Chapter 12 - Enemies & Allies
July 21st 1997
It had been a long, tiring, emotional, satisfying summer.
All nine students – because Luna’s father had given permission for her to stay – had been training hard.
Every morning, Harry continued to wake them up at six, take them out to the grounds behind the house, and lead them on a run, the length of which varied from day to day.
That first day set the precedence for the whole summer.
After breakfast, Addie would teach them wandless magic, then, as lunchtime drew nearer, Sirius would sit with them in the library and help them catch up on the magical history Professor Binns tended to ignore.
In the afternoon, Amelia would visit and help Harry put them through their paces with Defence Against the Dark Arts training.
After the honeymoon, Jen and Remus joined them and helped them add Healing, Charms and Transfiguration to their training.
In the evenings, Augusta and Jen would talk them through the various pureblood customs and traditions, which – surprisingly – benefited everyone, because only Daphne had been taught all of them – Draco had only ever been taught the Dark, Ron and Ginny the necessary, and Susan and Neville the Light. And Harry, Hermione and Luna had no experience whatsoever.
Two days after the honeymoon, Jen finally removed the block on Harry’s magic. The resulting backlash left Harry unconscious for two hours, which nearly gave her a heart attack.
Now several weeks later, he had finally managed to readjust for the new power, and was performing spells properly again.
Occasionally, one of the Marauders would announce at dinner that they should take the next day off, and Harry and Hermione had great fun taking the others into Muggle London and to theme parks – which they did for Harry’s sixteenth birthdays – and even to a pop concert (which was a huge eye-opener for the purebloods).
Once a week, Mandy and Arabella came for dinner, and would fill them in on the comings and goings of the Order.
By now, Bill and Charlie Weasley had both resigned, citing concerns about their jobs.
Completely disenfranchised, Fred and George had never joined.
July 21st dawned bright and sunny, but Jen and Addie were in no position to enjoy the sunshine.
The official Wizengamot session was upon them, and they were both in the depths of the Ministry of Magic.
Addie had taken her oath and been sworn in, and had taken her seat, the McKinnon family crest lit up on the wall behind her.
Most of the meeting was exceptionally boring.
Addie had watched one or two when she was younger, from the gallery, as the Heir Apparent. Her father had assured her that once she was grown up, it would all make sense.
It didn’t.
The only part of any real importance was when Jen, once again, brought up her suggestion that the Ministry workers should all take an oath of loyalty.
“Is that really necessary?” Elliott Hawthorne asked. “Everyone in this building works hard every day to make our world run smoothly. Are we really going to insult them by asking them to state the obvious?”
It was a decent argument.
Or would have been if Addie didn’t know his politics from when he was at school with her – albeit a year below her.
If he didn’t have the Dark Mark, she would be very surprised.
“With all due respect, Lord Hawthorne,” Addie said, rising to her feet, “I believe in these times no one should be insulted by reasonable security measures. My mother was an Unspeakable, and she was killed. Her co-worker, Augustus Rookwood …” she faltered, sucking in a shaky breath. “Her friend supported Lord Voldemort to the extent,” she raised her voice above the horrified murmurs, “that I truly believe he was partly responsible for her death. Yes, there are many good people in this Ministry. It only takes one. It takes one person, one parasite, to poison everyone around them.”
“Then let me ask you this, Lady McKinnon,” Lord Hawthorne said, in a voice that could only just be considered polite, “how would you feel? If, after everything you had been through, someone asked you to take an oath to prove that you weren’t one of them?”
There were a few shouts of outrage across Addie’s side of the chamber.
Lord Ashford even leapt to his face to shout, “How dare you, sir?”
Addie, however, didn’t flinch. “When?”
The noise stopped immediately, and even Hawthorne looked puzzled. “Excuse me?”
“When would you like me to take the oath, sir?” Addie asked with a smile. “It would be a reasonable request; I escaped under exceptional circumstances. But I have nothing to hide. I am perfectly happy to take an oath. Are you?”
“No one needs to take any oaths,” Dumbledore interrupted.
The proposal was officially tabled, and the court moved on.
Once the meeting was over, Jen met Dumbledore at the bottom of the steps to confront him.
“Sir, why did you do that?”
“Do what, Jennifer?” Dumbledore’s eyes focused on Addie as she approached them. “Addison, it is wonderful to see you again.”
“Thank you, sir,” Addie said, a little frostily. “It’s a pity that none of your spies ever mentioned that island.”
“Indeed,” Dumbledore said gravely. “Alas, not all of Lord Voldemort’s followers are privy to all of his secrets.”
“Albus!” Jen said sharply. “Why did you stop Addie from taking that oath? You know Hawthorne’s alliances as well as I do. If Addie had taken that oath, he would have had to.” She lowered her voice – there were some things you just didn’t shout about. “We cannot have people like that making the laws in this country. That’s the whole reason Voldemort had supporters to come back to.”
“Jennifer, there is no point antagonising people or casting judgement,” Dumbledore said. “It will do us no good.”
Jen’s jaw dropped. “I … I have no words to respond to that.”
Dumbledore seemed to take that as the end of the discussion and bid them goodbye, sweeping out of the chamber.
“He’s deluded,” Addie whispered. “He’s …”
Jen patted her on the shoulder. “I know.”
***
August 31st 1997
Unsurprisingly, no one was happy with Dumbledore in the slightest.
Unfortunately, the search for Horcruxes was at a dead end, so they had all reluctantly agreed that the headmaster would have to be consulted.
On the last evening of the summer holidays, the Marauders and their ‘students’ were slumped in the living room at Potter Manor, exhausted after a day’s training.
Luna, the sole Ravenclaw in the group, had abandoned her dreamy appearance for one of quiet reflection. She had collapsed on the sofa next to Ron and slumped sideways, so her head was resting on his shoulder, and the redhead wasn’t complaining.
Daphne, who had finally accepted that her fellow students genuinely wanted to help her and had no mind for Slytherin politics (at least not within their group), had relaxed a lot more and her ‘Ice Queen’ exterior had melted. She had also shown a gift for healing spells and was currently waving her wand over a nasty wound on Neville’s arm. Susan was sitting on his other side, her hand propped up only by her hand under her chin.
Draco was sat at one end of the sofas, with Ginny curled up on his lap, half-asleep. He was alert, however, talking in undertones with Harry, who was braced against the arm of the other end of the sofa.
Sirius, Remus and Addie were, likewise, unwilling to relax. The reason for this was the notable absence of Hermione and Jen, who had journeyed Grimmauld Place, in order to floo to Dumbledore’s office and tell him of their discovery of the Horcruxes and their destruction.
Even Remus was worried, because Jen had temporarily closed the link, just to be on the safe side.
“I don’t like this,” Draco said, for the hundredth time.
“You think I do?” Harry retorted.
At that moment, the door flew open and Hermione talked in, with Jen following along behind her.
“Hermione, as frustrating as he is, it’s going to be fine.”
“I’m sure it will; that’s not why I’m mad.” Hermione practically fell into Harry’s lap. “Moony, can you fix this?”
“Fix what?” Remus asked, kissing his wife.
In that second, a dazed loo passed over Jen’s face, followed by one of anger. “Why that … that … that …”
“Manipulative bastard?” Hermione finished scathingly.
“Yes!” Jen bit out. “Yes, that’s exactly what he is!”
“Let me guess,” Addie said. “He tried obliviating you, but Hermione’s a natural and Jen’s got a soul bond.” She frowned. “But he knows about the soul bond. And what happened last time. Doesn’t he?”
“Well, maybe last time, he figured it only happened because Remus knew about the memory charm,” Sirius suggested. “He doesn’t know Hermione’s a natural. If she wasn’t, and he thinks none of us know why they went to talk to him, then no one would ever know they’d been charmed.”
“Well, he definitely thinks we didn’t tell anyone,” Hermione said. “As far as he’s aware, I found the locket at Grimmauld Place and asked Jen about it. At least this way, he’ll think he plans are safe, whatever they are.”
“Did he at least know where the others were?” Harry asked. “Or did he just wipe your memories?”
“No, he humoured us at first,” Hermione said. “I think we’re on the right track with the snake and the diadem, but we’ll have to deal with the snake last.”
“And we still don’t know where the diadem is?” Draco asked.
“Not yet,” Hermione said. “I can ask Grandmother when I get back to school, but I really don’t think she’ll know. Ragnok said that the diadem hasn’t been seen since Lady Helena ran away.”
“So what was the cover story?” Addie asked. “I mean, if you didn’t go to talk to him about the Horcrux, why does he think that you think you went?”
“Oh, I went to apply for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position,” Jen answered, “since they don’t have one yet.”
“Still?” Addie asked. “I know Arabella said he didn’t have one a few weeks ago, but … term starts tomorrow; they still don’t have anyone?”
“Shouldn’t think anyone wants the job,” Draco said. “I mean, look at the last five. Remus resigned, but Quirrel’s dead, Lockhart’s in the long-term ward at St Mungo’s, Moody was locked in a truck for nine months, and Umbridge is … Well, should be in Azkaban, but is actually on the run.”
Harry snorted. “I can’t see Umbridge running.”
“Harry!” Jen chided, with a giggle.
Harry grinned. “So you’re our new Defence teacher?”
“Actually, no,” Jen said. “He thinks I went to apply – although why I’d take Hermione is beyond me – but I didn’t get the job regardless. He did ask me to offer the job to someone else though.”
“He can’t honestly think the parents will go for that,” Remus said. “They know what I am now.”
“Oh, I didn’t say it was you, honey,” Jen said with a smirk. “Addie, you up for it?”
“Me?” Addie asked, gaping. “You heard what I said when I said term starts tomorrow, right?”
“He’s desperate,” Jen said. “And apparently, you’re much less of a threat.”
“Well, obviously,” Addie said, rolling her eyes. “I’m much less Slytherin.”
Jen mock-gasped and threw a cushion at her. “I am a Gryffindor, thank you very much.”
“Snake in lion’s clothing, Jen,” Draco said. “We like you like that.”
“Addie, you need to do this,” Jen said, serious now. “This is our chance to put someone in Hogwarts to keep an eye on things, so the kids don’t have to.”
“I know that,” Addie said reluctantly. “But I am not a teacher, Jen; how am I supposed to know what I’m doing? They’ve already been given the text books, haven’t they?”
“It’ll be okay,” Hermione said. “I flicked through ours earlier …” she smacked Ron over the head as he made a muttered remark “… and the fifth and sixth year textbooks practically plan the lessons for you. Maybe the others are the same.”
“I hope so,” Addie muttered.
“Well, I’m going to restart the DA,” Harry announced. “If that’s alright with you, Professor.”
“Professor.” Addie shook her head. “I never even graduated for Merlin’s sake. You do whatever you need to do, Harry.”
“Just please,” Jen added, “change the name.”
***
“Do you have to go?”
Addie stopped rummaging through her wardrobe, smiling as a pair of arms slipped around her waist. “I do. You know I do.”
“It’s not fair,” Sirius mumbled into her neck. “I only just got you back.”
Addie turned in his embrace, winding her arms around his neck. “I know. But I’ll only be at Hogwarts, Sirius. I’ll be perfectly safe.”
“I don’t trust him,” Sirius growled.
Addie smiled, placing a light kiss on his lips. “Natural Legilimens, remember? His mind games and Memory Charms won’t work on me. They won’t work on that daughter of yours either.”
Sirius tried to keep the frown on his face, but he couldn’t help the smile that lit up his face, the same smile that appeared every time she called Hermione his daughter. “I don’t want you to go.”
Addie laughed. “Honestly, Padfoot, you’re acting like a five-year-old. Although why that still surprises me, I don’t know.” She cupped his face in her hands. “I love you. And that’s not going to change whether I’m here or at the school. And Jen’s right. At least if I’m there, I can keep an eye on things.”
Sirius heaved a sigh. “I know. I’ve got a bad feeling about this. That’s all.”
Addie forced herself not to flinch, remembering the last time he’d said that to her over eighteen years ago, as she and her sister prepared to leave Hogwarts for the Easter break to visit their parents.
It had been the last time she’d seen him.
“I’ll have my own fireplace,” Addie reminded him. “And the mirror.” She patted her pocket, where a newly-charmed mirror had been stored earlier. Reluctantly slipping out of his arms, she retrieved the last set of robes from her wardrobe, setting them in her trunk and checking the rest of the contents. “Right, I think I’ve got everything.”
“Not quite,” Sirius said, pulling her to him again.
Addie laughed again. “Padfoot, we’ve been through this. I can’t show up at Hogwarts with a dog.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.” Sirius manoeuvred her in front of the mirror and produced a necklace, bearing a small pendant in the shape of the Marauder sign.
“Sirius, it’s …”
“Important,” Sirius finished, fastening it for her. “It’s charmed to protect you against all minor hexes.”
Addie touched the pendant gently. “Because I can’t do that myself?”
“Of course you can.” Sirius pressed a kiss to her neck. “Humour me. It’s also a portkey. Just think the words ‘heart’s desire’ and you’ll be home. Jen charmed it,” he added with a grin. “She felt it was apt.”
Addie pulled away from him. “Well, thank you. It’s beautiful.” She bent over the lock her trunk, and the necklace heated up against her skin. “Is there a reason it’s warming up?”
“It’s charmed,” Sirius said. “It’ll heat up whenever I think of you.”
“So it’s always going to be warm?” Addie asked with a smile, wrapping her arms around him again. “I think this might be the nicest gift you’ve ever given me.”
***
1st September 1997
Arriving at Platform 9¾ was an interesting experience this year.
Every other year, Hermione had arrived through King’s Cross, but this year, they used the floo connection – from The Burrow, since Jen wanted to keep the Ravenscroft line secure.
Maybe it was the rumours surrounding the events at the Ministry, maybe it was the stories in the Prophet about how Harry was ‘The Chosen One’, or maybe it was the physical changes they had all gone through over the summer, partly thanks to their training, but the platform seemed to quieten as the group brushed down their robes and made their way towards the train, shrunken trunks in their pockets.
Susan and Luna led the way, deep in conversation, two shades of blonde hair in striking contrast with each other.
Daphne, Neville and Ron followed them, chatting about the likelihood of Snape cursing Addie before Christmas.
While the all knew Snape was on their side, they also all knew that Addie’s sense of humour was the same as Sirius’s, and she wasn’t going to make things easy on him, especially given some of the stories she had heard over the summer.
The two boys positioned themselves either side of Daphne, a silent warning for anyone seeking retribution over what had happened in June; both young men had increased in height and muscle and towered over her.
Walking arm-in-arm behind them, in a comfortable silence, but with no less presence, Draco and Ginny caught most of the attention; they were, quite possible, the most unusual couple to grace Hogwarts in the school’s history.
Harry and Hermione brought up the rear, robes billowing behind them as they walked in a way that would make Snape jealous. Any damage caused by the Dursleys’ neglect had been well and truly undone, thanks to proper nourishment and a few potions, and he was now almost as tall as Ron.
This was the Harry Potter who slew a basilisk and stared down Lord Voldemort.
When they reached the train, they separated; Harry kissed Hermione’s cheek, and he, Susan, Luna and Neville disappeared on to the train.
After a few minutes of quiet discussion, Ron and Ginny, prefect badges glinting, set off along the platform to start rounding up the younger students. Daphne, who had replaced Pansy as prefect (and wasn’t she looking forward to that conversation), joined them.
Without another word, Draco and Hermione turned and headed towards the barrier, where a group of people had gathered, huddled together.
As they approached, Hermione gave them all a smile. “First years?”
No one answered, but there was a flurry of nods from some of the kids.
“Muggle-born?”
These nods were slightly more tentative, and Hermione could only wonder what they had encountered upon their first trip to Diagon Alley to make them this nervous.
Several of the parents, indeed, looked like they’d rather not let their children go at all.
“It’s alright,” Hermione said. “My name’s Hermione; this is Draco. We’re two of the prefects at Hogwarts.”
“No one mentioned a war when they told us about all this,” One of the fathers stated tersely.
Hermione winced. “No, I don’t suppose they did. But I wouldn’t worry, sir. Hogwarts is one of the safest magical place in the country. And even if the war does somehow get in, we’ll have enough forewarning to get your children to safety before it does.”
“And our children won’t be involved?” Another parent asked.
“We’re not in the habit of making eleven-year-olds fight in wars, ma’am,” Hermione said. “We won’t let them get involved.”
While they’d been talking, Draco had been stacking the trunks into four piles. Daphne and Ron were now approaching them.
“Are you two alright taking a pile each?”
In response, the two pulled their wands and, with a swish and a flick, two of the piles rose into the air to be guided to the train.
Hermione smiled at Draco as he levitated a pile himself. “I wish I’d had someone to do this my first year.”
“Me too,” Draco agreed.
Neither of them mentioned the fact that they both had had someone who could have done so, but didn’t; Draco’s father because he wanted his son to do it himself, Hermione’s mother because she hadn’t wanted to blow her cover.
“Right. If you’d like the follow Draco?” Hermione lifted the last pile of trunks and watched as the children hugged their parents and trotted obediently after him. She smiled at the cluster of adults, none of whom looked the least bit reassured. “They’ll be fine. I knew nothing about magic when I started, and I just got the highest marks in my year in my Ordinary Wizarding Levels. We’ll keep an eye on them. Make sure they write.”
This earned her at least some smiles, and even a few weak chuckles, and she caught up with the end of the line, following them until they had all filed into the expanded compartment.
Draco, Harry and Neville were stowing the trunks away while Luna talked to the first years, telling them about the boats that would take them to the castle.
Hermione set down the last stack of trunks and she and Draco slipped off to join the prefect meeting.
To Hermione’s surprise, the Head Boy and Girl this year were Katie Bell and Cedric Diggory. She greeted Katie with a hug, before turning to her partner. “Cedric, I wasn’t expecting you here. Well, I was expecting you to return for seventh year, but I wasn’t expecting you here.”
Cedric grinned at her. “Neither was I. I think it’s publicity personally. I don’t think Dumbledore had anything to do with it.”
Hermione nodded in agreement, scanning his emotions carefully. “Come sit with us afterwards?”
“Sure,” Cedric said, sounding confused, but she just smiled at him and took her seat next to Daphne. At least Dumbledore can do something right.
***
By the time the prefects, accompanied by Cedric, made it back to the expanded compartment, the Muggle-borns had been joined by almost all of the other first years.
“Harry’s father and his friends bewitched the compartment when they were at Hogwarts,” Susan explained to Cedric, who was staring around in amazement.
Hermione closed the door behind them and put up the last of the protective spells, sitting down just in time to hear one of the first years ask about the sorting process. “Can’t tell you that,” she said with a smile. “It’s tradition that you don’t know until you get there.”
“Cedric.” Harry stood up and shook his hand, clapping him on the shoulder. “Congrats on getting Head Boy.”
“Thanks, Harry.” Cedric sat down with them. “I hear Addie’s this year’s DADA teacher. Or is that the Hogwarts rumour mill running amok again?”
“No, that one’s true,” Hermione said. “Amazingly.”
“I see,” Cedric said. “That’ll be interesting. How’d you do in your OWLs?”
“All Outstanding,” Hermione said with a grin.
“Well, that doesn’t surprise me,” Cedric said, smiling back at her. “Harry?”
“Outstanding in DADA, Transfiguration and Charms, Exceeds Expectations in everything else, except Divination and History of Magic,” Harry said. “Acceptable in History of Magic, failed Div.”
“Well, no one can blame you for that,” Cedric said. “What about the rest of you?”
“Well, we all got Outstanding in Defence,” Ron said. “I got Exceeds Expectations in everything else, but failed Div. and History.”
“Same as Harry,” Susan said, “except I was smart enough to not to Divination.”
“Same here,” Neville said. “Except I did do Divination and failed it. Oh, and I got Outstanding in Herbology.”
“Exceeds Expectations in everything except DADA, Potions and Charms,” Draco said. “I got Outstanding in those.”
“Likewise,” Daphne added.
“Is it a coincidence that you all did so well in DADA?” Cedric asked. “From what I heard your teacher last year was …”
“Crap,” Ron finished bluntly. “She was.”
“Well, once she was arrested, Professor Jones was fine,” Hermione said. “But she had to teach by the Ministry’s wishes and they were crap. We weren’t even supposed to practice the spells until the exams.”
“The Minister thought Dumbledore was forming an army to take him out,” Harry said, his lips twitching. “I won’t lie and say I’m not tempted.”
“So last year’s class was that bad, and you all got Outstanding?” Cedric asked. “How’d that happen?”
“Well, Daphne and I were lucky,” Draco admitted. “The others I think you can accredit to Harry.”
“He created the Defence Association,” Hermione explained.
“After they talked me into it,” Harry put in.
Hermione rolled her eyes. “Either way, you taught us everything we needed.”
Cedric looked from one face to another. “Sometime tells me there was more than exams behind that particular idea.”
“There was,” Harry agreed. “Hermione, love, could you do the honours?”
“Of course.” Hermione drew her wand and set up another layer of privacy and silencing spells around them, letting the first years chat among themselves.
“What we’re about to tell you,” Harry said quietly, “must be kept quiet and not repeated to anyone who doesn’t already know.”
“Of course,” Cedric said immediately. “What’s this about?”
Harry smiled weakly. “For once, the Daily Prophet’s got it dead right.”
It had been a long, tiring, emotional, satisfying summer.
All nine students – because Luna’s father had given permission for her to stay – had been training hard.
Every morning, Harry continued to wake them up at six, take them out to the grounds behind the house, and lead them on a run, the length of which varied from day to day.
That first day set the precedence for the whole summer.
After breakfast, Addie would teach them wandless magic, then, as lunchtime drew nearer, Sirius would sit with them in the library and help them catch up on the magical history Professor Binns tended to ignore.
In the afternoon, Amelia would visit and help Harry put them through their paces with Defence Against the Dark Arts training.
After the honeymoon, Jen and Remus joined them and helped them add Healing, Charms and Transfiguration to their training.
In the evenings, Augusta and Jen would talk them through the various pureblood customs and traditions, which – surprisingly – benefited everyone, because only Daphne had been taught all of them – Draco had only ever been taught the Dark, Ron and Ginny the necessary, and Susan and Neville the Light. And Harry, Hermione and Luna had no experience whatsoever.
Two days after the honeymoon, Jen finally removed the block on Harry’s magic. The resulting backlash left Harry unconscious for two hours, which nearly gave her a heart attack.
Now several weeks later, he had finally managed to readjust for the new power, and was performing spells properly again.
Occasionally, one of the Marauders would announce at dinner that they should take the next day off, and Harry and Hermione had great fun taking the others into Muggle London and to theme parks – which they did for Harry’s sixteenth birthdays – and even to a pop concert (which was a huge eye-opener for the purebloods).
Once a week, Mandy and Arabella came for dinner, and would fill them in on the comings and goings of the Order.
By now, Bill and Charlie Weasley had both resigned, citing concerns about their jobs.
Completely disenfranchised, Fred and George had never joined.
July 21st dawned bright and sunny, but Jen and Addie were in no position to enjoy the sunshine.
The official Wizengamot session was upon them, and they were both in the depths of the Ministry of Magic.
Addie had taken her oath and been sworn in, and had taken her seat, the McKinnon family crest lit up on the wall behind her.
Most of the meeting was exceptionally boring.
Addie had watched one or two when she was younger, from the gallery, as the Heir Apparent. Her father had assured her that once she was grown up, it would all make sense.
It didn’t.
The only part of any real importance was when Jen, once again, brought up her suggestion that the Ministry workers should all take an oath of loyalty.
“Is that really necessary?” Elliott Hawthorne asked. “Everyone in this building works hard every day to make our world run smoothly. Are we really going to insult them by asking them to state the obvious?”
It was a decent argument.
Or would have been if Addie didn’t know his politics from when he was at school with her – albeit a year below her.
If he didn’t have the Dark Mark, she would be very surprised.
“With all due respect, Lord Hawthorne,” Addie said, rising to her feet, “I believe in these times no one should be insulted by reasonable security measures. My mother was an Unspeakable, and she was killed. Her co-worker, Augustus Rookwood …” she faltered, sucking in a shaky breath. “Her friend supported Lord Voldemort to the extent,” she raised her voice above the horrified murmurs, “that I truly believe he was partly responsible for her death. Yes, there are many good people in this Ministry. It only takes one. It takes one person, one parasite, to poison everyone around them.”
“Then let me ask you this, Lady McKinnon,” Lord Hawthorne said, in a voice that could only just be considered polite, “how would you feel? If, after everything you had been through, someone asked you to take an oath to prove that you weren’t one of them?”
There were a few shouts of outrage across Addie’s side of the chamber.
Lord Ashford even leapt to his face to shout, “How dare you, sir?”
Addie, however, didn’t flinch. “When?”
The noise stopped immediately, and even Hawthorne looked puzzled. “Excuse me?”
“When would you like me to take the oath, sir?” Addie asked with a smile. “It would be a reasonable request; I escaped under exceptional circumstances. But I have nothing to hide. I am perfectly happy to take an oath. Are you?”
“No one needs to take any oaths,” Dumbledore interrupted.
The proposal was officially tabled, and the court moved on.
Once the meeting was over, Jen met Dumbledore at the bottom of the steps to confront him.
“Sir, why did you do that?”
“Do what, Jennifer?” Dumbledore’s eyes focused on Addie as she approached them. “Addison, it is wonderful to see you again.”
“Thank you, sir,” Addie said, a little frostily. “It’s a pity that none of your spies ever mentioned that island.”
“Indeed,” Dumbledore said gravely. “Alas, not all of Lord Voldemort’s followers are privy to all of his secrets.”
“Albus!” Jen said sharply. “Why did you stop Addie from taking that oath? You know Hawthorne’s alliances as well as I do. If Addie had taken that oath, he would have had to.” She lowered her voice – there were some things you just didn’t shout about. “We cannot have people like that making the laws in this country. That’s the whole reason Voldemort had supporters to come back to.”
“Jennifer, there is no point antagonising people or casting judgement,” Dumbledore said. “It will do us no good.”
Jen’s jaw dropped. “I … I have no words to respond to that.”
Dumbledore seemed to take that as the end of the discussion and bid them goodbye, sweeping out of the chamber.
“He’s deluded,” Addie whispered. “He’s …”
Jen patted her on the shoulder. “I know.”
***
August 31st 1997
Unsurprisingly, no one was happy with Dumbledore in the slightest.
Unfortunately, the search for Horcruxes was at a dead end, so they had all reluctantly agreed that the headmaster would have to be consulted.
On the last evening of the summer holidays, the Marauders and their ‘students’ were slumped in the living room at Potter Manor, exhausted after a day’s training.
Luna, the sole Ravenclaw in the group, had abandoned her dreamy appearance for one of quiet reflection. She had collapsed on the sofa next to Ron and slumped sideways, so her head was resting on his shoulder, and the redhead wasn’t complaining.
Daphne, who had finally accepted that her fellow students genuinely wanted to help her and had no mind for Slytherin politics (at least not within their group), had relaxed a lot more and her ‘Ice Queen’ exterior had melted. She had also shown a gift for healing spells and was currently waving her wand over a nasty wound on Neville’s arm. Susan was sitting on his other side, her hand propped up only by her hand under her chin.
Draco was sat at one end of the sofas, with Ginny curled up on his lap, half-asleep. He was alert, however, talking in undertones with Harry, who was braced against the arm of the other end of the sofa.
Sirius, Remus and Addie were, likewise, unwilling to relax. The reason for this was the notable absence of Hermione and Jen, who had journeyed Grimmauld Place, in order to floo to Dumbledore’s office and tell him of their discovery of the Horcruxes and their destruction.
Even Remus was worried, because Jen had temporarily closed the link, just to be on the safe side.
“I don’t like this,” Draco said, for the hundredth time.
“You think I do?” Harry retorted.
At that moment, the door flew open and Hermione talked in, with Jen following along behind her.
“Hermione, as frustrating as he is, it’s going to be fine.”
“I’m sure it will; that’s not why I’m mad.” Hermione practically fell into Harry’s lap. “Moony, can you fix this?”
“Fix what?” Remus asked, kissing his wife.
In that second, a dazed loo passed over Jen’s face, followed by one of anger. “Why that … that … that …”
“Manipulative bastard?” Hermione finished scathingly.
“Yes!” Jen bit out. “Yes, that’s exactly what he is!”
“Let me guess,” Addie said. “He tried obliviating you, but Hermione’s a natural and Jen’s got a soul bond.” She frowned. “But he knows about the soul bond. And what happened last time. Doesn’t he?”
“Well, maybe last time, he figured it only happened because Remus knew about the memory charm,” Sirius suggested. “He doesn’t know Hermione’s a natural. If she wasn’t, and he thinks none of us know why they went to talk to him, then no one would ever know they’d been charmed.”
“Well, he definitely thinks we didn’t tell anyone,” Hermione said. “As far as he’s aware, I found the locket at Grimmauld Place and asked Jen about it. At least this way, he’ll think he plans are safe, whatever they are.”
“Did he at least know where the others were?” Harry asked. “Or did he just wipe your memories?”
“No, he humoured us at first,” Hermione said. “I think we’re on the right track with the snake and the diadem, but we’ll have to deal with the snake last.”
“And we still don’t know where the diadem is?” Draco asked.
“Not yet,” Hermione said. “I can ask Grandmother when I get back to school, but I really don’t think she’ll know. Ragnok said that the diadem hasn’t been seen since Lady Helena ran away.”
“So what was the cover story?” Addie asked. “I mean, if you didn’t go to talk to him about the Horcrux, why does he think that you think you went?”
“Oh, I went to apply for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position,” Jen answered, “since they don’t have one yet.”
“Still?” Addie asked. “I know Arabella said he didn’t have one a few weeks ago, but … term starts tomorrow; they still don’t have anyone?”
“Shouldn’t think anyone wants the job,” Draco said. “I mean, look at the last five. Remus resigned, but Quirrel’s dead, Lockhart’s in the long-term ward at St Mungo’s, Moody was locked in a truck for nine months, and Umbridge is … Well, should be in Azkaban, but is actually on the run.”
Harry snorted. “I can’t see Umbridge running.”
“Harry!” Jen chided, with a giggle.
Harry grinned. “So you’re our new Defence teacher?”
“Actually, no,” Jen said. “He thinks I went to apply – although why I’d take Hermione is beyond me – but I didn’t get the job regardless. He did ask me to offer the job to someone else though.”
“He can’t honestly think the parents will go for that,” Remus said. “They know what I am now.”
“Oh, I didn’t say it was you, honey,” Jen said with a smirk. “Addie, you up for it?”
“Me?” Addie asked, gaping. “You heard what I said when I said term starts tomorrow, right?”
“He’s desperate,” Jen said. “And apparently, you’re much less of a threat.”
“Well, obviously,” Addie said, rolling her eyes. “I’m much less Slytherin.”
Jen mock-gasped and threw a cushion at her. “I am a Gryffindor, thank you very much.”
“Snake in lion’s clothing, Jen,” Draco said. “We like you like that.”
“Addie, you need to do this,” Jen said, serious now. “This is our chance to put someone in Hogwarts to keep an eye on things, so the kids don’t have to.”
“I know that,” Addie said reluctantly. “But I am not a teacher, Jen; how am I supposed to know what I’m doing? They’ve already been given the text books, haven’t they?”
“It’ll be okay,” Hermione said. “I flicked through ours earlier …” she smacked Ron over the head as he made a muttered remark “… and the fifth and sixth year textbooks practically plan the lessons for you. Maybe the others are the same.”
“I hope so,” Addie muttered.
“Well, I’m going to restart the DA,” Harry announced. “If that’s alright with you, Professor.”
“Professor.” Addie shook her head. “I never even graduated for Merlin’s sake. You do whatever you need to do, Harry.”
“Just please,” Jen added, “change the name.”
***
“Do you have to go?”
Addie stopped rummaging through her wardrobe, smiling as a pair of arms slipped around her waist. “I do. You know I do.”
“It’s not fair,” Sirius mumbled into her neck. “I only just got you back.”
Addie turned in his embrace, winding her arms around his neck. “I know. But I’ll only be at Hogwarts, Sirius. I’ll be perfectly safe.”
“I don’t trust him,” Sirius growled.
Addie smiled, placing a light kiss on his lips. “Natural Legilimens, remember? His mind games and Memory Charms won’t work on me. They won’t work on that daughter of yours either.”
Sirius tried to keep the frown on his face, but he couldn’t help the smile that lit up his face, the same smile that appeared every time she called Hermione his daughter. “I don’t want you to go.”
Addie laughed. “Honestly, Padfoot, you’re acting like a five-year-old. Although why that still surprises me, I don’t know.” She cupped his face in her hands. “I love you. And that’s not going to change whether I’m here or at the school. And Jen’s right. At least if I’m there, I can keep an eye on things.”
Sirius heaved a sigh. “I know. I’ve got a bad feeling about this. That’s all.”
Addie forced herself not to flinch, remembering the last time he’d said that to her over eighteen years ago, as she and her sister prepared to leave Hogwarts for the Easter break to visit their parents.
It had been the last time she’d seen him.
“I’ll have my own fireplace,” Addie reminded him. “And the mirror.” She patted her pocket, where a newly-charmed mirror had been stored earlier. Reluctantly slipping out of his arms, she retrieved the last set of robes from her wardrobe, setting them in her trunk and checking the rest of the contents. “Right, I think I’ve got everything.”
“Not quite,” Sirius said, pulling her to him again.
Addie laughed again. “Padfoot, we’ve been through this. I can’t show up at Hogwarts with a dog.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.” Sirius manoeuvred her in front of the mirror and produced a necklace, bearing a small pendant in the shape of the Marauder sign.
“Sirius, it’s …”
“Important,” Sirius finished, fastening it for her. “It’s charmed to protect you against all minor hexes.”
Addie touched the pendant gently. “Because I can’t do that myself?”
“Of course you can.” Sirius pressed a kiss to her neck. “Humour me. It’s also a portkey. Just think the words ‘heart’s desire’ and you’ll be home. Jen charmed it,” he added with a grin. “She felt it was apt.”
Addie pulled away from him. “Well, thank you. It’s beautiful.” She bent over the lock her trunk, and the necklace heated up against her skin. “Is there a reason it’s warming up?”
“It’s charmed,” Sirius said. “It’ll heat up whenever I think of you.”
“So it’s always going to be warm?” Addie asked with a smile, wrapping her arms around him again. “I think this might be the nicest gift you’ve ever given me.”
***
1st September 1997
Arriving at Platform 9¾ was an interesting experience this year.
Every other year, Hermione had arrived through King’s Cross, but this year, they used the floo connection – from The Burrow, since Jen wanted to keep the Ravenscroft line secure.
Maybe it was the rumours surrounding the events at the Ministry, maybe it was the stories in the Prophet about how Harry was ‘The Chosen One’, or maybe it was the physical changes they had all gone through over the summer, partly thanks to their training, but the platform seemed to quieten as the group brushed down their robes and made their way towards the train, shrunken trunks in their pockets.
Susan and Luna led the way, deep in conversation, two shades of blonde hair in striking contrast with each other.
Daphne, Neville and Ron followed them, chatting about the likelihood of Snape cursing Addie before Christmas.
While the all knew Snape was on their side, they also all knew that Addie’s sense of humour was the same as Sirius’s, and she wasn’t going to make things easy on him, especially given some of the stories she had heard over the summer.
The two boys positioned themselves either side of Daphne, a silent warning for anyone seeking retribution over what had happened in June; both young men had increased in height and muscle and towered over her.
Walking arm-in-arm behind them, in a comfortable silence, but with no less presence, Draco and Ginny caught most of the attention; they were, quite possible, the most unusual couple to grace Hogwarts in the school’s history.
Harry and Hermione brought up the rear, robes billowing behind them as they walked in a way that would make Snape jealous. Any damage caused by the Dursleys’ neglect had been well and truly undone, thanks to proper nourishment and a few potions, and he was now almost as tall as Ron.
This was the Harry Potter who slew a basilisk and stared down Lord Voldemort.
When they reached the train, they separated; Harry kissed Hermione’s cheek, and he, Susan, Luna and Neville disappeared on to the train.
After a few minutes of quiet discussion, Ron and Ginny, prefect badges glinting, set off along the platform to start rounding up the younger students. Daphne, who had replaced Pansy as prefect (and wasn’t she looking forward to that conversation), joined them.
Without another word, Draco and Hermione turned and headed towards the barrier, where a group of people had gathered, huddled together.
As they approached, Hermione gave them all a smile. “First years?”
No one answered, but there was a flurry of nods from some of the kids.
“Muggle-born?”
These nods were slightly more tentative, and Hermione could only wonder what they had encountered upon their first trip to Diagon Alley to make them this nervous.
Several of the parents, indeed, looked like they’d rather not let their children go at all.
“It’s alright,” Hermione said. “My name’s Hermione; this is Draco. We’re two of the prefects at Hogwarts.”
“No one mentioned a war when they told us about all this,” One of the fathers stated tersely.
Hermione winced. “No, I don’t suppose they did. But I wouldn’t worry, sir. Hogwarts is one of the safest magical place in the country. And even if the war does somehow get in, we’ll have enough forewarning to get your children to safety before it does.”
“And our children won’t be involved?” Another parent asked.
“We’re not in the habit of making eleven-year-olds fight in wars, ma’am,” Hermione said. “We won’t let them get involved.”
While they’d been talking, Draco had been stacking the trunks into four piles. Daphne and Ron were now approaching them.
“Are you two alright taking a pile each?”
In response, the two pulled their wands and, with a swish and a flick, two of the piles rose into the air to be guided to the train.
Hermione smiled at Draco as he levitated a pile himself. “I wish I’d had someone to do this my first year.”
“Me too,” Draco agreed.
Neither of them mentioned the fact that they both had had someone who could have done so, but didn’t; Draco’s father because he wanted his son to do it himself, Hermione’s mother because she hadn’t wanted to blow her cover.
“Right. If you’d like the follow Draco?” Hermione lifted the last pile of trunks and watched as the children hugged their parents and trotted obediently after him. She smiled at the cluster of adults, none of whom looked the least bit reassured. “They’ll be fine. I knew nothing about magic when I started, and I just got the highest marks in my year in my Ordinary Wizarding Levels. We’ll keep an eye on them. Make sure they write.”
This earned her at least some smiles, and even a few weak chuckles, and she caught up with the end of the line, following them until they had all filed into the expanded compartment.
Draco, Harry and Neville were stowing the trunks away while Luna talked to the first years, telling them about the boats that would take them to the castle.
Hermione set down the last stack of trunks and she and Draco slipped off to join the prefect meeting.
To Hermione’s surprise, the Head Boy and Girl this year were Katie Bell and Cedric Diggory. She greeted Katie with a hug, before turning to her partner. “Cedric, I wasn’t expecting you here. Well, I was expecting you to return for seventh year, but I wasn’t expecting you here.”
Cedric grinned at her. “Neither was I. I think it’s publicity personally. I don’t think Dumbledore had anything to do with it.”
Hermione nodded in agreement, scanning his emotions carefully. “Come sit with us afterwards?”
“Sure,” Cedric said, sounding confused, but she just smiled at him and took her seat next to Daphne. At least Dumbledore can do something right.
***
By the time the prefects, accompanied by Cedric, made it back to the expanded compartment, the Muggle-borns had been joined by almost all of the other first years.
“Harry’s father and his friends bewitched the compartment when they were at Hogwarts,” Susan explained to Cedric, who was staring around in amazement.
Hermione closed the door behind them and put up the last of the protective spells, sitting down just in time to hear one of the first years ask about the sorting process. “Can’t tell you that,” she said with a smile. “It’s tradition that you don’t know until you get there.”
“Cedric.” Harry stood up and shook his hand, clapping him on the shoulder. “Congrats on getting Head Boy.”
“Thanks, Harry.” Cedric sat down with them. “I hear Addie’s this year’s DADA teacher. Or is that the Hogwarts rumour mill running amok again?”
“No, that one’s true,” Hermione said. “Amazingly.”
“I see,” Cedric said. “That’ll be interesting. How’d you do in your OWLs?”
“All Outstanding,” Hermione said with a grin.
“Well, that doesn’t surprise me,” Cedric said, smiling back at her. “Harry?”
“Outstanding in DADA, Transfiguration and Charms, Exceeds Expectations in everything else, except Divination and History of Magic,” Harry said. “Acceptable in History of Magic, failed Div.”
“Well, no one can blame you for that,” Cedric said. “What about the rest of you?”
“Well, we all got Outstanding in Defence,” Ron said. “I got Exceeds Expectations in everything else, but failed Div. and History.”
“Same as Harry,” Susan said, “except I was smart enough to not to Divination.”
“Same here,” Neville said. “Except I did do Divination and failed it. Oh, and I got Outstanding in Herbology.”
“Exceeds Expectations in everything except DADA, Potions and Charms,” Draco said. “I got Outstanding in those.”
“Likewise,” Daphne added.
“Is it a coincidence that you all did so well in DADA?” Cedric asked. “From what I heard your teacher last year was …”
“Crap,” Ron finished bluntly. “She was.”
“Well, once she was arrested, Professor Jones was fine,” Hermione said. “But she had to teach by the Ministry’s wishes and they were crap. We weren’t even supposed to practice the spells until the exams.”
“The Minister thought Dumbledore was forming an army to take him out,” Harry said, his lips twitching. “I won’t lie and say I’m not tempted.”
“So last year’s class was that bad, and you all got Outstanding?” Cedric asked. “How’d that happen?”
“Well, Daphne and I were lucky,” Draco admitted. “The others I think you can accredit to Harry.”
“He created the Defence Association,” Hermione explained.
“After they talked me into it,” Harry put in.
Hermione rolled her eyes. “Either way, you taught us everything we needed.”
Cedric looked from one face to another. “Sometime tells me there was more than exams behind that particular idea.”
“There was,” Harry agreed. “Hermione, love, could you do the honours?”
“Of course.” Hermione drew her wand and set up another layer of privacy and silencing spells around them, letting the first years chat among themselves.
“What we’re about to tell you,” Harry said quietly, “must be kept quiet and not repeated to anyone who doesn’t already know.”
“Of course,” Cedric said immediately. “What’s this about?”
Harry smiled weakly. “For once, the Daily Prophet’s got it dead right.”