Chapter 21

Arthur Weasley was shattered completely as he stood there in the darkness and struggled to come to terms with so many things. The first of it being the loss of his three children, the next being the betrayal of Dumbledore, the fact that Harry whom he and Molly had thought of their own child, was fighting a war that no adult should fight let alone a child of sixteen; and here he was fighting so courageously after being made to lose everyone who was close to him.

For Arthur Weasley knew that Dumbledore had made sure that Sirius would serve time in Azkaban and not be there for Harry. Merlin! Snape was a better man than all of those who were Harry's own people. He agreed to become a slave to save the child. Arthur knew what a master could ask of a slave and he shuddered as he thought that Snape was willing to become one to save Harry, willing to kill Voldemort the moment he tried to kill Harry.

Harry's people though were bent upon killing him, after of course robbing his money and making sure he killed Voldemort. Arthur was not even aware he was calling Voldemort by name; he was so immersed in his anger and sorrow. Ron and Ginny were friendly with Percy and were accepting money to betray their friend.

And what a friend Harry was! Did they forget that Ginny had a life debt to him for saving her in the Chamber of Secrets and Ron, Ginny and the whole family had a debt, Percy included unless he severed all magical connections with the Weasley name, towards Harry for saving their father and the head of their family from dying last year in the Department of Mysteries?

Ginny, Arthur was mortified as he thought of the job she had accepted from Dumbledore for ten thousand galleons. To become a…, his mind could not say the word whore as he blinked his eyes furiously wondering just where he and Molly had gone wrong?

Dumbledore, Arthur Weasley's lips curled as his face took on a ferocious expression that made him look quite strange; how dare he decide that Harry should die and Moody, who was he their Maker? Then those who should surely die first should be Dumbledore, he thought angrily as he was the man with the most power.

He was very glad he had given his oath to Harry because he knew otherwise he would not have been able to keep this from Molly and this would have destroyed her. She was still upset about Percy and while that was acceptable as ambition, this was something entirely different.

He looked around the shocked faces of his sons and felt a tear running down his face as they tried to understand all that they had been shown about their family. His troubled mind was diverted by Harry clearing his throat and speaking softly. He had replaced all his memories into his head and had gone in the silence of the aftermath of the viewing to keep the pensieve back in the cottage he saw in the memories. That must have been the cottage Snape owned, he realized.

The silence was deafening and Harry was trembling slightly as he looked around at the shocked faces around him. "I am sorry guys. I really did not want to show you all this. I am very sorry about this. Please forgive me."

"Harry it is not us who should be forgiving you but you who should be forgiving us for the betrayal of my children." Arthur Weasley came away from the shadows and into the dim light and found six wands trained on him in horror and shock.

"Obliv," Harry started saying when Arthur hurriedly intervened, "I Arthur Weasley, swear on my magic to help Harry James Potter in his war against the Dark, Light, Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry and my own family if the need arises." A golden swirl of magic left Arthur and went straight to Harry who stood there absolutely gob smacked. Ron's brothers were one thing but his father?

Harry felt so humbled by the mild mannered man who ran his life on such strict principles that he was willing to give an oath to stand by those principles and realized the extent to which his last two children had hurt him. "I accept." Harry watched the magic go into him as he accepted the oath from Mr. Weasley.

Arthur Weasley came into the room and everyone saw the tear tracks on his cheeks with horror. "I am so sorry." Harry told him very inadequately as he looked in dismay at the tears that still continued to come down his from his eyes.

"Why Harry? Sorry that Dumbledore wants you dead? Or are you sorry that the Weasleys have finally acted true to the name of blood traitors, blood traitors to the boy to whom we owe two life debts? Or that the so called Order of the Phoenix and its Head only want your money and life and not your happiness Harry?"

Arthur Weasley sank into a sofa and put his head into his hands and there was only silence as everyone stood around him. After some time he slowly lifted his head.

"Sirius was so right. He was forever demanding that you be given more information and to my eternal shame I am afraid I did not agree with him. In fact no one did except Severus. Harry," Arthur looked at him before continuing very sadly, "Molly and I joined the Order to do our bit in helping Dumbledore and by extension you to bring down the evil that is threatening to annihilate our world and by doing so, we thought we would provide a better world for our children. But now I find that the side I am fighting for is not very different from the side I am fighting against and that shames me."

To the horror of everyone Arthur Weasley broke down and cried like a child. All of them looked at each other in dismay as they stood close to him but not saying a word as they really did not know what to say that would comfort him. A long time later he lifted his head and looked straight at Harry.

"Molly lost her two brothers in the first war Harry. Fred and George are named for them, you know. I lost my parents who fought in the Order alongside Dumbledore. Your parents and so many others like Dorocas Meadows were killed because they thought they were giving up their lives so that so many others would live and live a life of integrity and upstanding honesty, and safety and security. But when our side is capable of such horrible actions I cannot help but feel they have died in vain, all of them."

They sat around for a long time and then someone cleared their throat. Harry and the others looked up to see Fred whose face wore an ugly look before he turned to his father and spoke gently. "Dad I don't understand why you have to feel so bad. As that death eater Arran said, I vote we show all of these people a good many things." He turned to Harry, "I think all of us should meet with each other Harry. Can you arrange for it? During these holidays if we can?"

Harry nodded, "I have one more shopping trip that I can request. But Moody must not be there. If Mr. Weasley can come as an escort along with McGonagall and Severus, then we can meet at your flat. Is it well warded, especially against Moody's eye?"

"Not to worry. I can take care of all that. Dad will arrange for coming along with you and Hermione and you tell the others to meet us there on the day you come to Diagon Alley for shopping. All right?" Bill said continuing, "Now we must go to bed and both of you leave for Hogwarts as planned in the morning and we will try and meet within this week. That will give us the time to take all this in and plan further."

Arthur had not said a word and Harry saw the sorrow and the betrayal in their eyes as they went to their beds, Bill helping his father who leaned heavily on his eldest son for more than just physical support. None of them would sleep tonight, he knew and frankly he knew he would not sleep at all. The next morning Harry who had been tossing and turning, got up at about six, they had gone to bed only at three and went down to find all the Weasleys except Ron sitting at the table, sipping at their tea.

"Harry, you too have got up early, come on dear, have a cup." Molly told him cheerfully and placed a streaming cup of coffee as he sat next to Mr. Weasley who smiled tiredly at him.

Harry sipped his tea silently as did the others who were looking very glum. Molly looked sharply at all of them and then, "Arthur what is the matter? Is there a problem at work?"

"No Molly I am simply very tired, that is all. Harry when do you have to go?"

"Dad let Harry stay on for some more time, please." Ginny begged him. Arthur scowled as Harry flushed but Charlie intervened before his father could say something he would surely regret later, "Harry you must make sure that those Slytherins who got Ron and Ginny must be punished okay? You have got a large carton from Gred and Forge haven't you?"

Harry nodded his head as Molly looked at all her sons and daughter and the boy who was her very own in every way possible. There was something very wrong here and she was going to find out. Outwardly, though she said nothing, deciding to tackle her husband first. If she was not mistaken he was going to snap at Ginny for her request that Harry stay on. That was not like Arthur and she was worried.

All of them had their tea and then Harry went up to wake up Ron and chatting for sometime with him about Quidditch and the Chudley Cannons, both of them came down and Ron grinned at Hermione who smiled back at Ron. All of them chatted until breakfast and Arthur and the other Weasley marveled at the way Harry was controlling his emotions and behaving as if everything was all right.

Molly saw Harry and Ron chatting and she smiled. So there was nothing wrong there. Maybe Arthur did not like Ginny throwing herself at Harry when he was clearly not interested. Yes, that would be it Molly thought. Well, she would speak to Ginny about it before she left for Hogwarts, she decided as she cooked a mouth watering breakfast for all of them. Hermione and Ginny helped her and after breakfast Harry took his dishes to the sink and helped her clean up and then got ready to leave.

"Sure you can't stay Harry?" Ron asked him, "No Ron, I think this time I will leave and give you the space to simply rest. I think that will be for the best."

"It will be restful if you are there Harry. Come on see even Ron says so. Stay. Pleeeaseee." Ginny pouted as he fluttered her eyes at Harry, who looked exceedingly uncomfortable and shook his head. "No Ginny I think it will be better if I leave. Come on Hermione. Bye Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, thanks a lot for a lovely lunch yesterday," Harry looked straight at Mr. Weasley, "Thanks for everything."

He smiled wryly at Harry. "I must thank you Harry. Your gift was wonderful." Harry flushed for a second as he looked at Mr. Weasley's sad face. He really did not know what to say. "I feel a bit unwell Molly. I wish to lie down today. I will not be going to work today. Bye Harry I will see you later." and he turned and left the room making Molly hurriedly say a 'goodbye and take care Harry, Hermione' and run after her husband.

"Ron, I think you are beginning to get spots on your face. Come on off to bed," Bill said suddenly out of the blue and dragged Ron to his room looking meaningfully at Charlie who blinked and dragged Ginny not minding her protests straight to her room and placed a sleeping charm on her as Bill did on Ron and came down at the same time as Charlie.

"Are you thinking the same as I am?" Charlie asked Bill. He nodded and turned to Harry. "Harry can you ask Snape and the others to meet us at the Twins place today, now? Mum will be with dad and Ron and Ginny are asleep. I don't think we will get a better chance to meet in secret. Dad can meet with Snape and McGonagall later. What do you say?"

Harry nodded. It was still early and Dumbledore would think he was here. 'Fine can all of us floo to your place from here?" the Twins nodded. Harry activated his earring so that everyone could hear and spoke into it.

"Sev are you there?" the Weasleys looked at each other. It was so strange to see Harry calling Snape of all people by his name.

"Harry you are back at Hogwarts already? Albus was saying something about young Ron and younger Ginny keeping you there until lunch at the very least?" Snape's voice oozed with sarcasm and distaste. Harry grinned as did Hermione and there were other chuckles from Draco and the others who were listening as well.

"Okay Sev all of that later, now I want all of you to meet me at a place in Diagon Alley. Are all of you listening?" when he got a chorus of yes and whys, "Okay Sev, some of the Weasleys know about us." There was a sudden silence before Draco broke it, "What do you mean Harry? Know about us?" he asked in alarm. Snape was silent as was McGonagall.

"I have all their oaths on their life and magic and they want to meet you. Ron and Ginny and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley are otherwise occupied and this is the best chance for all of us to meet before School starts. The Twins flat over their shop is adequately warded and the Twins will be going first along with Bill to ward it against Moody's eye and also ward the floo against anyone flooing while we are there. They want to talk with you Sev, Arran, and I think it will be for the best if we meet when Dumbledore is not suspicious."

Snape recovered first. "We will meet in half an hour. All right?" he asked the others and when they replied in the affirmative, he spoke to Harry, "Ask the Twins to go first with Bill and ward the place Harry. Then you go and secure it completely. How will we come inside?"

Harry relayed the question to the Twins who told them to floo and gave them a new password, saying that they will change the floo password for the duration of the meeting so that no one will be able to floo in apart from them.

Harry deactivated his earring as Bill went up to his parents room to say they will be going for a walk before Harry and Hermione would leave. Molly was so worried about her husband that she agreed at once and so Bill came down and flood with the Twins to their apartment that was over their shop and casting many spells, reset the floo password and also warded the place thoroughly.

The fifth minute Snape was there glaring at all three of them and then he turned and started checking the whole place for any other presence. McGonagall flood in next and then as Snape spoke in low tones with her, Draco Malfoy, Pansy, Blaise, Arran and Ria flood in and then Harry, Hermione and Charlie joined them and Harry told Snape what had happened. All the Weasleys were struck at the resemblance Arran had with Sirius.

Then their attention was turned to a yelling Snape had caught hold of Harry's arm and had pulled him roughly to him and he stood there glaring at Harry for a whole minute before he started, shouting at Harry's irresponsibility for not checking the room for any other persons before showing the memories.

Harry knew Snape would be displeased but as he had got the oaths he had thought Snape would glare at him, say a few choice words and let it be. Snape though had other ideas and he had been petrified when Harry had told him about the Weasleys and after he had come to the Twins flat to know that Arthur had been there concealed had terrified him as that could have easily been Ron or Ginny.

"How dare you?" Snape bellowed and did not stop even when Harry flinched in shame and fear.

Snape let him self go and then wound up by hissing "How could you Harry? What if Arthur was Albus's man? What would you have done? All our efforts would have gone down the drain." Harry looked down in shame as the others stood still watching the two as Snape ranted on and on as if unable to stop. Harry to the shock of the Weasleys stood there and took all that Snape was yelling without a word in defense.

Surprisingly it was Arran who came to the rescue. "Come on Severus, calm down. Harry will be more careful in future won't you my poor baby?" he cooed wanting to break the tension and Harry looked up at him his eyes reflecting his emotions. He shook his head at Arran's attempt to calm Snape and then turned to him.

"I never thought of that Sev. Honest. I am so sorry. I will never do anything like this ever again. Sorry guys. I am so sorry." He looked down in shame as Snape finally calmed down and sighed. He went to Harry and pulled him close and briefly hugged him. Harry smiled hesitantly at him his apology shining in his eyes begging for forgiveness and Snape smiled back reluctantly. Harry looked at the others, an apology in his face and looked relieved when they grinned back at him.

"He was very quick Snape. He shouted an oblivate and my dad would have lost all his memories if he hadn't rushed forward to give his oath to Harry." Charlie told him. He and the other Weasleys were still in a state of shock after seeing Snape yell and then hug Harry.

"That was because your father was a decent enough man who wanted to side with the truth. What if someone had seen all this and walked away with the knowledge. It is not the lives that would be in danger that I am worried about Weasley, but the fact that the goal all of us are fighting for would have perished." Snape retorted. "All of us here are aware that we may die at any time. That was not the issue."

Charlie nodded in agreement and then McGonagall stepped forward with the introductions and there was an awkward moment when Draco, Pansy and Blaise shook hands with the Weasleys. But Bill, and following his example the others were only pleasant and then Bill and the other Weasleys started asking questions.

They had sat down as there were not enough chairs and Charlie had shrunk all of them at Harry's suggestion. Harry was sitting by Snape and was holding on to him, his face still showing his shame at his carelessness. Snape was speaking very softly and gently to Harry who was nodding now and then and the Weasley brothers were stunned at this side of their potions master that they were not privileged to see until now.

After sometime Arran cleared his throat and looked at the Weasleys, "What do you want to know?" Arran asked him politely.

"Well nothing now except that we wanted to meet. We have had too many things that we learnt last night that need to sink in a bit and we need a little time to accept certain facts." Bill told him, meaning the betrayal of his brothers and sister and all the others were quiet as they knew only too well how the betrayal of a family member would hurt.

"We wanted to meet all of you so that it would make all that we saw real. Harry would not be able to come once School starts and since Harry is the connection between all of us we thought we should meet all of you the first time with Harry present. We were fortunate the opportunity presented itself today instead of later in the week that we had originally planned. Of course, professor, when you go hunting all of us want in." Bill said with a sad smile.

There was a short silence and then, "What will you do if your brothers and sister are doing much more that what we know they are doing at present? Where will all of you be on that?" Draco asked him the most important question.

Bill sighed as he understood the implications behind the carefully worded question. He looked around at his brothers for a long moment and turned to Draco Malfoy. "We will be where you all are on your people, if Ron, Ginny and Percy are more than what they seem to be today. If they have," Bill swallowed hard and flushed in shame, "have taken only money to do as Dumbledore says then we will consult all of you and request you to allow us, I mean the family to deal with them as we see it fit. Is that fine?"

"That is terrific." Arran said breaking the ice and smiling at him and Draco and the others nodded their heads as well.

The Weasleys nodded relieved. "Our mother doesn't know about all this. So if they are taking only money, not that the offence is fine or approved but I suppose it is better then finding out they have the mark on their hands and are willing servants of You-Know-Who or are willing to kill innocents on Dumbledore's behalf, then I hope you will allow us to deal with them privately so that our mother never comes to know of the betrayal to Harry to whom all of us owe two life debts and who is also family. It would destroy her." Charlie's voice was shaking as he finished and he looked down waiting for their answers.

"Of course, Charlie, we all may call each other by our given names may we not?" at all the nods, Arran who had spoken continued smiling at all of them and all of them were struck at how he looked like Sirius at that moment. "We are not here to break families or destroy hopes. We are gathered here to save ourselves and the world we are living in from evil maniacs and manipulating jack assess. But if they are joining with the evil we all are fighting against, we will deal with them in the same way we will deal with any other."

The Weasleys nodded and from there they descended into a discussion that the Weasleys gradually participated and slowly the thick atmosphere was broken down and a slight level of understanding had been established. Both parties had Harry in common and he was their bridge and the point where they met and there they had no problems or anything and all of them were very careful to stay on that path, never swerving from that and into personalities.

The Twins were subdued as well speaking seriously and they came forward first and volunteered to keep an eye on Diagon Alley for them. So the first spy center for this new group was established at the Twins shop and Snape and Arran wasted no time and started warding and placing high security spells all over the place, giving Harry a lecture as they did it and the others watched with fascination as spell after spell was chanted and locked into place.

Bill was amazed with the cooperation and the hand offered by the goblins and he also promised to do as much as he could as did Charlie.

All too soon it was time for Harry and Hermione to leave and they left reluctantly for The Burrow and from there flood into Hogwarts in time for lunch. The Headmaster's office was empty and Harry and Hermione wasted no time there and left for the Great Hall. They found Dumbledore there but no Snape and McGonagall who were still at the Twins flat deep in discussions.

They had a full lunch and Harry wondered when he would have the time to speak to all of them about issues that went very deep with him. The war that had already begun as the death eater activity had started mounting in the holidays would be over at one point or the other. But what would happen afterward was the most worrying thing that all of them used to discuss all the time at the cottage.

Harry had been seeking some answers and he had decided that as he had the money and the resources and now the Weasleys as well he should start off on his schemes as soon as possible so that by the time the war was in full swing, things that Harry and the others would set in place would help the Wizarding World a little at least.

As both of them prepared to leave, Dumbledore asked them about the Weasleys. "Well Harry, Miss Granger, how was your visit?"

"Great Sir!" Harry smiled at him, "But Ron and Ginny are still recovering from all these things and so we left them and came over." Dumbledore smiled at them and Harry got up followed by Hermione.

As they went out Harry spoke quite clearly, "Come on Hermione. We can go to the Room of Requirement and start looking into that horrible assignment Snape has given us as well as those for runes."

"Harry I can tell you about the runes, but yes the room will help us with the potions assignment." Hermione said as they turned away to go to the seventh floor. They were not disturbed and Harry took out the used book on ancient magic he had purchased from Flourish and Blotts and Hermione with Harry's gifts and both settled down for some heavy studying.

Harry's shopping trip never came to pass as both Snape and McGonagall who returned very late that day, though at different times looking very satisfied told him it was not advisable. Harry agreed but felt very restricted and was most envious of their freedom, in fact of anybody's freedom to go anywhere as they pleased. Except him, he grumbled to Snape.

Snape was very sympathetic and he pacified Harry by bringing him up to date about what had happened after Harry and Hermione had left the Twins flat and Harry dutifully told Hermione everything.

Arthur Weasley had come in the afternoon and had met with everyone. He seemed very troubled and sad but as Snape said he had to face the fact that three of his children were not looking at things his and Mrs. Weasley's way. It would take a lot of time if not the rest of his life before Arthur Weasley could accept this level of betrayal from his last three children.

The rest of the holidays passed by very fast and Harry was now getting a hang on all the subjects he was studying both School and otherwise. School began and Ron and Ginny came back extremely jumpy and nervous and many students took great pleasure in scaring them by shouting loudly from behind them. That never failed to make them jump and squeal and run.

Ron was now eating off Harry's, Hermione's and Neville's plates and Ginny was doing the same with her friends so that they would not be pranked. The stuffing had gone out of Ron and he was not the brash boy he had been. The embarrassment he suffered made him very quiet and unobtrusive and Harry decided he preferred this Ron far better as Ron was content to sit in the library with all of them. He felt safer that way. Ginny too came along and studied with Luna.

The other thing the pranks had accomplished though that was not the intention was that Ron stopped looking at Hermione in any way other than a friend and someone who would help him with his homework. He still shuddered and had nightmares about his heavy chest and the pinches and squeezes he had received and for the moment to even think of any girl was horrifying to him. So he backed off trying to impress Hermione and make her somehow to go out with him. That made Harry very happy.

Ginny though was not disturbed by her change into the other sex as she was not mauled like Ron. While she found the experience very mortifying, she still had her goal to seduce Harry well within sight. Only Harry was never alone. He was always with 'The Gang' and Ginny found it very difficult to seduce him or flutter her eyelashes in the presence of so many persons. She bit her lip and waited impatiently for a chance. She was seeing Dean Thomas secretly on the sly in the meantime and went out with him in secret as Harry was a job and Dean was pleasure.

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The days and weeks rolled by and Hogwarts were as normal as ever though the outside world was not so lucky. Everyday muggles were killed here and there and the first big blow came around the first week of February a day before the most awaited Quidditch match of the year, Slytherin vs. Gryffindor. Tension was riding high and Harry as the seeker and also the Quidditch Captain was having butterflies in his stomach as did Draco Malfoy who was the Slytherin Captain.

Most of the students were at the Great Hall having breakfast when the owls swooped in with the Daily Prophet and other mail. Harry unrolled his copy that he had started subscribing since School started as did Hermione and could not stop a small gasp of horror as he saw the headlines, "Dementors Leave Azkaban!" in bold letters and below "Dementors Join He Who Must Not Be Named" and totally terrifying the Wizarding World.

Hermione exclaimed as well and Ron who pulled his copy from his hands was really frightened. "Bloody hell Harry, he has got the dementors on his side." Harry and indeed everyone who had taken out a subscription for The Daily Prophet was shocked at the news headline and there were many gasps and stifled shrieks that was heard in the Great Hall that day. Harry pulled back the paper from Ron and read the account below highly disturbed at the headlines.

The Wizarding Prison Azkaban is now no longer guarded by dementors who have left the prison unguarded and joined forces with You-Know-Who. This has alarmed the Ministry and indeed all of us who are aware of the implications. The Ministry has sent guards at once to the prison so that You-Know-Who will not attack and remove all the death eaters and others whom he may kill and use as inferi.

There are over eighty prisoners there and now about twelve aurors have been dispatched to guard the Azkaban fortress. Unspeakables were also sent to add additional wards and protections around and inside the prison. The Ministry is asking all people not to worry and to remain calm and fully alert and urges the people to learn the Patronus charm that can dispel the dementors.

Harry snorted as he read that account that went on to tell a short history of Azkaban and also mentioned that only one prisoner had been able to escape and that had been Sirius Black.

"Remain calm? How can you when you don't know when the dementors will come around and suck your soul? And what about people who cannot perform the patronus charm or squibs and muggles?" he asked angrily glancing up at the staff table. The mood there was solemn as all the teachers looked as horrified as the students, who had already started worrying about their families.

Snape was glaring at everyone and as he looked at Harry he scowled and got up excusing himself and leaving the Great Hall as did Dumbledore and McGonagall.

Harry knew negotiations had been going on with the dementors but apparently they had been finalized and the dementors had left the prison to start sucking souls of innocent muggles, squibs, witches and wizards.

"How horrible Harry." Hermione told him. "How can we ward every one against the dementors? Every muggle, squib or wizard would be near impossible."

Harry nodded his head. "He could do so much damage with the dementors on his side. Hermione are your parents' place warded against dementors?" he asked her as she gasped in horror as she understood what he was asking her. She stood up immediately to go to Dumbledore to request it when Harry pulled her down.

"Not now Hermione, later. If you do it in the Great Hall, then you will be giving ideas to the death eater children here." He warned.

"Yeah, Malfoy would probably run off to his father with this. What Harry says makes a lot of sense." Dean looked very troubled as did Hermione and in fact so did all the others. Harry finished his breakfast in haste and went along with Hermione, Dean and a few other muggleborns to Dumbledore's office.

On their way out Harry had gone to the Hufflepuff and the Ravenclaw tables and had spoken to Hannah Abbot and Susan Bones and Luna, and as a result two minutes later more muggleborns from the Hufflepuff and the Ravenclaw table followed the Gryffindors who were already walking swiftly to the Headmaster's office.

Dumbledore was there with Snape, Flitwick and McGonagall and seemed to be deep in discussion. The Daily Prophet was on the table in front of Dumbledore. Snape was sneering at all of them gathered there and before he could open his mouth and say something scathing, Dumbledore spoke asking them what the matter was.

"Well, Harry, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, you have come with a large contingent of people. What is the matter?"

Hermione who acted spokesperson for all of them answered Dumbledore's kind query.

"Sir The Daily Prophet has said that You-Know-Who has the dementors on his side." Hermione started and as Dumbledore nodded his head, "Most of us here are muggleborns and others who are firmly against You-Know-Who. So we were wondering if you could help us to ward out homes against dementors as our parents and families would be helpless against them if they are attacked while we are at School."

Dumbledore looked thoughtful, contemplating just how he would accomplish that. "That is a very good idea Miss. Granger. There are sixty muggleborn and a hundred and twelve half – blood children right now in Hogwarts."

McGonagall interrupted his musings, "We should ward the muggleborns homes first Albus and then go to the half – bloods. It would take about ten days but I think we could get it done."

Albus nodded and looked at them and smiled, "That was a very fine idea. Thank you Miss Granger as it would make all the students here at Hogwarts more relieved. Now," he sighed heavily his twinkle all but vanished, "if only we could find a way to protect the muggles as well. Ah! Well, we cannot have everything. I will have this done. You students need not worry."

Deeply relieved Hermione, Harry and the others left the Headmaster's office to proceed to their classes, which happened to be potions for Harry and Hermione with the Slytherins.

The Slytherins were already at the doors that were closed as Snape was still with Dumbledore. As they saw Harry and the others coming Draco sniggered loudly and turned to Pansy and Bulstrode, "Look the mudblood and the half blood. Why Potty, scared that the dementors will suck your soul?"

Bulstrode laughed, "Draco! Potter has a soul? I thought the way he looks his soul was already sucked off."

Harry who was still very worried about the implications of the dementors actually joining with Voldemort, lifted his wand and was about to curse Bulstrode who had her wand in front of her as did Draco and Pansy when Snape came striding swiftly his robes billowing behind him.

"May I know what is happening here?" he asked glaring at all of them. "Ten points from Gryffindor Potter, Granger for fighting."

"But I didn't." Harry's protests were lost as Snape opened the doors with a bang. "You had your wands in your hands ready for fighting." Harry scowled at that and looked at the others who had apparently put their wands into their sleeves the moment Snape had come. Gritting his teeth angrily in a show of hate towards, the Slytherins and Snape, Harry sighed inside and walked to his place near Pansy who was smirking at him.

Every potions class would result in five additional points for Slytherin as Snape would comment on the perfect potion that Harry and Pansy would turn in and say deprecatingly that Slytherin would get five points because Pansy had helped him to make a perfect potion. Harry had tried everything with Snape and still the man took too much delight in deducting points.

His view would be that he had to maintain outward appearances in hating Harry Potter. Harry had huffed and puffed, snorted and tried pearls of sarcasm that only resulted in soft laughter and teasing. After a month Harry had left it as a bad job and resigned him self to expecting points to be awarded to Slytherin every potions class.

Today was no different and Harry sighed as Slytherin points went up by five and he packed his bags and left the potions lab, Snape smirking but his eyes showing genuine amusement as he looked at the boy he had come to love as his own. They had Transfiguration next and after that were runes before lunch.

After Transfiguration, which was eventless and slightly boring as they were studying bones alignment in human Transfiguration, Harry went up to his runes class with Hermione. Ron had been removed from this class because of almost no assignments handed in and very poor grades for the rare ones he had turned in. Harry was feeling very relieved as this was one more time he need not put up a pretense of being friendly with Ron.

Neville whose grandmother had agreed to his runes classes, was there sitting with Harry and Hermione as he had slightly more than average grades in runes, the result of hard studying with Harry and Hermione. He had become firm friends with both and was fast losing his shyness and was on the way to building up an impressive character.

It was he who gave the idea of teaching the Patronus Charm to everyone. They had finished with the morning classes and the talk all around them as they walked to the Great Hall was the news in The Daily Prophet that morning.

"Harry, can I ask you something?" Neville said as he slung his bag behind him and walked down the stairs.

"Sure Neville. what is it?" Harry asked him with a smile.

"I was just wondering you know, while warding your homes is fine, but when you do come face to face with a dementor," he shuddered as did Harry, who knew how terrible it could be to come to face with one. That train of thought took him straight to Sirius and his third year and Harry shook his head as if to shake away those thoughts and turned with a strained smile to Neville who was saying something more.

"Sorry Neville I did not get what you were saying." Harry told him apologetically and Neville smiled before saying what he had once again. "When you come face to face with one then what? I mean you can't be at home all the while. What if you get caught outside?"

Harry frowned as he tried to understand what Neville was saying. "What can we do about it Nev?"

"Why Harry, we can teach the Patronus Charm to everyone who wants to learn, same as last year when we learnt it in the DA." Neville told him as they entered the Great Hall.

"That is a brilliant idea Neville." Hermione exclaimed making him smile and blush slightly. "What we can do is make a list of all those who can cast a corporeal Patronus and take groups of ten or so and start teaching them. Say half an hour everyday." She told him excited.

Neville nodded as they sat down. Ron was already there and soon all of them were discussing the ways to teach the Patronus charm. "I think that is a brilliant idea Harry." Ron congratulated him as did Ginny, "That was quick thinking Harry. It would be so useful for everyone."

Harry suppressed his anger and irritation at the blatantly false praise and smiled at Ron. Ginny he did not even look at, a fact that made her face redden in anger. "Hey it was not my idea. It was Neville's. He is the one who deserves the praise for his thoughtful thinking about others." Ron went red and before he could say anything Seamus shouted.

"Hear, hear. Three cheers to our one and only Neville." everyone laughed and Neville grinned along with them shaking his head and muttering about silly asses to Harry who just laughed.

Harry went off to his practice session before the all important match the next day and Neville and Hermione along with Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, Luna, Michael Corner, Zacharias Smith, Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Padma and Parvati Patil, Ginny started making lists. Ron was with Harry and they assigned Harry's and Ron's groups as well.

Then Hermione sent off the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs to bring all those who wanted to learn the Patronus charm to the seventh floor after dinner. Harry and Ron had come back as well and after dinner each of the original DA members who could cast a corporeal Patronus taught a small group.

Neville who had practiced during the holidays as he was living in a warded home that would enable him to do magic was able to cast a corporeal Patronus and so were Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Ron, Luna, Dean, Parvati, Padma, Hannah, Susan and Zacharias Smith.

Each of them took a small group of almost the entire School minus the Slytherins who had come to learn and for the next two hours instead of the original half hour they had planned before they left for their dorms to sleep, they stood in the expanded Room of Requirement casting the Patronus Charm.