Harry Potter and the House of Black

Harry arrived in Diagon Alley that day feeling slightly nauseous. This was partly from nerves and partly from traveling by Floo powder. Dudley needed a full ten minutes convincing that this method of travel was safe before he finally used it, and when he did, unlike Harry's first time, Dudley arrived in Diagon Alley like he was supposed to. Harry walked out of the Leaky Cauldron tapped the bricks and began wandering down the street, Dudley right behind him, the alley was packed full of so many people that Harry was surprised that all of them fit. What was this? Some sort of rally maybe? Harry had no time to worry about the strange behaviors of masses of people.

"Hey in here!" shouted Fred from a Blue Building to their left.

"Welcome to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes," said George as they entered the store. There were paintings of old men who had to be ex-mischief makers, like Alberic Grunion inventor of the Dungbomb. All of the former D.A. members it turned out were in a back room sitting at a round table or pacing about impatiently. They looked up as Harry entered.

"Well," Harry said looking at Max, "Where should I start? Or would you like to explain this meeting?"

Max took a large parcel from George and sat it on the table. "These, friends," he said, "are your new broomsticks."

Max unfolded the top of the sack to show thirty un-altered versions of Harry's own new broom.

"Now what flavor would everybody like?" said Fred.

"By last name," said George.

"Abbott, Hannah," said Fred.

Hannah Abbot stepped forward, "What do I say?" she asked.

"Just imagine, you can have your broom be anything you want it to be," said Vanessa, "Imagine what you want it to look like, close your eyes and think."

Vanessa walked over to Hannah and put her hand on Hannah's shoulder, and Hannah sat thinking for a moment before she said, "I want a broom filled with color, flowers, I want it to be covered in pink flowers. I want it to be called the 'Orange Blossom' to match the Weasley hair."

"Brown, Lavender," said Fred reading the name off a piece of paper while George customized Hannah's broom.

"I want a green broom to match the eyes of our leader, I want it to be called, the 'Diving Dragon'," said Lavender.

"Bones, Susan," said Fred as the process continued.

"I want a White Broom that never gets dirty, the 'White Witch' will be its name," Susan said.

"Boot, Terry," Fred continued.

"Yellow, like Veela hair, called the 'Glowing Gargoyle,'" said Terry.

"Corner, Michael," Fred announced. Cho and Ginny both rolled their eyes as he stood. Harry, though frustrated, merely shrugged at his name.

"Please, Urm, could I get a, Urr... a Purple broom," he started. Ron sniggered. "I want it to be called the 'Violet Vampire.'"

"Creevey, Colin," said Fred. It was Harry's turn for an eye roll as Colin jumped up excitedly.

"Please sir, could I get a Red Broom, called the 'Bloody Basher,'" said Colin excitedly.

"A very fitting name for you sir," said George, fighting the urge to start laughing.

"You skipped someone," said Harry to Fred.

"Who?" said Fred.

"Cho," said Harry.

"Oh yeah," said Fred, "Sorry 'bout that Cho, you could have told me though I mean, my mistake. Went right over your name, I did. Chang, Cho."

"Thanks, but," Cho started, "Harry, can I talk to you first?"

"Sure," Harry shrugged, "What is it?"

"I meant alone," said Cho.

"Come here then," said Harry and they walked into a small storage room to the right in the Darkness.

"Creevey, Dennis" Fred's voice called behind them, and they shut the door.

"Now," said Harry, "What is it?"

"Tell me everything," said Cho, "The stuff you couldn't in the letter."

"Is this all?" said Harry. Cho nodded. "Alright then," he continued, "Last year, when I said that I had to spend time with my friends, I had Occlumency with Snape. I sometimes dreamt of situations that happened between certain people and Voldemort. I acted on influence with these dreams. The only thing is some of them were false leads Voldemort thought up to scare me. One of them led me to the Department of Mysteries last year, where Sirius died." Cho looked at him, but he just kept on talking and pacing about the small room as she sat on a closed barrel of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. "The only thing I have left now is hope, my friends, and fear. I talked about Hermione a lot I know, but I don't think of her as my girlfriend and never have. She's just my very good friend, just like Ron, we've been through a lot together, they're like my family now, Dumbledore's Army is going to become a club, but we can't trust just anyone, and we're going to need a sort of slogan we say, because we're a team, just like a quidditch team, we're a family. Let's go back in there, that's all you should really need to know for now, the other stuff like the prophecy about me, it isn't really important."

"Okay, I think I understand," said Cho.

"You can know this much now because we don't have to hide from most of the Ministry of Magic," said Harry.

"Oh, Umbridge," she said. Harry nodded. On that note Harry opened the door to the room and walked out. Cho followed him out of the door and closed it behind her.

"What happened?" he heard Ginny whisper to Hermione.

"Chang, Cho," said Fred.

"Oh yes," said Cho, "Black, with a cat, the umm... 'Black Cat.'"

"Alright," said George.

"Harry, come on," said Seamus, "tell us what's up."

"Alright," said Harry, "It all starts and end with Voldemort. He's found something that's made him really happy. Now I've told Dumbledore about this, and he doesn't know what the flickering light I envisioned means, but we don't need to worry about that, it's not in our hands anymore. Anyway, we need to our best to protect each other, my advice it to trust no one but the people in Dumbledore's Army."

"Do you want the Quibbler to post anything?" asked Luna Lovegood.

"Just a warning," said Harry, "Tell the truth. Say we're all in grave danger, and tell them to take great caution not to put themselves at risk of an attack, stay alert."

"Anything the rest of us can do?" asked Terry Boot.

"Yes there is one the thing," said Harry, "Watch your backs. Watch each other's, trust your friends here, but tell any of the others nothing. Yes, it's a large job, but I have faith in all of you."

"What about me?" said Marietta Edgecombe asked.

"What about you? Second chances, a very rare thing in this world," said Harry, "Especially in times of danger," he was trying to sound like Dumbledore, "But it is second chances that we must learn to give in times like these, I would trust you with my life."

"That's very noble of you Harry," said Cho, hugging his arm and smiling.

"Let's go," said Harry, and with that Dumbledore's Army marched into the streets of Diagon Alley.

There was still a large crowd and the group split into carts of four as they waited in line for as they went into Gringotts Ron took the first group, Michael Corner, Terry Boot, and Dennis Creevey. Hermione took the second Group, Neville, Colin and Marietta. Seamus took the fourth group, Anthony Goldstein, Luna, and Zacharias Smith. Dean Thomas volunteered to take the next group, Lavender, Parvarti Patil, and Padma Patil. Ginny took Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ernie Macmillan, and Hannah Abbot. Harry took the last two, Susan Bones and Cho. They went to Susan's vault first, it looked as though her parents both had steady jobs where they could raise one or two children, but not five or six because then it would look like the Weasleys' vault. Then came Cho's vault which was slightly more full than the Bones' vault, and then came Harry's, the endless sea of silver and gold seemed as vast as did the first time he had seen it. He scooped a pile into a bag, and closed the vault.

When everyone was finished at their vaults, and buying supplies they headed back to the back room of Fred's and George's shop.

"Why are we back here?" asked Seamus.

"We all followed Harry. We should know what he wants of us right here, right now," said Susan Bones.

"What I want," said Harry, amazed.

"We stick together," said Max, "We're a team."

"How?" said Hermione, "You don't think we could take them back to the hideaway."

"We're the only ones who know the address," said Max.

"So," said Hermione.

"So, we can take them by Floo Powder if they know the name," said Max.

"Really?" said Hermione.

"The only ones who can't get there by Floo Powder are the people Dumbledore doesn't trust," said Max, "But we're Dumbledore's Army."

"True," said Hermione, "I remember hearing Dumbledore say that he trusts us, and we'd all always be welcome, but no others."

"That's what he meant," said Max, "It rightfully belongs to Tonks now she knows we're all ready to come there."

"So we're going somewhere?" asked Dudley who had been waiting in the back room of the shop to recover from his journey by Floo powder.

"Back to the house," said Max.

"That will do," said Madam Malkins, who Fred had brought over to the shop to make Dudley's robes.

"Thanks Malk," said George, paying her as she walked out.

"Olivander came by too," whispered Fred in Harry's ear, "He didn't seem to appreciate the fact that he had to bring so many wands through that crowded street, I paid him a bit extra."

"Thanks for taking care of him," Harry whispered back, "He's a real idiot."

"Yeah, a BIG one," Fred replied.

"It's a great mystery how you're related to that," said Max, "Now talk." Max pushed Harry and backed away.

"Well you heard him," said Harry, "Let's get to the fire."

"Not again," whined Dudley, "I just got all the soot off."

"So?" said Harry, "Mrs. Weasley will clean you up."

"Fine," said Dudley, taking his new trunk of supplies and carrying it into the flames.

"Wait," said Harry.

"What?" said Dudley.

"You say 'HOUSE OF BLACK,' this time," said Harry, "or 'Twelve Grimmauld.'"

"Okay," said Dudley, and after saying it, he disappeared.

"Everyone now quickly," said Max.

"What?" said Harry.

"I told them to tell their parents they'd be taken care of for the rest of the summer, and not to worry," said Max.

"You plan way too far ahead," said Harry.

"I have sleeping arrangements mapped out right now in my head," said Max.

"Wow," said Harry, "I didn't even think about that."

"I know," said Max, "That's why I did, I cover all of your bases for you, with help from Ron and Hermione of course, I've been planning this very moment all summer."

"You have way too much free time on your hands," said Harry.

"Tell me about it, I got so bored before we were painting," said Max. He shoved Harry into the fireplace, and shouted, "HOUSE OF BLACK," after throwing Floo powder in after Harry. Harry went whizzing through the endless see of fireplaces, and finally he stopped in the great entryway of number Twelve Grimmauld Place. He moved quickly out of the way, just in time to dodge Seamus Finnegan falling from the fireplace. Apparently Max was pushing everyone. One by one each of the members of Dumbledore's Army fell into the House of Black. Vanessa walked out of the fireplace closely followed by Max.

"What is this place?" asked Marietta.

"A place you should not leave," said Max, "You won't be able to come back without the help from us, and we won't give you any, you'll be out of luck for the summer, understand?"

"You made me drop Trevor!" shouted Neville.

"Oh, yeah, almost forget," said Max extracting the toad from his pocket and throwing it to Neville, "Keep a firm grip on that toad mate."

"Thanks," said Neville, Max smiled and nodded too him. He had done something good, and not bad, like his father. Harry Potter was now the leader of Dumbledore's Army, the Defense squad of Hogwarts.

As it turns out Max's sleeping plan was "ask Harry."

"I have no clue," said Harry, "I thought you..."

"You're the leader now," said Max.

"Alright, urr, split up, actually no, I'll say who's with who," said Harry.

"Why can't we all just sleep here on the floor?" asked Seamus.

"Listen to your leader," said Max, menacingly.

"Too much happens out here at night," said Harry.

"Hey Harry," said Vanessa, "Nobody can be with us."

"Condition, what condition?" Seamus asked.

"Again with the mouth," said Max, pulling out his wand, "Shall I smother him or kill him?"

"Max can become a danger to himself and those around him at night," said Harry, "The only one sleeping in his room other than him, will continue to be Vanessa, only because she can help."

"Don't worry about me at Hogwarts," said Max, "I have my own bed there, a room with padded walls I won't be able to get out of until Dumbledore let's me out in the mornings. It's hard live like I do, just know that." He winked at them, nodded to Harry, giving him the floor, and backed away.

"Well, Seamus," said Harry, "You'll find that your group is unsatisfactory."

"Why?" asked Seamus.

"You're with Dudley, Neville, and Dean," said Harry.

"What makes me unsatisfactory?" asked Neville.

"You're not a girl," said Harry.

"Least I pulled Dean down with me," muttered Seamus.

"Dudley," said Harry, "Clear some space in your room so they can sleep on the floor."

"Now?" said Dudley stupidly.

"No time like the present," said Harry, "Yes now, you git, and remember the bookshelf only moves if ask it nicely."

"Next," said Max, "the Creeveys?"

"Oh yeah," said Harry, "Since Moody and Kingsley are gone, Colin, Dennis, Terry, and Michael, you'll take their room."

"I'll take one more," said Tonks from the kitchen doorway, "but not a boy, you're all so obnoxious."

"Alright," said Harry, "Pick."

"Yeah," she said, "okay."

"Next," said Harry, "Zacharias, you'll be in Ron's room with Anthony Goldstein, Ernie, and Justin. Padma, Parvarti, and Lavender, you'll be with Ginny."

"You think awfully fast," said Max, "leader."

"Now," said Harry, "Susan, Marietta, Hannah, you'll be in Hermione's room."

"I picked," said Tonks, "This blonde one here, Luna."

"How did I know?" asked Ron.

"You've learned telepathy," said Max, "Amazing, can you teach me please?"

"That's enough, Ron, Hermione, and Cho, you're with me," said Harry.

"That's everybody," said Max.

"What happens when Moody and Kingsley bring Dearborn back?" said Ron.

"Something we'll have to figure out," said Harry.

"Think later, act now," said Max, "Sort of Gung Ho, but, you know, everyone has their own way."

"Listen to this kid, Ron," said Harry, "He knows what he means when he says what he knows."

"I think your having a bad influence on Harry, Max," said Vanessa.

"But little more than an influence, I'm not a guidebook," said Max.

"Let's see how everything goes tonight," said Hermione.

"Exactly," said Harry, "If something goes wrong with the new situation, then we'll fix it."

"I am going to get everyone out into the courtyard to fly around on their new brooms," said Harry. He walked into each room and signaled for everyone to grab their brooms and follow. When they got out into the courtyard it was strange, Harry never really took in its frightening and incredibly beautiful image. The ground was made of damp soil and in the center there was a platform made of cement, as was the walkway that ran around the outer wall. The walls that rose about a foot above the edges of the platform to make it look taller and more important were made of brick, and several wooden posts rose to support the roof that rose ten feet above the platform There were four or five broken and tilting Roman style columns which stuck out of the ground at odd angles, and they had all been taken over by moss and vines. Harry mounted his broom and kicked off, waving his hand to show that everyone else should start flying. Everyone kicked off, even Neville, whom, to Harry's surprised, had no trouble at all with his new broom.

"Great," said Harry leading all of them into a circle of which he took the center and spoke. "Everyone," he said, "These are your brooms, let's have some fun with them shall we? Do as you please."

Everyone zoomed off in different directions doing tricks no other brooms could have been capable of pulling off. Harry loved it. The only reason that he stopped it was a sudden downpour of rain. They all flew in under the shelter of the platform roof, and sat on what turned out to be a comfortable cushion pretending to be hard cement. They talked about things that didn't matter until it was time for bed. They went up the stairs and into their rooms. Harry fell onto his bed, exhausted. Cho sat against the wall, Hermione sat on Harry's dresser, and Ron got into Harry's closet pulling out three camp bed mattresses, pillows, and sets of blankets. Ron laid them out on the floor and fell on to his own mattress.

"It's not all that simple, is it Harry?" asked Cho.

"No," Harry admitted darkly.

"Well, how complicated does this thing get mate?" asked Ron.

"A lot more than you know," said Harry, "We're all in for a rough future."

"Why?" said Hermione.

"I'm Harry Potter, that's why. Don't you get it? Voldemort won't just stop because Dumbledore's prepared. Now he's started up we'll be hard pressed to stop him, and you think some group of overly trained kids can beat him? I'm the one in the prophecy it could have been Neville, but for some reason he feared me more. Nobody but Dumbledore knows why and he's not telling. It must be my parents, but what did they do? Now it doesn't matter, we're all in danger, if I ever want to ask Dumbledore I will, you all don't nose in. It's my business, I don't know what this new plan is, but if you want to live stay in controlled areas like Hogwarts and this house. I guess, once things get going into motion I'll know more, and when I know more, Dumbledore's Army and the Order of The Phoenix will know more," Harry said.

"Will we?" asked Cho, "Or will it be another one of your secrets?"

"Cho," Harry said, "I'm going to be completely honest with you, I have no clue what use Dumbledore has for us, but he does everything for a reason. We'll try our hardest, that's all we can do, survive, and if that's not enough then the every human life in creation maybe in danger. We play with fire by resisting, but we can't get burned if Voldemort is finished. I haven't always told the truth to you, but it's hard to trust everyone even if we wish we could. If they got a hold of you I couldn't bare it, and to add insult to injured heart, they'd torture you, give you truth potions and use you for information. Do you understand?"

"Yes," said Cho, "I think so, but I'm willing to take that risk."

"It's our lives," said Ron.

"I don't know," said Harry.

"Your whole life you've been running," said Hermione, "Let us risk our own to let you stop and rest for a bit. Even when you need to run the most, with us you can at least make a stand."

"You don't understand," said Harry, "The prophecy says one of us must kill the other, meaning the better trained wizard at the killing curse wins. Unless we can keep one Dementor, because Dumbledore says, that there are fates worse than death. That's where my mind went when he said it. The only thing I can think of is to live in fear of everything, but he can live with that, he survived death. We have to fight him, but I have a feeling that he'll come to us. He's just biding his time, preparing his attack. I can't stay here forever. We'll all be in danger and if Dumbledore wants to keep us in school and together what should I do?"

"Fight," said Cho, "I'd be honored to fight along side the greatest sorcerer of all time. You have learned spells that even Merlin couldn't have thought of, faced things no decent wizard has had to..."

"Albus Dumbledore is the greatest wizard of all time," said Harry remembering Hagrid's words in the hut on the rock that fateful night five years ago, Harry was done waiting, "Don't insult him like that ever in front of me."

"Sorry," said Cho, "I just..."

"I'm going for a walk," said Harry.

"Harry," said Ron, "Don't leave angry."

"I'm not angry, I just need time to think. Cho, don't worry, I'll come back in a while, I need to clear my head," Harry said.

"Alright," she sighed.

Harry walked out onto the uncovered hallway and saw Dumbledore in the entry way below. He was facing the door with a look of anticipation on his face, and then suddenly the door burst open and Moody's face shone in it with a sudden flash of lightning as did Kingsley's. They seemed to be carrying something between them, and, as the glow of the fire which had not yet gone out crept over the object, Harry saw what they were staggering to carry. It was a human being. Dumbledore looked worried, Moody's magical eye flashed up at Harry, and he nodded and caused Dumbledore to look up at him. Harry ran down the stairs.

"What happened to you?" said Harry.

"Ambushed," said Moody. "Apparently the Death Eaters found out that Dearborn was still alive the same we did. They attacked us. Dearborn wasn't ready because he had been trying to run from us first. He didn't think about what might happen, they stunned him, and we just barely got away. Dumbledore, can you call Madame Pomfrey?"

"Of Course," said Dumbledore pointing the rest of them into the Conference Room.

"Moody," said Harry, "There are Dumbledore's Army members sleeping in your room."

"No matter, Potter," said Moody, "We'll bunk with Dearborn tonight. Just get back to what you came down to do, I'll fill you in on everything that's going on tomorrow."

"Thanks," said Harry, "I was just going out into the courtyard."

"Max is out there too," said Dumbledore entering the room followed by Madame Pomfrey, "I think he knew you'd be back out."

"Kind of like you knew Moody would be back?" said Harry.

"Something like that," said Dumbledore, "Now Harry if you wouldn't mind I'd like to have Poppy take a look at him."

"This man needs help," said Madame Pomfrey, "Good night, Potter."

"'Night Madame Pomfrey," said Harry as he walked out and shut the door behind him. He walked out into the courtyard expecting it to still be raining, which it was. Max stood in the center of the platform. Harry walked through the downpour out to the platform. He stood there waiting.

"Well," said Max, "Did you expect that they would want to know how deep the rabbit hole goes?"

"I can't take it," said Harry.

"Why?" said Max, "This is why you're here. You're Harry Potter, they will do as you say, and you are supposed to be the one with the answers. Dumbledore isn't God. He's the greatest wizard of all time, then you, then Voldemort, then me, then Merlin."

"You said Voldemort was one of the greatest," said Harry, "Why?"

"Because he is, don't you remember the things that happened? He destroyed homes and lives, Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Alexander the Great, Adolph Hitler, Great leaders and powerful men of their ages in the muggle world, but they did no less damage than Voldemort. Face it he is great, but you are better, simply because, you have a higher mindset, and more power within. I've stood next to him before, hidden from him. This was all just before his falling, before you umm met. I learned to walk early, and I fit into places as a mouse. I haven't done that transformation in so long. I sense more power in you as a greater entity than I could from him as a child less than a year of age. He has fear within his heart, the only reason that I could not be found was that I have none. Fear is a weakness. Lupin told me that your greatest fear is fear. Voldemort embraces fear, his uncertainty drives him forward, and he puts on a brave face and loves every minute of this act. I was not bestowed with the power of you three. I got totally ripped off because I have only one fear, and it isn't death, I'm not afraid of Vanessa dying, because I can guard her. My fear is that I will turn sides. I won't though. It's stupid to fear that which won't happen, but if they take control of my mind, I can be a powerful weapon and a useful spy. I'm afraid not that the one's I love and care for will die, I'm afraid it will be my fault. Dumbledore, well, I haven't the slightest clue of his greatest fear, I'm sure we probably won't ever know." Max stopped and looked at Harry.

Harry shrugged and went back inside leaving Max to his thoughts, that one person, Max, always made Harry think. Everyone was already asleep when he arrived in his room Harry fell onto his pillow, and slipped into an uneasy sleep.

When he woke everyone else was still asleep, he crept to the door, and opened it. There it was, Harry saw it for only a second before it disappeared like a golden snitch, the glimpse was enough to distinguish that it was a house elf. It was not Dobby or Winky though they ran after the smaller elf.

Dobby stopped and yelled, "'Arry Potter, sir! You is here in the house of black?"

"Urr... Yeah," said Harry, "What are you doing here Dobby?"

"We has no time to talk now," said Winky, "We has to catch Switchy."

"Switchy?" said Harry.

"He is being a little house elf, he is doing no work yet, he is paid, but he still makes much mischief in his working," said Dobby.

"I is wanting to know," Winky began, but she got cut off by Max walking out of his room holding the little elf by his leg.

"Somebody lost this?" he said.

"Switchy!" said Dobby, "Why is you running off? You know we is needing to help Misses Wheezy! Too many there are to cook for."

Max put him down and the little elf quickly jumped behind him to dodge Dobby's scolding. The elf Harry noticed had Dobby's nose, and Winky's eyes. Then he noticed that Winky was wearing clothes. This must be their.

"Son?" said Hermione.

"This is entirely your fault," said Ron looking at her.

"So what?" snapped Hermione, "I'm happy that it is, and I'm happy for Winky and Dobby too."

"So these are elves you freed?" asked Cho.

"Yes," said Harry.

"Hello," said a high raspy voice, "I is Switchy."

"No," said Hermione to Switchy, say it like this, "I am Switchy."

"I a-a-amm Switchy," said Switchy.

"Very good," said Harry smiling.

"You is incorrigible is what you is," said Winky.

"Winky," said Hermione, "If you are going to scold him use correct English."

"Why? Is it some great use to a house elf to know correct English?" asked Winky.

"Oh yes," said Hermione, "You will set an example for all of the other house elves. You could be a great help to all of the other House Elves."

"Really? You is meaning Winky could help? Dobby and Switchy too?" asked Winky.

"Yes," said Hermione.

Winky looked absolutely delighted, "Good, good, good," she said, "and you is being teacher."

"Oh, I suppose I could be your teacher," said Hermione.

"Thanking you, we is," said Winky, "Thanking you very much, we is."

Winky left the breakfast table, but her son, who was dressed in a shrunken wizard's cloak, a backwards baseball cap, a striped shirt, and children's overalls, stayed at the table, looking at Harry.

"You is," started Switchy in a whisper.

"You are," said Harry whispering back, amused.

"You a-are," Switchy said looking to Harry who nodded, "Harry Potter."

"Yes I am Harry Potter," said Harry, "and you are Switchy." Switchy laughed which was like a wheezing, high pitched, bouncing squeal.

"I like you Harry Potter," said Switchy, "Let's be friends, like you and Dobby is, whoops! I mean are, like you and my daddy, Dobby, are friends."

"Oh, alright," said Harry, laughing, "I suppose we could."

Switchy smiled and ran off after his mother Winky.

"Strange," said Hermione.

"Yeah," said Ron, "A house elf kid."

"I'm just surprised that all of their socks match," said Harry.

"Well someone was bound to tell them that, or maybe they figured it out in their own," said Hermione.

"Dobby got rid of the tea cozy," said Harry.

"Yeah, and did you get a load of the holes they cut in that cap Switchy wears?" said Ron.

"And they want to learn," said Hermione.

"Yeah," said Ron, "Hermione a teacher of English, to house elves."

"Oliver Wood, teacher of flight," said Harry.

"Fleur Delacour, teacher uv Devense Aginst Zee Dark Urts," said a familiar French accent from the doorway. Ron winced. He had asked the owner of that voice to the Yule Ball.

"Fleur," said Harry leaning back in his chair to look at her, "How are you doing?"

"Vine, how are you," she said.

"Great," said Harry.

"Ron! How are you?" she said.

Harry kicked Ron hard under the table.

"What, Oh fine. Thanks," said Ron. Hermione stared at him, astounded.

"So, you're teaching, I suppose the rest of the boys at Hogwarts will be paying about as much attention as Ron," said Harry with a grin.

"What," said Ron.

"And there you have it," said Max from his seat.

"'Arry 'oo eez thees boy?" asked Fleur.

"Max Aerials," Max cut in, "Why ask Harry? Got something for him do you?"

"Why be rude?" said Harry, "Hiding something else?"

"You know all I've hidden," said Max, "I don't trust as easily as Dumbledore. I ask rude questions. Sorry if I've offended you. You can never be too careful."

"You know that I'm the one who should be more careful," said Harry, "From now on if I trust you trust."

"You trusted Marietta," said Max.

"What?" said Marietta from down the table.

"Never mind," said Max.

"Why?" said Harry, "You're just being stupid now."

"Am I?" said Max, "Whatever you say, you're the leader, as for me, I'm going to the courtyard."

"So are we," said the rest of the table, "you're being unreasonable Harry."

Ron handed Harry something heavy, and before Harry realized what he had been handed he slammed it into the table.

"NO!" he yelled. The table froze, "You'll sit back down and eat breakfas6, Max will stop being stubborn, and he will apologize."

"I will?" said Max, "and I'm supposing you'll make me do it? Well, Fleur," he winked at her, "I'm sorry."

"'Arry, could you get the sword out of the table pleez and vollow me?" asked Fleur.

"What sword?" said Harry, and then he looked and saw the sword of Godric Gryffindor. He pulled it out of the table and examined it. It was as perfectly silver as when he had found it. He followed Fleur out of the room.

"What?" he said.

"'Arry don't be so 'ard on Max," said Fleur, "He's using me to establish your leadership, 'EE sent for me, I'm 'eer to 'elp him."

"So this was planned," he said. Fleur nodded, "Alright, but don't expect anything to change, you're both in trouble with me." Fleur batted her eyelashes, and Harry said, "Oh alright I'll make an exception."

"Great," said Fleur, and she went back into the kitchen.

When Harry walked back into the kitchen, everyone was looking at him.

"What?" he said.

"That's what we want to know," said Cho, "Max told us all about Dearborn."

"Oh yeah," said Harry, "I totally forgot, has Madame Pomfrey left yet?"

"She left some time last night," said Max, "Why?"

"We can see him if that's true," said Harry.

"Not if I see you first," said a man's voice from the doorway of the kitchen behind Harry. The face of the man he had seen last night looked down at him from over his shoulder.

"Mr. Dearborn," said Harry Potter, "Please, sit down."

"No need," said Dearborn, "Madame Pomfrey fixed me up alright."

"So anything new?" asked Harry.

"I'm here," said Dearborn, "Nothing else new, unless you count the prison break."

"No more dementors in Azkaban?" said Harry.

"Exactly, and Lucious Malfoy was one of the lot that attacked us," said Dearborn.

"Great," droned Harry, "I'd forgotten about the Slytherins."

"Dirty little gutter rats," said Seamus.

"Don't stoop to their level," said Harry wisely, and then changing his mind said, "Okay, stoop lower than their level."

"You're getting the hang of this, Potter," said Dearborn's low growl, which sounded almost exactly like Moody's voice.

"It's a bad business that we have to run," said Harry, "You can't be scared to break the rules and get your hands a little dirty."

"True," said Dearborn moving out from behind him, and Harry got another glimpse of the man in the photograph with his parents. He was tall and thin, and his front teeth, though slightly larger than average did not appear to be so with his long face. His hair was naturally smooth, and he wore it back in a ponytail like Bill Weasley's, but his hair was gray. He had a goatee, dark and bristle short, not long and winding like Snape's.

"Which is where I come in then, right?" asked Max.

"You volunteering?" asked Harry.

"We all did by showing up," said Max, "You just have to make the dirt stain our hands."

"He's smart, this one," said Dearborn. Max and Harry looked at each other. Harry thought of how Dumbledore had hidden him. They were alike, Dumbledore and Max, and that familiar fire burned in Max's eye as he shrugged at Harry.

"Yes he's a wise one," said Moody, "but you talk about Max as if he weren't here, Caradoc."

"Sorry Moody, sixteen years of a horse would turn most into a horse's ass," said Dearborn. Everyone laughed, even Moody, it twisted his scarred face into a grotesque representation of a man who'd seen too many battles.

Max began to say something, but Cho cut him off, "Sir, will you be teaching us anything this year?"

"Oh yes," said Dearborn, "You all have very special schedules next year, I will teach high risk combat."

"Do you have our schedules?" asked Hermione.

"Yes, I do," said Dumbledore entering the room.

"Harry," said Max.

"Oh," said Harry. He got up and took the schedules from Dumbledore. He tossed them down the table to their owners.

"Dumbledore's Army will be taking seventh year classes whether that is your year or not. Last year put you substantially ahead of your peers, whom you will still be testing with at the end of this year. Everyone here will take potions at the same time at night and after that Professor Snape will be teaching each of you Occlumency so as to keep you from spilling important information if captured." He looked at Marietta when he said this and continued, "High Risk Combat can be a dangerous subject, but Hagrid's Seventh year Care of Magical Creatures Class maybe a bit more unsafe. Worry not, I've made sure the son's and daughters of a lot of death eaters have been put in as many of your classes as possible. Feel free to attack them at any time you desire." He stopped, winked at them, and chuckled, "You are all to listen carefully and not let them get suspicious that you are listening for information. Let's hope one old Death Eater is stupid enough to tell Draco, I mean their children, the plan." The old man behind the half-moon spectacles winked at Harry with that glint in his eye he got when he was doing something he shouldn't have done or saying something he shouldn't have said.

"And hope that Malfoy parades through the hallway announcing it like he does everything else," said Ron.

Harry had forgotten about Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Malfoy was Harry's sort of Harry's nemesis at school. He was the one that made Harry's life hell now, and now Harry would have Dudley, who was now set bigger than Crabbe and Goyle He could do anything he wanted with Malfoy. He was now entirely sure that he was ready to be the leader of Dumbledore's Army. Dumbledore went on to say that one member of each house would be given the privilege of being able to take house points from other houses, so long as the house they took it from wasn't any house but Slytherin. They would all be able to give anyone detention, but only three would take house points from other houses, but on the upside they all got to use the prefects bathroom. Harry advised everyone to be cautious of ghost called Moaning Myrtle when using the bathroom. She liked to watch prefects bathe at night. Harry walked out of the kitchen and into the courtyard. It was a sunny day, he was really getting ready to relax when Dudley came over to him and started talking.

"Hey Potter."

"What Dudley?"

"I had no idea about all that stuff from Hogwarts when I was, you know in that sleepy dream thing."

"Okay."

"I just wanted to say thanks, I'm not scared anymore."

"Anything else?"

'Yeah, I'm sorry for how I've treated you."

"That took guts. Dudley? Oh you're gone. You have no idea what I just said."

Harry sat up from lying on the ground and looked around. Dudley was across the courtyard. And he realized several people were watching him.

"We ought to magic you up a hot tub and a swimming pool out here, let's ask Dumbledore. You know extend the courtyard maybe we can get Quidditch goals too," said Max, "You could use five minutes in a hot tub with a girl."

"What?" said Harry.

"Keep it down, git," said Max, then he winked, "Get it now?"

"You're disgusting," said Harry, "and insane."

"Yeah," said Max then he began to laugh. He really had lost his mind somehow and loved not being able to find it until he wanted to.

"You going to ask?" said Harry.

"Why would you care?" said Max over his shoulder.

"I said you were disgusting," said Harry, "Did I ever say that the rest of the boys here weren't disgusting too?"

"True," said Max getting closer to the door inside, "Aren't we all a bit like me? The girls too for that matter."

"You've got to be kidding me," Harry muttered to himself.

"Where's he going?" asked Ron walking up behind Harry.

"To get a hot tub and a swimming pool," said Harry.

"Good, I could use a dip in a pool," said Ron.

"Fleur in a bathing suit?" said Harry.

"How do you do that?" asked Ron.

"It's a gift," said Harry.

"One I wish I had," said Ron.

"What are you two on about?" said Hermione appearing at their sides, "What's so funny? I don't appreciate being laughed at."

"Oh, it's nothing," said Ron.

"It's not you," said Harry, "Well maybe a little bit about you, but it's really Ron."

"What's going on?" asked Cho.

"They've both gone bonkers is what's going on," said Hermione. Harry straightened up and stopped laughing.

"Boys vill be Boys," said Fleur sitting down on a bench. Ron quickly sat down next to her. Harry started laughing again. Hermione rolled her eyes and walked off. Cho leaned against a column, thinking and every now and then she'd look over at Harry. Dudley came over and sat on the ground. Dean and Seamus came over and began to talk to Dudley about Harry. Dudley said that Harry was best cousin any kid could wish for, sometimes.

"Sometimes?" said Harry.

"Okay, always," Dudley replied.

Their discussion carried on for a while and then Max walked out with a wide grin on his face.

"Harry help me push the walls out from this corner," he said putting down a package he was carrying. Harry shrugged and began to push the wall beside him, but strangely, it moved. Max pushed on the other wall. They were growing the courtyard was growing, everything became more spaced out, and the platform grew too. Everyone who had been sitting helped push the other two, until the courtyard was about four or five soccer fields long at both sides.

Max walked out to the platform, which was still perfectly centered, and pointed towards patch of grass about the size of one soccer field.

"Fleur, give us an American football field sized hole, right there. One hundred ten yards by fifty yards, and ten yards deep," said Max.

"Alright," she said. She stood up and waved her wand once. The ground upon which Max was standing began to sink quickly beneath him. Max ran toward the wall of the hole but the pit was now too deep to reach the side in time he sat down and waited for the hole to stop.

"Could I get a broom or a rope or something?" said Max.

Harry tossed him one of the D.A. spare brooms, and when he caught it he sat on it sideways and rose slowly out of the hole looking down at the dirt bottom. He lied down on the broom. When he reached the top and slowly floated to the ground level at which everyone else was standing watching.

Max tossed a miniature model of a pool and hot tub out of the package into the hole. Harry laughed, and then Max asked for a watering can. Ginny extracted one from a crate in the corner. Max went over to a creek which was a side effect of stretching and the last week's heavy rain, and filled it. He then watered the model and it grew. He took another model out, this time of a Quidditch pitch. He ran over to the platform and watered it. Something different happened this time quidditch posts appeared at two ends of the courtyard and a box of Balls appeared where the model had stood seconds ago.

"That was easy," said Seamus.

"Cool," said Dean.

"I second that," said Cho.

"Whoa," said Dudley.

"I'm with the lump on that one," said Ron.

"I'd have to agree too," said Hermione.

"Pure genius," said Fleur.

"It worked!" said Vanessa, "Finally your work paid off!"

"Congratulations," said Harry, "You're good."

"Almost as good as you right," said Max.

"Almost," said Harry with a wink.

Everyone laughed Max hugged Vanessa so tight she changed colors three times before he let go.

"Everybody change let's test the water," said Harry.

"We're here to swim?" said Seamus.

"Scared are vee?" said Fleur.

"Really? You going too huh?" said Tonks behind her.

"Tonks!" yelled Ginny.

"What?" said Tonks, "Miss me already?"

"She won't be teaching anymore," said Tonks, "Fleur here will be helping Mr. Dearborn who, as an Auror, has more experience with Dark Magic. He has just accepted the Defense Against the Dark Arts as well as his previously listed 'High Risk Battle' class."

"It vould be an honor, to serve an internship under him," said Fleur, "But I vill be teaching one class that is not on your schedules, you see this is vie you usually don't receive schedules early. I vill teach 'Wandless Magic and Control of Internal Forces.'"

"And I'll teach super-duper 'Advanced Transfiguration.' What a lame name," said Tonks, "No potion use required, but I can help you all if you want to pass you more advanced Potions classes and Transfiguration classes. Your schedules will be different for every day of the week, later and earlier classes too. Don't worry we'll correct it on the new schedules."

"Hogsmeade?" said Harry.

"Not a problem, but don't talk about anything too important, anybody could be listening," said Tonks, "Now about your grades, Snape will be harder if anything on you this year so I suggest you take that class seriously. Become his best students a lot more doors will open themselves if you do." She looked at Harry and walked inside to change into her suit. All the girls slowly followed, the boys then took one look at each other and ran into the house to change.