Chapter Thirty Two - An Uncertain Future

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!

Chapter Thirty Two - An Uncertain Future

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—==(oIo)==—

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The collected family was only grazing through the brunch dishes while sitting at the table an hour later when there was a knock on the door.

Getting up and opening it, Harry met Madam Bones and two other aurors waiting. "Mister Potter," she smiled.

"Madam Bones," said Harry. "Please, come in."

She walked in to see the whole family, less the Grangers, sitting at table. "I hope I haven't interrupted your meal?"

"No, Ma'am," he replied. "We'd finished; but, we just kept talking."

"Dobby," called Daphne.

The little elf popped in. "Mistress?" he asked.

"You can clear the table; thank you, Dobby," she instructed him. "But, please reset the tea service for us. Oh, and add coffee to the service too, please."

"Yes, Mistress," he replied. With a snap of his fingers the now messy table was cleared away and replaced with a new tea service and a carafe of coffee with mugs.

The others moved away from the table for a few moments and stretched it to accommodate three more chairs; adding the three chairs as they went.

"Please," gestured Hermione to Madam Bones. "Join us."

With a sigh, Madam Bones took a seat as the others all sat down again. However, the two aurors took up station along the wall either side of the door instead of sitting down.

After she fixed herself a cup of coffee, Madam Bones began, "Well, to bring you up to date with what's been happening since last night... this morning." She hesitated a moment and said, "The Minister is like an ostrich with his head stuck in the sand. He refuses to believe Riddle is back. Even after I displayed Mister Potter's memory of the event, he's still in denial."

"If he doesn't change his tune by tonight, I'll use the Potter alliance to force the Chief Warlock to call an emergency session of the Wizengamot, and toss the fool out on his ear," said Harry. "There's too much that needs to be done, quickly, before Riddle is able to rebuild his forces."

"Agreed," she said, taking a sip from her coffee. "I demanded of him emergency funding to boost the auror forces. He denied me. And my forces are too small to fight a war."

With a sigh, Harry asked, "Alright. He self-performs a rectal-cranioectomy or he's gone. What else has been happening?"

While Madam Bones almost spit the mouthful of coffee she'd just supped out of her mouth in shock at Harry's remark, Sirius barked with laughter while the Greengrasses and his wives snickered or chuckled.

"There are things I cannot tell you, at the moment," she replied. "However, I can tell you I sent my aurors to the Little Hangleton graveyard, this morning, and they found evidence of the ritual performed. They also found the Tri-Wizard Cup, and I've had that brought in for you. It's yours, seeing as you were the first to it, last night. You won. Plus, I've got your one thousand Galleons prize money."

She reached into her robes and dropped a Gringotts money pouch on the table in front of Harry. "I know it's nothing compared to the Potter fortune, but you did win it. The Minister was supposed to give it to you, last night, on the stage. However, when you launched your patronus at his two dementor guards, driving them away, and then screamed and kicked the man, he obviously forgot about it."

"Huh!" snorted Harry. "He's damned lucky he curled up the way he did. What I really wanted to do was kick him hard enough up between his legs to give him a pair of testicle-shaped earrings."

That earned him another few snickers while Hermione just reached out and slapped him on the arm. That she was blushing so much was probably the only reason she didn't berate him for it. Or, it might have been Daphne's 'lessons' were beginning to sink in.

"The man brought dementors into a school with defenceless children," growled Harry. "He deserves far worse than what I did to him."

"Well, you got a lot of people thinking about what you said... or, rather, screamed at him," smiled Madam Bones. "A lot of people happen to agree with you. As such, I don't think you need to worry about whether or not you need to assemble the Potter alliance to get rid of him. I think that's now going to happen, anyway. It's more a matter of 'when', rather than 'if'."

"Then the man has a choice, doesn't he?" asked Harry. "Grow a bloody backbone or get shoved out of the way."

Thinking a bit, he asked, "I know I hit a couple of arriving Death Eaters, last night," he said. "I think I may have also killed at least one of them; possibly two. Were there any bodies left behind?"

Taking a sip of her coffee, Madam Bones shook her head. "No. But they might have been removed before my aurors arrived."

Hermione glanced at her watch and said, "We'd better go visit the Headmaster or he's going to come looking for us. And I, for one, do not want to allow him access in here again."

"Oh?" asked Madam Bones. "And why is that?"

"He placed monitoring charms in here and in our bedrooms," she replied. "He used a listening charm affixed to the wall of the alcove outside to find out what the password was, and used it while we were away for the Christmas break to get in here to place them."

"How did you find out about them? And how do you know it was him?" asked the Head of the DMLE, all business.

"Well, he clearly instructed Professor Whittaker, our door guardian, not to tell anyone he had come in," explained Hermione. "However, he did not instruct the Professor not to tell us who hadn't been in. Then it was just a matter of excluding the likely suspects and confirming by asking if the Headmaster had not been in."

Madam Bones gave a very unladylike snort.

"Once inside, we then scanned the room and found a number of listening charms," said Daphne. "Instead of just removing them, with the help of the Weasley twins we then set up things to drive the Headmaster to utter distraction with what he heard."

"Oh?" asked Bones.

"The one in the alcove was overlaid with a charm to switch everything it heard with swear words," replied Hermione. "The one in here on the coffee table was overlaid with a charm to switch everything it heard with the appearance that, whoever was in here at the time, was plotting the murder of various members of staff."

As various adults began to scoff and snicker, Hermione continued, "The one in my room was overlaid with the sound of me singing a very annoying ditty called 'Hennery the Eighth'. It's a muggle ditty that goes on and on and on. And the melody gets into your head and just won't quit. And, over that was placed a silencing field so nothing else would be heard."

"The one he put in my room was overlaid with the sound of a buzzing mosquito flying around your head," said Daphne. "And a silencing charm placed over that, so all you heard was the mosquito."

"But the one in my room was the work of art," grinned Harry. "That was the sound of wild passionate sex with added sounds of dogs, goats and bondage equipment being employed. The Weasley twins also mixed it with a compulsion charm tied to the listening charm that would make the one using the listening charm want to hear more and more, and also be compulsed not to be able to tell anyone what they'd heard. And, of course, over that was placed a silencing field."

The others had already heard the story but Madam Bones hadn't. She was roaring with laughter when they'd finished. And the two aurors along the wall were grinning their heads off.

"I'll have to remember that little trick," she finally said. "It makes it quite amusing."

"Well, it seems to have worked," said Daphne. "There've been no listening charms since."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

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After a few more minutes the party trooped to the Headmaster's office, only to be delayed by the gargoyle door guardian.

"Anyone know the password?" asked Matthias.

"No," said Hermione, speaking for the others. She just stepped up to the gargoyle and said, "We're here for a prearranged meeting with the Headmaster. Please, either open up or inform him we're here."

The gargoyle looked at her for a moment before it stepped aside.

"Well, that worked," muttered Sirius, as he strode to the rotating stairs beyond.

Everyone followed along.

Once inside, the Headmaster came from behind his desk and greeted them with that overweening false sense of bonhomie he often exuded.

"Welcome, everyone," he said, as he turned to conjure up a circle of chairs before his desk. "Please, take a seat."

As people started taking seats, the Headmaster returned to his chair behind the desk.

"Now, I hope everyone is rested after the events of last night?" he asked by way of statement.

"Thank you, yes," replied most.

"Now, I believe we were at the point, last night, where young Harry related to us what he thinks happened in the graveyard at Little Hangleton," said the old man, eyes twinkling away. "Amelia, you took from Harry a memory of the event. May I have the opportunity to watch it? I have a pensieve right here..."

"No, not yet, Albus," she replied. "I have people going through it with a fine tooth comb to eke out as much knowledge as we can from it."

"Ah, I see," he said. "Then perhaps Harry may be able to satisfy an old man's curiosity of whether he now remembers more of what happened last night."

"I'm afraid not, Albus," replied Harry. "Everything I remembered was told, and was given in that memory to Madam Bones."

"And it is a criminal matter, Albus," added Madam Bones. "It was a kidnapping. As such it's for my Department to investigate. I believe you've already been suitably warned about interfering with a DMLE investigation."

"Yes, yes; I just hoped to be of assistance," said Dumbledore. "For instance... I have quite the extensive knowledge of arcane rituals. I was hoping Mister Potter might tell us what words were used and I could provide some advice..."

Turning to Harry, he asked, "And what were those words, Harry?"

Harry looked to Madam Bones to see what she'd say. When the woman gave him a slight nod, he turned back to Dumbledore and said, "The words Pettigrew used for each step was, 'Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son'. The next was, 'Flesh of the servant, willingly given, you will revive your master'. The third was, 'Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe'."

"And what ingredients did he use for each step?" asked Dumbledore. "Though, it is quite apparent what he used for the second."

"The first was bone, of course," replied Harry. "He levitated a bone out of the grave at my feet. And I was tied to the grave of Tom Riddle. Clearly, that's why the ritual was held there."

Dumbledore nodded back and gestured for him to continue.

"The second was his own hand," said Harry. "And the third was blood taken when he stabbed me in the elbow with the knife he held in his hand."

Though he tried not to show it, Harry could see the man was quite pleased to hear that.

"Your thoughts, Albus?" asked Madam Bones.

"Ah," said Dumbledore. "I shall have to go over my notes, and reread a few tomes before I'll be able to answer that, Amelia..."

"Bullshit," Harry quietly but firmly growled. "I've told you before, Albus. I can read you like a book. The expression on your face was quite clear you know exactly what ritual was used; and all about it.

"Just like you told me, a few months ago, you didn't know what I was talking about when I related to you the dream I had about a ring and a rundown shack. I knew you were lying then, just as I know you're lying now."

"Is this true, Albus?" asked Madam Bones, with her unmonocled eyebrow rising.

"I-I... have my suspicions," he stuttered, clearly thrown by Harry being able to apparently 'read' him so accurately. "I just wish to verify my facts before I say anything more."

"Then tell us your unverified facts," she commanded. "I assure you, I'm smart enough to understand the difference."

With a hard put upon sigh, Dumbledore made a huge show of slumping in his seat before he looked up again. "The... ritual young Harry speaks of I've heard of before. It's a dark ritual in that it requires at least two sacrifices. The first being the flesh of the servant and the second being the taking by force of blood.

"The ritual is, of course, forbidden to use in magical Britain... as it is across the world... because of that. Alas, it is also known to be successful in resurrecting a body to its previous state."

"But, what I don't get is how it resurrected him to the state he was in when he died... Oh, wait, of course," said Harry.

"Mister Potter?" asked Madam Bones, as Dumbledore eagerly leaned in to listen.

Harry thought about his answer for a while before he replied, "Over Christmas I was discussing with family and friends..." and indicated those sitting with him, "... how I see the relationship between soul and body. This is yet another example of proving what I believe.

"The reason why Riddle looks like the state his body was in when he died, with the ravages of previous dark rituals clearly having taken it's toll on his body once he was resurrected, is because his soul... his spirit... remembered that shape. That shape was, for want of a better term, imprinted on the soul at the time of his physical death in October 1981. I explained that this was why ghosts always appear as they did at the moment of their death. For example, Nearly-Headless Nick's near-headlessness, Moaning Myrtle's need to wear spectacles, the Bloody Baron's blood soaked robes, et cetera.

"So, when Riddle was resurrected, his body shape again matches that at the time of his original physical death; complete with red eyes, no nose or hair, and a lipless mouth. His soul remembered that shape, and forced the resurrection ritual to shape the body that was created into that same form.

"It also proves my hypothesis that a witch or wizard's magic has nothing or little to do with the physical body. It's the spirit... the soul... that has the magic. Otherwise, just resurrecting Riddle would have given him a body. However, it would not have given him magic."

"Ah!" said Dumbledore, cutting in. "But, that's why two of the ingredients used in the ritual were from living wizards, you and young Peter. You are magical; therefore, it passed to Riddle through the ritual."

"And maybe we are both right, Albus," Harry retorted. "Otherwise, how do you explain his form? Shouldn't it have taken the shape of his body without the effects of the ravages of the rituals he performed in his previous physical life?"

"Hmmm..." mused Dumbledore, thinking about it. "Interesting. I'd like to know more about that."

"But, not now," said Madam Bones. "I still have an investigation to run. And I need to get my people ready to fight another war while they're ill-prepared to do so."

"You have a window, Madam Bones," said Daphne. "Many of Riddle's Death Eaters were locked away in Azkaban shortly after the events surrounding the death of... sorry... the Potters. Riddle needs to rebuild his forces before he could even think of prosecuting such a war. You have until he rebuilds his forces to destroy him, or his forces, or both."

"And you also know he'll target Azkaban to get out those who feel they're his most faithful," added Hermione. "That's however many of his inner-circle who are waiting to be freed currently residing in Azkaban.

"If you'll remember, he did the same thing in the first war. And, as with the previous war, the dementors will side with him. Having them at the prison only gives Riddle more forces to break out his most loyal."

Madam Bones allowed the monocle to fall from her eye as she raised a hand to pinch and massage the bridge of her nose. "Just what I need," she muttered. "I've not enough aurors as it is. Now I have to send more to protect Azkaban from an attack that's likely to occur we know not when."

"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news," said Hermione.

"That's alright, dear," said Madam Bones, dropping her hand away and looking across at her. "You keep having those ideas and letting me know. At least, that way I might be able to do something about them."

"Riddle will gather to himself enough people that will allow him to attack and take Azkaban," said Harry. "That will then give him quite a few more forces to then make a start on taking either the Ministry or Hogwarts or Saint Mungo's. Once he has one of those, he'll then move to attack the others. With the Ministry, Saint Mungo's and Hogwarts in his possession, he's effectively taken everything. He wins."

"In the meantime he'll return to his terror tactics," said Daphne. "He'll target the families of those he sees as 'of the Light'. The attacks will be mainly at night, and on their homes. They will also employ hit and run tactics. They will not stand and fight. Instead, they will apparate or portkey into somewhere, hit hard and fast, and be gone before the aurors have a chance to mount a defence.

"That was their tactics in the first war," said Sirius.

"And they'll use the same tactics because it's both what they know and what they know to work," said Hermione. "And Riddle, from what I've read, is a man of habit in a lot of what he does. Hit and run by small groups of DEs works, so he'll stick with it. He only brings out larger concentrations of DEs when the target is much larger, or better protected."

"Then the aurors need to reconfigure into teams of ready reaction forces," said Harry. "There need to be teams ready to go at a moment's notice. Learning of a site being hit, forming a team to go, and then going takes too long. By the time the aurors arrive, the DEs will have already left again. So, response times need to be cut right down to under a minute. But, that takes manpower and training. Manpower, to have the teams sitting ready to go, and training in how to stay in that heightened state of readiness for long periods of idle time.

"If the Death Eaters usually spend up to five minutes in one spot, then the ready reaction teams need to get there in far less time than that. If the Death Eaters then react back by shortening their times to, say, three minutes, then the ready reaction teams need to shorten their own, again.

"Eventually, you get to a point where Riddle's forces cannot stay on a target long enough to inflict the damage they want to cause before the aurors turn up; so, they're left with no choice but to face the aurors. And, the first thing the teams need to establish is anti-portkey and anti-apparition wards or jinxes, just as the Death Eaters used. You cannot give them time to escape or you get nowhere.

"If I was a Death Eater I'd have portkeys on myself rigged to auto-portkey me out if I ended up on the ground or unconscious. So, just stunning me would only allow me to escape; even though I was effectively out of it at that time. At whatever bolthole I'd portkeyed to, someone would come along and renervate me sooner or later, and I'm back to being able to fight again."

When he finally wound down, he saw the expression on Madam Bones's face. It was one of horror. "Sorry," he sheepishly said.

After a moment, she blinked and said, "No, don't be. That's exactly the sort of tactics they'd use."

"I hope you're not advocating killing people, Harry," said a worried Dumbledore.

"You're damned right I am!" Harry shot right back. "In war, people die. To win a war you want the people on the other side to be the ones who do the dying, rather than those on your side. You used stun-only tactics in the last war, Albus. If it wasn't for a sheer fluke, you would have lost the last war in a matter of weeks! By the end of November Riddle would have taken full control, and you know it!

"Don't go making the same mistake again, because Lily Potter is not here to save your arses this time."

"But... Harry!" tried Dumbledore. "You can't just go around killing people because it's the easiest way to deal..."

"Stop right there, Albus!" snapped Harry. "I didn't say I'll just go around killing people. If the Death Eaters engage with lethal force, then... and only then... do I most firmly advocate killing them.

"Personally, I believe in sticking to the law. And, I'm not just talking the law of magical Britain, here. I'm talking the law of the entire United Kingdom; magical and muggle. And that is the law of self defence. If you come at me with lethal force... if you come at me with the intent to cause me or mine death... I reserve the right, under law, to kill you first. I will consider you have engaged me in a duel to the death and act accordingly."

"That is the law of magical Britain, Mister Potter," said Madam Bones. "If someone attempts to harm you with lethal force, you are well within your rights to use such force back. However, you are not permitted to use any of the three unforgivables in pursuit of that."

"That is the path to going dark, Amelia," Dumbledore almost growled. "I will not have Mister Potter told such things."

"Oh, give it a rest, Albus," she snapped back. "It is the law and Mister Potter is allowed to know the law. The boy sits upon the Wizengamot, for Merlin's sake! He needs to know!"

"And I agree," said Harry. "Albus, I have warned you many times before about attempting to control me. Stop it!"

"I'd not like to see you going dark, Harry," said Dumbledore. "I'm concerned for your..."

"Again, Albus?" asked Harry. "With you, it's do it your way, or you're going dark." Putting on his best Dumbledore impression, he continued, "Do exactly as I tell you, Harry-my-boy boy-my-Harry; or, I'll be forced to accuse you of going... dark. By accusing you of going... dark... I'll manipulate you into doing what I want because it's... for the Greater Good... And only I know what that means, so I can use that excuse whenever I want. As long as they don't know it was the motto my boyfriend Gellert Grindelwald used, no one will ever question me about using it."

Sirius snorted in amusement.

"I think he's got you well and truly pegged, Albus," smirked Madam Bones.

"Why are you doing this, Harry?" growled Dumbledore.

"It's for the Greater Good, Albus-my-boy!" replied Harry. "I'm sure you understand."

"That's enough," snapped Dumbledore right back, all sign of his eye twinkle gone.

"Really?" asked Harry, smirking back. "Has it not occurred to you yet, Albus, that if you want to see who's going dark all you need to do is look in a mirror? Go back over all you've done if you want evidence of it.

"Start with 'For the Greater Good', Albus. That was Grindelwald's motto. He used it as a rallying cry for blood bigots right across Europe, as you well know. And yet, here you are using it almost daily.

"You were aware there was a prophecy about Tom and me and what it said; and yet, you continued to send out members of your Order... those who trusted you... knowing they didn't stand a chance against Riddle. You sent them out to die!

"Then there's your protection of Snape. How much information has he provided you of attacks and raids and you did nothing with it, just so you could protect your precious spy? Every one of those deaths is also on you!

"And, of course, let's not forget me. You knew damned well what sort of people the Dursleys were like. You knew damned well what my life was going to be like living under their so-called care. And, yet again, you sent me there as a defenceless infant, and kept sending me back there once I got to Hogwarts. That makes you a child abuser by proxy, Albus.

"You lie, you manipulate, you betray trust, and you willingly... I shudder to think even eagerly... sacrifice the lives of others. In other words, Albus; you're dark!"

"If you want to point fingers at who is going dark, do it facing a mirror."

"That's enough, Harry!" said Sirius.

"I quite agree," said Harry, standing up. "I don't know why we're here, anyway. As Madam Bones said, this is a criminal investigation, not a Headmaster's investigation... if there ever was such a thing for a criminal matter."

"I, too, quite agree," said Madam Bones, echoing Harry and also standing up.

Very quickly, everyone else stood, as well; except Dumbledore. "We've not finished our discussion," he flatly stated.

"Yes, we have," said Madam Bones.

As everyone filed out of the office, Harry glanced back at Dumbledore, seeing the old man sitting there with his forehead in his hands and his elbows on the desk.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

As the door closed behind Sirius, the last out of the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore swept his arm across his desk in anger, scattering and sending flying everything off his desk to the floor.

"I need time!" he angrily muttered. "Yet, time is running out." He looked down to his glove-covered withering hand. The potions Severus was brewing for him was only delaying the inevitable.

"I need the boy back under control; I need the boy to fulfil his destiny." He sighed and sat back in his chair. "But, how? And how does the bond, now sealed, affect that destiny? If I remove the two wives, will that then lead to Tom winning? Or, would that just complete the prophecy and leave Tom vulnerable?"

Taking his wand out of his belt he held it between his fingers. "The wand already owes it's allegiance to the boy. He clearly bested me and won it when I attempted Legilimens on him. I should have known the risk I took. I should have been aware of the likelihood of the soul bond providing them with protection.

"The boy now has the cloak and is the rightful wielder of the wand. All that is left is the stone." He reached his hand down and slid the drawer open that contained the ring. The ring that was now split where he'd used the Sword of Gryffindor to cut it, destroying the horcrux in the process but leaving the stone intact. Yes, he knew now what it was. Just as he had it confirmed for him that the diary was also one.

Holding the stone in his hand where it was fused to the ring, he turned it over in his hand. "Do I give him the stone?" he wondered. "And the wand?"

"No," he firmly muttered. "As per my Will I will demand the wand, my wand, be buried with me. And, there, it will remain out of reach of any who'll come later. I cannot allow the Hallows to be united.

"But, is that the power Tom knows not? It is a power he would want. But, not having it, would he know it? Is the 'power he knows not' the power of the Master of Death?

"What is the right path?" Decisions, decisions.

"And, the horcruxes. Tom made at least two - the ring and the diary. How many more did he make? How many times can the soul be split before it can be split no more? Or, at what number did he stop if he chose to stop before he reached the limit? Tom always had a fascination for the magical properties of the number seven. But, was that seven pieces of soul or seven horcruxes meaning eight pieces?"

Placing the ring on the desk, he reached into the same draw and drew out his latest journal. Opening it to the back he carefully read through the items he'd listed. From a list of over twenty, he'd cut it down to eight: The diary, the ring, Ravenclaw's diadem, Hufflepuff's cup, Slytherin's locket, Gryffindor's cape-brooch, his wand and Harry. Of those, he'd placed a star next to Hufflepuff's cup, Slytherin's locket... and Harry. The last one bothered him the most.

'However, Harry may have freed himself of it,' he thought, according to his comments about what happened when the first bond was initiated. 'That meant the soul bond, or bonds, may be the 'power he knows not'.'

From the list he'd scratched out other items: Slytherin's 'monster', the Sword of Gryffindor, Tom's award, Tom's mother's wand, something from the Gaunt shack, something from Riddle Manor.

Then there was a list of where Tom might have hidden the items: Riddle Manor, the Gaunt shack, Hogwarts, the Chamber of Secrets, Borgin and Burke's, the Ministry, Gringotts, the orphanage. And one added recently, the cave.

Of those, he'd already crossed out Riddle manor, the Gaunt shack, the Chamber of Secrets and the orphanage.

He needed to talk to Horace. He needed the man to confide in him, convince him that trying to keep what he knew a secret only placed him in more danger. Knowing Horace's penchant for collecting 'favours' from famous people, would taking Harry with him gain him what he needed from the man? Would Harry be willing to go?

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

"Do you have to keep tormenting Dumbledore, Harry?" asked Matthias, as they were walking away from the Headmaster's office.

"Yes," replied Harry. "I need to keep him on the back foot, or he's going to eventually find a way to get me back under his control again. And, you know what happens to our world if Dumbledore gets back control of things."

"What are you talking about?" asked a worried Madam Bones.

Harry thought about how to reply for a few moments as the others looked between themselves.

"I have... certain knowledge of what will come to pass if Dumbledore gets back enough control to manipulate things, again," he carefully said. "If things play out as Dumbledore wants them to play out, the immediate future is not a good one."

"How... bad is it?" she asked.

"Not here," said Matthias. The older man turned to Madam Bones and said, "Let's head back to the apartment of these three. There's information you need that's of a highly sensitive nature."

With a frown of concern, Madam Bones said, "If you wish."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

When the party returned to the apartment, Harry turned to Madam Bones and asked, "Do you mind asking your guards to wait outside, for now?"

"Is that really necessary?" she asked back.

"Yes, Ma'am," he replied.

"Yes, Amelia, it is," added Matthias.

Looking from one to the other of Harry and Matthias, with a look to both Sirius and Deece as well, she then turned to her two shadows and said, "Wait outside, please."

Both aurors hesitated a moment until Madam Bones gave them a slight gesture, and then both exited.

Both girls then cast about to ensure there were no listening charms or similar as Harry gestured to the couches. With a sigh, he said, "Take a seat. Please. This will take a little bit to explain."

With everyone sitting, the girls returned to sit either side of Harry.

Looking to Madam Bones, Harry finally sat forward and said, "What we're about to share with you, you will not believe. But, you must. The future of magical Britain, if not the entire world, hangs on what we're doing."

"Well, that was quite foreboding," she said.

"I know," he sighed. "But, it's no less true. We three know what was going to come until we took steps to change things. We'll explain how we know, in a little while; but, the Greengrasses and Sirius already know.

"For instance, us three were not supposed to have initiated our bonds. I was still supposed to have seen Hermione as just a very good friend. And Ron and Genevra Weasley had managed to keep Daphne and me apart through aversion potions. Therefore, no bonds and no emancipation. I was also deliberately kept in the dark about my heritage, so I was still under the supposed care of my muggle relatives in Little Whinging.

"If we hadn't changed things already, Barty Crouch senior would have died a month ago, and Cedric Diggory would have died during the third task. When I returned from the graveyard, no one would have believed me that Riddle had been resurrected. Common belief would be that I had killed Diggory in some ridiculous belief I killed him to take the glory of winning the Tournament. Then, for the next eleven months, the Daily Prophet would have printed stories about how I was a lying self-delusional git.

"Umbridge would have then seen me as a direct threat and, in late June, sent two dementors to Little Whinging, where I was still living, to kill me. I use a patronus to drive them away, which then leads her to immediately have me charged with using underaged magic and using magic in front of muggles. She fails in that, too.

"Fudge then sees Dumbledore as a direct threat and has it in his head the old man is trying to take over as Minister. Of course, that's just plain stupid because Dumbledore's already been offered the spot numerous times and turned it down each and every time.

"Added to that, Dumbledore wasn't able to find a Dah-dah Professor for next year, and the Minister forced on him Dolores Umbridge for the role. A woman, who besides being a blood bigot of the highest order, barely managed to scrape by with an OWL Acceptable in the subject, and never took Dah-dah for NEWTs.

"His idea is to put someone he trusts close to Dumbledore to keep an eye on him. However, Umbridge... or, Umbitch as we all came to call her... used the opportunity to torture muggleborn and half-blood students by making them write lines with a blood quill, and then adding a compulsion charm for them not to tell anyone about it."

"What?!" exclaimed Madam Bones.

Harry nodded and said, "Of course, her main target was me. By the end of the year I have permanently scarred into the back of my hand the phrase, 'I will not tell lies'. She also does a hell of a lot more damage than that, such as failing to teach even a single thing of use, but we do manage to self-teach through a secret study group we call 'Dumbledore's Army'.

"Because of the outright denial from the Minister that Riddle had returned, Riddle was then able to use those eleven months to rebuild his forces in secret. Within a few months of now he would have broken his people out of Azkaban. The breakout would have been blamed on Sirius, who was still a wanted so-called felon escapee.

"In eleven months, Riddle made an attempt to get into the Department of Mysteries to get his hands on the prophecy he knows about. Ask Croaker to tell you what's in it; it's the reason I need you to get me into the Room of Prophecies to get to the prophecy first.

"In that attempt Riddle is finally seen in person by the Minister and quite a few Ministry workers, including about a dozen aurors. However, during that attempt... one he fails at, by the way, as I smashed the prophecy globe during the battle... Sirius is killed by Bellatrix Lestrange."

That produced quite a few gasps of shock. Sirius went a little white.

"There are a number of Death Eaters arrested as a result of that battle, including Lucius Malfoy, MacNair, Nott, and a few others, who were unable to escape when Riddle left with Lestrange.

"However, Riddle had also used that year of 'denial' to great effect. He was able to rebuild his forces beyond the small circle of Death Eaters he had left from the first war.

"Almost immediately after that, the following people lose their lives due to assassinations: You. You would have died about June next year when one of your aurors, a man who's taken the Dark Mark, allows access to Bones Manor in the middle of night. At the time, Susan was staying with Hannah, so she is unharmed. However, what they do to you... is very unpleasant.

"Unspeakable Broderick Bode is injured in the attack in the Ministry. Before he has a chance to recover, he's killed in Saint Mungo's by, we think, MacNair. MacNair uses, of all things, a potted Devil's Snare to kill him.

"Emmaline Vance, who is doing something for Dumbledore's illegal bird club, is killed outside the Prime Minister's residence. I think she was part of his disillusioned or invisibility-cloaked unofficial and unrecognised guard.

"Mad-eye Moody was another. He died when the bird club finally rescued me from my muggle relatives the evening before I turn seventeen. Hannah Abbott's muggleborn mother, Pauline, is killed on a raid on her home.

"Riddle sent a message to Fudge demanding he step down, or he'd up his attacks on muggles. Fudge refused. As a result, there will also be the muggle driver and passengers of about twelve cars killed when the bridge they're crossing, Brockdale Bridge in London, collapses as part of a Death Eater attack in response to Fudge's refusal.

"Fudge is finally sacked in a vote of no confidence. He and his wife are found murdered in his home about a week later. Rufus Scrimgeour then becomes Minister; but, Riddle wanted Thicknesse. A month later, Scrimgeour is murdered when Riddle's lickspittles storm the Ministry in a coup, and take over.

"Scrimgeour was really no better than Fudge anyway, and had begun to take similar actions. For instance, he arrests and dumps into Azkaban Stan Shunpike, one of the conductors off the Knight Bus. Though he had no evidence either way he just dumped Shunpike into Azkaban because he had to be seen to be doing something, and he thought Shunpike might be a Death Eater.

"It's about then when Dumbledore, who was already dying due to a withering curse on his hand, was murdered by Severus Snape with the killing curse in the Astronomy tower.

"Igor Karkaroff is hunted down by Riddle's lickspittles and killed in Europe about this time, too.

"Thicknesse is appointed as Minister in a figurehead only role. The real Minister is actually Malfoy, who was released from Azkaban, and Umbridge working together.

"Umbridge implements a number of quite despicable so-called laws under martial law. One is the rounding up of every muggleborn to be sent to... camps. No one makes it out of them alive. They go in, and never come out. Umbridge forms teams of people, read Death Eaters, known as 'Snatchers'; and sends them out to track down so-called magic-stealing muggleborns and blood traitors. Hundreds are killed as a result. When the teams go into the private homes of young muggleborns, they kill the entire family.

"A few months after Dumbledore's death, Thicknesse orders the Ministry to take control of Hogwarts under martial law provisions. Through the school board, they appoint Severus Snape as Headmaster. Other appointments as Professor include the Carrow siblings as the Muggle Studies and Dark Arts Professors. Of course, all muggleborns and most half bloods are immediately removed from the school. They're never seen again.

"During this time Professor Charity Burbage is kidnapped and murdered. Others we know to be killed around this time include Ted Tonks and Dean Thomas, a classmate in Gryffindor.

"During that almost entire year, from late June 1997 to the end of April 1998, Hermione, Ron Weasley and I are running about the country trying to find and destroy a number of artefacts that were the reason why Riddle appears immortal. We discover the final piece was stored here, at Hogwarts.

"On the 1st of May 1998 we three, together with a number of others who've been in hiding, infiltrate the school through secret passages. With the help of the original professors we're able to drive Snape and the Carrows out. We then prepare the castle's defences for a retaliatory strike by Riddle and his forces. By now, those forces number in the many hundreds. They're supported by dementors, giants, werewolves and other so-called dark creatures.

"He strikes the next night. It gave us some time to get a lot of the younger students out of the school, but nowhere near enough. However, it also gave us some time to gather to ourselves quite a few wizards and witches who were 'of the Light' from right across magical Britain.

"During the battle that results between the defenders of Hogwarts and Riddle's forces, the loss of life is incredible. Hundreds die. They include, for those I know on the light side: Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Fred Weasley, Colin Creevey, Daphne Greengrass, Hermione Granger... and Harry Potter.

"Riddle, now with Dumbledore and me - the only one according to the prophecy that could kill him - out of the way, takes over everything and seizes full control. That is, he takes over everything for a little while.

"By this time the muggles are fully aware of what's going on. The Battle of Hogwarts, while giving Riddle a victory, marks the death knell for magical Britain. Her Majesty, after patiently waiting for Her magical subjects to deal with the problem, has finally had enough and sends in Her forces. Magical Britain, already reeling from the war, stands no chance against her combined forces of over 320,000 military personnel and 120,000 police officers... muggle aurors. With close to half a million highly trained soldiers and law enforcement officers at Her command in the United Kingdom alone, and due to wizards and witches apparating and portkeying away from custody, Her Majesty's forces quickly develop a 'take no prisoners' response. Only the young children are exempt from that policy; pre-Hogwarts age. Magical Britain is quickly destroyed. Almost all of it occurs within the first forty-eight hours of when She orders them in. That's late May 1998.

"Of course, with the laughable Statute of Secrecy now in tatters, the same efforts soon occur right across the globe. Of the total worldwide wizarding population, by the end of the first decade after the turn of the century, less than five percent remain alive. Of those alive, with the exception of about one percent of the remainder still alive because they're better at hiding, every one of them is forced to swear an oath of fealty to the muggle rulers. Almost all of them are muggleborn.

"And pretty much the cause of all of it can be laid at the feet of one man - Albus Dumbledore - a stupid, self-aggrandising, manipulative old fool who tried to shape a prophecy spoken to him in early 1980, to how he wanted it to play out. A prophecy spoken to him by Sybill Patricia Trelawney in the Hog's Head Tavern about three months before I was born. He ran almost completely counter to how Lady Destiny and the three Fates planned and wanted it to happen. If he'd done the right thing from the get-go, none of it would have happened that way."

"Dobby," called Daphne, once she realised Harry had wound down.

"Yes, Mistress?" asked the little elf after popping in.

"Can you bring a few glasses and a bottle of Firewhiskey for the adults, and a few bottles of butterbeer for us?"

"Yes, Mistress," replied Dobby before he popped away again.

A few moments later, the alcohol and glasses appeared on the coffee table between them.

Harry and the girls poured 'healthy' measures for the adults before handing each a glass. Then they each picked up a bottle of butterbeer before sitting back again.

Once most of the glasses when chugged back. The three waited for the adults to get their collective heads around what they were just told.

The first to regain her senses, Madam Bones asked, "How do you know this?"

"Because they've both lived it and we told them," said a voice all but Madam Bones recognised - Roma.

Walking out of the corner of the room and up behind the couch on which the three bondmates were sitting together came Della, Roma and John. Each stood behind their 'charge'. As per usual, they were dressed in white, billowy robes. But, this time, they also wore a softly glowing golden halo each.

Looking like she was about to pass out, Madam Bones gaped at them and stuttered, "Y-you're..."

"Yes, baby; we are," replied Della.

"Do not doubt what you've just heard, Amelia Susan," said Roma. "These three lived it. Well, at least up until the 2nd of May in the year of our Lord 1998, at any rate. But, they have also spoken the truth of what would have happened after that date."

"These three were backstepped, sent back in time, to the first of September last year to ensure that what you've just heard does not happen as you heard it," said John. "Through special dispensation from the Almighty, these three were sent back with a mission to set things to rights. We ask you to assist them. Please, do so."

Then the three angels quickly faded away again.

And that led to another round of measures of firewhiskey being shot back.

"Sweet Merlin!" said Sirius. "They really are angels!"

"Oh, yes," said Harry. "You hadn't met them before, either. Sorry. But, we did warn you."

"Not me, you didn't!" complained Madam Bones.

"Would you have believed us if you hadn't seen them with your own eyes?" asked Daphne.

Madam Bones appeared to think about that for a few moments before she drew a deep breath. "No," she sighed. "I guess not."

"Do you now?" asked Daphne.

"Yes," the older witch said with another sigh.

"Which is probably why they put in an appearance," said Hermione. "Each time they've appeared in the past it's because they've needed to prove their existence to family. With Sirius, they didn't need to. He believed without it needing to be proven. Now, it was your turn."

"Clearly we need your help to finish the first stage of the mission," said Harry. "As killing Riddle is the only part left to go of that stage, you somehow play an important role in that."

"I hope they don't think I'm the one to kill that man," she said.

"No, that's me," said Harry. "The prophecy says so."

"What was supposed to have happened, according to how everything should have played out if Dumbledore had done the right thing from the start," said Hermione. "Is: Dumbledore hears the prophecy; he... working with the Potters, Sirius and Remus... begins to train Harry from a very young age in secret; then Riddle is killed, somehow, the first time.

"Eventually, Harry puts in an appearance; and he's highly trained for his eventual confrontation. Riddle gets resurrected. The two finally face in a single combat battle of good versus evil. If Harry wins it heralds the dawn of a great many years of peace and tranquillity that lasts centuries. If, however, Riddle wins, it heralds the dawn of the exact opposite. But, there was little likelihood of that.

"Because of Dumbledore not doing the right thing, steps have had to be taken to get things back on track. Part of that included our being sent back in time to the first of September, the creation of our three-way soul bond, our having the knowledge to do what we need to do, and a few other things that are not as important.

"That's what has brought us to today."

"Are we allowed to know the mission?" asked Madam Bones.

"Most of the first phase is already successfully completed," said Harry. "They are: end the friendship between myself and the two youngest Weasleys, to stop them influencing my behaviour and otherwise interfering with their potions; get Sirius cleared of all charges; round up Riddle's soul anchors, and free the soul fragments from them; allow Dumbledore to go after one of the anchors, which slowly kills him, removing him from being a negative influence on what's to come; claim emancipation as soon as possible; let what happened in the graveyard happen so we could get the snake and allow Riddle to be resurrected so he becomes mortal again; ensure magical Britain is aware of Riddle's resurrection immediately after it occurs; I was to bond with these two lovely ladies; and, finally, kill Riddle once he was resurrected.

"All but the last one has now been completed."

"And the second phase?" she asked.

"We... don't know the full details of it yet," said Hermione. "However, we know it has something to do with Daphne and me. There's a reason Daphne and I were also brought back. It has to do with the soul bond and how the three of us go on to greatness."

"But, we don't know what our angels mean by that, yet," Daphne smoothly added. "We think they, our angels, want us not worrying about that until after Harry's dealt with Riddle. But, we think things that have been recently happening have to do with it."

"Things like Harry picking up his Order of Merlin, and getting him on the Wizengamot through it; clearing the air about Harry's true history of living at Privett Drive through to the first of September last year, and what really happened during the first three years of school; Harry's, then ours, emancipations; Harry figuring out the nature of souls; and getting Dumbledore and his manipulations out of the way, are all issues surrounding what comes next."

"And where are these soul anchors?" asked Madam Bones.

Harry turned his head slightly and called for Dobby.

"Yes, Master Harry?" asked the elf.

"Can you go into my trunk and bring out those special items I have in there?" asked Harry.

"Yes, Sir!" replied the elf before he popped away.

A few moments later and the now horcrux free objects appeared on the coffee table. Leaning forward, Harry indicated each. "These are - from left to right - Salazaar Slytherin's locket; Helga Hufflepuff's Cup and Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem. The other soul anchors were Riddle's familiar, Nagini... which Daphne managed to kill very shortly after Riddle was resurrected... Riddle's school years diary, which I destroyed at the end of second year and Dumbledore now possesses; the Gaunt family ring, which Dumbledore also currently has; and the accidental one, which the angels destroyed and was behind the scar on my forehead. That makes seven.

"All are now free of the soul fragments that held Riddle on this plane of existence as a wraith. So, Riddle is now mortal, again. That means, from now on, anyone can really kill him. However, I'm still the one fated to do it according to the prophecy."

"Harry, right in front of me I see three of the most treasured heirlooms our nation has ever had, yet thought lost," said Madam Bones. "How in Merlin's name did Riddle ever find them to turn them into those soul anchors you mentioned?"

"He found out the location of the diadem from the Grey Lady - the House ghost for Ravenclaw - who was once Helena Ravenclaw, Rowena's daughter," he replied. "The previous owner of both the locket and the cup was Hepzibah Smith. Riddle stole them from her back in the '70s while he worked at Borgin and Burke's, and before he killed her and pointed the blame at her house elf, Hokey. Before her, the locket was owned by his mother, Merope Gaunt, who sold it to Smith for a few galleons to try and survive. The cup was a Smith family heirloom.

"He was also looking for something belonging to Gryffindor but never found it, I think. If he did, he never converted it into a soul anchor; or used it to create the familiar bond with Nagini. He searched for Gryffindor's cape brooch and the sword but we know he never found the sword, at least."

"What do you plan on doing with them?" she asked indicating the three heirlooms.

"Once Riddle's dealt with, and Dumbledore is either dead or no longer an issue, I'm going to present them to the school," he replied with a shrug. "By rights, the locket and cup belong to the Smith family, as it was from them they were stolen. However, there's no legitimate reason they had them in the first place, unless they can prove ancestry to Helga Hufflepuff for the cup. And Merope stole the locket from her brother.

"No. They should be in the school under heavy anti-theft enchantments. I intend to work with Professors Flitwick and McGonagall to place them, and the sword, in display cases to go into the Entrance Hall."

"And what now for your mission?" asked Sirius.

"Now we wait until we track down where Riddle went to ground," said Hermione. "In the previous timeline he went almost directly to Malfoy Manor and hid out under their wards."

"Which reminds me," said Harry turning to look directly at Sirius, suddenly on a different topic. "How're cousins Narcissa and Draco?"

Surprised at the change, Sirius said, "Both are now back to, or for the first time when it comes to Draco, being Blacks."

"Well, I think one of the Death Eaters I hit in the face with a reductor, last night, was dear old Lucy," said Harry. "If that's the case, and Riddle wasn't already keyed into the wards at Malfoy manor, he wouldn't have headed there, last night, after I hurt him.

"That leaves, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, MacNair, Avery, Yaxley annnnd... Rowle. Whose place from those he'd go to, I wouldn't know. I guess it would depend on who has the nicest and most well-protected Manor. He'd demand nothing less."

"It'd be Nott Manor," suggested Matthias.

"Too well protected to attack with only a small force," said Madam Bones.

"However, that aside, it doesn't stop Madam Bones from boosting her auror force from donations, and making sure the wizarding world is alerted to Riddle's resurrection," said Daphne.

"No need to worry about the second part of that," replied the woman. "I take it you've not seen the Prophet, this morning?"

"Errr... no," said Harry, as his wives shook their heads.

"Your copies were waiting for you when we arrived," said Sirius, rising from the table and going over to the coffee table.

He picked up their two copies that were on the low table waiting for them, and brought them back. He tossed them to the three teens.

There, on the front page, was the headline 'HE'S BACK!'

Skeeter had worked fast to get the story written and covered for the front page, lead story. There was also a photograph of Harry holding up a prone Pettigrew's arm with the Dark Mark bared. And another with Harry pulsing magic when his oath took hold and he cast his sparklers.

Their fastest reader, Hermione said, "Fudge is accusing you of being confounded again. He's claiming you didn't really witness Riddle's resurrection. Instead, he's claiming you were kidnapped by subversive elements out to discredit his Ministry, and are using you as their pawn.

"And... according to him, the reason you were able to give the oath and weren't punished was because you believed what you were saying was true; even though it wasn't."

"Arsehole," muttered Harry. "That's twice now he's accused me of being confounded because he refuses to accept the truth."

"Skeeter mentions that," said Hermione; still looking down at the paper. "She also mentions how Fudge was wrong about you being confounded the last time he accused you of such; and that Sirius really was innocent."

"We need him gone," said Harry.

"Can I ask you to hold off on kicking him out, for now?" asked Madam Bones.

"Why?" frowned Harry, staring back.

With a sigh, she said, "The Unspeakables and I have a plan to clear the Ministry of all those with the Dark Mark, are otherwise Riddle supporters, or have otherwise engaged in illegal activities. I'd like to enact that plan immediately after sacking Fudge, and before a claimant for the position can rally support."

"You'd be up for that position, Amelia," said Matthias. "You'd make an excellent Minister."

"I know," she replied. "However, I hadn't planned on running for the position until my Susan graduates. And, with Riddle back, I need to be where I am."

"We can't let Scrimgeour get it," said Harry.

"No," she replied. "So, we need to prepare a viable alternative candidate."

"Kingsley Shacklebolt was supposed to be the Minister after Thicknesse was tossed out after the Battle of Hogwarts if I'd beaten Riddle," mused Harry. "I also think Arthur Weasley would make a good Minister."

"How about Amos Diggory?" added Daphne.

"I have an idea," smirked Hermione.

"Oh-oh!" said Sirius. "I know that look. It was the same one Lily used to get when she thought up a good prank."

"We're listening," said Madam Bones, a little warily.

"Minister Matthias Greengrass," grinned Hermione.

Daphne gasped as the rest of the table held their collective breaths and thought about it. Matthias just looked back in shock.

Harry snorted. "You have the experience, Matthias," he explained, turning to look at his father-in-law. "You've served on the Wizengamot, with distinction. You know all the players. You're respected within the Ministry. You're known not to take bribes or the like. And you have both the fortitude and the skillset to be a huge success."

"I..." stuttered Matthias. "I'll... have to think about it."

"You've got time," said Madam Bones. "I'll keep you up to date with the plans to clean out the Ministry. I'll give you my full support as Head of the DMLE when the time comes..."

"You'll have the backing of the Potter alliance," added Harry.

"And the Black alliance," added Sirius.

"As I said; I'll have to think about it," the man warily said.

"Spoken like a skilled politician," grinned Sirius.

"You do realise it'll paint an even larger target on my back, don't you?" asked Matthias, a little grumpily. "If Riddle follows the same path as in the old timeline according to these three, he'll demand my removal and - one way or another - kill me himself or have me killed."

"The difference, here, is that you won't be like an ostrich and stick your head in the sand as Fudge did," said Harry. "You can immediately implement overarching legislation that makes things like having the Dark Mark an offence. You can make being scanned for the Mark a requirement for working at the Ministry, including within the aurors. And have those scans occur at any time. Snap inspections, they're called.

"You can then make it an automatic jail sentence to be caught wearing Death Eater robes, guilty until proven innocent. And the same for those who haven't already managed to successfully claim the Imperius curse for their existing Marks. You can even throw in mandatory Veritaserum for all trials relating to Death Eater activity by suspending the law that allows purebloods to escape being forced Veritaserum in their trials."

"There're lots of advantages to curb the number who became Death Eaters from becoming them in this timeline," said Hermione. "Personally, I'd figure out a way to seize their vaults. Claim it as a breach of law to finance terrorist or other subversive actions against the Ministry; or something like that."

"Ouch!" winced Sirius.

"The way to do it is for the Ministry to take control of the family vaults and monitor how much money goes out of it. You set each family member a stipend, including the Head of House," explained Harry. "Then, they'll be able to live off what they get, but won't be able to donate huge sums to Riddle's terrorist organisation. Or anywhere else, for that matter."

"That's another thing that can be done," said Hermione. "Force the Prophet and other media organisations to refer to 'You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters' as 'Riddle and his terrorists', common street thugs who hide their identities because they know in their hearts... their blackened hearts... that what they're doing is wrong."

"She's right," said Daphne. "Calling them by their chosen name of 'Death Eaters' gives them power. You take that off them by refusing to use it. And never refer to Riddle as a Lord. Call him, 'the murderous wizarding thug Riddle'. And tell people he brands those who foolishly follow him as if they were nothing more than cattle and makes them call him 'Master' as if they were his slaves."

"All good ideas," said Harry. "By doing so, you both rob him of the power of his image, and will probably prevent many from joining him in the first place. Information control is an important part of any war. However, if you set the terms used, you're far more than halfway there to controlling the message."

"And that's the biggest problem with the Prophet under its current management," said Hermione. "You'll find Barnabus Cuffe is a Riddle supporter, even if he doesn't take the Mark. He'll block you every chance he gets. You'll need to be firm with him."

"As Harry said, all good ideas," sighed Madam Bones.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

After the adults left, the three teens sat for a while relatively lost in their own thoughts.

Suddenly, Hermione sat forward and asked, "What time is it?"

"Hmm?" asked Harry right back until her question finally cogitated enough in his brain to make sense from his initial confusion. He raised his arm to look at his watch. "Just after three," he replied.

"Then how about we get some of our homework for the break out of the way, now?" she asked. "Or, we can quiz Harry on third and fourth year runes ready for fifth year next year."

Perking his head up, he asked, "I'm ready for that?"

"Not quite yet, but you will be," said Daphne. "We plan on you sitting the aptitude test at the Ministry in early August. Pass that and you're in fifth year starting next year."

Confused, Harry said, "Wait. I thought I was still working through third year stuff, and only brushing on fourth year."

Both girls smiled back and Hermione said, "No, we just let you think that. You've been working on the fourth year curriculum since just before Christmas."

"For example," said Daphne. "You don't even begin properly carving runes until fourth year; and that's carving in wood and similar material. You've been doing a very good job of carving in granite. We don't normally even touch on that material until fifth year."

Surprised, Harry simply said, "Oh." He thought for a moment and said, "But, what about the material? The education material, I mean."

"You're there," replied Hermione. "While I think you can do much better on some of the information regarding rune chains, that's mid to late fourth year, anyway. I think we can easily get you caught up to us by the time you sit your aptitude test."

"Oh," he said again. "Well, in that case, thank Merlin! I thought I was going to fail it; what with having to do the Tournament, and all."

"No, we'd have never let you do that," said Daphne.

Nodding, he asked, "So, time to work on summer assignments we've already received and see how much we can get out of the way before we leave on the train?"

"Good idea," nodded Hermione, going and getting their assignments and writing material.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ