Battle of the Heirs

Harry looked at Draco. He was so familiar, yet so different; he looked tired and sad, held together by some invisible string, rather than being cocky and arrogant. He watched as Malfoy, his enemy for so many years, came closer and closer until they were face to face. Malfoy reached out and gently grabbed Harry's head. He pulled Harry even closer, until they were practically touching, then leaned in and kissed him. The kiss lasted several minutes, the two of them taking it in turns to probe each other's mouths with their tongues...

Harry woke up with a start, hot and sweaty. "Not again!" he exclaimed aloud. I've had that same dream every night for the last two weeks!

"There, there dear," the mirror said comfortingly.

He hadn't mentioned this dream to anyone; he was uncomfortable enough with it as it was. He was kissing a bloody Malfoy, for Merlin's sakes; not just a Malfoy, but a male Malfoy, who just happened to have been his bitter rival for years! The person responsible for Dumbledore's death... Something had to be wrong with that... He looked up at the clock on the wall. Just as he suspected, it was 2:00am. Every night, on the dot. I could set my bloody watch by this dream; he thought to himself as he got up from the bed and walked over to the washbasin. He splashed some cold water on his face.

"At least being up ridiculously early means that no one can sneak in and surprise me," he muttered to his reflection.

"Well, that would be a pity," said a portrait of an elderly witch from above the mantelpiece.

"Hello, Mrs. Dumbledore. Did you rest well?"

"I wouldn't call it 'rest', Harry dear."

Harry laughed. Dumbledore's mother had been a comfort to Harry since he had moved into the former Headmaster's quarters a little less than two weeks ago. He had quickly warmed to the woman, and though she was only a portrait, she was like a protector and confidant for him in this little section of Hogwarts. He was glad to have someone who he didn't have to put on an act around, didn't have to be a leader to. She was the only portrait in the rooms, and she had told Harry that she never left to move around the castle, as most of the other paintings did. She had been accustomed to being Dumbledore's main confidant, and had spent her days deep in discussion with her son, rather than indulging in gossip with the other portraits. Harry took comfort in that fact that even Dumbledore had needed someone to discuss his ideas and worries with.

"I had that dream again," Harry said quietly, slightly embarrassed..

"Oh, that one you keep mentioning, but refuse to actually discuss with me?" She fixed him with her steady gaze.

"Yeah, that one." He sighed; maybe he was being silly not telling Mrs. Dumbledore about the dream. "It's just so strange... I was standing in the middle of a field with... this guy. He - well, he won't come back here, but I used to go to school with him. He's - he was the one who let the Death Eaters into the school...

"Anyway, we're standing in this field, and we both have our wands raised, ready to duel. But then something happens... something pulls us closer and closer to each other, and then-" he paused, blushing furiously, "-then we... erm, we kiss... well, he kisses me, I suppose." He stopped and looked at the portrait, his cheeks still flaming.

"I see. And how did this make you feel?"

"The same as always; I woke up hot, sweating."

"Was there any other... physical reaction?

"What do you mean? Oh! Ummm, yeah, there was that, too..." If possible, his face became even redder.

"Harry, have you ever had dreams about anyone else that had the same effects?"

"Not exactly. I mean, I remember when I fancied Cho, but I hardly ever dreamed about her; and the dreams with Ginny had that... effect, but they were usually more... graphic than just a kiss! Besides, this dream was about a bloke. I don't like blokes." He looked utterly confused.

"My dear boy, it's not at all unusual for boys - and even girls, for that matter - to fantasize about members of the same sex when they're around your age. Muggles have been trying to understand why this is so for years now. Don't worry yourself about it. There are more important things for you to think about today - you have been of age for two hours now! Lie down, go back to sleep; your friends will be most disappointed if they come to wake you in the morning and find you already awake!"

He couldn't believe it was his birthday already! The two weeks since he had arrived at Hogwarts had been so busy, they had passed in a blur; not only had he been trying to run the Order, he had been worrying about his plan to get Arthur named Minister for Magic ever since Hermione had told him that it was members of the Ministry who made the final decision (thank god I came up with a solution to that problem! he thought); not to mention, he had been researching and studying various areas of magic, including Animagi magic, something that had intrigued him ever since McGonagall had suggested it to him just a couple of days after his arrival. And on top of that, in every free moment, he had been helping Hermione with her research on the remaining Horcruxes. Harry's mind wondered to events of two weeks ago. Uncle Vernon had been buried at the family cemetery, Aunt Petunia and Dudley had left to live with Aunt Marge. Things were different now, yet in a way slowly coming back to normal.

Harry got back into bed, but didn't manage to get back to sleep. He thought of the last time he had seen Dumbledore. Once more, he went over the conversation that he had witnessed between Dumbledore and Malfoy, from under his invisibility cloak. He felt genuinely sorry for Malfoy, though he couldn't really understand why; perhaps it had something to do with the fact that the other boy had looked so desperate, trapped.

He heard the door open.

"Can't sneak in quietly enough!" Harry said, opening his eyes. "Remus, you need the twins to teach you stealth. They managed to get all the way up to my bed the other day before I even knew they were in the room - you can't even open the door!" A smile crept onto his face.

"That's one thing about being a werewolf-" Lupin grinned "-you don't need to be quiet when you're an enormous wolf. Here, I have something for you." He walked over to the bed and handed him a letter. "Dumbledore requested that you receive this on your seventeenth birthday; we think he may have written it on the night that he died, at the same time as he finished amending his will." Harry opened the letter.

Dear Harry,

If you are reading this then things did not turn out as I would have hoped, but I already know, going in to this, that all of our lives are in danger. I wish you well. If things go terribly wrong, go to Severus. Naturally, if you have received this letter, I do not know exactly what has happened, but you need to realize that, no matter what, he is still a double-spy. He is still on our side. I do not know what information he has given Voldemort, but I do know that all of the information that he has ever brought to me has always proven to be correct, and often invaluable. You need to know that Severus took an Unbreakable Vow to the effect that he would, to the best of his ability, ensure that Draco Malfoy goes through with a plan to murder me. From what I can tell, Draco has not told Severus much. If you need to speak to Severus, and he is not easily accessible, ask Aberforth for help. If he has had to fulfill his oath to Narcissa, he will be in hiding from the Order.

As you may know by now, I have left the leadership of the Order to you. I do this because I know that you are ready for whatever may happen. You are the only one who can end this war. You know this. It is advisable to tell Professors McGonagall and Lupin about the Horcruxes at this point; their insight could well help you in the task of locating those remaining. I have also left you all of my memories to aid you in your task, and some of my magical devices could prove useful - ask the professors, they will be able to explain to you how to use them.

I am also going to leave you some things that should really be yours already; in my vaults there are many items that belonged to your parents. I know that when you turn of age, you will also gain access to your inheritance from your parents.

Stay safe, Harry, and try to keep an Order escort with you, should you go off hunting for information; with me gone, I can assure you that things are going to get worse. Voldemort will take my death as a sign that he has as good as won.

Keep well, and try not to let your pride or your anger rule your head; ask for help when you need it, and seek advice when you are in a bind.

Always Yours,

Albus Dumbledore

"This is the reason you wake me up at..." Harry glanced at the clock, "...6 o'clock in the morning?"

"Partly," Lupin said with a smile on his face. "I have other plans as well. Everyone is being awakened now so that we can all go to Diagon Alley. There are some things that need to be done today; a trip to Gringotts, for starters - today is the day you get your full inheritance from your parents, Sirius, and Dumbledore... it's also time for us to get you fitted out with some protective clothing, and maybe have some fun on the way. Plus, Madam Marchbanks has requested that we join her for lunch"

"Who's going?" Harry asked.

"Well, the twins will be there already - they just left to get the shop ready for the day. They've got a fairly busy day planned, since they're finalizing buying Zonkos today, too, but they've promised to meet up with us all for lunch. Ron and Hermione won't let you out of their sights, so they'll be there; Minerva and Tonks are just about as bad, and of course, I'll be coming along. Neville and Mrs. Longbottom were also invited to join us for lunch, and I think you can probably include Luna in that too. Needless to say, you have a busy itinerary, Mr. Potter, and I am just your faithful servant," Lupin finished with a grin.

"You're beginning to make me sound like the Minister for Magic, or Voldemort or somebody!"

"Nope, I'm suggesting you are better than them both. Remember, today is also the meeting that will decide the impeachment. You haven't been following Mrs. Longbottom's progress as closely as you should have been; I think you'll be proud of her."

"I know I will be. Busy day, then! Are Hermione, Professor McGonagall, and I still to be sworn in at 4:00, then face the full board for the impeachment at 5:30, or has that changed?"

"No, that seems right."

"In that case, I have some things to add to your itinerary; I need time to go shopping for some dress robes, since the ones I got for the Yule ball in fourth year are a little small now! Also, could you send a message to Mr. Weasley, to make sure he is at the impeachment? If things go my way today I want him there so that I can push for him to replace Scrimgeour."

"Bear in mind, Harry, that though the Wizengamot nominate the candidates, the Minister has to be elected by the head of each Ministry division; since most of those jobs are appointed by the Minister, and they won't elect someone they think is likely to get rid of them..."

"Yeah, Hermione told me that. Which is why I've been preparing! It was me who arranged the lunch with Madam Marchbanks; we're going to discuss her retirement from the Wizengamot. Katie Bell will be there to cover the story for the Prophet. As you know she has been very helpful with painting the Minister in a bad light."

Lupin burst out laughing. "I knew you were up to something, but I hadn't imagined it could be something like this; here's me thinking you were too busy having fun with your friends to be doing anything too serious, only to find out that you've been plotting how to bring down the wizarding community from the inside out all along!"

"It's a hard job, but someone has to do it." Harry started laughing too. "Speaking of hard jobs, can you call an Order meeting for tomorrow night? I've been spending all my time on the Ministry, but there's not really anything more that can be done now - I need to turn my attention to Voldemort." He paused. "Call a meeting for the inner-circle for tonight, too. There were some things in the letter from Dumbledore that I want to speak to you all about; I want to get that done tonight, before the full meeting tomorrow."

"All right then, I'll do that while you're getting dressed." Lupin stood and walked out of the room.

Harry quickly showered and dressed, then met up with everyone in the Headmistress's office. "About time the birthday boy showed up," Ron said with a grin.

"I have actually been up since around 2am; another one of those strange dreams. I have to say, I was expecting more than one of you to show up in my room this morning - after all, it has become something of a routine recently - 'who can wake Harry?' right?"

Ron started laughing. "Lupin thought that if it was only one person, we may be able to make it to London without a trip to the hospital wing first."

"Aah, I knew we kept him around for a reason!" Harry joked.

"Okay, everyone lets have breakfast, so that we can get the day started." Since Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had returned to The Burrow with Ginny, eating breakfast in the Headmistress's office had become a regular arrangement.

Fred and George were often around in the evenings, but were gone for most of the day; the professors were all away for the summer enjoying their own lives; the influential Order members, the ones who had been summoned to the castle around the same time as Harry, had only stayed a few days, though they occasionally called back for a night or two. This left Harry, Ron, Hermione, Lupin, Tonks and McGonagall alone in the castle most days. Harry had rather enjoyed seeing a more personal, intimate side to Minerva McGonagall.

"Harry, I sent out the summons for the meetings tonight and tomorrow," Lupin said, taking a sip of orange juice.

McGonagall glanced at him quizzically. "Harry?"

"I think there's going to be enough drama today anyway, without me adding to it; I'll explain everything this evening. Can you try and make sure that Aberforth is here tonight? I think I might need him," Harry said, before chewing on a piece of bacon.

"Aberforth? Are you sure, Harry?" Professor McGonagall was giving him a stern look that he recognized well from his Transfiguration lessons.

"The letter from Dumbledore mentioned him; part of what I want to discuss at the meeting tonight concerns him," he replied serenely.

"I suppose I shall have to summon him, then; he hasn't been to the castle since the funeral, though, and he may not be easily convinced to return. I suppose the fact that you have asked for him specially may help..." she trailed off.

"I have a feeling that Aberforth's not someone Professor McGonagall approves of," Ron teased her.

"I said no such thing, Mr. Weasley," McGonagall huffed, but Harry was certain that he could see the hint of a blush in her cheeks.

"Harry! You have presents to open this morning," Hermione said, abruptly changing the subject to something safer. "And this morning's Daily Prophet had Rita's article. Katie said she made sure that everything was reported just as you requested. The call for Scrimgeour to be found not confident in his duties as Minister. She also pointed out that Rita made sure to name Mr. Weasley as a qualified candidate who is above the petty squabbles of politics. I think would be proud of the wording too."

"Thanks Hermione, I think I'll pass on reading it; if Katie said she made sure it was right then I'm sure it's fine." He broke off with a grin. "Now... did you say 'presents'?"

"Yeah mate, look over there," Ron said, pointing at a pile of gifts stacked up on the Headmistress's desk. Harry walked up to the desk and picked up one of the presents.

"That's from me, Harry," Hermione said with a smile on her face. "I hope you like it!" Harry slowly opened the package. Inside laid three books: Looking into the Face of Danger; When the World Closes in Around You; and Even You Can be a Leader against the Darkness. Harry noticed that all three books were written by a stern looking witch named Finvarra Thorne, who, judging by the picture could not have been much older than Remus.

"I found them in a catalog I have of American Defense Against the Dark Arts books. They said that Ms Thorne was the leading academic in the field, over in America," Hermione said with a grin.

"Interesting... who would have thought old Finny would become a leading academic!" Lupin laughed. Everyone but McGonagall turned to look at him. "She was in my year at Hogwarts, and she very close to Lily - the two of them were probably even closer that James and I. During the First War, her husband was killed, and she left with her young son - he'll be around your age, Harry; 3 months older if I recall correctly. Connor, he was called." Harry could tell that he was lost in the past.

McGonagall picked up when Lupin trailed off, "Yes, it was a great loss for the Aurors when Micah was killed, and Finvarra left for America. Just yesterday I sent an owl to her, asking if she would like to come to Hogwarts to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. She's the best in the field - you picked well, Miss Granger! Her books are actually used as text books in many schools; I have always been surprised that none of the professors here have assigned them, though I believe that Alastor Moody had planned to...

"Like her husband, she was an Auror, but she is first and foremost a mother, and when Micah was killed, Finvarra thought it best that she moved Connor to America where he could be safe. She got a job teaching at the Salem Witches Institute, and has never looked back," she finished.

Ron had obviously become bored with this topic of conversation: "Okay, next present!"

Harry picked up Ron's gift. He opened it slowly just as he had Hermione's. Inside were new Seeker gloves, Quidditch pads, and a book on the Chudley Cannons. Harry laughed. "Ron, I'm not even a Cannons fan!"

"Yeah, I know mate, but I figured if you knew their history, you might change your mind," Ron said, smirking. "Plus I had to think of something that would go with the pads and gloves."

"I love them, Ron. Thanks!"

Harry picked up the next package, which, according to the label, was from Remus and Tonks, and unwrapped it to find dragon hide dueling gloves. They were beautiful gloves, but he looked at Lupin quizzically. "Tonks said that no Auror can go out in the field without a pair."

"Thanks, you two, they're fantastic!" He broke into a grin.

"Well Harry," said McGonagall, "I suppose that means that it's my turn. I have two gifts for you; one from me, and one from Hogwarts." She handed Harry a rather large box. "You may not have known that I was rather close to your parents before they died. I am distantly related to you, through marriage, on James's side - but the connection is difficult to explain. This belongs to you. I have kept it safe for many years, even before the death of Lily and James."

Harry took the lid off the box, and pulled out a luxurious red and gold traveling cloak. On the shoulder it bore the emblem of a lion, very similar to the one on the Gryffindor House crest.

"This is a Gryffindor traveling cloak. In the past, it was given in turn to each member of the Gryffindor clan, but today there are only two left - me and you. Harry, you are the rightful heir of Gryffindor. That also means you are the rightful heir to the sword of Gryffindor." She motioned to the familiar sword sitting in the glass case. "It is already yours by rights, but I am placing it once more in your possession."

She handed Harry an envelope as he stood, stunned by this revelation. "My last gift. We all know that you did not plan to return to Hogwarts this year, but I also know that it is not currently safe for you to go out and fight Voldemort - therefore, I am asking you to stay on and graduate from school. Term will begin in a little over a month, providing the board of governors approves the reopening at all - they are still debating the matter. In the meantime, I have to assume that it will, and act as such. As I said, I have offered the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor to Finvarra, but there are still a few positions to be filled within the school: if you consent to return, I would like you to become Head Boy. Miss Granger has already accepted the position of Head Girl." Harry looked over to where his friend sat, positively glowing.

Harry considered. He hadn't intended to return, it was true, but at the same time, it might be worth completing his education, and if he were to become Head Boy, he would have enough freedom to continue working towards defeating Voldemort. Is that the only reason she's offering me the position? He wondered. He wouldn't like to deny someone more qualified the position just because he was 'The Boy Who Lived'. Don't be daft, you're the best person for the job; McGonagall wouldn't offer it to you if you weren't, she takes the running of the school too seriously. Besides, said an insistent little voice, Dumbledore said that the only reason he made Ron prefect instead of you was that he thought you had enough to handle alread.. And Ron was a good prefect - so if Dumbledore thought you would be able to do a better job...

"Okay, I'll take it," he said decisively, though he still felt a little doubt. Still, this was for the best; "Aside from anything else, we need to put up a united front - if the magical community saw that I was unwilling to come back to Hogwarts, it would convince a lot of them not to send their children back, either. I ask something in return, however; invite Draco Malfoy back."

He looked up - as expected, everyone in the room was gaping at him, and Ron and Hermione actually had their mouths hanging open. He couldn't really blame them - after all, he wasn't entirely sure about this plan himself; it had been floating around his mind, half-formed, ever since Hermione had mentioned something about a Death Eater spy a couple of weeks previously.

"Look," he said impatiently, "I have my reasons. He lowered his wand; he didn't want to kill Dumbledore - it was Snape who did that. And no one knows that he was up there that night, or that I was; the Minister has actually managed to do us a favor by keeping that particular piece of information secret. There is no reason not to invite Malfoy back for his final year."

"Harry isn't that awfully risky?" Lupin asked. "Think about what he might do to you - you'd be giving him the perfect opportunity!"

"It's a risk I'm willing to take. The way I see it is: we need a spy; they need a spy. Why not put one in a position to help us? It could prove invaluable to us, plus it may just end up saving his life."

"And how would you ensure that he wasn't running straight back to Voldemort with information on all of us?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"Umbridge managed to check everyone's letters - I'm sure that we can do the same, and keep an eye on what information he's sending home; and we can monitor his Hogsmeade visits. Tonks, are you still going to be stationed here?"

"As far as I know, Harry."

"Good... and while we're on the subject of spies, I'm going to need someone in with the Slytherins whether Malfoy returns or not. Depending on how trustworthy Professor Thorne's son proves to be, he could be a possible candidate..." Harry walked over the shelf where the Sorting Hat was kept. "Do you think that you could arrange for him to be sorted into Slytherin if need be?" The Hat opened its eyes.

"For the heir of Gryffindor, I can do anything you need me to. I kept you out of Slytherin, didn't I?"

Hermione looked at him questioningly; Harry still hadn't told anyone apart from Dumbledore about almost being sorted into Slytherin.

"Pardon the interruption, Headmistress, but I do believe that you all have a very busy day ahead of you - I would suggest you get a move on!" one of the portraits said.

"Right you are Rowena, right you are," came the voice of Albus Dumbledore.

Harry turned around in shock. The last time he had seen the portrait, the Headmaster had been asleep, and now he took a long, hard look at the former Headmaster. "They have a good point," he finally said. "We do need to get going."

As they all stood up, preparing themselves to leave, there was a rapping on the window. They looked up to see a beautiful brown owl sitting on the windowsill. McGonagall walked over to the window to let the owl into the room, taking the letter that it was carrying and quickly reading it. "It seems that we will have more company today at lunch than we expected." She quickly scribbled a reply and sent the owl off again, before turning around and grabbing her traveling cloak. "Everyone ready? To the fireplace; we will Floo to the Leaky Cauldron."