A/N: I've made a slight error that I will address later. I mentioned an Audi A10 in chp4… it supposed to be A9.

XXxxXX

"Honestly, I don't want to know what my Animagus form is. I'm a spook, the worst and best humanity has to offer, all rolled into one person. What animal holds up to those traits… other than a human?"
-Ryan Samuel Potter, to David Qin Fei

XXxxXX

LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 – (Christmas, 3rd Year)

Harry James Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived and Saviour of the Wizarding World… who wouldn't want this type of attention? A humble and modest person of course. Harry never liked his fame; it came with too many strings attached. Many just wanted to be his friend because of his fame and money. So of course when Harry became friends with Hermione, he was undoubtedly grateful. Sure the Weasely family was fun to be around with, but Harry never had someone he could be totally honest and blunt with, someone he could confide in fully. His younger sister (in second year) came close as a confidant but she wasn't someone Harry would actively seek out. Neville and Luna came close in the support department, but they weren't quite there either, likewise with his parents.

But Hermione, she was something else entirely. He could confide in her as she did with him. He knew her flaws and she knew his. In times of danger, they would always find support in one another. And they always moved instinctively. Harry could honestly say that without Hermione, there was a fair chance he wouldn't be alive.

"Earth to Harry," Hermione called, "we're here."

Brought out of deep thought, Harry found himself to be standing in front of the restaurant door, and a faint smile on Hermione's face.

"Sorry," he quickly apologised.

Being his closest friend, Hermione was well versed with Harry's mannerisms, and could tell when he was in deep thought. Though he didn't know it, Hermione found his "deep train of thought mode" adorable.

"What's on your mind?" she asked.

Harry looked at his friend. "Just thinking about how quite the year has been."

"Don't jinx it," Hermione said with mock seriousness.

A small smile spread across Harry's lips as he opened the door for her. Entering after Hermione, Harry was greeted by the sight of burgundy walls, deep oak timber furniture, maroon carpet and dimed lights. At a large table in the far corner sat Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Tonks and Emily Potter, all dressed in smart casual clothing.

"Hey everyone!" Lily smiled warmly. James pulled out a chair for her next to Emily, before sitting down next to his wife.

Harry decided to perform a similar gesture for Hermione, but the young witch had already removed her jacket and sat down before he could act. She gave him a quick wink and whispered, "I can take care of myself."

"I'm just being a good best friend," Harry pouted, sitting down.

He always marvelled at how well Hermione knew him. Every nuance, every move, she could accurately guess what he was going to do before he even knew what to do. It was scary, but endearing.

The large group soon began talking animatedly with one another as they waited for the waitress or waiter to arrive.

"Let's play a game," Hermione suggested.

"Okay," Harry said with a light nod.

"Guess who's going to eat what," the witch continued, she reached into the small bottomless bag she always took with her, and produced a ball point pen and a notepad. "Write down who you think is going to eat what."

"You're on," Harry accepted the challenge.

After the orders had been taken, he looked down on the parchment and grinned. He had won… by one point.

"I win!" Harry said in his sing-song voice, "Go pout."

"You knew Lily had to change her diet," Hermione huffed indignantly, "how was I supposed to know?

"You are such a sore loser," Harry teased, giving a light-hearted chuckled.

Hermione scrunched up her face, which he found to be absolutely adorable.

"Prat!" She said, slapping his arm.

"Ouch!" Harry yelped, rubbing the point of impact. "That really hurt."

"Oh suck it up you pansy," Hermione said, raising herself in a dignified manner.

"Children, behave!" Sirius said smugly.

Everyone else had been wrapped up in their own conversation, so when Black made his declaration, all eyes turned on the two teens. Harry and Hermione blushed and shied away from prying eyes.

"Nah, I'm just messing with you," Sirius grinned.

Harry and Hermione sent him a death glare which only survived to make him laugh.

"You can't scare me pup."

Finally the food arrived and the conversations had died down considerably. As always, Hermione was the most meticulous eater, and she ate healthily. Harry noticed that her diet wasn't a fad diet; it was a very well balanced one and she ate regularly. He remembered her mentioning something about "bodies with minds to match". A healthy, athletic body accompanied with a brilliant mind, a good match in anyone's opinion.

"You seem to be enjoying that ice cream… a bit too much there, Hermione," Harry said tactfully.

The young witch shot him a glare.

"Might get a brain freeze," Harry shrugged, quickly recovering from what could have been a fatal error in judgement. "Take it slow."

He gave her a heart-warming smile with a twinkle in his emerald eyes; it seemed to do the trick to allay any misconceptions.

When the night ended, the group went their separate ways. Harry was slightly sad to no longer be in close proximity of his best-friend, but he knew he'd see her again on Christmas day. His heart sped just a bit faster when Hermione gave him a quick kiss on his cheek before going off with her parents.

Harry could possibly swear Daniel Granger sending him a death glare before walking away.

"Let's go," Emily shivered, "before I freeze to death."

James quickly wrapped his coat around his daughter and gave her a smile. "Better now?"

"Better," she sighed contently as the group walked back to their car.

Harry pouted. "Hey, how come I don't get the same treatment?"

"Because you're a man," James said with a grin.

"That is sexist," Harry said with a mock frown.

Lily laughed and coddled her son.

"Mummy's boy!" Emily teased.

"Daddy's little princess," Harry countered.

"Life doesn't work that way," James said.

Emily stuck her tongue at her older brother.

Harry allowed himself a soft smile. The year had been kind to him so far, and being with his family made life all the more better.

XXxxXX

7 HOURS AWAY FROM HOGWARTS

Looking at the GPS System set up by the High Elves, Ryan realised that the next phase of the journey would need to be done on dirt roads he decided to pull over into a vacant rest-stop. Easing on the brakes and turning off the engines, Ryan and Abigail stepped out into the cold winter night.

"Going to transfigure the car?" the Elf asked.

Ryan nodded as the woman stepped back with the stacks of paper in her hand. The papers Abigail got from her Elven contacts were documents pertaining to their cover such as safe houses, finances and a forged history.

Muttering a spell and motioning his hand slowly, the Audi slowly morphed into a sleek and sturdy off-road SUV. As before, people who would see the car, would just gloss over and assume it was a company prototype, only those who have certain objectives that require the vehicle, would see it for what it truly is.

"Hmm, looks nice," Abigail complemented.

Ryan got back into the car, switched on the systems and gunned the engines.

"Roomier too, we should've started with this model," she continued. The Operative shrugged.

"They know we're coming right?"

The SUV pulled back onto the highway, its lights illuminating the spare road.

"I talked to Dumbledore over the Floo, he seems eager for more staff."

"Eager?"

Palmer nodded, "some of the staff will be retiring… and get this, Snape was killed."

Ryan's eyes widened in shock, his father had always spoken highly of the Potions Master. Sure the man had been… horrid, but he did make up for it by providing valuable intelligence to the order.

"So, who's becoming the next Potion's teacher?"

"Dumbledore mentioned Slughorn," Abigail frowned, "I swear these people have the weirdest names."

Ryan gave a light chuckle. Seeing an exit on the highway, he steered the vehicle off onto the dirt road. He flicked on the flood lights, illuminating the lush green forests surrounding them.

"So what position are we taking up?"

"I'll be teacher herbology, and you will be teaching muggle studies," Abigail answered.

Ryan sighed, "I hate that term. Muggle… it sounds so – derogatory. Anyway, I think my knowledge may be a bit out of synchronisation."

"I totally agree."

"Do you find it a bit odd that we were so quickly accepted?" he asked.

"A bit," Palmer shrugged, "but a lot of the faculty were reaching retiring age. It's just lucky that we had a skill set that these people lack."

Although Ryan felt a bit uneasy about the situation, he couldn't really complain. Maybe luck was finally giving him a hand… doubtful.

The drive continued on peacefully, though the pacing had to be slowed down as the road became more uneven. Eventually, the vehicle cleared the forest lands and entered the vast green farmlands.

Abigail began to shift uncomfortably in her seat, her brows furrowed in discomfort. Then, Ryan began to feel his skin stand on end.

"Multiple contacts," the Elf said as she cycled through the vehicle's security systems. The feed showed her the snake-like black mists following them, Death Eaters, four of them. The dark streams soared overhead and splashed onto the wide snow covered road. Black robed figures with skull masks morphed into being.

A blasting curse sailed past the vehicle and impacted onto the stone wall, showering the immediate area with blackened fragments. Ryan quickly pulled the SUV to a halt, knowing full well that trying to run over the assailants would be a waste of time.

Death Eaters like to play with their "prey", was the first shred of information that popped into Ryan's head.

"They shouldn't be too difficult," he said calmly.

Though not many people knew, Ryan harboured a deep hatred of the Death Eaters. Even through to the year 2035, they were still a problem, and in their desperation, they turned to the Alabastrites, unleashing untold horrors in the uncharted corners of the world. He had seen their brutality and sadistic behaviour. Some of his colleagues had snapped after seeing too much of the Death Eaters' handiwork, they snapped and brutally killed the Dark Wizards and Witches with their bare hands. Ryan was close to the breaking point too, instead of killing Death Eaters quickly and efficiently as he had been trained, he resorted to more brutal techniques which took a bit longer.

He hoped that this time, he could repress his darker nature. He had come too far to lose control now. Easing the door open, Ryan stepped out of the vehicle and closed the door behind him, likewise with Abigail.

"You're a bit far from home… muggle," a male Death Eater sneered. In his arrogance, he failed to notice the calm and collective demeanour of the two Operatives.

"Nice special effects there," Ryan taunted as he buttoned up his jacket with his gloved hand, "but aren't you a bit young to be playing wizard at this hour?"

The Death Eaters growled and raised their wands.

"Crucio!" roared the first one.

With glowing blue tendrils wrapping around Ryan's body, he quickly formed a transparent blue shield which easily absorbed the curse and dispersed it throughout the hexagonal pattern. The Death Eaters looked on in shock.

"Surprise," Ryan grinned menacingly.

With a quick flick from both his wrists, two bolts of seething hot energy shot from his palm and slammed home into the two Death Eaters, leaving a trail of wispy blue mist and ozone. The Dark Wizards didn't even get a chance to cry out before the life from their eyes faded.

Abigail used her abilities to pin the remaining Death Eaters in a vice-like grip, before slamming them into the ground. The sickening snap that followed, insured that the Dark Wizards weren't going to be a threat to anyone else.

"Twinkle, twinkle little star, shoulda hit them with the car. Not how I'd imagine our first twenty-four hours being here," Palmer said grimly. "Should we take care of the bodies?"

Ryan looked at his companion and shook his head. "Leave them… as a message. And they would've just dodged the car."

The Elf shrugged and the two got back into the SUV. Ryan started up the engines and continued to Hogwarts. If the weather kept up as is, no one would find the Death Eaters or who killed them until the trail goes… cold.

…

Abigail had swapped with Ryan, allowing him some respite as she drove around Hogsmede and towards the majestic Scottish castle. She noticed that her companion had his elbows resting on the window sill, and head supported by his palm. His eyes were staring into the rising sun and his brows were furrowed in deep thought.

"Thoughts?" she asked.

Ryan breathed as if he was going to say something difficult. "Would I be wrong to say that Voldemort put my father under an imperious curse? Or that the Horcux inside him was never destroyed, and Voldemort used it as a means of control?"

The Elf frowned at her friend's ailing mentality. He would never taunt in a fight, he would always get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible. Ryan never gloated. With every hour passing, he was becoming more agitated. Killing his own father who loved him dearly, and cradling his mother figure as she bled to death, it all left a mark on him.

Palmer was well aware of the things Ryan had done to complete his mission objectives. She was well aware of the manhunts he had personally led during the Linjing Incident. The death of those he loved was like a catalyst that was releasing his pent up pains and horrors. He was obsessed with Voldemort.

"Likely," was all she could say. Abigail served as combat support and logistics for Stonebriar Operatives, which meant she was well versed with their mannerisms and mentality. She knew they didn't like to be lied to. They preferred the blunt, honest and most objective truth.

"If Voldemort really did hate non-magicals, he could've wiped out entire rural areas," Ryan pondered. He hated using the word muggle.

"But wouldn't that have attracted unwanted attention to himself?" Palmer suggested.

"Raids on non-magical events, he's done them before."

"But they were mostly done as a demonstration."

"Exactly," Ryan pointed out. "Demonstration. If he really did hate non-magicals, if he really was a bigot, he would've launched raids around the clock."

"Maybe he's just really smart."

"Yeah, he managed to find a way to control the Strites, and cripple humanity." Ryan paused. "I feel like he's just playing everyone just because he can."

Palmer could see he was going around in circles. Down time was a bane to all Operatives. They needed to occupy themselves, otherwise they would utilise all planes of consciousness to think about anything.

Sooner we get to Hogwarts, the better, the Elf concluded.

"Do we have any teams available right now?" Ryan asked.

Abigail pondered for a moment. "Alres said that he would be contacting people to lend us support. What are you planning?"

"Hunt the Horcruxes."

XXxxXX

"Kill all of those bastards! Leave none alive."
-David Qin Fei, ordering the mass execution of Death Eaters during the Linshing Incident

XXxxXX

A/N: For the sake of familiarity, I'm just going to call Hermione's parents, Emma and Daniel (Dan) Granger. Hats off to whoever started this in the first place, and I have to ask, why these names? (Not that they're bad or anything, I'm just curious).

Also… do I lose man points for being pro-Harmony? If so, it's man points I gladly give up.

They say Ron is supposed to be comic relief… so they say. I never really got the impression that he was a funny guy.

Quick question, what do you think of Ryan Potter?

Alas, please review.