Rating:
PG-13
House:
Schnoogle
Ships:
Harry Potter/Luna Lovegood
Characters:
Harry Potter Hermione Granger Luna Lovegood
Genres:
Action Drama
Era:
The Harry Potter at Hogwarts Years
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Order of the Phoenix Half-Blood Prince
Stats:
Published: 08/10/2005
Updated: 01/24/2006
Words: 106,949
Chapters: 33
Hits: 137,035

Companions of the White Warlock

DrT

Story Summary:
Year seven of the HBP-compliant story (on Dark Arts) 'Smoke'. Harry, Hermione, and Ron go after the remaining Horcruxes, aided by Luna, Ginny, Neville, Remus, Tonks, and Professor Russell.

Chapter 13

Chapter Summary:
Year 7 of the HBP-compliant story (on Dark Arts) 'Smoke'. Harry, Hermione, and Ron go after the remaining Horcruxes, aided by Luna, Ginny, Neville, Remus, Tonks, and Professor Russell.
Posted:
11/12/2005
Hits:
3,809
Author's Note:
As Hermione, Ron, and Tonks search out orphans who had known Tom Riddle, Harry and the Prof continue their discussions with Theseus and then Neville has a heart-to-heart with Harry and drops a bombshell.



Smoke Year VII - Companions of the White Warlock
Chapter XIII

"That's three more down, and still nothing," Ron complained as the trio walked out of a council house in Leeds.

"We're plugging holes," Tonks said with a shrug. "We probably won't learn anything, but there's only one way to find out."

"Isn't a lot of auror work like this?" Hermione asked.

"I hope not," Ron muttered.

"Then you hope wrong," Tonks said simply. "This is actually better than many, maybe even most, investigations, because we only have about a tenth of the paperwork to fill in."

Ron wrinkled his nose.

"Sorry if that disappoints you, Ron, but investigation work means a lot of looking into wrong or dead end paths," Tonks went on. "If you read Muggle or magical fiction, they leave out all the hard slogging or just mention it in passing."

"Do you read a lot of Muggle detective fiction?" Hermione asked.

"Aurors are about the only group in the Ministry who read much Muggle fiction," Tonks admitted. "We have to keep up with the Muggles in order to pass through their world. Let's face facts, the magical world isn't very imaginative or innovative. Most 'new' ideas are either from the Muggle-raised or from direct borrowings from the Muggle world. I sometimes think that if there were only magical people in the world, and we were around in the small numbers we are in this world, we'd all be living in huts with an outhouse in the back."

"That's hardly surprising," Hermione said. "Magic leads to shortcuts and doing things the easy way."

Tonks looked up. "It's getting late. Shall we apparate back to Hogsmeade or Headquarters or apparate on to Harrogate for tomorrow's interview?"

"There's a small hotel," Hermione said, pointing at the intersection ahead of them. "I have some cash and a Muggle credit card. Let's have dinner and stay here for the night."

"Right," Tonks said, rolling her eyes. She said nothing as Hermione took only two rooms. Tonks knew she was not going to have to share her room.

This was not the first time.



***

As the sun set, the three wizards lay in the triclinium, a small feast in front of them. Harry kept his eye on the food. The daylight had cast shadows on the upper half of the room that afternoon, obscuring the frescos. These were now revealed by the lamp light to be extremely pornographic. Russell and Theseus refrained from remarking on them out of deference to Harry.

The discussion had ranged over a wide range of issues and ideas. Harry had been only half listening until Russell asked a particular question. "Would it true that, since magical power continues to grow slowly in us after adolescence, that someone like you would be operating on a very different level from the rest of us?"

Theseus thought about that. "Not entirely. Some would not even admit your basic premise."

"I know, but I do feel I am more powerful than I was when I was Harry's age, or even at forty."

"In large part, we grow into our power," Theseus said. "I would hope that you understand your magic much better now."

"True, but I don't see why I should be able to, say, levitate a heavier load now than I could ten years ago," Russell pointed out.

"I didn't say I totally agreed with the idea," Theseus pointed out. "Still, I would say that your power mostly grew between the age of twenty-one and today because you understand your powers and the use of magic better. In that respect, I really don't think I understand my magic all that much more than I did, say, a thousand years ago. Still, the world around me has changed. I could not have created that modern plumbing in your suite two hundred years ago, even if I had somehow imagined it. That, of course, is a function of knowledge. When we exercise our magic, we do reinforce that power. If I stopped using magic for a hundred years, even if I still kept studying it, I would not be able to use it to the extent I can now."

"So, you still practice?" Harry asked.

"I think the current idiom would say that I 'workout' for at least an hour every morning. I also practice my dueling once a week." Theseus smiled a bit nastily. "One has to prepared for the dangers in this world."

"You didn't answer my basic question," Russell pointed out.

"True," Theseus agreed. "So, yes, power does slightly increase with age. Of course, as wizards such as yourselves age, you start to lose a bit of endurance and then physical strength as you age as well. How much power you gain is uncertain, since there are no ways to accurately measure magical power or potential."

"Now in my regular life," Theseus went on, "I would guess I was about as powerful as you, perhaps a tad more so. These days, I likely am a bit ahead of where your old mentor Dumbledore was before he died, if I have a good understanding of his power."

"Before he was killed," Harry muttered.

"Yes, before he was killed," Theseus agreed. He clapped his hands, and a platter of cheese and a bottle of Madeira floated in for himself and Russell. A treacle tart came in for Harry. Harry's eyes went wide.

"You have not seen the European newspapers, have you, Harry?" Theseus asked. Harry shook his head. "They have questioned many of the students in your year and older about you and your friends. One Lavender Brown was especially open about your likes and dislikes. I understand that there has been a large outpouring of mail for you, which your friends are dealing with."

Harry sighed sadly and looked at the tart.

"I hope that does not put you off your favorite dessert," Theseus said kindly. "Would you like some double cream, whipped cream, or ice cream with that?"

"No," Harry said, "this is fine. Thank you. I hope it wasn't any trouble for anyone."

"My girls allow themselves few sweets, but they do eat some," Theseus said. "I'm sure Kerri enjoyed making the tart; she does love English cooking."



***

Tonks relaxed in Remus' arms. "You look content," Remus said.

"That's one word for it," Tonks replied with a smile. She wriggled her eyebrows. "Care for a fourth?"

"You are insatiable," Remus said.

"Most women are, most men just can't keep up."

"I can, however."

"See, there are advantages to being a werewolf." Tonks suddenly giggled. "Maybe you should bite Ron."

Remus scowled, as he always did when Tonks mentioned him biting anyone. Then the scowl softened into a frown. "Where are Hermione and Ron, anyway?" Tonks had phoned Remus, since he had installed the Muggle device for just such situations.

"In a different room."

"'In a different room' or 'different rooms'?" Remus demanded.

"Room, singular," Tonks said. "From what I've overheard, I would say that, like many teen males, Ron still has a control problem."

"Poor Ron," Remus said.

"I'd say 'poor Hermione'," Tonks said.



***

The discussion had veered over to discussion the fight against Voldemort. After listening to everything the pair had to say, Theseus made decision and said, "You do realize what your major short-term problem will be soon, I hope?"

"You mean, what if Voldemort goes into hiding?" Russell asked. Theseus shook his head.

"Well, there are dementors," Harry said. "We were told they were breeding, but they never made all that many attacks and they seem to have disappeared."

"We were hoping they had left his service," Russell said.

"No," Theseus said. "They would have made overtures to some Ministry or other, so they could at least resume feeding on prisoners somewhere. Dementors are semi-corporeal demons. Dementors breed by merging, which dissolves their forms, which in turn creates that mist. When they start reforming their bodies around the summer solstice, they go into hibernation until the evening after the autumnal equinox. You need to find the caverns where they are hibernating and expose them to bright sunlight or the magical equivalent while casting holy incantations or projecting a powerful wave of love and serenity at them. Once they come out of hibernation, they will be very hungry, and you will be only able to destroy them one or two at a time."

Harry and Russell sighed. "Big job," Harry finally said.

"It's not like we had nothing else to do," Russell agreed.

"I tell you what," Theseus said. "You locate these demons, then notify me. Some associates and I will destroy up to nine nests. We don't like these demons, either."

"Why nine?" Russell asked.

"The particular ceremony we will use can only be used nine times," Theseus replied. He frowned, and added, "In fact, I believe some other associates will also try and track down their hide-aways."

"Voldemort won't like it," Harry reminded the warlock.

"If he dares move against me or mine, my kind will swarm him and torture him for as long as we exist," Theseus replied, looking even less human than he had throughout the day. "If he leaves us alone, we will leave him alone. He should not have allied himself with these demons." Harry decided the man knew what he was doing.



Wednesday, August 20, 1997

The yacht was well-off from Theseus' little harbor. Russell was keeping an eye on Harry, who was controlling the yacht as it ran before the wind. When the wind steadied, Russell came over to where Harry was standing at the wheel.

"Having fun?"

"Actually, I am," Harry replied. Where normally there would be a crew of six to work the sails, Harry could handle the basics by himself. "Tell me, can you drive a Muggle auto?"

"I can," Russell agreed. "Remus and Tonks can, too. I take it that this is yet another thing we should add to the schedule?"

"Do you object?" Harry asked.

"Not really," Russell said. "I wouldn't answer for Neville or Ron, but I can see why you and Hermione should learn."

"Will we have time?"

"Of course. We can let our Ministry and the others keep up the search for Death Eaters and in keeping tabs on the giants. The Order needs to push hard for finding the dementor caverns. I have a dream-learning program for driving, so that you'll at least know all the rules. I have access to a Rolls that runs on magic. You two can drive it around the grounds until school starts. I bet you will be able to take the test before term even starts."

Harry smiled for a moment, and then asked, "Do you think Wormtail and Malfoy are fully debriefed yet?"

"Probably not Pettigrew," Russell agreed. "I saw the interim reports, but they were planning on keeping the rat until next week. Are you thinking he might know something about the dementor caverns? He can't keep anything secret."

"I know, but you said that the questioning had to be exact. He might have been asked about the dementors' locations, but he might have searched caverns without knowing why he was doing it."

"True," Russell said. "I'll take care of it."

"Are we going back tonight?" Harry asked.

"I was thinking about the morning," Russell said. "I'd like a real Marseilles dinner. Don't tell the house elves, but the bouillabaisse they made for the Beaxbatons folk really wasn't all that great. They can't do escargot well at all."

"Escargot?"

"Snails in garlic and butter," Russell said. "It tastes better than it sounds."

"What else? Frog legs?"

"I never cared much for frog legs," Russell said. "There's a place I apparate to about every month or so. A really good bottle of Tavel. . . ."

"Wine, I take it."

"The best area for pink wine on Earth," Russell assured his leader. "A cup of potato soup, a large order of escargot, and a yard of excellent bread to split between us, a kettle of bouillabaisse, a small salad, and a brilliant cheese plate. . . ." Russell's face was blissful.

Harry laughed. "I'll try it, but it doesn't sound that great."

"If you don't like it, they have a full menu of good seafood pasta," Russell said.

"Then let's get there," Harry said. Russell flicked his wand, and the yacht picked up speed.



Friday, August 22, 1997

Filled with curiosity, Harry followed Neville through Hogwarts. Harry and his people (other than Hermione, Tonks, and Ron) had met with Arthur Weasley, Moody, and Professor McGonagall and everyone had made their reports. Harry and Russell's had been the only exciting one, although all reported slow progress on their assignments and from those of the Ministry and Order. Arthur would arrange for Russell to interrogate Pettigrew the next day, and then move on to other senior prisoners the next.

Neville had asked to speak privately with Harry after the meeting, and now they were moving through the dark castle.

"Seems strange not to have to sneak around," Harry said. Harry hoped that Neville was not going to ask him to try and heal the Longbottoms again. Ginny had told Neville what Harry had done for Bill, and Neville had asked Harry to try and heal his parents. Harry had tried, and it had done them some very minor but noticeable good, but not really enough to bring them back to a functional level, physically or mentally. The healers concluded that far too much time had passed for anything to be really effective.

"I'll take your word for it," Neville teased.

"Are we going to the common room?" Harry asked.

"It seems like a good place to talk," Neville said. "We're comfortable there, and for once there won't be anyone around."

"Good points," Harry agreed.

A little more than ten minutes later, the pair were settled into the Gryffindor common room, a fire providing a little warmth in the cool night air, and the only light as well.

"What's up?" Harry asked.

"A couple of things," Neville said. "I don't know which to mention first."

Harry shrugged. "Take your time."

After a few long moments, Neville asked, "Is there any chance of my doing field work?"

Harry considered this. All the teens were undergoing the combat training when it fit into their schedule. Neville had been doing quite well, by any measure. Harry finally shrugged and said, "You've been doing well in the training," Harry said. "I don't see any of us doing any independent work any time soon."

"But?" Neville pressed.

"But I don't know if we need you 'in the field' right now," Harry said. "And, if we let you go, Ginny and Luna will be right behind you."

"And you don't want them out in the field?" Neville asked. "You haven't stopped Hermione."

"I would if I could," Harry admitted. "We need someone doing Luna's work, and only Luna or Hermione could do it. And while I think Ginny could do as well as any of us in a fight, I think she'd have the worst time in many ways if she was captured."

"Ginny's at least a Pure-Blood," Neville reminded Harry. "Hermione would be tortured because of her heritage alone."

"We'd all be tortured," Harry said. "But Riddle took over Ginny. She'd be more susceptible to Voldemort's mind games than the rest of us because of it. Her experience left her a bit weaker there, it didn't innoculate her or anything."

"It's not because you two dated?" Neville asked.

Harry shook his head. "No. Now don't get me wrong, I still think she's cute as anything. I could only see myself dating her or, well. . . ."

"Or Hermione or Luna," Neville agreed. "Because they are part of this, because they know you."

"And because I really like them, and all three are very attractive. But. . . ."

"But Hermione and Ron are together, and you're too shy to ask Luna or Ginny on a date?"

"Or anywhere, even if there was any place we could go, or if there was anything we could do," Harry said bitterly. "But not Ginny. I like her, and going out with her was fun, but it was just. . . ."

"Physical?"

"Exactly," Harry agreed. "It was all hormones on my part. There wasn't any deeper connection."

"So, you wouldn't mind if I tried to form 'a deeper connection' with Ginny?" Neville probed.

"Ginny?" Harry was surprised. "I thought you and Luna were getting together at the end of term?"

Neville shook his head. "No, no that wasn't it. We very much wanted to be with you and the others. We were left behind. . . ."

"I'm really sorry about that, Neville," Harry said, happy that Neville and Luna were not dating after all.

"It's alright now," Neville said. "You've certainly made up for it this summer! Anyway, we wanted to be with you, like Ron and Hermione, and Ginny to a degree." Neville took a deep breath. "And I really wanted to be with Ginny. And Luna very much wanted to be with you."

"Really?" Harry frowned. "I didn't lead her on at Slughorn's party, did I?"

"No, I don't think so," Neville said thoughtfully. "She really cares about you, but she doesn't know how to tell you about the special connection you two share."

"What special connection is that?" Harry asked.

Neville smiled. "Do you know why you were able to break the Headmaster's spell to allow Luna to read his notes?"

"No, why?"

"Because you have created a magical connection with her, the kind of connection that usually only a few lucky married couples have. You share some bits of your magic."

Harry was shocked. "How could I have done that, especially without knowing I did it?" Harry demanded.

Neville shrugged. "I don't know how you did it. I just know you did. In fact, we all know it. You shared the magic that allows you to read those notes, just for one example."

"You all. . . ?"

Neville nodded. "We also all know that you were unaware of it. If Hermione had made it back, I'm sure she would have brought it up. She's been talking about it for weeks. It's been really hard on Luna, knowing there was a magical connection but not knowing if it was somehow accidental and even irrelevant to your feelings, or if it's real."

"Ah . . . shit."

"You don't love Luna?" Neville asked, surprised.

"I don't know how I feel about her," Harry admitted. "I like her, I'm attracted to her." He shrugged. "What is love?"

"You know what it is, Harry," Neville assured him.

"Until I figure this out, please don't tell Luna you've talked with me."

Neville agreed, but reminded Harry, "Hermione might not let you off so easily."

"Hermione isn't here."

"Yet."