Free Will and Fate

"Wow."

Harry looked up from his bowl of cereal. Ron was poring over a copy of the morning's paper, his eyes wide as he scanned the page. "What is it?" Harry asked.

With several pairs of eyes on him, Ron began reading from the Daily Prophet. "'Minister Albus Dumbledore ordered the Magical Law Enforcement Squad to arrest Rita Skeeter early this morning after an anonymous tip that the reporter is an unregistered Animagus.'"

Harry and Hermione exchanged brief looks. Thanks to him, Dumbledore knew everything from Rita Skeeter's Animagus form down to her identifying markings. He was surprised that the Minister had already managed to get through his fourth year memories, or at least the notes that accompanied them. With the Minister's schedule, Harry had thought it would take at least another couple of days.

"'According to the Minister'," Ron continued, "'Ms. Skeeter may also be charged with several dozen counts of criminal trespass for the tactics she used to obtain information for her sometimes outrageous articles. All potential witnesses are asked to send a message by owl to the Improper Use of Magic Office with information on alleged offenses.'" Ron looked up from the paper. "Their office will be flooded with owls before lunch."

"Right," Neville said. "I always wondered how she got so much information; she claimed she had sources inside the Ministry."

"At least she won't be able to write any more stories about you," Lavender said. "You'd think people would get tired of hearing how The Boy Who Lived went shopping for schoolbooks with his grandmother."

Parvati shrugged. "You'd be surprised what some people find interesting. I'm shocked she didn't get wind of what happened the other day, the way everyone here was talking about it." She turned. "You didn't find out anything else, did you Harry?"

He began coughing then, choking down the mouthful of cereal he'd been chewing. "No." He coughed again and Hermione turned in alarmed. Neville gave him a questioning look. "I think that was the end of it. I've been fine all week."

"I'll bet." Parvati smiled and adjusted her gaze to take in Hermione sitting between the two of them. "That would explain the marks on your neck."

"The what?" Harry began reaching for his neck before he realized Parvati must have been joking. "Very funny. There shouldn't be anything there."

"Then tell your girlfriend not to use her teeth next time," Lavender said. She pulled a small make-up compact out of her pocket and opened it, offering it to Harry from across the table.

He didn't know if that was a sign she was no longer irritated with him or if she just wanted to share in the teasing. He adjusted the collar of his shirt and quickly spotted the small markings where Hermione had gotten too excited the night before. Moving the mirror higher, he also saw a light bruise just below his ear. He handed the compact back to Lavender, a deep blush warming his face.

"Hermione, you really should be more careful," Parvati started. "Haven't you guys gotten into enough trouble already?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Hermione responded. To cover up her corresponding grin, she bit into a piece of toast, struggling not to laugh as Harry looked at her. "We've just been working on stuff for class."

"They do not teach that at Hogwarts," Ron said, "Or I'd be the first one to sign up for extra lessons." At his statement, he and Parvati briefly looked at each other before Ron's eyes shot down to his plate and he began wolfing down bacon, consciously not looking up again.

"Parvati?" She turned to Hermione. "You know, instead of picking on me and Harry, you should try finding someone to spend time with yourself. Unless you get all you need from Lavender." The other girl's mouth dropped open. "Then again," Hermione continued. "She's got Neville and we all know how that's going."

Neville put his glass down of pumpkin juice. "What do you mean, 'we all know'?" A blush staining his cheeks, he turned to Lavender. "What have you told them?" Lavender pressed her lips together and shook her head, looking across the table at her best friend for help. Parvati didn't notice as she was still waiting for Hermione to finish.

"I'm just saying," Hermione said in a louder voice. "If you're going to spend so much time with the two of them, and Ron," she smiled at him, "watching what other people do together, you should at least consider--" Hermione made a small moan of protest as Harry popped a handful of grapes into her mouth.

"I'm sorry," Harry said as both Neville and Ron laughed. "You looked like you really wanted to stop talking just then. I thought I'd help."

"What are you getting at, Hermione?" Parvati waved at Harry absently. "No, I really want to hear this."

"I'm saying, you should leave me and Harry alone, stop moaning incessantly over how cute you think Ron is and ask him out. If you wait for him, it may never happen!" Hermione looked around in alarm when she realized her voice had risen loud enough to be heard at the next table.

"I resent that," Ron said quietly at the same time as Parvati asked, "Like you did with Harry? I'm not going to throw myself at anyone," she added softly.

Neville shrugged. "It's not as if she doesn't have a point."

Lavender gasped. "Who's side are you on?"

"I'm on the side of the boyfriend who hangs out with two girls most of the time," he responded. He picked up his juice glass and tipped it towards Hermione before taking a sip. "You may have just saved them another year or two of asking me why he hasn't done it yet." Neville turned to Ron. "Sorry, mate. You should've asked her out after the Yule Ball. They've been trying to get me to tell you that for months." He offered a small smile. "I wanted to stay out of it."

Parvati sighed and grabbed her book bag, leaving the table without another word, avoiding everyone's eyes as she left. With one glance back at Neville, Lavender picked up her bag and followed her friend.

"I think that's our cue to leave," Harry said. "Come on, Hermione. Professor McGonagall is waiting for us."

Grinning, she finished her pumpkin juice and stood from the table, waving to Neville and Ron before she and Harry walked away.

Squinting at him to get it exactly right, Tonks changed her eye color to match the exact shade of Harry's eyes. As a final touch, she shortened her hair in the back, trying to get it to copy the way Harry's locks stood up from the crown of his head.

"That is amazing," Hermione said. She came closer and walked a circle around the two of them, marveling at how closely the Auror now resembled her boyfriend. "You've forgotten one thing."

"What's that?" she asked.

"My scar." Harry lifted the hair from his forehead and watched with a small sense of unease as it was duplicated on the face before his.

"Oh, I was thinking she shouldn't have...um..." With a light blush, Hermione pointed at the woman's chest. "I think people might notice."

Tonks smiled and then finished her physical transformation, turning so that she and Harry stood side by side in front of the Headmistress. "What do you think?"

McGonagall stood with one hand at her throat, her expression thoughtful. "This is much better than the half dozen or so plans I'd come up with last night. And it'll keep Harry out of harm's way."

"I don't know why I didn't think of it," Harry said.

"Perhaps because you were too set on confronting him yourself," Hermione said. "I don't know what we'll do about your voice, though. Harry's isn't that deep, but maybe it'll be close."

"I do not sound like a girl," he said.

"Of course you don't." Hermione smiled and looked at Tonks once again from head to toe. If she had just walked into the office, she wouldn't have been able to tell them apart, except for their clothes. It was certainly one of the stranger things she'd experienced in the past several days. One of the few things topping it was being in a hospital room with her boyfriend times two.

"I think I can mimic his voice a little bit," Tonks said. "Say something Harry."

"Like what?"

"Anything. Tell me a story about what you did last night."

"I was..." Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and Harry looked at her. He could tell from her expression, she knew the two of them hadn't stayed in Gryffindor Tower the night before. Harry reminded himself to take the Marauder's Map from her office later. "I spent a little time doing homework last night. I played Wizard Chess with Ron for a bit. I listened to Neville tell a funny story about Lavender."

Waving at him to stop, Tonks repeated his last sentence, her voice now a close mimic to his. "Is that it?"

"Wow," he and Hermione said at the same time. "That's good," she added. "When can you do it?"

Tonks changed to make herself more comfortable, complete with short and spiky pink hair and bright blue eyes. "I'm ready whenever you all are."

"We're just waiting to hear from the Minister, then." McGonagall turned to Harry. "He wants to talk to you. He also wants to be there when I speak with your mother about what is happening. I don't know when that will be possible," she said. "With his schedule, we won't be able to wait on him before we move on with the plan. Lily may just have to be informed after the fact."

"So, you'll need me to get Professor Snape to implicate himself and Aunt Bella?" Tonks asked.

"I'd forgotten she's your aunt," Harry said. "Is that going to make this hard for you?"

She shook her head. "We're not really a close-knit family, if you take my meaning. My mother never trusted her after she joined the Death Eaters not too long after leaving Hogwarts. She and Aunt Cissa are not overly fond of my mother's choices either," Tonks said with a small frown. "If they're really doing what you say they are, I'm sure Sirius will say he always knew they were capable of it. He hasn't liked her since the first time he met her."

"You've talked to Sirius?" Harry asked. "How is he? I haven't seen him ages."

She raised both eyebrows in surprise. "I wouldn't think you had. I don't think your mother's had him to the house since...well, since right after your father died. He said it was hard for her being around someone who was grieving as much as she was." She touched a hand to his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Harry. I can't imagine what it must've been like to lose him, and at such a young age."

He nodded, his thoughts lingering on the man he'd never get to meet. They hadn't told Tonks the entire story, figuring it would be easier to tell her just enough so she could be able to complete her mission. They'd agreed it would be difficult enough convincing the courts even the Death Eater conspiracy was true. Better to not let anyone else find out the whole truth. "Would it be possible for my mom to go stay with him?" he asked Professor McGonagall. Harry turned to Tonks. "You don't think he'd mind, do you? I mean, since it's been so long."

"No." She smiled. "He'd do anything to help your mother. And you. He loved your father like a brother. If we're not moving forward right now, I have time to visit Sirius to let him know what's going on."

"Why can't you just send him a message?" Hermione asked.

"Because someone will have to help revive him when he passes out from the shock of hearing this story," she said with a small smile. "Actually, I have to make sure that house is presentable, at least by my standards. Even with a house-elf, he manages to let it look like it hasn't been cleaned in ages. I can't let you send your mother and sister into that. Any objections?" she asked the Headmistress.

McGonagall shook her head. "I just wanted to add we're also looking for information on Lucius Malfoy and any others Professor Snape may mention. It would probably be wiser if you were to imitate your aunt instead. He's bound to open up to her more. Perhaps even give details of the plan of which we're unaware," McGonagall added.

"I could do that," she said. Her short hair grew long and turned thick and black as she spoke. Within a minute, Tonks became the living embodiment of the oldest Black sister, her body a few inches taller and her thin lips set in a line as she looked at the three in the office. "Scary enough?" she said in Bella's voice.

Harry took a quick step back, rubbing the goose bumps on one arm. "Creepy," he said. "You'll have to warn me before you do that again."

She grinned and changed her features back. "I can try talking to him as Aunt Bella tonight and then confronting him as Harry tomorrow. That way, we can be sure to get as much information as possible before I arrest him. Besides, I think I'll be able to get reinforcements tomorrow, in case there's any problems. There was some sort of disturbance in the mountains north of here and most of the available Aurors were called in to help. Depending on how it goes, they should all be back tomorrow."

"Tomorrow seems like a really long time from now," Harry said. "I wish this could be over with already."

"You're not the only one, Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall turned to glance at the Minister's portrait behind her desk. "Why don't you and Miss Granger find something to occupy your time while I speak with the Auror outside?"

Both of them nodded and sat at the table as the Headmistress led Tonks outside of her office. The minute the door closed behind them, Hermione asked, "Do you think this will work?"

"I don't know," Harry said. He patted his pocket and Hermione heard a small tinkle of glass. "There's always Plan B."

Hermione said nothing, remembering her promise to not argue with him in spite of how she felt about his plans for his stepfather. She was also conscious of the portraits of former Headmasters pretending to be asleep around the room. She would keep her thoughts on the subjects of poisoning and curses to herself. "I'm bored with homework," she said instead.

"Are you feeling all right?"

There was such an expression of surprise on Harry's face, Hermione laughed. "I'm fine. We have spent too much time in here lately, though. I want to do something besides shove my nose into a book for research or write a paper."

Harry shook his head. "Does Specialis Revelio work on people using Polyjuice Potion?"

She laughed again. "I'm not a stranger. I do get tired of work sometimes."

Harry grinned. "You really won't fool anyone saying that. Imposter."

Hermione leaned her elbow against the table, planting her chin in her hand as she got comfortable. "Tell me a story about what things were like for you before. What did you do besides dodge Death Eaters and get detention? I know you played Quidditch, but..." She closed her eyes briefly. "Was there someone special you hung out with? Other than me and Ron?"

He smiled at her sudden bashfulness, the exact opposite of the way she'd been behaving the night before. "I didn't really socialize with girls much, to be honest, outside of you, Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood. With those two, it was mostly because of the DA." Harry paused, wondering how to phrase his next statement. "Fifth year, I did spend a little time with Cho."

Hermione raised both eyebrows in surprise. "You were dating Cho Chang?"

"Yeah, for a few months."

"I guess a lot about that time was different. I thought she and Cedric were made for each other."

Harry shrugged. "She dated him until he was killed during the Tournament."

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, closed it, thought about her comment again and then said, "So...she was dating him and you were with him when he died and then a few months later she was dating you?"

Harry tried not to smile at Hermione's question. "She sort of knew I liked her before, but Cedric asked her out first. I suppose she started to like me later. Don't ask me to explain how Cho's mind works."

Hermione shook her head. "No, you don't have to. I just wonder how that worked out for you."

He paused briefly. "Not well, actually. We broke up."

Hermione laughed. "I figured as much. Why?"

Harry hesitated. The situation with Marietta and the DA wasn't where their problems had started. "Part of the reason was...because she thought I had feelings for you. I had no idea she might think that until you pointed it out to me and by that point it was too late." When Hermione gave him a knowing smile, he added, "But the whole time, I don't think she was really over Cedric."

Hermione shrugged. "In some strange way, you may have made her feel closer to him."

"Maybe," Harry said. He'd never been comfortable with the idea of being Cho's second choice because she couldn't have her first. Harry thought briefly of how Hermione had behaved in the hospital the day before and his own unexpected reaction. He didn't know any guy who could accept being the default boyfriend.

"Odd," Hermione said. "Now they're engaged."

Harry was surprised by the news. But not envious as he might have been long before. He was happy for the two of them. He told Hermione that.

"Good," she responded. "I don't have to worry about you staring at her like you did at the Prefect meeting last week."

"Did I?"

"Almost half the time," she confirmed. "Why did she think you had feelings for me?"

As Harry told Hermione the story of what had happened Valentine's Day in Hogsmeade--from having coffee at that awful café to accidentally making Cho cry before she left--Hermione went from listening with a serious expression, to smiling as her face turned a light shade of pink to all-out laughing as Harry ended with how she'd finally told him what Cho must've thought.

"It's not that funny," he said.

"I'm sorry," she responded between giggles, "but it is a little. It's kind of cute how clueless you were about girls. It's too bad you couldn't talk to her about Cedric, but you really should've told her I was forcing you to come see me and you think I'm unattractive. Anything would've been better than letting Cho think you'd made a second date and I said it was okay for her to come along," Hermione said.

"I don't like lying to people I care about," he said. "I would never badmouth you to make another girl feel good. I never thought you were unattractive, even when we first met."

Hearing the sincerity in his tone, she looked up. The expression on Harry's face as he looked at her made Hermione wish suddenly that she hadn't let him off the hook the night before. If only he could see what she saw in that moment, the few seconds he smiled at her with his guard down, he would know why she kept fighting so hard for the two of them.

"So...you always found me attractive?"

"Uh...no." Harry whipped his head around, suddenly wishing the Headmistress would come in and interrupt the conversation. "I...we...well, you were kind of bossy." He smiled. "Still are. It drove me and Ron crazy for ages. And your hair was a right mess. And you were--we were both kind of awkward."

She sat up straight and motioned towards herself with her hand. "You can say it, Harry. My front teeth were horrible."

"I wasn't going to say that."
"But you were thinking it," she said. "Thank goodness I convinced my parents it would be okay to shrink them third year or I'd still be that way. I don't know why they didn't want me to use magic on myself."

"Maybe they thought you'd use it to solve all of your problems," he said.

"That's ridiculous. If anything, I work harder in spite of it," Hermione said.

Harry shrugged. "Personally, I think you work too hard. I'm still in shock that you're not in the mood to do anything now."

"I'm in the mood for something," she whispered. "Just not homework."

Before he could respond to her smile and the meaning behind it, the door behind Harry opened and the Minister of Magic stepped into the office.