Training and Confrontations

Chapter XXXIV Wednesday, Christmas, 1996

Harry woke up early Christmas morning feeling better than he had at any point since the assassination attempt. He still needed up to a two-hour nap every afternoon, but beyond that, he could put up the pretense of being back to his usual self. He had spent the previous two nights back on the transfigured sofa in the Gryffindor common room, with Hermione and Luna, although now without any chaperons.

Millicent, Katie, Slytherin Sixth year Tracy Davis, and three Ravenclaw Fourth years were staying to provide Harry the virgin milk for his potion, while Hermione, Luna, Ginny, Daphne Greengrass, and Tonks were supplying the rest. Since Voldemort and his forces had been quiescent since the assassination attempt, nearly every other student had gone home for the holidays. Only Millicent, Tracy, Daphne, Blaise, Draco, and Greg Goyle were in Slytherin, while Luna and the three donating Fourth years were the only Ravenclaws. Katie, Ron, Neville, and Ginny were the only students staying in the Gryffindor dorms. Bonnie More was staying with her cousin, a Fourth year Hufflepuff, and they were the only people in Hufflepuff over the holidays while their parents vacationed together in Switzerland.

As usual, Harry was on the left side of the bed while Luna was in the middle. He therefore easily slipped out, put on his dressing gown, and made his way to the boy's toilets. Ron was already there.

"Neville awake?" Harry asked with a yawn.

"Not yet," Ron said. "Let's get dressed and wake him up. All the presents are downstairs." With so few students present, most of the staff had also made plans for the holidays. Madam Pince, and Professors Dumbledore, Trelawney, Snape, Moody, and Hagrid were there, as were Remus and Tonks. In addition, all the students were to open their presents together, after breakfast.

"When is everyone coming over?" Harry asked. The Weasleys, plus Rora and Sirius, were coming over at some point.

"They're coming for the feast," Ron said in a slightly excited voice. "At least Sirius will have our presents to open." He frowned. "Will the Leech and her cousin be there?"

"Well," Harry said patiently, "Bonnie might be. I'll talk to them if they show up."

"Well, they would probably do anything for you," Ron agreed. Bonnie and Carlotta were both members of the HPSN, Carlotta having just finished a three day donation.

"They both miss their little brothers," Harry said. "I thought they might like playing with Sirius. As long as they never say he's your son, why not?"

"You're right," Ron agreed. "Let's get things moving."

"You're going to be the type of father who wakes the kiddies up Christmas morning, if they don't get up on their own, aren't you?" Harry teased.

"I suppose I am," Ron agreed again.

"Are you okay?"

Ron shrugged. "I'm still getting used to the idea that Sirius is going to be around. I like it, but it's a lot of responsibility, even if Mum is going to be shouldering most of it for the next year and a half." He sighed. "I don't know what I'll do after that."

"The way you played in that first game, I still think you have a chance at Quidditch."

"And who will look after Sirius?"

"Your Mum, just like she would if you were going to a Ministry job every day."

"I suppose," Ron said, dispiritedly.

"It will work out. Besides, Bill and Charlie owe you big time."

Ron frowned. "Why is that?"

"Your mum shouldn't be asking them about grandchildren as often," Harry pointed out.

"Good point."

The seventeen students gathered in the small room behind the great hall before breakfast. The eleven girls all enjoyed their charm bracelets. Millicent laughed heartily when she realized that her pair of pearls were far larger than the other donors'. Draco was quite shocked when he realized that Harry, Luna, and Hermione had clubbed together and given both him and Goyle refills for their broom servicing kits. He was further shamed when he saw that Goyle and Bulstrode had gotten all the Gryffindors small presents. No one said anything, and for once Draco covered up his embarrassment by turning on his charm instead of his sarcasm. He especially admired Harry's cane.

Draco further redeemed himself at the feast. He had made his decision to some degree weeks before. That afternoon he formalized that decision. At the start of the feast, in front of the students, the staff, and the visiting Weasley family, Draco stood. "Friends and allies," Draco said firmly, "let us drink to the health of us all, to the health of Professor Dumbledore and Harry Potter, and to the victory over the darkness that threatens our entire world, no matter what our beliefs."

Yes, Draco still disliked Harry Potter and most of what he stood for. He had decided, however, that the Dark Lord was worse. He hoped that, by making the gesture now, Dumbledore would be able to keep the Dark Lord well away from him the following summer.

After dinner, the extended Weasley family (including Tonks and a very tired Remus, just back from his transformation) and the Gryffindors went up to the Gryffindor common room. Harry took Bonnie and Carlotta aside, and they agreed not to say anything about Sirius or his ancestry. Harry did have to give them a rough idea of how Ron, not quite seventeen, had managed to have a son nearly three with a woman in her early twenties.

Sirius had stayed very close to his mother from the moment he had arrived at Hogwarts, through the feast, and on the long trip up to the common room. He had been conserving his energy. The very odd twins, whom he had learned quickly not to trust over the previous weeks, had promised him presents this afternoon. He had only believed them because both his Grandmother and Grandfather had assured him it was true.

It appeared, however, that some of the adults had some gifts to exchange first. A very odd creature had come and given most of the people, including Sirius, presents of socks, and some had given the Dobby creature socks in return. Then, everyone but Grandfather and the two older girls that Sirius did not know opened gifts from Grandmother. Sirius thought his maroon jumper was nice enough, it did match Father's, but he was no more thrilled by the jumper than he had been by the socks.

Uncle Harry had then given Aunt Hermione and Aunt Luna reddish gold rings with pretty green stones. The twins had made fun of Uncle Harry's indecision, whatever that meant. Uncle Remus had then gotten down on one knee and given Aunt Dora a gold ring with a smaller, sparkling stone, and everyone but his mother and he had congratulated Uncle Remus and hugged Aunt Dora. Sirius was not certain what was going on, but everyone at least seemed happy, especially Aunt Dora.

Meanwhile, everyone had been giving Mother gifts of clothes as well. Mother had seemed pleased. Sirius was wondering if this Christmas thing was only about clothes and rings.

Uncle Harry then banged his cane on the stone floor. "I understand we have here a young man who has never received Christmas presents before. You all know that's something I understand. While you all also know how much I love my Weasley jumpers. . . ." Everyone clapped and cheered, "and the Headmaster and Dobby both agree that there are few gifts that can beat a good pair of socks. . . ." Everyone laughed. "Still, I think young Sirius here might like some of the other things we have in store for him."

Everyone now moved into a large circle, and they were all looking at Sirius. He leaned back against his mother. His father was on one said of him, between his mother and Uncle Harry, while his grandmother and grandfather were on the other.

"Who goes first?" Uncle Harry asked. "I should go last."

"Here," Uncle Bill said. "This is from your Uncle Percy and Aunt Penny. They couldn't be here today." He handed Sirius a largish flat package. Sirius tore it open, and found a book.

"A Wizard's First Primer," Grandmother said. "That's good. The old one fell apart when Ginny was using it."

"Here you go, Sirius," Uncle Charlie said.

Sirius tore one package apart, and contemplated a small pair of dragon hide boots. He nodded -- more clothes -- and then tore the big oblong package apart, and found a stuffed dragon about a third the size of himself. Sirius immediately hugged it and smiled at his Uncle. "Thank you!" he said.

"Here, these are from Fleur and me," Bill said, handing Sirius three packages. The largest was a winter jacket, the smallest was a pair of gloves. These he gave to his Grandmother. The third was a scarf with colored bands that moved. He thanked Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur, and handed that over to Grandmother as well.

Aunt Luna and Aunt Hermione then gave him a large set of books, some of which were all pictures and some of which had both writing and pictures. They both promised to read him the stories later, starting with something called Green Eggs and Ham. Uncle Remus and Aunt Dora gave him a large set of magical building blocks, which looked like real fun, and more clothes. Grandmother and Grandfather, and to his disappointment Father, also gave him clothing, but at least Father had given him some chocolate frogs, as well. Aunt Ginny and Uncle Neville then had given him a stuffed dog (almost as nice as the dragon) and, of course, more clothes.

Uncle Fred and Uncle George had then approached with a large box. "Fred and George Weasley!" Grandmother stated in a firm, warning tone, "if there's anything inappropriate for a three-year-old. . . ."

"What? Us? No!" Fred said.

Everyone gave the pair the eye.

"Some things look a little inappropriate," George admitted, "but none of it is." They helped Sirius unwrap the box. Most of the box contained self-igniting sparklers and other small fireworks. They showed Sirius how they worked, and showed Grandmother that he could not really hurt himself with them.

Uncle Harry gave Sirius a special low-light long-lasting nightlight candle and a teddy bear nearly as big as Sirius himself. As Sirius hugged the bear, and the dragon and the dog, Uncle Harry said, "I also set up some accounts at Gringotts. One will pay for his schooling, and another will pay his guardians a thousand Galleons a year until he's nineteen. At nineteen, he'll get twenty thousand Galleons, and he'll get another fifty thousand when he turns twenty-one."

Rora leaned over Ron and hugged Harry.

Sirius continued to play with his stuffed animals.

Thursday, Boxing Day, 1996

Harry opened a tired eye to see who was gently poking him. He was not terribly surprised to see it was Dobby. "Whazzit?" Harry muttered.

Dobby frowned as he puzzled that out, and then said, "Headmaster wishes to see Harry Potter as soon as possible."

"Time izzit?"

"It is a little passed Six, Harry Potter."

Harry sighed and sat up. "Thank you, Dobby."

"Here is your potion, Harry Potter."

Harry sighed again. "Thank you, Dobby."

Less than half an hour later, Harry had managed to get himself to the Headmaster's Office. He really was not very surprised to see a very tired looking Kingsley Shacklebolt was also there.

Harry greeted the two men, stroked Fawkes for a moment, and then sat down heavily. "What did Voldemort do now?" he asked wearily.

"Death Eaters attacked a Muggle religious group that was camping in the Welsh mountains," Kingsley told him.

"Camping? In the winter?"

Kingsley shrugged. "It was something to do with their Christmas devotions, retreating from the world, you know. They arrived the morning before Christmas, and they were to leave New Year's Day. Almost two hundred of them were slaughtered."

Harry closed his eyes with pain, but then got a puzzled look on his face. "Are there any magical families near the camp ground?"

"No, no there's not," Kingsley answered thoughtfully. "There are some old caves above the camp ground that were used by Celtic and even pre-Celtic mystics millennia ago. They still have strong Distraction and Muggle-repelling charms on. . . ." He looked at Harry and the Dumbledore. "Are you two thinking what I'm thinking?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Indeed, it is very possible Voldemort or some of the Death Eaters have been using those caves."

Kingsley frowned. "I should have thought of it; it's so obvious."

"If they were or are in use, then Voldemort no doubt added some very powerful distraction charms to the old ones," Dumbledore stated. "You might wish to write the information down as you investigate. It will prevent the teams from becoming disoriented if you get close to his hideouts."

"Good idea," Kingsley said. He turned back to Harry. "In any event, the murder of the Muggles was a diversion. About two hours ago, Voldemort led the Death Eaters on an attack on the Minister's home. There was a pitched battle. Nine aurors, the Minister, his wife, and their house elf were all killed. Nine Death Eaters were killed as well."

Harry frowned. "Why would Voldemort want Fudge dead? He still wasn't very effective. I don't understand."

"Cornelius was going to be ousted some time next month," Dumbledore admitted. "Voldemort most likely decided that since Cornelius was going to be gone anyway, he should have him killed to show he still can strike nearly anyone, anywhere."

"And Fudge did many foolish things," Kingsley added. "One part of his foolishness was a belief in his own importance and his own power. He refused any real protections. He was much more vulnerable than he should have been."

"True," Dumbledore admitted. He looked at Harry.

"Let me guess, you wanted me to know as soon as possible, because the papers will start saying I need to hunt down Voldemort."

"Exactly," Dumbledore stated. "You are in no shape to be hunting down anyone, and shouldn't even think about it until after your next birthday."

"Considering the amount of time I spent in Rushak, I'm really of age now," Harry pointed out.

"You are," Dumbledore agreed. "However, it could take until around the end of the spring term before you are any stronger than you were at the time of the attack on you. You will likely need July at the least to be ready."

"Yes, sir," Harry said unhappily.

"With your permission, we will start an unobtrusive campaign once those suggestions of your hunting down Voldemort surface. We will be suggesting that it is a sign of Voldemort's cowardice that he cannot wait until you reach your majority, let alone pass your N.E.W.T.s, before taking you on. It is an extreme long-shot, but we may be able to get Voldemort to issue you a challenge, which could at least keep the open attacks down."

"How likely is it to work?" Harry asked, curious but obviously not thinking highly of the plan.

"It almost assuredly would not keep Voldemort off for the year and a half it would take for you to complete your N.E.W.T.s," Dumbledore said sadly. "However, as I said, there is a slim chance it will buy us seven months."

"Fine. Go ahead," Harry agreed.

"Excuse us, would you please, Kingsley? I need a quick word with Harry, and then we may continue."

"Of course," the auror said. He got up and went out to the landing. Harry looked warily at Dumbledore.

"I hope you will not be troubled with nightmares over these horrendous developments," Dumbledore said.

"I haven't had a real nightmare down in the common room," Harry said cautiously.

"That is good, but as much as you enjoy the arrangement, it really is not a good signal to the rest of the students," Dumbledore went on dispassionately. "By the time the students return on the Fifth, you will have had the full four-week potion regimen. The antagonistic forces in Ravenclaw seem to have made their peace with Miss Lovegood. I really do believe it will then be time for her to return to her proper House."

Harry wanted to protest, but it died away in his throat when he saw how serious Dumbledore was.

"You knew it was only temporary," Dumbledore reminded Harry. "In fact, I would have told you that Saturday night you were attacked that I thought Miss Lovegood should return to Ravenclaw the next evening. No, it is time for Miss Lovegood to return to Ravenclaw, and incidentally, for you and Miss Granger to return to your regular rooms. If the nightmares truly return, we may reconsider our policy. Since you and Miss Granger are of age in reality, and Miss Lovegood is close, I shall continue to turn a blind eye to that little apartment you set up. I do not want any of you to sleep there at night, especially not at the same time. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Professor," Harry answered, disappointed and a little embarrassed.

"Your friends are no doubt at breakfast by now. You should probably go join them." Harry nodded and left, as Kingsley came back in to plan with Dumbledore.

Neither Hermione nor Luna were happy with the news that they were to soon resume their normal sleeping arrangements. Both were, of course, even more concerned about the events of the previous night and the proposed plan to put Harry forward to fight Voldemort early the next August.

The attacks on the Muggles and Fudge had not made The Morning Prophet. Because of how few students were present, they were all eating at the same table. Harry had to tell the story three times, and then he allowed Hermione to retell it twice more.

"The attacks are really irrelevant," Draco said as the group discussed the attacks.

"How can you say that?" Hermione demanded. "Over two hundred people died!"

"This isn't about the value of the life of a Muggle," Draco said coldly. "If you only think in those terms, then you can never fight effectively. You'd just waste your time trying to defend Muggles while the Dark Lord plots. There are too many of them to defend."

"You'd just as soon they were all dead anyway," Ron snarled.

"No, I wouldn't," Draco replied with a sneer. "I admit, until I started the Magical Business class, I had no idea how intertwined our world was with the economy of the Muggle world. So no, I wouldn't want all the Muggles killed. Our standard of living would go back to the so-called Dark Ages."

Several students expressed their shock.

"Is that all their lives mean to you, Draco?" Harry asked.

"Tell me, Harry," Draco demanded, putting a sneer on Harry's name, "if several thousand Muggles died in some obscure part of the world, from a plague or an earthquake, or if they slaughtered each other over their own ethnic or religious disputes, you might all shake your heads, and do doubt Granger would take up a collection, but would you really care?"

"Of course I'd care!" Hermione said.

"Alright, I'll take you at your word. Tell me, would many other people really care? They might think it sad, or they might just shake their head and go on with their lives. If they had no interests and no friends or relations in that part of the world, why wouldn't they think mostly of their own concerns?"

"I suppose you're at least partially right," Hermione had to admit.

"Well, I have few interests and no friends or relatives in the Muggle world. I find worrying about the magical world more than enough for me." He stood. "You might all wish to consider your priorities. Care about Muggles, if you wish. Do not think that is what matters at this moment. Right now, what matters is the survival and freedom of our magical culture." He left.