New Year, Same Old Things…

"You know, I kind of wish we could find out how to get the elves here to make us what we want" Harry said as he got out of the carriage and looked at the Castle. It was the start of his Fourth Year alongside Susan and Hannah and he was looking forward to it with great passion. The previous two years had been quiet compared to his first, he'd learnt lots of interesting spells and even was part of the Quidditch team for Hufflepuff.

"We could always Owl Susan's Aunt for that casserole recipe" Hannah said.

"We could always visit the kitchens and just talk to them" Susan said.

"True"

"I wonder where Hermione is…" Harry looked around with a frown on his face. "Didn't she say that she was going to Egypt?"

"Maybe her plane got delayed" Hannah suggested.

"So why didn't she get magical help? Her parents could use the Floo or a Portkey" Harry pointed out. "Mind you, I bet they overslept and she ended up getting help from McGonagall to get here before any of us" he added with a laugh.

"That sounds like her" Susan chuckled as she led the way into the castle and the Great Hall. Students filled the hall and the sorting ceremony took place before McGonagall rose from her chair and called for quiet.

"Welcome, students, to the start of another year at Hogwarts. For those that are returning, it is good to see you all once more. For those of you joining us, I welcome you also as part of the Hogwarts family. I have a few announcements to make, then we may start our feast… First, it has been discovered that Hogwarts was entered into a magical competition involving the schools of Beaxbatons of France and Durmstrang of Russia. This is known as the Triwizard Tournament and is a competition of skill, cunning and of planning which one student from each school must use if they want to win over the three tasks that make up the competition. Professor Dumbledore, before his sad passing, had started plans and had simply forgot to mention it in any notes. The second piece of news is that one of our students, Hermione Granger, was attacked by a group claiming to be Death Eaters and is currently in hospital recovering from her injuries. It is the opinion of the Healers at St Mungos that she may not return until the end of this month. Now, with that unpleasant news out of the way, let the feast begin" and she sat down as all kinds of food appeared on the tables. The trio of friends looked at each other in alarm – whoever had attacked Hermione must have done it in the space of the three days after she'd written to them. They planned to ask McGonagall for more information on what had happened and if there was anything they could do to help. They ate their meal, but felt not as hungry as they normally would do under the circumstances and left early to go to their room. McGonagall saw them leave quietly as they did so, going against tradition, but she felt in her heart that she could not stop them because they'd more than likely take the option of points off and detention and still go to Hermione.

#

The trio had got a House Elf to take them to St Mungos and found their way to Hermione's private room which was being guarded by Regan and Carter.

"Good evening, Miss Susan" Regan said, "Shouldn't the three of you be in school?"

"We just heard about Hermione" Susan explained, "So we thought we'd come here and find out what really happened"

"You really wouldn't want to know, Miss" Carter said uneasily.

"This falls under the business of the Potter Family" Harry said carefully. "Please tell me what has happened to somebody under my protection"

"Sir, I really don't think you want to know… Especially the ladies" Carter looked at Regan who seemed hesitant also.

"Aurors, somebody under my Family's protection has been injured, perhaps seriously, and I need to know how badly so I can exact the correct revenge" replied Harry with a touch of anger lacing his words.

"Son, your friend was attacked very badly indeed – some Healers think she might not make it… What do you want us to do?"

"Find me those responsible and then dig some graves" Harry growled as occasional sparks of magic crackled. "Where are her parents?" he asked.

"They…"

"They suffered multiple organ failures and will not see the night" Carter said.

"Well just do a transplant on them" Susan frowned.

"Transplant?"

"Honestly, magicals…" Harry sighed and shook his head. "Susan, find your Aunt and get her here. Hannah, go and get a Healer who knows about non magical methods"

"What about you?" asked Regan.

"I'm going to see Hermione"

"I have orders to only allow Healers in"

"Your orders have changed" Harry said and gestured with one hand – moving Regan out of the way.

"Did you… Gov, I ain't never seen anything like that before" Carter said as he picked up Regan from the floor.

"Too bloody right, George" Regan dusted himself off. "What time do we get relieved again?"

"Half nine"

"Bollocks…" Regan muttered. "You know, I used to love this job – now, I'm not so bloody sure! If we got some Muggle in to do this transplanting thing, we'd have to wipe their memories after"

"We owe them a lot"

"I know that, George – James Potter saved my life twice. With him dead, my debt transfers to his son" Regan rubbed his chin. "Say, your sister is a Muggle Healer, ain't she?"

"Yeah, Gov… She's magical, though, but works with Muggles a lot"

"Can she do this?"

"Dunno… Can't hurt to ask"

"Have a word with her… Christ" he added with another shake of his head, "I'm dying for a fag. Look, George, cover for me would you? I can't last another couple of hours without one" and Carter gave the sort of sigh of a long suffering but deeply loyal subordinate.

"Alright, Gov… Ten minutes and then I'm telling Madam Bones what really happened with that chap and the exploding toilets"

#

"Mr Potter, you realise that what we're being asked to do is something that has never been attempted here" the Healer spoke.

"I know, but surely you can do a simple switching spell" Harry commented as the trio kept their eyes on Hermione and her parents.

"Its more complicated then that"

"Can you do it or not?" Hannah demanded.

"Well…" the Healer shrugged, "Its possible I suppose – I've just never heard of it being done"

"We do not care if you've never heard of it being done, can you do it?"

"Yes, but I will need more Healers to do it. Another question is who is going to give up their organs?"

"Oh, that is not your concern… They will be here within the hour" Harry's voice brooked no argument. The Healer wondered who somebody so young got to speak with such great power, how they had such conviction in spirit and decided that they didn't need to know.

"Might I make a suggestion?" she asked.

"Of course" Susan smiled.

"We do the Granger parents first – they are in the more serious condition"

"Well don't just stand there – get on with the damned thing" Harry growled. "However" he said, turning on his heel and stalking over towards where the Healer was beginning to regret every decision she had ever made, "I want to know something… The Grangers have been here for several days now. The fact they are under my protection is well known and a matter of record – why was I not told until this evening?"

"You were" the Healer blinked. "We sent several notes to you, but they came back undelivered"

"And you didn't think to send a House Elf or send somebody to my Wizandgamot office to contact me that way"

"We sent a trainee healer with a note to your office, but he came back and said that you had dismissed him out of hand"

"That'll be something for your Aunt to investigate" he glanced back at Susan. "Right, well I suppose we have work to do"

#

"You do realise that I could give you three detention?" McGonagall's voice made the three of them look up from the corridor outside the room the Grangers were staying in.

"Yes" Hannah replied simply.

"Then explain why not"

"Because this is the business of my Family" Harry said, looking at the Headmistress with such sad eyes that she felt sorry for the trio. "Hermione is a close friend of mine, Professor, and there had to be something I could do. Susan and Hannah agreed with me, so we decided to come along and help in whatever way we could"

"And can you?"

"Yeah… They are going to transplant in a few hours"

"They can do that?" McGonagall was surprised.

"Sure… Its going to be a lot cleaner then in the Muggle version, but it's the same sort of thing – basically, they are going to do a switching spell with a hell of a lot of power behind it"

"Perhaps I should get Professor Flitwick here to help them – he knows about charms and spells like that" McGonagall suggested.

"There is one drawback to that" Harry chuckled despite the atmosphere.

"What is that?"

"Hogwarts rules state that the school would be left in the care of the next most senior teacher"

"And?"

"That would be Hagrid"

"Ah… Well, that is a risk I am willing to make for Miss Granger"

"And for her parents!" Susan objected.

"And them too" McGonagall added hastily. "If this is going to be as complicated as you say, perhaps two persons well versed in their fields might be of some help"

"Thank you" Harry said quietly. "Professor, will… Will they be alright?"

"I would like to say they will be, but something like this has never happened before in our world – I can not say one way or the other"

"I'm just glad this didn't happen to the girls"

"Why?"

"Because then I would have found out who did this and tear them apart with my own hands" and McGonagall was surprised to realise that he meant every word of it.

"Have you thought about the chance that nothing can be done for them?"

"Yes" Harry shrugged, "But as a wise man once taught us, I don't believe in the no-win scenario"

"Oh, child…" McGonagall whispered as she gazed at the sleeping Hermione, "I wish it was always that so"

"So long as I am here, Professor, nothing is going to go wrong unless evil doers come to me with a petition" Harry shook his head.

"Aye… Would you like to go back to the school? I shall send word for you when it is time" and the trio shook their heads.

"No, Ma'am – we're staying" Susan shook her head.

"I could expel you"

"People have tried" Hannah glanced at McGonagall, "And they have failed"

#

It wasn't for another six hours that they got news the procedure had been a success, all three Grangers would recover within a week and Hermione would be able to start school after then – though the trio knew she would be angry about missing so much time. When they had been woken up, Susan and Hannah had fallen asleep in large chairs whilst Harry was sleeping in a hammock that was going in circles off the ceiling fan.

"Hang on" the Healer blinked, "We never had a ceiling fan before"

#

"So glad we were able to make it to lessons on time" Hannah said. "What is our first lesson?"

"Um…" Susan looked at the list, "Potions"

"Did you get your homework finished? I forgot to ask on the train"

"I think so, but I'm still worried I forgot stuff about the eels in some heart serums"

"Too late to change it now" Harry smiled, "Although imagine if we could use a time turner"

"A time turner for lessons?" Hannah giggled.

"Yeah, children would never be given one of those even if we were super smart and we got a begging letter from McGonagall to boot" Susan smirked.

"It was a thought" Harry shrugged. They sat down to eat breakfast, chatted to some of their housemates and then returned to their room to collect their things for Potions class. As they walked to the classroom, Harry mentally reviewed everything and wondered if he had put in a segment about how summer rain can be used to make potions much stronger. Knowing it was too late, he followed the girls into the room and took his usual spot at the front – it had the most legroom and the trio liked to swing their legs as they worked.

"Good Morning, class" a tall and beautiful Japanese woman spoke as she came in through the small office door to the side. "My name is Usagi Tsukino and I will be your Potions Mistress for this year and, hopefully, for years to come. As you know, Professor Starr had to leave his post after he was found to be embezzling school funds as well as drinking on the job – you will be glad to know I do neither. Now, as this is our first lesson together, I shall be answering a few questions from you before you hand in your homework and doing a quiz to test your knowledge" she looked around the room. "Mr Potter?"

"Ma'am?" Harry half raised a hand.

"I've wanted to meet you for a while now. Do not worry, I am not a crazy person wanting to know you for fame and fortune, but to be in your presence is reward enough"

"Reward?"

"Oh… I will tell you after classes. Right, well, lets start with the register, shall we?" and she took it and then sat on the edge of her desk. "Questions?"

"What are your qualifications?" asked Susan.

"A good question… Well, I studied at the Tokyo Magical Academy for seven years, went on to further education at the All Japan Magical University under Taku Tamaki – a leader in the field of potion studies as well as having a huge fondness for Muggle railways. After my fifth year, I gained my Mastery and travelled around spending a year or two here and there in order to see the world… And get a nice and tidy sum too! Anyway, I have always wanted to live in Britain so I applied for the position and was clearly lucky to get it"

"Miss?" a Ravenclaw held up their hand, "Will you be able to grade our work since you didn't teach us last year?"

"Certainly… Do not mistake a pretty face for a pretty mind" Tsukino chuckled. "Very well, if there are no more questions, I shall take in your summer homework and then see what you have learned. Come up to the front, hand them in and then open your books to the start and read until I say otherwise" and they did so.

#

For the first time, Harry was almost sad to leave a Potions lessons because he had enjoyed the lesson completely and felt he understood what had been taught. Susan and Hannah agreed with his thought as they walked to Non Magical History which was a subject that McGonagall had introduced in their second year as a core subject which the trio aced every quiz and test on. For the first part of the term, they would be learning about the Second World War and the weapons used by either side – an easy assignment for Muggleborns or Halfbloods. The three of them thought briefly about the old planes that still proudly flew overhead from time to time and wondered if people had brooms that old.

"Mr Potter, Miss Bones and Miss Abbott… I trust that you have completed your assigned summer work?"

"Yes, Professor White" they chorused.

"Good – I thought that with your visit to the Quidditch World Cup, you might have not found the time to work on it" the middle aged man chuckled and shook his head. "Very well… Now who can tell me about the start of Hitler's defeat?" he asked.

"Why should we learn about this?" snorted one of the Ravenclaws in the class. "Muggles can be defeated by Wizards – they will never be as powerful"

"Tell me, Mr Smith, how many people can you kill in the blink of an eye?" White turned to regard the pupil with an icy look. "With a powerful blasting hex, you could kill a dozen. If your targets were on a bridge… Maybe three or four dozen. The Muggles came up with a weapon that can kill thousands in less time than it takes to realise you blinked. Over the years since, that weapon has been refined so that it can kill at least a million in around ten seconds"

"Impossible"

"You'd think so, wouldn't you…? Mr Smith, Grindlewald allied himself with a madman the likes of which we are lucky never to have seen again. They put the sick, the weak, children and the elderly into camps and killed them. They made them create weapons of terrible destruction, used their bodies for dark magic…"

"Lies… We'd never do th-"

"I WAS THERE!" White shouted and Harry's left hand slipped down for his wand and placed it into his right. "Detention and a hundred points from Ravenclaw. Now, get out and go to your common room until your next class… Go!" and Smith grabbed his books and left quickly. "If people like him never learn, the world is doomed. Anyway, tell me about the start of Hitler's defeats and his eventual downfall"

"Sir?" Susan raised her hand.

"Miss Bones?"

"He invaded the Magical Soviet"

"True, but can anybody give me a bigger example?" White looked to be calming down, but Harry's wand stayed where it was for the time being – he would never take a chance when Hannah and Susan could be hurt by a magical backlash.

"He was a failed painter and only had one testicle" Hannah chirped up.

"Well… Yes, I suppose that is true. Hitler relied on the hate that he and his party brewed up for Jewish people as well as others he blamed for the defeat of Germany by the Allies in the previous war. His key early successes were due to those allies believing that Germany would abide by the treaties it had signed – and being somewhat surprised when they did not. His armies tore through Europe pushing back in its path until only the United Kingdom and the Empire it controlled were the only ones left to carry on the fight. By that time, the International Confederation of Wizards had finally decided to get involved in some small way… But it was too late and the world had been changed forever and some argue that this allowed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to gain a following and become as powerful as he did"

"Well, if he ever comes back" Harry said, "I think me and him might be having a few words"

"Indeed" said the Professor.

#

The trio missed the arrival of the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons as they had left the school after lessons as they always did for the Halloween period. Although they enjoyed some of it, none of them felt like celebrating the death of Harry's parents so they would get some sweets, watch a few muggle movies and then go out for a dinner and whatever show they fancied at the Palladium where Harry always had a box reserved at that time of the year as well as the birthdays of his girls, Madam Bones and both the Abbott parents.

"I don't think I will ever get tired of the non-magical side of things" Susan sighed happily as they settled into their oversized chair with cups of hot chocolate. They had gone for a bit of a wonder round London and spent all day on the Routemaster buses that still raced around the busy streets – they loved them greatly and their room at Hogwarts had a couple of pictures of them along with their other ones of family and friends.

"You just won't get tired of McDonalds" Harry said.

"And?"

"You know the levitation charm will only lift so much weight" Hannah snickered.

"Can I file for divorce?" Susan glared at Hannah as she asked Harry.

"No"

"Damn"

"Master Harry? Mistress Susan? Mistress Hannah? Dinner is being served in an hour" an elf popped in to inform them.

"That's great, Pippin" Harry said. "By the way, I've got something for you" and he pulled out a small package and unshrunk it. "I know elves don't really celebrate birthdays, but it was your birthday yesterday and I wanted to get you something nice" and they watched as the elf opened it to reveal a small black cloak.

"Master gives elf clothes?"

"No…" Harry laughed. "Remember when we all watched Star Wars just before school started and you said you wanted a cloak just like Darth Vader? Well, we found one in just your size, so it is your birthday present"

"Thank you, Master Harry" the elf beamed before popping away.

"He's going to want to be buried in that" chuckled both of the girls.

"Perhaps" Harry replied with a laugh as they drank and listened to the WWN until dinner was being served.

#

"Harry Potter!" the name flew out of the Goblet of Fire and into McGonagall's hand. People looked around but Harry, of course was nowhere to be seen but it didn't stop the whispers going around the hall.

"What is the meaning of this?" asked the Headmaster of Durmstrang. "Where did I read in the rules that the hosts could have two entries? Let alone a filthy half breed that…" he was cut off by almost all of Hufflepuff standing and turning in one fluid motion to bring their wands to bear on the man.

"Oh shit…" Sprout muttered as she slowly withdrew her wand.

#

"Hi, Madam Bones" Harry said as the woman stepped out of the fireplace and into the middle of a firefight.

"Report, Auror"

"Ma'am, the evil Badger Empire has kidnapped Princess Susan The Brave and are trying to stop me from a rescue attempt" Harry said as he tossed a couple of tickling hexes at Hannah who calmly stepped out of their path.

"I see… Well, the DMLE is here to assist" and she started throwing a few jinxes and hexes in a lazy manner which Hannah easily battered away. After a couple of minutes, Amelia looked at Harry and shook her head. "I don't think we can win this one"

"I do" and Harry opened the windows to the living room with a sharp flick. "NOW!" he yelled and ropes appeared as black clad elves hurried down, climbed inside the house before attacking the witch with conjured cushions. "Ma'am, after you…" Harry gestured.

"Thank you, dear sir" and the two sprung up and charged at Hannah who threw down her wand and put her hands up in surrender.

"I surrender…! I surrender!"

"Pippin, no prisoners" Harry said sternly.

"Yes, Master Harry Potter, sir…" and Pippin withdrew a waterbomb and threw it at Hannah's chest – the item bursting with no real force at all.

"Madam Bones, target eliminated"

"The target is bloody soaked and covered in paint!"

"Go and get cleaned up the three of you. When you are finished, I need to speak to you – something has happened at Hogwarts"

A/N:

Okay, the long awaited next chapter – hope you all like it and the surprise twist at the start!

For those older UK based fans, yes… The House Elves stormed the living room via rope like the Iran Embassy Siege

The appearance of a new elf, Pippin, is something that will appear in the next chapter – should have been in this one, but then the explanation made more sense to be placed later as a recounting of an adventure during the time skip.

Couple of references to their first year hijinks and Regan and Carter are still in the Auror Corps and seemingly the "go to guys" for and protection detail that's connected with Harry and the girls.

Oh, and yes… The new Potions Mistress is Sailor Moon!

Regards

Pixel and Stephanie Forever