Chapter 15
Time passed quickly at Hogwarts even by Harry and Hermione's standards, and Halloween was upon the young couple before either of them had had time to plan anything for their second anniversary, they had both been too engrossed in their research into ways of removing the dark mark from Uncle Sev without killing him, thankfully their anniversary had fallen on a Sunday and they were able to sequester themselves away from the rest of the school and celebrate in the peace and quiet of their suite. Tilly obviously approved of their plan and was providing them with their favourite foods whenever they were even slightly hungry as they spent their day lounging in the comfort of their bed reading for pleasure for the first time since they had returned to the school. Harry was happier than he had been since their bonding day as Hermione rested her head on his shoulder to read the romance novel she wasn't lifting from his chest while he was reading the family history from the Merlin Grimoire that he was lazily floating above her book with a spell his mother had invented during her preparation for her charms mastery, not long before dinner as he neared the end of the section he started reading about how Merlin had fought a dark wizard in Austro-Hungaria that had marked his unwilling thralls in a similar manner to what Voldemort had done to his Death Eaters, he quickly reread the section a few times, making sure to understand the possible outcomes before he showed it to Hermione.
"Look at this." He said excitedly levitating the book in front of hers.
"That could work." She nodded in agreement as she scanned the section far quicker than he could ever hope to read. "I think we should do this now, we need to erect the dark magic ward as soon as possible."
"Agreed." Harry smiled weakly. "We'll need to use the Elder wand."
"Just to make sure it works." She agreed as they got out of bed to get dressed. "We can duel cast as well just to be safe."
"The only problem is that it doesn't list the side effects of removing the dark magic, only the percentage of the different outcomes that Merlin experienced." Harry sighed deeply as he sat back down on the bed heavily. "Uncle Sev might not want to try incase it kills him.
"It's going to be okay Hero." She smiled at him reassuringly before she picked up their communications mirror. "Padfoot!"
"Yes my Lady Hermione Jean Potter-Merlin." He answered using her full name and title in an attempt to annoy her.
"We need all of the family currently present in the castle to come here as quickly as you can round them up." She replied without acknowledging his jibe. "And that includes Uncle Sev, Harry thinks we found a way to help him."
"I thought you two were going to be relaxing today?" Amelia asked from out of veiw of Sirius' mirror.
"And we are Mum." Harry replied. "But I found something in the Merlin Grimoire that could help keep everyone safe, and right now that's more important."
"Why were you reading a Grimoire?" Sirius asked. "How is that relaxing, I swear Mooney rubs off on you more and more everyday."
"Mooney?!" Harry laughed. "No Dad, this is all my Hermione's influence, besides I was reading the family history section, not the spells he invented."
"Alright Pup, I believe you." Sirius said sarcastically. "And give me about 10 minutes to round everyone up."
Harry and Hermione were sat waiting nervously in the suite's main room when their guests were announced by Merlin, when neither of them moved or spoke to acknowledge they had even heard Merlin speak after a few minutes, he opened his portrait to the guests knowing they were family to his descendant.
"Happy Anniversary you two." Remus smiled at them as he entered ahead of everyone else and pulling them out of their quiet reflection. "Are you looking forward to our trip to Godric's Hallow tonight?"
"Of course." Hermione smiled weakly. "I just hope we can bring Lily and James some good news."
"Have you found something?" Severus asked hopefully as he followed Sirius, Amelia, and Nanny into the suite and closed Merlin behind him.
"We think so." Harry smiled nervously. "I was reading the Merlin family history when I came across a mention of him fighting a Dark Lord who branded people like Voldemort does with his dark mark, only his victims were never voluntary like the death eaters."
"Was he able to help them?" Sirius asked.
"Yes, but he didn't list all of the possible side effects and according to the outcomes he listed there is a small possibility of it killing Uncle Sev." Hermione sighed.
"But Merlin didn't have the same connection to those he was healing as we do to Uncle Sev or the joint power that comes with our bond." Harry stated hopefully.
"Do you think you can work the spell?" Severus asked looking between Harry and Hermione.
"Shouldn't be a problem." Harry nodded. "It's the unknown side effects that give us pause."
"I trust the two of you completely." Severus smiled. "Let us do this before any of us second guess my decision."
"Reveal your mark please." Hermione requested as she and Harry stood up and held the elder wand between their joint hands.
"Are you two sure you can do this?" Remus asked, his concern clear in his tone. "This is probably the most difficult magic you have ever tried to perform."
"Uncle Mooney it's no more difficult than any other spell we've used." Harry stared. "It's mostly intent based, the problem is the literal translation of the spell."
"It is a broard request of magic." Nanny sighed reading the passage of the Grimoire where Harry had found the spell. "But certainly within their capabilities."
"Agreed." Amelia smiled. "Besides it's something I need to be able to tell the Department of Mysteries about if this works."
"Let us get this over with." Uncle Sev stated having rolled up his sleeve.
Harry stood nervously with the elder wand in his right hand he was breathing heavily as Hermione moved to stand in front of him, she slowly linked her fingers with his pressing the odd shape of the wand between their palms, his breathing slowed as he rested his forehead against hers looking her dead in the eye, she gently placed her free hand against his chest slowly tapped him with her fingers, after the third tap they cast together.
"EJICE TENEBRAS!"
The normal stoic face of Severus Snape contorted in agony as the orange spell collided with his arm, he grasped the mark on his forearm and fell to his knees as it erupted in a pure white light, he let out an anguished scream as the light changed into a vibrant pink and the mark was ripped from his arm and the magic left behind by the dark wizard who he had once called master tried to remain within him. He collapsed as the magic disapated having left his left forearm and hand blackened and empty of life, Hermione buried her face against Harry's chest worried that they had just killed a member of their family.
"Dear Merlin." Nanny exclaimed as she knelt beside Uncle Sev and began to check him. "He is alive, his pulse is unsteady, but he should make a recovery with Poppy's care."
"That was certainly more violent than I was expecting." Sirius commented as he summoned a stretcher to carry Severus to the hospital wing, before he jumped straight into his concerned father role looking at Harry and Hermione. "I'm not sure I should have let you watch that let alone perform the magic that caused it?"
"It wasn't possible to know what the magic Voldemort used to place the mark would do to the marked person when we tried to remove it." Harry stated. "Merlin didn't explain all of the side effects."
"If it was willingly accepted by the person then it would probably have spread further, but with the case of Uncle Sev, he had been rejecting the ideals of Tom and his followers for a long time." Hermione explained.
"So if we do this to the other Death Eaters it would probably kill them?" Remus queried.
"More than likely." Harry frowned. "Although if I end up duelling one of them I might consider using it."
"You do not mean that Harry." Nanny stated looking a little horrified.
"Unfortunately he does." Hermione sighed. "And I can't see a fault in his logic, they are murders and will not hesitate to use unforgivables on us, this is legal and will put them out of the fight either way."
Nanny looked to the other standing adults for assistance.
"Honestly, I think it needs some testing." Amelia sighed. "I can ask the Department of Mysteries to find out if it has any other uses."
"They're right Min." Sirius nodded seriously. "I don't like it any more than you but that spell is our ace in the hole we save it until they start using unforgivables, which with my dear cousin Bella won't take long."
"It's a good plan of action." Remus agreed before turning of Harry and Hermione. "But I think you two should let the adults in the family use it first, the two of you while incredibly powerful are still innocent, at least in the regard of killing someone, let's keep it that way for a while. Okay?"
"Yes Uncle Mooney." They chorused causing him to chuckle.
"Well now that the drama is out of the way would you like to know how the session went yesterday?" Sirius asked.
"I'll take Sev to Poppy." Remus stated.
Once Remus had left levitating Uncle Sev on the stretcher in front of him, Nanny, Sirius and Amelia sat on one of the tartan sofas while Harry and Hermione took the other, after several hours Remus returned with a sullen look upon his face.
"How is he?" Harry asked concernedly as soon as he saw Remus open the door.
"Poppy had to take the arm below his elbow." Remus explained gravely. "But he's awake, pain free, and thankful for what you did for him."
"But he's lost a hand." Hermione said regretfully. "I know it's his non dominant hand, and he has magic and all, but it's still a big part of him to have lost so suddenly."
"He will be fine." Nanny smiled. "If Severus is anything he's a survivor, he will learn to adjust very quickly, and until then we can have his NEWT students work as his assistants around their other classes."
"We can suggest it to them as extra revision, seeing as they need to brew all of the potions from the lower years again before the end." Remus nodded before turning back to Harry and Hermione. "Now you two need to go and get ready for tonight, and I suggest you wear the Basilisk armour that Ranog sent over from the harvesting team, just in case."
Harry and Hermione followed the suggestion Remus had given them and wore their armour under their finest black muggle clothes, while there was a large magical community in Godric's Hallow it was still a muggle town as well, and they both knew that they didn't want to attract any unwanted attention while they were standing vigil in the graveyard.
"Amelia has gone ahead." Sirius said as the couple met him in the entrance hall. "And Remus opted to stay here and help with the feast now that Sev is in the hospital wing."
"Bother we should have thought about that." Harry sighed.
"It's ok Pup." Sirius chuckled pulling him into a hug. "Min got the dark magic ward up, she found a couple of Dumbledore's old items burning in her office, I found out that several of the display items in the Defence classroom were still active, right before they exploded."
"Well at least there's that." Hermione nodded as they headed out into the crisp evening air. "Won't it also stop the unforgivables and other dark spells being used here?"
"In theory." Sirius nodded. "In truth I don't think it's ever been tested, and I wont be doing it, but if you want to find out I'm sure you can convince the Minister to have the Department of Mysteries investigate it for you."
"Mum will probably want to find out anyway." Harry stated before he sighed. "I hope Mum won't mind me calling Amelia that."
"I'm sure she'll be extatic." Sirius said giving him a hug. "The portrait of your parents doesn't mind and honestly you were supposed to grow up with Amelia and I being your surrogate parents anyway."
"It will be fine Harry." Hermione smiled joining the hug, Sirius took this moment to spin through the side along apperation to Godric's Hollow. "A warning next time would be nice." She growled slapping his arm.
"Sirius what did I tell you about doing that to people?" Amelia asked warningly.
"To always get consent before aparating someone." He sighed dejectedly. "But in my defence they knew what the plan was I just did it sooner than they were expecting."
"True, we did know." Harry nodded. "But Mum's right, you need to be more careful Dad, especially with our magic involved."
"Exactly who knows what could have happened if one of us had panicked and tried to stop the move." Hermione added.
"Alright, alright." Sirius chuckled. "You've made your point, now let's get inside before anyone sees us out here."
"Nobody is here Sirius." Amelia chuckled. "We had the whole area warded by the goblins, remember?"
"Obviously not." Harry chuckled at the dumbfounded look on his adoptive father's face. "When though? I didn't know it had been done yet."
"The Department of Mysteries agreed with me that as this site is linked to the two of you, and could be used you in some way to add wards that prohibit anyone getting within a few hundred metres of the house." Amelia explained. "I got your father involved and the Black foundation now owns the six other houses on the lane."
"Could they be used as safe houses for trusted people we want to keep safe that we don't necessarily want inside the manor?" Hermione asked.
"An excellent suggestion." Amelia beamed. "There are a few Aurors whose families could be targeted if Voldemort returns."
"Put together a shortlist." Harry nodded. "I'd like to have them vetted ahead of time, if a single blood bigot gets in here it might as well be open plan for the Death Eaters."
"Agreed." Hermione stated. "But do it quietly."
"When all is said and done I'm hiring you to the Department of Mysteries I don't care what Croaker says we need your minds in there." Amelia chuckled, as they passed through the the boundary gate and headed towards the cottage.
"Well this is different than last year." Sirius said giddily.
"You can feel it?" Harry asked. "The warm embrace?"
"Yeah it feels like when James and Lily used to hug me together." Sirius stated unable the stop smiling. "It's a wonder you two wanted to leave last year."
"I've never felt magic like this." Amelia commented, as Harry opened the door with a single touch. "How? I tried a couple of times while we were sorting the wards out and it wouldn't open."
"It's locked to Harry's blood, and magic." Hermione stated. "When his parents died the ownership locked to him as the last surviving person in the house."
"Just how much magic was in play here?"
"Mum, you know full well how brilliant Mum was." Harry said causing both Sirius and Amelia to have to shake their heads to get the statement to make sense, which had Harry and Hermione laughing.
As they were laughing they entered the living room through the doorless doorway they found a strange sight before them, James and Lily were sat on a spectral sofa as glowing translucent forms, that faintly showed what colours they were, they seemed to be having a conversation, when suddenly they both looked in the direction of the front door of the cottage, Lily ran passed the group without seeing them, and James turned his wand on the living room doorway, which now appeared to contain a door. Sirius moved closer to inspect it as it seemed solid only to have it turn to dust before his eyes, leaving him face to face with a spectral Voldemort.
"Argh!" He exclaimed as he backpedalled into the room.
"Why are we seeing this?" Amelia asked, as Voldemort and James held a conversation they couldn't hear.
"We don't know." Hermione stated as her father-in-law began to throw spells at Voldemort.
"It wasn't like this last year." Harry added, as his Dad dived behind the sofa for a reprieve from the spell fire. "He was almost an even match for Tom."
"Yeah." Sirius nodded. "He and your mum fought Voldemort more times during the war than Dumbledore did, hell I fought him more than Dumbledore did, the only reason I survived was your parents taking over, they were so in sync with each other it was a wonder to watch."
"I think we need to use the pensieve at Yule and show them." Amelia nodded as Voldemort vanished the sofa and took a cutting curse along his left arm from a prone James who had been waiting for the change.
"Tom looks so different from the one shade I saw in the chamber." Harry commented.
"Really?" Sirius asked. "Ever since he rose to power he's looked like that."
"He had hair for one." Harry stated. "His nose was larger and less snake like, his eyes weren't red either."
"It's the Horcruxes the more he made the more of his humanity he lost." Hermione supplied. "Antioch said it was because his magic was trying to hold him together and was filling in his physical pattern as best it could but with 6 Horcruxes at the point we are seeing here most of what he was at 16 is gone."
"There's a reason even my family detested necromancy." Sirius sighed.
Hermione shrieked as they saw James die and cuddled into Harry, they knew it was coming but it was still devastating to watch, Tom sneered at the spectral corpse of James before he swept out of the room the way he had come in, he returned with Wormtail who began to gather valuable items from the room at Tom's instruction, Harry, Hermione, and Sirius left him to it and headed up the stairs to find Lily casting magic over the spectral form of baby Harry while Amelia made a note of what was taken, she might now be the Minister for Magic but she had been an investigator of crimes and dark wizards for most of her adult life.
"Her protection." Harry smiled as he watched her work in awe.
"I wish we could hear what she was doing." Hermione sighed.
"It wouldn't matter." Sirius chuckled. "Lily never uttered a single incantation aloud in the entire time I knew her, even in first year she instinctively cast with thought rather than words, it drove Minnie mad to start with."
"Don't pout." Harry teased Hermione who was starting to look upset. "It only took us 2 months to catch up to her, and that wasn't our fault was it?"
"Bloody Dumbledore." She growled. "Stupid Ronald."
"Agreed." Harry nodded.
"Right, Harry some of the effects Peter had on him when we arrested him will be returned to you." Amelia said comming up the stairs. "Most importantly a locket he took without Voldemort's approval."
"Sounds good." Harry sighed. "He's on his way up isn't he?"
"He was trying to do something with your father." Amelia stated. "Absorb his magic I think?"
"Strange." Hermione commented before she gasped.
Voldemort was snarling with anger as he entered the room, Lily turned to face him with a look of steeled determination upon her face, Voldemort faulted for a moment, as if he was expecting a different reaction, she didn't move as he levelled his wand at her, nor as he motioned her out of his way with it. Harry was crying as he watched her die, he could feel his emotions from the original event coursing through him, the quartet watched as the spectre of baby Harry reached for his mother through the bars of his crib, he could only reach her finger which he gripped tightly as Voldemort peered down at him, the look of absolute disdain upon his face was bone chilling to the group, they watched eager to see what had happened that night, after soo much speculation. As Voldemort cast the spell with only a few inches between his wand and baby Harry time stopped as the green magic flared at his wand tip, a new glow stepped into the room through a solid wall, it was larger than anything they had seen this night but Harry and Hermione recognised who it was by the golden armour it wore above its white tunic.
"Zeus?" Harry queried looking at Hermione who could only nod in response.
They watched in amazement as he placed his hand in the way of the unforgivable curse and time started again, most of the magic rebounded against Tom, but as Zues wasn't fully corporeal he was unable to block it all and just enough of Tom's intent to harm Harry made it through causing the lightning bolt to be carved into his forehead. Tom was thrown backwards by the magical blast that had been directed at him. His body started to crumble to ash as it hit the floor, after a few seconds the same wraith that had attacked them after Quirrel had died floated up from the robes and flew directly at baby Harry, they watched as it tried to possess him only to be thrown off by a powerful pulse of magic that blew open the wall of the nursery and throwing the wraith through the hole at an incalculable speed. The group watched as Zues touched the scar on Harry's head before he disappeared. Peter rushed into the room, paled and stood stock still for a few moments in shock at what he was seeing, he gathered up his masters robes and ensured he was holding Tom's wand before he transformed into his rat and escaped through the new hole in the wall onto some nearby tree branches.
"Holy Hippogriff." Sirius exclaimed as the magic faded. "Pup do you understand that you have quite literally been blessed by the king of gods since you were tiny?"
"Yeah, that was kind of obvious when I met him in July." Harry chuckled. "We did tell you about it Dad, do we need to check you for memory charms again?"
"He's clean." Amelia chuckled. "I check him everyday, but after 10 years in Azkaban his mind gets jumbled when he's in shock."
"But this is incredible." Sirius kept repeating quietly as they made their way back out of the house.
"We need to figure out why we saw this though." Harry said.
"It could be because of how old we are, our bond, your new familial connection to Sirius and Amelia, or it could be something unrelated to us at all." Hermione stated in full lecture mode. "It could well be that we are seeing it this time as we entered the house at the exact moment 12 years ago that the events occurred, it could be Zeus giving us more information, remember Grandpa's comments about knowing your enemy, or it could something else entirely there are too many variables for any speculation to be worth any serious thought, what we take away from this is that Tom relied on his sheer volume of power and knowledge of spells and didn't bother moving around, he stood in one spot as he duelled James, and expected his mere presence to intimidate Lily, we just need to keep moving and never back down if we ever have to face him."
Amelia nodded her agreement as they walked down the lane and out into the village beyond the new wards, there was evidence of the children who had been trick or treating everywhere, there were dropped wrappers and sweets every few steps. Sirius was still in shock but Harry and Hermione both shared a look with Amelia something was wrong, they found broken jack-o-lanterns, and discarded sweet pails, as they neared the cemetery things seemed to return to normal, but Harry could not relax, it was almost as if the area had been cleaned of the carnage that surrounded it, to make it appear as if nothing was wrong.
"Is it me or does this feel weird?" Sirius asked in a whisper.
"Not at all." Harry said loudly, giving his godfather a look to say play along.
"I was meaning being here without Mooney." Sirius stated returning to his normal volume.
"Oh that." Harry sighed. "Yeah it does, we'll just have to come back when his commitments to the school allow."
"Yule break isn't far away." Hermione commented as they entered the eerie silence of the graveyard.
Harry and Hermione could feel the magic of his ancestors as they moved through the space, having met some of them in Elysium, helped them to feel their connection to the physical realm, as they passed Ignotus Harry caught a glimpse of a rat as it scampered behind his grave, thankful that his panther sight helped him see in the dark, he looked at Hermione and she nodded that she had seen it also.
"Show yourself Wormtail." Harry called out. "I know I saw you, and I can feel the magic you are trying so desperately to hide from me."
A squeak revealed the rat was close to them at most he was on the other side of Ignotus' raised tomb.
"Perhaps I should see if he can out run my leopard?" Hermione pondered.
"That's hardly fair Hermione." Sirius stated, as Amelia disappeared under a disillusionment charm. "We've seen Sharpclaw move at speeds even Mooney struggles to keep up with in wolf form."
"I don't care about being fair Sirius." Hermione huffed realising Sirius wanted to keep Remus' cure a secret from Peter. "He's a traitor to my family."
There was a small squeal from the rat before Amelia reappeared holding a stunned rat a few graves beyond Ignotus'.
"Now we just need to figure out where my Aurors are." She sighed as she transfigured a metal box out of a branch and placed the rat inside.
"Don't worry about them." A high pitched voice shrilled as it approached from around the church. "I sent them all home to their families, don't worry they were all purebloods none of them will be harmed."
"Bellatrix." Sirius growled as he drew his wand.
"Now, now cousin there's no need for such aggression." She laughed. "Just let me leave with Potter and I'll let you all live."
"Why do you want him?" Amelia asked drawing the dark witches attention and allowing Harry and Hermione to quietly draw their own wands.
"I need him to bring about the resurrection of the greatest sorcerer to ever live." Bellatrix stated.
"So you know where he is?" Harry asked. "Good to know."
"Oh wee baby Potter is so bwave standing up to wittle old me." Bellatrix mocked him before she laughed. "You think I'm scared of a 13 year old?"
Bellatrix was so focused on taunting Harry that she didn't see the silent stinging hex sent her way from Hermione, it caught her in the shoulder and threw her backwards into a tombstone.
"B… Bl… Bloody Mu… Mud… Mudblood." Bellatrix growled through her twitching.
"What's wrong Bella?" Sirius asked.
"What in the name of the Dark Lord was that?" She demanded regaining her composure.
"Just a stinging hex." Hermione replied innocently. "And for the record my parents are magicals."
"Not according the the Slytherin princesses you sent to Azkaban last year." Bellatrix said. "You lie to me again and I'll kill you."
"I wouldn't threaten her if I were you Bella." Sirius stated. "Harry is rather protective of her, she is the Lady Potter after all."
"Married at 13." Bellatrix laughed. "There is only one way that can happen other than emancipations, and no muggle father would ever agree to that so she could marry her boyfriend before she was of age, and no Mudblood has ever bonded."
"So how do you think you escaped Azkaban?" Amelia asked.
"Dumbledore did something." Bellatrix stated coldly. "He told me my master would soon return and would need his loyal subjects."
"Our bonding caused the dementors to retreat to their underground cavern." Harry informed her. "Now do you know what happens to a LeStrange when they attack their Head of House or his Lady?"
"Why does that matter? My husband is Head of House LeStrange."
"No he's not, hasn't been for about two years." Sirius stated. "Harry was given your title by the Wizengamot."
"And I gave the entire contents of your vaults to the Longbottoms." Harry stated watching as Bellatrix got angrier and angrier.
"Frank and Alice send their regards by the way." Hermione smiled. "We managed to undo the damage you caused to them, they are expecting another child in the coming months."
"And it shall share your fate." Bellatrix shrieked pointing her wand at Hermione. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The ominous green spell crackled as it sped through the air towards Hermione, neither she nor Harry moved, Amelia made to and was restrained quickly by her husband, she had yet to read any of the Grimoires available to her at Potter Manor, and didn't know what the others knew. Bellatrix watched with glee as her spell reached its target, but her joy quickly faded as she watched the magic spread all over the younger witch and faded from sight as if it had been absorbed by her, without any negative effects whatsoever.
"I… I…" Bellatrix mumbled
"Lost for words then Bellatrix?" Harry asked. "I am Lord Harry James Potter-Merlin, Head of the Noble House of LeStrange, you are a member of my house kneel before me and submit to be arrested by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement or face my judgment, I will not offer this choice again."
"Never!" She cried as she aparated away.
"Blast it all to hell." Harry growled angrily. "So much for the wards stopping that here."
"She must have removed them, or one of my Aurors did as they left, it will depend on what orders she gave them." Amelia replied before she rounded on Hermione glaring at her angrily. "You knew she couldn't hurt you?"
"Of course." Hermione smirked mischievously.
"But that was a killing curse, it's instant death except in cases of divine intervention apparently." Amelia protested. "How could you have been so confident it wouldn't hurt you?, you could have died."
"Thank you for your concern for my wife mum." Harry smiled. "But she was perfectly safe."
"How can you act so apathetic about this?" Amelia demanded stopping them in their tracks by standing in front of them.
"About 2 centuries ago the Head of House LeStrange, Balthazar I think his name was, had 14 sons from his 5 wives, all legally married back then obviously, anyway when it was explained to his youngest son upon his majority that he would likely never inherit anything from his father due to being his 25th child and 14th son, he stated to slowly kill off all his older brothers making each death appear as an accident." Harry explained.
"After the sixth mysterious death Balthazar had caught on to what was happening, given that he was in control of all the wards for all of the places that his children had died." Hermione continued. "So he used blood magic, again legal at the time to bind a protection into the family hierarchy which meant that no member of the family could intentionally harm a more senior member of the family, the first time they try there's no repercussions on the lower family member."
"The second causes the harm you intended to cause being visited upon yourself." Harry stated. "And let's just say nobody gets to four tries."
"Clever." Amelia nodded. "What happened to Balthazar's 14th son?"
"Died from injuries consistant with a tumble of off a third floor balcony without having actual fallen off of one." Sirius answered surprising her. "Now how about we finish up here quickly in case she decides to come back."
"With pleasure." Harry smiled as he stepped arround his new mother and walked the short distance to his parents graves.
"Ready?" Hermione asked stepping up beside him.
When Harry nodded they both placed a hand upon one of the headstones, and Lily and James rose to join them a few moments later.
"Mum and Dad, let me reintroduce you to Mum and Dad." Harry said cheekily as he looked between both sets of his parents.
"It's about time Padfoot." James smirked at his friend before turning to his wife. "And thank you Amy, I'm glad to see Harry has accepted you in his life."
"Why can I hear you?" Amelia asked. "Sirius said we wouldn't be able to."
"I also said the magic at the house wasn't all that inviting." Sirius countered before turning to Lily. "But my beautiful wife does raise a good point, why can we hear you?"
"It's the bonding." Lily explained. "You allowed them to complete the pre-bonding dance, and as you explained they shared their magic with everyone present, and given your newly accepted familial roles in Harry's life the magic that allows us to be here accepts you as if you were blood to Harry."
"So if Aunt Petunia and Dudley were here?" Harry asked.
"They would have been able to see and speak to us from the very start." Lily nodded. "Not that she would have chosen to bring you here while you were all under Vernon's thumb."
"Maybe next year they can come." Hermione said hopefully. "Perhaps if Dumbledore and Bellatrix are caught by then we can have all of the wider family come."
"That sounds wonderful." Lily smiled.
"On to the matter at hand seeing as we have a limited time we can be here and the psychopath that is Padfoot's cousin has really cut into our time." James stated. "Firstly Aunt Dorea has asked us to remind you about the Lord's safe behind her portrait in the family room."
"Sorry." Harry grimaced. "I completely forgot last year what with everything else that was going on."
"It's ok Little one." Lily smiled. "We know you weren't in a good place, and it wouldn't have changed anything that's happened during the last year according to Dorea, but she still wants you to have what's there."
"I've written us a reminder." Hermione smiled as she slipped a small notebook back into her pocket.
"Glad to hear someone is on the ball." James teased Sirius.
"Don't look at me I'm not their keeper." He protested.
"No but you are supposed to be the adult." Harry stated joining with the ribbing.
"It would be nice if you acted like one occasionally." Hermione smirked.
"Stop teasing him so much." Amelia chuckled. "Besides we're short on time and I think Lily and James have more to say."
"Indeed." Lily nodded. "Now, Harry and Hermione do you understand why Zeus showed you the echo of our deaths?"
"So we could see how Tom faught?" Harry asked.
"So we could understand what you and he did to protect Harry?" Hermione queried.
"Correct on both counts." James confirmed. "But also it was to show you how limited his interaction could be with our world, to ensure that you believed them when he and the other gods apologised for not being able to step in to change your childhood."
"I've said it before and I'll say it again." Harry stated. "I do not begrudge anyone for my childhood, it made me the person I am, albeit in an unorthodox way, and given that I've reconciled with Aunt Tuni and Dud honestly I couldn't be happier with how things turned out."
"And people say I'm the mature one." Hermione said wrapping him in one of her patented hugs.
"We're glad to see you happy Prongslet." James smiled. "But we need to say goodbye for another year, keep your guard up, Bellatrix might be dangerous, but Dumbledore didn't fool the world for as long as he did by being stupid."
"And remember to have fun." Lily said with a glint in her eye. "I love how you've thrown yourselves into your studies and helping everyone, especially Sev, but you need to let your hair down and just have fun with your friends more oftern."
"Well now that the school is safer we can do just that." Hermione agreed.
"Well done with all you managed to accomplish today." James smiled. "Now goodbye Sharpclaw, Shadowpaw, Padfoot and Amy, for another year."
"Goodbye sweethearts." Lily sighed. "Give Sev my regards, and thank him for me for being there for you."
"We will Mum." Harry said wiping away a tear as his parents slowly faded away. "I love you both, I hope we have more happy news next year."
"We will Hero." Hermione smiled at him as she gave him a hug.
The next morning at breakfast Harry and Hermione were glad to see Uncle Sev up and walking around with his sleeve pinned up around his amputated arm, even if the rest of the student populous were to busy speculating on how his arm had been injured to notice their joy.
"Good Morning Harry and Hermione." Uncle Sev smiled at them as he reached them at the Gryffindor table.
"Good morning." They replied together.
"How are you today?" Hermione asked.
"I feel lighter than I have in years." He chuckled in response. "The strain of fighting his darkness was more taxing than I had ever realised."
"What happened to your arm Professor?" Lavender asked from her position beside Hermione.
"It is no secret that I was once a thrall to Lord Voldemort, what few know is how he achieves the level of subservience from his followers, he infuses them with dark magic so strong few can fight it." He explained, gaining looks of horror from those sat nearby. "I managed to find a way to purge myself of that dark magic, unfortunately after the nerve damage I suffered in my arm over the summer the riddance of his magic caused too much damage and despite her best efforts Madam Pomfrey was unable to save it, but fortunately I have no need for that arm and can manage with my dominant hand alone."
"I'm glad you're happy Professor." Luna smiled.
"As am I Miss Lovegood." Uncle Sev nodded.
"Mum sends her regards." Harry stated. "And hopes to be able to see you next year."
"It would be an honour to share in your tradition." Uncle Sev smiled broadly.
"Uncle Sev, I found an experimental potion in the very back of Lily's potions notebook." Hermione stated. "She hadn't got it working, but I'd like to see if we can figure it out."
"Anything urgent, or can it wait for the summer?" He asked.
"She was attempting to create a limb regrowth potion." Harry stated. "But she couldn't get the right results, the conjured animals she was using to test it didn't survive."
"That does sound like a wonderful project." Uncle Sev nodded. "I'll look over the notes and see if I can see anything, but we will leave the project for the summer, besides if you two help me sort it out we can use it as a step towards you earning a mastery after you finish your N.E.W.T.S."
"What is this I hear about masteries?" Nanny asked joining them. "I don't need you corrupting Harry and Hermione away from their true calling in transfiguration."
"Nonsense it's a defence mastery for those two." Sirius chuckled as he arrived.
"Why not all of them." Remus smiled. "Merlin knows these two are ahead of even the fourth years in everything except maybe Herbology."
"That's only because they don't believe in their abilities with magical plants." Neville stated. "I keep telling them to relax a little more and just let it flow, look at Harry and Petunia's rose nursery, it's thriving, and even Mum is taking some of them to use around our manor."
"Too true." Sirius stated. "Has she asked about setting up a florist shop with you yet Harry?"
"It has come up in passing." He nodded. "But she isn't sure if she wants to go magical or muggle with it."
"That's because she's studying for her Herbology O.W.L." Professor Spout stated joining them with the rest of the professors. "I'm glad to see you so happy Severus."
"As are we all." Flitwick smiled.
"What are the rest of our family doing with their magic?" Hermione asked. "They've been extremely tight lipped about it."
"I'm currently teaching them a little of everything." Nanny stated. "They are surprisingly quick on the uptake, they plan on waiting until the summer before they speak to you about their plans."
"Sounds fair." Harry nodded. "Shall we come and help you set up for our double potions Uncle Sev?"
"That would be helpful." The amputee smiled.
Harry and Hermione were surprised when the Yule holidays arrived, it seemed that time passed dangerously quickly after their run in with Bellatrix, Petigrew had been sentenced to the dementor's kiss a week later, they were told that it had been carried out immediately and that as much as they both wanted to be there all of their family who had been in the courtroom (only Nanny had remained with them at the castle that day with it being a Sunday, and the manor was supposedly empty that day) had informed them that it was best that they had not been there at all, Peter had called out to Sirius and Remus multiple times as the dementor moved towards him, each growing in anguish and desperation. Amelia had placated them with being allowed to watch the sentence carried out for Dumbledore when he was eventually caught.
Their arrival back at their home was a subdued affair, though the manor was full of people, their family and friends, the weight of the world seemed to be upon the entire group. For Harry and Hermione it was the feeling that they were responsible Bellatrix and Dumbledore having escaped their cells and the events that had followed; for Sirius, Amelia, Remus and Severus it was over the teens moods and how best to help them; and for Nanny it was the worry over how quiet her former colleague had been in the near 5 months since his escape, with only a single sighting it didn't bode well for anyone.
Christmas came and went without any of the joy that had filled the manor the previous two years, everyone realised that they were just happy to be with each other and they spent the day relaxing together ang trying to avoid the worries of the outside world, the only truly joyous moment had happened after breakfast when Richard released Harry from the vow he had made when they first came to the manor two year prior. While it didn't mean much to Harry it made Hermione hug her father tightly for over an hour as it showed his trust in her husband to be equal to his trust in her. Just as everyone was heading to bed Harry and Hermione looked at each other and began to radiate magic in a visible aura.
"Someone is trying to penetrate the wards." They said together.
"Bellatrix or Dumbledore?" Sirius asked.
"Could be either they are out beyond the quidditch pitch." Harry stated.
"And by the feel of it they have some sort of sapping stone, it's more powerful than the one Professor Babbling showed us last week."
"But that one can take down the Hogwarts wards." Dudley exclaimed.
"It's got to be Dumbledore." Violet growled. "Bellatrix wouldn't know how to manage an item that powerful, or even where to get one."
"Violet you stay here with the newer magicals and the children." Harry commanded. "Uncle Sev are you up to fighting if we need you."
"I can manage."
"What's the fastest way out to him?" Richard asked. "From my understanding if he manages to bring down the wards we're sitting ducks."
"I'll carry Severus on Moony." Remus stated. "Everyone else transform, will you be able to keep up Minnie?"
"No but let's call me the cavalry." She stated. "That way if he does get passed you I'm in his way of getting to the house."
The 6 animals left the manor together, with Shadowpaw and Sharpclaw streaking off ahead of their rest of the pack with their powerful feline legs and keen night vision, Moony could have kept pace in the daylight had he not been carrying a passenger, Padfoot and Whitesocks moving together in ways only a Grim and a Fox could as they to quickly disappeared into the night, Nanny brought up the rear as fast as she could manage, and watched with wonder as Harry and Hermione reappeared on the far side of the quidditch pitch with a dazzlingly bright aura.
"Show yourself Dumbledore." Harry said as they approached the ward line near the disturbance.
"Like he's going to respond to being called out like that." Hermione sighed as she lifted her wand. "HOMENOM REVELIO!"
A glowing shape appeared off to their right, it stood at just over 6 feet tall and appeared to be draped in a cloak of some sort.
"Very clever Miss Granger." Dumbledore commented as he threw off an invisibility cloak.
"It's Lady Potter-Merlin actually." She replied.
"For that to happen you would need to have bonded my dear and I'm afraid you aren't nearly old enough." He said snidely. "And neither of you will live to see that day."
"How long do you think it has been since we last saw you?" Harry asked.
"I was imprisoned for less than a month before I escaped again, not even Azkaban can hold me."
"No wonder Bellatrix is insane." Hermione commented. "Just so you are aware it is December 25th 1993, you escaped during the chaos that our bonding caused, haven't you been checking the prophet everyday?"
"They have no news I need until you two are dead and gone." Dumbledore stated with a broad smile.
"Enough stalling." Harry growled aiming his wand at the sapping stone. "REDUCTO!"
The stone disintegrated into dust causing Dumbledore to attempt to aparate away as he realised that he had overplayed his hand, only to find himself unable to do so.
"Tut tut." Amelia sighed as she approached Albus from behind. "You are loosing your touch Albus, didn't you feel the ward go up arround you?"
"Amelia, what a surprise." Dumbledore smiled weakly. "What brings you here?"
"She lives here." Sirius stated as he walked out of the trees to Dumbledore's right. "She is Harry's surrogate mother afterall."
"The better question is what are you doing here Albus?" Remus asked as he appeared opposite Sirius.
"Mistakes were made and I need to rectify them." Dumbledore stated calmly. "Once that is done you will all see it was for the best and let me return to me previous positions."
Harry growled and shared a look with Hermione, knowing where this speech had gotten them last time they nodded and started casting the spell chains they had been taught in preparation for the battle they had been expecting in the churchyard on Halloween, they each had their own chain designed by Amelia to compliment each other, while Harry chained cutting, disarming, blasting spells together, Hermione worked more intricate spells; chaining piercing, stunning, and confusion spells. Dumbledore to his credit as a master dueller brought his shield up in time to catch Harry's lightning quick cutting curse, unfortunately as he had had to rely on the power of the elder wand for so long and the fact that the wand he had found in his childhood home was an imperfect match, his cover didn't hold up against Harry's power and Hermione's piercing hex glanced off of his shoulder. Dumbledore froze much to his detriment, he hadn't been expecting the two of them to come out of the gates so quickly nor to be able to injur him at all much less with the second spell that had been cast, and Harry disarmed him moments before Hermione stunnned him. Amelia to her credit realised what was coming her way now that Dumbledore was down and ducked just before the blasting curse Harry had cast detonated the pine tree behind her into millions of splinter like projectiles that rained down upon the group.
"Remind me to give extra warning to my Slytherins." Uncle Sev chuckled from behind the couple.
"I've never seen him freeze up like that." Remus commented. "Throughout the entire war he never froze during a duel."
"Well piercing curses aren't exactly light magic or on the third year curriculum." Hermione stated. "He was taken by surprise not only by the type of spell but also the fact he thought we wouldn't know how to cast it."
"Right then." Amelia smiled as she regained her feet and her composure. "I'll take him into the DMLE, you lot take a nice slow walk back to the manor, don't forget to collect Kitty on the way, and when I'm done with getting him processed and squared away in the Department of Mysteries just so he can't escape so easily, I'll be back and we can celebrate our small victory."
"We should look at getting these two a reward." Sirius suggested mischievously. "That's two out of three of the escapees they've caught for your Aurors."