DISCLAIMER: See Ch. 1.

A/N: Well, not much to say here...

CHAPTER 27: PERCY'S RETURN

Errare, nescire, et malum et turpe ducimus. To make mistakes (and) to be ignorant, we consider both wrong and disgraceful. –Cicero, de Officiis (1.18)

Harry and the others took off on their brooms, and they paired off. Harry and Ron immediately flew for the nearest giants trying to make their way through the passes. As exhilarating as it was to be flying and heavily armed at the same time, Harry made sure he didn't get distracted at any point.

Suddenly, a flash of green light came from behind the head of a giant, which the two friends narrowly dodged.

"Ron," Harry said using the magiphone in the helmet, "They're hiding behind the giants' heads and aiming spells at us from there. I have an idea; you swoop around and take out the Death Eaters while I distract them."

"I was just thinking the same thing," Ron replied with a hint of amusement in his voice. "OK, let's go."

The giant, about sixty feet tall, was hardly as imposing or as dangerous as a dragon, in Harry's opinion. He flew around, aiming Reductor Curses just to annoy it, while Ron flew around and blew the Death Eater straight off, where the latter fell to the ground and did not get up.

The giant, however, kept going, and on its trek towards Durmstrang, even picked up boulders and threw them at the institute. To counter the flying missiles, Harry used supercharged Reductor Curses to blow them apart.

It was at that point Harry had an idea. Seeing a nearby evergreen tree about half the height of an attacking giant, he transfigured it into a strong cord of rope about a kilometer long, and with another spell, caused it to tangle up the giant's legs. Unable to do anything, the giant fell face forward with a groan and landed straight into the snowy ground, causing a small quake.

The ground troops cheered as a small group of wizards rushed up to the giant, attached something to its head, and then caused it to vanish. Harry understood immediately; they had used a Portkey to relocate it someplace else. That out of the way, Harry and Ron went to tackle another giant.

Durmstrang and the surrounding area very soon resembled a war zone as the defenders stood their ground. Very methodically, the airborne troops brought down giants and disabled the riders. Harry and the others had to move quick, because if they went too far out in one direction to meet any attacking forces, they then had to fly back towards the castle to stop any other forces from attacking it from another direction.

Eventually, though, their work paid off. While keeping themselves under control, they were able to stop the evil invaders. Harry used the Turbulent Wind Curse to kick up snow in order to block visibility and confuse the enemy, then fire a missile and some spells. Ron even managed to cause a giant to topple over and crush a squad of advancing Death Eaters, for which Harry and the others heartily congratulated him.

After the major bulk of the giants were taken down, Harry turned his attention to the other airborne menaces. Fawkes and Ardeavis were both at the peak of their powers, killing dementors and halting thestrals being rode by Death Eaters. Harry and Ron were just killing off the last few airborne foes when a whole multitude of Killing Curses flew their way.

"Ron!" he yelled into the magiphone. "Watch out!"

"Understood, mate!" Ron yelled back.

The boys were able to dodge them all, and looking off to one side, they saw a giant trying to climb through one of the more narrow passes. It was so narrow that the giants were forced to go through single file.

As Ginny and Cho flew up next to them, Ron said, "New plan! Fly straight at them, and shoot the missiles at them!"

"Got it!" the other three responded. After straightening themselves out, all four of them charged the giants, shields up, and unrelenting missiles bearing on their targets.

The giant in the lead was forced backwards by the combined force of at least a dozen missiles hitting him in the upper body, and fell back onto his comrades. The remaining giants collapsed like dominoes on a staircase, sprawling all over each other.

"Wicked!" Ron said, while the others agreed with him.

The next moment, a spell hit the tail of his broom, and he went down, trying to fly straight out. After a moment of shock, Harry yelled into the magiphone, telling Ginny and Cho to go back and get help, and flew down after his friend.

Ron ended up flying into a thick pile of snow, skidding off of it and disappearing into a dense group of trees. Harry landed near the point of impact, dismounted his broom, retrieved his wand, and went in after him.

It was much darker in here, and several feet in, he saw Ron getting himself from his broom with difficulty. Upon closer inspection, Harry saw that the belt had been jammed. Using a Cutting Spell, Harry was able to cut Ron loose and help him get up.

"Thanks, mate," Ron groaned, getting to his feet and rubbing his sore back.

"No problem," Harry grinned.

Just then, it grew cold as several dementors surrounded them, placed between trees. Harry could hear the screaming in his head, of his parents just before he died... the cold was penetrating... he was reliving the last moments of Cedric Diggory when a high-pitched voice broke through the misery.

"Well, well, well, Potter and Weasley, best friends to the very end," the voice simpered. Umbridge had appeared between two adjacent trees in a space not taken by any of the dementors, her wand focused on the pair of Gryffindors.

"Well, Umbitch, I can't say it's a pleasure to meet you again," Harry spat.

Ron made the clip-clopping noises again, just to spite her. She quickly looked around, alarmed, but just as quickly recovered.

"What dreadful attitudes you boys have," she went on. "Maybe I can get a more positive role model for you two. Percival!"

Percy Weasley stepped out between another pair of trees. Harry gritted his teeth while Ron looked about ready to explode from all the anger he carried with him these days.

"You traitor!" Ron screamed! "YOU TURNED YOUR BACK ON US! YOU BETRAYED US!"

Percy just looked Ron straight in the eye, not saying a word.

Umbridge smiled evilly with a truly psychotic look on her face. "Well, time to end this once for all, you little brats," she said smugly. Pointing straight at the two friends, she shrieked, "CRUCIO!"

Percy suddenly sprung into action. "NO!" he yelled with a wave of his wand. The red beam of light, just emitted from the tip of Umbridge's wand, bounced back at an awkward angle and into a tree. Harry and Ron exchanged glances; Percy was on their side? Before either of them could think about it any further, their attention was drawn back to the matter at hand. The tree snapped at the point where it was struck, and Umbridge looked up in horror as it came crashing down upon her.

Crash! (1)

With an ear-splitting scream, wood and leaves buried her, although Harry could still see a hand and a foot twitching with pain from underneath the fallen tree. The dementors instantly attacked, but Harry was ready for them.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry yelled several times. Eventually, a whole herd of glowing silver stags filled the clearing, running down defenseless dementors. Just as Harry was chasing the last of them out, a blood-curdling scream came from behind him.

Ron was backed against a tree with a dementor literally flying at him; at the same time, Percy was trying to conjure a Patronus but failing miserably. Ignoring the residing pain from the dementor's influence, Harry jumped in the way. Looking the dementor straight in its ugly face and doing his best to withstand the spiking misery, he roared, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

The blast of white mist, which had begun to form a stag's head, lost its shape as it engulfed the dementor. With such force that it turned blinding white, the spell actually disintegrated the dementor's head and neck! As the silver mist vanished, the dementor's corpse collapsed to the forest floor.

There was absolute silence, apart from the sounds of the dementors fleeing with the other stag Patroni in hot pursuit behind them. Harry broke the silence by walking over to Umbridge and picking up her wand, which she had dropped. With a swift movement, he broke it in two. Ron, after popping a Cheering Chocolate in his mouth, stuttered, "Percy- what- why?"

Percy sighed, looking very ashamed of himself. "It's a long story. I'd like to explain it to the rest of the family, and Dumbledore especially, but somehow, now isn't the right time."

Harry spoke up. "I can contact him right now and let him know what happened." Taking out his Communication Crystal, he contacted Dumbledore.

~*~*~*~

Everyone was frantic back at the base set up near Durmstrang. There was a three-dimensional, real time map set up around a center table with various people doing their jobs around it. Most of the Order of the Phoenix was there, keeping tabs on the battle.

Cho and Ginny had just come back, flustered and worried about the fate of their friends. The last anyone had seen of their friends was when one of them had spiraled into a thick area of trees. Charlie, Fred and George were just about ready to get their brooms again and do a search for their youngest brother and surrogate brother when Harry's voice suddenly came from a crystal Dumbledore was wearing.

"Professor Dumbledore?" his voice asked. Everyone stopped what they were doing, and paid attention to the beginning dialogue.

"Yes, Harry."

"Ron and I are safe. Umbridge and Percy showed up with dementors..." The Weasleys present glowered at that. "Good news, though. Dementors are gone, and thanks to Percy, Umbridge is currently unable to go anywhere anytime soon."

This confused everyone present. "Please explain, Harry."

"Umbridge was about to use the Cruciatus Curse on Ron and I when Percy deflected it to a tree. Even as we speak, the toad is stuck underneath it after it fell on her," Harry explained with a trace of amusement in his voice. The others laughed, particularly the Weasleys present.

"Anyway," Harry went on, "Should I bring Percy back here? I think we can trust him. I can't just wave aside the pain he inflicted on Dumbridge."

"Please do, Harry."

"We're coming right now. Oh, I almost forgot..." there was the sound of footsteps, something being kicked, and what sounded like Umbridge letting out a muffled scream of pain. "That's better." Amidst all the laughing from the people in the command center, Harry turned off his own crystal.

~*~*~*~

Harry, Ron and Percy trekked back across the snow-covered grounds to the command center where the others were. As they entered, some people shot Percy a mix of angry and confused looks. Sensing the tension, Harry said, "This is obviously a family issue. I'm going to get some medical potions." As he left, he heard Mrs. Weasley letting out a muffled sob and Percy trying to explain things in a diplomatic tone.

On the way back from the infirmary, he heard snatches of what Percy was saying. It was also very strange, hearing Percy drop the "high and mighty" tone in his voice and actually talk so casually. "Believe me, Ron, I never wanted any harm to come to you. I always enjoyed having you around, and I even remember how anxious you were to come with me to Hogwarts for your first year." Percy let out a long sigh, and added, "I just didn't count on you meeting damned Harry Potter on the train."

Just a couple of steps away from the door, Harry heard this and immediately stopped. He felt he would garner more information by eavesdropping. Setting down the crate of potions on the floor, he flattened himself against the wall and looked around the corner, waiting to hear more.

"What?" Ron growled. "What did you mean, 'damned Harry Potter?'"

"Don't take that the wrong way, Ron," Percy said. "I liked him, or as late as the Triwizard Tournament, anyway. It was only after the disastrous end to the Tournament I was forced to put together my personal list of grievances I hold against him."

Harry gritted his teeth. "Please explain, Percy," Dumbledore said.

"First of all, Ron, ever since we first saw him at King's Cross, I thought it would be a good thing for you to be with him. I've been aware all these years about being the youngest of six boys and wanting to do something important. And, of course, all the other Gryffindors and I nearly burst with pride when he was Sorted into our House. It wasn't long afterwards that the first of these events which I now hate began to take place."

"Like what?" Ron challenged him.

"First of all, Professor Snape. There's nothing out of the ordinary with him disliking Gryffindors, but obviously he held some special hatred for Potter, and because you were Potter's friend, you also became the target of whatever it was that bothered him."

"Let me correct you on that, Mr. Weasley," Snape was heard saying in his normal silky tones. "There were some unresolved conflicts between me and Mr. Potter, and if it's any consolation, that's been settled."

A pause. Percy huffed, "Very well, then! How about when Potter made it as Seeker? Ron's been avid of Quidditch all his life, while Potter was probably never beside a broomstick before then!"

"To be fair, Percy," McGonagall said, "I did threaten him with punishment if he didn't perform well for the team."

"I was a little jealous, I admit," Ron said, "But I felt happy for him. I don't think I would have liked being the Seeker anyway."

Another pause. Harry could see the look on Percy's face as though he had been struck in the face with something heavy.

"And then towards the end of the year," Percy plowed on, "Ron ended up in the hospital wing after Potter led him on that crazy crusade beyond the forbidden corridor on the third floor!"

"That really wasn't Harry's fault," Hermione piped up. "We wanted to come with him, and Ron sacrificed himself in order to get past Professor McGonagall's chess set. It was Ron's own choice."

"Are you saying, Percy," Dumbledore added, "That you would have preferred Voldemort and Quirrell stealing the Sorcerer's Stone as long as you brother was safe? If the two of them had succeeded, nobody would have been safe. Far from it, in fact."

Harry silently thanked all these people defending him, just as Percy launched the next argument.

"And the year after that, with stealing the car and causing all that trouble!?"

"Actually, Percy, that was my idea," Ron said quietly. "I persuaded Harry to come with me."

Another pause. "And then with the whole Chamber of Secrets thing. Ginny was stuck down there, and Potter had to burst in there. He even saves Ginny's life, and he can't even return these affections of her crush on him! How dare he not treat her right!"

Ginny spoke this time. "Percy, he tried getting help from a teacher, being Lockhart, and that failed. He was the only Parselmouth on our side, so he was the only one he could open it. Are you even aware of what you're saying, Percy? He was twelve years old, I was eleven; what did he know about that kind of love? I think you're fantasizing a little too much there, Percy."

Yet another pause. "And then with that Sirius Black on the loose. With the dementors around Hogwarts, it was very well implied that he was after Potter, even though they never said it, and they completely ruined my year as Head Boy. And what with the curtains being ripped and the fiasco in the Shrieking Shack with landed Ron in the hospital wing again!"

"Don't get so dramatic," Lupin scoffed. "All things considered, you did very well as Head Boy, dementors or not. As for the incidents with Ron, well, sorry to say, patience was never one of Sirius' virtues. Besides, he uprooted the traitor Wormtail, didn't he? He even gave Ron his owl to apologize for the fiasco. Another thing I think you should realize is that your priority as Head Boy was to manage the student population, not to be so greedy about the benefits of having that position."

Percy soon came up with another argument. "And then there was Ron stuck in the middle of the lake during the Second Task! I was touched by how Potter cared for my brother that much, but believe me, the way Potter was flaunting his power by returning outside the time just to get that little Delacour girl-"

"He wasn't flaunting," Fleur said flatly. "I also learned later how Harry took the song too seriously, and obviously, Professor Dumbledore wouldn't allow a hostage to die simply because their champion didn't show up in time. I was even worried myself about the safety of my sister. One doesn't simply sit back and thing these things through when their loved ones are in dire situations. I'm sure that if you were in his position, you would do the same thing."

"And then," Percy went on, seemingly oblivious to his own losing argument, "After the Diggory boy dies, I try to talk to my family, and instead of being proud of my promotion in the Ministry of Magic, they instead side up with Potter!"

"It really disgusts me," Cho cut in, "How you simply write off Cedric's death as an accident just to avoid having to do work, like you're supposed to. And you and the other idiots at the Ministry had the nerve to do it when his parents work for you?"

"She's got a point," Amos Diggory said gruffly, sounding and looking as though he wanted to literally throw Percy out of the command center.

"And the way my own father fought with me like that-" Percy tried to continue.

"Percy," Mr. Weasley spoke up, "I swear before all of heaven, I did not mean to say those things to you. I was trying to make you see reason, and point out how Fudge was using you to spy on us and invade our privacy. Under normal circumstances, yes, I would have been proud, but Fudge only promoted you, not because you worked hard, but because it benefited him. I was trying to show you how you were being used, and how I could point you in the right direction."

"And when we nearly had Potter and we could have kicked him out of Hogwarts for good-"

"Yes, but thanks to me, I prevented you from making a very grievous mistake, wasn't I?" Mrs. Figg chimed in.

"And then when I try to give Ron advice for being a prefect, I never got a response-"

"Ha!" Ron scoffed. "It went straight to the fireplace after I ripped it up. You don't exactly get someone's support after you insult their friends and family; you basically called Mum and Dad idiots, and Harry is my friend and all-but-adoptive brother. At least he looks out for us; where were you after Dad got bitten by that snake, which Harry saved his life from? Too busy counting your money or schmoozing with Lucius Malfoy?"

Percy looked crushed. "Look, I'm truly sorry about that; I doubt Fudge would have approved if I had been talking to someone in league with Dumbledore. Honestly, I truly am."

Bill snorted, "You could have fooled us, what with not visiting. Would it have killed you to at least send a get well soon card? That's what your owl is for, Perce. Returning the Christmas jumper and all certainly did not help our image of you look that good."

Percy quickly regained his composure and said, "When we tried to get Potter expelled again, he slips away-"

Kinglsey cut him off, "Are you saying, Percy, that it's correct for you to ignore your own laws just to get what you want? I can't even begin to describe how disgusted I am with how you acted. 'Or was it a pair of dementors? Oh, very good sir!' I saw the look on Harry's face as though he wanted to knock some sense into you. Maybe that would have happened if you had stayed another few minutes and had also gotten hexed to the office floor."

Percy ignored the scattered laughing and flushed an angry color. "And just when our look was working great, when we all had it pieced together, You-Know-Who returns. And what happened that night was Ron getting hurt yet again!"

"We insisted on coming with Harry," Luna said in her detached voice, "And he was outnumbered five to one."

"And I couldn't believe when Umbridge admitted to the dementors. And when I heard about her threatening to whip Fred and George or use the Cruciatus Curse on Ron or Ginny, I was furious. Believe me, I was. I was laughing when I heard of Fred and George flying out of her grasp. I would have given anything to use the Cruciatus Curse on her for setting some Slytherin thugs on Ron and Ginny."

"Oh, so protective," Ginny said sarcastically, "Yet you were the one who cut into my arm with that fight at Riddle Manor!"

Percy replied defensively, "I was aiming for Potter. And, of course, I would have explained the situation if he hadn't used a Silencing Charm on me. I was trying to get you out of there, Ginny! What in blazes were you doing?"

"We were saving Fudge's life, you moron," she shot back.

"What have you been doing these past several months anyway?" Mrs. Weasley asked, speaking at last.

Percy collected his thoughts, and explained. "I didn't know what to say after he returned. I thought that maybe I could apologize for what I'd done if I could spy on Voldemort, or maybe steal something from him and give it to you. Really, I'm truly sorry about the past year or so."

Hagrid spoke in this time. "I can't see how you can act so brave and courageous with what you've been doing, for a Gryffindor alumnus. There's nothing brave, noble, honorable, or courageous about what you've been doing at all."

"No," Dumbledore said in response to Hagrid. "Percy is a true Gryffindor, with a brave and committed heart, but to the wrong cause." Turning back to the bespectacled redhead, the headmaster wisely said, "Percy, during the seven years you were a student, I've seen how you've tried being a perfectionist. No one's perfect, so it helps to know to apologize every now and then. Why didn't you tell us?"

Percy shrugged. "I wanted to surprise you, I suppose. Besides, if you had known, you probably would have held back; I wanted to maintain a convincing act. And I certainly didn't come back empty handed." Percy took something out of his robes and gave it to Dumbledore. "Give me another week, and I should be able to finish the job. Then I'll quit and help you out; I'll even hold a press conference and reveal my true actions and expose his plans."

"What are you trying to get?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"I'm trying to steal information and research a group of wizards have been conducting for him. It will definitely pay off, owing to how much of it has accumulated by now."

Dumbledore turned to Snape. "Would you be willing to assist him, Severus?"

Percy cut both of them off, "That's considerate of you, but no. It's better if I do this myself, trust me. You know how information doesn't always circulate among Death Eaters. I've almost got it done anyway."

"One other thing," Neville said, "Now that we've cleared up all the misunderstandings, are you willing to work with Harry now?" Harry listened even more.

"NO," Percy said in a disgusted tone. "Absolutely not."

There was silence, but Harry could almost taste the dislike floating in the air. "And why not?" Ron demanded angrily.

"Because, he is a dangerous, troublemaking boy," Percy said in a very Snape-like manner, oblivious to the hostile looks he was receiving. "I may not have liked what's happened to all of you, but I hate it because it all happened because of Potter. I don't feel the slightest but of sympathy for him. So what if Umbridge forced him to use Blood Quills? She could have used basilisk fangs for all I care, so long as the message got across that Potter shouldn't tell lies. And if Umbridge actually did use the Cruciatus Curse on him, I would have laugh-"

SMACK!

In three paces, Ginny had crossed the room and struck like a cobra, smacking him right across the face and leaving a burning red imprint on Percy's cheek, visible even to Harry from this distance. Everyone else flinched and even backed up a few steps.

"You might want to be more diplomatic about what you say in the future, Percy," she said in a tone dripping with poison, "Because if I ever hear you talk about my boyfriend like that, you will want to flee the country as fast as you possibly can, because you'll not like what I have to say."

Percy didn't know what to be more stunned at: the fact that Ginny had just struck him, or that the boy he now hated was Ginny's boyfriend.

'A tiger Animagus?' Harry thought. 'Somehow, a Chinese Fireball may have been more appropriate.' He transformed into a lion and silently snuck behind Percy, who wasn't paying attention to him because he was to busy being warned by Ginny. Everyone else, however, backed up even more. Harry felt his blood pressure rise with each nasty comment that Percy was spitting out.

"I have no problem whatsoever working to help, Ginny," Percy said in a heated tone, "But I don't like the idea of you being anywhere near Potter," Percy spat, growing angry.

"Why?" she shot back. "Because it doesn't seem perfect to you? That's the reason you failed so spectacularly last year, you know, because you couldn't handle whatever threatened your perfect little world of politics."

"How about stories of You-Know-Who possessing him last year?"

"That monster you're spying on did the same thing to me in my first year, and yet you don't seem to be avoiding me too much. Besides, his Occlumency has finally reached the point where it's no longer a problem."

"And what with all the lunatics he's run around with, especially Black-"

"Sirius risked his own life and died for the cause and his loved ones, which is something I doubt you'd ever do," Ginny cut him off, growing red in the face. "and he left you five percent of his gold, on the condition that you sort everything out with us, which I think was a damn nice thing of him to do, considering what was going on at the time."

"I don't care if Potter was working with Merlin himself, that boy is a menace, and maybe if he's cut off from more people like his godfather, it might actually do some good-"

That was it, the final straw. Percy had just insulted Sirius, so to hell with Percy. With a deafening roar, Harry leapt at Percy, who actually screamed with fright and bolted away, narrowly escaping the wrath of one angry lion.

Harry wasn't trying to hurt Percy, but to just scare him a little. To entertain everyone else, Harry chased the redhead around the command center once or twice, leaping, roaring, growling, and hissing in a way meant to intimidate Percy. Everybody else snickered and laughed at the ongoing chase.

Percy, on the other hand, took the situation a little too seriously. He quickly spun around and aimed a powerful spell at Harry; using skills he gained from fencing lessons, the young Polyanimagus rolled aside, and with his paw, gave a backhanded blow that knocked the wand from Percy's hand without actually harming either of them. With that, he hissed again just to scare Percy.

Possessed by sudden anger, Percy grabbed a nearby metal rod that had been propping some magical device and wielded it like a baseball bat. He swung it right at Harry's head, yelling, "This is for worming your way into my family, you bastard!"

WHACK! (2)

Stars exploded in front of Harry's eyes as he tried to reorient himself. Enraged and half-blinded by the pain, also ignoring the screams of anger and fright from the others, he lunged at Percy and slashed, leaving a couple of diagonal gashes in the other wizard's chest.

Both man and lion then positioned themselves to attack, and at the same time, they lunged. Percy was trying to stab at Harry with the rod, and Harry was flying with teeth bared and claws ready.

At the last moment, both of them were held back. Bill and Charlie rushed forward to restrain Percy while Hagrid scooped up Harry in his gigantic arms. Percy was fighting to wrench himself from his older brothers' grasp while Harry hissed and spat in a manner so wild it could have made Crookshanks proud.

"ENOUGH!" Dumbledore shouted; Harry could have sworn he heard a few objects around the room rattle. He was looking at Percy and Harry, very disappointed with no twinkle in his eyes. Using some magic to heal Percy's wounds and cure Harry's headache, the old wizard continued, "This is no way to be acting if you two are truly allies. Honestly, even Sirius and Severus never came to blows like that. If only Voldemort could see how you're fighting right now, he would be positively gleeful." Snape flushed a little with anger at being mentioned, but everyone else ignored it.

There was general silence as Percy stopped struggling and Hagrid petted Harry and hugged him gently, like some parody of a giant boy and his pet cat. (3)

After Hagrid put Harry down, he transformed back and looked Percy straight in the eye. "You think your family is harmed just by being near me?" he asked, staring Percy down. "They could have been hurt anyway if I wasn't around, or even worse, hurt even more or even killed without me there to protect them. Those are just the risks of fighting against Voldemort.

"Speaking of which, if you think my friends have it badly with the occasional mishap, you should take into account what's happened to my enemies, and then tell me who has it worse. Quirrell was practically burnt to death by ancient magic that protects me, Lockhart wiped out his own memory, the basilisk got impaled through the head, Rodolphus Lestrange got fried, Rabastan Lestrange got torn up, Lucius Malfoy and his Death Eater buddies got arrested and humiliated, Voldemort has been blasted out of a body on more than one occasion, and Umbridge... well, to date, she's been terrorized by fireworks, burnt, abducted by centaurs, stabbed in the gut, and thanks to your actions today, crushed by a tree. Even if Ron has had to go to the hospital wing every now and then, he's been in there nowhere as many times as me." He paused for a moment to let everyone else laugh a little while Percy thought about it.

"Personally, I think it's a tad rich that you come back and lecture me about protecting my friends when you've neglected that duty yourself. How about ignoring your father at work or slamming the door in your mother's face? I would have never treated my parents like that. And if I had any siblings, I wouldn't try to force-feed them any of the madness like what you tried to give to Ron last year. You can't just walk back here and expect everyone to forgive you and welcome you back with open arms. At least I made the effort."

Those last six words seemed to echo around Percy as his face contorted with anger. Sensing an argument, Mrs. Weasley walked between the two of them a little too quickly to be casual and faced her third son.

"Percy," she said, her voice strained with sadness, "If there's one thing I ever tried to teach you, especially because of growing up at the Burrow, it's that love is more important than material possessions. Money, jewels, land, houses... those are all limited lumps of material, and that when divided up, come out in small amounts; love can't be measured like that and is practically infinite. Last year, I worried about you every single night, not knowing whether I would be able to talk to you again if something disastrous happened.

"You have no idea how much I worried about you. With people at the Ministry like Sturgis Podmore being used by the Imperius Curse to break into a Department, or Broderick Bode being driven to madness, then murdered by a Devil's Snare sent to him disguised as a recovery gift... the point is, you were at just as much at risk as everyone else in that building. Please, enough with the fighting already, I can't stand it anymore."

Percy just stood there, unsure of what to say. Regaining control of his facial expression, he said, "Anyway, I'd better get back before he suspects anything. See you in a week." With that, he made to leave before Dumbledore stopped him.

"Percy," he called out. The young man turned around reluctantly and the Headmaster said, "I can tell perfectly well that you haven't been lying just now. I only ask that you keep up the good work. Good luck."

Percy nodded very slowly (hardly nodding at all, in fact), and his eyes traveled the length of the room before landing on Harry. There was a tense moment as the two of them made eye contact and tried to out- glare each other. Deciding that enough was enough, Percy stalked out of the room before anyone could stop him.

"Well, that was certainly a bittersweet reunion," Snape commented dryly before anyone else could say anything.

"We should return now anyway," McGonagall added. One by one, the students all followed her back.

~*~*~*~

When they had returned to Hogwarts, McGonagall added to the students, "By the way, there is something else you should know. Due to wartime policies, there has been a new law passed that reduces the coming of age to sixteen years. Throughout this week, sixth years will be allowed to study Apparation. On Saturday or Sunday, whenever you have finished your studying, you can go to the Department of Magical Transportation to pass your Apparition tests, since it takes a week on average. That is all."

After she left, Ron turned to Harry, grinning, and said, "Wicked! We get to learn Apparation a year early!"

Harry shrugged. "I just hope I'll be able to do it right without splinching myself or anything. It sounds dangerous." (4)

"From what I've read, it is, but if you do it correctly, there should be no problems," Hermione added.

Harry went back up to his dorm with Ron and Neville, and just then, five owls bearing packages with Ministry seals flew in, one for each of the five boys. After the owls dropped off their packages and left, the boys opened them to find books entitled "The Art of Apparation." Without further ado, Harry got started on reading his copy.

~*~*~*~

It was just before dinner when Dumbledore was piecing together all the different parts of the various prophecies.

There was mentioning in the millennium-old prophecy about the symbolism with the trees and the wands. Harry's wand was made of holly, which symbolized life, like at Christmas time. Voldemort's wand was made of yew, a tree which symbolized death and often grew in graveyards. (5)

As for the parts about their fathers, Tom Riddle Sr. was buried outside his manor, where a yew tree grew. 6 When it came to the Potters, they had lived in Godric's Hollow for centuries. For the most part, they had all been Gryffindors, with the occasional Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw in the family. They often grew holly trees around Potter Mansion, which was their ancestral home. Dumbledore gave a small chuckle at the play on words, with "holly" and "hollow." The Mansion was more of a refuge or last resort, in case anything happened to a Potter's home elsewhere. (6)

As for being a fire elementalist, Neville seemed to possess no such ability, whereas Harry did, even though it only seemed to work on certain occasions.

Dumbledore thought about the two occasions so far where Harry had demonstrated that ability: once on Dolores Umbridge, and once on Rodolphus Lestrange. The ability seemed to work when someone that Harry cared for was hurt, thus being the result of any burst of righteous fury.

What came to mind next was Harry's failed use of the Cruciatus Curse on Bellatrix Lestrange, because he didn't hold that evil hatred within him. So it was righteous fury that was the power behind Harry's fire attacks.

Speaking of fire, one scholar centuries ago had written about comparing the four Founders to the four elements of the ancient world. That scholar had compared Gryffindor to the Fire signs, Hufflepuff to the Earth signs, Ravenclaw to the Air signs, and Slytherin to the Water signs. (7)

All of the evidence so far pointed to Harry as the definite Heir of Gryffindor was growing stronger each day... but Dumbledore still had to go through all the facts first before making his final decision.

At that moment, something else came to mind. Harry would soon be of age, meaning he could see his family vault at Gringotts. Maybe he and Harry could go to Diagon Alley tomorrow, and Dumbledore could show him the vault. It would also be an ideal way of finding any more evidence to back up Professor Dumbledore's theories.

As it came close to being dinner time, Dumbledore put all his independent research away in a special cabinet, designed to hold all his little ideas that he often thought about, wrote about, and read about. Securely closing it, he departed from his office for the Great Hall.

~*~*~*~

As Harry and Ron left Gryffindor Tower for dinner, the former asked, "So, Ron, what do you want for your birthday?"

He shrugged. "I really don't know."

"You know, I don't agree with Percy's arguments earlier today, but he was a little right about how all the good fortunes keep falling on me."

Ron looked worried. "What's your point?"

Taking a deep breath, Harry asked, "Do you want a Firebolt?"

Ron looked ecstatic. "Damn right I do!"

"Just out of curiosity, what would you do with your Cleansweep?"

Ron shrugged this time. "I don't know, but in case I need it, it will be there."

"Anyway, I'll ask Professor Dumbledore after dinner if I can go into Diagon Alley tomorrow. Apparently, with the Assistant Professor thing, my privileges are halfway between staff and student privileges."

"That's cool."

Hermione, who had been hearing their conversation, came up to them and said, "You know, Harry, speaking of which, Professor McGonagall has been a little lax with you this year. Haven't you noticed?"

Harry thought about it. "Yes, I suppose she has."

"Well, Lupin showed you that memory the night after Umbridge's trial, right?" Harry nodded. "She was upset over how many things kept happening to you which she could have prevented last year, and it was obvious she wasn't about ready to allow a repeat of that this year. Some of what she said, well..."

Harry had an idea. "I've also been studying Legilimency. I could focus on the memory itself of what happened. Here, let's go to an empty classroom."

Ducking into Harry's classroom and securely locking the door, Harry said, "Focus on the memory itself, okay? Got it?" Hermione nodded. "Good. Legilimens!"

The memory started before Harry's eyes...

Harry was delving into Hermione's memory. It was the night after the trial; Harry could see Lupin storming out, and Snape gliding out after him, with something to give him.

Everyone's attention then focused back on Dumbledore, still shell- shocked by Lupin's tirade. They were all about to say something, but Mrs. Weasley beat them to it.

"Albus Dumbledore, what in Merlin's name were you thinking!?" she screamed, and everyone else backed up. "Leaving Harry to grow up like that, how dare you, you're as guilty as those Muggles..." she continued in this vein for some time, with Dumbledore's head hanging down, before the topic of Umbridge was bought up.

"And then when the toad comes along, you just let her abuse him and torture him, I can't believe you, you should have been able to put a stop to that, even Minerva would have been able to stop her..." McGonagall looked about ready to cry "...and then my children are endangered with that psychotic woman, AND YOU DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!?"

She paused to breathe heavily, and McGonagall said, "You're absolutely right, Molly, although by later in the year, Dumbledore was in hiding and I was in the hospital. Really, if he had come to me, I would have put a stop to it."

Before Mrs. Weasley could verbally retaliate, Hermione started her own rant, although it was less enraged and much more hysterical. "Then why did you send him back to her to begin with!? So many things went wrong last year. You made Malfoy, Malfoy of all people a prefect, and for weeks straight, Harry bled so horribly, blood everywhere, Umbridge turning the school upside down with her essentially unlimited power, I thought Snape would be a little bit nicer since he was part of the Order and Harry nearly died and saw Cedric die-" Ron tried calming her down, but she was nearly unstoppable now with her grief "-and you just left him to suffer, and struggle with Occlumency, and try to teach DADA because Umbridge wouldn't, and he saw his godfather die right in front of him, OH GOD HE WAS HURT SO BADLY AND HE HAD NO ONE TO TURN TO AND I WASN'T ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT!"

She buried her face in her hands and let her tears roll freely while Ron made to comfort her. Everyone else was disgusted at how things could spiral so horribly last year. "After all he's been through," Hermione sobbed, "After the various things he's had to endure, physically and psychologically, you just leave him to suffer and sink into depression and anger? He's not your soldier to fight your battles or your poster boy as a symbol of glory! Of all the things you could have done, why not just sit down and explain to him what was happening?"

With much sadness on his face and in his voice that seemed to increase his age, Dumbledore said, "I honestly did what I thought was best. On the rare occasions Harry and I made eye contact, I could see a glimmer of Voldemort, due to his feedback in Harry's mind, via the scar. Harry knew it himself, how when we would make eye contact and feel unquenchable hatred towards me which was so out of place. If I had moved him to the Burrow or here at Grimmauld Place last summer, and had told him what was happening, Voldemort could have gained too much knowledge to use against us. I was not about to give him any further incentive to invade Harry's mind. A few weeks ago in the Ministry of Magic, Voldemort managed a full scale attack on Harry's mind, even to the point of possessing him as happened with Miss Weasley three years ago." There was silence while Ginny shuddered. "That was what I was trying to prevent. I even panicked, yes, panicked, because being a highly skilled Legilimens myself, I knew what the effects of a full scale mental assault could be. I believe, Miss Granger, you would know about a Muggle operation called a lobotomy?"

The memory-Hermione gasped and clapped her hand to her mouth. Most of the other Order members, not knowing much about Muggle science or medicine, looked blankly. Slowly, Hermione nodded her head.

"Herm, what's a- a- whatever you call it?" Ron asked her.

Slowly, Hermione explained, not her usual scholarly self. "Ron, according to Muggle science and psychology, the frontal lobe of the human brain is associated with feelings and emotions. About fifty years ago, Muggle doctors would try to cut out that part of the brain in order to control violently insane people." Ron's jaw dropped, and he looked about ready to throw up. Hermione finished, "They stopped doing that decades ago, because it often caused more problems that it solved."

"Precisely, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said gravely. "Possession can leave someone deeply traumatized and mentally damaged. The worst cases resemble people who have had Muggle lobotomies. Thankfully, it didn't happen with Harry, although he now has better incentive to continue with his Occlumency, and he seems to be improving as I had hoped."

"That may be the case, but how about other things last year, like who was a prefect and who wasn't?" Hermione questioned.

"Unfortunately, I had to make Mr. Malfoy a prefect for the sake of having a good face for the public. It was for the same reason Professor Snape 'favors' the Death Eaters' children in Potions classes, to convince them of his so-called loyalty to their cause. While Harry may have made for an astounding prefect and it would have shown more faith in him, I decided that he had too much to endure for the time being, so I chose Mr. Weasley instead."

"Will Malfoy and Parkinson still be prefects, Headmaster?" Ron asked, in a tone that clearly said, "Please say no."

"I'm afraid that Mr. Malfoy and Miss Parkinson, based on their actions the previous year, not to mention this summer at the grand opening, will not be able to continue their prefect positions for next year." Ron whooped, and Dumbledore continued, "I was hoping to select Mr. Blaise Zabini and Miss Nora Moon in their place; their status in this war is neutral."

"I believe, Miss Granger," McGonagall added, "I owe you an explanation for my stance last year. The way Harry was constantly challenging Ms. Umbridge in class, it seemed as though he was playing right into her hands, and then she could use his behavior against him. I was trying to teach him to be resilient, and to know what and what not to say. As for the Blood Quill, well, when Umbridge started doing things more openly, and I saw more students bleeding from their hands, I suspected something was wrong. I would have been able to do something about it, by the way; there's no way she could have gotten away with that." McGonagall bowed her head shamefully and muttered, "Lily would have my head if she found out about this."

"Sorry?" Hermione asked.

Taking a deep breath, McGonagall said, "Never mind, Miss Granger. Anyway, we have another meeting to conduct." As all the students filed out of the room, Hermione walked out, saddened and grieving, with Ron to comfort her.

...and thus the memory ended. (8)

Harry ended the spell, and Hermione blinked, dazed by the spell. Ron looked back and forth between them, and said, "What was that?"

"Legilimency, Ron," Harry said.

"Anyway," Hermione concluded, "I think McGonagall was still feeling guilty about what she did and didn't do last year, and she was determined at all costs not to let it happen again."

"Although I'm still a little peeved at how she was always shouting at me," Ron added.

Harry sighed. "Sometimes, Ron, she can be harshest on her own students. We all make mistakes like that. Remember our first year when she was pissed with finding me and Hermione in the middle of the night and we had to lie to cover for our action of helping Norbert escape? I think it was the same idea. I guess she was a little too lax with me." Looking Ron straight in the eye, he said, "By the way, sorry for the fox prank, the spider bogey hex, the invisibility charm on your underwear, and all of that other stuff."

Ron nodded, "I'm sorry about what I did too, with the jealousy and the insinuations with you and Cho sleeping together."

"Good," Harry said, "Anyway, I'll try to get your brand new Firebolt tomorrow, as an early birthday gift for before the Quidditch Final."

Ron's eyes gleamed hungrily. "I can't wait to have my own sweet Firebolt."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Boys," she muttered before walking out. The best friends exchanged glances, laughed, and followed her.

Around the corner, McGonagall was listening to their conversation, which she happened to hear. She allowed herself a tiny grin; James Potter and Sirius Black had had their occasional fights like this, and they had always managed to sort things out.

~*~*~*~

After dinner, Harry and Dumbledore immediately sought each other out, and they both said at the same time, "Want to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow?" After they shared a laugh, Harry said, "OK, Professor Dumbledore, why do you want to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow?"

Dumbledore grinned his powerful grin, twinkling eyes and all. "You are almost of age, Harry. I thought you would like to see your family vault."

Harry's eyes popped. "Er, why didn't you tell me about it until now?"

"Because you are now technically of age, and so now you are allowed to see it."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, good, I thought you were trying to keep another secret from me."

Dumbledore smiled. "And risk the destruction of the rest of the objects in my office? I think not."

Harry blushed a little from embarrassment and laughed softly. "Sure, I'll come."

"Meet me in my office tomorrow after lunch, and we shall depart."

"OK, I will."

At that point, Ginny came down the hall and saw the two of them. She looked a little tired, and Harry asked, "Ginny, what's wrong?"

"I need more quills, ink, parchment, study books, you name it, all for the O.W.L.s," she said. "I wish I could go to Diagon Alley tomorrow."

Harry and Dumbledore swapped amused looks. "Actually, Miss Weasley, Harry and I have business to take care of tomorrow in Diagon Alley."

"In other words, Ginny, care to come shopping with us?" Harry asked a little too quickly.

Ginny laughed and said, "Sure, I was hoping to find another purpose for my inheritance rather than have it collect dust in the vault."

Harry's smile faded a little at the mention of Sirius' legacy, but went along with it anyway. Dumbledore chuckled, "I shall ask Mr. And Mrs. Weasley if they have permission for their daughter to come along for the trip. Just make sure you bring along your money bags and your ability to survive the Gringotts cart rides." Dumbledore walked off smiling as Harry and Ginny fell into fits of laughter.

Dumbledore shook his head, smiling. So much like Lily and James... the current students certainly took after the older generation.

~*~*~*~

Later that night, Harry finished reading his Transfiguration textbook for this year; he had read ahead a lot and thought he could correctly answer any question on the exam at the end of the year. He'd have to ask McGonagall about her opinion of his progress. For some reason, Harry felt more comfortable with subjects that involved a wand (DADA, Charms, and Transfiguration).

He was looking forward to the shopping trip tomorrow. He really wanted to see what lay beyond the door to his family vault, and learn more about his past.

Ginny came up to him and said, "Well, Harry, I just hope you have an awful lot of stamina, because I have a lot of shopping to do tomorrow!"

Harry laughed along with her and pulled her into a hug. "Just get your rest, Gin, you might need to keep up with me tomorrow. Want to know why?"

"Why?"

"Since I'm officially of age now, Dumbledore will show me my family vault. I have no idea what's beyond it." Lowering his voice, he said, "I'm not sounding like I'm trying to show off or anything, am I?"

"No, Harry, of course not, you were never an arrogant prick like some other people I know."

It was only implied, but she was referring to Draco Malfoy. It had been a touchy subject with Harry. Harry and most of his friends felt sorry for him, but Ron didn't waste his breath on Draco, and kept mentioning stuff about him "deserving it" or "finally having it come to him," much to the consternation of everyone else. Harry had to admit, that while most of his past behavior had been immature, mostly inexcusable, and downright wrong altogether, Draco was still human, and grew up with role models that had left much to be desired.

"By the way, any word from Draco?" Harry asked her.

"No, not even so much as a feather from Venator."

"Venator?"

She shrugged. "His eagle owl. It's Latin for 'hunter' or 'predator' or something."

"Oh, okay, I get it now. Anyway, not to sound boastful or anything, but I have millions dumped in my trust fund already. My own personal vault was just meant for my Hogwarts years. I wish I knew a good use to put it to."

"How about setting up an organization for all the people left homeless and such from the war?"

Indeed, it was an excellent idea. Hundreds of families, most of them in Britain, had been left homeless and helpless by Death Eater attacks. Almost all of them had been ripped apart with casualties, both dead and injured.

"Excellent thinking, Ginny," Harry smiled. His smile faded as he continued, "I could probably sympathize with most kids if they lost one or both of their parents." His voice pained now, he continued, "No one deserves to grow up the way I did. Or how Voldemort did, for that matter."

Ginny looked grim now. "I often felt left over anger and coldness from when he possessed me. I often wondered what had gone wrong in his life to merit such sadness in misery. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost."

Harry mused about something for a moment, and then said, "I see your point. On the other hand, pity might have been what drove him to that. What with all adults saying something like, 'Sorry your life is so miserable, but we really don't care...' I can almost see where he's coming from. However, in the end, his choice to become that evil is still just as important. Besides, I just thought of something else; Sirius was cooped up at home all of last year, and now I'll be using some of his money to give a home to children who need it."

Both of them shared a chuckle at the irony, and after sharing a passionate kiss, and then harmlessly hexing any immature onlookers who were whistling and catcalling, they both went up their respective staircases.

From a corner of the room, the soon-to-be traitor looked scathingly at Harry. She had her own reasons for hating him. She paid attention in all of Professor Trelawney's Divination classes, did all her homework correctly, took Trelawney seriously, and she hardly had any markings of a true Seer. Potter, on the other hand, faked his way through Divination classes, made up all the homework, only spoke respectfully of Trelawney, even if he didn't take her all that seriously, and he's the one who has all the dreams and visions! That just wasn't right or fair at all. Soon enough, she smiled grimly to herself. Soon enough, while serving the Dark Lord, she would Potter in his place. With that, she finished her Divination homework, with the prediction that Potter would finally die from Avada Kedavra, once and for all. (9)

~*~*~*~

Harry slept peacefully for the first hour or so that night. It mainly involved dreams of his friends, and a peaceful life, completed homework and such.

It was after that where it turned to nightmares...

(End of Chapter 27.)

A/N: So, did I do a good job with the red herrings and making Percy look bad?

(1) LOL, what a funny scene! No, this is not Umbridge's end... I have a much more fitting fate for her in mind, an idea which I got from some of my reviewers... wink wink!

(2) I know, they don't really play baseball in Britain, but I'm American, so please forgive me.

(3) Cute image, don't you agree?

(4) I'm going to skip the incantations or passages or whatever because I have absolutely no idea how Apparation works.

(5) It's true, you know.

(6) Think back to GoF; there's a yew tree in the graveyard, remember?

(7) Evidence I've found in the books to back up this possible "Houses/Elements" comparison is the subjects taught by the Professors who are the House Heads. Sprout teachers about plants that grow out of the Earth, Flitwick shows how spells can be performed by saying words while waving a wand through the Air, and Snape teaches about Potions, which are made with water. As for McGonagall and fire, well, sorry, I haven't found anything yet.

(8) This was inspired by a scene in "Daddy's Favorite," by Dzeytoun, which I feel is probably what would have happened in canon. (Don't worry, I'm citing Dzeytoun's work, which he doesn't have a problem with, so it's not plagiarism.)

(9) It could be Lavender, it could be Parvati, it could be another Gryffindor girl who worships Trelawny (an OC). Who knows? I do!

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