Harry Potter and Gaining Momentum

"Headmaster!" Hermione exclaimed with the group walked back in the office. "Why didn't Harry just---Oh Merlin, where's Harry!" she exclaimed not seeing him as the group all made it in.

"Calm down Miss Granger, Harry is alive," Dumbledore said taking Harry out of his pocket and setting in on the extra perch next to Fawkes'.

"He used that much magic?" Draco breathed.

"About got himself killed!" Professor McGonagall shrilled.

"Grand Patronus' though!" Flitwick piped up.

"Patronus', as in plural, how did he do that?" Hermione asked confused.

"He had several. He had a Stag, Grim, Werewolf, Dragon, Griffin, Lion, Lioness, Owl, and what seemed to be a Crumple‐Horned Snorkack!" the small man squealed excitedly as he ticked them off on his finger.

"His father, Sirius, Professor Lupin, Draco, Ron, Neville, Ginny, Hermione, and me," Luna listed off looking intently at Harry.

"What?" Ron asked now confused himself.

"Ron, honestly, a Patronus takes the form of that which makes you feel safe. Harry's forms were representations of us and his father," Hermione said in a delighted voice. "We make him feel safe," she explained.

"But who is what?" Neville asked.

"The Stag belongs to his father, the Grim to Sirius, the Werewolf to Remus, Dragon to Draco, Griffin to Ron, Lion to Neville, Lioness to Ginny, Owl to me, and the Crumpled-Horned Snorkack to Luna," Hermione explained.

"I'm a magical creature?" Ron asked with wide eyes.

"Well it makes sense doesn't it? Mr. Clause said that you had the aptitude to be able to have a magical creature for an Animagus. You never know, it could be a Griffin," Ginny reasoned.

"Wow," Ron said looking back at the small wrinkled creature that was Harry with feathers.

"Wait, where's Professor Snape? Where's Severus?" Draco said quickly.

"That, Mr. Malfoy, is a mystery to us all. He jumped between the killing curse and Potter and just before it hit, Potter grabbed him close and turned them both into a shiny black bird with red eyes. Then the bird ate the killing curse and was gone in a puff of smoke and ash. That is what remained," Professor Sinistra explained motioning to the frail creature on the bottom of the perch.

"So Snape is dead?" Ginny said fearfully horrified.

"We do not yet know Miss Weasley. I have a feeling that Harry splinched himself and Severus together in an effort to save them both. We'll have to sort it out after the bird reaches a youthful age," Dumbledore explained.

"The Shadow Phoenix, I thought you told him never to use it!" Hermione wailed at the Headmaster in an accusing tone.

"Miss Granger, you will watch your tone with the Headmaster," McGonagall reproached her. Hermione had the good grace to blush and mutter an apology.

"Quite alright my dear. Yes, I did warn him against it but seeing as a curse of the Dark Arts was coming at him, I think the Shadow form came forward to take care of the situation," Dumbledore explained as he made his way around the desk to sit in his high-backed chair.

"So he ate the Killing Curse?" Ginny asked.

"Indeed he did. He knew he could, after all, he saw Fawkes do it for me at the Ministry of Magic last term," Albus explained.

"So it wasn't because he used so much magic?" Hermione asked.

"Given how much he actually used today, I'd say he would have burned in a few days anyway. He used a massive amount of Will magic to put those wards up. Not to mention the Apperation of all the professors, the Patronus' and dueling a bit in Hogsmeade," the headmaster said thoughtfully.

"He dueled?" Neville asked.

"He did. Mostly just small things like making the curses veer off and keeping the Death Eaters busy while the other professors apprehended them," he answered.

"So he was making the curses veer off course, I knew that wasn't natural," Professor Sprout piped up.

"Ah yes, he is becoming quite resourceful with his abilities," Dumbledore said.

"But he should have known better than to start with You-Know-Who Albus! He must be punished for that. He told you he would not interfere!" Professor McGonagall said sternly.

"That I did. But had he not interfered, the hidden Death Eaters would have started helping Voldemort try to kill me. They feared for their lives but would not dare leave without their master," Albus explained. "Were it not for him, I would have been in over my head."

The silence that filled the room after the remark was deafening. The Headmaster of Hogwarts, the only one Voldemort was afraid of, the one who took out Grindelwald, the Savoir of the Light side-Great Albus Dumbledore was admitting that he would have been in over his head. To most, well really, all, it was a horrifying revelation. Of course they knew he wasn't invincible, but they never saw him as fallible either.

"You really don't think you could have taken on a couple of Death Eaters and You-Know-Who at the same time?" Ron asked quietly.

"Ron!" Hermione chided, "Say his name for Pete's sake! Say it!" she demanded. He just looked at her for a second before opening his mouth to speak.

"V-Vol," he tried then gave a heavy sigh, "Vold-d-emort-t," he floundered. Hermione rolled her eyes at him.

"Ron," Ginny began "Harry, Hermione, Professor Dumbledore, even most of the Order members can say his name. You've heard it for years now, you don't even flinch when his name is said anymore, but you can't say it yourself. Where's your Gryffindor courage?"

"I was raised not to say it; it's hard to change something that was done your whole life. You don't say it," Ron pointed out.

"I refer to him as Riddle and you know why Ronald," she said sternly, "But if I had to say Voldemort, I could," she said just to prove a point.

"That's enough everyone. Yes, it's true that fearing him only makes him stronger among the people, but there is no shame in fearing evil, that is, as long as you believe that goodness will prevail. Otherwise, the darkness will take you, and everything you hold dear," Albus said gravely.

"Harry has had almost everything he holds dear taken from him anyway. I don't understand how he can just choose to be good. The world as a whole is losing this war, good is losing. If casualties are what defines who is winning and who is losing, then the darkness has a very large head start. With all the Muggles that Riddle and his followers have killed or injured - not to mention the wizards - then he is defiantly on the winning side. It terrifies me that Harry is fighting a battle that has just begun, and is losing to the landslide, especially after he's sacrificed so much just to get this far. The prophecy says that---," Draco snapped his mouth shut just as Dumbledore held his hand up to stop Draco desperate ranting. "I mean, it seems that when the time comes, if he feels he's already lost, he may not be able to do what needs to be done," he said vaguely to Albus who lowered his head and covered his face with this hands that were pruned from years of life.

"Faith and hope are what drives the light side Draco; we can't keep going without it. It may be all we have in times like these and that is what we'll have to give to Harry. We'll have to show our support and hope ourselves that he can find faith in his abilities and character, and find hope through his friends and family," Professor McGonagall said. Draco was too worn out from the excitement to argue with the Transfiguration teacher so he just nodded. Dumbledore lifted his head back up and had tears streaming down his face.

"In all my years," he began addressing those in his office, "I have tried to spread those attributes among students and those in my company. Its times like these that I feel it was all for a lost cause. But then, I look at Harry and see that perhaps I did do some good.

"Through Harry's friends and his surrogate family, he has gathered his good and turned it into power, where as Voldemort as done the exact opposite with fear and evil. Draco, your roll in Harry's life right now is critical. Even if neither of you see it, it is your love that makes him stronger. We help, that is, friends and family, but it's love like yours that gives him the will he needs to go forward.

"I have, for so long, preached and lectured about how we do not kill because we are good. But as I see Harry fight the same battle many times, it seems to be turning those views around. He was hit by a curse today by Lucius, as well as last year, and the year before. Perhaps if he would have killed the first time, he wouldn't have lost his Godfather, or maybe he would have ended this war today. But it still pains me to lead him in that direction. The Unforgivables are not magic that I want him to learn, but I'm beginning to believe that he's going to have to learn them. He got two clear shots off at Tom today. One made the earth beneath the Dark Lord quake and the other removed some bones hindering him useless. If either one of those curses were the killing curses, the war would have been over," Albus said wiping his eyes of the tears that had spilled. Ginny, Luna, and Hermione were all crying silently also.

"You don't think that he'll succumb to the addiction of the Unforgivables?" McGonagall asked quietly.

"I don't know, but I can only hope not," Dumbledore said.

"He won't," Ron voice sternly. "Harry has been working on us with our Occlumency and the first thing he did was make our minds strong enough to fight the Imperius. So far we've all been able to beat if off within five minutes. He knows the difference between right and wrong. We can feel the guilt when the casts the spell, we know he doesn't like doing it, but it needs to be done. What drives him is our protection, the greater good. Teach him, it may eat away at him, but he won't succumb to the dark. His will is stronger than that," Ron concluded confident.

"You mean he's been using Unforgiveables?" Professor Moon said wide-eyed.

"Yes, but he had our permission. He refuses to tell us the Prophecy until we can protect our minds well enough to keep the information safe. We're going to help him whether he likes it or not, but we don't want to do it blindly, we want to know what's coming," Ginny said in his defense.

"As honorable as that may be, I'm not sure if the ministry will be so happy to hear that," Professor Sinistra said like she was disgusted wit the idea.

"Well your not part of his family as we are, so you don't see what he goes through. This is none of your business," Hermione hissed at the professor. Professor Sinistra looked offended. "Until you've seen what he's been through, you'll never understand. He's not doing it alone."

"Now listen here little girl," the professor said standing up, "Illegal is Illegal. He can't be allowed to do such things, no one is," she said sternly. Hermione too stood up.

"It's for the greater good so I do believe it should be allowed. He's my family, my brother. I love him and there's nothing anyone could say that would or could change my mind. I'd sit in Azkaban for him, with Dementors if it meant that Harry was better off!" Hermione was now shrieking.

"Miss Granger, please get a hold of yourself," McGonagall tried to reason but Hermione rounded on her also.

"Get a hold of myself! I was petrified because of Voldemort; Ginny was possessed by him, as was Harry. Draco, Ron, and Luna have all been at the receiving end of his followers and you're telling me to get a hold of myself?" she shrieked incredulously. "No, we're doing what needs to be done and I'll be damned if I'm going to lose any of my family and friends to this war!" she said now in tears.

"She's right, its people like you and Professor Snape who make this harder than it has to be. I'm not going to allow it either. If you dare report him because he's training us consider yourself doomed because we'll rain our wrath on you so hard you'll be begging for Voldemort's assistants in resisting us!" Ginny wailed now breaking down to tears once again also.

"Well I never!" Professor Sinistra yelled.

"That's right, you never! You never consider anyone else but yourself. If you reported the Great Harry Potter, you'd be in the spotlight and get all the attention you need to feed your ambition. It's common knowledge that you were a Slytherin and that's what we're good at, getting what we want!" Draco hissed at her. He looked wide-eyed at them before she turned on her heal and stalked out of the Headmaster's office.

"I do agree with a lot of what you've said, but Harry still cannot continue to be allowed to train you in this fashion. As long as I know what's going on I can't allow it," Dumbledore said gravely.

"Then what you don't know won't hurt you," Luna finally spoke up as she raised her wand.

"Luna, NO!" Flitwick squealed.

"Obliviate!" she commanded as it hit Albus square between the eyes. He looked dazed for a moment before waving his wand and conjuring tea and crumpets.

"How do you take yours Miss Lovegood, sugar, cream?" Albus asked delightedly. McGonagall fainted away at the sight. Professor Moon was gaping at him as much everyone else was.

"Oh dear, could you perhaps take Minerva down the Hospital Wing, I'm sure she fainted from exhaustion," Albus said to Professor Moon looking concerned, but highly amused.

"Detention! Detention, detention, detention!" was all Flitwick would say. Luna bowed her head in acceptance.

"Whatever for?" Dumbledore said confused.

"Obliviate," Neville said under his breath so no one could hear him.

"Oh," Hermione said as she saw what happened, though very subtly, "She made a rude hand gesture to Professor Sinistra when she was walking out," Hermione covered so fluently that Ron gave her and impressed look.

"We'll it couldn't have been that bad, perhaps one is all that is needed," he interceded.

"Right," Flitwick said gaining his composition back. Madam Sprout looked like she was about to speak up until Luna dropped her tea and Ron stretched one arm above his head with his wand pointing backwards and the other covered his mouth as if being polite while yawning. Sprout too had just had her memory modified.

It all happened so quickly that even Draco almost didn't notice the distraction of Dumbledore by Luna and the memory modification by Ron. Needless to say, he was very impressed. Three more professors and they were clear to continue their training.

"Well, I have some Astronomy homework I needed to talk to Professor Sinistra about so I'll be going," Ginny said.

"I'm going to go check on Professor McGonagall, we were supposed to be working on my staff tonight," Hermione said.

"Oh, I'll go with you, I need to speak with Professor Moon about an idea for Harry's extra training," Draco said and Hermione nodded like nothing was out of the usual. No one besides the six students had any idea that they were going to finish the job of 'Cleaning the Slate'.

As the six students made their way down the spiral staircases they were feeling very guilty, well, besides Draco. He was smirking.

"How very Slytherin of you, and they call us ambitious," he said dryly. Ginny, ever the reincarnation of Fred and George, was the only one who found this amusing. Hermione and Luna glared at them as Ron and Neville looked somewhat passive and dazed. No doubt they were somewhat still stunned about what they had just done.

***

"Professor?" Ginny said as she stepped into the Astronomy classroom.

"Yes," Professor Sinistra asked tersely as Ginny came closer to the desk.

"Obliviate," Ginny hissed as she made it to the desk with her wand tip barely out of her sleeve. "Well Professor, do you mind?" Ginny asked looking at the instructor as if she was confused.

"Mind what dear?" she asked shaking her head and looking confused herself.

"If I used the tower tonight to do my homework," Ginny asked as if she were asking for a second time.

"Oh right," Sinistra feinting as if she'd just forgotten, "Yes, the password is Orion. Just be sure to lock it on your way out dear," she said going back to grading her essays.

"Thanks Professor," Ginny said giving the woman one more confused look as she turned and left to make sure that the Professor thought she was just going crazy.

***

"May I see her Madam Pomfrey? I just wanted to ask her a question," Hermione asked in the Hospital Wing.

"Miss Granger, you know how important rest for the weary is," the medi-witch informed her knowingly.

"Oh yes, absolutely. Is she sleeping?" she asked.

"Yes."

"May I just leave a note with her then?" Hermione asked innocently.

"I suppose, but please do be quick. And what do you need Mr. Malfoy?" she asked.

"Oh, I just need a quick word with Professor Moon is all. I'll ask her to come out into the ward so not to disturb your patient," Draco said ever so sweetly with the Malfoy charm at full throttle.

"Of course dear, please be brief," she said. He nodded in conformation.

They walked into the private room together and upon entering Professor Moon stood up. But before she even had a chance to say anything Draco's wand was out and he had already cast the memory charm that was barely audible.

"We just came to check up on the Professor," Draco said as the glazed look began to fade from Professor Moon's eyes.

"Oh, right, well, I'll leave you to it then," she said and walked out of the ward.

"Obliviate," Hermione said in a mourning voice as she cast the spell on Professor McGonagall as she slept.

"You didn't sound like you wanted to do that," Draco commented quietly.

"I didn't, well, at least not while she couldn't resist," Hermione said guiltily.

"If she could resist the you wouldn't have had the chance," Draco said logically, "Now lets get out of here before we wake her up," he whispered. Hermione just nodded and turned to leave with Draco.

"Hermione?" Draco said as they made their way out of the Hospital wing door.

"Hmm?" she answered not looking at him.

"Would you and the others be terribly upset if I were to end my relationship with Harry?" he asked nervously. Hermione stopped dead in her tracks and stared at him in disbelief.

"Yes," she said in a blunt and rude tone. "Why would you do that?"

"Well, I have my reasons. I just don't want him to get hurt," he explained vaguely.

"Him---Most would be worried about you. You know how trouble seems to find him," she said knowingly.

"Oh, not like that, I mean, I don't want to break his heart," Draco said looking at the ground as if ashamed.

"Well ending the relationship wouldn't do that," she said sarcastically.

"You don't understand, it has to end. There are actually two reasons, but I can only tell you one of them, the least important actually," he said. He stood in silence for a minute before Hermione finally burst.

"Well! Are you going to tell me or not?" she asked exasperated.

"I'm in a marriage contract with the Parkinson family. I'm to wed Pansy. It's been negotiated since I was born," Draco admitted. Hermione covered her mouth in shock and disgust.

"They still do that?" she exclaimed.

"Well, only purebloods, but yes, they do," he answered.

"I'll help you get out of it," she said as she resumed walking with all intent of going to the library to look up the laws and regulations on the contract. "You do want out of it right?" she asked when she saw that he wasn't following.

"The other reason is much bigger. If I told you, would you promise not to tell anyone?"

"Of course," she said as if it were obvious.

"I'm half Veela. I'll come into my heritage when I turn seventeen. What if Harry's not the one for me, what if I'm attracted to someone else?" he asked.

"A Veela!" she yelled then clapped her hands over her mouth and looked around for any passerby's.

"Yes," Draco hissed quietly. "The only way the heritage can be over come is if I have a child with someone before I come into it. That hardly seems possible with Harry," he said logically.

"Is that what you planned on doing with Pansy?" Hermione asked.

"It's in the contract that we must bare a child together before my seventeenth birthday. That's why she's so mad, I only have six months left," he said.

"Well, I'm going to library to see if I can find out any information about this and see if there's a way around it all. You really should have mentioned this earlier you know," she said sternly.

"Oh yeah, Draco Malfoy, Pureblood activist is supposed to let it become a known fact that he was really a half-blood after generations of conspiracy," Draco said sarcastically.

"Anyone can change Draco, your living proof of that. I don't think a lot of people would care as much as you think they would."

"You say that now, but do you know how many people I tormented before this year?"

"Of course I do, I am the Mudblood aren't I?" she said putting her hands on her hips.

"Sorry about that. You can call me that if you like, but I beg you not to. It's quite a blow to the ego," he admitted.

"You've changed Draco, and you've already proven that. Consider this a truce. Now would you like to come to the library with me to see if we can find a way out of this?"

"Actually, you go ahead, I need to think."

"Alright, but you really should tell Harry soon incase we can't get around this. I also think we should speak with the Headmaster about this, he may have a solution if we can't find one," she advised. Draco just nodded and strode out of sight. Hermione just shook her head in pity and proceeded to the library.