Reign O'er Me

---

Chapter 29 - The Dirty Jobs

I'm getting put down,
I'm getting pushed round,
I'm being beaten every day.
My life's fading,
But things are changing,
I'm not gonna sit and weep again.

My karma tells me
You've been screwed again.
If you let them do it to you,
You've got yourself to blame.
It's you who feels the pain,
It's you that feels ashamed.

Just like a child, I've been seeing only dreams,
I'm all mixed up but I know what's right.

- The Dirty Jobs, The Who

---

"Try just a little more circular motion as you swish your wand."

Jamie looked up and saw Remus Lupin standing in the door of the makeshift classroom. She nodded and tried again. "Impedimenta!" Jamie's kitten, batting at a bit of paper, suddenly froze. A moment later, she ended the spell. "Finite Incantatem!"

Lupin chuckled at the kitten's offended reaction as he walked into the room. He glanced down at the book Jamie had propped in front of her. "Working a bit ahead, I see."

"I'm not much use right now if something were to go down. I'm going to do something about it. I was hoping that I could work on the Shield Charm and the Reductor Curse in Defense Against the Dark Arts sometime soon."

Lupin nodded thoughtfully. "All of those are quite a bit above where you're working now, but I don't see a problem with you trying. Have you tried either of them yet?"

"I've managed a Shield Charm, or at least I got a shimmering field, though I couldn't think of a way to really test it. And I haven't tried the Reductor Curse yet. I thought someone else should be around when I did, just in case."

"That's probably a good idea. Jamie, you've come an amazing distance in just the last week. But Rome wasn't built in a day, you know. Other things--and even other lessons--are important, too."

Jamie nodded absentmindedly, then asked. "How old was Harry when you taught him the Patronus Charm?"

"He was thirteen... but that's far more difficult than anything you've attempted thus far. The spell you just cast varies greatly in effect depending on how much power you can put behind it. It's one thing to immobilize a kitten, but something else entirely to impede an attacking wizard who's had years of experience with this sort of magic. Likewise, a Shield Charm varies a great deal based on the will and strength of the caster."

"That's why I'd like to try these spells in Defense Against the Dark Arts practice."

"We'll give it a try later this morning."

"Cool."

"Where's Hermione this morning?" Lupin asked, "I thought you two were starting at eight?"

"She hasn't come down yet. She had a pretty late night last night."

"We all did."

"Can you tell me anything about what happened?"

Lupin turned a chair around and straddled it, and described what had occurred the evening before. "That's really about it. From what I was told this morning, there's been little change since last night. Professor Dumbledore has not yet regained consciousness."

"What about the one that you brought back?"

"She's upstairs in another bedroom. Madam Pomfrey, the healer, and the Flamels were in and out all through last night, but they have said very little about her."

"I'm sorry I'm late..." Hermione said as she rushed into the room with an armload of books. "We were running late this morning... hello, Professor Lupin."

"Good morning, Hermione," Lupin said, as he stood up and turned the chair back around. "Is Ron ready for tomorrow night?"

"He hasn't managed to find a good enough excuse yet," Hermione said. "He hasn't stopped looking for one so far, either."

Lupin laughed and started toward the door. "I'll let you get to your lesson. See you two later this morning."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Good morning," Perenelle said, as Harry and Ginny emerged from their room. "Did you both rest well? How are you feeling this morning?"

"I'm okay." Ginny said, perhaps a little sheepishly. "I feel good."

"Same here," Harry said. "Whatever hit us last night at least didn't last too long."

Perenelle nodded. "I've taken the liberty of asking Dobby to serve us breakfast here. Nicholas will join us in a few minutes, but I have been waiting here this morning since relieving Jamie so she could meet with Hermione. She would not leave unless someone would agree to stay here."

"That wasn't necessary..." Harry began.

"It was to her, Harry. And there is something else you should know." She held out her hands to the young couple.

A few moments later, Harry whispered, "She was ready to fight to protect us." As Perenelle released her grip on his hand, Harry turned abruptly away and walked across the room toward Hedwig's perch.

Ginny arched an eyebrow, "If you and Mum are going to be checking up on us..."

"Then we had best be prepared for whatever we might encounter?" Perenelle asked, matching Ginny's expression and then smiling. "Our first concern is for your well-being, ma petite, and allother considerations come second to that. And as for the whatever, we must, as your generation is wont to say, deal."

Harry spent a few moments talking softly with Hedwig before quickly wiping his eyes and walking back across the room and standing beside Ginny. "Thank you."

"You may not be so quick to thank me after you learn what we must discuss next," Perenelle said.

"We need your help, and rather quickly, I'm afraid," Nicholas added as he entered the room.

Perenelle rose and led the way to their private dining room. There, a banquet of breakfast foods had been prepared and four places set. Perenelle motioned Harry to the head of the table, and Ginny opposite him, while she and Nicholas took the other two places on the sides. After they had served themselves, Nicholas said, "Brian has not yet regained consciousness. Neither Madam Pomfrey nor the healer that was brought here will venture to speculate about how long this may last. For better or worse, we must reach a decision without his input or advice.

"Voldemort appears to have spoken truly in saying that Cassandra Trelawney lives; however, her life, such as it is, hangs by the slenderest of threads. Unless we take action, and soon, she will die again."

"You're not just telling us this, are you?" Harry asked, his expression grim.

"No, Harry. With Brian stricken, the decision falls to us: there is no one else. And it may be that you and Ginny will have to bear the brunt of whatever we should decide."

Harry and Ginny exchanged a look. "I'm... I'm not even sure of what to ask. How can we take anything Voldemort has done at face value?"

"It would help me greatly if I could fathom why Voldemort has sought to bargain at all," Nicholas replied. "This entire episode makes little sense to me. I have yet to discern what he hopes to gain, and lacking that, I cannot even proffer plausible speculation."

"Unless it's some sort of trap," Ginny said worriedly.

"That has been our greatest concern," Nicholas said. "Both Perenelle and I, as well as Minerva McGonagall and Alastor Moody, have examined Cassandra, and none of us can find anything untoward. We do not believe that she has at any time gained consciousness, so an Imperius curse or something of that nature seems unlikely. It is difficult to be certain; the residue of the dark spells Voldemort employed remains."

"But there's no way to be sure?" Harry asked.

"No, we cannot be certain." Perenelle looked first at Ginny, and then turned toward Harry. "Voldemort is both skilled and cunning, and he has worked long to rediscover arts that have been lost for millennia and to forge ahead into areas where few have dared to tread. It is possible, very possible, that this is a gambit on his part. However, should we elect to err on the side of caution and do nothing, that too is a choice: we choose to extinguish the spark of life that now is there."

"Brian unsealed Cassandra's writings and parchments on Monday evening. He had begun to look through them, but had not spoken of finding anything of significance," Nicholas said. "Perenelle and I had thought of seeing what might be found there, but upon reflection we believe it would be better to proceed without making such an attempt. We do not have sufficient time to examine all of the material, let alone study it."

"And as I have told all of you, one of you many times, prophecy is perilous. I believe it is better to stumble blindly than to second-guess a seer, particularly given the small amount of time we have to prepare. It appears we must make a decision in the next two or three hours at the latest," Perenelle said. "I would like to know your own thoughts before we influence you any further. As Nicholas said, the two of you may bear the greatest burden of whatever we decide here."

"You said there was a spark of life?" Ginny asked.

Nicholas nodded.

"Whatever horrible thing Voldemort did... it still seems wrong not to take a chance if we're not completely sure," Ginny said. "I don't think we should let her die."

"And I keep thinking about Professor Dumbledore, about what's easy and what's right," Harry said thoughtfully. "Madame Flamel, when we came to you for help the first time, you said that sometimes the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many. That all any of us can do is hope that what should be, shall be. If we're not certain, how can we not take the chance? I don't think I could ever face Professor Dumbledore again if we take the easy way out here. Yes, we should take every precaution that all of us together can come up with... but to play it safe at the cost of a life is too great a price."

Nicholas nodded slowly and then said, "This was the same conclusion that we reached, and for quite similar reasons. Perenelle believed that this would be your response, but I wished to be certain. As I told you, Harry, I carry a share of the guilt for what happened to Cassandra, and I do not fully trust my own discernment in this matter. Thank you both. We shall begin as soon as we finish here, and I would like for you both to be there."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Good morning, ladies," Chris said, as Hermione and Jamie entered the training room. She glanced at her watch. "I know Harry and Ginny won't be here this morning, but where's Ron?"

"He was up--more or less, anyway--when I came down," Hermione replied. "He's usually in the kitchen when Jamie and I finish up and come here. He wasn't this morning."

"Okay, so odds are he's playing hooky. We'll deal with that later. Hit the machines for twenty minutes or so," Chris ordered and then grinned. "Then we're going to do something else, and maybe you can help him catch up later. You might enjoy it."

Jamie had just worked up a good sweat when Chris called a halt and motioned them over. "I'd actually planned to start this after you'd had a full week of just the machines, but since it's just the three of us, I thought we might have a little fun instead. Hermione, how'd you feel when your wand got broken?"

"Well... pretty helpless. I couldn't do much more than run, duck, and hide."

"On the other hand, Jamie, when you ran into the Malfoy kid, he had what, three punks knocking him around? And one of them had a knife?"

Jamie nodded.

"And you kicked their ass, all three of them, with nothing more than a bo, a staff?"

"I think it was a shovel handle," Jamie replied.

"You should have used it on Malfoy," Hermione muttered.

"My point is, Jamie didn't run, duck, or hide, and she didn't have a wand, not that she would have known what to do with it if she did. But she still kicked butt. That's what all of you are going to learn to do, in all sorts of situations. With your bare hands, with what happens to be at hand, and maybe some other stuff later. And to start off, you're going to learn how to fall. You'll be doing a lot of that, and Madam Pomfrey already has her hands full."

They spent some time trying to follow Chris's examples of safe ways to fall, land, or roll. When Chris was finally satisfied with their efforts, she demonstrated various stances and some simple moves that they then practiced. "If we had a little more time, we'd try a bit of sparring just to give you a feel for it, but we're out of time today. I may want to juggle with the schedule a bit more and steal another fifteen minutes of your lunch. Conditioning we can do in forty-five minutes, but if we're going to do hand-to-hand, we're going to need more time."

Lupin arrived and after a brief conversation with Chris, she and Hermione moved to one side of the room to work on dueling tactics while he would work with Jamie. "Okay, Jamie, what would you like to try?"

"How about a Shield Charm?"

Lupin nodded. "Let's get a little space, and we'll give it a try."

Jamie moved several paces away and readied her wand. "Protego!"

Lupin moved his wand carefully, limiting the power behind the spell. "Depulso!"

Jamie's shield shimmered as the spell hit and held. "Not bad," Lupin said. "Let's try that again, and this time I'll put a little more power behind it."

"Protego!"

"Depulso!"

The shield held. Lupin tried several times more, gradually increasing the power in his attacks. He was still far from using all of his power when Jamie's shield finally faltered and then failed, allowing just enough of the force of the Depulso spell through to force her back a step or two. "Not bad, Jamie. Not bad at all. Let's try the Impedimenta jinx."

Lupin caught Chris's eye an hour or so into the lesson, and they met in the center of the room. "What would you think of letting them duel?" Lupin asked, nodding first at Hermione and then at Jamie.

"Isn't that a little mismatched?"

"Yes, but less than you might think. Jamie's close to grade level on some of her spells, though Hermione knows a much wider variety of spells and is more capable than many adults."

"Her Reductor curse looked pretty effective."

"That seems to be one of Ginny's favorites, too." Lupin grinned. "Maybe it's a redhead thing. God help Harry if he gets caught in the crossfire between them."

"That gives me an idea. What if we even the odds a bit?" Chris went on to explain what she had in mind.

"Okay, ladies, let's try something else for a bit," Chris called. After Lupin had agreed to her proposal, she had taken several things out of an equipment bag near the exercise machines and had moved back toward the center of the room. "We're going to give you a chance to put together what we started on this morning and also do a bit of dueling." She tossed something toward each of the girls. "Now, a formal duel has all sorts of rules and etiquette, but you should both know by now that not everybody plays by the rules. So, we're going to mix things up a little. You can use magic, or you can try and use what we practiced this morning. In other words, it's not over if you're just disarmed, it's over when your opponent gives or we call it. Questions? Good. Put the sparring gear on, and be careful waving those wands."

A few minutes later the first round had gone to Jamie. Hermione had tried a leg locker curse that Jamie sidestepped, but Jamie's Impedimenta jinx hit its target. Hermione had not even tried to dodge the spell, but had firmly gripped her wand instead, as if prepared for a disarming spell. "Never underestimate your opponent," Chris said, laughing. "And you need to pay more attention to what's going on around you. You should have known that was coming."

Hermione won the next two rounds, but not without a fight. Jamie held her own for several minutes each time, but she missed getting a shield up in time to block a body bind the first time, and then she walked into a stunner after misjudging where Hermione was targeting.

"Let's see a little contact this time," Chris directed. "Just use the disarming spell until one or both of you connect with it."

Jamie lasted over ten minutes through the combination of her shield charm and dodging before Hermione connected and captured her wand. Hermione readied a stunner, intending to finish Jamie off, but froze for a moment as Jamie rushed her. She barely got the spell off before Jamie reached her. Hermione's stunner missed as Jamie dropped to the mat just as the spell was cast. Jamie then quickly rolled once and swept Hermione's legs from under her with one of her own. A second later Hermione was flat on her back; Jamie held both wands and had a knee at the older girl's throat.

"That one goes to Jamie. Not the least bit elegant, just plain old barroom fighting, but it gets the job done." Chris said. "Good job, both of you. I'd love to keep going, and if it were anyone but Jamie, we might, but I've already figured out you don't cross Molly about mealtimes. Let's get some lunch."

Jamie stood and helped Hermione up, and they followed Chris and Lupin towards the kitchen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This is the elixir," Nicholas said, as he held up a crystal flask holding a shimmering red liquid. "Voldemort's parchment stated that between three and four gills would be required, which is a significantly larger dose than would normally be taken--or, for that matter, safe. Still, given what I know of the elixir, this seems to be within reason."

"If Voldemort went to such great lengths, it's obvious that he wants us to do this," Harry said. "Why would he try to trick us into killing her when he put a lot of effort into bringing her back?"

"Other than to target Brian, I do not see any possibilities," Nicholas replied. "And I do not believe that Voldemort is that subtle."

"Professor Dumbledore did say that if Voldemort had understood the images he was sending, he would not have sent what he did," Harry said. "Maybe Voldemort knew more than the Professor gave him credit for."

"We cannot even be sure of what Cassandra spoke." Perenelle signed. "Brian believed it to be the crisis we find before us, but we cannot be sure. If Nicholas has no surety in this matter, can Brian?"

"Do you, beloved?" Nicholas asked quietly.

"I am sure of only two things: one being that we lack the time to carefully weigh the matter, and the other that given our uncertainty, if we do not proceed, we take yet another step toward becoming more like the Dark Lord. Harry was right when he called it too great a price. Rehashing it further will gain us little; we should begin."

Perenelle lead the way down the stairs and through the hallways to a second floor bedroom. She knocked gently three times, then entered the room with the others following her. Harry saw Professor McGonagall sitting in a chair beside the bed. She looked up as they entered and said, "No change, I'm afraid."

"That is the best we could hope for, Minerva," Nicholas said. "But it is decided. We shall go forward."

"I had expected no less," McGonagall said as she stood up. "Do you require my assistance?"

"No," Nicholas replied, "but you are welcome to stay."

McGonagall moved away from the bedside and went to stand behind Harry and Ginny. She rested a hand on each of their shoulders.

Nicholas pulled a tiny golden cauldron from somewhere within his robes, placed it on the bedside table, and lit a flame under it. "Voldemort's instructions say that the elixir is to be warmed to body temperature. I do not see how this makes a difference; however, given the circumstances..." He poured the contents of the crystal flask into the cauldron.

They stood silently waiting for several minutes, until Nicholas took a pocket-watch from inside his robes and placed it on the table. He then took a glass dropper and withdrew a small amount of the liquid. Using his free hand, he coaxed Cassandra's mouth open and allowed the warmed elixir to drip in. He seemed to be counting; he finally returned the last few drops to the cauldron.

Every few minutes he repeated the process. Harry noticed that each time Nicholas seemed to use more of the elixir. By the third dose, Cassandra Trelawney was beginning to lose her pallor, and by the fifth, her breathing was deeper and stronger. Harry had lost count, but somewhere around the tenth dropper, Nicholas put it aside and decanted the remaining Elixir into the flask. "Perenelle, help me raise her head," he said.

Nicholas raised her head and shoulders while Perenelle carefully tucked several pillows behind Cassandra. Nicholas gently lowered her back down, and with the flask, dribbled small amounts of elixir into her mouth. He would then lean her head back, encouraging her to swallow. Harry could make out the movement of the muscles in her throat and an occasional twitch in her hands or through the sheet covering most of her body.

Nicholas straightened up after dispensing the last of the elixir. He took a step back from the bed and said, "Now we must watch, though if our instructions are to be believed, we should not have long to wait. Afterwards, we must try to encourage Cassandra to become active as quickly as her strength will allow."

It was not long before Cassandra started to stir. The twitching that Harry had noticed earlier became more pronounced, and it spread through her limbs and body. Harry could see her eyes moving behind their lids, and then there was a low moan. "...you! I love you!" And her eyes opened.

Cassandra blinked her eyes as if adjusting them to the light and after a moment began looking around the room. Her eyes turned to Nicholas for a moment, and then Perenelle. "Nicholas? Perenelle? What has happened, and what am I doing here? Where is Albus? And where might here be?" Then her eyes locked on Harry's forehead--a look he had become accustomed to, but this time it did not upset him. "More to the point--when am I?"

"It is the seventeenth day of July in the year 1997," Perenelle replied. "You are in London, in what you knew as the House of Black, though much has changed recently. It is both the headquarters of the Order and the home of le champion présumé. As for..."

"Présumé?" Cassandra interrupted. "What of Albus?"

"He is here, but injured, grievously so," Perenelle replied. "As for your other question... that is complex. Given the circumstances, I would prefer to give that to you directly. Also, we are led to believe that it is important for you to get up and move about as swiftly as your strength will allow. Do you feel strong enough to make the attempt?"

Cassandra set up slowly and experimentally. "I think so, though I feel a little dizzy. Perhaps if Nicholas and that strapping young lad would assist...." Nicholas moved beside her, and motioned for Harry to join him. "I want to see Albus. And then... then we shall deal with the rest of it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You know, I almost feel bad about doing this," George said.

"It does seem a little too easy," Fred replied.

"Do you think she wants us to set him up?"

"Nah, it's her parents they're having dinner with. Besides, Hermione isn't that devious. She'd have come out and asked if that's what she had in mind. She's just naïve enough to think we wouldn't..."

"Wonder if Ginny is going to prank her at the same time with the goods we enchanted for her?"

"You know, we've got to see if something like that will sell. I wonder which one she'll use?"

"From the research I've done, it even has potential as a serious product. Even Muggles have stuff that tries do the same thing."

"If we get a chance, let's drop a hint to Ginny."

"Okay... though I'd love to be there when it triggers."

Fred had been carefully polishing a pair of shoes. "There... finished. The finest in Muggle footwear."

"Well, yeah, they used to be."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ron!" He looked up from the book he had been reading and saw Hermione standing in the doorway, hands on hips. "What do you mean by skiving off this morning's lesson?"

Ron casually tried to slip his book under the covers. "Hey, Madame Flamel said it was okay, and that Harry and Ginny weren't going to be there, either."

"You asked her if you could skive? After I'd already gone down?"

"Um... No, actually, er, she suggested it."

Hermione narrowed her eyes, but Ron's expression didn't change.

"She didn't think we'd meet with McGonagall, either," Ron added, "since she was up all of last night. Didn't say anything about Snape, though. She did want to talk to you, but she didn't say about what."

"And you've spent all morning with your nose in a Quidditch book? You could have been learning something useful. We started working on unarmed combat today."

"How'd you do?"

"You said Madame Flamel wanted to see me?" Hermione backed out of the room. "Let me see if I can find her."

Hearing her footsteps recede as she walked down the hall, Ron fished Debrett's New Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners from beneath the covers and started reading again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Professor Flamel?" Hermione called, as she spotted Nicholas on the stairway.

He paused long enough for her to catch up.

"Professor, I was looking for Madame Flamel. Ron said she wanted to speak with me."

"She is occupied for the moment; however, I do have a message for you, my girl. Both Professors McGonagall and Snape are otherwise occupied this afternoon; however, Perenelle would be most appreciative if you would spend this time working with Harry and Ginny on Portkeys and on introducing Jamie to the Summoning Charm. I know that was not on your outline, but Perenelle felt it might be within her capabilities."

"Certainly, Professor. Er, what about Ron?"

"I believe she was planning on asking him to undertake some task as well, though I'm afraid I am not aware of the details."

"Okay, Professor, I'll be glad to help any way that I can."

"Thank you, Hermione."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry and Ginny had already seated themselves at the kitchen table for lunch; Jamie was there, too, and she said Hermione had gone to find Ron, who apparently had chosen to have a lie-in this morning. Earlier, Harry and Ginny had accompanied Cassandra Trelawney, the Flamels, and Professor McGonagall across the hallway to the bedroom where Professor Dumbledore lay. Madam Pomfrey had been dozing lightly beside his bed; she had awoken with a start. Though she did not say anything, she did not seem pleased to see Cassandra there.

Cassandra had stood looking at Dumbledore for a few moments; then she took a step forward and took the Professor's hand. After a few minutes had passed, she had gently touched his cheek, and then turned to Perenelle, saying that she was ready. Perenelle and Cassandra had returned across the hallway to the room where she had awakened. Nicholas had suggested to them that they get lunch and that McGonagall get some rest; he had then disappeared into another of the second-floor rooms.

"How was your lesson?" Harry asked.

"Pretty cool." Jamie went on to describe what they had done that morning.

"That's nothing short of incredible. You're doing spells I didn't learn until fourth year," Harry said. He made a mental note to thank Hermione; what she had done, dueling with Jamie, had really boosted her confidence. "And Jamie... about last night. Thank you. I'm glad you chose a room close by."

"I... I didn't really...do... do anything," Jamie stammered.

"No, Jamie, you did something no one in Harry's family ever did before--you stood up for him, to protect him. And me too. It really means a lot," Ginny said. "Thank you."

"I still have an awful long way to go," Jamie said shyly. "Harry... will you and Ginny practice with me?"

That took Harry by surprise, but he agreed at once. "Of course I will, but I think Professor Lupin was right... you shouldn't neglect everything else and just do Dark Arts."

"She's not," Hermione said as she entered the kitchen. "Her Charms and Transfiguration work are on track per the schedule we made. And I wouldn't worry too much about her Defense Against the Dark Arts. She took me two out of four times." Seeing Harry's look, she added, "And I wasn't pulling any punches. The first time she caught me off guard with a spell I had no idea she'd learned. The second time I had her wand, but she knocked me down flat on my back and took her wand back and mine too. I didn't know what hit me. This is the sort of thing Chris is going to be teaching us. Jamie's way ahead of all of us in this unarmed stuff."

"Maybe you need to show us a few things, Sis," Harry said, grinning. "Where's Ron?"

"He was up in his room reading something, probably about Quidditch. He must have eaten earlier. I ran into Professor Flamel; he said McGonagall and Snape were not going to do our lessons today. He asked me if I'd work with the three of you on Portkeys and on some other stuff with Jamie, instead."

"Professor Hermione to the rescue," Harry said, still grinning. "If you'd said no, we could have taken the afternoon off."

"How about Ron?" Ginny asked.

"Apparently Madame Flamel has him doing something. Professor Flamel wasn't sure what. If I find out he's trying to find a way to get out of tomorrow night... I'll... I'll..."

"Ron wouldn't do that," Harry said reassuringly. "He's just a little nervous. Well, okay... maybe a lot nervous. But still, he wouldn't..."

"I'm not so sure," Hermione said. "He certainly didn't tell me everything this morning. He said Madame Flamel suggested he skip this morning's lesson, but I think there was more to it than that. No matter what, he's not going to get away with skiving off tomorrow night."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you ready, Ron?" Perenelle asked, standing in the doorway where Hermione had stood a short time before.

"As ready as I'm going to be," he replied, closing the book and then standing. He started to stuff the book under his pillow, but Perenelle told him to bring it. She led him to the first floor drawing room and closed the door behind them.

"Have you read the chapters that I suggested?" Perenelle asked.

"Yes, all of them, at least twice."

"I am still puzzled why you would ask me..."

"I..." Ron shook his head. "Mum and Dad, despite what Dad used to do, really don't know much about Muggles. Hermione has tried... but she assumes I should know certain things that are old hat to her, and then she gets frustrated when I don't. Harry grew up with Muggles... but he knows about as much as I do about this sort of thing. Back... back in Atlanta, you seemed to be as comfortable with the Muggles as with us. I'd hoped you could tell me..."

"What do you seek from this, Ron?"

"I don't want to mess it up. Hermione is too important... and from what I can tell, she's worried, though she tries not to let it show. Her parents didn't get together until they were a lot older than the two of us - after they had finished... what it's called... university? I don't want to mess things up. Or have them try and keep her home... or worse. And the way their message was worded... Hermione says she hasn't said anything, but they must know something. Why else would they ask for just me?"

"First, you should understand that most Muggles are no different that wizards in that most of them seek only what is best for their children. You should not judge the Grangers by Harry's aunt and uncle; from what I have learned, Hermione's parents are much closer to yours. The greatest difficulties that the two of you may encounter are that the cultural norms of our world and theirs have drifted quite widely apart over the past few hundred years, and that Hermione is their only child. And the situation you find yourself in may have been made somewhat more difficult by recent events. I am aware that both Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore have communicated with the Grangers," Perenelle said. "And I believe that your mother has, as well."

Ron looked stricken. "How... how recently?"

"I believe that Minerva talked to them several times while we were in Atlanta. When I described how Hermione had been injured, she expressed concern about breaking the news to the Grangers."

"Oh, no. They know about that... and what about us?"

"I am not aware of any specifics, child, but as you said, why else would they ask for you? Though if Hermione should wear her ring, even if they did not know, it will certainly come out."

"I just don't want to mess this up. It's too important... but I'm not sure what do to."

"Do you know how much they understand about our world, and what Voldemort represents, and what your roles have been and are?"

"Hermione has said she has told them as little as she could get away with, and that she has tried to gloss over as much as she could, so they wouldn't worry."

"That could make your position, and hers, that much more difficult if they have become aware of how much Hermione has held back."

"Yeah, that much I kinda figured out. But what do I do about it?"

"Tell me what you know about the Grangers, Ron. What Hermione has told you and what you've gathered from talking with her over the years."

"Well, they're dentists. Until fourth year, Hermione's two front teeth were a little large, but her parents wouldn't agree to let her have them fixed by magic. Then in fourth year, there was an accident in Potions..." Ron continued describing what he knew about the Grangers, and that Hermione was their only child, and that they seemed to be very proud of her.

"And how has Hermione suggested that the two of you handle this?"

"Mostly to answer her Mum's questions as long as she's not upset, and to let her handle her Dad."

"And this is not sufficient?"

"I just feel... I'm not sure. I don't think she's sure of what to do. And it doesn't feel right, somehow, letting her take the heat. Especially after what you told me about Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore. Hermione isn't expecting that."

"I would recommend you initially attempt to proceed as she has outlined. They are, after all, her parents, and she should know them best. However, should you find yourself on the defensive..." Perenelle continued on for some time, describing how Ron might try to deal with various situations. Ron listened carefully, and for the first time since the letter had arrived, he felt a ray of hope.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry climbed the last staircase between the third and fourth floors, Ginny trailing a little behind. It had been a pretty good afternoon. Hermione had spent most of her time working with--or more accurately, lecturing--Jamie on summoning and banishing spells. Harry thought that sometimes Hermione could be terribly long-winded, but so far Jamie listened raptly to every word, and they both seemed quite happy with the arrangement. And it had worked out well for Ginny and himself--they had been able to work together on the Portkey spell; and without Hermione hovering over them, they had both managed to construct Portkeys during the second hour.

They had spent the rest of the afternoon experimenting with various types of triggers, and Harry had been able to make a two-way Portkey that would toggle between the fourth-floor sitting room and the classroom. Ron had come in a minute or two before six to suggest they knock off for the evening meal. Hermione asked him how he had spent his afternoon, and Ron had complained about having to lug things about the second floor. "I mean, there is a house elf..." he'd begun; but a glare from Hermione had silenced him, and she had given him the cold shoulder all through dinner. Afterwards, Hermione had pointedly asked Jamie if she wanted to continue working, while Ron had shrugged and left the kitchen, heading toward the stairs.

"We could have made a Portkey." Harry paused as he reached the fourth floor and waited for Ginny to catch up.

"Better not let Mum see you doing too much of that," Ginny replied, smiling. "Remember how she yelled at the twins last year for Apparating everywhere?"

Harry nodded as they entered the sitting room, where they found Perenelle waiting for them, seated on one of the sofas. Neither she nor Nicholas had been present at dinner. She motioned to them, indicating that they should sit. "How did the two of you progress with the Portkey this afternoon?"

"Really well," Ginny said. "We both managed to cast the spell; Harry even made a two-way repeater."

"And you have only just finished your fourth year," Perenelle said, smiling at Ginny. "That is a remarkable achievement. And for you as well, Harry. I am afraid the two of you may find little challenge in many of your lessons next year." She paused for a moment, looking at each of them. "But that, at least, is a problem for another day. I would like to ask a favor of you this evening, if I may."

"Certainly, Grand-mère," Harry replied. "What can we do?"

"Nicholas, Minerva, and I wish to visit Hogsmeade. It does not appear that Brian will recover quickly, and it would be preferable if that were not widely known. We intend to speak with Aberforth, and ask him to stand in for his brother. To, in short, make it appear as if Albus Dumbledore, as far as the world is concerned, is going about his affairs normally."

"And you want us to come?" Harry asked.

"Non, lapin," Perenelle replied. "Cassandra has insisted on staying beside Brian... and at least for now, we are reluctant to leave her alone with him. This morning, after the two of you went downstairs, I shared many memories of both recent and not-so-recent events with Cassandra, and she allowed me to probe freely, even though sharing in this fashion has always proven quite uncomfortable for her. I discerned nothing that would cause concern, but even so, we cannot be certain."

"Of course we will," Harry said as he and Ginny joined hands. "Gladly."

"Again, while I do not believe there is anything untoward, it is important that you both remain wary. Constant vigilance, as Alastor would say. Only the most exceptional circumstances should draw the two of you close enough together where she could reach you both at the same time."

"I understand," Harry said. "We're there to protect Professor Dumbledore."

"That is a part of it, but there is also more. Both Nicholas and I have known Cassandra since her first year at Hogwarts, and that might blind us to things that you will hopefully see. And it is fitting that you become acquainted."

"This almost seems surreal," Ginny said. "Until this summer, it seemed like everyone was trying to keep us and Harry away from anything remotely like this."

"We are indeed placing an unfair and heavy burden on you children, particularly on the two of you," Perenelle said sadly. "But you have proven again and again that you are equal to the task, and soon you will have even greater responsibility thrust upon you. And in truth, in terms of magical power, the two of you are now among our most capable." Perenelle stood up, and the young couple rose with her. Wrapping one arm around each of their shoulders, she guided them towards the stairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Nuts!" Hermione gave a frustrated sigh. "I'm sorry, Jamie, I'm just not with it tonight. Incendio!" This time a fire kindled in the fireplace.

"It's okay. You were up late last night and then got up early this morning..."

"It's not... um, well... maybe that's part of it. I just..." Hermione trailed off and ended with another sigh.

"Is there anything I can do to help? Should we call it a night?" Jamie offered.

"No. I said we'd work some more tonight. I'm a little distracted about going home tomorrow with Ron--and he's being a total git about it."

"Guys and parents are two of the things I know the least about," Jamie said. "What are your parents like?"

"They're both dentists; they run a practice together. Um... really, they're both really great, though I feel a little guilty about not seeing much of them the past few years. I was away almost all of last summer, and this time, I'd promised to spend more time at home, but a couple days after arriving home, I disappear on them again. And after they let me have the Floo installed, too."

"But isn't it great to be going home?"

"It is... but I'm afraid I'm being called on the carpet. Their letter made it clear they weren't very happy about not seeing much of me, and the way Mum said that Ron was to come along... she has something more in mind than having an even number of places at the table. And I have a feeling that this," Hermione held up the ring, "isn't going to go over very well." She took a deep breath. "Maybe I should just take it off. Though if they have heard something, that just might make it worse." Hermione looked at Jamie, who was listening quietly, and added, "It all sounds pretty pathetic, huh?"

"No, not at all. I think it's great you have parents who care, and that you care about. Ron's a cool guy. And he'd have to be brave to be in Gryffindor."

"Well, maybe except around spiders... and my parents," Hermione said, smiling. "I've tried to give him some idea of what to expect, but I haven't done very well. Partially because I don't know what to expect myself and I get frustrated and then he gets frustrated. And we've both promised each other to try not to fight... it's been kind of hard. If he'll just keep quiet and let me handle them, I think we'll be okay." Her voice became softer. "I hope it'll be okay."

"I wish I could help."

"Thanks, Jamie. That means a lot. And don't worry about boys; they're nothing but trouble."

"I've hardly met any here, except for Draco," Jamie watched as Hermione's expression stiffened, "and all of you hate him."

"Um... maybe hate's too strong a word. But I certainly dislike Malfoy, and wouldn't trust him at all. He's been nasty to all of us since first year, and particularly to Harry. He'd turn on anyone in an instant and would probably sell out his own mother."

"He wasn't like that with me. If he was there to look for me - that's what Harry thought - why'd he help me instead of just handing me over to... to..." Jamie's voice dropped to a whisper. "Voldemort."

"Whatever he was doing, it wasn't for your benefit."

"Still, I'd like to have heard what he wanted to say."

"Maybe we should have let him talk. Once he starts treating you like all the other Gryffindors, you'll realize how much of a prat he really is. But whatever you do, don't ever let him get you alone."

"I won't need to if next time the rest of you let me hear what he has to say," Jamie said pointedly.

"You get it honestly, at least." Hermione shook her head and chuckled briefly. "That's probably the one argument that'll convince Harry."

"I know," Jamie said, grinning. "If we're going to keep going, could you show me that wand movement again?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Cassandra," Perenelle said as they entered the room where Dumbledore lay, "There is an errand to which Nicholas and I must attend. Harry and Ginny have agreed to keep you company for the next few hours. Is there anything we might do beforehand?"

Cassandra, sitting beside Dumbledore's bed, one of her hands covering one of his, replied, "No, nothing, but thank you." Then, looking at Harry and Ginny, she smiled for a moment and said, "And welcome; please, be seated. And there is no need for pretense. I know that Perenelle has asked you to watch me, and Albus, and I would have done the same in her place."

Ginny settled into a chair on the far side of the bed, while Harry took one that Nicholas vacated near the foot of the bed on the same side as Cassandra. "Do not worry, friends. I do not believe that I represent a danger."

"Let us so hope," Nicholas said. Both he and Perenelle looked carefully at Cassandra and the two teenagers. "We should return within two hours. However, should you need us, call."

"We will," Harry said as the Flamels left the room. There were a few moments of awkward silence, and then Harry asked, "Um... how should we address you, ma'am? As Professor?"

"No, Harry," Cassandra replied. "I understand that my granddaughter has taken that title, and I am not one to stand on formality. It will be simpler if you just call me Cassandra. And I hope you will both allow me to be equally informal with you; from the memories Perenelle has given me, I feel I know you both already."

"Certainly," Ginny said, as Harry nodded agreement.

"Nicholas gave me some idea of what you had been told," Cassandra said. "And I know you have many questions. If you would like, I could begin by telling you something about myself, and afterwards, there are many things I would like to learn about you, and about the world where I now find myself." Both Harry and Ginny nodded and she continued. "I was born in the year 1841, a few months after Albus Dumbledore. He was actually born in 1840, but late enough in that year so that we both started Hogwarts in 1852. We became good friends, and somewhat later--I cannot say exactly when, as it was so before either of us acknowledged it or perhaps even realized it--we became a couple.

"After Hogwarts, family... responsibilities... made it necessary for me to spend a great deal of time at the Trelawney estate in Cornwall. Albus remained at Hogwarts, where he continued working with Nicholas Flamel. It was from this collaboration that he became known for his work in alchemy, and it led to his discovery of the twelve uses of Dragon's blood. At first, we would spend our weekends together, sometimes in London, sometimes in Hogsmeade, or even at Hogwarts. Albus rarely came to the Trelawney estate. My grandmother held a great deal of antipathy towards him. I was never certain of why... at least until perhaps now.

"Over time, we spent more and more of our time together. It is perhaps fair to say that our other responsibilities--real or otherwise--suffered, which became a source of friction. By 1862, the situation at my home had become untenable, and I left, intending to join Albus at Hogwarts.

"If you know much of those times, you are perhaps wondering why we would not have immediately set up housekeeping after graduation. Part of it was in hopes that my grandmother might eventually come to accept my choice; there are complexities in the Trelawney holdings that this would have made--simpler, shall we say. Another part of it, which was unknown to me at time, was that Nicholas had encouraged Albus to focus on his work and not to rush into starting a family, though I later learned that this was only part of the reason. Two years after we had graduated, I could hold out no longer. My choices were either to join Albus at Hogwarts, or to strike out on my own: in either case, disinherited by my grandmother. Albus would not even discuss the second option, and we wed the same day I left home.

"I was surprised by the reaction from Nicholas when we arrived at Hogwarts. I had always regarded him as both friend and mentor. Words were exchanged, and had not Perenelle intervened at that point, I believe we both would have left Hogwarts that night--and perhaps we would have found a different destiny. Instead, that night we were both hastily initiated into the Order of the Phoenix; and shortly afterwards, we learned that Nicholas believed that Albus would become the next Guardian. Some years later I learned from Perenelle that Nicholas had feared that if my Trelawney blood were to prove true, I would prove a handicap to Albus. A number of the women in my family, including my grandmother, have been known as seers; and I had shown evidence of such a gift, even as a student at Hogwarts.

"The next several years passed. Albus and I both assumed some teaching duties, at first filling in for other professors from time to time. Later we each taught classes on our own. During this time I also experienced several visions, which led to me to the writings of my ancestor, Nimue. Much of this work I kept to myself, even from Albus. Both Nicolas and Perenelle seemed particularly uncomfortable when I made mention that I believed both my visions and those of Nimue touched not on our lives, but on that of the next Guardian. As I think you realized, Harry, I recognized you, and Ginny as well, though I did not know your names until after Perenelle had shared her memories with me."

"Is there anything you can tell me?" Harry interrupted.

Cassandra smiled briefly. "One of the many memories Perenelle shared with me was your complaint about the lack of anything specific from prophecy, and I am afraid much of what I might tell you is similarly open to interpretation. And knowing as little as I do right now, I would think it best not to say more. No doubt Perenelle has told you that prophecy is perilous?"

"A few times," Harry replied, as Ginny nodded.

"I'm afraid she is right. Some of what I saw and shared with Albus did not... serve us well. Now is probably not the time to discuss this topic any further." Cassandra paused and took a deep breath. "In any case, we lived, mostly happily, at Hogwarts, for many years. In 1894, Albus became the Guardian, which was not long after Grindelwald began his rise. And then, in 1898, I... died... when... when Albus confronted him. And then I... awoke... here." Cassandra sat for a moment, and looking at Harry, continued, "And I know there are many gaps in what I have thus far learned of the intervening years, but I do know I am indebted to you, Harry. You rekindled something important in Albus."

"And like everyone else around me, he ends up..." Harry's voice trailed off as he looked at Dumbledore's still form.

With a concerned glance toward Harry, Ginny changed the subject. "Our Divination teacher, Sibyll Trelawney, is your great-great-granddaughter. Is... is Professor Dumbledore her great-great-grandfather?"

"Yes," Cassandra replied. "I do not know all of the details, at least yet, but our daughter was only three years old when I... died. She ended up being raised by my mother. I believe it likely that she may not have known who her father was; and from what Perenelle has shown me, Albus was ill-equipped, following his encounter with Grindelwald, to deal with a child, or with my family."

"What do you do... now?" Ginny asked.

Cassandra smiled again, though sadly, and said, "That remains to be seen, Ginny. Finding myself here is... unique, to say the least. Albus, no doubt, has been changed by the years and the problems he has faced. And Nicholas and Perenelle both fear, not without cause, that I may not be completely as I appear." She smiled again. "Now, if I might impose on you, would you be comfortable telling me something of yourselves? I am particularly interested what you are willing to tell me of your bonding, and about how you found Jamie. Perenelle has told me you are aware there might be a reference to Ginny and Jamie as separated twins in some very old writings."

Harry glanced at Ginny; through their link he knew she was willing. He encouraged her to begin.

"I reckon I should start at the beginning," Ginny said. "I met Harry the first time when I was ten..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Good evening, Jamie," Perenelle said, a moment after she and Nicholas stepped from the fireplace. "I trust your day has gone well."

"Hi," Jamie said as she looked up from the table. "It was good." As the Flamels continued past her, she hesitated, then asked, "Grand... er, Madame? I'd like to talk to you about something... whenever you can."

Nicholas and Perenelle exchanged glances, and Perenelle said, "Go ahead and check on Harry and Ginny. Severus is to be here within the hour. And tell them both I would like to speak with them in their sitting room before they retire."

"I will ask them to wait for you, beloved. I shall send them up well before Severus arrives," Nicholas said, as he continued from the kitchen.

Perenelle asked Jamie for a moment, and after making a cup of tea, she joined Jamie at the table. "A bedtime snack?" she asked.

"Yeah," Jamie replied. "Even if I just walk by and Mrs. Weasley is here, she wants to make something for me."

"And I believe there is a hint that her efforts are beginning to pay off," Perenelle said, smiling. "And you may call me Grand-mère, or Grandmother, should you wish, chérie. It is, after all, true, though I would hope would not feel compelled to repeat the number of greats... I am not even sure of how many there are. But come, tell me, what did you wish to discuss?"

"Er... I um... this sounds so stupid," Jamie said.

"The only foolish question, child, is the one you do not ask. Come, and tell me what is on your mind?"

"It's Draco... Malfoy." Jamie described the encounter at Hogwarts, and then her conversations with Harry and Hermione. "I believe what they have told me... or at least that they believe it. But... it doesn't match up with what I saw that night. And I want to at least hear what he has to say." Jamie waited for several minutes while Perenelle sat thoughtfully. She finally prompted, "Do you think Harry and Hermione are right?"

"What did the sorting hat say to you, chérie?" Perenelle asked.

"That... that it would put me in Gryffindor as I wished, but that what the Malfoy boy had said to me was not true. All debts were not paid, and indeed, could not be paid; perhaps matched, but not paid. And that this was the greatest hope for unifying the four houses, and should I fail, the cost would be great."

"You did not tell all of this to Harry."

"No. I told them that the hat had talked about placing me in Slytherin, and that I begged to be in Gryffindor. I'd wanted to talk about this with just Harry... and I'd started to, but that's when you three came in to talk about Voldemort."

"I see." Perenelle said softly. She again sat quietly for several moments. "Jamie, I do not know Draco Malfoy as I know the five of you. I have met the boy, and I am aware of his history with Harry and the others. We--Nicholas, Brian and I--have discussed him at some length, and I can tell you that Dumbledore holds to a hope that Draco will choose not to follow Voldemort. I should tell you that Draco's Godfather--whom you share--believes that Draco has not yet made his final choice."

"Then... Harry and Hermione... might be wrong?"

"There is little question that Draco has treated all of them abominably; and to be fair, he has often ended up on the losing end of their exchanges. He is arrogant, selfish, and cruel; and as a child, he accepted his father's values without question. However, I would not go quite so far as to call him evil, at least yet."

"But if the hat was right..."

"A life debt, Jamie, is a powerful thing, but there are other powerful forces at work here as well. It could be that Draco will find himself trapped between powerful forces, with no good choices. As I said, I would not go so far as to call him evil, but there is little doubt that that is the road that he is on."

"Do you think he can still make a choice?"

"Chérie, I believe that all of us, even Voldemort himself, can make choices. However, you must carefully weigh the costs... in this case, to yourself, to your brother, and perhaps to our world."

"Do you think the hat was wrong?"

"No, child, but I would not willingly place you or Harry at risk, regardless of the potential reward."

"Would... would at least hearing what he had to say put anyone at risk?"

"Perhaps not, but..."

"Would you at least help me that much? I... I at least want to know the truth."

"May I have overnight to consider, Jamie? I do not wish to take an action which would destroy the trust Harry has placed in me; however, I do understand how important this is to you as well."

Jamie looked disappointed; but she agreed, "Okay. Sometime tomorrow?"

"Not later than after lunch. Now, will you tell me about how you spent your day?"