Chapter Thirty Eight - The Ghost of Fathers Past

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 Eight - The Ghost of Fathers Past

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—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

The three continued to attend classes and had a much better time of it. Without the threat of Dumbledore they were even finding they were enjoying it. At least, it was far more relaxing.

During the evenings they continued to watch the Map, taking turns as they each ploughed through their assignments.

"Nott's out and about," said Harry, during a period when he was watching the Map.

The girls put down what they were doing and moved closer to also peer down at the Map.

They watched the footsteps with the name 'Theodore Nott' immediately above them as they made their way up to the seventh floor. In a dead end corridor, they watched as the boy hesitated for a few moments before he walked back and forth three times. On the third pass the boy stopped, turned to the wall and appeared to disappear through it.

"Well, that answers that," said Hermione. "Even though Dumbledore's dead they still want to enter the castle on a raid. I wonder who the target is, this time."

"Me, of course," said Harry. "The only two people Riddle feared were the Headmaster and, now, me."

"Well, you did smack snot out of him in the graveyard, dear," smiled Hermione.

"While Draco took almost the entire school year to repair the vanishing cabinet, last time; we can't rely on Nott being just as bad. So, it's either destroy the damned thing; or set up traps to trap them as they come through," said Harry.

Daphne had been quiet and thinking while her bondmates chatted. Eventually, she said, "I think I need to have another look at this cabinet."

"Got an idea, have you?" asked Hermione.

"A few, actually," she replied. "I'm a Slytherin, remember? We don't operate off just a single plan and hope for the best. That's a Gryffindor. We have multiple plans with fallback plans as many deep as we can go."

"And what have you come up with so far, my lovely little snake?" asked Harry, with a little smirk.

He expected a little retaliation from her; but, didn't expect a whack to the arm from Hermione. "Hush, you," she mock growled.

After a little laugh at Harry's expression, Daphne explained, "We need to install those runes and the control rune panels in the aisle immediately outside the cabinet, or outside the room."

"Ah!" said Harry. "Shall we duck outside for a few moments to check a few things out? I, too, have an idea that may dovetail in with what you're thinking, quite nicely."

"You want to check something?" she asked.

"I do," he calmly replied.

"What?" asked Hermione. "What are you on about?"

"Come outside and see," he said.

The three of them rose from their seats and walked out into the corridor outside their room.

Standing in the warded area right outside their door, Harry said, "First things first. I want to know if I can cast an invisibility charm on myself." He raised his wand and lightly tapped himself on the top of the head expecting the runny egg feeling of the properly cast invisibility charm. He felt it.

"Yes," said Hermione.

He removed the charm. "Pity. That might have helped us to ensure the incoming DEs don't get to disillusion themselves when they attack."

"They won't," said Hermione. "You cannot engender fear if you're not seen. And I don't remember them being invisible last time through."

"She's right," said Daphne.

"Next," he said, holding a finger up. "Dobby!" he called.

And Dobby appeared within the field, "Yes, Master Harry?"

With a grin, Harry said, "Dobby, could you do that finger-snapping thing you do, and make a small coffee table appear right here?"

"Yes, Master Harry," replied the elf. A quick finger-snap and a coffee table did appear.

"Ha!" said Harry. "Now, would you mind removing it again and popping me... down near the Ravenclaw Tower entrance, please?"

"Certainly, Master Harry," replied the little elf. A finger snap and the table was gone. Dobby then reached up and took Harry by the hand before elf-apparating him down to in front of the Raven entrance to Ravenclaw Tower.

The little elf had effectively apparated Harry out of one magic suppression field, across where such a field didn't exist, and into the next one.

As Dobby looked at him like he must've been sick, or something, Harry grinned and said, "Thank you, Dobby. That was most informative."

"Thank you, Master Harry," said Dobby before he popped away again.

Harry then walked back down the corridor to join his wives outside their apartment. He had a grin from ear to ear.

"Why did none of us think to check if the ward interfered with house elf magic?" asked Hermione a little upset. "I mean, we're lucky it doesn't. But, we still should have checked when we were installing this first one."

"It doesn't and that's the main thing," said Harry. "And, we can use it."

"How so?" asked Daphne.

"When the bad guys come in through the vanishing cabinet, if we want to even let them come in, I want us to have already installed one of these fields the full length of the corridor outside the Room of Requirement," explained Harry. "Then, as soon as they step out the door of the room, any notice-me-not or invisibility charms they cast on themselves will be negated.

"Next, I also want to install such a field in a nearby unused classroom. In there, we'll place already conjured bindings and hoods with hard and sturdy wooden chairs.

"Then, when Nott finally gets the cabinet working, as each of the DEs step out into the corridor, we'll get house elves to elf-pop them direct to the unused classroom we've already prepared. We'll be waiting for them in the classroom. We might not be able to use magic on them; but, we'll know that and they won't. All we'll have to do is bonk them on their heads, or something, and we can secure them."

Daphne snorted and actually rolled her eyes at him. "I forget, sometimes, that you were raised in the muggle world."

"Oh-kay," said Harry, a bit wary. "I've said something wrong, haven't I?"

"You've said something wrong, yes," she replied.

"I think I know," smiled Hermione.

"Please, enlighten this poorly raised scallywag," said Daphne, with an airy gesture towards Harry.

"You forgot about potions," said Hermione.

"Correct, Missus Granger-Potter," smiled Daphne. "If it was in my power, I'd award you ten points for that."

A little sheepish, Harry softly said, "Oops?" He thought for a moment before he asked, "But, how do we get them to drink a potion?"

"We don't," smiled Daphne. "We go talk to the redheaded devil twins, as you call them, and tell them we need a potion that puts you instantly to sleep on contact with skin. But, that the potion does not affect house elves."

"That'll work," said Hermione. "I think I might have just such a potion in mind. Or, at least, one that can be modified to do what we want."

After figuring out his idea would now work, Harry turned to Daphne and said, "Sorry. But, you had ideas, too. Care to share?"

Daphne thought a bit and said, "Let's go back inside and I'll share."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Daphne's idea was along a similar vein. However, her idea was to set the field up right outside the cabinet and drug them as soon they stepped through. But, as soon as she gave it, she saw the flaw in trying to set up the ward inside such a large room. And she also did not know how the magics of the room would affect the ward.

"That's why I think your idea should be our first option," she said. "However, we're going to have to work fast if we want to get it set up before Nott gets the cabinet working."

"We can get more time by breaking something that powers the cabinet, but making it look like it isn't broken. That should slow Nott down enough for us to get the ward in place and working," said Hermione.

"And, where do we put the rune control panel?" asked Daphne.

"Behind the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy and his dancing trolls," replied Harry.

"Second, we don't know if the ward will break the magic that allows the door to appear," she said.

"It didn't break either Professor Whittaker or the Raven," said Hermione. "We'll operate off the assumption it doesn't and abandon the concept if it does."

"Then we get the elves to simply tag each DE with the potion as they step out of the cabinet and pop them away before the next one comes through," said Harry. "And we can still set up the field and array in the abandoned classroom, irrespective if it damages the door or not."

Hermione was thinking for a bit before she looked up with a sly grin. "This potion. If it works like I think it does, a simple Enervate charm won't work on anyone tagged with it. Right?"

With a frown, Daphne said, "Enervate charms don't work on any potion that renders you asleep or unconscious, of which I'm aware."

Hermione's face lit up and she asked, "Tell me; do either of you know what a paint ball gun is?"

Shocked at the idea, and the simple utility of it, Harry burst out laughing.

"Well, it appears Harry does," smirked Hermione.

"It's bloody brilliant!" crowed Harry. "And, because they're air-powered and the base models have no electricals, they'll work inside Hogwarts!"

"What are you talking about?" asked Daphne, confused.

"A paintball gun is a muggle toy," said Hermione. "It's powered by compressed air. What it does is shoot a small pellet about the size of an average red grape down a tube and out in the direction you want at about 300 feet per second. And, a red grape is a good analogy because the pellet, on impact, splits open. Inside is usually brightly coloured dye that washes out after a while.

"What we can do is drain the dye out and replace it with the contact sleep potion. So, when the pellet hits, it tags the target with the potion. Then we have what my father calls a stand-off weapon. Effective range from shooter to target is about fifty feet outdoors with wind; but, that should be more than enough distance. Indoors, of course, it'll be further; because there's no wind to curve the pellet away."

"First problem," said Harry. "None of us are that accurate with any sort of weapon where we'll be able to tag them on an area of skin. That is... with the exception of Lestrange... they'll be robed up and masked. And that'll leave us with having to target their hands."

Each thought about the problem for a few moments before Daphne said, "We'll have to ensure the potion is viscous enough it'll pass through the material of their robes and reach the skin underneath. The thinner the potion, the better. If we can make it alcohol based, it'll get through faster.

Nodding, Hermione said, "It'll also dry faster. That way, if someone accidentally touches the same area later, they won't be as likely to succumb to the potion."

"Alright," said Harry, rubbing his hands together. "Whether or not we go with the elves dabbing the DEs with the potion, I still think we should purchase paintball guns and develop a quick way to replace the dye with the potion."

"Why?" asked Daphne, before she said, "Oh. With Professor McGonagall now Headmistress, no matter how temporary it is, you think it's not going to be too long before we get the request to start putting up those magic suppression fields in every corridor and other public places throughout the castle."

"Exactly," grinned Harry. "It's in the school rules that magic is not to be used in the corridors and hallways between classes. With this rune array, they can now force the issue."

"Actually, we should suggest it to Professor Flitwick in his role as Acting Deputy Headmaster, anyway," said Hermione.

"Do you know how much work that'll be?" asked Harry, already thinking of sore hands, arms and shoulders from carving.

"We don't have to be the ones doing it," smiled Hermione. "As the inventors of the array, we and Luna should be excused from doing them. After all, the school will get the design of the array for free."

Daphne laughed and said, "Even though you're a muggleborn, Hermione, you should have been a Slytherin with thinking like that."

"That being said," continued Hermione, left wondering in the back of her mind if she felt insulted or not. "We should also see if we can find a way to make sure the killing curse is blocked by the ward. It should be, of course, because it's cast magic. And we know the first spells in the arsenal of a Death Eater is the killing and torture curses."

"Leave that to our beloved Headmistress and Deputy Headmaster to discover," said Harry. "We can't do everything."

Harry suddenly had a thought that he was starting to have trouble keeping his eyes open, and checked his watch. "Sweet Merlin, look at the time!" As his wives checked their own watches he said, "I think its way past time for bed. We'll see Professor Flitwick tomorrow."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

The next day, Saturday, the three were able to see Professor Flitwick for a few minutes and suggested the idea that, with Dumbledore now out of the way, their rune-based ward scheme should be implemented for all the corridors of the school.

Professor Flitwick immediately got a glint in his eye and was grinning away. "Thank you, you three; I'll be raising that very subject with Headmistress McGonagall, this very day."

As the three grinned back Hermione said, "Since, with Luna's permission, we're donating the scheme to the school. As payment, the school might consider the four of us not be involved in actually carving the runes. However, we can, of course, check work as needed."

Professor Flitwick chuckled and said, "Noted. I'll be sure to mention that to Headmistress McGonagall, when I talk to her about this."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

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As soon as they left their Head of House's office, Harry turned to the others and asked, "What say we go corral Padfoot and see if he wants to go for a run with Hunter, Pouncer and Tracker?"

"Not yet, Alpha," disagreed Daphne. "I think we need to track down the Weasley twins first."

"Oh, yeah," said Harry, a little embarrassed he forgot. "Umm... shall we see if we can terrorise a Gryff' firstie enough to go into Gryffindor Tower to ask for us?"

"How about we just stand outside the Fat Lady's portrait and wait until someone either comes out or wants to go in and ask them to go check for us?" suggested Hermione, giving Harry her 'I'm slightly disappointed in you' look.

"Spoilsport," said Harry.

The three made their way up and across the castle until they came to the Fat Lady's portrait. "Hello dears," said the Fat Lady. "Are you lost?"

"We're here to see if the Weasley twins are available," said Hermione.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to wait until one of my young lions comes along, so you can ask them to check, dear," said the portrait.

Harry suddenly face palming himself and said, "Oh, Merlin; I'm an idiot!"

"We know," said Daphne. "But, what made you realise it?"

Not interested in responding to Daphne's comment, Harry backed up a little and raised his wand tip to his temple. He thought hard for moment and then snapped his glowing wand tip forward. "Expecto patronum!" he firmly incanted.

His wives saw the indistinct form of his patronus shoot from his wand before it shot through the portrait, giving the Fat Lady a fright as it did so.

"Really!" she indignantly huffed.

Harry just laughed.

"Of course," said Hermione, angry at herself for not thinking of it. "A messenger patronus. We really should practice those. It's a great way to pass short messages around the castle."

A few long moments later, the Weasley twins, with Lee Jordan hot on their heels, came barrelling out of the portrait hole.

They took one moment to look at Harry before they tackled him to the floor.

"Harrikins!" barked one of the twins, from where he was kneeling on the floor with a double fistful of Harry's robes, lifting him up.

"You have to tell us how you did that!" barked the other.

The intense look the twins were giving him had Harry laughing.

"It was pretty impressive charms work," said Lee. "A message carried by a patronus? That's hardcore."

As the twins lifted Harry back to his feet again, over-dramatically brushing him own, a couple of other Gryffindors came out into the corridor from within their common room.

"What the bloody hell was that?" asked one of the Gryff's. "Scared the life out of me, it did!"

"I thought we were being attacked by the ghost of a stag!" said another, as still more Gryff's came out.

"It was a patronus," said an older Gryff', more calm than most of his housemates. "A hard feat to accomplish."

"Believe it or not, it carried an audible message within it," said Lee, who had turned to look at the older Gryff'. "When it turned up in our dorm it spoke to the twins before fading away."

"Who cast it?" asked someone.

"Harry Potter, who else?" snarked another.

Still being held by the twins, Harry just grinned back at all his old housemates.

"Show us how you did that!" said one of the twins.

"Pleeeeaaaase!" begged the other, giving him a bit of a shake.

Even Daphne was laughing at that.

Chuckling - almost giggling - Harry said, "Look, there's not enough room here; what with everyone obviously wanting me to show them how I did it. Meet us outside the main doors of the castle after lunch and I'll give you a class on it, alright? But, be warned, it's both difficult and requires a fair bit of power."

"However," he continued, holding up his hand with one finger pointing straight up and grinning his head off. "I've just thought of a great prank. Be at lunch in the Great Hall early today to witness it."

"What are you going to do?" asked the first twin.

"Well, Professor Snape went to school with my Dad, see," he explained. "And Professor Snape also knew my Dad was an animagus. Anyone want to take a guess at what his animagus form was?"

"A stag?" asked one of the first years, who clearly didn't understand the nuance of the rhetorical question.

"Correct, little cub," declared Harry. "He was a stag animagus. And his form was pretty much identical to the form my patronus takes. I think the ghost of my father in his animagus form needs to visit his old school nemesis, Severus Snape, during lunch."

That had a few of the Gryffindors laughing as they headed back into their common room. Harry just caught sight of a very sad Ginevra Weasley, before she returned to the common room. He didn't see Ron, though.

When the others had all left, the bondmates were still there with the twins and Jordan.

"Alright, they're gone," said Jordan. "Now; spill!"

Daphne stepped forward and said, "We need a potion developed. Hermione has the recipe for a potion that's along the lines of the one we need. But, we want to see if you will take up the challenge of developing something a little different."

"We'll pay you for both the ingredients and the development," said Hermione. "And, at the end, you get to keep the rights."

The twins had finally released Harry and one stepped forward to take the small slip of parchment out of Hermione's hand when she offered it to them.

"It needs to be effective on contact with the skin. The faster, the better," explained Daphne. "It would also be very helpful if you made sure it didn't affect house elves, if you have the ability to test that."

"And, if possible, it needs to be able to quickly soak through material, such as Death Eater robes," said Hermione. "We think you can do it as an alcohol-based rather than water-based potion. Definitely not oil-based, it won't soak through. And it can't be corrosive."

"What are you going to use it for?" asked one.

"Besides on Death Eaters," said the other.

"We're going to switch out the dye in paintball pellets with it," said Hermione. "Ask Lee to explain what those are to you."

Looking at Lee, the boy clearly knew what they were from the wide grin on his face. "Later," he said to the twins.

Harry fished out twenty galleons from his money pouch and firmly placed it in the hand of one of the twins. "Use this to start. If you need any more, come and see me. You're not to be out of pocket for this."

"Merlin, Harrikins!" said one

"That's more than enough!" said the other, looking at the coins stacked in his hand.

"You're doing a job for us, you get paid for it," said Daphne. "Besides, you also need to develop an antidote for the potion, as well."

After bidding the three Gryffindors good luck, the bondmates headed for Sirius's office.

"We should let him know what I'm planning," said Harry. "I don't know if Remus told him what form my patronus takes, as he was unconscious when at the lake, and I don't want him freaking out when 'Prongs' turns up to give his message to Snape at the head table during lunch."

"That would not be good," said Daphne. "He'd be as likely to get upset as Professor Snape."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Sirius was in his office when the three knocked and waited to hear him call them inside. At his barked, "Come in!" they opened the door and walked in. Sirius was sitting at his desk writing something. Harry thought it was probably lesson plans or Black Head of House business.

"What can I do for you three?" he asked, barely looking up at them.

"We came to warn you Harry's pulling a prank on Snape during lunch," said Daphne.

That got Sirius's interest. "Oh?" he asked with a grin.

"I don't think Snape has seen my patronus yet," said Harry. "Therefore, he doesn't necessarily know it's a stag; unless Remus told him, when he was a Professor here. Or, he was at the end of the third task."

"Harry's going to cast it as a messenger patronus to Professor Snape during lunch," said Hermione. "He believes Professor Snape will think it's the ghost of his father in his animagus form come to visit him."

Sirius just looked back at Hermione for a few moments before he burst into laughter.

When he calmed a little he said, "He's likely to recognise your voice, you know."

"Not if I just blow him a raspberry, he won't," grinned Harry.

That set Sirius off again. When he calmed again he said, "Alright. Consider me warned. Remus told me your patronus form was that of a stag. But, I must admit, seeing it do that I'd probably think it was your father, too."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Harry and his bondmates stood just outside the Great Hall doors and off to one side so they weren't in the trafficked areas, and waited.

Once they knew enough students were inside the two girls, ducking low under Harry's invisibility cloak, ran through the doors and to their spot at the table on Ravenclaw table. As soon as the girls took his cloak and left, Harry cast a disillusionment charm on himself and checked to make sure it took.

Finally, he stepped back more fully into the Entrance Hall, took a look around to make sure there was no one about, and launched his patronus in through the main doors of the Great Hall, taking a very special message to Severus Snape. As soon as he cast his patronus, on silenced feet, he ran in through the doors and quickly made his way to his seat between his two bondmates while all eyes were on the patronus.

He had managed to reach his spot, sit down and remove the disillusionment charm as he heard the patronus blow a very large raspberry at Professor Snape, with Sirius looking on with glee.

While the whole hall broke down into laughter as the patronus faded away, with Sirius leading the way with his huge bark of a laugh, Snape seethed in his chair. He suddenly surged to his feet and bellowed, "Potter!"

Harry, with a smile on his face, calmly stood in place and asked, "Yes, Professor?"

"You!" snarled Snape, bristling with fury as Sirius began to realise what was going on and almost immediately calmed down again. "You did this!" hissed the black dressed man.

As there was no actual question in that, Harry didn't answer. Instead, he stood there as the rest of the Hall calmed down and watched with interest.

"Well?" bellowed Snape.

"Professor Snape! Calm yourself!" ordered McGonagall from her own seat, now at the Head's spot but without that ridiculous throne.

Ignoring everyone else, Snape was focussed on Harry. "Answer me!" he barked.

"Certainly, Professor," replied a very calm Harry. "I am, thank you."

Snape stared back as if Harry had just sprouted two extra heads. "What sort of answer is that!? Fifty points from Gryffindor!"

"Overruled!" McGonagall immediately snapped. "Professor Snape, my office immediately after the completion of the meal."

Snape stood there quivering in barely restrained fury for a few more moments before he suddenly swept from the Hall with billowing robes.

As soon as he was gone, McGonagall asked, "Mister Potter, was that your patronus?"

"Yes, Headmistress; it was," he calmly replied. "I'll be running a small class for a group of ex-housemates out on the lawns outside the main doors immediately after lunch on both the patronus charm and the patronus messenger. I felt a demonstration would be beneficial."

"And you decided a patronus message of a raspberry to Professor Snape was a wise choice of demonstration?" she asked.

"Yes, Ma'am," he replied. "It also had the benefit of actually being funny. I did not foresee Professor Snape... taking such umbrage."

With a sigh, she looked back and said, "Ten points from Ravenclaw for your cheek. And, I'll come down after I've spoken with Professor Snape to ensure your unofficial and unsanctioned class actually teaches."

Sirius spoke up and said, "I'll monitor the class until your arrival, Headmistress."

"Thank you, Professor Black," said McGonagall with a small nod.

Harry gave a nod and retook his seat, as noise around the Hall increased in excited chatter.

As soon as he sat down he sheepishly looked at his wives and said, "Whoops?"

Daphne just grinned back, while Hermione rolled her eyes with an exasperated huff.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

As students began to filter out of the Hall there were a great many who exited the main doors instead of heading deeper into the castle.

Harry watched how many actually exited after a glance in his direction.

Daphne said, "It appears your little class just got a great deal bigger."

"I noticed," he wryly replied.

When Professor McGonagall walked into the Headmaster's... her... office, Snape was standing in the middle of the floor waiting. His face held its customary scowl.

She immediately walked to her desk and sat down. "Be seated," she firmly said.

When Snape didn't appear to move she almost hissed her command, "Sit!"

Scowling even more, Snape sat as he was told and, if not for his age, it would appear he was sulking.

"I had high hopes for you, Severus," she began. "I had been noticing since last October that your teaching methods had seen much improvement. It wasn't as much as I would like, but... at least... it was an improvement. I had hoped to see more.

"Your behaviour today just shattered my belief that your petty grudge against the memory of James Potter was a thing of the past. The fact you tried to take fifty points from Gryffindor, when Mister Potter is a Ravenclaw, and has been such for twelve months now, amply demonstrated that.

"Mister Potter did no more than cast a messenger patronus. It harmed no one. It was your reaction to it that gave it power. If you'd, for instance, smirked at it; you'd have come off the better man. Your over-reaction only made you look like a grudge-bearing fool!

"As of right now, your tenure as Professor of Potions at Hogwarts will end at the end of this school year. If I see major improvement in your disposition we will revisit the subject about you continuing. However, if I see another example of what I saw today, your tenure will immediately end. I would rather have no Potions Master, than one who behaves as you did today. Am I clear?"

Snape scowled, gave a firm nod, stood and swooped out of the room without a word.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

As Harry and his wives walked out the front doors of the castle, they were greeted by the sight of over one hundred students gathered on the lawn and waiting for him.

"Sweet Merlin!" he gasped.

"Come on," said Hermione, taking his elbow when Harry stopped at the top of the steps.

The three walked down to the group and Hermione called, "Please, gather around in an arc." And pointed her arm out and down, describing said arc through the air.

Once everyone was relatively organised. Harry went back to his teaching of the patronus during this year on the previous timeline. Some things obviously didn't change all that much.

As he was describing the purpose of the charm without the messenger component Harry saw his godfather watching from the steps for a while before he came closer. He still stood apart but he watched and didn't interfere.

Harry began by describing the mindset required for the patronus to work, and the errors people made in selecting a memory.

Once he was done explaining the theory he had the students line up in ranks of ten. They went back about twelve deep. "I've chosen this way because it takes quite a bit of effort to cast the charm. I'll have you attempt to cast a couple of times, then have you go to the back of line to rest until you, again, reach the front."

When he saw they understood, he said, "Right. Front rank, consider the happy memory you want to use. Make sure it's one where you're really happy in it. Hold it in your mind. Remember both the incantation and the wand movement." Once he was sure they had their memory fixed in their mind, he called, "Now, once only, cast!"

Out of the ten two almost got it on the first try. And four were able to cast a mist.

"Excellent!" he said. "A very good first attempt for what is a very difficult charm. Some of you don't appear to be using a strong enough memory; or a memory that lacks happiness. Try and find one that also includes the feeling of love.

He gave them a few moments and said, "Good, good. Now, once only again, cast."

This time three managed a somewhat substantial patronus and almost everyone got at least the mist.

"Alright!" he said, happily. "Some of you have almost got it. The rest of you are heading in the right direction. We'll try for a third time before you go to the back of the line and rest. Once more now. Cast!"

Slowly, he worked through the twelve rows. After the first run through he pulled those who were very close to getting it aside and asked Hermione and Daphne to help them get the last little bit. He suggested they work on finding a better memory or just boosting their confidence in casting it.

By the time he managed to get through the twelve deep a third time, which had now halved with Hermione and Daphne looking after about a quarter each, he called a halt.

As students began to good-naturedly grumble about 'stopping too soon' Harry realised just how exhausted he'd become. Sirius chose that moment to walk up and slap him on the back, "Damned good job, Pup!"

With a grin and a tired chuckle, Harry replied, "Bloody exhausting, though."

"You have the makings of a fine teacher, Mister Potter."

Harry looked around Sirius and saw Professor McGonagall standing there, smiling at him. "Sorry, Professor," he said. "I didn't see you standing there."

"That's because I had a disillusionment charm active," she replied, walking forward. "I watched quite a bit of what you and your wives taught. The three of you are very good."

"Thank you," he said, grateful for the praise.

With a nod and a smile she said, "And twenty-five points to Ravenclaw for a very valuable lesson to the student body. I'll be letting Professor Flitwick know how far you've progressed the students who attended towards mastering the charm. I daresay he'll build on it during his classes with them."

With another smile she then turned and walked away. Harry really had no idea just how big an impact he made on making that particular charm easier for everyone to learn.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Once all the students, especially the Ravenclaws who wanted to ask questions about the charm were satisfied with the answers they were given, Harry held Sirius back and beckoned his wives over.

When they joined, Harry said to Sirius, "There's a muggle toy - big boy's toy - I want to get quite a few of. About, a dozen, for now. It's called a paintball gun."

"Oh, I know what those are," said Sirius. "The four of us went to a muggle paintball place once, and spent an enjoyable afternoon there. Well, it would have been even more enjoyable if it wasn't for the welts those paint ball pellets leave."

"Good," said Hermione, relieved she wouldn't have to describe in detail what they needed. "As Harry said, we'd like about a dozen of them.

"We have the twins developing a sleep potion that works on contact with skin. Once they've got the potion ready we intend on replacing the dyed oil that's in the pellets with the potion.

Sirius looked between the three of them for a few moments before he asked, "Is this to do with a prank? Because, I'm alright with that, if it is."

"Nope," said Harry. "You know that non-magic ward scheme us and Luna designed? We... suspect... we'll be asked to allow it to be installed right throughout the castle in the corridors before much longer. A potion is not affected by the field.

"The idea of the guns is so that we have a way to take down Death Eaters if they get inside the castle, and try to cause havoc once the wards are set up."

Sirius thought about that for a few moments before he said, "Clever. You rob them of everything they know in offensive magic - wanded casting - but have a way to take them all out without one. And, you don't end up killing them."

"Exactly," said Hermione.

"By when do you need them?" he asked.

"This isn't a 'get them here yesterday' situation," said Harry. "But, we'll need them when the twins are able to develop the knockout potion. Then comes the tedious work of switching out the dyed liquid interior and replace it with the potion."

"We're also going to need surgical needles and large syringes," said Hermione. "At least half a dozen of those. That'll be three to draw out the dye and three to put in the potion."

Sirius nodded and said, "Leave it with me. I can organise that." Smiling devilishly, he said, "Besides, I've always wanted to ambush a Slytherin or two with a paintball gun."

Daphne rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Just remember that not all Slytherins are on the dark side; alright?"

"I never thought they were," he smirked back.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

On the Monday morning at potions, Snape chose to ignore Harry for almost the entire double class. However, he finally spoke up at the end as they were all packing away.

"Potter," he sneered. "Remain behind."

Cocking an eyebrow at his bondmates Harry continued to put away and clean up. When he and his wives were done they remained as everyone else filed out.

"I did not ask your wives..." he sneered, "... to remain behind, Mister Potter."

"We know, Professor," Harry softly replied.

Snape hesitated a few moments before he said, "I suppose you'll tell them what I wish to discuss with you, anyway."

He perched himself on the edge of his desk and stared at Harry for a few moments. Harry half expected him to try Legilimency but he didn't even feel the slight tickle of an attempt.

After a few moments, Snape seemed to take a breath and said, "Headmaster Dumbledore, before he died, asked me... insisted, really... to help prepare you for your final confrontation with the Dark Lord.

"We shall begin lessons each Tuesday and Wednesday..."

"No," said Harry, cutting the man off.

"Pardon, Potter?" asked Snape both surprised and angry Harry spoke to him like that.

"I said, 'No', Professor," said Harry. "I am already getting plenty of assistance from those I trust. Your assistance is not required."

"You're being arrogant, Potter!" snarled Snape, standing up and glaring back. "Just as I've been saying you are, all along!"

"And, right there, you proved why I do not want, nor can use, your assistance," said Harry angrily. "You are no more than a bitter man who cannot reconcile within himself that the woman he loved... yes, I know about that... the woman he loved actually loved another.

"Each time you see me, in your mind you see him. And, because of that, I cannot trust you not to forget yourself and take things beyond the safe limits of training. You will cast to hurt. You will cast to maim, and trust in Madam Pomfrey's skills to repair me. You will take out your ill-kept festering resentment on me; someone who wasn't even born well before you'd already lost your battle for the affections of Lily Evans. And, I will not allow that.

"I recognise you as a master duellist; but, so is Professor Flitwick. I recognise you as an expert on defending against the dark arts; but, so is my godfather, the current Dah-dah Professor. I realise you have intimate knowledge of the thinking and actions of Riddle's band of thugs. But, I've been studying their strategy for well over a year, already.

"No, Professor; you will take no part in my training, other than that as a Professor of Potions and part of my standard education. The risk is far too great."

"You cannot hope to defeat him without my assistance!" snarled Snape.

"Then, you should have thought of that before the 1st of September 1991!" snarled Harry right back. "I was completely ignorant of who you were. You had a clean slate! If you wanted to help, then you should have shown it all the way back then!

"You kept making piss poor choices and, when you realised you did, took out your self-loathing on others. Since September 1991 that 'other' is, more often than not, me.

"Then, when you realise you're doing that, you hide behind lies of your own design. 'I have to behave this way so Riddle continues to think I'm his spy'. 'I have to treat Harry like dirt, because Albus needs the boy to trust him to look out for his best interests'. 'It's not my fault I treat children like shit, because that's the way my father treated me!' 'It's not my fault I treat Gryffindors like shit, because Riddle would become suspicious of me if I didn't!'..."

"Get out!" roared Snape. "Get out of my laboratory!"

Harry immediately picked up his bookbag and stormed from the room. Hermione was right behind him with Daphne following.

As Harry and Hermione passed through the door, Daphne turned back and said, "You will find no peace, Severus, until you accept that which you are responsible for. Accept it, reconcile with it and move on." And, with that, she left; pulling the door closed behind her.

When she joined her bondmates in the corridor, she glared at Harry and said, "You could have handled that a lot better."

"On this issue, I don't care," he snapped back. He was about to turn away when he said, "You do realise this is Dumbledore still trying to manipulate me and events. Only, this time, he's now using Snape to do it, right?"

"Of course," she coldly replied.

"Well, I had to slap that down... hard," he grumbled. "I will not give even a smidgeon of an opening Snape could exploit to see me accepting 'lessons' off him."

"I'm aware of that," she snapped back. "I was even in full support of you, right up to the part where you reacted when he called you arrogant. You could have been the bigger man, right there, and ignored it.

"Yes, but that's something I did for my entire Hogwarts career, last go-around," said Harry. "The man is an incorrigible bully. I refuse to let it slide anymore."

"Please don't fight," said Hermione, very softly and quite anxiously.

Both bondmates look at her for moment before they turned back to each other in shame.

"Sorry," said Harry.

"Yeah; I'm sorry, too," said Daphne.

Harry sighed and stepped forward to hug Daphne and dragged Hermione in with him.

When they pulled back a little he said, "I think that was really our first," he said.

"Yeah, I think it was," said Daphne.

"It's because we've all been busy with plans and activities," said Harry. "First was the establishment, building and finalising the bond. Through that, it was the collection and destruction of the horcruxes, the planning of the tasks, the Tournament's culmination of the graveyard fight, the wedding, bringing in everyone we care about up to speed with the truth of our history, the end of Dumbledore, and planning what we're going to do from here.

"Now, it's waiting to see when we have the opportunity to finally 'off' Riddle. That's put us all on edge. And, again, I'm really sorry for allowing my frustration to boil over and snap at you. I have no excuse for that."

"We're all 'on edge', as you put it, love," said Daphne, from within his arms. "And we were both in the wrong."

With a sigh, he said, "Before I finally 'off' Riddle, I want the chance to take out as many Death Eaters as possible along the way before we finally end him. The less Death Eaters left at the end, the less blood bigotry we'll have to deal with once it's ended.

"That might sound bloodthirsty of me; but, I can't help thinking they'll get back to their old tricks, without Riddle, as soon as we start pushing for modernisation of the wizarding world. Their bigotry won't allow it, so they'll come after us sooner or later. The only way to end the bigotry is to end them; then use that to show everyone else what their future holds if they attempt another such bout of forcing their bigotry on the rest of us."

"Agreed," sighed Daphne.

After a moment, and with a pained look, Hermione also agreed.

"Professor Snape is a master duellist," said Daphne. "However, as you also rightly pointed out, so is Professor Flitwick. I think it's time we give him a bit of information regarding the prophecy. We need his help."

With a sigh, Harry nodded.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

After asking for a private interview with their Head of House, the three spent the next thirty minutes talking with the big man of small stature. Once he knew what they were facing he gave his wholehearted support. Training would begin the next evening.

For now, the three retired to their room.

"Anything else we need to do that we should do now?" asked Harry, once they were again ensconced in their apartment. Suddenly sitting up a little straighter, he exclaimed, "Hang on! Something that has completely slipped my mind, of late, is my mail backlog. How's that coming?"

His wives looked at one another for a moment before Hermione said, "Harry, everything was caught up just after the third task."

Daphne said, "The entire plan was for the mail to be caught up before everyone went home for the summer break. That objective was reached two days after the third task. Everyone was paid both for their efforts and a bonus for getting it done on time."

With a snort, Harry said, "It would have been nice if I was made aware of that."

Both wives looked at one another again and Daphne said, "Sorry, Harry. We clearly both thought the other had told you."

"Who's handling the mail now?" he asked.

"Dobby," replied Hermione with a chuckle. "And, just so you know, the little ratbag knows how to forge your 'Harry' signature."

Surprised, he said, "That's... oddly disconcerting and a little worrying."

"He can forge it, as Hermione said, only because it's not your real signature," explained Daphne. "All he's doing is mimicking your handwriting and writing it. That, after all, is all you're doing when you supposedly sign your name using your first name only.

"Your true signature, he can't forge. Because, when you actually sign your name, it also contains your magical signature. And that can't be forged."

"He was able to get me in trouble at the beginning of second year for underaged magic..." he tried.

Daphne shook her head and smiled, "No. The underaged magical detection net only detected that magic had been performed at that address. As you are the only known resident registered as a magic user there, it pinged that it was you. Dobby was only able to mimic a wizard's magic use, not 'match' your magical signature. It's a loophole in how the detection net operates."

"But, the magical signature can only be... appended... to a normal signature on parchment when you use a quill," added Hermione. "Your magic flows through the organic nature of both the quill and the ink to the organic nature of the parchment. You tend to use an inorganic fountain pen with inorganic ink when you write anything but official documents, class assignments and exams, and that doesn't carry your magical signature over. That's why the wizarding world still uses quills, organic ink and parchment."

"So that's why..." he muttered. Looking at Hermione, he asked, "And when did you find out that very important piece of information?"

Hermione blushed and said, "When Daphne and I set up the mail response system back last year."

"And you didn't think to tell me?" he asked.

With a shrug she replied, "I thought it was interesting but not that important."

He thought about that for a few moments before he realised she was right. "Still, it's the sort of thing that I'd like to know," he sighed. "It explains the... anachronism of quills that frustrates us muggle-raised."

"Yeah," she sighed. "But it also explains how Dobby is able to mimic your signature for the thank you cards, but not on official documents such as those for the Wizengamot and Gringotts."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ