Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Chapter12

Developments

On Saturday morning, at breakfast, Dumbledore stood up with a couple of notices.

"May I have your attention, please, everyone? I have a few announcements. Firstly, Gryffindor will be holding tryouts for a new Keeper this evening at five o'clock so I suggest all you young aspiring lions in the Second Year and above spend today practising your manoeuvres. There will be a list to sign on the main notice board so be sure to sign up for the tryouts. Secondly, as you may have already guessed, from your equipment list, we have a few formal events coming up this year. The first of which will be a Costume Ball at Halloween, the second will be on Christmas Eve, and the last will be on the thirty-first of May, as a little excuse to let your hair down before the end of year exams. These balls will be open to students in ALL years, and we will be playing host to Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, both of whom will be playing host to ourselves and each other for the other two balls. Now of course the basic rules for all three dances will be to have fun and behave yourselves, but the extra rules pertaining to each individual event will be posted nearer the time. And Finally, I do not believe in sugar coating things and Pussyfooting around delicate business, as some of you may already know, so I have to tell you that Voldemort has acquired the services of the Dementors of Azkaban." There was a loud rumble at this, with students looking very frightened, and it took Dumbledore a while to get the students to calm down. "Silence! Will you all please not act like Headless Chickens! Now then, to the purpose of my announcement! This evening, after dinner, I will be starting anti-Dementor classes. They are optional to students under the fifth year, and they are strongly suggested to those in and above the fifth year. They will take place after dinner on Saturday and Sunday evenings every week, and I suggest that those intending to come along start thinking now about their Happy Thought, because you will be needing a very strong one. Now then, finish your breakfasts and go out and enjoy yourself, as it's a beautiful day." With that, he left his seat as the rumble of conversation picked up again in earnest. Dumbledore wandered over to the Gryffindor table where Harry was having a silent conversation with the rest of the Order. Harry saw him and looked up, the others joining his gaze.

"Harry, I think you know what I am about to ask you."

"Yes sir."

"And you don't mind?"

"I think you know my answer to that, sir." Dumbledore chuckled lightly.

"Indeed I do Harry, and thank you. However you will also be getting lessons of your own. You will need to learn how to produce your Patronus whilst duelling as well. Chances are that in the case of battle, the Dementors will be only be a wave of attack."

"Yes sir."

"What with Quidditch and... and other things, you're going to be rather busy this year, aren't you!" he said, eyes twinkling. Harry grinned. "Now I suggest that the lot of you get going, and, ah, don't forget your staff!"

"Yes SIR!" he said with a grin. They all bolted down the remainder of their breakfast and hurried to the Whomping Willow, having first returned to their dormitories do collect Harry's staff.

That day they progressed some more in their transformations. Ron was able to grow his mane at the same time as changing his feet and hands into paws, Hermione was able to change her head, and Ginny her paws. Harry ... well, Harry's performance was encouraging to say the least. Professor McGonagall was delighted.

"I can't believe what progress you're all making. If you don't rush yourselves and do something stupid, I believe you will all be ready for the potion at the end of next week!"

"YES!" they all cried, hugging each other madly, then rushing over to hug McGonagall as well. She harrumphed with embarrassment, a light shade of peach suffusing her cheeks and said

"Now, now, children. No need to get carried away."

"Harry?" Harry turned to see where the voice had come from. Tsevi and Fawkes were standing on either side of Grace. "Tell us about your friends?"

"What about them?"

"This strange ritual they seem to have?"

"Who?"

"The owl and the lion."

"Oh! You mean Hermione and Ron?"

"Yes."

"Oh! Well..." And Harry tried to stifle a laugh. "I am not sure how best to describe this. I suppose you could call it a bizarre mating ritual of the ignorant."

"Explain?" It was Tsevi who asked this.

"Well, they've been friends now for four years. We all have. And occasionally we do something exceedingly stupid to upset each other, but apart from that we are inseparable. Now Ron is trying to get up the courage to ask Hermione out."

"To what?"

"I suppose you could say, to ask her to be his mate, although it works a little differently in the human world. We may interact with several humans as possible mates before settling down to having one life-mate."

"Oh yes. I think I remember my father telling me that your father was always talking about a Lily, but he thought it was just his favourite flower."

"No, Lily was my mother's name. Anyway, the way they behave around each other, Ron is trying to show his affection in his own way, and Hermione is trying to make it as easy for him as possible."

"So the feelings are mutual?" Grace asked.

"Very much so."

"And what is your rôle in this?" Fawkes put in.

"What? You mean apart from being their friend?"

"Yes."

"Being their friend!" Harry said with a laugh at the confused expresions on their faces. "I give them encouragement, I'm there for them when they need to talk about it, maybe if they need to ask a bit of advice, and I do it because I love them."

"We know."

"But tell us Harry, what about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"A handsome young human like yourself must have some followers. I remember my father telling me that your father had to beat them off with a stick. I think that's what grandfather said anyway." Harry's face flushed furiously at this.

"No. I don't have any followers."

"What about the young vixen?"

"I don't have any followers."

"But there is someone Harry." Grace was looking him in the eye, and despite himself, he could feel the image bursting before him, staring into those beautiful brown eyes. "Why Harry? Why do you deny what is there before you."

"People tell me it wasn't my fault, but..." He paused, tears welling in his eyes. "I don't know. I can't help but feel responsible for... for the death of her, her prospective mate. It was an accident but I told him to take the cup with me." He looked directly at Grace now. She was there, she'd understand. "I didn't know it was a Portkey, I swear...!" He was pleading now, desperate for their approval. Why was this so important to him that they understood? He had felt guilty about the event all summer, so if he had survived thus far, why did he feel the need to exonerate himself from this guilt now?

"Harry, in order to be forgiven, first you must forgive yourself. How can you hope to talk to her again if you don't understand that you were not to blame. We all saw what happened. I spoke to Dumbledore afterwards and explained to him that I bore witness to the entire event."

"You what?"

"Our bond was actually created when you answered my Riddle. Everyone was worried when you disappeared, so I watched through your eyes, the events unfolding after you touched the Portkey. It has been said on many an occasion Harry, but you showed courage and bravery far beyond your years. For this, many in the Wizarding World, and all in the Forbidden Forest honour you."

"You told Dumbledore of this?" Harry asked, eyes still stinging.

"I did."

"And has he thought to bring you as evidence to the Ministry?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Well, if I was the only living witness, then the Ministry wouldn't take much notice of a silly, impressionable fifteen year old boy, but if a powerful, well respected creature like a Sphynx also bore witness to it..."

"Fawkes!" Grace said. Fawkes cocked his head and blinked. "Go and get Professor Dumbledore immediately."

"What's this about Harry?" Asked Sirius.

"You'll soon see!" Harry said in awe.

After about half an hour, during which they practised their transformations, Dumbledore appeared through the door leading into the back room.

"You wished to see me Grace." Then, after a short pause, during which Harry assumed Dumbledore had been having a brief conversation with his Sphynx, he turned to Harry. "Grace here tells me you have had somewhat of an ingenious idea Mister Potter."

"Um..." He had hardly expected it to be received THAT well. It was just a thought after all. "I just figured that if Grace here could tell the ministry what we've already told them, as a second eye witness, and one not subject to any form of Confundus curse, for example, it might hold more weight and they'd take us seriously."

"What are you saying Harry?" Ron asked, curiously

"Do you remember what I said in Hagrid's class, about the Sphynx, and how it forms a bond with a Human who has earned its trust?"

"Yes."

"Well apparently, after I answered Grace's riddle, that bond was formed, and she was able to see everything I saw. She saw everything after I... after I touched the Portkey." His head was low, and once again, tears were welling in his eyes. Quick as a flash, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were on him for support. It was a few seconds before what he had actually said sunk in.

"OH!" Hermione's eyes were wide.

"Oh is correct Miss Granger!" Dumbledore's eyes had their familiar glint of triumph. "Harry might have well stumbled upon the proof we need to convince that... to convince Minister Fudge of the truth."

"You see," Sirius picked up the lecture, somewhat amused at his Godson's brilliance. "Although the Confundus curses addle the brains, the bond created between Harry and Grace would not only let Grace into his mind, but would effectively let her look through his eyes as well. The difference being, as Spynxes are not affected by the Confundus curses, Grace would be able to see exactly what was going on. And I take it, Albus, that Grace's and Harry's stories matched word for word, detail for detail, as Harry wasn't under a Confundus curse?"

"You might say they were Carbon copies!" Dumbledore said, eyes smiling. "My word Harry, I must be getting old if I didn't think of that!"

"I didn't think of it until just now Professor." Harry said, going the colour of the Weaselys' hair.

"Nonetheless, an excellent thought it was Harry. Now if you will all excuse me, I have an important letter to write to our spurious Minister of Magic. Either he makes it public knowledge that Voldemort is back and more dangerous than ever, or I will!" he said gravely. "I have a number of contacts at the Daily Prophet who owe me a few favours, and although I am normally a firm believer in giving for the sake of giving, this cause is too important!" And with that he swept out without uttering another word.

"BRILLIANT HARRY!" He heard from Ron and Ginny. Hermione was nodding her head repeatedly and smiling.

"Not bad Harry. Not too bad at all!" And she hugged him, and kissed his cheek. "Now if you can only make Ron see sense!"

"I'm working on it babe!" He laughed, as Hermione raised her eyebrows archly.

"BABE?"

"Sorry! I've always wondered how you'd react to being called something like that! And I figured I'd find out your truest reaction if I was the one to say it!" He grinned impishly.

"Well as it's you I won't go and Hex you into the middle of the NEWTS, but I'd advise not doing it again, okay!"

"Reading you loud and clear toots!" Then "OW!" As he rubbed his arm vigorously as she punched him a little harder than she intended to.

"Hey! What's got into you two?" said Ron, laughing at their little exchange.

"Nothing Weasely!" Hermione said in a good-natured smirk. "Nothing at all!"

At three o'clock, they all left the shrieking shack. Ron, to Harry's delight, was going to try out for the Quidditch team, and they both wanted to get in a good bit of flying practice before the tryouts. Hermione and Ginny would be waiting in the stands to watch his progress. They got to the Quidditch pitch at four o'clock, and Harry spent the next hour flying around and throwing a football that he had borrowed from Dean Thomas, for Ron to block. Whenever he stopped a shot, Hermione and Ginny would cheer for him encouragingly.

"Not bad Harry!" Ron breathed heavily. "You could make a fair old chaser, like your father!"

"Thanks! I hear he wasn't bad!" Harry was red from the exertion of playing an unfamiliar rôle, but he was enjoying it nonetheless. At that point, the twins came out and started to watch the proceedings.

"Where in the Hell did you learn to throw like that?" George said, in awe.

"It's in my blood!" said Harry happily. "Plus I've been watching Alicia, Angelina, and Katie do it for the last few years. Didn't look that hard, and I figured if Ron was going to try out for the team, why not give him a bit of a leg-up!"

"Fair point. All the Weasely boys have been on the team, with the exception of Percy, that is. All we need now is to get Ginny in there as well, and the tradition is complete!"

"Watch it, Fred. You were in severe danger then of admitting your baby sister might be in someway, cool!" Harry said with a laugh.

"They have NO IDEA!" He heard Ron in the back of his mind.

"You can say that again!"

"They have NO IDEA!" Harry burst out laughing.

"Oh, so you think the idea of being Quidditch Captain is funny do you?" George said, in what could, for him, almost have been a hurt voice. Harry gawped at them.

"Wh... wh... WHAT?"

"We were saying that, as Captain, it is your job to oversee the practices."

"And that you have to make the final decision as to who is the new Keeper at the end of the tryout."

"But... But..."

"But me no buts!" Fred said sternly. "You are our Captain. Why do you think we sent you that book."

"I thought it was just a joke!"

"WHAT? With the stuff you've pulled in the past? BE SERIOUS!"

"I'm sorry, I won't believe it until I hear it from the Girls. No offence guys, but you to have been known to pull stuff like this before!"

"Fair dos! Ah, here they come now!" As he said this, Harry caught sight of three young Witches, all in there last year of Hogwarts, and like Harry and the Weasely Twins, all wearing their Gryffindor Quidditch Robes, making there way rapidly towards him on their broomsticks. They flew straight past him, surrounding him and each hugging him and planting kisses on his cheeks, immediately started jabbering their congratulations to him. Harry was stunned.

"But, but, HOW? I don't understand! I wasn't there when the decision was made? How was it made? Was it a vote? I would have voted for someone else! I can't be Quidditch captain! I hardly know the game in comparison with you five! I..."

"Harry, will you just SHUT UP!" Alicia said, with a laugh. "We chose you because, believe it or not, you have actually come up with one or two good ideas in the past which have helped us win. You are an excellent flyer, you are good at planning strategies, and you scare the hell out of that Malfoy Character!"

"Yeah, and we've only lost once when you were playing, and that wasn't your fault either!" Put in Fred.

"Although," said Angelina with a laugh. "As you are Captain, and have to pick the sides, should we be worried?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well you seem to be doing not too badly in the chaser rôle!"

"Oh right. Did you know that my Dad was a chaser?"

"Really?" asked Katie.

"Oh yes!" said George. "He was Captain too!"

"Like father, like son, eh!" said Alicia, kindly. Harry went red again.

"Right, so, as Captain, how did Oliver pick you three as Chasers?"

"Oh, he wasn't Captain when we were picked. It was Gregory Drott. He was the Seeker before you. He had to pull out of the final match because the damned Slytherins hexed him! Oliver was voted in, but without a decent Seeker, we were thrashed by Hufflepuff! It was humiliating! But when we were picked as chasers, we had to score as many as we could past Oliver whilst being attacked by the beaters, who had been picked the day before."

"Yeah! That was LOADS of fun!" said Fred with a huge grin on his face.

"Hang on a second," Harry said. "I just need to check something. He flew off and was back two minutes later.

They were all in quite close now, talking quietly as they could see the first few Prospectives making their way to the Pitch.

"Right, so then, we will have you three pulling out all the stops and trying to score as many as you can past the prospective Keepers whilst the twins are targeting them with the Bludgers. I've had a word with Madame Hooch, and she says we can use the balls, although I won't be letting the Snitch out. What I will be doing is diving past them periodically to put them off. We will also test them on their accuracy whilst getting rid of the Quaffle under pressure. Fred and I will serve as opposing Chasers and try to stop them getting the ball to you three, whilst George will continue to pelt Bludgers at them, agreed?" They all nodded. "And whilst we are at it, it might be wise to train up some replacements for next year, when you five will all have left. If they can have a year's training behind them, then that will help loads! And maybe we will give them, say, ten... twenty minutes run around against Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff? With all due respect to them, I want to be at full strength for Slytherin!" At this there came a loud chorus of

"Agreed!" and "Here-here!" Harry looked at his watch. It was now five to five.

"Ron," he called over to where he was flying around. "Could you go and join the Prospectives please!"

"Right!" And with that, Ron flew down to stand with his competitors.

"Right, now what I want you all to do is to go and have a fly around, show them what pace will be expected of them, and I will have a quick word with them then release the Bludgers and the Quaffle. I take it you have brought your clubs with you?" The twins brandished their beater's clubs maniacally in reply. "Excellent. Now, go right on up there. I will join you for a couple of laps, and then I will go down to them. You five warm up."

And with that, they set off for what amounted to a race around the Quidditch Pitch, with Harry leading his team around both sets of three goals. After a couple of loop-the-loops, Harry flew down to the awaiting masses, and came to a halt a few inches away from a rather startled looking second year. He smiled at him, giving him a friendly wink, earning a rather nervous smile in return, and then turned to face the masses, taking a few steadying breaths to calm his nerves beforehand.

"Good evening everyone. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Harry, the Gryffindor seeker, and new Captain." Ron's jaw dropped at this, before surreptitiously giving Harry the thumbs up. Harry smiled and nodded his thanks. "Those scarlet streaks you can see up there are the rest of the team. The Chasers are Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnson, and Katie Bell, and the Beaters are Fred and George Weasely." There was a small murmur of worry amongst the younger applicants, but Harry was quick to reassure them. "Don't worry! Sure the twins are a couple of incorrigible pranksters, but they are deadly serious when it comes to Quidditch and beating Slytherin! Now then, I presume you are all here to try out for the position of Keeper, however, in a week we will also be holding tryouts for reserves in all other positions. Five members of the team will be leaving at the end of this year, and I... well lets just say that I've only been fortunate enough to see the season out once since I joined the team so, we will be wanting a full complement of reserves as well. So be sure to tell your friends! Now then, what you will be doing. We will be spending the next two hours drilling you and testing you to get the best possible Keeper for the team. You will be tested on your abilities to keep the Quaffle from going through the goals whilst all sorts of distractions are being thrown at you, and remember, during a game, the distractions are going to be infinitely worse. You will also be tested on your abilities and cunning where finding your fellow chasers is concerned whilst being under pressure and distracted, and believe me when I tell you that the Weasely twins are more than adept in causing distractions. Although, speaking of the twins," and here his emerald eyes sparkled mischievously, causing a gentle gasp from one or two of the girls trying out. "As an added incentive, I might just be able to tell you all something funny about them in the changing rooms before our match against Slytherin. Something none of you would EVER have dreamed possible!"

"Nice touch, Puzzle!" Ron said, smiling.

"Thanks! I thought so!" then, to everyone, "Right, now then, let's see who we have here." He paused for a moment, before raising his wand in the air and, fixing his mind firmly on the list and willing it into his hand, crying "ACCIO!" A few of the younger students were evidently wondering what he was doing, and so he winked at them reassuringly. A couple of them gasped when they saw something flying rapidly towards them. Harry stretched out his other hand and caught it deftly. "Simple summoning charm!" he said, smiling. "Unbelievably useful. Technically you don't learn it until your fourth year, but see if you can't get old Professor Flitwick to teach it to you, or if not, you might want to try my friend Hermione, over there, sitting next to Ginny Weasely. She's always willing to help out a student who wants to learn! Anyway, down to business. Alphabeta!" he said, pointing his wand at the parchment. The names on the parchment in front of him rearranged them selves into alphabetical order. "Okay then. Katherine Ackerman." A tiny girl with dark blue eyes and short, cropped, blond hair stood out of the crowd and looked nervously at Harry. "You are in the third year, yes?" She nodded quietly, too nervous to speak. Harry knelt down next to her, so he could look her straight in the eye and spoke quietly to her. "Don't worry Katherine,"

"Kat."

"Don't worry Kat, it's okay to be nervous. Believe me for the first few months, until my first game, I was terrified. I still am, now and again. Just try to relax. Keep your hands on the broomstick, and your eye on the ball and you'll do just fine." He gave her a friendly wink and nodded for her to fly out over to the goalposts nearest them. She did so and waited.

Suddenly, all was a scarlet blur. Katherine was looking around frantically, trying to determine where the Quaffle was. In fact, so intent was she in searching for the Quaffle that she didn't notice the Bludger that Fred had knocked in her direction. Harry had only just noticed it himself, and she still seemed completely oblivious to it. As much as Harry wanted to see the best on his team, he didn't want anyone sent to the Hospital Wing unnecessarily. He made his decision in an instant. He flew towards her at break-neck speed, leaning so low into his broom that his nose brushed against the "Firebolt" engraving on the handle. Aiming carefully for her right hand side, he let his right arm wrap firmly around her waist before dragging her forcibly away, just seconds before the Bludger came roaring past her broom, which fell lightly to the floor with a gentle thwump. When she saw the Bludger streak past where she was, she threw her arms around his neck and burst into tears.

"Hey, shhhh, shhhh, shhhh, it's okay. Don't worry about it. We've all had trouble with the Bludgers before. Do you want to know something funny?" She sniffed and gulped before giving a slow nod.

"O... Okay."

"Well, when I was in my second year here, I was playing against Slytherin, and I was looking for the snitch. But I was looking so hard for it that I didn't notice a Bludger coming for me until it was too late. The Bludger smashed into my elbow and broke my arm." She burst into tears again. "Hey, shhhh, shhhh! No wait, listen! We had an idiot of a DADA teacher called Professor Lockhart, who claimed he knew everything, but actually knew nothing, and so he tried to fix my arm before I could get away from him to the Hospital Wing! He removed ALL the bones in my arm instead!"

"Wh... WHAT?" She couldn't help it now. She was laughing hysterically. "You mean, all the bones, just gone?"

"It was like I was wearing a bloody rubber glove!" They both laughed at this. Finally she calmed down and Harry was able to land her next to her broom.

She looked up at him, gratitude in her eyes and said a simple "Thank you."

He gave her a friendly wink and replied, "Are you sure you don't want to have another go?" his eyes were twinkling, a bit like, she remembered, Dumbledore's when she was sorted. She gasped. "You know what they say is the best thing to do when you've fallen off your broom?"

"Climb back on!" she said with a giggle. "Okay!"

"Just be careful, but not too careful! Don't be afraid of getting hit by the Bludgers, but don't ignore them either. But most importantly relax and HAVE FUN!"

"Thanks Harry." And with that, they kicked off again, and Katherine's trial resumed. When she wasn't shaking with nerves, Harry noticed, she was rather a competent flyer with good reflexes. No wonder her friends call her Kat. She will be a tough act to follow. She even didn't seem too perturbed by Harry making the occasional dive towards her, merely holding her ground and deftly flicking the Quaffle away with the tail of her broomstick, a nice, sturdy Comet-Two-Sixty.

"Robert Boardman."

As Harry made his way through the list, he became more and more tired. He hadn't realised how much the Animagus transformations had taken out of him. After an hour, the list had been completed and the Five candidates for the second round were announced.

"Thank you all for turning up, everybody. It has been a wonderful afternoon, and its good to know that even those of you who haven't made the team are more than capable of beating the Slytherins in your sleep!" and as he said this there was a loud roar of a cheer. "You have all flown very well, and it gives me great pleasure to announce that the five finalists are;

"Katherine Ackerman - Third Year!

"Oliver Colt - Second Year!

"Stephanie Harrow - Seventh Year!

"Parvati Patil - Fifth Year!

"And...

"Ronald Weasely - Fifth Year!" There was a loud roar from the assembled crowd and in the stands, and congratulatory and commiserating hugs and kisses were exchanged between just about everyone. Harry ushered down his team mates to meet the finalists.

"Great work Stephanie!" Alicia said, throwing her arms around her friend. "It would be wonderful to have another girl on the team! You know what the twins are like! And Wood wasn't much better!"

"Nice work Ron!" Fred said, tousling his hair. "It'd be good to have another Weasely on the Team! See if you can't get Ginny to try out! She's not a bad little flyer, either!" Harry raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing.

"And you Parvati!" Harry said encouragingly. "I never knew you were interested in flying!"

"There are many things you don't know about me Harry!" Parvati said with a friendly smile, admiring his new coiffeur. He had noticed that many girls had been taking second glances at him since he had performed the transformation on Wednesday. He didn't know if it was because they liked it, or because it was different, or what, but he was certainly being noticed. The question was, did he think it was a good thing? He had been right. The Weasely Twins had absolutely slaughtered him, asking him if he'd intentionally tried to look like Rasputin! However, the following day they had reluctantly joined the school of thought that it was rather becoming on Harry, some might even have gone as far to say cool. Even the girls from Slytherin seemed to be appreciating of the change in his appearance, and this he had no idea what to make of.

He shook himself out of his thought process and brought himself back to the task at hand.

"And you both, Kat and Oliver!" Harry said, turning to them and putting a hand firmly on each of their shoulders. "You have all done exceedingly well and are a true credit to the name Gryffindor. Especially you, Kat. You climbed back on your broom, and didn't let fear affect you afterwards. That shows diligence. That shows courage. That shows you are a Gryffindor!"

"Here Here!" the team cried.

"Not bad Harry! Ever thought about going into Politics!"

"Sod Off!" Harry retorted with a grin. "Now then. We have all seen that you can keep the Quaffle away under pressure. The question is, can you GET the Quaffle away under pressure? Your task is simple. You have to get the Quaffle to your chasers, whilst being challenged by the opposition's chasers, and whilst avoiding the Bludgers. Although there will only be one Beater, there will still be two Bludgers, so Fred, put your club away and Grab the Quaffle. You Keepers will be trying to stop us from scoring, and then, when you have the Quaffle, you will have to pass it to Katie, Alicia, and Angelina, whilst Fred, George and myself try to stop you. You, in theory have an advantage, because you are four against three, but you will find it's not that simple. Now then, last time we went in alphabetical order, this time we will go in chronological order, youngest first. That would be you Oliver."

As the seven of them kicked off and mad their way into their starting positions, the others watched apprehensively from the ground. This was exceedingly fast-paced Quidditch that they had never seen at Hogwarts before. They were apparently trying to have players of League Standard, rather than of School Standard. The moves they tried were complicated, and Harry had them performing manoeuvres that some of them hadn't even seen in League Matches.

Oliver had an excellent arm, being able to throw the Quaffle great distances, but he lacked in accuracy. Also, despite his excellent reflexes, his broom-work was very unsteady and he was jerking around a lot. Katherine put in a fairly solid all-round performance. Although her throw was accurate, it was a little on the weak side - He noticed that the girls had to come in quite close to retrieve the Quaffle. Easily rectified though. Parvati Patil, whilst excellent at keeping the Quaffle out, had no grace or skill with either distance or accuracy. She, sadly, would not be making the team. And then it was Ron's turn. He looked up nervously at Harry, who threw him a friendly nod and a wink, before adding

"Sorry, King. No mercy! I've got to do this by the book."

"I wouldn't expect anything less, Puzzle!" Ron replied, frowning with concentration.

It was the fastest five minutes Ron had ever experienced. The whole time passed in a blur of black and scarlet, and after only sixty seconds, Ron's shoulders were screaming in protest, but Harry was very pleased. "We've at least got a reserve here!" he told himself happily. His broom work was excellent, his sight was impeccable - as was his foresight, he had an excellent arm, he was accurate, and he kept the Quaffle from going through the hoops for the vast majority of shots that he faced.

"And...?"

"We'll just have to see how well Stephanie does to determine whether or not you make the reserve slot, but not bad Weasely!"

"You're up Stephanie!"

Five minutes later Stephanie was back on terra firma and Harry was consulting with his team mates. It wasn't really a difficult decision to make, but there was a certain satisfaction in prolonging the agony. Looking down on them, he could see Ron pacing up and down madly, occasionally looking up at Harry, but Harry had firmly blocked him, Hermione and Ginny out of his thought pattern. He wanted to let NOTHING slip. Stephanie and Parvati were talking fairly amicably, and Kat was trying to calm Oliver down, though she too looked as if she would burst any second!

Finally, at a quarter to seven, Harry and his team mates touched down and addressed the waiting group.

"Now then, first of all, I'd like to thank you for coming. Oliver leaving two years ago was a hard blow to the team, because he was one of the best damned Keepers this school has ever seen. However I am delighted to say that in amongst the forty or so who tried out, we have five people who are more than capable of filling that void. Unfortunately I can only pick two of you. That's the bad news. The good news is that we are definitely going to THRASH Slytherin this year!" Another hearty cheer. "Now then firstly, it gives me great pleasure in announcing that the Gryffindor reserve keeper will be..." At this they all held hands tightly, perspiration glistening over their anxious brows. "Kat Ackerman!"

"WHAT?" she squealed. Before Harry knew what had happened, she was upon him, throwing her arms around him and kissing him madly on the cheek. He squirmed awkwardly, earning hearty laughs from everyone around him, including Ron and Hermione and Ginny who had come over to the middle of the field to see what the result of the tryouts was.

"Looks like you've got yourself a fan there, Harry!" Hermione said sweetly. Harry scowled at her, but said nothing. In the meantime, Kat had gone around the other members of the team and was now hugging and kissing Oliver and Parvati, then Stephanie, and then Ron. Ron looked nearly as embarrassed as Harry had felt. "GOOD!" Harry thought.

Finally, when the entire hubbub had calmed down, Harry spoke again.

"Oh well, one down, one to go. Now then, as I've already said, you have all performed admirably this evening. You have all proved yourself excellent flyers and more than capable of holding your own in a match situation. However, we can only have one starting keeper. And that privilege falls to..." The silence was almost deafening as all stared on him with anticipation. "Me to announce," deep and excruciating groans. "That the new Gryffindor seeker is..." Parvati and Stephanie were holding each other tightly now. "One LUCKY BUGGER,"

"HARRY!" all five participants shouted in frustration, even Kat wanted to know who had bested her.

"By the name of..." Ron had his hand clamped tightly on Oliver's shoulder, who was shaking almost uncontrollably "RON WEASELY!"

Harry had thought a small explosion had gone off in front of him. Ron grabbed his broomstick and kicked off before anyone could fathom what was going on. He sped around the pitch at full pelt, doing several loop-the-loops and screaming

"YES! YES! YES! YES! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" at the top of his voice. As he landed, he threw himself at Hermione and kissed her almost violently on the lips before throwing his arms around his sister and kissing her on the cheek. He then turned his attention to Harry, who felt like a ten tonne Dobby had just careered into him, before he turned its attention to the rest of the team, of whom Kat was now counted, and treated them with equally violent enthusiasm. He had actually managed to calm down a little though and when he turned to Stephanie, Parvati, and Oliver, he was relatively sedate, although still bubbling enthusiastically.

As Harry stared at the carnage Ron had left in his wake he was amused to note one deeply confused Second Year, two slightly embarrassed Fifth and Seventh Years, one highly amused Quidditch team, one highly amused sister...

And Hermione.

How to read the look on her face? She glowed brighter than the setting sun, which reminded him that he'd have to get them inside shortly for dinner. Her mouth remained impassive, but her eyes were alight with emotion.

"Are you okay, Tawny?"

"Yeah. I just hope he wont regret it when he calms down." She replied, trying to fight back the tears welling up inside her.

"Don't worry!" Harry heard Ginny put in "He wont!"

"Right then," Harry said, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Go and get changed and go to dinner. Well done Oliver," he said, shaking the Second Year's hand. "Hard luck, you did exceptionally well! Hard luck Parvati!" He said turning to his class mate with a hand extended, and receiving a friendly hug in return. "You flew excellently! And hard luck Stephanie!" once again he extended his hand and receiving a friendly hug and kiss. "Very well tried. It was lovely to meet you!" Then he turned to them all and said, "You are all more than welcome to attend tryouts for replacement beaters, chasers, and seeker next Saturday, same time, same place. In fact," he added, laughing. "I will take it as a personal insult if I don't see all three of you there!"

"Right!" they all agreed heartily.

Dinner was a rather noisy affair, as they recounted their tryouts to their friends who weren't there, or didn't stay to watch the finals.

"I didn't even get that far!" Harry heard Kat saying to her friends. "I was a mess. I was so nervous that I didn't even see the Bludger until it was almost on me, and Harry just plucked me out of the air as if I were the Snitch! But then, he asked me if I wanted another go, and just told me to relax, and it was amazing how much clearer I felt!"

Further up the table he heard Stephanie talking.

"I did really well in the qualifier, but I was awful in the final. If I really do want to be a keeper, I need to work on my throwing. I was awful! Same goes for Chaser. I can't throw very far, and my accuracy was laughable! Katie had to come to ME to get the Quaffle! I suppose that leaves reserve Beater and Seeker, although I don't know HOW any of the reserves would get into the team this year! Oh well, I suppose that leaves the pub leagues. I really don't think I'm good enough for the professional leagues."

"What's Harry like as Captain?" a friend of hers asked. Here Harry's ears pricked up. He'd only held the position for a few hours and curious to see what was thought of him.

"Well do you remember what Katie, Alicia and Angelina all said that Oliver Wood was like?" Her friend nodded. "Well think the exact opposite!" Harry's heart sank. Surely he wasn't that bad. Sure, Wood was spirited, and a little obsessed, but he got results. Harry was mortified to think that people thought he would do so badly. But then, apart from Kat, he was the youngest player on the team, and until he was eleven, he had no clue whatsoever as to what Quidditch was, so they could hardly blame him for that. Then Stephanie spoke again. "He is so down to earth! He knows what he wants out of you, and he encourages you to be your best without going over the top and throwing temper tantrums! He is quite the gentleman!"

"Not bad looking either!" Harry went beetroot.

"I know what you mean. His eyes are amazing. Just SO deep. You could really lose yourself in there, and he knows how to make you feel as if you're the one he's talking to, even when he's addressing everyone. THAT'S what a captain should be like."

Harry turned away from this to meet three very amused faces staring right back at him.

"I'm not going to live this one down, am I?" Ron, Ginny, and Hermione all shook their heads. Thankfully, at that moment, Dumbledore stood up.

"Now that you are all fed and watered, would those of you who are not wishing to partake in the Anti-Dementor Classes please leave." No one did. Harry was both relieved, and a little disturbed as well. On the one hand, everyone wanted to know how to overcome the Dementors, which was good. On the other hand, he was a little worried of making a fool of himself in front of the Slytherins. Dumbledore beckoned him over. "Would you do the honours please Harry?"

"Is it still in Ara... Professor Figg's office?" Dumbledore nodded. Harry fixed his mind on the large chest and once again cried. "Omni Portae Alohomorant!" and then, as the doors of the great hall swung open "ACCIO!" The awaiting masses watched in silence, as Harry stood there, next to Dumbledore, wand raised. After a minute or so, a few of the Slytherins started sniggering, but they were the only ones and soon, that stopped as well, as the large wooden chest flew through the open doors and landed smartly next to Harry.

With a wave of Dumbledore's wand, all of the tables and benches flew to the sides of the Hall.

"Would you all now come over here please." Everyone complied and Dumbledore banished the chest to the centre of the Hall, before once again performing a few charms to increase the internal dimensions of the Hall. "Now then, Fifth Years, please forgive me, as I know you have already started Dementors, but I must start from the very beginning. Dementors are probably some of the most unpleasant creatures you will ever come across, if not THE most unpleasant. And in these troubled times, I can almost guarantee that you WILL come across them. They delight in decay and despair. They feed off positive emotions and so induce the negative ones. They, if given long enough, will suck out every happy memory you have ever known, leaving you with only the worst moments in your life to keep you company. So why then did I ask you all to think on an extremely powerful Happy Thought?" he asked into the rapt silence. "Because there are certain defences you can use against the Dementors. Certain charms you can use, or more specifically one charm. The Patronus Charm. Now then, the Patronus Charm requires an exceedingly powerful piece of Magic behind it and not all of you will be able to manage it at this point in your lives. Some of you will never manage it. However, it is my responsibility to teach you all to the extent of your abilities, never more so than now. Now I have asked Harry here to help me with this activity because he has an especially powerful Patronus, which he will demonstrate for you now. Harry?" Harry took a deep breath as the assembled crowd parted before him, as he made his way towards the centre of the Hall.

"Don't worry Harry. You'll do great!" came Hermione's voice in the back of his head.

"Yeah, and just think - what a way to show up Malfoy!"

"Yeah. Don't worry. Prongs is magnificent!"

"Thanks Ginny, Thanks Ron, Thanks, Hermione! I needed that." And he stood there in front of the hall and let his mind go blank. Then, he thought about being made Captain of the Quidditch team. Doing something that he KNEW his father had done, and something that he knew would make him unbelievably proud. The smile firmly in place on his lips, he extended his wand out in front of him and roared the now extremely familiar words, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" and, sure as night turns to day, there was Prongs, looking briefly around for the Dementor before returning quietly to Harry's side. "Hey Dad!" He said quietly. "Miss me?" Prongs snorted quietly as Harry stared into his eyes and stroked his muzzle. Slowly he started to fade again, and Harry felt the familiar prickle in the back of his throat. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny, who were standing right at the back for just such an occurrence, put their hands supportively on his shoulders. "Thanks!" They all nodded.

The girls in the crowd oo'd and aah'd,, and the majority of the boys gasped in astonishment. The only sneers could be heard from Slytherin, but that was to be expected.

"Excellent Harry. Thank you. Now would you be so kind as to show the Patronus in action?"

Harry nodded in reply, and with a heavy sigh, stepped forward to face the Dementor, drawing his wand and opening the chest with another spell. As the Dementor rose out of the chest, Harry heard several of the students gasp with horror. Some of the students were shaking violently, and a few all but collapsed. Harry observed with concern that Ginny was amongst them. He was about to challenge her on this when,

"Malfoy looks sick!" Ron said to Harry with grim satisfaction. "Come to think about it, I don't exactly feel wonderful myself. Could you get rid of it please Harry?" Harry briefly turned and nodded to Ron. Turning his attention back to the Dementor, he tried to blank out the familiar cold wave of despair passing over him, and tried to concentrate on his happy thought. He quickly decided that the classics were often severely underrated and so concentrated once again on Hermione rushing up to him and Ron squealing that they'd managed to figure out the Chamber of Secrets mystery. A feeling of calm swept over him and once again he cried "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Prongs charged down the Dementor quickly and Harry cried "Riddikulus!" as, with a pop, the Boggart made its way back to the chest.

"PLEASE! Please don't tell me that Scarface is STILL afraid of Dementors!" Malfoy purred with delight.

"And what does the Boggart turn into for you Malfoy?" Harry retorted, strolling over to the blond Slytherin and staring him sharply in the eye. "Hermione? Colin? Or maybe it's that pussycat of a father of yours?" His voice now dropped to a barely inaudible whisper. "Tell me, did you ever buy that crinkled old Hand? And have your grades finally picked up? Or are you still quaking in the path of a Mudblood?" Harry said, eyes sparkling dangerously. For once, Malfoy was completely lost for words. No sly remark crossed his lips, no dangerous flash in his eye. Just a look of abject fear, as though those deep penetrating eyes could see into his very soul.

Malfoy shook himself out of his reverie and took a step back from Harry, eyes narrowed threateningly.

"Next time, Potter!" he spat. Harry raised an eyebrow at him and inclined his head in a slow and calculated nod, before returning to Dumbledore's side.

"Right then, now that you have seen a Patronus in action, we will be splitting you all up into groups. Or more precisely, into year and house groups. For the moment you will practice you Patronus without the presence of a Dementor. I know that the Fifth Years faced a Patronus right from the get-go, however, we simply do not have the time, or the number of Boggarts for you all to face one. So, you will each split up into your year groups within your own houses, and your professors will come along to help you out." With that, there was a huge bustling, as the students followed their instructions. In the meantime, Dumbledore turned and said, "Follow me please, Harry."

"Yes sir." he said quietly. Dumbledore led Harry through the labyrinthine corridors until they at last reached the Stone Gargoyle, which marked the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

"Bitter lemon." Dumbledore said to the Gargoyle, which dutifully melted away to reveal the spiral staircase.

"Obviously not time to change his password yet." Harry thought to himself.

They climbed the stairway and Dumbledore opened the door. "Hmmmph! Twice in the first week must be a record, even for the Weaselys and the Marauders!" Harry thought to himself, laughing. Fawkes was there on the perch. Harry instantly changed and flew over to him.

"You are doing well, I hear Harry."

"Thank you, Fawkes. I am enjoying it very much, although it is quite difficult, and I do wish I didn't have to perform my Patronus so much!"

"Why is that?"

"I don't know. It's personal. It's personal to me. It's my only true emotional link to my father. I, I guess I just wish I didn't have to make it so public. Do you understand, Fawkes?" Fawkes nodded patiently.

"I do understand Harry, and please, do not worry. Albus understands this fully. You will not be asked to perform your Patronus again in such a public manner. Only in your private lessons."

"Thank you."

"Now I believe Albus wishes to talk to you."

"Professor?" Harry asked. He didn't know what made him do it. He thought he had seen Dumbledore talk to Fawkes before, but he wasn't sure.

"Yes Harry." His lips weren't moving, Harry noticed. "Would you please turn back, as I wish for you to perform your Sphynx transformation."

Harry nearly fell off the perch in shock. He quickly fluttered down to the floor and transformed back, before crying "WHAT THE...?" He checked himself briefly before correcting, "Sorry, I mean, I beg your pardon, Professor?"

Dumbledore shook his head, his beard twitching in amusement.

"Harry. I can't believe that you haven't been practising. I also can't believe that you haven't completed the individual part transformations, am I right?" Harry nodded dumbly. "Very good. Then all that remains is to put the pieces together, so to speak."

Harry thought long and hard about what Dumbledore had said to him. Firstly he looked down at his hands and feet, and felt them slowly turn into paws. He imagined his tail, long and slender with the characteristic bushy fleck at the end, and he bit back a yelp of pain as his tailbone changed into the tail. He felt his back arch and his shoulders were pushed upwards as he felt his weight fall onto his forepaws. He felt the familiar prickle at his neck as his mane sprouted into a golden-brown frame around his face, where he felt his eyes become larger, and narrowed at the sides. His whole frame had grown immensely, and he reckoned without the dimensional enchantments Dumbledore must have put on his office before Harry got there. If truth were told, he didn't even notice it when they arrived there, but he certainly noticed it now. He looked down at Dumbledore, who was positively beaming at him.

"That," Dumbledore breathed heavily. "Is absolutely magnificent! Grace will be so proud. Now I need to talk to you ab..." Dumbledore stopped abruptly, eyes wide with concern as Harry let out an earth-shattering roar of pain and felt himself shrinking down to size once again. He stood up shakily, and Dumbledore quickly ushered him to a seat, where he promptly collapsed, exhausted. Dumbledore threw some powder into the fire and said "The kitchens!" A squeaky voice answered, eyes and face keeping out of view.

"Yes Mister Dumbledore, sir? What is I able to be doing for you sir?"

"Ah, Tibbehry! Would you kindly ask Dobby to bring a large plate of Pasta and a mug of very strong Hot Chocolate to my office?"

"Yes, Mister Dumbledore sir!" Tibbehry squeaked and there was silence. A few moment's later, Dobby appeared with a loud crack, a large tray in his hands baring the requested comestibles, and Dumbledore bade him place it on a small card table next to the chair where Harry slumped exhausted. Dobby noticed this at once and his ear-piercing squeal sounded rather like all of the helium let out of a balloon through a very tight gap.

"Harry Potter! Harry Potter! But what is wrong with Harry Potter? Harry Potter is not well! Harry Potter must not have food, Harry Potter must be lying down in the hospital wing! Harry Potter must..."

"Calm yourself, Dobby!" Dumbledore chuckled, eyes twinkling merrily. "Harry does not need to go to the hospital wing. He is simply exhausted. He has been performing a very strenuous and draining exercise for me, and so needs to replenish his energy; By EATING!"

"Oh!" Dobby looked rather abashed. "Dobby is sorry, Professor Dumbledore, sir."

"Don't be silly Dobby!" Dumbledore replied, smiling. "I imagine Miss Granger and Miss and Mister Weasely have made the same mistake often. It is what being friends is about, and, when you're not about trying to get him killed, you are a very good friend to Harry indeed."

"Oh, no sir! Never killed! Never to kill Harry Potter! Dobby tried to save Harry Potter, honestly he did sir!"

"I know, Dobby, I know! But you must understand that sometimes it is necessary to face dangers in order to grow. Tell me, what happens when it is time for a bird to leave the nest?"

"The mother will stand by her children and watch them fly off into the horizon."

"EXACTLY!" said Dumbledore, pleased. "And what happens, when the child is reluctant, or afraid?"

"The mother will push her children off the branch."

"Exactly Dobby. Harry, you understand, left the nest the day Voldemort killed his parents. However, he has come back to the nest, and now it is time for him to prepare to leave again. As much as we all want to support him in his flight of life, all we can really do, all we SHOULD really do, is to be there on the way, watching, and occasionally giving him a nudge in the right direction. The nudges we give him are in terms of the education he receives here, and the occasional bits of advice, or maybe a few of his father's old things. I know how upset you were, Dobby, but Harry needed to face Tom Riddle. He needed to see the boy who would grow up to be Voldemort. To see the boy who killed his parents. These are all journeys Harry needs to make alone, but it never hurts to have friends to help on the way, holding beacons to light the way, as it were. That is why, amongst other reasons, Ron and Harry weren't expelled when you caused their car to be seen..." Dobby stared at him, open-mouthed. "Yes, Dobby, I know it was you, and I know why you did it. You knew something was happening and you wanted to protect Harry from it. A noble gesture, but completely the wrong decision. Do you understand, Dobby?"

"Yes, sir." He replied solemnly.

"Good. Now do you wish to stay a while, or do you wish to get on with your duties?"

"Is Dobby allowed to know what Harry Potter is doing?"

"Certainly Dobby, although, or course, the usual provisos apply."

"That is to say, you wish Dobby to remain discreet?"

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, Dobby." Dumbledore replied kindly.

At this point, Harry woke up, shaking his head groggily said,

"Sorry about that, professor. I wasn't too loud was I?"

"I don't think even Dobby squeaking was too loud for my silencing charms!" he replied, beard twitching.

"I am afraid I wasn't expecting that. I think it might be best if the next time I try that, we are in the Shrieking Shack, that way, any noise I make will add to the rumours, and Moony can use it more often."

"Perhaps." Dumbledore pondered. "Nonetheless, Harry, that is not what I wanted to talk to you about. I am afraid that I am fully aware of your feelings, and that was just a little something to take your mind off it." Harry nodded his comprehension and appreciation. "Now what I wanted to talk to you about is Cornelius."

"Minister Fudge?"

"I have explained to him that we have a very reliable, completely impossible to affect, witness who saw the entire event unfold, and who knows the truth."

"That is wonderful, Professor. It's about time we got it out in the open!"

"Yes, Harry. However there is a small problem. I have requested that the announcement be made publicly, in an international press conference, and Fudge wants you to be there." He added gravely.

"You mean he trusts a silly little boy who has turns all over the school!"

"There is evidence to support it this time. Also the fact that you actually saw Peter Pettigrew rather than simply heard him, means that that too can be corroborated by Grace, and so we can have Padfoot pardoned, with full apology." Harry stood there, eyes wide with glee, feeling like all his Christmases and birthdays had come at once. Then suddenly, his face fell, as an unpleasant thought crossed his mind.

"Should I offer to tell what happened under the Veritas Serum?" Dumbledore's grave look confirmed his suspicion.

"I am afraid it is a prerequisite. However, you can... edit the truth. This fact isn't widely known. My great-great-great-grandfather discovered this much to his delight and astonishment and it is a secret that has been passed down through the males in my family. I am telling you this because they may ask you to say why you have had contact with Grace since the Tri-Wizard tournament. There may be certain other... unusual events, which you have partaken in during your time at Hogwarts, which you may or may not have to explain, but when you do, so long as your wording is careful, no one need be any the wiser. Now I'm afraid you may tell no one of this. Not even Mr Weasely and Misses Weasely and Granger." Harry's face fell at this, but he nodded, resolute to the task ahead.

"I understand. But what if they are asked to stand up as well?"

"The time may come when they ask about Peter and Scabbers, but only then will I impart that knowledge. It could be very dangerous for them to know. You surely understand that Harry?"

"Yes, sir." He replied morosely.

"Oh, and Harry? How are your other transformations coming along?"

"Actually, sir, I was rather concerned about that." Harry paused, unsure of how to continue.

"Are you having trouble Harry?"

"No sir, that's the problem. Last night, when everyone was asleep, I decided to turn into a Phoenix, and sleep in the Owlry. I managed it without any problems whatsoever!"

"And the Stag?"

"Well, I confess, I haven't tried it yet. I was hoping to be able to do that tonight. I was going to go under the Whomping Willow and sleep in the Shrieking Shack."

"That is an excellent idea Harry, with just two exceptions. I don't want you down there on your own. And I think that Ron, Ginny, and Hermione should do it too. That said, I want you to sleep here, in my office tonight. All of you."

"Transformations?" Dobby asked. It was the first thing he had said since Harry came to.

"Yes Dobby. You are welcome to stay tonight and watch. In fact, I would prefer it. As Harry's transformations are more demanding, I would like for you to provide a steady supply of food, if it is not too much trouble."

"Oh no, sir. No! Dobby finds no trouble there at all. And sir would like Dobby to say nothing about this as well?"

"Thank you Dobby." Dumbledore replied, inclining his head in a nod. "Harry, I suggest you eat up. I am going to intercept the other three, and I know Poppy would never forgive me for saying so, but I want you all prepared as quickly as possible." Dumbledore was frowning. He obviously didn't like the ominous tone in his own voice as he was speaking, any more than Harry did. "I would like for you all to begin the Omnimagus transformations by time the Reserve Try-outs have taken place. The first Anti-Dementor lessons will have finished by now, and they will be leaving the Great Hall for their dormitories. I will go now to intercept Misses Granger and Weasely and Mister Weasely."

"No, sir. Don't bother. Ron, Ginny, Hermione, could you come up to Dumbledore's office now please? The password is still Bitter Lemon. Oh, yeah. We're staying here tonight, so bring something you can transfigure into a pillow."

"We're on our way!" came Hermione's reply.

"They're coming, sir." Dumbledore nodded his appreciation.

Whilst he was waiting for them, Harry was wolfing down his impromptu meal, and was just finishing off the dregs of the hot chocolate, Dumbledore did something which made Harry want to laugh and blush at the same time. He offered Harry... a Sherbet Lemon.

"They always make me feel better." Dumbledore explained, almost apologetically. At that, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione knocked, and entered Dumbledore's office, being proffered the generous bag of Muggle sweets. Dumbledore then threw some more powder into the fire roaring in the chiselled hearth and said clearly "Professor McGonagall". A few moments later, her face appeared in the fire. "Minerva, would you please gather everyone in my office now. We have some things to discuss."

"I am on my way, Albus."

"Whilst you are all waiting," said Professor Dumbledore, turning to his now larger audience. "Would you please practice some more. I would like to complete a small amount of paperwork. Then," he added gravely. "We talk."

They all set themselves to the task at hand. Ron was almost ready. He just had to regulate his colouring and to readjust his posture. Or to be more precise, allow his posture to be readjusted. It seemed rather awkward for him to be on all fours. Ginny had progressed well and seemed all but ready to attempt maintaining her

form for significant periods of time. Hermione was quickly flying around Dumbledore's office, and she perched next to Fawkes.

"Hey! That's my place!" Harry said, laughing.

"That's what Fawkes said!"

"You can talk to him?"

"No, but I can understand him. His mannerisms aren't too dissimilar to Hedwig's."

Harry imagined himself in his Phoenix form, and then feeling his feathers ruffle slightly as his heightened senses picked up the steady airflow, he spread his wings in preparation for flight. The airflow however wasn't sufficient and he had to jump to take to the air. He would improve his movement later. He twittered to Fawkes.

"She's beautiful isn't she."

"Yes she is Harry. Her plumage is exceptionally fine and her mannerisms are quite owl-like." Harry noted Hermione, cocking her head at an angle, looking curiously, trying to discern their conversation.

"She is rather." Harry added, with some amusement. Hermione had apparently had enough, however.

"So, are you going to let me in on your little secret?"

"We were just saying what a beautiful owl you are."

"Really?" Hermione ruffled her feathers in embarrassment. "Do you think so?"

"Very much so. All you need now is a beautiful pea-green boat to set the mood off perfectly!"

"True, but I think Ron should bring the Honey!"

"I thought you were the Honey!" Harry replied with a laugh, at which Hermione took to the air and clawed Harry lightly in the head, to which Harry responded in kind. There followed a rather amusing little mock-fight in mid air, whilst Ron and Ginny, distracted, had changed back and gazed at them open-mouthed. Dumbledore seemed at a loss whether or not to separate them. It seemed too funny. A few moments later, they stopped and changed back, gave each other a hug, and turned to see the looks on everyone's faces for the first time. They looked at each other, and in a moment had collapsed to the floor in merciless laughter. It wasn't long before Ron and Ginny joined them, and soon even Dumbledore was in tears. It was therefore a rather sour-looking Professor McGonagall who entered the room along with Arabella, Sirius, and Remus, who were looking upon the scene with intrigue.

"When you've quite finished, Albus!" McGonagall said huffily, "Would you kindly tell us what this meeting is about?"

Struggling for control, fighting back tears of laughter, Dumbledore spoke.

"Oh, Oh, Oh, yes Minerva. I have been talking to Mister Potter here, and we are going to the Ministry of Magic later, to prove beyond all shadow of a doubt, that Voldemort is back." Everyone suddenly looked very solemn. "We will go down there, with Grace as our witness, and we will announce it publicly to an international press conference. We will ask people to remain calm, and to act rationally. But most of all, we will ask people to do what they think is right. We can ask no more of them, nor no less."

"And why are we here?" McGonagall asked acerbically.

"Because, Harry will have to speak under Veritas Serum. However, everyone here may also be required to bare witness as well. Remus and Sirius, you know Peter's story from its beginning, although perhaps not its end. Minerva, you bore witness to Barty Crouch's confession under Veritas Serum. Arabella, you know very well about the meetings that have been occurring around the country, the searches for Voldemort. You can offer the hints you found as to why people simply didn't just think him gone after the first time. And Hermione, Ginny, and Ron. Why, you three, along with Harry have borne the best witness out of everyone not allied with the Dark Forces, of Voldemort's attempts at regaining power. You have each performed admirably in your attempts to thwart his uprising. Alas, in the end, there was nothing that any of you could have done. It was inevitable. And now, we must find a way to defeat him. Voldemort is indeed back."

They stood together in silence. No one said anything. To speak now seemed fundamentally wrong, even insulting to the people present.

After several minutes, Lupin spoke.

"And when is this press conference going to be, Albus?"

"Monday night, ready for Tuesday's Daily Prophet." Everyone stared at him. Finally, Ginny looked up, seemingly staring down the world, truly defiant.

"We're ready!" were the only words that crossed her lips. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, held her gaze and nodded, shortly followed by Sirius, Remus, Arabella and Dumbledore. Finally, Professor McGonagall looked at them all and nodded too.

"I'm not happy about this, Albus. I don't like it in the slightest. They are too young to be exposed to any of this. You know that. But, what was it you said? Needs must...?"

"Exactly Minerva. We must make do with what we've got. And if you will forgive an old man's fancy," he said, looking around the four youngest in the room, smiling. "We could do a lot worse."

Silence followed. Then, after a few minutes more, Arabella said

"Is there anything else Albus?"

"No, that is all for the moment. Do you all wish to watch the progress further or would you like to go?" They all decided to stay for the moment. That said, Albus turned to Dobby, asking for some more food.

They all transformed again, Harry in his Stag form this time, and they paraded around the room, for the inspection of the audience. Arabella, who hadn't seen them so far, looked absolutely delighted.

When Dobby came back with a large spread, Dumbledore nodded to Harry, who took some more food, before stepping out into the middle of the room.

The change took them all totally by surprise. With nine faces staring up at him, Harry gave a low growl of amusement, before saying in a low, soft, husky voice,

"Well, what do you think?" No one could say anything. They simply gawped. After a few moments, Harry gave another ear-splitting roar of pain and collapsed onto the floor, into his human state. After being helped to the chair, he once again lost consciousness, only for five minutes this time. During his period of unconsciousness, Dumbledore placed a plate of food at the table by his chair, and under his reassurance, no one panicked, although there were looks of concern. Finally Harry came to, and attacked the plate ravenously before turning to the others and saying, "Sorry about that!" No one could say anything. They simply continued to stare. Finally McGonagall spoke.

"Are you sure you're alright Harry?"

"Yes Professor. Just a little tired now, and very hungry!" he replied with a grin. With that said, the main concern of theirs put temporarily to bed, the conversation became a little easier.

"I'll have to say, Harry. I NEVER thought you'd manage to complete the transformations in a week! I thought we'd need much longer than that. Two months at least!"

"Yeah, but we're all practically there now, Hermione. All we need to do now is to fine tune the details, and learn how to hold the shape. I can hold my Phoenix form whilst I'm asleep. Tonight, I'm going to try sleeping in my stag form."

"And I'll try sleeping in my owl form."

"And I'll try my fox form."

"I'll see if I can't have a lie-in tomorrow morning!" A few people groaned at the awful Weasely humour emerging. "I am still having a little trouble with the form, but let's see if I can't get it done by tonight. It would look a sight wouldn't it, if Mum came into the office tomorrow morning and saw me sleeping with an Owl, a Stag, a Phoenix and a Fox!" There were a few sniggers at this.

"Then, in a fortnight..." Harry paused, uncertain.

"What is it, Harry?" Ginny asked. Harry was looking directly at Professor McGonagall.

"Please leave it for a month Harry." McGonagall said sternly. "We have all seen that you are more than capable of miracles. But we have also seen that these miracles leave their toll on you. You may continue to practice, but please wait until after the Halloween Ball before you try to sleep like that all night, and please make sure you do it here, with Mister Weasely, Miss Weasely, and Miss Granger to keep an eye on you, as well as Professor Dumbledore. I would also prefer to be there as well, but we cannot foresee everything. You're going to have enough fun at Halloween without adding to it!" Dumbledore shot her a look which was difficult to read. "Now then, we will all be off now. You continue your transformations for no longer than an hour, and then, I would like you all to get some sleep, in whichever form you deem appropriate. Within reason of course! Goodnight ladies and gentlemen."

"Goodnight Professor." They chorused. Arabella, Moony and Padfoot also said goodnight, which was returned by the four of them, and then they were alone but for a pile of food, an astonished House Elf, and a very pleased Headmaster.