fabled Atlantis. The first phoenixes, according to legend, were creatures of pure light. Made entirely of magic, they were so bright it was hard to look upon one without being blinded.
"No one knows when the first bonding happened, or why, but we suspect it is because a phoenix stumbled upon someone who was pure of heart and in the middle of performing a selfless deed. So impressed was that phoenix that it reached out and touched the mind of the human. In that instant of touching, magic poured through the link from the phoenix to the human and a bond of love and respect was formed.
"The phoenix lost itself in that bond, giving up its pure magical body in exchange for one of flesh and blood, though it's magic was still strong. But in the exchange, it learned about love and loyalty and devotion. Some say the phoenix gave up too much that day, but no one who has ever bonded with one would say so.
"Most phoenixes are red and gold, like Fawkes here." Dumbledore reached back and caressed the phoenix's breast. Fawkes crooned gently. "But a few," he continued, "a very rare few, are white, in memory and honor of the time when they were made entirely of magic. A white phoenix is considered to be royalty among phoenixes. There are very few records of their abilities or of them bonding with a wizard. I like to think a white phoenix is the closest to light magic you can come. Our young Harry here has been blessed indeed. No one will ever be able to accuse him of practicing dark magic as long as he has his familiar. A white phoenix would not allow it."
Lily stared at the sleeping boy and the bird sitting on the headboard.
"Albus, what can you tell me about what happened tonight?"
Dumbledore frowned and his voice became heavy with sorrow. "I suspect that Lucius Malfoy felt that Harry was a danger to what he considered the status quo. Apparently he arranged for Miss Granger and your daughter to be kidnapped, knowing that Harry would take steps to rescue the ladies.
"What none of us suspected was that it was Lucius behind Voldemort in our reality. Lucius had a dangerous dark artifact. It was staff containing the ensnared spirit of a demon. It gave Lucius great powers, but at the expense of drawing power from Harry. I suspect he used the staff originally on Voldemort to control him. And he would have used it on Harry, but Harry is more than just a mere Mage. He is also an elemental, which is an entirely different type of magic.
"Harry used his elemental powers to kill Draco Malfoy, then he and Lucius dueled. He broke the staff Lucius used, which released the demon. The demon killed Lucius, and then turned on Miss Granger and your daughter. He would have killed them as well, but Harry banished the demon back to its dimensional plane."
"Next time, Albus, I'll let you deal with the bad guys. You could talk them to death," said Harry from his bed, gently teasing the older wizard.
Dumbledore chuckled.
Throughout Dumbledore's story, Hermione's tenseness had returned. When she heard Harry voice, she actually cringed. Poppy shot her a questioning glance which Hermione ignored.
"Perhaps, my boy, perhaps. But it does this old man good to see that you are awake and feeling better."
Harry nodded sleepily and his head fell back to the pillow. Then his eyes sprang open again. "Hermione?" he choked out.
Before any adult could say a word, he was up out of his bed and kneeling next to hers. He looked at her, his eyes filled with tears. She pulled the blanket tightly about her and stared up at him.
Poppy tried to stand and protest, but Dumbledore laid a gentle hand on her arm. She glanced at him and he shook his head. She huffed at him and walked to her office, shutting the door behind her.
"I think perhaps we should give them a little privacy," Dumbledore murmured to Lily. "Perhaps a visit to the kitchens for a cup of tea and then we can come back?"
She tore her gaze from the two and nodded to the Headmaster before sending her daughter a warning glance.
Harry reached out to brush the hair from Hermione's face and she flinched away from his touch. He jerked his hands behind his back and leaned away from her. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I came as soon as I could," he whispered.
She didn't reply, only watched him with huge, haunted eyes. She wanted to say something, anything, but the experience was too fresh in her mind. Her own pain and fear overwhelmed her so much, she could do nothing to ease the pain she was causing him.
Harry tried to touch her once more, but she flinched away again. His shoulders slumped in defeat. "I'm sorry I failed you," he whispered, and then he stood and went back to his own bed, head bent to hide his anguish.
"Alright there, Ally?" he asked softly.
Ally closed her eyes and tried to shut down her empathic links again. Between the two of them, the pain they were sharing… and yet not sharing… was beating at her. She nodded and watched as her brother climbed into bed.
He grabbed a sleep potion, downed the contents quickly and then stretched out on the bed. He pulled the blankets up around him, facing away from both Ally and Hermione.
Ally glanced over at Hermione and glared at her, but the girl had turned to face away from her as well.
When Lily and Dumbledore returned, the three of them were fast asleep.
Harry awoke at dawn. It took a moment for him to remember why he was in the infirmary again. It took him a moment longer to remember Hermione's reaction last night and his shoulders slumped. He sat up and spotted Ally and Hermione, both in beds next to his. He climbed out of bed and slipped into the shadows to go to his own room to get dressed.
Ally cracked open an eye and watched her brother vanish, then she turned to face Hermione. The older girl hadn't been asleep either and the two girls locked eyes for a moment.
Ally's eyes narrowed. She was furious with Hermione. "A word, a thank you for saving us, you could have said anything, Hermione, and he would have been happy. But you said nothing! I know you're hurting, but you hurt him far more than Malfoy did last night," she hissed.
Harry stepped from the shadows and smiled when he saw Niamh perched on the headboard of his bed.
"Well, girl, I guess I'll have to get you a proper perch. Maybe something really nice for such a special phoenix. What do you think?"
Niamh preened her feathers, and then looked at him.
I think it would be proper. And I also think Harry wizard left the place of healing before he should have.
Harry chuckled. "I'm afraid that you'll just have to get used to. I don't stay in the infirmary any longer than absolutely necessary. But I'll tell you what, Niamh. Today we'll take it easy. I'll give you a tour of the castle and introduce to you some of my friends and teachers."
I would like to meet Harry wizard's friends and family and see his home, offered the little phoenix.
The phrasing struck Harry. Was this home? Was home where his family was or was home something different, something special? He shook his head and laughed to himself as he dressed. It was far too early think of such things, especially before a wake up cup of coffee!
"Come on, Niamh. Let's get something to eat and I'll introduce you to some people I know."
The little phoenix glided over to land on his shoulder and they walked out of the Gryffindor Head Suite.
The Great Hall…
Niamh turned out to be hugely popular in the Great Hall. Most of the students had heard about Fawkes, but the large magical bird was rarely seen. A number of the first years were so enamored of the little phoenix it looked like they wanted to steal her away from Harry.
Not long into breakfast, Dumbledore entered the Great Hall and spotted Harry and Niamh. He chuckled to himself and continued to the head table. Behind him came Lily, Ally and Hermione. Harry glanced at Hermione and then he looked down at his plate, his demeanor changing in an instant.
Lily stopped next to him. "I see Madam Pomfrey released you earlier than I thought she would. Or is this a case of the patient releasing himself?"
Harry grinned up at his mother sheepishly. "Well, since I wasn't unconscious, I figured it would be alright to leave early."
Lily shook her head. "You will take it easy today, won't you?"
"Yes, I promised Niamh that I'd show her the castle and introduce her to some friends, but that we'd relax today."
Lily continued on to the head table. Up near the front of the hall, Ally and Hermione sat at the Gryffindor Table. Both of them kept shooting Harry glances, but he was refusing to look at them.
Harry wizard, your mate is hurting. She needs you. Came the thought from the little phoenix.
"I know, Niamh, but she shut me out last night. I think it's up to her to make the move this time," Harry said softly to the phoenix, while stroking her gently.
The conversation between wizard and phoenix would have continued, but Dumbledore stood and called for everyone's attention. He looked solemn as he faced the students.
"Last evening," he began, "two of our students were kidnapped off the grounds by a third student under the orders of his father. Draco Malfoy used a portkey to remove Althea Potter and Hermione Granger to Malfoy manor in the south of England.
"Once there, both girls were abused and their very lives threatened. Our very own Harry Potter tracked them down. In a fight that resulted in the deaths of both Lucius and Draco Malfoy, Harry freed the two girls.
"It was during this fight, witnessed by myself and more than twenty Aurors, that it came to light that it was Lucius Malfoy, not Voldemort, who was the true Dark Lord during the last war. Mr. Malfoy used a very rare dark object, called the Staff of Tsaris, which held the essence of a chained demon within it. It was with this staff that Lucius Malfoy controlled Voldemort from behind the scenes.
"I would ask that every one stand for a moment of silence. A student has been lost to the light. Though he made poor choices, Draco was still one of us."
The entire student body stood. Harry stood as well, thinking that it had been the second time he'd had to kill Draco. Some things never change. When the students sat down once again, Dumbledore looked out across the students for a moment before continuing.
"I would ask that no one bother Miss Potter, Miss Granger, or Mr. Potter about this. Mr. Potter has saved the world from an ascending Dark Lord, who we didn't even know existed. That he had to take several lives in order to accomplish it troubles him greatly. If anything, we owe him our thanks."
Dumbledore turned to look at Harry directly.
"Harry, Minister Bones realizes that awarding you with another Order of Merlin, First Class would be a useless gesture. So, she told me that she is planning to send you a personal note of thanks to be included in your file, and an offer, at a later date, to visit with her and explore the possibilities of working at the Ministry. Both the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, as well as the Department of Mysteries, have voiced interest in having you work for them," Dumbledore said with a smile.
Both Lily and Sirius smiled proudly.
Harry bowed his head in acknowledgment. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do. In reality, he could leave Hogwarts tomorrow if he wanted. He had already taken and passed his NEWTS. The studies he was involved in at Hogwarts were more advanced than NEWT level. He didn't want to leave the school, but maybe it would be for the best. Maybe he couldn't recapture any of what he had lost. Perhaps it was time for him to move on.
After breakfast, he went to the library. Not knowing exactly what he was looking for, he made a beeline for Madam Pince, who eyed his approach warily.
"Can I help you, Mr. Potter?"
"Yes, ma'am. Can you tell me, is there a book that describes magical schools at levels above what Hogwarts teaches?"
Madam Pince frowned for a moment. Few students ever wanted to attend schooling beyond what Hogwarts had to offer. "Yes, there is the collegiate guidebook. It's not very big, as most students wishing to study further go on to accept an apprenticeship rather than going on to a school." She opened her desk and pulled out a small book that could hardly be called a pamphlet. She handed it to Harry and he sat down at a nearby table.
Flipping through the book Harry was surprised to see how few institutes of higher learning there really were. In France, there was the "Université de Supérieur Magique Érudition", located in Paris. Germany had its "Einführen über Magie und Zauberei". Neither sounded all that attractive. Maybe over the holidays he'd apparate to America and check out the campus of the American Institute for Advanced Magic and Sorcery. At least there he would come close to speaking the language.
He handed Madam Pince the pamphlet and thanked her before leaving the library. From there he wandered about the castle and the grounds until he eventually found himself down by the lake…and the rock where he and Hermione had shared their first kiss.
He sat on the large flat rock and watched as Niamh soared over the lake.
"Harry?" came a very familiar voice from behind him.
"It's funny," he said in reply, "no matter how much one hopes things turn out, it seems that fate always intervenes to make them turn out another way."
"I'm sorry, Harry." replied Hermione. He still hadn't turned around to look at her.
"So am I, Hermione. More than you can imagine," he replied tiredly. "More than you can imagine," he repeated in a whisper.
"When you tried to talk to me last night, I wanted to say something, anything. I was angry at you for being so reckless, and proud of your bravery and ashamed that you saw me after being pawed by the likes of Malfoy. I didn't know what to say… in the end, the shame won and I said nothing, which hurt you terribly…"
"And now?" he prompted. The two still hadn't looked at each other yet. A glimmer of hope grew in him and he held his breath. The icy knot that had existed in his stomach slowly began to loosen.
"I'm still ashamed of myself, Harry. I treated you badly," she whispered.
"I know you had no control over what happened last night. It's not like you went to Malfoy and told him to tear at your clothing. I admit I was angry, terribly angry with both Malfoys for what they had done to you. But part of that anger came from a possessive feeling about you."
"Possessive?"
Harry turned and looked up at her standing just out of arms reach. "I'm going on eighteen, Hermione. Can I help it if you haunt my dreams and fuel my fantasies? And then to find Malfoy pawing at you? It made me insane for a while," he replied pensively.
"I knew you found me attractive, Harry, but why did you never say you liked me that much?"
He turned to look at his feet and wrapped his arms around his knees. "I couldn't. That's just not my way."
She sat next to him and looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"I'm terrible with relationships. Ginny showed me a lot, but I'm still not very good at expressing myself. What am I supposed to say? 'Gee, Hermione, I think I'm falling in love with you and I want you body?' Is there even a polite way of saying that? Damned if I know. Growing up the way I did didn't teach me a lot about relationships and other people," he said in an exasperated tone, shaking his head.
She laughed and Harry looked up at her in shock. Laughter was one reaction he hadn't expected. He blushed and looked away, embarrassed.
She stopped laughing seeing his reaction and she grabbed his chin and gently turned his head back to face her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make fun of you. But even you have to admit, it did sound funny."
He shrugged and her eyes narrowed. "Ally told me you would be tough to talk to. You're an intensely private man, Harry Potter, but if you expect to have a woman in your life, you better get used to sharing at least parts of what you're feeling."
He turned and looked out over the lake.
Hermione sighed, realizing she hadn't managed to reach him. As she shifted her weight to stand up, he began to speak.
"It's not easy for me to express my feelings well. You have some idea of what my life was like, but not a complete picture. Ask me sometime when you have all day and I'll tell you about it. You won't like it, and neither will I, but I'll tell you about it. I care about you, Hermione. The feeling is as intense as what I felt for Ginny. I've come to learn and love you, not the Hermione I left behind, but I don't want to scare you away. You inhabit my dreams most nights and make me want to hold you close and make love to you. I don't know if you're ready for that, but there it is. And I refuse to push you into that decision."
She reached out and caressed his cheek. "You know something, Harry? You're probably the only boy in the world who can compliment a girl and say you think she's sexy, then, in the next breath apologize for saying it, let alone thinking it."
He grinned sheepishly at her and she smiled.
"Right now I need to know you forgive me for last night. You saved my life and I treated you horribly. I never even thanked you," she continued seriously
"Of course I forgive you. I couldn't stay angry with you. I was afraid I had lost you… and it was breaking my heart," he said with a small smile. Then he reached out and touched her hand. Their fingers interlocked and she leaned in to kiss him.
When they broke apart she rested her forehead against his and, blushing, whispered, "I'll have you know, Mr. Potter, that while your dreaming about my body, I'm having similar dreams about yours."
"I won't deny I want you, Hermione, because I do. But it's got to be your decision and in your own time. But when you're ready to explore your dreams for real, I'll be waiting for you," he replied, matching her blush.
The two smiled at each other. He stood then and helped her to her feet. They walked back to the castle, hands clasped, with Niamh on Harry's shoulder.
From an upper floor window of the castle, a redhead watched the two with interest.
Slytherin Common Room, that evening…
It was an all house meeting the likes of which had rarely been seen in Slytherin house. Ron was flanked by both Crabbe and Goyle.
"You all heard Dumbledore! That bastard Potter killed Malfoy and his father!" Ron said forcefully.
"And what are you suggesting to do about it, Weasley?" asked Blaise Zabini. "The Ministry has exonerated Potter of any wrong doing and has all but proclaimed Malfoy's father as an ascendant Dark Lord."
"Alright, fine, but we still can't allow things to continue the way they have. I actually had to push my way through a crowd of half bloods and mudbloods the other day. They aren't stepping aside for purebloods anymore!"
"Look, Weasley, you may not like it, but the simple fact is, there isn't much difference between them and us. What's worse, I think our attitude is hurting us," Zabini replied.
"Impossible! We are the purebloods. And I say we start making the others remember their place!"
Blaise looked at Ron for a moment, then threw up his hands. "I want no part of this. You morons are going to be served up as sacrifices to the god of stupidity." Then he turned and walked from the common room.
"Blaise is right," said Ginny Weasley, surprising many. "Look, I don't like this anymore than anyone else, but the simple fact is, there isn't a single witch or wizard among us who can stand up to Potter."
"You're just saying that because he turns you on! How could you, Ginny? He's a half blood," spat Ron.
Ginny shrugged. "Why not? He's rich, he's more powerful that any boy in this room can ever hope to be and he's not bad to look at. He's also of the purest blood in the world, despite his mother's background. Potter's problem is he hasn't seen the advantages of being pureblooded. If I could get that mudblood out of the picture for a while, I'd probably be able to change his mind. But mark my words; if you start pushing the half bloods and mudbloods around, Potter is going to make you wish you were never born.
"I'm ambitious. I want Potter. I want to make him mine. When the time comes, I'll make a move to eliminate my competition and take him. But I'm not stupid and no one said Slytherin's were supposed to be purebloods, just ambitious," she said, sitting down in a chair and glaring at her brother.
Ron returned her glare, and then tried to rally more support around him, but people slowly drifted off to their rooms. Harry had clearly demonstrated that blood wasn't the issue at all, and too many of the Slytherins had no wish to invoke his wrath after what he had done to the Malfoy's.
The Library…
Ally was working on her transfiguration homework when she was interrupted. She looked up when Meloney Marchbanks sat next to her.
"Don't look up or at me," hissed Meloney.
Ally blinked and nodded slightly, continuing to look up notes for her essay.
"You've got trouble coming from both of the Weasley's. Ron wants to fight back over what happened to Malfoy and what the non-purebloods have been doing here in school. People are going to be hurt by what they're planning to do."
"And the other Weasley?" asked Ally under her breath, then she scribbled a few notes, still ignoring Meloney.
"She's going to be a harder problem in the long run. She wants your brother and is planning on 'eliminating' her competition. And before you ask, I don't know what she means by it. But knowing her reputation, it could be anything from an outright attack to character assassination. She doesn't love your brother, but she wants his money and power," the Slytherin muttered under her breath.
"I'll see Harry finds out about Ron, and I'll warn Hermione. But without any specifics, there isn't much anyone can do but be careful," Ally said, then she closed her book, stood and went to put it back and get another. When she returned to her table, Meloney was gone.
Here and there…
The election of Minister Bones came as no surprise. The backing of the Houses of Potter and Black, as well as the four founders, sealed her election. Minister Bones immediately began a series of reforms aimed at repealing some laws and softening others.
Harry had largely been silent on the reforms the Ministry had been making, but that was only because he had carefully chosen to work behind the scenes this time. Shortly after the election, a front corporation brought up all of the outstanding shares for the Daily Prophet and, in a very quiet takeover, replaced the editorial staff with people who understood that journalists were to factually report the news. Some of the staff, like Rita Skeeter, were placed on probation and shunted to writing obituaries.
Harry Potter owned the front corporation, GEB LIMITED, though it was run by his solicitor. The 'GEB' stood for Gryffindor Evans Black. Eventually Harry planned on splitting it into three equal parts between Ally, Sirius and his mother. The Prophet wasn't the only company that GEB had either bought outright or purchased an interest in. Nimbus Brooms, Zonko's and Ogden's all became part of the new Potter portfolio.
Through GEB, Harry was slowly influencing attitudes around him. The Daily Prophet had several high-profile pure bloods fired for their bigotry. Nimbus announced the hiring of two of America's premiere broom designers, both muggle born and both graduates the American Institute of Advanced Magic and Technology. Quidditch Monthly Magazine did a full profile article on the two engineers and how the Americans were at the forefront of broom design around the world.
All of this was done very subtly; a small article here, a firing there with a public notice. Internal memos coming down from management telling employees that certain behaviors would no longer be tolerated. Years of being manipulated had left a mark on Harry, but it also left him willing to be the manipulator if need be, and he deemed it was needed.
It was his second phase of manipulations that finally alerted Dumbledore to his machinations and he summed Harry into his office once he realized what was going on.
Hogwarts, Headmasters Office…
The door opened and Harry's head poked through the opening. "You wanted to see me, Albus?"
Dumbledore smiled and waved Harry into his office, where he took a seat. Harry smiled seeing that Niamh was visiting with Fawkes. The two men hoped that, between the two, a clutch of eggs might be produced. Phoenix eggs were quite rare and participating in increasing the species, even if it just mean providing perch space, was quite an honor.
"Harry, I asked you here today because I have some questions I'd like to put to you. As you know, at the end of this month, one third of the Wizengamot will be up for re-election. In talking with some of my colleagues I noted that quite a few of those running for re-election were having financing problems, while others seemed to have an abundance of funding. Strangely enough, a new company on the scene, a holding company no less, seems to be responsible for the funding problems of some of my colleagues.
Now, you wouldn't know anything about a holding company named Gryffindor, Evans and Black, Limited, would you?" Dumbledore asked with a twinkle in his eye.
Harry chuckled. "Oh, it's just something I started as a hobby, Albus. Certain attitudes needed to be adjusted and I'm nudging them in the right direction."
Dumbledore frowned. "I'm not certain that this is a good idea. The people…"
"With all due respect, Headmaster," Harry said flatly, "the people are sheep who allow themselves to be led by the loudest voice. I'm providing them with a new voice to listen to, and I promise you, it won't be a voice that hurts them. The problem is a simple one and it started right here in this school."
Dumbledore blinked in surprise and motioned for him to continue.
Harry reached and pulled a very old spell book out of storage. "This book, written by a former Headmaster of this school, is considered one of the principle guiding resources on the theory of magic. I know it's dead wrong. I've taught a number of Hogwarts students techniques that go against everything written in it. And yet, when Professor Flitwick begins his theory of magic to his first year charms students, he still consults this book."
He tossed the book on the desk and Dumbledore looked surprised to see a first edition "Theory of Magic by Godric Gryffindor" on the desk. The book was worth a fortune and Harry was tossing it around like an old quaffle!
"There is a process called Critical Thinking, Albus. The Americans are very fond of it, but its never been taught here. It describes a process whereby you take what is an accepted fact and challenge its validity, no matter how many people think its true. I want to see our students challenging long held ideas and concepts. If they learn to do that in school, they will do it at home, and in their everyday lives. Bigotry cannot stand under such scrutiny. What I am starting today is a process that will probably take the rest of my life. Change can't be forced upon a people from outside. But it can be forced on them if you grow it from within, and that's exactly what I intend to do.
"Right now my plan is a simple one. Stop the bigotry slowly, weed out the bad apples legally and safely, and replace them with forward thinking moderates. Then I'm going to go to work on the educational system. I don't want to leave England. It's my home. And yet Hermione and most of the muggle born and half bloods are planning to do exactly that because Wizarding Britain doesn't want them. America welcomes them with open arms. The situation is absurd! Some of our best and brightest minds are leaving the country and we're left with the dregs and those so stuck in tradition they wouldn't recognize a new idea if it bit them on the arse. It's not right. I don't want to leave, I don't want Hermione to leave, and I want to stop the self-inflicted hemorrhaging of our society."
He paused and grinned broadly at the Headmaster. "Someday, Albus, I want to sit in your chair and tell some muggle born firstie that his or her dream of being Minister of Magic is a good dream and that, if they work hard enough, they just might achieve it."
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose, then looked at Harry closely. "When I called you to the office, Harry, I thought you were acting out of some malice towards the pureblood bigots. I can see that really isn't the case. Nor did I have any idea that you were interested in getting my position, although I do hope you'll allow me to retire gracefully before you kick me out of it?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling.
Harry laughed and bowed from his chair. "But, of course, Albus. I promise to give you at least a five minute warning."
Dumbledore chuckled merrily. But there were still things that needed to be discussed. He eyed the young man before him for a moment and then turned serious once more. "Harry, I'm not totally convinced that the first years are the best group to learn your form of touching magic, but I'm open to an experiment. You've passed all your NEWTS with flying colors and your mother couldn't be prouder of you. Which leads you to your next decision. What will you do next term?"
Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Albus raised a hand, stopping him.
"I'd like to simplify that, if I may. Professor Flitwick will be accepting an apprenticeship for a charms mastery candidate next year, his first in many years. Consequently, he will busy and won't be able to cover all of his classes. He asks that I find him a suitable assistant. Ordinarily, an assistant wouldn't be a full time position, but I have Professor Black also asking for your services as an assistant professor in Defense, as well as your mother, who seems to think you have some talent in runes, and might be interested in a mastery in the subject."
Harry nodded eagerly and Dumbledore smiled. "Fine then. I will get started on the necessary paperwork. Fortunately, it's many months to the next term. Right now, however, I suspect you have more important things on your mind, like what to wear when you escort your Miss Granger to the Yule Ball next week?"
Harry grinned. "I have that part already solved, I think. No, the hard part will come over the holiday. I plan on taking my family house hunting and I'm not quite sure how to go about it."
"Ah, Gringotts can help you there. Contact them and they can show you the properties that are for sale."
"I hadn't thought of that. I'll contact them right away. Thank you, Albus," he said, standing and making ready to leave the office.
"Harry, before you go, I do have one other item of business to discuss with you. Surprisingly, it ties in with your house hunting project…"
Gryffindor Head Boy's suite…
Harry was pleased to have had that talk with Dumbledore. As the Headmaster had suggested, he had contacted Gringotts and found that they were more than helpful. They had provided him with a list of properties, photos, and descriptions, from which he had winnowed the list down to one candidate he thought was really attractive. It was a huge home. The previous owners had family who they had wanted close, but still living separate. As a result, there was a large, twelve bedroom manor house and two other, smaller homes on the property, including a two bedroom cottage and a four bedroom home. In between the two was, of all things, a Quidditch pitch, which made it, in Harry's opinion, the perfect property.
Harry knew he should have consulted Lily, but he made his decision. If Lily didn't like the property, then it would be his home and he'd buy Lily a home for herself and Ally.
The next few days were crazy. He had snuck off to visit his home and instruct his newly acquired house elves as they decorated the house and made it ready for the holidays. It was going to a surprise to his family. He also snuck out a few times for clandestine meetings with a few people, making arrangements for the holidays.
He shook his head and tried to concentrate on what he was doing. He was wearing his finest dragon-hide tonight and in ten minutes he would be meeting up with Hermione for the Yule ball. To say he was nervous would be an understatement. His relationship with her was one of the best parts of his life. They hadn't progressed past kissing yet, but both were comfortable with the pace they had set.
Ally's warnings had set them both on edge for a while. But in the three weeks since it had been delivered, nothing had happened and they were beginning to relax.
He gave himself one more look in the mirror. This was his best dress outfit. Made from a Hebridean Black Dragon hide, it had been buffed until it shone. Over his right breast was the embroidered crest of the Potter family. Below the crest were the symbols of his rank and his citations. The cuffs and collar were trimmed in gold.
Harry stepped away from the mirror and moved toward the exit of his suite. The exit was selective. As head boy, he could exit into any of the common rooms just by concentrating on the house he wanted to enter. Entering the Gryffindor common room, he smiled at the group of boys clustered around the staircase to the boy's dorm. They were all watching the girl's staircase fearfully.
When the girls began to come down, Harry smiled at a fourth year boy and nodded to him. The boy gulped nervously and moved to greet Ally. Harry had pulled him aside a few days earlier and told him, in the strongest possible terms, to make sure they both had fun, and if he did anything to hurt her he'd turn him inside out.
When Hermione came down the stairs she looked carefully around the room until she caught Harry's expression. She blushed and dropped her eyes before approaching him. She had never thought much about make up and the like, but the other girls in her dorm had spent the better part of the last hour helping her get ready for the dance. Lavender and Parvati told her that Harry would die when he saw her. And while he hadn't keeled over, he did looked gob smacked.
Hermione wore a light gold gown with black trim and a plunging back. In that regard, it matched Harry's robes perfectly. The two stopped about two feet apart and just stared for a moment.
"You're beautiful," he whispered.
Hermione blushed prettily and reached out to take his hand. His outfit was a cross between the muggle and magical worlds and it was doing things to her that made coherent thought difficult. It fit him like a glove and she was certain she could see his muscles rippling underneath it.
He led her out of the portrait hole and down the stairs towards the Great Hall. Hermione couldn't help noticing that he almost never took his eyes off her. She wasn't sure if it was the help Lavender and Parvati had given her or if he was just that taken with her. It gave her confidence a boost like none she had ever received before.
Lily caught the couple before they entered the Great Hall. Harry smiled at his mother and she beamed back at him.
"Look at you two!" Lily exclaimed. She smiled proudly and wiped away a tear. "You look so much like your father," she said warmly.
Harry frowned. His father's attitude towards his mother, and in particular to Ally, had not been welcome news to him. To be reminded of a man he now thought of as a bigot wasn't exactly a welcome comparison.
"Oh, Harry, looking like him doesn't make you him. He was a good and loving man who allowed his upbringing to cloud his judgment. Besides, you may be devilishly handsome like he was, but you combined the best of both of us. Without that, I doubt you would have caught Hermione here," Lily said with a smile.
Hermione blushed again and looked down. This was the first ball she had ever attended. Like so many muggle born and half bloods, they had avoided these gatherings in the past. But not this year… this year, the entire school turned out.
Lily laughed at Hermione's reaction, and then scolded Harry, telling him to be a gentleman and treat her right.
"I will, Mum," he said softly, staring at the beautiful young woman beside him. Then, taking her arm in his, he led her into the Great Hall
The Yule Ball…
Hermione gaped. She'd never seen the Hall decorated for the Yule Ball before and it was beautiful. It looked like a snow-covered field; the light coming from gaily lit trees and the skylight charm showing the moon and stars. The hall had been magically enlarged to allow for a large dance area in the middle and the tables running along the edge of the room.
Harry led her over to a table where Ally and her date had settled in. Ally shot him a quick, resigned look, but in a way, she was grateful. Her date was a pureblood Gryffindor and, before Harry had come, the boy would have never asked her out, no matter how much she might have wished for him to.
Harry held Hermione's chair, helping her to sit, then he looked out over the multitude of tables and chuckled as he settled in next to her.
"Something funny, Harry?" asked Hermione.
"Look around," he replied. "Nearly every half blood or muggle born is here with a pure-blood date."
Harry chuckled again and reached for two menus from the center of the table, handing one to Hermione.
"It's largely thanks to your efforts," Hermione commented quietly.
He shook his head. "All I did was show that blood didn't mean as much as people thought it might. They did the rest. They decided to take the extra step to discover that this particular girl was pretty, or that boy was handsome and worth getting to know."
He glanced at the menu, and then placed it back in the center of the table. Hermione watched him curiously as he tapped his plate and announced his selection. He motioned to Hermione and she tapped her own plate with her dinner selection.
"Your spending the holiday at home, aren't you, Hermione?" he asked as the meal arrived on his plate.
Hermione nodded, her eyes looking sad. "Yes. My parents wanted to have a family Christmas. I wish I could spend it with you." she said, trailing off.
He smiled. His surprise should work out well. "I think I might be able to work out something so we'll be able to see each other, even if it's just for a few hours. Don't worry about it, love," he said, then he blushed.
She dropped her eyes from his and hitched her breath in surprise. Then she smiled.
Harry's eyes twinkled and his smile grew… until Ally noticed.
"Alright, you. You're up to something. I can see it and I can feel it!" Ally hissed quietly.
Harry looked around in a panic. No one knew about Ally's abilities and she wasn't supposed to be so blatant about them! "Shut it Ally," he hissed back. "And watch what you're saying."
Hermione's eyes narrowed as she watched the byplay between the two of them. Ally was onto something. He looked as if he'd just played a prank on someone.
When dinner was complete, Headmaster Dumbledore stood and waved his wand, shooting sparks to catch everyone's attention.
"Welcome, welcome one and all to our Yule Ball. Tomorrow, many of you will return to your homes and families to celebrate the holiday. Tonight, we give you the chance to celebrate with your Hogwarts family. Tonight's music is provided to you by our favorite band, the Weird Sisters."
As he spoke, everyone at the head table stood up and moved towards the edges of the Hall, while the table itself disappeared. Everyone applauded as the Weird Sisters began to play.
The dance floor was still empty when Harry stood and bowed to Hermione. "Would my lady honor me by granting me a dance?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with mirth.
She swallowed nervously and nodded, then took his offered hand. He led her out onto the floor, her hand held high in his own. When he stopped, he allowed her to continue walking and he gently spun her into his arms.
For the next hour he led her around the dance floor and she had trouble believing just how well he could dance. And what was more amazing, he made her look good at it! Eventually they headed back to their table for drinks and to rest. From Hermione's point of view, the evening had turned into a fairy tale and couldn't get any better.
First Lily and Sirius, then, later, Ally and her date, joined them at the table.
"Happy Christmas everyone," toasted Sirius quietly.
Together they all raised their drinks and toasted.
"Ah, Harry, just the person I wanted to see," the Headmaster said from behind him.
Harry turned to look at the man. "Sir?"
"I've looked over your plans for the holiday and I wholeheartedly approve of them. Also, on behalf of the staff, I thank you for the invitation. Some of us will be able to attend. In the meantime, if you stop by my office tomorrow, you'll get what you requested," said the old man, chuckling at the confused looks from those around the table.
Harry grinned at Dumbledore, then turned back to the table to meet the suspicious glares of his friends and family.
"Harry James Potter, just what are you up to?" asked Lily.
"Mum, tomorrow everything will be clear. I promise," he replied, and then he turned to Hermione.
"Do you trust me, Hermione?" he asked softly.
"You know I do," she replied.
"Then tomorrow, when everyone is going to the carriages to get on the Express, I want you and everyone else to meet me in the entrance hall. You'll not be taking the Express home. Oh, and wear a warm cloak."
"Harry, my parents are expecting me to be on the Express," she protested.
"Trust me, Hermione. You will not get into one bit of trouble over this. I expect you as well, Paddy," he said, turning towards the man. "Be there or I'll show you this really interesting Arabic flea curse I found."
Sirius huffed with laughter, but nodded his acceptance.
Lily, Ally and Hermione all frowned at him. Sirius knew Harry was building up to some sort of surprise, and surprises were almost as good as a prank, so he let Harry have his fun.
Harry led Hermione back onto the dance floor just as the music changed to an old slow ballad. He gathered her in his arms and she rested her cheek against his chest, listening to the music with one ear and his heartbeat with the other. He rested his own head atop hers. As the music stopped, he tipped her chin upwards and smiled at her. She melted against him and he leaned down and kissed her so softly it seemed like a brush of a breeze against her lips.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening," he whispered.
She tightened her grip on him and the two continued to hold each other until the snickers alerted them to the fact that they were the only couple still out on the dance floor and people were heading back to their dorm rooms. Blushing, they walked hand in hand back to their table to gather their things.
At the entrance to the Great Hall, one lone figure watched them for a long moment, frowning. Ginny Weasley realized that if something wasn't done soon, Hermione would cement her claim and nothing she could do would change that. Something would have to be done soon, like right after the holidays.
Angry, she turned and stormed back to Slytherin house.