Chapter Forty Two - Emergency Stop

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!

A/N: Sorry for the short delay, folks. The wife and I have just moved out of our motorhome - our home for the past eight plus months - into another brick and mortar home. The shift has taken the past week to organise and execute.

Chapter Forty Two - Emergency Stop

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

One upside to the news of the two foiled attacks becoming public was an immediate downturn in the attitude of the Slytherins.

Nott's removal from the school once again showed the entire blood supremacist movement within the school that being a student did not protect them from their actions. Dumbledore was no longer there with his 'second chance' philosophy, and Snape was no longer protected; and, therefore, protecting 'his' students.

The trial of Nott saw him sent to Azkaban for a period of five years. Granted, it was in the low security area. However, it would have been worse for the young man if he'd not successfully argued he'd been operating under the orders of his Head of House, his father. Apparently, Riddle was becoming suspicious the trick of hiding the dark mark when trying to act incognito was now known by the side of the light, and was therefore reluctant to give those people the mark.

The three Lestranges and Antonin Dolohov were all executed by Veil immediately after their very quick trials. Amycus and Alecto Carrow, Thorfinn Rowle and Samuel Travers, as they weren't escapees, were given life sentences in the high security section of Azkaban.

From the Saint Mungo's attack, Avery and Selwynn were escapees and were executed, following their fellow escapees from the attempted Hogwarts' hit. Fenrir Greyback, though not an escapee, already had a death sentence over his head, and also went through the Veil. The others, all marked, were sent to the high security section of Azkaban.

However, the word was out; escape from Azkaban and you would be executed for your troubles. Further and immediately following the trials, the new Minister, Ogden, announced that the auror and hit wizard forces were instructed that, if you were dressed in Death Eater regalia, they were permitted to use lethal force against you; and were also authorised to be the first to cast curses. No second chances. There would, for the duration of the terrorist threat, be no calls of, "Aurors! Drop your wands!"

"Ogden's doing well," said Daphne, after reading the article.

"Mmm," muttered Harry, nodding. "It's about time we had a Minister with a bit of backbone."

"He recognises the threat Riddle and his terrorists represent," said Hermione.

"So, we got ourselves a Minister that acts sensibly?" asked Harry, a little shocked. "What's wrong with him, then?"

That had both his wives chuckling.

"I think we just got lucky," replied Daphne once she'd calmed down a little.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

It was almost four weeks after the attempts by Riddle on Hogwarts and St Mungo's before the next major attack occurred. This time, it was a series of smaller attacks on the homes of various muggleborn. Seamus Finnegan's home in County Cork, Ireland was one such. However, his mother had been smart and had on her person an emergency portkey to St Mungo's; and she, Seamus's muggle father and his little sister were able to portkey away as soon as their alert wards triggered.

"Smart and lucky," said Daphne upon reading the article. "The Death Eaters didn't bother to check for an alert ward, as the home is in a residential muggle area. And the three Finnegans were all together in the lounge when the alert went off. They were gone within seconds of the alert ward sounding."

"Why Saint Mungo's?" asked Hermione.

"It makes sense," said Harry. "If you have an emergency that requires the use of a preset portkey, it would be best if it took you to Saint Mungo's; as the emergency is more likely to be of a medical nature than anything else."

"She also states it's a portkey they organised years ago; well before the latest strife," added Daphne. "It seems they were worried about the health of their daughter, Erin. She's had health issues."

Hermione thought about that for a few moments before she said, "Let's hope others recognise the value of such portkeys from the article and organise their own."

"The article also mentions an attack on another muggleborn home, said Daphne. "But, the residents weren't home. Neighbours say the family moved overseas to join family on 'extended vacation' in... July."

"They saw the writing on the wall and left," said Harry. "I can't say I blame them one bit."

"I don't remember the Death Eaters getting it this wrong last time," said Hermione.

"That's because they no longer have access to the Ministry records," replied Daphne. "Without workers in the Ministry, supporting his efforts, Riddle no longer has access to up-to-date information on the whereabouts of the wizarding population."

"Attacks on vacant homes make Riddle look like an idiot," said Hermione. "He'll not tolerate that one iota. Some poor bigoted schmuck who used to work at the Ministry has probably gotten him or herself cruciatus cursed to death."

"They're flying blind," said Harry, understanding. "They're operating off old and outdated information. Information they had access to before Amelia and Croaker purged the Ministry of the bigots."

"They were prepared," said Hermione. "They knew they would soon need the information; so they collected it either immediately after Riddle's resurrection, or had a fair idea Riddle was going to be resurrected soon afterwards. I'd guess the former, as the latter shows logical thinking that just isn't usually found in even the inner circle DEs."

"It also means we can expect to see attacks on people and places where they're confident they'll find their targets," said Daphne. "That means the established homes of so-called blood traitors."

"And they'll want that updated information to go after the muggleborns again," said Harry. "And, the only place they can get it is from the Ministry or here."

"Riddle will make a play for the Ministry," said Hermione, already figuring it out. "It will also give him the opportunity to get a hold of the prophecy sphere."

"Two birds with one stone," nodded Harry. "Riddle's usual 'M.O.' If he has to go to the Ministry, he'll try to accomplish everything he needs to accomplish there, at the same time. He knows that if he attacks once, Amelia will know he's just as likely to attack again. And he knows she'll be prepared for him.

"We need to send her a letter," said Hermione, reaching for a fresh sheet of parchment and a quill.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Two mornings later, the Potters received a response back from Amelia of their warning. As Hermione had written the original letter to Amelia, the response was addressed to her.

Reading it, she said, "It says, she's aware of the probable threat to the Ministry but doesn't want to block Riddle getting hold of the prophecy sphere. Instead, they're placing all the information concerning the personal details of muggleborns under a Knowledge Fidelius."

Looking up, she asked Daphne, "How would that affect information from Hogwarts to muggleborn students; such as owls being sent with the booklists and such?"

"It won't," Daphne immediately replied. "Knowledge Fideliuses do not affect mail owls. And Hogwarts generated mail, such as acceptance letters, booklists and OWL and NEWT results are done through the magic of the castle with no human intervention."

"What about muggleborns getting a visit from Professor McGonagall where she explains the letter and acceptance?" asked Hermione.

Daphne thought about that for a few moments before she said, "We'll need to ask Professor McGonagall if the Fidelius has affected... whoever will be doing the visits now's... ability to make those visits."

"Good idea," muttered Harry.

"I'd hate to have other muggleborns kept unawares of that needed information," sighed Hermione. "They'd not even be able to find Diagon Alley or Platform 9¾ without that first visit."

"Then we shall see if we can make an appointment to visit Headmistress McGonagall," soothed Harry. "Or, better yet, ask her to contact Madam Bones directly and ask if the Knowledge Fidelius will cause Hogwarts problems."

"How about we ask Professor Flitwick, instead?" asked Hermione. "After all, as a Charms Master, he should know."

"Even better," smiled Daphne.

"We'll ask him during our next training session, tonight," Harry firmly said.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Once their training session with both Professor Snape and Flitwick was concluded, Snape left with nary a word. However, the four were quite used to the dour man's behaviour.

"Professor Flitwick, we have a specialised charms question," said Hermione.

"Oh?" asked the diminutive Professor, while he was using his wand to set the room back to rights.

"The Knowledge Fidelius, Professor," she continued. "Madam Bones has informed us that, at the Ministry, in order to protect the information concerning the personal particulars about muggleborns from getting into the hands of Riddle and his thugs, they're going to place all that information under a Knowledge Fidelius."

"Ah!" said the Professor, understanding and turning from where he'd just finished his wand work. "You're concerned that, with the information placed under a Fidelius, new and current muggleborn students won't get their Hogwarts' letters and the like."

"That's it, exactly, Professor," sighed Hermione in not a little relief.

"A logical deduction from the available information, Missus Granger-Potter," smiled the Professor. "Ten points to Ravenclaw.

"As for your deduced problem, the solution is actually quite simple. Can you figure out what it is?"

Harry snorted and replied, "Now I can. You simply get the secret keeper to give the secret to the Professor now responsible for ensuring outward school mailings to students; and to the Professor... or Professors... who will carry out the visits to the new muggleborns."

"Precisely," smiled the Professor. "Well deduced. And another five points to Ravenclaw. I shall inform Madam Bones I'll need to be informed of the secret, just as you seemed to have already understood the problem.

"I must say," he continued. "It's actually very clever of her to come up with that idea. I dare say it will save many lives."

"From her letter to us about it," said Hermione. "She's doing it to stop Riddle and his thugs from getting hold of the information, so he can no longer target the homes of muggleborns."

"Yes, I've read of the attacks in the Daily Prophet," the Professor near-growled. "He used the same tactics in the previous war. However, back then, they didn't employ the Knowledge Fidelius to help protect them."

"If I was a conspiracy theorist, I'd wager they didn't employ the idea as the Ministry preferred Riddle to go after the muggleborns than go after purebloods; light-sided families. Something he's likely to do if he can't get at the muggleborns."

With a frown that bordered on a glare, the Professor said in a low voice, "That comment was beneath you, Mister Potter."

"While it may be distasteful, Professor," interjected Daphne. "There's a good chance he's probably right."

Professor Flitwick seemed to think on that for a few moments before he sighed and sagged a little. "Indeed," he eventually agreed.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

At the Halloween Feast for that year, the three informed Professor Flitwick they would be spending it in their own apartment.

"It's a time for the Potters to spend it in solitude, Professor," explained Daphne. "All Hallows Eve will henceforth be a day for the Potters to spend in memoriam of James and Lily.

"A new tradition, then," nodded the Professor. "I heartily approve and grant you permission to miss the Feast in the Great Hall."

"Thank you, Professor," all three responded.

So, on the night of the Feast, all three enjoyed a quiet meal in the Potter Apartment, superbly prepared and served by Dobby.

Once dinner was concluded, Hermione rose and brought back to the table some of the photo albums that Harry and the girls had collected over the past year and a bit. They were additions to the album Hagrid had given him for Christmas his first year.

So, that evening was spent going through the old wizarding photographs, and the handmade cards wizarding children had sent Harry over the years.

Here and there, Daphne made comments about who the children were if she thought Harry or Hermione didn't recognise the name. And she also provided background information on people she knew of, that appeared in wizarding photographs with either or both of Harry's parents. Some Harry knew, but Daphne still provided new information in among the already known.

It was actually quite late at night before the three realised the time and finally turned into bed.

Just after they doused the lights, Harry asked, "Did you know this is the first Halloween since I entered... re-entered... the wizarding world when something bad hasn't happened to me?"

Both his wives simply cuddled into him from either side.

"As Professor Flitwick said, love," said Hermione. "Tonight, we started a new tradition for the Potter family. I happen to think that's a good thing."

"As do I," murmured Daphne.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

The school year was just starting into December when the Potters received a knock on the door to their apartment. Opening it, Harry saw it was the latest Quidditch captain for Ravenclaw, Roger Davies.

Curious as to why the boy, who had a scowl on his face, was paying them a visit, Harry invited him in.

After the boy sat down on the couch opposite Harry and his wives - and was offered a butterbeer, which he declined - Harry asked, "Well, Mister Davies, what brings you to our little demesne?"

Getting straight to the point, Davies explained, "Chang's withdrawn from the Quidditch team. The Ravens are now without a seeker."

"Ooo-kaaay," said Harry. "First, why did she withdraw? And, second, aren't there other 'Claws more than capable of taking the seeker slot?"

"She's withdrawn because she feels she needs to devote more time to her studies," explained Davies, with a hint of distaste on his face. "Apparently, she nearly failed last year. Something to do with her constant fawning over Diggory getting in the way of her completing her assignments, or some such. Now she's simply pining over the boy."

Diggory had completed his final year of education the previous year, and was no longer dating Chang. Harry didn't know the whole story, there, but thought Diggory might have learned of Chang and her cohorts' predilection towards bullying others.

"And, as to your second question," continued Davies, "It's the belief of the House... and the rest of the team... that you should be seeker."

"What about your reserve seeker?" asked Hermione.

"We didn't and don't have one," replied Davies.

"And, what about you? Do you want Harry on your team as seeker?" asked Daphne. "By the way you answered his earlier question, it sounds as if you don't."

"Actually, yes; I do," he replied. "My... annoyance... is in reaction to the rest of the House practically ordering me to ask you before asking anyone else."

"And you feel they were usurping your authority as captain," Harry put forward.

"Yes," Davies practically hissed.

Harry laughed. "You want me as your seeker. The House wants me as your seeker. But you're pissed because you see it as the House forcing you to pick me as your seeker, thereby usurping your authority."

Giving a grudging nod of acceptance, the boy blushed a little before he quietly said, "Yes."

Harry chuckled a little more before he said, "Alright, then. If you want me as seeker for the Ravens, I'll be seeker for the Ravens... with the provision that, if Chang wants her slot back, I'll step down again."

Davies shook his head and said, "I gave her an ultimatum, hoping to get her to change her mind. I told her that, if she withdrew, she wouldn't be allowed back on the team. She still withdrew. And I will not... cannot... back down from that."

"Fair enough," nodded Harry. Turning to his wives he asked, "So, can I play?"

"Yes," said both, almost simultaneously.

"Just... try to stay out of the hospital wing, okay?" asked Hermione.

"Yes, love," he said, before turning back to Davies. Sitting forward he asked, "So, when's practice?"

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

After an intensive week of learning the plays of the Eagles - the Ravenclaw Quidditch team - Harry was near exhausted from trying to memorise the plays and signals one afternoon, and putting those plays and signals into practice the next.

Finally, the day of the match arrived. When playing as seeker for the Lions Harry always suffered from anxiety nausea the morning of the match. This day, he did not. However, that may have had a lot to do with the... distraction therapy, as Hermione put it... of the previous night. All three finally fell asleep, quite exhausted and 'sated' in the wee hours of the morning.

The next morning, this morning, they engaged in one final but brief bout of lovemaking before rising and facing the day.

It meant that, at breakfast, Harry was happily downing a bowl of porridge with fruit mixed in, sweetened with honey and a good dash of milk. As a side dish he had picked out the crispiest pieces of bacon off the communal plate while also holding a non-crispy piece aside for Hedwig - she preferred it that way.

Hermione was looking on with amusement.

"This is so unlike you, Harry," she smirked. "Usually, you're a bundle of nerves before a game."

Grinning back between mouthfuls of porridge, he replied, "My last actual game was eighteen months ago, love. Besides, back then I didn't have two lovely wives who were able to... shall we say... get my mind out of the 'what if' loop of crashes and failures I used to get."

Immediately both wives blushed.

Luna, sitting opposite, witnessed this and began to giggle. "I take it Daphne and Hermione were able to devise a way to get your mind off the game," she mused.

And both wives blushed again as Harry grinned back, causing Luna to giggle again.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

The game itself was a bit of a letdown for Harry. He was expecting the excitement, the search and the chase of the snitch. Instead, he spotted the snitch less than ten minutes after the game started; and, because the new Hufflepuff seeker was out of position, had an unchallenged dive and capture of the snitch moments later. Ravenclaw won, 170 - 10. The match was one of the quickest on record.

His spotting the snitch and capturing it happened so quickly that Lee Jordan, in one of his last games as commentator, thought Harry was just going to attempt a spoiling play of the Hufflepuff chasers - right until he caught the snitch and held it aloft before landing one-handed next to Madam Hooch with a wide grin to her look of shock.

The party immediately after the game in the Ravenclaw common room was one of the few times the three Potters were together in the room. Other times were usually only one of them, when they entered to browse the House library for reference material.

What Harry liked about the event was that the 'Claws weren't as boisterous in their partying as the Gryffindors. They still had butterbeer, nibblies and the like; but there was no sneaking in of fire whiskey or wine. And the party also wrapped up early to clear the room for those who needed to study or complete assignments. For the 'Claws, even a party for a major Quidditch win wasn't enough to deny students who needed to look after their academic interests.

As they were about to leave, Davies approached and said, "Potter, I'm sorry I didn't think of asking you to at least be reserve seeker at the beginning of the year. I would have still played Chang in the game we lost, but you'd have been better prepared for this game."

"That's alright, Davies," replied Harry. "But, if you need me for the final game, I'll be available."

"Good," replied the other boy. "Because I've already decided you're the seeker for it."

With a chuckle, Harry left taking his wives with him.

As they were walking down to the corridor back to their apartment, Hermione asked, "Feel better, getting to play again?"

"Ah, love," he sighed in peaceful happiness. "You know me too well."

"I know you enjoy the freedom flying gives you," said Daphne. "But, I don't know why you love Quidditch so much."

"It's not so much I love Quidditch," he replied. "It's that I love to fly; and Quidditch... seeking... gives me something to do while I fly. The Headmaster's a manipulative old fool."

As they walked in through the alcove and past Professor Whittaker, Daphne burst out laughing.

"Yeah, I know," said Harry. "We really should change the password."

"Oh, not that," she giggled. "Though, yes, we really should change the password. No, I'm laughing because I'd like to see the expressions on the faces of Woods and Davies if they ever find out you really don't care that much about Quidditch."

Grinning, Harry ran his fingers through his hair and said, "Wood would probably cry. But, I think Angelina, their new captain, would probably laugh as much as you did. I've no idea how Davies would feel about it. Personally, I think he wouldn't care."

Mimicking Davies's accent he said, "I couldn't care any less than I do right now whether or not you love or hate Quidditch. Just catch the bloody snitch!"

That had the three of them laughing.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

With the Christmas break finally upon them, the three happily made ready to depart the morning of the Hogwarts Express.

As they descended into the entrance hall they met up with other students who were waiting their turn to head out to the carriages that would take them to the train. Headmistress McGonagall was overseeing the leaving of students, while Caretaker Filch was marking off names on a long list.

Approaching her, Harry said, "This is unusual for you, Headmistress; overseeing the leaving of students."

She smiled and said, "It's one of the pleasures I wasn't willing to surrender just because I've become Headmistress, Mister Potter."

"Watching people leave is a pleasure, Ma'am?" he asked, confused.

"Not leave, Mister Potter," she corrected. "Return to their loved ones. I enjoy seeing the faces of our students in their eagerness to return to their homes."

"I understand," he softly said.

As he was about to return to his wives, the Headmistress said, "Just so you're aware, Mister Potter, and are unalarmed; there will be two members of staff, Professors Vector and Bartwinkle, on the train for the trip to London."

"Understood," replied Harry. "And, thank you for the heads-up."

As their turn to head out to the carriages came and they made their way outside, Hermione asked, "What bothers you so?"

"Bothers me?" he asked.

"Ever since you spoke with Professor McGonagall, you've been quite... pensieve," she explained.

"Ah!" he said. "That's because of the look of sadness I saw on her face when she spoke of the students returning to their loved ones. It looked so... wistful. There's a great sadness within her."

As they boarded the carriage, Daphne sighed and said, "During the war with Grindelwald, members of the Order of Walpurgis attacked homes in the Scottish highlands during one of their rare incursions into Britain. Minerva McGonagall lost her husband and young child in one of those attacks."

"Dear God," said Hermione, appalled. "That's horrible."

"There are many stories like that," Daphne quietly said. "Excluding the recent muggleborns, practically everyone lost someone close to them in the last two wars. I lost an uncle and aunt in the last one. And my grandfather...my father's father... died at the hands of some Walpurgis Order members while defending another family in the Grindelwald war."

"Oh, Daphne," said Hermione; her voice full of sorrow. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," the blonde girl replied. "He died well before I was even born. I only know of him from what Father's told me of him; and from what I've learned from his portrait."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

As soon as they boarded the train, and found a compartment in a carriage up near the front where the Slytherins sat, the three quickly settled down for the seven long hours of trip back to London.

The train had barely left the station when the door was pulled open by Tracey.

"Hey!" she grinned. "Are you three trying to hide from me?"

With matching grins of their own it was Daphne who responded for the Potters. "Of course not, silly! Come on in!"

"Actually, you three might want to come back to our compartment one carriage back," she replied. "The others are all there, waiting."

"Oh," said Harry, as his two wives both blushed and rose, ready to depart. "Oops?" he sheepishly said.

Tracey just grinned back as she led them down the train and to the compartment of Draco, Blaise, Neville and Hannah.

Entering the compartment, she gaily said, "Look who I found!"

As the four entered the compartment, Tracey immediately went and sat snuggled alongside Blaise while Hermione sat next to her, and Harry and Daphne sat opposite Neville and Hannah.

"Too good for us now, Potter?" asked Draco.

"Sorry, guys," he said. "Mea culpa. We didn't know you'd beaten us to the train and found another compartment, nor that you were holding it for us."

Noticing the slightly uncomfortable silence that had descended, Hannah asked, "So, what're everyone's plans for the break?"

Deciding to be the first, Harry said, "Christmas shopping as soon as possible first, of course. After that, Christmas at Greengrass Farm. Then I don't think we've got plans."

"A visit to my parents to see little William, my new baby brother, is one plan Harry forgot," added Hermione. "And we'll need to pay Sirius a visit, of course."

"Oh, yeah," said Harry. Turning to Draco, he asked, "Still at Black Manor?"

"No. However, it's not Malfoy Manor either," the blonde boy replied with a sigh. "Mother does not feel it is safe, as yet, to return to our home."

"If there's anything I can do to help, please contact me," said Harry, making sure his ex-school-nemesis understood he was being serious about the offer."

Draco nodded back and softly said, "Thank you."

"Mother's taking me back to the mother country for Yule," piped up Blaise. "However, we'll only be there until Boxing Day. Then we're returning to England. I told her I wouldn't go unless I was able to spend some time with Tracey, as well."

That earned him a cuddle and kiss on the cheek from his girlfriend.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

The train was about three hours into its journey to London when the brakes of the train suddenly slammed on, causing luggage and pet carriers to fly off the high shelves onto luckless students sitting with their backs to the front of the train.

Though they didn't know it at the time, there were three students who were knocked unconscious, and a raft of others with concussions, broken arms and or ribs, and a leg or two. These were the ones who were hit with heavy school trunks that flew off the shelf opposite and landed on them.

Harry and his wives were spared the initial carnage, though a trunk had flown off the shelf opposite. Harry was able to stop it from slamming into his torso only through his preternaturally fast reflexes. He'd managed to raise both hands and half catch it, half fend it off, before the momentum and gravity allowed him to force it away and onto the floor.

Immediately flexing his fingers, hands and arms he quickly asked, "Is everyone okay?" Even as cries and screams from those less fortunate came from other compartments.

"Yeah... yeah, we're fine... I think," stuttered Blaise from opposite.

"Right, well there appears to be others who aren't," he said. "And it sounds like they need our help."

He was about to turn to ask one of his wives to send a patronus message when he saw Hermione do just that. "That went to Madam Bones," she said. "I told her something caused the train to emergency brake and there are many students, here, who're injured."

"We don't know there is that..." started Neville, before she cut him off.

"There will be," she snapped back. "Putting heavy trunks into the overheads was always a recipe for disaster. Well, that disaster is here because of the emergency braking."

Daphne had already risen from her seat and, as the closest to the door, had already ducked outside. She was back a moment later. "We've got wounded. Almost everyone sitting with their back to the direction of travel is injured, right throughout the carriage."

"That means they'll be in the same states in all the other carriages," said Tracey, standing from where she'd fallen to the floor.

"Which is what I'd anticipated," said Hermione. "Hence the patronus messenger to Madam Bones."

"Let's see what we can do to help ev..." Blaise had just started to rise when he looked out the window. "Death Eaters!" he gasped.

Spinning about, everyone else looked outside and saw what had caught Blaise's attention. Riddle's thugs were standing on the ground, outside and about fifty feet back, looking back at the train.

"Shit!" swore Harry. "At least now we have a reason for the train's sudden stop."

This time, Daphne was forming a messenger patronus. As soon as it flashed away, she said, "That was also a message to Madam Bones. This time, with the information that Riddle's masked morons were attacking the train."

"Good," Harry nodded approvingly back at his wife. Turning to the others in the compartment, he said "Everyone bar Draco, go see about helping all the injured students. If you see a Death Eater on the train, try and avoid them. Use Notice-Me-Not wards on the doors of the compartments, if you have to.

"Draco, you're probably within the top five of Riddle's personal shit list; so, you'd best stay with us," said Harry. "Hermione, Daphne and I all know we happen to be the top three of that same list. So, the safest place for you, right now, is with us."

Draco stared back at Harry for a moment in surprise before his expression firmed and he said, "Agreed. What do you need me to do?"

The others, bar the three Potters and Draco, headed out and split in either direction to see what they could do to help with injuries and to tell people not to be heroes in the face of the Death Eaters.

Harry smiled back and said, "Good man." He glanced at Daphne a moment before he turned back and asked, "If I pair you with Daphne, can I trust you to keep her safe?"

"Harry," growled Daphne in a warning manner.

He turned more fully to her and said, "The corridors are far too narrow for the three of us to move together and head one way. Hell, it's too narrow for two, really. Can you see any other option than to break into two teams of two and head in opposite directions?"

She thought a moment before she sighed and replied, "No."

With a firm nod to her, he turned to Draco and said, "Us three have had advanced duelling training. I need you to act as defence for Daphne while she goes on offence. She'll need you casting shield charms and transfigure items into physical shields you levitate before her to block Unforgivables. Can you handle that?"

"Yes," Draco firmly replied. "I'll be happy to. She'll be safe with me."

"Good man," said Harry, again. "You two head towards the engine and see if you can get the train moving again. Hermione and I will head down the train and 'repel boarders' and see what we can do to get the older students to care for the little'uns. Hopefully, the aurors will be here before much longer."

As the four split into pairs Daphne and Draco headed forward towards the engine while Harry and Hermione head towards the rear. Clearly, Tracey and Blaise were ahead of them, as they could see students in the compartments they passed had calmed down again. And a few were looking a little fearful out the window. Clearly, they'd seen the Death Eaters, too.

Harry and Hermione, after checking each compartment, simply moved on to the next without a word. Seconds later, they were into the next carriage. It was in the first compartment they came across Blaise and Tracey. Both were casting minor healing spells on a pair of firsties that appeared to have been clobbered by a school trunk that landed on them.

"You guys, alright?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah," said Tracey, looking up from performing a minor episkey spell on a small gash on a young female firstie's forearm. "No sign of them, yet."

"Alright," sighed Hermione. "We'll move on ahead. But, we're looking to make sure the bad guys don't come on board."

Tracey turned to look back out the window. Turning back, she said, "There's still some out there. But... I think there's less than there were."

"Why would they be just standing out there?" asked Blaise, genuinely curious.

"They're the lookouts," replied Harry. "They're out there to make sure whoever they're after doesn't escape by disembarking while others are searching the train."

"They're hunting for someone specific," said Blaise in sudden understanding.

"Exactly," said Harry.

As both Hermione and Harry moved out into the passageway again, someone dressed as a Death Eater stepped around the corner from the other end of the carriage. And was immediately followed by a second one.

"There!" called the first one, a male, as soon as his eyes laid upon Hermione and Harry. He then quickly drew a wand.

That same call also alerted the two Potters that they were the target or targets, and both also raised their own wands.

With their wands already out, Hermione was far quicker than the Death Eaters with a shield.

As soon as the first person raised their wand, they shouted, "Avada..."

As soon as he heard the first two syllables, Harry's first choice to incapacitate the masked thugs immediately switched to putting them down hard. With complete faith in Hermione to defend him, he launched his own attack.

With one Death Eater slightly behind the other, his first attacking spell chain was launched.

"... Kedavra!" roared the first Death Eater as Harry's first curse flew forward, an overpowered bludgeoning hex. The two curses passed each other, as Harry realised the killing curse was aimed at Hermione.

Glancing to her he saw she easily intercepted it with a large block of granite before she immediately banished the remains of the now shattered block directly back at the Death Eaters, as per her magical combat training.

At the same time Harry saw his bludgeoning hex strike the first masked thug, sending him flying back into the second Death Eater. As his second curse was on its way, a reduction curse, he couldn't aim it lower to account for the first having been slammed off his feet. However, it was sure to either hit the second masked thug, or cause the man, or woman, to block it.

Harry's curse slammed into the pitiful shield the second Death Eater was able to erect, causing it to spectacularly fail just in time for the banished remains of Hermione's granite block to slam into both Death Eaters. Luckily, the stupid student who had stuck their head out the door to see what was going on, only caught a few stray fragments of rock to the side of the head, before they yelped and pulled their head back in again, slamming the door closed.

By the time Harry was almost finished casting his third curse, both Death Eaters were on the ground and not moving.

With a glance to each other, both teens cautiously made their way forward. As they passed the compartment door with the foolish student behind, Harry opened it to look within.

Spotting a boy being tended for cuts and small gashes to the side of his face by a fellow seventh year, he said, "You're lucky you only caught a few stone chips to the side of your face. It could have just as easily been a reduction curse or similar. Idiot."

Not waiting for a response, he withdrew and closed the door, to see Hermione standing over the two Death Eaters. He was just in time to see her levitate the two now discarded wands and drop them into an evidence bag. Then she withdrew a small vial from a pocket within her robes. And used an eye dropper to drip a few drops onto the uncovered part of each face of the two thugs.

After waiting a few moments, Harry then bent down and ripped the masks away to see two adult males of which only one he recognised. "Flint?" he said, a little surprised.

"How come we weren't informed one of those who escaped Azkaban was Marcus Flint?" asked Hermione.

"No idea, love," he replied. "But, it's definitely something we'll be asking Madam Bones the next time we see her."

With a sigh, he stood up and said, "Come on. There's bound to be more of them onboard."

The two of them then made their way into the next carriage. This time it was they who walked around the corner to find themselves facing a pair of Death Eaters, who were already halfway down the corridor looking into compartments. They were ignoring the cries of dismay from those within as they were clearly searching for one or more specific individuals.

Looking at the pair, Harry called, "Looking for me, shit for brains?"

Both Death Eaters immediately turned to his voice. As one cried, "It's him!" The other tried to snap fire off what looked like a stunner.

A stunner, which was immediately batted aside by Hermione as Harry launched into a not-so-lethal spell chain.

Harry started with the banishing charm, the disarming charm, a tongue locking hex, and a hog-tie binding charm on the closest Death Eater.

The first was batted aside, the second was attempted to be batted aside but failed leading to the masked thug losing his wand; then the tongue locking hex and binding charm hit him, causing him to topple to the floor.

Seeing his 'friend' quickly losing the short duel had the second Death Eater attempt the torture curse, which safely impacted on Hermione's granite block, leaving only a scorch mark.

As she levitated the block back out of the way, and because the thug fired off an Unforgivable at him, Harry used his first semi-lethal spell chain of a tongue locking hex, confounding charm, piercing curse, and blasting hex. Then moved directly into another spellchain leading with a patronus, hesitating to let his stag patronus gallop at the thug for a moment, before then firing off a second piercing charm, the disarming charm, the petrifying charm and rope binding charm.

The Death Eater was able to avoid, block or bat away everything until the patronus. He didn't see the follow up piercing charm, which hit him in the elbow of his wand arm, rendering the arm useless. And he wasn't then able to switch wand hands before he was disarmed, frozen like a statue and bound before toppling to the floor on top of his 'partner'.

Again, the two teens moved forward with Hermione allowing a couple of drops of Sleepy-bye potion to drop onto the bared chins of both Death Eaters while Harry stood guard.

They were just going through the trouble of stripping both of their wands and portkeys when two aurors quickly rounded the corner, to be met with the pointed wands of both Potters. Both aurors immediately stopped with their hands raised. Both with their wands pointed skyward.

"Whoa, there, Mister Potter," said the first auror, who Harry immediately recognised as Kingsley Shacklebolt.

Seeing who it was, Harry and Hermione lowered their wands as Harry said, "Auror Shacklebolt; nice of you to pay us a visit. I take it those of Riddle's thugs who were keeping watch outside have been dealt with?"

With a nod the tall dark-skinned auror said, "Those that we could catch; yes."

Stepping forward with his partner, Shacklebolt looked down at the two Death Eaters and said, "Nice job."

"Thank you," said Hermione. "These two, plus two more in the next carriage, have been dosed with the Sleepy-byes potion. I take it Madam Bones now has the antidote for it?"

"She does," replied the tall auror with a smile.

"In that case, and since you've obviously come from the back of the train, these are probably it for who was on the train," said Harry.

"Mind if we take possession of them?" asked the auror.

"Go ahead," said Harry, before he smirked and said, "Seeing as we've just got through gift wrapping them for you."

Shacklebolt then turned to the younger auror who had kept silent but had been looking between Shacklebolt, the Potters and the Death Eaters while they'd been talking. "Magic suppression cuffs, Blake. Then portkey them back to the holding cells."

The younger auror simply nodded and reached into a pocket of his robes as he stepped forward and crouched down. A few seconds later, both unconscious Death Eaters had been portkeyed away.

"Where are the next two, Mister Potter?" asked Shacklebolt.

"Next carriage," replied Harry with an indication of the direction with his head. "Come on. We'll show you."

As the two headed to the previous carriage, Hermione held out the two bags of four wands and portkeys. "These are the portkeys and wands they were using," she said, holding up the bag. "I'm guessing you'll need them for evidence."

"Thank you, Missus Granger-Potter," replied Shacklebolt with a nod of his head as he accepted the bag.

"You'll also find at least one killing curse and one torture curse were very recently cast using two of those wands," she added.

With a slightly surprised expression on his face, Shacklebolt said, "Did they really? Well, that'll help to see them locked away for a very long time."

As soon as the first two Death Eaters Harry and Hermione had dealt with had been portkeyed away in 'cuffs, Harry asked, "Are the injured students being seen to?"

"Healers should be here already," said Shacklebolt. "We forced them to hold back for five minutes until we could deal with the masked idiots."

"They're here now, Senior," said the young auror, finally speaking up for the first time. "I saw them portkey in outside about two minutes ago. They should be onboard by now."

"In that case, it's time we got this train moving again," said Shacklebolt. He seemed about to turn around and head for the front of the train when he paused and looked at the two Potters. "Again, you two... plus Missus Greengrass-Potter and young Mister Malfoy... seem to have dealt with the biggest problem of those of Riddle's thugs who were actually threatening the students. So, thank you for your quick action.

"However, I need to go and make sure this train starts moving again. I don't like the idea of it sitting here, out in the open, when we could have it moving to London while injured students are being treated."

"Then, by all means, go," said Harry. "I'm not too comfortable being out in the open like this, either."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

The trip from the ambush site to Kings Cross remained uneventful. A team of aurors and healers remained on the train to respectively protect the students for the remainder of the trip and to continue to treat light injuries the students had suffered.

Harry was surprised to learn that, though attempting to portkey or apparate onto a moving train was inherently dangerous, portkeying or apparating off such a train, as long as the destination wasn't moving, was no less safe than if the train was stationary at the time. As they journeyed to London, three students were portkeyed off the train direct to Saint Mungo's due to their injuries. Their parents or guardians, who were likely to be awaiting them at Platform 9¾, would be informed once the train arrived.

Having returned to their compartment the group settled in shortly after the train had begun moving again.

In the silence, it was Draco who spoke first. "Well; that was interesting."

Blaise snorted in response as Tracey looked a little surprised by the comment.

"A rather typical Slytherin understatement," smirked Hermione.

"And what would you have expected?" smirked Draco right back.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Once the train finally made it to Kings Cross, over forty minutes late, Harry watched as he saw a half dozen aurors moving through the crowd identifying the parents and guardians of the injured students. So far, none had been killed. However, there was at least one critical injury. A second year female Hufflepuff, who had a dislodged trunk hit her in the head. She was unconscious when the healers portkeyed her away.

Scanning the crowd, Daphne was the first to spot her parents. "There!" she pointed them out to her spouses.

Turning to look where Daphne had pointed, Harry saw the Greengrasses. Just as his eyes laid on them he saw Matthias look back, smile and wave them over.

Smiling back, the three Potters walked over. However, they made sure to keep their eyes roving the crowd as they moved across the platform.

As they approached, Matthias said, "You three move like a trained hit wizard squad."

"What was the first memory I ever showed you, Matthias?" Harry immediately asked.

With a curious frown, Matthias replied, "It was... of Sirius's innocence."

He then seemed to understand, "Oh! A security question; of course."

"It comes from the combat training Professors Flitwick and Snape have been giving us, Dad," said Harry, his eyes still moving about and checking their surroundings.

"It appears to be working, the three of you look dangerous," mused Matthias.

"We're all here. We should leave," said Deece, after Astoria joined them.

Matthias nodded and said, "Sounds good. Let's go."

After moving to the portkey point further down the platform, the six of them portkeyed back to Greengrass Farm. It wasn't until they arrived, and the house elves confirmed no one else was present, that the three Potters finally relaxed.

One of the elves popped away with Astoria's trunk while Dobby popped in to tell them he'd already brought the Potters' trunks from Hogwarts.

"Merlin, you three are tense," said Deece. "Please; come into the kitchen and we'll have tea."

As they walked into the informal dining area they didn't say anything until Deece called one of the elves to serve them tea, and they were all seated.

"As I said, you three are tense," she continued. "The three of you move with a... precision... a sort of... fluid grace. It speaks of a sort of contained lethality. And it's frightening."

"Mum," began Daphne. But, she couldn't seem to find the words that needed to be said.

"Mum Greengrass," said Hermione. "We move as we do... not because we want to... but, because we need to... right now. When out in public, we have to be ready for any sudden attack. Once Riddle is gone..."

"That's just it, isn't it?" the older woman suddenly snapped. "'Once Riddle is gone.' In the meantime my daughter is losing her youth..."

"Mum!" exclaimed Daphne. "I think you've forgotten I'm a nineteen year old woman in the body of a fifteen year old, here. I'm not as young as I look, remember?"

Deece closed her eyes with an expression of pain for a few moments as she willed herself to calm down.

When she opened her eyes again they had the beginnings of tears suppressed under her iron will. "No. You're right. I forgot.

"But, why does it have to be you three? Why does it have to be you?" she pleaded.

"Because, in order for the wizarding world to see us as their saviours - so that they will then follow us as the mindless sheep they constantly prove themselves to be - we need to become the indisputable new Leaders of the Light, just as Dumbledore was supposed to be before us," replied Harry. "And we can only do that by facing and destroying forevermore Tom Marvolo Riddle, and proving his blood based bigotry is naught but a lie."

With a slight snort he continued, "Look at us three. A pureblood in Daphne, a halfblood in me and a muggleborn in Hermione. We represent the three so-called blood statuses. And, yet, we see each other as both equals and partners."

"We three represent the trichotomy of magic users in the wizarding world, leaving aside squibs," interrupted Hermione.

"Trichotomy?" asked Daphne before she suddenly understood and said, "Oh! Three, instead of two, as in dichotomy."

Hermione smiled back.

"Our expert on multisyllabics," smiled Harry, which earned him an arm-smack from Hermione, before he returned to the previous topic. "The first act in the cosmic plan of the three Fates and Destiny was him rendered... discorporeal in 1981. The second was his... revivification - I refuse to use resurrection - last June. The third will be his second and final death. For the time being we need to face and overcome the... adversity... he currently represents.

"And, I promise you, the first hint I get of him finally coming out into the open, where I can get at him, I'll be there to blow his bloody head off."

"'Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course'," Hermione suddenly quoted. "William Shakespeare; King Henry the Sixth, act three, scene one."

Harry wryly smiled and said, "Sometimes, adversity is what you need to face in order to understand your true strengths."

"Wise words," murmured Matthias.

"Shakespeare wasn't the only one who can utter wisdom in verbal form," grinned Harry.

"We know when he goes after the prophecy orb..." began Hermione.

"Not any more," disagreed Daphne. "The timeline has now been well and truly botched."

Agreeing, Harry nodded and added, "We don't even know if he's going to go after it, now. We only suspect he will, based on what we know of him and his desires."

"And without you getting the visions you got in the old timeline, we don't even have that to alert us," sighed Hermione.

Harry immediately perked up and looked like he just received inspiration. "That's it!" he almost crowed. "Hermione, you're brilliant!"

"Okay," she carefully said. "Why?"

Turning to her more fully, he explained, "We think I might no longer receive the visions because the soul fragment that was behind my scar is now gone. But, what if it's because of the Occlumency we now share? What if I can lower those barriers to start receiving them again?"

Surprised, she blinked back a moment before she asked, "Could you? I mean, the Occlumency is a part of our bond, isn't it? It's a natural component rather than a purposefully mastered skill."

"Yes," he agreed. "But, what if lowering the barrier could also be a purposefully mastered skill? A sort of... reverse Occlumency."

"Harry, I don't like the sounds of this," warned Matthias. "You're talking about opening up your mind to Riddle..."

"No, I'm not," interrupted Harry, turning to him. "I'm talking about opening my mind only as far as getting the visions I need. I control the gateway, not Tom.

"In the previous timeline Tom only deliberately used the gateway once that we know of. That was to convince me Sirius was being tortured in the Prophecy room at the Department of Mysteries. However, unbeknownst to him, I used to get visions from him when he was particularly happy or angry. At those times, his control on his Occlumency slipped enough for me to 'see' what he was up to."

"What sort of things did you see?" asked Deece.

"I knew, for instance, when he broke his followers out of Azkaban, when he killed Madam Bones, when some schmuck of a Death Eater failed a task and Tom killed him for it... that happened a few times... and saw through the eyes of his familiar, Nagini, when she attacked Arthur Weasley - who was acting as unofficial and unauthorised guard for Dumbledore outside the Dee-oh-Emm. Each of those times I was usually stressed, asleep or just plain tired.

"The difference, this time, is he doesn't know about the connection. And, this time, I'll be controlling when it happens. If I can open the connection... and it's a big 'if'... it'll be a priceless spying tool on what ol' Snake Face is up to."

"I still don't like it," growled Matthias. "However, you're right. It'll be a valuable intelligence tool..."

"Matthias!" exclaimed Deece.

Quickly holding up a hand to forestall Deece's building rant, Matthias explained, "He's right, dear. As long as he can control when it happens, it'll be a valuable intelligence source. It'll save many lives!"

Deece looked like she really wanted to disagree and was clearly pondering a reason to do so. Eventually, she sighed and quietly said, "You're right. However, I don't like it. What if Riddle becomes aware of it and begins to use it to either trick or tele...pathically attack Harry?"

Understanding, Matthias turned to Harry and asked, "Well?"

"It's a valid concern," he shrugged. "However, as I now know Riddle had the ability to send me false visions in the previous timeline, I'm also now aware of the risk of it and will be on guard for the... connection being used to do that again.

"However, if there is a possibility Riddle could use it to mentally attack me, I've no doubt he'd have done just that last run through. As he didn't, I doubt it's a valid method of attack this run through either."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

The next morning, when Harry rose, he remembered a dream he had where he figured out how to open the connection at will. He was also beginning to strongly suspect the dreams were being caused by either their angels or some other heavenly being who was being helpful.

As he and his wives sat down for breakfast with the Greengrasses he explained what he determined, or his dreams showed him, he would need to do.

"I have to get in touch with my magic," he explained. "I have to meditate and find my magic. That's part of learning Occlumency the normal way, anyway. Once I've done that, I need to find the Occlumency barrier and figure out how to lower it at will.

"When I've accomplished that, I then need to find the connection between my magic and Tom's. And then follow the connection to Tom. If I do it right, and carefully enough Tom doesn't detect it and shield himself from it, I should then be able to see what he's up to.

"The fact this new body of his isn't anywhere near as magically strong as his original one, because of our interference in his revivification ritual, it means his Occlumency should also be just as weak." Harry thought about that for a moment before he quietly said, "I'm also wondering if he's managed to hide the fact he's magically weaker from his lickspittles."

"That would be something he'd want to do," mused Matthias. "Perceived weakness, for someone like Riddle, could easily mean his death at the hands of one of his own. That's something I could definitely see Malfoy wanting to capitalise on, if he was still alive. So would Dolohov... Rodolphus Lestrange... Nott..."

With a very unladylike snort, Deece said, "I think it would be easier to name the Death Eaters who wouldn't want to knock him off and take over. And the only one that really fits, or fit, that particular mould would be Bella Lestrange."

"And we're getting off topic," said Daphne. Turning to Harry, she said, "I can help you with magical meditation techniques to find your core, as can Mum and Dad. Its part of the training both Mum and Dad gave me when I needed to learn Occlumency before the bonding."

"She's right," said Matthias. "And I like to think of myself as a pretty good instructor in the mental arts. I taught both girls before they went to Hogwarts."

"Then it looks like you and Harry have a project for the break," said Hermione. "Though, I hope you allow me to learn, as well; as I've heard that learning Occlumency... even if we don't actually need it... helps with mental recall, and aids in learning."

Matthias smiled with a short nod and said, "It does. And I'd be happy to teach you both."

"But, not right now," said Deece. "Today is about Christmas shopping; and, if time permits, the ladies and I need to do a bit of clothes shopping."

As Matthias winced and Harry groaned and lowered his head, Daphne and Hermione almost nonchalantly reached out and lightly smacked them both in the back of their heads.

Then, as both wizards surrounded by four witches glanced at one another, both males broke into laughter seeing the expressions on the other's face.

"Wizards," tsked Deece with a sigh.

"Yeah," piped up Astoria for the first time. "Why can't you be like us and like shopping?"

"Because wizards, Stori... well, all men, really... are essentially not all that far removed from cavemen," explained Hermione. "They still think with a 'hunter-gatherer' mentality. The men would go off to hunt meat or 'war', while the women spent their time gathering fruits, nuts, berries and the like."

"Hey!" complained Harry, mock hurt by the not too far off the mark comment.

With a wry grin, Matthias just said, "Ugg! Me hunt. Me kill."

"Errg. I've got this sudden craving for Mastodon steaks," grinned Harry right back.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ