A Locket, a Lesson, and a Loss

Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron were sitting in chairs around Emma’s small bed in various states of exhaustion and grief. They hadn’t left the infirmary since last night’s attack and Dumbledore had told them they would be excused from classes the next day so as to not leave Emma alone in the infirmary.
After Harry and Ginny had recounted the entire story to the headmaster, including the fact that they both had the same vision at the same time, the group returned to the bed where Emma was laying, still unconscious. Madam Pomfrey had found that along with the effects of the Cruciatus curse, she had three broken ribs and a large bruise on the side of her body.
“She’ll have to remain here for at least this week before I will even consider letting her go back to the dorms. Considering what those two boys did to her I’m surprised I didn’t have to send her to St. Mungo’s.” The nurse said in her usual curt voice that morning, talking to Dumbledore at the entrance to the infirmary.
“Thank you Poppy, you have done, as always, an excellent job.” Dumbledore said kindly. “Miss Massey’s mother should be arriving shortly, I hope that it is okay with you if she stays with her for the rest of her time here?”
“Yes of course, I will make up a bed in the private ward so they can have some privacy.” Madam Pomfrey said and bustled off to work on the room.
The room was silent for a moment, all of the just looking at Emma, still too shocked about what happened to her. Harry was still trying to figure out how he and Ginny had seen Emma being attacked last night in their dreams, he knew Voldemort hadn’t been there so it wasn’t like the normal intrusions he had upon the Dark Lord’s mind. Dumbledore was simply standing there, and although Harry still had some resentment towards the headmaster he decided to ask anyway.
“Professor?” Harry asked tentatively, Dumbledore looked at him, his blue eyes seemed to be lacking some of their usual lustre.
“Yes Harry?” He responded, his voice revealing his exhaustion. The headmaster had been up all night running in-between the floo, the infirmary, and the tower room where Mr. Malfoy and Nott were being held. Everyday his list of things to do seemingly grew longer and longer as the war grew inevitably closer and closer.
“Well, I was wondering about last night. How was Ginny and I able to see what was happening to Emma? I mean I know Voldemort wasn’t there that night, so I couldn’t have been in his mind.”
“That is a good question indeed, I might have a possible reason for this, but there is very little information on the specifics of the Heartbond. From what I have read so far of a few ancient papers on Myrddin, you probably know of him as Merlin, he would occasionally refer to his ability to know the whereabouts, and feelings of not only his lover Gwendoloena, but of his apprentice Arturius. While I would usually consider this just being some reference to legilimency, the ancient Coptic language he was using has several translations and one of the meanings for the word he used when describing the connection was that it was like a bond between them.
“This now leads me to assume that this bond you and Miss Weasley posses not only link you two together, but connects you to your closest friends. In your dream state your mind is much more open than when you are awake, and when Emmaline found herself to be in peril the bond somehow allowed you to see where she was.”
“If we are all bonded why didn’t Ron or I see anything last night? I mean we figured out when Professor McGonagall woke us both up last night.” Hermione interjected, her mind sharp as always.
“Quite right Miss Granger. Well, and I’m only hypothesizing now, but I believe that you may have felt something rather than seen anything. How did you feel when you woke up last night?” Dumbledore asked, enjoying Hermione’s keen questioning.
“I can’t really remember, there were other things on my mind obviously. Now that I think of it though I did feel a bit nauseous, but I just thought that was from the combination of waking up early and hearing about Emma.” Hermione said slowly, working through the night’s rather hectic events.
Dumbledore only nodded then turned to face Ron. He hadn’t said anything yet, but a look of surprise had come across his face as Hermione was talking.
“Blimey ‘Mione, I think he’s right. I woke up and was achy and had a headache, I just thought it was either something to do with dinner or I wasn’t coming down with something!” Ron said now looking up at Dumbledore, hoping he would confirm what the two had just said.
“It would seem that your friends did have some reaction to the attack through the bond. I believe they were feeling trace effects of both the Cruciatus curse and the kicks Mr. Malfoy delivered; only they did not notice it because of all the commotion.” Dumbledore said, and then looked out the window to the grounds below. He was silent for a moment, then spoke again, not turning to face them. “This bond continues to surprise even me every day; I believe that as you grow stronger magically the bond will continue to grow with it. We will have to continually monitor to see what new developments occur over this school year, if anything happens please tell me or another Order member what it was. That goes for all of you, if anything changes please te-…”
But Dumbledore was cut off by a commotion in the hallway. A second later the doors opened and a stricken Joy Massey came striding in closely followed by McGonagall.
Joy saw Emma lying in the cot unconscious and gasped, her eyes filling with tears. She stood there momentarily paralysed, just staring at her daughter then at Harry, then Dumbledore, then at the three other children. Her mouth opened as she tried to say something, but then she closed it again as her gaze returned to her only daughter lying there unconscious. Finally after a moment of complete silence she managed to speak the one question that sprung to mind first, “Is she going to live?”
“She is going to be quite alright, Miss Massey, I can assure you. Madam Pomfrey says she will make a full recovery in only a week. Why don’t you have a seat and you can ask any other question you want while we wait for your daughter to wake up.” Dumbledore said consolingly, and at Joy’s stunned nod he conjured two rather comfortable looking chairs and a small side table with a teapot and two cups.
“Who…what…did this to her? Why did this happen?” She asked as she stroked her daughter’s hair lovingly.
“I am afraid that Lord Voldemort’s followers are even in the school. They blindly obey his commands, and commit acts of violence just for fun or in hopes of being recognized by their master. Tom believes that witches or wizards who are not born from two wizards are ‘impure’ and not worthy to be considered wizards. He feels that it is the pureblood wizards that deserve to have the power. He looks upon anyone who is not a pureblood with utter contempt. His one goal is to rule the wizarding world and have Muggles as his slaves.” Dumbledore finished with sadness in his usually jovial eyes. Although he and Harry had discussed Voldemort with her before they hadn’t really told her what his goals were.
“Did you catch them, the people who did this to my little girl?” An intensity entered Joy’s eyes, a maternal instinct Harry knew well from Mrs. Weasley’s ministrations around the house.
“Harry and Miss Weasley were able to find Emma and apprehend the perpetrators before long, Emmaline is very lucky that they found her, any later and her situation might have been much graver. Her attackers are currently locked up in a secure room and will be dealt with appropriately.” Dumbledore’s voice had an edge of what seemed to be sorrow when he said the last sentence. His look of anguish was not lost on Harry who thought it odd to be talking about Malfoy and Nott’s capture with sorrow.
At the mention of Harry Joy turned to him and without a single word scooped him up in a giant hug, while not at strong as Mrs Weasley’s, definitely left his ribs aching. She then kissed him on the forehead and whispered, as if speaking louder would cause her to cry, “Thank you Harry.”
She then went over to Ginny and did the same thing; Ginny too looked as if she were holding back tears. Once joy finished she turned back to face the headmaster, her face stoic.
“Professor Dumbledore, I know that I’m a muggle and I know I’ve only known about wizards for a few months now but I want to join the Order. Before you say anything let me explain. I know about the Order, it was somewhat difficult not to figure out once we were at the house, and I know that they are fighting this Voldemort. I don’t have a wand or any other skills, but I know that I want to do everything I can to stop this if I can. My daughter was hurt by his followers and I want to hurt him now because of it. I’ve already lost my husband, I will not lose my daughter.” Tears were now coming down her face, but her eyes showed only determination.
“Mum, please don’t cry. I okay, please don’t cry. I’m not dead.” A feeble sounding voice emanated from behind Joy and the headmaster. The whole group spun around to find Emma sitting somewhat upright in her bed, her bruised face the picture of worry.
Joy immediately ran up to Emma a grasped her in a tight hug. It looked as if she were trying to hold her as close as possible, trying to protect the only person she cared about in the world.
After a few minutes of hushed sobs and quite pleas from Emma for her mom to stop crying Joy turned to face the headmaster once again.
Dumbledore seemed to consider the woman’s request for quite some time, he finally nodded slightly and spoke. “Very well Ms. Massey, your reasons are completely justified. And I do not see why we could discriminate against Muggles; it would simply be doing what Tom does. We have our next meeting at headquarters this Thursday night. I will arrange to have your fireplace attached to the Floo Network and will have Remus Lupin pick you up so he can instruct you on its use. As for what you said about not having any skills I believe we could always use a person knowledgeable in Muggle ways; The lack of a wand may also be able to be taken care of if I know the Weasley twins.” The headmaster smiled slightly at that and turned to face Ginny, Ron and the other two. “I’m afraid I must beg my pardon as I have many things I must attend to, it would seem my work is never finished. Madam Pomfrey has already seen to it that you have a private ward and a bed so you can stay with your daughter as long as necessary. If you need anything do not be afraid to ask. Now before I leave I must ask to borrow Harry here for just a moment.” Dumbledore nodded at Harry and let him lead the way out of the infirmary.
“Professor, what are you going to do about Malfoy and Nott? Are they going to be expelled?” Harry asked, eager to know the answer the moment he’d learned of their captivity.
Dumbledore sighed, he knew that this question was coming. “Draco and Theodore are currently being lectured by Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall. While I would usually ask the Board of Governors to allow any rule breakers to stay in school,” Dumbledore held up his hand asking Harry to hear out his full explanation before he spoke out, “this is quite an unusual and extreme case. Therefore I have decided to turn them over to the Ministry of Magic and the Auror Department. Their court dates have been set for next month and meanwhile they will be sequestered in their current holding place. I never want to abandon a student if at all possible but in this case I am afraid there was no other choice.”
“It’s fine with me, them being sent to Azkaban means there’s two less Death Eaters to deal with.” Harry said angrily, his mind still playing back that horrible scene from his dream last night.
“Harry, I know you are angry right now, and you very well deserve to be. But do not let it overshadow the good, Emmaline is okay, and you caught those responsible. If we live on anger we only follow the path that Tom took. Never forget that Harry.” Dumbledore patted him on the shoulder in a fatherly way, then turned and walked down the hallway leaving Harry to contemplate his words.

Hogwarts, Scotland

Emma was released from the infirmary a week after the attack, Madam Pomfrey finally relenting to the dozens of pleas from both Emma and the others.
Her face was still covered in bruises from Malfoy’s kicks and she was moving visibly slower than her usual hyperactive self. Occasionally she would have to stop in the halls to take a break during passing periods to classes around school. Overall, everyone was overjoyed that she had managed to spring back from a life threatening attack, and was patient when it came to her slowness.
Joy was in an even worse state. Having been convinced by Dumbledore at the beginning of the term that her daughter would not be in danger, this attack had nearly made her withdraw Emma from the school. It was only through the combined pleas of Emma and the vow given by Dumbledore to keep her safe that she let her stay. Joy had spent the entire week at the infirmary, constantly at her daughter’s side. She would spend most of her time helping her daughter as best she could with her school work, or, when Harry and the others would stop by she would discuss the current state of things.
The only time that she left was for her induction into the Order on Thursday night. Dumbledore and McGonagall met her in the infirmary and flooed to Headquarters.
Joy was entirely out of her element at this meeting. Even though she had been there numerous times over the summer it had clearly changed over the past months, more and more maps were plastered on the walls and there seemed to be a steady stream of traffic flowing through the house as if it were a train station. They arrived a few minutes before the meeting and Joy sat uncomfortably in one of the wood chair around the large meeting table in the study. She knew that there was a war, but being in the middle of the command centre showed her just how serious it was. A piece of parchment was tacked to one of the bookshelves in the room, on it was a list that made her skin tingle.
K.I.A. or M.I.A. from June 1995
She noticed with horror that another sheet had had to be taped to the original as the count had continued to grow. She noticed a few of the names from stories Emma and the other’s had told her. There was Sirius Black of course, and at the very top was Cedric Diggory.
“That list just keeps growing,” a voice said from behind.
Joy turned around to face a kindly looking old man, “It’s horrible… how many of these names are wizards?”
“This time Tom does not seem to be as choosy, it is nearly a half and half split between wizards and muggles. This list keeps us fighting though; many of those names were some of our closest companions.” He looked at the list in silence for a moment, then spoke once again, “I do apologize, I don’t believe I introduced myself. I am Nicholas Flamel, I am the Defence Against the Dark Art Professor.”
She took his hand and shook it warmly, “I’m Joy Massey, my daughter Emma goes to Hogwarts.”
“Ah, of course Emmaline is a superb student! I really do enjoy teaching again, it’s been nearly a hundred years, so I must say I was a little rusty.”
Joy was uncertain how to respond, she didn’t know if it was a joke or he was being serious. The way he said it however made it seem as if he really meant it. She just decided to laugh along with him.
“Will everyone take a seat, we have many places to be so let’s get the meeting started,” Dumbledore spoke as he entered the now packed room. There was a brief increase in noise as everyone settled into their respective seats and finished off their conversations. “Excellent, excellent, now onto the first piece of business. We have a new member joining us today, one who potentially could open up an entirely new point of view on this war. Everyone this is Joy Massey, the mother of one of the students at Hogwarts. She is, as you may have noticed, a muggle, but she is an experienced litigator and very determined. Her daughter has already unfortunately been subject to the cruelty of Lord Voldemort, she was the victim in the attack that was the cause for Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott’s expulsion.”
There was a brief smattering of applause, yet to Joy the majority of the faces, save those of Lupin, Tonks, and Nicholas, were uninterested. She immediately began regretting getting herself involved in the middle of a war that she was not part of. But you are part of it; if you daughter has been attacked and nearly killed then you are certainly a part of it.
“Joy we shall provide you with the customary charm, cloak, as well as an owl so you will be able to communicate with us. You are already at Headquarters so there is no need to be shown it, you may come over whenever you feel necessary.” Joy nodded in understanding, “Great, we shall decide exactly what you will be doing later. Right now we need to move onto other things. Kingsley, do you have a report for us?”
Shacklebolt stood up, “We are still unsure of what precisely has been occurring but there has been an outbreak of attacks or people or places we believed to be secure. The most recent occurred two days ago at Diagon Alley where the Undersecretary of the Ministry, Clive Thornton, was murdered at the Ministry’s regional offices there. It was under both Auror and Order guard, including several wards that were constructed by Alastor and I. When we arrived the Undersecretary was already dead after being tortured, presumably for information. The strange part is that although the building was nearly demolished the wards remained intact as if they hadn’t even been touched.” He paused letting the information set in. Joy looked over to the list on the wall and sure enough saw the Undersecretary’s name scrawled at the bottom.
“This has happened almost a half-dozen times now. Each of these attacks have similar settings and the m.o. seems to be the same. We have no idea how they are getting in, or how they are even gaining the knowledge to find some of these individuals, but it is certainly one of the greatest new offensive advances by Voldemort.”
“Perhaps you have some insight into this Severus,” growled Moody from the shadows of his seat in the back of the room.
“Clearly whatever this new advance is the Dark Lord has not deigned it fit to share it with me, I know nothing of it Alastor. He has been obsessing over something however; he has sequestered himself in his quarters for days on end now. He only allows Wormtail in when he is delivering food,” Snape replied coolly. “He is planning more attacks, of that I am certain. It seems that he has uncovered a new source of information and intends to strike at everything within his reach.”
“Is there anything of substance you can tell us Severus, you seem to be guessing a lot these days,” quipped Moody.
Snape stood up, “You are not in the same position I am. No matter how many fights you have been, it pales in comparison to what I deal with daily. The Dark Lord’s mind is not something to be trifled with, it is why he is where he is this day. It takes careful prying to learn even the most simple details. You, Alastor, are not the one to be lecturing me about subtlety.” He smirked as he looked at the Auror’s carved wooden leg.
“Thank you Severus that will be quite enough,” Dumbledore spoke up before Moody could speak, does anyone have anything they would like to add?”
“I move that we place all member’s houses under the Fidelius Charm,” said Daedalus Diggle. The room filled with a murmur of agreements. “If someone is leaking him information to some of the most secure places we have we must increase security. He knows who is in the Order, ‘tis no secret. We won’t be much good to wizarding society if we’re all killed.”
Joy looked around in shock; she now knew just how serious this threat was. If the people who were supposed to be defending everyone were scared of being found then Voldemort must truly be a force to be reckoned with.
“There are over thirty of us! We can’t possibly arrange for that many individual locations. Don’t forget Daedalus, it takes days for the charm to be created and that’s with all of us working on it.” Tonks shouted over the other conversations.
“Nymphadora is correct, but I also agree that we need to do something about the safety of our members. If anyone does not feel safe about their current locations I will supply you with one of the spare residences at Hogwarts, I assure you that they are most comfortable.” He paused to see if there were any objections and then continued, “Meanwhile we need to start searching for just what is going on. Tom is one of the most learned wizards in history, he pursues the arcane with zeal and I am afraid that there is where he has found a way to circumvent our countermeasures. Along with reinforcing our protections we must also find this new source of information Severus mentioned. The time is coming near where I believe Tom will make his true presence known to everyone and we must be prepared. If that is all the meeting will be adjourned, we all have places we need to be.” The Dumbledore stood up and everyone did the same. Joy waited uneasily in the corner of the room as people dispersed, she was growing more and more uncomfortable with the situation she had gotten herself into, and she was going over the ways to get out of it when she saw the massive form of Mad-Eye clomping towards her.
“Here is the equipment we have on hand. The cloak works even on muggles, or at least it should. Try it on to be sure. Wouldn’t be much good in the middle of a fight if it didn’t work.” He laughed loudly as he handed her the folded velvety looking cloak.
She let it unravel and then looked at it, unsure of exactly what Mad-Eye meant by ‘working’.
“Go on, put it on,” he repeated.
She nodded and then tossed it over her shoulders. The auror smiled, “looks like it does work. You’re probably one of the first muggles to ever wear one of these.”
“What is it?” She asked still wondering why he was smiling.
“It’s an invisibility cloak. Take a look over there.” He jabbed at a full-length mirror in the hallway.
Incredulously she walked over to the mirror only to stop dead in her tracks. Her head was there but that’s where it stopped, the rest of her body was completely missing. “How, how… how on earth is this happening?”
“These are very rare, we’re lucky to have quite a few after a search of the Malfoy’s treasure trove a few months ago. Make sure you keep it with you at all times, but DO NOT let anyone see it.” She jumped when he barked the last part.
“Of course. I’ll keep it in my purse.” She picked up the charm on the table that Moody had brought, “What’s this?”
“That is your way to talk to us. Open it up.”
She undid the small clip and saw a small painting of Dumbledore in it, just like all of the other wizard painting she had seen it was moving.
“You can’t activate the normal locket because it needs a wand but this portrait is connected directly to a portrait in the Headmaster’s office, just speak right to it like you would a person and he’ll get the message out. If one of us sends a message the locket will warm up and you’ll just open it. Make sure you do it in a private place. Remember no one can know that magic exists. You understand everything?”
She nodded dumbly still looking at the small painting.
“Good,” he said then stomped out of the room.
“Well Joy it certainly has been an eventful evening wouldn’t you say? Moody did get you your equipment I see; don’t hesitate to call if you need anything. I don’t think I’ll bother you with any more details tonight but sometime soon I’ll share with you my idea for what role you’re going to be taking in the Order. Have a good night.” The headmaster said as she walked to the front door. She opened the door and then shook the headmaster’s hand.
“Thank you Headmaster, tell Emma that I’ll write her soon,” Joy said.
“Certainly, and please call me Albus, everyone here has the same importance.” He smiled graciously and then stepped back inside closing he door behind him as Joy headed across the street to her home.

Hogwarts, Scotland

Harry was walking out of DADA classroom with Ron and Hermione after a class with Flamel, when a hand grasped him firmly by the shoulder. He turned around and saw the old professor smiling at him. In a hushed voice he whispered, “Harry, a word please?”
Harry told Hermione and Ron he’d see them at lunch and went back into the classroom, following the professor into his office.
Flamel sat down in a large leather chair and motioned for Harry to take the seat across from him. Harry followed suit and sat down in the comfortable chair. “Sir, is there something wrong. Am I in trouble for something?” Harry asked nervously. The DA had now been running for two weeks and had successfully avoided detection by any teacher so far; personally Harry wanted it to stay that way.
“No, no Harry you are not in any trouble,” the ancient man laughed heartily. “But there is something wrong, and I think it’s about time I do something about it.” The professor leaned closer in to Harry staring right at him. His eyes were just like Dumbledore’s; they seemed to cut to your very soul. Harry wanted to look away but forced himself to continue to look into the man’s brown eyes. The two stayed that way, staring right at each other for what seemed to be an eternity, finally Flamel blinked and pulled back.
“Well, that hasn’t happened for quite some time, usually the only person who can give me a run for my money when it comes to stare downs is your headmaster!” He waved it off and continued to speak. “As I was saying, you’re not in trouble but I feel that I should be. School has already been in session for over two months now and I haven’t been able to teach you anything at all!”
Harry was unsure where this was going but was relieved knowing it wasn’t about the DA. “You’ve taught me loads! I mean just today you taught us that new shield I’d never even heard of! You’re loads better than Umbridge.”
The professor laughed again, “well thank you Harry. It is good to know that my teaching skills are above those of Dolores. I know I have been teaching you in class, and you have been doing quite well if I may say so, but I haven’t been able to teach you personally. Albus and I think that it would be a good idea for you to learn some rather specialized branches of magic. Now I’m not exactly sure what you’d like to learn or even what you know so far. So if possible I’d like to have a meeting with you one night and see what we can work on. Do you have any particular night that would work best for you?”
Harry thought for a moment, trying to sort out what nights, if any, he had free. Every Tuesday now he met with his group for the DA and would occasionally go help Ginny, Ron, or Hermione when needed. On top of that Moody and Kingsley had given their students the assignment of going through the course they had set up alone and outside of class once a week
“Well I’m busy tomorrow, and I have to do the training course sometime this week, but other than that…oh bugger!” Harry cursed as he remembered that he had told his teammates he’d be holding Quidditch tryouts on Friday. “Oh, sorry professor, it’s just I remembered I have Quidditch tryouts on Friday, I almost completely forgot about them.”
“It’s quite alright Harry, it sounds as if you still have either Wednesday or Thursday free, and I have a faculty meeting on Thursday, so it seems as if our meeting shall be on Wednesday. One more thing I almost forgot, Albus has recommended, and I quite agree considering the current state of things, that we keep this a secret. Therefore it would be wise for you to tell any inquirers that you have volunteered to help me make the class plans for the younger students. Now I could never stand it when I missed one of Hogwarts’ famed meals, and I believe I have kept you from your lunch long enough. I’ll see you on Wednesday night right after dinner.” The professor smiled and waved Harry out of his office.
As Harry headed down the hallway he decided he didn’t feel like having lunch today, the sudden realization that he had to organize the tryouts for the team made him more than a little queasy. Even though he’d only been back at school for a few weeks the pressure was slowly building everyday, and now on top of everything else he was going to be taking advanced magic lessons from Nicholas Flamel. And there was the inescapable worry over the prophecy he had to deal with constantly also. Although Ginny usually was able to take care of some of his worries, the hanging doom seemed to follow him like an inescapable rain cloud.
Harry climbed through the portrait hole into his room hoping to maybe get a nap in before double potions began. He walked into the bedroom and tossed down his book bag, and then just flopped down onto the bed. He closed his eyes and tried some of the new occlumency methods Hermione had found when she was researching for the DA to try and clear his mind of his worries. Every time he tried to wipe his mind blank however his problems seemed to just grow in size. Harry finally gave up and stared up at the ceiling letting his worries surround him.
He lay there for several minutes, just happy to at least have a respite from the constant questions of his fellow classmates. As he was going over how to solve the Quidditch problem for the fifth time he heard the portrait door open and close. A moment later Ginny came into the bedroom.
“Hey Harry,” she said softly, sitting down on the other side of the bed.
Harry mumbled something incoherent and pulled a pillow over his face. Ginny pried it off and looked right down at him. “Harry, is everything okay? I know something isn’t right, I feel it.” She put stress on her last words.
“What do you mean?” Harry asked still trying to avoid eye contact.
“It’s the bond I think. Ever since that night Voldemort tried to attack you I’ve started to feel emotions that weren’t mine, like Emma’s pain when she was being attacked…or your anxiety right now.”
“I’m alright Gin’,” Harry muttered, pulling the pillow back over his head.
“No, you’re not Harry, I told you I know that you’re anxious about something, what is it?” Ginny leaned in closer, running her hand through his tousled black hair. Harry murmured something. “What was that?”
“That feels good,” he replied.
“Well then I’ll keep doing it…if you tell me what’s bothering you.” She pulled her hand away momentarily.
Harry looked up at her, “you really are cruel, you know that, right? Fine I’ll tell you. I’m worried about having to deal with the Quidditch team on top of everything else right now. I need to hold tryouts soon, but I don’t think I have time. And I don’t want to let down McGonagall, she gave me the position, what if I’m horrible at it?” He paused, squinting in the dark to see her expression, much to his horror she started to laugh. “Gin, what are you laughing about!”
“About what you’re worrying about. Harry Potter you might be one of the most confusing people I have ever met. You have tests, homework, the DA, and the prophecy to worry about…”
“Also private lessons with Flamel,” Harry added as an aside.
“…those too. And you decide to get hung up about whether or not you’ll be a good Quidditch captain. Do I need to remind you that you’re the youngest and most talented seeker Hogwarts has ever had? What about the fact that you’re already leading the DA, and probably could lead DADA too?”
Harry blushed a little under her praise, and smiled abashedly. “I just didn’t want to mess it up, it means so much to me.”
“Trust me Harry, you will be brilliant. And you won’t be alone; Ron and I’ll be there to help. We’ll win the House Cup again I’m certain of it.”
“Thanks Gin, you don’t know how much I needed to hear that. Guess I just got a little overwhelmed.”
She leaned down and kissed him on the forehead, “that’s what I’m here for Mr. Potter. Now why don’t we head down to the Great Hall and get something to eat. I know you have Potions next so you need to be at the top of your game to deal with Snape.”
“Can’t we just stay here? I can think of things much more enjoyable,” Harry said whined as he pulled her back down next to him.
“Nope Potter. You need to grow big and strong to become an Auror,” she teased kissing him briefly then grabbing hold of his arm and pulling, “Come on, get up!”
Harry begrudgingly followed, his stomach reminding him that he was actually hungry. Harry took Ginny’s hand in his own and left the room feeling considerably lighter than he had entering it.



Harry and Ginny headed over to Gryffindor commons to wait for Ron and Hermione to go down to breakfast. They sat in one of the large couches and held each other’s hands as they talked lightly, laughing every few moments. When Ron and Hermione came down the dorm stairs they looked at the couple sitting closer than usual to each other and talking merrily.
Ron looked at Hermione questioningly but she just shrugged her shoulders and went over to join the two.
“Morning Hermione, Ron, you guys ready to go down to breakfast, I’m starving.” Harry said as he and Ginny stood up from the couch.
“Careful there Harry, you’re starting to sound like Ron,” Ginny teased him playfully; the two then broke into laughter again.
Ron once again gave the two an uneasy stare before replying, “Whatever you two are up to cut it out ‘cause it’s freaking me out. I just want to get some food; in case you forgot Harry we have double Offensive Magic today. And Moody seemed pretty eager to test out his new charm that shocks us every time we make too much noise.” He led them out the portrait door and down the staircase.
Harry smiled back at him, “We’re not doing anything Ron, I’m just happy today. And trust me I didn’t forget about Moody’s class. Maybe you don’t remember but Hermione was the one who so kindly offered him that new charm.”
“Yeah I do, and you better be glad I don’t know the incantation or else you’d be shocked every time you decide to offer another ‘helpful’ charm to Moody,” Ron said turning to Hermione resentfully.
“Moody asked us if we knew any charms and I just told him one I read about the night before,” Hermione said defensively. Ron snorted in derisive laughter.
Harry looked at his two friends; they would quite frequently bicker about the most pointless things, almost like an old married couple. Even though both Ginny and Harry had told Ron Hermione liked him, he still seemingly hadn’t done anything about it. He shared a look with Ginny, and without saying a word set the next step of their plan, which they’d arranged the night before, into action.
“So Ron do you know who you’re going to take to the Halloween Ball next week?” Harry asked mischievously. The night before Dumbledore had announced that instead of a trip to Hogsmead, which would be too dangerous, they would be holding a Ball in the Great Hall. The instant it had been announced Harry and Ginny knew it was the what they had been waiting for.
“What about you Hermione, anyone special?” Ginny asked.
Both of them had identical reactions. Their faces went bright red then turned pale. They were trying to catch glimpses of each other out of the corners of their eyes. Then Ron’s face suddenly went still and he took a deep breath then turned to face Hermione. His hands were visibly shaking and it looked like he might start coughing up slugs if he opened his mouth.
“Hermione?” Ron barely whispered.
“Yes?” she said, a shimmer of hope appearing in her eyes.
“I know…” he took another breath, “I know that last time you were mad…for not asking you sooner…so…” he stopped and just stared at her for what felt like an eternity.
“Yes Ronald?” she prompted.
“Well...would you want to ball…would you go to the me…would you go the ball with me?” he finally uttered out in a surprisingly natural voice.
The two stood there completely silent, at the entrance to the Great Hall entrance, with Harry and Ginny behind them. For a moment Hermione didn’t say anything but then a huge grin broke across her face and she wrapped her arms around Ron, causing quite a commotion.
“I would love to Ron,” she whispered her arms still wrapped tightly around him. For his part Ron looked quite pleased to finally have Hermione hugging him instead of lecturing him.
Noticing she was hugging him in the middle of the Great Hall she pulled away but gave him a quick peck on the cheek as she did so, then headed for the usual seat at Gryffindor table as if nothing had happened. Ron stood still touching his cheek and probably would have continued to do so if Ginny hadn’t pinched him on the arm.
“Earth to Ronald Weasley, you do know the whole school is watching you act like a complete idiot right now?” Ginny asked as she grabbed his shoulder and guided him into his seat at the table.

The Caucus Mountains, Russia

“My Lord, I have excellent news concerning the Order.” A black hooded figured said in a slightly pompous tone, a few strands of long blonde hair were the only thing visible from the under the hood. The only light in the room came from a blood red candle mounted on a sconce near Voldemort’s chair.
“Speak Lucius, and for your sake I do hope it is good news,” the serpentine face of Voldemort showed a smile of pure mirth as his servant began to speak.
“Well, you do know that Pettigrew and some of the fresher recruits were sent to spy on my cousin’s old residence, and due to their muggle-like lack of magical ability they were caught by the Order.” The usual pompousness was slowly returning to Lucius’ words as his excitement at delivering good news to his Lord grew.
“Yes Lucius, you were the one who informed me of their capture, and you do remember how displeased I was,” his voice dripped with malevolence.
“Yes I do my Lord, but it seems it was not all for naught. Minister Fudge was more than happy to arrange one of our friend’s early releases. McNair and I just retrieved Pettigrew last night and already he told us some things of great import. It seems that the Order has taken a Muggle into its ranks,” Lucius paused to see his master’s reaction.
The thin snakelike lips of Voldemort bent upwards in what could only be a smile. “I knew Dumbledore was growing senile, but to allow a Muggle into the Order is foolishness!”
“I agree my Lord, but there is more. My son, Draco, is currently being held against his will in a Hogwarts dungeon due to a spot of questioning he and Nott performed on a mudblood girl. We have been able to communicate however and he told me how this little girl and Potter have quiet a connection, it was Potter who stopped my son from completing his job in the first place. After learning this I delved deeper and it seems her mother is the one Pettigrew claims is the Order member.” Lucius finished his eyes gleamed with triumph at being able to deliver this information to his Lord. The punishment he received from reporting Pettigrew’s failure still stung, but now all was forgotten.
“You were right about Draco, Lucius, he is quite useful. Perhaps we can arrange his early graduation from Hogwarts.” Tom’s eyes were filled with a new light, he had information that he could use against the boy now, and with it he would squeeze every drop of life from him.

D.A.D.A. Classroom
Harry bid goodbye to Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Emma and Neville after dinner telling them all he had to go help Flamel with some class plans for the younger students. He had only told Ron, Hermione and Ginny why he really was going. Harry walked into the empty classroom and saw the old Professor up front.
He was currently leaning back in his chair, his feet resting on the table, and was whistling a odd little tune. Harry was struck by how this 600-year-old man acted quite young and jovial.
“Hello Harry, I hope you enjoyed class today. I do know muggle defences aren’t terribly exciting but I tried to make it at least engaging,” Flamel smiled and lowered his feet off the desk.
“It was great professor, I actually think it’s interesting to see how muggles protect themselves because I live with them in the summer.”
“Good, good. Oh, excuse my manners, would you like a cup of tea, maybe a biscuit?” He waved his wand and both a platter appeared with both. Flamel poured two cups of tea and then passed one to Harry.
He took a small sip and found it wasn’t the usual English breakfast tea he had. He looked up at the professor.
“Oh the tea, yes I’m afraid over the years I got a little tired of the usual tea, a friend of mine from India sends me a crate full of this every Christmas. It’s called Chai, which actually mean Tea in Indian.” The professor smiled as he took another sip of it.
“It’s good, it reminds me of Christmas,” Harry said as he took a sip too.
“Well, now that we are settled in what do you say I tell you what we shall be doing the rest of this year. And I can tell you it will be much more interesting, but also more difficult than muggle defences.” He took another sip then set down his cup and pulled a dusty and charred scrap of parchment of his desk. “This, Harry, is something I picked up on a trip I took with Albus over thirty years ago. It is from a group of magicians in New Zealand that were destroyed by Grindlewald in 1954, this luckily wasn’t. It seems they were interested in the Heartbond themselves and had studied it intensively. A husband and wife there had received the Heartbond, and these men, upon learning it, began to record the effects of it.
As you can tell what survived wasn’t much, barely half a page, but what is here may be helpful to your survival.” The professor stopped when he saw Harry’s reaction.
“What do you mean ‘to your survival’?” Harry asked nervously, how did he know about the prophecy, did Dumbledore betray his trust and tell Flamel.
“I mean that if you are to survive another battle with Voldemort you need to know more about the powers you now have,” The old man said softly, but the immense wisdom in his eyes carried the weight of what he just said.
“How do you know? No one does,” Harry asked nervously.
“Do not worry Harry; Albus did not betray your trust, nor anyone else. I knew it the minute I met you, the minute I looked into your eyes I saw the combination of panic, determination, and resignation. You must remember I have had hundreds of years to learn to read people, I don’t always see that as a good thing either. I promise with my life, I will not reveal what I know to anyone, it is far too important.
“That importance is also why you must learn about the other powers this Heartbond has given you and Missus Weasley. This wasn’t an accident that it happened to you Harry; it has given you the tools to destroy him. And once we discover what exactly they are, I hope I will be able to teach you what you need to know to use these tools effectively. It may sound a bit greedy, but I would like to leave this world knowing that I helped secure the future for the next generation.” Flamel once again leaned back in his chair, his immense age showing through his eyes. “Now, what do you say we start looking over what you can do with this bond of yours?”
“I honestly don’t know what it’s doing besides making Ginny and me have to buy new robes every month.”
Flamel laughed then looked down at the list, “ ‘rapid developmental growth’, that does seem to be one of the effects the men recorded. I am afraid that much of the paper describes effects that you have already displayed, one does seem very interesting however, it mentions the development of a strange pattern on the arms of the husband and wife. They have drawn the pattern below, but the only piece of it that survived seems to be just the very top of it.”
He handed Harry the parchment, and he saw the list of observations along with the fragment of a sketch. It was badly burned, but there were clearly several small spirals looping in around themselves.
“I wonder what it is and why it appears, I know that I don’t have it, I probably would have noticed it,” Harry laughed.
“Well then it is another mystery to be solved I am afraid. The initial remarks of the study were the most interesting part to me however, take a look.”

December 23
It has been only a few weeks now with Margaret and Rob but what we have learned has already filled six notebooks. The news coming from around the country seems to suggest we will need to move again soon. Nothing has happened recently as the Heartbond grows into maturity, the list of current effects are recorded below. The most interesting fact Ignatius has stumbled upon came from an arcane history book he had found in a hovel a few years back but, in his typical laziness, only just started to read it. According to this book the Heartbond is not the weapon itself, instead it is preparing them to wield it and will eventually lead them to the weapon. While we have read about this before this it has only been in passing reference, this direct statement now has solidified our belief that the weapon is no the bond but something else. I shall write more upon closer study of the text but at the moment it seems we are one step closer to finding a way to destroy Grindlewald.

Harry looked back up at Flamel, his heart racing. “So they thought that the bond wasn’t the weapon everyone thought it was?”
“Exactly, and that insight is something that I am fairly confident that even Voldemort can not discover. When, of if he has, discovered that you and Miss Weasley are bonded he will throw much of his power into finding out just what it means. Remember Harry that he is terrified of you; you are the mysterious child who apparently cannot be destroyed by him no matter the effort.
While he is searching for what type of weapon the Heartbond is we can be working on discovering just what the true weapon is.”
“Do you have any ideas on what that may be?”
“I am afraid the only real knowledge we have right now is from ancient texts and this flimsy piece of parchment Harry. But that is exactly why the Headmaster has asked me to instruct you, so we can discover together what it is. Before it becomes clear to us, however, we shall be working on several sets of very advanced skills to give you the ability to win a fight other than the final one.”
The way the words final one echoed through the room unsettled Harry, as if by just saying it would perhaps bring about the fight more quickly.
“Well we’ve already chewed our way through most of our time today but I don’t see why I shouldn’t show you at least something. Lets start with some shields, those writers may sometimes be right, but usually a good defence is a good defence. Now why don’t you stand up and we’ll get on our way.”
Harry stood up and faced Flamel.
“Now once again Harry I told you that I was going to be teaching you very advanced magic, this is no different. No need for you wand, you will be learning this one wandlessly from the start.”
Harry looked at him agape, “But sir, how is that possible. From what I’ve read and heard you should barely be able to levitate a feather wandlessly, how am I supposed to make a shield?”
“Well what you’ve read and heard is from people who do not have the Heartbond working for them right?” He grinned.
“Will Ginny be able to do these spells too?”
“With enough practice many of the lower level spells should come to her, but I am not sure about the more difficult ones. We are truly sailing new waters on this one.
Right now, lets start. I know that you have been taking Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape…”
Harry almost wanted to add was, but held his tongue and just nodded.
“…that will come in handy for this. You must clear you mind when you are performing wandless magic, you need to focus on the spell growing inside yourself.”
Harry closed his eyes, going into his own mind as he went through the steps that he had taught himself over the summer. As the outside world faded into white noise the wall he had built appeared. It had taken the better part of the summer, but he was now able to not only reach this place, but, with simple thoughts, he could add-on, take-away, or tweak whatever he saw fit.
“Once you are there Harry you will need to gather up all your magic and force it out from your centre through your arm and out your hand. Lets start with something easy, why not lumos? Imagine yourself casting the spell as if you were normally, but then imagine the spell coming out of you instead of the wand itself.”
“What do I do with my hand?”
“I’m not sure to be honest Harry, this is all best guess. All of what we will be working on is best guess. Just give something a try, we might as well start somewhere.”
Harry nodded keeping his eyes closed to focus and then held his hand up like he had when he had fought Bellatrix over the summer. He thought of the spell and went through the wand motion in his head. Without the wand motion to focus on he started to feel something he had never noticed before, he could feel what he assumed had to be the actual magic, growing inside of him.
The more he focused he felt the power swelling up inside his hest and then he did what Flamel had instructed and pushed it out through his arm. He opened his eyes smiling, but to his disappointment there was no light, infact there was nothing different at all.
“Nothing happened. I felt it professor, I actually felt the magic when I was going through the spell, and I did what you told me to. Why didn’t it work?”
“Harry according to basic laws of arithmancy wandless magic should not be possible, a wizard must have a wand to perform magic. But we know you can do it, we know you have the ability to perform magic wandlessly, what we are doing now is trying to find out how to do it in a controlled manner. These next few months are going to be filled with mainly a lot of trial by error, trying to find a way that works best for you.
Now before our time is up for the evening why don’t you try it a few more times? Try alternating hands, maybe a different motion, maybe saying the spell outloud?”
For the next thirty minutes Harry tried nearly every imaginable combination of movement, speech, direction possible and ended up in the same position he was at the beginning. There was a moment of excitement when the room was filled with a burst of light, but they were disappointed to learn that it was just a lantern Harry had knocked over during one of his most boisterous movements.
Exhausted, and surprisingly sore, Harry left the D.A.D.A. room dejected even with Flamel’s attempts to reassure him that it would be slow going. This did little to comfort him however; even in potions or transfiguration Harry could at get a hard or complicated spell to at least partially work, with this he couldn’t even get a spark of magic out.
Harry crawled through portrait into the room and found Ginny laying on the ground infront of the fire with her books spread out around her. When she heard the sound of the portrait opening Ginny looked up and smiled.
“Hey there Mr. Potter, how was the lesson with Flamel?”
“Why hello there Miss Weasley,” Harry smiled a bit, something about her smile was infectious, “it’s nothing really, I’m just a little frustrated with this wandless magic stuff that he is making me work on, I cant seem to make it work. How’s homework?”
Ginny cringed, “ Well I’m sure you’ll get it, I’ve seen you use it so you at least know you can do it” She said helpfully. “Homework’s terrible. It feels like every day we have a test in one class or another now, and Snape seems to have decided that writing essays are the best way to learn how to make potions. You know what, I’ve been doing this for too long, and it looks like you need some time off. Grab the invisibility cloak, let’s head down to the kitchens and get a snack,” She pushed her books away and then stood up.
“That sounds like a good idea, I’m starving actually, not waving your wand is a lot more work than you’d think. Let me grab the cloak,” he bent down and kissed her on the forehead, then went off to the bedroom.

A few moments later they were both under the cloak sneaking down the hallway that led to the portrait of the fruit. They had narrowly missed stepping on Ms. Norris when she had suddenly appeared at their feet at the bottom of the staircase.
Ginny tickled the pear and the portrait slowly swung open to reveal Hogwarts’ massive hidden kitchen, which Harry only got a brief glimpse of before being grabbed in a surprisingly tight embrace from Dobby the house elf.
“Mr. Harry Potter sirs! You came to visit Dobby sir; Winky and I’s were waiting for the day you would come back again. And you brought Missus Weezies too!” The diminutive house elf exclaimed while bowing to the floor when Ginny stepped through the portrait too.
“Aww good to see you too Dobby, you don’t have to bow. Hermione would probably kill us if she figured out that we let you,” Ginny said as she gently pulled him up.
By this time a small group of house elves had gathered around them, including a much more sober looking Winky, and Harry was happy to notice that they didn’t seem angry or ashamed like they had been the last time he had visited when Winky had been drunk on Butterbeer.
“Thanks for the welcome Dobby, I’m glad to see that you’re still getting paid,” Harry commented noting the elf’s still eclectic clothing style which consisted of random socks, tea cosies, and Hermione’s wool hats. “We don’t want to be any trouble but we were hoping you might have some leftovers for us to snack on?”
“No, no leftovers for you!” Dobby shouted.
“Uh, okay, well we’ll just be leaving then I guess…” Harry said taken aback by Dobby’s strange reaction.
“No, no don’t leave Harry Potter. I means no leftovers, we will make you food!” He scrambled forward and grabbed at the cuff of his pants.
“That’s really not necessary Dobby, we just wanted to pick up something to snack on.” Ginny said trying to stop the house elves that were now heading off to their various work stations.
“We’s will not give you leftovers, that is for owls and dragons. Sits down sirs and missus,” Dobby said and house elves appeared with two other chairs and a small round table.
They sat down both trying to stifle their laughter at their now failed attempt to be subtle with their little outing. Soon they were up to their necks in mincemeat pies, tea, biscuits, soups, stews and even an entire roast. They enjoyed their private feast, relishing this respite from their school lives. It had been one of the few quiet moments they had shared in several weeks, Ginny’s OWL year seemed to be even worse than Harry’s; and between her homework, Harry’s increased amount of studying, and their work on the DA free time was becoming scarce so this was a moment to be cherished. They talked about anything and everything, laughed till it hurt, and ate until they thought they were going to burst.
It was nearly ten o’clock when Ginny and Harry crept out of the portrait carrying several small boxes of desserts, that Dobby had insisted he pack for Ron. They made it up to their room without much consequence despite the short detour to drop the boxes of food off on Ron’s bed (Ginny hoping that it would make him believe there was a desert fairy of some sort).
Deciding that they were both too full, and that neither of them wanted to study more tonight, they changed and crawled into bed.
As Ginny snuggled up next to Harry, he thought back to when this hadn’t been the norm and couldn’t believe that he had slept any other way. “Thanks for tonight Gin,” he whispered kissing her gently on the lips, “I don’t even remember why I was upset now. You are the best thing that happened to me.”
She grinned and then kissed him back, “ And you’re the best thing that happened to me. Besides that’s what I’m here for, you didn’t need the Heartbond to tell you that did you?” She teased, and then kissed him again.
“Of course I didn’t need the bond, I didn’t even have to work it out myself. Your beautiful poem did the trick,” he said grinning.
“How… how did you know?” she stammered shocked that he had somehow figured out that she had written him that valentine’s poem all those years ago.
“I am a master of perception m’lady. You did seem to have a bit of ‘thing’, as your brother would say, for me back then.”
Ginny blushed, “well you truly are a master, I did write that. I can’t believe you found out about that though, I didn’t tell a soul.”
“I wish he was mine, he’s really divine…” Harry teased quoting part of the poem.
“And your remembered it! I don’t even remember it,” she said sitting up in bed now completely red.
“Of course, I thought it was the funniest, nicest things I’ve ever heard. Maybe you should be a poet instead of a healer?” Harry said kissing her again.
“Well I have another one for you. Harry, Harry, his face’s so ugly he looks like a berry.”
Harry winced, “well it certainly does have that Weasley twist to it. Maybe you should stick to healing though.”
“I like that one though, I’ll have to remember it for later.” She mused outloud then kissed him again.
Between laughs their kisses grew deeper, both of them lost in the passion and happiness of just being together. They had agreed to not go much further for the time being, both wanting to let their relationship to grow more before continuing, and at the moment this wasn’t much of a problem as just being together like this was enough for both of them. They continued to kiss and hold each other for quite a while, stopping occasionally to whisper to each other, until they eventually passed off into a deep sleep still holding each other.

Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts
The stands were crowded with eager Gryffindors waiting for Harry and the other team members to come out onto the field and start the open tryouts for the team.
Harry had a tall order this year, which had been one of the main causes of worry over the past few weeks. He, Ron, and Katie Bell were the only three members of the old team leftover from last year. He needed to find two new chasers (Angelina and Alicia had graduated), and two new beaters seeing how both Kirke and Sloper had been placed on academic probation after they started missing the majority of their classes.
There was some small relief however; Ron had agreed to act as co-captain of the team after Harry nearly had a nervous breakdown upon hearing Kirke and Sloper weren’t going to be on the team.
During the meeting with Katie and Ron the night before they had decided to have an equal say in the selection process of the new teammates so there would be a unanimous agreement over every person who would be on the team.
“Well, are you ready Harry? It’s your first duty as the Quidditch captain, you get to sit out there and make sure you pick the right people. I don’t know what McGonagall, let alone the house, would do if you picked a bad team. We’ve gotten used to winning.” Katie said as she pulled on her pads and checked her broom.
Harry smiled, “well with you guys helping out I can’t see why we won’t have a great team. Really though, I do want to say thank you for splitting the load with me, I don’t think I could do the D.A. and this combined all alone.”
Ron clapped him on the shoulder, “What are friends for? Anyway how could I pass up the chance to be a co-captain of Gryffindor Quidditch? What if the Chudley Cannons come and scout, it’d be brilliant!” Ron exclaimed then grabbed his broom and helped Katie carry out the chest of balls.
Harry followed close behind and soon all three were standing on one side of the massive Quidditch pitch. The number of observers for the tryout was impressive considering they were only going to be watching people go through the same drill over and over again.
Harry looked over at Ron and Katie Bell, “guess it’s time to get started, looks like we’ve got a lot of people to go through.” Harry then pointed his wand at his throat muttering the amplifying incantation Hermione had taught him last night.
“Morning everyone,” he started, “I’m… we’re glad to see so many people here to tryout. Might as well get started right away so we can all get to lunch… well maybe dinner at least… on time. We’re going to be looking at chasers first so anyone who wants to try out come on down to this side of the pitch and we’ll get started.” Harry’s voice echoed around the stadium as a dozen Gryffindor’s came down the stands with brooms in hand ready to try out.
When they were all assembled in front of Harry and the others, Katie Bell spoke, “Okay, well this year we’re going to be doing things a little differently. Because Harry is a little busy right now with…other things,” she looked around catching herself as she was not sure if everyone was in the D.A., “… anyways, if you line up you’ll each do a lap around the pitch then some ball work, okay? Right, let’s see… Weasley and McNeal you’re first.”
Ginny grinned at Harry and Ron then jumped on her old Cleansweep 7, which was actually Charlie’s old broom, and began to circle around the pitch waiting for the signal. The 3rd year boy named Lucien McNeal was close to follow and when they were both lined up at the end of the field Harry shot off an crack from his wand and they shot off. Lucien had started off the quickest but his broom skills left something to be desired and soon Ginny had caught up with him. As they both neared the finish line Ginny tucked herself tight to the broom and slowly inched forward past the tip of Lucien’s broom. The next second she passed the finish line to be closely followed by Lucien just seconds later. Ginny flashed Harry a grin as she circled around to the applause of the crowd then sat down with the other chasers.
Slowly but surely the pairs of chasers went through the same motions as Ginny and Lucien, and in just under twenty minutes they were onto ball work. Katie would play the third chaser and the same pairs would have to work together to score five goals.
Just moments into the practice it became evident that Ginny was the best of the 12 students trying out, having grown up in a house obsessed with Quidditch and playing every summer for hours on end. While one of the spots seemed to have her name on it, the other chaser position was more difficult to determine.
While Lucien flew well he didn’t seem to always be completely in it, then there was a fourth year girl named Simone who could barely make the turns but somehow managed to pull off a trick play even Ron hadn’t seen before. The others were somewhere in-between Ginny and Lucien skill wise, so Harry decided to not make any decisions about the players until he’d talked to Katie and Ron about it later.
Up next were the beaters, and seeing how they didn’t have any beaters Ron and Harry decided to try out the kids together.
“Okay, well next up is beaters; we need two top-notch ones to make sure Slytherin doesn’t beat our arses next month. I figure with Kirke an Sloper gone we need some people who know a little bit about the game first off so they can…” but Ron was cut off mid sentence by a familiar voice from behind the group.
“It looks like we have some fresh meat for the grinder,” said the voice.
“We don’t mean that literally, or do we? I can’t remember after the last time I got hit. Do you Fred?” the unmistakable voice of George Weasley chimed in.
“How could I? If you don’t remember I got hit so hard Madam Pomfrey had to glue my nose back on, along with turning my head back the right direction!” Fred said as he stepped out from between the crowd of beaters.
“Oh quite correct, I guess I must’ve been hit pretty hard also,” George said hitting his head with his hand dramatically as they came to a stop in front of Harry and Ron.
Ron was first to respond, “What the bloody hell are you two doing here?”
George stepped back in mock offence, “Why how dare you ask such a thing!”
Fred stepped forward, “Aren’t your two bolder and more dashing brothers allowed to check in on their ickle Ronnikins?”
Ron had grown more confident over the past few months but his brother’s heckles still managed to get to him. He turned bright red at his brothers’ teasing. “Alright shut it, both of you before I hex you black and blue.”
Right at the same moment that Fred and George were pulling out their wands to curse Ron a red flash came crashing into the twins. Collapsed on the ground with Fred and George was Ginny attempting to hug both of them at the same time.
Fred and George both stood up pulling their sister with them, Ginny pulled back smiling at the unexpected but welcome sight of the twin’s faces. “What are you two doing here, is everything alright?”
“Yes, yes,” Fred said.
“Everything’s fine, we just thinking to ourselves wouldn’t it be great to help our dear friend Harry Potter out?”
“Help me out how?” Harry said apprehensively, usually their antics ended up in an explosion or change of figure.
“Well a little birdie told us that our poor replacements Kirke and Sloper had been temporarily barred from Quidditch, and figured that who better to help pick your new ones than the famous Weasley twins!” Fred said enthusiastically.
“Yeah, who better to scout for new beaters than the best, most modest, not to mention most dashing, that Gryffindor had to offer?” George added.
“Really? That’s brilliant guys; I can’t tell you how much this is going to help! I mean Ron and I could’ve probably chosen two people but now we have someone who’s played the position to really run them through their paces.” Harry said happily, then paused for a moment, “does Dumbledore know you’re here?”
“Are you insinuating we would have broken in here?” George cried.
“Preposterous! We flooed right into Albus’ own fireplace, he seemed very happy to see us back.”
“Wouldn’t say that about Filch though,” Ron said, smiling now at hearing his brothers’ reason for coming to school again.
Fred slung his arm around Harry’s shoulder and smiled at the crowd, “Do you reckon we should start? Looks like we have loads of people to go through.”
“Yeah! I guess I’ll just let you two take control of this part, Ron, Katie, and I will watch.” Harry had barely gotten the words out of his mouth when Fred and George burst into action, shouting over the crowd to get everyone in order.
The series of tests that the twins subjected the beater hopefuls to might have been considered child cruelty by some people, to Fred and George however it was just simply the way to separate the wheat from the chaff.
It took them nearly two hours to run through all the drills including, but not limited to: a high speed race straight up into the air, a sprint through a barrage of magically enhanced bludgers on foot, and a full on 10 minute mini scrimmage.
By the end however Fred and George seemed to have accomplished what they had set out to do, albeit with several broken limbs and a significant amount of blood from a rather nasty hit in the nose, and gave Harry, Katie, and Ron a short list of four beater for them to choose from.
“We give you our final choices! They have passed all trials to the best of their extent…” Fred started as they sat at down.
“… as well as staying in realatively good humour throughout the whole ordeal” George added.
“Alexander, Dean, Preston, and Colin are the names we give you,” Fred said theatrically.
“And it is now up to you to choose two…” George finished and then the two twins turned around and started to walk up towards the castle.
“Wait!” Harry said, “where are you going? Don’t you want to help choose who’s on the team.”
Fred waved him off, “No, we have already had enough fun on the Quidditch pitch for one day. It’s time for George and I to go entertain Filch now, I’m certain word has gotten out that we have returned.”
“I wondered where he’s hiding…” George added smiling deviously.
Harry just smiled, waving goodbye to the retreating figures. “I guess we have some work then, lets get started so we can get at least a little dinner.”

The Caucus Mountains, Russia
“Lucius,” the Dark Lord hissed as his servant stepped inside the dimly lit chamber.
Malfoy dropped to one knee bowing his head deeply, “Master, I have prepared everything as you have instructed. We can strike even tonight if you so wish.”
“The house is unprotected? I do not want to risk my servants on a task where I will loose them. Not yet at least…we are too few in number.” The Voldemort’s usual malice seemed to be mixed with glee also.
“Yes, my lord, the Order does not expect us to have this information. On the issue of servants, McNair and Severus are working on that as we speak. It will not be long until we are at our full strength once again.” Malfoy spoke with the conviction of someone who believed he truly was on the right side.
“Very well Lucius, you have my permission, strike tonight. Do not leave anything alive, and if you anyone survives I will be most displeased.”
“Of course my lord,” Malfoy bowed and rushed out of the door to prepare the attack.

Gryffindor Commons Room, Hogwarts
Ron, Katie, and Harry had been up in the commons room for the better part of the evening, after having a quick dinner, discussing whom to choose for the open positions. The twins’ tests had proven to be quite effective, not only showing who wouldn’t work but also highlighting the skills of those who were possible candidates. At the moment they were discussing Harry’s old roommate, Dean.
“I don’t know Harry, he can fly but will he be a good match for the other beater? I mean these two players have to work together flawlessly, and I’ve heard that Dean is sometimes a bit…abrasive.” Katie said after a long discussion of his great broom skills.
“I know Katie, he can come off that way, but I think that if we give him the responsibility it’ll straighten him up and make him work in a group better.” Harry said as he munched on a biscuit they had grabbed from the Great Hall.
Ron rubbed his temples and laid back in his chair, “So, are we agreed on Dean?”
“Yes” Katie said, “and with him we’ll stick Colin. He flew fine and can take orders. I honestly didn’t see anyone better than those two.”
“Katie’s right. I think that if you can get through Dean’s rather thick skull that he’s supposed to work as a team he should work out.” Harry added.
“I second that I guess,” Ron said raising his hand in agreement.
“Well I guess that solves our beater shortage, Dean and Colin it is. I think I’ll out that Lucien kid on as a backup just in case, maybe he’ll get better.” Harry said to Ron who was writing the names down on a piece of parchment to post in the commons. “So Katie, Chasers…who do you think we should pick?”
“Well Ginny is a given, she was by far the best flier,” Katie said matter-of-factly, “but for the other spot I’m having trouble figuring out. I guess it’d have to be either that Simone girl or Dennis Creevey. Although I don’t know if it’d be good to have both Creeveys on the team.”
“I agree with about Ginny, but I want to make sure that you’re not pressured into it Katie just because of our relationship as well as Ron’s.”
“I’m serious Harry, she really is the best who tried out we need her on our team if we want to beat Slytherin this year. You now I wouldn’t let someone be chosen just because of favouritism, and I doubt anyone will think of it that way once they see her fly.”
“Okay well unless her big brother wants to say something Ginny is in,” Harry paused, saw Ron shrug in acceptance, and then continued, “Now on to Dennis. I think having both of them on the team might make them try harder. You know sibling competition and all?” Harry said.
“I think Harry’s right, I know when I was playing with you two I always tried hard to impress you. I think it might be a good choice.” Ron said then picked up what had to be his twentieth biscuit and ate it in a single bite.
“Well I’m glad you’re enjoying those biscuits Ron. So Katie, unless you think we really shouldn’t have Dennis on the team I think we’ve found our chasers,” Harry said clapping his hands together.
“Sounds like good strategy as any. Who knows, it could be the key? Plus, it seemed to work for the twins,” Katie acquiesced.
“Ron why don’t you finish up that list quickly? We might as well post it tonight so we wont have to deal with an angry mob tomorrow morning.”
Five minutes later the three split up and headed to their rooms with the list hanging on the bulletin board by the entrance way.

Grimmauld Place, London, England
It was past midnight when the street lamps started to wink out one at a time down the entirety of Magnolia Road. Soon the entire street was swamped in darkness and several loud cracks echoed down the dark street.
In the middle of the road stood five dark hooded figures, each one had a white mask covering their faces. The whole group only remained motionless for a moment then moved quickly to a nearby house.
Two of the death eaters raised their wands and cast what appeared to be a shimmering blanket over the small two-storied house. The other three, cloaked figures walked slowly through the glowing curtain and approached the door.
One of the three raised their wand and slashed it downwards. The door exploded inwards, shards of it going everywhere. There wasn’t any noise however, and the curtain around the house lit up when pieces of the door hit it. The three death eaters ran into the now smoking entrance way and out of sight.
The two death eaters holding up the shield now lowered their wands and waited for the other three to come out of the partly destroyed house. In the top windows flames appeared, lapping at the glass. The three ran out of the building and met up with the other two, there seemed to be a brief argument seemed to arise between them, at one point one raised his wand an another. After a moment however they seemed to come to an agreement and simultaneously raised their wands and shouted Morsemordre! A serpentine figure appeared in the sky, winding itself around a grinning skull. All above the now blazing house.
The middle death eater tore off his mask, his silver hand glinting in the flames. Wormtail let out a shrill laugh and disapperated along with the others leaving behind the burning house.

Gryffindor Commons Room, Hogwarts
“Harry! Harry! Come on mate, please wake up! Katie help me hold onto him before he hurts himself” Ron shouted as he struggled to hold Harry’s hands down lest he hurt himself with his flailing.
A moment earlier he, Harry, Katie had been walking in opposite directions to their respective rooms all of a sudden Harry had grabbed at his forehead and dropped to the floor.
Ron knew right away that this wasn’t the normal ache and pain, Harry had never blacked out before like this. Ron tried to shake him, tried to get him to snap out of his convulsions but nothing seemed to help.
They were struggling to hold Harry still, each one was holding onto one of his legs with everything they had. All of a sudden Katie yelped and pulled away, “Ow! He shocked me!” She tried again and got shocked again, “Bloody hell, his magic’s going haywire!” she cursed again attempting to grab a hold of Harry.
“I don’t thinks it’s going haywire I think it’s trying to protect him because he can’t do it himself,” Ron said.
Finally, after trying several more attempts to grab hold of his friend, Ron realized that if they couldn’t stop him soon he was either going to injure himself or others. He searched for a solution to the problem, yet the only one that kept coming back was one that he didn’t believe he could do. Beside him a huge bolt of magic hit Katie in the arm and she fell back, this made up Ron’s mind. He stood up and pulled out his wand, “Sorry mate, I’ve gotta do this for your own good.” Ron then shot a stunner right at his best friend’s chest. Instantly Harry fell limp, his eyes rolling back into their sockets and his legs and arms dropping to the floor.
“Harry! Where are you Harry? Ron, where’s Harry? I felt something happen to him, is he okay?” Ginny was shouting as she ran into the commons room. When she saw the limp form of Harry on the ground she broke into tears as she crumpled to the ground.
Ron came over and lifted his sister off the ground, whispering to her. “Gin, shhhh, he’s alright, he’s alright. I had to stun him so he wouldn’t hurt himself. He was having a fit. We need to go get McGonagall; he needs to see Madam Pomfrey. Stay here with Katie, take care of him, I’ll be back in a second.” Ron rubbed his little sister’s back softly, trying to calm her down, then stood up and ran off through the entrance to go find McGonagall.
Ginny stroked Harry’s black hair, running her hands through it as she did frequently when they were lying in bed. She kept forcing tears back trying to remain strong, but when she looked down at his face, which was still frozen in the agony he had been in before Ron had stunned him, she broke.
“Ginny, he’ll be fine, don’t worry McGonagall will be here in a second. Your brother is fast he’s probably already at her room,” Katie said trying to comfort the younger girl. Katie didn’t really understand much about their unusual living arrangements, or what exactly warranted them, but she could tell from observing them in class and around the school that they did love each other and it was heart wrenching to see Ginny in this state.
“I don’t know, I really don’t. This has never happened, he would never hurt anyone, why did Ron have to stun him? Something’s wrong, this isn’t normal…” Ginny’s speech tapered off as she started to cry again, an immense pain tugging at her. She rubbed Harry’s scar gently as she tried to will herself to be strong for Harry, hoping against everything that what she was feeling was not true.
A moment later, true to his word, Ron returned with McGonagall close on his heels, who came striding into the commons in her nightgown. “Where is Potter? Is he alright, what happened,” she then came around the couch and saw Harry laying motionless on the floor “Merlin! Is he alright, why is he unconscious?”
“I had to stun him professor, he was having a rally bad fit and we couldn’t control him, his magic kept shocking us every time we tried to grab onto him and it was getting worse as it went on. I didn’t know what else to do,” Ron said, his face much paler now that the adrenaline had worn off.
McGonagall looked stunned but nodded and then pulled out her wand and muttered reennervate. Instantly Harry shot straight up, his eyes snapping wide open.
“Professor! He…he …Wormtail…fire…where’s Dumbledore? Need to find Joy…why?...Voldemort killed…gone…” Harry sputtered randomly before slowly fading back into unconsciousness.
McGonagall’s face paled the moment after Harry had gone unconscious, finally processing what he had been saying. She spun to face Ron, Ginny, and Katie. Ronald, go get the headmaster, the password’s Runts, then immediately find Severus and tell him to go to headquarters and alert the others. Miss Bell go get a hold of Madam Pomfrey, tell her to get here as soon as possible. Miss Weasley, go find both Miss Granger and Miss Massey and bring them down here immediately. McGonagall then turned again to Harry and lifted him up gently brushing the hair away from his eyes and scar in a moment of motherly affection none of them had seen form the professor.
“Professor, what happened? What did Harry mean?” Ron asked nervously, still unsure why Harry’s random sputtering had to do with McGonagall’s intense alarm.
“This is not a time for speculation Mr. Weasley, it is a time for action. Go get the Headmaster please. And Miss Weasley, rest assured I will take care of Potter until you return,” she said urging them to hurry and go do what they had been told. Ginny looked as if she was about to argue with the professor, but looking at Harry again just turned and ran off to go get Hermione and Emma.


Magnolia Road, Little Whinging, Surrey
The house was little more than a pile of ashes when the Order members finally apparated to the home of Joy Massey. It had only been several minutes since Tonks had received a message from Dumbledore and scrambled the group of members who were on duty that night at Grimmauld Place.
Tonks, Hestia Jones, and Lupin stood outside the now smoking shell of what used to be the Massey’s house. Above it hovered the Dark Mark, appearing and disappearing as the smoke wreathed around it.
Tonks’ eyes filled with tears as she watched the house fall apart, Lupin placed a hand on her shoulder and simply watched as the fire continued to surround the house.
“We need to tell Albus what happened. He’ll want to figure out how they got through the wards,” Hestia said quietly. They both nodded and a second later all three of them disapperated from the street to the sound of approaching fire engines.
Headmasters’s Office, Hogwarts
Harry sat completely motionless in the large red chair in front of Dumbledore’s desk, he hadn’t said a word since he had been taken up to the headmaster’s office by McGonagall. The images of what he had just seen flashed through his mind, the fire, the Dark Mark, Wormtail laughing, everything. What unsettled him most however was that he hadn’t seen it through Voldemort’s eyes, in fact one of the few things he was certain of at the moment was that Voldemort had not even been at the house, it wasn’t through the eyes of Tom but other than that he couldn’t figure out from where, or who, he had seen it.
“If you do that much longer you might really shake everything out,” Dumbledore said softly, walking out of an adjacent room Harry had never been in.
“I’d rather not have anything in my head instead of this! I see bloody everything! I’ve seen Arthur almost get killed, I’ve seen Sirius get killed, and now this! I can’t do it anymore, I just can’t! Give me a memory charm, obliviate me, here use my wand. You can just say it was an accident” Harry shouted shaking harder, tears now falling down his face.
The space around him crackled as if in an electrical storm, blue sparks were jumping from him to the metal objects around the room. The portraits of the old headmasters were shouting various warnings to calm down some even fled their frames. His face showed a mixture of desperation and immense sorrow, tears were streaming down his face as he tried to hand Dumbledore his wand.
Although the rest of the room was in chaos now, some of the headmaster’s instruments were now starting to emit loud whistles or glow brightly, Dumbledore himself sat perfectly still in his chair, acting just the same way he had done months ago when he had told Harry of the prophecy.
Harry was now completely out of breath, his anger having died down to gaping sobs so deep that it hurt his chest. He tossed his wand onto the desk and slumped back into the chair. After another moment of only Harry’s anguish breaking the silence, Dumbledore spoke.
“I know how hard it must be to live with these memories, every time you have another I see you age; not in appearance, but in your eyes, in your actions. This war is causing you to have to grow up much faster than anyone, especially me, would have liked you to have to; but you cannot forget the past. You must never forget it, from there you will draw your strength, from the people you love and from everything you’ve witnessed in your life.” Dumbledore gave him a sad smile, “you will have to be even stronger now Harry, Emma will look to you for an explanation, for comfort.”
At that moment a knock came from the door behind Harry, “Enter.” Dumbledore replied still looking at Harry. “Remember Harry, you must be strong. Your friends rely on you, and you rely on them. If one person falls, so will the others.” The headmaster said quietly as McGonagall entered the room guiding a shell shocked Emma into the room. Behind them entered a crying Ginny, and behind her Ron came in with a weeping Hermione.
The moment Emma saw Harry sitting in the chair she burst into tears and ran to him. Harry held his arms out and picked her up holding her tightly. He had never been hugged when he was sad before he and Ginny had been bonded, so he was somewhat unsure of what to say. Harry sat her down in the chair and kneeled down so he would be the same height as the little girl.
“Is my mom…is she…De…de...dea...dead?” Emma whispered in-between breaths.
Harry had no idea what to say, he knew she deserved the truth but it was so hard to tell someone their only parent was now dead. With a sinking feeling he realized that if the war continued to escalate like it was Emma would be just the first of many children to be told they no longer had a mother or father…or both. Harry finally just nodded, his muscles trying to resist conveying the terrible news.
At this simple movement Emma burst into tears again, wrapping her arms around Harry even tighter than before. They sat there for what felt to Harry to be hours, no one said a thing, the only noise was coming from everyone’s sobs. Finally Emma pulled away from Harry. Something had changed in her eyes, there was sorrow, horrible sorrow in them, but there was something else that simmered just below. It was difficult for Harry to place but he could have sworn it reminded him of the same look Ginny had the night she learned of the prophecy.
“I’m sorry Emma…” Harry started but couldn’t seem to find what else to say, anything he came up with seemed hollow or meaningless.
“Emmaline,” the Headmaster started, “perhaps you would like to lay down, I know how much this hurts. I have always found crying is one way to sort through one’s problems, Merlin knows I have done it one more than one occasion. What happened to your mother was tragic, this whole war is tragic. I promise you this though, no harm will come to you, I promise.” Dumbledore talked quietly, soothingly, but something about his sentiments struck Harry as apathetic. It seemed, and many times Harry found was true, that the headmaster was more concerned with the war itself than the victims.
“Sir, with all due respect, I don’t think that you are the person that should handle this” Harry started, his magic simmering once again. “Let her stay with Ginny and I tonight, she doesn’t have to sort through anything tonight, let her be sad. Just for one night, you never let me do that, you always have placed something else on me when the only thing I needed was some time to sort through things. And this wasn’t tragic, this was a mistake! The wards you placed around their house should have stood up to any attack they threw at it. I know it’s true also, that’s all I’ve been studying for the past three weeks. The simple fact is that they-should-never-have-gotten-inside-that-house!”
The room fell into silence once again, this time it wasn’t from sorrow though, the office had taken on an unsettling tenseness with Harry’s drastic change of mood. McGonagall stood in the corner her jaw slack from Harry’s forceful statement directed at the headmaster.
For his part Dumbledore remained as stoic as ever, not making the tiniest sign that he had heard Harry’s statement, instead he stared right at Harry, his twinkling blue eyes piercing Harry’s emerald green ones. For a moment it seemed time had stopped, no one moved, no one even breathed. A growing charge could be felt in the room, the torches somehow grew brighter, flaring in their sconces.
Hermione yelped when a small spark of magic jumped from Ron’s arm to hers. This seemed to break Harry out of his staring contest with the headmaster. The torches returned to normal and the office lost its charge. Everyone, McGonagall included, breathed a sigh of relief.
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, looking visibly tired, as if his age had finally caught up with him. “Very well, Miss Massey you may go with Harry and Miss Weasley and stay there with them. I am available whenever you are ready to talk.”
Emma nodded, her sobs having stopped during Dumbledore and Harry’s argument. Harry took her by the hand and led her over to the door. Ginny, Ron, and Hermione followed suit, none of them saying anything while they exited.
The door clicked shut, leaving McGonagall and Dumbledore alone in the office. McGonagall was the first to talk.
“Albus, would you care to fill me in on what just happened? I though you and Potter had fixed things since the summer?”
Dumbledore waved his wand and conjured a pot of tea. He poured two cups in silence as McGonagall waited patiently. “I am afraid some cuts run too deeply to be healed. You know he was right about the wards, about how it was my fault. I did something wrong, something did not work the way it was supposed to have. It was a complex set of wards; nothing should be able to break that, not even Tom. She entrusted her wellbeing in me and I failed, and now Harry has witnessed another person become an orphan just like him. What you saw tonight, with his sparks of magic was his righteous anger at Tom, and I as well.” The headmaster spoke all of this in a slow clam tone, staring intently at his cup of tea.
McGonagall was stunned, this was the first time she had ever heard Albus say he had made a mistake in her life, it appeared that even he was being worn down by this horrible war. “Albus, he is just a child, it is difficult for him to deal with so much. You do remember the last war, everyone lost so much; including you. Let him be for the moment, he needs friends more than controllers right now.”
Dumbledore looked up at McGonagall for the first time since the students had left. “I do remember the last war, I cannot possibly forget it. All I want to do is protect Harry from his future, from his fate…” Dumbledore stopped once again, he had yet to tell McGonagall of the prophecy but it appeared that now would be the moment, “I am afraid I haven’t told you the whole story of why Harry is so troubled right now, and why he seemed so overtly angry at me tonight. You do know how Voldemort went after a prophecy concerning Harry last year?”
“Yes, and it was destroyed when Longbottom dropped it during the ensuing battle.”
Dumbledore sighed, then stood up and went over to the chest holding the pensive, “well I am afraid that is where the truth separates from what is believed to be truth.”