6

Things were going well but that couldn't last. This was the day to go home for the holidays. Just as Harry started to leave for the carriages, Professor McGonagall came up to him. "Mister Potter, the Headmaster wants to see you."

"So, I have a train to catch. If I go see him, I will miss it. So, tell him I will see him after the Yule holiday."

"Mister Potter. Dumbledore said he needs to meet with you before you leave."

"Doesn't matter, unless you are going to kidnap me, I am getting into this carriage, and going home." With that, Harry jumped in the carriage muttering. He was amused by the shocked look that Minerva gave him when he defied her. She should be used to it at this point.

This was more important than verbally sparing with a teacher. He wanted to talk to Hermione on the train. The carriages were not horseless. He didn't know what they were; but after he pet one, he knew it was there, not just a hallucination.

"What was that about?" Hermione asked as she had gotten into the carriage moments before. "The headmaster did not want me to go home. He demanded to have a meeting which would have made me miss the train." Harry said it was obvious he was pissed at the headmaster but amused about the situation.

"Why would he do that?" She asked.

"I don't know or care," Harry responded. "Who knows why the fucking goat would do anything?" He was sure this would not be the end of this confrontation.

Harry laughed when Hermione scolded him about his language.

Then he asked about the carriages. Hermione replied, that per Hogwarts, A History; they were thestrals. Harry was glad about that. He now knew what creature his main wand's core was from.

This was better than when he saw the creature that provide the core for his other prime wand. He had encountered an acromantula when on a training operation with Croaker. The spider had died of his yellow eyes from his animagus form. Harry still counted it as a win.

Croaker never teased Harry again. Both the spider and Harry had scarred the old man.

{S}

On the train, Albus found Harry with a mixed group of students. Harry had expected the old bastard would try to exert dominance over him. That was the reason he found a carriage with a large diverse group rather than a compartment by himself and Hermione. "Mister Potter, I believe Professor McGonagall asked you to come to my office" Albus started.

Ignoring the headmaster; "How soon until the express is due to leave?" Harry asked, looking across at Hermione "I can never remember since we got here so early it doesn't matter?" That was the first stupid thing he could come up with. He wanted to draw in the other students. From the looks Harry saw; the whole carriage was in on the plan.

"Mister Potter..." Albus tried.

"I think it is quarter past, since it is eleven now" Susan replied; already deciding to help Harry out. "It's eleven when we are coming to school," Susan thought it was beyond amusing following Harry's play. Hermione looked shocked but remained silent.

"Mister Potter, I wish to talk to you outside" Dumbledore demanded.

"Why is there a quarter of an hour difference? And since we have to be off the carriages by ten o'clock, why not leave earlier?" Harry looked at Hannah and Susan "I mean, I can see why the train has a set departure time from King's Cross, but with us going home? Though I guess to appease our Ravenclaw friends, why do we set off later to go home than we do to arrive?" Harry noticed the old man was getting pissed.

"I asked my aunty once. I was curious about the schedules before we came to school." Susan smiled "We share a track with the muggles, and our train has to avoid them. If we didn't, we would crash into one of the muggle trains and... Well, you get the idea." She couldn't wait to tell her aunt about this confrontation. She knew her aunt hated the headmaster, and after the lack of trial of Sirius Black; had told her ward to avoid the man. Seeing how Harry's defiance was irritating the headmaster, she just had to join in on the fun.

She had to play this straight, though it was hard to not laugh at the old goat. It was even more amusing that everyone in the compartment was hiding their laughter, also.

"That makes sense I guess" Harry nodded "And not getting students killed is something the headmaster should be in charge of…even if he sucks trolls' dicks at it, or allows them into the castle to kill students. Still, why do we have so much time in the mornings when we leave? Breakfast ends at nine and all of us are forced to the carriages by ten. By ten fifteen; we are all on board the train. It is like they want to extend the torture to the students. Of course, we all know that as a leader of the light, the headmaster would never do such things."

"MISTER POTTER! YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME!" Dumbledore bellowed, making the windows rattle. All the teens still acted like he wasn't there. This was intolerable. He was the great Albus Dumbledore and their headmaster.

Hermione finally caught on; "So, Hannah… what are your summer plans? Are you going to the continent?" Hermione asked. It was the best she had. She knew she had to follow along with Harry's lead; despite her respect for the headmaster.

"No" Hannah shook her head "Susan and I have plans to stay around the houses. A best, doing day trips." She had a large smile; it took all her will not to giggle. Between what Susan had warned and her parents; the headmaster was now an enemy of her family. Moreover, irritating the old man was fun.

"Aunty approved the plan. She will even join us for the day on occasion." Susan grinned, then looked at Harry and Hermione "Want to come too?"

"Sorry, I know my parent and I think Hermione already have holiday plans." Harry paused, he finally decided to quit the game, "Headmaster? You're still here? The train's going to leave in a few minutes… shouldn't you be back at school?"

"Mister Potter..." Albus whined.

"Headmaster, to save you some time, none of us are leaving this train. Besides, the ride home is part of the vacation. According to the school bi-laws, during vacation, you have no authority over me at this point. Your authority ended last night when the leaving feast ended. At least that is what the by-laws, section nine, and subsection c three." Harry said with a large grin. Part of that grin; he had the by-laws in his backpack just to show the headmaster if it came to that.

Harry also wanted to test the man. While the authority of the headmaster was in section nine: staff authority and responsibility, subsection c: headmaster; there was no part three. Harry wanted to find out if the goat knew his limitations.

"So, if you want to talk to me, or anyone here, you will have to wait until after we returned from London," Harry said. "I will be more than happy to meet you then.

"What I need to discuss with you, Mister Potter has to be discussed in private," He said calmly; visibly trying to calm down. "That cannot be done aboard the train. And it has to be done now."

"Well, as one option, you can put privacy wards up on this compartment so we can talk. However, headmaster, anything you talk to me about, I will share with everyone in the compartment." Harry said.

"Your other option, make an appointment with my muggle guardian. Send an owl to my Gringotts address so I will eventually get it." Harry said, "I am sure my guardian will be happy to talk to you about any concerns you might have regarding their child."

Harry continued, "If you try to take me by force, I am sure Miss Bones here would be more than happy to have Aurors arrest you for kidnapping. That is what it would be if you force me to stay at the school. There are too many witnesses, headmaster."

Dumbledore glared at him, then turned and stalked out of the compartment, slamming the sliding door shut behind him.

That caused all the children to burst out laughing. Most of them could not believe that Harry had stood up to the headmaster. They made him explain why. Once he explained that the headmaster was his magical guardian; and that his muggle guardian out and out detested the headmaster. To the point; he was ordered to be hostile to the old man. An order he was more than happy to follow. Susan, Hannah, and Daphne all said their families felt the same way. The only two to remain silent were Neville and Hermione.

Susan made a mental note. She would have to have a long conversation with her aunt. Was the headmaster a danger to her? Trying to take a child off the train was not something legal. What was going on at the school? What she learned she planned on sharing with her best friend, Hannah.

{S}

"Severus my boy; Miss Granger is leading Harry onto a dark path. Please poison her when they get back to school. Oh, and my boy; if you can make it dramatic." Albus said. The sooner the boy was grieving; the better. Next year at least. What was a mudblood's life compared to the greater good? The boy also had to pay for his insolence. What better currency than grief for one of his friends?

{S}

At the station, he felt he was being watched. He internally laughed. It wouldn't help. So, he strode to the public floo. He grabbed the floo powder and yelled out Gringotts. At the bank, he approached a teller.

"May your enemies fall before your blade, good goblin." The goblin was surprised at the courtesy.

"What can I do for you, Mister Potter?"

"May I have an escort to my room? Good sir." Noticing an Auror sitting in the corner but paying attention to what he said. He had come from the floo points a second ago.

"Right, this way, Mister Potter."

Harry enjoyed being escorted outside of the main foyer. The goblins did not allow wizards to go unescorted beyond the foyer. He noticed the Auror tried to follow but was not allowed to by the goblins. He asked the goblin for the name of the Auror. He was told Kingsley Shacklebolt. A name he would have to tell his aunt about. He bet the man was part of Dumbledore's supposed secret society.

Someone that he would have to kill some time in the future.

Inside the small room he rented, he was surprised that Hooksnarl was there waiting for him.

"Good sir, what do I owe this visit?"

Hooksnarl smiled. "Harry, we retrieved an artifact that Mister Dumbledore had taken from your parents' vault with the traitorous goblin. We had to remove a few spells he applied to it." Holding out a silvery bit of fabric.

Harry took hold of the silvery material as some of it slipped down to the floor. He realized that it was a cloak. He put it on and looked down. His body had disappeared.

"Thank you, Hooksnarl. Is there anything else?"

Hooksnarl nodded. "This fireplace has a dedicated floo connection to where ever the unspeakables connected it to." He handed a letter over. "The password is on the letter. Your mail is on the table. It is always checked for portkeys, curses, and all other hazardous items. For example, there is a letter from Dumbledore to your guardian. It had several tracking charms on it. It also had compulsions to have your guardian contact Dumbledore."

"That bastard. Well just send the letter back to the fucking goat, unopened. Could you add a note that only untainted letters will be accepted? Also, send this letter to the Prophet please."

"Amusing, so we will do that for you. Have a good day." With that Hooksnarl left.

{N}

HOW UNSAFE IS HOGWARTS?

Yesterday, we received a letter detailing two major safety breaches at Hogwarts School for Wizardry and Witchcraft. One has already put students at risk, and the other is still risking the very lives of students at this moment.

For the first incident; we have been able to verify that a mountain troll was loose in the school on the evening of Halloween. This happened whilst the students were having their annual Halloween Feast, Professor Quirrell, who is currently teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, ran into the Great Hall and announced that a troll was in the dungeons.

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore then sent the students back to their common rooms.

A reminder to all; two houses; Slytherin and Hufflepuff, have their common rooms in the dungeons. So that asks a major question; how can a headmaster send those two houses' students to their common rooms, which are in the dungeons? The area that the troll was located at? Dumbledore needlessly put the lives of all the students of those houses at risk. They could have stayed in the great hall until the creature was found.

Fear not people the troll was found, eventually.

The troll was later found in a girl's bathroom on the second level of the school. The very same bathroom where Myrtle Elizabeth Warren died at Hogwarts; Moaning Myrtle died there fifty years ago. She almost had company in death.

Why do we say that, and what happened to the troll?

How many students were actually at risk?

That last question is even more interesting because there is no official report from the school of students being at risk. I repeat, the school said that no student was at risk. We were even promised that by Headmaster Dumbledore.

Yet the letter we received mentioned that two students accidentally came across the troll on their own and barely escaped with their lives. Two first-year students not only met the troll; somehow one of them killed the monster.

Looking at this from the perspective of a parent of a Hogwarts student. How did a troll enter Hogwarts?

Shouldn't the defensive wards of the school prevent it from entering?

If the Defense against the Dark Arts professor found the troll, why was he not able to subdue it or contain it in a room?

Why doesn't Hogwarts have a better Defense professor?

Shouldn't the ghosts and portraits be able to find the troll?

Wouldn't it have been safer to keep all of the students in the Great Hall where they already were?

That was the past. While the troll incident is no longer a threat to the students; there is a current safety issue that has been present all year and remains today.

At the Welcoming Feast, Headmaster Dumbledore warned the students not to venture to the third-floor corridor unless they wished for a most painful death.

No classes are being given in that corridor this school year.

So, what will cause a painful death that has nothing to do with the school or what students are being taught? Also, we have heard that multiple students have opened a locked door in that corridor -- despite the warning -- to find a Cerberus!

What is a Cerberus doing in a school?

What is it guarding? What reason is there for a three-headed monster to be in a school full of children?

What needs such a dangerous guard?

Will a child be killed by the cerebus; after all it is only stopped by a locked door, a lock even first-year students can bypass.

Will whatever is hidden in the school attract criminals or worse? Evil wizards and witches, who could hurt the students as they go after the hidden item?

As bad as that news is, there is one last unanswered question. Why are we just now finding out about these safety issues?

When the Prophet asked Hogwarts' students found in Diagon Alley, they all knew about it but had no explanations for why they had not told their parents and/or guardians of the threat or the actual knowledge of the Cerebus. The school has refused to comment.

All that remains is to ask: What now, and who will protect the children since the current staff and headmaster at Hogwarts appear unwilling or unable to?

{S}

Dumbledore was furious. He had just gotten seated at the staff table when the morning post owls appeared. Once he saw the title on the front page; he had to forgo breakfast to read the whole article.

Harry had talked to the press again. His plans about the stone were now prominently in the public's eye. He debated about summoning Harry to his office when he returned.

Minerva looked at Albus after she finished the article. "What will you do now?"

"I don't know," Albus replied.

Then McGonagall harrumphed. "It appears you will have to remove the item. It is dangerous to the students for us to keep it here. If you do not; the press and the parents will have our guts for their garters."

"No, I refuse. I know the Prophet and the people that read it will want to make me remove it," Dumbledore almost snarled. "The Minister will interfere if he can." He sighed heavily.

"I think it will happen today," Minerva said as she watched the Minister and Director Bones coming through the front doors, led by Mister Filch. She thought the headmaster was going to lose this fight. She was sure that the stone would have to be removed; no matter what Albus's greater good required.

{S}

"What are you going to teach me, Croaker?" Harry asked.

"Since I do not have much time. I will stick to just one thing. Your core is large enough now so you can do apparition. Want to learn how?"

Croaker replied

"Let's start," Harry said.

{S}

"CROAKER!" Harry yelled from behind the man.

Croaker turned around; wand drawn. He saw nothing. "Homeo Revelo. Who is there?" He ordered. His spell revealed no one. If it was no one, who shouted.

Harry dropped the hood of his cloak. "Surprise Croaker."

"How did you get in here?" Croaker demanded.

"I apparated. You were running late so I thought I would…" Harry started.

"You apparated into this hall?" Croaker asked.

"Yes, I tried with my hood down, didn't work, but it did work when I am completely covered." Harry said. He liked his cloak. He had his aunt test it. When he was fully covered, no spell could find him or summon his cloak. Harry wanted Croaker to test it again.

Croaker looked at Harry. "Okay, let's try some tests. I have never heard of an invisibility cloak granting that ability."

An hour later. "I got nothing. The cloak seems to be the one out of the three brothers' tale. Just remember when fully cloaked for lack of a better word; you can go through wards and no spell can find you." Croaker said with a devilish smile.

{S}

During the welcome-back feast, Dumbledore told all the students that the corridor was now safe. Also, the wards would keep trolls out now.

Harry smiled. Well, maybe one of these times he would get rid of that old bastard.

The next was Hermione. He never had a friend, so how was he going to be a friend to her? Her reactions whenever he gave her an order were also a question he would have to solve.

Was that the life debt or something else? Her reactions and obedience pleased him though. Harry had one concern. How to deal with the children of the death eaters. They had to die. Die before they would become death eaters. He knew from Croaker that Draco was learning the unforgivables from his father. He was a valid kill. Were the other children of the death eaters also learning to be evil? Croaker and his aunt assumed that to be true. So, he might as well, also.

Now, how to arrange for the next "attack". He had to make sure his hands appeared to be dry for now.

He would have to talk with Croaker this summer. The man knew who deserved to die.

Harry was not heartless. He wanted to give the children a chance to reject being a target. While he wanted to use that same time for him to help spike the death eaters. Those that had taken the dark mark had to die. After the adults died, the children either reformed or die.

Flashback

Albus hates having to argue with Madam Bones and Minister Fudge. They should just let things well enough alone. After all, it was a trap to prove Voldemort was still alive. A way to test Harry. It had been a good trap at that. After all, it was for the greater good. Why wouldn't they accept that? They should not question the leader of the light.

During the discussion, Fawkes flamed out. Minutes later the flame traveled back into the headmaster's office with a cracked red stone in one of his talons. Dumbledore knew it was the philosopher's stone. In his other was a note. All three of the people were stunned. Albus opened the note on the desk. He read it out loud.

{M}

Dear AD

I did not permit you to recklessly endanger children's lives with this fake. So, I have destroyed it. Please notify all, including the press that the item you were guarding was destroyed. OR I WILL!

NF

"So Albus?" Amelia asked.

{S}

To the surprise of all the teachers, Quirinus Quirrell not only missed breakfast the day after the stone's removal but was in the Prophet. Dumbledore went to the man's quarters to see if he was ill. After unlocking the man's door and going in, he quickly found Quirrell on the floor. Most of his skull was missing from his body that and parts of his brain were splattered all over the room. No spell the headmaster knew would have done this. So, this was proof that the man had been possessed. But proof that only someone in the DoM would accept.

He collected a pinch of Floo powder and threw it into the grate. "Aurors!" he firmly called, kneeling.

As soon as the flames turned green, he stuck his head in.

"Good morning, Albus Dumbledore here… Yes… I wonder if I may trouble you to send a couple of Aurors here. We have a professor that is dead with most of his skull shattered all over his room."

"Yes, you can come through. Morning Auror Shacklebolt, Tonks. Yes, we have a bit of a mess here."

{S}

Harry liked the new term. He was enjoying the rumors about the DADA teacher. Then Aurors came in and were asking questions about the professor. His aunt sent him word that the professor had been possessed, Croaker had thought it was by voldy. After a week, Albus made a brief announcement about how DADA was canceled for the rest of the week and that starting Monday, an Auror would take over teaching the class. With Hermione's help, he thought the rest of the school year would be a breeze.

Another amusing point is the poison and potion-detecting bracelet. It was becoming common for at least one item on his or Hermione's plates or their goblets showed a positive.

{S}

The rest of the school year went by easily. Harry had to admit that everything was going too well. Something would go wrong; until then he could be happy.

The teachers had posted the ranking of all students. He went up to check. His lowest grade exceeds expectations in History of Magic. Overall, he came in fourth in his class.

He was beaten out by Hermione, Daphne Greengrass, and Padma Patil. Not only that, it was the last day of school, and after breakfast, it would be time to go home. Then while walking to the carriages to go to Hogsmeade; things went downhill.

"Harry, will you write to me during the summer?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, also, you can muggle mail me letters. Just address it to the Bank of England. Sub G, Room 101." Harry replied. He was amused that Gringotts had a normal post address. "They also take owls. Just make sure you use the j so I get it."

"Can't you tell me where you live?" Hermione winced.

"Sorry but no." Harry flatly stated. Hermione had been badgering him for a while about where he lived. This was unusual.

Behind him, he heard. "Mister Potter, a word," Minerva stated.

"Yes, professor," Harry replied. He thought this was going to be a repeat of the Yule break.

"For the school records, I must know where you live. Mister Potter."

"I live at Gringotts Bank, London. Room 101. I already told the headmaster this." Harry started to get irritated. He wondered if Dumbledork had put pressure on Hermione to get his home address. If that was the case; he would have to talk to his aunt, mother, and Croaker about how to free Hermione from the headmaster's clutches. The girl was his; not that goat fuckers.

"Mister Potter. You do not live there. Now tell me where you reside when you are not here at Hogwarts."

"I cannot Professor. I made a magical vow." Harry stated flatly. "Also, I think I was being followed once I got off the express during the break; so, if it happens this time. I will call the Aurors. This is your last warning."

"Mister Potter, we just want to make sure you are healthy," Minerva said, trying another means to get the location.

"The feeling is not mutual Professor." he replied coldly to her. "tell me when you're not kissing Dumbledore's arse how healthy can you expect a child when you leave that child on doorsteps in the middle of the night only protected by a blanket and a note."

Minerva was completely shocked at what the boy had said, he seemed to hate not only Albus but herself as well. That was something she didn't understand. She could not think of why Harry would hate her; she helped save the boy after all. The boy should be grateful. Plus, his placement was for the greater good.

Minerva frowned at the boy who had just said to her "Mister Potter you will watch your tone with me and I do not like it, and you should not show disrespect to the headmaster." she said sternly.

Harry met her eyes, and while his face was expressionless his eyes were glowing a bit "And I don't like being left on a doorstep in the middle of the night. Like some common milk bottles. I am sure that was safe for me. The cold, not to mention putting me with relatives that abused me."

Minerva was stunned. Before she could respond Harry had gotten aboard the carriage.

Once in the carriage, Hermione joined him. She had a face that said she was going to scold him.

"Hermione, sit down and listen. I know you feel I was out of line with Professor McGonagall. She and the headmaster put me with relatives that abused me. They never checked on me. So, I have a right to call her on it. Also, if I was to guess. Dumbledore asked you to get my address for him, hmm?"

"Yes, he asked me. But he told me that it was for your safety. He said you were not safe outside of your relative's house." Hermione pleaded.

"I am perfectly safe, I promise. So, this is the end of this discussion. Now go read your "Hogwarts, a History."

Hermione did as she was told. She did notice she got a shiver of pleasure from his tone and obeying his order.

{S}

Hermione waved goodbye to her schoolmates and Harry, leaving the platform for the summer with her parents. She knew that trying to explain to her parents how she wound up in the girl's bathroom was going to get her punished. Worse, how to explain the troll? She hoped this would not get her removed from Hogwarts.

"Mum… dad…" she started as they got into the car.

"Yes, my snowflake?" her father called from the front, looking into the mirror as he began to pull out of the parking lot.

"I… you will likely punish me." Hermione's face began to blaze and she averted her gaze, but even so she could still feel the piercing eyes of her parents. She was scared. Would her parents remove her from Hogwarts? A few seconds passed.

"Sweetie," her mom started slowly. "What did you do, that would make you think that you did something wrong?"

"I… I haven't been a good girl," Hermione said softly. "I got bossy and arrogant; it caused issues."

Another few moments of silence passed, and then her mother spoke again. "Well, why don't you tell us on the way home?"

So, she did. Once she started, she did a full recounting. She told of all her experiences at school, and what had been happening, what she left out of her letters home. She detailed everything. She even explained the magical side, her life debt.

Her parents listened in silence, only speaking up here and there; to ask clarifying questions. They wanted to make sure they had a full understanding of what their daughter's school year was like. They did their best to not show their growing anger. By the time Hermione was finished, and they were approaching home, their faces looked uncertain. The castle had safety issues and bullying, but; their daughter was not innocent either.

"I think…" Hermione's mother, Ophelia, started. She glanced at her husband, Jack. "Sweetie, why don't you take your things up to your room? Your father and I will discuss this."

Hermione's head hung low as she mumbled an acknowledgment, and in a few seconds, she had started inside the house with her things. Jack and Ophelia sat in the front seats for a few seconds in the quiet before Ophelia finally spoke up.

"What should we do, Jack? You know that removing her from the school would devastate her."

"Yes," Jack agreed, nodding slowly. "The place is not as magical as Professor McGonagall made it out to be. It is more fagging than a public school." "True, take the troll incident. How much of what happened to send her bathroom was her fault? How much of it were those girls being prats? Plus, the teachers do not seem to stop the bullying."

Ophelia looked at her husband as if he were stupid. "We seem to agree that, however, she gave help where it was not asked for Hun; but those girls were severely bullying her. The teacher did not get involved."

"Yeah, and the fact that she recognizes those facts. I think we should ask her what she feels is an appropriate punishment for what she did wrong."

Jack stated. "As a father, I am not sure about this Harry Potter. I also wonder if sending a message to her head of house about the bullying?"

"They are only tweeners Hun. You can put your club down. I agree with sending a letter to Flitwick. I want more information about that troll and the bullying. More important, how they are dealing with it. Though it sounds like the issue of the troll was a fluke. I also want to find out more about this corridor; even though it was taken care of by some other person."

Ophelia got an amused look. "We should be okay with what our daughter thinks is appropriate for her punishment. But we should warn her that we will ask Harry if we think it is too lenient or harsh."

"You are evil dear. The embarrassment from just saying that alone will be so much worse than any real punishment." Jack chuckled.

"I should also think about having a night out with our daughter," Ophelia said.

"What? Why? I don't understand." Jack whined. He had never completely understood his wife or daughter.

"You don't want to know; I have to give her the talk. I intend to make it better than the one my mother gave me." Ophelia smirked while Jack plugged his ears saying "Na-Na-Na"

"Jack, we also need to ask her head of house about the life bond. What this means to our daughter and her future life. We should be glad the boy respects our daughter too much to use it inappropriately on her." Ophelia said with a concerned look. Her husband silently agreed with her.

{S}

"Madam Bones" Narcissa Malfoy started.

"Madam Malfoy, how can I help you?" Amelia retorted.

"Can I get the full report of the incident on the Hogwarts Express?" Narcissa asked.

"No, it has been sealed by the chief warlock," Amelia replied; feeling sorry for the woman. She did not know how she would feel if someone had killed Susan; even in self-defense.

"Then can we talk, can you tell me what you can of what happened," Narcissa begged. She had tears in her eyes.

"Alright. Here is what I can tell you. At one o'clock; Pansey left a compartment in her train car and walked into the car after that. About five minutes later, your son and his two friends did the same. They used magic to enter a compartment that was protected by a notice me not spell cast by Ronald Weasley. Once in that compartment; your son cast the first spell. A large number of lethal spells were cast. Your child was hit by a piercing hex high center mass. We believe that your son was the one that cast the curse that killed Ronald Weasley and exposed Peter Pettigrew." Amelia got out.

"What about Harry Potter, what did he cast?" Narcissa demanded.

"He had been trained to duel by a relative. He cast various spells. That is all I am comfortable in saying." Amelia replied.

"Thank you, Madam Bones," Narcissa said as she left. This did not make sense. She knew her husband had ordered her son to talk with Potter and try to befriend him. Draco was a coward though. He would not have cast first.

Something wasn't right. The only thing right, she would find a way to kill her son's killer, Potter.

{S}

"Mom, Aunt, I am home!" Harry shouted. "I heard my nephew Harry, but only a prat with an ego as large as the boy who lived would shout like that." His aunt replied. She and Croaker were right in front of her nephew, sitting on a couch.

"Funny, I am sorry I shouted. I did not know you were here, Croaker." Aelia's eyebrow raised at the accepted informality between her nephew and her boss.

"I was just telling your aunt, what I think the next part of your training should entail. If you agree that is. To be blunt, the next possible step comes with bad news and worse news." Croaker said with a frown.

"Will this help me with my goals?" Harry retorted.

"Yes."

"Then tell me the worse news first."

"What we need to do will incapacitate you for most of the summer. It will also make the cruciatos seem pleasant. The second one may kill you. I doubt it. Your core should be large enough to handle it."

"And the bad news?"

"It is ritual magic. So, it is banned in Britain." Croaker said, sounding as if that was something the boy should care about. Harry didn't.

"What are the upsides?" Harry asked, Croaker would not have brought this up if he expected Harry to say no.

"I like your priorities. There are two rituals. The first will burn out your eyes and replace them with new ones. It will remove the need for glasses. It will also allow you to see magical auras."

Croaker stated

"And since everyone at school knows I have glasses. Nice disguise. You can replace the lenses in my current glasses so they do nothing?"

"Of course." Croaker smiled proudly.

"I can still practice my Krav Maga while blind?" Harry asked hopefully.

"That is a part of it. While blind, we will have you practice all your combat abilities. Once the ritual is done; it takes a lunar month to see it again. Also, the vision is all or nothing. Then we have to train you about magical sight."

"I will do that one. But you said you wanted me to do two rituals, Croaker." Harry said.

"The second one will probably take you down for the rest of the summer. While the first will just be extremely painful in the eyes. The second one will be all-over pain. That is if you survive. The upside is major. It will increase the size of your magical core significantly. Since you haven't had your magical maturity yet, that larger size now will mean your maturity will increase proportionally."

"So, some risk, but a hell of a lot of rewards.

Fortuna Iuvat."

"Shouldn't it be fortis fortuna adiuvat, Harry?" Aelia quirked, finding herself proud of the boy and wondering if he was now Croaker's new protégé. That would be great for the boy.

"Nope, we have to do whatever it takes so that I am avenged, and you and my mom are never hurt again."

Aelia hugs Harry. She sends a sharp look at Croaker. "I hope this will be the only two rituals?"

"Yes, both of these rituals needed to be done after Harry was a known quantity," Croaker stated.

"As you remember, Madam Pomfrey does a core scan as well as a full medical profile on all first years. That is why I put a curse on Harry to fool the medi-witch. But she only does this in the first years unless a person transfers in or somehow gets their core or body majorly damaged. Any other ritual I might recommend would be seen under regular scans; so, if Harry ever goes to the hospital wing; he would be found out. I got a copy of the report she sent to Dumbledore. My temporary core binding on Harry was listed as permanent. So, no one would know that it was missing or the full size of his core."

"Keep it secret. Keeps me safe." Harry laughed.

"Verily. The other bad news. Dumbledore is pressuring his allies. He wants them to get the Wizengamot to pass a new law. A new law just for you Harry. It will require a better location for students in your situation."

"It is imperative for better communication between magical guardians and muggle guardians. Especially in the case where the student in question is just being muggle raised. That is a slight to the muggleborns; of course."

"The crux is it would require mandatory meetings between the magical guardian and muggle guardian. The magical guardian would be required by law, to know where the student lived and slept. If the muggle guardian did not meet or provide the information, the magical guardian could seize the child. The only upside is how stupid the fools who make the laws are. They will not think of situations like ours, where there is a muggle guardian of a student who is living in a magical family. So, I doubt those fools will invalidate protections like the fidelus. I am not sure Albus cares about that yet. He just wants a way to learn who Harry's muggle guardian is and where he lives." Croaker said. "It has another caveat, if the person moves every twenty hours; they do not have to report their location."

"So, it has to be this summer for the rituals. We couldn't do anything with long incapacitation after that law got passed, right? We also will use this summer to plan on how to deal with the headmaster knowing about my summer location." Harry groaned.

"Indeed. On a related note, once he connects the dots. He will try to talk with both you and your sister." Turning to Aelia.

"To what end?" Aelia sighed. She just wished the bastard would do something so she could kill the goat fucker. Her work in the DoM showed her many times where the old goat was responsible, even if tangentially, for more than one person killed for no good reason. He also formed a coalition to forbid divorce even when the woman was abused or worse by their husband. He wanted the laws turned back to the middle ages and kept there.

"Can't you guess, lol, he will want you to send Harry back to his relatives? He may even try to force Harry to return there."

Harry started chuckling. "There is no one home there now. Hmm, maybe that place should have an accidental fire."

"No, a vacant, dilapidated house will cause more issues. Or worse, if a new family moves in there. I doubt, even the great Albus will be able to find out that your relatives have been missing for over a year." Aelia snickers.

"Just an idle thought, Harry; did you make any friends this year?" Croaker asked.

"Sort of, one in particular also owes me a life debt. Why?" Harry responded.

"How did you get a life debt, young man?" Aelia asked with a tone. This was news! How had her nephew risked his life and she not know? Then the light bulb went on. The troll.

"The girl; I saved from the troll. Her name is Hermione Granger. She is a first-generation witch. Why do you ask, Croaker?" Harry responded palms up placatingly. Harry assumed something was going on that he would need to know about. Something bad for the poor girl. Something from the old goat fucker.

"Hermione Granger? I will have your mom do a full background check on her and her family. Now Croaker, what are you up to?" Aelia demanded.

"I would bet that Albus checks on her to see if she knows where you are at. I can get the goblins to send any replies to her with a Uagadou owl. Plus, as a first generation, she cannot have wards around her parent's house. If you like her; she will need Occlumency and the ability to find and destroy wards. I will check on her house, just in case. I would not put it past Albus to do more than check on her mail from you."

"I will talk to her about it. Plus make sure she knows to be wary of Dumbledore. As for the owls, very nice, I assume I will not be in England?" Harry asked. He was looking forward to this summer. Now, not so much. But he needed this to survive in the long term, so some sacrifice was inevitable. What was one summer compared to more power?

"There is a monastery in the Steppes; outside the ICW; yet not in the Middle Kingdom. They teach dark and combat magic. All sorts of magic both the ICW and China do not allow. They will also do the rituals. A type of magic that Britain has forbidden. They have a cost, however. You just have to promise to kill a pedophile and serial obliviator. A guy named Gilderoy Lockheart."

"That is acceptable as long as Aunty and Mom agree." Harry smiled. Whoever that asshat was; since he harmed children, he would soon be dead. Harry just hoped he could do it painfully.

Aelia laughed. "You know we will say yes. If the reports are right; Lockheart needs to die." She had heard how Lockheart had been given more than one pass on his rapes by Dumbledore.

"Plan it, Croaker." Harry also laughed.

{S}

"Mom, I have a request. Other than the DADA course book, I have the list of all the items I need for next school year. Would it be possible for us to go visit Diagon Alley?"

"That will be fine Hermione, plan it." The two adults just looked at each other and shook their heads. Ophelia looked at Jack with a familiar expression.

"I know that look," he said. "What's on your mind, dear?"

"If we're to be a part of all of this magical world…, and we need to be able to send a letter to Hermione or anyone else in it… To do that; wouldn't it be useful to have a family owl? It would allow us to send messages to this Harry Potter; we should thank him for saving our daughter. Maybe talk with our daughter's boyfriend. Then there are our questions to ask her head of the house."

Jack smiled and gave her a one-armed hug. "You're brilliant as always. Speaking of brilliant, just what did you say to our wonderful daughter that keeps her blushing when she looks at us?"

"She is still responding to what I told her. I told you I was going to give her the talk." Ophelia said with a smirk of an internal joke.

Jack raised his eyebrow. "Do I want to know?"

"Well, I not only told her about her body, changes she can expect to go through in the future, what pregnancy is like, how to please…"

"Stop right there. I have to go get my shotgun and my club before she gets a boyfriend. Harry isn't that yet." Jack laughed.

"You are a silly man. I made sure she would do well with either a boy or a girl. You remember that I had a girlfriend in underyear. Though, that is not why she is blushing. I told her that because we do not know about such things for a witch; she must also get the talk from the school nurse when she gets back to the school. Since I don't think they give such classes."

"Why not?" Jack asked.

"They are a few centuries behind when it comes to social issues. I will send the new owl to Flitwick to have it done. I hope he gets that witch that first came with Hermione's letter to do the talk, not the school nurse. It is needed, after all, we do not know how her being a witch changes things like reproduction or life debts."

"You are evil dear."