Battle of the Heirs

Harry looked around the familiar compartment of the Hogwarts Express, knowing that it may well be the last time that he saw it. So many things had changed in the world since he had boarded it for the first time. Then, the only family he had had was the Dursleys, and though they were blood relatives, they could hardly be called 'family'. Now, he had a family - a family that he had created himself. A brother and a sister, he thought as he looked at Ron and Hermione. They're willing to put their lives in danger to help me. An ex-girlfriend who had allowed him to put things on hold because she agreed that it was the right thing to do - she, too, recognized that if they continued their relationship, it would only bring them both heartache. Voldemort had been gradually killing off Harry's family since he was born. First his parents, then Sirius, and now Dumbledore. Harry was determined to stop Voldemort, if only so that he could have a normal life at last.

Harry looked at the two other people in compartment. Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood; they were the only two members of the DA who had answered Hermione's call the night that Dumbledore died. They were the ones who came when Harry ran off to help Sirius. Harry stood up, walked over to the compartment door, raised his wand and intoned, "Muffliato." He turned to his five friends. "Look, guys, I know what I'm getting into, and before you say anything I want you to hear me out. You, the people who are closest to me, are going to be the ones who Voldemort targets. I don't want to be responsible for anything that happens to you. I know things about Voldemort... things that only I and Voldemort himself know. He is now my responsibility. I want you each to swear to me that you will not do anything to jeopardize yourselves."

Hermione turned to face Harry. "Ron and I have already told you; you are not going anywhere without us. You can try to be the noble hero all you want, but you're not leaving us. Even if I have to bind us all together magically; you know I'll do it."

Harry laughed. "Is there even such a spell?"

Ron started laughing, too. "Do you really want to test her on that?"

"Look, Harry, we all love you, and we're not going to let you do this alone," Hermione said to him, finally smiling.

Neville looked at Harry. "Harry, its V- You-Know-Who's fault that my parents are in St Mungo's. We're not going to abandon you, Harry; you've got Ron and Hermione. And you've got me."

Before Harry could say anything to Neville, Ginny spoke up. "We're all willing to do whatever we have to do to keep you safe. I know that you broke up with me to keep me safe, but Voldemort already knows you're close to my family - and, to be fair, the Weasleys are probably more at risk than anyone; we are infamous for being blood traitors and Muggle-lovers, after all," she said with a giggle. "We've already lost family members to this cause. Mum lost two brothers on the same day to the Death Eaters in the first war; Moody says it took five of them to kill my uncles, and it was their murders that sent Dolohov to Azkaban. You're trying to say that this is your fight, and your fight alone - but we want you to come out of this fight alive! Will you let us help you?"

"Okay," Harry answered. "But before I agree to let you help me, I have certain requirements. I am not ready to tell you all of what I know. I've always told Ron and Hermione more than anyone else, and I want it to stay that way. Ginny, Neville, Luna, I promise to keep you in the loop as much as possible." Luna looked up from her copy of The Quibbler for the first time. "And if you're with me, you're with me till the end. We can't change our minds halfway through this; we're not just practicing any more."

Luna spoke up. "Well, we didn't form the DA just because of Umbridge, did we? Even thought she was a horrible woman. Although, daddy has been doing some research this summer - he thinks she may have been attacked by a Madgell."

Hermione looked at her questioningly. "What's a Madgell?"

"An invisible insect. It sneaks into your ears and feeds on your brain," Luna replied seriously. "Anyway, as I was saying; we decided when we first formed the DA that its purpose was to help us prepare to fight You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters."

"Don't forget, though," Hermione said, "that's what the Order's job is, too."

"The Order won't even let us help; they think we're just kids!" Ron said angrily.

"Ron has a point, Hermione. They've always said that we're 'too young to fight'. You and Ron are of age now, but have they bothered asking you to join?" Harry pointed out.

"They say that Fred and George are members, but they're not really - they never get to go on any of the interesting missions," Ginny added. "If we're going to try to take a more important role, they'll want to be involved."

"Saying that I'll let you help me is not the same as saying that I'm going to bring the DA into the war!" Harry exclaimed.

"We're going to need all the help we can get, Harry, and we know that the Ministry and the Order are going to do everything that they can to keep us from helping in this war. Harry, we have to keep our allies close! You might not like it, but we're going to be your closest allies. Not to mention you closest friends." Hermione smiled at him.

"You're not just my friends, you're my family. I've never had any family, unless you count the Dursleys-" he snorted. "You guys have always been there for me. I was willing to run off and fight this war on my own, just to keep you safe. I can't begin to explain how much it would hurt me if any of you were harmed from me dragging you into this stupid war. But you don't seem to be giving me a lot of choice!"

"Damn right, mate, we're not gonna let you have all the fun!" Ron said with an impish grin.

"Something tells me this is not going to be all fun, Ron," Hermione replied, taking hold of his hand. Ron looked over at her and smiled. Harry went back to his seat beside the window and watched the landscape change as they moved closer to London. Closer to my destiny, he thought. Closer to Voldemort and his Horcruxes.

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Harry looked out at Platform 9 ¾ when the Hogwarts Express came to a stop. He watched the anxious parents rush to the sides of their children. Harry noted that this was a first - the concern for the children was almost palpable. The war was already changing everyone.

"RONALD WEASLEY!" Harry jumped at the sound of Mrs. Weasley's voice. He looked over to where Ron was stood talking to his mother.

"Harry needs me more than you do right now, mum - who do you think is more likely to be attacked? He's my best mate; I'm not just going to abandon him! With me and Hermione there, at least he's not going to be facing anything alone. He's not even of age yet, mum!"

Harry made his way over to them. Hermione nudged him. "Is this really our Ron? It could be someone using Polyjuice Potion, you know!" Hermione whispered, sounding amused.

"Does seem a little of character for him - I never would've thought he'd have the courage to stand up to his mum; I know I wouldn't!" Harry replied with a small grin.

"Now you've got my two best friends thinking I've lost my mind," Ron said with a smile.

"Maybe you've just grown up a bit," Mrs. Weasley said, her pride in her son showing in her face.

"Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, "I've tried to convince him otherwise, but both Ron and Hermione refuse to leave me. I don't want anything to happen to either of them; they're my best friends! Realistically, I know that the Death Eaters will know that. And I know that that puts them in danger." His smile faded. "But the three of us together will be stronger than the three of us separately."

"Well, you're coming back to The Burrow first for a proper meal. Your aunt always sends you back looking so thin! Who knows what she's going to do now that there are three of you to starve? There are a few Order members who have some advice for you, too." Harry looked around as they were flanked by a group of people; one grabbed hold of his arm, and Harry recognized the familiar sensation of Apparation. When he got his bearings back, he looked around, only to find that he was standing outside The Burrow.

"Wotcher, Harry!"

"Tonks? Where are the others?" Harry asked.

"They'll be along shortly. The Order wanted to speak to you alone first."

"What, so they thought they would kidnap me?!" Harry asked, trying to control his anger.

"Not kidnap, Harry, that's a bit of a strong word for it..."

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING, TAKING HARRY LIKE THAT WITHOUT WARNING US?!" Harry turned to see Hermione standing behind him, her face red and her wand pointed at Tonks.

"Only following orders - I was told to bring him here alone. Molly was supposed to bring the rest of you."

"Did you really think we wouldn't notice Harry going missing? For all we knew, Death Eaters had taken him! What a stupid plan!"

"Stupid plan, you say? I happen to think that it was one of my better ones." Moody appeared behind Hermione. "Now, can I ask you to lower your wand, or will I be forced to disarm you?"

"So, this is what the Order has been brought to?" Harry asked. "All along, I thought you were all brave heroes. Now I find out you resort to kidnapping me, and threatening my friends."

"No one has threatened anyone, Harry," Moody said.

"You stop pointing your wand at her, before I'm forced to use some of those curses your imposter taught us!" Ron had just Apparated beside Hermione, his wand turned on Moody.

"Ron, you shouldn't have Apparated! You don't even have your license yet!" Hermione said. "Anyway, the Order wouldn't harm any of us. They're just stupid enough to think that they'd be able to bring Harry here without us following."

"So we're beginning to see," Lupin said, walking out of The Burrow. "Molly sent word to us the moment that Hermione Disapparated. I guess you took that time Ron, to Disapparate yourself. I must say, you're loyal and very sneaky."

"Comes from years of sneaking around Hogwarts, I assure you," Ron said with a smirk.

"We've established that Ron and Hermione aren't going to be leaving me any time soon. Now can we get this over and done with? I'm not exactly eager to get back to the Dursleys', but this is starting to get on my nerves!" Harry said loudly, walking into The Burrow as Hermione and Ron ran to catch up with him. Harry sat himself at the table. "Okay, I'm ready. Mrs. Weasley said you had something to say to me. Now is your chance."

"We want to know where you and Dumbledore went. And we don't want any of this 'I can't tell you' nonsense. If it's going to be important in this war, the Order needs to know!" Moody said firmly.

"I'm going to have to disagree with you there. Dumbledore didn't tell you, did he? What makes you think that I will? Just because you bring me here and demand to know, you expect me to tell you everything? I will not be told what to do. Dumbledore at least figured that much out, he was willing to treat me like an adult. We all know that, unwillingly, I'm the main cause of this war. We also know that Voldemort couldn't kill me as a child, nor could he the many times we have come face to face since then. His Death Eaters refuse to even fight me. You should also know that I've never liked being told what to do, and right now, I'm completely sick of it. You can sit there and demand whatever you want, but really - what can you do to me that Voldemort hasn't already tried to do? Dumbledore asked me to keep our plans secret, and you're not going to bully me into doing otherwise. I hope I can still come to you if I need help in the future, but for now, I'm doing this myself, with Ron and Hermione."

Professor McGonagall spoke up, "The Headmaster's portrait assures me that you have good reasons for keeping the information he shared with you secret, and I can promise that I, personally, will keep in touch with you. But could I suggest that you take at least one Order member along with you when you go off? For our peace of mind?"

"Minerva, with Dumbledore gone, how can we be sure that the information he was keeping secret is even important?" Lupin interrupted.

"Remus, you know better than some the importance of being true to your word. If I am not mistaken, you yourself have kept things from others in order to protect them. I would like nothing more than for Harry to tell me everything, but I know that he will go out of his way to keep a promise to someone to whom he is loyal - and knowing the Headmaster as I did, I can say fairly certainly that the information must be greatly important to our cause."

"I'm still not convinced that the boy shouldn't tell us what he knows. The leader of the Light is dead; in order to win this war, we're going to need as much help and information as possible," Moody said, moving from his chair to stand by the fireplace.

"Alastor Moody, do you not remember when you refused to report to the Auror division for two months, out of fear that Rosier would take the information to the Death Eaters? How can you criticize Harry for taking the same level of precaution?" Professor McGonagall said tartly.

"That was different, Minerva, I didn't want to show my hand too quickly. If the Death-Eaters knew that I had inside information on 'em, they would have disappeared before I even got to that abandoned church." Moody was getting gradually more annoyed. Harry knew that the man liked to be in charge when it came to decisions concerning the war. To find out that he was being kept in the dark by both Dumbledore and Harry on something this important was getting to him.

"Alastor, you do not know that Harry does not have the same reasons. What reason would Dumbledore have for not telling you about something like this?" McGonagall asked coldly.

"Because it could be deadly if it was slipped out through the spy network." Moody hung his head. Harry was astonished at the way that McGonagall could rationalize with the man so easily. In less than a minute, she had diffused what had appeared to be a bomb ready to go off within him. Harry looked around the room. He was surprised to see that Mr. Weasley, Bill, Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Hestia Jones, and Sturgis Podmore were all sitting in the room, as not one of them had spoken a word throughout the entire meeting. He turned to look at them a little closer, and could tell from the grave expressions on their faces that they were uneasy with the events that were unfolding before them, but he could not decide if they looked to be agreeing with Moody or McGonagall, and he could tell that Ron and Hermione, stood at the back of the room; were also trying to figure this out.

"What do you think about it?" He directed his question in the direction of these silent observers, hoping that they would remove the stoic masks they were wearing.

"Well Harry, I'm not a big believer in secrets," Mr. Weasley said, his face still as hard and featureless as it had been a few moments previously. "But I also know that if it were important for us all to know then Dumbledore would have told us before he told you, and he must have had his reasons for not doing so. In any case, my opinion is fairly irrelevant - what matters is that you now have information that may put the weight of the entire wizarding world on your shoulders. I just hope that you are willing, not to mention able, to hold that much weight on your own."

"Now, if we're quite finished! For the peace and mind of the Order, Harry, you will take an Order member with you if you decide to go off on one of you little adventures, right?" Harry noticed the change in McGonagall's voice - she sounded strict, but he could still make out a hint of the mothering tone she had been using earlier.

"... Okay." Harry paused. "But I will choose who will come with us. And if you want to talk to me again, I'd thank you not to pull any more stunts like todays!"

"I think we can manage that, Harry - to be honest, I tried to talk them out of their plan today, but they can be as stubborn as you when they choose to be! Now, I will take you to the Dursleys' myself. Harry, Ron if you will each take one of my arms. Hermione, I think that you should be able to track us successfully." With a pop, the three of them were standing on Privet Drive. Hermione followed seconds later.

"This is where I leave you. Listen to me carefully, please. Do not go out trying to find trouble. If you do leave, I assume you will have arranged adequate protection for yourselves. I will keep in touch. Please take care of yourselves." With that, she turned and Apparated away.