18

When Hermione returned to her parents' house from Grimmauld Place, she immediately set to owling Ryan about the party. She knew he'd hear about it from Harry at practice the next day, but she wanted to tell him herself.

She was about to start writing when it occurred to her she could just ring him on the telephone, and she felt silly not to have realised it sooner. Are you a Muggle or not? she thought with amusement.

'Hello,' he answered, and her heart melted just a bit.

'Ryan, this is Hermione.'

'Oh, hi. I was just thinking about you.'

'What a coincidence,' she said, smiling. 'How are you doing?'

'I'm extremely happy for some reason,' he replied. 'I can't imagine why.'

'Funny, I'm the same way.'

'Is that why you rang? Not that I'm complaining.'

'No, I actually have an excuse. Harry's decided to throw a big party on the thirty-first, and we're hoping you can provide music.'

'What, from my vast collection of wizarding records?'

'No, Muggle music, like what you played me yesterday.'

'Really? At Harry's house? How is that possible?'

'He's going to Diagon Alley today in search of a solution. We think it might be possible on the roof somehow.'

'If he can make it work, I'd love to help. Will there be dancing?'

'I think so, but we didn't discuss it,' said Hermione.

'It seems like there ought to be. Who is he inviting?'

'Young people, mostly. The idea is to introduce our Hogwarts classmates to people who attended other wizarding schools. He'll ask you to invite some of your friends.'

'Are you serious?' exclaimed Ryan. 'That's fantastic. And Harry has the perfect house for it, if you can ignore the creepy pure-blood ambiance.'

'Funny, I don't even notice it anymore. The house is really far more cheerful than it used to be.'

'Unbelievable.'

'You know,' said Hermione, 'it occurs to me that it's rather absurd to be talking on the phone with you, when we're probably both standing next to fireplaces.'

'Are you proposing what I think you are?'

'For a few minutes, anyway,' she said. 'Is that all right?'

'It's more than all right. See you shortly.'

She hung up the phone and took a pinch of Floo powder. The words 'Bellamy flat' sounded impossibly lovely to her.

He was wearing shorts and a football jersey, which tugged at her heart. 'There you are,' he said, before leaning in for a kiss. 'Isn't magic wonderful?'

'It is,' she agreed. 'Are you off to play football?'

'Yes, with some of my old teammates—we play a scratch game occasionally. You're welcome to watch if you like, though I suppose it would be rather boring after Quidditch.'

'I'd love to watch, but I need to accomplish several things before my meeting this afternoon.'

'You'll have to see us another time, then. I'll enjoy introducing you to my mates, if only to prove I have friends other than my cousins.'

'Have they grown suspicious of you?'

'Exceedingly. But it's just as well you can't come today—I'll need to train you first in my cover story. Though something tells me you're a fast learner.'

'You can tell me about it tomorrow evening. I'm curious to learn all about Ryan Bellamy, Muggle.'

'I go by Clark Kent, actually.'

'Seems appropriate,' she observed. 'I should go, but thanks for allowing the intrusion.'

'You are most welcome.' He kissed her again, and she returned home through the fireplace.

When she emerged, her mother walked into the lounge and said, 'There you are. I thought I heard you but then you'd disappeared.'

'I was on the phone with Ryan, but then we realised I could just pop over and see him for a few minutes.'

'Remarkable,' said Emily. 'I'm not sure I'll ever get used to magical transport. That's probably the only part of your world I truly covet.'

'It's awfully convenient,' agreed Hermione. 'It almost makes up for the rest.'

Neither of them elaborated on what 'the rest' meant. The fact that everyone is armed with a deadly weapon.

Not that Hermione didn't love the wizarding world. She cherished her ability to perform magic, and although she regretted brewing that potion from the Grimoire, she'd been gratified to learn how powerful she was. But there was no denying the enormous flaws of her adopted world—flaws she'd been aware of but which Ryan was putting into relief.

'Do you know how long you'll be at your meeting this afternoon?' asked Emily.

'It's hard to say, but I'm sure I'll be home in time for dinner.'

'That's good. I thought we could try the new Vietnamese restaurant near the city centre.'

'I'd love that,' said Hermione, who thought immediately of Ryan and his appreciation for foreign cuisine. She pictured him in a Muggle restaurant with her parents and felt a sense of comfort she hadn't known she'd craved.

Hermione went upstairs to prepare for her meeting. She and Bill hadn't established an agenda, but she had her own ideas about how to address the Hogwarts problem, and they would require some tricky charms. Time passed quickly as she worked, and soon it was time to Apparate to Shell Cottage.

She arrived a little early, to enjoy the beautiful view and the roar of the ocean. She also placed a wreath of flowers on Dobby's grave, with deep appreciation for the brave elf who had saved their lives. It bothered her that she had been awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class, while a hero like Dobby remained unsung. She'd told his story in every interview she'd given, but the reporters never wrote about him. The most they ever said was that they'd escaped Malfoy Manor with the assistance of a house-elf, as if he'd been little more than a broom. Didn't they realise that without Dobby and his selfless courage, Voldemort would never have been defeated?

When she finished paying her respects, she walked over to the cottage where they'd taken refuge near the end of the war. She and Harry had arrived severely malnourished, and even Ron had still been a bit peaky. Brave, beautiful Fleur—who could have returned to France and safety—had nursed them back to health, along with the others Dobby had rescued. Hermione had often tried to express her gratitude, but Fleur always replied with the Gallic dismissal: 'C'est normal.'

The door opened and Hermione was greeted by Bill. 'Good to see you—come inside!' Once she entered, he gave her a big hug and said, 'How are you doing? You're looking well.'

'She is not looking well, she is looking magnifique!' said Fleur before kissing Hermione on each cheek. 'What have you done with your hair?'

'I found a charm in an old spellbook that tames my hair into this,' she said, indicating her smooth ringlets.

'It is a miracle,' said Fleur. 'You look very beautiful—for a normal witch, that is.'

Hermione smiled, knowing Fleur meant no malice. 'Thank you. And you're looking lovely as well.'

'Mais non, this ocean wind is giving me wrinkles,' she said, and Bill laughed.

'That's not true and you know it.' Bill turned to Hermione and added, 'She's been trying to convince herself she's decrepit, in anticipation of Gabrielle's visit next week. Fleur is certain she'll look like an old shoe next to her baby sister.'

'It is true,' protested Fleur. 'Gabrielle will be radiant, and I will be nothing.' Bill rolled his eyes and shook his head.

'But how are you doing, Hermione?' he asked. 'I heard about your meeting with Ragnok ... Are you all right?'

'I am,' replied Hermione. 'I wasn't at the time, but I'm feeling fine now. The meeting was a disaster, but hardly the lowest point in wizard-goblin relations.'

'Not even close. Frankly, I suspect the goblins are delighted the Ministry came in so flat-footed. Ragnok said the only way to move forward is for Harry to turn up with a pile of goblin-made artefacts, right?' Hermione nodded. 'That was what he always wanted, but he couldn't very well demand it unless the Ministry made some kind of appalling gaffe.'

'I can assure you, I did just that,' replied Hermione.

'I'm glad you see the humour in it—I was worried how you'd take it. In fact, I was afraid you'd still be a wreck when I saw you today, but clearly that's not the case.'

'Apparently not,' she said, smiling. 'I guess you could say I had a change in perspective.'

'Did you enjoy Harry's match? I wish I could have seen it myself, but at least we heard the broadcast.'

'It was like nothing I've ever seen. Harry was brilliant—all of the Cannons were.'

'And how is Harry?' asked Fleur. 'We miss seeing you both at the Burrow on Sundays. But perhaps you two are now eating together?' she added hopefully.

'He invited some of us over on Tuesday, to cheer me up, and he and I went to a Muggle pub on Thursday, but otherwise we're pursuing our own paths. He seems to be adjusting rather well to single life, after a rocky start anyway.'

'Ah bon?' replied Fleur. 'Is he dating other people?'

'You could say that. He has a lot of new friends on the Cannons and they seem to be showing him a good time.'

'Have you met any of them? What are they like?'

Hermione felt her cheeks redden, and she couldn't hide her smile.

'Ah, what's this?' asked Fleur. 'Have you found a new sweetheart already?'

'Possibly,' she confessed. 'I had a lovely afternoon and evening with Harry's teammate, Ryan.'

'Ryan Bellamy?' exclaimed Bill, before turning to Fleur and adding, 'He's their star Chaser.'

'I must see a photograph,' said Fleur, walking to the table and opening the Prophet. She flipped through to the sport news and said, 'Point him out to me.'

Hermione knew exactly where to look, having searched the Prophet that morning. 'Here he is,' she said, indicating an action shot of Ryan. 'He's the blond one.'

'Oh là là, comme il est beau!' she exclaimed. 'And he is not stupid?'

Hermione laughed out loud. 'Non, pas du tout. Au contraire, il est très intelligent.'

Fleur chided her. 'Your French is rusty. You must come visit more often—perhaps while Gabrielle is here. You will bring your petit copain as well.'

'I'd like that,' said Hermione, who for some reason wasn't reluctant to introduce Ryan to a pair of part-Veelas.

Bill looked at the clock and said, 'McGonagall will be here in a few minutes—how do you want to proceed?'

'I assume we'll have to start by explaining the situation to her again?' asked Hermione.

'Yes, but it'll be interesting to see how much she's forgot and how quickly it comes back.'

'I agree—I should probably keep notes.' She pulled a notebook and quill from her bag. 'I've devised some tests we can use to pinpoint the nature of the interference, but I'll go over them in more detail after Professor McGonagall arrives.'

There was a green flash from the fireplace, and Professor McGonagall entered the room. 'Bill, Hermione, it's always good to see you. And Fleur, you're looking well.'

'Mais non,' she scoffed, before heading out to the garden.

They continued their greetings while walking to the sitting room. 'So what exactly did you want to talk to me about so soon after our last meeting?'

'That's the thing,' said Bill. 'What do you remember about our last meeting?'

Professor McGonagall frowned. 'All of it, I presume. Are you implying I might have forgot something?'

'That's what we're trying to determine,' replied Bill.

'All right. I suppose I remember coming here. We exchanged pleasantries before sitting down in this very room. You told me about ...' She faltered. 'You told me about ... something I suppose. And then we made a plan to meet again this afternoon, with Hermione.' She looked at them with satisfaction. 'Did I miss anything?'

Bill and Hermione exchanged glances. 'Yes, you missed quite a lot,' said Bill. 'We're convinced that Hogwarts is interfering with the memories of everyone who enters the castle. That's what you and I spoke about on Wednesday, at considerable length. And you weren't able to convey any of it to me just now.'

Professor McGonagall's eyes grew wide. 'My word! What's the extent of the memory modification? Is there a specific topic, or is it generalised?'

'It's about the existence of other wizarding schools in Britain,' replied Hermione.

'But there aren't any other wizarding schools in Britain.'

'That's not true,' said Bill, handing her a parchment. 'There are more than thirty wizarding schools in the UK, and more in Ireland.'

She frowned as she looked through the list. 'This is staggering! And I must say, it certainly answers a lot of questions I've had about wizarding society. You say you've already told me all this?'

'Yes,' said Bill, 'and you agreed it was a serious problem. We don't know if it's something in the Hogwarts wards, or if it's in the food, or possibly a combination. And Hermione and I can't just go investigate, because then we'd forget what we were doing.'

'I have some ideas about that, actually,' said Hermione. 'I've thought of some experiments we can do, to establish the parameters of the interference.' She pulled several items from her purse, including a parchment. 'First, I've written a letter I'd like to send to Professor McGonagall by various means.' She handed it to them:

Dear Professor McGonagall,

Due to an interfering ward and/or potion at Hogwarts, you and everyone else inside the castle have been rendered ignorant of critical information. Don't be afraid: It is not life-threatening and has nothing to do with Voldemort. However, we've made it a top priority to investigate and remedy the problem, which has far-reaching effects through wizarding society.

Please be so kind as to write on this paper what you understand about the situation (even if the answer is "Nothing"). Afterwards, please deliver this letter by hand to Hermione or Bill, but only if they are outside Hogwarts.

Sincerely,

Hermione Granger

After they read the letter, Hermione said, 'We'll mark on the letter whether we sent it to Professor McGonagall by owl or whether it was hand-delivered via Floo. Then we can compare them from a safe location. I think it'll be more convincing if we all sign it,' she added, handing them her quill. Bill and Professor McGonagall both added their signatures to the bottom, and Hermione used her wand to make several duplicates.

She pulled out two silver discs. 'Next, I've created some simple communication tokens using the Protean Charm. We'll give one to Professor McGonagall with instruction to write down what it says, regardless of whether she understands it. My plan is to transmit a variety of phrases to Professor McGonagall to see which ones trigger the interference. For example, we could transmit the phrase, "There are British wizarding schools other than Hogwarts," or simply send the name of one of the other schools—"Widgington Academy," for example.'

'Good thinking, Hermione,' said Professor McGonagall. 'But I insist you call me Minerva.'

Success! thought Hermione. 'Thank you, I will. Now there's another test we can do, which is much simpler. Minerva, perhaps you could go back to Hogwarts right now with one of the letters, write your answer, and then return promptly to Shell Cottage without eating anything.'

'Of course,' said Bill. 'That would indicate whether there's a potion in the food.'

'If that were the case,' said Minerva, 'someone would have had to instruct the house-elves to do it. Couldn't I just ask the head elf about it?'

'Not at Hogwarts, you couldn't,' answered Bill.

'Can you Summon the head elf from here?' asked Hermione.

'Of course,' replied Minerva. 'Tufty!'

Pop! 'Yes, Mistress!'

'Are you aware of any instructions to add potions or some other adulterant to the Hogwarts food?'

'No, Mistress.'

Bill asked, 'Are there any vitamins or nutritional supplements you've been asked to add? Perhaps a standing order?'

'No, sir. The house-elves are not adding anything to the food other than the food. House-elves are strictly forbidden from tampering with wizard food in such a way. Tufty would have to punish herself if she did that.'

'Thank you, Tufty. You've been most helpful.' Minerva turned to the others and asked, 'Is there anything else we should ask while she's here?'

'We should have her deliver one of the letters,' suggested Hermione, sealing one of the parchments in an envelope from her bag. 'Tufty, would you please deliver this to Professor McGonagall's office?'

'Yes, Miss. Tufty is glad to help. Is there anything else?'

'No, Tufty, that will be all,' said Minerva, and Tufty disappeared with a loud pop. 'My first thought is that we can rule out the food now, but of course we can't until I've actually tested it. Should I Floo back to the castle with another letter?'

'Yes, and we'll call you if you take too long,' replied Hermione.

'Hang on, are we certain Floo calls are safe? I invited Minerva here by owl,' said Bill.

'Merlin, good point,' said Hermione. 'We'll need to test that as well. Should we do that now, before Minerva goes over?'

'No, we should probably have someone on the receiving end, to most accurately simulate a typical Floo call.'

They looked at Minerva, who took one of the letters and said, 'Here goes.' She threw a pinch of powder into the grate and said, 'Hogwarts Headmaster's Office.'

It took a little longer than they'd expected for her to return, which made Bill and Hermione nervous, but Minerva eventually stepped out of the fireplace holding a parchment.

'I'm supposed to deliver this to you by hand,' she said, looking puzzled.

They looked at what she'd written on the parchment:

'Nothing.'

'Can you tell me what this is about?' asked Minerva.

Bill and Hermione sighed. 'There seems to be a ward on Hogwarts that interferes with people's knowledge that there are other wizarding schools in Great Britain,' began Hermione.

'Good lord, you're right,' exclaimed Minerva. 'May I see that list again?'

'So you remember?' asked Bill.

'I think so,' said Minerva. 'We had quite a long conversation earlier, and Hermione showed us the tokens she'd prepared, as well as the letter, and I summoned Tufty for questioning.'

'Yes, that's about the sum of it,' said Bill. 'This is good—we've determined there's a second factor, possibly the food.'

'But without any participation by the house-elves,' said Minerva.

'You're assuming we can trust what the elf just told us,' said Bill.

'Of course we can trust her,' snapped Hermione. 'Tufty and all the Hogwarts elves are bound to the school. It would be impossible for her to lie to Minerva.'

'Hermione is correct,' said the headmistress. 'There's no way she could mislead me.'

'All right,' said Bill. 'But getting back to the letter, it's clear that you didn't remember the other schools or our conversation while you were at Hogwarts. Which confirms there's a ward as well.'

'I discussed this with Phineas Nigellus Black,' said Hermione. 'He said this wasn't possible with wards, and it would require some kind of potion in the food, but that the potion would wear off.'

'When was he headmaster?' asked Bill.

'From 1912 until his death in 1925,' replied Hermione. Bill and Minerva looked impressed. 'It's inscribed on the bottom of his portrait,' she added.

'How knowledgeable was he about wards and potions?' asked Bill. 'Do you know what he taught before he was headmaster?'

Hermione shook her head, but Minerva said, 'Runes.'

'I guess he'd know what he was talking about then,' said Bill. He turned to Hermione and asked, 'Had he heard of the other schools?'

'Yes, and he seemed to have a poor opinion of them.'

They suddenly fell silent. 'You don't think ...' began Bill.

'But how?' asked Hermione. 'The house-elves aren't adding anything.'

Minerva was appalled. 'I can't believe a Hogwarts headmaster, of all people, would tamper so thoroughly with young people's minds, and wizarding society as a whole!'

'That's literally the job of a headmaster,' observed Hermione. 'And Phineas Nigellus certainly had Dark tendencies.'

They were quiet again until Bill asked, 'Should we bring him here for questioning?'

'I can't imagine he'd cooperate,' said Hermione. Her eyes grew wide and she added, 'Unless Harry ordered him to.'

'You mean Lord Black?' said Bill, and Minerva chuckled.

'Yes,' said Hermione. 'The very same.'

'Was Phineas Nigellus ever head of House Black?' asked Bill. 'He might not submit to Harry if he were.'

'I don't know,' said Hermione. 'I'd have to consult the tapestry.'

'It sounds like our next step is to talk to Harry,' said Minerva. 'Do you know if he's available right now?'

'No, he's gone to Gringotts and Diagon Alley for the afternoon.'

'We'll have to find another time then,' said Minerva. 'One of you will have to arrange it, of course.'

'I can,' said Hermione, and they compared schedules to identify potential meeting times.

'Minerva, would it be difficult to arrange your own food until then? Without help from the house-elves?' asked Bill.

'But we've ruled out the house-elves,' said Hermione, a trifle indignant.

'Yes, but we haven't ruled out their means of transport. Perhaps something is happening when the food is transferred from the kitchens to the Great Hall, or wherever else people might eat.'

'That's simply not possible,' protested Minerva.

Bill shook his head. 'I don't think we can rule anything out. Remember Phineas Nigellus had access to Dark magic, through the Black family library and elsewhere.'

'The Grimoire!' cried Hermione. 'There may be something in there.'

'What Grimoire?' asked Minerva.

'The Black family Grimoire. Harry gave me access to it several weeks ago.'

Minerva looked at her gravely. 'Did you enter into a blood bond with Harry?'

'No, it was nothing like that. It was a far more primitive method for granting access. We were required only to add a few drops of blood to a small receptacle inside the cover.'

'That's a relief,' said Minerva. 'You and Harry have experienced enough drama without being accidentally compelled into a marriage bond.'

'All right,' said Bill. 'I think we have our marching orders. First, Minerva is to return to Hogwarts and prepare her own food.'

'Not so fast,' interjected Minerva. 'How will I know to prepare my own food?'

Hermione tilted her head backwards in frustration just as Bill's dropped forwards into his hands. 'This is maddening,' he grumbled. 'Do you think a written note would be convincing enough?'

'I don't know. We could try, I suppose,' said Minerva.

They were silent a long moment before Hermione suddenly exclaimed, 'The Pensieve! Preserve a memory of the three of us assuring you why it's necessary to prepare your own food until we meet. Carry a note with you back to Hogwarts instructing you to watch the memory in the Pensieve. You still have it, right?'

'Yes, of course. And that's a brilliant idea. I'm sorry I can't award you house points anymore.'

Hermione smiled, and Bill cleared his throat. 'Returning to our marching orders,' he said, 'the other steps involve Hermione. You'll need to get hold of Phineas Nigellus and see if he'll submit to Harry. You'll also set up an appointment for the three of us to meet with Harry and Phineas, assuming he'll stay in his frame. And finally you'll look through the Black family Grimoire for possible spells or potions.'

'Yes,' she said, 'I'll contact Harry straight away. Is there any use for the tokens I made?'

'Not at present,' said Bill. 'But it was a good thought.'

Minerva took a deep breath. 'I believe we've made excellent progress, but it's frustrating knowing I'm about to be Obliviated.'

'We were all Obliviated for years,' said Bill. 'At least now we've got a real chance to solve this, not just for ourselves but for wizarding society as a whole.'

'The repercussions are bound be enormous,' agreed Minerva. 'Naturally people from different schools have managed to meet and interact before now, but I think we'll see a whole new level of cross-pollination.'

Hermione smiled. 'It's starting already. In a fortnight Harry's hosting a large party for our Hogwarts classmates and friends of his teammates, most of whom attended other schools.'

'Harry is throwing a party for dozens of strangers at Grimmauld Place? Blimey! The war really is over,' said Bill. 'Does he need my help with the wards?'

'No, that's why he's gone to Gringotts this afternoon.'

'Good idea. It'll cost him, but he won't have to worry about anything.'

Minerva was getting ready to leave, so they deliberately had a conversation about why it was necessary to prepare her own food until their next meeting, which she duly preserved in a flask for viewing in the Pensieve.

'I've enjoyed seeing you both this afternoon—I'm sorry I won't remember it,' she said. 'And apologies in advance for requiring you to refresh my memory.' They said their goodbyes and Minerva returned to Hogwarts through the fireplace.

Before leaving, Hermione spent a while in the garden with Fleur, who was using her wand to nurture various herbs she was cultivating. 'I am very disappointed we will not be sisters-in-law. You would have been such an ally against Bill's mother. Ron was very foolish to let you go.'

'I'm sorry as well, and I feel the same way about Bill. But I'm not feeling so hurt over Ron as I was at first.'

'Certainly not, with that big strong Chaser to keep you company. He will make Ron very jealous—you will see.'

Hermione shook her head. 'That doesn't matter to me. I just want everyone to be happy.'

'Pfft! You are not a normal witch, Hermione. All witches want their former boyfriend to be jealous.'

'Ron was jealous enough of Harry, thank you very much.'

'And he will be again, trust me,' said Fleur. 'This beau mec Chaser, he is only the entrée. Harry will be the plat principal.'

'Definitely not,' said Hermione, laughing. 'And besides, I expect Harry will have plenty of other takers for the foreseeable future.'

'Yes, probably. Particularly now that he is rid of those horrible glasses. But there is no hurry. He needs to grow up first.'

Hermione returned home well before dinner, so she sent her Patronus to Grimmauld Place to see if Harry was home. 'Do you have a moment? I have a few practical questions. Let me know if I might come over.'

Prongs returned and said, 'Yes, I'm in the kitchen,' in Harry's voice. Hermione threw a pinch of Floo powder into the fireplace and found him at the table with various scraps of parchment in front of him.

'How was Gringotts? Are they able to help with the party?' she asked.

'Yes, they can handle everything, including the electrical power for the roof. Ryan will have to supply the stereo and speakers though.'

'That's fine. I told him about it this morning and he said he'd love to help.'

'Brilliant, thanks. Next I need to figure out the invitations, but let's start with your questions.'

'Oh right,' she said. 'Bill and I saw Minerva today, and it looks like we'll need your assistance.'

'Really? I can't say I know anything about wards, other than what you've taught me.'

'No, we think Phineas Nigellus may be involved, and we're hoping you'll have some influence over him as his Head of House. Assuming he was never Lord Black himself.'

'I have no idea whether he was or not.'

'That's fine—I can check the tapestry. I'll be right back.'

Hermione returned to the kitchen several minutes later. 'No, he had an elder brother who died without children, and the title skipped him. So my next question is whether you're available some night this week to meet with Bill, Minerva, and me. We'd like for you to help us interrogate Phineas, if you're willing.'

'Of course,' he said. 'Does tomorrow night work?'

'No, I'm seeing Ryan,' she said, with a shy smile.

'I wouldn't dream of interfering with that. What about Thursday?'

'Yes, Thursday works for all of us. Would it be all right if we came here? That way you won't have to transport Phineas, and we'd also have access to the Grimoire.'

'You think he used a spell from the Grimoire?' asked Harry.

'We don't know—it's just a theory. I'll need to spend more time with it if that's all right.'

'You're welcome on Tuesday evening. The only reason I didn't suggest it for the meeting is because the portrait painter will be coming as well.'

'Really? Does she have a solution to the Walburga problem?'

'Her letter sounded hopeful, but we won't know for certain until we try.'

'I'd love to watch if that's all right. What time is she coming?'

'I'm expecting her at half five, and of course you're welcome.'

'Thanks! I'm sure it will be fascinating.' She looked at the parchments in front of him. 'Do you need help with the guest list then?'

'Yes. I'm aiming for no more than one hundred and fifty people, and I'm trying to figure out who to invite. My thought is to invite everyone from our year, with a few exceptions of course.'

'Marked Death Eaters, you mean?'

'For example. But there are grey areas. Pansy Parkinson, for example.'

Hermione shook her head. 'She wanted to turn you over to Voldemort during the final battle.'

'True, but you could argue she was trying to stop Voldemort from killing anyone else.'

'I think you're too forgiving,' said Hermione. 'She was on Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad, for Merlin's sake.'

'You're right. What about Millicent Bulstrode?'

Hermione made a face. 'No. Ginny told me she was horrible during seventh year, while we were off searching for Horcruxes.'

Harry looked at his parchment and said, 'I'm leaning against Theodore Nott, since his father was an inner-circle Death Eater. But if Theodore wasn't actually Marked, that might speak well of him.'

'You'd have to ask Neville. He wasn't very nice to me, but none of the Slytherins were.'

'Right, but I don't want to exclude all the Slytherins. Remember the goal is to promote friendship among young wizards.'

Hermione sighed. 'It's a tricky question, isn't it. Could you tell me more about the protections Gringotts is providing?'

'No marked Death Eaters, no Unforgivables or other violent curses, and no Love Potions.'

She shuddered at the last one. 'Good.' After thinking, she said, 'No to Pansy and Millicent. Probably no to Theodore, depending on what Neville says. And yes to Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, and Blaise Zabini.'

'Really, Zabini? He always struck me as arrogant. And he called Ginny a filthy blood traitor.'

'That's true, but I'm certain you struck people as arrogant. And you cursed Malfoy with Dark magic.'

Harry sighed heavily. 'I suppose so. All right, Blaise gets an invitation. Do we invite people from other years? I'd like to include all my Quidditch teammates, including Oliver Wood.'

'Not Cormac MacLaggen, I hope,' she said.

'Good lord no. Between getting handsy with you and smashing me with a Bludger, he's decidedly unwelcome.' He looked again at the parchment and said, 'But we'll want everyone who was in the D.A., right?'

'Except Marietta Edgecombe,' she said. Marietta had betrayed them, and she undoubtedly held a grudge against Hermione for cursing her with stubborn pustules that spelled out the word 'SNEAK.'

'Oh right, yes. Can you help me remember all the members' names? You were the one who managed the list.'

They brainstormed for a few minutes and Harry jotted down names, until Hermione said, 'Wait a minute ... Romilda Vane.' Romilda had attempted to dose Harry with a Love Potion in his sixth year, but Ron ended up accidentally taking it instead.

Harry sighed. 'She's probably grown up a bit since then. What was she like at Hogwarts last year?'

'Not much improved, I'm afraid. Still boy-crazy, and she used to make lurid comments whenever Ginny disappeared to the Room of Requirement for long intervals. I say no.'

'All right,' agreed Harry. 'I think that's the Hogwarts list then—do we want to allow everyone to bring a guest?'

'That depends on how many of your teammates' friends you want to invite. You're probably up to about fifty Hogwarts invitees, so if you double it you're already up to one hundred, leaving only fifty new people, including your teammates. And you haven't mentioned Bill, Fleur, or Percy. Not to mention your cousin Dudley,' she added with a smirk.

He laughed and said, 'Dudley ... what a thought. But you're right—maybe only certain Hogwarts people can bring a guest, and the rest can't.'

'How will you enforce that?'

'The invitations will be restricted portkeys.'

Hermione was shocked. 'The invitations will be portkeys? Just how much is this going to cost?' She paused, embarrassed. 'I'm sorry, that's none of my business.'

Harry looked sheepish. 'It's going to cost a lot. But I think it's worth it.'

'You're right. And yes, I agree that only trusted Hogwarts people can bring a guest, and the rest can come alone. It's not as if they won't know anyone there.'

'Sounds good. I'll distribute the rest amongst my teammates and their friends.'

Hermione smiled mischievously. 'And are you going to invite anyone special? Or do you plan to avail yourself of one of the newcomers?'

'I'm not going to dignify that with an answer,' replied Harry stiffly.

She laughed. 'Well said, my lord. How are you doing, by the way?'

He rolled his eyes. 'I knew it was coming. I suppose I'll manage, just like with everything else. Lord Black is hardly the worst thing they've called me.'

'Draco Malfoy must have choked on his pumpkin juice when he read that,' she said. 'I can just hear him ... "Harry Potter an aristocrat? With his Mudblood mother?"'

'I expect you're right,' replied Harry. 'Did I tell you, Andromeda said he would likely have been named Head of House if I hadn't usurped.'

'You were truly born to foil him, weren't you? He'll have to content himself with only being Head of House Malfoy. Tragic.'

'Seems appropriate, considering he's confined to House Malfoy.' Draco had been sentenced to two years' house arrest for his participation in the war, and only Harry's testimony had kept him from Azkaban.

Hermione looked at her wristwatch. 'I should be going—I'm having dinner with my parents. See you Tuesday!'

She returned home and rode in her parents' car to the Vietnamese restaurant. Looking out the window, she thought, Has it only been a week since Ron broke up with me? She felt like an entirely different person, and she knew it wasn't simply because she'd met Ryan. Her entire outlook had changed, ever since that brilliant and bewildering conversation with Luna.

She even felt different—her body was alive with energy as it had never been before. It was as if she could feel the magical blood flowing through her veins, especially between her head and her heart. She'd never previously realised how disconnected she'd been from her own body. All her life she'd been accused of living too much in her head, and now she finally understood what they'd meant.