The Boys Who Lived

CHAPTER 14

Cornelius Fudge was in a quandary of what to do. If he did nothing then he looked like a weak leader, but if he followed Delores’ suggestion and released the Dementors on Hogwarts he looked like he was panicking.

This whole business of Bellatrix Lestrange was bad business indeed, and this was an election year to boot.

Fudge paced his office and thought about what to do for several long minutes before he decided that he couldn’t contact Lucius Malfoy like he normally would. Due to their family ties with Lestrange and his unfortunate incarceration , anything that Lucius suggested would be scrutinized to be sure. That left only three choices. So he had Amelia Bones from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Unspeakable Croaker from the Department of Mysteries, and Minerva McGonagall from Hogwarts called to his office. Then he took a seat and waited. It didn’t take that long really but if felt like forever.

Amelia showed up first, followed by that Croaker individual, after a few minutes the fire in his office activated and Minerva McGonagall came through, although she didn’t look pleased at having her day disrupted by the Ministry of Magic…even if it was the Minister who called her.

“What is this all about, I am very busy and have a school to run. I can’t just take off and go gallivanting around on a whim when ever you call, you know.” Headmistress McGonagall stated as she spelled away the soot on her robes.

Fudge fluffed up a little at that statement, he was the Minister of Magic after all and she was merely an over trained Professor at that blasted school. How dare she speak to him that way.

“Now see here Minerva, this is very important and I would not have called you if I had not required your attention and your input in something quite dire. I would think you would want to put in your two knuts in something that definitely effects Hogwarts, or could effect it, I should say.” Minister Fudge stated.

Amelia looked over to the Minister curiously and asked, “What are you going on about Cornelius? What would effect Hogwarts?”

Minister leaned forward in his seat and placed his elbows on his desk. “Bellatrix Lestrange was spotted just to the north of Hogsmeade not twenty minutes ago.”

“What? Why didn’t you announce it to my people! We need to get some people out there immediately, this is something that needs to go to my people not to your desk.” Amelia grabbed her badge that was on her robe and began speaking to her second in command, Shackelbolt, who was on the other end of the line. In moments she had a team headed out to the site where Lestrange was last spotted and another team on standby just in case.

“Why didn’t you call me immediately with this information?” Amelia asked.

“It was only brought to my attention a few minutes ago, Dolores only told me about the siting moments before I called you. Then I contacted you and brought you to my office.” Fudge stated, as if it was the most natural course of things. Not realizing he had wasted precious minutes pacing his office and worrying about appearances when they could have captured the fugitive and this all would have been for naught.

“What does Dolores have to do with anything? Why did she get the information instead of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement? That can be considered as interfering with the due process of the law.” Amelia glared at the Minister and left no doubt that she was not pleased with his handling of this situation.

“Delores has people everywhere and one of them lives in Hogsmeade, they spotted Lestrange and contacted her immediately. She then told me and I contacted you. It was only a few minutes delay, if that. Your people will be able to be out there and search for her in plenty of time, if she is still there.” Fudge sat back a little, feeling slightly uncomfortable under Amelia Bones’ glare.

“That is just it, isn’t it. If she is still there? Delores should have come to us immediately and then come to you. By her coming to you first, it can be seen as a breach in security and an attempt at allowing a dangerous fugitive to escape. Every minute counts when it comes to someone like Bellatrix Lestrange, and twenty minutes means the trail has gone cold and we may or may not have a trail to locate her at all. Delores’ foolishness may have just cost us a fugitive and you wasting our time in here talking, instead of allowing us to be out there in the field, could very well be detouring from that capture as well.” Amelia glared harder and leaned on the Minister’s desk.

The Minister swallowed hard and cleared his throat. “Well, yes…but what I wanted to call you all in here for was to see what you thought of calling out the Dementors to that area and having them search the area.”

Croaker was the first speak at that. “Are you insane? There are over three hundred individuals living in Hogsmeade that would be in danger of Dementors if one just so happen to get a wild hair up it’s cloak and wander off to play. Those things are not as in control by the Ministry as you think. They are creatures, and creatures follow their base needs, those things need to feed. We can tell them who we want them to hunt and give them a basic area they can hunt in, but we have no guarantee that they will stay within those boundaries. You are putting the life of every single individual in Hogsmeade in danger if you call them out.”

That was when Minerva McGonagall spoke up. “Let’s not forget Hogwarts. I have almost three-hundred and fifty students and teachers at that school and another eighty house elves. I will not have Dementors that close to my school, loose and wandering about. I don’t care how well trained you claim them to be, they are hungry savages and are designed to torture and kill. That is their job. I will not have them near a bunch of helpless, innocent children. Not while I am Headmistress.” Mcgonagall threw out her chest and glared at Fudge as if he was a misbehaving first year, which made him shrink back even more.

Maybe Delores’ idea of the Dementors wasn’t such a good idea after all, he thought.

“My people must be in that area, and are looking for traces of apparition and are trying to track her movements. They can’t be held back by trying to fight a bunch of Dementors as well.” Amelia stated, still glaring at the Minister, “Releasing the Dementors will not only be dangerous to the people of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, but it will hinder our investigation. Even with the proper handlers. You have no guarantee they will not endanger innocent citizens. Do you want to read tomorrows head lines when it states Fudge Encourages Death of Innocent Citizens and face a full Wizengamot Hearing about that little choice you made?”

Minister Fudge paled as he thought about the possible headlines that would appear with his name on it, no that wasn’t what he wanted at all. Okay, he needed advice on how to handle this situation. “If we can’t use Dementors, what is our best course of action then?” He asked.

Croaker looked over to Amelia and nodded. “I suggest you send a couple of my people to join up with Amelia’s to see if we can help with her investigation. We can do some level of spells that they may or may not be familiar with and might help in the process, but at least it is an offer of assistance.”

Amelia nodded. “Offer accepted. We will take all the help we can get. Two of your people per team, your choice of who to send and what their qualifications are will be kept top secret…need to know only. Me and Shackelbolt only will have that information. That way we can put them to use where they will be most useful, and most comfortable. They call the shots in their specialty. No questions asked. Or answers required.”

Croaker nodded at that and took out a small mirror then turned his back and spoke into it, speaking softly so that the others couldn’t hear what he was saying. A few moments later he turned back around and stated, “Two of my best will be reporting to Shackelbolt in a few minutes. He can give them directions to where he wants them to go.”

“Thanks for the assist.” Amelia simply stated.

“Now that that is settled, I would not be offended if we had some Auror presence at Hogwarts. In fact it would be welcome. If Bellatrix is in the area that means she is probably after a student or one of my teachers, and I do not want to risk her getting into the school and risking the lives of any of my students. If she got into the school she could take hostages, or just go on a killing spree before we could call to arms and who knows how many innocent lives would be lost.” Minerva looked over to Amelia and sighed, “Professor Black believes that Bellatrix Lestrange is after Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom. That she is seeking revenge for her capture and imprisonment all those years ago. And that their lives are in danger, they almost didn’t let them come back to school this year, although Hogwarts is one of the most protected places next to Gringotts. We spent quite a bit of time checking our wards this summer, after the break-out, and patching up troubled spots. So I hope that our wards are strong enough to keep even her out, but the extra help of some Auror presence would be appreciated.”

Amelia nodded and leaned back away from Fudge’s desk. “Right away. We will get a series of round the clock guards watching the school. If we set up two at each exit and do eight hour shifts that is eighteen people. We can do that. We will get some of the cadets and a few of our off duty people on it right away. It won’t take any of our people off the streets and it will give you full coverage.”

With that the three guests headed back to work and the Minister was left wondering what just happened. A few minutes later a very disgruntled Under Secretary came into the Minister’s office. Upset that she had missed the others and the meeting entirely.

“Unfortunately Delores, decisions had to be made quickly and you were not available at the time so they were made without your input.” The Minister stated.

“But Cornelius, it was my idea to start with. I should have been here to discuss it. You should have postponed the discussion until I was available and that way I could have assisted you.” Umbridge responded.

“Delores while I find your input to be quite helpful at times, it is not invaluable. Your idea was rash and fool hardy. It could have led to the loss of innocent lives and endangered school children which we could not risk. So it was deemed as too great a risk to take. I will not go down in history, known as the Minister that allowed his constituents to be murdered by Dementors by accident when it could easily be prevented. Helpless school children and innocent villagers are at stake and I am not risking their lives just so you can throw a little weight around. No the solutions that we came up with are more realistic and less deadly or dangerous to my people than sending Dementors out into the countryside.” Cornelius then picked up a folder on his desk and opened it up and began to read it’s contents.

“But Cornelius the likely hood of a Dementor disobeying a direct command is slim. I considered it an acceptable level of risk when I did my research.” Delores’ voice was beginning to take on that simpering sound she makes when ever she doesn’t get her way and it was starting grate on the Minister’s nerves.

“Well the THREE experts that I contacted didn’t agree with you. Each one stated the same thing. While Dementors are useful at Azkaban, they are still creatures. Creatures that are bread and trained to torture and kill. They live in a constant state of flux, so they are constantly hungry and will always crave the hunt. If they have the opportunity to hunt and kill, they will take it, no matter the number of handlers we have available to see otherwise. It only takes two minutes for them to successfully drain the soul from a human body, and what then. There is no anti-venom, no cure, no magic pill or potion or wand waving that will make things all better. The person is gone. A vegetable until their body dies without it’s functioning soul. Living on for a matter of days or weeks even until it finally stops functioning itself.” Cornelius stated, still going through the file before him, “Now it has been decided. There is no more discussion on the subject.”

“Well I feel that you are making a huge mistake, and I just feel that it is my place to tell you so.” Delores sniffed and lifted her head up into the air. Offended that the Minister had dismissed her idea so easily.

“Delores you forget your station. You are my Senior Undersecretary, your job is to gather information I might need and present it to me in a timely fashion. Not to demand that I make decisions that you want me to make or to force me to take your advice over the advice of my other constituents. I spoke to three EXPERTS in this field, not some flunkies who didn’t know their file folders from their note pads, and each one stated the same thing. Using Dementors was rash, fool hardy and dangerous. Now this subject is closed. I want to see the folder on the Minister of France, he wrote me offering to close his boarders to all incoming non-essential apparition and portkeys until further notice.”

“It is the third one on your left side Minister.” Delores sniffed. She wasn’t giving up hope just yet, oh no. She would get her Dementors…maybe not today, but she would get them.

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Harry road Storm as fast as his Darcorn could go, the wind whipping through his hair and his stallion galloping at full steam across Hogwarts grounds. Storm, Ventus, Tonitru, Fulgura and Procella hot on his heals. Thunder nipping at his heals and almost catching up to him.

It was neck and neck as they raced around the Black Lake and back to Hagrid’s hut, back to the stalls and stable. They had mucked out the stalls earlier that morning and had decided to take the Darcorns on a real run and let them have a little fun. After which they would brush them down and feed them then head into the castle and take a shower and then get ready for classes. Storm won the race to the stalls and stood there with his sides heaving and stomping the ground, throwing his neck back and snorting, proud of himself. Harry got off his Darcorn and grabbed a fat rat out of the ever available bucket and handed it over to his friend who immediately devoured his gift, he had earned it after all. A whinny and a snort he brushed his neck against Harry’s leg showing his appreciation of his snack and then the beautiful Darcorn stood trembling as the adrenaline from the race wore off and his rider brushed him down.

Each of the riders were brushing down their Darcorn and talking softly to them, checking their hooves and making sure their rides were in top condition before they walked them into their stable and gave them their morning meal. Professor Lovegood was going to use the Darcorns in a class later this week so they had to look their best and that meant everyone got special attention today. Their coats gleamed and shone in the early morning sunshine and the little bangles in Tonitru and Fulgura’s manes just sparkled like crazy catching every ray of sunshine and every sparkly dew drop that glistened on the grass outside.

Hermione even put some beautiful ribbons in Procella’s mane and tail and braided some of it, to hold it in place. The Darcorn seemed to like it because she was flipping it back and forth as if to say look and see, look and see.

Storm just whinnied and tossed his head about at the antics of his fellow Darcorns and pranced about showing off for the fillies as he normally did. He and Thunder were so glad they had their little herd back together again, they had missed their companions and were being extra friendly with their fillies now that they had them back. He would brush his neck up against them or nuzzle them every now and then and nibble at their ears, just a friendly nibble mind you, something gentle and loving. The fillies would whinny and move closer to the large stallion, trying to vie for attention. Each wanting to be the focus of his affection. They were getting to be that age you know. The age to foal.

Professor Lovegood suggested that either Storm, as the Dominant Stallion, would get first choice of fillies and get to pick two, or maybe three. Or Storm and Thunder would both take two fillies and breed them. But he was pretty sure that the fillies would breed this year. Breeding season for Darcorns starts in September to November so they should be seeing some form of dominance competition between Storm and Thunder soon. Then it would be the winner of the dominance competition picking out who they wish to breed with. Harry just hoped who ever bred with Tonitru also bred with Fulgura, that way the twins would be happy. It would be a shame if one got chosen and the other didn’t.

If they timed it just right the foals would be born during the summer months, somewhere between June and August, which meant that they would have to stay the summer months at the school, since the mares would not be able to travel while pregnant.

The idea of having foals running around and playing all over the place was thrilling and the others were excited about it, although they all would have to be careful with the mares while they were foaling, and in transition they all knew they would be spoiled rotten. Harry couldn’t wait for their little herd to increase in size.

After they finished up with the Darcorns Harry, Neville, Luna and Pavarti raced into the school to get showered and changed into fresh clothes and ready for class.

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Herbology this semester was a little more interesting that last year. This year they were going to be working with several plants instead of just one. Their first plant had been the Abyssinian Shrivelfig, they were taught how to prune the plant and that it was used in three separate potions. The Shrinking Solution, the Elixir to Induce Euphoria and The Thunderbrew. A potion which when consumed creates a storm around an individual that can stun and damage enemies nearby. It is commonly used in combat and was well known back in the eighteen nineties, and could effect an area of about ten feet around the individual that consumed the potion.

Today they were going to be working with Leaping Toadstools. Which are used in Baruffio’s Brain Elixir and the Invisibility Potion. Baruffio’s Brain Elixir is a dangerous potion, if brewed wrong and is viewed as questionable at best; harboring many side effects and ‘unnatural’ effects if the complex recipe is deviated even in the slightest. That is one recipe that is best left to history. The Invisibility Potion is a smashing success though and is used when one does not have and invisibility cloak or know how to do a Disillusionment Charm.

The powdered Leaping Toadstools are quite expensive though and cost almost three galleons for enough to make one batch of the potion. So it was almost worth investing in the Invisibility Cloak, especially if you are an Auror, or work in that field where you might need something like that on a regular basis.

Neville was brushing the Toadstools with with fertilizer mix that Professor Sprout was passing out and watching how the active little things would hop around their containers afterwards, all happy and excited, now that they were well fed. He couldn’t help but laugh at their antics. Plants were always so fascinating to him, even weird ones like Leaping Toadstools. He sprinkled the last of the fertilizer into the container and closed the lid, not wanting the little guys to get away, especially with all their jumping and dancing about.

Harry stood a couple of feet away from Neville with his own case of Toadstools and noticed a couple of Toadstools that were almost limp while the rest were hopping around, he called Professor Sprout over and showed her the two that looked, well… ah… blah, and she tutted and shook her head then reached into the crate and lifted the two out and took them over to a separate case and began to sprinkle a different powder on them. Apparently those Toadstools weren’t doing so hot and needed special care. But Harry had caught it early enough that all they needed was a little TLC and they would be right as rain shortly. Pavarti and Luna giggled as they worked with their Toadstools, watching them bounce around their crate and hop here and there. Luna had an especially active one that kept trying to bounce the lid off the crate but she put a heavy stone on the crate and that stopped that.

Lavender Brown didn’t look happy as she was handling the ‘ick’ fertilizer, but she did it anyway. She had her gloves on and could make sure that she didn’t actually touch any of the stuff but that didn’t mean she had to like it anyway. It still smelled like fertilizer and oh gross, looked like fertilizer. Oh she hated this class. But she just had to think that she had a hot shower waiting on her in a few minutes and she could make it that long. At least this year she only had Herbology once a week, and Care of Magical Creatures once a week, and both of them were on the same day…thank goodness. Hot shower, hot shower, hot shower.

“Now after you have gotten the fertilizer on evenly I want you to place the lids back on your crates and clean up your station. Remember that next week we will be working with Fluxweed so I want you to read chapter twelve in your book and be prepared to work with your plants and repotting them next week. Also I want a ten inch essay on the dangers of Baruffio’s Brain Elixir or the Evolution of the Invisibility Potion by next class time. When you finish cleaning your station you may leave.” Professor Sprout announced.

It was a quarter till the hour but people still took the opportunity to head out early, all except Neville that is. He stuck around and helped Professor Sprout clean up all the stations and made sure everything was put away properly.

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Care of Magical Creatures was about Demiguises today. A Demiguise looks like a cross between an sloth and an ape, with long flowing, silky hair and over sized bright black eyes. They are said to be precognitive so catching one to kill it is extremely difficult. Showing it off to a bunch of kids at a school seemed to be quite acceptable to the little fellows and so Professor Lovegood managed to get five Demiguises to volunteer to come for a little show and tell.

“The Demiguise is native to the Far East; China, Japan and Tibet are it’s natural habitats. Although you can find them in other areas, I can guarantee you they have been smuggled in and it is not where they are familiar with or native to.” Professor Lovegood began. “They are a protected species and are labeled a class XXXX magical beast by the Ministry of Magic. They are peaceful and gentle to handle most of the time, but if threatened they will turn invisible and hide for extended periods of time.”

Padma Patil raised her hand and the Professor pointed to her, “Is it true that they use their hair to make invisibility cloaks from?”

Professor Lovegood nodded, “Yes, that is one of the reason that they are a protected species. A Demiguise pelt is extremely valuable, since it is used in the making of invisibility cloaks. Most cloaks can go three to five years without needing to be replaced, but at some point the threads loose their power of invisibility and become opaque as time passes. Some of the stronger, more resilient cloaks, those made from the ancient Demiguises may last up to twenty even thirty years, but that is rare and is truly uncommon today.”

“They are herbivorous, so they eat only plants. They enjoy just about anything that is leafy and green, although they seem to enjoy ferns more than any other plant. They live in colonies where the older ones or elders watch the youngest of the colony while the healthy breading age individuals of the colony will forage for juicy ferns and bring them back to the elders so they can sit and watch the young.” Professor Lovegood explained.

He then pointed to two smaller ones and stated. “These are younger females, you will notice they are about ten percent smaller than the other larger ones in the group that are here before you today. The female Demiguise will always be slightly smaller than her male counterpart. We have also noticed that the lighter colors seem to attract the most sizable males.”

Harry raised his hand and Professor Lovegood pointed at him, “How big can a colony get, and will it divide off if the colony gets too big?”

“To your first question, an average colony is about twenty to twenty five Demiguise, both male and female. Ancients, breeding males and females and young or kits as they are called. If a colony gets over about twenty individuals in it, it may have too many adult males in it and start to compete for the females attention so they will separate off into smaller groups. On an average it is about one adult male to three adult females. It can be more or less but that is the average.” He explained, then Seamus raised his hand and Professor Lovegood pointed at him.

“If they are peaceful and gentle, why are they listed as a class four creature?” Seamus asked.

“Very good question Mr. Finnegan.” Professor Lovegood started, “The Demiguise is said to have precognitive sight and hence is very hard to capture or kill. The only way to capture or kill one is to do something unexpected. Personally, I found that gathering these little fellows wasn’t hard at all. Especially since I have no intention of keeping them longer than necessary and I intend to take them right back to where I found them. Perhaps that is why I was allowed to gather them up and bring them with me. They seemed to be quite happy about the idea actually. It was almost as if they were looking forward to the vacation…hahaha.” Professor Lovegood laughed.

The rest of the class laughed and Luna raised her hand then he pointed to her. “So intent is everything when it comes to the Demiguise?”

“Exactly, they can judge your intent and if they feel threatened in any manner you simply won’t be able to find them or their colony. Even those that are trained in their capture and harvest have problems when it comes to trying to cull the colonies. That is one reason that Demiguise parts are so expensive in potions.” Professor Lovegood stressed.

Anthony Goldstein raised his hand and asked, “What potions can be made from a Demiguise?”

The Professor was feeding the older Demiguise some fern leaves and petting it gently then turned to the young Ravenclaw and said. “There are several actually. The tincture of Demiguise is used in several potions and unfortunately highly sought after. While the pelts are used in Invisibility cloaks, the nail clippings and teeth are used in Awareness Potion, the Tincture of Demiguise is use in the Draught of Peace. Dried and ground up Demiguise eyes are said to give one second sighte, although I don’t know if that is a fact or not, it doesn’t seem to stop people from hunting these gentle creatures, unfortunately. Demiguise liver is used in Wakefulness Potion, and Demiguise blood is used in class five Calming Draught. So just about every part of this little fellow here is useful in some manner or the other… unfortunately.”

The little Demiguise cooed under Professor Lovegood’s ministrations and leaned into his gentle hand, wanting more pettings. Somehow knowing that he was no threat to them. Everyone couldn’t help but be won over by the gentle little creatures. How could anyone hurt such a small and gentle creatures?

“Now you will notice that they are about two feet tall, that is about the average hight of an adult. When they are born they are no longer than your thumb though and grow quite quickly, believe it or not they are born bald but gain their hair quickly as well. The mother will take and hide them within her own fur and use her own fur to cloak their presence from possible onlookers.”

“A young mother will hide her young in her own fur and keep it close to her for up to six to eight months before she allows it to wander around, making sure that it has the ability to cloak itself before she allows it to wander off alone. A Demiguise will reach full maturity at two years old and breeding age at approximately three years of age. Most of the time the have single births but it is not that uncommon for a mother to have twins, although it takes a special female to be able to keep track of two young at once. There has been recorded on two occasions of a mother barring three young but on both occasions one of the young died shortly after birth. So only two of the triples lived to adulthood. And both those deliveries were in a shelter, not in the wild, there are no known multiple births on record outside a shelter.”

Hermione raised her hand and Professor lovegood pointed to her, “Is the reason that there is no know multiple births due to the higher level of observation, or something else?”

“I personally think it is due to the fact that the food is more readily available and there is less hunting and foraging, more just going and picking out what they are in the mood for right then. Food is more readily available, fresh clean water source year round, easily guarded shelter, no known threats, no predators, less disease or illness, it all just makes them to where the creatures are naturally evolving and we are seeing multiple births as the next step in their evolution.”

Hermione nodded and wrote down everything he was saying feverishly. Trying not to miss anything. This was so fascinating.

“Demiguises come in white and silver most of the time, but they have been known to be an almost blue color and even grey. And before you ask there doesn’t seem to be any difference in their fur color and the strength of their pelts or their usefulness in potions.” Professor Lovegood pointed over to Terry Boot who had his hand raised.

“I know that the Dragon reserves get some ingredients from their Dragons even if they don’t kill them, is the same true for Demiguises?”

“Yes it is. A Demiguise will go through a normal shedding season where the handlers will brush them on a daily basis and that fur is used in invisibility cloaks but does not harm the creatures at all, in fact it helps them have a more healthy coat and grow a stronger coat. Also they routinely take blood and saliva samples, toenail clippings and check for loose teeth which are shed on a regular basis. Any of those things can be used in potions. When a Demiguise dies of natural causes it’s body is harvested after it is verified that it was a natural death and the portions are usually sold sparingly. All the proceeds of the sales go right back into the care and welfare of the shelter and none of the profit goes into the pockets of the individuals tending the animals. Anyone caught killing a Demiguise from a shelter or aiding in the death of a shelter Demiguise is sentenced to Azkaban after being fined quite heavily and again the funds going right back into the shelter. These shelters are not-for-profit shelters and are there for the protection and well being of a protected species, not to make some pathetic beast hunter wealthy.” Professor Lovegood couldn’t help but grind out the last few words of his last comment, but he was quite opinionated when it came to his creatures. “Well now, it is about time for the bell, so we need to finish up here. I want you all to read chapter six in your books, and draw me a rendition of a Demiguise, label each part of their anatomy and make sure you note the colors of their anatomy. That will be all for today.” With that he turned and began to herd his little friends back into their carrier and away from prying eyes. Giving them extra juicy ferns and a few broccoli spears just to tide them over until dinner time as well.

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Harry, Neville, Luna and Pavarti spent two hours working out with Master Chin on Karate before they were excused to cycle through their Taekwondo Katas. Next they did a brisk run around the Black Lake and then grabbed their swords and began dueling under the overhang near the entryway at the front of the Hanging Gardens. Harry and Neville went against each other, while Luna and Pavarti went against each other. Luna and Pavarti had about the same amount of experience so they worked well together and they were both using short swords that were lighter and more versatile than the ones that the boys were using.

“Guard your left side!” Harry stated as he came at Neville again. Swinging low.

“Quit holding back!” Neville repeated.

“I’m not holding back, you big buffoon! You’re moving too quickly for that.” Harry came at him again this time high on his right side.

Neville swung and blocked, then aimed at Harry’s unprotected ribs and almost made contact but Harry was able to block just in time.

“Ooff! Now that is more like it.” Harry shouted.

Back and forth they went for almost an hour, each giving it their best. Neither giving in an inch. Clank, clank, clank as their swords bashed against one another…trying to build up their stamina and hold their own in a true sword fight. Sweat pouring down their faces and into their eyes by the time they called it quits.

“Hold!” Harry shouted. And all movement stopped. The girls stopped circling each other, looking for weak spots, dodging in and attacking when each one was least expecting it.

Neville’s strong forward thrusts and attacks stopped and he took a step back, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Breathing heavily Neville gasped out. “Geez. That is the longest we have gone yet.”

Harry was breathing heavily and nodded, barely able to gasp out “I know, we have got to work on our stamina. We have gotten lax over the summer some. Not practicing as much as we used to.”

“Let’s go in and grab a shower, I stink.” Harry stated.

“You most certainly do.” Luna said in response, wrinkling her nose so cute. Just now realizing how tired she really was, she put her sword back into its scabbard and took several deep breaths, trying to calm her breathing.

Once they finished exercising they all went up to their rooms and showered and changed, then grabbed their instruments and headed over to the Room of Requirements and met with the others to play some music. The twins, Percy, Susan, Hanna, Cedric, Padma, and Hermione were all waiting for them when they showed up. Jeeves and Misty popped in and provided snacks and drinks for everyone, just to make sure they didn’t go without.

The kids had spent the rest of the morning playing a variety of smooth jazz and easy listening tunes that they enjoyed playing. Anything from American soul to true classical, even some Rhythm and Blues thrown in here and there just for fun. What ever they played it was slow and easy, with a lot of heart to it. First they played some Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, and Stevie Wonder. They played some Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Dizzy Gillespie and even some Kenny G. Then they went into some Henry Mancini, Richard Clayderman, Frank Sinatra, James Last and Andy Williams. Finishing up with a little Beethoven, Bach and Mozart. All in all, it calmed them down from all their exercise earlier quite nicely.

After they played their music for a while then they turned on their Wizarding Wireless and found a good station with lots of rhythm and danced their little hearts out. Everyone joined in and they danced. Free dancing, Luna finally got to show Pavarti what free dancing was and finally she understood. And Harry was right, that was definitely what Luna did best. She was over there bouncing around to some seventies and eighties hits that had gone out of style a long time ago, but thankfully was making a comeback. But everyone loved Elton John and Queen, then bounced around to Bruce Springsteen and Mic Jagger for a while, next came the Rolling Stones and of course the Beatles, the Eurythmics and Prince. Through it all they danced.

Finally everyone got tired and it was getting close to dinner time so they all headed down to the Great Hall to grab a bite to eat. Practically starving by now, with as much energy as they had burned off.

Later that evening everyone focused on their school work and getting their essays finished, wanting to get as much done as possible before Sunday, so they could relax and enjoy their day with their families. It took until almost midnight but Harry managed to get all but his Care of Magical Creatures assignment finished before he zoned out and headed to bed. Weary feet dragging as he made his way up to his dorm room and he was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

Sunday was a combination of relaxing and playing with family. Harry and Neville played with Lillian while she tried to figure out what blowing bubbles with her mouth was like. She kept blowing raspberries and making the cutest noises, then giggling when she made bubbles with her tongue. Clapping her hands, or trying to, missing more often than not, every time she made the bubbles with her mouth. She was getting old enough to sit up by herself, and crawl for short distances and even push herself up just a little. In no time at all she should be able to pull herself up and walk with help. Time was flying by so quickly anymore, thankfully the boys were not missing any of their sister’s formidable years, and were getting to watch her grow up. Instead of just being able to see it in a pensieve.

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Monday started off truly interesting, Charms class they learned the Expelliarmus charm which is a charm that will remove an object from a combatants grasp. It is a common charm that is used to force whatever an opponent was holding to fly out of their hand, and if done right, it will fly right into your hand. It is common to see this charm used in duels to make an opponent lose their wand and end a duel.

Harry was busy taking notes on the charm, even though he learned it during the summer he was still interested in what Flitwick had to say about it.

“While it is not known the true history of the spell, it is said it may have been invented by Merlin himself. But the first known widespread use was in Madagascar in the eleventh century. The popular belief is that it was was was invented by Elizabeth Smudgling who used it in a dueling contest in Dartmoor in thirteen-thirty-nine. No matter it’s history it wasn’t very popular until Madam Smudgling in Dartmoor. Her fabled wins in dueling went down in history as some of the fastest duels on record and she still hold several records, due to this charm.” Flitwick explained.

Harry raised his hand and the Professor pointed to him. “Is their any way to block the Expelliarmus?”

“There are several ways actually. The simplest is a basic shield “Protego”, will do it. A sticking charm on your hand, so that your wand remains firmly attached to your hand will do it too. A block and flick method is possible with the right aim. Placing a anti summoning charm on your wand is also a possibility.” Flitwick listed off some of the most simple methods to block or counter the charm quickly.

Hermione raised her hand and Flitwick pointed to her. “What sticking charm would you suggest we use?”

“That would be Astrictus. While others might work in a pinch, Astrictus last for quite some time, but is not a permanent sticking charm, so you won’t have to worry about your wand being permanently attached to your hand. And it is strong enough that even a skilled duelist cannot break it, unless they are prepared to take your arm with the wand. The wand movement for that spell is to simply point the wand at the items you want to stick together and do a slow circular motion clockwise while saying the incantation. Remember to focus on what you want to happen or else this charm will fail, willpower is everything with this charm.” Flitwick started. “Astrictus was originally invented to keep sailors stuck to their ship during bad weather in approximately one hundred B.C. and it has been used in many a battle during the Roman wars. This is not to be confused with Colloshoo which basically sticks a person shoes to the floor this charm is focused on what ever you point your want at, not specifically at an individual’s shoes. Astrictus was designed to stick the sailers to the different parts of the ship like the wheel of the ship to keep them from being swept over board while the bad weather threatened to take their ship down.”

“Now, when used on the dueling circuit it was found that if you use the point and flick method of wand movement that you can direct where the object will end up. So what you want is for the wand to end up, is you wand in question, or object in question, to end up is back in your hand. So you point your wand at your opponent’s hand that is holding the offending object then flick it back at you or away from you. Remember if you have control of another individual’s wand then you have control of the duel. So let’s see that point and flick movement people. Ready…point and flick, excellent.” Flitwick smiled. “You all seemed to have that part down pat.”

“I am going to have two groups at a time come down and work on this and see how they do. Since there isn’t a whole lot of space at the front of the class. But we should be able to make it through everyone today.” And with that Professor Flitwick began to call out names and had groups of two began to walk to the front of the class and practice the charm. He also continued to answer questions when they popped up.

Harry disarmed Neville, then Neville disarmed Harry. Both with ease and they made the charm look like child’s play. Luna and Pavarti did the same, at the front of the class. Taking turns disarming their opponent. Harry even managed to catch Neville’s wand, although Neville flicked to hard and Harry’s wand landed over his shoulder and behind him about ten feet. He was going to have to work on that. Luna and Pavarti were not focusing on that portion of the charm yet, only on the disarming portion so both their wands ended up a distance away and out of harms way. The only problem with that is that in a real duel the combatant could always dodge over and retrieve their wand if you were not quick with a Stupefy or Immobulus charm after your Expelliarmus. What you needed to do was set up a spell chain with all three. Expelliarmus, Immobulus and finally Stupefy. One right after the other and then your combatant would be out for the count. Then you needed to break your opponent’s wand if they were a true threat, like a Death Eater, or in more recent times Bellatrix Lestrange. That way if they had somehow got loose, they couldn’t come back at you with their wand in hand. Once you got their wand, game over.

Most Wizards and Witches consider it sacrileges to even think about breaking someone’s wand. But in a life or death fight, Harry was breaking as many of the bloody things as he could get his hand on, that was for sure. Then he would hand over the left over pieces to the Ministry for them to have. The only problem was that along with the broken wand goes any proof that they had raised a wand against you. They couldn’t do a Priori Incantatem and have a list of all the spells that wand has done recently. But as far as Harry was concerned his immediate safety and the immediate safety of others, was more important that the possibility of future prosecution. If necessary they could use Veritaserum or Pensieve Memories to prove the individual’s actions against them.

“Another charm that is very similar to Expelliarmus is Accio. Only with Accio you must may end up pulling the whole person towards you and not just their wand if you are not careful. You have to remember to state “Accio Wand!” And be specific…or you may Accio all your companion’s wands as well. So ‘Accio Bellatrix Lestrange’s wand’ would be the right incantation. But that is a bit of a mouthful when you can simply state ‘Expelliarmus’ and be done with it. Also Accio is easier to fight than Expelliarmus, so that is another reason to use it when dueling.”
Flitwick explained. “Another thing to point out is that most people will put on their wand anti-summoning charms to fight against Accio but they forget about Expelliarmus. Thinking it child’s play. Well child’s play ended many a duel over the centuries because people over looked it or underestimated it.”

Then Flitwick had Granger and Padma Patil come up front, those two had also practiced it during the summer and again they made it look simple, next was Terry Boot and Anthony Goldstein, those two didn’t have as much luck with the charm and had to have some extra help from the Professor. They couldn’t seem to get the wand movement part down for some reason. Lavender ended up against Lisa Turpin and lost her wand to her but she couldn’t do the same for Turpin until Flitwick helped her with her wand movement. Then she was able to perform the charm without a problem.

By the time the class ended everyone had a chance to perform the charm at least once, and get it right that is. Then the bell rang. “Alright people, before you go, I want you to read chapter five in your book and write me up a ten inch essay on Expelliarmus. Make sure to use compare and contrast, use some of the examples that I used in the class today if you must but give me your own examples. Off you go.”

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They had a study hall next so everyone headed down to the Library to see about getting a couple of reference books and start on their Charms essay. By the time they quick looking around they had eight different reference books, and they figured that would give them all something different to choose from so they checked out and headed up to study hall to work on their essays. They had barely started their essays when they realized it was time for Potions class. So they packed up and headed over to Potions.

Harry thought they were going to work on the Fire Protection Potion, but it turns out that Professor Lovegood had a different one in mind. “Today we are going to work on the Smoke Screen Potion, this potion when you break the container against something will create a thick smoke screen about ten feet in diameter that will last for about ten to twenty minutes then dissipate. It will be a grayish blue color smoke but the potion itself will be pearlescent purple in color. So this is what your end product should look like.” And with that the Professor held up a crystal vial with a purple potion swirling inside it.

“This potion has a shelf life of six months so if you plan on keeping it in stock for longer than that you will need to check your dates on a regular basis. Six months and two days and you get a wad of goo on the ground, no smoke, nothing, the effect is null.” She stated.

Everyone craned their neck to get a better look at the swirling masterpiece in the crystal vial and were practically mesmerized by the whirls of pearl and purple that twirled around inside. Harry raised his hand and the Professor pointed over to him.

“Is it possible to do different colors of smoke or is the grey smoke the only color this can come in?” Harry asked.

“There is a variance of this potion that you will learn in fourth year that will allow you to make it in multiple colors, but you will not be introduced to that until fourth year.” The Professor stated.

Zabini raised his hand and the Professor nodded to him. “I read somewhere that the smoke screen potion can have a certain level of toxicity, is it true for this potion?”

“Not for the one you are learning today. The potion you will learn in your fourth year there are variations that can be considered toxic, although we will only cover those lightly. In general you will be taught how to make the non-toxic versions and how to recognize the toxic ones and that is as in depth as it is going to go. Yes, Miss Brown.”

“Does the smoke leave any smoke smell or lingering after effect on your clothes or person?” Lavender asked.

“The orange version of this potion is designed to leave a pungent odor and a bright orange pigment to the skin that may last for several days. But it is the only one that was specifically designed with those effects. All the other versions of the Smoke Screen Potion are harmless. They leave no lasting odor or color what so ever. Yes, Mr Longbottom.”

“I have read where you can add certain ingredients to the smoke screen and it will make anyone caught in it fall deep asleep, is that true?” Neville asked.

“That is the Blue version and yes, it is some times referred to as the Dreamless Sleep Smoke, or Sweet Dreams Smoke just for that reason. Again you will learn that version in your fourth year, but not this year.” The Professor went over to her station and placed the vial in the top drawer of her station then began to set up her equipment. Letting everyone know it was time to get down to business.

Harry grabbed his equipment out of his bag and began to set it up, calibrating his scales first and then setting up his cauldron and his rack of test tubes. He looked up and the Professor had flipped the chalk board around and the instructions for the Smoke Screen Potion was on the chalk board so he began to read through it. This is one potion that they had never made and he was excited to make it now. He guessed this had something to do with Bellatrix Lestrange as well; but in a way he was kind of glad, he wasn’t sure if this potion was on the normal curriculum until fourth year under normal circumstances.

Harry finished setting up his equipment first so he headed into the storeroom to gather the ingredients for everyone.

When he got back Harry handed the little manilla envelopes over to each of the individuals and they thanked him as they took their share. Within ten minutes they were all working on chopping, grinding, or dicing their first ingredient. This potion was extremely complex, it managed to go through every form of preparation that Harry and Neville were familiar with, even one that Luna had only use once or twice. What in the world is Emulsifying. Neither Harry or Neville knew, and had to ask Luna, who patiently explained what to do with the dried chameleon eyeballs. So you made them into their own potion then after twenty minutes added them to the other completed potion giving it the pearliness effect to the primary potion. Geez this was a complex potion for sure.

Each one of the students was working quietly, checking the board and their book religiously. Determined not to make a mistake.

Pansy Parkinson raised her hand and the Professor went over to look into her cauldron and shook her head. Vanishing the contents. “You are suppose to have Emulsified the Chameleon Eyes before you added them to your potion Miss Parkinson. If you didn’t know what that meant you could have read the instructions on the board, or those in your book, both explain it quite well…now you will be getting a zero for this class and you will have to make the potion again next class. Then she looked over Malfoys shoulder at Goyle’s potion and did the same.

“I would suggest that you also read the book Mr. Goyle, Emulsification is explained quite simply and is a three step process. Even Mr. Crabb managed to follow those instructions this time, although for some reason his potion is green and not purple and he too will be making his potion over again as well.” With that she vanished both their potions and turned to Draco’s potion, “Excellent work Mr. Malfoy, proper Emulsification, the pearlescent appearance ratio is perfect and your color is perfect. A perfect O for today I would say.” Professor Lovegood bragged, placing a hand on Malfoy’s shoulder causing him to sit up a little prouder and smirk. “Bottle that up and label it properly, make sure to date it nice and big.”

Just then there was a poof of smoke across the room at Seamus’ station and Professor Lovegood rushed over there. “Mr. Finnegan, you did not wait the full twenty minutes to pour in the Emulsified Chameleon Eyes. Your potion is ruined. You too will get a zero for today. And will be making it over.” Then she noticed the bottles of potion waiting at the four stations at the front of that side of the room and went to inspect them.

Neville, Harry, Luna and Pavarti were carefully dividing the remaining portions of their potions into extra bottles, they had already set their ones for class up for the Professor to inspect, which she did. Each one was exact. Each one was swirling pearlescent liquid inside of deep purple liquid. Each the exact same viscosity. She couldn’t be more thrilled if she tried. Professor Lovegood held up the four bottles and called everyone’s attention to them.

“Alright folks, I know this is the most complex potion you have made so far and here are four examples of a perfect potion. I know you can do it, because Mr. Malfoy, Mr Longbottom, Mr Potter, Miss Patil, and Miss Lovegood did it. Now let’s see how everyone else is doing.” So she walked over to Nott, Zabini, Greengrass, Davis and Bullstrode and began checking their potions.

“Well, well, well look at what we have here. Mr, Nott, Mr, Zabini, Miss Greengrass, Miss Davis and Miss Bullstrode all did perfect as well. Excellent! I am so proud of you all. This is a complex potion and to be able to do this potion on the first try truly says something about your skill level, you should all be very proud of yourselves. This is something to definitely write home about.” Professor Lovegood was all smiles and then she saw Lavender’s hand in the back and went over to her.

“I think I messed it up. It is blue and not purple. But it is pearlescent just like it is suppose to be.” She stated with a tear in her eyes.

“Don’t worry hon. You probably got some stale hummingbird wings, it isn’t your fault. Everything else looks perfect, I’m not going to mark you down on this one. I would suggest though that you use the ingredients from the store room, they are guaranteed fresh and go ahead and make it again next time. Let’s see if we can get that blue into a midnight purple. What do you say?” Professor Love good smiled at Lavender who smiled wetly back at her and nodded.

“Yes Ma’am.” Next class she would do it again and now that she knew how to do it she would make sure that her ingredients came from the store room and pull off a perfect potion next time.

“Mr. Thomas you did beautiful, a little thick but other than that a perfect potion. You may have gotten it a little hot, try again next time and lower the heat about ten degrees. See if that won’t help. But your process is perfect, your color is perfect and your Emulsification is perfect. Wonderful job.”

With that Professor Lovegood went up to the head of the class and clapped her hand and smiled getting everyones attention. “There is thirty minutes left of the class and since everyone did so well, I am going to let those that did well head out early, and yes that means Miss Brown and Mr. Thomas. You may all take off. Those that still need to work on it I want to write me up a ten inch essay on the processes of this potion, including the Emulsification.”

“We have homework and they don’t! That’s not fair!” Pansy Parkinson shouted.

“Did you get your potion done correctly? If not then yes, you have homework. If you did, then you are rewarded with not having to do the homework. And it is my prerogative to set homework as I see fit. I believe that those that did not do the potion the first time around need to do the extra work and I believe the essay may help them focus on the separate portions of this potion. If you feel that my treatment is unfair you can always take it to the Headmistress, Miss Parkinson. But otherwise, the homework stands and will be due on Wednesday. Class dismissed.” With that everyone that had gotten the potion done correctly cleared up their station and cleaned their supplies, then stored them away. Quietly heading out the doors in mere minutes.

Poor Seamus was the only Gryffindor that remained seated working quietly on the essay without saying a word. After he had cleaned up his area and put away his things that is.

Parkinson sat there with her arms across her chest glaring at Professor Lovegood for the entire time after she had cleaned up her area and put away her things, not touching her book or bothering to take out her book, parchment or quills. Even Goyle and Crab were working on their essays quietly behind her without comment. But she was being stubborn. As soon as the bell rang she marched out of the classroom and headed to the Headmistresses office. Intent on reporting Professor Lovegood for her unfair treatment.

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“But you don’t understand, I have to do a essay that only three other students are having to do. That is unfair. I will not do it!” Parkinson shouted to the Headmistress.

“Watch your tone with me Miss Parkinson.” Headmistress McGonagall stood and looked down at the irate young Slytherin.

“I will not do it, not even half the class is having to do the stupid essay, and I will not do it!” Pansy shouted again.

“That is right Miss Parkinson,” Professor Lovegood stated as she walked into the room. “Over half the room did the potion correctly the first time around and hence do not have to do the essay.”

“Then I shouldn’t have to do the essay. If others don’t have to do the essay, I shouldn’t have to do the essay.” She screeched.

“Oh you don’t have to do the essay…” The Professor started.

“Good. Pansy crossed her arms across her chest triumphantly.

“…but you will be getting a zero for the day then.” Professor Lovegood finished.

“I demand you contact my father immediately. I will not be treated this way.” Parkinson raised her head up and looked down her nose at the Professor.

“Very well, that of course is your prerogative.” With that the Headmistress went over to her floo and contacted Mr Parkinson and had him floo over. At first he was concerned about his daughter and like any good parent, he went over to make sure she was alright.

“Wait a minute here, you’re not sick, your not injured, you’re not in trouble, you just don’t want to write a bloody essay? Is that it? Is that the reason you called me away from a very important business deal, is because you don’t want to write a Merlin-be-Damned essay?! What were you thinking girl? Write the bloody essay, get it over with and be done with it. End of subject.” Percival Parkinson turned and headed back to the floo and turned back to his daughter “And the next time you call me away from a business meeting you better be in a medical bed or about to be expelled young lady or your coming home with me, understood!” He turned and headed through the floo mumbling about bothersome youth and being too busy for all this.

Pansy just stood there in shock through it all, she had thought that her father would see her side of it, but all he saw was his stupid business deal he was in the middle of and that she had interrupted. She felt so helpless right then, but oh well she wasn’t going to let them win. She wasn’t going to to do their dump essay, and she wasn’t going to remake the dumb potion either. So there. With that Pansy turned around and stomped her way out of the office and headed back to pick up her things from the Potions classroom. She had an essay in Charms she needed to work on.

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Kingsley Shackelbolt rode the swirling staircase to the top and stepped into the room, followed by Nymphadora Tonks, John Dawlish, Thomas Proudfoot, Emery Savage, Gawain Robards, and Territon Whitehall. Each one stepped off the staircase and followed their superior without question. Although heading in the Headmistress’ office, even after all this time, still made them feel like misbehaving youths.

Shackelbolt knocked on the door before him and was granted entrance into the Headmistress’ office. Shackelbolt entered the office and motion the that were following him to line up along the wall beside him. The Headmistress look up from the correspondence she was focused on and noticed the individuals in her office for the first time. She looked each of the young Aurors over and recognized each one from their time as students there at Hogwarts, especially Nyphadora Tonks who had been her student just two years prior.

Kingsley cleared his throat and began, “These are the first shift Aurors that will be watching the different entrances to Hogwarts. They are the first round group and start at eight o’clock in the morning. The second group will start at four o’clock and the third group will start at midnight. I will bring each group by to meet you shortly before they start so you will be able to recognize each one. Aurors Savage and Proudfoot will be covering the main entrance, Aurors Tonks and Dawlish will be covering the Green House entrance and Aurors Robards and Whitehall will be covering the Southern entrance.” Pointing to each one as he said their name, each Auror nodded to the Headmistress while they stood at attention before her.

“Officers Tonks and Whitehall are two of our Cadets but they are working with two seasoned Aurors and so I don’t think that will be causing any problems.” Shackelbolt pointed to the two younger looking Aurors, Mcgonagall couldn’t help but notice the young lady with the bubblegum pink looking cropped haircut that stood before her. Remembering all the mischief that the young woman got into while she was her student. Apparently her days of mischief making were long gone now, if she was a full fledged Cadet Auror.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the help you are giving us means to me. Your presence here will put me that much more at ease. Tell me, did they find anything of their search for Bellatrix?” Minerva asked, looking over to Kingsley.

Shackelbolt tilted his head slightly but said, “They searched all of Hogsmeade and found only traces of her presence, a fading apparition signal and some physical evidence of footprints and such. But it all led to a dead end. If we would have gotten there ten minutes earlier we could have traced the signal and been able to find her, but the signal was too degraded by the time we got there to do much with it, other than verify that it was indeed her and tag her presence there. We could tell the trail headed towards Hogwarts though, so we are searching the Forbidden Forest as we speak. We have a twenty Auror team searching the forest right now, they are starting with the northern most quadrant and working their way south. They are putting up alarm wards as they go, so that if she does appear in any of the quadrants that they have already searched they will immediately know. They also have two Unspeakables out there doing searches for wards and miscellaneous traps just in case. It may take us three or four days to clear the full forest but we will get it done.”

“Of that I have no doubt.” Mcgonagall smiled at Shackelbolt and sat down at her desk. “I have set up two of our guest quarters for your people. They are in near the Hufflepuff dormitories right across from the kitchens. I thought that would be the most handy for your people to have access to the kitchens, and be able to eat when ever they wished.”

“That is greatly appreciated, and the location is wonderful. I am sure that they will find it to be very convenient.” Shackelbolt nodded and then ushered his people out and to their posts.

Before he left Minerva called out, “Oh Auror Shackelbolt… if you ever need to get into my office or speak to me, my over ride phrase is ‘Honor above all’, and if you state it to any portrait they will tell you where I am at, at that time so you can locate me no matter where I am at in the castle quickly.”

Shackelbolt again nodded his thanks. “That is much appreciated, hopefully it won’t come in useful, but thank you.”

Minerva couldn’t help but remember when each one of them were sitting in front of her, eyes wide at her transfigurations. Watching as she turned from a cat the very first time. Even Kingsley. That young man had been so curious and intelligent, always so attentive in her class. Always making top scores. She wondered if there would ever be a day she wouldn’t see them as the poor little firsties that she remembered them as…she surely hoped not. That was one of the charms to being a teacher. The wonders of seeing your student grow up and becoming an adult, making something of themselves. She remembered when Kingsley had come into her office to get his career orientation, announcing he wanted to be an Auror. She was so proud of him then and she was even prouder of him now. He had worked so hard to get where he was now.

And Nymphadora, two short years out of school and already a Cadet in the Auror force. She had always been focused, when she wasn’t up to mischief that is. But she knew from the minute she started Hogwarts that she wanted to be an Auror. She fought for every grade she got, in order to see she got exactly that. Top marks, Prefect and all. The only reason that she wasn’t Head Girl is that Willamina Sayers received no detentions on her record for her entire seven years at Hogwarts while Nyphadora had received a number of them in her early years, although none after her fifth year when she became a Prefect. Their grades were comparable but the detentions early on made the difference. It was a huge disappointment to Nymphadora but she learned a valuable lesson. Your actions will follow you, even if you don’t want them too.

Still Pomona had put Nyphadora’s name forward, even if the young girl never knew about it, but Filius’ choice of Miss Sayers won out that year. Minerva still believes that Nymphadora would have been the better choice, that young lady just had a better way with the students that Sayers did, and she actually cared about what the younglings had to say and what they were doing. Miss Sayers was so wrapped up in making her grades that she basically ignored anyone below fifth year and unless they came directly to her, she didn’t have the time for them.

Minerva smiled to herself and decided she had dawdled enough, she reached over to her pile of correspondence and picked up the next letter and began to read it, with a heavy sigh she focused on what this disgruntled parent had to say this time.

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“I realize you say you’re not going to do the essay, I just don’t understand why you’re not going to do it.” Draco shook his head. Pansy was all up in arms about that stupid essay that Lovegood had assigned and everyone in the Slytherin commons room knew it. She had told the whole room at least half a dozen times the whole story and most people just gave her this look that said ‘oh well, do the essay’ or ‘and’ and left it at that and couldn’t understand it any better than he could. But for some reason she though that he was suppose to come to her defense and stand by her side and protest or something.

“But Draco it is unfair! Why should I have to do when other don’t. You don’t have to do the essay!” She shrieked.

“That’s because I read the instructions, and did the potion properly the first time. I don’t have to redo the potion Wednesday either. But neither does Nott, Greengrass, Bullstrode, Davis, or Zabini.” Draco sighed he was getting tired of her shrill whining, and wanted to finish his charms report but she kept interrupting his research to shout at him every time he tried to read.

“That is just it, they don’t have to do the essay so why should I.” She looked at him with her arms over her chest and a half crazed look in her eyes.

Sighing Draco marked his place in the book he was trying to read and turned to her. “You, Boyle, Crabbe and Finnegan have to write the essay and remake the potion because you made some mistake in the potion and it is suppose to help you realize what your mistake is and help you learn what is it, so that Wednesday when you come into class to remake your potion you will not make the same mistake twice. Now does that answer your question?”

Crabbe and Boyle were working on their essays across the table and listening to Parkinson shriek, not really understanding what all she was going on and on about. But when Draco explained it in such simple words they just nodded and went back to their essays and decided to just ignore her and her ranting. Hoping they would figure out what it was that they did wrong on their potion and that way they could remake it right Wednesday.

“Well I have no intention of doing that stupid report! And I very well may not make that dumb potion either!” She said it herself, it is a fourth year potion. How dare she make us do a fourth year potion!” Pansy shrieked.

“Pansy, I might have a little more compassion for what you are saying if over seventy five percent of the class hadn’t been able to do the potion correctly on the first try. Even Bullstrode got it right. Hell even Brown got it, except for the outdated hummingbird wings, which she should have taken from the stock room to begin with. The potion was complex, but not beyond our capabilities and almost eighty percent of the class proved it. Your just mad because you didn’t read your instructions completely and you’re too stubborn to admit that you made a mistake. Now it’s your choice if you want to make a zero on your essay, and a zero on remaking the potion, but you have already made a zero on the potion today…do you really think your grade can handle three zero’s in a row like that. It very well can bring you down one whole letter grade. Do you think your grade in Potions is that high that it can withstand that kind of a blow? I don’t think so. I think you are working on an ‘A’ in the class as an average just like you did last semester, which means that you would end up with an ‘EE’ and that would be if you didn’t pull another stunt like this in the future and you did ’A’ level work or better on all your remaining work in the classes. Do you think you can do that? Potions is your hardest subject. You have always had problems in it. And I have always helped you study and work on it. But I am not going to help you, if all your going to do is through away my time and effort because you are to stubborn or too proud to do the stupid work.” Draco huffed and turned away from his companion and went back to his studying.

Pansy gathered her things and walked off in a huff, leaving Draco and the others to sit in the common rooms alone.

Then Draco had an idea, maybe… he went over and shared his idea with Greengrass and Davis, who shared it with Zabini and Nott. This just might work.

——————————————————————

Harry, Neville, Luna and Pavarti were doing research in the library and Draco Malfoy just happened to walk by their table. “Black can I have a minute?”

“Mr. Malfoy, what can I do for you?” Harry asked, stopping the reading he was doing.

“I had a thought and I wanted to let Gryffindor know what we were doing. I thought it only proper. Well actually Greengrass thought it only proper, but I came to tell you anyway.” Draco looked a little disgruntled at that but continued, “Pansy is going on and on about how unfair it is that only some of the class is writing the report about the Smoke Screen Potion and that she isn’t going to do it, since not everyone has to do it. Well we decided to all go ahead and write the essay and hand it in, even if it wasn’t assigned to us, as a show of solidarity I guess. Well that and we thought maybe we could get extra-credit.”

Harry nodded. “Thanks for the heads-up. We will spread the word and do the same. I bet she does give us extra credit or points or something like that for doing it. Thanks again Malfoy.” Harry reached out his hand to the Slytherin and at first Draco just stared at it but then miraculously he shook his hand, will wonders never cease. Maybe this Gryffindor wasn’t so bad after all. Maybe.

Neville watched as Draco Malfoy walked away and blinked a few times before he actually realized what had just happened. “Did Malfoy just, I mean… was he…?”

“I know weird wasn’t it. Come on let’s find some books about that Smoke Screen Potion and see if we can write up a essay about the variances that will impress even Professor Lovegood.” Harry got up and headed over to the Potions section of the Library and began to search through the appropriate books while Neville went through the card catalogue and began to write down a list of books he found there. Luna began to write a rough outline and Pavarti got out some books she had in her book bag and laid them on their table, ones she was sure would help. Each one focused on doing this one little ten inch essay better than any essay they had ever done before.

———————————————————————

Professor Black brought the box of rocks around and let everyone pick out three rocks out of the box. It had crystals, river rocks, volcanic rocks, even some semi-precious stones in it. And everyone picked out what caught their eye.

Malfoy picked out three matching river rocks and placed them on the desk before him, the rocks weren’t anything special really, just white milky quartz looking stones that had a simi-gloss to them. So they were rather attractive, maybe that is what drew them to him, who knows.

“Today we are going to work on Cautisavis, or ’Rock to Bird’. Each of you have chosen three stones right? All right now, I want you to take and transfigure the first of your three stones into a bird of your choice, remember to focus on what type of bird you want your transfiguration to be, get the details right in your head. The more details you get right the more accurate your bird will be. If you are not sure what bird you want to try or what the details of your chosen bird should be, there are a couple of books that I will be circulating around the room for everyone to look at and share. Remember that you don’t want a huge bird like an Ostrich or an Emu or something that is deadly like a Cassowary or a Pitaui. I would also like it if you all refrained from Buzzards, or other scavengers, they tend to want to fight with the other birds and that tends to make a mess of the classroom. So try to keep the classroom as gentle and calm as possible people.” Professor Black picked up three books and started handing them out at different places in the room. One to the Gryffindor side, one to the Slytherin side and one halfway up on the Slytherin side.

While Pansy Parkinson was thumbing her way through the book and cooing at the adorable parakeets and parrots Draco sat there staring at his white rock and closed his eyes. Focusing on what he wanted it to look like, then he said it “Cautisavis” as he pointed his wand at the little white stone. The next thing he knew there was a perfect turtle dove sitting on his desk, cooing its little heart out.

Luna had chosen three Simi-precious stones and picked out the purple one, the amethyst, pointing her wand at is she closed her eyes and focused. Moments later she opened her eyes and pointed her wand and said “Cautisavis”, sure enough a beautiful purple and green hummingbird popped into life, and began hovering all around her head. Luna laughed at it’s antics and held out her finger for it to land on, which it did.

Harry tried his hand at it and closed his eyes, focused for a moment then opened his eyes and pointed to a snowy quartz that he had laying on his desk. “Cautisavis.” Before him sat a male counterpart to his Hedwig, a beautiful Snowy Owl. The Owl tilted it’s head and stared and stared at Harry, looking at him the same way that Hedwig does, that was just weird. Harry couldn’t help but laugh at his bird’s antics.

Pavarti was next, she closed her eyes then smiled after a minute or so and opened her eyes and pointed her wand and said “Cautisavis.” And a colorful little bird of peach, white, black, green and aqua was now, where a common old brown rock had been. The little thing was flighty and flittered around jumping from here to there, not staying still for a minute.

“What type of bird is that, I don’t think I recognize it?” Professor Black asked as he noticed her success with the spell.

“It is called a ‘Bee Eater’, it is from my native country, so I would be shocked if you had seen one. They are mainly from norther India. But the males are particularly colorful so they can attract the most receptive females.”

Neville chose to do an Eagle Owl just like Hades, although his female counter point. And she was a beauty too.

“The one problem with non-living to living transfiguration is that it eventually will change back and that it may last for a few minutes, maybe hours, and if you are exceptionally talented maybe days but it will change back and when it does some poor heart broke owl, or finch, or hummingbird out there with romance on their mind is going to be pining for their lost love and hunting every where for them. Maybe passing up several perfectly good options that are available to them in nature waiting for miss or mister perfect to swoop down and come back home. So we will be changing all our birds back into rocks before we head we leave. We leave no pining birds in our wake around here.”

Everyone gave a loud groan at that but they understood the reality of it. It wasn’t fair to the bird’s really. Maybe you want something to make your day a tad brighter or more colorful, something beautiful to listen too, something to help catch a pesky mouse, what ever. But you intention should never be to mess with the eco-systems in nature. That isn’t our place. We are here to maintain balance not to tip the scales right on over.

“When you have successfully transfigured all three of your stones raise your hand.” Professor Black announce and then he went by inspecting each student’s birds one at a time, yes even Goyle’s chickens. Hey, he said he was hungry. That was also when Professor Black announced that they cannot eat these birds, even if they look like chickens at the time. “They are essentially still rocks in chicken costumes and you will end up with a stomach full of rocks in a few hours, not a pleasant thing to wake up too. And yes it has happened before. An individual that was good at transfigurations changed several rocks into chickens and made chicken soup out of them. Unfortunately he woke up in the middle of the night having to be rushed to St. Mungo’s and explaining why he had a stomach full of gravel, when asked he stated he had a craving for chicken soup and didn’t think about the consequences until later, much later. Thankfully, all the rocks were able to be vanished and Mr. Podds was able to go about his life as normal. But we also got Transfiguration Rule number Seven out of it. :Transfigured foods always hold true to it’s nature. In other words rotten food you make to look palatable again is still rotten food. A rock you make into a loaf of bread is still a rock.”

“Now this goes along with the exception to Gramp’s Laws of conjuration. Number two: you cannot conjure food. There is no nutritional value in conjured food. Someone who is surviving on conjured food will starve to death as surely as someone who has eaten nothing at all. Their body will have no nutrients to live off off, although their mind will say I just ate a large steak dinner a few hours ago, their body will say, there is nothing truly there after about twenty minutes and you back at square one. These two rules go hand in hand Transfigure something from nothing and you get nothing. That is the way that I have always looked at it.” Professor Black explained as everyone in the room wrote down the information quickly.

Bullstrode raised her hand. “What about something like changing broccoli into peaches. Would that work.”

“That would work, but once it changes back it would still be broccoli. So it would still hold some nutritional value.” Professor Black stated.

“I hate broccoli, but Mum says I am suppose to eat it. I love peaches though.” She smiled and wrote down a note or two.

“Now I am not encouraging you young people to change your vegetables into pudding or anything like that, that is just wrong. Vegetables are good too you know. And besides pickles are a vegetable, tomatoes, celery, potatoes and beans are all vegetables. Just pick your vegetables wisely and you won’t have to transfigure any of them.” He chuckled.

“Celery is gross,” hollered out Goyle.

“Just celery is, but celery with peanut butter or cheese on it isn’t.” Black came back, “But we are getting way off topic anyway. The bottom line is you can’t eat your chickens Mr. Goyle so quit looking at them like you want to name them Fried, Baked and Rotisserie. They are just poor innocent cluckers and aren’t harming a soul. Good job on the Transfiguration by the way. Five points each.” Professor Black chuckled and moved over to Malfoys turtle doves.

“Excellent Mr. Malfoy, their beauty is breathtaking, and their song is so soothing. Five points each. Good job Miss Parkinson, beautiful Parakeets, five points each.” Professor Black worked his way through the room handing out five points to each person that managed to complete the Transfiguration and by the end of class all the students were pleased with their results.

“Ok folks we are going to reverse these birds back into stones, since we don’t want them flying through the corridors between classes or causing further havoc. The spell you will use is ‘Reparifarge’. It is a basic Transfiguration reversal spell and works on all Level One, Two and Three Transfigurations.

“Now for Thursday I want you to write me an essay on what are Gramp’s Five Laws and What are the Exceptions. We encountered one of them here today so don’t forget to mention it. I want at least ten inches from you guys. That’s it, class dismissed as soon as your birds are stones again.” With that everyone focused on returning their birds back into stones, well all except Luna, she wanted to play with her Hummingbirds a minute or two more, but eventually she did turn them back into stones, but then she pocketed the stones and went humming out of the room with a smile on her face.

Harry just watched her go and shook his head.

————————————————————————

Remus was laying out papers at each of their desks as they walked into the room, each one sat down and picked up the paper and began to look at it. It was a graph almost, or more like a tree, it has the Seven Major Branches of the Ministry and all their Sub-Departments listed below each one. This made things a whole lot easier to understand.

Harry was comparing some of the Departments he found with Neville and they were whispering back and forth when Professor Lupin called attention to the class. “What you have before you is a spreadsheet of all the Departments within the Ministry of Magic and what Primary Department they report to or what Primary Department holds their vote within the Wizengamot. You will notice that some similar departments are clumped together but others are divided up, this is because the primary duties of the different departments are different. Like for instance the Department for Underage Magic. It tracks and reports underage magic, but then it turns over the report to the Department for Magical Law Enforcement, in case there are Obliviators that are needed to go on scene and Obliviate any witness to the underage magic, which does happen unfortunately from time to time. Then the report goes to the Hall of Records into the individuals permanent record, if it is not contested, and will stay in their file their whole life. The file may even go to the Department of Muggle Worthy Excuses if absolutely necessary, which sometimes happens as well. A child accidentally let’s loose an elephant at the zoo, which goes traipsing across lower London. First they have to help with the capture of the beast, then fix the memory of everyone that saw it. Or come up with a valid excuse as to why a two ton elephant was walking around the streets of London in broad day light. Which would be easier? Sometimes coming up with a broken cage excuse is easier than Obliviating two hundred people and a News Crew.”

Harry raised his hand and Professor Lupin nodded towards him. “Isn’t it getting harder and harder to erase these instances of accidental magic that happen out where everyone can see it. I mean with the cameras and stuff that are out there everywhere now days?”

“Yes it is. And that is one thing we have been trying to convince the Wizengamot for years about. But unfortunately they seem to wish to push their heads in the sand and believe otherwise.” A tall blonde woman at the back of the room wearing a monocle stood up and walked to the front of the class. “My name is Senior Auror Amelia Bones. And I am the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. And you Sir just hit a very important nail on the head. The Wizengamot is constructed primarily of middle aged Wizards and they are used to Muggles barely being able to get about in a horse and buggy. Let alone in a motor vehicle. They have never seen an airplane, or helicopter, or television, or telephone, or even a motion picture show, let alone are aware that Muggles have these things. They tend to think Muggles are still living back in the nineteen twenties or so as it were and blatantly refuse to step into modern times. Unfortunately, that makes my job and the job of my people that much harder.” Madam Bones stood at the front of the classroom and began to explain.

“It used to be that you could apparate anywhere as long as you made sure that no one saw you. Unfortunately now, there are cameras on every stop light, money machine and in many of the stores, let alone many people are carrying around their little compact cameras with them as well. Can’t forget them either. Cost us a pretty penny in damages when we ended up having to confiscate the things from people as evidence, or the film at least. I wish we had something to block out those bloody things that we could carry around or could just erase the film from a distance and be done with it. But our technology department is still working with how to make an electric coffee maker work around magic, we are no where near that level of skill at this point.” She chuckled.

Zacharias Smith spoke up, interrupting Madam Bones. “I’ve seen a television that was only three inches by four inches and one that was as big as that black board, both with perfect pictures. Technology is huge business nowadays in the Muggle world and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. There is a technology that is just getting popular called Cell Phones, which is a phone that allows you to talk to someone over a great distance, and the newest ones out will even allow you to use it like a camera. And take pictures. If that ever catches on the we are sunk. Everyone will have one and no where will be safe, not even to apparate into.”

Amelia groaned, “What a nightmare, thousands of people out there with the ability to photograph anything they see, and fifty-three people in the Wizengamot unwilling to recognize it for the danger it is.”

Wayne Hopkins raised his hand. Professor Lupin pointed to him and waited. “How many people are actively held in Azkaban currently?”

“That would be three hundred and twenty eight people currently, that is the total between the minimum and maximum security combined.” Bones stated.

Susan raised her hand. “What is the longest time someone has ever survived a stay in Azkaban?”

Amelia looked over to her niece and smiled. “That would be fourteen years and eight months, although the individual was insane at the time of his death, and had been so for several years. And he was in a Minimum Security Section of the Prison. So limited exposure to Dementors throughout his stay at Azkaban.” She didn’t mention that the man had clawed out his own eyes in the end, swearing that he was seeing demons in his cell trying to possess him through his eyes. The man died three days later from a severe infection and blood loss. Found in the back of his cell with no eyes and deep gouge marks across his face. Somethings are just too gruesome to be repeated, even to curious kids. Nightmares and all that.

Harry raised his hand and Amelia pointed over to him. “How long was Bellatrix Lestrange in Azkaban before she escaped?”

Amelia knew there would be questions about Lestrange today, there had to be, she was the hot topic in the news. But she wasn’t about to break regulation to satisfy the curiosity of a bunch of innocent kids, even Harry Potter Black.

“I’m sorry Mr. Black but I can’t discuss anything to do with Bellatrix Lestrange, it is an ongoing case and until she is recaptured or the case closed I cannot disclose any information on that subject.” Amelia apologized.

Neville raised his hand and Amelia nodded, “What third year electives would you recommend for someone to take if they are wanting to get into the Auror core.”

Amelia smiled and started, “While I took Arithmancy and Runes, I also took First Aid, which was offered if enough people asked for it, you needed at least four requesting the class. I managed to get six asking for it in my year so they offered it and four of them went on to become healers, two of us became Aurors.”

Neville, Harry, Luna and Pavarti exchanged looks and nodded…they would definitely be asking for that class as well then.

“In Seventh year, Political Science, Basics of the Wizengamot and Wizarding Law are also classics that you can ask for. I took Wizarding Law, and loved it. It was a good class to take as a precursor to Auror training. It definitely gave me a basic overview of several laws that were covered later in the Auror training.”

Dean Thomas raised his hand and was called on, “How long does it take to become an Auror?”

“It takes three years of Auror training school, two years of Cadet training, where you are on a beat with a superior Auror, and then if you go on to become a Auror Special Services you go through up to five levels of Special Forces, each taking anywhere from six months to three years, on an average. Or you can become a Hit Wizard which is a three year fast tract all together, but it is primarily used during War Time.” She explained.

“What if you want to become a Hit Wizard during peace time, like now?” Dean asked.

“They just don’t offer the applications during this time. The only way they would have an opening in that department is if one of their own died in the line of duty. Which is rare mind you. They get a lot of specialized training that my people don’t get, and are asked to do a lot of things my people aren’t prepared to handle, but they are trained hard and trained well for their position, never doubt that. Where my people are more like the average police or constable on the street, Hit Wizards are more like the Military, they have a strident hierarchy and they work hard to get their position. They have a lot of specialty areas like Demolitions, Search and Rescue, Hostage Negotiation, Undercover and Infiltration, and Medic. There are other areas of expertise but those are some of the major ones.” Amelia was really having fun with the questions these kids were asking, if several of these kids didn’t join her ranks she would eat her wand.

Luna raised her hand and Amelia nodded to her, “I was told that there was a special task force that was trying to form for crimes against Witches, is that true?”

“Yes, lately the crimes against Witches has taken a leap in frequency and the number of reports we have been getting have increased. It used to be something that was very hush, hush and just no one talked about it. But lately we have seen the need to have at least one on duty female officer available at all times to answer calls for Female in Distress calls, and the frequency of occurrences is increasing. Most of them are younger women that have been caught in an abusive situation and just need some help getting out of it, and don’t know where to turn to. But sometimes it is truly violent offenders, repeat offenders of offenders of substance abuse that leads to major issues. The hardest ones to face are the young mothers that are dealing with spousal abuse when they have young kids at home and the kids are watching their mother being beaten by their father or step father. We try to step in there in time, but sometimes we don’t catch it in time, and we are left taking the children out of the situation, when the mother has already been killed and the only adult left in the house is the abuser.”

“Is that because the people are becoming more violent, or because women are becoming more confident in your ability to help them?” Pavarti asked.

“I would hope it is the later honestly. But I don’t know. I see a lot of these cases that involve muggle substance abuse, and the more variety of substances out there the more frequent the abuse that I see. Wizards are not meant to experiment with muggle drugs but they do, and when they do there is usually bad reactions. Violence is usually the end result, and the Wizard in question may or may not realize what he has done or even care what he has done, to be quite honest. It depends on how addicted to the substance he is. It used to be the only thing you had to worry about was Alcohol, but now there is Cocaine, Heroine, Methamphetamine, Marijuana, LSD, and the list goes on. And those are just the common street drugs, that doesn’t even include the legal prescription drugs that the Muggle doctors hand out like candy and that the people sell on the streets these days.” Amelia shook her head and sighed. “If there is one thing I can honestly state, is never let yourselves get caught up with muggle drugs, or medicine, it can only lead to pain and suffering.”

Justin Finch-Fletchly raised his hand and she pointed towards him. “How do you deal with someone that is high on one of those substances?”

“The first thing we do is sober them up, usually by magicking a bezoar into their stomach, or a Sobriety Potion into their stomach, or both. It takes just a few minutes for the effects of the alcohol or drug to wear off and all of the sudden they are stone cold sober and being forced to face what they just did. Sometimes they are completely clueless, sometimes they are shocked or terrified with what they see. But they never seem to be as upset as they are when it is announced that they are facing life in Azkaban, since use of Muggle illegal drugs is also illegal on our side and the sentence is a ten year stay in Azkaban, minimum security. And that is before they face any of the repercussions of their actions of what they did under the influence of the substance.”

“So they are basically looking at a life sentence for trying a Muggle street drug?” Justin asked.

“That’s right. Magicals always have bad reactions to them, and many a times they have broken the Statue of Secrecy while under the influence of such a drug. Thankfully, we have avoided any real catastrophes as of yet, but the possibilities are there. The threat is real, and the therefore the punishment has to fit the crime.” Amelia put on her best Auror face and nodded.

Ernie McMillian raised his hand and she motioned for him to speak. “What spell would you say is the most useful for someone to learn if they are wanting to get a head start in your field?”

“Expelliarmus by far, and Protego right after that. Two second year spells are the most frequently used spells in our department. I know it is crazy but it is the truth…

Rule one…If a combative has a wand pointed at you, they can kill you. So get that wand away from them at all cost.

Rule two … is protect your own ass while you’re taking a combatant down.

Rule three…is don’t hesitate. And thanks to a dear friend and colleague of mine.

Rule four…is Constant Vigilance. Always know your situation, surroundings, and escape plan.

Rule five…is know your weaknesses. If you know your weakness then you know how to work around it, or how to use it to your benefit.

Rule six… is play to your strengths. Always focus on your strengths and don’t hesitate to use them.

Rule seven… is ask for help when you need it. Many a good man fell when he was too proud to ask for an assist.

Rule eight…use your surroundings for your benefit.

Rule nine…always fall back on your training, and

Rule ten… is always carry a knife.” With that she pulled out a six inch knife that she kept on her side at all times, another little things she learned from Moody. And showed it to the class.

“Those are the ten top rules to being a good Auror that I have learned during my years on the force. Learn them and they will get you far.” She looked out to the sea of faces and noticed that everyone was scratching down furiously everything she had said, word for word and couldn’t help but smile. Yeah she was definitely going to be getting some recruits out of this class for sure.

About that time the bell rang and everyone said ‘Aahh’ they had a hundred more questions to ask and were really enjoying listening to what Auror Bones had to say.

“I know, I know but we can’t take up any more of Auror Bones’ time. Now I want everyone to write an essay on those ten Rules that Amelia just mentioned and tell me which ones your found to be the most helpful and the most important. Everyone if you could give our guest a round of applause for her patience and being here.” Professor Lupin began to clap his hand but the class didn’t stop at that they all stood up and clapped their hands and some gave whistles and shouted or whooped. Then gathered up their things and quietly headed out of the class to lunch.

Lunch was filled with discussion about the class, and everyone was excited over the Rules that Amelia had given them. Harry was sure he was going to get his knife out of his trunk and start keeping it on him at all times, just like she said, Neville agreed with him and they both planned to do the same thing. The girls only had smaller pocket knives but they were going to make sure to carry them as well, and then maybe order something that was a little larger in the near future. Or wait until Christmas break and get something then.

———————————————————————————

Everyone was quick to put their things away and wait to see what the creature that were going to discuss today was.

“Take your seats everyone, take your seats. We have a very busy day and not much time to work on it. Two hours is going to fly by today. I’ll bet. Today we are going to work on Dementors. And no we don’t have a real Dementor to see. I am not that stupid. What I do have is a couple of Pensieve memories I want to share with you that may or may not help you understand what a Dementor is and how they behave. Dementors are often referred to as ‘soul-sucking fiends’ due to their chilling abilities. Or as agents of death, due to their visual characteristics.” Professor Longbottom began.

“Their origin is questionable at best, their first appearance was when the Dark Wizard Raczidian called forth a colony of them to attack a wizarding village when his attempt to entice a young maiden into marriage were shunned. The villagers fought off the dark demons with their Patronuses but were overpowered, until that is a young Wizard by the name of Illyius conjured a small but very powerful Patronus of a mouse, repelling all the Dementors from the village and saving not only his village but his lady love, Eliana.” He continued.

Professor Longbottom put up a large picture of Azkaban on an easel for everyone to see. “It wasn’t until seventeen-eighteen that the Ministry of Magic saw the Dementors as a potential asset. Damocles Rowle was elected as Minister for Magic and decided to put the ancient fortress of Raczidian, the Island Fortress of Azkaban, into use. Putting the guards of said fortress to work and save expense, time and lives. Despite protests the plan to utilize Azkaban was put into motion. The Fortress was nearly impossible to escape from and had or has rather so many wards up that Muggles are completely unaware of it’s existence, in other words, it is unplottable. In seventeen-forty-seven the then minister, Minister Eldritch Diggory, visited Azkaban and was horrified at what he saw and wanted to get rid of the Dementors but he died of Dragon Pox before his campaign to get rid of the creatures could come to completion. Since then there have been a few individuals that wish to revamp the system but no one has succeeded.” Professor Longbottom put up a picture of a Dementor on the easel.

“Dementors are approximately twelve feet high or four meters, and wear long black, tattered robes with hoods. Their tattered robes and method of floating above the ground allows them to closely resemble Wraiths. Their hands and arms are bony and appear almost skeletal. Their face is completely hidden by their deep hoods, but their face is covered by thick scabbed skin, they have no eyes, only sockets where eyes should be, covered in thick scabs. Their mouth is a huge gaping hole, that is used to suck the soul of their victim out, this is known as the Dementor’s Kiss; leaving their victim in a vegetative state and is generally considered worse than death. When they breath they make an almost rattling sound which is quite eerie, a death-rattle if you will.” He described.

Professor Longbottom continued, “Even though they appear like Wraiths they cannot go through walls or doors, so locking them away in a tight space or simply locking them out is one way of getting rid of them. However, they are very persistent and single minded when they are on the hunt. They feed off of emotions. They literally seem to suck all the light, warmth, sound and happiness from the very air that surround them as they draw near, all that is left is that long rattling breaths and the coldness that appears when ever they are near. They feed on fear, they can feel your fear when you are near them even if they don’t have eyes they can pinpoint you in a room without a problem.”

Malfoy raised his hand. “Is it true that Muggles can’t see Dementors, but are still effected by them?”

“It’s very true. Many a muggle death has been contributed to natural causes when it was really Dementors. Simply because they can’t see them.” Professor Longbottom explained.

Zabini raised his hand and Professor Longbottom pointed towards him, “Is there a way to kill them?”

Professor Longbottom shook his head. “No one has ever been able to kill one to my knowledge, but you can fend them off with a Patronus, or the Expecto Patronum charm which is what we are going to attempt to learn today and for the next several classes I would imagine. It is a very hard spell to learn, due to the fact that you must focus on a happy or loving memory and hold that memory in your mind while you cast your Patronus for your Patronus to even work at all. The stronger the emotion behind it, the stronger your Patronus. So the more love and happiness there is there the stronger your Patronus. Some people cannot cast one at all, in fact is it not uncommon to be unable to cast one. So I am not expecting miracles here people, just that you make the attempt. We will be spending the next three class periods on this one subject so are you ready to focus?”

Harry raised his hand and Professor Longbottom pointed at him. “Why do they call them Dementors, doesn’t that mean like ‘insane’ or something?”

“Dementor came from ‘de’ or to take, ‘mens’ meaning soul or mind, and ‘tor’ to direct action, which would give you the ‘remover of one’s soul’ or de-mens-tor, Dementor. It is similar to the idea of Dementors meaning ‘demens’ in Latin which is insane combined with the suffix -or indicating ‘the one who performs the action’ so Dementors could be demens-or or ‘one who drives someone to insanity’. No matter which way you cut it down the name fits.”

“Gross,” Harry replied.

Professor Longbottom couldn’t help but chuckle at that but he tried to keep things serious and pointed to Malfoy who had his hand up.

“Once a soul has been taken by a Dementor is there a way of ever releasing it?” Draco asked.

“Not that I know of, once it is taken, it is lost forever. That is why it is seen as one of the most horrific creatures. It is even classified as a Non-being by the Ministry of Magic, instead of listing it as a creature due to the level of danger of these creatures.”

“Are Dementors the only Non-beings there are?” Luna asked.

“No, there are also Poltergeists and Boggarts in that category. But Dementors are by far the most dangerous.” Said Professor Longbottom.

Tracey Davis raised her hand and Professor Lovegood pointed to her. “How are they made? I mean are they born or what?”

“No they aren’t born, per se. They are formed. A Dementor is like a fungus, it is created when there are enough negative emotions around that it can be formed. Like a Poltergeist is a conglomeration of all the mischief that is present, a Dementor is a conglomeration of all the despair, depression and fear that is present. The more that is present the more Dementores you will have. That is the reason there are almost a hundred Dementors guarding Azkaban prison right now, there is plenty of emotions for them to feed off of. They feed off of all a person’s happiest emotions, and joy leaving an individual with nothing but their worst emotions and fear behind. When you are exposed to a Dementor you get this sudden feeling as if you will never be able to be happy again, and that feeling stays until you are clear of their exposure. Plus there are no genders when it comes to Dementors. They all appear to be male, by statue, but to be quite honest the common consensus is that they are almost agender or androgynous in nature. Neither male, nor female truly.” Professor Longbottom explained.

Davis nodded and looked down at her notes and wrote down several things before she stopped to look back up to the Professor again.

“Personally I think a little Dementor demon would be just a little bit on the weird side people.” The students had mixed reactions to that, some chuckled and some shivered, but all had some form of a reaction. Seamus raised his hand and Professor Longbottom pointed to him.

“Yeah Professor, is it true that Chocolate helps with the effects of Dementor exposure?” Seamus asked with a lopsided grin.

“It is very true. Honeydukes Finest is the best, but any magical chocolate will do in a pinch. If you have no other choice even non-magical chocolate will work but to a lesser degree. There is something in the Cocoa beans that trigger a euphoric feeling that fights the effect of the Dementor and basically makes it all go away. So when ever you are near one or there is the possibility of exposure always carry a healthy supply of Chocolate, preferably Honeydukes Finest with you. All of the Aurors on duty carry it with them, just in case as a back up anyway. You never know.” Professor Longbottom explained.

“A back up?” Seamus questioned.

“Yes, in situations when happy, mellow or calm emotions are necessary a small bit of chocolate will help you focus. And the spell we are going to attempt to learn today needs happy or loving feelings to work right, so chocolate. If all else fails. Speaking of which, let’s get to that spell. Now I want each of you to stand so I can move back the desks some. I want to give everyone the space to try this spell. I don’t expect anyone to get it right on their first try, just remember. There are Aurors out there that have been on the job for twenty years now and still can’t do it, so don’t feel shorted if you can’t manage it in the three days that I have set aside for this spell.” With that everyone got up from their desks and Professor Longbottom moved all their desks out of the way and over to the side with ease. Then he had them stand in a semi-circle before him and he took out his wand and began to perform the spell.

“Expecto Patronus!” Professor Longbottom called out and a beautiful silver lion leapt out of his wand and bound into the room searching for its prey, when it didn’t see any dangers it went over to Frank and nuzzled his leg and got a few pettings then dissipated. Just like that.

“And that is how you do it folks. Did you notice the small swirl of my wand, start at the bottom and go clockwise with your wand to form a complete circle, while you say the incantation. Now everyone will have a unique patronus and you never know what it will be until it appears. Also as you age, marry, have children or have a major life changing events in your life that your patronus may change, so it isn’t unusual that you start off with one and it changes as some point.” Professor Lovegood stated. “Now I want everyone to point your wand out and give it a try, don’t put any magic into it yet though, just say the incantation and do the wand work. I want to make sure you have that right first. Again it is Expecto Patronum. Alright class follow along with me, Expecto Patronum. Good again, Expecto Patronum, Finally Expecto Patronum. Alright now let’s see if what happens if you put some magic behind it. Let’s start over here. Mr Nott you first.” And with that Professor Lovegood began to go around the class and went one by one through each student, having them try to do the spell a few times. Most of them getting some kind of a small mist or maybe a shield of some kind.That was until he got to Harry.

“Alright Harry give it a try.” Professor Longbottom stood to the side and waited.

Harry nodded and raised his wand. “Expecto Patronum!” He called out and a misty bear leapt from his wand and dissipated almost immediately. Both student and Professor stared in disbelief.

“Try it again and focus more on the memory, try to hold it for longer.” Frank said gently encouraging Harry, excited with the results that he had gotten already.

Harry swallowed hard and adjusted his stance then tried again, “Expecto Patronum!” This time the bear was a little clearer and he was able to hold it for a few seconds.

“Unbelievable! That is fabulous, but don’t do it again, this spell is very tiresome and will drain you very quickly. What ever memory or memories you are using is definitely the one to hold on to. Just curious what memory did you choose?” The Professor asked.

“The first time I held Lillian and she wrapped her little hand around my finger. I never felt such love or happiness in my life. It was easy to pick what memory to use.” Harry admitted.

“Your turn Mr. Longbottom, Expecto Patronum please.” Professor Longbottom urged.

Neville moved over to where Harry had been standing and cleared his throat. Taking up stance beside his father he pointed his wand and said “Expecto Patronum!” And a silver misty panther leapt out of his wand and into the center of the room, he managed to hold it for a few seconds before it dissipated. Neville watched the silvery creature move about with utter fascination and disbelief. Totally mesmerized.

“Fascinating! Another incorporeal Patronus, a panther no less. A Strong predator, defender and stalker. Excellent for protecting against Dementors. With a little practice and some more focus you too can make it corporeal. Try it one more time and see if you can hold it longer Mr. Longbottom, focus on your memory and hold on to it.” Professor Longbottom said.

Neville closed his eyes and focused on his memory for a few seconds then opened his eyes and called out “Expecto Patronum!” Again the silver panther leapt from his wand, this time it stalked low to the ground, searching for it’s prey and when it didn’t see any it dissipated. It lasted all of maybe ten seconds, but that was ten seconds for a twelve year old!

Then it was Luna’s turn and low and behold if she didn’t present a misty fox, that scampered around the room for about five seconds before dissipating on her very first try. She was able to hold it almost eight seconds on her second try and she ended up giggling when the little fox came over and licked her hand then dissipated.

This is unbelievable Professor Longbottom was thinking. Now it was Pavarti’s turn. She formed a little silvery bunny rabbit that hopped about and sat back on it’s hind legs before it dissipated. She was able to hold it maybe four seconds her first time and seven the second time.

Four students with incorporeal Patronuses. Unbelievable. He couldn’t wait to tell Sirius and Remus, Hell he couldn’t wait to tell everyone! No one was going to believe him as it was. Twelve year olds at that.

———————————————————————

“Ok so it looks like Colin Creepy and his over active Camera is the only sore spot in our first years, is that about right?” The Headmistress looked at her companions and most of them nodded.

“I think that Ginny Weasley is having a rough time of it as well. She is extremely quiet, and for a Weasley that is totally unusual. I spoke to her brothers and they agree. She is normally shy, but what we are seeing here is extreme even for her. Maybe a visit from her parents might be in order right about now.” Alice suggested as she sipped her tea. “I honestly don’t know what else to do for her, I have tried talking to her, and late night hot cocoa and still she is so withdrawn that it is almost painful to watch. I am afraid that the others are going to start picking on her if they haven’t already. It’s like she has the maturity of a six year old and not a eleven year old, Percy tried reading her stories and tucking her into bed, trying to make her feel more at home. But that seemed to have no effect and it made the other girls in the dorm uncomfortable. The twins tried playing exploding snap and Hangman’s Noose with her and still she is hiding in a self made shell. They even took her out and let her ride on their brooms with them, which they said she loved. But that only lasted a few minutes at best and back in her shell she went. I definitely think a visit from her parents might help, if we could swing it, that is.”

The Headmistress nodded. “I’ll see to it right after we leave hear. Molly would be devastated if her youngest was having problems and she was not made aware of it. So would Arthur, he practically adores that child, the only daughter in seven generations, oh yes she is a little bit of a treasure in their house.”

Everyone smiled or nodded, agreeing with the analogy of the Headmistress. The only daughter out of seven children, Molly Weasley was well known for being protective and spoiling her youngest child as much as she was able to that is. A parent couldn’t love their child more than she loves Ginny.

“Okay, on to second years then. We have our fabulous four to start with, how are they doing this year? Any problems with them in the harder subjects?” Minerva asked.

Frank was the first one to speak up, “You wouldn’t believe it but they were producing incorporeal Patronuses just a little while ago. They didn’t last long mind you. But you could recognize each; one Mr Black had a bear, Mr Longbottom had a panther, Miss Patil had a bunny rabbit and Miss Lovegood had a fox. And I would bet my wand that those are their counter parts animagus’. I can definitely see Miss Lovegood as a bunny, and Miss Patil as a fox. Mr. Black as a Panther and even Mr. Longbottom as a Grizzly Bear as the patronus was.”

“Well that is shocking news, to be sure. But we don’t want to encourage them to seek out their Animagus form quite yet now do we.” The Headmistress smiled over to Frank and nodded. She could see each one of those children represented in those forms as well. Harry would make a wonderful panther, and Neville is the epitome of a bear…family focused and a protector or his territory, but otherwise big and cuddly to those he loves.

Then it was Professor Flitwick’s turn to speak up, “We did the Expelliarmus Charm our last class and they all did the Charm on their first try, like they were born to it. It was magnificent. Mr Black even caught Mr. Longbottom’s wand in his hand on his first try.

“We just finished up the Smoke Screen Potion and all four managed to get an “O” on their potion. First try as well. It is the most complex potion we have worked on to date and they did it without a flaw.” Persephone spoke out, all smiles as she nibbled on her cookie that she had just dipped into her tea.

Remus raised his hand and stated “In History they are burning it up. They ask all the right questions and get the others in the class to participate. Their essays have been brilliant, all strait ‘O’s. When our guests have been here they were polite and respectful and asked well thought out, well directed questions that got good conversations going. And they got others interested in what the speaker had to say. Amelia Bones confided in me that she would love to have them working in her department when they get older. That is how brilliant they were, and what kind of an impression they left.

Sirius put down his cup of cocoa and nodded, “She was bragging to me about the same thing. She is wanting Harry in her forces when he gets older. After that Cultroflora Transfiguration I think it pretty much sealed the deal on him being able to get a position where ever he wants, him and Mr. Longbottom both. Today they were doing the Transfiguration of a Rock into a Bird, and they all managed it and reversed it without issue. Even the boys Owls, which were magnificent by the way.”

Sinistra waved and spoke up, “They have already gotten their star charts completed for this semester again, they are working harder this semester than they did last semester it seems. They are basically eating the information up. It’s like the harder the information, the more they like it.”

“That’s for sure,” Pomona commented. “This year we are doing multiple plants and they are taking to it like a fish to water. Especially Mr. Longbottom. That boy has a green arm and not just a green thumb. He has been helping me with some of the project for the forth year groups on the side, and asking all types of questions about their projects trying to see if he can get an extra credit project of his own going. I haven’t said yes yet. But I am thinking about it.”

Xenophilius nodded. “I just introduced Demiguises to the class and they did the most outstanding depiction of them, and they each attached an essay about the creatures to their drawings of at least twenty inches. And the essays were not assigned at all. Together it earned them an easy ‘O’ on the assignment.”

“So it looks like our four are not only doing well with the harder subject they are doing much better than expected. How about anyone else that stands out?” The Headmistress asked taking a sip of her tea.

“Susan Bones, and Hannah Abbot in Hufflepuff, Padma Patil and Hermione Granger in Ravenclaw, and Draco Malfoy in Slytherin.” Stated Sirius.

Frank nodded, “Those are the ones that stand out in my classes as well, although Blaise Zabini isn’t that far behind.”

“Padma Patil is still the leader in my class as far as Astrology goes.” Sinistra stated.

“Susan Bones is definitely one to look out for in History, so is Hermione Granger.” Remus added.

Filius thought for a moment and stated, “I think that Padma Patil and Draco Malfoy are the two that would take the next slots. Although Daphne Greengrass and Blaise Zabini are getting close.”

“In Potions the next slot would go to Draco Malfoy, he has been working hard to try and catch up to our top four and who knows he might just do it.” Persephone said.

Pomona stated, “Hannah Abbot and Terry Boot are neck and neck for the next slot in Herbology.”

“Care of Magical Creatures is easy, Hermione Granger. She puts in Extra Effort each class and makes sure there is all the detail she can write in a page on there.” Xenophilius announced.

Nodding the Headmistress wasn’t surprised by any of the names she heard, she had heard several of the names mentioned last year after all. “Alright people, what about troubled spots, who do we have that is either causing trouble or needs help?”

“Gregory Goyle and Vincint Crabbe,” Pomona started. “Mr. Crabbe put too much fertilizer on the Hopping Toadstools and they began hopping out of their crate, they landed at his feet and the big oaf stepped on one, killing it. I managed to rush over and save the other two, but just barely. They were badly bruised and I had to doctor them and place them in a new container, away from the active Toadstools. Then I had to rinse down his other toadstools to get them to calm down some, just to keep them from further injuring themselves.” It was easy to tell that she was frustrated with the clumsy student and every one could tell. Which was unusual for her, but I guess the flattened Toadstool got her riled up some.

Persephone nodded. “Goyle and Crabbe. They are a menace when it comes to Potions. They both cannot make a potion to save they lives, even if I sit with them and guide them through it. They take up half my time fixing their mistakes and still I have to vanish what they did and make them try again the next class time. They have yet to make a grade higher than ‘P’ in the class and that was stretching it. Although I am having some problems with Miss Parkinson right now as well, she messed up on her last potion and is refusing to do the essay assigned, I don’t know how that is going to turn out but I feel that it is going to be bad news.”

“Goyle and Crabbe as well, they seem to want to play tick tack toe or something instead of paying attention in class and their reports reflect it. They haven’t made above a ‘P’ in my class either.” Remus stated.

Sirius looked over to his friend then nodded. “I spend at least twenty minutes of each class on those two, giving them one on one attention and half the time it still doesn’t work. Their reports are sloppy, and barely readable and their grammar in them is that of six year olds, for both of them. I would agree with the ‘P’ on all their essays analogy. They haven’t put in any effort that I have been able to see.”

“They frequently are unable to do the charms that I am working on, and I have to have them come in for extra tutoring, but that still is only helping slightly.” Filius sighed shaking his head.

“They wouldn’t recognize Saturn from a Super Nova if their life depended on it,” Sinistra stated, “Malfoy has been helping them on their charts and quite frankly, doing most of the work. When it comes to test time they won’t know a single thing, I don’t think.”

“Mr. Malfoy seems to try and help them when he can but to be honest he has to focus on his own work and doesn’t really have the time.” Frank stated. “But Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle are also my most difficult students right now. Even Seamus Finnigan, with his tendency to blow things up, is doing a lot better than those two.”

Xenophilius shook his head sadly and stated, “I have to agree with the majority. Their drawings are that of a small child, incomplete and rushed. Their essays are the same, hard to read, sloppy and that of someone much younger than themselves.”

“Last year we got them tutors but I honestly don’t see that it made any impact on their work at all. They are still in the ‘P’ to ’D’ level. I honestly don’t know what to do at this time. We can either send them back to first year and have them try working at that level again. We can allow them to drop out, and see if they are ready next year to try and do second year, or we can try tutors again. It is truly frustrating when you know that they are just not putting in the effort because they just don’t care.” The Headmistress shook her head and took a sip of her tea, trying to focus on what she could do with those two. “I think I will contact their parents and let them decide between our options at this point. That way they know all the cards are on the table and what their choices are. They can either play the hand they have or choose a different path. But one way or another it will be their choice to make.”

“I think that is the best way to go.” Sirius stated. “I honestly don’t think that we can set up tutors to baby sit them for the whole semester to be honest. So I think either sending them back to first year, or sending them home are their only options.”

Remus nodded. “I’m afraid Sirius is right. No student would want to waste that much of their time so soon into the semester, even if they are compensated by Hogwarts. They have their own grades and school work to think about. So unless the boys’ parents wished to hire tutors from outside the school, I don’t really see any other options.”

————————————————————

The floo at the Burrow suddenly came to life as Minerva’s head appeared calling out “Mrs. Weasley are you available. Mrs. Weasley? Molly?”

Molly was in her kitchen working on dinner but hearing her name, she came rushing into her living room half covered in flour and spices. “What ? What is that?”

“Molly, it’s me. Down here.” Minerva stated trying to get Mrs. Weasley’s attention, finally she saw Mrs. Weasley look her way and crouch down to speak with her.

“Oh dear what have they done already?” Molly asked.

“This isn’t about the twins Molly, it is about Ginny…” And this began a thirty minute floo call that ended up with both Molly and Arthur appearing in the Headmistress’ office. Molly had changed out of her work outfit and into a fresh clean dress of course. Putting aside the cookies she was baking for now. Her Triple Fudge Delights would just have to wait until after the meeting.

‘Where is she?” Molly asked as she rushed into the room from the floo.

“Alice Longbottom is bringing her as we speak. She should be here any minute.” Minerva stated, “Would you like a seat, some tea perhaps.

Mrs. Weasley refused both although Mr. Weasley accepted the offer of tea, hopefully to calm his nerves, he was worried about his precious little girl, if what all the Headmistress said was true. If even a portion was true, he had call to be worried. His little muffin was in trouble and he was going to find out what was going on.

There was a knock at the door and the Headmistress called out “Enter”.

The door opened and Alice Longbottom and a timid little girl wrapped in her cloak walked in.

“Ginny?” Molly asked as soon as she saw her little girt huddled in her Head of House’s cloak, that was so unlike her daughter. Worry had already been present in her mind, but now her mind was racing. What had happened to her baby girl to make her like this?

The minute Ginny heard her mother’s voice she looked up and absolute joy spread across her face, overtaking the terror that had been there only moments before. She released Alice’s robes and rushed over to her mother and wrapped her arms around her squeezing her mother for all she was worth. “Mummy!” Was all she could say before the tears came.

“Ginny! My Baby!” Molly wrapped her strong arms around her daughter and held on tight. Almost as if she were afraid to let go, afraid she would disappear. She crushed her little girl to her bosom and held her tight, lowering her head down, she placed her check on her daughters hair and sighed. What was going on with her precious daughter?

Arthur immediately joined the huddle and wrapped his arms around his wife and daughter, lending what ever support he could. Even though his little muffin was eleven years old, she seemed so much younger right now. Why?

Arthur hunkered down lower to where he was eye to eye with his daughter and looked her in the eyes, “What is going on muffin? Everyone is worried about you.”

Ginny sniffed and looked into the gentle, worried eyes of her father. So many nights he had held her when she had had a bad dream, or skinned her knee, or been sick, now they were worried again and she didn’t know exactly how to answer him.

“It is all so different here Daddy. The twins and Percy are trying hard but they have their own studying to do, I know. If it wasn’t for Tom, I don’t know what I would do.” She said tearfully.

“Tom, is he one of your school mates? He asked confused.

Ginny shook her head and then tilted it to the side.”He is the diary that you gave me. He is the only one that talked to me when ever I got lonely, or frightened and I needed someone to talk to. He was always there.”

“Munchkin, I didn’t give you a diary, this diary…can I see it?” Arthur asked.

Ginny shook her head, I throw it away, it was scaring me. It tried to get me to do things I didn’t want to do.

“Where did you get this diary muffin?” Arthur asked gently.

“It was in the books you bought me for school, I thought you bought it for me to keep me company.” She answered. Looking confused, if her parents didn’t get her the diary then where did it come from?

Arthur knew he hadn’t purchased such a book for his precious jewel. “How did the diary talk to you Ginny?”

“I wrote in it and it wrote back.” Ginny explained.

“And you threw it away.” Arthur looked at Ginny then looked up to Molly with suspicious eyes, something about all this was wrong.

Ginny nodded looking down at there hands and looked so dejected that Molly just had to hug her.

“We aren’t mad at you dear. Just worried. Where did you throw the book, maybe it’s still there and we can go back and find it and see what all this is about. Hmmm.” Molly tried.

“I don’t think so, I threw it in the dust bin near the Main Entry way and when I went back there to get it back about an hour later it was gone. I think someone else picked it up.” Ginny stated.

“What made you so upset that it made you want to get rid of your friend?” Arthur asked.

Ginny was holding onto her mother and answered. “It was asking me to do things I didn’t want to do. It wanted me to go into the bathroom above the Dining Hall and find a little snake engraved on a sink, then it wanted me hurt the Darcorns.

Arthur tried to encourage his daughter to continue. “What did this diary want you to do to the Darcorns?”

Ginny started crying and bowed her head slightly. “Tom wanted me to use rat poison to kill some rats then feed the poison rats to the Darcorns, and kill them.”

Molly gasped, as did Alice. The Headmistress headed over to the floo and made a floo call and came back with two people that Ginny didn’t know.

“Ginny, I would like to introduce you to Amelia Bones and Unspeakable Croaker, they are two friends of mine that are interested in your diary. I told them that the diary wanted you to harm the Darcorns and they were very interested in what else it had told you to do.” The Headmistress had asked.

“It wanted me to go into the second story girls bathroom and find a little carved snake on one of the sinks, but Myrtle scares me, so I didn’t go.” Ginny confessed. She didn’t know if she was in trouble or not, she hoped not, she hadn’t done anything wrong she didn’t think.

Arthur saw the worried look on his daughter’s face so he pulled her to him in a hug. “Don’t worry muffin, you didn’t do anything wrong, we just want to make sure that this diary wasn’t anything dangerous. It’s not nice to try and make you hurt innocent animals now is it?”

“That is why I didn’t do it. I don’t want to hurt anything. I don’t care what Tom thought, it’s not nice. I didn’t want to do it. And no amount of meditation was going to make me think different.” Ginny nodded.

“Meditation?” Molly asked looking confused.

“Yes, Tom taught me how to meditate, to try and help me not be so lonely. So when ever I get feeling lonely or down I just meditate for a while and the feeling goes away. But I don’t like it when I would wake up somewhere that I wasn’t when I went into the meditation, it confused me. That’s another reason I threw the diary away.” Ginny had a confused look on her face as she tried to explain what had been going on to her mother.

“I see, perhaps you should not meditate for a while then Ginny. It might be best if you try and talk with others or join a study group, being around others is always more fun. Even if it is only a study group.” Arthur said. He was afraid that the diary had more control over his daughter than they knew about and she just didn’t realize it quite yet.

Unspeakable Croaker listened to what the young girl was saying and leaned over, “Would you mind looking at a diary I have and telling em if it is the same one that you used to write in?”

“No, that’s fine.” Ginny said, a little confused.

Croaker took out a little book out of his robe pocket and held it where Ginny could see it, then immediately saw her confusion over the big whole in the middle. “The name on the back of the book states Tom Marvolo Riddle, is that the same as the one on your diary?”

“Yes, but the one that I wrote in didn’t have a hole in it.” Ginny replied.

“That’s all right, that happened later after you had it. I think this is one and the same diary. Miss Weasley, I know you had become very fond of that diary but to be honest with you I find that some of it’s actions were questionable at best. Asking you to harm other living beings was wrong. And having you meditate all the time was wrong too. Would it be possible to replace that diary for this pair of diaries that I have here.” And Croaker pulled out two books from his cloak and handed them over to Ginny. “They are special made diaries, when you write in one it will appear in the other, so you can write to your Mum and she can write back any time, and you can talk to her anytime you need her. Same with your Dad. You will be able to be in constant contact with them and not be so lonely here. Would that be a fair trade?” Croaker asked smiling down at the young girl.

“Really, I can talk to Mum anytime? And I wouldn’t be a bother? I wouldn’t have to wait for and owl or wait for days to hear back from her…” Ginny grinned real big, clutching the new diaries close to her chest.

“That’s right, anytime you want.” He smiled.

Ginny nodded and handed one of the diaries to her mother and kept the other one close to her, then hugged her mother closely. This was wonderful. She had been so homesick, she had never been away from home and been so lonely and she had so many questions she wanted to ask her mother but her mother wasn’t there to ask. Now she could ask her mother any time she had a question and she would write her back right then.

Alice led Ginny from the room, Ginny was all smiles and thanked Croaker for the new diaries before she left, not even concerned about the old one any more.

As soon as Alice and Ginny had left Croaker put on a much more serious face and pointed his wand at the diary in question and began to do a series of tests on it.

It took a few minutes but he finally looked up, he had a grave look on his face.

Amelia didn’t like that look at all. “Okay, what’s with that look?”

“You’re going to like the answer less than you’re going to like the look. It’s a Horcrux. A soul container. And it originally belonged to Tom Marvolo Riddle, also know as Lord Voldemort. Hence this is little beauty has a piece of his soul in it and it was trying to possess that small child. Thankfully, we caught it in time and a full possession did not occur. But it would have been a matter of weeks, maybe months and she would have been lost to this diary…maybe for good.” Croaker announced.

Okay, Molly had to sit down now, as a sudden wave of dizziness hit her. Her little girl was almost possessed by one of You-Know-Who’s possessions and they almost lost her. Oh merciful Merlin. Her little baby. Tears began to trickle down her cheeks as she thought of loosing her youngest to that monster. Even though he is dead he is still sending out a rein of terror. And trying to destroy people’s lives. Her poor innocent baby.

“Where did this thing come from? How did my daughter get it?” Arthur demanded.

Croaker shook his head. “I don’t know, but I would like the answer to that as well. It could be so simple as it fell of a shelf at the book store, or it was mixed in with some of the other books and she picked it up by mistake. We may never know the truth. But I am definitely going to try and find out. I can trace magical signatures, and any magical signature this book has been near in the past year should still be present on it. So we shall see.”

Amelia couldn’t believe it, she barely knew what a Horcrux was. And that was only because of doing some research a long time ago on a related topic. To find a Horcrux that belonged to Lord Voldemort was chilling to say the least. That meant that he wasn’t truly dead. That meant that he could come back to life. That meant…Amelia looked over to Croaker and they shared a look. He nodded and she closed her eyes. The thought was to much for her to think about right now. They had to get this thing into a safe place and destroy it, ASAP. Before any one found out they had it.

“Do you think he made only this one, or do you think there are others?” She asked under her breath, as if she were afraid of the answer.

“I have never known him to be a careless man, he would have made more then one, the question is how many, and where are they, as well as what are they.” Croaker commented. “We might be able to rig this one to point us to where the others are. But we will have to see. I need to get this back to out lab to find out.” Croaker added.

Amelia looked over to the shocked Headmistress who was still trying to absorb what had just happened in her office right before her very eyes. “We can’t thank you enough for bringing this to our attention Minerva. Another few days and Ginny Weasley may have been lost to this abomination.”

Molly and Arthur both thanked the Headmistress profusely and made their goodbyes before Amelia and Croaker also said goodbye. Thankfully her office was her’s once again and she had a moment to think about what was said. A Horcrux, in her school, in the hands of a child, trying to get her to kill Darcorns, trying to get her to enter the Chamber of Secrets, trying to trap her soul. She closed her eyes and sat there for several minutes trying to calm her nerves from the last several moments. And here she thought it was merely a bad case of homesickness. She was almost afraid to deal with Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle now.

———————————————————————————

Vincent Crabbe Jr was slouched in the seat in front of the Headmistress, unsure of why he was there. Next to him was Gregory Goyle and he honestly didn’t know anything either, or that is what he had said at least. They both looked confused and to be honest was completely at a loss. They hadn’t gotten in to any trouble since coming back to school at least no one had told them they had.

“Do either of you know why you are here?” Headmistress McGonagall asked looking at each boy separately. They looked at each other then looked back at her and both shook their heads, saying nothing.

“Gentlemen, the term has just started, and the best grades you have handed in are ‘P’s, while the vast majority of the grades are ‘D’s. That is unacceptable. Last semester you had quite a bit of problems on your work and we got you tutors, but this early in the semester we really don’t have that as an option right now. We need to figure out what we can do to bring your grades up before we go much further into the semester.”

Goyle mumbled something and the Headmistress asked him to speak up. “The stuff is hard. It’s confusing.”

Crabbe nodded and looked down at his hands as he fiddled with the hem of his shirt. He knew he wasn’t smart, not like Draco, or Theodore but this semester it was worse that last year. This semester seemed to be way more confusing, more harder.

Minerva watched the two boys body language and noticed that both boys had a lot of insecurities bubbling to the surface. She couldn’t help but wonder if this was due to their grades or something else.

“Is the work this semester that much harder for the two of you? Is is too hard for you to work with already?” She asked.

“Yeah,” Stated Crabbe Jr. “It’s like lot’s worse that last year. Like nothing makes much sense already, and we just started. Draco is trying to explain the harder stuff, but well… he gets mad sometimes, and walks away after a while. Some stuff just don’t make no sense sometimes, and no matter how he tries to tell us what it means, it just don’t make no sense.”

Goyle Jr. nodded looking glum, avoiding eye contact with the Headmistress.

“We try to read the stuff they say we should read, but even that is hard, so Draco reads it to us. Then when he tries to explain what it means sometimes we understand, sometimes not. We know we are a burden to him, we don’t mean to be, but we are. He has been real nice about it most of the time, but sometimes he looses his patience and walks off. Professor Flitwick tries to help, so does Professor Black but no matter what we do we can’t seem to get stuff right. And doing the stuff in Potions class is a disaster. No matter how many times I try and do it right I never do.” Crabbe sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

“Is there any classes you actually enjoy?” The Headmistress tried.

“Care of Magical Creatures is neat, I learn loads there. And the stuff the Professor brings to class is really neat.” Goyle said quietly and Crabbe nodded.

“One class that you actual enjoy, out of them all?” Minerva looked at the two in confusion.

They both nodded. About the only reason that CoMC was their favorite class was because they rarely had homework, and most of the time it was just to draw stuff, with an occasional test thrown in here and there. So really it was their easiest class all together. It was the one with the least homework, the least test, the least reading, the least essays, the least practical work, the least everything. And no wand work at all.

“At this point gentlemen we have a few options left to us. You can step down and retake first year again, and see if that helps with your grades and see if you can get better than you did last year. You can see if your parents can set you up with outside tutors. Or you can try home schooling for a year and then come back and try second year again next year, and see if you can bring your grades up enough to get through the year. Do you have an idea which one you would prefer or would you like to think about it for a while, you can also contact your parents and see what they wish for you to do.” Minerva explained.

Both boys looked confused, neither hand a clue of what to do. Goyle was the first one to speak up. “If we leave and go home, then we don’t have Draco to help us so we don’t want to do that.” Crabbe nodded. “And our parents wouldn’t want to pay for the extra tutors I don’t think. They are picky that way.” He stated. Again Crabbe sighed but he nodded. “So that leaves us going back and doing first year all over again, which is fine I guess, it was hard, but not as hard as this year. At least we would know what to expect since we had already done it before. But is there a way that we could stay in our dorm that we are in right now. I mean, we don’t want to leave Draco.” And again Crabbe nodded, this time quite seriously.

The Headmistress thought about it for a minute and smiled, then nodded. “I think we can manage that. If you boys start going to first year classes as of Monday, but you stay in your same dorm where you are at, would that make you happy? And do you think you could do the work well enough to get better grades than you did last year?

Both boys looked happy with the sound of that. They nodded, and agreed, The easier classes would definitely be a blessing, but still being there where Draco could help them on occasion if needed would be great too, now they just had to tell their parents. Ah oh what would their parents say.

“My father is going to flip.” Said Goyle looking over to Crabbe who nodded.

“Mine too.” Crabbe said nodding also.

“I can inform them that it was my idea and that you were given no choice if you wish, we can merely state that this was the only option left for you and you were forced to accept it wether you liked it or not. That this is an opportunity for you to better on your grades last year and to give you an additional year to try again and see if you are capable of doing the second year work next year” The Headmistress offered.

“That sounds good, but I still don’t think my father is going to be happy about this. He will say that I’m just too stupid to do the work or something.” Crabbe stated looking down at his hands.

“Same here, my father thinks I stupid anyway. He is always calling me a moron, like he really knows what that word means or something. If it wasn’t for Mr. Malfoy neither one of our fathers would have made it though Hogwarts and they know it. That’s why we ask Draco for help all the time.” Vincent admitted with a sad face.

“Yeah, my father is always bragging that he got three ‘A’s on his OWLs, I looked and they were Care of Magical Creatures, Defense, and Divination. He didn’t pass a single other class.” Crabb said, he wasn’t sure how this would all work. They had to make it through their OWLs though at least he knew that much.

“Same with my father. Like those are the easiest classes to take. Well maybe not Defense but the others are way easier. And they are just naturals when it comes to Defense.” Goyle mumbled. His dad knew bunches of spells when it came to Defense, like bunches. All thanks to Lucius Malfoy.

“I doubt they would be happy with it no matter how you said it or what you said. I think they would be disappointed in us no matter what.” Crabbe said softly.

The Headmistress felt for the boys, she truly did, but she didn’t know what else she could do. The best thing for them was to allow them to retake first year and try and make better grades than they did last time. Since it was very evident they were not prepared to continue with their second year curriculum. If it was further into the semester they could arrange for tutors but with the scores they were getting already they would not be able to pull their grade up enough to pass their classes at this point. And if things continued the way they were they would end up failing their second year and have to go back to first year anyway, so it would be the wisest choice to do so at this point and allow the boys the opportunity to try and improve their practical skills somewhat and see about their study skills as well. Yes they may be a year behind their companions, but it was better than being two years behind and facing expulsion. Now all she had to do was speak to their fathers and see what she could do to convince them that this was the best thing to do for their sons. Which may be easier said than done. If all else failed perhaps she could speak to Lucius Malfoy, since it appeared as if the two fathers depended a great deal on Mr. Malfoy’s assistance and respected his opinion apparently.

With that thought in mind Minerva contacted Mr. Crabbe Sr. and Mr. Goyle Sr. both of which were not please to be disturbed mid-day but agreed to come to Hogwarts reluctantly.

“Alright, what kind of trouble did you cause and what am I going to have to do to get you out of it this time?” Crabbe Sr. glared at his son who shrank back from his father and put his head down, trying to look as submissive as possible to his musclebound father.

“Same goes for you. What moronic thing have you pulled that called me away from my work to come here in the middle of the day? Mr. Malfoy is on a tight schedule and if we aren’t where we are suppose to be when we are needed it is all your fault.”

Gregory scooted over to where he was standing closer to Vincent and the two of them tried to look as small as possible, even with their bulk. Neither spoke but just waited, almost as if they were afraid to speak.

“Well boy I am speaking to you!” Crabbe Sr. practically shouted.

“Mr. Crabbe your son is not in trouble. The reason you were asked to come here today is due to both Vincent and Gregory’s scores on their school work. As of this semester their work is well, sub-par. The best score either of them have received is a ‘P’, and that is unacceptable. They are continuously having problems with the practical work in class, to the point that the Professors are spending more time with each of them than any other student and yet their work is still lacking. Some of the Professors have set up individual tutoring and still that has helped only minimally. It is my observation that second year work is too difficult for them, and that it would be advisable for them to take a step back and be placed in first year once again. Allowing them to retake first year, hopefully raising their first year scores, and preparing them for second year, next year.”

Both Crabbe Sr. and Goyle Sr. looked a little confused but then it was like someone managed to light a candle somewhere. “So you’re saying our boys are idiots right?”

“That is not what I am saying at all.” Minerva huffed at the insult to the two boys. “What I am saying is that perhaps the second year curriculum is going too fast for them and they need the additional time of repeating first level once again to have a better grip on the basic before they continue.”

“So they are not only idiots, but they are slow as well.” Goyle Sr. stated glaring at the two boys huddled together.

“Again, that is not what I stated.” Minerva was getting frustrated, these two men were ready to hurl every derogatory remark at these two boys and call them every nasty name they could think of, and all they needed was a little patience and some additional help and they would be fine. But how was she suppose to make these two understand that.

“What I am saying is that the boys grades are suffering and you have three choices at this point. One, hire tutors from outside Hogwarts and have them come into Hogwarts and work with the boys. Two, remove the boys from Hogwarts and home school them and see if you can get their grades up to par. Or Three, allow them to take first year over again and try and improve on their first year scores and get better prepared for their second year. Those are your choices.”

“Well we can’t afford to hire no damn tutors for the two of them, why isn’t Hogwarts doing it? They did it last year.” Mr. Crabbe Sr. asked.

“Because that would be an entire semester of tutoring instead of just a month or so, and Hogwarts does not have the budget for that. Also there are no students that have the ability to put aside their own studies for an entire semester to do that kind of a commitment. It just isn’t possible. Not for an entire semester.” Minerva explained.

“Well we can’t take them home, their mother’s would just coddle them and baby them and they would come back dumber than they are now. Since we don’t have the time to teach them ourselves, we work and we can’t hire a tutor for them, that would cost us a fortune. All those subjects. That isn’t an option.” Crabbe Sr. pointed out. And Mr. Goyle Sr. nodded.

“Then allow me to place them in first year, they already know the work, they already know they can do the practicals. And with the purchase of a Dicta-Quill they can turn in homework that is presentable, and readable. Also they can use it during class and they can take better notes. I normally don’t allow such things at Hogwarts, but in these cases I will.” The Headmistress stated trying to get both men to. Stop belittling and degrading the two boys. “With the use of a dicta-quill the boys will have better notes, and will not miss a thing that is said in class. I am sure young Mr. Malfoy can teach them how to use them.”

Speaking of young Mr. Malfoy, who would you think would knock at the Headmistress’ door at that very opportune moment but the very same young man they were speaking of, and of course Lucius Malfoy as well.

“Mr Malfoy? We’re sorry to disrupt your day with these moron’s problems Sir. We had no intention of our son’s issues becoming any kind of an inconvenience for you. Is there anything we can do Sir to make up for this terrible inconvenience?” Mr. Crabbe Sr. was practically groveling by the time he finished.

“Children are never morons Vincent, remember that, they are merely uneducated. And it appears that is exactly what The Headmistress is working on a solution for you from what I over heard as I was coming in. The idea of the boys being allowed to use dicta-quills to take better notes is excellent, then they will not miss a thing. Now what further solutions can we come up with that will resolve their current struggles?” Mr. Malfoy seemed just as frustrated with the name calling as the Headmistress and let Crabbe Sr. know it too.

“Yes Sir. Her solution was to send the boys back to first year and have the retake first year and hopefully do better than they did last time, she said….” Crabbe Sr. started.

The Headmistress interrupted “… She said…thank you Mr. Crabbe I Believe I can speak for myself. I stated that with a going back to first year the boys would have a firmer foundation in the basics and a better chance at understanding what exactly is happening now and what it is that they are unable to grasp in their classes at this point. I also suggested getting outside tutors for the boys, someone that could spend more one-on-one time with them and help them grasp those theories that seemed to elude them last year and are making this year so much harder to follow.” Headmistress McGonagall stated.

Mr. Malfoy stood there with his hands crossed, resting on his snake head cane for a moment, Draco looked over to Crabbe Jr and Goyle Jr and gave them a small yet significant nod, letting them know that everything would be alright. “I think perhaps I have a solution, with the Headmistress’ approval of course. Both boys would need to stay in their current dorms for the duration for this to work mind you. The boys would indeed go back to first year and start taking those classes once again. I will hire two outside tutors to come in and tutor them on the weekends, which means that your Saturdays, and Sundays will be occupied during the duration of this situation. The first tutor will be for Potions only. Since from what understand that is your worse subject. The second tutor will be for the remaining classes. At the same time Blaise Zabini and Draco will tutor the boys on the second year classes that they are taking. No homework, no quizzes, no tests. Only theories and practical application. This along with the Dicta-a-quills that the Headmistress has so generously offered you boys to use should allow you to be capable of not only doing well in first year, but being ready to do well in second year. In fact at the end of the year the boys could take the option of taking the end of the year tests, and if they do well enough in their tests they may be allowed to start their third year along with Draco next year. If necessary they could always take the tests and see what they needed to focus on and work hard all summer on those areas and then at the end of the summer go to the Ministry and take the second year test and see if they get an acceptable grade there to allow them into third year at that point. What do you think Headmistress?” Lucius finally looked up and pointedly looked at Minerva to see what she thought of his idea. It was a little more than she had planned but perhaps she was willing, now it was on her shoulders.

Minerva thought for a moment, trying to find a snake in the bush as it were, and she honestly couldn’t. Lucius’ ideas were brilliant. He was on the School Board and could make all the arrangements for the tutors necessary, as well as the discussed testing. “I think your ideas are brilliant Lord Malfoy” using his propter title of course. “They show imagination, problem solving skills, ingenuity, intelligence and a good grasp of your available resources. It is little wonder why you became a barrister Lord Malfoy, it is moments like this that I could see you as nothing less.” Minerva graced Lucius with one of her rare smiles.

Draco couldn’t help but puff out his chest at the high praise that the Headmistress heaped on his father but then remembered his Malfoy training and the Malfoy mask slipped back in place.

Lucius simply gave Minerva a dignified nod of thanks but other than that you could see no other reaction.

“So does this mean that by the end of next year our boys might be able to test to see if they could join their year again?” Crabbe Sr asked slowly, almost as if he were afraid to say anything.

“That is exactly what it means Vincent. If the boys work hard and focus on their studies, then they have every chance of testing out of second year. Now they will have to do the theory sections and the practicals mind you still, just no home work or tests until the final test at the end of the year. So I am expecting some hard work out of each of these boys but I know they can do it. I expect them to utilize the tools they are being offered and make every evert to achieve their goal. Can you do that Mr. Crabbe, Mr. Goyle?” Lucius looked down to the young men that everyone except Draco seemed to have forgotten for now.

Both boys looked at each the other then at Mr. Malfoy and with a look of determination they both stated firmly, “Yes, Lord Malfoy Sir.” Remembering to use his proper title and but they quickly looked over to Draco to see if they had done it right or not. When he gave them a quick smile they knew he was proud of them and they puffed up their chests and Crabbe continued. “We will do what ever it takes to make sure we aren’t wasting your or Draco’s efforts Sir. We will make you proud.”

“Oh that I have do doubt. Headmistress McGonagall, if you could make the arrangements from your side to see that these boys are ready for their Monday classes, I will have their new Tutors here by Saturday and their dicta-a-quills sent here later tonight. Draco stated the boys both still have their last year books with them and frequently use them for reference books, a wise choice by the way, therefore that is a non-issue. So from what I can see, I believe the boys are well in your hands then. Am I missing anything?”

“Not at all, I will have the boys’ classes switched over within the hour and have them their Teachers notified in person before the night is out. The boys can use the store room for their potion ingredients since they are different from the ones they have for their second year classes. Now they can still use those ingredients during their tutoring sessions so they definitely won’t be going to waste mind you, but I see no need the boys should have to purchase a whole new set of potion’s ingredient when there is no true need.” Headmistress Mcgonagall stated.

And with that the boys were dismissed and headed back to their dorm to get things ready for Monday, Draco strutting around just a little for how brilliant his father was, and to tell you the truth this time it was truly deserved. Both Vincent and Greg kept telling him how they wished that Mr. Malfoy was their dad and not their father, at least then they wouldn’t be called names and made to feel like they were worthless pieces of cattle fodder.

Draco couldn’t believe how their fathers called them names and talked down to them, but he had seen it himself. His father always said that an adult calling a child names was a sign of poor breeding and lack of social skills. It meant that you had no respect for the individual or the possibilities of what that child could achieve if properly motivated. He always said that with the proper motivation and education a child could achieve anything they set their mind to.

That is one reason Draco had always worked so hard to make his father proud of him, and he managed to get strait ‘O’s on his first year exams. He was fifth in his year, which had actually surprised Draco somewhat, he had expected Granger to take that spot, but when he saw his results he was totally thrilled. She had gotten an ‘EE’ in History of Magic, while he had gotten an ‘O’ and that had made the whole difference. Oh she could recite the book cover to cover, but she had no concept of imagination or how to write a proper theory. She basically just regurgitated what she read when she answered the questions and left it at that. Draco would come up with interesting suppositions and possible concepts then even ask a question or two himself leading to a basic theory that made the Professor think and do research on his ideas. That is what got him the ‘O’ in that class.

Draco was so proud that his father thought he was smart enough to help Vince and Greg through this rough spot and hopefully be prepared to join them in their third year next year. It would take a lot of work and a lot of dedication but he knew they could do it, especially without the pressure of homework and tests hanging over their heads. Then the idea of dict-a-quills was brilliant, neither one of them were good at taking notes yet, but if they could use those quills they wouldn’t miss a thing and they could worry about doing the practical work in the class and not worry about taking notes.

The potions tutor alone was brilliant, since both Vincent and Greg are pants at potions. They didn’t know the difference between chopping and grinding to tell you the truth. They needed someone to start them at square one and take them all the way through it step by step. That is the only way they are going to learn anything in potions.

All in all Draco could hardly wait to get started on this project. He was excited that his father was allowing him to be a part of it and he knew that Vincent and Greg would work their hardest to make him proud of them as well. To them he was almost a hero, and the first adult who wasn’t a Professor who had shown any interest or confidence in them at all. That made him right up there with Merlin right now in their books. Well maybe not Merlin but it was a close call.

Monday couldn’t come quick enough for Draco, and he had a lot to do between now and then, so he stopped wasting time and began focusing on his objectives and got things set up to work the night away. Just then his father’s large eagle owl Horace, flew into the dorm room startling three boys. Draco went over to the back of the chair where Horace had landed and took the three packages that were attacked to his legs, giving the magnificent bird three owl treats for his troubles. Horace magnanimously took the treats, then left without a look back.

Draco tapped the first match box and it expanded to the size of a shoebox. Draco opened it up and gasped, inside was a case of dict-a-quills. A whole case! Wow!

Draco quickly tapped the second box and it expanded to the same size, when Draco opened it up it was filled with little match boxes, so he pulled out one and tapped it and it expanded to it’s normals size and was a case of parchment, so the whole thing was filled with little cases of parchment to go with the dict-a-quills.

Now Draco was so excited to see what was in the third case, he tapped it and opened it up, inside was a collection of Honeydukes finest. Everything from Ice Mice to Pepper Imps and Sugar Quills, there was a note from his father stating that it was his reward for all his hard work and dedication to his project, and that there would be more to follow. Draco grabbed an Ice Mice and began to nibble away, grinning as he read the letter from his father. He couldn’t help but think of what the next several months would be like and all the responsibility he now held, and grin again.