- 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: 08/10/2005Updated: 01/24/2006Words: 106,949Chapters: 33Hits: 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 14
- 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:
- 11/18/2005
- Hits:
- 3,799
- Author's Note:
- Hermione plots, and the new school year begins.
When Hermione, Ron, and Tonks returned to Hogwarts early the following Monday, they had found nothing new about Tom Riddle. Ron was disappointed, and he was also questioning his desire to become an auror. He was still planning on trying for the training, as the job of hit-wizard, a group of elite aurors who were more of a para-military group than law enforcement, still interested him and auror-training was a first step. He complained very loudly when Ginny dragooned him into helping to sort through all the mail that was coming for Harry, not that his sister paid him any attention. Ginny and Professor McGonagall had already brought in two of the Hogwarts' elves to check for curses and such, and had hired Eloise Midgen to go through most of the main and send polite replies to those which deserved them.
Harry and Hermione spent that afternoon and the next two practicing their driving. Hermione had also come back with a plan and a schedule. To the amusement of Harry and Professor McGonagall, Hermione rolled over all the other schedules and plans of the other leaders. Harry had not made any specific plans himself, and so was willing to watch the infighting with an amused detachment. He, and Hermione, knew that he might be called on to join in on attacks on the dementors' caverns, if more than nine were located.
Hermione had decided that she and Harry both needed a short break from the magical world, and they would go to visit her parents from the 28th until the 31st. Luna would join them on the Sunday, and they would go over some more of the Headmaster's notes at that time.
Thanks to Neville's warning, Harry had some idea of what else Hermione might have planned.
Harry and Hermione had arrived at her parents' house in the late morning. The pair had walked to the high street and back, getting some Muggle treats. Harry sat docilely in the bright kitchen and smiled at Hermione as she called the driving instructor who was going to go out with them later that afternoon. If he gave them the okay, Hermione's parents would let them take the driving exam the next morning.
"And what are you smiling at, Harry James Potter?" Hermione asked as she hung up. "And stop eating that Mars bar! It's the third one!"
"Fifth," Harry muttered. "I haven't had one in years!"
"That is no excuse!"
"I thought you said you couldn't see yourself scolding the White Warlock?" Harry teased.
"Very funny, Harry!"
Harry leaned back on the chair, lifting the front legs off the floor. "And you're also going to try to match me up with Luna, aren't you?"
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "If Ginny said anything to you. . . ."
Harry shook his head. "Neville, when he was wondering if I still had a thing for Ginny."
"I hope you told him he could try?"
"Of course," Harry said, surprised. "Have I ever tried to keep you and Won-Won apart?"
Hermione's eyebrows nearly disappeared. "You . . . me. . . ?"
Harry shrugged. "Unlike Ron, I've always known you are a girl, and a very cute and adorable one at that. You never seemed interested."
"Oh? And did Cho?"
"No," Harry admitted. "But I didn't know Cho. I know you. I would never risk hurting you, Hermione." His eyes went serious, and he set his chair fully on the floor. "You are my Conscience, Hermione Jane Granger, and you were long before I became the White Warlock."
Hermione sank to her knees. "I . . . I am the Conscience of the White Warlock?" She knew that this was one of the two highest offices in a White Warlock's Council.
Harry got down on one knee and then stood, bringing Hermione with him. "Hermione, you know that you are all that and more. Ron is my best mate, but you're my best friend."
Hermione hugged him. "And you don't mind that Ron and I are dating?"
Harry shrugged. "No. I love you, but we've never crossed the line to being in love."
"True. How about you and Luna?"
Harry shrugged again. "What little I know about love, I learned from watching you and the Weasleys. I don't know how to love people in that way."
"Luna is more than a bit odd, but I think she could teach you, Harry, if you let her," Hermione said seriously.
"She and I should talk about this," Harry said, "not you and me."
"Good point," Hermione agreed, letting go of her friend and leader.
"I don't know why I'm here," Ron complained. "I'm not a student any more."
Ginny slapped his arm. "Death Eaters could still attack the train. You just have to patrol. Neville and I have to address the students."
"Along with Anthony Goldstein, Ernie Macmillan, Susan Bones, Loony, and those two Slytherins," Ron agreed.
"Mark Stover and Carla Brown," Ginny agreed.
Ron's eyebrows went together as he frowned. "Where is Loony? and Harry and Hermione for that matter?"
"There," Neville said with a nod. Ginny heard something in his voice, and looked more quickly than Ron. She saw Harry walking in, holding hands with both Luna and Hermione. She looked at her brother, and saw the wave of shock and jealously pass over his face before it disappeared. Glancing back, she saw that Hermione had let go of Harry's left hand and was coming over to give Ron a hug, although she refused to give him a kiss in front of all the students.
"Have a good weekend?" Neville asked.
"Very good," Harry said. "Hermione and I passed our driving exams Friday, we got all of Dumbledore's notes deciphered (although we didn't learn much that we can use as far as I can see). . . ."
"And you and Luna?" Ginny asked.
"Are going to try and see if we can make it as a couple," Harry admitted.
"Way to go," Neville said sincerely.
"Thanks, Neville. How are your parents?" Neville had planned on visiting his parents the previous day.
Neville shrugged sadly. "The same as the last time, I'm afraid. They seem to have a bit more . . . purpose, but they still aren't really there."
"Your Mum smiled at me," Ginny pointed out.
"True," Neville agreed.
"She gave me a gum wrapper, too," Ginny added. "If you don't mind, I'll take that as a sign of approval."
"Well, she rarely gives them to anyone other than me," Neville agreed.
At that point, Mad-eye Moody stumped over. Harry noticed that most of the children were looking more at him than they were at Moody, which made him wince internally.
"May I speak with you, Mister Potter?"
"Of course, sir," Harry said. The pair moved over to an isolated spot. "The dementors?"
"The dementors," Moody agreed. "It turns out that, as best we can tell, they are in thirteen caverns, spread over Wales, Scotland, the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Balkans, and one small group in Norway."
"And?"
"This contact of Russell's is taking care of the ones in the Balkans, the Alps, and the Pyrenees. That leaves two groups in Wales, one in Scotland, and the smallest one, in Norway."
Harry nodded. Moody went on. "All of them have powerful magic defending them. Russell's contact assures him that he and his group, whoever they are, can take care of the nine they are assaulting."
"I'm sure they can," Harry agreed.
"Well, that's good, because we can't."
"We can't what?"
"We can't break through the defenses," Moody admitted with distaste. "Russell thinks that between the two of you, you and he can, with some help."
"But that would leave three groups," Harry protested.
"Russell says that it should be possible to take them in sequence-- that is, we would not have to make four attacks in one night or two nights. That's what his contact group will be doing -- hitting three a night over three nights."
Harry thought about that, then said, "Then that is what we'll have to try to do."
"The first should be Friday night," Moody said. "That's when the contact group first attacks."
"We'll talk about it after the Feast tonight," Harry said.
While Harry and Moody were talking, Luna was being congratulated by Ginny and Neville. Ron, however, looked dissatisfied.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked him.
"I don't know," Ron answered with a shrug. "I just never saw what Ginny saw in Loony. . . ."
"Luna," Hermione said firmly. "She's an important part of the fight against Voldemort, a vital part of Harry's Council. She proved her loyalty when she and Neville were the only two DA members who came to help us. She had been helping me study and research all last year. Now Luna and I look at things very very differently. If she and I can get along, so can you two."
"She never had a crush on you," Ron muttered.
'If you only knew she had a crush on all three of us at different times,' Hermione thought. She and Luna had worked through their feelings for each other, and she knew that Luna had gotten over her childish crush on Ron over a year before. "She's interested in Harry, not in you. She hasn't flirted with you in over a year and a half. Harry likes her, and I really think she'll be good for him."
"I had hoped he and Ginny would get back together," Ron admitted. "I mean, Neville is nice enough, but I guess we'd all hoped that Harry would be part of the family in a more . . . official sort of way."
Hermione smiled. "I don't think your Mum will let him get away no matter whom he marries."
Ron snorted. "You're probably right at that."
At that point, Harry walked by. "You two will be meeting with Russell and myself after the Feast."
"Right," Ron said, while Hermione nodded.
"Welcome," Professor McGonagall said to the assembled students, staff, and others after the Sorting, "to another year at Hogwarts. I cannot deny that this calender year has been one of the more difficult this school has had this past century and more. For those of you who are Muggle-raised, we will be having an assembly in the morning to explain the conditions in the magical world." She glanced around the hall. "To combat any rumors, we will all be present at that meeting." She then went on to introduce all the staff, the Order members who were to be stationed at Hogwarts, Harry and his Council, and the Proctors. She then made certain that all knew the chains of command.
Only then did the Feast begin.
It wasn't just Hermione and Ron who were meeting with Harry, Moody, McGonagall, and Russell. Neville, Tonks, and Luna were there as well. "I've been told a great deal of information over the last month, especially the last week," Harry said. "It is time I make more detailed deployments. Prof, could you start filling Luna and Remus in on all the information and intelligence that comes through you?"
"All of it?"
"All of it," Harry said. "You're likely to be busy most weekends. You're in charge, but I want these two fully in the loop."
"As you command," Russell said with a smile.
"Hermione, do you think you should track down any remaining orphans?"
"It's a small point, but I'd like to cross them off," Hermione said, "unless you think there's a crisis coming soon."
"Be back by the night before the equinox," Harry said. Seeing the look on Ron's face, Harry went on, "Tonks, can you handle the security alone, or would you like Ron to come along again?"
"Considering where we're going, we won't need him if the Minister would write us security passports."
"Harry's paladins don't need those," Russell objected.
Harry shrugged. "Ask anyway. It can't hurt to have them and it will make the paperpushers like Percy, here and abroad, happy." Harry frowned. "Go through Mister Weasley right from the start, though. Ron? Moody, Russell, Remus, and I will be on a mission Friday night, and maybe a few more after that. Want to come along?"
"Yes!"
"Neville, some Order members will be along to form a parameter guard. Would you like to join them?"
"I would," Neville said.
"We're under Moody's orders until we arrive at our target," Harry warned. "After that, we're under the Prof's directions."
"I understand," Ron said, holding his hands up in protest. "Honest." Neville merely smiled and nodded his agreement.
"Can't my mission wait?" Hermione protested.
"The dementors are in hibernation until the equinox," Harry said. "We're attacking one of their thirteen nests. If it works, our group will have three more to take out over the following fifty hours or so. If the attacks succeed, that might bring Voldemort out early. If we fail, we'll all be busy with the dementors by the end of the month and you'll likely never get back to the orphans. If they are going to be interviewed, you have to go now."
"Very well," Hermione agreed.
"I expect to be used in later attacks," Tonks said quietly.
"I expect you will, too," Harry said simply. He turned to Hermione, cutting her off before she could do more than open her mouth. "You, too." Hermione closed her mouth and nodded.
Hermione and Tonks left for the Muggle airport in Glasgow Tuesday afternoon. Russell coached everyone through the rituals they would be needing to use that Friday evening, while Moody, Remus, and Russell speculated on how Harry might get them through the wards and other defenses.
"Should we ask Bill to come along?" Harry asked finally that evening.
"As far as we can tell, the wards are nothing unusual, other than their power," Moody pointed out. "It's your power that will get us past those outer wards. Once past them?" He shrugged his shoulders. "We might need him."
"Ron," Harry said.
"Yeah?"
"Go see your brother tomorrow morning before he goes to work."
"What? Go to his and Fleur's flat?"
Harry rolled his eyes. Russell merely said, "He apparates to Diagon Alley at 8:45. He told me he can be contacted any time after 8:00, and that even though they are living in a Muggle apartment building you can apparate to in front of their front door without setting off his alarms or startling the neighbors."
"Fleur doesn't need to know," Harry said. "Apparate there and take him to The Leaky Cauldron." He turned to Moody. "Book them a room from Eight to Nine, and have Tom leave them tea, and some breakfast for Ron."
"Right."
"Tell him everything?" Ron asked.
"Tell him what we told you tonight, and that I would really appreciate his coming with us," Harry said drily.
Ron flushed slightly, but nodded. The group broke up shortly afterwards. Harry walked back with Remus. "So, when are you going to marry Tonks?" Harry asked. "Come to think about it, what will we call her then? Tonks-Lupin?"
"She's beginning to thaw to the idea of 'Dora'," Remus answered. "We thought about just a quick ceremony sometime, maybe next summer. Once you're eighteen, you and Hermione could stand with us and witness a Muggle ceremony."
"Why do the Muggle form?" Harry asked.
"Tonks is close to her father's sister and her family, who are Muggles, and gets along with his parents, too. My mother has two sisters with their children who would also like to come."
"Fair enough," Harry said.
"So, you finally found something easy for Ron to do on his own."
Harry nodded. "I worry about all of us, but especially Ron. He tends to be even more reckless than I am, and he doesn't have the power and dumb luck I have. Still, he needs to be trusted, and this needed to be done. Plus, well, both he and Hermione told me some things, personal things, that they don't know the other told me. Ron might need to speak with his big brother."
"Tonks told me that Ron is, well, quick on the trigger."
"I don't want to know anything more about it," Harry said.
"Me neither," Remus agreed.
Harry was not surprised that Ginny had found out that Ron and Neville would be going on a mission Friday. "Harry!" she snapped the next morning at breakfast.
"See me in my office at Nine," Harry said simply. Ginny glared, but nodded.
When Ginny showed up at the small room Harry called his office (Luna had set up her own office plus a large room with library tables adjacent to Harry's room). Before Ginny could say anything, Harry raised his hand. "I know, I know, you're upset because I didn't ask you along Friday."
"You bet your wand I'm upset," Ginny snarled.
"I'm not going to say you're not going to see combat before you turn seventeen," Harry said. "After all, you're more likely than Neville or Luna to lead the DA into combat if the castle is attacked. . . ."
"Really?" Ginny said, surprised.
"Really," Harry said. "Luna is staying in and around the castle. . . ."
"Really?"
"Yes, really," Harry said, rolling his eyes at the interruptions. "The Prof and Remus are bringing her up to speed on the intelligence front. If anything happens to either of them, she'll still know what we have."
Ginny's eyes went wide. "Are you thinking. . . ."
"This is a war of attrition until we can destroy the Horcruxes," Harry said. "People are likely to die, as much as I hate to think about it. I can't allow us to operate in the dark. Just imagine how screwed we'd be if Dumbledore hadn't left those notebooks? Luna is going to make certain we don't have that problem. As for you," Harry said, "you have lots to do. I don't think you need the ego boost that Neville can use."
Ginny nodded her understanding. She didn't like it, but she understood the situation, and accepted it, for now.
Bill Weasley, his scars now nearly invisible, scowled. "Of course I'll come. Why all this build up?" he asked, his hand waving around the private parlor at the Leaky Cauldron.
Ron flushed as he realized why Harry had set this up for him.
"Ah, something personal. . . . Is everything fine between you and Hermione?"
Ron flushed even more.