The Great Hall...
Dumbledore stepped into the hall and frowned. Harry sat next to Hermione, and as he watched, the young man leaned over and whispered something in her ear, causing her to laugh and hug him. Ginny Weasley sat across from them, holding hands with the Thomas boy. Breaking them up would have to be a priority.
Dumbledore took his customary seat and surveyed the hall with satisfaction. The war had not affected the school as much as it might have. Although, to be truthful, he'd expected it to last a lot longer than it had. Voldemort's attack on Harry at Privet Drive had resulted in only two deaths on the side of the light, both Order members; Deladus Diggle and Preston Wentworth. There were no other wizard witnesses to the battle that ensued, except for Harry. By the time the Aurors arrived, Harry stood alone on a field strewn with dead Death Eaters and one dead Dark Lord.
Harry's injuries were severe enough to require a week's stay in St. Mungos. Then, against the Order's wishes, he had checked himself out and vanished. The Order had found him in several places and tried to force him to Grimmauld Place, but they always lost him again after embarrassing themselves.
Harry laughed and offered Hermione a bite from his sweet roll. She stopped laughing when she noted several adults standing at the entrance to the Great Hall. Something unusual was about to happen. McGonagall noticed the adults from the head table and she stood.
When the adults walked toward the Professors table, several students stood up, seeing their parents in the crowd.
"What is the meaning of this?" McGonagall asked.
A man stepped forward. "I apologize for the inconvenience, Professor, but I'm Malcolm Parkinson, Pansy's father. I'm here to pick up my daughter."
"Pick up your daughter?" echoed McGonagall in a confused tone.
"Yes. Circumstances are forcing me to withdraw her from Hogwarts," replied Parkinson in a miserable tone. Pansy looked up from the Slytherin table and her eyes filled with tears.
"Here it comes," Harry whispered to Hermione.
She blinked and narrowed her eyes at him. He knew exactly what was going on!
One by one each parent stepped forward and withdrew his or her child or children from the school. The hardest hit were the Slytherins, who lost Parkinson, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, Greengrass, Bulstrode, Zabini and twenty others. Also withdrawn were Zacharias Smith, Cho Chang, Marietta Edgecombe and nearly a dozen students from other houses. The house affected the least was Gryffindor, losing just two students.
There was a moment of silence in the hall as the students and their parents filed from the room, some weeping softly as they left.
Harry chuckled and waited for the morning paper to be delivered. Up at the head table, Dumbledore eyed Harry suspiciously, while Snape scowled. He had lost a significant portion of his house, including most of his Quidditch team!
A noise caused Snape to look up in time to see dozens of delivery owls winging into the room. At the Gryffindor table, a Phoenix arrived with a delivery for Harry Potter.
Hermione opened up her paper and scanned it, not quite understanding what she was reading.
Harry pointed to one article. "That will explain it all."
BLI Forecloses on Major Families and Businesses
The financial giant BLI, in a move coordinated by Gringotts, foreclosed on several major defaulted loans, it was announced today. BLI called in their markers late yesterday, causing a major scramble among the business world across the UK and Europe.
BLI holds notes and mortgages on an estimated eighty percent of the Wizarding world. According to one BLI spokesman, the institute had recently undergone a management change and this action reflected the change.
William Weasley, newly appointed BLI spokesman, had this to say. "These were old loans that were not being paid back properly. We offered each borrower the option of buying out of the loan, but they were unable to do so, making this action necessary. We coordinated our efforts with Gringotts so that both institutions might better be able to recover their losses..."
Hermione looked up from the paper. "I don't understand," she said. "What does this have to do with what just happened here?"
Harry finished buttering his roll before he looked at her. "The students that have left school are all from families that have been affected by this, Hermione. Those families are now bankrupt and can't afford the Hogwarts fees, among other things," he replied, his emerald eyes dancing.
Hermione narrowed her eyes and looked at him closely. "You knew about this. All of those families have at least one Death Eater among them that have gotten away without being tried!"
Harry put a hand over his heart and looked shocked. "Imagine that! Someone punishing former Death Eaters? Amazing!" Then he winked at her.
Hermione sat back on the bench. His comment implied that he knew a lot more than he was telling. She glanced over at the Slytherin table and spotted a blond sitting by himself.
"But Malfoy? Why didn't..."
"Why didn't I go after the Malfoys?"
Hermione nodded.
Harry looked over at Draco, sitting alone at the table. Most of his classmates were missing.
Malfoy looked around nervously. He was aware that he was one of the last few remaining six year students in Slytherin, and he wasn't comfortable knowing he was all but alone.
"I did. He doesn't know it yet, but he's about to find out who's offering to pay for his education and what it will cost him," Harry murmured. Then his eye's lit up. spotting another owl winging in. "But he's about it. Here it comes now," he commented, nodding towards the owl.
The bird stopped in front of Draco, who removed the letter and shooed the owl away. Ripping open the litter, he ready quickly, his eyes widening. Standing, his face pale, he trembled in anger. "POTTER!" he roared.
Harry raised a goblet to the outraged Slytherin. "Is there a problem, Draco?" he said snidely.
A hush fell over the hall. Harry never called Draco anything but Malfoy!
"You can't get away with this!" snarled Draco.
"But I have, Draco," Harry replied. "This is merely good business."
"Is there a problem, gentlemen?" called Dumbledore.
"No problem, Headmaster. Draco is upset because I have offered to pay for his continued schooling here at Hogwarts," Harry replied loudly.
Draco shook with fury. However, with the Professors involved, he couldn't do anything more than protest vocally.
"Why would he need you to pay for his schooling, Mister Potter?" sneered Snape.
"Haven't you read the news this morning, Professor? Surely you're not that dense? If you'd use your supposed intellect, you'll realize who's behind so many of the students being forced to leave."
Dumbledore frowned and stared at Harry over his glasses. "Enlighten us, Mister Potter."
Harry laughed and shook his head. "BLI, my dear Headmaster, BLI. The Black Loan Institute. Owned and operated by the Black Family, of which I am heir and Lord. I called in all the outstanding debts from certain families that were known to be supporting Tom Riddle.
"The Malfoy's are broke, their property confiscated and up for sale. Draco is upset because the Potter Charity Trust has offered to pay for the remainder of his schooling. providing, however, he takes a blood oath vowing to never to harm anyone again, except in the case of self defense. It is far more than he deserves, considering he bears the dark mark on his arm," Harry said. "Had justice been carried out, he would have been kissed. But since he hasn't, I took it upon myself to provide some measure of justice. The Malfoy's haven't got a single knut left to their name.
"The others left because I am not interested in paying for their education and have every desire to see that they remain ignorant and uneducated. Their families are bankrupt, and their lands, homes and businesses have been confiscated by Gringotts and myself. You and the Ministry refused to punish the Death Eaters, so I did."
The silence in the Great Hall was profound following his statement. Dumbledore looked completely surprised by the news. Several of the Gryffindors looked stunned by Harry's announcement.
When Ginny gasped, Harry looked at her. "Don't worry, Ginny. Yes, BLI held the mortgage to the Burrow, but I instructed my people to cancel the debt. As of this morning, your parents own their home entirely, free and clear. I know your family won't accept money from me, so this was the best way I could think of to pay you all back for the love and kindness you've shown me. I would have done more, but I know your parents wouldn't accept it. I also know your family wasn't helping the Order this past summer."
Ginny smiled at him, visibly relieved.
"Harry, you cannot simply dictate to people what they can and cannot do," said Dumbledore. "Mister Malfoy cannot be forced into taking your oath."
Harry smirked and pointed to the door. "Then he knows where the exit to the school is, Headmaster. The offer to pay for his education is dependent on his taking that oath. If he doesn't, he'll have to leave, like the rest. Unless you want to pay for his education, that is. I'm sure he'd appreciate being in your debt."
"Reducto!" shouted Draco, who had reached his limit.
The curse arced across the hall, then suddenly bent back upon itself. It hit Draco, blowing his wand and his hand to pieces.
Draco wailed in pain and fell to his knees. Four of his fingers were missing, vaporized in the small explosion.
"Damn you, Potter," snarled Snape. The Potions Professor stood and drew his wand.
"Professor, I have not drawn my wand. If you attack me, I will see you charged and arrested. What happened to Draco was his own fault. Perhaps there was something wrong with his wand?" Harry offered innocently.
Dumbledore moved quickly to Snape's side and placed a hand on his arm, pushing the wand down. "He's right, Severus. He has not drawn a wand. If you attack him now, you would be held responsible for it. Take Mister Malfoy to the infirmary, then meet me in my office."
Snape nodded and went to Draco. He helped the boy to his feet and walked him from the room.
"Professor McGonagall, Mister Potter, please join me in my office, right now," Dumbledore said as he walked out of the hall.
Harry turned to Hermione. "Come with me?" he asked.
"But, Harry, I wasn't asked to come."
"I know, Hermione, but I need a witness. You're the only one I trust, so I'm asking you to come with me."
Hermione looked torn for a moment, but stood up a moment later. Harry offered her his hand. She took it and he pulled her into an embrace. The couple shimmered and vanished from sight and those left in the Hall broke into excited conversations.
Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts...
"You can't apparate inside Hogwarts!" Hermione exclaimed, then blushed. Her statement made no sense, considering the fact that they'd just done so.
"Actually, it's not quite apparating, so I can get away with it," countered Harry, smiling. "But I love seeing you get all worked up. Be nice and I'll show you how to do it. It's something anyone can learn."
He leaned in and kissed her gently. They were alone in the Headmaster's office, waiting for him and the other professors to arrive.
"What happened to you this summer, Harry?" she asked breathlessly.
"Why? Don't you like the new me?" he asked, grinning.
She smiled at him. His grin was infectious and she was forced to admit that she did like what she was seeing. She nodded and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'll explain it all tonight, sweetheart. I promise." he said, then he turned and his eyes glazed for a moment. "The Headmaster is nearly here."
"You caused Malfoy's curse to turn back on him," she said in wonder.
"I did," he replied.
The door opened and Dumbledore skidded to a halt, seeing Harry and Hermione sitting in chairs facing his desk. He quickly recovered and walked around to take his seat.
"Miss Granger, I do not recall asking for you to join us," he stated in a flat tone. The door opened again, McGonagall and Snape entered.
"She is here at my request. She is my witness to these proceedings," Harry replied coldly.
McGonagall and Snape paused behind the two, surprised at Harry's reply. They had never heard Harry speak with so little respect.
"Harry..."
"That is Mister Potter, or, if you prefer, Lord Potter or Lord Black. I only allow friends and people I trust to call me Harry," he said, interrupting the Headmaster.
"Potter, you arrogant arse, you're worse than your father or your mudblood mo..."
Snape stopped in mid sentence. His mouth kept moving, but he made no sound.
"Shorten the leash on your dog, Headmaster, or I'll neuter him," Harry said, his eyes flashing angrily.
"Harry! Enough! Release Professor Snape," commanded Dumbledore.
"As you wish," he murmured and Snape staggered back.
Harry looked at Snape, his expression filled with disdain. "You cannot win against me, Snivellus. I beat your Dark Lord, left him with a hole in his chest big enough to crawl through. Do you honestly think you'regoing to intimidate me?"
"Harry, you will treat Professor Snape with respect..."
"Respect is earned, Headmaster, not commanded," snapped Harry angrily. "This... thing," he said motioning towards Snape, "is universally hated by the students of three houses and the alumni. Had you been smart, you would have let it rot in prison. Now he'll be part of what brings you down."
Snape started to move towards Harry, but Dumbledore stopped him. "Severus! Sit down and remember your place!"
Snape glared at Harry, but he sat on a chair next to Dumbledore's desk.
"Now, Mister Potter, about what happened this morning. You cannot go about forcing students to leave this school..."
"You're wrong, Headmaster. I didn't force them to leave the school, I just forced their families into bankruptcy. It was their parents or guardians who decided to terminate their schooling."
Harry tilted his head slightly and smiled. "What you saw this morning was only the tip of the iceberg, however. Thirty Wizengamot members have been affected, as well as Minister Fudge. All in all, nearly one hundred and twenty families and sixty businesses have been foreclosed on. Even now, Fudge is being escorted from the Ministry building and my proxies have nominated Amelia Bones as interim Minister."
Dumbledore stood and leaned over his desk, glaring at Harry. "You cannot do this. I will not allow it!"
"You can't do anything to stop it, Headmaster. The actions I took were legal and done jointly, in cooperation with Gringotts. If you take action to stop what I've set in motion, you risk another Goblin rebellion, and they'll have at least one wizard on their side," Harry replied smugly.
Dumbledore collapsed back into his chair, his face white as a sheet. "You would destroy us. Do you hate us that much, Mister Potter?"
"Do I hate you? Yes, actually, I do, Headmaster," he replied calmly. "I'm tired of your games and I find myself despising what you represent. You and your Order of the Phoenix are only marginally better than Voldemort and his band of merry idiots. You and your Order prance around, claiming to represent the light, when, in fact, you represent your own interpretation of what you think is right. I reject you both utterly.
"You don't believe in equal rights for everyone. You're only interested in maintaining the status quo. If we went with your vision of the world, we'd be facing a new Dark Lord in twenty years because you refused to punish the pure blood Death Eaters.
"Do I hate the Wizarding world?" Harry shrugged. "Not really. Most of them are sheep and will walk in the direction the shepherd points them. Generally, they're mindless masses without many redeeming qualities. A few, however, are truly exceptional individuals. Those few are, I believe, the future of the Wizarding world. The rest can go hang, for all I care. You allowed the Death Eaters to walk free, still able to spread their poison. I stopped them and I am giving the Wizarding world a new shepherd to follow."
"But you're punishing the children, as well," protested Minerva.
"So? Was I not punished? Didn't the Headmaster deliberately violate my parents will and place me into an abusive environment? One which he routinely reinforced with an illegal compulsion charm on a muggle family I wasn't related to? Where is my justice? Why is it he gets away with what he did and I am vilified for managing a business I own? Don't ask me to care about someone else's children when you have so callously thrown me onto the trash heap," Harry told them all scathingly.
Then he turned to her and glared. "Tell me, Professor, when Hermione graduates, will she be able to work for the Ministry?"
McGonagall flushed and looked down at the floor for a moment. Hermione looked startled.
"She's muggle born, and despite being the smartest student this school has seen in over a hundred years, the Wizarding world will not hire her. That bias will cripple her chances at employment, and you're asking me to care about the children of bigots? Most of those so called children bear the mark of Voldemort. No, I have no pity for them. They should be thankful. They're alive, which is more than I can say for my parents, Sirius or Cedric. They're receiving a very diluted form of justice, if you ask me. Draco's head should be on a pike by the castle entrance.
"As for Hermione," he said, taking his girlfriend's hand and smiling at her, "you should all be more careful around her and more respectful. She's most likely going to be Minister of Magic someday. Perhaps not today, but soon enough."
Hermione shook her head, and smiled at him. How he had known of her ambition was beyond her, but she wasn't going to fight it.
"The Ministry will never elect a mudblood, Potter. Even you should know that," Snape said with a sneer.
Harry stared at Snape and something in his gaze forced the man to look away.
"You still haven't figured it out, yet haven't you?" asked Harry, shaking his head. "Ah, well. You'll learn, just like the Malfoys, Notts and Parkinsons are learning now."
"Learn what, Mister Potter?" asked McGonagall. She couldn't believe the way this was going. Not only was Harry openly hostile to the Headmaster, but he had reason to be.
"Times are changing. In a way, Riddle was right. We have stagnated and things need to change. Riddle's problem was he couldn't think of a way to change things without resorting to violence. I, on the other hand, can think of ways to do things without killing people. The old attitudes about blood purity are going to be burned away. Along with those ideals so, too, will go the prejudices against the other sentient species like House Elves or the Centaurs and Goblins.
"One of the first steps in that direction will be the merger of BLI and Gringotts. I haven't made a formal announcement as yet, but the merger of Gringotts, our largest bank, with the largest Wizarding lending institute will produce the first multi-national Wizarding mega corporation. I will own forty eight percent of the new corporation, the Goblins will own another forty eight percent, with the remaining four percent to go to a muggle trust that will be approved of by both myself and Ragnok," Harry said, then he smirked. "Perhaps I'll ask Hermione's parents to manage the trust. From what I know of Hermione, I'm sure I could trust them."
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, appalled. "You can't cede that much power to Goblins!" he gasped.
Harry looked at him scornfully. "Haven't you been listening to me? The Wizarding world, in this case me, and the goblins will both control an equal share. The tie breaking vote will be in the hands of muggles who know about our world. Eighty percent of the loan business and ninety percent of the banking business will be moved under a single banner, one that will look unfavorably upon companies and individuals that practice discrimination."
"So you intend to force people into accepting your policies? Or what? You won't loan them money?" snarled Snape.
"Money is a powerful weapon. It's more effective and less brutal than killing anyone, Snivellus," Harry replied with tight smile. Then he turned to Dumbledore. "Look, we can sit and argue about this all day, Headmaster, and we still won't get anywhere. You created the monster Tom Riddle became. Then, not learning from your mistake, you tried to do the same to me. But I'm not monster, Headmaster. I believe our world should be a fair place for everyone with talent and drive, regardless of their blood lines. Hermione is just one example of that.
"I learned one lesson from you very well, Headmaster, thought I'm sure it's not something you intended to teach me," Harry told him, staring into blue eyes which no longer twinkled. "I learned how to manipulate people into doing what I want them to do, and I learned it from a master. You tried to dictate how I would live my life, with whom and for how long. That stops now. I will live my life as I see fit, and will accept no interference from you or your Order."
Hermione glared at the Headmaster. She knew the man had meddled in Harry's life, but hadn't realized the extent of that meddling until recently. She could understand Harry's anger and accepted his non-violent form of justice.
"Now, unless there is something else you wish to discuss, Headmaster, Hermione and I have class to attend." Standing, he helped Hermione to her feet.
Harry paused for a moment, then turned to Professor McGonagall. "Professor, with your approval, I think I'd like to drop potions and take Ancient Runes, instead."
"But you can't be an Auror without potions," exclaimed McGonagall.
"Plans change, Professor," Harry replied. "I have no need of becoming an Auror anymore. My career path is already set for me. I'm going into business and politics. Besides, my two Wizengamot seats would have made being an Auror unrealistic anyway. I also intend to see Hermione elected Minister. It would be... awkward being an auror under those circumstances."
Harry turned to Snape. "Oh, and Professor? You might want to rethink how you treat people. When Hermione becomes Minister, you might find yourself teaching potions in some mosquito infested banana republic," he said, smirking. When the man's sallow face turned red, he dragged Hermione from the room, leaving behind two dumbstruck Professors and one furious Potion Master.
Outside Dumbledore's office, Harry pulled Hermione into an embrace. "We'll just make our class if we rush," he whispered, then they shimmered and vanished from sight.
Dumbledore looked at his two professors with dismay. "I fear that we are losing Mister Potter faster than I anticipated."
The others could only nod.
The Room of Requirement...
All day Hermione had been bursting with questions for Harry and now, finally, she was going to get some answers. She had asked a few during the day, but he had mostly rebuffed them, asking for her to be patient until this evening. Now it was dinner time and they were taking it in the Room of Requirement.
Harry smiled and held the door open for her when she arrived. She shot him a shy smile and he welcomed her into the room. He and Dobby had spent the last hour getting things set up just right.
He had helped her into her chair and had started to walk to his seat when he pressed a hand up against his side and hissed sharply.
"Harry? What's wrong?"
He stood motionless for a moment, then he relaxed and took a deep breath. "Every so often I'm reminded that I fought Voldemort only a few weeks ago. Not everything is fully healed yet. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Hermione looked at him worriedly. "The paper said you were hurt, but never said how badly."
"A few broken bones, but the burns were the worst. I still have some areas that are healing and the skin over them is super sensitive. And some new scars," he said with a bit of a scowl.
She looked upset and he reached across the small table and gripped her hand. "I'm alright now. I'm still healing and sometimes it hurts, but I'm alright. That's what you need to focus on. Now, let's eat and we'll talk."
Hermione nodded and Dobby appeared, placing platters of food on the table.
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said softly.
"Should you be using Dobby like this, Harry?" she asked.
He laughed. "I'm not using Dobby. He's my employee and probably the highest paid House Elf in the world. He's my personal elf, and as such, is in charge of all the elves I employ."
Hermione paused, a fork halfway to her mouth. Her forehead knitted in confusion. "Employ? Do you employ a lot of House Elves?"
"Over a hundred, at last count, but they're all employees, Hermione. They can quit any time they want. They're well paid with vacations and time off. I don't believe in slavery, but there is nothing wrong with hiring servants."
Her fork dropped to the plate, making a clatter. "One hundred elves? What are you doing with that many elves, Harry Potter?"
Dobby reappeared with drinks, which he poured for them. Hermione took the time to examine him closely. He wore a uniform similar to that of a butler's, but it had a family crest on the right breast.
"Are you happy, Dobby?" she asked.
Dobby looked up at her and smiled. "Master Harry is great and wonderful wizard, Mistress. He is kind and pays Dobby more than any other house elf. Yes, Mistress, Dobby is happy. I will be happier when Master finally comes home with his family."
Harry leaned back on his chair. "Let's start this from the beginning, Hermione. When I turned sixteen, I received an owl from Gringotts asking me to drop in to talk to them about some accounts." He laughed and shook his head ruefully. "Some accounts. That's like calling the crown jewels a pile of rocks."
"Anyway, before I could go to Diagon Alley, Voldemort paid me a visit and we had this rather loud disagreement, which resulted in a week stay at St. Mungo's. When I got out of hospital, I sort of went a bit crazy. The Order was trying to lock me up and I was busy having too much fun dodging them and playing with my new magic. I'm not going to admit to how many times I banished Mad-Eye's wooden leg while he was tracking me.
"Nor will I admit to banishing Tonk's clothing and teleporting her to Westminster Abbey," he said, his eyes dancing merrily. "She was seriously put out with me after that."
Sighing, his expression turned serious. "It wasn't all fun and games. I had a lot of thinking to do. What was my place in our world? Or the Muggle world, for that matter? I had fought and beaten the strongest Dark Lord in centuries. I was a hero to some, someone dangerous and needing to be locked up, to others. But who was I?"
He paused and looked at Hermione with a slight smile. "I spent most of August trying to answer that question."
"It wasn't until the end of August that I visited Gringotts and learned that I wasn't just rich, I was obscenely rich and I was emancipated. Ragnok told me if I were to convert just my liquid assets to muggle money and open an account at a muggle bank, I would devalue the Galleon by over nine hundred percent. He said that I could ruin the Wizarding economy.
"I had become a power, not just magically, but economically. Ragnok and I put our heads together and decided that the Wizarding World needed to be taught a lesson they wouldn't soon forget."
He picked up his glass and took a sip, thinking. "You need to understand something, Hermione. It wasn't until nearly the end of August before I decided to return to Hogwarts, and to the Wizarding world. The paper had run a series of articles about my home life that were spot on. They dug into my background and between that, and the news that most of the Death Eaters were getting off free and clear, I was disgusted with the Wizarding world.
"I'm tired, Hermione. My life is an open book. I can't walk the streets of Hogsmeade without attracting a crowd. All I wanted was to find my place. I wanted a normal life and someone to love me. Think about it. What witch in the world doesn't know the name Harry Potter? What chance did I have to find someone who would care about me, and not my fame or my money? I suppose I could change my looks and lie about who I am, but that's no way to start a relationship.
"I thought long and hard about the girls in my life and came up with only one person who has stood by my side through everything. I may not be muggle born, I'm not even a half blood, but I am muggle raised and she understands what I went through. She's my best friend in the whole world.
"Then, while waiting to board the Express, Neville tells me about your fight with Ron and your breakup. I knew you two were dating and hiding it from me, but I saw my chance. I saw the opportunity to, for once in my life, be selfish and do something I wanted.
"I've loved you since fourth year, Hermione. I'm just sorry it took me so long to ask you out," he finished in a whisper.
Hermione smiled at him. "I think I've always loved you, Harry. I know my Mum seems to think so. She says every letter I've written from school talked about you."
Harry blushed and smiled back at her. "Good, because if I can work it, we're going to be together for a long, long time. Now, you had some questions for me?"
When she pulled out a piece of parchment, he blinked and began to laugh. "Only you would have a prepared list of questions!"
Hermione blushed. "Alright, so I'm organized. Besides, a little organization certainly wouldn't hurt you, Mister Potter."
Harry quirked an eyebrow. "And a little chaos will help you, Miss Granger. But please, ask away."
"About what you said this morning in Dumbledore's office. Are you manipulating me?"
Harry blinked in surprise and wondered about that. Hermione looked at him worriedly when he remained silent.
"I don't think so, Hermione. I don't think you can manipulate someone into falling in love with you. I'm not resorting to potions or spells. However, I could ask the same question of you. When you're not around, I feel incomplete, like a important part of me is missing and it hurts. I can't tell you how much I wanted to come to your home in the past month, but I knew the Order was watching you.
"I didn't want to drag you into that mess," he said, then paused. "Am I manipulating you? Well, maybe, to the extent that we all do when we're falling in love. I don't show you the really bad things about me, like my morning breath or the fact that certain foods give me gas, or that I happen to find that funny."
She laughed and shook her head at his admission.
He looked at her and she was struck by the power behind his eyes, and the openness she seemed to sense in his gaze. "I am not manipulating you, not like I'll be doing with other people. There are things I want from you, Hermione, things I want us to do together. But I want you to want them as much as I do and I will not push you into anything you're not ready for."
Hermione sipped her juice and nodded thoughtfully. His answer relieved her and excited her. There were things she definitely wanted someday from him, someday soon. His comment about a part of himself missing when they were apart struck a deep chord within her. It described exactly how she had felt this past summer without him.
She smiled warmly at him, made a small notation on her parchment and went to the next question. "You said your magic changed because of a strange curse. What kind of change do you mean?"
"It's a lot stronger and I have a greater control over it. Most times I don't need a wand, or even an incantation, I just visualize the effects I want and it happens," he told her. Lifting his hand, a single rose appeared in his palm. He passed the flower across the table to her.
She sniffed at the flower, scribbled something down on her parchment, and moved to the next question. "Do you still need your wand?"
"No, but that doesn't mean I can't use it."
"Was the Prophet really accurate in what they reported, Harry?"
He frowned and looked at the table, refusing to meet her eyes. "Yes, for once they were correct," he replied softly, the pain evident in his voice.
Hermione realized she had touched a very sensitive nerve, so she made up her mind to cut the questions short for now. "Alright, just two more questions for now," she said, rolling up her parchment.
Harry looked up at her warily.
"Harry, I am not going to push you over this. But if we're going to be together, you need to trust me enough to talk about what you went through at the Dursley's. I know what the Prophet published, but I need to hear it in your own words. Will you make that effort, even if it's a little bit at a time? Will you let me help you?"
He could see the plea in her eyes and realized she was right, he did need to talk to someone about it. Why not her? What was it Rosie had said about finding someone to talk to? Why not Hermione?
Taking a deep breath, he nodded. "Alright, Hermione. I'll try."
"Just one last question, then," she told him, refusing to meet his eyes. She twisted the list of questions in her hands nervously, trying to work up the courage to ask it.
Puzzled, he leaned forward. "What is it?" he asked her softly.
Looking up, she blushed. "Do you really think I'm pretty, Harry?" she asked at a whisper.
His expression changed, but she couldn't decipher it.
"How can I answer that without coming off sounding like a sex crazed pervert?" he muttered, trying not to grin. With a shake of his head, his expression turned somber. "You're beautiful, Hermione. To a stranger seeing you for the first time, you're very pretty. But to someone who knows you and understands the depths within you, you're beautiful. You care about things that most would consider a lost cause, like House Elves. You'll help anyone in need. I think you're the prettiest girl in the school."
Hermione's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "That didn't make you sound like a sex crazed pervert. It sounded wonderful," she told him. She heard the truthfulness in his words, but she had trouble picturing herself as he described. She considered herself rather plain.
Harry chuckled. "That's only because I stopped before I could get myself in trouble. I could sing praises about certain parts of you, but I don't want to get my face slapped this early in our relationship."
Doubt clouded her eyes. Seeing it, he smiled.
"Trust me, Hermione. I might not have a lot of experience with girls, but in this relationship, I'm the expert on what this guy wants in a girl. To me, you're gorgeous."
Before she could reply, Hedwig appeared in a burst of flame. She circled the table, then landed on a perch that Harry conjured for her.
"Hullo, girl," he said softly. Hedwig trilled in greeting, causing Hermione to smile in delight.
She reached out and caressed the new phoenix. "Have you been taking care of Harry, Hedwig?"
Hedwig bobbed her head and trilled again.
"She was always special, but she's more so now. I'm still working on ways to communicate with her, but I've learned that she's not just my phoenix. She's the Potter phoenix. She will stay with my family for as long as the bloodline exists and remains true to the light."
Hermione smiled at the thought. It represented a major change from the way Phoenixes bonded. She filed that away for future consideration.
The Great Hall, Breakfast (Sept 3rd)...
Hermione looked around for Harry. Neville had told her that Harry would catch up with her in the hall, as he had a few things to do first. Now she sat, holding a seat for him and looking around impatiently.
"Can I sit here?" asked Ron Weasley.
Hermione frowned. "I'm sorry, Ronald, but this seat is taken. Besides, I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore. I thought I made that clear," she replied frostily.
Ron stiffened and he turned white with anger. "So, it's true, then. You've decided to whore yourself to Potter. I should have know it would come to this. That bastard gets everything I..." He stopped suddenly and his face contorted in pain.
"Apologize, Weasley, or I'll pull your liver out through your arsehole," hissed Harry, who was standing a few steps away.
All sound in the Great Hall ceased and all eyes turned to the two Gryffindors. Ron's body wracked with spasms. Even though Harry had not pulled out his wand, it was clear that he was doing something to the red-head.
"Apologize," Harry repeated.
"I'm sorry," Ron ground out. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead.
"It will have to do," Harry said, releasing him. Ron turned and backed away from Harry fearfully.
"You're turning dark, Potter! You killed Voldemort and now you want to be the next Dark Lord!" he said loudly.
"I'm not nearly as dark as you are, Weasley. When I consider your family, you must be even more of a disappointment than Percy. Where is the honor in striking a woman? I'm not dark Weasley, I'm gray, and I'm proud of it," Harry said, then he turned and took the seat next to Hermione, kissing her cheek as he sat.
Ron stared at Harry for a moment and he fingered his wand. When he noticed the number of angry looks he was getting from his own house, he sat down quickly and concentrated on the food before him.
Hermione looked at Harry worriedly. "Are you sure that was smart, Harry? Admitting you're gray?"
He put two links of sausage on his plate and shrugged. "Do you know how many people died in my fight with Voldemort?"
She paused, going through in her mind the few facts she'd managed to pick up about the final battle. Realizing she wasn't sure, she shook her head.
"Two members of Dumbledore's Order died before the battle started. Then Voldemort and twenty four Death Eaters. I never once used a stunner or a full body bind. I realized in that battle that there is no light or dark magic; there is only power and intent. Voldemort was right about that. His problem was that he craved power and used it for the sake of power. I prefer to use it only when I need to, and I don't crave more.
"I'll fight to the death to protect those I love, including that dumb-stick weasel, only because his death would hurt Ginny and the other Weasley's. I don't use my power to inflict pain and suffering unless I'm forced to. That's intent. Most of these people will never understand that. They think only in terms of absolutes. Light and Dark. Declaring myself to be gray confuses them because they don't understand it. The smart ones will think about it, though. Look at Ginny and Neville. They understand."
Hermione looked around the room. She was able to spot a number of people giving Harry thoughtful looks and others that looked at him with fear.
"Ah, here comes the second act," Harry said, motioning to the three adults entering Great Hall.
Hermione winced, seeing Alison Harrington, chief of the Board of Governors for Hogwarts, Madam Bones, Director of the Department of Magic Law Enforcement and interim Minister and a man she didn't recognize.
Dumbledore looked up from his breakfast and he paled, seeing the trio approach the head table.
"Madam Harrington, Madam Bones," he sputtered, standing. He looked questioningly at the unknown man, who smiled benignly at him.
"Duncan Harvey, of Harvey, Hortle and Harbrace," said the man.
Harry smirked. "Wait for it," he murmured.
"Headmaster, yesterday, in an emergency session of the Board of Governors, Mr Harvey presented evidence to the Board of testimony taken from nearly one hundred graduated and current students concerning some of the staff. His firm is prepared to launch a lawsuit that could result in the closing of this school."
A gasp ran through hall and everyone strained to listen to the conversation.
"A compromise has been reached that would avoid the lawsuit and it has been unanimously approved by the Board of Governors. Effective immediately, the contracts of Severus Snape, Potions Professor, Sybil Trelawney, Divinations Professor and Markus Hanford, Muggle Studies Professor, are terminated. Professor Binns will also be replaced."
Dumbledore collapsed back in his chair pale and shaking with shock.
"The Board has already procured the services of some highly recommended individuals to fill these positions."
Snape surged to his feet. "You can't do this! Only the Headmaster can fire me!"
Harrington eyed Snape with disdain. "The decision of the Board is final, Mr. Snape. You are fired. You have until noon today to pack your belongings and vacate the castle," she said coldly. "Considering the evidence we reviewed, you're lucky you're not being sent to Azkaban. It is where you belong," she snarled before turning back to Dumbledore. "Headmaster, Mr. Harvey has one other piece of business for you to deal with."
Harvey stepped forward and laid a parchment on the table before Dumbledore. "This is a notice of intent to file suit, Headmaster. Our client desires the return of all monies and goods removed from his family vaults. The suit also extends to include the willful harm you inflicted upon our client by illegally placing him with his muggle relatives in direct violation of his parent's final wishes. Against our recommendation, our client wishes to seek a civil solution before presenting evidence to the appropriate authorities."
Dumbledore's eyes flickered over to Harry, who smiled and raised his glass in salute.
"Furthermore, Headmaster, you are ordered by her Majesty's courts to maintain a minimum fifty meter distance between yourself and Mr. Potter at all times until ordered otherwise. Violating said order can result in fines, jail time, or a combination of both."
Dumbledore sagged in his chair. All his plans had been ruined.
"The attached sheet outlines the items missing from the vaults, along with the missing money, which, as you can see, is quite substantial. You can avoid most of this suit if you return the missing items and money within seventy two hours, but my client still wishes to sue you for wrongful placement and recover damages therein," Harvey said, then he stepped back.
"Headmaster, until this suit is settled, the Board feels we should allow you a leave of absence so that you can manage your defense. Until that is accomplished, Professor McGonagall will act as Headmistress of Hogwarts," announced Harrington.
Dumbledore looked over at Harry. "Bravo, Harry!" he called unhappily. "You have your revenge."
Harry stood and faced Dumbledore. "This isn't about revenge, old man. This is about the greater good and the fact that you stand in the way of it. If I wanted revenge, I'd see you sent to prison. This way, you get to keep your life, even if it isn't what you envisioned.
"I know exactly what you had in mind for me after Voldemort. You and your pet dog were going to use a mix of potions and Ginny Weasley to control me, to force me into doing your bidding. You were willing to ruin my life, and hers, in order to reshape the world to meet your own twisted view of it."
Ginny gasped and Dumbledore reeled back in his chair and glared at Harry.
"That's not going to happen, old man. Ginny will live life as she sees fit. And I will live mine," he said, placing a hand on Hermione's shoulder, "with the person I choose."
"Avada Kedavra!" shouted Snape.
Harry cringed and watched the thin green beam arc out towards him. Voices screamed and time seemed to slow down. He could deflect the beam, but then it would probably hit someone else. With a massive surge of his magic, he pushed everyone in the path of the beam aside and shielded them.
The beam flew down the corridor he had created, while his magic worked frantically to alter the context of the spell hurtling at him. Just as the beam struck him, it changed from green to an off yellow.
He screamed and pitched to his knees, then collapsed. Thirty or more curses were flung at Snape from all over the hall. Snape crumpled under the onslaught, bleeding heavily.
Hermione looked away from Snape, her bone vanishing hex being one of the spells that hit him successfully. She spotted Harry crumpled on the floor.
"HARRY!" she screamed and she dropped her wand. She knelt by his side and felt for a pulse. Her eyes grew huge and she started CPR when she couldn't find it. Seamus leaped over the table and helped her, giving Harry mouth to mouth, while she performed chest compressions.
Silence fell over the hall as the stunned students watched in awe. CPR was virtually unknown in the Wizarding World.
The two worked in silence for nearly a minute, then Seamus leaned back away from Harry. He placed a hand over Hermione's. She was still frantically pumping his chest. She looked at Seamus, then down at Harry, halting her movements.
His eyelids fluttered open and he coughed a few times. He looked up at Hermione, who stared back at him in surprise.
"Harry?" she whispered.
"Hi there, beautiful," he replied in a whisper.
Hermione burst into tears and she knelt over to kiss him.
"Don't you do that again! You nearly left me!" she said, sobbing and wiping at her tears.
"If I have anything to say about it, I'll never leave you," he whispered, reaching up to caress her cheek.
In all the excitement following Harry's recovery from his second killing curse, no one thought to look to Snape, who was not so lucky. The delay in treating him while everyone watched Hermione and Seamus work to bring Harry back from the brink of death proved fatal.
Madam Pomfrey was never able to determine the exact cause of death because of all the curses, but it didn't matter. He had performed an unforgivable in front of witnesses, including the interim Minister of Magic.
Epilogue...
He sat at the desk and waited for the class to file in. It had been nearly twenty years since he left Hogwarts. Now he was back as the Defense Professor, a job he had always hoped for.
Dumbledore had never returned to Hogwarts, following the lawsuit. The suit had been held publicly, and public opinion had turned solidly against him as his actions were revealed in court. Eventually, the Board of Governors confirmed Minerva McGonagall as Headmistress, and Filius Flitwick as her deputy.
For Harry and Hermione, their last two years at school enabled them to grow very close. By Christmas of their sixth year, they were engaged. Harry's abilities required special tutoring and he insisted that he and Hermione do it together. With his help, she eventually came to master wandless magic, although never to his level.
Harry spent the summer between their six and seventh year with Hermione's family, taking them on a trip to Australia and the United States. It was during this trip that Hermione finally took Parvati and Lavender's advice. She took Harry by the hand and spent the night with him.
That night surprised them both, as Harry's magic added an additional element to the mix. In a way, they bonded that night, tighter than any marriage ceremony could have done.
By seventh year, they were head boy and girl and inseparable. Both seemed to know where the other was at any given point. It was a talent they grew to rely on. They were married right out of school and, despite rumors that she was pregnant, they waited several years to have children.
As expected, during the years following Hogwarts, Harry had several problems with the children of Death Eaters and former Death Eaters. These encounters hadn't bothered him until someone kidnapped Hermione. The attempt was quickly foiled, but not until Harry had killed all of the Malfoy's, the Parkinson's and the Nott's. After that, no one attacked the Potters again.
Harry looked up as students filed into his classroom. He smiled, seeing the first nervous first year students. Among them were two goblins and one house elf.
"Alright people, let's settle down," he called. "Everyone take a seat and we'll get started."
A minute later, everyone had found a desk. "This is first year Defense against the Dark Arts," he said, pacing the front of the class. "In this class we will start out examining magical theory, wand based and wandless magic. Can anyone tell me why we'll be studying wandless magic?"
A hand went up in the back. "Miss Potter?" he called. His daughter blushed. She looked just like her mother at her age, except for the green eyes, which were quickly becoming a Potter family trait. Her father may be biased, but he thought she was beautiful, like her mother.
"We study wandless because all magical species have the ability, including goblins and house elves, and it allows them to participate in our classes," she replied.
"Excellent, five points for Ravenclaw," Harry replied. Then he turned to Nobby, Dobby's son by Winky.
"Nobby?"
"Wandless magic means we can never be disarmed," replied Nobby. He had been home schooled with Lily Jane, and his language skills were as good as hers.
"Another excellent answer. Five points for Slytherin. Now then..."
Later that evening he relaxed on his favorite chair in the sitting room. Jamie and Siri, age five, played on the rug, while Hermione looked over her notes for a speech she was giving in two days.
"How was your first day as a teacher?" she asked.
He looked up from his own notes. "It went pretty well, actually. Lily and Nobby both picked up five points in class for their answers," he replied, then he shook his head. "I can understand Lily making it into Ravenclaw, but it still blows me away that Nobby went into Slytherin."
Hermione smiled. "Well, you have no one to blame but yourself. You made most of those changes possible."
He reached out and lovingly caressed her hand. "No, we made those changes possible. Without you, I probably would have turned out bitter and as hateful as Tom did. All I did was help you along."
Hermione gave him a look he long ago came to recognize. "In that case, perhaps you'd like to help me with something else?"
He placed his notes back into his briefcase. "Madam Minister, there's nothing in the world I'd like better. Winky will watch the twins."
She nodded and stood, reaching for him. Taking her hand, he followed her from the room.
They had been married nearly twenty years and still she could make him tremble with love and desire. She was as beautiful as the day he married her. His magic had slowed their aging process considerably; something neither of them had expected. Their healer, Ginny Thomas, was sure they had doubled their life spans.
He stopped her on the stairway and pulled her into his arms. "I love you, Mrs. Potter," he whispered fiercely.
"I love you too, Mr. Potter," she replied, wrapping her arms around him. Even after twenty years he could bring out her lustful nature. It was something she reserved for him and him alone.
He lifted her into his arms and carried her up the remaining steps and into their bedroom. Life was good.
FINIS