Chapter Text
At lunchtime the day after Pettigrew was handed over, Draco and the bookends arrived at the table near Harry. “Potter. It has come to my attention that you were deliberately mocking me, that you are no more French than I am.”
“Mon ami, non.” Harry started.
“Save it Pottah! I challenge you to a wizards’ duel. Midnight, the trophy room. Bring a second.”
“A second what?”
“A second, a dueling second.”
“Isn’t dual two anyway? A second second, is that a fourth?”
“Duel, not Dual.”
“No.”
“Are you a coward.”
“No. But if you issue the challenge, you do not pick the venue, or the time, or the style. So No. I will not go to the Trophy Room so you can send someone to find me out of bounds after curfew.”
“So you are a coward, refusing to fight.”
“OK, Malfoi, this is what you will accept, the fight will be a boxing match, Queensbury rules, it will take place in the transfiguration courtyard at six pm tonight. No magic permitted.”
“I said wizarding duel.”
“Not, your, choice, you challenged me. I will quite happily punch your stupid face raw, or maybe let Hermione do it for all the times you mutter mudblood, and let the whole castle see what a wet twerp you are. So Boxing, or default?”
“You haven’t heard the last of this, wait until my father hears about this.”
“What? that you challenged the future head of a House to a duel over a joke. You will be lucky if he doesn’t banish you.” Draco stormed off with his minions following, Greg Goyle actually laughed and nodded at Harry as they walked away.
Harry looked at Hermione who was trying not to laugh, “We can do our homework in the classroom near the courtyard doors, I doubt he will turn up.”
She shook her head, “Is kickboxing allowed?”
“No just boxing, boxing.”
“Shame my high spin kick is my favourite, I think I could get most of his teeth with the first one.”
“Well, he isn’t going to be stood up to receive a second kick if you do, is he?.”
------oooOOOooo------
Albus Dumbledore was sitting at his desk rolling a lemon drop around his mouth and pondering the developments of the term so far. Harry Potter had arrived on the train to attend the school, and had been sorted into Gryffindor, this was all in line with his grand understanding of how the future needed to unfold to allow him to be able to finally defeat Lord Voldemort. But many things were not as Albus would like them to be. Young Harry was not a needy attention starved weakling, he was a strapping, confident young man. He had made friends with a large group of children, not just in Gryffindor. He was patient and slow to anger, Young Malfoy’s attempts so far were met with laughter and ridicule when he tried to provoke him into a duel.
Young Harry had shown no inclination to explore, the tracking charms he had carefully layered both on Young Harry, and his father’s remarkable cloak had not triggered anything, the wards near the Third Floor Corridor keyed to the cloak, were silent. Only the Weasley Twins had explored so far.
He had expected the Weasley boy, Donald or Robert, or something, to have befriended him on the train on the way to Hogwarts. The Weasley girl wanted to be the future wife of Young Harry, a shame that he would almost certainly be dead before that would come to pass. Harry had a small piece of Voldemort’s soul trapped in the scar the attack had left behind, undoubtably Lily had done something exceptional he thought. Having the Boy-who-lived suited the narrative Albus wanted, not the Mother-who-died. Albus knew of no way of removing the shard from a living being without killing the carrier. It was a sad fact, in order to ensure the future for the greater good, Harry Potter would have to die.
The prophecy might be nonsense, but it would be safer if Harry died at the hands of Voldemort, so that he could then in turn be killed, by Albus. He did not want to kill, but it was necessary in this case. He needed to gain control over the upbringing of Young Harry, if he was allowed to have a happy and loving home, he would not take risks and chances to sacrifice himself to protect those few friends he had. The Granger girl was his constant companion, they were close. He had considered making her a victim to the Troll, but she was a bright and outstanding pupil, the future would need witches like her to have sons that would be great wizards.
Young Harry’s mother had been such a witch, it was regrettable that Pettigrew had betrayed them, he had hoped that the Longbottom boy would be chosen, but he had made his plans accordingly after Voldemort had ended the Potters, placing Harry where he would have a necessarily miserable childhood, preparing him for when he, Albus Dumbledore would offer Young Harry a chance of happiness, always just out of reach, but he would be pliable, and easily led. Where had Young Harry been living? the Ministry had no record, Minerva told him he had no business knowing, he didn’t think she knew either. He decided that he was going to be Young Harry’s magical guardian, he would make this official at the next Wizengamot, and then he would place Harry back with the Dursley’s for his own safety. He would convince the Wizengamot that only he could offer Harry the mentorship he required, he was after all the Leader of the Light. There was nothing to challenge his assertion that Young Harry would be better in his care, better for the Greater Good of course.
------oooOOOooo------
Minerva had told Arthur and Molly the truth about Percy and latterly Ron’s pet Rat, and as the implications of having a marked death eater hiding in their house settled in, they had become initially angry, and then distraught. Had he done anything to their children? Minerva told Arthur to make discrete enquiries with Madame Bones when he was at work the following day but had to work quite hard to prevent Molly demanding that Albus intercede on their behalf. Explaining to Molly that she had probably used enough favours to get Ron re-sorted, and to let Arthur talk in the morning had been, she hoped, enough to stay the overbearing nature of an enraged Molly Weasley. She loved her children, perhaps a little too much, Ron would certainly benefit from a little more discipline, his work ethic was woeful.
The following morning Arthur knocked on Amelia Bones office door, she looked up and invited him in, “close the door Arthur, take a seat. I have been expecting you. I assume you want to know what Pettigrew was doing in your house, all this time?”
Arthur nodded, “We are rather worried that he did anything to our children.”
“I can put your mind at rest, he did nothing. We interviewed him under veritaserum, and we asked very specific questions so he couldn’t dissemble, although I don’t think he had any fight left in him. He did not touch anyone in the house. He watched people, which is uncomfortable, but I would suggest you tell your family he did nothing. There is nothing to gain by telling anyone, and it will unsettle your children, especially your daughter, if she thought she was being spied on. He says he only watched you as a family, because he was alone. He is not really sane, too long spent as a rat has impacted his mind. To be clear, he did not in any way molest your children Arthur.”
Arthur took a deep breath, “Thank you Madame Bones, that is a huge weight off my mind, I will send Molly an owl, as you say, I will tell the family that there was nothing untoward going on.”
------oooOOOooo------
At the end of the week the trial of Peter Pettigrew was held before a court tribunal, as he had made a full confession under veritaserum it was not the full Wizengamot. He was placed in the witness chair in front of the panel of selected Wizards and Witches. These included Augusta Longbottom, who was presiding over today’s hearing.
“Madame Bones, we have read the defendant’s confession, do you have any statements to add to the prosecution case?”
“Madame Longbottom, I would like you to hear Mr Pettigrew confirm his guilt and verify his statements as the truth.”
“Mr Pettigrew, how do you plead?” Augusta asked.
Peter was a broken man, his only hope was clemency, “Guilty my lady, the statement you have is the truth, I swear on my magic.”
“Very good, is there anything else Madame Bones.”
“Just to confirm that all the charges Mr Pettigrew is pleading guilty to, were previously attributed to Sirius Orion Black, Head apparent of House Black, who has been incarcerated without trial in Azkaban for ten years. All the charges against him are dismissed, indeed have never been made officially. He is therefore a free man.”
“Agreed, he shall no doubt be the recipient of a substantial compensation package. See to it that he is released into care, and medical expenses shall be covered by the courts.” Augusta turned to her panel members, they discussed quietly amongst themselves for a few minutes.
“Peter Pettigrew, it is the decision of this Tribunal that you are guilty on all charges, Murder, aiding and abetting the murder of James and Lily Potter, the murder of no less than twelve members of non-magical society, framing Sirius Black, for the above crimes. Aiding and abetting the Attempted murder of Harry James Potter. We sentence you to death by execution, to be carried out immediately, you are to be taken to the Department of Mysteries and passed through the veil forthwith.”
Peter broke down in the dock, and was stunned prior to being levitated down to the veil room and his fate.
Amelia Sent her patronus across to Andromeda Tonks at St Mungo’s as she returned to her own office within the Ministry. As she entered her own office her floo lit up with a call from Andi.
“Amy, it’s Andi. When can I pick him up?”
“As soon as you want, I need to give him his wand back, but other than that, he is washed and in clean clothes, but he needs to get healthy and he needs some help mentally, what are you thinking?”
“We will look after him at home, I can monitor his health and he can have a slow introduction to freedom, he will need a little time to adjust. He has been away a long time. If we can keep his release on the down low for now that would be good.”
“I will do what I can, Fudge will certainly not want it published, once Malfoy realises, Fudge will try to hush it up.”
The following morning’s Daily Prophet reported the trial of Peter Pettigrew.
Merlin Award Winner a Fraud
Previous recipient of a posthumous Merlin Award for gallantry was recently captured alive masquerading as a boy’s familiar. Peter Pettigrew, believed killed by reputed serial killer and Death Eater Sirius Black was today found guilty of the murders of twelve muggles, and of complicity in the murders of the Potter family on the fateful Halloween night in 1981, and of the framing of Sirius Black for the crimes. Only minimal information was released by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement today. This reporter was led to believe by an unnamed source that Sirius Black would be released as all charges were proven to be unfounded. His release date is not known at this time. Pettigrew’s Merlin Award has been revoked. The sole survivor of that fateful evening, Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived was unavailable for comment.
The notice was published on page four, as the Ministry did not want to be embarrassed.
------oooOOOooo------
Back at Hogwarts Harry and Hermione were having lunch sat with Neville and Daphne, Harry had made himself a chip butty out of some fries and a bread bun, Neville and Daphne were staring at him in confusion as he poured tomato sauce on it and closing it took a large bite and smiled as he enjoyed the taste. “Harry, where did you get the idea of putting potato in bread from? Daphne asked.
“One of Dad’s guilty pleasures, not as good as a fish finger sandwich, but close.”
“Fish fingers? Do fish have hands?” Daphne was struggling with the concept of muggle foods.
Hermione laughed, “It’s a muggle food Daphne, they cut white fish, like Cod or Haddock into long blocks like fingers, and cover them in breadcrumbs. Once they are cooked the fish is soft and succulent, and the coating is really crispy. My Dad gets Harry to eat all sorts of weird stuff from his days in the Royal Marines. Fish Finger Sandwich sounds terrible, but it is really nice actually, especially with tartar sauce. I wonder if the elves could figure that out?”
Harry shrugged and nodded, his mouth full of food.
Hermione tapped Harry’s elbow, “Elvis has left the building.” Harry nodded.
“Hacking time!”
“Sometimes Harry, I have to remind myself you were shot in the head as a child, it’s the only explanation.” Neville looked at him face scrunched up in bafflement.
“You wound me Nev. Oh hang on that was Moldypants. Yeah, shot in the head by a nutter. Good excuse for a lot of things.”
Hermione rolled her eyes, “Now you’ve started something.”
Harry washed the last of his lunch down with a glass of juice, and they made their way out of the Great Hall, “Have you got the map with you, Bambi.”
Harry stopped in his tracks, and let out a long sigh, “You are spending way too much time with the Twins, should I be worried?”
“Not as long as you behave, and it’s funnier than Prongslet, I mean, one look at James’s animagus as a child, he would have been Rudolph.” Hermione swept her hair out of her face, and started walking.
“You have turned to the Dark Side, Hermi-one,” he said in his best Darth Vader impression.
“Perhaps, map. Focus.”
Harry opened the parchment, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” He murmured and the map began to appear showing the corridors ahead. “Filch, and Mrs Morris around the corner, stop and let them pass.”
Hermione turned and started to rummage through her satchel for a book, she opened one and her and Harry stood looking at the pages as the caretaker walked past muttering under his breath. Once they were clear, Harry asked Hermione, “would we be better under the cloak?”
Hermione chewed her lip for a moment. “Good idea.” He whipped the cloak out and opened it up as Hermione slipped the book back into her bag. She snuggled into his side and they walked carefully down to the dungeon level and past the Hufflepuff Common room entrance and the kitchens to where they knew the entrance to the ward stone room for the castle was.
“OK Rowena Granger, or is it Hermione Ravenclaw? Do your stuff.”
“Prat.”
“You love me.”
“Do I? are you sure?”
“Yes, it’s our density?”
“Is that one of Neville’s gags?”
“might be.”
“Let him keep it.”
Hermione walked up to the door and placed her right hand on the school crest in the centre of the panel. The door clicked and she pushed it open. “Come on in, I will need a bit of time.”
“Right behind you,” he patted Hermione’s bum as he got close.
“Harry James, behave yourself.”
“Just letting you know I am here.”
Hermione pushed the door closed and flames sat in sconces all around the room lit up in turn casting a flickering orange light onto the ward stone in the centre of the room. A pair of circles were drawn on the floor with runes between the two circles, the ward stone sat in the centre of the room.
“Harry, stay outside the outer rune circle. I will have a look and see if I can sort the wards. She carefully stepped into inner circle, making sure she did not tread on the runes or the circles. The Ward runes appeared all around the inner circle in a cylinder of runic text. Hermione let out a small sigh and started mumbling to herself. Harry found himself a piece of empty floor and sat, keeping an eye on the map. After a while he nodded off.
Something tapped his foot. He jumped awake to see Hermione and Rowena Ravenclaw standing in the rune circle discussing something, Susan Sto-Helit was looking at Harry with folded arms, “Asleep on the job Harry. Check the map, they are about to amend the wards.”
Harry rubbed his eyes, and looked at the map, he pulled his wand, “show me Albus Dumbledore,” some text flowed across the top, “The Bearded Bloviator is not in the Castle at this time Bambi” Harry made a small grunt at the Bambi comment, “Show me Minerva McGonagall” The map panned and zoomed to her office, she was sitting with Fillius Flitwick in her private room. “Dumbles is out, Minnie is in her room. I don’t think anyone else is attached to the wards are they.”
“No, just those two and Hermione.” Susan replied.
Harry watched as Hermione marked a few sections of runes red and with a swipe of her (French) wand waved them out of existence, she then added three lines of runes to the same panel. Mumbling the rune names as she pointed in turn with her wand tip, the new lines sat glowing blue as Rowena worked her way across them, pointing one rune to Hermione, who made the change. They exchanged nods and the new text flashed white and then settled to the yellow colour of the rest. Hermione slid her wand away and Rowena hugged the girl. Her and Susan faded from view and with a hand gesture the rune panels disappeared, looking as if they slid down into the floor. Hermione yawned, What time is it?
Harry cast a swift tempus, “Six thirty, grab some dinner and slip back to the common room?”
Hermione nodded, “Early night for me I am bushed, some of us missed our naps.”
Harry stood stretching and slapping his own backside trying to restore some circulation. “It wasn’t restful. Let me check the coast is clear to open the door, we can use the cloak. To get back to the crush hall.” They slipped out of the room and back upstairs, slipping the cloak off in the cover of one of the statues in the ‘crush’ hall outside the doors for the Great Hall. They walked into dinner, and sat at the table in the space Daphne and Neville had kept for them. Harry helped Hermione fill their plates, roast lamb and roast potatoes, with fresh vegetables and mint sauce, Harry wasn’t too hungry, but Hermione devoured hers and went back for seconds. As they waited for dessert, she stifled a long yawn. Harry gave her a side hug, “early night, and a lay in. I am at practice at stupid o’clock with the team, so I will be at breakfast late.”
Hermione nodded, and leant on his shoulder. She was asleep before the desserts arrived. Tracey sat opposite made a little heart shape with her hands and did a silent oooh, batting her eyes at the pair. Then snorted and giggled.
Harry got her back to the Dorm room, he would have to ask what she had achieved with the wards in the morning. Daphne and Tracey slipped upstairs with Hermione and Harry wandered up to his own bed. Ron was sat in the corner on his bed, he looked up at Harry, he looked awful. Harry asked before he thought, “You OK there Ron? you look terrible.”
“I can’t sleep, I spent years sleeping with a pet that was a man, and a criminal?”
“Did he do anything to anyone in the house? I mean in your home, not here.”
“They say no. They asked him and he just slept and hid. But Fred and George said that’s what they would tell us regardless. If he had been touching me, or Ginny, or anyone, would they actually tell us?”
Harry thought , No especially not Ginny, he would try to find out, but how could he reassure Ron. “I am sure that they would have told your parents the truth, and if he had done anything they would be examining you at St. Mungo’s or something.”
“Yeah. They would, wouldn’t they. Thanks, and thanks for catching him. McGonagall told us you can tell other animagus because you and Granger, sorry, Hermione are both animagus. It’s pretty amazing really, you and Hermione, she’s really scary. McLaggan is such an arse. I was worried about Gin next year. I told her to make friends with Hermione, everyone’s scared of getting on her wrong side. Thanks, again, I’ll let you turn in, you have practice early tomorrow, yeah?”
“I do. Oliver is obsessed. What does he expect me to practice – sitting and watching extra hard.” Harry smiled and picked his toilet bag up and wandered into the bathroom. Ron was snoring softly when he walked back out. He closed his curtains for him and cast a silencing charm around his bed.
Eleven year old Ron was OK, why did he become such a toxic arse. Harry still had a hard time believing that he killed Hermione in cold blood. More likely out of jealousy in a fit of his temper. He had seen her memory of the event, whatever he thought of Ron, they had to deal with him, he was Dumbledore’s puppet, and could not be trusted around them. Had Dumbles screwed Ron’s mind up? Harry changed into a pair of sleeping shorts and a long sleeved teeshirt and climbed into bed, another silencing charm and an alarm set for four thirty, this was the last of these early practices he would attend. He would get the rest of the team together, being exhausted was no way to practice Quidditch. He drifted off to sleep with a memory of a girl curled into his side under a cloak, and the smell of her shampoo.
It was still dark when Harry’s alarm woke him, the time in the tent had conditioned him to be able to roll straight out of bed and sort himself out. He used the bathroom quickly and dived into his trunk to get changed. He didn’t have Gryffindor Quidditch robes yet, so he dressed in warm muggle clothing and dived out of the dorm room, grabbing the broom on his way out of the trunk and quietly closing and locking it before slipping out of the room. The chasers were sat in the common room, Alicia looked up as he came down the stairs from the boys dorm.
“Brilliant, even Harry is here before Oliver ‘make an early start’ Woods, we are all up and where is our great captain, sleeping.” She did not look happy.
“Missing your early morning Wood?” Harry asked innocently
A guffaw and a snort from the sofa showed that Katie and Angelina were awake. “Oliver Early Morning Wood?”
“Isn’t that a Morning Glory?”
“Gloria?”
“Works for me Fred.” Harry was reasonably sure it was George really. Hermione had told him not to reveal how he could tell them apart.
Oliver finally made an appearance, “Everyone here, good, let’s get down to the pitch, it should just be light when we get started.” He led them off through the castle and they traipsed across to the Quidditch pitch, Harry hopped on his new broom and flew over to the Team hut and opened it up getting it ready for the rest to arrive. When they did arrive, Oliver was looking a little puzzled, but he said nothing. The next hour dragged by with Oliver obsessing over tactics and teams manoeuvres, Harry internally groaned, this was the bit he had forgotten. Last time around they had eventually banded together and refused to get up so early, just to discuss tactics, that could be done on any evening in the castle.
At long last they went out and Harry took to the air, he flew initially with the chasers, allowing them to practice blocking moves and passing. Harry was happy, this had been almost the dream team, Gryffindor had dominated the Quidditch in his school years, and the Foxes were a solid and well balanced team, the Twins were brilliant beaters, Oliver was an excellent goal keeper. He wasn’t worried about Quirrellmort trying to hex his broom this time around, they could deal with that, and he knew the other teams were not on this team’s level. He was flying a circuit of the pitch lost in his thoughts when a bludger flew past his ear and brought him back to reality, and almost down to earth. He shook himself off and went to retrieve the quaffle for the girls. He might as well do something useful.
He showered and changed Picking up a bundle of Quidditch gear for the next match. He would need to order supplies from Diagon Alley, he needed gloves, greaves, bracers. Hedwig would be busy he thought. It was only just turning nine o’clock when he dropped his stuff off in the dorm, and headed off down to breakfast.
Hermione joined him a little later, she looked rested. They ate in silence. Harry surreptitiously checked them for tracking and listening charms. Finding none, he bent his head towards Hermione’s, “Did it go OK last night, I never got the chance to ask?”
“Yes, We have reset the wards to what they should be, and removed a lot of Dumbles hatchet work. He is surprisingly bad at warding. He had made the whole matrix unstable, that’s why Rowena and Susan joined me. Our magical signatures are now allocated to Rowena and Goderic’s privileges within the ward scheme. It means we can apparate from anywhere, and once in our animagus forms we don’t trigger the wards, so we can leave the castle undetected as long as we are not seen.”
A mail owl dropped a copy of the Daily Prophet in front of her, Harry caught it before it landed in her breakfast. Hermione looked up, “How was training?” she opened the paper.
“Worse than I remember, I was out of bed at four thirty and we sat and listened to Olliver go on and on about tactics for over and hour before we even got on our brooms. We need to get him trained.”
“Who is that Harry?” Katie had appeared alongside Hermione opposite Harry, her hair still wet from the shower.
“Oliver.”
“That’s Gloria now.”
Hermione looked at them. “Ok, why Gloria?”
“I’ll let Harry explain, it’s his fault.”
Hermione gave Harry that look. He smiled, “I will tell you later, lame joke, about early mornings”
“Ah, Morning Wood?” she nodded to herself and went back to the paper. “I miss yours she whispered.”
Harry almost choked looking to see if Katie had heard. She didn’t look up, but her shaking shoulders gave away the silent laughter.
------oooOOOooo------
Albus Dumbledore walked into the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic and walked over to the reception desk, “Wand on the scale.” The man on the desk said without looking up.
“I don’t think that is necessary, I am Albus Dumbledore.” He gave his best twinkle, and his number 2 smile.
“I don’t care if you are Merlin himself with Morgana and Hecate in attendance, your wand goes on the scale, or your boney ass goes back out the door. Mr Dumbledore.” The wizard stood and towered over Albus. “If you need help leaving, that can be arranged. He had the badge of ‘Wizecurity-4-all’ on his robes. Outsourcing had reached the depths of the Ministry. Albus looked at the man, he was possibly half giant like Hagrid, or maybe part Troll. Albus could not decide. He placed his wand on the scales as directed. “Business?”
Albus blinked a moment. “Magical Child Services.”
“Visiting?”
“Enquiry desk.”
The part Troll grunted and returned his wand. “Have a nice day.”
Albus walked over to the lifts, this was not the level of service he expected to be extended to him, he was the ‘Leader of the Light’ and should be feted accordingly. The lift eventually arrived at the floor he needed and he walked into the department of Magical Child Services. He walked to the enquiry desk, where a small woman with brown hair and large square glasses wearing an orange roll neck knitted jumper was sitting behind her desk head bent over her work.
“Take a ticket, Wait for your number.” She said, glancing up.
Albus cleared his throat, he did not need to wait, he was Albus Dumbledore.
The young woman looked up. “Hmm, Mr Dumbledore. Why are you here? This is child services, we deal with pre-school age witches and wizards, you have no reason to be on this floor. I am overworked and understaffed. I do not need a visit from a self-important has-been who should have retired at least thirty years ago. Leave my department and go bother someone who cares.” She stood, all five feet of her, and called out , “Rogers, where is my coffee? Do I have to do everything in here myself?” She stormed away from her desk towards the rear of the room, “Norville, are you sleeping on the job again.”
Albus stood for a few moments, he cast a silent accio for Harry Potter’s file. He waited. He tried ‘Harry James Potter’ still nothing. The young lady returned, she sat at her desk and placed her coffee mug on the side. “Summoning charms do not work in here Mister Dumbledore. What or who are you trying to interfere with this time?” She folded her arms and looked at him sternly though her glasses.
Albus tried a light probe of her mind. If you attempt any more of that I will contact Madame Bones, now LEAVE! Albus stepped back, her defences were impeccable.
“I was enquiring after the home address of one of my pupils, Harry James Potter.” He relented and asked the lady.
“His address is on a need-to-know basis for his protection, all you need to know is that he has a safe and loving home with his new family. Unlike you we took care to ensure his new family was appropriate, rather than leave him on the doorstep in the dead of night and steal away like a thief in the dark. Is there anything else?”
“Aha, but in that you are very much mistaken miss, who would we notify in case of an emergency, as his magical guardian, I should know his family.”
“You are NOT his magical guardian. His parents will was very specific about who should look after Master Potter, and you appear nowhere on that list. He has a guardian, listed in the will and registered with the appropriate departments, none of which answer to you in any of the many roles you claim. Now once more, please leave my department.”
Albus considered his options, these meddling kids would be the death of him, he decided to withdraw for today, he would use his influence in the Wizengamot to gain control of Young Harry, it was after all for the Greater Good.
------oooOOOooo------
Saturday afternoon swung around and Hermione and Harry took a stroll along the path that circumnavigated the Black Lake, they both had their back packs on and walked along holding hands and checking their surroundings. Once they were confident that they were unobserved they apparated out of the school into their home garden, where they slipped into the hose and changed into mufti. Once they were changed they apparated across to Diagon Alley, near to the junction with Occasion Alley, and walked down to Gringotts, and up the steps into the goblin Bank.
Harry approached a teller and asked if he could see Account Manager Gnarlak about his account, or if it was inconvenient, could he make an appointment. The teller looked at Harry for a long moment. Please wait here Mr Potter, I will see if Account Manager Gnarlak can see you. Harry looked at Hermione, I forgot, we should have Minnie with us, she is Regent. Hopefully this can be covered with our trust vaults.”
“Harry, you lovable daft boy, our trust vaults have over £300,000 between them, we could buy a house. You really don’t understand just how rich you are. It’s adorable. Can we get some aging potion and a hotel room for the day do you think?”
“Is that a real thing?”
“I think so, I have read about them.”
“Are they reversable?”
“Hmmm. Maybe?”
“It will have to wait until Quirrellmort is toast then. Mum would go mental if she came home and found us as adults in bed together overnight, I think we are stuck doing this the long way.”
Hermione sighed, “I know, my cycles started, and it’s kicked off all sorts of urges. Adult mind, child body. Frustrating!” she sang the last word.
Harry kissed the top of her head and whispered, “I know, after the trip to the ward room, I was so wanting to sleep with you in my arms, but anything else, I haven’t got the bits to do it yet. It’s a bit embarrassing to be honest.” Hermione looked up at him and smiled, “It’s quite cute really.” Harry huffed.
“Master Potter, Mistress Granger, would you follow me please?” the Teller addressed the pair, they walked with him down to the door into the depths of the bank and were shown into their Account Manager’s Office.
Harry gave the goblin a short bow, “Account Manager Gnarlak. Good Afternoon, I hope you are well.” Hermione bobbed a quick curtsey, which felt odd to her as she was wearing jeans and not a skirt.
“Please take a seat. You offer respect, it is accepted and appreciated, in return, may you wealth grow as your foes wither.”
Hermione’s brows knitted, “Account Manager Gnarlak, is there a book that would teach us Goblin customs and greetings? we do not wish to accidentally offend anyone for lack of a simple courtesy.”
“Miss Granger, you never cease to impress me, I will have a copy sent to you, as a personal gift. It would give an old Goblin a great deal of pleasure to assist you both in your endeavours. Now what brings you to our bank, without your Regent?”
Hermione sat up straighter in her chair, she took a moment to gather her thoughts. “Account manager Gnarlak, Harry and I have become aware that the Dark Lord Tom Riddle, who styles himself as Lord Voldemort created soul containers, Phylacteries, or Horcruxes to attempt to remain immortal. We Identified one of these items a few weeks ago and retrieved it and exorcised the soul fragment with a little help. We believe that one of his followers, Bellatrix Lestrange, was entrusted with keeping another of these items. We believe she has placed it in her vault at Gringotts. We hoped that you would be able to retrieve this item and either exorcise it or allow us to call in our friend to carry out the removal.” Hermione sat back and wondered how the news would be received.
Gnarlak remained still for a few moments. “Do you know what this item is?”
“It will be the Cup of Helga Hufflepuff, Riddle has a thing about the Hogwarts Founders”.
“I will speak with Bank Manager Ragnok. Can you offer any proof of your suspicions?”
Hermione’s head dropped. “Not really.”
Harry sat forward, “What if we could show you another one of these Horcruxes, would that give our story some credibility.”
“That would lend a certain amount of value to your story. Can you fetch this item to us, or do you require assistance?”
Harry looked at Hermione for a moment, “Some assistance would be welcome, we can pay for it if required. I know the location of another, but the location is heavily warded and there are likely to be a great number of traps. Is this something you can offer us assistance with?”
“We could allocate you a team of curse breakers, we are well versed in ridding tombs of curses, usually in the Egyptian desert, items such as the ones you describe are occasionally encountered, and the protective curses and wards that surround them can be both complex and very dark in nature.
“It our first match on Saturday, perhaps next weekend? Is that possible?” Harry asked.
“We shall make it so, I shall confirm our arrangements during the week. Watch for our owl.”
The pair thanked Gnarlak and were escorted into the main chamber of the bank, “Back home to change then?” Hermione nodded and they slipped out of the bank and walked up the Alley to a convenient spot to apparate away. They apparated into the rear garden of their home, and walked towards the rear of the house, a large owl was sitting on the back of a garden chair, there was a box on the garden table and a letter in a black envelope attached to one of it’s legs.
“That’s quick, even for Gringotts,” Harry scoffed.
“I bet it’s the emergency portkeys we wanted for Mum and Dad so they have some protection,” Hermione walked to the table and reached to the owl, it offered her the leg to take the letter. “Fetch the owl a treat from the kitchen, Harry.”
“On it.” He unlocked the back door with a gesture and slipped inside, returning a few minutes later with some cold chicken from the fridge, which he fed to the owl, “Sorry, no one was home, I hope you haven’t had to wait too long?” He talked to the owl as he fed it the chicken, With the last piece consumed the owl gave a head bob and took to the air, disappearing from sight in moments.
Hermione picked up the box and carried it into the house. They dropped it on the counter and opened the package, it contained six bracelets, three of a more feminine design than the others, Hermione moved her hand over the bracelets allowing the magic in them to call to her. “Nothing feels off, what does the letter say.”
Harry opened it and read through the text. “The bracelets are emergency portkeys, the activation word is ‘sanctuary’ and the safe location is Minnie’s home in Scotland, this can be changed if we have a better location. They will port the wearer away if they are rendered unconscious. They will vibrate if they detect potions, and shield the wearer from passive legilimency. To activate the bracelet you have to put it on and say ‘activate’ no prizes for originality on that then?”
Hermione picked the bracelet with the pale blue gemstones and held it out to Harry, “Can you put this on for me.” Harry fastened it around her left wrist. “Activate.” Hermione said quietly, “Oh. I just felt it attach to my magic, that’s quite odd.”
Harry placed one of the plain silver coloured metal bracelets on his wrist, and muttered, “activate.” He felt a hitch on his magic as it activated. “Will these work for our parents, don’t they need magic?”
“I don’t know, I assumed the goblins would sort that, they know they aren’t magicals. Is there anything in the letter about it.”
“No, and they won’t be home for ages and we need to get back.”
“Can we apparate out of the castle after dinner?”
“As long as there is somewhere we can return to without being seen, we should be OK.”
“Perhaps I can help a little with those?” Susan said from the corner of the kitchen. She walked over and took hold of each bracelet in turn, including those in the box, “They have a little more protection against mind magic’s now, and will take the wearer to our cottage if triggered. I suggest you take a pair for your friends at school.” Susan picked up two of the bracelets and changed their appearance to look similar to Hermione’s, one with dark blue stones, and the other with orange. “Daphne and Tracey will be targets, more so than the others, tell them to wear them at ALL times, they are only visible to the wearer and others with these bracelets on.” Hermione took the bracelets and put them in her bag.
“I’ll nip and change back into my uniform,” she left Harry and Susan in the kitchen and disappeared into the house.
“How are you settling back into school Harry? I assume being an adult in a child’s body is difficult?”
Harry nodded, “Hermione is feeling it to, she was wondering about using an aging potion for a day, as a holiday.”
“Use the bracelet. When you return to the cottage, you will be the ages you departed. You can have a little adult time, and return the moment after you left. It may help keep you both sane.”
Hermione returned, “ready when you are Harry.” He went upstairs and changed into his uniform, as he changed he pondered, he had his first Quidditch match tomorrow, he wondered if Hermione fancied a night in Susan’s cottage, to help them relax? He would probably get told to behave himself. He was still grinning as he walked back into the kitchen. “What are you grinning about?” Hermione asked.
“Something Susan suggested, I’ll tell you about it over dinner. We should go.”
------oooOOOooo------
Harry waited for Hermione in the common room, and as she appeared the foxes followed her into the room, and the twins appeared from their dorm. “Breakfast everyone,” Katie said with a grin. She looked at Harry head cocked to one side, “someone’s happy this morning?”
“I had a really, really, brilliant night’s sleep last night. Best sleep I have had in months, I feel especially relaxed and ready for anything.” Hermione’s cheeks were slightly pink and she was avoiding eye contact with anyone. They all left the common room via the portrait and Harry walked alongside Hermione, taking her hand, “Everything OK?” She looked at him and smiled, “prat,” she said softly. He bumped her shoulder and winked.
They sat as a group eating their breakfast, Harry thought back to the time in his past when he had been too nervous to eat and Hermione had made up a plate for him, starting a habit that had followed them through school in their previous lives. He picked some fruit and ate a light meal, he didn’t want a heavy stomach for what was about to take place.
Today the Gryffindor team would play Slytherin, the team under Marcus Flint was not skilful, but a brutal and dirty team, relying on intimidation far more than ability. Harry wasn’t fazed, he could fly rings around the Slytherins, and even with the anticipated fouls, he assumed he could grab the snitch and win the game for Gryffindor. Hermione was sitting at his side and deep in conversation with Katie, the Twins were sat opposite Harry and were chatting with the other chasers, Harry found himself momentarily in a bubble, and looked over to Snape and the Squirell, as pupils referred to Quirrellmort, neither was paying him any attention. Daphne and Tracey walked past the back of the twins and smiled and waggled their wrists, Hermione must have passed the bracelets over in their dorm.
Changed into his kit and standing with the rest of the team, the adrenaline started to spike in Harry’s system, he mentally blocked out Oliver’s nonsense about catching the snitch or dying, and settled himself into the zone he wanted. He pulled his goggles into place, and took a couple of calming breaths. Someone slapped his shoulder and they flew out of their changing room to the pitch. He saw the ‘Potter for President’ banner in the stands, and caught sight of the girls sat nearby, Daphne’s blonde hair marking them out in the crowd. Madame Hooch released the snitch, the bludgers and finally threw the quaffle into the air. Game on.
Harry flew up fast and started to orbit the pitch looking for the snitch, he watched the match below and kept a working distance from the Slytherin seeker Terry Higgs, he saw the Slytherin beaters attempt to box Katie into one of the towers she timed her pull-up to perfection and the pair almost hit the tower themselves. Harry saw a flick of gold, it was Fred’s watch reflecting the sunlight. He made a couple of more orbits, and then caught sight of the snitch, drifting along the edge of the stands in front of the Gryffindor crowd. Harry was on the wrong side of the pitch and the snitch was under Higgs, it was too low to fly straight towards, he would not be able to clear the stand behind. He pushed his broom into a high speed high gee diving U-turn the full width of the pitch, pulling out of the turn close to the broom’s maximum speed just clear of the stands and flying sideways along the front of the front barrier, he could see the snitch and Higgs trying to dive down to intercept. Higgs would not make it in time. Harry felt the vibration of his broom as Quirellmort tried to jinx the broom into a crash as he snatched the winged ball out of the air and pulled into the centre of the pitch holding his right hand aloft, he heard Madam Hooch blow the final whistle. Gryffindor had won 170 points to 10. He smiled, Hermione and Daphne had spent three weeks researching and two nights carefully carving a series of runes onto the underside of the broom shaft, to block any such attempt. Daphne had been amazed at Hermione’s rune knowledge, but she was close to Hermione’s intelligence and highly motivated. He owed them. The party in the Gryffindor common room went on late, Harry and the girls went to their beds long before it finished.