AN: This story is finished, it's just matter of publishing the thing on Fanfiction. I hope you all like this story, because it's the longest I've ever wrote. I would appreciate no one using the Seven Sins thing that I will have going on in this, as I'm also using the idea in an original story that I hope to release one day. (Seven kids fighting evil with evil, who would have thought?)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter. If I did own Harry Potter, then I would be rich, and I doubt I would need fanfiction to write one of my stories. Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn, it is the lovely brain child of Akira Amano. The Seven Sins is in no way inspired by another work, people, or places. Any coinciding coincidence is exactly that. Coincidence. Definition of the Flames by Zev Raregroove from BZPB

Please do not post this outside of fanfiction or translate without my expressed permission. My PM is open to those who wish to do so.

Warning: Strange mix of British and American English, I'm an American that watches and reads a lot of British shows and books. Mentions of child soldiers and the idea of them killing people in the sake of war. Mention of torture. The Potters are the Weasley parents' ages.

Pairings: None so far

CHAPTER ONE:
Honing Their Skills

When Harry Potter was almost fifteen, he vanished from the public along with Hermione Granger, Ronald "Ron" Weasley, Theodore Nott, Susan Bones, Terry Boot, and Neville Longbottom. After the disaster that was the Triwizard, after Cedric Diggory's death, and the reveal of Barty Crouch Jr, the teens just vanished from Hogwarts before the end of Term. Their traces not working. Nothing that the professors, ministry, or Voldemort's men did, could find them. The Goblins in charge of the Potter, Nott, and Longbottom accounts refused to give answers, claiming that the three were well in their rights as the last heirs of their families to drain the accounts.

A year later, corrupt Ministry workers, and Death Eaters, were being found doused with Veritaserum in public areas, sprouting out confessions of their wrong doings. The Aurors couldn't contain them, seeing as it was happening all over the British Isles, France, and Bulgaria. If not that, then they were appearing dead, poisoned by something that had no antidote, and ate away at their very body. It was thanks to a child who took photographs of random places that they got their only clue.

Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter, disappearing into an alley as the man, Walden Macnair (who, by the way, was a trusted member of the Ministry) sprouted out everything he'd done under Voldemort's first, and now second, reign. Rumors, theories, and lies spread about what the seven Hogwarts aged children were doing attacking Death Eaters and sympathizers.

~~~~~~~~~~June Twenty-Fifth, 1995~~~~~~~~~~

Harry pushed at the peas on his plate, mixing them into his mashed potatoes. Whispers and stares, pointed at him, had him feeling queasy. He finally pushed it away, standing from the table. Silence, his actions caused those whispering about him to hush. They watched as he nearly ran from the room. His friends, Ron, Hermione, and Neville, stood to follow him out of the Great Hall. The group was silent as they reached the open grounds, and Harry fell before the lake and he screamed.

"So noisy." A male voice groaned from beside the tree nearest to them. The group of four looked over to see Theodore Nott yawning as he sat up. "If you're that pissed off, do something about it, Potter."

"Excuse me?" Harry panted back, wiping at his eyes. Blue eyes rolled as Theodore strolled over to squat before Harry, who flinched at the brown haired teen's closeness.

"Do something about it." The Slytherin tilted his head as he poked Harry's forehead. Harry blinked in surprise as he rubbed his forehead. His friends watched warily. "You're not stupid, Potter. I've seen what you can do, and I know that you're smart."

"Why are you telling me this?" Theo hummed, glad the boy was showing a distrust.

"Because you're the only one brave enough to face Him." Theodore frowned, "I'm offering to help because I don't wish to follow my father's footsteps in following a madman."

"What am I supposed to do? The adults don't want to help me, and I have the Trace on me-"

"Easy enough to break that. Who do you trust, Harry Potter?" Harry flinched, glancing at his fellow Gryffindors. "I'll break theirs as well."

"Harry, if we do this, we're going to need a few more people." Hermione whispered as Theodore started to remove their traces. "Five people against an army? I..I know someone in Ravenclaw that would help us. She believes you about V-Voldemort, and wants to help anyway she can."

"Who?" Harry croaked.

"Lisa Turpin." Harry nodded, remembering the shy, but brilliant, Ravenclaw with mahogany hair. He turned to Ron and Neville.

"Susan Bones. Her aunt, Amelia Bones, would be able to pass us information from the inside, so long as Susan follows us." Neville blushed sheepish as he rubbed the side of his neck. Harry inhaled slowly.

"Go. Get them to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom." The two nodded, rushing off. Harry turned to Theodore, smiling tightly, "want to see the Chamber of Secrets?"

"You seriously found it?" The Slytherin asked in surprise as Harry stood. Ron snorted, clapping Theodore on his shoulder. The redhead knowing that the green clad boy had already earned Harry's trust.

"Mate, you have so much to learn." The redhead laughed, shaking his head.

"W-why are we in here?" Susan asked with a stutter as she and Neville arrived. Harry offered her a smile.

"We're waiting on Hermione and Lisa before I answer that." Just as he finished speaking, the two entered. "We're going to stop Voldemort before he can start killing." The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw flinched. "I can't do it alone, so I need help. I asked everyone if they had someone that they trusted, and those two suggested you."

"Why not the Weasley Twins?" Lisa asked, frowning. "They're both geniuses."

"That may be so," Harry began, running a hand through his hair, "but they are needed in the public eye...we're not. Yes, I could have asked someone from Gryffindor, but we need more than bravery to pull this off."

"What's your plan?" Lisa crossed her arms, frowning.

"Expose his soldiers for what they are. We're going to end up kidnapping people, and maybe even killing them, so that the ones we love will be safe. We're going to be breaking the law. If you're uncomfortable with this, Hermione will obliviate this memory and we won't come to you again." Hermione shot him a dirty look for volunteering her, but complied at his pleading look.

She never could deny him.

"I'm in." Susan said, startling those around her. "They killed my family. All because they didn't believe in what they were preaching. I'll fight, and get the information from my aunt."

"That gives us Ministry inside information." Harry nodded before turning to Lisa. "Lisa, if you don't want to be at risk-"

"And let my friends suffer on their own? I'm in." The girl huffed.

"I guess that leaves me with no choice." Theodore sighed but smirked. "My mother will tell me anything that she can against my father, and thus the Death Eaters."

"We only have today to plan. Nott-"

"Call me Theo, please. Nott is my father." The boy asked. Harry nodded, smiling.

"Theo, will you remove the Traces on everyone's wands?"

"Of course." The aristocrat agreed easily.

"Dobby!" The house elf appeared, jumping for joy.

"Harry Potter, sir, has called Dobby!"

"Dobby, are you contracted to Hogwarts?" The House Elf paused, frowning.

"Dobby is a free elf. Dobby can leave anytime he wishes." The elf crossed his arms. "What did Harry Potter need?"

"I know I made you promise not to, but I...we need your help, Dobby. My friends and I, here, are going to be going down into the Chamber of Secrets. We need your help in staying hidden and for transport. Can you help us?"

"Why is Harry Potter going to be hiding?"

"Because we are going to fight against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." Harry explained softly, "you know that the adults aren't the smartest when it comes to him. It's just until the school year ends, or if you can take us to Gringotts."

"Dobby can do that!" Big eyes watered, "thank you, Harry Potter, for relying on Dobby!"

~~~~~~~~~~June Twenty-Sixth, 1995~~~~~~~~~~

"Yes?" The goblin sneered. Harry swallowed thickly, remembering Theo's words.

"I need to have an audit of my accounts and an inheritance test done for my friend and I." He motioned to Hermione.

"Griphook, take them to Bloodfang. Next!" Harry followed behind the Goblin that he remembered from his first year.

"Thank you for helping us. I know it isn't pleasant to show kids around all the time." Harry told the goblin, who looked at him with a frown. "This is the second time you've had to help me."

"You remember me?" The goblin looked awed, and wasn't that a creepy sight.

"Why wouldn't he? It isn't as if you all look alike." Hermione huffed, shaking her head. "Honestly, the purebloods need to take their heads out of their asses."

"Hermione!" Harry choked out a laugh in disbelief.

"It's the truth, and you know it!" The two bickered the whole way to the office labeled Inheritance. "I still don't see why I have to do this."

"Better to be safe than sorry, according to Theo." Harry told her softly. "Ladies first."

"Come, I don't have all day. Time is money." The goblin sneered. Hermione stepped forward, and he collected three drops of her blood. Harry followed. Three minutes later, their complete family trees lay before them.

Hermione was a true half-blood. Her father's side was strictly muggle. Her mother, however, was descended from the LeFay family. A family thought to have died out years ago. Turns out that it just went dormant. As she went to talk to another goblin about her accounts, Harry looked at his own.

"Excuse me, Bloodfang, it says that I'm the heir of the Emrys and Slytherin Lines through my mother. Is this true?" The goblin jerked sharply, snatching the scroll.

"I will add these to the audit. How may we reach you?"

"Through Dobby the House Elf." The goblin nodded, pulling out a money bag.

"An allowance that needs to last you as long as it takes to assess your accounts."

Harry nodded, collecting both the bag and scroll. His mind placed a tidbit of information away for the end of the war. What it said didn't matter until then. He would do nothing about the findings until this war was over. It was all he could do to stop from screaming his pain away. Of the betrayal that they had both suffered.

He had an older brother, named Xanxus.

"So wait a minute," Theo held up a hand as he pinched his nose. "Your mother isn't just descended from Merlin, but the eldest child of the Gaunts, making her the former heir, and you the current heir, of Slytherin?" Harry nodded, feeling closer to his family then he ever had before. "And Hermione is the heiress of the LeFay family?"

"Yes." Hermione sighed, looking up from the scroll that held an audit of her account. "Did you know that the LeFay family, thanks to the Goblins having permission from the last known family member, have many investments, and I'm the third richest Heiress in the British Isles?"

"That's wicked." Harry grinned, standing up from the chair he was in. He didn't mention that, between people leaving him their money after dying after the last war, and his inheritance, that he was the richest boy in the world.

After talking with Dobby the day before, they learned of what the elves called the Come-and-Go room. Hermione identified it as the Room of Requirement. They used the Marauder's Map to sneak their way into the room. They had made it where only they would be able to get into the room they would be staying in, and that no elves could appear uncalled for. The room had technically three. A commons, and two different dorm rooms, one for the boys, and one for the girls. Each dorm had it's own bathroom. The commons had a desk for each of them, large pillows dotting the ground for seating, and all the walls were filled with books. A nook held a small kitchen, where Harry and Hermione would be taking turns cooking for the group.

Their pets, the owls Pig and Hedwig, Crookshanks, Susan's black Tabby, and Lisa's white Snowflake made up the cats, Trevor the toad, and Theo's bat Cul, could be found either sleeping on perches, playing, or sleeping in their habitat. They were all wizard pets, so they had a higher intelligence, insuring that they didn't fight.

"Harry, let's make a feast tonight!" Hermione insisted, standing. "It'll give us practice for the spells in any case."

That night, pandemonium filled the Wizarding World as they realised that seven fourteen and fifteen year olds had disappeared from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and they couldn't be found no matter what they did. Adults were running around as if their heads were cut off. Kids were whispering rumors, giddy at the fact something new had happened. However, all the facts boiled down to the following:

First, Harry Potter disappears with Cedric Diggory from the very school, and returns claiming the dark lord was alive and he killed the older boy.

Then a Death Eater using Polyjuice Potion was found, and executed, by the ministry.

Now seven students, four of whom were heirs to their families, were missing.

"Where are they, Albus?" Minerva asked nervously. "Do you think...HE did something?" The wizened wizard shook his head.

"According to Severus, Voldemort is still recovering. Did you ask Mesers and Miss Weasley when they last saw their brother?"

"Last night, when Harry stormed from the dinner. No one has seen them since." The Head of Gryffindor looked frayed, hair coming loose from her bun. "Have you searched everywhere, even the Shrieking Shack, headmaster?"

"I have searched every available option." The man left out that he couldn't search the curious little room that became what you needed it to be. "I had the elves check everywhere else. They are not in Hogwarts."

Deep down, however, the man knew that they were.

~~~~~~~~~~July First, 1995~~~~~~~~~~

Albus Dumbledore hummed to himself as he knocked on the door that had appeared, locked, where the Room of Requirement was. He was alone, having sent his coworkers either on errands to Hogsmead, on the train with the children, or taking stock in the infirmary. He was as alone as he knew he needed to be in order to speak to the children hiding under the world's noses.

He had to get them under his control again.

The door creaked open, revealing Hermione Granger, who was frowning at him. He went to enter, but was pushed back by a ward. The girl grinned happily, opening the entrance to him, and crossing her arms. She was smug, happy in her accomplishments.

"Hello Professor, can we help you?" He wished that she was still the young girl that hanged off of his every word.

"Miss Granger, you and the others are in serious trouble." The man said sternly in a 'I'm so disappointed in you' tone.

"Ah, but you see, we don't care." Her brown eyes narrowed sharply, "and you won't be sending him back to the Dursleys this year. Voldemort has his blood running through his veins. The wards won't work now." The man nodded, easily agreeing.

Anything to get to the boy.

"Miss Granger, I just wish to understand what the seven of you are planning."

"We plan on winning this war, just like you've trained me since day one." Harry spoke up, entering the door frame. "Isn't that right? You knew what was happening in my First year, and again in second. This year was seeing if I could make the right choices. Did I meet your expectations, Headmaster?" Harry sneered, crossing his arms. "Also, don't even try to kick me out of this room. Lisa Turpin is the heiress of Ravenclaw, and has a claim to this room, as do I as the heir of Slytherin, and Neville as the heir of Gryffindor."

"Hm. So you're only missing Mr. Smith then?" Hermione huffed.

"As if we'd ask that person to help us. What do you need? You're interrupting our council." The girl lifted a brow, making the man laugh.

"I wish to offer my support." The man motioned inside the room. "May I enter?" The students shared a silent look before moving aside for the man.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry chanted, catching the wand that flew out of the man's hostler. The old man gave him a look of shock. "Sorry sir, but second year taught me that it only takes a spell to make one forget something. Nothing personal. You'll get your wand back once you leave."

"No, I'm afraid that is no longer my wand, Mr. Potter." Dumbledore sighed, the room summoning an armchair for them all. "You see, that is a very special wand. It's called many things through the ages, but most commonly the Elder Wand or Death's Wand."

"You mean from the Deathly Hallows?" Theo demanded, appearing at Harry's side to look at the wand. "The wand from The Tale of the Three Brothers?" Ron was gaping as he hurried over, while Neville was staring in shock.

"The very same. Mr. Potter now controls two of three." Harry felt, deep in his gut, that the man wasn't pleased about that.

"Two?" Theo repeated in surprise. "What other-wait, last year! Malfoy wasn't lying when he said you have an invisibility cloak?"

"No, he wasn't, but if you please, I would like to keep that quiet, please." Harry glanced at his comrade quickly before looking at Dumbledore again. "What do you want?"

"I wish to offer you all of the resources of the Order of the Phoenix."

"The Order you formed to stop Voldemort, correct? If only you take an unbreakable vow to never betray us or our cause. We will only meet here, at Hogwarts, and anything that you learn about us stays between the eight of us unless stated otherwise. Deal?"

Twenty minutes later, Dumbledore had made his vows.

Even if he were fuming about it.

"Now, I have a few friends, aged as they are, that will be able to teach you all you need to know. Miss Granger, I believe you still hold onto that Time Turner?"

"Yes, sir." The girl nodded, ignoring the shocked students that weren't Harry and Ron. "If you can manage it, we should have one for each of us."

"I shall try to get them to you by next week. Now, my friends can teach each of you different things. Healing, Battle Magicks, Weaponry, self-defense without a wand or weapon, potions, transfiguration, charms, and maybe even a few etiquette lessons wouldn't be remiss for a few of you." Harry, Hermione, and Ron blushed deeply. "Now, Mr. Longbottom, I was going to gift this to Mr. Potter, but I believe it belongs to you. Careful, it has basilisk poison embedded within." The man pulled out the Sword of Gryffindor, as well as the Sorting Hat. "I believe a few of you have a weapon from your ancestors to receive."

Harry went first.

Ah, you again, Mr. Potter? I see you have finally accepted that you are Slytherin's child. I believe he would be proud to see you wield this. Something hard fell on Harry's head, causing him to pull the hat away. A long pole fell out into his lap. Eventually it ended showing it to be like a spear.

"Ooh, I've seen those in history museums!" Hermione scooted closer. "It's a glaive!"

The polearm was beautiful. It was made with the darkest ebony, etched with silver that depicted a serpent's body. The mouth opened, holding the blade in place, it's eyes were made of emerald. The blade was easily the length of Harry's arm, and was also etched to hold emeralds embedded within. It had two protrusions, one straight out, perpendicular to the blade, the other hooking backwards as if it were the fang of the serpent.

"It is made by goblins, giving it the same properties of the sword." Dumbledore explained, "luckily enough I know someone who knows how to handle one!" The man said cheerfully.

"Me next!" Lisa shot forward, pulling the hat on.

Mh, truly Ravenclaw's child, aren't you? Yes, I can see you are. The hat mused happily before dropping something soft yet hard on her head. Pulling away, Lisa was shocked at the small bag full of throwing knives made of silver and shaped like raven feathers.

"I believe that Ravenclaw herself enchanted that bag so that the blades, goblin made, will always return to it, completely clean." Dumbledore turned to Hermione last, gaining a surprised look from the children.

At least he could still surprise them.

Merlin's child, I see. Hermione let out a startled yelp when something hard smacked her head. To her surprise it was a staff with silver and gold etching out the elements of the earth. Air, darkness, earth, fire, light, lightning, metal, and water. Runes of protection lined the staff, as well as strengthening runes.

"I shall return at one next Saturday with your new teachers."

"We are not staying in the castle if he knows we're here." Harry told Hermione as they argued about leaving Hogwarts. "It is too dangerous, Hermione. We are leaving until the eighth, where Dobby will bring us back. It's our safest option. At least, until we are stronger."

"You want to leave a stronghold for something unknown! How long do you think we can last out there without a roof over our heads? Harry, we're not prepared for anything except what we have here. We're just kids still." The girl stood with her fists against her hips. "This is something that isn't going to be easy. At least here, we know the only danger is Dumbledore. We're not going to stay forever, but the chance to learn so that we can survive will be worth it. Think about it, none of us know how to use our weapons, and Ron, Theo, and Susan don't even have weapons!" The youngest teen flinched, causing Hermione to lower her voice. "Just...take a day to go over the pros and cons of us staying or going."

"I think I can do that." Harry agreed. The two took a step apart. "I'm going to go read something...for once." He joked, getting a smile from his friend. Ron glanced at him as he continued his game of chess with Theo.

"You know, I wonder if the RoR could provide us with our best match for a weapon." Ron mused as they sat down at the table to eat. The group paused before wondering the same thing. The thought barely passed their minds before a bow landed before Susan, an war hammer for Ron, and a dagger for Theo. "I guess that answers that question."

"Yeah, but you're not using those unless it's for practice." Harry told them firmly, "we will be going to Gringotts once my audit is over, and order all three of you goblin made weapons so that they are better than those."

"I think we can all agree on that." Susan huffed, fiddling the ancient bow.

~~~~~~~~~~July Eighth, 1995~~~~~~~~~~

The room was changed into that of a dueling classroom. Much like the one from second year. However, this one was separated by a glass window that was a two-way mirror like at the police stations. Harry was idly practicing all the offensive spells he knew against the practice dummy. Hermione was quizzing Ron and Neville. Susan and Lisa were going over their former instructions in etiquette, and Theo was napping. They all stopped what they were doing when the door opened to admit a few people.

Dumbledore had indeed brought people that were the best of the best in their work. Hippocrates Smethwyck was a healer, if Harry remembered correctly, who had just been featured in the Daily Prophet for finding a cure for a poison. Professor Flitwick, who was a top ranked Dueler in his day, would likely be to teach them about dueling and Charms. Remus Lupin would likely be teaching them about Defense Against the Dark Arts so that they could protect themselves. A tall dark man that wore Auror robes that Harry distantly remembered seeing in Witch Weekly for being the most handsome bachelor, Kingsley Shacklebolt. Professor Snape was obviously to be their Potion's professor. Finally, it seemed as if Dumbledore was planning to teach them Transfiguration himself.

Hermione cast a disguising charm on her voice and amplified it.

"Has Professor Dumbledore told you our conditions for you to become our teachers?"

"To form an Unbreakable Vow." Snape drawled. "What is the vow?"

"You swear to treat all seven of us fairly and equally. You will not say, hint, write, or think a word about us to another person. No name calling, or ugly grudges. You will swear this before all of us step outside of this barrier." Theo walked out, a smirk on his lips as he continued. "If you do not wish to continue, your memories of this meeting will be wiped, and we will search for help else where." He held out his hand. "Who is first?"

"No, no, no, Mr. Potter like this!" Smethwyck correct for the thirteenth time. Harry let out a frustrated groan, palming his face as he glanced at the clock. He still had an hour with the healer, along with Susan, who was having an easier time understanding the spells needed.

"I don't think I can pull this branch of magic off. I'm sorry for wasting your time, sir." Harry mutter shamefully.

"No, don't talk that way, Mr. Potter..." The man trailed off, glancing at Harry's weapon. "You use a blade. Perhaps you are unsuited as a healer, but I can still teach you about poisons."

"Mr. Nott, will you please cease in daydreaming. I am trying to teach you something important!" Dumbledore glared at the teen that was absently changing his teacup into an assortment of little animals. "You must have all the basics before you are able to master the rest!"

"I'm already advanced in Professor McGonagall's class. This is too easy for me." Dumbledore gritted his teeth as Theo gave him a bored look.

"Very well, we will begin on human transfiguration then."

"Miss Granger, well done." Flitwick praised as she gulped down a bottle of water. Her practice dummy lay in ruins, but her core was low, saying that she was at her limit. "Now, I want you to run around this room fifty times." The girl froze.

"Run?" She squeaked nervously.

"Yes. We need to expand your stamina. You do wish to keep up with the others, do you not? It isn't all about casting a spell perfectly. In fact, the reason you are capable of even casting these weaker spells is thanks to the fact your core is so small." Hermione flinched before sighing as she got ready to do as told.

"Miss Turpin, when this is all over, I believe you will make an excellent Auror." Shacklebolt mused deeply as he dodged the girl's throwing knives. He had knicks through out his clothing, and he'd lost his hat to the wall behind him some time ago. "Or even a Hitwizard."

"No thanks. I'd rather not work for a corrupt ministry." The girl huffed angrily as she continued her assault.

"Yes, well done Ron!" Remus cheered as Ron managed to keep his Shield spell in place. "If you keep this pace up, we will have you learning the Patronus in no time!" The redhead grinned.

"What do you think mine will be?"

"No, I won't even guess. A Patronus is a peculiar thing, Ron. They can change with emotional upheaval." Remus explained grinning when the boy pouted.

"Mr. Longbottom, as you are my most...difficult student, we will begin from the beginning." Snape said as if his words physically pained him. "Tell me, what are the properties of-?"

And so the questioning went on, Snape quickly becoming surprised that the boy knew so many plants. However, as soon as they came to the animal properties, that is when they came across a problem.

"I want you to study this book for the next two lessons." The man handed Neville the beginner's guide to prepping and understanding potion ingredients.

"Yes sir." Neville opened the book and began reading.

~~~~~~~~~~July Thirtieth, 1995~~~~~~~~~~

Harry gaver Hermione a pointed stare, and she dragged Neville out under the cloak, a letter for his grandmother clutched in his hands. He quickly began to decorate one of two cakes he had made. Tomorrow was his birthday, but today was Neville's day. He had the feeling he'd never spent his birthday with friends, and wanted everything to be nice. To let the boy know he was wanted.

Harry knew what it was like, after all.

A few hours later, a red eyed Neville returned to a surprise party. No one said anything when his eyes turned glossy again as he hugged Harry tightly. The night was spent getting to know each other in more ways than one, and just being them instead of panicking.

~~~~~~~~~~July Thirty-First, 1995~~~~~~~~~~

Harry woke up to someone jumping on his bed with a surprise hug. Hermione was screaming the Happy Birthday song at the top of her lungs. As was Ron. No one knew better than them, how much it meant to Harry to have his friends with him. What it meant that he would be having a birthday party. Even if it meant that not all of his loved ones were there.

"So wait, you've never had a party?" Neville looked horrorstrucked. "Exactly how bad were the muggles to you, Harry?"

"I wasn't abused." Harry murmured from where he was buried beneath his friends in a puppy pile. He squirmed around until he was facing Neville. "No one tried to hit me, exceptforDudley, or throw me out a window...they just...they said some nasty things, and otherwise ignored me. That part of my life is over now, and I have a family right here that cares about me. Even if some of us weren't friends until a month ago."

"We care about you too, Harry." Susan hugged around his neck. "You aren't alone anymore."

~~~~~~~~~~August Twenty-First, 1995~~~~~~~~~~

Harry and Hermione held their breath as they hid beneath the Invisibility Cloak. Dumbledore was meeting with the Order in his office. Over half of their tutors were present. When they'd seen the names on the map, the two had decided to see what was happening. They had most stealth charms and spells placed over them and their hiding place.

"Albus, what is this about?" Molly demanded, eyes red, but a stern look about her. For some reason, Harry got the feeling that she was proud of them, despite not knowing where or how they are.

"I may have a way to bring the children who are missing back into my control."

"What do you mean, Albus?" Molly asked a frown maring her face. "Your control?" The teens stiffened.

"I may have a chance to convince them to return and be protected by those here." The teens quickly read between the lines.

He wished to force them under his thumb again.

The two quietly made their way out of the room just as Severus opened the door, a potion for Dumbledore in hand.

"So we're leaving?" Ron asked upon their return.

"Yeah. We're going to one of the LeFay homes." Hermione had a hurt eXpression. "I thought if he saw how serious we were..."

"It isn't your fault, Hermione." Harry sighed before waving his wand to begin packing away their things. The door was knocked upon, but no one moved to answer it. The knocking continued even as the seven finished packing everything that the room offered into a never ending trunk with seven compartments. Harry shrunk the item, looking sadly around the room. "Dobby, Winky."

The home they chose was a mansion that held many rooms. It was covered in protective wards that only Hermione could key people into, as it was held to her blood. It didn't stop them from placing the Fidelius charm upon the property with Harry as their secret keeper. Everyone had their own wing, which held a study, bedroom, and a large space that would be used to practice their magic and weapons. Of course, they would train together as well in the main training room, but for now, it would work.

"Okay, now what?" Neville asked as they sat down to eat dinner.

"Now we start planning. First, I want to see if the Stone of Resurrection is real. I think that our best hope for continued learning, is to ask our ancestors." Ron said, frowning. "If anyone is to have it, I think it would be the Gaunts, Harry."

"So I'm looking for Voldemort's grandparent's home?" Ron nodded, and Harry groaned. "Fine. I'll start dowsing tomorrow morning. I need sleep.

"We all need sleep." Hermione corrected with a frown. "After all, we've been using Time Turners to fit over three years worth of lessons to get where we are. We are all exhausted." No one dared to say otherwise.

"I'm sorry your birthday isn't the best we can do." Harry told Lisa, who shook her head, smiling.

"I've got friends now. I..can we just be teens for the night? You know, talking?

"Of course we can!"

They spent the rest of the night relaxing and just being teenagers for the first time since before term ended. Somehow they went from telling joke to talking about the future, and what they wanted to eventually do with their lives. Lisa wanted to write a book series, asking Harry if she could use his life as inspiration. Susan wanted to be a healer specializing in children. Hermione wanted to become a lawyer who fought for what was right for all creatures and wizarding kind. Neville wanted to become the next Herbology professor. Theo wished to travel the world at his leisure, as he'd already had the goblins invest his money that he'd drained from his father's account. Ron wanted to fly professionally for the Chudley Cannons. Finally, Harry wanted to open a school that was a pre-Hogwarts, where all wizards and witches could learn about each other's cultures, and to get along, at a young age.

They just needed to survive.