Short, transitional piece. Will be trying to get some time to work in new chapters but can't promise anything. Apparently my uncle died this morning too. Didn't even know I had an uncle. Thought they were all dead already so still possessing that news bit. But enough about me. On to the chapter.

Book II :: Chapter 9 :: Two begets Three

Harry sat cheerfully as he watched the chaos of the Weasley's unfold before him. Harry thought he'd seen it all when they practically ran from the bookstore after Arthur and Lucius got into a fist fight. They even had to go back to Diagon Alley to get their shopping done after that fiasco. Arthur even appeared in the paper that morning. Molly, for all her flaws, really was a kind, caring mother.

She apologized profusely for bringing him with them, even though they basically dragged him with them after he accepted Ginny's invitation. Though her apology was kinda pointless. He still needed to purchase his school books since he avoided the signing that day, and he did choose to willingly go with them back to the Burrow.

None the less, she appreciated his words back then and Harry was content knowing his words brought some relief to the family knowing their return trip wasn't a nuisance to their guest. Harry even secretly filled up their Floo powder jar without them knowing. He didn't need to but he figured that they'd appreciate the fact they wouldn't need to buy more Floo powder.

The following trip was chaotic, a bit of a rush, but nothing like this. Fred and George were going around causing trouble wherever they could get away with it, mainly targeting Percy who kept finding that he was missing one more thinking that he could have sworn he packed.

Ron was practically streaking through the house, having slept in and ignored the nine wake-up calls he was given. Even going back to sleep three times. Arthur, having made public display the week prior, left early for work the week, barely around at all much to the disappointment of Harry. Mr. Weasley was incredibly fun to have around, energetic and lively, always eager to listen and ask Harry about objects muggles used on a daily basis.

Ginny was waiting contently with him on the couch, her back resting on his arm with her legs propped up on the armrest of the couch. Harry had made the mistake of telling her about Salazar's Diary, and because of her history with his pet monster, wanted to know more about the man who ruined her first year. Almost instantly she had become hooked and like him, heavily interested in his story. At first she didn't believe it, but there it was written as plain as day.

For the days leading up to the train ride back to Hogwarts, she had devoted almost all her free time to reading his Diary. While Harry was kinda jealous of the attention the book was getting in contrast to him, Harry simply let it slide and settled for the touch of her back. While not optimal, it was a fair reminder that the future was bright.

Like him she too was fully packed and ready to go. However unlike Harry she actually packed. Harry's trunk was pretty much a mobile home, so he never really unpacked anything.

"Ginny! Put your feet down. The couch isn't a bed! Harry dear, do you have everything ready?" Molly called out.

"Yes ma'am. Um, you might want to help your youngest son." Harry suggested after answering.

Turning around Molly screamed. "For goodness sake, Ronald Weasley, put on your trousers. Good lord your in front of Ginny!"

Ginny at that point snicker as she found the hypocrisy of that statement funny. Whispering up to Harry she added, "And lets forget the fact I married my second cousin." Ginny said teasingly.

Harry shifted to look at her. "We are?" As far as he knew they weren't second cousins.

"Not us. Mum and Dad." Ginny whispered. "It took some looking into but I stumbled on it when I was at my aunt's house. My dad's Great-grandmother and my mom's Great Grandfather were married. We're only Weasley's because of my father Grandparents. I don't even think they know it."

"How? Don't wizards record that stuff, like constantly?" Harry asked in a whisper.

"Purebloods do but we don't… actually we do just not really. We focus on Weasley pride a lot so, we tend to ignore the families that don't have the name. Apparently on my dad's side, my Great-Grandma married my Great-Grandpa through a line continuation contract."

"But isn't your dad the official head of the Weasley family?" Harry asked.

"Officially he is, but that's the ministry's doing. Our family is numerous but not famous, except for perhaps our numbers and red hair. We don't really keep track of who's the family lord since we don't really care. If they have a lot of children and red hair, their the one considered to be the family lord." Ginny explained.

Harry pondered that silently. It really did go against everything he read about pureblood lines and nobility. Even genealogy wise, there was something unnerving hidden in what Ginny said.

"Ginny, Harry. We're almost ready!" Molly shouted informing them that they were about to leave.

"Common." Ginny said getting up. "If we hurry we can get the front seats."

Getting up Harry brought his trunk and placing Ginny's atop his dragged it out of the house. While at first glance, it was a show of strength, Harry was stealthily levitating it just millimeters off the ground. Outside, Harry looked up to see a clear blue sky, a gentle breeze, and a powder blue Ford Anglia.

Knowing there was no way, the whole family plus him could fit in that small automobile, Harry knew it had to have expansion charms inside it. Opening the trunk, sure enough Harry was greeted with an overly spacious interior.

"Your dad did place charms to misdirect attention away from the car right?" Harry asked. The image of several onlookers watching the family pulling their trunks out of the trunk as if it was Mary Poppins luggage."

"I'm pretty sure he did… I mean he is in charge of the misuse of muggle artifacts office. He also technically has ministry approval to modify it since he did so legally, so I don't see how it doesn't."

Harry was tempted to palace some wards of his own, but not knowing the complete array of enchantments would likely cause all of them to fail or at best do nothing at all. Deciding to leave it be and ignore his unease as best he could. Harry lifted their trunks into the Ford, this time with nothing but raw physical muscle.

Ginny watched and licked her lip subtly as his muscles showed through his clothes. Harry had spent all of his Hogwarts year building up his body. His summer was no exception. Between training with Tonks, fleeing from his housemates, Quidditch practices, and self training, Harry's form was quickly starting to fill out. Ginny couldn't help but imagine what he would look like in ten years. A small part of her was eager to jump him right here and now and little held that desire back.

She had no reason to fear Harry would be a bad father, she knew just how much love he would have for her and their children. She wasn't even afraid of her future children either. Harry told her how each of them led a fulfilling life even as the world fell apart around them.

In a way, she kinda looked forward to new kids. She had already raised four great children, even if they weren't the same, she would be happy either way.

She also didn't have to worry about finances either. Harry was already loaded, and hardly bought anything last time. This time around, from what Harry hinted at, he was preparing quite a war chest for the future and surely made more than enough to support them should they marry again.

She was pretty sure they would, but having married him once already, it kinda felt like a moot point.

Harry however, lifted the luggage lost in thought. He was thinking over Ginny's revealing of her Parents blood relation. He had read up quite thoroughly on the viewed importance of blood in the wizarding world but had yet to find proof backing it up. According to everything he had seen so far, magicals born with muggles were infinitely stronger magic wise. No better example existed then Draco when compared to his Father, a man for all his faults was worthy of taking the post of You-Know-Who's right hand man and second in command.

There was something wrong about it. It preached about it as an undoubtable truth, and yet all the evidence over the last hundred to two hundred years proved otherwise. Harry wanted to know why. Was it purely a self confidence thing? Pride? False Noble Pride? Magical Pride? But most of all, why was there so little information on it all. Despite his best efforts Harry could only find information of Pureblood ideology rising up roughly two hundred years ago, four hundred if he included the one outlier document he read in the Tonks household.

It got him asking all sorts of questions. Was magic genetic? Was it literally bound by blood? What determined the potential of a newborn wizard. Was it the mother, or the location they were raised? From where did magical potential arise and was there a connection to the contradictory nonsense that split the magical world in two?

"Earth to Harry!"

Harry jumped as he was abruptly pulled from his thoughts. Looking up he saw Fred, George, and Ginny all chuckling.

"Look who's decided to join us." Fred teased.

"Look who put away all our luggage without even looking." George added with his own chuckle.

Pushing her brothers aside Ginny added her own bit. "That's enough you two, leave him alone. Come on Harry, enough daydreaming. We're already late and we need to go."

Looking around Harry noticed the rest of the family was already getting into the car, all their luggage taken care of by Harry while he was deep in thought. "Right, sorry." Harry muttered.

"Worry late dear." Molly said with a smile. "Hurry up and sit up front dear. Ginny you go in after him. Fred, George, you remembered your brooms this time? Good. go and sit in the back with Ron and Percy. And don't misbehave or I swear I'll inform Professor McGonagall that you're forbidden from flying for the year."

"Kay mum." Ginny replied jumping in, Harry following after her.

"Hey Harry." Ginny whispered.

"Ginny." Harry muttered so only she could hear him. His tone was as solid as stone and unwavering. "Later…" he turned to glance at her. "Tell me more about your family bloodline."

Ginny shivered both in excitement and a tinge of unease. Harry's eyes… they stared right into her. "There's something I want to figure out." He said, a cold undertone of seriousness biting into her.

"Y-yeah." Ginny stammered out. This side of Harry was new to her… it scared her, and yet... as she shifted in her seat she felt her heart pumping. This side excited her. Before Harry was always timid and more of a pacifist, hesitant to fight and push forward at times. Always cautious. This was a side she liked. A new Harry Potter, untethered by doubt or hesitation. Like a snake hunting its prey, his eyes seemed to lock down upon his goal, staring it down as he thirsted to bite down into it.

It unnerved her, but it excited her as well.

The drive to Kings Cross was loud and obnoxious. The twins fooling around subtly, Percy trying to maintain order, Ron complaining about how cramped it was, and Ginny frustrated at all the noise they were making. Molly was trying her best but could only do so while driving. Worse still was her driving. Unlike Author who learned how to drive it, Molly was not well versed in its use. With her wand in hand, Ginny was subtly helping her drive, in hopes that she could avert a head on collision that seemed inevitable.

All the while Harry remained lost in his thoughts. He'd been down this road before, each time left at a dead end, but this time Harry was sure there was something missing. For the last week Harry had experimented with the Sword of Gryffindor and even placed it on the Runeforge to great success. Breaking it down was fun and easy. Rather than an actuarial challenge or work it felt more like a pastime.

In contrast his thirst to know why Pureblood philosophy existed ate at him like a back parasite. It was only a hunch but Harry felt it was all related somehow. Family lineages, nobility, blood, MUK, the decline of magic, squibs, incest, magic, gender... Harry was sure they were all related. He just didn't know how or if he was ultimately just grasping at straws.

Upon reaching Kingscross the whole family rushed out of the car, gathering their trunks and rushing into the station. "Hurry now! The train could leave any moment." Molly shouted over the bustle of the crowds. Reaching the barrier, she commanded, "Percy you first."

And like that, Percy was gone. Ginny followed suit and passed through with ease. The Twins went in one after the other and Molly turned to Harry.

"Alright Harry, you next." Molly ushered and Harry nodded.

Harry moved forward and pushed his cart into the Barrier. There was no reason to run, they had time. However the resistance and bump of his trolly alerted him to something being wrong.

"Common Harry, move it." Ron complained.

"The Barrier's solid." Harry said.

"What? Molly asked in disbelief. "The Barrier is solid. I can't push through." Harry repeated. Moving forward Molly put her hand to the wall where the entrance lay and sure enough the barrier was solid.

"That can't be right." Molly looked at the clock. "There's still time."

She wasn't wrong. There was still two minutes till the train left. She looked around and spun about, vanishing leaving Ron and Harry.

Ron was complaining and acting like an idiot, pushing against the wall fruitlessly. It wouldn't work. Harry remembered Ginny mention this, that the barrier prevented him and Ron from passing through.

While he was content to just wait and travel to Hogwarts some other way, he promised Hermione he'd talk with her on the train.

Something was stopping the barrier's function. "In that case" Harry whispered. Turning about he put his hands on his cart, leaned against the wall and focused his magic on the barrier. Pushing with it, he envisioned adding spin to it, till it felt like a drill. Collecting his magic, he let it pool at the spot between his shoulder blades where his back made contact with the wall. When there was finally enough Harry muttered a phrase under his breath as his magic shot into the barrier.

Like a wedge, his magic pushing apart the gate, allowing his body to slip through the solid wall of magic as if it were melted butter. Keeping his hand on the cart he pulled it with him and a second later he was through. Stumbling a bit, Harry fell down and landed on his butt.

While not perfect he broke in, yet Harry couldn't wait on his success. The loud shout of the Hogwarts whistle told him he had little time. Getting up Harry wasted no time pushing his trolly and unloading his trunk. The Train started to move and Harry didn't even try to use magic, just dragged the burden along the ground and leapt onto the slowly departing train.

The Hogwarts express was on its way, and he had just made it.

Looking out from between the cabins Harry watched the platform disappear.

…

"Ah… shit. I left Ron behind…" Harry realized. "Oh well… he should be fine. Mrs. Weasley should be able to get him to school."

Pulling his trunk behind him Harry entered the train. Unsurprisingly most of the cabins were full. When he finally got around to finding Hermione, he was surprised to find Ginny with her.

Opening the door, "Hey, is this cabin full?"

"Harry/Harry!"

"Hey Mione. Hey Ginny." Harry greeted.

"Where have you been Harry. You said you would tell me everything on the train. You weren't trying to get out of it were you." Hermione said with a firm glare.

"No, no. I swear I wasn't." Harry said.

"Really?" Hermione asked sceptically. "You ditched me and my parents in Diagon Alley. You didn't even have the courtesy to say goodbye you know. I felt so embarrassed and worried that my parents might think badly of you."

"Sorry, that was our fault." Ginny said speaking up. Hermione turned to the little girl who had joined her. "My folks invited Harry to stay with us the rest of the summer and my dad got into a fight with Lucius Malfoy."

"That was your dad?" Hermione said surprised.

"Yeah." Ginny said with a shrug. "Not his brightest moment. He's usually really passive."

Still pouting a bit Hermione looked at Harry with displeasure. "Fine, you got dragged away. I expect you to apologize to my parents later." Hermione scolded.

"Right," Harry said. "I'll be sure to do that. Now can I come in? My trunk is heavy and I still have to talk with you about why I disappeared this summer."

Moving back to let him in, Ginny and Hermione watched as Harry dragged his trunk into the cabin and plopped it against the cabin door.

Popping the lid open he discreetly cast a notice-me-not charm on the door of the cabin turned to Hermione and Ginny. "Come on." Harry said as he descended into his trunk. Hermione simply watched and only after seeing Ginny rush past her to go inside did she follow after them. Finding her footing she hesitantly stepped into Harry's trunk.

Under her foot she felt her feet make contact with several steps. With surer footing she slowly descended into his trunk and was shocked to find a small one room house inside it. Resembling a small laboratory, bedroom hybrid Harry's trunk was cluttered with notes, research material, books, and cauldrons all simmering over low flames.

Hermione looked around in amazement. Ginny similarly was inspecting the shelves where Harry had several vials of potions all prepped and ready for use and a few small containers.

The shuffling of papers drew Hermione's attention back to Harry who was rustling through several stacks, looking for something. Eventually while muttering to himself, Harry found what he was looking for, a large pile of papers bound together and tied up with string. Lifting it out from the pile Harry placed it on the desk and then walked over to where Ginny was.

"Why don't you both sit on the bed." Harry suggested moving to the shelf. Tapping his wand on one of the small drawers he opened it and pulled out a small box.

Grabbing a chair Harry pulled it around and sat in front of Hermione. "Knowing you Hermione, you prefer evidence before anything else so let's start with that."

Opening the small box Harry handed Hermione the contents within it. A large ruby red stone, clean and shimmering like a blood moon. Hermione held out her hands and took it slowly. Fiddling with it she looked up at Harry and then back at the stone. "This can't be… is this the stone?"

"A duplicate actually." Harry admitted. "I sent the real one that was supposed to be in the third floor corridor to the Flamels during this summer. Was tricky too. Had to send it without Dumbledore finding out. Sent it through a charmed box via muggle post. Inside was one of our mail snitches that we worked on back before Christmas. The box would open up at its destination when no one was around and the snitch delivered it to the Flamels. Took some figuring out, getting the charms and runes to locate where they were hiding."

"But then how do you have this stone? Did the Flamels make you a stone just for returning theirs?" Hermione asked.

"No… I made that one."

"Harry that's impossible. The Flamels are masters of alchemy, how could you make a stone?" Hermione said in disbelief.

"Well, I am considered a potions genius, have already made a potion of my own, and I had in my possession a stone already made." Harry listed off, not even concerned if he sounded arrogant or snarky. "It's not all that different from finding a vcr and taking it apart to make a copy of your own." Harry said cheekily.

"But, but, what about the ingredients? Even if you did reverse engineer the stone you'd still need the ingredients and alchemy skill to make it."

"What's the difference between baking and potion making?" Harry asked Hermione. Taken aback she paused and answered. "Potions require magic otherwise the ingredients would just be a mess. You need magic to activate the latent properties of the ingredients."

"Okay, so what do you think the difference between Chemistry and Alchemy is?" Harry asked.

Hermione blushed as her eyes went wide. "No way. It can't be that simple."

"It is and isn't" Harry chuckled, "There's a bit of a learning curve but once you're past it there really isn't any difference. It's just understanding how magic affects the material elements and can be used to permanently change their properties."

"But that's not the reason I brought out my stone." Harry quickly said before Hermione got too invested in the subject. "The question I want to start off with is, what did Albus say to you about the Stone when you woke up in the hospital wing? He did tell you something right, I can't imagine you not asking him."

Thinking back, Hermione's eyes widened. "He said not to worry and that stone was destroyed."

"Are you sure? He didn't say it was missing, or that I didn't find it in the mirror when we went down there?" Harry asked.

"No… wait you lied to Dumbledore?" Hermione asked shocked.

"Yes I did, but not about that Hermione." Harry snapped back causing her to flinch at him. "I told him the stone was gone and wasn't in the mirror when we went down. It wasn't. I retrieved the stone by accident during Christmas when the stone and mirror were up on the fifth floor."

Shaking his head with a sigh Harry continued, "That's why I went down to save you guys. I couldn't let you get hurt trying to save something that wasn't even there."

"But why didn't you return it to Dumbledore?" Hermione asked.

"Why did I return it to the Flamels who were likely told the same lie you were told?" Harry asked back. "I really can't tell you Hermione, why would I distrust Dumbledore and return the stone to its rightful owners?"

Ginny stepped in and placed a hand out on Harry's knee. "You don't need to be so sarcastic Harry." Hermoine was taken about at the familiar touch she gave Harry and was even more surprised by Harry's lack of a reaction to it. In fact his reaction was almost welcoming.

"Sorry." Harry apologized.

Taking a breath Harry looked at Hermione. "I guess I should tell you the basics. When my parents died, Albus left me with my relatives. While I'm sure he had his own motives lets just assume that he had the best intentions at heart for me. He had Professor McGonegall scout them out and find out more about them. Do you know how she described them to Albus?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, knowing he knew she had no idea. When she shook her head Harry quoted, "They're the worst sort of muggles imaginable. They really are."

Harry stood up and pulled his shirt off. Thanking Tonks for her lessons on Metamorphs, Harry showed Hermione his scars, and only the scars he received from the Dursely's the second time around.

Hermione gasped and paled until she resembled a white sheet. Coldly Harry looked back over his shoulder as he repeated what McGonegall said. "They're the worst sort of muggles imaginable."

"Then what the paper said was true…" Hermione said aloud. Ginny looked between them in confusion.

"What paper?" she asked looking at Harry.

Harry had told her about his latter years, he hadn't told her about his upbringing with the Dursleys and she hadn't asked. She had assumed it was as bad as last time. Horrible but manageable. This… this was unforgivable. She had lived with a loving family, back from the dead for eleven years and Harry was enduring hell, even after returning from hell.

Harry turned around and pulled out a muggle newspaper article clipping. The same one he read when he met Mr. Handsinn. Ginny took a look at it and was stuck reading it over and over again, the scars on his body giving rise to gruesome visuals in her mind as it tried to figure out how a muggle would go about causing them without magic.

"But, surely if Dumbledore knew-" Hermione started but Harry cut her off. "Does that matter Hermione? Would it justify any of it? My parents were dead, Albus took me from that house and left me with them. At that moment he took responsibility over where I should live. Disregarding my parents will, he left me there." Harry said calmly.

Hermione and Ginny were both dumbfounded at Harry's indifference and logical reasoning. Both had expected him to be outraged, angry at least. However Harry was neither. He sat there calm and collected, focusing on Hermione.

Harry pulled over the stack of documents he fished out earlier and showed Hermione all the evidence of Dumbledore's actions they knew of so far. His parents will, his upbringing, the bank records. Slowly but surely Hermione was beginning to doubt and question, truly question. Not like she had before where she meagerly trusted Harry and tried to piece together why he would distrust the greatest wizard of the age. Questions that she couldn't answer no matter what books she read as there were no answers to be found there.

Why did Albus wait so long to join the previous war? Why didn't he engage Voldemort directly during the last way? Why was he so interested in Harry? Why was he moving money around pointlessly in Harry's vault?

"He must have kept some form of keeping tabs on you?" Hermione said. Harry smiled when she said this. Unlike before where she was trying to defend the image of authority in her mind, she was trying to put together the picture. It was a purely detective question. Someone so invested in Harry's life, would have some means of looking out for him after all.

"I'm sure he does. The 'how' I don't know, but he's tried several methods that I know of." Harry said.

"What was it?" Ginny asked.

Pulling his cloak into view Harry explained, "He placed several tracking, tracer, and detection charms on my family cloak. It was a family heirloom that should have been returned to me long before my eleventh Christmas."

Harry turned to Hermione who was trying to break down the bank notes, records, and files that were in her possession. A great deal didn't make sense. Harry legally couldn't access the vault until he was seventeen. Why would Albus move money around when he did and like this. Hermione bit her lower lip as she read each of the papers and took in the information.

"Mione." Harry called for her attention.

"Hermione?" Harry called again.

Hermione remained transfixed on the bank reports.

Sighing Harry pointed his wand and shot painfully weak stinging jinx at her.

"Ow!" Hermione shouted, jumping nearly an inch off the bed before glaring at Harry. "Can you hear me now?" Harry said with a grin.

"That wasn't funny Harry." She said even though Ginny was the one rolling around laughing on the bed and not him. Still his grin irritated her more than Ginny's laughter.

"No, but it was effective." Ginny said, trying to collect herself. Getting back up she looked between Harry and Hermione. It was different but the same as before. Hermione being Hermione, and while Harry had changed a bit, it was just like him to be a bit of a troublemaker.

Hermione looked at Ginny, irritated and jealous of her outgoing and free attitude. "Even so, he didn't have to use magic."

"Maybe not," Ginny retorted, "but you were really lost in your own world there. He called you four times and you didn't respond."

Hermione had the decency to blush, knowing full well she was lost in her own little world. "I-I was just reading to get the facts straight." She stuttered out before focusing on Harry again. "I still can't understand why. What reason could Dumbledore have for doing any of this. I mean maybe all this-" she said waving the bank records "- is just him taking care of you because he took responsibility."

Harry shrugged but nodded in understanding. "If we knew his motives, a lot of these mysteries would be cleared up already. All the same, according to my parents' will I should never have been sent to the Dursleys. Legally speaking, Ablus kidnapped me and by Magical Law that makes him guilty of Line theft, at the very least."

Hermione sat there confused and in disbelief.

She had always lived on the faith that those who hold positions of responsibility lived up to those responsibilities. However, meeting Harry changed everything. Harry had offered to be her first friend, and when everyone warned her that Slytherins were never good, she believed it. After all, the teachers didn't correct them or deny the house's history. When the troll threatened her life, it wasn't the teachers, but Harry that rescued her. When her life was again jeopardized during the stone incident, it wasn't the teachers who saved her but Harry, in fact, it was the teachers who brought the dangerous artifact to Hogwarts in the first place.

Meeting Harry during her first year had left her questioning her faith in authority. Doubts that they were not always right.

Now he was dropping this bombshell on her already crumbling faith in authority, turning what fragile faith remained on its head.

Here he was telling her that the most trusted wizard of the magical world was guilty of basically kidnapping. Worse, while Harry didn't say it, he had just informed her that her favorite teacher, Professor McGonagall, was complicit and present during the act.

Every lesson she learned as a kid told her to not trust him, and yet she knew the events from the year before proved his words held weight. That and Harry was her friend. A slytherin who risked his own life to save hers.

"This is why you disappeared?" Hermione asked.

Nodding Harry confirmed her deduction. "Albus sent someone to retrieve me at the station in order to make sure I returned to the Dursleys. I already knew he was going to try and make sure I went back there when he asked me at the end of the year, so I made arrangements to hide with someone's help. I stayed with a friend until I acquired an apartment of my own."

"And this…" Hermione asked, gesturing to all the documents he showed her. "Why do you have all of this?"

"Grigotts hired a solicitor to look into the peculiar discrepancies in my account. That's what really started this investigation." Harry explained. "We already know Albus is guilty but this isn't enough."

"What do you mean? He basically kidnapped you, right?"

"Think for a second." Ginny cut in, interrupting Hermione. "You said it yourself right. Albus Dumbledore isn't just a hero, he's a bloody icon, the savior of the wizarding world from the terror of a Dark Lord. The only reason Hogwarts wasn't shut down during Vol...You-Know-Who's reign was because You-Know-Who feared Dumbledore. To the public and wizarding mind, he's a bloody icon. Not only that, he's not just a magical wizard, he's a political one as well. Without evidence, and a whole lot of indisputable evidence at that form multiple sources, he isn't going to be charged with anything." Ginny explained.

"But thats-"

"Corruption" Harry interrupted drawing her attention. "I've had a lot of time to explore wizarding law. Justice is a lot harder to acquire in a world where evidence can be manufactured and erased with a wave of a wand. What's more there are magical protections in place to prevent self-incrimination that have been exploited to ensure people get pardoned."

"But that's… how do they determine who's guilty or not?" Hermione asked.

"You tell them your story and they decide if you're lying." Ginny answered. Hermione looked appalled and Ginny shrugged. "My dad works at the Ministry. Most crimes are either obvious or suspicious. There aren't many rings to jump through. All you can do is just tell the court the truth and wait."

"Not a lot one can do. Most magical means aren't absolute and can be blocked. Truth serum for example can be rendered useless if you know your taking it and while it would force you to tell the truth it doesn't prevent white lies or half truths which can make the difference between justice and getting away with murder."

Hermione looked appalled at the admission that the judicial system was so horrible. Her eyes filled with indignation and righteous fury. A look both Harry and Ginny knew well as they shared a look between each other.

"Stop right there Hermione." Harry said knowingly.

"What-" Hermione asked indignantly.

"Your thinking of protesting the justice system wizards used because it is unfair." Harry replied.

"Wha?" Hermione bumbled out before her indignation flared up again. "How can I sit still when people could be getting away with murder! They kidnapped you and left you with those, those, people." She bit out. "You can't tell me you're happy with it."

"I'm not, but shouting out angrily won't change anything. How would you go about restructuring the system? Magic can literally create and erase incriminating evidence. Aside from mind raping a potential criminal and or innoccent victim, which has the side effect of turning them into vegetables, what methods can you think of that ensure you know who's guilty or not?" Harry asked.

"I… don't know." Hermione admitted.

Harry let out a breath of relief. "We're both way behind Hermoine." Harry said calmly. "I was muggle raised and you are muggleborn. We don't know the wizarding worlds customs or ways. We don't know why certain taboos exist or why certain laws do or don't exist. We don't know how magical inheritance works, why families in the magical world hold noble and ancient houses in such high regards as they do. Maybe you're right and some customs are unfair and corrupt, but at the same time some of those customs that are unfair might exist for very good reasons." Harry rationalized. "We're the ones joining their society, their world. We need to learn their beliefs, customs, and ways just like if we were joining any other country. We're the outsiders, Hermione. If we want to change things it has to be through their methods."

Taking a breath Harry continued. "Which is why I need as much proof and evidence that I can to prove Albus's guilt. No matter what crime he commits, so long as he says it was for the greater good or his own good, there isn't a single person who won't take his side. Albus Dumbledore is an insurmountable mountain politically, socially, and magically. One crime isn't enough and a small amount of proof can easily be discarded by magic. We need enough to prove and convince people that he isn't forcing and manipulating me for my own good. While I don't have a lot, what I do know is there's more to his reasons."

"Line theft, magical sabotage, child abandonment, child cruelty, child endangerment-" Harry listed off, "There's plenty to support and criminalize him. For both my solicitor and me, the problem isn't a lack of crimes, but evidence to overturn his almost godly reputation." Harry explained.

"And that's why you disappeared this summer." Hermione acknowledged, her statement more a floating thought than a question.

"Yes. If I returned to the Dursley's, I would not have been able to make as much progress in gathering this much information otherwise." Harry stated.

Turning to Ginny, Hermione looked at her suspiciously. "And? How do you fit into this?"

Harry cursed to himself. He hadn't considered that when he invited both of them into his trunk. Of course Hermione would be suspicious. He only just met her from her perspective.

"I caught Harry working on this and I commented on how I know a little about the Law, at least more than he did. After talking like you just did, I offered to answer any questions he had. We became friends afterwards" Ginny said with a smile.

Harry reaffirmed his belief that women were scary creatures. Even he couldn't lie that blatantly and be able to smile doing so.

"Well that's basically what happened. We should be about halfway to the school. Let's go back up and get something to eat." Harry suggested.

Hermione nodded but didn't move. Her head was turning and looking at the notes and books that lined the walls and shelves of Harry's trunk. Harry couldn't help but find her eagerness to learn attractive, and when she bit her lower lip in both hesitation and desire Harry relented. He reached for a random book Harry pulled out a stack of string bound parchment.

"If you want you can read them. Some of the stuff I've researched is incomplete but if you want to help I'll let you read them whenever you like." Harry offered.

Hermione's smile was so bright it almost blinded him. She looked like a little kid who just got an early Christmas. Grabbing the paper book, she eagerly started to read it but through great effort didn't and went to climb out of the trunk. Harry chuckled at her as she resisted the urge to read a new book she'd never read before.

When she had left Ginny finally lost it and started laughing. "She really hasn't changed has she."

"No." Harry answered, "She hasn't"

"What did you give her? I've never seen her that excited to read a book before." Ginny asked.

"I gave her a book on Parseltongue."

"Wait, really?"

"Yeah, I wrote it a while back. I couldn't find anything that was actually correct about the subject being one myself so I wrote a book of my own detailing everything I know on the subject as well as other details from varying sources." Harry explained.

Turning to Ginny he shifted gears, his happy attitude turning to a cold anxiety.

"Ginny. You told me last time both me and Ron missed the Hogwarts express because the barrier closed on us, right?" Harry asked for confirmation.

"Yeah, Dobby shut it off trying to save your life. He tried to get you grounded and my brothers rescued you back then. Then he tried to stop you at the platform. Then he tried to get you out of Hogwarts by charming a bludger to go rogue."

"Who's Dobby again?" Harry asked.

"He's a house elf. Malfoy's to be precise. You said he was trying to save your life."

"If the barrier this time was his doing… then there's a good chance the same plot is happening this time around too." Harry deduced. Ginny froze, fear and worry etched into her following words.

"The chamber is going to be opened." she muttered softly.

"If what you said is true, and it's happening again, we're going to need to be prepared."

Ginny nodded in agreement. "The simplest solution is to find the Diary. If we can get the diary we can stop it before any victims appear." Ginny stated. The two nodded at this, agreeing it was the most efficient and non-life threatening solution.

Hearing to loud taps above them Harry shrugged and gestured up. "Go join Hermione. I'll change my clothes and join you afterwards."

Ginny smiled sultrily as she strode out. Climbing the ladder he showed herself off. "Too bad I can't stick around for the show." she teased out.

Harry turned and stuck his tongue at her. Ginny chuckled and continued climbing, her skirt just long enough to secure her decency even if her attitude didn't.

Getting dressed in his school robes Harry looked over at his notes on his desk. Beside the desk, being used as a makeshift coat stand, was Gryffindor's sword. Taking a step to it Harry traced his fingers down the silver blade, his focus on the notes depicting the possible breakdowns of the swords enchantments and the runic arrays involved. He was almost there. Only a week's worth of work and he felt so close to confirming and isolating the enchantment that allowed the sword to absorb the property of whatever it cut.

Harry hoped to have a peaceful year. He had enough on his plate, with Dumbledore and building an ironclad case to crumble his nearly impervious reputation. Now, he had to worry about a Basilisk being released on the school. If it wasn't Ginny telling him so, Harry would never believe the Basilisk in the chamber could ever bring harm to the school. First off how the hell was a serpent of such massive size able to get around without being spotted?

If anyone else said it, Harry would write them off as insane.

However Ginny was different. So far everything she said made sense, and already he had re-experienced the barrier failing on him at Kings Cross. Harry could only assume that he hadn't met this house elf yet was due to the fact he had been in hiding till now.

"A basilisk huh…" Harry muttered to himself. If he had two more years… a Basilisk or two would be no problem for him. His magic would have a body and mind capable of utilizing all the weapons at his disposal. However he was nowhere near ready for this. Looking at the sword Harry knew he'd have to work fast to construct weapons to raise his chances at survival.

Unlike before, Harry wasn't sure if he was still cursed. If his plans worked then right now he was very mortal. This meant he no longer had protection from a Basilisk's gaze.

Putting on his black robe, Harry sighed in exhaustion. "And here I was hoping to do more research on Runes and the connections between Blood and Magic."

The remainder of the train ride saw Hermione and Ginny really kicking it off. Ginny knew exactly how to befriend Hermione, showing off her own knowledge while sparking intellectual debates and casual jokes to lighten the mood, making sure Hermone didn't take over the conversation with a long lecture.

Harry smiled as the two moved to sit next to each other to read his manuscript. Harry was glad Hermione enjoyed reading it because it gave him plenty of time to snack on the goodies that he had bought from the trolly while thinking about how he would best circumvent the laws regarding magic and enchanting muggle artifacts.

By the time the train rolled into the station and Hermione and Ginny came out of his trunk, having used it to change in privacy, Harry had come to the conclusion that it would be best to replicate and create a firearm through alchemy and transfiguration rather than risk the backlash of using a muggle made firearm.

If he was going to have to face a Basilisk and later a Dragon come his fourth year, Harry knew that magically enhanced firearms would give him the edge he needed.

Stepping off the train Harry was greeted with the bellowing voice of Hagrid.

"Firs' years! Come this way. Firs' years!"

"Hagrid!"

Hagrid, his size still as towering as ever didn't even strain himself to see Harry. Waving a big lumbering arm he smiled brightly through his beard. " 'Arry! Good ta see ya. 'Ow was your summer?"

"Magical." Harry replied, earning a joyous belly laugh from the giant man. "Good on ya 'Arry, good on ya. Would love to stay and chat but I'm kinda busy. Sorry, but I gots to take care of the firs' years here. Head up the trail to the carriages, we can talk later."

"Sounds good." Harry replied as Hagrid continued walking past him calling out for all the first years.

"I'll see you later." Ginny whispered with a grin. "I've been looking forward to seeing the castle again for years."

Harry smiled and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. Ginny turned around her eyes wide as saucers. She was all for teasing but she didn't expect Harry to kiss her either. Far from hating it she loved the show of affection. Relaxing her lips she smiled genuinely back. "Careful Harry, people will talk."

"I know. Hurry up and enjoy the view. It should be better than you remember it." Harry said.

Running off Ginny felt a hundred times happier then she was before. A kiss and a glorious view to the castle, she couldn't wait. Harry watched as she left only moving when Hermione called out to him. Walking up the slope Harry could see the carriages off in the distance. Beyond them Harry could make out the lights of Hogsmead and the forbidden forest beyond it.

Walking up to the carriage Harry was surprised to see a creature he had almost forgotten about. The black winged leathery creatures hoofed the ground anxiously, Invisible to everyone but those who had seen death. Harry walked up to one the ones attached to the coach Hermione was getting into. The thestral eyed Harry's approach, its ghastly white eyes, clouded over dazed cautiously at him. Walking forward Harry smiled and raised his hand. The rhythmic breathing of the creature's skeletal body stopped as Harry approached, not returning until after Harry started to pet its beak-like mouth.

Harry went to step away and when he did so, both Thestrals that pulled the carriage bowed, bending one leg in while bowing their heads low. Harry was taken aback by this and watched with interest and confusion.

"Harry, come on!"

Hermione's call pulled Harry away from his confusion and led him into the carriage.

"What's wrong Harry? Do you feel okay?" Hermione asked in concern. "You were just standing there… is everything okay?"

Looking back out the small window in the carriage over the seats rim, Harry nodded slowly. "Yeah… just wasn't expecting that?"

"Expecting what? Oh I see. Yeah the carriages are enchanted by magic to move." Hermione informed him, confident in her answer. Harry rolled his eyes as he climbed in behind her as she started to quote Hogwarts a History. Thestrals weren't well known or liked and weren't worth casing an argument over. Especially not after he had just crushed the remaining faith Hermione had in authority figures.

She would learn about them later for sure, and then perhaps he would correct her. However for now, he was content to enjoy the peaceful ride to the castle staring out into the night air in search of it. And when he saw the great fortress that protected the youth of the magical world, what a sight it was.

From the exterior the castle was as wondrous as it was before. Not nearly as wondrous a view as the one Ginny was receiving, but still impressive. However stepping inside Harry was greeted with a wave of confidence and reassurance.

The difference between his first year and this one was already palpable. The instant they entered a feeling of safety and reassurance washed over all the students. Most didn't think much of it but Harry noticed several senior year students also noticed the change and looked confused, probably wondering if some spell was used on them.

Hermione even seemed to have noticed but she was too focused on her info dump to be bothered with the strange feeling of comfort. Unlike most of them there, by the time Harry took his seat at the Slytherin table, Harry had finally identified the source of confidence and contentment he had felt.

Up in the rafters of the Great Hall, a small shimer of blue shined briefly before disappearing from his sight.

Harry couldn't help the grin on his face upon seeing it. Hogwarts was recovering… she was starting to regain her former strength. A glance at Dumbledore revealed a cheerful face that concealed the shadows under his eyes. Seeing them made Harry's imagination run wild. Between his disappearance at the train station, and the changes in Hogwarts atmosphere Harry was unsure which caused him more concern, even though it was unlikely the latter.

Sitting down Harry couldn't help but feel optimistic. Despite the prospect of a dairy that could possess and kill its host to revive a fallen dark lord, a XXXXX ranked dangerous killer snake that could end ever persons life in the school with a stare being unleashed, and the incompetence of their dumb blond of a new teacher, Harry just felt that no matter what happened he would be able to conquer it all.

As the students settled down and the headmaster spoke his starting words, the night sky lingered overhead as the doors to the great hall opened and the sorting began. In the distance, the rumble of a ford engine sounded just beyond the joyous cheers of the students.