Author's notes:

Standard disclaimer: It all belongs to JKR. Except where I might use some song lyrics which I will call out at the time and give proper credit. Thank you JKR for letting us play with your toys.

HARRY POTTER AND THE MUGGLE'S DAUGHTER

Ten

Part III

HPHPHP

Harry lay back on his couch in the barn and closed his eyes. Finally, after seven months of Spirit Walking, Hermione and he were going to try merging with their Life Spirit. Calming his mind he concentrated on his wolf and called for it. After months of weekly journeys, they were both very proficient at recognizing where their Life Spirit was and could quickly send their own spirit to join it. Potion induced trances were no longer needed. Now they would instead be using potions to end their Spirit Walk. It took very little time for Harry to find himself at the base of the spire within the familiar realm of his Spirit Guides. His wolf and his mate were waiting for him.

"Hello," Harry greeted them. He sat down and waited for the wolf to make the first move. After a moment or two, the wolf's mate skulked forward. Harry held his hand out and she stretched her lean body to sniff at his palm. "You are a pretty one, aren't you," he soothed. She inhaled his scent deeply, blew it out, turned and trotted back to the black wolf. She nuzzled him for a moment before bolting into the grasses of the savanna. Harry watched the spot she disappeared long after she was gone but it soon became apparent she wasn't coming back so he turned his attention to the black wolf. "And now it's just us," he said. The wolf did nothing but watch him.

Harry took a deep breath, blew it out and closed his eyes. Sirius had warned that even if he truly had accepted his form the merging might not happen for some time yet and that they shouldn't be disappointed if it didn't. He'd also warned that if it did, because they were in the Spirit Realm, it would happen very quickly and they needed to be prepared. Harry took another calming breath and just as he had when journeying to his Spirit Realm, he reached out and called the wolf to him.

If anything, Harry felt Sirius hadn't stressed the speed with which it would happen enough. Near instantly his body felt foreign. Arms were now legs, hands and feet were paws, his teeth grew and sharpened and thick black fur covered every inch of his body. One second he was human, the next, wolf.

BAM!

Just like that. The changes didn't end there though. His senses were no less confusing. Hearing and sense of smell instantly became more important than sight. In fact sight was somewhat hindering with greens seeming to have dulled considerably. His hearing though was astounding, almost deafening. And his sense of smell became utterly overwhelming. But of everything that changed, it was his mind that was altered most. Before he could blink his memories of being human began to fade. The strangeness of his new body began to fade with them. Memories of his life as a human were pushed to the background with thoughts of the hunt, the taste of blood in his mouth, the loyalty of the pack and the feel of his mate at his side taking up primary residence. He was moving before he knew it. It was wrong that she was not at his side. He needed to find her.

NOW!

NO! Harry thought an instant before the potion kicked in and he was yanked back from his Spirit Realm to the couch in the barn. He closed his eyes against the bright light. "Bugger," he groaned and pressed his palms into his eyes. His head hurt something terrible.

"Well?" Sirius asked.

"No talking," Harry said.

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Andromeda carefully slid within the folds of Harry's mind. They were four months into the process of teaching him to allow her access without her knowing that he was. Of course, as his teacher, she was well aware of the many layers of deception they were playing at. They both knew she had entered his mind. They both knew she was trying to hide that fact. They both knew if he hadn't found her already, he was working hard to do so. And they both knew that if he had found her, he was trying to hide that fact from her. Somewhere out there, Harry's citadel remained; a last line of defense he could quickly retreat behind while an attacker laid siege. But outside of it now, were many, layered fabrications; each week they became more real as he constructed a false impression of his mind to distract her and eventually his enemies. Each week, it became harder and harder for her to distinguish what was really Harry and what were his constructs. He was every instructor's dream as a student. No matter how difficult or painful the assignment, he never once gave less than she asked and in most cases went far beyond. And it had been brutal getting this far.

Teaching Hermione, or her own daughter was difficult, but the things they tried to hide from her didn't cause her to suffer night terrors that had her vomiting in the middle of the night. Nothing Nymphadora, Hermione, or anyone else she had ever taught had caused her to scream her hatred aloud. Nothing she saw of their secrets caused her to fly into a fit of rage where she threw and broke things. Nothing before had reduced her to silently weeping in Ted's arms for hours on end. She had seen Harry barely able to stand from lack of food, but forced to run from his cousin and his gang. She had watched his cousin sit on Harry's chest long after he had passed out from lack of oxygen. She had seen him use his hand to hold himself for hours while he waited to be let out of the cupboard so he could pee. She had heard the vicious and cruel words hurled at him, witnessed his head slamming into walls so hard they broke, seen his arm broken and his shoulder dislocated. And yes, she had seen the flash of leather, heard the whistle as it cut the air and the sharp crack as it struck his back. Never before had she needed Ted to restrain her when she finally broke and was consumed with the intent to murder.

Far worse than any of it though was the palpable fear she felt from Harry when he saw her to the door each week after their lesson. It had only taken one session for him to realize his memories hurt her as well and he was terrified that she wouldn't return; terrified she would decide he wasn't worth the time effort and pain. Even after more than two years his trust was as fragile as a spider's web. And it was that, as much as anything that kept her coming back. She had sworn a silent oath to them both she would never confirm his fear that he was not worth the time, effort and pain. She would not fail him. Not as his teacher. Not as his friend. Not as the surrogate second mother he had come to view her as. Merlin forbid something should ever happen to Lily she would never allow him to be taken from her. Harry had won her heart and only her death would prevent her being there for him. She had even gone so far as to express her feelings to Lily.

Lily had responded by drafting a new will, naming her as Harry's godmother. She and Ted were first in line to take Harry if something happened to Lily. Remus, Sirius, the Grangers and Amelia Bones were all in line as well. And with Amelia being the Director of the DMLE, Lily's new will was irrefutable. And Albus Bloody Dumbledore would never make a decision regarding Harry again.

Andromeda forced her mind to calm as she moved about what was now Harry's first line of defense; the line that appeared to be no defense at all. She slid through random memories, good and bad, real and fabricated of each; trying to determine which were which. Harry continued to astound her with how quickly he progressed. Seven years spent attempting to show no emotional response to the various abuses he'd suffered had very easily been applied to creating the proper emotional response to a fabricated memory and she had to work hard to find the holes in them. Harder still was detecting any change in his emotions as she moved about. There were a number of possibilities occurring right now.

As this was a training session, he obviously knew she was in his mind. That was the easy bit. But had he found her, or was he still looking? Her own mind had not been particularly calm when they'd begun. Which meant she hadn't been doing the best job of disguising herself as him. So she rather figured he was aware of just where and what she was doing. If she assumed he was, she was impressed. First and foremost it meant he'd been able to suppress his reaction to finding her. Thereby keeping her unaware that he'd discovered her. Further, as she moved about he continued to suppress his reactions to what she saw; good or bad, real or fabricated, he wasn't giving himself away. At this point, she had no idea if he was just letting her randomly wander about because she wasn't a danger to what he was hiding or if he was actively leading her about. Either way, she was again impressed. Somewhere, outside of his citadel and before she reached his mists, was something he desperately did not wish her to see and she had yet to find it. Or if she had, he'd not reacted.

She caught a flash of something and considered it. Fear… fear and shame had been the overriding emotions to give away what he hadn't wanted her to find in their previous lessons. He'd learned to cloak memories he didn't care about with those same emotions of fear and shame to try and lead her about before. She was getting that from two directions now, but in one, there was something else. Something that was just a bit different. Something she hadn't felt before. The fear and shame around it were false.

She braced herself, expecting to witness yet another horrific moment of Harry's past but was instead presented with a memory where Harry watched a young witch from behind a tree as she flew on her broom. The scene was over almost before it began when the girl was chased to the ground by a sudden storm.

"Not good enough," Harry said quietly from behind her.

She turned to face him. "I'm not sure I understand your choice this time?"

Harry shrugged. "This is week sixteen now; I counted. It doesn't bother me to have you see those things anymore, so I had to find something else I didn't want to share."

Andromeda considered. Once again he had gone beyond what she asked of him. He could have picked yet another memory of being beaten or abused, but had realized protecting it from her was no longer important to him. He understood that if it didn't matter, his training would suffer for it. So he had found something else; something she didn't understand, yet was intensely personal to him. Something he would fight tooth and nail to prevent her seeing. She held her hand out to him. When he took it, she pulled him close and hugged him tightly. "Harry, Love," she pressed a kiss to his crown, "I believe you are the bravest person I have ever known."

He wrapped his arms around her middle and squeezed. "I was afraid you would hate me too."

She squatted down in front of him, holding him by the shoulders. "Harry, I'm going to tell you something, so I want you to listen to me very carefully." She paused and he nodded for her to continue. "Fate, Destiny, Voldemort, Peter, Dumbledore, your aunt, uncle, cousin and a host of others have all committed crimes against you. Not one, not the prophecy, not the murder of your father, not the time your mother lost to the coma, nor any of the innumerable others are your fault. I never once, even on my darkest days, hated Sirius. Despite the crimes they have no doubt committed, I do not hate my sisters. Tell me, Harry, how could I possibly hate you for crimes for which you carry no burden of guilt?" Harry shrugged and tried to look away from her. "No," she said, taking his face in her hands and drawing him back. "You are your mother's son, Harry, but you are also mine. My belief in you, my love for you, is just as unbreakable as hers. I will defend you to my death Harry. And no matter how long it takes, I will win your trust."

"Why?" he whispered.

"Because you have won my heart."

Harry stared at her for a few moments before answering. "I think it was a vision." Andromeda frowned, trying to keep up with his change of subject. "The first time Kaa bit me, when she created our Bond, I saw that girl riding her broom. I don't know why, but I think she's important… and that she's in danger."

"I see," Andromeda answered. "Can you tell me why you think this?"

Harry shrugged again. "I just do."

"Have you had other visions?"

"I think so… Some of them might have been memories though. I'm not sure."

"Tell me about them?" she asked gently.

Harry took a breath and pulled the memories from his citadel. Very quickly she was able to witness the rest of his dreams from the night Kaa had bonded with him. "You've held something back yet, yes?" she asked.

"What do you think it means?" he asked, ignoring her question.

Andromeda thought about it for a few moments. "Kaa is your Journey Spirit, Harry. I think she was somehow trying to tell you, no matter what the Dursleys said, your parents were good people and that they did love you. I think the scene with Remus and your mum was meant to give you hope. And yes, I think you're right about the girl with the broom. I think she will be important and that she probably is in danger."

"You think she's real?"

"I do."

Harry gave a small nod. "She saved my life, I think."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because I knew if I died, I wouldn't be alive to save her when she needs me."

Andromeda slowly shook her head. "And you wonder why I love you." She stood, where she pressed a kiss to his crown before blowing her breath out sharply. "A bench please." Harry quickly complied and they sat down, turned to face each other. "I believe it is time for the next stage of your training."

"But I still can't keep you from finding what I'm trying to hide."

"But you can detect me and you did lead me about for a time."

"Only because you're mind was a mess when we started. I lost you the moment you really focused."

"You did," she agreed. "But, for many reasons, I am an unfair test. It is time to see how you fare against someone who does not know you as intimately as I do."

Harry stared at her for a long few moments. "Who?" he croaked.

"Sirius is the only person within our little family with the skill to attack you without brute force. I wish for you to detect him, lead him a merry chase, give him a false secret and toss him out."

Harry took a deep breath. "I suppose I have to make a real secret available to him?"

"No."

"No?" Harry asked surprised.

"Sirius is unaware of what all your defenses are. If he finds your citadel or even your mists, he wins."

"Oh," Harry said with relief. A slow grin grew on his face. "Am I to just toss him out, or can I do it with style?"

Andromeda returned his grin. "Oh, I think a bit of panache is called for, if you think you can manage it."

"Brilliant," Harry said with relish.

"I can hardly wait," Andromeda said. "You will have four weeks to prepare for him. In the meantime, you and I will begin the next phase of your instruction."

Harry sagged. "Crud."

"Oh, I think you will enjoy this," she said.

"I will?"

"It is time the student turned the tables on the teacher and attacked her mind, don't you agree?"

Harry stared at her for a few seconds. "Considering the traps you have laid for me, I think I'd really rather not."

Andromeda laughed. "Oh, Harry, I do so love your faith in me."

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Petunia Dursley sat in her chair in her parlour, a bent club from Vernon's golf set in her hands. It had been close to two years since the ghost of her sister had begun haunting her. But for a small hand held mirror and those in her makeup compacts they had all been removed from the home. Vernon had purposely tarnished her beautiful silver. The telly and Dudley's computer screen had all been relegated to the garage where they sat under sheets. The curtains were always drawn. The doors of the microwave and oven were all taped over. She didn't dare invite anyone from the neighborhood over because for all her precautions, none seemed to matter. Her sister always found a way or a place to appear and torment her. The most recent had been the review mirror of her beautiful Volvo sedan.

She didn't even flinch when the door slammed open. "WHAT THE DEVIL HAPPENED TO MY CAR!" Vernon bellowed.

"I killed her," she giggled with a hysterical lilt to her voice.

Vernon appeared in the parlour. "I SAID, WHAT THE DEVIL HAPPENED TO MY CAR?"

"I killed her," Petunia repeated. She jumped up and began dancing around the room. "I killed her. I killed her. I killed her," she sang as she randomly swung the club about, smashing holes in the walls, and knocking shelves to the floor. She tried to take out the leg of the piano, but the club finally broke. She threw her hands up in the air. "ALL GONE!" she sang like a two year-old.

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Harry sat at the dinner table and calmly went about eating. Mr and Mrs Tonks as well as Sirius had joined his mum, Remus and himself for the evening. Tonight was the first test of his Occlumency skills against someone other than Mrs Tonks. Only Sirius, Mrs Tonks and himself were aware he was being tested and he was pretty certain he was doing quite well. Sirius was either not trying very hard or was nowhere near as skilled as Mrs Tonks was. He'd felt a number of light brushes against his mind throughout the meal and not responded in any way, shape or form and about ten minutes ago he'd felt Sirius enter his mind and stay there. Harry had been quietly following him ever since. All the while he'd engaged in normal conversation with everyone, continued to eat and generally gone about his business like nothing untoward was happening. He had just led Sirius down a rabbit hole of false memories and felt it was time to spring the particular trap he'd developed for the night. He'd gotten the idea from Mrs Tonks' description of entering his mum's mind. One more little nudge and he slammed the door.

Sirius went rigid in his seat and his fork clattered to the table. Harry clamped down and held on as tightly as he could.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad," Mum said.

Remus set his fork down. "I beg to differ Lils. How you can be as brilliant as you are at potions and so utterly atrocious in the kitchen is rather astounding."

"Nonsense," Mrs Tonks said. "Lily, your lasagna is perfectly acceptable. Besides, Sirius' problem has nothing to do with your cooking and everything to do with my darling Protégé… make him pay, my Love." Harry redoubled his efforts. "And remember, power trumps everything," she added. The others all glanced about the table, eventually settling for flipping back and forth between Harry and Sirius like they were watching a Muggle tennis match. The two combatants had locked eyes and while Sirius' entire body shook with effort, Harry's eyes slowly began to glow. It took only another few seconds before Sirius' lips began to tinge blue. Another few moments more and his eyes rolled back in his head. The instant he felt Sirius stop fighting, Harry released the walls on the trap in his mind. The box collapsed, spilling the water Harry had encased Sirius within in one massive wave. Across the table, Sirius collapsed with his face in his plate.

"Good lord!" Remus exclaimed. He released his wand and levitated Sirius from the table to lie on the floor. Another flick of his wand cleaned his face of lasagna. "Do you not think that was pushing things a bit too far?" he asked while lightly smacking Sirius on the cheek.

Andromeda reached over and poured her water glass on Sirius' face. "Not at all."

"GAH!" Sirius gasped. He coughed and hacked for a moment while he looked wildly about. After a few moments he took a deep breath, said, "Bugger me," and collapsed to his back again.

"I did warn you not to mess about, Siri," Mrs Tonks said. She turned back to her dinner. "Harry, Love, pass me the bread please."

"Yes, Ma'am," Harry agreed.

"What exactly did you do?" Mum asked cautiously.

"The little bugger tried to drown me," Sirius piped up from his place on the floor.

"Technically, dear cousin, I think he did drown you." Remus stood and offered Sirius a hand up.

Sirius hauled himself to his feet where he focused on Harry. "That was a right nasty trick, Potter."

Harry shrugged. "Teach you to mess about in my head."

"How exactly did you drown him?" Mum asked.

"Little prat tricked me into looking in the wrong spot, pushed me into the waiting coffin, closed the lid and filled it with water."

"Effective," Andromeda observed.

"Bloody terrifying," Sirius said. He gave a shudder. "And I've kept company with Dementors."

"Perhaps next time you will listen when I tell you not to underestimate him," she retorted without sympathy.

"I have to do that again?" Sirius croaked.

"Bril," Harry said with a predatory grin.

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Harry's eleventh birthday was fast approaching and with it Hermione and his departure for Hogwarts loomed as well. Plans and preparations were moving fast and furious. The most furious, were their efforts with the Mind Magics of Occlumency and Legilimency. Lessons for both of them were stepped up to twice a week as they worked to make sure both would be able to keep the various secrets they kept, secret.

Hermione leveled her wand at Harry and forcefully said, "Legilimens!" She experienced a moment of feeling as if she were rushing forward within a tunnel as lights whipped past. It was very much like Star Trek or Star Wars when they went into warp speed or hyperdrive. This was then followed by the sensation of pressing against a flexible barrier as the rush of lights slowed. Last to come was the sensation of what she thought it would feel like to lay face first in a vat of honey and slooowly sink into it. And then she would find herself in Harry's dreamscape. She stumbled forward and fell to her hands and knees. Had she mentioned it was far from a graceful entry?

She pushed herself up to find Harry sat on a bench waiting for her. "Boo."

She shoved him, "Like you're doing any better."

"Didn't say I was."

She flopped down next to him. "How does she do this?" she complained.

Harry shrugged. "Practice."

She rolled her eyes. "Duh."

"Well isn't this cozy," Mrs Tonks whispered from behind them.

"GAH!" Harry and Hermione cried as they bolted from the bench and whirled to face her.

"DON'T DO THAT!" Hermione shouted.

"That wasn't fair," Harry complained.

Mrs Tonks slipped around the bench and sat down. "Life is not fair, Harry." He scowled in response. "Sit," she said. Her students sighed and sat on the ground at her feet. "Tell me," she asked, "what would you say is the most important lesson you have learned from me in the last two years?"

"Patience," Harry answered immediately.

"Subtlety," Hermione added

"Indeed," Mrs Tonks agreed. She leaned forward and picked up a stone that appeared at her feet. With a flick of her hand she tossed the stone over their heads. They followed the flight of the stone and watched it plunge with a large splash into pool of water. "That, she said," "is how you have been executing the spell."

"Ok," Harry and Hermione agreed.

Mrs Tonks waited till the surface of the pool had once again become still and then made another rock appear in the air above it. Ever so gently the stone sank lower and lower. With nary a ripple, it touched the surface of the water and smoothly disappeared into the depths. "And that is how you must learn to execute the spell."

"But how?" Harry asked.

"Do you not have the ability to decide if you are going to gently lift a stone or launch it into the sky when you levitate it?"

"Yes."

"Well then, how is this different?"

"It isn't," Hermione answered. "Our wand, the incantation and the wand movements are all just tools to help us learn the spell."

Mrs Tonks leaned forward. "Hermione, you have said it feels like you are being enveloped by honey when you penetrate the membrane of Harry's mind."

Hermione nodded. "It's the best thing I can think of."

Mrs Tonks smiled. "And tell me, if, when practicing Occlumency, you can be anything you wish to be, why can you not also do so when practicing Legilimency?"

Harry and Hermione shared a look. He shrugged. "You wanna try first?"

"Back in a tick," she said and faded away.

Harry felt her go and climbed to his feet so he could join Mrs Tonks on her bench. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and pulled him against her side. "Believe it or not, you especially, have made astounding progress."

"Am I really that much better than her?"

"Hermione excels with straight forward logic. The Mind Magics are more art form and she struggles with their, sometimes, abstract nature. That is not to say she is unskilled. I would estimate her abilities to be near mine when I was twelve. That is no small feat to have accomplished with only two years instruction."

"I…" Harry began but then stopped. He cocked his head. "Well that's better," he said.

"Indeed," Mrs Tonks agreed.

Hermione coalesced before them. "Well obviously you caught me," she said, "but was I better?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, instead of feeling like a battering ram, it was like cold water spreading in a warm bath."

"Excellent," Mrs Tonks said. "Now, tell me, how is your Animagus training going?"

"Horrible," they said together.

"I can't get anything to change yet," Harry went on.

"Me either," Hermione grumbled.

Mrs Tonks nodded thoughtfully. "I'm not surprised. When Sirius first proposed the idea, I felt it was folly. Hogwarts does not even begin teaching the basics of human transfiguration till fifth year. You are attempting to complete one of the most difficult forms of transfiguration, one that requires the even more difficult task of releasing your inner being… Yet, without guidance from a trained Animagus, James and Sirius managed to complete the process by the end of their fourth year. A process they did not even begin till the start of their second. I thought, if those two could manage it, then there was no reason you two could not. As you have progressed, I wondered if there might not be a way for me to help the process along." She stopped and focused on them. "What do you think I have come up with?"

"THAT'S BRILLIANT!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Become our Animagus within our minds," Harry whispered. He concentrated and before he knew it had toppled off the bench.

"Oh!" Hermione squeaked when he climbed to his feet and she found herself face to face with a great, black wolf. Harry blinked his emerald-green eyes and launched himself at her. "Arrrgh!" she cried. He pinned her down and proceeded to lick her face with great slobbering laps. "STOP! ARRRGH! THAT'S DISGUSTING!"

Harry flopped to his side and transformed back. "Your face," he gasped, laughing uproariously. Hermione sat up and withdrew from his mind. She then kicked him. "YEOW!" Harry howled. He collapsed out of his chair and clutched at his shin.

"Serves you right!" Hermione snapped. "And if you ever kiss me again, I'll take you to the vet and have you fixed!"

Harry grabbed her ankle and yanked her out of her chair. "You and what army?" he demanded as they began battling in earnest.

"Like I need an army to deal with the likes of you!"

Andromeda stood. "And it appears we are done for today," she said as she quietly left the room.

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Harry hung up the phone. "I'm going to Hermione's!"

"They're finished then?" Mum asked to the slamming of the back door. She folded her dishtowel over the edge of the sink and headed over herself. David and Malala would probably want to talk; plus she had finally figured a plan to cover how Harry and Hermione already knew each other. She would invite them to dinner so they could discuss it with everyone.

While his mum was following along at a more sedate pace, Harry tore up the road, covering the half-mile or so to the town square in record time. From there it was up the high street and across the bridge in front of the Motor Museum and back out to the small subdivision Hermione lived in. He reached her house and was through the back gate and at the back door where he barely paused to knock before he opened it. "IT'S ME!" he shouted.

"Oh!" Malala gasped.

"Sorry, Mali! Where's Hermione."

"In the Parlour!" Hermione shouted.

Malala recovered herself. "Oh no you don't young man," she scolded and made a grab at him.

Harry was spun back and threw himself into hugging her tightly. "Sorry," he said, "Can I go now?"

She bent down and kissed his cheek. "Yes you may." Harry tore away from her and hurried to the parlour.

"HARRY!" Hermione cried and threw herself at him. Harry caught her in a massive hug.

"They came?" he asked around a mouthful of her hair.

"ItwasprofessorMcGonagallsheleftaboutahalfhouragobutmumanddadmademewaittocalltomakesureshedidn'tcomebackforsomething."

Harry set her down. "What?"

Hermione took a breath and slowed down. "It was professor McGonagall. She left about half an hour ago but Mum and Dad made me wait to call to make sure she didn't come back for something."

"And you got your letter?"

Hermione grabbed her letter and shoved it at him. "YES!"

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

—

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School

of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. Please contact me as discussed no later than July 31 if it is your intent to accept this invitation.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

The letter was followed by her list of items she'd need for school.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective work gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry nametags

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

Beginning Astronomy by Uranus Planet

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring one pet or familiar (Post Owls fall outside this restriction)

PARENTS ARE REMINDED FIRST-YEARS MUST USE SCHOOL BROOMS FOR ALL FLYING CLASSES. HOUSE QUIDDITCH TEAM MEMBERS ARE SUPPLIED NIMBUS 1500 BROOMS FOR PRACTICE AND MATCHES. TEAM MEMEMBERS MAY USE THEIR OWN BROOMS IF THEY CHOOSE, BUT IT MAY NOT BE NEWER THAN THE NIMBUS 1500 OR EQUIVELENT.

Grinning from ear to ear Harry lowered the letter. "Bril," he said. Hermione leapt forward and they hugged tightly.

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Hermione followed along behind with her parents as they trailed after Professor McGonagall. Just as Lily and Remus had said would happen, a representative of Hogwarts had presented themselves at their door the first Monday of August. The spiel had been presented and they had all played along as had been discussed within their little group. Two days after meeting Professor McGonagall, they had contacted her through the post as they'd been instructed to do and now, two weeks before she was due to leave for her first year at Hogwarts, they were making their way about Diagon Alley.

So far they had been Madam Malkin's to be fitted for robes and the rest of her school attire. She had rather enjoyed the experience and was quite pleased with the items. Of course, being it was her first year, her robes were a generic black. Once she was sorted into her house the Hogwarts elves would sew patches with the crest for each of the founders to them. Second-year there would be more options within the approved attire for each house to choose from.

Their next stop was the apothecary. They'd purchased the expanded kit for first-years but left anything more. She and Harry had brewed many of the potions within the syllabus for first-years already, but weren't to let anyone know that. She'd been rather disappointed they couldn't purchase the wolfsbane. It was just being stocked and appeared very fresh indeed. Hopefully Remus would get a chance to slip in and get it today.

They had then made their way to Scrivenshaft's the stationary shoppe. It was a difficult thing for her. Scrolls, parchment, quills and inkpots were all lovely. There was something to be said for the seemingly lost elegance of the art of writing. But there was also something to be said for a spiral notebook, pens, pencils and rubbers. She rather thought she would be bringing a supply of those with her as well and would only use quills and whatnot when required. Just the thought of fighting with a scroll as she tried to write gave her a bit of a headache.

Flourish and Blott's, the bookstore, on the other hand, there was nothing but undying love on her part. These books were far and away lovelier than most anything for sale in the non-magic world. Even common textbooks were works of art; bound in beautifully embossed leather covers. The bookseller had mentioned he could have her name embossed in them and she had begged her parents into letting her have it done. She was already making plans to save her allowance so she could have it done next year as well. Sadly, as Professor McGonagall had limited time to spend with them today, her parents had ushered her out of the bookseller's long before she would have liked. Though she was somewhat mollified when Professor McGonagall had intimated nearly anything the bookseller might have the Hogwarts' library would have a copy.

With all of that taken care of they were on their way to Ollivander's Wand Shoppe. She could hardly wait. Despite actively practicing magic for close to two years already none of the various second hand wands she had tried was really suited to her. She was quite looking forward to having a wand properly attuned to her magic. But first, there was one thing they needed to accomplish. And it was set to happen just as they reached the wandmaker's.

"Hermione?"

Hermione turned around, stared at Harry for a second and gasped. "Harry?"

Harry leapt forward and grabbed her in a massive hug, lifting her clean off her feet. "It is you!" he set her down. "What are you doing here?" he demanded excitedly.

"Shopping for my school things," she answered.

"You're going to Hogwarts? This is amazing. I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again after this summer?"

"Well of course you would. You're not going to just give up your judo are you?"

"No, but…" Harry grabbed her in another hug. "This is amazing!"

Hermione laughed. "I can't believe I just find out I'm a witch and then I find out you're a wizard too! Oh this is going to be so much better knowing I already have a friend." Harry set her down. "Oh, and Sirius is with you!" she darted forward to hug him as well.

Sirius caught her up. "Well, this is a pleasant surprise," he chuckled. He set her down and glanced at her parents. "And perhaps a bit awkward as well," he said. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "You do understand it was against the law for me to even mention anything to you. Mind, if I'd seen anything from Hermione to suspect she might be magical I would have anyway, but, well…"

"I'm sorry as well Mr and Mrs Granger," Harry said.

Mr Granger held his hand out. "I suppose it all ends well and Malala and I can rest a bit easier sending Hermione off to school knowing she already has a friend, yes?"

Harry shook his hand. "Yes, sir." He turned to Mrs Granger and exchanged greetings with her while Sirius exchanged greetings with them both.

"Well then, I think that just leaves you, Professor," Sirius said, turning to the stern looking witch observing them. He pulled Harry in front of him and held him with his hands on his shoulders. "Harry, this is Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and Head of Gryffindor House. Professor, my godson, Harry Potter."

She smiled as she offered Harry her hand and he thought he detected a glistening in her eyes. "My, but you do look like your father," she said. "Except—"

"For my eyes," Harry cut in front of her as he shook her hand. "Sirius says I've got my mum's eyes. Sirius says she liked you a lot. I'm very pleased to meet you and hope that I live up to the expectations my parents left behind."

Professor McGonagall made a sort of choking sound. "Just try to take after your mother a bit more than your father; at least till he grew up a bit, and I'm certain you will do just fine, Mr. Potter."

"That's what Sirius has been telling me too."

She smiled. "Then I believe Sirius might have finally grown up as well." She let go of his hand and glanced about the group. "Might I ask how it is that you all know each other?"

"After I managed to get hold of the little bugger," Sirius said, and ruffled Harry's hair, "I decided Harry and I needed to do some bonding. So I signed us up for some judo lessons. Turns out the sprog is pretty good at it so I sent him to camp the last two summers. Hermione here happens to be the daughter of one of, if not, the best Judoka in the whole of the UK. They met at the camp and have been beating each other up ever since."

"I see," she said. "Well, I'm very glad to have met you Mr. Potter. And equally pleased that you will both have a friend when you arrive at Hogwarts. But I'm afraid we are rather pressed for time and Mr Ollivander is not known for his expedient service."

"If you're rushed," Sirius said, "Harry and I were on our way there as well. I'd be more than happy to escort the Grangers about with anything they might have left to shop for. In fact, as a Governor of the school, I'd be remiss if I didn't insist on lightening the load of our clearly overworked Deputy Head; who happens to also be my favorite former professor, and send you about your business."

Professor McGonagall raised a brow imperiously at him. "Your charm is as lost on me now as it was when you were a student, Mr. Black."

Sirius laughed. "You wound me, Professor." He placed his hands on his chest theatrically.

"I highly doubt that to be so. However, if you truly are willing, I would be most grateful to you. I'm afraid I was a bit too indulgent earlier and we spent rather a bit longer with the bookseller than I bargained for."

"Sorry, Professor," Hermione said contritely.

"Not at all, Miss Granger. As I said it is my own fault. I simply could not help indulging such an obviously engaged student. If I'm not mistaken I rather think you might like to return to the bookseller if you could."

"We'd love to take her," Sirius piped up. "And perhaps I could tempt the Grangers with an invitation to dinner where I might be able to answer some more questions for them about the magical world."

"Oh," Mrs Granger said. "We accept!"

"That would be most appreciated, Mr. Black," Mr Granger said.

Sirius clapped his hands together. "Brilliant! You lot head on into Ollivander's there while I just confer with Professor McGonagall for a second to make sure we don't miss anything from Hermione's list."

Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and tugged her towards the wandmaker's. "Come on!"

The four adults watched them go with bemused expressions. "Word of warning, Professor," Sirius said, "if the trouble those two caused at camp is any indication, they'll be challenging James and my detention records."

"Oh?" she asked.

"Itching powder is not just a magical concoction," Sirius said.

Professor McGonagall took a deep breath and blew it out. "I should have liked to divest myself of my current pranksters before acquiring another pair."

HPHPHP

"THAT'S IT!" Petunia bolted up in bed. "That's it!" Vernon shouted again. The vein in his forehead pulsed while his skin purpled with rage. "You find some way of stopping this," he screamed, spittle flying from his mouth, "or we're through!" The next thing she knew he was slamming the door to the bathroom. She was left to stare at the lettering dripping red down the wall of the bedroom.

YOU HAVE BEEN JUDGED

YOUR PENANCE IS MINE

I AWAIT YOUR COMING

Petunia didn't need to examine the message to know it was blood and not paint the message had been written in. She curled in a ball and sobbed.

HPHPHP

Lily stood next to Malala, drying the dishes while they watched Harry and Hermione out the window. They'd just celebrated a joint, late eleventh and early twelfth birthday for the two delinquents in question and were now working on the clean up. Tomorrow they would send them off to Hogwarts for the first time.

"Alright?" Lily asked.

"Terrified," Malala answered.

"You and me both," Lily agreed.

"Your son, the things facing him…"

Lily placed her hand on Malala's. "I can't thank you enough for not taking her away from him."

Malala turned her hand and clasped Lily's tightly. "She loves him… David and I love him. We could no more separate her from him than turn our backs on him ourselves.

Lily smiled and wiped a tear from her cheek. "You have no idea the number of nights I've cried myself to sleep wishing you had been born my sister."

Malala pulled her in and they embraced tightly. "We'll get through this together. It's what family does."

"Yes," Lily agreed. She pushed back from the other woman, looking at her through watery eyes. "Look at us," she said reaching up to dry Malala's cheeks.

"OWW!" Sirius' bellow came through the window. "Harry, I'm going to kill you! OWW! Hermione! The two women turned to see Sirius suffering a bombardment of little green balls.

"Serves him right," Malala snickered. "Paintball indeed."

"They're thick as thieves, aren't they?" Lily giggled.

"They are."

"ARRGGHHH!" Sirius cried and charged headlong into the barrage from Harry and Hermione. He didn't make it far before he turned tail and ran with the two soon to be Hogwarts' students tearing after him.

"Do you think they'll fall for each other?" Lily asked.

Malala sighed. "I think you know the answer to that as well as I do." She smiled painfully at Lily.

Lily took her hand a squeezed again. "Family," she said.

Malala squeezed back. "Always."

Later that night, Harry was sat on a chair in his room absently playing his guitar. Every so often he'd stop for a couple of beats and practice the action of moving his new wand from the holster on his wrist to his hand and back again. It was his off hand, and he intended to keep it there. Despite the fact his new wand worked as well as his mum's old one did for him, Harry was not particularly fond of it. And who would be? If the creepy old wandmaker had expected him to jump for joy to know his wand was the brother wand to Voldemort's; the wand that had murdered his father and been used to attempt to kill both his mum and himself, then the daft old bugger had sniffed too many fumes in his life. Given the heavy scent of varnish from Ollivander's shoppe, it was a distinct possibility.

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on his door followed by his mum's voice. "Harry?" She pushed the door open to see him shake his shoulder length black hair from his eyes. The carved ebony scorpion earing he'd got for his birthday dangled from his ear and Kaa was stretched across his shoulders. His emerald eyes seemed to glow.

"Hi mum."

"What are you playing?" She crossed to his bed and sat. Greedily she watched him. They had lost so much time together, yet she knew even if they'd not been deprived a single day she would feel just as torn as she did now. She would never grow tired of watching him.

Harry shrugged. "Queensryche, Silent Lucidity."

"Do you know the lyrics?" she asked after a few seconds of listening. He didn't answer, but kept playing softly and she knew he was trying to decide how much to open himself up.

Harry opened his eyes and nearly fell off his stool. His mum was standing in the door of his room staring at him in astonishment. "When did you start singing?" she asked softly.

Harry shrugged. "I don't usually… It just felt right."

"Do you want me to go?"

"I'm probably not going to sing anymore."

Mum shrugged. "Either way. I like listening to you play." Harry closed his eyes and went into another song. He smiled to himself when he heard her sit on his bed.

Harry took a breath and went back to the beginning of the song. As the introduction wound down he closed his eyes and started singing. When he finished he waited till the last echo of the strings faded away to look up. "I kind of thought it was us." Tears sliding down her face Lily stared at him in wonder. Just when she thought it was impossible to love him more than she did he went and did something like this. "Will you stay with me tonight?" he asked. She nodded shakily. Harry set his guitar down and crossed to the bed where he pulled Kaa from his shoulders and let her wrap around the bedpost before climbing in with her. With his back to her Harry pulled her arm tightly around his shoulders and wove their fingers together.

Mum kissed the back of his head. "Goodnight, Love."

"Night, Mum." Night slowly settled on them, but with the changes about to occur, neither seemed able to actually fall asleep. "Mum?"

"Yes, Love?"

"Will you stop haunting your sister?" Harry felt her stiffen behind him. He rolled over so he could face her. "Hermione showed me the laws, Mum. They can take you away from me. I know they can… And I don't want to go to with Sirius and Remus or the Grangers or even Mrs Tonks. Please, Mum, I just want to forget them." A tear slipped down Mum's face. "Please, Mum," Harry pleaded.

She pulled him close and kissed his forehead. "I promise, Harry. I promise." She rolled him over again and pulled him tight to her chest where every so often she would kiss the back of his head and whisper, "I promise."

"What house do you think I'll be in?"

"Well," she considered, "You're very brave; you've shown that time and again. But there is no denying you're intelligence either. You also happen to be extremely loyal. And you have shown yourself to be exceedingly driven. I think the sorting hat will have a rather difficult time with you. But no matter which house it places you in, I will love you just the same."

"Cheater," Harry said.

Mum kissed him again. "The only thing I will tell you, is that you have more control over where you will be placed than you might think."

"I think it's funny that Hermione and I are probably the only students in hundreds of years who know how the sorting is actually done."

"There are advantages to having me as your mum."

"I just wish it didn't cost you your magic."

Mum kissed him again. "I would sacrifice my magic, my life, a thousand times over for you, Harry. I have no regrets."

Harry shifted, snuggling back into her and they fell silent for quite some time before he softly whispered. "I love you, Mum." Mum let out a choked sob and crushed him to her.

HPHPHP

Author's notes: Well, that's the end of the pre Hogwarts' volume for this story. Hopefully everyone enjoyed it. I know I am quite pleased with it. I hope that it paints a picture of characters we all know and love, and hate, while at the same time beings to portray them with a bit differently.

The good news for going forward is despite the site turning this into a 16 chapter story, on my computer it is seven plus the prologue. I have managed to write seven new chapters to Harry's third year. Which means my writing is keeping up with my posting! And that means that volume Two, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone will begin posting in one week. Hold onto your hats, we're off to Hogwarts!

I would like to say thank you to all the people who have read this story. I believe I've had hits from people in over fifty countries!

And last, a very special thank you to those who took the time to review. I very much appreciate hearing your thoughts.

Till next week,

Sorcerer's Muse