"And if I heard well, only Dumbledore know how to take those manacles away, right?" Asked Ron, trying to assimilate the tale that his friends had related to him a few minutes ago. He was uncomfortable with the silence that permeated the room after they reached the end, so he actually tried to break it away with something that was actually bothersome for him.

Harry nodded, he doubted that Dobby would lie to him after all of that, "I believe that he will unleash you when he recovers from the backlash of the ritual." He has his doubts, but then, Dumbledore wasn't exactly in the right spot to deny them anything. Greengrass on the other hand immediately added.

"And why pry you tell will he obey you, Potter? If you hasn't noticed it, he is a resourceful man, he might be weak at the moment, but he is still a dangerous man. We are still trapped inside this castle, and if your memories are to be trusted at all, the world out there will not be all that welcoming, especially to this particular group. Like it or not we are still under his power, cornered into a position that makes him more valuable to us, than us to him."

Hermione nodded, caressing the hair of a resting Luna who had her head on her lap. "That's certainly true, but I don't think that he will try to trick us anymore, he wouldn't have done all of what he did to prevent us being assimilated if he wanted anything else."

Greengrass snorted, "You certainly are a fool, Granger."

"Watch your mouth", ordered Harry, looking at the Slytherin girl with narrowed eyes. Said girl immediately looked at his direction her eyes defiant and fiery, "And why would I do that, Potter?"

Harry looked at her firmly, "Because I know that you're a smart girl Greengrass, I know that you're aware that we are your last chance here, like it or not, you died the moment Malfoy took you to the forest, at least you are death to the magical world, the fact that the Goblins also support this belief it's the final nail to the coffin. You are stuck with us, so stop antagonizing us because then you will find yourself completely alone in a world that will definitely not like you back."

Daphne looked at him frostily, "So this is how it is? It seems that I exchanged a master for another, tell me Potter, will you force me to be with you as your friends there?" She looked at the girls obviously disapproving of what she was seeing, only to be interrupted by Ron, "NO!" he screamed and looked angrily at Harry then at Daphne apparently confused as to why he had reacted in such a way.

Luna finally spoke even when she hasn't taken her head from the lap of Hermione, "We are not interested in you Greengrass, at least not in that way. You might dislike it, but you have bonded with Ronald and he has done the same with you, is pretty obvious to us that you are fighting against it," She finally opened her eyes and looked in her direction. "That you are denying a part of yourself to him because you are afraid."

Daphne snapped, "So I should just accept it? He took me against my will, he changed me into... this, without my consent I might add again, and I should just accept it Lovegood?"

She looked at Ron crossly, divided between loath and understanding, "You think I don't understand what happened? You think I am not grateful that he saved me from those brutes? Yes I am! but what happened wasn't meant to be, at least not in that fashion. Your irresponsibility it's at fault here, nothing of this would have happened if you kept your hormones in control."

Harry looked at her and said, "What happened, happened, if you are going moan and cry over it then so be it. But that doesn't mean that you have to be a nightmare all the time, yes, I messed up, I am pretty aware that all of this is my fault here, but I am trying to move on with what I have. Tell me, you constantly remind us that this wasn't what you liked. But then, what do you prefer, what other option did your so called family left you with? Even if you hasn't approached Ron, to let me remind you, get close to me, nothing of this would have happened. And then you would have been who know where, being in a position much worst than this one."

Hermione added, "You constantly belittle us about what happened to you, forgetting that this is the lesser of your problems, with us you have at least a chance to live as freely as you want, and doing what you choose. You only need to understand that we are in charge here, not you." She looked at Ron who was then looking at her. "And certainly, not you Ron. I know that we still have a lot of issues between us, but that's in the past. We aren't entirely human anymore, we are alone in the entire world now, so we need to be united or we will certainly perish, it's not a choice."

Ron immediately sat, trying to hide his defeated face from them, "Then what will happen with us? I am sure my family thinks I am death right now, how will we survive without help? We don't have money, and if you remember well, the goblins think that Greengrass is death, what is stopping then to believe the same thing with myself and yourselves?"

Luna sighed, then finally moved from the lap of the now trembling Hermione, "He's right, my father, Hermione's parents, and Harry's relatives should have been notified that we are death."

Harry frowned, then said, "I don't think so, I was able to change you two before school began, I assume that we are still registered in the bank. If not, then we would have been approached. After all Luna's father should have been notified and he would have tried to contact her, so would Hermione's parents. I doubt about my relatives, but, I don't believe that we are erased from the banks books."

Ron looked at him, and asked, "then what- only to be interrupted by Greengrass.

"So it seems that I was already sold and out of the Greengrass family tree, maybe my father suspected that I would try to escape if I had access to the family account. The only thing that remained was the chastity charm over my body tied to an object to prove that I was still pure. So when he finally gave me to the Li family the end of this year, nothing would attach me to him." She looked at the floor, frowning all the time, then she raised her head, her eyes downcast and empty, "I need to be alone, please do not bother me for a while."

Ron tried to say something but couldn't say anything and just looked while she disappeared in the darkness of the hallways that leaded to their rooms. He looked at Harry pleadingly, trying to find something to say but he couldn't.

Luna on the other hand immediately called, "Dobby, please if you hear me, watch over Daphne, and stun her if she tries to take her life." An almost silent 'pop' was heard and they all knew that the elf had heard them. Ron finally asked, "What will happen to us guys, I, I don't know what to do."

Harry finally raised himself from his seat and said, "We need to prepare ourselves, that's the only thing we can actually do. But first we need to find a way to communicate with the others, we are trapped here until Dumbledore wake's from his magical coma."

Luna asked, "And after that?"

Harry looked at her, not truly knowing what to do, "I don't know." He couldn't say something else, he truly didn't knew what to do.

XxX

"I am sorry but, can you repeat that?" Asked Fred while he looked with something close to astonishment as to what his little sister has brought to him. George on the other hand was still gaping at the pages of the book that he reverently held on his shaking hands.

Ginny frowning at the behavior of her brothers repeated, "We need your help in the ritual to become an Animagus."

"Yes I heard you the first time Ginny, I am just not sure of what you are trying to accomplish with this," Fred said, actually doubting her intentions, she looked at him for a few seconds, trying to reconcile with how much her brothers had changed the past six days after the disappearance of Ron. Not that she was perfectly well, but she has noticed that George has slowly becoming a recluse while Fred on the other hand was much more vocal and aggressive than he used to be.

She on the other hand was tired of crying, not when she was sure that Harry would not break his promise, much less this one. Thankfully Neville was to her surprise of great help in this regard as he has been at her side as a fateful friend, never putting his obvious attraction toward her before his need to help. That and the Longbottom heir has surprised her when he approached his grandmother on what kind of information he needed and for what. She wasn't still aware of what happened between the two, but the way Neville approached his grandmother actually gave him results, much better results that she had hoped.

It seemed that whatever he had told the woman, she had dignified his request with a priceless book on rituals, an old tome that was obviously banned by the ministry thanks to many of the rituals and procedures that it contained, many of them were clearly dangerous and required a meticulous and experienced hand. But most of all, this book was banned because all the rituals there needed human blood.

Neville who was looking at the book on the shaking hands of George said, "There is a ritual that almost guaranties an Animagus form, but it needs a lot of power and knowledge that we don't have, it's needs an offering, in this case the part of an animal to help..." He was immediately interrupted by George.

"I don't approve of this Ginny, the risk is too high. It's insane to even try it, even the books says so, 'the risk of getting cursed with this ritual are high indeed, proceed carefully.' This, this is too dangerous."

Ginny huffed, "This could save our lives in the future, you know better than I that only if you mess this badly you get cursed. If we are careful nothing bad will happen."

Fred snapped, "Aren't you listening to us? This is a highly banned book Ginevra, this is heralded as Dark Magic by the ministry, hell if we are trapped with this, it's an instant ticket to Azkaban without protest. How could you think of something so irresponsible when..."

"When what Fred, our father is already fired from the ministry thanks to Malfoy, this might be the last generation of the Weasley family coming to Hogwarts because we can't pay anymore for an education. And even if we had the money to do so, Malfoy is still doing what he can to control the school AND the ministry. Do you think that that last convoy from the board of governors was just here to visit by? WAKE UP, even father saw what is happening, this is the last chance we have to prepare ourselves before the new Minister decides to clear the castle and magical world from what he heralds as vermin. WE are on that list, we are targets, it's just a matter of time before they come for us."

"Ginny is right boys, even my grandmother is aware that the power struggle will end favoring Malfoy, he is scheduled to become Minister in five days, and she is aware that the board of governors is now too under his control. If we don't prepare ourselves now, then, we might not have anymore chances tomorrow. That's why she risked herself by sending me this highly forbidden book, we are being left with very few chances to truly prepare ourselves."

Fred looked conflicted and George again was silent, Ginny decided to put an end to this, "Harry told us that Voldemort is back, do you think of him as a liar too? I know that you are angry with him, and I understand, I am disappointed in what he did to my brother, but he promised us to bring him back, and I have faith that he will do so, he has never broken a promise to his friends, but think clearly, Ron might come back, but do you think that the Ministry will not try to take him away when they find that he is not human anymore? Will we left him alone and to be treated like an animal? I, I don't want to be like him, but I don't want him feeling excluded from our family." She sniffed, trying to control her treacherous eyes.

"I want him to know that he isn't that different, that I too could be an animal when I want. And that I can be with him no matter what... I." She stopped abruptly when a hand touched her shoulder, she looked at Fred with surprise seeing that he too barely was controlling himself.

"I will help you, but only if you let me, - He was immediately interrupted by George, "Us, only if you left us go first, if anything goes wrong, then we want to protect you at least."

Fred looked at his brother, they had been distant this last days, mostly thanks to how different their opinions where of who's fault was. Fred blamed all on Harry while George believed that they weren't free of guilt either as they hasn't been very good brothers to begin with.

This agreement for the first time in days, seemed to be slowly closing the distance between the two. Fred looked at George and silently held his gaze for a few seconds before he said. "How much time we have?"

George immediately looked at the book and said, "We have three days before we miss the full moon, but most than anything we need a lot of money for this, some ingredients are awfully expensive. And some of them are banned, it will not be easy."

Neville interrupted him, "My Grandmother gave me a sack with Galleons too, she too send me the plants that are needed in the ritual, The thing is, they are part of a potion, and I am not good at potions, and even if Ginny seems to be quickly becoming an outstanding witch, she hasn't the experience to prepare it either. This is beyond our abilities, the animal parts can be bought in the alley, but the blood is..."

Ginny sighed and said, "It needs the blood of a virgin maiden to fuel the first part of the ritual, at least to prepare the ground and infuse the marks with magic."

George finally said, "I am not comfortable with this, but as you have said, we don't have anymore chances, and we can't find that ingredient on the alley without getting trapped or scammed. But here says that then each of us should mark ourselves with said blood Ginny, the marks should be precise and we can't commit a mistake or it will cost us our lives, magic or end up cursing us."

Fred looked at Ginny, knowing that when she frowned like that and wasn't looking at him that she was hiding something. He looked at Neville who was fidgeting at this point, something that he hasn't been doing in a while.

"What are you hiding from us?"

Ginny hissed in annoyance before she said, "We have a plan, but, we need you guys to prevent anyone else from finding about this." She looked at Neville, she wasn't entirely sure if this would work or not, but she was risking her freedom to do what she thought was right.

"Neville's grandmother offered to help us, as she knows a great deal in Runes and Arithmancy, sadly she isn't all that good in potions either, at least not enough for this to work properly. But to do so, we need to be in her house and not in the school."

Fred looked at the sweating Neville while he asked, "And how do you propose we do that?" He had a bad feeling about this, especially because he was beginning to suspect what they were talking about.

Ginny finally said, "She proposed a reunion to discuss a marriage contract between myself and Neville, of course it's only and excuse to do the ritual, but we need someone to chaperons us or a legal adult, we can't take this to my parents, not when mum and dad believes that Ron is death and don't know what to do, now that dad is without a job to sustain us. This is where you can be of use."

Neville stammered a little but he finally said, "It's not an formal reunion, we can convince the Headmistress McGonagall that my Grandmother only wants to measure Ginny, and that we only need a day for us to do so." George immediately interrupted and said. "We can't".

Ginny tried to protest only to be silenced by Fred, "It's a good idea, but we actually can't do it, we could do it but think carefully, we are legally adults, but you aren't Ginny, to take you away from the castle we need to be your legal guardians, and we aren't, McGonagall will need then the permission of father and mother, and if she do so and they finds about why, they will need to ask what is happening and then well..."

Ginny mournfully said, "Then we can't do it? We took such a risk for nothing?"

Neville then firmly said, "Then we might need to escape the castle then, you guys seems to know how to do it, we just need to notify Grandmother and she could wait for us in the Alley, then take us to the Longbottom manor, do the ritual and then comeback as soon as we can."

Fred, George and Ginny looked at him for a few moments. Ginny for her part said, "It will be risky Neville, your family can end up shamed if we are caught."

Neville quickly denied, "Shame would be to do nothing while my friends needs help."

Fred frowned and said, "We need then to do this quickly, we can't be away for too long or someone will notify McGonagall, then she at the Aurors and then, at our family."

George finally said, "I don't think that this is a bad idea, think about it, McGonagall is already awfully busy nowadays, we can use the disappearance of Ron and the others to justify ourselves. If someone ask, then we might just say that we were just hiding from the public stares and well, actually use what we have been doing lately." He looked at Fred who nodded in understanding, they had been trying to get away from the stares and the pity that others where sending their way in the school.

Fred sighed and finally looked at his little sister. "All right then, but we need to plan this accordingly, listen, and listen well because we cannot commit even the most tiniest of mistakes here, if we want to leave this experience unscathed."

XxX

Hermione frowned at the pile of books at the table in front of her, she knew that the ritual has affected her in more ways than what she had described to her friends. That experience had shaken something inside of her that she had been fighting and denying for years, something that she convinced herself were only nerves and self doubt, something that was put in the back of her mind and forgotten thanks to the praise and words of those close to her.

But Dumbledore's memories had simply destroyed all the delusions that she herself had planted on her mind, the barriers were now simply completely destroyed, and she couldn't do nothing more than to stare at the truth and deal with it.

How blind was she? She actually believed that she was a prodigy, she actually believed all those praises and words of encouragement from her peers and tutors. She had actually believed the words of Sirius, that she was the brightest witch of the century, she took as proof of how great she was the praise of a man that was actually pretty delusional and probably in high need of medical attention. She had seriously believed him, and after that, she began to think of herself as a genius, a prodigy.

How foolish, she wasn't even close to be one, not after experiencing what being a true prodigy means, she had been in Dumbledore shoes, she had seen, done and experienced on first hand what was the feeling of rediscovering and even creating a new branch of magic, she even had the power to redefine the rules of what was possible and not.

She had been so close to begin a similar road a few years back, but she didn't, she simply couldn't deviate from what she tough was safe. The bluebell spell was the most creative she has been, and she had left that as something irrelevant compared to the importance of high marks on her essays. She simply fell back in the world that she knew and was comfortable with. Her answers where actually verbatim from the books she had read, word for word. Certainly she had made remarkable progress while learning and casting said spells, sometimes with too much ease.

But compared to what Dumbledore did on his childhood, she could not even measure herself against him.

"Hermione?"

The sudden appearance of Harry finally broke Hermione from her self loathing, she was startled and in part, frightened. She knew when she saw at his eyes, she knew what he was about to ask, a mere glance was enough for her to see how worried he was. Behind him stood Luna, looking at her with those big round silverly blue eyes of hers. She was frowning a little while inclining her head toward her right side. A signal that she was thinking furiously.

Hermione knew that she couldn't hide what she was experiencing, so she told them, both of them quickly took a chair and sat while listening, both obviously experiencing something akin to what she was experiencing herself. Harry was the first to talk. "I think that we are... jealous..."

Luna and Hermione looked at him, asking for more, he looked at the table, searching for the right words to express his idea. "Compared to our time in the school his, was relatively easy. He lived in tense times, but he wasn't actually living under the fear that a dark lord would suddenly kill all of them for not being pure or part of his movement. He had time and the determination to surpass the limits. And in fact it seemed that he lived on a time with less rules and restrictions of what could or not, be done with a wand."

He looked at them, smiling sheepishly then saying, "He just didn't care about what other people believed or told him about magic, he tested and tinkered all he could until he actually proved that it could be done differently. And it seemed that the professors simply didn't cared if he ended up hurt or killed..." He looked at his hands, not sure of how to explain what he was trying to say.

Luna frowned once more and said, "It seems that they were less restrictive in the past, but I clearly remember that some of the students that shared the school with him suddenly disappeared from his memories and that the teachers treated said disappearances as it was common." Hermione nodded immediately while Harry was trying to recall what he could of the experience. The brunette then decided to voice her agreement with Luna, "I can actually recall that in his fourth year a girl actually killed herself while she was trying to cast something in class. They were dismissed for the day, and none of them where actually shocked at was happened, surprised, yes, but shocked or even saddened, not much."

Luna nodded, and after a few seconds Harry actually confirmed that yes, they had experienced the same thing. "I can remember that, in fact. I can remember more, some of them actually lost..." He looked queasy, he wasn't accustomed to see so much blood, especially how brutal some of the injuries where.

"It seems that in the past, casualties were something expected while learning about magic, they weren't much, and few of them were actually fatal, but the risk seemed to be higher, especially in Transfiguration." Luna closed her eyes, trying to ignore the shudders of both of them, she knew what they were probably thinking, and she couldn't agree more.

What that seventh year student has done to himself while experimenting was nightmarish enough to understand why McGonagall was so extreme with her zero tolerance of foolishness.

"I am actually grateful for the restrictions that McGonagall impose in her class," Said Harry while Luna and Hermione just nodded. It seemed that transfiguration was even more dangerous than what they used to believe.

Luna seeing that they were getting away from what actually worried Hermione, said. "Don't compare yourself with Dumbledore, Hermione. Because you will lose and find yourself lacking, I believe all of us find ourselves lacking when compared to him, but that doesn't mean that we aren't capable of doing great things ourselves." She looked at Harry, then at Hermione. "We live on a time with more restrictions, and obviously more tense than his. We live in a fractured society, one that couldn't get over the damage that was inflicted in the war. We are stagnant, stuck on a time of constant fear and derision. Of jealousy and antipathy."

She breathed slowly, reaching for the hand of Harry to find some support, finding it quickly and getting more at easy. "That, and we didn't share the same motivation than him, Hermione. I think this has much more effect on you because both shared similar ideals. Both wanted to prove the doubtful wrong, that you where different from what they believed you capable of being and doing. But he hasn't the same obstacles as you Hermione." She looked at Harry, squeezing his hand harder than before.

"All of us had to survive and experience many things that he didn't, people were afraid of his potential, but did nothing to stop him thanks to what he was offering for the magical world. We weren't that lucky or powerful, Hermione had to suffer thought the latent bias of the war, so did Harry and so did I. Anything that seemed different was frowned upon, mostly because it broke the illusion that the magical world had been deluding itself after the victory of Riddle."

Harry looked at Luna, confused. "Victory?"

She nodded, then said, "All was lost on our side, Harry, it was just a matter of time before he defeated Dumbledore, you and I know that, after all we lived trough it in the ritual. Think closely, the society had resigned itself to the rule of Riddle, his ideals were set and believed. Then your mother and her ritual happened, and the head of the movement was vanished while it's corpse remained free to root itself more profoundly on our already defeated and fractured society. The most clever of his followers, and those other criminal factions flourished in the struggle of the reconstruction. Some of them clearly influencing the government and the society based on their believes. Riddle might have lost his body that Halloween, Harry. But his ideals remained and reshaped our world thanks to his followers and sympathizers, he lost a battle, but won the war, at least partially, but now he is back and might then finish what he started. Soon one of his followers will be put on the power and by our society no less, it's just a matter of time before he complete his idea of how the magical world should be."

Hermione looked at Luna, frowning in worry, "So you think that if the war hasn't happened, I would have been different from what I am right now?" She doubted it, but the look on Luna's face made her stop her own ramblings.

"Hermione I don't think, I know that all of us would have been different if our experiences in the school where different. Look at us now, we are completely different from what we used to be, first it was the Thundercats, now it's the crowns. Both are events that changed us greatly and I doubt that they are the last of them that we will experience on our lives. I don't know what or how would our lives have been if Harry wasn't transformed. But if the memories of Dumbledore are to be believed, I don't think I would have liked that future all that much."

Harry finally said, "That I can agree with, I will be frank with you girls, I am tired of all of this. I once saw this world as a way to get out of my horrid life with my relatives, but now that I have seen where this is directed, I don't think that I want to be part of this world anymore."

Hermione looked aghast while exclaiming a surprised "Harry!", but he immediately interrupted her.

"No Hermione, I am not talking of leaving magic behind, that would be a mistake that would cost us our lives sooner than later. I am talking about this society. I can already see it, even if Dumbledore's plans actually work, many of Tom followers will remain here to fight back at us in one way or another. Probably in the same fashion that how they confronted Dumbledore in the past. They will use any means to get at us, and with our condition, it's assured that the magical world will quickly ask for our heads when consumed by the fear. We might be careful and hide it, yes we could, but sooner or later some of us will slip and they will find what we are. They will claim betrayal and accuse us of monsters, aberrations to their believes, and no matter how much good we do, they will not trust in us anymore."

Hermione looked aghast for a second, then frowned and nodded. It was difficult to deny what Harry was saying. Luna on the other hand said. "I don't think that we would be well received even if we were normal. We represent something that they dislike, they are too attached to their ideals and way of life to accept change. it doesn't matter if they are from the light or the dark. The magical kingdom is simply too consumed by hatred and distrust. They are too attached to their old ways to accept change."

The brunette tried to say something, then closed her mouth, sighed and said, "I used to dream that I could change everything in this world. That they were just misguided and knew no better. But I was a foolish girl back then, doing the same mistake of imposing my belief upon everybody. Accusing and disliking everyone that didn't accept my vision." She tried to say more, but she obviously couldn't. Luna detached her hand from Harry's and immediately raised herself from her seat walked a little and sat on Hermione's legs, slowly hugging the distressed girl.

Harry sighed while looking at the girls comfort each another, he was about to join them on their silence when a sudden tough crossed his mind.

"We could leave then, no. We will leave then! Now that we don't have any attachment to this place, why stay here? We could simply buy a boat and travel around the world like I always dreamed so long ago."

Both Luna and Hermione looked at him and his enthusiasm, it was the first time in a long time that they could seem a semblance of happiness on his face. Luna frowned then smiled slowly, she seemed to like the idea very much. Hermione on the other hand said. "We need to plan this carefully, England actually had many colonies around the world. Or at least used to. We have already lost the control of some countries and are already loosing much more. But right now that might be only happening on the Muggle side. It's possible that the Magical still remains under British influence."

Luna nodded then asked, "Yes, that's true. But if we begin to put some buts in the idea, we might never get out of this place. I am willing to take the risk."

Harry smiled, looking like a little child in the process. "It might not be easy, but it offer a huge chance of freedom than what we could find here. We just need to be careful and prepare for any kind of trouble."

All of them smiled and discussed the idea over and over, trying to find a way to finally implement it.

XxX

Daphne looked at the boy while trying to think rationally, but she simply couldn't.

"Why can't you understand that this is not how it was supposed to be?"

The redhead on the other part, didn't seemed to understand her at all, and was in fact annoyed and hurt by her words. "So how was this supposed to be? With you controlling Harry and doing whatever you wanted? Is that how it was supposed to be?"

"NO!"

"Then tell me! Because it's looks that all you wanted in the end was to have it how your way. To control everything and do as you..."

Daphne immediately raised herself, "NO, it's not! This has nothing to do with my plot to get Potter, this has to do with the fact that I find myself loving you NOW, when I was pretty sure I didn't before all of this happened. You are an interesting boy Weasley, but you are a idiot and a jerk to boot. I only was feeling a wisp of a friendship begin between us. But then I am kidnapped and doused with lust potions, after that I am captured and RAPED by this being that for some reason decided to shag me like a common whore! I should loathe you! I should despise you! But I find myself unable to do so! So tell me Weasley, are this feelings my own, or just a construction created by the lust potion and whatever this damned cats did?"

She hated the fact that the hurt expression on his face actually bothered her. She should at least be in total control of her emotions at this moment, especially when the manacles were sealing all her magic. She despised the idea that she might have actually felt something for this boy. Absolutely loathed that once he tried to leave the room, she couldn't stand the notion of being utterly alone.

"WAIT! Please, I... just... Weasley. I... I just don't know how to deal with all of this. All my life I have been told how to walk, how to breath. All my life I just did as other commanded. My plot to catch Potter was my first and last attempt to gain freedom. I am sorry that I used you, I can't make amends to that. But I really like you... as a friend. I don't know if with time we could have been something more. But that again was stolen from me. Again someone else decided who I should love and I can't stand it. " She tried to control her emotions but she actually found hard to do so. She cursed herself when a sob escaped her mouth. She could feel that he was about to leave, and a big part of her wanted him to leave before her resolution finally changed. But again, something urged her to stop him.

"Weasley, please. Just... please. Don't leave me alone."

The red headed boy looked at her, he was obviously confused and hurt by everything she had said, and she couldn't evade nor ignore how much it bothered her.

"We were becoming friends Weasley, please. Be my friend. I don't have anything but my clothes and you in this world. I am not ready for anything else than friendship." She heard him try to approach her, and she immediately had a panic attack. "STOP, PLEASE STOP! just don't come any closer than that. I want you close to me, but not that close." She was breathing hard, she despised the fact that she couldn't control her body from trembling as his presence.

"I don't bloody understand you, Greengrass..." She could hear the ire on his voice, again she had hurt him and she cursed the fact that she couldn't control her body and mind as she used to.

"Don't touch me, Weasley. No, PLEASE, just hear me. It's not that I despise your presence. But I am more afraid of what I will do if you touch me. I have this need to do... things with you that scares me to death. I want to have control over my body Weas... Ron, please. Just be my friend. It's all I ask."

He was trembling, she could see how all his body was actually trembling and she couldn't for her won life actually discern what caused said reaction. Ire? Sadness? Lust? She looked at the floor at the last idea, especially when her body betrayed her so throughly at the mere idea of him lusting after her. She gasped in surprise when she heard him curse, then sat on the floor with his back to the wall. He was crying, and the mere sound was breaking her will entirely.

He looked at her, he could see that she had broke something inside of him. "All right Greengrass, I will be your friend. It's better than nothing."

She smiled at that, even if part of her was actually pretty hurt at hearing those words. She tried to ignore how much it hurt to see him like that. But it was for the best.

XxX

Fred looked carefully how the potion began to slowly change its color, he slowly began to mix counter clockwise, while George began to wave his wand around the cauldron clockwise, slowly eroding the different ingredients on the mix that had so far been separated by a tin but strong layer of magic.

This has been so far, the most complicated piece of magic that they had ever attempted to do. The potion was ridiculously hard to make and required a delicate mix of knowledge and ability that had let them exhausted and grumpy for several nights. So far they had barely managed to avert the suspicion of their peers and teachers by pretending to be on a silent war between them. Sadly they had noticed that this had caused a division between their friends, especially Lee and their respective girlfriends. They had been trying to make them resolve their problems but they had stubbornly 'resisted' each attempt at a high price.

Angelina and Katie so far had been pretty much understanding of their situation, but the fact that the girls had begun to notice some inconsistencies on their stories and excuses had been noticed, and they knew that sooner or later they would be approached.

George slowly moved his wand sharply toward him, as if he was trying to stab him with it. Causing the mix to stop simmering for a few seconds before each ingredient began to slowly separate in different pools that couldn't or wouldn't mix between them not mattering how much Fred slowly mixed them in the beverage.

Slowly and meticulously Fred extracted the silverly spoon while George slowly began to gather the different beverages on three different cauldrons, each made with a different alloy and of course a different temperature. They were supposed to leave the different beverages boil on different paces before they even attempted to begin the next part. Both were exhausted and in a great need of sleep, but if the book was to be believed they needed to do at least seven different procedures before they could let the potion on stasis for two more days on a copper cauldron.

Fred looked at George and nodded, knowing that they didn't have time to lose resting, if they wanted some time to sleep later.

XxX

Lady Augusta Longbottom slowly huffed on exasperation while she waited for her grandson to be gathered. She certainly didn't have much time to waste with pleasantries when so much was at risk at the moment.

McGonagall obviously didn't appreciated the abrupt way she had suddenly appeared on the school demanding to see her grandson, she did in fact have some grave news to exchange with the Headmistress, but her priorities lied with her family first.

Once the clearly annoyed woman had brought her now sweating grandson. And after a few tense and clipped words, Minerva left them alone, clearly annoyed and insulted at the sudden dismissal. Augusta didn't have much time for formalities, not when she had so many forbidden objects upon her at the moment.

Once they were completely sure that no one was listening or watching what was about to happen thanks to a few well placed charms. Augusta did finally relax a little.

"I hope you truly know what you are doing child, because if not. Then this would mean the end of our family". She told him while she quickly gave him the last ingredients and tools to complete his plan.

Neville nodded, "I know Grandma, believe me, I know". He quickly stashed the ingredients on a magically enlarged bag that he held beneath his robes, clearly ignoring the disapproving glare of his grandmother in the process.

"You only have one week before you lost the change to do the ritual on the full moon. If you lose that opportunity, you will destroy all the evidence and forget about this foolish idea once and for all. I am clear?" Her tone was clipped and let no space for nonsense.

Neville nodded and for her surprise, hugged her before he parted from the place as quick as he could, leaving her there speechless for a few seconds before she managed to control herself. The door opened again and this time a clearly annoyed Minerva McGonagall entered, obviously misunderstanding the sudden and abrupt parting of Neville as part of some fight between her and her grandchild.

"I hope this was satisfactory for you Augusta".

Augusta quickly ignored the imprudence of the woman before her, mostly because she simply didn't have time to confront or debate with her how to raise her charge.

"It is in fact, very satisfactory. But this will be a conversation for another time. And believe me. We will talk about this. However I need to prepare you for what's to come to Hogwarts".

She immediately saw a change in the demeanor of the woman, knowing that she had now her complete attention. "Malfoy is clearly moving his pieces with the board of governors. Especially now with Dumbledore sudden disappearance. Many of those that don't share his... view. About how the school should be managed have been trying to resist his campaign. But I fear that there is nothing we can do to stop him from relieving you from the Headmistress position."

"HE CAN'T..."

"He can, and he did. The board of governors has such power and he obviously will not stop until he haves a complete control of the school. This is not his first time trying to do so. He probably will try to maintain you as a teacher and nothing more. But the position of Headmaster and Deputy Headmaster will be given to more... 'qualified wizards'.

"This is preposterous! we certainly can't let him do as he pleases. You have to do something!" Augusta could see that the woman was not taking well the news.

"As long as he held a big part of the governors on his pocket. There is nothing we could actually do. And that's not all. I am afraid that his campaign of hatred toward Muggleborns is about to be approved by the Wizengamont. So far this has not been immediately implemented mostly thanks to the warring factions, as he has lost supporters on said struggle. But he is surely pressuring the Wizengamont to choose a Minister on this dire times".

Minerva seemed to blanch at what she was hearing, now her offense at how she had been treated while reaching for Neville, clearly forgotten. "How much time we have before this happen?"

Augusta closed her eyes, clearly not liking at all what she had to say. "Probably six weeks at most, before Lucius Malfoy controls the Ministry and Hogwarts completely..."

XxX

When Dumbledore woke up, he had been told by one of the elves what had exactly happened in the castle concerning the children, what he heard created such a mix of feelings inside of him that he simply couldn't place. He was weak and barely holding on to his life, it was just a matter of time before he left this world. But first he needed to do many things before that, talking to Harry was one of those.

He told the elf to search for Harry, an to ask him to give an old man some minutes of his times. He knew that this wasn't gonna be an easy task. But he must know, he needed to see if what he heard was actually right. He actually needed to know if this resolution of Harry was actually his, or one created by the ritual.

He groaned, his body felt heavy and seemed to be about to fail, it was probably just mere luck that he was alive at the moment, the ritual of assimilation took a lot out of him, much more than just memories and experience, it actually made him sick to think of how close and similar was that ritual to the one used to create a Horcrux.

He heard the door opening, and someone getting closer but not by much his bed, he opened his eyes and he found Harry there, who seemed contrite and divided at the moment. That satisfied him a great deal, it seemed that the boy hasn't lost himself in the ritual.

"Harry..."

"I don't know what to feel, you know? I think I hate you, loathe you in fact. But it feels wrong, Especially after I knew what is was like to be in your shoes. What you had to endure, and how much you did to actually help me, even when it wasn't the kind of help I actually wanted.

"I..."

"You don't have or need to justify your actions, I saw them, I tough them. I understand them, even when I really don't want to. I understand them, and worse. I understand you. It was sadly, the best you could do with what you had, even if you were negligent at some points."

The silence permeated the room after he heard the boy say that, he was sad, satisfied but awfully sad by his words. So devoid of emotion, so be it good or bad.

"I was so... close to lost myself to you. In fact, I actually found myself wanting to be you at a point. Only the intervention of the girls managed to woke me up and fight against it. I wanted to have the power to do as I wanted without consequence. I could have defeated Riddle, I could have defeated his followers, I could have rebuild our society to be greater, better and fairer. But I was deluding myself in your power, I discovered that I wasn't that different from you even before the ritual happened. And I don't like that. I found that for all of your power, you simply couldn't change a thing, and that to do as you actually wanted, you would have to destroy many things including entire lives to get your way."

He saw the boy, no, the man before him with something akin to respect at how much he had grown up in such a little amount of time. He could even feel himself growing bolder to think that it was his crude actions what gave this man his actual point of view. But he wasn't that foolish, he knew that Harry had the potential to be more than what he had set himself to be.

"But then, even when I understand you perfectly, I can't share your wish to build that utopia, because that's what your dream really is, an utopia. I saw you waste your life and potential trying to change things for the better and be fought all the way from people that don't want to change. I am now aware that to really create a change in our world, a bloodbath is unavoidable. And I don't want to be part of that."

He frowned a little after hearing him, especially as he actually heard what he didn't wanted to hear. He sighed, now more tired than ever, he had his hopes, but he knew that it wasn't going to happen, he couldn't change that. And more precisely, even when he could change it, he wouldn't.

"I will not lie to you, Harry. To see that you don't want anything more with your peers, saddens me a great deal. But then, it's reasonable for you to feel this way, we have done so much damage to you, and to wait for you to become our savior after we openly hated you, is an act of hypocrisy. Yes, Miss Lovegood is right, this society of ours doesn't deserve to be saved, but I can't not simply force you to fight this battle. Not when you want to..."

"Don't put words in my mouth, sir. I didn't say I don't want to fight. I will fight this war for my friends and those that actually don't deserve this world. But I will not become their savior, I will not become a puppet to a government that's rotten to the core, and that will do as it can to undermine my influence and conserve its own. I will not be part of this society anymore, that's all. I will do what I can to see Riddle burning up in hell, and that's a statement not a promise."

He couldn't stop the smile on his face, to see this man do what he had denied himself long ago. He truly hoped that he would not fall into the same traps that he let himself be trapped, foolishly thinking that he could change everything from the inside out.

"So you truly wish to leave United Kingdom? To travel around the world? To see how is life outside this place without the pressure of being the chosen one? Probably only returning to this place under certain circumstances?"

He saw Harry frown from his words, and couldn't prevent the smile on his face from widening when he inclined his head, acknowledging what he said.

"I see that your mind is as sharp as ever even when your body is about to collapses sir."

He chuckled after hearing that, even if the action was actually painfully reminded him of how damaged he really was.

"I myself was tempted to do what you are going to do, Harry. But there is where our similitudes actually end. You are aware of what lies ahead of you, I didn't have an example of what will happen to me if I choose the path I did. That, and my desire for power was what sealed my own destiny. It is in the end, our own choices that define what we will become, Harry."

The black haired young man seemed to finally relax in front of him, but not enough if his still guarded position could be believed, good. He was set on the right path, then.

"It's hard to do as you did when I actually saw and knew where that particular path would lead me. I truly don't want to be part of a society that doesn't know if to hate or love me, so they would choose instead to control me and use me as much as they want."

"Like they did to me?"

"Exactly".

He chuckled again, now aware that his body had reached the power to activate the ritual if he wanted to. But now wasn't the moment, and he had to change some things to his array and plans thanks to Harry new resolution. He needed more time, something that he was aware he didn't have much, so he had to improvise.

"So you now know that we actually shared a dream, isn't it?"

"To travel around the world? Yes, I must admit that I was surprised when I tough of that. Its an old dream of mine when I was under the care of my relatives. To go around the world without any wall, or roof over me. To be free, truly free to do as I want".

He couldn't actually dislike the boy for his desire of freedom, he at a point has desired the same, only to for that possibility to be taken away from him. How could his life turned out to be if he had managed to do that? He stills wonders, maybe he would be a better person, maybe with Elphias he could have found that happiness that he couldn't with Gellert, or maybe not in both accounts. Maybe this was what Harry really needed, to live his own life before he come back? For once, he was struggling with himself, and found that his morals were losing against his selfishness. No, he wouldn't try to do to Harry what was done to him, in fact, he found himself desiring to help him to get out of this place, even if that made him somewhat jealous.

"Harry, maybe if you are truly willing to trust in me one last time, I could help you in that dreams of yours. I just ask you to give me one last chance for me to gain your trust".

He didn't had to wait too long for him to answer.

"I don't want to, a big part of me doesn't truly want to trust you. But I am not blind to how much you helped me too, even when you didn't need to do so. And the more I though about what you told us before the ritual, the more I understand you and your reasons. So yes, sir, I might give you one last chance to help me before you pass away."

"Harry, I am so-"

"Please, sir. Save it. Right now I am not prepared to truly forgive you. Even when I know understand you better than ever, I can't simply forgive you that easily. With time, I might, especially as I know what you truly sacrificed at this point to save me. Even more with what you plan to do in a few hours if not days... So this helps of yours, does it involves Elphias Doge?"

He saw the young man in front of him and couldn't evade his uneasiness, so this was how it feels to be in this position? Now he truly understood why some people disliked him for doing this to them, it was strange for his intention to be clear as water to others even without the use of mind reading.

"You are in fact correct, the source of how I wish to help you is Elphias, an old memento of the two of us and what could have been, had been stored and under his care all this time. He had little use of it nowadays, and I am sure that if I explain to him my intentions, he would gladly accept to part from it."

He saw him tough of it, apparently aghast that he hasn't or couldn't recall perfectly some part of his past. That simple action put his mind at easy, Harry wasn't overwhelmed and changed by the experience, in front of him was Harry Potter, and not another shade of himself pretending to be Harry, that served to calm some of his fears.

"With the help of Elphias Doge, you will leave the country as you want, and none will be the wiser. But, to do so he would need some time, and I am afraid that I will be long go when he is actually ready to help you out. Are you absolutely sure that you can defend yourself and your friends in this conditions?"

He saw the eyes of the young man harden at the mere tough of someone trying to hurt his friends, and he knew at that moment, without the need of a single word, his answer.

"Good, then you could go now, I will send Pen with a note to Elphias and he will do what he can, could you take care of him too, Harry? If that's not much to ask?"

"I don't think it will be much trouble, I could learn a lot from him, maybe remember that not matter what happens, I could still go on in life with my head held high."

He smiled proudly after hearing him say that, he had grown up so much, maybe his sins had been worthwhile after all.

"Sir... Albus, you asked me if I could forgive you, and I gave you what I truly feel about it. But if one thing I can clearly remember from the ritual, is what exactly impulsed you to do all of this, Albus, maybe instead of asking others for forgiveness, you need to actually ask if you are willing to forgive yourself."

He tough hard what Harry said, but then couldn't prevent the chuckle that escaped his lips, he had been honest toward him, the least he could do is be honest to the young lad.

"I cannot lie to you, Harry, but that's an impossibility at this point, and I am quite set on that".

He frowned when he saw a hint of sadness in the boys eyes, but as soon as that appeared, it had dissipated, as if it never happened. Harry nodded and walked out of the room, leaving him only alone for a single second before Pen appeared at his side, a frown on his scarred face told him that he had heard the interchange. It was obvious that he wasn't happy with how he asked the boy to take care of him.

"I know you don't like my decisions old friend, especially as you share the same opinion as Fawkes in this. But I am quite set on this. He will be a good master, and would need you at his side when he doubts himself. And of course, I need you to take care of him, if you saw even a hint of myself taking control of him, you are to protect him and help his ladies to do what's needed to save or stop him. Now, can you write this for me? Dear Elphias...

XxX

Half an hour later, Harry found himself in the kitchen, talking with a tired red head.

"This is a disaster, not at all how I though my life would turn out to be". Said Ron, then drinking some of his butter-beer. Harry grunted an acknowledgment to that while he was sipping his own drink, once he drained it all, he put his glass on the table and said.

"Before all of this happened, I had this dumb idea of living a normal life, you know? A job at the ministry, a wife, maybe two or more kids. Not having to worry at all about a psychopath trying to off me. Hell, if it wasn't for the cat, I would have forgotten about my old dreams of traveling the world..."

"Yeah, I always tough that I would end up with Hermione, and that you would suddenly find attractive my little sister and we would officially be brothers. I admit I am still jealous for you getting Hermione, but I am not angered by it. Not anymore at least... yeah... I think I actually like Daphne, you know? But she doesn't seems to share the feeling, at least not entirely. What happened between us wasn't that great to begin with, so... I find myself thinking: 'what would have happened between us if that didn't happen? ' would I be still longing for Hermione?"

The red head sighed, then looked toward his hand that still had the butter-beer, and in a single movement he actually gulped the whole thing, belching loudly afterwards. Harry didn't said anything, giving him some time to order his mind.

"I don't know what would have happened, but what happened, happened, I can't change that, I wouldn't change that. Even if I did things to her that I am not sure she can forgive me for, she is alive. I... I don't know what would have happened to me if she isn't..."

"I know Ron, I feel the same toward the girls... and I can't deny that I it would wound me deeply if I lost you too, at least I finally made my promise to Ginny and got you out of that mess".

The sudden gasp he heard from Ron told him immediately that he had forgotten the same thing that his friend.

"Bloody hell Harry, I forgot about my family, I honestly forgot about my family! I need to leave, they need to know that I am alive, mum is probably going spare with worry, they probably tough that I am death too. I need to leave Harry, my family needs me!"

"We can't leave this place Ron, at least not right now. Wait until Dumbledore gets better and tells us how to get out of here. But, you could use Dobby to send them a message, as we don't have owls available at the moment."

"That's a good idea, I should send him to tell the twins that we are fine!"

"The twins? Why the twins? I thought you wanted to reassure your mum."

"I want, but she might send the mother of all howlers to me with Dobby, this way the Twins get to tell her and can somewhat alleviate my punishment when I do have to go to her."

XxX

"He's alive, Fred, the little bugger is alive!" Shouted George while reading the letter that the crazy elf had leaved him before he dissaparated as soon as he could. Both twins were actually jumping, screaming and crying their eyes out in the abandoned classroom, awfully close to their work area so they stopped immediately, fearing that they could destroy days of hard work in a single euphoric moment.

"Where is he? Why hasn't he come back with the others? Doesn't he know how utterly or parent had been with his disappearance and supposed death?"

George continued reading the letter, his brown furrowing in worry as he advanced, and causing his brother to sweat profusely with worry. Then he finally reached it's end and shared the letter, waiting for him to reach the end.

"This is bad, they don't even know where they are, and apparently Dumbledore is one and a half foot on the grave, and we can't even trust in the damn leader of light if this is to be believed! We need to tell Ginny, and our parents too." Said Fred, obviously not seeing what George saw implied in that letter.

"I don't think you see the full thing here, brother."

"What? What I am missing?"

"That our little brother told us to tell mum that he is alive, so are the others, he left us the responsibility to give that little news to her..."

"That... little bugger."

"Yes, yes he is..."

Both stopped their diatribe once they heard two knocks on the door, soon followed by five others in a obvious pattern. They stood still with their wands completely drawn and prepared to fight when after a minute of waiting one last know was know and the door finally opened, to let in Ginny and Neville.

"If you value your health, you would tell us what..."

"Scarecrow, and you both managed to prank Bill six years ago by making him think that my gift to him was yours and yours was mine. He had loved long hair since, and mum hasn't really forgiven both of you for that."

Both twins put aside their wands, Fred quickly closing the door and giving his sister the letter, who then gave it to Neville.

"We have to, no, we need to tell our parents right away!".

George looked at Fred and both saw the same apprehension in the other face.

"This isn't time to be afraid of mum howlers you cowards!"

Fred cringed at her tune, and so did George, but it was surprisingly both recovered quickly.

"Ginny, we can't, just look around you. What do you see? See those cauldrons full of an illegal potion that need a lot of attention to get the result we want? We can't alert mum without her coming her demanding answers, she will find right away that all of us are hiding something from her, you know we can actually lie to her. Much less we want to lie for this, and even if we tell her, she will ask the exact reason for why we are even attempting this. And then we would break her heart once more by telling her that this was all Harry's fault... and, even If I am angry at him, I can't... we can't do that to him."

Neville finally said something.

"And is probable that McGonagall and others would be there, so we would then reveal what they are now. The risk is too high, especially with Malfoy on the power. If he hears that, it's just a matter of time he finds that it was probably Ron who actually mauled his son, and would soon claim for his head, and the head of Harry and the others in one single pack... But none of that is necessary if you send her a letter telling her that Ron contacted you, and that he well and with Dumbledore. That would put your parents at easy and the fault where it belongs, on Dumbledore."

The sudden silence that found him on the place put him quite uncomfortable, especially as all of them looked at him with their mouths quite open. At least until Ginny finally broke up the tension with a little happy 'squee', then launched herself at him and proceeded to hug his innards out of him.

The twins nodded to the other, both then squealing themselves to the surprise and sudden horror of Ginny and Neville, who tried to get away when suddenly they found themselves hugged from two different directions by the two boys with the same enthusiasm than she had previously displayed.

XxX

It took three days for Dumbledore to be strong enough to walk, and that took at least a dozen of potions and many other magical treatments, and stills after all of that he could barely stand on his feet's for a while and to walk he strongly needed a walking stick to help him, he actually looked for the first time his age, if not older.

Harry being the only teenager that actually talked to the old man, convinced him to release Ron and Daphne, convinced that even if they couldn't control their cats, he alongside Luna and Hermione could control them. Dumbledore only accepted to release the teens if he could release one by one, so if something goes wrong it would be fair more easier for the three of them to control him, than a fight against two.

That's how they found themselves again on the library, awfully aware of what had happened the last time they had put a foot on the place. The first one to be releases was Ron, claiming that if something was not right, at least his friends would not be attacking a girl.

Daphne didn't liked this, but decided to shut her mouth after a cold look from Hermione and even Luna, reminding her that it wasn't a great idea to antagonize them when they actually were in charge here.

Once Dumbledore removed the restraints from the redhead, he barely could get out of the way of a now struggling and raging teen that barely could take control of his body. Harry charged immediately followed by the girls and the three managed to control the tiger for enough time for Dumbledore to put back the manacles, and as soon as they closed, Ron could finally control his body.

Surprisingly Daphne rushed to his side, trying to see if he was alright. And once everybody calmed themselves, they decided to talk about it.

"What the hell happened? It wasn't like that with us! Why is different with them?" Exclaimed Harry, truly at lost here, that actually looked like his mental fight against Jäger. Once he told the girls this, they confirmed that, that now that he mention it, its exactly what it looked like.

"If you don't mind myself intruding there, I must ask you, what is like to be one of yours? It is like the Werewolf curse?"

Surprisingly none of them answered immediately, but he could not resent them the distrust. Surprisingly Luna instead of Harry was the one to speak first.

"Can you take an oath to not reveal that information to anyone else so be it in life or death? Are you capable enough to survive such an oath?"

Dumbledore tough a little, and then nodded, as long as he was under those potions he was strong enough for that little thing. But he doubted that after that he would be ready to any other kind of magic. So once he was delivered his wand under the vigilant gaze of all the presents, he gave his oath, then returned the wand to the little blond without doubt. Even with that secure measure, the teens doubted a little before they told him what he needed to hear, he stopped the conversation from going further from that, immediately noticing an appreciative nod from the brown headed girl.

"First, I recommend to you to learn Occlumency, not only for the protection it can gift your mind, but when truly mastered, it can gave you complete control of your toughs, this isn't something that could be learned in a single day, not even a week. They are different ways to learn it. Some are quite violent, it literally builds up a resistance to the feeling of an intrusion, it even helps you later to get said intruder out of your mind. Sadly this method denies you of your privacy, and the result is only on the ability to trow out an intruder from your mind, some speculate that it even helps against spirits possessions, but it hasn't been verified. If you still had a piece of Voldemort in your scar, Harry, I would have tried or put someone else in charge to teach you that method, even if it is the most brutal of them. The ability to prevent yourself from being possessed by Tom, even if in theory, was too good to let it pass."

"By why not teach him another one? And then try to teach him that?" Asked Hermione, once the old man stopped himself to take a breath. "Don't take me wrong, but it doesn't sound ethical, its sounds as downright torture, almost as if you are training someone to endure the pain by hurting him enough times for him to get accustomed to it, and stand it better."

Dumbledore nodded, painfully aware that that's exactly what that method was.

"The other method it's more peaceful and doesn't need the constant invasion of the mind, but it takes weeks if not months or years to master it to its full extend. To completely control your mind and your toughs, to think of nothing and to void your mind of everything is not something that involves magic in fact, I believe Muggles call it, meditation."

Luna looked confused for a moment, "But you said before that the violent method constantly used magic to test the mind, then...

"That is actually true, but the results aren't the same. Even if both methods are classified as Occlumency, the original method doesn't involve magic at all, that's why it's so hard for many wizards to learn it, the fact that the Muggles could do it easily and in mass in some parts of the world was disliked. So two hundred and fifty six years ago, the ministry was approached with a new and completely magical method. The result was initially doubted, but with time some of the assaulted began to recognize any kind of intrusion on their minds, and immediately repelled them. Sadly this method was not only harsh itself, but it could cause great damage in the hands or in this case, the mind of the tester. So one hundred and twenty two years later, the magic mind was deemed too close to dark magic for the taste of many and was soon frowned upon. It is not illegal, but it is not exactly accepted either. The books on the arts are heavily monitored, and not many have access to it."

Harry nodded, truly understanding but not liking what he heard, he would not submit his friends to such a torture, and seeing them closely, they didn't seemed to like it that much either. Daphne was the first to voice her opinion.

"Then that means that we will take the hard method. Is a Muggle could learn it, there is nothing that says we can't."

Harry frowned at her tone, so did many of the presents, but all of them knew that it would take a while for her to see their point of view. Something that they were actually willing to stand just for Ron's sake. Luna on the other hand.

"You know that having the manacles on you means that you will be living from now on without access to your magic, right?"

That statement actually caught off guard the black haired girl, in fact it was so good that it caught Ron too, if the identical look of complete panic on their faces was to judge by.

"Don't worry, not having magic isn't a great deal. You could still use other means, and it's only temporary, that should make it easier to focus on learning to meditate harder, isn't it?" Said Hermione, while looking at both of them. Harry nodded then said.

"You will be protected while you learn to control your mind, in fact, all of us will be learning how to meditate along you. It seems something that we too should learn, especially what awaits for us once our crowns fall off."

Harry looked at Dumbledore, who seemed at peace and controlled even when he was in such a position right now, maybe that was how he managed to maintain himself collected all the time, by controlling not only his body, but his mind too. He saw Hermione and Luna nodding at his words, and a little smile on Dumbledore's lips.

"So be it, then. And sir, please, if you don't mind teaching me, Luna and Hermione how to take the manacles, please."

"I don't mind, but after that I need to leave, this has taken longer than I anticipated, and I need to reunite myself with my backup plan. Now that you have decided to leave Britain once this war was over."

Harry nodded, being aware of that plan thanks to the ritual, but strangely, the details of it were muddled and seemed hard to recollect. Dumbledore noticed immediately the expression on all teens and clarified.

"As young Lovegood asked myself not long ago, so have my contacts, so my mind is under an oath to prevent any leakage of their identities. But not the actual knowledge that we were discussing about."

Dumbledore immediately noticed that he had the attention of all of them, so he clarified again.

"As we discussed days ago, I had some people on stand by if something happened to me in the ritual. I set them off to search some items that are needed for my ritual to finally be complete."

Ron asked confused.

"Your ritual, isn't that over now?"

Luna decided to elaborate some more.

"Not that one, Ronald, but one that involves the Headmaster body and that will surely end up with his death and that of Voldemort."

Dumbledore nodded once all gazes were upon him, but clearly wasn't gonna show the other teens what he had to the trio. Harry broke the silence by asking:

"How and when do you need to leave?"

"In one hour I would need to go to meet them."

"I will go with you, then."

"Harry..."

"Hermione, like it or not I am involved in this directly, and if you think carefully on your memories, you could see exactly what kind of magic is involved here. I need to know if his contacts are in fact, truthful."

"It's not that, Harry, I only wanted to ask why only you?"

"Because I know you, Hermione, you are dying to read all you can of those shelves, as long as they are not cursed, I don't mind you doing so. And Luna isn't that different. Aside from that, it isn't actually dangerous, I have a suspect or two of who or what exactly they are. I think you two suspect the same by those smiles of yours."

Both girls nodded, then Luna said.

"We don't mind, Harry. We just thought that you wanted to leave us out of any danger. But if you assure us that nothing bad will happen, then we will trust in you."

"I assure you girls, that Harry is not in any kind of dang..." Dumbledore immediately stop himself from going further than that after seeing the glowering glares that he received at his intrusion on their moment. "Right, I will shut up now."

It seemed that only Harry was willing to give him a change of forgiveness at the moment.

XxX

One awful travel by Portkey later landed them on a rater deteriorated house, where Harry immediately found himself at wand point by many people, at least until he recognized some of them.

"Sirius? Professor Lupin?"

Both men immediately put away their wands, both gasping a elated and confused "Harry?!" At the same time. Their reaction followed closely by a tired chuckle from Dumbledore, managed to get the others to down their guards.

"Dumbledore, what's the meaning of this? I thought Potter was declared Missing weeks ago. But not mattering that, what's he doing in the headquarters? Are you out of your mind!" Screeched Augusta Longbottom, trying to understand what exactly was happening there. A regal woman with a monocle nodded her head too, not taking away her eyes from Potter and more especially, the Crown on his head, her wand was lowered but still visible.

"I must agree with the Longbottom dame, you owns us an explanation and it better be a good one." Said the woman with the monocle.

Mad eye Moody grunted, his wand lowered but directly pointing in Harry's direction. Dumbledore tried to alleviate their fears, but his strength seemed to abandon him for a second and if not for the quick reflexes of Harry, he would have crashed hard against the floor.

"I told you that you would need your walking stick, sir."

The old man chuckled tiredly, slowly trying to raise himself to his feet but finding himself unable to do so, Harry raised his eyes to ask for a chair, and found himself again at wand point by several of the people missing, he frowned in annoyance.

"What are you looking at? Bring a bloody chair!"

"We will not move an inch until you tell us what is happening and who are you..."

A man that seemed to be hiding on the shadows of the poorly illuminated room finally said.

"Black, bring Dumbledore a chair, he clearly did something foolish to himself, Lupin bring him some fresh water. And all the others, down your wands."

"But, Croaker..."

"I said, lower your wands, we have now too much at risk for one of you to ruin it by a misplaced spell. Put away your wands!"

It only took a few minutes for everyone to be settled, Harry noticed some people he actually knew by name, like Sirius, Lupin, Moody and Augusta Longbottom, the woman with the monocle seemed familiar in a way, so did the man with the red hair and earring. The guy with the dark hood on the other hand was an unknown to him.

Once he calmed himself Dumbledore finally said:

"I am happy to say that I have some good news, but saddened to inform you of some bad. But first, what's more important. Amelia, Alastor, William, I can see that you disapprove of Harry presence, but I can assure you that he is vital to my plans."

Amelia, the woman with the monocle immediately raised her voice.

"This wasn't part of the deal, Dumbledore, I will not involve kids in this war."

Harry laughed bitterly at her words, managing to scowl many faces there. So before someone voiced their disapproval he said his mind.

"How many of you have fought Voldemort and lived? Oh, right, you are too busy shivering at the mere mention of his name to be aware that I have been in front of him three times and lived to tell the tale."

"That had nothing to do with war..."

"Oh, right, I forgot that Voldemort and his followers respected the life of innocents that much, how foolish of me to think that I those that they despise are not already involved in this war. What was I thinking?"

"How dare you..."

"Enough of this!" Saul Croaker bellowed, catching the attention of all the present here. Once he caught their undivided attention, he immediately asked.

"How much time do we have to off Voldemort thanks to your reckless actions?"

That caused all of them to open their eyes comically, Harry was sure that if they opened a little more many of those would be falling from their sockets. Dumbledore on the other hand, closed his eyes and said.

"I have at most, a week before I pass away..."

It took almost an hour for Dumbledore to finally tell them everything, except the new condition of Harry, in fact, everyone seemed rater perturbed by what they had heard and wasn't putting too much attention on him. Especially when it was revealed that they finally found the last Horcrux thanks to Sirius heritage.

"It was just a matter of getting to the bank without being seen, once there, I claimed the Black vault and after that, I spend almost all the fortune to the goblins to demand a retribution to the Lestranges. And as they didn't appeared on the bank at the ridiculously short time I spend my money to get set, I claimed their vault and took away the Horcrux with help of Bill here as reward. I left all the money to not set an notice to them... it was painfully and way too easy for my taste."

Croaker couldn't evade adding something there.

"It was easy because the Lestrange did have a relation to the Black family thanks to their marriage with Bellatrix. Only the fact that you caused the Goblins to become richer prevented them from giving you away to the Ministry, add to that that their family isn't as important as it one was, and thanks to their new status what you asked was possible. If you tried to do that with another unrelated vault, or like example, against the Malfoy's, who have much more money and power nowadays than the Blacks, you would be then captured and used to get a deal with Lucius. You are lucky enough that the man has been blinded by his position on the Ministry to remember you."

Remus snorted, so did Amelia.

"How could he not have luck? He almost bathed himself in Felix Felicis to find the Horcruxes, all of us did and it was only because of that that some of us are actually alive at the moment. Sadly we couldn't use it daily..." Said Bill Weasley for the sake of Harry, who actually didn't know about what they did so far.

Croaker nodded and said,"You are lucky to be even alive. In huge amounts it can be quite venomous, or bring the other kind of luck. But how you procured said items doesn't not matter at this time, just the results. Happily Voldemort ego worked to our benefit, and he wouldn't know what hit him, and thanks to Dumbledore idiocy it doesn't matter where he hides himself, he will die, a shame we couldn't say the same from his followers."

It was at that point that Dumbledore finally spoke again, his words actually freezing all of the people on their spots.

"I decided to take another step for the cause, but to do so I would need to modify the rune array, and add the Protean charm of the Dark mark to be also linked to my life. It wouldn't have the same desire as that of Voldemort, but it can be quite draining, so all of those that use the Dark mark would be weak afterwards or would become a Squib. I am not exactly sure of the results, but my calculus sides to the latter."

Harry could actually see how much this seemed to impact on all presents, but before anyone protested about what has been voiced, Mad eye put himself on his feet and said.

"What do you need for that to happen?"

That caused the whole place to erupt in a huge cacophony of screams, everyone seemed to have a different opinion of that. Some screaming of dark magic, (Amelia Bones) to screams of how much someone needed a good shag and how he was desperate for one too while looking at Amelia... (Sirius). In the end, the explosion caught everyone by surprise, and Harry saw then the smoking point of a wand that belonged to the man named Croaker.

"I can't believe I sided myself to such a bunch of brats, we aren't playing here, I thought all of you was aware of what's at stake here. We all knew that we were planing on taking lives with our schemes, this is war. That's what is supposed to happen, you kill your enemies before they kill you. What Dumbledore is doing is inclining the balance toward us for the first time in a long time. And here you are, all fighting and even defending the rights of those that we were going to kill in the first place..."

Amelia sat herself after all, not fully happy on what was said, Augusta frowned but didn't said nothing about that. Especially as they were gonna break a Taboo at the magical world. Sirius looked uneasy, but that might be thanks to the hateful glare that Amelia had trow at him. The rest just looked pensive about what was told. And Harry just decided to keep his own opinion, especially as he noticed that even the supposed good side was horrified at the idea of taking away the magic from someone else. He saw toward Dumbledore, fully aware that he might be trying to test them, to see how they might react to the information of what he was and what he could do.

If the frown and disappointed expression on his face to judge by, almost all of them clearly failed at his test. Especially it seemed to deflate him somewhat, as it was now clear that Harry and his ilk would not be safe in the magical kingdom. That cemented his decision to help him leave the country. Its the least he could actually do.

"My decision is final, but I can't force any of you to help me in this endeavor, as it will take away your life along mine. I..."

Mad eye Moody intervened.

"I will do it, I in fact claim that if anyone want to take my place on this ritual, it had to be over my death cold body. But you have not answered my question, Albus, what do you need for this to happen."

Nobody protested his claim.

Albus nodded then said, "Then is settled, and I will answer you in private, Alastor, as the knowledge of what I am to do should simply die with myself. All my notes were burned and the ashes vanished. Nothing will stay." He looked at Croaker, getting a firm nod.

"I will assure you that the Unspeakables will not investigate this further than the initial investigation, and that misdirection will maintain your secret where it belongs, with you."

It was at that point, that Harry knew that he had to deliver his own news, he looked at Dumbledore, and found that the man was deliberately looking at him, stopping everyone from leaving, and raising the expectation. He didn't disappoint.

"I must tell you, that once we defeat Voldemort I will not be coming back to Hogwarts and that in fact I am leaving Britain."

The explosion was even louder than when Dumbledore revealed his news, and this time he could actually see that Sirius wasn't screaming a joke, he like all others was asking why exactly he was saying that.

He tried to said something, but all of them seemed too focused on their screams to notice him trying to explain himself, again, only the sound of an explosion coming from Croaker seemed to calm them thanks to the surprise. He waited a few moments so he ears could stop that annoying sound, and when it did, he began to explain his decision.

"I am not under an obligation to answer your questions, yes, Sirius, Remus, even to you both. I have my own life, and I am tired of others dictating me from what I should do with it, to how I should do it. I had enough, I am tired of the hypocrisy of this place, loved one day, hated the next one. Much less I will become the clutch they call savior so they could live as they want while I sacrifice everything to conserve and protect a way of life that I have come to loathe."

He saw directly at Amelia, openly stating that something she had said had greatly annoyed him, and that his decision was in part based on that. The woman didn't cower or tried to ignore his glare, in fact she glared back at his insinuation, not willing to lose or accept any guilt at all. He smiled, then looked at Moody, then at Bill, Remus, Sirius and finally at Croaker, who remained silent the whole time.

Once he finally saw what he wanted, he said, with a hint of amusement on his voice.

"If you want to know why, exactly I am leaving, then I demand and oath, and even then what I will gave you is minimal at best. If you don't accept this, then be aware that you will get nothing from me. And I don't own you nothing much less I am in the obligation to answer your questions. In the end, it's my choice and yours what will mark our relationship from now on in the minimal chance that I could return to this place."

Nobody said anything, until Croaker raised his wand and immediately made an oath to not reveal what will be revealed here, under risk of losing his mind and magic. Once he finished, Harry looked at him, especially at the fact that the man has not specified anything else. It was vague at best, but the fact that he was the first to do so gained him some points.

Sirius followed his example, then Remus, Bill, Moody, Augusta and even grudgingly, Amelia. In the end all presents except Dumbledore made the oath. Augusta clearly noticed that.

"It seems that you are already under an oath, Dumbledore. Because I don't see you in any rush to do one... or I am wrong?"

The man nodded, then said:

"I am indeed under one, much more harsher than this one you have done. But seeing as I am not living much longer in this world, doing so again is counterproductive. But I am aware of Harry's secret, and I trust him completely."

Amelia sneered.

"You said the same thing about your DE pet, Dumbledore. So excuse me if that doesn't reassure me at all."

The man raised his shoulders, and said no more. Leaving the conversation at that point. Harry for his part simply sighed, almost feeling like he was looking at an older version of Daphne Greengrass.

"I will cut out the drama, I am not a pure wizard anymore, In fact I like Remus now fall into the category of creature. So do Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Daphne Greengrass and Ron Weasley... sorry Bill. But that's the truth..."

The man nodded, apparently not that startled from the news as he expected him to be. That actually worried him a great deal, did the Twins share what he told them? Was his plan already ruined? His panic was probably visible, because the red head immediately reassured him.

"Is the first time I heard about it, Harry, but what my parents and Malfoy is sharing with the world sounds a great deal like a werewolf in action. It even happened close to a full moon. So I had my suspicions."

Remus immediately said.

"Why didn't you approach me about being bitten? When did this happen? We could have helped you know?"

Harry looked at him, and saw that he actually thought that he was another werewolf, he looked at the others here and they all seemed to have reached the same conclusion. He breathed with relief, his gamble has paid off way much than what he actually expected. He just needed to cement that notion into their skulls.

"It was Fenrir, I don't know how we are alive, especially as he had his pack with him. I guess he only wanted to play with us. Ron told us that Draco stupidly attacked him and he paid for that, with Ron and Daphne he took his sweet time, he dragged them to the forest and send a note, 'come with your Mud-blood and the lunatic to the forest or you will be getting your friends back, piece by piece'. I fell into his trap and the girls followed me. I tried to defeat him but he defeated me, played with me while his pack did the same with the girls. If it wasn't for Dumbledore intervention we would be rotting on the forest."

He looked at Dumbledore, who nodded, he even had a tiny little smile on his face that probably everyone mistook as one of amusement over the innocent actions of a little child. It wasn't meant to be sympathetic or denigrating. It was the tiny smile of a parent that was actually amused by the innocence displayed before him. With that everyone seemed to buy it, and he was set.

"You know Mister Potter that we could change the laws concerning werewolf, you don't need to left the school and the country..." Amelia seemed hell bent on preventing him from leaving the place. He smiled amused by her words. How careless of her to said something like that.

Thankfully, it was Remus who said it and not him.

"So Missus Bones, you are saying that only because the boy who lived become a werewolf, then the laws should be changed? Or are you implying that it was because of the boy who lived that said law should change?"

The woman frowned immediately, truly aware of the mistake she had made by her choice of words. How careless.

"I ask you to forgive me Remus, I wasn't thinking clearly..."

Sirius snorted, and said. "Clearly Amelia, and I believe for that exact reason is why my godchild is leaving this place. Not because of what you said, but to prevent the circus that this revelation would make of him. People will want to use him, so be it for good or bad. I think I understand his reasoning now."

She frowned but nodded, admitting her defeat then, what will she tell her niece?

Remus looked at Harry and firmly said.

"Wherever you go, I will go with you."

"So do I," added Sirius, with a huge smile on his face while doing so. Then he looked at Remus, frowning a little then asking. "I thought you were trying something with my cousin."

The ex-professor signed, and said: "It isn't working, Sirius, she's too young and I dare to say, naive. She's a really sweet woman. But our relationship is going nowhere. That and I feel a little uncomfortable with someone that looks like a younger version of her grandmother."

Sirius opened her mouth to say something, when it finally clicked how much little Nymphadora has inherited from his mother. He immediately shuddered at the mere thought. "You know, I was going to say that she can actually change her shape, but now that you said it, I can't get it out of my mind... curse you."

Remus chuckled: "Why do you think I have some reservations with her? Once I realized that it was impossible to get it out. Not mattering how hard I tried. The only way for me to actually notice her is for something tragic to happen that would let me devastated, then to said devastation add the pressure and fear of death thanks to the imminent war, and I could consider it, even do something so foolish as getting married in times of wars while believing that thanks to my condition I wouldn't live much longer. That is a sure way to begin a relationship, hell if she suddenly become pregnant I would run away from her scared and out of my mind."

Augusta looked at both of them with open contempt in her eyes. "You both are repulsive and a poor excuse of a man..." Amelia nodded while looking at them with something close to hatred. Both of them simply raised their shoulders in defeat and looked at Harry.

"So Harry, where do you plan to go, because wherever you go, we go with you..."

Dumbledore cleared his throat, trying to get the reunion back on its track.

"Leaving this aside, we must continue with our scheming, I don't have much time to toss aside easily so planning things carefully is a must. All of you here are especially aware that no plan survives contact with the enemy, so we must plan as carefully as we can, trying to thing the best way for this to work to our advantage..." He then looked at Augusta, who was firmly watching him, then he said: "That's when you come to the stage, Dame Longbottom, your presence alongside that of many of my Wizengamont colleagues will be present to finally give Lucius the title of Minister of Magic. But for that to happen the Wizengamont needs to vote, and before that happens I will have my chance to activate the ritual in front of them. But then it is needed the presence of Voldemort on the Wizengamont, his appearance is vital to my plans, as it will be his own curse that will end my life and his own in the process, repeating what many would believe was actually what happened that Halloween with Little Harry, of course, this time with greater consequences. It is at this point that you two will declare a vote and take the ministry by force if needed. Do not let it falls into the hand of another inept or corrupt. If we don't take our change there, we will never change our society for the better."

Amelia didn't liked at all what she was hearing, especially as it was against what she actually believed, but she as many here was tired of the bloodbath that had become their society. So something needed to be done or there will be nothing left to serve and protect.

"I guess that man was saying the truth, then... the road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Albus nodded, but firmly said, "Effectively, it is. But remember this, evil only triumphs when good people do nothing. And we have been doing nothing for too long, now it's time we change that. Even if history shall remember us for the blood that we will shed for the sake of our world."

To be concluded...

I was almost two lines about to reach the end of this story, then the power when out and with it my PC. When it come back my Libre Office decided to damage the file without remorse... the work of an entire week lost just like that.

My eyes are killing me, my doctor said that I shoudln't be on a computer, but here I am. Trying to end this story. Losing the last chapter like that almost killed me there. I will try to end it as soon as I can, I just need to rest my eyes for a while because they HURT! I have the outline, but I lost my muse for the moment... let's hope I get it back soon.