Harry Potter and the Maneosioan War

Chapter 3

Three-hundred, Coralgraze

Harry was lying on his bed. It had been a full night since he walked out on his friends after receiving the news about the veil...

He hadn't spoken to anyone and didn't want to. He didn't even know if he had ever wanted to speak again. Suddenly, a soft knock came on the door.

"Go away!" said Harry, grumpily.

But it opened anyways and Ron walked in.

"What d'you want?" Harry said.

"Look, I'm sorry about what happened, Harry, but you can't stay cooped up in here forever. Hermione's been locked up in her room as well; Ginny told me her pillow's been stained this morning, apparently with tears."

"Really?" asked Harry.

"Yeah," said Ron. "So anyway, mum asked me to tell you that I was going up to Diagon Alley today with Ginny to get some stuff for school. Hermione didn't want to come, though. Do you?"

"No," said Harry, "I'd rather stay as well," sitting up on his bed.

"Fine. What's that thing on your finger?" asked Ron, pointing to the ring on Harry's right hand.

"It's nothing," said Harry, drawing the his arm behind his back, hiding the promise ring and focusing on a new topic. "Going to meet Luna, are you?"

"No!" said Ron, going pink. "Maybe. Probably. Why do you care, anyway?"

"I don't," said Harry, "I'm just wondering why you're keeping it such a secret."

"It's not a secret! I just - just forget it, Harry."

"Listen, if you want to get there faster, you can use my Magic Carpet."

"Your what?!" And Harry explained Sirius's gifts to Ron. He listened with the utmost curiosity and finally thanked Harry as he took the rug and left.

Harry just sat there for a while, thinking, and got up out of the room after about five minutes of blanc thoughts running through his mind. As soon as he walked out of his room, he ran into a hurrying Ginny who apologized and began to run downstairs, when Harry suddenly remembered something and held her back, "Hey, Ginny! Dean wanted me to give you this, by the way." Harry handed her the letter. She took it and ripped it open right away, taking out a piece of parchment and, with it, dropping a picture of a boy, who Harry recognized was definitely not Dean though couldn't tell who it was, and wondered why that picture was in the letter, but decided that he didn't want to know. Ginny let out an, "Oh," and quickly picked up the photograph before Harry could lean over to examen it. She blushed and ran downstairs as she called back, "Thanks, Harry. ‘Bye."

He walked around the mansion until he found Hermione sitting on the couch in the living room, gazing into the flames of the fire. Apparently, she had heard Harry come in because she said, "I'm still hoping, you know, that maybe, just maybe, Sirius will appear in the fire and tell us that everything's okay - that he's here for us - for you, Harry..."

"Me too..." said Harry dully and sat next to her as she put her hands around his waist and rested her head on his chest.

"We could have spoken to him again, couldn't we? Using the veil, couldn't we? Ginny told me that's what Luna said; she told me they could be spoken to...even when they're gone."

"Yeah, I know."

"Harry, how could he have known? How could he have found out? It's just not fair! How could he have?" breathed Hermione and then something suddenly came to her because Harry had noticed that the expression that she bore on her face had changed into a look of terror. She knows, thought Harry.

"Harry? Y-you didn't, did you? Y-you d-didn't have a-another d-dream, did you?"

"I-I-I did, Hermione."

Hermione made a very sharp intake of breath.

"I'm sorry, but there was nothing that I could have done, I just had it."

Hermione swallowed hard, "W-what was the dream about?"

"Sirius spoke to me from the veil, or at least it sounded like him because I didn't see his face."

"What did he say?" said Hermione, shocked.

"He said - he said -" but Harry didn't know what to say because how could he explain to Hermione exactly what the dream had meant?

"Listen, Hermione, you know when I told you about the prophesy?"

"He said that?" asked Hermione, comically.

"No, I mean do you remember when I told you?"

"Of course, how could I forget?" she said, turning red.

"Well, see, I was thinking about what had happened in the Department of Mysteries last year and I fell asleep and then Sirius's voice came and he said that I should tell you, by using the mirror..."

"What?! Harry, are you sure he was talking about you telling me about the prophesy? And are you sure that was really Sirius? You know what happened last year..."

"I know, Hermione. But no one knows about the mirrors except Sirius, my dad, Ginny, you and me."

"I still don't know, Harry....but why would he want you tell me?"

"I already told you that, Hermione," said Harry, who could feel heat rising out of him, "because I was just realizing how I really felt about you," and Hermione went pink.

Just then, Harry and Hermione were suddenly interrupted.

"We've got her! Mum! Dad! Come quick! We've got her! We've got Bellatrix Lestrange!"

Harry's insides went numb and, apparently, so had Hermione's. Bellatrix Lestrange was Voldemort's most loyal Death Eater, and she had killed Sirius just a couple of weeks ago...

The both of them immediately sprang from the couch and ran towards Charlie's voice, raising their wands in the air, prepared to fight. They stopped when they reached him at the entrance to the basement, but he was no longer conscious; Charlie was laying dead still on the floor next to Bill. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came running into the room and Harry watched their faces go white just like his and Hermione's had done. Mrs. Weasley couldn't move as she dropped her wand; Mr. Weasley ran up to Bill and Charlie, feeling both their foreheads and then pressing his ear to each of their chests, listening for a heartbeat.

"They're alright. Just a spell." Relief sprang over Harry.

"D-did he say Bellatrix Lestrange?" said Harry, bravely.

"I'm afraid so, Harry."

"Then they know. About the Order of the Phoenix's hide out, I mean. But how?"

"Harry, Tonks was one of the members that were protecting the veil the night that it was destroyed. She came back to us, telling us everything that happened. But - " Mr. Weasley shook his head " - it wasn't her. I don't even know if she's still alive at this point. Bellatrix must have transformed into her using the Polyjuice Potion. The trouble is, we don't know how long Bellatrix has been in Tonk's body; she could have found out anything. I don't know if we'll see Tonks again."

Harry and Hermione's mouths fell open.

Mrs. Weasley had now come to her senses. "Arthur, you don't think she's still here, do you?"

"Oh, no. She would have Dissaperated by now. But, I'm afraid, this means that Harry is no longer safe here. No one is. Dumbledore must be contacted immediately and we need to get you in another location as soon as possible, Harry, do you hear me? Molly, you go with Harry and Hermione and make sure they pack their things. I'll be sending an owl to Ron and Ginny, they won't be allowed to come back here, we'll have to go to the Burrow..."

"But, how did she escape the charm in the basement?"

"My guess is as good as yours, Hermione."

Hermione, however, whispered to Harry, "You don't think she could have overheard us when Charlie was telling us about the basement? Remember how I questioned it being full of Dark Magic? Maybe she would have know how to escape it. More importantly, Voldemort could have told her."

Harry didn't answer. First Sirius was taken away from him and now he had to leave Grimmauld Place.

He watched Mr. Weasley wave his wand at both Charlie and Bill's bodies and walk away with them, while Mrs. Weasley turned to Harry and Hermione, a look of horror still trapped on her face.

"Let's go, the sooner we get out of here, the better," her voice was unusually squeaky.

She led Harry and Hermione upstairs to their bedrooms where they picked up their belongings and were ready to leave.

"Shouldn't we get Ron's and Ginny's things too?" asked Hermione.

"Don't you worry about that, now," said Mrs. Weasley, "I'll take care of it."

They walked downstairs and met Mr. Weasley a second time.

"Dumbledore's just sent me this," he pointed at a piece of parchment that he held in his hand. "Harry, I'm afraid we have no choice but to send you back to your relatives -"

"No!" yelled Harry.

"I'm really sorry, Harry, but I'm afraid that you are in grave danger. Hermione, you're to come with us to the Burrow."

"Please, Mr. Weasley," said Hermione, desperately, "can't Harry come to the Burrow as well?"

"I'm afraid not. The only way that we can all be safe is if we are united with our own flesh and blo-" Mr. Weasley seemed to have realized what he had just said and Hermione looked at Harry, so he finished, " - what I mean is, Harry, you're best off with your family and Hermione should stay with us because, er, she's, er, well, she's definitely safer at the Burrow then she would be at her home."

Harry knew that Mr. Weasley was desperately fighting the urge to spill the fact that he was Hermione's uncle.

"Fine, then," said Harry, mournfully. "As long as you're safe," he told Hermione.

Hermione nodded. She looked from Harry to Mrs. Weasley to Mr. Weasley.

"Er," she said, "would you mind it if we had a moment alone?"

"Not at all," said Mr. Weasley and accompanied Mrs. Weasley to the front of the house.

"Harry, don't worry. Everything's always for the best."

"Oh, yeah? How?"

"I don't know," Hermione sighed, "but what I do know is that we'll see each other extremely soon. Don't worry, I'll write every day. I'll never forget you."

"I won't forget you either, Hermione," said Harry and kissed her.

"Be safe," said Hermione.

"You too."

And with that they walked on to meet Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. They beckoned them into the Ford Anglia and both Harry and Hermione took a seat in the back of the car.

They first arrived at the Dursleys, who looked ready to throw up at the sight of Harry. He awkwardly shook hands with Hermione to hide the fact that he wanted to hold her hand one last time and opened the car door.

He gathered his trunk, along with Hedwig's cage and his Firebolt and made his way upstairs to the tattered bedroom, not looking up at the disgruntled Uncle Vernon as he detestably listened to Mr. Weasley's explanation of the situation. He gazed out of his bedroom window, only to see Hermione looking back at him from the car.

"I love you," he saw her mouth the words.

"I love you too," said Harry as he heard the door slam itself shut downstairs and Mr. Weasley get back into the car, driving away to the Burrow.

***

Harry just sat there in his old bedroom. There was absolutely nothing to do; he wasn't allowed to go outside the house and there was no point in writing to anyone because, if he did, there was nothing much that he could say.

He missed Hermione, and Ron, and the Weasleys, and the members of the Order. Well, not Snape, though Harry. And he was now just remembering one of the last accounts that he had with his Potions master, including a Pensive and his father in the old days. Harry couldn't possibly imagine what Snape would do to him once he found out that he had gotten an Outstanding on his Potions O.W.L.; he'd probably make his life an even more of a nightmare than it already was. And if he knew that Harry made Quidditch Captain, he'd probably flip; Harry would be laying stone dead the moment he would walk into his classroom.

Harry laughed. He imagined Professor Dumbledore's expression if he found Harry murdered by Snape during one of his lessons; death was nothing to Harry any longer. The less he cared about dying, the better, because, to Harry Potter, death was inevitable.

Suddenly, Hermione's voice rang in his head, "That's not funny, Harry...that's not funny at all..." And he knew that it wasn't something to joke about, but it made Harry feel just a slight bit better, knowing that if death came, he would not be afraid of it, just like Sirius told him to...

Harry suddenly sprang up from his bed in such a jolt that he found his hair standing on end as he was no doubt surprised to hear his trunk calling his name.

"Harry! Harry! I know you're there! Harry, pick up!"

Wondering what in the world his trunk wanted him to pick up, he hesitantly opened the top of it and rummaged through, only to find Hermione's face looking at him from the small square mirror that Sirius had given him. She startled him so much that he accidentally dropped the mirror on his not-so-neatly folded robes and felt sorry for not appreciating Ginny's reaction to his call earlier from the mirror.

"Jeez, Hermione! You scared me half to death!"

"Only half?" she said, though not smiling.

"Ha, ha, I'm not laughing." said Harry, more seriously than necessary.

"Neither am I," said Hermione, and she meant it. "Right, well, I snatched this mirror before I left from Grimmauld Place," she said.

"Good thinking! I completely forgot about it."

"Well, you wouldn't have really remembered considering the fact that it was in our bedroom."

"Oh, yeah. Is Ginny back with Ron, anyway?"

"Yeah, but there's something wrong with him," she shook her head.

"What?"

"I don't know. He's awfully quiet; hasn't spoken much to me or anyone else since he came back from Diagon Alley with Ginny..." said Hermione, in a strangely shaky voice.

"You don't think it's got something to do with Luna, do you?"

"Dunno. Maybe it does, maybe not. But that's not important right now, Harry. What is important is how could have Bellatrix found out where the Order of the Phoenix Headquarters was if Dumbledore was it's Secret Keeper? It doesn't seem possible! It can't be! You know he'd never betray us. I mean - it's Dumbledore!"

"He wouldn't, Hermione! He couldn't have. But I have no idea! My head's been ringing these past few days, but I haven't had any dreams. I guess all that Occlumency's paid off, huh?"

"Oh, that's wonderful, Harry!"

"Yeah...yeah...it is wonderful. But then, why doesn't it feel wonderful? Why do I feel as if I wish I knew what was going on again?"

"Oh, Harry, don't! Don't - please! You'll just be leading yourself into another trap!"

"No, I promise I won't, Hermione. But, it's just...hard, you know..."

"Yeah, I know, Harry. But it's alright..."

"Say, you never told me what you got on your O.W.L.'s?"

"Oh, you know, this and that and twelve."

"That's great!"

"Yeah, thanks."

"So you still don't want to study and become an auror with me, do you?"

"It's not that I don't want to Harry...it's just that...I don't know - it's a bit dangerous, isn't it?"

"Dangerous? Hermione, being an auror isn't dangerous. What we do everyday is dangerous. But, compared to that, fighting and capturing Dark wizards while gambling with your life is nothing - "

"Stop, Harry!"

"What?"

Harry could see tears gleaming in her eyes as he held the mirror in the palm of his hand.

"Don't you ever talk that way! Do you hear me?!" her voice sounded hurt and, what's even more, scared.

"Hermione, wha - ?"

"Harry, you told me about that prophesy. You - you told me and I don't know what kind of affect it's had on you, but it doesn't seem to be anything good. It's as if the fact that if you d-die and V-Voldemort lives - its' nothing to you. Well it is to me! Harry, he wants you dead! Do you hear me, dead?! He'll stop at nothing! And the fact that I care more about no one else in the world and that you're the only who can stop him and you - you're just acting like death is one big JOKE! I c-can't lose you Harry! Not now! Not ever!"

So many tears had ran down her face in the process of saying these words that it appeared to Harry as if someone had gotten a large bucket or water and emptied it in her face, a fact that made him feel, if possible, even worse.

"Hermione, there are things worse then death - "

"Like what, Harry?! Tell me! Like pain? You mean what I feel when I see you in danger or hurt or...something else? Or perhaps the Dementor's Kiss? Well, I don't know how much worse that is then death, but - "

"No," said Harry, quietly, shaking his head, "that's not it."

"What is it then? TELL ME, HARRY!" she screamed, "Because I don't think that I can stand the fact that there is something worse than how I feel right now..."

"Shhh. Hermione, calm down. It'll be alright. But...there is something worse. Do you remember when I told you that I had power that he didn't know of?"

She nodded.

"Well, Dumbledore told me that that is worse...that the power within me is worse than death. He told me that there's - "

But Harry stopped.

"Hermione, I reckon I shouldn't tell you now. This - this mirror thing...I don't know. It just doesn't seem safe enough..."

"I understand, Harry. Take care of yourself."

"I will. Listen, talk to Ron for me, alright?"

"I-I can't," she said breathlessly.

"Why not?"

"Because....because....," Hermione was breathing very heavily and Harry saw that there were huge tears in her eyes, once again.

"Because I don't know where he is."

"What do you mean!" said Harry quickly, standing up.

She swallowed hard and hesitated, apparently trying to hold back the tears, but it wasn't working.

"He's gone, Harry! He's g-gone! He came back from Diagon Alley, dropped off Ginny and told her to stay put along with me and the rest of the Weasleys. We though - we though he was joking or something. But then, he ate dinner and was not saying a word; there was something extremely wrong and I tried to talk to him afterward, but he just shunned me aside and went upstairs to his room. I-I followed, b-but when I got there, h-he was gone! Just like that! And I don't know how he could have, I mean, he can't have Disapperated! Unless he had a Portkey, but he couldn't have gotten one of those! Oh, where could he have gone?!" she sobbed.

Harry felt a whine of panic and guilt reside inside of him. He knew how Ron had disappeared - he had used the Magic Carpet that Harry had given him. But where did he go?

"Hermione, listen to me! Ron's fine! I think he's off to see Luna at Diagon Alley or something! Listen to me, remember me telling you that Sirius gave me a Magic Carpet that can sort of Apparate you from place to place, along with several other items, for my birthday?" She nodded. "Well, I let Ron borrow it to get to Diagon Alley with Ginny. He's fine, he's - "

"No! Harry, don't you get it?! That's it! That's it exactly! He isn't fine because you didn't see the expression that he bore on his face during dinner! Like he was ready to kill! I've never seen Ron like that! Never! Something isn't right, Harry! Ron's in danger! And there's nothing we c-can do!"

Harry felt furious. "Tell the members of the Order! They have to know!"

"No point! They already do, but they have no idea even where to search for him. Harry, I think Ron's gone after V-Voldemort!"

"WHAT!" shouted Harry, suddenly forgetting that the Dursleys were in the house.

However, he never got the chance to find out how Hermione got to that conclusion because, at that moment, Uncle Vernon burst through the door and he had to stuff the mirror back into his trunk, while listening to him run on about the fact that, as long as Harry was back in his house, he'd have to keep his annoying voice down enough so not to wake the dead, which, to Harry, could have well included Ron.

Harry was fit with rage. He was pacing around the room. He didn't know what to think or what to do. But there was nothing he could do, he told himself stupidly. All he could do is sit there and wait, just like last summer. Why would Ron have done such a thing? He couldn't take it anymore; he was going to write to Dumbledore.

He took out a piece of parchment and a quill and wrote:

Professor Dumbledore,

My Keeper is missing. Can you help me find him? This is URGENT!

Harry

Harry knew it didn't sound too good, but at least it wasn't obvious. If anything, he hoped Dumbledore would remember who Gryffindor's Keeper was. He attached the paper to Hedwig's leg and watched as the snowy owl disappeared in the deep blue sky, hoping that she would come back with a reply more promising than Ron's return.

Harry picked up one of the books on his bed and threw it against the window, hearing it shatter and then repair itself magically, without meaning to. He couldn't feel anything anymore. This was so STUPID! he told himself. Dumbledore probably already know he's gone, why did I send that idiotic letter?!

But Harry knew why, because, if he could, he would have already been out of the Dursleys' home and out there looking for Ron. Though Harry was tempted, he held himself back. You know what happened last year, he thought, don't do it again! Ron's probably...probably fine!

Before he could think or do anything, he stumbled as he heard a loud crack of Apparation and the front door downstairs creak open as a familiar voice argued with Uncle Vernon.

"I'm sorry, but I need to see Potter - "

"You will not barge into my house and demand to see anyone, sir!"

Sir? thought Harry. Oh, no. It can't be...It was.

"Snape?!" yelled Harry, as he found his Uncle face-to-face with a rather poisonous Potions teacher of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"That's Professor to you, Potter! Don't you dare speak like that to me! I come here on Headmaster's orders and you treat me like that! I should have your neck!" said Snape, at which Harry found himself staring into Snape's eyes in deep hatred as his fingers curled slowly around his collar.

"But no matter," he said with rage as he let Harry go, Uncle Vernon watching him with most interest. Harry's fingers were already gripped tightly around his wand and ready to strike incase Snape tried anything else.

"Listen, now, Potter. I take absolutely no interest in being here at this very moment, but considering that your little friend has gone missing, well, it just came to everyone's attention that you might try something out of the ordinary to try and save him. Come, we're leaving. Get you're stuff and hurry up, Potter - "

"Where's Ron got to? Have you been told anything?"

"I said now, Potter! Do not ask me questions. You should already be at the required location, but I doubted that was possible considering your extremely slow mind to follow orders...and such..." He smirked.

Harry could have kicked him, and he felt that it would have suited him very well. He stomped off to his room. This was not happening, he told himself. If only Malfoy was here, then all of the people that hated him to his very bone would all be together in the same house. He then thought of Voldemort, but no, he didn't hate Harry, he despised him; he wanted him dead the day he was born.

He gathered his things once again and met Snape down in the hallway where he had apparently scared Uncle Vernon into finally leaving his presence. Snape raised his unpleasantly large nose into the air in recognition of Harry's presence and whipped around, informing Harry to follow him. But Harry didn't care, he wanted to know where Ron was, and if Snape squashed him on that very spot, he wouldn't give a damn.

"Where's Ron!" sneered Harry as he broke of Snape just as he reached the door.

"Get away from the door, Potter!" said Snape, smiling slightly, which send a chill down Harry's spine; if anything was worse than seeing Snape give him a loathing look, it was him giving one with a grin. "I do not know of Weasley's whereabouts at the moment, but as soon as the fool has gotten himself killed, I'm sure we'll - "

"Shut up!" yelled Harry.

Snape suddenly grabbed him by his clothes and slammed him against the door.

"You may be a student up at the school where Dumbledore is watching your pretty little back, Potter, but I can make your life every bit of a torture as much as I want it to be outside of Hogwarts."

It was Harry's turn to laugh, which he did with the utmost pleasure. "You don't know, do you? If you went crawling back to dear old Voldmort right now he'd kill you! But you don't know who I am, do you?! You don't know what I can do...what I'm meant to do..."

Snape suddenly released Harry. He grasped his arm, where Harry knew very well he had the Dark Mark engraved onto his skin.

"Anyway," continued Harry, "there is no possible way that you could make my life any more of a living hell," as he opened the door and stepped outside, looking back at Snape. "It's practically my home."

Snape looked at him and, for the first time, said, "Right you are, Potter,...right you are..."

"So," said Harry, slightly scowling, "how are we getting to, er, wherever we're going, er, Professor?"

Harry swallowed Snape's most unpleasant expression as he came to the side of the road, and his eyes widened as he hear him cry, "Reverto Transport Dans Lit!"

Suddenly, the earth trembled, and Harry felt as if the world was coming to an end as he watched the ground on the middle of Privet Drive suddenly tear open as if with a knife and reveal a dark hole, in which it seemed something gigantic, exciting, and golden was passing through.

"Well? Coming, Potter?" he said as he got near the hole and, to Harry's surprise, jumped inside of it just as Harry had done with Ron when they found the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

Harry gulped, but got near the dangerous-looking hole, looked around the street to see if any Muggles or cars were coming, and, doubtfully, jumped in after Snape.

In great awe, he found himself in an underground tunnel, full of excited-looking wizards and witches who were busily talking amongst themselves, although it seemed as if none of them had just noticed that a sixteen-year-old boy had just dropped from the ceiling. However, he found that the reason for their reactions was merely the fact that more and more people seemed to be dropping right out of the sky, suddenly appearing from the top of the tunnel and dropping to the floor with an "ouch."

He looked around and saw Snape standing right next to him, his long black cloak swaying from what seemed to be and incredibly fast and bronze metro that kept stopping to let several wizards and witches on it and then leaving in a matter of seconds.

Harry rubbed his eyes. Surely he was imagining the fact that there had always been an underground wizarding station right below Little Whinging and he was just finding out about it's existence.

He finally got up and brushed the dirt off his clothes, standing next to Snape.

"Er, sir?" said Harry. "Er, where exactly are we?"

Snape sighed, rolling his eyes, "As always, I should expect for you to know very little, Potter. If you had been keeping a closer eye on the Daily Prophet you would have already known that the new Minister of Magic has currently installed a Wizarding Metro throughout London."

But Harry hadn't been looking at the Daily Prophet these past couple of days; he had been to busy with his birthday and Hermione...

"Who's the new Minister of Magic?" he asked.

Snape gave him a disgusted look and said, "Do you know nothing, Potter?"

Harry raised his eyebrows.

"Percy Weasley," he muttered.

"What?" said Harry, nearly falling to the ground once more.

Snape nodded, unpleasantly.

"P-Percy did this?" said Harry, not only surprised that anyone in their right minds would make him Minister of Magic, but that he would come up with such a brilliant idea.

"Don't get your thoughts up about a Weasley, Potter. Percy is working through Dumbledore; it was the Headmaster's idea to make sure that wizards and witches had a bit of a safer way to travel with children other than the Knight Bus, and quicker too, I might add."

Harry was still in shock.

"Yes, it was the Wizengamot's idea to refer to him as the new Minister considering the fact that Fudge no longer wanted the job, now that the idiot is convinced the Dark Lord has returned. No - they simply wanted Dumbledore to fill the position. But we all know Dumbledore as the one to rightfully remain at Hogwarts. However, making sure that Percy was made Minister of Magic would give him the advantage of passing all of his ideas through young Mr. Weasley."

Harry could feel a quiver of hate in Snape's voice, but he didn't mind; anything that annoyed Snape was worth hearing.

"I dare say the boy knows nothing about what he is doing..."

But Harry wasn't listening as he found himself staring at the shining stars that appeared next to the red numbers that were floating on a huge board above their heads. Harry had no idea what the stars meant, but as soon as the bronze metro stopped in it's tracks to pick up travelers, the stars would suddenly spark out from beside the number, whizzing around excitedly, and then dim out as the metro's doors would shut and it would take off at the speed of light.

He then turned his attention to an elderly witch who approached Snape and tugged on his sleeve, at which he jumped.

"Sir, would you and your son here mind helping me with my bags? I've been banned from using my wand considering my unsteady grip and I - "

"He is not my son!" spat Snape, as he took what the woman had said as the most insulting thing in the world.

Harry also frowned; he couldn't imagine anything worse than being Snape's son, unless he was perhaps Voldemort's, at which he shuddered.

"So sorry," replied the witch, "but do you mind?"

"Er," said Snape, "sorry, out train is almost - "

"Sure, I'll help," said Harry.

Snape however, held him back. "You are not of age to use magic! The Headmaster did not go through the trouble with the Ministry to get you expelled!"

"I don't need to use magic!" said Harry. "I could carry them myself, you know. It's called Muggle handling."

Snape stared at him and then grinned mischievously. "I'd like to see you try."

Harry, thankfully, had no trouble handling the baggage whatsoever. It seemed that the bags were already bewitched with a weight-lightening spell that made things a lot easier for Harry. When he finally finished putting all of the bags on the cart, while Snape stood aside with his arms crossed and carrying the worst expression imaginable, apparently upset that Harry managed it so easily, the woman smiled at Harry and held out her hand. At first, Harry wasn't sure what to do, but then he said, "oh," and shook her hand, at which he found her slip something into his hand and wink when letting go as she left with her things.

He watched the woman leave, curiously, and then looked into the palm of his hand, where he found a small silver locket in his hand with the letter "P" engraved on the front. Harry stared at it, and then attempted to open the locket, at which he succeeded. Harry's jaw dropped; he couldn't believe his eyes. There, in the locket, was a picture of his parents, who were in each other's arms and grinning broadly up at him. Harry looked back at the woman and called, "Wait...come back! Do you know - ?" But it was too late; the woman was gone.

Who was she? thought Harry. Did she know my parents, and if so, did she recognize me? But then, thought Harry, why did she think that Snape was his father? Harry shuddered again.

"Fascinating," said Snape, but in a tone that made Harry think that he didn't believe it was fascinating at all. "Hurry up, Potter. Our train is here."

Harry followed Snape into the metro and took a seat next to him that was also bonded in bronze. He then quickly took on another subject, stuffing the locket inside of his jeans.

"That was a really long spell that you used to get into the metro."

"Yes," sneered Snape, "it is a particularly new one and, I'm afraid the new spells are getting a bit longer and more difficult to memorize...that is, afraid for you, Potter. You see, undoubtingly large though your head may be, it is also quite empty and, must I say, likes to stay that way, but I assure you, if you need help, I'm sure that - "

"I'll be able to figure it out on my own, thanks," said Harry, who began to feel the anger boiling up inside of him and decided to better not speak to Snape unless he absolutely needed to do so.

"I wasn't offering my help, Potter," he said in an icy tone.

"Good," said Harry, "I didn't ask for it." However, the image of Snape reaching for his wand suddenly made Harry shut up.

Finally, the bronze metro took off as fast as it had come and Harry found himself being thrust unwillingly against Snape and feeling that his black robes were just as cold and slimy as they looked. As soon as the train stopped, Snape snatched his cloak out from under Harry, to which Harry gratefully pulled himself upright.

"Welcome to Coralgraze Seashore," said a voice from the speakers as it echoed throughout the long metro.

"Seashore?" said Harry. "What - ?"

"Shut up, boy!" yelled Snape. "This way."

Harry followed Snape to one of the narrow passageways that he supposed led to the outside. As they reached the end, however, Harry found that the tunnel was a dead end.

"Er - " said Harry, but before he could finish, Snape stepped up to it and yelled, "Lit Renvoyer," at which the passage seemingly split open just like the road on Privet Drive had done.

Harry stepped forward towards the light leading outside, but Snape took hold of his shoulder with his cold hand. He then quickly released him as if he had just touched something absolutely filthy.

"Not yet," he said. "Here - " Snape then took out from the threshhold of his pocket what seemed like a tiny bird cage, a broom, and a trunk, all of which belonged to Harry, but had been very much reduced in size.

"My stuff!" said Harry. "How did you - Wait, where's Hedwig?"

"I already sent her to - never you mind," said Snape and pointed to the things on the palm of his hand with his wand, saying, "Engorgio."

Suddenly everything quickly gained its regular size as Snape dropped Harry's belongings on the floor.

"Accio invisibility cloak," said Snape, once more, and Harry's invisibility cloak suddenly sprang from his trunk, which Snape caught, and another minuscule one slipped out of Snape's robes, whose size he also magnified.

"Put this on," he hissed, as he wrapped his own cloak around his shoulders and Harry followed suit.

Snape pointed his wand at where they had come from and Harry had the impression that someone had been following them, but, just then, Snape yelled, "Trackaperra," and both of their footprints glowed in fire at which they burned to the crisp and were blown about in the wind.

"That'll make sure we're non-trackable," Snape explained. "Right, follow my voice, Potter," said Snape as he fully covered himself with his Invisibility Cloak and Harry followed, walking outside to smell what was unmistakably the smell of the....ocean.

Harry watched as they made their way out onto a cliff full of beat-down huge rocks and, as he looked back, he watched as the one that they had walked out of seal itself back up after being cut open for an exit.

"This way," spat Snape.

Harry had the impression that he wanted him to walk of the cliff, in high hopes, of course, but he stopped when he saw Snape's hands appear from under the cloak along with his head, which looked down at a piece of parchment that they were holding, and said, "Three-hundred, Coralgraze."

An enormous lighthouse rapidly sprang from the rocky ground that looked just as ancient as the rocks around it and Harry watched as Snape made the parchment from which he read disappear with a 'pop.'

The doors of the giant lighthouse barged open and he found himself entering it's strange walls as a breezy wind blew through his hair from the entrance. He figured that Snape had already walked in and put his things down at the entrance, which were carried with difficulty across the uneven rocks.

He looked up and found his jaw dropping once more as he saw the most beautiful surroundings; the lighthouse had an enormous staircase that winded at the center and led to the next floor up and, eventually, to the top. Harry had to admit that the inside of the lighthouse was much larger than the outside; it was more like a mansion than anything and Harry had the idea that, surely, this lighthouse was not merely an artifact, but someone's residence. But whose?

"Welcome, welcome, Harry," he heard a familiar voice that sure enough belonged to the Headmaster of Hogwarts - Albus Dumbledore. "So glad you made it here, safe and sound, I trust, Severus?"

"Yes, Headmaster. Everything went as planned," Snape answered, nodding his head.

"Brilliant," said Dumbledore. "Now, Harry, you will find that this is now the new headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix owing to yesterday's most unfortunate event," Dumbledore shook his head, but smiled. "This is my home, Harry. And, may I trust you to make it yours as well?"

"Yes. Sure. Thanks," said Harry, still at awe at the beautiful paintings that resided on the walls of the circular lighthouse.

"You see, Harry," Dumbledore continued as he walked with him up the stairs, leaving Snape to go off somewhere that Harry did not know off, "this place used to be a research center for Hogwarts. However, when it got old and useless, I found there was no need to destroy such a miraculous establishment and so I made it my home."

Harry grinned. He couldn't see a reason not to make the place a home; it was spectacular. Just the very sight of the engraved seashells and chandeliers that sounded off to the beat of the waves against the shore took his breath away.

And then there was the very presence of the gigantic windows that surrounded parts of the lighthouse as he watched the water glistening below them and stretch for miles against the sun in the periwinkle sky. Harry now realized why he felt the breeze when he walked inside - the lighthouse had been bewitched to contain the air of the beach and the ocean that surrounded them.

They walked past two huge wooden doors that had dolphins carved out on both sides and seaweed for handles, which Dumbeledore explained to be his bedroom and noted that for no reason whatsoever was anyone to go in there but himself, with a grin. "I have secrets, Harry, that even I'm afraid to reveal to myself," he snickered.

"Is this where you went, Headmaster" asked Harry, eagerly, "when you were hiding out last year?"

"Yes, Harry," he replied, "but I must say that my stay here was not long considering all the tasks that I had to perform for the Order," he added sadly.

Then Harry remembered something, "Sir, is Ron -? "

"We are currently not aware of Mr. Weasley's location at the moment, I am sad to say, Harry. But I assure you, with no doubt whatsoever, that we will have him back safe. In the mean time, the Order is having a meeting in the gallery downstairs and they will meet you for dinner as soon as you've finished, erm, discussing things with Miss Granger - "

"Hermione's here?" asked Harry, more anxiously than he would have hoped.

Dumbledore chuckled, "Yes, Miss Granger is, indeed, present and if you proceed up the stairs as such, you will find her waiting for you in the next two rooms up; there are sea turtles on the door. In the mean time, you will excuse me for having to take care of some business, Harry, won't you?"

"Oh, sure," said Harry, rather amusingly as he watched Dumbledore open the door on his side, only to reveal a beautifully marbled bathroom. Harry grinned to himself and hurried of upstairs to the turtle-decorative doors.

Chapter 4

Afrenthologists

Harry took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair, a habit that he had unknowingly taken up recently, and opened the great oak doors suspending carved sea turtles that were swimming around in the background.

To his surprise, he not only found Hermione beaming up at him and sitting on one of the majestic king beds in the room, but also Ginny, Fred, and George.

Hermione immediately got up, but before she could make any further movements, Harry ran towards her and lifted her up, spinning her around in circles in the air, at which she giggled. He put her back on the ground and gave her a kiss on the cheek, after which he turned to the three Weasleys and their eyebrows that had escaped so high up that they were covered entirely by their red-flaming hair.

"What?" asked Harry, still laughing and caught a glimpse of a grinning Hermione at his side, at which his heart leapt.

"Oh, nothing," said Ginny, casually.

"Listen, about Ron - " Harry began.

"Relax, mate," said Fred, "Dumbledore said he'll be just fine - "

"Yeah, that's what he told me too, but then where - ?"

"We think he's gone off to see Luna," said Ginny.

"But didn't he see her at Diagon Alley already?" asked Harry.

"No," she said, shaking her head, "she never showed up."

"Of course," said Harry, struck with a sudden realization, "the veil was destroyed and her mother - "

Everyone was looking up at Harry in surprise.

"She told me that she lost her mother when she was about nine years old, but that she's been communicating with her through the veil. If the veil was destroyed by Voldemort" - the Weasleys jumped in their seats - "then that means that she won't be able to ever speak to her again. No wonder she didn't show up; she must have been too upset."

"But that means - " said Hermione, " - wait, but how do we know that Ron went to see her?"

"That's the problem," sighed George, "we don't."

"The git, he could have at least told us where he was going or sent an owl by now. Mum's going to vaporize him when he gets home - " said Fred.

"Don't - " said Hermione, and Harry could tell that she was wearing an expression of pure worry on her face.

"He'll be fine, Hermione," said George.

"Yeah," said Fred, "after all, he is a growing boy - "

"Fred, George, Ginny," came a voice that echoed all around the room, belonging to Mrs. Weasley, "come help me set the table, will you?"

Fred pointed his wand at his mouth and muttered something, after which his voice rang out seemingly through the room, "Coming, mum."

"Let's go," said Ginny. "We'll see you two later."

"Oh, and by the way," said George, "expect another celebration party; Ginny's made prefect."

"Congratulations!" said Harry.

"Thanks," Ginny called back.

"And who's - ?" But all three of them had walked out of the door, shutting it behind them and leaving Harry and Hermione alone.

He turned to Hermione, "Who's the other prefect for Gryffindor?"

But before she replied, she thrust his hands around his neck, and gave him an incredibly deep kiss.

"Colin Creevey," she said, after finally letting go.

"What?" said Harry.

"Yeah, I know, but no matter. Say, Harry, have you been at the top yet? This place has got an amazing view. Let's go." And before he could say anything else, she grasped his hand firmly and pulled him out of the room, leading him up the staircase and to the top of the lighthouse, where he found a very old and giant observatory and glass doors surrounding it in a decagon, leading to an outside boardwalk that had an astonishing view.

He and Hermione walked outside and were both thrust against each other in the surprise of the wind blowing hard against them. They made their way to the front of the lighthouse, however, still in each other's arms, and looked out into the wide ocean before them, grasping the newly polished wooden railing tightly.

Hermione let go of Harry and spread her hands out into the wind, leaning against the railing and laughing, and then quickly put them back down as she looked at how high up she was standing. She turned to Harry and said, "Oh, it's so wonderful, isn't it, Harry?"

"Yeah..." said Harry, "you are!"

She smiled at him and put her hands around his neck.

"I happen to think you're quite wonderful yourself, Harry, did you know?"

"Yeah, I knew," he said, grinning, "and do you know how amazing I think you are?"

An even bigger smile spread across her face. "Hmmm. Tell me."

"Well...first of all, your eyes are so deep, they remind me of the ocean blue; I feel as if I'm sometimes drowning in them...and your hair feels so gentle when I run my hand through it, it feels as if I'm getting a touch of heaven...and it smells...it smells like something incredible...I can't tell what, but it's kind of like your own amazing sent...and your skin is so warm when it touches mine I sometimes get the impression that I've just swallowed all the butterbeer ever made...and your lips, of course, they've got a mix of marmalade, and fudge chocolate, and honey, and..."

But before he knew it, Harry was once again kissing Hermione. They both let go and she said, "Anything else?"

"Yeah," he ran his fingers through her sleek brown hair, "I love you."

"Oh, Harry, I love you too."

And she kissed him again.

Harry drew away and asked, "And what about me? What do you find so incredible about the bloody Boy Who Lived."

Harry grew tense and released Hermione, grasping the railing with both of his hands and staring angrily into the ocean.

Hermione put a comforting hand on his shoulder and leaned her head against it. "Do you really want to know what I see when I look at you?" she said, turning him around to fully face her and taking off his glasses, placing them on herself.

"Well, right now I see Harry, just Harry, my Harry; the Harry that I'm in love with. I don't see any scars, or pain. I only see love, Harry; the love that I have for you. And you know what? I can barely see a bloody thing right now in these glasses."

Harry laughed.

"Do you really?" he asked.

"Yes," she whispered, kissing him once more. Harry trailed the kisses down her jaw line and across her neck. Hermione giggled, saying, "Harry, you better put these back on, I think you might be missing my mouth," and she kissed him on the cheek.

"Yeah, you just missed mine too," he said and she took off his glasses, placing them back onto his eyes at which Hermione came back into focus and Harry drew his breath, once again realizing just how beautiful she really was.

Harry and Hermione leaned forward and their lips brushed against each other one last time before walking out from the deck and into the lighthouse, which they found surprisingly warm, having stood out in the breezy wind for a good long half-hour.

They made their way downstairs, hand in hand, but Harry soon stopped to wait for Hermione as she told him that she needed to grab something from her bedroom. But as soon as she walked in the door, Harry heard her scream and quickly ran in after her.

"Hermione! What's -?" But all Harry could do was grin as he saw that she was rapidly talking to Ron, and, without question, was yelling at him for making them worry.

"Where have you been? Do you have any idea that Harry and I might have gotten ourselves killed looking for you? Why didn't you tell us a thing? Answer me, Ron!"

Ron didn't look up at her or Harry, and Harry could tell that he didn't want to talk to either one of them. But surprisingly, he lifted up his head and smiled, first looking at Hermione, and then at Harry and said, "I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't thinking. But, then again, people do crazy things when they're - er - well - "

"Hermione, do you mind if I talk to Ron? Alone?" said Harry, whose grin had suddenly fell and took an intense tone.

Hermione still had a look of furry at Ron on her face, but nodded at Harry and, before she left, hugged Ron and said, "Oh, you idiot!" eventually walking off downstairs and shutting the door behind her.

"Well?" said Harry, apparently more mad with Ron than he imagined.

"Well what?" asked Ron.

"You heard Hermione. Where've you been? Did you know that the Order was running amok trying to find you? You drove everyone mad! I thought - I - I didn't know what to think!" yelled Harry.

"Yeah, well, at least now they realize I was gone...or at least that I was there in the first place..."

"Ron, what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the fact that no one even notices that I'm there! I'm talking about the fact that if I wasn't your best friend, they wouldn't even have bothered looking for me!"

"Don't be ridiculous! Of course they would! What about your family? They were worried sick!"

"Oh, yeah. Fred and George just couldn't except the fact that I was finally out of their lives."

"Ron, you know that's what they do - try to get on your nerves. And you just - you - you just shut up, Ron, because you don't know what you're talking about. When everyone thought you were gone - Hermione was in tears, your siblings were shaking, I was fit with rage - "

"That's good to know," said Ron quietly, with a hint of guilt in his voice.

"Where were you anyway?"

Ron turned to him, an unpleased look in his face. "At Luna's," he said simply.

Harry dropped his arms to his sides.

"That's it? That's it. You were at Luna's?! And do you know where everyone thought you were? Huh? At the clutches of Voldemort! Or better yet, dead!"

Ron sighed, impatiently, but spoke, "You don't know what it's like, do you? Always being shunned aside while everyone else gets what they want? Well I've got news for you Harry: That's exactly what my life is all about. Yes, I know I have a huge family that loves me and I know I have two of the best friends in the world, but what if there was something else that I wanted? Did you ever consider that, Harry? What if I wanted something that I didn't know if I could or could not have?"

He took a deep breath.

"Well, let me tell you something Harry. Luna might be this strange girl who no one understands, but she's the only one who's ever understood me. And when that letter came from her, telling me to meet her, I couldn't have been happier. But you and Hermione just couldn't understand that, now, could you?"

"Hey, I never said - "

"And then, of course, at Diagon Alley, when she didn't show up and I found out the reason - because she was never going to see her mum again and because she was considering dropping out of Hogwarts. Did you know that her mother was a great witch? She was really something, Harry. Kind of like Hermione. Now I know that Hermione can have her nose up and about in things sometimes, but you have to admit that she's got a way with brilliance for her age. Well, Luna's mother was the same. And one day, she was gone, when she was trying to find a cure for something, Harry. A cure for something that no one else had ever managed to find; something that could have well saved people against the fate like the Longbottoms. It was a cure for pain, both mental and physical. But one day, it got the better of her, because she had tried to test it on herself, and she died. Just like that Harry. Like your parents died - protecting. Like Sirius. And here is the one girl who has ever showed any understanding towards me and, when I arrived to meet her, I realized that she wasn't coming; and it was as if my world fell on end. The words, ‘She forgot about you, Weasley. She doesn't care, just like everyone else,' rang through my head. Well, later I went to see her and I obviously found out what had happened; that day before she was going to visit her mother by the veil with her father by her side - but you don't know what happened, do you? At that same moment, You-Know-Who attacked the veil to stop your communication with Sirius. Because you just couldn't control your dreams, could you? And her father was killed, but she survived. She survived because of the experience that she had last year and because, when her mother died, she received the gift of not feeling pain, Harry. Her mother had done it! She found the cure, but at the cost of her own life and only for her daughter! Well, now Luna's an orphan, Harry. Just like you. And I hope you're happy, I really do. Because it was all your bloody fault that her father was killed and now she won't be able to speak to her parents ever again! ALL BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T CONTROL YOUR DAMNED DREAMS! You know, Hermione was right; you weren't taking Occulumency seriously. Well, thanks, Harry, thanks...a lot."

And with that Ron pushed Harry aside and left the room, leaving Harry in a state of blank consciousness.

Harry suddenly wheeled around and yelled, "Ron, WAIT!"

He came out of the room and found Ron standing frozen on the staircase, not looking back.

"You don't understand! There's something you have to know!"

Ron turned around, slowly, and only slightly looking up at Harry.

Harry walked over to the rail by the stairs and stared out into the window that led outside.

"I don't know if this will explain things, Ron, or if it will mean anything to you, but that - that prophecy, last year, that was smashed....it - it was about me. And Voldemort. I'm meant to kill him Ron! Kill him or die trying! Do you understand that!?" Harry breathed, still not looking at Ron and wondering if he believed what he was saying. "It was prophesied before I was even born and that's why he attempted to kill me when he murdered my parents; he knew a part of the prophecy, but not the entire thing. I - I have a power that he doesn't know about; a power that even Dumbledore doesn't know of, and even I don't know of...This power, it - it's the only thing that can kill him, but, if I don't do it, no one else can. And - and we both can't live at the same time, so for all that matters, it could well be sooner than I imagined. But that power - that's why I had to save Sirius and that veela girl - it's a part of me. A part of me that I can do nothing about, Ron. And I try to control my dreams, I really do, but I just - it's hard sometimes. Especially when it was Sirius - "

Harry felt Ron clasp a hand on his shoulder. "I believe you, mate. I'm sorry."

Harry snorted, "What for? It's all my fault for what happened to Luna. And what if something happens to you or Hermione? And - and there's something you have to know, Ron. As - as Hermione's cousin." - Ron gasped - "Yeah, she told me about that, but only recently. I - I'm in love with her, Ron. And she loves me too. I hope you can forgive us, we only - "

But Harry stopped as Ron started laughing. "Forgive you? How can I forgive you for falling in love with each other when I just saw you snogging like warthogs on the deck; kissing like each was the Breath of Life? I can't forgive you, Harry. No - but I can stand behind you. All the way, mate. All the way..."

"Y-you don't mind?"

"Harry, I'm happy for the two of you! Don't you get it? Hermione's been in love with you for so long, I can't even count the time. And you - you git couldn't even realize it sooner!"

"S-sorry," Harry replied. "Oh, and Ron,"

"Yeah," said Ron, who turned around, still suppressing a grin.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Though, it was pretty funny when she put on your glasses."

Harry stared at him as they descended the stairs.

"How long had you been watching?"

"Long enough! Trust me!" he laughed. "I'm just kidding with you, mate. Only for a couple of minutes. And it would have been shorter, I've got to say, if I had not been frozen in shock at the two of you making - "

They turned the corner and ran into Mrs. Weasley, who gave them an odd look.

"Tea," explained Harry. "Ron was just remembering how we brought him tea last year when he was knocked out after Quidditch." He gulped and looked from Mrs. Weasley to Ron, whose ears had turned red.

Mrs. Weasley laughed and proceeded, "Dinner's ready."

She looked at Ron, and Harry watched her eyes water as she tried to hold back, but ended up grabbing her son in a rather tight hug and kissing him on the cheek.

"Mum!" said Ron, at which Mrs. Weasley let go and whipped the tears from her eyes in a handkerchief nudging them towards what Harry had in mind to be the dinning room.

"Tea?" Ron said, still laughing, "Hey, wait a minute - no one knows about to two of you, do they?"

"Shhhh. No. And I want it to stay that way - "

"But, why?"

"I'll explain later," said Harry who had taken a seat next to Lupin. "Any sign of Tonks yet?"

Lupin shook his head. "No, Harry. I'm sorry. We don't know where she is. Heaven's hope that she's alright, of course, but no one's been able to tell yet."

Harry noticed that Lupin was looking like his weary self again and realized that it must have been full moon.

"The moon full again?" he asked.

"No," Lupin said, "it's just been a tough time for the Order, Harry. A lot has been going on."

"Like what?" asked Harry, anxiously.

"Well..." he said, glancing at Mrs. Weasley, "I can't tell you much, Harry, but I can say that Voldmort's been up to a few old and new tricks. Destroying the veil was one of them. And then of course there's - well - "

"What?"

"He's recruited the giants - "

"No!"

"Yeah. And the dementors. He even got some veelas on his side."

Harry's eye's bulged and he glance over at Fleur, who he saw chattering away with some of the members of the Order, and gave Lupin a confused look.

"She's been helping us," nodded Lupin, "but you know what they're like - can't convince them all. The centaurs have gladly agreed to fight by our side, though."

"Really? Since when?"

"Oh, since Dumbledore convinced them that Voldemort would enslave them into becoming working mules," he chuckled. "It was a tough job, though. Hagrid's also talked to Aragog, you know; that giant spider and his army, so they'll be helping as well. Then, we're still hoping that Hagrid's little brother will be able to help us, but I doubt it. Charlie has mastered to get us some dragons, if worst comes to worst, and well - "

"Is this really going to be like a real war, Remus?"

"I'm afraid, Harry, that it is. I'm afraid...it is." He shook his head again.

Harry sighed.

He finally got the chance to take a look around the beautiful dining hall in which they were about to eat. Over thirty people were walking around and discussing things before finding a seat and settling themselves down on the long table covered with an aqua tablecloth that Harry just recognized to be enchanted to look like the ocean and was amazed to see a small fish jump out in front of his plate, which was floating on the top, and plunge back into the water. Harry wondered if it was safe to lean his elbows against the table and, as he did so, he found the waves that were passing his table setting to be just as sturdy as a regular table and not at all wet. He looked down the table and noticed that it was even longer than the House tables at Hogwarts, and found that it was rather ironic that all the seats were filled. His eyes were then cast upon the ceiling and he noticed that there was a swirling mass above them, just like the pictures of hurricanes that Harry had seen while watching the news at the Dursleys'. The walls, Harry surprisingly only noticed, were covered with gigantic paintings of underwater life that Harry had never seen before, yet some that he had already, including merpeople and giant squids. Above them, a huge banner was suspended reading, "Congratulations, Ginny Weasley - New Gryffindor Prefect!" He looked around at Ginny and noticed that people were walking up to her and clapping her on the back, obviously telling her off for doing a good job. His eyes then fell on the girl taking to her and Harry felt himself going into a daydream; he had remembered how he had described her hair, her eyes, and her lips...

Harry had a sudden urge to come up to Hermione and kiss her, but fought back considering the fact that he knew that everyone would turn to look their way. Besides, he couldn't risk her safety. All he could do was stare...

"Harry?"

"Uh, huh," he muttered, still watching Hermione.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?" asked Ron, who was already helping himself to some food and had just picked up a floating bowl of mashed potatoes that he emptied onto his plate.

"Oh, er, yeah. Sorry," said Harry. Ron looked over at where Harry had been gazing and grinned.

"You just can't take your eyes off her for a minute, can you, Harry?"

Harry blushed and buried himself in his plate, making sure to get a bite of each thing that was floating around the table.

"Shut up, Ron," he said quietly.

"Who's this, now, Harry? A girl, perhaps?" said Bill who was sitting near both Harry and Ron.

"Er," said Harry as he felt the color rise in his face.

"I'd be getting jealous if you were eyeing my Fleur, but seeing as she's sitting at the other end of the table, I take it that you were staring at someone else."

"I wasn't staring," said Harry, though he knew he was still blushing furiously.

"Right," said Bill.

Hermione, however, Harry noticed, was still in a deep conversation with Ginny, but she surprisingly broke up from it for a second and Harry noticed her catch his eye, at which he grinned and returned to his food.

People were soon getting up from the dining table and the seats near him and Ron had completely cleared, at which Hermione joined them by sitting herself in a seat next to Harry, at which Ron suspended an uncontrollable fit of giggles.

She cast him a stern look and asked, "What's so funny?"

Harry laughed as well. After all, she didn't know that Ron had walked in on the both of them. "Oh, it's nothing - dear."

Hermione's blue eyes widened as she gave Harry an unbelieving stare and then looked at Ron.

"Harry, y-you didn't tell him, did you?"

"What's to be told?" said Harry, still snickering to himself.

"Well - ," said Hermione, blushing crimson.

"Nothing's...ha ha...funny,...ha ha,...Hermione," said Ron, now pounding his fist against the table, "except how you looked wearing Harry's glasses."

Hermione did not answer, but he could see that she was so red now that she had lowered her head towards the table in hopes that some of her sleek brown hair would fall on her face and cover up her reaction to the embarrassing situation.

Unfortunately for Hermione, it didn't work. Ginny had now walked up to them, probably wondering what was so funny herself and took a seat opposite Hermione.

"What did you two clowns do to her?" she asked Harry and Ron, who were both still laughing.

"Never you mind," said Hermione, who had now gotten up from the table and said, "I'll see you later."

"Where's she off to?" asked Harry.

"Rumor has it there's a huge library in this place," said Ron.

"Oh, no," said Harry, watching her go, with a frown on his face.

"Why do you care?" asked Ginny, suspiciously.

"No reason," Harry replied.

He finished the last of the pudding on his plate and got up as well, "I'll see you two later."

"Oh, no. We're coming with you, " said Ron, who had just slid his chair in and Ginny followed suit. As they turned to leave, however, Ron came back for a second muffin, but then dropped it and yelled at what Harry heard to be a rushing sound of water.

"Oh my - " he heard Ginny say.

Harry turned around and saw that a massive whirlpool had formed itself at the center of the table and was pulling all of the contents on the table inside of it; within minutes, the whirlpool ceased and the waters were calm once more, playfully splashing against the rim of the table.

"That," said Ron breathlessly, "was scary."

Harry shook his head, grinning, and walked outside of the dining hall, his eyes running through the lighthouse, trying to see where Hermione had gone. Unfortunately, the place was so big and held so many doors that Harry felt as if he were looking for her on his first day at Hogwarts.

Just then, Ron and Ginny had caught up with him and he asked, "Ron, what's going to happen to Luna?"

Ron's expression of anxiety suddenly fell and he spoke, taking a breath, "She's currently at St. Mungo's, though she was allowed to go to her house and pick up her things; that's how I met her there."

"How do you know where she lives?"

"Oh, I've known Luna for quite a while, Harry," said Ron.

"We've both known her for a while," added Ginny, explaining. "She's one of our neighbors around the Burrow."

"But you don't have any houses around-" said Harry.

"We do, but they're hidden by spells, you know, like the same sort of thing with this lighthouse and Grimmauld Place."

"Right," said Harry, though his voice was strangely unlike his own.

"Oh, Harry. I'm sorry," said Ginny quickly.

"No, really. Don't worry about it. It's...nothing, really," said Harry.

"Alright. Well, what'd you two want to do?" she said.

"Well..." said Harry, "I was going to look for Hermione (Ron made out a clearly fake cough) and tell her about what happened with Luna."

"Oooh. Good idea," said Ginny, "and I think I'll write to Neville - " but suddenly broke off, catching Ron's glare.

"What are you writing to him for?" snapped Ron.

"He does have a right to know, Ron. After all, it was him who went into the Department of Mysteries with us last year."

"Oh, right," said Ron, though still clearly not convinced.

"So, do, er, any of you know where the library is?" asked Harry, still looking around, hoping for a sign of Hermione.

"Nope. Seeing as I've only been here for only about an hour and - hey, Ginny, you should know, shouldn't you?" said Ron.

"No," said Ginny, looking slightly insulted, "are you mad? This place is huge! I can barely remember where our own bedroom is. And you want me to know the way to the library? Please!"

"Sorry," said Ron. "C'mon, Harry. Let's go. I'm sure it won't be that hard to find."

They parted with Ginny and started to walk around the lighthouse. However, Ron had no idea how wrong he really was and he and Harry just found that out when they walked from room- to-room, checking each to be the library, and finally decided to give up after viewing about one-hundred chambers.

Ron panted, "No bloody way, Harry. No more. Let's just go back to the sea turtles. I'm - I'm out of breath!"

"Just one more room, Ron," said Harry and, luckily, they struck gold, or the library that they were looking for, at least.

"Finally!" said Ron and they walked into the library, noticing that it was a circular room with the ceiling up about one-hundred feet, all covered in a massive amounts of books: big, small, wiggling, shifting, and some even shuffling around. They made their way to the center of the room where they found Hermione sitting on a couch much like the one in the Gryffindor common room and placed right before a fire place.

"Hello," she said, looking up at the two boys, each sitting on her side.

"How did you find this place?" said Harry.

"We've been looking for you for hours!" said Ron.

"Sorry," said Hermione, "but, I don't know, I guess it's sort of like an instinct or something. I walked up to this room and I just knew that it was the library. And you won't believe the books they have! I mean, they have some books here that were written over a thousand years ago by - "

"Breathe, Hermione," said Ron, "it's not that amazing."

She scowled, "Just because books might not interest you, Ron, doesn't mean that they're not important. For example, I've found charms in here that are used in the Department of Mysteries. Oooh, I bet I'm not supposed to be looking these up, but they're just so - "

"The Department of Mysteries?" Harry suddenly spoke.

"Yeah, do you - ?"

"Let me see," said Harry, talking the book from her and examining it closely.

His heart leapt as he read the subtitles: The Bubble of Youth, The Songbird of Enchantment, The Minds of Wisemen, The Predicted Prophesies, The Black Hole Portal, The White Hole Portal, The Black Veil of Hades, The Secret of Secrets...

"This - this is it, Hermione!"

Harry could have kissed her, and he did, at which Ron made a sound much like that of a cat with a hairball stuck inside of it's throat.

"Oh, grow up, Ron," said Hermione, who cast him a snide look.

Harry read aloud, his voice trembling with excitement, "The Black Veil of Hades - In ancient Mythology, Hades was believed to be the World of the Dead, however, the mysteries of death were only discovered centuries later by wise Afrenthologists, those studying the secrets of the other Realms, and put all of their knowledge about the World of the Souls in the Black Veil. Those known to find out the secrets whispered by the Veil were only to be killed for no living mortal was ever to hear of such words while still at large on the Earth. It was soon not only developed as the Veil of Knowledge, considering the paths that mortals would take in the After Life, but as the passage to the gates of Heaven and Hell; any soul that passed the portal would forever be trapped within the fourth dimension, only to ever return to the gate in mere whispering memories of its soul, advancing the chance to respectively communicate with the World of the Living. The Black Veil of Hades, it's most recent name, is the last remaining source of communication with the Realm of Death. Once the Black Veil has been destroyed, knowledge about the After World may be witnessed only by experiencing death him or herself. Fortunately, no power to destroy the Veil has yet been found."

Harry finished reading and was breathing so deeply that he could barely believe that his breaths were actually louder than his heartbeat. He looked up at Ron and Hermione, and could see that they were just as speechless.

Suddenly, Ron broke the silence. "Those - those people," he said, "Those Afren- whatevers, - "

"Afrenthologists?" Harry read, once more.

"Yeah," Ron breathed, "Luna - Luna told me that her - her mother - she - she was....one of them."

"What?" said Hermione.

"Yeah," said Ron, "but she was one of the last remaining ones. You - you know Neville's parent's?"

Harry and Hermione nodded.

"They - they were Afren-thingies too!"

Hermione made a very sharp intake of breath; Harry didn't know what to say.

"So - so you mean to say that they knew about the secrets of death?" she whispered.

"No," said Ron, "Luna said that they were sort of their heirs and didn't know too much about it, but there were things that they did know - secrets, you know."

Harry moved his hand around, as if hoping that it would grasp what to say. "The Longbottoms, they - they were tortured because they wouldn't reveal some sort of information, remember? But - but they were tortured after Voldemort's downfall, which means - "

"That the Death Eaters were hoping they could tell them the secrets of how to perhaps bring him back to power or - " Hermione paused, staring at Harry, tears swelling in her eyes.

"Or kill me?" he finished.

"Harry, I - " Hermione began, but he held up a hand to stop her.

"Never mind that, let's see what else it says," he said and turned back to begin reading the rest of the page.

But before Harry could read any more of the strange book, there came a sound of footsteps approaching the library, and he quickly stuffed it under his shirt; Hermione grabbed the other books that lay beside her on the couch and shoved them back into some empty spots on the shelves, after which they magically found their way back to where they belonged. They bolted towards the door, only to run into Percy.

"What are you doing here?" he asked the three of them.

"None of your business," snapped Ron.

"As Minister of Magic, I would very much like to make it my business."

"Oh, shut up," said Ron, "you know the only reason you got the job was because of Dumbledore."

Percy stiffened and walked off into the library. "I must conduct some research for the Order," he said, with his nose up in the air, which meant that Harry, Ron, and Hermione had no choice but to leave the library with the stolen book hidden deep beneath Harry's clothes.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way upstairs, back to their bedroom, with Harry still clutching the book hopelessly beneath his shirt, as if it was about to fall apart. Hermione suddenly turned to Ron. "When did Luna tell you those things?" she asked.

He looked at Harry, who shrugged; he wasn't about to tell Hermione what had happened, knowing that it was almost entirely his fault. Ron sighed and explained the event; Hermione listened tentatively, with her mouth agape.

When he finished, he then said, "And why did you tell Harry that we were related, by the way. Huh? Couldn't keep your mouth shut, could you?"

"No," said Hermione, angrily. "It's not like he would never find out, Ron. He had to know, didn't you, Harry?"

"I'd say it's a good thing," Harry replied. "At least you didn't have the burden of telling me later, did you? When you knew that I would have torn your neck for keeping something like this from me for so long?"

"Sorry, mate," said Ron. "We thought, you know, that it was for the best."

"Yeah, I know," said Harry. "C'mon. This way."

They found their way back to the sea turtle marked bedroom and spread themselves widely out onto the king water bed. Harry told Hermione about how Lupin said that the Order had now recruited an army of creatures for their side, but Voldemort had unfortunately done the same, while flipping through the book, searching for the pages on the Department of Mysteries.

"I don't see why he'd want to recruit veelas," she said, in a rather annoyed tone. "There's rather useless, aren't they?"

"Useless? Speak for yourself, Hermione. Don't you remember the attention that they get and their ability to transform into giant eagles that throw flaming fireballs?" said Ron, amazed that she could possibly find such an insult.

Hermione tutted, "Well, when you put it that way..." but, from then on, she tried to speak to Ron as little as possible.

"Here...I found it! Hmmm. What's, " said Harry and continued to read from the page, "The Secret of Secrets?"

"I dunno," said Hermione, "what does it say? I've never - "

"The Secret of Secrets - The one Power to be unknown to the Unspeakables, the Secret of Secrets, has an untraceable source of magic. Such Power is destined to be contained only inside a living soul. The greater part of the 'Secret' is that it is said to vanquish a Dark Peril that is gradually consuming the Living Realm. Without it, the world as we know it may cease to exist for mortals cannot live without love and humanity in their hearts, for they will die without it. However, despite the endless estimations that have surrounded the eternity of this Power, none have been able to console what it actually is. No philosopher alive has been able to determine the action or ways of the Power, but it is said that only a Hero, bold in his ways, that is born under the sign of Leo, the bravest of the Astrological Signs, will have a right to the Power. It cannot be captured by the hand of a mortal, nor can it be destroyed, but it can dim itself within the heart of the Possessor when endangered, uncontrollably. Therefore, the Holder can only venture losing the Power if at risk of intentionally giving his or her soul to an Evil Force, or, in other words, surrendering. If ever discovered what the Power truly is, it will be the Day of Days, for none have ever laid eyes on what is said to be the Secret of Secrets."

"Blimey," said Ron, "you don't think that's the power - ?"

" - that I have?" said Harry.

"Or the one behind that door, you know, in the Department of Mysteries - " said Hermione.

" - the one that's always - " said Harry.

"Locked," Ron finished.

Harry scanned his eyes through the text once more and snorted, "Yeah, right. You know, I don't think this book is entirely truthful. I mean, it says here that ‘mortals cannot live without love and humanity in their hearts, for they will die without it.' I think Voldemort is living proof that that's a lie."

"I don't know, Harry. I mean, I'm sure he does have a heart considering the fact that he did forgive Wormtail."

"Are you defending You-Know-Who?" asked Ron, looking shocked.

"Heavens, no," said Hermione, "I was just saying that - "

"And we don't even know what ever happened to Wormtail," said Harry.

"Maybe - maybe he's not mortal. I mean, even Dumbledore said that he could never die," said Ron.

"You know, Ron," said Hermione, "for once, I think you're onto something."

"Really?" asked Ron, looking rather proud of what he had just come up with.

Hermione, on the other hand, looked rather anxious.

"A secret kept within the soul...that would sort of be like - " she said.

"A Secret Keeper!" said Harry.

"Yes, but it must be more than that, I mean - but wait! That's it, Harry! Don't you get it?! You're the Secret Keeper for this - this Power!" said Hermione.

"Yes, but I'm not only that, Hermione, I can actually use it, right? Subconsciously?"

"I guess...I don't know, Harry. I mean, I'm sure you can, it's just that, well, you don't exactly know how to - " said Hermione.

"But we know one thing," said Ron, and turned to Harry, "no matter what you do, Harry, you must never surrender."

Harry nodded.

"What does it say about the Black and White Hole Portals, Harry? I don't think they have anything to do with the Department of Mysteries, do they?"

"Er," said Harry, looking through the book. "Oh, here they are. The Black Hole Portal - Long have Afrenthologists searched for a way to travel between the different Realms for, in distant times, there were a great number of them; the Wizarding world was in another Realm from the Mugorthian, or more commonly, Muggle world, until one day when the Realms collided and caused the two to live in the same world. The nine planets encircling the Sun have long been home to the other Realms, Pluto consisting to be home to the Realm of Death, the most distant planet, Mars - previously the home of wizards and witches and now a sole planet, and so forth. Although no Black Hole Portals have been found - in a long search by advanced Astrologists - in our Solar System, warlocks have longed for the chance to pass through the Portal only to appear in another Realm from the White Hole Portal (See Below) and have access to all of the different Realms. Unfortunately, no such Portal has yet been located, reached, or activated to its full purpose. The only such succession has been proved with the Black Veil of Hades (See Further Below), but only to figure a transport of souls to the After World, and not from it.

"The White Hole Portal - A Portal known to transport mortals to another Realm, the White Hole Portal is at the other end of a Black Hole Portal (See Above) and may only be found in the other Realms. Philosophers have long pondered as to why no White Hole Portals have been located in our Universe, but have ceased the will to attempt to find their locations considering the immensely large mass in which we are suspended in Space."

"Well, there you have it," said Hermione, "The Black Veil of Hades was sort of like a Black Hole Portal, wasn't it?"

"But why would Voldemort destroy it?" asked Harry.

"Oh, isn't it obvious, Harry? Voldemort's sole purpose in life is to overcome death, and if there was one thing he could do, it was to destroy the portal that led to it!"

"But, I mean, remember how it said that no such power had been found to destroy the veil? I mean, that means that he did find it, doesn't it? The question is, though, what is it?"

"I don't know," said Hermione, shaking her head, while Ron sighed deeply.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione suddenly jumped and shook the water bed as there came a knock on the door. Harry quickly stuffed the book in his shirt again and said, "Come in."

It was Neville. But it didn't look like him at all; he seemed to have grown some and looked considerably less faint than he normally does.

"Neville? What are you doing here?" asked Hermione, politely.

"Ginny invited me," he said, as-a-matter-of-factly.

"Hi, Neville," said Harry. Ron, however, looked at him rather disapprovingly.

"Why'd she invite you?" he asked, after which Hermione nudged him in his side.

He shrugged, "I was bored."

"Oh," said Ron, though not entirely convinced.

"So, what've you three been up to? Ginny told me about Luna, by the way," he shook his head. "It's too bad. She seemed like a really nice person."

"Yeah, she is," said Ron, mindlessly.

"What did you guys get on your O.W.L.'s? I got six. Gran wasn't too pleased; she said I'd have done better if I had been a bit more together. But the good news is, I got a new wand. My own, actually; the one I broke was my dad's. Gran was going mental when she found out - "

"Say, Neville," Harry interrupted, "I know this isn't a very comfortable subject, but it's important, okay? Were - did you know that your parents were Afrenthologists?"

The color in Neville's face suddenly faded and he started to clumsily fumble with his fingers.

"Yeah...yeah, Gran told me - she told me they were. That's - that's why they," he gulped, "you know."

"Oh, Neville, we know. We're sorry," said Hermione, quickly.

Neville just seemed to notice that she was there.

"Hermione! What did you do to your hair? It looks so different! It's uncanny! And your eyes are blue too!"

Hermione's cheeks went slightly pink.

"Well, I - you know, went through a bit of a change, I guess you could say - "

Ginny just walked in the room.

"Well, I see you all've already found Neville."

"Actually," said Ron, "he found us."

But Ginny ignored him.

"Did you find the library okay?" She turned to Harry.

"Yeah," he said, "we found out quite a bit of some stuff, actually. I now see how Hermione can possibly find things interesting to read."

Hermione blushed and said, "Well, I'm glad you see things my way." Harry grinned and Neville, Ron, and Ginny stared at the two.

"What?" asked Harry once again.

"Nothing....nothing," said Ginny, with a slightly mischievous smile.

She sighed and fell on the bed. "It's less than a month until school starts again."

"Oh, no," whispered Harry, who had just remembered something - how in the world he going to keep his relationship with Hermione a secret? He couldn't jeopardize her life, especially with Draco Malfoy and his Slytherin pugs on the loose.

"What's wrong, Harry?" asked Hermione.

He swallowed, looking from her to Ginny, to Neville, to Ron - Ron? Wait a minute, thought Harry, Ron!

"Ron, I need to ask you a favor. A very, very big favor."

"What?" he looked confused.

"Er," he looked over at Ginny and Neville.

"Oh, come on, Harry," said Hermione, "you can trust them; they're not going to tell anyone. Remember, they faced Voldemort's Death Eater's with us last year, which means that their loyalties lie with you."

"That's right," said Neville, and Ginny nodded.

"Alright," said Harry. "Ron," he said, "I need you to pretend to date Hermione for me."

"WHAT?" he yelled. Hermione got up, looking stricken and disgusted at the same time. Ginny and Neville looked no better.

"Harry," breathed Ginny, "do you know who they are?"

"Yes, of course I know who they are," said Harry, "they're my best friends."

Ginny opened her mouth to speak but he continued, "And their cousins, which makes it perfectly safe for me to trust Ron with Hermione."

"Wait a minute," said Ginny, "are you telling me that the two of you are - are - " she struggled for words, pointing at Harry and Hermione.

"Yes, Ginny. We're together," said Harry.

"I knew it!" she shrieked and hugged Hermione telling her, "Oh, Congratulations!" as Hermione blushed furiously. Neville looked from Harry to Hermione in utter disbelief.

"Wow," he finally said, "that's some change!"

"Yeah," said Harry, and turned to Ron, "so will you do it?"

"Bloody hell no!" said Ron. "What's wrong with you, Harry? Why would I do that?"

"You don't have to kiss her or anything. I just need to convince the rest of the school that the two of you are together so that they won't suspect that Hermione's my girlfriend. I don't want her to be in danger, Ron. Not like him...not like Sirius."

Ron looked up sadly at his best friend and then at Hermione. He sighed and said, "Alright, mate. I'll - I'll do it. But only because you asked me to and," he turned sternly to Hermione, "no kissing of any bloody sort, you hear me?!"

"Wait a minute," said Hermione, "whoever said that I agreed to this?"

"C'mon Hermione," said Harry, "you know that I only want you to be safe! If Malfoy - "

"I don't care if Malfoy eats dung! I am not doing something completely ridiculous just to - "

"Oh, well, come now, love," said Ron, teasingly, "It's not that ridiculous. I mean, all we have to do is hold hands in the hallway or something, right?" he turned to Harry.

"Well," said Harry, "you might have to go to Hogsmeade together and, you know, talk fluffy to each other if anyone's in earshot, I guess."

Ron and Hermione shuddered, looking at each other, and then turned their heads away in disgust.

"I'm sure it won't be that bad," said Harry, "I just don't see any other way..."

Ginny sighed, "Wow, Harry. You must really love her."

Harry and Hermione blushed.

"Yeah, I do," said Harry, who leaned over and kissed Hermione.

"Oh, come now," said Ron. "I've seen enough of that! Let's go," he said to Neville and Ginny, "these two need a room." leaving Harry and Hermione alone, sharing a desperate kiss.