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Chapter 7:

A Game Of Strategy

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Dawn came just as quickly, but before Harry told Draco that once they are in Hogwarts that they will meet up to talk about future plans in an unused classroom, Mr. Weasley ushered the kids (Harry and Hermione) together just as promised when they got back to the tent to sleep for several hours before taking the port-key back to The Burrow where they hope Molly Weasley wouldn't find out what had happened at the Quidditch World Cup. If Molly found out they wouldn't hear the end of it.

The only three that actually KNEW what really happened knew but that didn't stop them from ignoring the strange looks as they played it off as if it was the normal thing to do. To them it was only A Game Of Strategy, one they take seriously. Oh so seriously.

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Once back safely at the Burrow, both Harry and Hermione spent most of the time sorting out the books that Mrs. Weasley had bought. Ron on the other hand had a surge of jealousy that didn't go past either Harry or Hermione but didn't voice it when they caught glances of Ron. For the most part they left it alone, waiting to see if he explodes or something.

While things were hectic at the Burrow, everyone managed to get anything packed and sorted and ready to go. Or so they hoped.

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Finally when they, The Weasley Family, plus Harry Potter and Hermione Granger made it to the Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, they made their way to an empty compartment. The silence was unnerving, it made Ron very uncomfortable.

Once settled in their chosen compartment, Hermione pulled out her "book" that she was ever so fond of. A book only she knew how it works. Harry slightly raised an elegant brow towards Number VI as a small smirk that went unnoticed to Ron, as Ron was doing whatever to keep his mind off of what happened. Or better yet let him stew in his own personal jealousy spiel. Whatever it was he didn't care.

Hermione was thrilled to find more then half of her "book" was back to being Library of Vengeance, hopefully by Halloween she will have gotten her Book of Retribution back. In the long run by the end of the year. But seeing how fast it is going it might not take long at all. If anyone other then Harry or Draco looked at her book all they saw is a 4th year Arithmancy text book. Which was a good cover.

The ride to Hogsmeade was quiet if not boring. But of course what the others didn't know couldn't hurt them. Though with some plans put on hold new ones rose to take its place. One such plan that was thrown into the back burner was turning others into the lost members of the Organization XIII. But with new development that is going on for now it was safe to say, just with Marluxia, and Zexion. With the news of what actually happened behind his back he was wary of bringing anyone else back into the fold, so he Xemnas also known as Harry Potter will take in consideration on what Marluxia had said. With a soft huff of annoyance, why things couldn't go his way.

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Upon reaching Hogsmeade, the train pulled up to the station, the students clad in their school uniforms trekked up to the Thestrals, black, skeletal, bat-winged horses, but invisible to all who have never been truly touched by death while others made their way to the Black Lake.

Snagging a carriage with Hermione, Ron, and strangely enough with Draco which made Ron very uncomfortable even though Draco had been civil with them at the World Cup. Perhaps he is letting bygones be bygones. But that was left in the open. But seeing the jealous nature of Ron ones hopes is greatly misplaced.

The trip from Hogsmeade to the Castle was left in silence as they walked up into the Castle to the Great Hall where Draco gave Harry a slight nod before heading to the Slytherin table while Harry, Hermione, and Ron went to the Gryffindor table. Just like always they had to wait till all the first years were sorted, thinking just as things where as normal as any other year before, after dinner Dumbledore spoke of what is to come in this year by throwing in that Quidditch was canceled due to Hogwarts hosting the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

Harry had to raise an eyebrow to that but none the less didn't really complain like the Weasley twins were. As interesting as it was to enter the Tournament but as soon as Dumbledore spoke of the age line he lost interest in the whole thing. He has better things to do then worry about some tournament. But of course the twins had to add their two-cent about no Quidditch.

After all this year would be a year of A Game Of Strategy. Only then they will get what they wanted. Whether it is new members or trying to find different ways to 'atone' for what they had done in the past. Whatever they decide will be what they do.

After the announcements the prefects led the tired students back to their dorms for the night for classes starts early the next day. But that is fine. There are plenty of things that can and will be done. One thing is for sure Harry himself have lost a bit of interest in Quidditch, not because of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, but himself as Xemnas couldn't really care about it. As it stands his goal for now is to get his studies done and so he can move onto bigger problems. Such as debating on whether he would go on the round about on who to make into another Half-Life member or just throw the whole idea out into the Darkness and plot something else. Choices, choices and more choices to play with. And if he is honest with himself he has all the time in the world to do what ever he wants. For HE is the Great and 'Terrible' Xemnas.

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Early hours of morning and Harry rose and pulled the curtains back so he could get out of bed with a sneer, to be frank he rather not be in Hogwarts; he rather be back at the Castle That Never Was plotting on how to get his plans working or at least some of them. He couldn't careless if he would have to turn Hogwarts upside down to get what he wanted. Not without Marluxia and Zexion by his side while it happens.

Making sure not to wake any of the others he then got dressed for the day in the standard Hogwarts uniforms. Although the rebellious side of him decided to forgo the normal slacks for his form fitting black pants. He was tempted to wear his knee length boots with silver trimming and high concave indentations. But he decided not to.

After dressing he made his way silently out of the dorm rooms and down to the common room where Hermione also dressed holding her Library of Vengeance in her hands with a curt nod to each other they opened a Corridor of Darkness into an unused classroom just as another one opened and walked out Draco dressed similar to Harry only in green and silver. Draco gave both Harry and Hermione a curt nod as the Doors closed they talked about what they should look for and what to do.

"I don't think converting anyone right now is the most important not after what went on with Castle Oblivion, however we shall see what happens throughout the year." Harry stated as he watched the two as they nodded in agreement. For once maybe things will be different. Maybe they can do something other then what they wanted to do originally.

As far as they could tell Dumbledore hasn't notice anything different with the three and they hope he doesn't catch on to what is really going on.

Hermione then asked, "What should we do with our powers, I don't mean just wizard magic I mean our other powers, I know we can still use both but we should only use our other powers in discretion if others find out we can use other forms of magic then they will question us and I rather not answer to it."

"Indeed we will only use it in dire need if needed for now we will only use it in The Castle That Never Was." Harry nodded while both Draco and Hermione agreed to it. They continued to talk about what to do and an hour before breakfast was to start they went back to their respected common rooms via Corridor of Darkness before anyone woke up.

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-NOTES-

Hi and welcome back! From here on the story is going to turn in a semi different way. SO I hope this will be just as epic as it has been originally!

The name of this chapter is taken from a Netflix series called "The Hunt" the music is awesome, it was done by the awesome Steven Price.

I know I got my other fic to work on but meh. I've had some serious writers block and it sucks ass. So in the mean time I've been playing Guild Wars 2 since the new Path of Fire came out I've played non-stop. It's so awesome with the new stuff they had added.

But enough of the rants of what I've done while on writers block I hope you all like this! As I said before this is where everything changes. So it might not be as good but meh. At least I am trying.

Enjoy!