Harry Potter and the Angel of Justice

Chapter Twenty-One - Prepare for the Worst

Link to illustration:

[url]http://hpbook6.freewebpage.org/art/nomarks/Mars_Hermione_Calming.jpg[/url]

The rest of November passed quickly for Harry. Between schoolwork, quidditch and the training from Mars, each day was jam-packed with work and activities. Harry learned the Engorgement Charm, how to animate small objects, and many minor fire charms; he had made a pepper-up potion and studied too many boring things about the stars in Astronomy class.

It was a busy month for the others as well. Ron's schedule was nearly as full as Harry's, plus he had the quidditch captaincy and his prefect duties.

Sometimes in brief moments, Harry would fondly remember wasting time with Ron on such leisurely activities as Wizard Chess, but then his hectic present life would crash down on him again. There was simply no time even for remembering goofing off! Ginny, like her brother, had quidditch practice and prefect duties filling her time. On top of that, she was also preparing for her OWLs at the end of the year. Hermione, however, had the most work to do. For the past two years she had always taken one more class than Harry and Ron, but now she had three more. In addition, she and Padma were studying Mars' totally unfathomable (to Harry, anyway) Unified Astronomical Somatics System. As hard as Mars had worked Harry and the others, it was paltry compared to what he expected of Padma and Hermione. Hermione was spending almost as much time with Padma as she was with her three best friends. The work didn't seem to bother her, though; in fact Harry had never seen Hermione happier.

Even though Harry was constantly in danger of falling behind in his studies, his spirits were high. For the first time he felt that proper preparation for the War was underway. Hogwarts students were really being trained to defend themselves. Dumbledore and Mars seemed to be a step ahead of their enemies, and Mars was following through on his promise to keep Harry in the loop. While Harry couldn't yet see how they would defeat Voldemort and his Death Eaters, he just couldn't imagine that anyone could manage to defeat the union of Dumbledore and Mars.

Early in December, when Harry and the others arrived for Double Defense Against the Dark Arts, Harry immediately knew something was different. Mars wore a very concerned look in place of his usual grin. When Neville and Ron started to lead the majority of the class to the lab, Mars stopped them.

"We're going to depart from the lesson plan today. I've been extremely negligent in not teaching you how to deal with one of Tom Riddle's most terrifying servants: Dementors. Everyone to your desks, if you please."

A few of the students looked a bit unnerved at the mention of the foul spirits, but no one winced noticeably - they all remembered Mars' lecture about hearing Voldemort's name. Once everyone was seated, he addressed them. "How many of you managed to conjure a corporeal patronus last year?"

Harry, Hermione, Cho, and Padma raised their hands.

"Only four of you? Well, we're going to work on raising that number this week. Just remember, it's a lot different casting the Patronus Charm in a classroom than when you have a dementor trying to kill you. They suck all the happiness out of you and make you despair; they try to make you feel that giving up hope is your best option.

"This is both a strength and a weakness for the dementors. It is a strength because the easiest defense against them is the Patronus Charm, which requires a strong, happy thought in the mind of the caster. Thus, their attack makes the most likely defense harder to use. It is also a weakness, because anything that depends so completely on despair and sadness for its attack cannot stand against even the appearance of hope, courage or good will. Dementors, you see, lack all redeeming qualities, particularly bravery. As soon as they see the tide turn against them, their fierce demeanor fades and they flee. You never have to fight off an entire group of Dementors; once you defeat around half of them, the rest will abandon their fellows without hesitation or guilt."

Mars split the class into halves. Harry helped one half learn the charm, while Mars took the other. Soon Katie, Parvati and Terry Boot had each managed to conjure a true patronus. At the end of class, Ron and Ginny were both put out that they had not been able to manage a corporeal protector, but Harry assured them that they were very close.

Snow finally fell on Hogwarts during the second week of December. There had been fear that there would not be a white Christmas this year, so the students rejoiced in the arrival of the white crystals and started many a snowball fight in celebration. Ron and Ginny, along with Nevile and a few others, had successfully conjured a corporeal patronus in Defense Against the Dark Arts that morning; this, along with the long-awaited snowfall, had Harry, Hermione and Ron in excellent spirits as they trudged out to Hagrid's cabin for class Monday afternoon.

Hagrid greeted the students and led them around his cabin to his paddock. Inside were several hippogriffs, tethered to the fence. Their fierce eyes stared at the approaching group. Harry admired their beautiful gleaming coats of bronze, pinkish roan, gleaming chestnut, inky black, and stormy gray. The gray one looked very familiar to Harry...in fact, he would swear that it was -

"Buckbeak!" squealed Hermione, running up to the fence. "Oh Hagrid, is it really him?"

"It's Beaky alright. He jus' arrived last night," Hagrid beamed.

Hermione climbed over the fence and approached Buckbeak. She looked him in the eyes for a few seconds and then bowed to him. Buckbeak stared at her unblinkingly with his orange eyes for a moment, and then buckled his scaly knees into a bow. Hermione hurried forward and stroked his feathery neck as she spoke soothingly to him.

Hagrid and the rest of the class climbed the fence and approached Hermione and the hippogriff. Blaise, Sally-Anne and Susan Bones all bowed to Buckbeak and, once he returned their bows, started petting him alongside Hermione.

"Hagrid," said Hermione, leaving Buckbeak and approaching the giant, "are you sure it's safe for Buckbeak to be here?"

"Yeah," said Dean. "I thought the Ministry ordered his execution. Isn't he a fugitive?"

"Not no more. Professor Mars flew in with him last night. They surprised me by knocking at me door round midnight. I nearly snuffed it, I was so happy! He also had with him a pardon signed by the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge himself. Buckbeak is now totally free," said Hagrid, fat tears of joys rolling down his whiskery face.

After the class had celebrated Buckbeak's return, Hagrid explained that he wanted to go over hippogriffs again because they had never completed the planned lessons. Hagrid stared at the ground as he explained this, looking embarrassed.

"Don't go blaming yourself for that, Hagrid," said Blaise. "It was all Malfoy's fault!"

"He was barely injured anyways. He kept bragging all year about how he fooled everyone," spat Sally-Anne.

The rest of the class had gradually grown accustomed to the friendliness of the two Slytherin girls, but this was the first time that they had spoken so openly against Malfoy. Harry smiled at them and nodded his agreement.

Hagrid went into a detailed lecture about hippogriffs. Harry, Hermione and Ron already knew much of what Hagrid was explaining, since they had, after all, lived with Buckbeak for a month last summer at the ancestral Black estate. However, the three still enjoyed the class; Hagrid's teaching skills had improved dramatically this year, and having his class limited to students who liked the subject made it much easier.

After class, the three had tea with Hagrid in his cabin. They sat around his table, chatting merrily about Buckbeak; the teenagers all complimented Hagrid on how well his class had gone this year. He blushed a bit as he stood up to refill the kettle and placed it on the fire. While his back was turned, Hermione elbowed Harry in the ribs, bobbed her head in Hagrid's direction and then at the window that looked out toward the Forbidden Forest. Harry nodded at her, and when Hagrid was walking back from the fireplace, he asked him a question.

"Hagrid, what where you and Mars doing in the forest three weeks ago?"

"Don't know whatcha mean, Harry," answered Hagrid nervously.

"During the first quidditch match I saw you and Mars go into the forest. The trees were moving about you as you walked through it."

Hagrid flinched as Harry said this. He looked anxious. Harry paused to study his face, then continued. "They were moving like giants were bending them. You know how Grawp is with trees?"

Hagrid looked blank.

"Hagrid," Hermione said kindly. "Are you bringing giants to live in the Forbidden Forest? To keep your half-brother happy, maybe?"

A look of relief passed over Hagrid's face. He smiled and winked at Hermione.

"Now, yeh remember I warned yeh about being so nosy. I understand that yeh want ter help, but leave the defense of the forest to me and Mars."

"Defense?" mused Harry quietly. He, Ron, and Hermione exchanged inquisitive looks.

"C'mon," said the giant. "Let's get some supper."

Harry wasn't sure what to make of Hagrid's reaction. He had looked so nervous when Harry brought up the forest, then relieved when Hermione had asked about the giants. It just didn't add up. Sitting at the Gryffindor table, he, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny quietly discussed the matter.

"Why would they want to defend the forest?" asked Ron.

"Well, it is one of the ways into Hogwarts," suggested Hermione.

"It sounds like they're expecting a battle there. I wonder why?" puzzled Ginny.

"I think I know," said Harry slowly. "I had a dream about a battle in the forest. The centaurs were fighting trolls and Death Eaters. Mars visited me in the dream, right in the middle of the fight." He looked to see if either of the girls were surprised about Mars entering his dreams, but they didn't react, so he continued. "He told me I was seeing a future possibility, and that he had been training me subliminally as a Seer for months."

"Did he think your vision was likely to happen?" asked Hermione.

Harry nodded.

"Why wouldn't he tell you about the training, Harry?" said Ginny.

"That's the way they train Seers," said Hermione. "They don't tell them at first; sometimes they even go for years without knowing. It's supposed to work better that way. I read all about prophesies and divination training this summer. You know, once I found out prophesies were true."

"Mars said that Seers in training can get too egotistical, so it's better to teach them without them knowing what's going on," Harry confirmed.

"Everything does seem to happen to you, doesn't it, Harry?" said Ginny as they stood.

"A forest full of giants?" pondered Ron on their way out of the Great Hall.

That night Harry and Ron were again summoned to train on the Cruciatus Curse with Mars. They had both been very close to casting it last time, even without help from Mars, so they had high hopes of success tonight. Two hours into the lesson, Harry managed to cast the spell unaided. The Grim was furious and lunged viciously at Harry. Its evil eyes bore into Harry's skull and Harry felt fear creeping up inside of him, but he shook off the beast's gaze and continued the curse until Mars told him to stop.

"Excellent, Harry," said Mars, patting him on the shoulder. "Sit down and take a rest for a bit. Winky! Could you bring us some butterbeers please?"

Winky stepped from behind one of the counters and left the room. Harry hadn't even known Winky was in the lab with them. She returned shortly with the beers, and Mars handed one to Harry. Mars told Ron he still had to earn his.

A little more than an hour later, Ron had his butterbeer. As with Harry, the Grim went wild and it pummeled Rom with its gaze, but Ron held out against the fear and did not falter. Afterward, Mars congratulated them as they finished off the butterbeers; they returned to their dorm via the fireplace.

As Harry laid down for a quick two-hour nap before breakfast, he pondered Mars' parting words. Mars had told them that they were finished with the Cruciatus Curse, and next time they would start learning the Killing Curse, Avada Kedavara. Harry worried: even if he could learn that terrible curse, could he cast it when the time came?

It was the last week before the Christmas holidays, and the castle was full of festive spirit. Giant Christmas trees were placed amongst the halls and decorated gorgeously with ribbons, tinsel, and real fairies. The fairies twinkled in varying lights and all sang happily whenever Lilandria was near. Flitwick and Mars were trying, hopeless as it appeared, to teach the suits of armor to sing in tune the Christmas carols that they had learned two years ago; and all but the grumpiest of paintings were dressed in holiday colors and bidding best wishes to the passing students.

Despite the cheery mood, that Wednesday night many students in the advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts class were nervous. Friday was the last day of the term, and on that day Mars would be testing all of them. They would each be required to stand in front of the class and say Voldemort's name loud and clearly, without flinching. Harry had been saying the name for years, but most of the other students were still uncomfortable with it. A few had even complained to the Headmaster, but Dumbledore agreed with Mars that the notion of being frightened by saying or hearing Voldemort's name was not only silly but damaging. The assignment stood; and many Gryffindors could be heard whispering the Dark Lord's name in the Common room as Harry climbed the stairs to his dormitory. He shook his head; whispering would not be nearly good enough for Mars on Friday.

Early Thursday, around one in the morning, Harry awoke trying to remember the dream in which Mars had just visited him. As usual, he had told Harry to wake Ron and meet him in the Common room, but this time his demeanor had been very different--he seemed concerned and anxious. Of the dream that Mars had interrupted, Harry could only remember speaking to a tall blond woman, who looked vaguely familiar, in front a fireplace; he could remember nothing else, so he gave up and woke Ron. Both he and Ron were confused by this night's summons because they had just been summoned two days previously for the late night training sessions. Normally Mars allowed them more time to recover. Their consternation grew when Neville also got out of bed, smiling at them as he joined them on the staircase.

In the Common Room, they were greeted, not by the lone figure of Mars, as they expected, but by Hermione and Ginny, who were staring at them with concerned faces. Hermione immediately went to Ron and hugged him tightly. "Did Mars seem nervous to you, Ron?" she asked.

"I didn't speak with him. Ask them," answered Ron, pointing at Neville and Harry, who both nodded.

"He seemed almost scared, to me," added Ginny anxiously.

"What could possibly could scare a wizard like Mars?" asked Ron.

"The realization that your students are in danger due to your own incompetence," came a deep voice from the direction of the Fat Lady's painting. Mars, looking grim with concern, held the painting open for Padma, Luna and Ernie McMillan.

"Mars, you can't let Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs into our tower. We're all sworn to secrecy," said Ron in surprise.

"The silly secrets that the Houses keep from each other will all become moot in a few months, Ron. Besides, these three have been in this tower many times before tonight."

Neville walked up to Ernie and shook his hand firmly. Luna and Ginny greeted each other with a hug, as did Hermione and Padma.

"As I said during class, casting the Patronus Charm is much more difficult when a dementor is trying to drive you into despair. Until you can cast the charm under real-life conditions, I do not consider your training complete," said Mars.

"How can you manage that?" asked Hermione.

"Professor Lupin used a Boggart to simulate a dementor for me," said Harry.

"Not everyone's greatest fear is the same as yours, Harry. While Lupin's substitute was clever, it still falls short of the real thing."

Mars jabbed his wand at the red leather couch he had conjured earlier in the year and said "Portus." He headed to the couch, his students trailing along nervously. It sounded to Harry like they were about to come face to face with dementors in a combat situation. Before they could touch the couch, however, the door to the boys' dormitory flew open and Mark Evans ran in, yelling, "Take me with you! I want to learn how to fight them too!" In the next instant, the door to the girls' dormitory also hit the wall and Mary Sue Sladen sped out to stand shoulder to shoulder with Mark.

"How long have the two of you been following the others down here when they meet me?" asked Mars.

Mark looked both guilty and proud of himself as he answered, "Since early November. I told Mary about it, and she started listening on the girls' staircase. We then got Professor Flitwick to show us how to cast a simple sensor charm to tell us when someone was on the stairs at night."

The older students looked dumbfounded, but Mars looked impressed.

"So just what have you two learned from your espionage?" asked Mars.

"Well, not too much. You don't talk a lot in the Common Room," answered Mark. "But we do know that you go back to your office."

"How do you know that?"

"Well, we followed you twice. We tried listening at your office door, but even the extendable ears Mary nicked from Ginny didn't work."

Ginny crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at Mary, who turned pink.

"That's because there is an Imperturbable Charm on the door, Mark. I remember seeing you two in the halls those nights, but I figured you were on your way to the kitchen to get pies or cakes from the house elves."

Mary giggled and said, "We've done that a few times too. Once Heather figured out that you tickle the pear for the door to open, it was a breeze."

"So Heather's involved in your adventures as well, is she? I should have known. The three of you certainly take after your Defense Against the Darks Arts Teacher," said Mars, patting Harry on the shoulder. Mark and Mary smiled guiltily at Harry. Harry was about to deny any knowledge of their exploits when Mars continued.

"Well, I'm certainly proud of your courage and curiosity, but I'm sorry you can't come with us," said Mars, rubbing the top of Mark's head in a fatherly way. "These fiends are beyond your abilities as of yet. You're both still too young for this sort of lesson."

"But Mars," said Mary, "you told us yourself how much you hated being told that when you were our age!"

"Yes, I did. But darlin', I was trained from a young age to defend myself. You're both muggleborns, you never knew magic even existed until a few months ago. You have to give Harry and I a little more time to teach you before you'll know how to deal with the likes of dementors."

The two Gryffindor first years looked put out; Mark protested. "But we want to help in the war. We want to help against Voldemort."

The older students looked surprised that Mark had said Voldemort's name aloud, but Mars gazed at Mark with approval.

"You two are helping. More than any first years ever have, except maybe Harry here. The friendships you are forging with the Slytherins are denying our enemy his future army. If all the Hogwarts first years in the past had been as brave as you two and Heather, Tom Riddle would be just a lonely fugitive madman. Now go back to bed, and redouble your efforts on the assignments I've already given you."

The first years' faces shone with pride. They nodded up at him and headed back to their dormitories.

Mars instructed the remaining students to grab onto the port key on the count of three. They appeared in a drab-looking rectangular room that was lighted by six burning braziers sitting in the corners and midpoints. The room looked spotless, but it felt very dirty, even unclean. A faint stench was in the air, contributing to the overall gloomy atmosphere.

"Where are we?" asked Hermione, with fear in her voice.

"Somewhere you would never want to be caught alive, Hermione. Dementors are filth, and in order to capture them, unfortunately, you have to venture to the places they like to inhabit," answered Mars.

"We've come here to capture dementors?" asked Neville, terrified.

"No. I've already done that. I need to see which of you could save yourself if a dementor attacked you. Harry, I know you fought off a hundred of them in your third year. There's no need to test you. I brought you along to help me protect the others in case they can't hold the fiends off themselves. Understand?" Mars was deadly serious.

Harry managed a nod. He was still struggling with the idea that Mars had captured a dementor.

"Neville, you first. Follow me," said Mars, walking to the far end of the room. The complete lack of any cheer in Mars' voice struck Harry forcibly. He knew what they were doing must very serious for Mars to be so grim. Neville gripped his wand tightly as he carefully followed the American.

Harry took out his wand and stepped protectively in front of the others. He could hear their nervous whispers behind him.

"Think of your happiest memory, Neville," said Mars. "This will be the real thing, and it will be trying to kill you. I won't let him near you, but that won't grant you any respite from the fear you'll feel. Concentrate on the happy thought and remember, you are far braver than it."

Neville looked determined; he raised his wand slightly above his head and acknowledged his readiness.

Mars pointed his wand at the ground near the far wall. Instantly, a horrid towering figure appeared. Its black cloak and hood covered any sign of head or feet; the dementor seemed to simply hover in the air for a second before it glided at Neville.

Harry heard Hermione shriek behind him, but he concentrated on Neville. He could see Neville, Mars, and the dementor clearly in the light of the braziers, but he knew that Neville had no such luxury. Harry was out of range of the enchanted darkness that dementors inflict upon their victims. Neville would be surrounted by an almost impenetrable darkness; only the ghastly rattling breath of the dementor would give him any clue as to where the evil spirit was until it got very close.

When the dementor had closed to within five feet of him, Neville cried, "Expecto Patronum!" and a weak silver beam flew from his wand toward the dementor's torso. The ray slowed the fiend's movement, but it was not stopped, much less repelled.

"Happier thought, Neville! Fight the fear; I believe in you!" Mars shouted.

Neville lifted his wand and the silvery magic faded. The dementor closed in and again Neville cried out the incantation. This time a stronger silver ray struck the dementor, and its forward progress was halted.

"Press your advantage, Neville! Force the creature away!" Mars commanded.

Neville's resolve seemed to strengthen and his beam brightened in color. The dementor floated backwards: two feet, but no further. After a minute, Neville and his charm seemed to be weakening, so Mars stepped in. He twirled his wand in front of himself and shouted "Macto Phasma!" A foot-wide circle of the brightest white light Harry had ever seen appeared. A split second later, a foot-wide ray of an even brighter light shot from it and struck the dementor squarely in the chest. The fiend clutched its hood with its ghoulish slimy arms, and seemed to be silently screaming in pain. A circle of bright light formed where the ray hit, boring into the chest of the dementor and spreading out, as if it were dissolving the evil spirit with its goodness. The darkness receded, and within seconds the dementor was completely disintegrated.

Mars and Harry rushed to Neville. Harry put his arm around him for support, while Mars shoved a large piece of Honeydukes chocolate into his hands.

"You did well, Neville," said Mars. "The dementor would have fled if he had been able to leave this room. However, if there'd been two of them, you would have been in trouble; next time, ignore its attacks, and concentrate on your own." He patted Neville's shoulder.

"Hermione, you're next," said Mars, and waved for her to approach him. Hermione looked terrified. Mars puts his long arm around her and pulled her to his side as they walked to the end of the room.

"Hermione," he said kindly. "Your patronus is excellent; second only to Harry's. Just put the fear out of your mind. The dementor cannot hurt you until it touches you; all of its attacks beforehand are just tricks to weaken you. Concentrate on your objective, and ignore the distractions! You do that all the time while you're studying."

Hermione nodded as Mars let go of her. She took out her wand and walked over to the place where Neville had stood. While her battle stance was perfect, Harry saw that she was still trembling. He knew it was a very bad sign that she was already so frightened. Dementors had been known to make even the bravest of witches and wizards cower when they attacked.

Mars jabbed his wand at the ground again, and another dementor appeared. Hermione flinched and took a step backward. Harry knew that the darkness had enveloped her. He stepped forward, ready to help at a moments notice.

Hermione moved her head around quickly, searching for the fiend, but it was still a dozen feet from her. Harry could hear her breathing rapidly.

"Hermione, listen for its foul breathing. That should tell you the direction it's coming from. Ignore the fear, its attacks are all illusions - concentrate on your own spell!" barked Mars.

This advice seemed to steady Hermione; she slowly moved her wand until it was pointing at the approaching dementor. Harry wasn't sure if it was a trick of the light, but to him this dementor looked bigger and more evil than the one Neville had fought. When it had crept within seven feet of her, Hermione gasped and took another step backwards. Harry raised his wand; he was sure she was going to panic.

"Expecto Patronum!" she cried, and a silver ray shot out at the dementor and knocked it backwards. While she hadn't produced a corporeal patronus, her spell looked at least as strong as Neville's second attempt. Harry relaxed slightly. Suddenly, one of the gruesome hands of the dementor flew out of its cloak and struck at the beam. Its protective light faded, and Hermione stumbled.

"Expecto Patronus!" she cried incorrectly.

The dementor closed in on her. She took another step in retreat and stammered "Ex-Expecto Patronum" weakly, and then collapsed onto the floor.

The others behind Harry shrieked in fright. Harry raised his wand to cast the Patronus Charm himself, but Mars had already hit the dementor with his spell: a disc of pure whiteness dug through the dementor, which fell to its knees in obvious suffering. By the time Mars and Harry reached the prone Hermione, the dark spirit was total destroyed.

"Is she okay?" asked Harry. His friends ran up behind him.

"Yes" said Mars, feeling her wrist for a pulse. "She just fainted. It seems she drew a particularly nasty one."

Ron looked white as a sheet as he knelt beside her and grabbed her other hand.

"Enervate!" said Mars, waving his wand over Hermione. Her head moved. She opened her eyes and saw Harry, Mars, and then Ron. Ron drew her up into his arms and held her.

"Hermione, quickly, have some of this," said Mars, placing a large piece of chocolate near her mouth. Although she looked bewildered, Hermione was aware enough to open her mouth and start eating. When she swallowed, her color improved dramatically.

"Mars," said Ron, still cradling Hermione, "are you sure this is a good idea? Maybe we're not ready to face things like dementors." There was a touch of anger in his voice.

"I agree that some of you are not ready for this, but I fear it's not the last time that Hermione will be confronted by a dementor this school year. I wanted her to get some practice with the patronus charm while I was present, because the next time she fights one, I won't be there for her," said Mars grimly.

They all stared dully at Mars for a moment.

"Okay, Padma, you're next," said Mars, pointing at the Ravenclaw prefect.

Harry and the others took their places on the other side of the room. Harry had never seen Mars so bleak.

Hermione's defeat seemed to cast a shadow over the others. Padma, who was easily the second best student in Harry's year, did little better. She didn't faint, but she failed to create a corporeal patronus, and her silver beam only held the dementor at bay for a minute before it dispelled her charm and Mars had to destroy it. She was shaking with fear as Ginny lead her back to the others.

Ernie McMillan fared even worse. He had produced an excellent true patronus in class; however, when faced with a dementor's fear and darkness, he wilted. Ernie fainted without getting any kind of a spell off.

When Ginny approached Mars, Harry held out little hope that she would be able to ward off the dementor. He remembered the first time they had been close to one of the former guards of Azkaban. It had entered their compartment on the Hogwarts Express at the beginning of his third year. While the fiend had made everyone feel awful, it had affected Ginny and Harry the most. Professor Lupin had later explained that the two of them had more frightening memories for the dementors to draw upon, and therefore were more adversely affected than the others.

A different notion then crossed Harry's mind. His reaction had been worse than Ginny's that day on the train, yet later that year, he had managed to drive away over a hundred dementors at once. Harry knew Ginny was very brave: she had survived Voldemort's possession without losing her sanity when she was only eleven. Surely, with all the training that he and Mars had given her, Ginny could fight off one dementor.

When Mars had finished giving his last-minute advice, Ginny looked over at Harry. He gave her a confident look and a thumbs up. She nodded back at him and told Mars she was ready. Seconds later a new dementor, full of malice, glided in darkness at the girl of whom Harry suddenly realized he had grown very fond.

Ginny quickly located the direction of its approach and pointed her wand at it. She looked poised, but tense with anticipation. Harry thought that this dementor looked even more vile than the one that had faced Hermione, but he dismissed this suspicion as overprotective worry; instinctively, he took a step closer to her.

When the dementor was within seven feet of her, Ginny visibly reacted. Her head jerked up, but her wand remained steady. She waved the wand and clearly said "Expecto patronum!" A silvery thrush nightingale shot from of the end of her wand and flew right into the dementor's hood. The spirit jerked backwards, then spun and tried to flee from Ginny, only to be blasted by the pure light from Mars' wand. Like its fellows before it, it disintegrated in agony within seconds.

Cheers filled the dank room as everyone celebrated Ginny's brilliant performance. Harry sprinted to her, lifted her small form into the air, and spun her around. Ron quickly did the same. The congratulations of the others followed swiftly. Ginny beamed. After a few moments, Mars spoke over the noise.

"Take heart and heed the victory she has won. It took the combination of magical skill, bravery, and grace under fire to win such a fight. Once you master a dementor, there is nothing in Riddle's arsenal--well, almost nothing--that you cannot face. You're next, Ron."

Ron's confrontation went much the same as Neville's second attempt. He didn't manage to produce a corporeal patronus, but he kept the dementor safely at bay. Harry was very proud of him.

The pep talk Mars gave Luna was different from that the others had received; in fact, it sounded more like a lecture. He instructed her on how to cast the spell, even though he had gone over that for almost two weeks in class. He made no mention of ignoring the fear before he brought forth the last dark spirit.

When the dementor approached Luna, Harry could see the cause for Mars' concern. She wasn't the least bit afraid of it; in fact, she almost seemed bored. When Luna cast the spell, her somatic gestures were off, but a silvery ray was still produced. It easily forced the dementor backward, but since she did not produce a corporeal patronus, Mars called for her to recast the charm. She released the fiend; again it approached her, and again she sloppily cast the charm. For the second time a powerful silvery beam drove the dementor away from her. It was if she were not only unafraid of the dementor, but not interested in learning the spell properly. Mars shook his head and blasted the dementor into nothingness. Luna smiled at him, clearly enjoying his dismay.

Mars called the group to gather around him. The mood in the room had improved dramatically after the successful defenses by Ginny, Ron and Luna. Mars congratulated all of his students, and said he was proud of each and every one of them. As they headed for the port key couch, Harry saw the disappointment in Padma's and Hermione's faces: they were Mars' star students, and neither had done well. He felt bad for them.

After they arrived back in the Gryffindor Common room, Mars called Padma and Hermione over to him. He spoke with the two girls while the others chatted excitedly about their experience. Even though Ernie had fared the worst, he was upbeat about his performance. He said it was the first time he had been confronted by a dementor, and he now knew what he had done wrong. Harry was about to complement Ginny again on her spell work when Mars, Padma and Hermione rejoined them. Whatever Mars had said to the girls must have been good, because they both looked much happier.

"Padma, Ernie, Luna. C'mon, let me send y'all to your common rooms via the fireplace. You can still get a couple hours of sleep," said Mars, approaching the smoldering ashes.

Neville said good night and headed up the boys' staircase, but Harry held back; he wanted to see how Mars was going to transport the other students. He didn't think that the House Common Room fireplaces could transport people. Apparently Ron, Ginny, and Hermione were also interested, because they remained with him.

Mars pointed his wand at the fireplace and said, "Ravenclaw!" A roaring fire sprang forth from the embers. "No need for floo powder. Go ahead, girls." Padma and Luna stepped into the fire and were gone. Mars repeated the steps and returned Ernie to the Hufflepuff Common room. The American then smiled at the four Gryffindors.

"Nice trick, Mars," said Harry.

"You really think so?" he asked.

Hermione nodded and said, "Very nice."

"Well try this one on for size then," said Mars.

There was a loud crack and Mars was gone. He had disapparated while inside Hogwarts Castle!

Chapter Twenty-Two - The Best Christmas Ever

Link to chapter illustration:

[url]http://hpbook6.freewebpage.org/art/nomarks/Fluer_teasing_Hermione.jpg[/url]

Friday morning, Harry was at breakfast and the whole of the Great Hall was buzzing with conversations. It was the last day before most of the students would take the Hogwarts Express back to London to spend the Christmas holidays with their families.

The Gryffindor table was more subdued than the rest. Many of the older Gryffindors were in the advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and Mars had promised they would be tested on the last day of the Fall term. It wasn't a typical test requiring studying, but a test of will. Today Mars was going to require every student to say Voldemort's name out loud to the rest of the class. Harry knew that whispering it or saying it fearfully would not do. It was clearly bothering many of the students around him. He and his friends, however, had no problem saying "Voldemort," and were discussing something entirely different.

"How did he do it? That's what I want to know," said Hermione.

"How much longer are you going to keep saying that?" asked Ron shortly.

"Until I know how he apparated inside of Hogwarts. I also want to to know if anyone else can."

"Just ask him," answered Ron.

"Oh that's a brilliant idea, Ron!" said Hermione sarcastically.

"What do you mean?"

"Great wizards don't just blab their secrets to teenagers, you know."

They all got up to leave the Great Hall. Harry said goodbye to Ginny, who ran over to join Luna on their way to Transfiguration. Ron and Hermione barely noticed Ginny's departure; they were still bickering as they headed for the Charms corridor.

"He's shown us lots of dangerous spells, Hermione," Ron argued.

"But they were under controlled conditions with lots of instructions. He only apparated after everyone had left but us. He's never even mentioned apparation in class, remember?" insisted Hermione.

"But why show us he can do it, if he was just going to get mad if we asked about it?" interjected Harry.

"That's the part I can't figure out," said Hermione as they sat down in their desks for Double Charms.

While they practiced the Unbreakable Charm and its reverse, the Brittle Charm, on small glass jars, Hermione and Ron continued arguing.

"I think he was trying to send a message," said Hermione.

"Labefacto!" said Ron as he tapped the jar with his wand. "If he wanted to tell us something, Hermione, he'd just say it," he responded.

Harry hit the jar with a small hammer, which bounced off harmlessly, leaving the glass object completely intact. Harry shook his head at his friend. Ron frowned.

"Come now, Mr. Weasley, you can do better than that," said Professor Flitwick, walking by. "Miss Granger, give it a try."

Hermione nodded, rolled up the sleeves of her robe, tapped the glass with her wand, and said, "Labefacto!"

Harry hit the jar with the hammer again, and it shattered, scattering glass all around the basin in which it stood.

"Ooh, very good. Five points for Gryffindor. Try it again, Mr. Weasley," said the Professor, heading for the table where Terry Boot and Mandy Brocklehurst were sitting.

"Reparo!" said Ron, and the pieces of glass reformed into a jar.

"Do you think Mars is just showing off, then?" asked Ron.

"It doesn't seem likely, I agree," conceded Hermione.

"Charlie told me that everything Mars does is deliberate. Every sentence he says is carefully constructed, every action has a specific reason. Maybe it was a message?" suggested Harry.

"But why with us?" asked Ron.

Neither Hermione nor Harry had an answer for him.

Hermione shrugged and tapped the jar with her wand. "Infragilis! Okay, Ron, try it again."

"Labefacto!"

Later that day, Harry arrived to teach his Defense Against the Dark Arts class. The students were, as usual, queued up outside the classroom, and greeted him merrily as he let them in. Heather, Mary and Mark all put small Christmas presents on his desk as they passed by it. Teaching the class this term had been one of the most fulfilling things he had ever done. He smiled broadly as he closed the door and walked to the front of the class.

Today Harry continued the lesson on the Disarming Spell. Originally, that spell was not scheduled to be covered until the Summer term, but Mars had decided to have it taught earlier. In fact, the teaching of this charm had started the same day the Advanced class started covering the Patronus Charm. Harry was positive that this was no coincidence, but he didn't dwell on it. He trusted Mars' judgment; and besides, teaching the Disarming Spell was fun.

The class had learned the spell quickly and seemed to enjoy themselves. By the time Harry dismissed them for the term, almost every student could cast it effectively. As the class filtered out, Mark, Mary, and Heather, along with Heather's friends, Gary, Sarah, and Renee, all stopped to say goodbye.

"Harry. Are you going back to Little Whinging for the holidays?" asked Mark.

"I'm afraid not," answered Harry. "I'm staying with Ron Weasley for Christmas."

"And Ginny!" hinted Renee mischievously. Heather gave her a friendly shove and the four girls giggled loudly as they exchanged glances. Harry did his best to ignore them.

"That's too bad. I'd like you to be there when I have it out with your cousin Dudley," said Mark.

"Mark. You know very well that the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery forbids you form using magic outside of Hogwarts," said Harry sternly.

"But I owe him. He's always bullied me, even though he's five years older and four times my size!" objected Mark. The other first years nodded.

"It's still not allowed," said Harry.

"But you did it. More than once," added Heather.

"And I got expelled for it too. Dumbledore had to petition the Ministry of Magic to get me back into school. Is that what you want, Mark?"

The first year shook his head.

"Just tell Dudley that you go to school with me. And then show him your wand the next time you're alone with him. I promise that'll scare him enough to leave you alone. It won't violate International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy, because my cousin already knows about our world," explained Harry.

"Brilliant! Thanks, Harry." His students left the classroom, talking excitedly. Harry packed up his things and headed for lunch behind them.

The last class of the term was with Mars. Many of the students looked nervous about the upcoming test as they took their seats. When the bell rang, Mars immediately started the testing. The Gryffindors seemed to do better than the other two houses. Of the Gryffindors, only Parvati had any trouble, and she still managed to say it, albeit quietly. When she and a few of the others seemed scared, Mars put one of his large hands on their shoulders and told them to try again. Everyone managed to say Voldemort after this bit of help. Harry and Luna were the last two to be tested, and neither needed any assistance from Mars.

The class seemed to take heart from the fact that everyone had managed to pass the test. Some happiness even came to Mars' somber face as he congratulated his pupils. He gave each student a wand-cleaning kit as a present, wished them all a merry Christmas, and dismissed the class early.

As the happy students left to begin their packing, Ron looked at Hermione. "Well?"

"I'll asked him when I get back from holiday," she answered.

"Oh come off it! As uptight as you are? You'll drive yourself mental within a week. Ask him now, and try to actually relax during Christmas," replied Ron.

Hermione scowled at Ron. "I am NOT uptight!" she fumed.

"Let's put that to a vote, shall we?" asked Ron sarcastically.

Harry started to back away. He had no interest in being polled on this subject.

Hermione looked ready to shout a rebuttal, but Mars interrupted, "You three. Quit your squalling and get up here," he said firmly.

Harry's head dropped. He was now going to be told off because of Ron and Hermione's bickering. He glared at them and shook his head as they walked towards Mars.

Ron, Hermione and Harry stood by silently as Mars hugged Luna and Katie goodbye for the holidays. Ginny, standing next to him, also said goodbye to the two girls.

"The two of you are way way too young to sound like that you know," said Mars to Ron and Hermione with a grin.

"Like what?" they asked.

"Like some old couple! Jeesh. I swear you act like you've been married to each other for decades."

A grin spread on Harry's face and Ginny giggled as she bumped into Mars playfully. Ron and Hermione both mouthed wordless replies for a few seconds.

"What were you arguing about, anyway?" asked Mars.

Harry spoke up first. "Hermione wanted to know why you disapparated from our Common Room last night."

"I wanted to get back to my quarters quickly," said a still smiling Mars.

"Mars!" said Ginny sharply. "You know perfectly well what Harry meant."

Mars' smile grew. "And you know that I demand perfectly phrased questions. Try again, Harry."

Instead, it was Hermione that spoke. "Why would you disapparate in front of us like that? It's supposed to be impossible while inside Hogwarts. Wouldn't you want to keep a secret like that to yourself?"

"Impossible? Who told you that?" asked Mars, clearly enjoying himself.

Hermione frowned. She knew Mars was teasing her, but she also knew that she would have to endure it to learn what she wanted.

"It's stated several times in Hogwarts, A History that you can't disapparate inside the grounds of Hogwarts," said Hermione.

She wrinkled her nose at the smirk that rose to Mars' lips. Mars, like Harry and Ron, held the book Hogwarts, A History in utter contempt. Unlike the boys however, Mars had actually read it, and took delight in pointing out its myriad errors - especially when Hermione was around.

"Tell that to the Chamber of Secrets, which that fine book claims does not exist," said Mars.

"There are other sources that agree," Hermione asserted. "Professor Snape and Cornelius Fudge both said that it's not possible to disapparate here." Harry nodded.

Mars rolled his eyes. "Maybe they should then inform the house elves and Fawkes, to stop them from doing it. I mean if it's impossible, it's probably also illegal."

Ron and Harry chuckled at Hermione's ire. Hermione put her hands on her hips. "Professor Flitwick also said that wizards couldn't disapparate on the grounds. Are you going to discount his opinion, too?" demanded Hermione.

Mars crossed his arms, but kept his amused look. "Are you sure he said exactly that?"

"Yes, of course. I asked him only this morning and he said that magical wards are in place to prevent you from apparating inside of Hogwarts," she replied.

"Now, that I believe," said Mars smugly.

The four students looked puzzled, but within seconds a glimmer of comprehension crossed Hermione's face.

"You're not planning on teaching us how, are you?" she asked hopefully.

"No, no. That would take a very long time. There are still many more important things for you to learn first," said Mars, beaming at her.

"Charlie told me once that everything you say is for a reason and that every word is chosen specifically to convey a particular message. Were you trying to send us a message?" said Harry. The others nodded at this question.

"Well, Charlie has always given me more credit than I deserve, but I will admit that my words and actions often conspire to subtly, and sometimes obviously, advance my agenda. Many claim this is manipulation, but I like to think that it allows my target audience to make up their own minds," said Mars.

Ron, Harry and Ginny pondered this answer, but Hermione spoke up. "Well, if your intent isn't manipulation, then I expect you wouldn't mind explaining your reasoning explicitly, if asked. Would you?"

Mars smiled proudly at his best student. "No, I wouldn't, Hermione, but I must insist that if I am to explain this overtly, instead of letting you come to your own conclusions, that you all think this matter through very carefully." Mars' face then darkened, and his friendly tone turned ominous.

"War is upon us. The battles are still flying under the radar, but gain altitude every day. Soon the full horrors of our foe will be loosed for the public to witness. Tom Riddle's rage, his reputation, and his butchery will scare off many of our allies. The aura of fear that Voldemort projects is probably more dangerous than even his substantial magical power. Capitulation will be on the lips of many, if not most, of the witches and wizards in Britain and Europe. The Ministry, I fear, may even give up in despair without a fight. In fact, if the Headmaster and I had not intervened, it would have fallen already."

Hermione, Ron and Ginny all gasped.

"Even if all of these catastrophes do befall us, there is still hope," continued Mars. "Despite his terrible powers and dark servants, Riddle stills fears Dumbledore, and you, Harry. Our allies may be weak, but we are strong, and we know where Riddle is most vulnerable. There is lore, and there are powerful, powerful magics, that are at our command and not our foe's. These will be used to great advantage, along with the excellent intelligence we have on the Death Eaters. When fear strikes you, when uncertainty nags at you and when you wonder why you should go on, remember what I just said: doubt is the only enemy that I fear."

Harry didn't know what to say. He had thought that the Ministry had been working as hard as Hogwarts in preparing for war. Now it seems that Mars considered them practically useless.

"But why show us? Shouldn't you be trying to embolden the Ministry, or even better, the aurors?" asked Hermione.

"I'm no champion of lost causes, Hermione; I play to win," said Mars as he led them to the door. "You should get your packing done before dinner tonight. Have a Merry Christmas."

They left the classroom a little bewildered by their professor's words, but they heeded his advice. All four packed before dinner and then went down to the Great Hall to eat. Because it was the last day of the term, Mars and Dumbledore were at the teacher's table, and both seemed in good spirits. After dessert, Dumbledore wished the students a Happy Christmas, and bid them farewell and goodnight. The students left the hall and wearily headed for their dormitories.

The next morning Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione marched out with the other students leaving Hogwarts for Christmas. Hermione was gripping Ron's hand very tightly.

"Oh, I wish I were going with you three. My family will be spending most of the holiday with my aunt and uncle in Birmingham. They're terrible bores, but I guess I can catch up on my UAS reading," sighed Hermione.

"Catch up? You mean you're behind even with all the time you spend studying that rubbish?" said Harry.

Hermione looked at him crossly. "It's not rubbish, Harry, it's the most brilliant magical theories I've ever seen. You really should ask Mars if you can study it with Padma and I."

"No thanks," said Harry, waving his hands. Harry glanced at Ron and they exchanged smiles. He looked forward again and stopped abruptly, causing Ginny to walk into his back.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"Is that who I think it is?" asked Harry, pointing to a tall, pretty blond girl walking toward them against the crowd.

"It looks like Fleur," replied Ginny.

"It must be her," said Hermione. "Why else would all those boys be drooling like idiots?" Harry looked around; about half the boys that Fleur passed stopped and ogled her until the students behind them pushed them forward.

When there was a clear path between them Ginny rushed forward. "Fleur!" she squealed.

Fleur bent down and hugged her. "Bonjour, ma petite soeur!"

"Bonjour, Fleur," said Hermione. Ron and Harry exchanged friendly greetings with her.

"What brings you to Hogwarts?" asked Ginny.

"We 'ave come to bring you, Ron and 'Arry to ze Burrow. Bill is in ze truck outside ze gate," answered Fleur.

"We're not riding on the Hogwarts Express?" said Ron in surprise.

"No, Mars will not allow it. He is worried zat ze train is a target. He and Steele will be riding it back to London - in secret, of course," said Fleur.

Ron and Hermione looked rather put out, but Harry and Ginny were intrigued. Who was this Steele person? Mars must really expect some kind of attack if he was going to be on the train himself.

"Fleur," said Ginny quietly, taking the taller girl's hand. "We need to give Ron and Hermione a few moments alone to say goodbye."

"We do?" said Fleur teasingly. "Did she finally come to 'er senses and kiss 'eem zen?"

Hermione flashed a sharp look at Fleur.

"C'mon," said Ginny, tugging on Fleur's hand and giggling. "Let's go over here for a few minutes."

Harry followed the two girls, and after a few minutes a somber Ron joined them. They split apart from the students loading into the carriages and headed for the gate to Hogsmeade. Once outside, Harry saw Bill waiting for them on the side of the road with the Hummer.

"What about our trunks? They're on the train, aren't they?" asked Harry as he approached Bill.

"No, they're already loaded in the Hummer. Mars had Winky divert them," answered Bill.

Everyone greeted Bill and piled into the truck. As soon as Bill had the vehicle airborne and at cruising speed, Ginny spoke.

"Who's this Steele person that is going with Mars on the train?"

Bill and Fleur looked a bit nervous, but Fleur answered.

"She is, a, - well, a friend of Mars. From America. She's also a Defender, like 'eem."

"A friend?" asked Ginny suspiciously.

"Oui," answered Fleur, not looking at Ginny.

"Mum's the word," Bill warned them. "Mars doesn't want it getting about that he's bringing more Spirit Defenders into Britain to help with the war."

Ginny scowled out the window as she leaned back into her seat.

Harry had a wonderful Christmas with the Weasleys, but he wished that Hermione had been able to join them. Although he missed her, his main reason for wanting her at the Burrow was on Ron's account. Each time Ron received a letter from Hermione, he moped about for a few hours in a depressed state. At first Harry and Ginny felt sorry for him, but it got annoying after a week.

"It's not like he won't see her every day in a few weeks," stated Ginny.

Harry decided nothing must have happened to the Hogwarts Express on its way to London, because there was no mention of it in the Daily Prophet in the following weeks. The only thing Harry had found of interest in the newspaper was the considerable rhetoric coming from Jo Anne Lennon. Apparently, she now had quite a large following, and was arresting witches and wizards on a daily basis. Harry noticed, however, that even in her most belligerent comments, she never renewed her call for the arrest of Mars or Snape.

On Christmas morning, Ron woke Harry early. The boys then dressed quickly and headed downstairs to the living room, where the Weasleys traditionally opened their presents. Mrs. Weasley greeted them with cups of hot chocolate, and bade them wait on the couch until the rest of the family joined them. Ron frowned at the delay and led Harry over to the couch. Within the half hour, the rest of the family was downstairs in the living room. Shortly afterwards, the twins and Bill and Fleur arrived, and then everyone tore into their presents.

Harry had quite a haul this year, but what really made the morning special to him was the loving atmosphere. He had spend considerable time at the Burrow over the years, but never at Christmas. The warmth the Weasleys felt for each other, and for Harry himself, made him glow down to his toes. His only sad thought was wondering what Christmas at the Potter's house would have been like had Voldemort not come along.

The only person who didn't seem completely happy was Mrs. Weasley. While her mood was festive, two things were clearly bothering her. Several times, just when she seemed to be finally relaxing, she had muttered something about wishing Percy could be with the family. Bill and Charlie assured her that Percy was doing well and that it was just too dangerous for him to come home. The Committee Against Dark Sorcerers was still keeping an eye on the Burrow; however, they kept their distance so as not to upset the lupine sentinel guardians.

Mrs. Weasley was also bothered by the lavish gifts that Mars had sent everyone. While all of Mars' presents seemed expensive to Harry, a few really stood out: A new broomstick for Ginny (a Cleansweep just like Ron's), a cargo van for the twins - which Harry was positive could fly--and a letter describing an as-yet-undelivered present for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

"He's secured the employment of a house elf for us?" Mrs. Weasley said in disbelief as her husband read the note to her.

Everyone looked bowled over except for Charlie, Bill and Fleur. Bill stepped forward and explained.

"Her name is Loopy, and she's from Oregon, but a lot of her family is still in England. She wanted to move back to be with her relatives. However, as you can imagine, it's not easy for a freed house elf to get paid employment here. Mars is friends with her American human family, so he hooked her up with you," said Bill, looking at his parents.

"Bill!" said Mrs. Weasley sharply. "We can't afford to pay for -"

"Relax, Mum. Her salary is prepaid for the next thirty years."

This further evidence of Mars' extravagance did not relax Mrs. Weasley; if anything, she seemed even more self-conscious the rest of the morning.

Christmas morning passed very quickly with everyone enjoying their new presents. Ron was amazed and delighted by the quaffle with the signatures of the Cannon quidditch team. Harry was surprised to find that it was already three o'clock when Mrs. Weasley called them into the kitchen for Christmas tea. They all squeezed into the small room. Harry, Ron and Ginny sat in front of one of the counters. Bill remained standing next to the door to the living room.

"Bill, why don't you take a -," Mrs. Weasley began, when there was a knock at the front door.

"I'll get it," said Bill brightly, darting out of the room.

Harry was sure that he saw Charlie wink at Fleur. His interest piqued, he joined the others in staring at the living room door. Moments later, Bill re-entered the room, along with Mars and a house elf Harry had never seen before.

After exchanging Christmas greetings with the Weasleys, Mars introduced Loopy to her new family. She curtsied and immediately asked to start working. Mrs. Weasley was still too bemused to answer the elf, so Mr. Weasley gave Loopy permission to scout out the house.

After the elf left, Mrs. Weasley recovered herself and approached Mars, who was standing by Harry and Ron.

"Mars, I know you mean well, but this is simply too much," she said.

"Hold on now, Molly. Before you tell me off, I've got a couple more tricks up my sleeve."

"More? Now, dear, this is getting silly," objected Mrs. Weasley.

Mars, however, was not listening. His wand was already out and moving around in odd patterns. "Obscuro!" he barked.

The sunlight coming through the windows dimmed, causing gasps of surprise. The room darkened as the sun's illumination faded entirely. The magical candles that lit the Weasley house fired themselves up so everyone could see again. Harry was astonished as he stared out the kitchen windows into absolute pitch blackness.

"Mars?" said Mr. Weasley nervously. "You've blotted out the sun? H-How?"

"Blotted out the sun? You're as bad as Luna. Of course I haven't. I've just hidden the inside of the Burrow from the outside world. Even if a Donnie walked right up to this window," said Mars, tapping the pane next to Harry, "all he would see would be an empty room. The same is true for all the windows in the house."

"Mars, dear. We appreciate your concerns about our safety, but I think not having any sunlight in the house is just too depressing," said Mrs. Weasley.

"Oh, I agree; this is just temporary. I told you that I had two last tricks," replied Mars as he unpinned one of the talismans on his jacket. He threw it into the air, pointed his wand at it, and said "Revertti!"

The talisman hung in the air and shone with a yellow light. Its brightness increased until it was painful to look at. A second later there was a flash of yellow light and a slight popping noise. Where the glowing talisman had been been now stood Percy Weasley.

Shrieks of surprise and greetings filled the kitchen as the rest of the family converged upon the newly arrived member. Mars pulled Harry off to the side. Fleur quietly joined them. Mars explained to Harry that once the Obscuring Charm had been cast, nothing could enter the house. Thus, Percy had had to enter before the spell, and in disguise, because the Committee Against Dark Sorcerers was keeping a very close watch on the Burrow.

It was the first time in over two years that the entire Weasley family had been together. Harry couldn't remember ever seeing Mr. and Mrs. Weasley looking so happy. Mars sat down next to Charlie and stayed for dinner. He had to leave immediately afterward, however, because, he said, Dumbledore insisted that he also eat with the Hogwarts staff and the students who were at the school for Christmas. Mars stood up from the table, said goodbye to everyone, and disappeared with a loud *crack*.

"How did he do that with the magical ward placed on the house?" asked Ginny.

"Ginny, it was an obscuring ward, not a containment spell. It keeps things out, not in. Besides, even if it was a ward designed to imprison, do you think a wizard like Mars couldn't break out?" answered Percy matter of factly. "I mean, a wizard as brilliant as he can do anything. Do you know how many languages he speaks?"

Ginny shook her head.

"Over 150. And he started Hogwarts when he was only nine!" gushed Percy.

As they left the table after tea, Fred and George walked up to Harry and Ron.

"Same old Percy," said George, shaking his head. "Well, at least Mars is more likable than Crouch."

"At least Mars knows Percy's name," added Fred.

Harry and Ron grinned at the twins.

"He's really starting to rely on me for the war effort you know ..." said Percy as he continued to bore Ginny in the living room.

Three hours after dinner, when Percy had to leave, Mrs. Weasley threw a tearful fuss, but Harry knew how happy spending Christmas with her prodigal son had made her. Percy disapparated, and then Bill dispelled the obscuring ward using the inactivating word that Mars had given him. The joy of the Christmas spirit had temporarily banished all worries from Harry's mind. For the first time Harry could remember, he went to bed to feeling just like any normal happy boy on Christmas day.