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The screams were distant, but growing ever closer. Having slept through dozens of pranks, Harry was only slightly surprised that they woke him up. An earth shattering explosion sent stray tendrils of magic through the air, and caused Harry's face to pale.

Whoever was attacking knew their dark magic, and knew it well.

"Guys, come on!" Bill ran into the room that Harry shared with the twins and Ron, throwing everyone their things. "We need to get out of here!"

The cool redhead spoke with such urgency that Harry was out of the tent before he realized he was moving. The group wasted no time to sprint to a cluster of trees, running alongside the other fleeing wizards.

They're sheep. Remus and Sirius would be out fighting. As quickly as the thoughts entered his mind, Harry scolded himself. Remus and Sirius had training, these people didn't.

Bill led the group to a small clearing at the front of the woods. He looked at the heads of all the people who ran with them, there were more than he started with.

"Weasley group, sound off!"

Everyone said their names, Fred and George didn't even joke about it.

"Where's dad?"

"And Charlie?"

Bill looked back at the campsite, the spells were slowing down. "They went to help."

"Morsmordre!" Harry didn't know the spell, but upon hearing the incantation, Bill's face went pale and slack. He quickly composed himself, and turned to the direction of the sound.

Pulling his wand out, and putting an arm behind him, he screamed another spell. "Iconis Magnus!"

Harry magically felt for his sensor, and tried to examine the effects of the spell. There didn't seem to be any.

"Bloody hell, that guy's good." Bill turned to Harry, and his eyes were alight with magic, nearly burning in their intensity. He pointed to the sky, where stars seemed to be rearranging themselves into the image of a green snake and skull.

Harry recognized it as the Dark Mark.

Screams began anew, and Bill set a line of fire around the clearing. "Don't step outside the fire. It won't burn you if you're on this side." With a quick look back, he leapt from the fire to a spot several feet beyond. "If I run into Charlie or Dad, I'll send them over here."

With those parting words, Bill sprinted once again into the darkness of the trees.

Half an hour later Bill, Charlie, and Mr. Weasley all walked near the flames. Bill dispelled them with a wave of his hand, and Mr. Weasley smiled at his kids.

"I'm glad you're all alright. I'm just going to say this to you, yes those were in fact death Eaters, and no, we didn't catch any of them." He looked directly at his daughter. "I heard Malfoy's voice among them."

Ginny raised her chin, and put her shoulders back, staring defiantly ahead. She nodded once, and retreated behind a mask. Ron seemed to mouth something along the lines of 'slimy git', but probably more colorful. The twins were trying to seem nonchalant, but they failed.

"The ministry is probably going to try to cover it up, to say that it was just some kids, but I want you to know. The Death Eaters attacked, and it was damn foolish." Harry stared at Mr. Weasley, having never heard the man swear.

"Bill, you and I are going to side-along everyone to the Burrow. Charlie, go tear down the tent and get all our things home." Percy appeared swiftly, followed by a man with a stern face and even more severe robes.

"Dad, Mr. Crouch would like a word." Percy gestured behind him at the intimidating man.

Mr. Weasley scoffed. "Bartemius, you may have a word when my children are safe at home."

"Arthur this is import-"

"Damn you Bartemius, my job is not my life. I actually care for my children and those I love. Do you understand the concept of family over work?"

Bartemius Crouch looked unfazed. "I expect you will do your job when you're done?"

Mr. Weasley sighed. "Yes Bartemius, I will do my job when I'm done. Percy!"

The more political Weasley jumped at his name. "Yes?"

"Apparate Ron and Hermione to the Burrow, you're skilled enough for double side-along. Bill, you take the twins. I'll take Harry and Ginny." Mr. Weasley glared at Crouch, daring him to argue. The mustached man remained silent.

Percy took Ron and Hermione's arms tightly, telling them not to fidget, and disappeared with an enormous 'CRACK!' Bill took the twins more gently, and also told them not to move, he disappeared much more quietly.

"Harry, have you ever side-along apparated?"

"No."

"Alright, it's going to feel like I'm stuffing you through a very narrow tube. Just hold on tightly and we'll arrive before you know it."

Ginny moved near her Father and grabbed his hand in a vice grip. Harry grabbed his offered arm less tightly. The balding redhead closed his eyes and drew in his magic.

Suddenly it was as if Harry was being crammed into a water hose, and dragged across all of Scotland. There was no definition to the world, no flying colors, no spinning shapes. It was as if someone pulled a mask over his eyes, physically and magically speaking. He couldn't see anything with his sensor either. Just as soon as it started, it ended. The cracking sound that Mr. Weasley made was much quieter than Percy's but louder than Bill's.

"I have to get back to the campsite, Bartemius will be rather peeved with me." The older man rubbed the back of his neck. "I probably shouldn't have brought up his son." With a parting wave to Harry, and hug to Ginny, he disappeared quietly.

Ginny looked toward the Burrow, it stood tall among the hills and the apple trees. Her eyes were focused on something only she could see. "He's going to be angry."

Harry's eyes wandered around the scene, looking for whatever it was the younger girl saw. "Who?"

Ginny turned her head to look Harry in the eye. Her eyes seemed several shades darker than the previous night. "Voldemort. The attack was horribly executed, and drew unwanted attention. It was the result of alcohol and idiocy. When he comes back, everyone who participated today will be punished."

"How do you know?"

"I just do." Ginny lightly tapped her temple and walked to the Burrow, she stuffed her hands in the pocket of her jumper, and bowed her head.

The next morning the events of the previous day were all over the papers. The Prophet reported about the scores and highlights of the game, and the 'Masked Villains that attacked the celebrations. They were made out to be Bulgarian extremists that were furious about the outcome of the match.

The paper was well written and meticulously picked over. Nowhere did it describe the masks of the villains, and the floating Dark Mark was passed off as a very good illusion crafted by a member of the extremist group. Over all, it was very believable and utter bull.

At half past nine Remus nearly broke down the door in his haste to check on Harry. Mrs. Weasley barely got out of the way of the nearly hysterical werewolf. Harry turned in his seat to look at his uncle.

Kneeling on the floor, and looking Harry in the eye, Remus began to berate the raven haired teen. "I know you can handle yourself kid, but do not endanger yourself the day after leaving again. Sirius nearly had kittens, kittens!"

Having said his two knuts, he calmed down. "Did anything good come of your excursion yesterday?"

Harry nodded. "I met, and Bill flirted with, Vixen. Blaise ripped into Hermione, albeit unfairly considering I already did the previous night." Harry put a hand to his chin, pretending to think. "Oh, and our summer experiment came to pass successfully."

Remus only had to think for a moment to figure out what Harry meant. His mouth opened and he mouthed the word 'orchard'.

"Really? That's good. I have to get back quickly, Paddy is trying to tear down a couple wards, I'm supposed to be there in order to tackle him to the ground and take the brunt of an explosion." Remus shrugged, his face nonchalant at Mrs. Weasley's gobsmacked expression.

"I can heal ten times faster than he can, one hundred times faster with the aid of certain spells. Normally my condition is horrible, but occasionally I don't mind it." Remus's eyes glanced toward the food on the table, he had arrived just as everyone finished eating.

"Take as much as you would like dear."

Remus smiled. "Thank you Molly, I certainly will."

After loading a couple plates with food, Remus walked out the Burrow with Harry on his heels.

"I'm going to apparate to where Sirius and I are now, and he'll come back with me. I'll come in over there." Remus pointed to a large tree that had a much obstructed view, perfect for apparating in.

Harry nodded, and started walking toward a spot in the orchard that would be able to see the designated apparation point. He considered shifting, but decided to wait and let his uncles see the entire process. It wasn't even five minutes before Sirius appeared, he quickly shifted into Padfoot, and bounded towards his godson. Once again, Harry considered shifting, just to display his size and power.

Remus followed his best friend at a more moderate pace, he had apparated with a full plate of food and a fork. As he approached Sirius and Harry, who were wrestling on the dirt, he pointed with the fork. "If I'm right, you won't get to do that much more. Harry is probably much stronger than you when transformed."

Sirius backed off and transformed, grinning. "That's why I needed to do it now. It's not like I've had his whole life to play."

Harry sat cross-legged and grinned. "Moony's right. I'm bigger and stronger than Padfoot, I know I'm faster too."

"I just need to work on progressing to full on Grim then."

Remus, normally incredibly patient, was nearly giddy with anticipation. "Come on, let us see it."

"See what?" Harry's eyes shone brightly.

"You!" Sirius looked just as anxious to see Harry's form as Remus.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm right here. Moony, did Padfoot go blind or something?"

Harry stood up, and grinned. He focused on the primal side of his magic, the side that screamed to run, to chase, to play. He held it, and let it seep out, slowly. His black hair matted slightly, becoming tamer, his canines elongated, and his eyes turned to amber. His ears lengthened, and grew fur. His spine morphed, turning him from a straight-backed teen to a seeming hunchback. His fingers elongated and the skin all over his body started to turn to a charcoal grey color.

Fur sprouted up and down his arms and back, his shoes morphed into paws, and his clothing took the pattern of fur. Unable to continue shifting slowly, Harry simply let the shift finish, his face lengthened into a snout, and a tail popped into place. He stood slightly taller than Sirius when finished, and took great joy in blowing air in the Marauder's face.

"A Dire Wolf…" Remus raised his hand to stroke Harry's neck, but hesitated. Harry nodded his huge head, and the werewolf marveled at the softness of the fur.

Sirius walked around Harry, inspecting things like claws and tail. He had Harry open his jaw and reveal his fangs.

"Morgana's tits… Look at you." Sirius shook his head and looked around. "Ok Harry let's get a basic form of communication down. I'm going to ask questions with answers like 'Very much so' or 'Not at all'. I want you to put your paw forward for positive statements, and back for negative."

Harry put his right paw forward.

"Good. Can you feel magic besides the bit needed to shift back?"

Harry felt his core, and remembered the first time he tried to shift back once again. He put his right paw forward once more.

"Perfect, do you feel the need to hunt?"

Harry lifted his paw and put it right back under him, signifying that he only wanted to hunt for pleasure, and didn't necessarily want to kill.

"Ok, I think I understand. I'll just assume it's the same as when I shift, for pleasure, right?"

Harry nodded once again.

"Shift back, I want to ask you some questions."

Harry shifted, albeit reluctantly. "What do you want to know?"

"How long can you run for? Any idea?"

"I flat out sprinted for an hour straight yesterday, I wasn't winded at all. But beyond that, I have no idea."

Remus nodded, he was writing on some parchment, Harry had no idea where he got it. "Any idea how fast you were going?"

"Not a clue."

Sirius smiled and clapped Harry on the shoulder. "This is great! With your hearing and nose, you might be able to find even more secret passages than we know!"

Harry smiled. "Yeah, maybe I could add them to the map."

Remus shook his head. "No, the map's been drawn, no updating it at all. You could make a new one, but it's not much fun. We stopped using ours near the end of fifth year."

Sirius shrugged. "Most of the shortcuts we know of are only in our heads anyway. The more obvious ones, as in the ones we found in first to fourth years, are on the map you have."

Harry was speechless. "You, you found more than what is on the map?"

Sirius nodded. "I lived in Hogwarts most of last year. Down in the dungeons there is an archway that if you tap it in the right place, it'll take you to an identical copy of the normal dungeons, just completely empty. It's like Platform 9 ¾. Moony spent most of the free time he had looking for me in the castle."

Remus chuckled. "I told Dumbledore that if any of the four of us wanted to hide in Hogwarts, we could manage it without ever being seen. It's the main reason he hired me, I couldn't possibly explain everything I know about the castle to a single person."

Sirius stood from his sitting position, dusting the grass off of his trousers. "I should be getting back to the Borough, do you have any questions?"

Harry thought for a second. "Just one, how did you know about the Tournament? It seems like it's being kept very secret."

"Ludo Bagman is a very talkative drunk, and Noctem is a very special bird." Sirius spoke with an air of mystery; Noctem had rarely been discussed all summer.

The following days passed quickly, Harry spent most of his time talking to Bill about his job as a cursebreaker, and exploring Ottery St. Catchpole in his Dire Wolf form. He was told he was absolutely forbidden to give himself a nickname, it was the job of the other Marauders.

Life in the Burrow was tricky. He had to sidestep Ron and Hermione constantly, and make excuses for his time as a wolf.

Right, because Bill totally believes I fell asleep for six hours and didn't know where I was yesterday… He probably knows exactly where I go, stupid Sensor. Harry contemplated confronting him about it, but decided against it.

Sure, becoming an Animagus was legal, thanks to James and Sirius, but most people don't know that. With a small Wizengamot body in the midst of the war, only five Lords had shown up for that Monthly meeting and all of them decided to keep the information to themselves. The lack of reporters interviewing the Lords also kept the knowledge out of the papers.

Harry wondered if everyone knowing they could become an animal on command would have saved lives, Sirius had admitted that it was possible, but he and James weren't thinking of the lower classes at the time. They just wanted to save their own skin.

Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts. He had let his mind wander from the chess game he was playing with Ginny. It was difficult enough to play chess when thinking properly, when he was distracted Ginny had pulled several pieces off of his side.

"Are you ok Harry?" Her brown eyes were warm and light, not the dark shade he had seen several days before.

"Just thinking, when did you get so good at chess?" Looking back at the board, Harry noticed he was being ruthlessly crushed.

"Before Ron went to Hogwarts, it was just him and me. Mum doesn't like chess so we would play each other a lot. Sometimes Dad would play with us, but he's not as good." Her eyes drifted down. "And, I can see the weakness in your positioning. You're trying to save every piece, keep every pawn on the board. It doesn't work, you have to sacrifice. Every one of mine you've taken has been because I've let you."

"Because you can't see my plan, and the way I've been sacrificing, I can do this." Ginny told her knight to move, and Harry noticed for the first time just how weakly his king was defended. As soon as the knight settled in his new square, the king looked around before setting his crown on the board, signifying 'checkmate'.

"Do you remember I told you that I have these impulses?" Ginny's voice was low.

"Yes."

"I remember everything now. I remember walking to the roosters and ringing their necks, painting the wall with my own blood, and speaking parseltongue to control the basilisk. I remember setting it on the students and getting angry when they didn't die. I was furious at the snake's constant failings to kill other people Harry."

"And that's not the worst part. Sometimes, in my dreams, I see memories that aren't mine. Sometimes it's just simple things, like doing homework or eating. But sometimes I see Tom killing. He killed his father when he was seventeen. He killed Myrtle when he was sixteen. He was giddy when he did it, as if there was no greater pleasure than taking another life." Ginny looked up at Harry, her eyes were no longer brown, rather they were a deep crimson like her hair. She looked like she would break at any second.

"I feel giddy in those dreams Harry. I feel happy when I see the green light of the killing curse envelop Tom's father. It terrifies me, and exhilarates me at the same time. That's how I know that he will curse his followers for attacking the World Cup, I know how he thought when he was seventeen, and he doesn't seem to change much."

Not knowing what to do, Harry just sat in his chair, looking at Ginny. The red was fading from her eyes, and she didn't seem quite as fragile.

"Ginny, you just have to remember who you are, maybe you have to rediscover who you are. Find out, and act accordingly. You have an amazing family and intensely loyal brothers, you will never be alone. But if you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm right here."

Ginny stood and walked around the small table to Harry. Crying, she flung herself into his arms, and held on for dear life.

Harry rubbed her back and whispered to her, telling her it would be alright. He supposed that he always did want a sister.

Standing at six and a half feet tall, Ezekial Kent towered over the stately Augusta Longbottom, and dwarfed Rafael Barrion. With styled dark brown hair, and a fighter's build, few people wished to anger Lord Kent.

Lord Barrion seemed to be one of those people. He stood in a corner of the private room that was rented months ago by an unknown benefactor. Seeing no immediate purpose to his precense in the room, he tried to anger the only person that could have called the meeting. Lady Longbottom certainly didn't want anything to do with him, and Lord Kent was the only other person in the room.

Lady Longbottom suffered through the anger that was bubbling in her, she detested Lord Barrion as a man, and would destroy him politically, if given the chance. Lord Kent stood across the room, his hands on the back of an elegant couch, nearly ripping the cushions with tension. There were few times Lord Kent got so angry he ever actually did anything, but those times were supposedly very impressive.

The door opened quietly, and Remus slipped in, watching the display in front of him he only sighed. "I apologize for my tardiness. I was helping my friend rebuild his wards, they're quite tricky."

Lords Barrion and Kent stared at Remus, while Lady Longbottom smiled. Rafael Barrion had a look of revulsion and contempt, just as Remus expected. Lord Kent looked intrigued. Lady Longbottom remembered all the times her son spoke highly of the scarred man, and his skill.

"What are you doing here, Half-Breed?" Lord Barrion spat the term like a curse, and Remus sighed.

"I think that he means, 'How do we owe you any favors?'" Lord Kent raised an eyebrow, and Lady Longbottom nodded in agreement with the question.

"To put it simply, you don't." Remus spread his hands and shrugged.

"Then I will take my leave, beast."

"You, Barrion, however do owe my best friend for getting you out of a marriage contract to a pauper in Russia."

Lord Barrion stopped with his hand on the doorknob.

"And Lord Kent, you wouldn't have such a fine home if it weren't for him." Remus smirked and raised his eyebrow. "Lady Longbottom, you owe my friend nothing, in fact he owes you. If you stay, he'll offer an alliance and a vast sum of money. You will, of course need to swear an oath not to reveal what we speak of."

Lady Longbottom knew that the coffers of the Longbottom Estate were dwindling. Many of their businesses had been destroyed in the war, and the care she was providing her son wasn't cheap. An offer of alliance from someone who could play the strongest members of the grey and dark sides was an offer she couldn't refuse, not at this time.

"I accept, Mr. Lupin. I swear not to reveal anything I learn in this meeting, and to assist the upcoming endeavor in any way I can, so long as I am not incriminated in any wrongdoings." Light brown magic swirled around her as the oath took hold.

Lord Barrion and Lord Kent made similar oaths, but they were unnecessary, they wouldn't be able to go against the favors that were called in, Sirius did after all teach Remus how to magically enact a debt.

"So, what does Lord Black want?" Lord Barrion stayed standing, trying to appear more powerful than the werewolf.

Lady Longbottom gasped, suddenly feeling lightheaded.

"To prove his innocence, but with a Kiss on Sight order, he can't. You three are going to get him into court, and vote in his favor when he's in there." Remus looked the revolting lord in the eye. "Lord Barrion, you may be skilled, but I am faster, stronger, and know better spells. Sit down and stop trying to intimidate me. You're failing miserably."

"How can a mass murderer prove his innocence? He killed for the madman you undoubtedly serve." Lady Longbottom spat the words like curses, gone was her stoicism, she was well and truly in a corner.

"Lady Longbottom, if Lord Black, and Mr. Lupin truly served You-Know-Who, don't you think that Lord Barrion would tolerate this a bit more?" Lord Kent was right, Barrion was sitting on a chair, fury radiating from his body.

Remus didn't want to let anything get out of hand, so he spoke in the uneasy silence that followed. "Sirius is innocent, you think he's guilty because he did such a good job on his double bluff."

"His what?"

"Double bluff Lady Longbottom." Lord Kent stroked his goatee, thinking. "It is where one person says a lie, in order to pull the heat off someone else. In this case, it seems that Mr. Lupin is saying that Lord Black was not the secret keeper, he only said that he was to keep the eyes off of Peter Pettigrew."

Remus nodded and Lord Kent continued. "In this case, Pettigrew probably was running from Lord Black not to save himself from the betrayer of his friends, but rather to save himself from the brother of the man he served up to be murdered. The muggles are probably dead at Pettigrew's hand, and the laughing was most likely a jinx that Pettigrew put on Black. It seems genius. More impressive than I remember Pettigrew being in school."

"He had his moments."

Lady Longbottom looked toward the werewolf. "Swear that is the truth, and I'll be more willing to help."

"I swear that Sirius pulled a double bluff to keep the heat off of Peter." Amber magic flowed from Remus's feet and swirled up, lingering slightly because of wording, but accepting the oath.

"Well then Halfbreed, Lord Black is more cunning than I thought. That is certainly a well-executed plan. How does he want me to help? The sooner we can start, the sooner I am free of this debt."

"Your job is simple Lord Barrion, you will mock outrage at the lack of Sirius' trial, and Lord Kent and Lady Longbottom will back you up. Lord Kent will powerhouse the trial as much as possible, and I'll be calling in more of Sirius's favors. Lady Longbottom, your task will be simple. Demand repayment for what happened to Frank. With his lack of a trial, and you demanding repayment before a council of his peers, people will listen to him. Lord Barrion, you need to take a stand, not actually for Sirius, but rather your own sensibilities. Lord Black has rotted in Azkaban for over a decade without a trial, as a pureblooded lord you should be furious. I knew two of them, granted they were more to the side of the light, but still, James and Sirius would have been seething at the lack of due process. Are you going to let society think that you allow pureblooded lords to rot without trial Lord Barrion?"

Lord Kent hid a laugh as Lord Barrion stammered.

"You know your task Lord Barrion, how you go about it is your business, Sirius just wants to be a free man by the summer."

Having been excused, and seeing the folly in arguing with Remus, Lord Barron quickly exited.

"Is there anything else for me to accomplish Mr. Lupin?" Lady Longbottom's deep voice sounded.

"No, I would just appreciate it if you would stay a few minutes. Lord Barrion will most likely stay to see how long you are speaking with me. His debt is small, Sirius just broke a marriage contract for him. I want him to think that you are doing more than I asked in front of him. If he thinks he has the easiest job, he'll be less irritating."

Lady Longbottom nodded once, and poured herself some tea. "You said you were helping a friend rebuild some wards, was that Lord Black?"

Remus nodded. "He's trying to keep the old ward structure, and modify all the wards so he has direct control over them. He's had too much grief from trusting the wrong person."

Lord Kent poured his own tea, and reclined in the high backed chair that he had been sitting in. "When you say 'rebuild' are we referencing Raven's Borough?"

Remus smiled. "Yes, it once had among the greatest libraries in the world. It was the prize jewel of the Blacks. Unfortunately when that library burned, so too did much of the Black's legacy. Seeing how much he hated his family, Sirius is fine with that."

"I'm sure he is. You were not this political in school Remus, what changed?"

"A lot. I lost my family, I lost everything. And, I'm not the man really speaking here. Sirius has played you all like a harp. He told me what to say, when to say it, and whom to say it to. You've all responded exactly how he said you would. His plans are his own, what changed is a dozen years in Azkaban."

Lord Kent rose and offered his hand to Remus. "Well, I'm not sure if I should be insulted that I've been played like a harp, or flattered that Lord Black thinks I'm a worthy harp. Either way, I'm willing to help him with the Borough, because without him the Kent Estate wouldn't exist."

Remus shook the offered hand, and Lord Kent walked out. Remus and Lady Longbottom could hear him loudly asking Lord Barrion what he was still doing there.

"I think you can leave now Lady Longbottom. You've stayed long enough to look like we've been making other plans."

The older widow rose, and looked Remus up and down. "Frank spoke of you occasionally. You were a good prefect, but I think he knew of your condition. He trusted you, and he trusted Lord Black. I will trust you for the time being."

Lady Longbottom walked out of the room, no flair followed her, and no fanfare accompanied her stride. She was simple, and she was still in a corner.

She could easily become a threat, and Remus was worried.

Harry awoke to a deafening roar, it shook the very foundations of the Burrow, and flowed through the veins of magic. It was primal and energetic, and adrenaline surged through Harry's veins.

"Charles Septimus Weasley! What was that?!" Mrs Weasley's booming voice paled in comparison to the roar.

"You said to wake everyone up, I think I woke up a couple muggles way over there too." Charlie pointed to the town proper.

Bill, apparently not a morning person, walked down the stairs, into the kitchen, and punched his younger brother in the stomach, hard.

"Don't do that again."

Having seen everything by looking over the back of the couch, Harry laughed as Charlie clutched his stomach.

"Bill…" Mrs. Weasley began.

"No Mum, I've been thousands of feet below the earth for the past nine months. A roar like that would destroy my entire base camp at that depth, my reaction was tempered." Bill looked at Charlie who was still leaning over a bit. "Besides, if he can't handle a punch, he shouldn't be a dragon handler."

Charlie grinned, then launched his foot into his Brother's side.

Bill flew a couple feet to the left, and fell on his uninjured side. "Ow…"

Charlie stood and stretched, the motion paining him slightly. "Your punches are like little feathers tickling my side Bill. I thought Cursebreakers were supposed to be tough. You're a bit weak."

Bill stood up and grinned at Charlie. "We'll finish this later, so Mum doesn't kill us for fighting in the kitchen." Bill mock-bowed to his mother, and Charlie followed suit.

Ginny walked down, slowly. She rubbed her eyes tiredly. "Who roared?"

"Charlie." Harry smiled, he would have to ask for the incantation on that one.

Ginny nodded silently, and shuffled to the table.

All the other members of the Weasley family followed suit, except for Mr. Weasley.

"He's gone to help Mad-Eye Moody." Upon seeing Hermione and Harry's faces register confusion, Mrs. Weasley elaborated. "Mad-Eye Moody is an Auror, he caught half of the dark wizards in Azkaban."

He was probably in Dumbledore's Order as well. Harry realized that Mr. Weasley would do just about anything for a friend. He was very Hufflepuff-ish that way.

"Is everyone packed?"

Harry didn't even know why she asked the question, none of the Weasleys ever packed before it was time to leave.

"I don't know if Errol can make the flight to Hogwarts with anything you leave behind. Whatever you leave stays until the Christmas Hols."

There was a mad dash as Ron, Fred, and George ran to their rooms. Ok, maybe one of them does pack.

"Ginny, you packed early?"

The redhead smiled and nodded. "I rather like to be punctual Heir Potter." She took a superior look and tried to make herself appear taller.

"That's Heir Potter-Black to you Miss Weasley."

Ginny's eyes widened. "You're his actual Heir?"

"Yes, if he doesn't produce an heir from his back pocket before I'm seventeen, I'll need two wives. I think that Blaise has my back on that one though. If Sirius finally gets to marry Isabella, he'd certainly adopt Blaise into the house of Black." Harry shrugged. "If something happens though, I'll be both Lord Potter and Lord Black. It's more money and power than I could ever see myself using."

Ginny nodded. "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. With your fame, money, looks, and political clout; you may have absolute power by the time you're thirty, maybe forty."

Harry was penseive, he didn't want to be that powerful, but he knew Ginny was right. With this kind of power in his hands, assuming he killed Voldemort, he could be corrupted by it. I need someone to help me manage it.

First, I need to survive the next war. Harry walked to the corner of the family room where he had stashed his trunk. Doing a quick once over, he saw everything in its place.

Carrying his trunk to the front entryway he saw one there already, Ginny's he assumed. The trunk was badly damaged and horribly scuffed, but wrapped in enough enchantments that it could stand through any natural, and many unnatural disasters.

They may be poor, but they're all skilled enough to not need new things.

The trip to King's Cross station was uneventful, Mr. Weasley had acquired cars for the family, and the ministry provided drivers. Harry sat sandwiched between the twins, eternally unsure as to any identifiers between them. Everytime he thought he found a marker, like a slight rise to a voice, they would trade it between them. They mastered the art of deception, and seemed to think of this as an ongoing prank on the entire world.

Coming to an epiphany, Harry 'accidentally' shot a small bolt of magic at one of the Twin's chest. It provided a marker on the twin's magic. Now all he needed was for them to refer to each other a few times to make sure of which one he marked. Top that, twin.

The crowd at King's cross was abnormally large, possibly double the normal morning rush. Harry wondered how many obliviators had to walk among the muggles on September first every year. Especially considering how obvious the Weasleys were being. There were men and women walking through the shadows with their wands shooting nearly transparent grey spells. It was easy to miss, but again, months of watching every shadow for pranks helped immensely.

The barrier allowed him easy passage and reopened the world of Hogwarts. The castle wouldn't know what hit it.