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With the death of Cedric Diggory and the rebirth of Voldemort, Harry Potter's life was looking decidedly worse than it had been a year before, not that it had ever been unicorns and rainbows before. He was sinking more and more into a state of constant anxiety that left him unable to think clearly or have the desire to do anything at all. That didn't stop his relatives from piling so many chores on him that his fingers were raw and his shoulders were sore though. Nothing had ever stopped that. Adding to the stress, Harry wasn't allowed a copy of the magical community's newspaper because Albus Dumbledore (headmaster, leader of the light, ridiculous amount of other titles...) had been worried Voldemort and his Death Eaters would try to track the owl, therefore he had no clue as to what was going on in the world besides what his active imagination could come up with, which was pretty bad.

It was a rare moment of rest that found Harry sitting in a swing at the playground close to his relatives' house on Privet Drive. Not his house, the Dursleys had made that abundantly clear his entire life. Sitting still led to the anxiety catching up with him once more and Harry desperately tried to still his mind and calm the adrenaline that seemed to constantly be rushing through his veins these days. He assumed he was doing a type of meditation, but he figured he must not be doing it very well since it didn't seem to help any at all to his added frustration.

The meditation did help drown out what was going on around him, so it was only with a slight flicker of recognition that Harry even realized his cousin and the thugs he hung out with were talking to him, or more than likely insulting or taunting him. He really didn't care anymore. They could do their worst, and he couldn't bring himself to even process that he should feel anything. Eventually, Harry rose from the swing and walked zombie-like through the gang back towards number 4. This seemed to confuse the mocking teens who sulkily dispersed since he wasn't being any fun, leaving Dudley trailing along behind him and yelling out more insults along the way.

What finally brought Harry out of his stupor halfway back to the house was a shiver that ran up and down his spine as the temperature dropped from a boiling hot day to where he could see his breath in front of his face. "Dementors!" He yelled out to a stunned Dudley behind him before he took off running towards the safety of the blood wards around the house.

His cousin apparently wasn't as stupid as he looked since he took off running as well seeing that Harry was afraid of whatever was going on. He had to take back this generous thought though as one lone dementor glided into their path, blocking them from continuing to the safety of the wards. "Stop!" Harry called out to Dudley and pulled his wand, but Dudley continued racing forward until he tripped into Harry. Dudley crashed to the ground, effectively knocking himself unconscious as Harry's wand went flying.

Panicked, Harry scrambled to the ground to grab his wand, scratching up his hands and knees on the concrete. The tips of his fingers grazed the comforting wood of the wand as all hope was ripped away in the form of a skeletal hand that lifted him bodily from the ground and at a hopeless distance from the wand's protection.

Harry's life did not flash before his eyes. Instead, the faces of those he'd be leaving behind were brought to the front of his mind while the dementor took in a deep rattling breath. "Sorry," he whispered out sadly into the world, not exactly sure what he was apologizing for, just as he felt his soul being ripped forcibly from his body.

A dementor's kiss is not painless. He'd read once that it was believed to be…well, they were dead wrong. It felt like every single cell in his body was being ripped apart, and he could feel each and every one of them. He screamed a horrifying scream out into the dark evening as he finally felt himself torn away from the body that used to house him.

Well…shit. Was the profound thought that crossed Harry's mind as he stared down at the body that used to be him lying on the pavement beside his unconscious cousin. Wait, why am I still here?

Harry felt like himself, only not…he seemed to be floating instead of standing. Maybe he was a ghost, he thought. The dementor was floating away from him into the night before turning back to the teen. One long, pale, and skeletal hand reached out from the tattered cloak and beckoned Harry to follow. Scoffing, Harry crossed his skeletal arms inside of his tattered robe to tell the dementor to bugger off. That was…until he realized he had skeletal arms inside of a tattered robe and he was floating above the ground instead of standing. Merlin's saggy balls! I'm a dementor! He exclaimed in this mind.

In trepidation, the new dementor reached up under its hood to feel what was there. Harry felt solid surprisingly. There was a mouth with chapped lips…lip balm, he could invest in lip balm. Now, up higher…he gasped when he felt no nose. Oh hell, I look like Voldemort. He mentally grumbled.

There was a moment when his thoughts stuttered and he thought he might pass out when he realized he also had no eyes. He was seeing though…how?...It was actually more like sensing he realized. He sensed the dementor in front of him and his body at his feet. He knew where they were and what they would look like, but he didn't actually see them. Frankly, he figured he actually saw a little better now than he did with his glasses, he thought with a humorless snort.

He opened his mouth to tell off the dementor, but only a long, haunting screech came out. For some reason, he knew that he'd actually said, "There's no way in hell I'm going with you, and you can very well bugger off, or I'll see if a dementor can suck another one's soul out!" All that just sounded like a combination of a bird of prey's screech and a death rattle, if that made any sense at all.

"Have it your way," wafted back to him in the form of a similar screech from the other dementor before it continued on its way as if it hadn't just destroyed someone's life. "We'll see you again, Harry Potter," drifted back to him ominously as the dementor faded from sight.

Dementor-Harry looked down once more at his body and tried to remember all he knew of what happened to someone after they were kissed. Well…they didn't die, was the first and only thing that was coming to mind. So, his body down there must still be alive. He reached down with his skeletal hand to take a hold of the tanned and calloused hand that he once called his own. He gasped a rattling breath as his hand went right through his old one.

Quickly he reached over and poked Dudley's hand. Nope, that was solid. So, it was only his old body then…maybe…Harry floated down to his old body and fell into it horizontally. It was one of the weirdest feelings he had ever experienced. It was like he was getting dressed up in an uncomfortable suit. It was painfully obvious he was no longer connected to this body and couldn't reconnect himself. However, when he moved the arms, they moved. He tried moving his facial features and then his legs. It all worked for him but felt completely wrong.

Finally, he stood, wearing his Harry-suit, and looked down at his unconscious cousin. There was no way he was going to be able to carry him home, so he nudged the larger teen with his foot. With a groan, Dudley shifted slightly. "Dudley, you fell. Can you stand on your own?" Harry asked him, testing out his voice. He sighed in relief when it was in English and not whatever dementor language he'd been speaking before.

He could do this…right? He'd just wear his Harry-suit and pretend that nothing happened. No one had to know. Dudley blinked and looked up at Harry with fear in his eyes and a scream in his lungs. Harry winced and felt his aura extending out around him and tried out pulling it inside of himself. As Dudley passed back out, Harry grimaced. Guess I'll have to work on that.

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Harry's aunt and uncle were not amused. Dudley had finally woken up again and Harry had gotten them home. No one believed that Dudley had tripped and knocked himself out, which was ironic since he actually had done just that before the whole dementor drama. They all seemed too afraid of Harry to do much about it though. Harry couldn't really decide if that was a pro or a con, but was leaning decidedly towards pro...

He really was trying, and mostly succeeding, at keeping his dementor-aura in check. When the verbal abuse got too much and he started losing control of his emotions, it was hard to keep everything reigned in though. There were many less arguments in the Dursley household after a couple slips in his control. He wasn't proud of the fact that his relatives were terrified of him, but since he'd been afraid of them for well over a decade of his life, he wasn't letting the guilt overtake him too much.

As much as he now felt like the freak the Dursleys had always told him he was, he was also knocked out of his vicious cycle of anxiety over Voldemort. Now he had a new cycle of anxiety about turning into a dementor wearing a Harry-suit around and what his friends and the ministry would do when they found out. He tried to act as normally as possible, but he no longer needed to eat or sleep, and that was a little noticeable. After a little over a day, he came to the uncomfortable conclusion that he did have to make his human body eat, even if he had to force the food down, or his Harry-suit would die. The body had become more and more sluggish when he didn't feed it, and he realized that it still needed sustenance even if he didn't. As weird as he felt wearing himself around like clothes, he refused to carry around a smelly dead body.

As for sleep, he found out that if he left his body at night, then the natural state it would go into was one of sleep. So, he made sure to take off his body for at least six or seven hours each night to let the body sleep and stay healthy. Frankly, after a week of forcing down food and making his body sleep, the Harry-suit was looking much healthier than Harry did when he actually lived in it since he'd been having constant nightmares and had little appetite before everything happened.

While the Harry-suit slept, Dementor-Harry floated around the back garden trying to figure out if he had any knew dementor powers. Besides flying, and presumably sucking out souls (which he wasn't ever going to try), he couldn't figure out anything else. Flying was pretty awesome though. It was the one good thing about being sucked out of his body and becoming a horrifying monster. He felt free finally as he soared into the sky high over England and rode the air currents. It was a hundred times better than flying on his broom. He wanted to test if he could still do wizard-magic, but that was a sure way to get expelled over the summer. He just hoped and prayed that when he went back to Hogwarts his wand would continue to work for him. Since he would be pulling the magic from the Harry-suit, theoretically, he believed it would still work…hopefully.

Now, explaining all this does seem like Harry was taking everything really well…he wasn't. Yes, he was keeping his new pet alive (what he started to think of his body as), and he was flying most nights, but he was also screaming into the clouds, cursing fate and the world and Voldemort and everyone, and crying real tears when he was back in his body and had tear ducts again. He was also cold all the time and this made him even more miserable. He found that letting his dementor-aura go warmed him up as everything around him froze but pulling it in caused his body to feel like it was winter in the dungeons of Hogwarts instead of the middle of summer. His relatives probably thought he was insane, well they had already thought that for years, as he wore multiple layers of clothes while doing his chores in blazing heat.

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The Dursleys couldn't care less about Harry or his life, so any abnormalities or strangeness went largely unnoticed. The real test would be when Remus Lupin arrived to take him to wherever everyone was hiding out over the summer. He'd gotten a letter from Dumbledore on his birthday, which he'd completely forgotten about in his distress at turning into the monster from his nightmares, and which said that Remus would be by on August 2nd to pick him up for the rest of the summer. As August 2nd arrived much too quickly, Harry sat on his trunk in his room going over and over his new mantra of "Just act normal, don't scare the villagers, don't suck any souls out, and be Harry…not the monster. You're not the monster…" He didn't believe himself no matter how much as he told himself that.

When the front doorbell rang and Vernon grumbled an order up the stairs for him to get a move-on, Harry sighed and picked up Hedwig in her cage. "You ready girl?" He asked as she gave him a happy hoot. The only thing that kept him sane was that Hedwig hadn't abandoned him. He reasoned that if he were truly evil, then Hedwig would have left him the first chance she got. Instead, she flew with him at night and comforted him in both his human and dementor forms. There was no person in the world he loved as much as he loved his owl, and he made sure she knew that every chance he got with treats, words, head scratches, and generally treating her like the queen she was.

"Time to face the humans," he told her wryly as they made their way out of the room and down the stairs to see the very observant werewolf.

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Remus Lupin was standing just inside of the Dursleys' front door with a large, shaggy dog beside him. Harry paused on the stairs in fear, not having known that his dementor-sensitive godfather would be there as well. "Hi Professor Lupin," Harry forced a smile as he pulled in his aura as much as it was possible to do.

"Harry, I haven't been your professor for well over a year. Remus or Moony will work perfectly fine," the man laughed, dressed shabbily in muggle clothes the same as he did in wizard robes. The dog gave a happy bark beside him.

"Good to see you then…Remus," Harry smiled at him with a cautious step forward.

Harry's Aunt Petunia looked at the man and the dog as if a herd of cockroaches had tracked sewage into her front parlor. "Hurry up boy," she sneered as her hand inched towards a can of disinfectant spray that was sitting on the counter, presumably waiting for as soon as the wizards walked out the door, though Harry thought she was probably a heartbeat from spraying them down bodily if they stayed any longer.

"Of course, Aunt Petunia," Harry mumbled as he hurried down the rest of the stairs where the werewolf gave him a quick half-hug.

"You look different, Harry," Remus studied the teen he had an arm around.

"Really…" Harry almost panicked, thinking he was going to be found out before he even got out the front door. "It's been a while since you saw me last."

"That must be it," Remus nodded with a smile. "You look good, healthier, I think."

"Well, get going then!" Vernon almost shoved them out the front door in impatience and some still lingering fear of the new dementor.

Harry chuckled as he heard the familiar aerosol sound of a can of disinfectant spray as the door was closing behind them. "Hey Siri," Harry finally said as he gave the dog a pat on the head. Thankfully, Sirius only barked happily and licked Harry's arm instead of reacting negatively to his godson.

"Have you ever side-along apparated?" Remus asked when they traveled down the street towards the park.

"No, is it like portkey?" Harry asked, pulling his trunk over the uneven ground behind him and holding Hedwig's cage so she didn't get jostled.

Remus gave him a wolfish smile and took ahold of both Harry's arm and the scruff behind Sirius's neck. "Hold onto your owl and trunk tightly…It's best to just get it over with."

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Harry was furious; they made his Harry-suit throw up. He promised to never side-along apparate ever again then and there. "There, there. It does get better," Remus ineffectually assured him as he awkwardly patted the retching teen's back. "I need you to read this piece of paper once you feel well enough."

Sirius gamboled around them, chasing pigeons and trying to distract his godson from his stomach flipping over itself. "Is there a single, pleasant form of wizard transportation?" Harry asked seriously as he grabbed the extended piece of paper to read something about an Order of the Phoenix and a house address. "What?!"

"Brooms aren't too bad," Remus shrugged as Harry stared in awe at where a massive townhome appeared in the middle of the neighborhood where there hadn't been one before. "Sirius will probably want to apologize for his mother later, but for now, try to be quiet as we enter."

"What?" Harry asked again dazedly as he followed his old professor up the front steps while Sirius dug his heels in following behind them. Hedwig squawked and Harry let her out of her cage just before entering so she could fly off and hunt.

Walking in, Harry took in a deep breath and smiled. The house felt so…homey and welcoming. Just the aura of it seemed to reach out to him and give him a hug. If this was Sirius's home, which he figured it must be if his mother was around somewhere, he hoped he'd be able to spend a lot of time here. They passed by a heavily curtained portrait and entered into a sitting room as Sirius turned back into a human. "Oh pup, it's so good to see you again!" He pulled the teen into a bear hug.

Harry had a tight hold on his aura, keeping it as much inside of himself as possible while he held his breath, hoping Sirius wouldn't notice. "I'm so glad you're here, Padfoot. Where are we?"

Sirius pulled back and sneered. "My childhood home. I'm so sorry, Harry. This place is awful! My relatives were the darkest of dark and this house is infested with cursed objects and bad juju! At least I was able to offer the protection of the wards to the Order though. The portrait in the entryway is of my thankfully deceased mother. If you make noise, she screeches to high heaven."

Harry raised an eyebrow. The house seemed more than fine to him. Sure, it was a little dusty and grimy, but a feather duster and a wet cloth would have that fixed in no time. As Remus nodded along with Sirius's assessment, Harry decided to keep this mouth shut. He figured maybe this was a dementor-thing and the darkness of the house fit him now. Regardless, he was already looking forward to his stay. "So, the Order, was that the phoenix thing I read about that made the house appear?"

"Yes, the Order of the Phoenix is an organization Dumbledore put together in the first war to fight Voldemort. Now that he's back, everyone's been called up to join again," Remus explained, sitting in an armchair by the unlit fire. Harry was wondering what the odds were of getting someone to light the fire even though it was summer.

"Awesome! So…things are actually being done to fight the bastard?" Harry asked in interest. He hoped he'd be told something now that he was no longer in the muggle world.

"Actually, both sides are mainly just recruiting right now," the animagus explained as he seemed to look over his shoulder to make sure no one was listening. Harry looked back as well wondering why he'd be worried in his own house. "Voldemort has been really quiet lately with no major attacks."

"Yeah, mate, heads up, a lot of people don't believe he's come back," a familiar redhead added in as he walked into the room with a large smile.

"Harry!" A head of bushy brown hair flew past Ron and tackled Harry into a hug.

The dementor sighed in disappointment. He'd hoped to ease his way into being around people in his new form. With Ron and Hermione, and probably the rest of the Weasleys in the house, someone was bound to discover that something wasn't quite right with him. He figured he was expected to act excited to see his friends though, so he tried his best to summon up an excited look and to push his anxieties down. "Hey 'Mione," Harry finally said with a fake smile.

"We've been so worried about you!" She exclaimed and looked him over for injuries, which wasn't usually out of the realm of possibility after a summer with Dudley. "You look good…healthier than I remember, especially at the end of a summer."

Harry shrugged. He'd never been good about taking care of himself, but he was excellent at taking care of his pets…Harry-suit included. It helped that his relatives were so afraid of him by the end of the summer that they didn't say anything when he took food from the kitchen like they usually would have. "What's the ministry saying about Voldy's return?"

"Nothing, or well…that he hasn't returned," Ron said with a tentative look like Harry might blow up at him in anger.

Harry's eyes widened and he shook his head. "Well…that's stupid," was the only thing he said before looking around the room. "Er, is there a place I can put my trunk? I'd hate for someone to trip over it out here in the middle of the room."

Sirius hefted the trunk up as Ron and Hermione stared at Harry in confusion at his lack of outburst. "Follow me, pup, you're bunking in with Ron. We have a bit of a full house at the moment."

After dropping the trunk at the foot of a bed in a room with two twin beds, a small cupboard, and a portrait of a severe-looking wizard, Sirius gave Harry one more hug before leaving him to settle in. "Watch what you touch, pup. We're still finding some cursed objects around," Sirius warned on his way out before he was replaced in the doorway by Ron and Hermione.

"Harry, it doesn't bother you that the ministry doesn't believe you?" Hermione asked while Harry opened his trunk and rummaged around for an old Weasley jumper to add another layer to stave away the cold.

"Course it does, Mione," Harry said as he pulled out the jumper and tugged it on over the long-sleeved shirt he was already wearing. It really did bother him, but he was a dementor now. The way he saw it, there wasn't much more Voldemort could do to him. If he killed the Harry-suit, then Dementor-Harry could just suck out his soul. At that thought, Harry shuddered. He really, really didn't want to ever do that. He'd never be welcomed into wizarding society again and would probably be exiled to Azkaban. His new plan was to stay as far away from the war and conflict as possible to avoid the one-way ticket to Azkaban he knew would eventually come in his future. He remembered from DADA that dementors couldn't be killed but being forced to live in Azkaban for however long he'd live as a dementor seemed worse than death. He couldn't exactly explain that to his friends though.

"Well, the way I see it, I'm only fifteen," Harry said slowly, weighing what he could tell his friends. "I told the ministry and Dumbledore everything that happened, and I've stopped Voldemort from coming back about three times now. It was going to happen eventually with that record. I've done my part, and it's their job now." More like a job for the humans, he added on at the end in his mind.

Ron looked at him like he'd gone crazy while Hermione had a look on her face that Harry would imagine a proud parent would look like. Ron shook his head. "So, you're not going to be mad when we get chased out of the kitchen for the Order meetings we aren't allowed to attend?" He asked with a disbelieving look in his eyes.

And be around more people who could figure out he was a dementor…nope. "Nah, it's not like they're going to send teenagers out on missions anyway," Harry grinned and clapped a hand on Ron's shoulder. "Now, Ron, it's dinner time. Is your mum here or are we going to be subjected to what someone who was a prisoner for twelve years can cook?"

Now Hermione looked at him incredulously. Harry never asked about food; he normally forgot about mealtimes unless someone reminded him. "Yeah, mate! Mum and the others are waiting in the kitchen, they just wanted to give you some space to settle in," Ron grinned and led the way out of the room.

Harry did actually quietly groan when he took in the kitchen that was completely filled with people. All the Weasleys were there except for Charlie and Percy, Remus and Sirius were there of course, there was a younger woman with spiky pink hair, the real (hopefully) Mad-Eye Moody, and Snape seemed to be trying to hide in the corner. After hugs from a sea of redheads, Harry was seated at a table that was filled with overflowing bowls of food.

Harry was never hungry anymore and nothing had any taste at all. Fortunately, eating didn't cause any nausea, so he just had to force the food down to keep his suit alive. So, since nothing tasted good anyway, he piled his plate with only the healthiest options, making sure he had some green vegetables, some protein, and very few carbohydrates. The twins immediately started ragging on him about which girl he was trying to impress by getting in better shape, to which Mrs. Weasley slapped them both on the back of the head lightly with her wooden spoon.

"You two could learn a little from Harry and eat more vegetables," she scolded the unrepentant duo.

"Why do you look blurry?" Mad-Eye Moody bluntly accused from where he was sitting diagonally across from Harry.

Harry almost panicked at the question. He'd forgotten Mad-Eye's magical eye. "Erm, what do you mean, blurry?" He stalled.

The retired auror stared at him, causing his skin to crawl most unpleasantly. "I don't know, boy. I've never seen the likes…you look out of focus," he said with an irritated huff.

"Maybe you need to get your eye checked," Snape finally spoke up from where he was still sitting in a shadow. "The boy has been stuck in the muggle world for two months. What could he have done to mess with your eye?"

Harry gaped at the man. Sure, Snape didn't know he was saving him, but Harry could have hugged the dungeon bat then and there. Of course, everyone would know something was wrong with him then. "Er, yeah, just a normal summer," Harry added on at the end trying to not show his relief at the save.

Moody continued to mutter to himself until everyone was distracted by Dumbledore's appearance at the door. After Dumbledore's quick greeting to Harry, the dementor completely zoned out on the conversation. Dumbledore was wearing the brightest robes he had ever seen in a dark purple with twinkling silver stars all over it. The stars transfixed Harry's eyes. They were so beautiful. If he could only touch a star, maybe have the robes to hang on his wall…yeah, he could look at it every day then. He could then cut out a star and put it in his pocket to pull out anytime he wanted to see it…

It took calling out his name three times and Hermione tugging on his sleeve before Harry realized people had been talking to him. "Huh?" He asked dazedly, trying to pull his eyes away from the wonderful stars. Apparently, dementors liked shiny things…a lot.

"I asked if you'd had any more visions of Voldemort, my boy?" Dumbledore said with a chuckle. "Do you like my robes? They're new?" The headmaster gave a little spin, causing the stars to blur together a bit and shine brighter.

Harry had to tear his gaze away and literally sat on his hands to keep from reaching out for the fabric. "Er, yeah. Your robes are really nice. I like the stars," he said lamely, trying not to gush as non-dementor Harry would never have loved robes such as the ones the headmaster was wearing. "And no, I haven't had any visions, sorry." Actually, since his soul was sucked out of his body, he'd had no visions, dreams, or even scar twinges. It seemed that the connection he had with Voldemort was completely gone. He vaguely wondered if he could still speak to snakes.

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It didn't take long before the Order members shooed the teens off to bed to have their meeting. As Harry said he would earlier, he went without protest. He knew he would have been angry to be left out of things a month before. He was angry a month before. Now though, the farther he could be from the action, the longer he could avoid Azkaban he reasoned.

"Those robes really were something else, weren't they?" Ron laughed as they both fell into their beds. "I can't believe the most powerful wizard in our world has fashion sense like that!"

"Yeah," Harry agreed and made a mental note to watch himself around shiny things in the future. It seemed his dementor couldn't be trusted to keep his hands to himself when presented with pretty objects.

Ron was asleep within half an hour. After a couple snores sounded out into the room, Harry peeled himself away from his body and watched as it fell into sleep peacefully. He looked around the room with his dementor eyes and decided that it was definitely that part of him that liked the house. It was almost like he could see better with the aura of the house surrounding him. It soothed his emotions and calmed his anxiety somewhat. Ron didn't seem to be affected by Harry being outside of his body any, and the man from the portrait was not in residence at the time, so Harry took a minute to check over his body some and make sure everything looked all right.

After determining his pet was fine, he decided it needed a name. He couldn't just keep referring to it as the Harry-suit in his head. It was living and breathing, if soulless, and deserved a name. He quickly discounted Har as it sounded too much like 'hair.' Ry just didn't seem like him. James was his father's name. Jamie…that would work. Jamie, he whispered to himself in his mind. Yes, that's what he would call his former body.

The Order was still meeting downstairs, so Harry glided through the closed window, something he was happy to learn was possible since he hadn't tried it before and flew off into the night, looking for Hedwig. After finding his owl and flying together for a bit, Harry tried to figure out how to disappear into shadows like the dementor in Surrey had done when he was leaving after having destroyed Harry's life. He didn't know if it was a type of transport or invisibility though.

Four hours later and Hedwig was still hooting good-humoredly at him as he ran into walls trying to transport himself somewhere. "Stop laughing at me," he pouted at his owl. "I learned to fly my first try. How long did it take you?"

Hedwig just continued to hoot in a way that closely resembled chuckles while Harry pulled a tube of lip balm from his tattered robes and applied it to his chapped lips with a pale, skeletal hand. As much as he used it, it never seemed to help very much. "Maybe it's just invisibility and not travel," he finally admitted. He had been hoping for a better form of travel than what he'd experienced in the wizarding world.

Another two hours, and Harry had finally figured out how to turn himself invisible and disappear into any shadow around himself. Hedwig almost fell off her branch the first time he was successful wondering where her dementor had gone to. "Yes!" Harry laughed, which sounded more like the gasps of a dying man, but Hedwig knew what they were, and that's all that mattered.

Dawn was approaching as Harry made his way back to Grimmauld Place. It seemed that the dementor sense of direction was impeccable. He figured that would definitely be useful one day. After a quick check that Ron was still asleep, Harry glided back into their room and made his way over to Jaime.

A loud squeak sounded from the corner of the room and Harry whirled around. The stern-looking man rushed out of his portrait in fear. Harry stared at it for a second more before shrugging. He quickly merged back with his body and pretended to be asleep. That lasted for three seconds before the high-pitched wail of an alarm sounded throughout the house.

Chapter Text

Ron and Harry both shot up in their beds. Footsteps pounded down the hallway and their door was thrown open by a scared werewolf wearing slippers and a blue housecoat. "That's the emergency alarm!" Remus called out with his wand drawn. "Everyone is to meet down in the kitchen! Hurry, stick with me!"

Throwing back their covers, Ron and Harry rushed out of the room and into the stream of people rushing down to the kitchen. Harry's mind was reeling, whatever was going on had to have something to do with the portrait seeing him, but how could a portrait have set off some sort of emergency alarm? He needed an excuse and fast…

Everyone in various stages of undress were sleepily crammed into the kitchen at Grimmauld Place. Sirius looked like he probably didn't sleep in anything since he was only wearing his jeans from the day before that weren't zipped up. Harry saw Mr. Weasley whisper to his godfather who quickly zipped and buttoned the trousers with a roll of his eyes instead of any embarrassment. Ginny and Hermione were both leaning against each other looking like they could fall asleep at any point in time, and the Weasley twins were already asleep once more, propped up in the corner. The only people who looked on the alert and ready for danger were Remus and Snape. Harry was very confused about why the potion master must be staying at the house. He was wearing his normal black robes and seemed way too awake to have been woken up by the alarm. Both Snape and Remus had their wands out and stood in front of the others while obviously waiting on the arrival of someone.

The kitchen door opened, and the two alert men visibly let out a sigh of relief when Albus Dumbledore, wearing a pink and green dressing gown, entered through it. "This had better not be another of your drills," Snape sneered menacingly at his employer.

"Unfortunately, it isn't," Dumbledore looked around the room and seemed to be counting up the residents anxiously. His gaze lingered for a second on Harry and the old man's face softened in relief and care. "Phineas woke me up screaming that a monster was in the boys' room not five minutes ago. I checked the house, and I can't find anything out of the ordinary now though."

"Really?" Snape narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Harry, not even looking over to where Ron was sneaking a biscuit out of the tin on the counter. "What sort of monster did the former headmaster think he saw?"

Dumbledore waved his wand and tea started making itself on the stove and the tin of biscuits flew out of Ron's hand and onto the table. "He wasn't sure, only that it was tall, cloaked, and hooded."

"Erm, Headmaster…I think he may have just seen me," Harry added tentatively. He'd worked out a quick excuse and the description the portrait had given (thank Merlin!) fit within his hastily constructed excuse quite well.

"Oh really, my boy," Dumbledore turned twinkling eyes to his favorite student. "Were you tall, cloaked, and hooded in your room?"

The dementor-in-hiding chuckled to dismiss the concern. "I don't think anyone has ever called me tall, sir. However, I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep. I decided to go through my trunk and pull out some damaged school robes. I was trying them on to see if they could be repaired or if I'd need to replace them before school starts back. I guess if you saw someone in a cloak in the dark that you believed to be asleep, it would be a bit concerning. I didn't know the portrait in our room was connected to you, sir. I thought he was just a normal house portrait."

Harry was more than a little upset that he'd been put in a room with a portrait directly connected to the headmaster's office. It seemed like a huge breech of privacy in his mind. He really, really didn't want to make a big deal out of it though as he didn't want any more attention on him or the fact that he was only borrowing the body he was currently in. He prayed that it'd all pass over and the headmaster would buy his excuse.

"I completely agree, Harry," Dumbledore smiled at the teen. "I'd probably have been concerned to see someone in a cloak standing over your bed in the dark as well. Maybe next time go through your robes in the daylight…sound good?" He gave a little laugh at the end, very happy the teen was safe and that this was all a happy misunderstanding.

Snape glared at his student as if the alarm was completely Harry's fault. It was, but only because no one had told him that his portrait was a spy. Harry avoided the man's eyes, fully aware he tended to see more than others did when he looked at his students directly. Harry didn't know how he knew when someone was lying, but he figured it couldn't hurt to not give the man the opportunity to study his face in more detail.

The teapot and mugs joined the biscuits on the table and Mrs. Weasley started pouring cups for everyone. "Well, I guess back to bed for anyone who thinks they can go back to sleep, and good morning to everyone who can't," Dumbledore said as he turned to leave the room once more.

Remus turned to the teens, as well as the three adults who hadn't been fully alert. "All right you lot, we need to have a discussion about emergency procedures and what it means if the alarm goes off."

"I'll leave you to it, Lupin," Snape shot a parting glare over at Harry before leaving the room in a swirl of robes.

"Why's he staying here anyway?" Harry whispered to Ron as Remus started in on having your wands and shoes accessible at all times during a war.

Ron shrugged as he chewed his biscuit. "He has a potions lab set up in the attic. I'm not sure if he's actually staying here or if he's just brewing a lot of potions. He pops up at random times like an evil bat."

"Well, I for one don't think I'll be changing my clothes in our room anymore," Harry remarked dryly as Ron paled and coughed on the bit of biscuit he'd inhaled.

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No one was able to get back to sleep after the forty-five-minute lecture by Remus Lupin on emergency preparedness. Molly Weasley eventually gave up and started cooking breakfast around the time that Sirius conjured shadow puppets to appear on the wall behind the werewolf. "And, Padfoot, you of all people as a former auror should know to at least sleep in your pants in case you have to run and fight," Remus concluded after a stinging hex at the laughing man.

"Aw, Moony, I'll just fight in the buff. Everyone would be so distracted by my magnificence that I'd take 'em all out," Sirius winked at Harry when his godson couldn't hold back a chuckle at that claim. Remus threw his hands in the air and stormed out of the room, presumably to either get ready for the day or booby-trap his friend's room, maybe both.

"Eat up all," Mrs. Weasley stated as she plopped eggs and bacon onto the table. "Sirius, I'm having the kids clean the upstairs library today. Could you get that elf of yours to do something, anything in another part of the house so he can't keep stealing the things we toss out?" She asked exasperatedly.

The atmosphere quickly turned into almost a party as everyone made fun of each other's pajamas and speculated on if Snape ever slept or if he wore his teaching robes to bed. Sirius was telling stories of his time at Hogwarts as the twins, and surprisingly Arthur Weasley, eagerly questioned him. Harry sat back with a smile on his face until that smile suddenly fell. He realized he was hungry.

He'd shoved a couple pieces of bacon and eggs down his throat already and wasn't used to being hungry at all anymore. The hunger he was feeling was almost palpable though. He felt that if he didn't eat something soon, he'd implode into the empty place in his stomach. It only took one more bite of eggs before he realized that Jamie wasn't hungry…the dementor was.

The laughter and good mood of those around him was swirling tangibly in front of his face. He knew that he could pull it in, those happy moments and good feelings. If he only took just a little…there wasn't much if any conscious thought that went into Harry skimming a little of the good mood off the top of the room. He pulled it in, feeling the emptiness within himself fill and a warmth blossom in his heart.

He only skimmed a little and no one seemed to notice, well, no one besides Sirius Black. Sirius stopped in mid-sentence and let out a little gasp. His head shot up to look around the room. Immediately, Harry pulled in his aura as much as possible and didn't touch the mood in the room anymore. It took a few seconds, but Sirius seemed to brush off the feeling and turn his attention back to the conversation he was in.

When everyone was distracted once more, Harry quickly stood from the table and rushed out of the kitchen and back to his bedroom. Never again, never again, never again…He kept thinking over and over in his head. No feeding from friends and family, nope, never again.

The guilt was eating him alive as he crashed onto his bed and buried his face in his pillow. The even worse part of it all was he was still hungry. He'd never been hungry before since he was changed, but he'd never been around happy people either. The Dursleys were all bad feelings and irritation.

After feeding the little that he had, Harry could still feel everyone in the house in the back of his mind and what their emotion currently was at the time. From where his head was buried in his pillow, Harry could tell that Sirius was still a little weirded out, Mrs. Weasley was feeling stressed, the twins were both excited, Ron was tired, Mr. Weasley was peaceful, Hermione was a little concerned (probably about him), Ginny was curious about something, Remus was feeling mischievous, and Snape was annoyed and more than a little stressed. "Why?!" He yelled into his pillow. "I can't do this!"

"May I ask what it is you feel you can't do?" A voice drawled from the other side of the room.

Harry shot up in the bed, his glasses askew. He'd forgotten about the portrait. "You're Phineas, right?" He asked as he straightened his glasses once more.

The man's eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms. "That's Headmaster Black to you," he corrected.

"Er, sorry, sir," Harry said as he awkwardly stood up. "Thanks…I guess for trying to save me and Ron. Even though we didn't actually need it."

The old headmaster stared him down. "Albus may believe your story, boy, but I know what I saw," he said with deep suspicion. "I don't know what's going on, but I find I'm very curious…something I haven't been in quite a long time."

"There's nothing going on, sir," Harry assured him as he fished his clothes out of his trunk to make a quick escape.

"Boy, I've seen more dark magic in my life than that upstart calling himself Voldemort. I know dark magic when I see it, and you, my new friend, are not a light wizard," Headmaster Black stated sternly before turning and leaving his portrait, Harry stared at the empty painting in his wake.

"Yeah…that's going to end well," Harry muttered sarcastically as he left to change his clothes in the bathroom and get started on whatever that cleaning project was Mrs. Weasley had been planning to keep his mind off the hunger that was now gnawing at his stomach.

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It turned out the library was Harry's favorite room in the house, though he hadn't visited the basement yet. That was probably going to be excellent judging by his reactions to the aura of the house so far. When he stepped inside, he just wanted to sit and enjoy the almost warm feeling of the room. Everyone else was grumbling, complaining, and decking themselves out in gloves and protective supplies. It helped his feeling of hunger that no one was happy anymore though.

It didn't take long to realize that something was in the room…something was calling to him. Harry trailed his dust rag across the shelves in the library, separating from the others and looking for whatever was calling to him. It was like…treacle tart or the best chocolate cake. He could almost smell the sugar wafting throughout the room. There was a treat for him, if only he could find it.

A glint of gold caught his eye, and he could feel his dementor instantly perk up. What in Merlin's name is it with dementors and shiny things? Harry thought, even as his eyes were arrested by the shiny gold locket sitting innocently on the shelf.

He took in a deep breath…food…a soul. There was a soul just sitting there, no body, no one would miss it…Harry was transfixed. His hand inched towards the chain. "Harry, watch what you touch!" Mrs. Weasley called out in warning. "I haven't looked over those shelves yet."

Harry was trying to stop himself, but he didn't think he could. There was no moral directive keeping him from the soul without a body, and he was just so, so hungry. A loud pop resounded throughout the room before Harry could give himself away by pulling a Gollum and calling the locket "my precious" or something equally mortifying.

"Kreacher was being distracted by the bad master. The mudbloods and blood traitors are taking the treasure of House Black once more. Kreacher will stop the desecration of the mistress's house!" An ancient elf stated as he tried to stare down Molly Weasley.

In the distraction, Harry quickly pocketed the locket. The movement caught the attention of the ancient elf who turned his yellow eyes instantly over to the shelf that no longer contained the locket. "Kreacher is…" the elf stopped mid-thought as his gaze fell on Harry being the obvious one who took the necklace.

Instead of yelling at the teen, as Harry and probably everyone else in the room expected, Kreacher let out an inhuman shriek of fear and ran from the room. He didn't apparate or pop or whatever elves do, he just ran, ran in more fear than Harry had ever seen an elf before.

"Uh…what'd I do?" Harry looked to the others in the room in confusion. Could the elf see him as he really was? That wasn't going to go well when he returned to Hogwarts which had an army of elves to run the castle.

"No clue, but you're my cleaning buddy from now on!" Ron exclaimed with a smile. "Kreacher is Sirius's elf that came with the house. He's foul! If you keep him away, you're coming with me everywhere."

"Ron, really! He's just responding to the ill treatment he's had at Sirius's hand," Hermione berated him. "He needs to be shown more kindness and understanding."

"I'm pretty certain he'd murder you in your sleep if he could get away with it," Ginny informed her as the elf's pureblood beliefs were evident from even that one interaction.

"Yeah, maybe we should all move into Harry's room," George chuckled as his twin rolled his dusting rag and snapped it at his butt.

"Children, please," Mrs. Weasley sighed in frustration. "Just keep cleaning and watch what you touch."

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Late that night, after moving invisibly through the house to avoid people and snooping portraits, Harry finally found the basement. It was just as wonderful as he had predicted. There were manacles on the stone walls, dampness around the edges of the room, and even some rust-colored stains still on the floor, presumably dried blood. It felt very relaxing and like a home should feel like. Dusty boxes filled the corners of the room; Harry guessed they contained the cursed objects collected from the house as their aura seemed warm and inviting to him. He hovered cross-legged over the floor breathing in the feel of home in the dungeon. Since no one was on that level of the house, Harry even allowed himself the luxury of slightly let go of his aura some and the room dropped several degrees in temperature.

Happily warm for the first time in a long time, Harry pulled the shiny, golden locket out of the pocket of his tattered robes. He'd put a lot of thought into those robes since he'd been turned. They were a part of his magic as a dementor, but they had pockets…that seemed too practical for something that must have the sole purpose of contributing to the aesthetic of scary. He did take off the robes once, so it was possible, but a couple minutes later they reappeared back on his skeletal body. So much for changing out the robes for some jeans and a graphic tee.

Eerily smiling, the dementor sat in the basement and stared at the locket, reveling in the feel and smell of it. He could only take the beautiful torture for a minute before his opened his chapped lips and pulled the soul out of the casement and into his body. It really was like eating the best chocolate cake he'd ever had. It was sweet and tangy and just a little spicy. Giving off a deep sigh, Harry breathed in relief that he was finally no longer hungry and had a pleasant full feeling in his stomach. He knew he should be worried about how he'd handle being at Hogwarts, this wasn't normal behavior by any definition of normal, but he pushed those thoughts aside for the moment. He hadn't been at peace since before the Triwizard Tournament, he wanted to enjoy this moment and deal with his anxieties over feeding the dementor in the morning.

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Yes, it was a really bad idea. He knew it was a bad idea. Even as he clasped the locket's chain around his neck, he knew it would only cause him problems. But…it was just so shiny! After a few rubs from his robes, the gold shined brightly on the locket engraved with an elaborate script "S" on its face. The dementor wanted to be able to see the shine throughout the day and look at it whenever he felt like it. It was either that or steal Dumbledore's star robes. Something told him this was probably the lesser of two evils.

I'm really doing a bang-up job at this whole being normal thing. Harry thought wryly as he walked out of his bedroom in his Harry-suit the next morning, not-so-proudly wearing the locket around his neck on top of his ratty t-shirt. Self-control…yeah, that's what he desperately needed to work on. At least he wasn't hungry though.

Initially, no one noticed the locket at all. Ron was oblivious to everything except for the food on his plate, the twins couldn't care less what jewelry Harry wore, and Ginny didn't know Harry well enough to know what necklaces he normally wore or not. Hermione was the first (of course) to realize something was different. "Harry…wasn't that in the library we cleaned yesterday?" Hermione looked at the prize around Harry's neck in suspicion.

Harry shrugged and ate another piece of toast. If everyone was going to flip out and raise a ruckus, he wanted to make sure Jamie was well fed first at least. "It's fine, I checked it out," Harry sort-of told the truth. He had removed the dark object…by eating it first.

"Pup, did I hear right? Are you wearing something you found in this house?" Sirius asked in concern from where he had been fixing himself a cup of coffee. "How are you feeling? Any feelings of unexplained murderous tendencies, lust for someone you don't know, self-destructive desires?" Harry's godfather asked as he put down the coffee and rushed over to look Harry in the eyes and feel his forehead.

"You feel a little cold. Is this normal, Molly?" Sirius asked, deferring to the mother in the room.

Molly's hand took Sirius's place on Harry's forehead. "You do feel a little cold dear, but I don't think it's anything to worry about. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine everyone," Harry laughed and grabbed another piece of toast to butter. "Really, not everything is cursed, or we wouldn't have beds to sleep on or silverware to eat with."

"One set of silverware was cursed to make the users agree with the master of the house," Remus stated as he walked into the room. "We tossed it and had to use another, even though Sirius protested that he wanted to keep them. What're we talking about?"

"Harry's wearing a locket he found in the library," Sirius explained in concern to his friend.

Remus frowned and immediately started casting spells at the locket. "Harry, can you take that off please?" The former professor asked after casting a few spells.

The dementor sighed. It took all his willpower, but he did unclasp the locket and placed it on the table. "Well, he can remove it; that's a good sign," Remus mumbled as he cast a few more spells.

"Anything?" Hermione asked as he looked Harry over, trying to see any changes.

"Cool it, Hermione," Harry scooted farther away from her as she leaned into his personal space. "Really, there's nothing wrong with me."

"He's right…I can't find anything wrong with it," Remus finally stated after what seemed like a very long time of countless spells. "I don't think it's cursed."

"Pup, you can't go scaring me like that!" Sirius sank into the seat beside Harry with a sigh and dramatic clutch to his chest. "You see something you want, you ask me or Remus first, ok? We'll check it over so you don't accidentally curse yourself."

"I'm sorry, Padfoot," Harry said, feeling bad for his impulsive actions, though they had been mostly out of his control. "I shouldn't take things that're yours anyway."

Sirius laughed and pulled Harry into a one-armed hug. "Pup, you're my only beneficiary in the will. All this is yours anyway. Here," Sirius picked up the necklace and clasped it around Harry's neck again. "You want this old piece of junk, then it's yours."

"Thanks, Padfoot," Harry smiled and hugged the man back.

"All right, now that's settled, the school lists came in today," Mrs. Weasley said in a business-like manner as she passed Hogwarts letters around to all of them. "I need your book lists and anything clothing or supplies related that you need. Dumbledore is going to send Order members to get your things as it's not safe for you all, especially Harry, to be wandering around right now."

After seeing the shiny badge fall out of Hermione's envelope, Harry's dementor was actually reasonable enough to be happy to not see something shiny fall out of his. A prefect position was the absolute last thing he needed to have to worry about on top of everything else going on this year. The badge might have been pretty, but the responsibility was just too much. It was surprising when Ron got one though. Harry was sure that Neville was the more logical choice, being more of a rule-follower anyway. Regardless, as long as it wasn't him, Harry was happy.

While all the Weasleys were going through their trunks to determine what they needed, Harry easily passed his list over to Mrs. Weasley, not needing much besides the new books this year. "Thanks, dear. We'll just have it charged to your account if that's ok with you?" She looked at him questioningly.

"Sounds good!" Harry smiled at her and ran off to join Sirius who was going to show him around the house, to his excitement and the animagus's disdain.

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The tour of Grimmauld Place had been everything Harry hoped it would be. The rooms that hadn't been decontaminated by Mrs. Weasley yet were glorious. They had various tiny creatures living in corners and beautifully colored mold. He even found a boggart in an old desk when Sirius had left him for a minute to go to the loo. Like Kreacher, the boggart immediately ran screaming out of the desk, looking like a copy of Harry's dementor-self, and jumped out of the window into the shadows of the house. "I guess I won't need the boggart repelling spell anymore," Harry mused as he heard Sirius returning. He was beyond grateful he'd been alone when he'd opened the desk's cabinet. Harry decided he'd do his main exploring of the house by himself in the coming days in case he ran into another situation like with the house elf and boggart.

The Order of the Phoenix was meeting yet again a couple nights later. It seemed that Snape only joined everyone for dinner when there was an Order meeting, and he hid in the corner the whole time. Harry found himself fascinated by the man in an odd way. He'd never liked Snape, still didn't, but the professor lived as a spy and seemed to just randomly be at the house at odd times and interacted with the Order members in unique ways. He hated Sirius and Remus, but he seemed to tolerate the older Weasleys. He actually seemed to get along with the pink-haired auror named Tonks strangely, or at least he tolerated her when she made him talk to her. For someone who was hiding every part of himself, the spy who lived in the shadows was an interesting study, at the very least Harry figured he might learn a thing or two.

This night, Snape's eyes seemed to drift to Harry's new locket occasionally with a speculative look on his face. Harry wasn't sure if the man thought it strange he was wearing a locket or if he recognized it for some reason. His question was answered when the potions master immediately pulled Dumbledore aside when the elderly man showed up for the meeting. The pair talked intensely for a couple minutes, both shooting looks towards where Harry was eating and making the teen feel very self-conscious.

"Ah, Harry, my boy, could I ask you where you found that wonderful necklace?" Dumbledore said with a smile as he finally walked over to the table.

Everyone looked between the headmaster and the student, causing Harry to blush and feel even more self-conscious. "I found it in the library," he finally said as he played with the locket nervously. "Remus checked it over for curses though. He said it was fine, and I feel fine too. What's the big deal about me wearing an old dusty necklace anyway?"

"Mr. Potter, your new adornment just so happens to have the symbol of Salazar Slytherin on it," Snape drawled from behind the headmaster. "It would be your luck to stumble on the lost locket of Slytherin while decontaminating this dump."

"Hey!" Harry protested, upset that Snape insulted his house. He wasn't really sure when he had started thinking of Grimmauld as his house, but it had happened gradually, and he really didn't want to leave now. "This place is wonderful! It just needs a little polish and it'll be fine. It's very homey."

At this, literally everyone in the room looked at Harry like he may have lost his mind. "Er, pup, even I agree with Snape on this one, as much as I hate to admit that," Sirius placed his hand on Harry's head once more. "You sure you feel ok?"

"I'm fine," Harry shrugged his hand off. "Stop asking me that!"

"Harry…may I please see that necklace?" Dumbledore now looked like Sirius did that something must be wrong with the teen.

Harry rolled his eyes and took off the locket and placed it on the table again. Dumbledore quickly cast several spells that were probably just repeats of Remus's, and then some more complex ones added onto that. The headmaster looked at the necklace in frustration. "I can't find anything wrong with it," he said in amazement. "I do believe it may actually be Slytherin's lost locket though."

"Does that mean I can't keep it?" Harry asked sadly. He really did like his shiny and didn't have anything else that pretty.

The adults all seemed to have a silent conversation as they stared at each other. Judging from their emotions that Harry could still feel, Sirius was concerned, Molly and Arthur were both fairly indifferent, Remus was suspicious, Snape was irritated a little angry for some reason, and Dumbledore was a mix between confused and hopeful. "Well, since there's nothing wrong with it…I don't see why you can't keep it, my boy," Dumbledore said slowly.

"Headmaster, you certainly aren't going to allow a student to wear around a founder's artifact!" The Potions professor protested in indignation while almost making the word 'student' sound like a swear word.

"I can't prove it's a founder's artifact at this time," Dumbledore shook his head. "I may find a way to prove it eventually, but Harry is a responsible lad," Snape scoffed at that pronouncement. "He'll keep it safe for us until we can determine its authenticity," Dumbledore finished, ignoring the man.

Harry grinned at his headmaster and quickly put the locket around his neck once more. "Thank you, sir. I'll take good care of it!"

"I know you will, my boy," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at him. "Now, I need to ask you once again…have you had any visions of Voldemort or has your scar pained you any at all?"

"No, sir. I'm sorry, but I don't have anything for you," Harry responded sadly. He really did want to help as long as he was able to keep out of the action and keep Jamie and his secret safe.

Dumbledore just smiled brightly though and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "No apologies, Harry! That's good news!" He assured the raven-haired teen happily.

"Now, everyone off to bed! We need to get this meeting started and you all need to finish up any homework you've put off until the last-minute tomorrow!" Molly Weasley instructed as all the younger inhabitants of the house were shooed out of the kitchen.

Hermione grabbed onto Harry and Ron as she followed them both into their room. "Ok, spill Harry. What's really going on?" She asked him in a hiss as Ron plopped onto his bed.

"Yeah, mate. You've been acting a little off lately," Ron added in, sounding much less concerned than Hermione.

Harry shrugged and pulled his knees to his chest on the bed. "I'm fine really."

"I don't believe you for a second," Hermione crossed her arms and stared him down. "There's something going on. Even the adults are noticing. Hell, even Sirius noticed, and he calls you James half the time."

Harry frowned and picked at a string on the comforter. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it…could you both just trust me for now?" He asked hopefully. He knew Hermione and Ron would be the ones to find him out. He just wasn't able to tell them, not yet. Who would want a dementor hanging around them anyway? "I promise I'm ok, or as ok as I'm going to be anyway," he added on.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron's face clouded in concern. He hadn't thought anything was actually wrong like Hermione had. He just thought there might be something bothering his friend.

Harry shrugged noncommittally. "Just that if Hermione's right and there is something going on with me, that doesn't mean I'm ready to talk about it. Especially if there isn't anything you can do anyway."

"But maybe there is something we can do," Hermione sat beside him on the bed and almost pleaded.

"Not this time 'Mione," Harry smiled at her sadly. "Really, I'm fine…I'll tell you sometime, but let me process it all first, ok?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes and studied her friend in front of her. "I'm not going to let you bottle this up like you always do…I'll give you some space for now, but I'm not letting this go completely. I care too much about you to do that."

"Of course not, Hermione," Harry laughed. "Then you wouldn't be you."

"You got that right," Ron laughed as well while Hermione rolled her eyes at them before joining them in laughter.

"Hey, maybe you could both give me a heads up when I'm acting strangely? That would actually help a lot," Harry asked sheepishly as they stopped laughing. "Sometimes I do things without even knowing I'm doing it until everyone is looking at me weird. Maybe you could poke me or something?"

Ron and Hermione looked at each other in concern but nodded. "How about we come up with a word like 'pineapple' or something that we say when you're doing something off?" Ron suggested.

"Why pineapple?" Hermione asked with a smirk and raise of her eyebrow.

"I don't know…why not?" Ron shrugged. "It was the first thing that came to mind."

"Er, maybe something a little easier to work into conversation," Harry thought for a minute. "Hey, how about you ask about my friend Jamie? It would change the subject of the conversation to distract from whatever it is I'm doing, would sound fairly natural, and we don't already have a friend named Jamie."

"Do you actually have a friend named Jamie?" Hermione thought about it with a frown.

Harry nodded. "Sort of, more of an acquaintance. You think it'd work?"

"Yeah, I think it would," Hermione nodded in approval. "I'm concerned about whatever is making you act different, but you still seem to be Harry just a little odder…so I'll go with it for now."

"Yeah, mate, you promise you aren't really a Death Eater polyjuicing as Harry?" Ron questioned suspiciously.

"You tried to turn Scabbers, who was really Wormtail, yellow on our first train ride to Hogwarts, your dad's car saved us when we went to see the acromantulas in our second year, third year you had a crush on Pansy Parkinson and didn't tell anyone except Neville and me, fourth year…"

"Yeah, ok, I got it!" Ron cut him off as he blushed bright red. "No need to go on, you're Harry."

"Pansy, really?" Hermione laughed heartily. "I can't believe you liked Pansy!"

"It was a moment of weakness," Ron grumbled and threw a pillow at Harry.

"Hey!" Harry threw the pillow back at him before an all-out pillow fight broke out.

Chapter Text

Harry was sad to leave his new haven. Everyone else, especially Sirius who was still stuck there, was itching to leave. Harry wished that Sirius could see the house the way he did. It just had personality and some interesting quirks. Kreacher was really the only unpleasant thing about the place, and Harry had only seen him the one time he'd run away screaming. He thought he saw the elf a few times out of the corner of his eye or leaving a room as soon as he entered, but he couldn't be sure. Even Sirius's mother was fine, you just needed to know how to handle her…like unleashing his full aura at the painting in the middle of the night until she was as much afraid of him as Kreacher, but yeah, problem handled.

It wasn't just leaving the safety and comfort of Grimmauld Place, it was also leaving Sirius and going into the unknown by himself essentially. He wasn't one hundred percent sure his magic would work, he was worried all the house elves would scream and run, he was certain Ron and Hermione would eventually figure out what was going on, what if Jamie got hurt and he had to go to Madam Pomfrey and she figured it all out, and what if Voldemort attacked again? Also…what did that dementor mean when he said, "We'll see you again?" Really, how ominous can you get? If all that weren't enough, what if he sucked all the happiness out of his friends and they were miserable and suffering from dementor exposure by the end of the year?

It was with even more fear than when he started in first year, that Harry pulled his trunk down the stairs and made ready to leave for Hogwarts to start his fifth year. "Has anyone seen Crookshanks? I haven't seen him in days!" Hermione asked frantically as she ran through the house trying to collect her wayward cat.

Harry shrank into the corner, knowing the cat was hiding from him. It had a similar reaction as Kreacher when he saw it in the hallway a few days before. Thankfully, no one had been there to witness it that time. "I'm going to miss you around here, pup," Sirius said dejectedly as he joined Harry in the corner. "Maybe Snuffles can come visit you some during the year," he added on with a hopeful grin.

His first instinct was to yell at Sirius to not be an idiot and stay where he was safe. On second thought though…that was probably asking too much of the man that was nowhere near emotionally stable. Feeling Sirius's emotions, as he had everyone's since he fed, Harry knew better than anyone that staying isolated was draining the life from his godfather. He seemed to be constantly fighting severe depression and anxiety. Granted, the man still called him James occasionally, but Harry loved him regardless. The man, as unstable as he was, emitted strong emotions that he cared for and loved Harry, maybe for being James's son, but Harry was certain that in his more lucid moments, Sirius was cognizant of the differences between Harry and James. He just wasn't always in one of those more lucid moments.

"Oh Padfoot, please don't get yourself arrested," Harry sighed tiredly, giving up on the man staying put in the house. "I'd really hate to have to break you out of Azkaban. It'd completely ruin my reputation with the ministry…well what's left of it anyway."

Harry actually thought about that statement for a minute before continuing, "I guess there's not much left to ruin…sure, I guess I'll get you out, but please don't try to get arrested anyway. Let's save that as a last resort." As a dementor, Harry was certain he could break his godfather out, but he really didn't want to have to try it. The other dementors might not take too kindly to it. However, it might be nice to go on the run with Sirius to some tropical climate where it was warm and people were happy…it might not be the worst back-up plan.

"Awesome!" Sirius exclaimed happily, and gave Harry the largest smile he'd ever seen on his godfather's face. "The first prison break was hard enough though; I'm good with not doing that again any time soon."

"Yeah, sure," Harry chuckled. "If you decide to visit, just owl me first so I can meet you with the map, ok?"

"Sure thing!" Sirius was almost vibrating in excitement at that.

"And no living in caves and eating rats!" Harry chided him. "I'll hide you in Snape's office or something before then," he grinned broadly.

Sirius fell over laughing. "Oh Merlin! I can just imagine! Snivellus coming into his office and me sitting under his desk!"

"This house really isn't that bad. Give it a chance will you…for me?" Harry asked pleadingly. "I want to come back and visit, and that'll be hard if you hate the place."

"Harry, I gave the place a chance for the first 16 years of my life. I don't think its 'charms' are going to wear off on me," Sirius sobered and steered Harry to the group leaving the house since Hermione had finally found Crookshanks in a kitchen cupboard.

"Be good, Padfoot."

"Cause hell for Snape, Harry," Sirius waved in parting.

xxxxxxxxxx

Ron and Hermione abandoned Harry as soon as they boarded the train for prefect duties. He wasn't upset though since he was hoping to find an empty compartment to hide from the students for a while since he was already starting to feel a little hungry, everyone was just a little too happy to see their friends again. Unfortunately, the Grimmauld group had been running late and were some of the last to board; every compartment he saw had at least one person in it. Feeling the emotions around him, Harry felt around for a compartment that didn't make him hungry and was also fairly empty.

He ended up looking into the window of a compartment that only had one girl in it with blonde hair, radish earrings, and who was reading a magazine upside down. Harry shrugged dismissively, this girl's level of strangeness didn't even scratch the surface of his own, and the emotions coming from her compartment were pure peace and calm. So, he pushed open the door and stuck his head him. "Hi there! Do you mind if I join you? Fair warning, there will probably be two prefects popping in after a while if you say yes."

The girl looked over her magazine at him with the most brilliant blue eyes he had ever seen. She smiled in a vague way and motioned to the seat in front of her. "You are very welcome, Harry Potter," she said kindly and a little formally.

Harry grinned and sat across from her. "I don't think I've met you before…or have I and I'm making a fool of myself?"

The girl's eyes seemed just a little off focus as they looked at him, like she was looking through him. "I'm Luna Lovegood, and no, I don't think we've officially met before. I would remember."

"Well, it's good to meet you then, Luna," Harry nodded and situated Hedwig's empty cage in the overhead compartment since she had decided to fly to Hogwarts instead of being cooped up on the train.

"You too. I'm sorry that you really must feel uncomfortable here," Luna stated sadly as she picked up her magazine and stared at it upside down once more.

Harry sat back down and looked at the girl confused for a moment or two. "Er, I'm not sure what you mean? I'm pretty comfortable here in the compartment with you."

Luna flashed him a dazzling smile. "No, I mean carrying a body around you aren't attached to. It has to be very uncomfortable…like wearing shoes that are too big I would imagine."

Harry basically choked on air and figured that if he didn't die by choking then it would be a heart attack. "What do you mean carrying around a body?" He asked very slowly, really hoping he'd misunderstood.

In response, Luna pushed her blonde curls behind her ear that was away from the compartment door. The ear was very normal, if not exceptionally cute. She then waved her hand over it and a glamour peeled away revealing a dramatically pointed ear that reached up into her hair.

"Woah! That's bloody awesome!" Harry exclaimed, leaning forward a bit to see her ear better. It was extremely cool looking.

"Thank you," she said and another wave of her hand reapplied the glamour. "I'm a fairy. There are wings too, but those are more noticeable to just appear in a train compartment."

"I'd imagine," the dementor smiled in awe. "I don't think I've ever met a fairy before...at least I didn't know they were one if I did."

Luna smiled at him kindly. "Fairies see what others disregard. We see how magic interacts with the world around us and how all beings are interconnected," she explained with a far-away look. "You're letting too many wrackspurts in. You really must get rid of some of those."

Harry stared for a minute, not knowing where to even start with all of that. He had only chosen this compartment because it was peaceful…that peace was still strangely there even as Harry was both worried and utterly confused. "Er, so, does that mean you know what I am?" He finally decided to ask first.

Luna nodded with a smile. "Of course, dementors are a part of magic just as all beings are."

"And you aren't afraid of me?" He asked nervously, not really sure why this strange girl's opinion suddenly mattered so much to him, but it did.

"Why would I be?" She giggled. "Oh Harry, maybe you should talk to a dementor before you decide they're all the embodiment of evil. Have you ever actually sat down and had a conversation with a dementor before."

Having had many horrible experiences with dementors, he completely disregarded that suggestion as ludicrous and instead laughed. "Er, yeah, I don't think that's the best idea." He pictured showing up to Azkaban and asking if a dementor wanted to go for tea. Changing the subject before he started laughing again, he asked, "What's a wrackspurt?"

"They are negatively charged magic," Luna explained as she finally closed her magazine. "Those who've given into negative emotions emit them, and when those negative emotions are about yourself, you let them in. You already have too many people sending wrackspurts your way. You shouldn't add your own into the mix. Negative feelings you have about yourself do nothing to better you, they only let in more pain and compound the problem."

Feeling like he'd just had a therapy session, Harry took a deep breath in. This strange girl accepted him, told him to let go of his negative feelings about himself, and listened. He wished he had met Luna Lovegood years before. "Thank you, Luna," he said with all the feeling he could muster into the sentence.

"You're welcome, Harry Potter," she nodded and picked up her magazine once more.

Harry pulled his wand out of his pocket after a couple minutes staring out of the window and thinking about what his new friend had said. "Luna, do you mind if I try some magic? I don't know if I can still cast spells like I am now. I'm really worried I'm going to get to Hogwarts and they'll just send me back, or worse send me off to guard Azkaban."

Luna once more put down her magazine in such a way that said she'd rather have been talking to him anyway. "You're still connected to magic. You just need to tap back into that connection," she assured him.

Harry nervously pointed his wand at her magazine and called out, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The magazine shook a little bit but didn't stir to Harry's horror. "Try releasing your aura just a bit, not enough to lower the temperature, but enough to loosen your hold. I promise you won't hurt me," Luna assured him. "You have such a tight hold on your magic, you're not letting any of it out right now."

Even more nervous, Harry loosened his tightly held reigns on his aura and tried again. This time the magazine rose up into the air as it should. Harry smiled as Luna clapped excitedly across from him. "Bravo, Harry!" She called out. She made him feel like he just survived the dragon in the first task of the Triwizard Tournament instead of casting a first-year levitation charm, and Harry was certain this girl was going to be his friend if he had anything to say about it.

"Thank you so much, Luna," Harry gushed as the magazine floated down again. A thought then came to him, and he was very interested to hear the answer. "Hey, sorry, I meant to ask…are there a lot of fairies at Hogwarts?"

Luna laughed and picked up her magazine. She shook her head and continued laughing as she turned the page. Harry wasn't sure if that was a yes or a no, but smiled at her anyway, knowing absolutely nothing about fairies and really hoping there turned out to be more around the school...only if they were just like Luna though.

It didn't take long before the compartment door was pushed open again. Harry looked up, expecting to see Ron or Hermione. Instead, Neville Longbottom smiled broadly at both of them. "Harry! Luna! I didn't know you knew each other!" He said, coming in and plopping down beside Luna.

"We're new friends," Luna smiled at him over her magazine. "Good summer?"

Neville shrugged. "My greenhouses are doing great, and Gran and Uncle Algie are as they always are."

"I'm sorry Neville, but I'm never going to like your Uncle Algie," Luna commented with a frown as if this were a common argument they had. "Throwing someone out of a window to see if they have magic is unacceptable. Whether you had magic or not, you're a part of the family and should've been treated with respect. You should've come to stay with me and Daddy some over the summer."

Harry frowned. He'd never even questioned Neville's stories about his family. If he were being honest with himself, it was because Neville's homelife wasn't too much different from his own, maybe even a little better. At least Neville's Uncle Algie could use magic to save and/or heal his nephew if he hadn't used magic to bounce. When Dudley had pushed Harry out of a window, Harry was just lucky he'd been able to grab onto a tree limb to keep himself from falling.

While Harry was putting some serious thought into what Neville had told him about his homelife and what acceptable treatment from a family member meant, Neville was explaining how things had gotten a bit better and the new plants he was cultivating. "You should grow some dirigible plums," the blonde suggested. "They keep the nargles away, and you could use that over the summer."

"Are nargles like wrackspurts?" Harry asked, coming back into the conversation.

"Nargles are those who've let the wrackspurts take over," Luna grinned, happy he'd made the connection.

"How have we never met before, Luna?" Harry asked with a smile. He really liked his new friend, and apparently, she was friends with Neville as well. Why hadn't they all been hanging out? Was he really that oblivious he'd missed her?

"I'm Ravenclaw," she shrugged. "And a year younger than you."

Neville put an arm around Luna and laughed. "Once she's claimed you as a friend, there's no going back though. Not that anyone would want to."

The door was pushed open again as Ron's red hair made an appearance. "Hey Harry, Nev, and Loony…er, Luna," Ron blushed at the end when Harry and Neville both glared at him.

"The prefect meeting was so dull!" Hermione exclaimed as she pushed in behind Ron.

"Hermione," Harry sighed with a roll of his eyes. "I've already told you; I didn't want to be a prefect. You don't have to downplay how much you like it for me."

Hermione smiled and sat on one side of Harry while Ron took the other. "Well, in that case, I'm so excited! We get to patrol the corridors right after curfew and are in charge of the first-years."

"Ergh!" Ron groaned dramatically. "We have to hang out with Malfoy who's also a prefect."

"I wonder who actually picks the prefects," Harry mused. "Malfoy has decent grades, but he's gotten in almost as many fights as I have."

"Ron's gotten in more," Neville chuckled.

"Yeah, mate. You should be the one that has to deal with the first years," Ron told Neville to Harry's surprise. He didn't realize his friend actually agreed with him. "Sure, my family is super happy, but you know my patience isn't exactly legendary."

"More like infamous," Harry gave his shoulder a shove.

Neville and Luna shared some sort of look, but it was largely unreadable. "Nah, I'm fine just trying to make it through this last year of Potions," Neville finally said in a calm tone. "I'm never going to pass it on my OWLs, so at least I don't have to take it next year. Besides, my gran and Professor McGonagall have a bit a feud going on. I'm not saying that factored in the decision at all...but it's a mark against me anyway."

"Seriously? How's this the first we've heard about a feud?!" Harry raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Come to think of it...I'm not sure I've ever seen McGonagall talk to you outside of class..."

"Er, yeah," Neville said slowly with a wince. "I don't think she tries to treat me any different, but I can tell she also really doesn't want to spend time with me. I never really thought it was worth mentioning. It was something about my grandad when they were all in school together...honestly, I learned early on not to ask."

"Young love," Luna gave them all a knowing smile which had Ron gagging and Hermione looking like the girl had just committed blasphemy against one of her heroes.

Harry shook his head with horror on his face. "Yeah, mate, I don't think I would ask either," he agreed.

"Oh no! We need to get our robes on and get ready!" Hermione exclaimed as she stood looking at her watch. "Ron, we have to help get the first years together for the boats."

"Fine, I guess I'll catch up with all of you at the feast," Ron groaned and followed Hermione out to grab his robes from his trunk he'd left in the prefect carriage.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Harry, Luna, and Neville all shared a carriage up to the castle. Harry was surprised to see the thestrals pulling the carriages since they'd been invisible to him before he had seen Cedric Diggory die just a few months before, and he was even more surprised when they weren't afraid of him as every other animal besides Hedwig had been. "Thestrals are lovely creatures," Luna assured him as she petted the one that would be pulling their carriage after explaining what they were to her new friend. "I'll take you to see them in the forest soon. I think you'd particularly enjoy the colts."

"I don't think I'd call a skeletal horse a lovely creature," Neville said with a grin from where he held the door open to the carriage. "Interesting might be the better adjective."

"No…Luna's right. They are definitely lovely," Harry said quietly, the horse's aura pulling him in. It seemed to welcome him as a friend and kindred spirit when he reached out and ran a hand down its long nose. "Thank you, Luna. I'd love to see the colts. Let me know, any day."

Luna grabbed his hand and pulled him behind her into the carriage. "Of course, Harry. I have so many things to show you."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

By the end of the welcoming feast, Harry wished he was back in the basement of Grimmauld and never had to leave. She's not here for me…she's not here for me… Harry kept repeating over and over in his mind as he followed along behind where the new first years were being led to Gryffindor Tower by Ron and Hermione. The new ministry official that had taken over DADA was going to give him a nervous breakdown. If she found out what he was, he could kiss spending time with his friends and being out in the normal world goodbye. If all the dementors guarded Azkaban, then the ministry must have some way of making them stay there, and Harry didn't want to find out what that way might be.

I'll just keep my head down and not cause trouble. Harry promised himself, trying not to remember how ineffectual that had been in the past.

Harry sat on the edge of his bed in the fifth-year boys' dorm. Hogwarts wasn't as he remembered it. Well, it was…but he was different. Gryffindor Tower was no longer a comfortable and safe feeling haven for him. The reds were too bright, and the gold wasn't shiny at all. Something about its location in the castle and aura just weren't right either. For the first time since his sorting, he wished he hadn't talked the hat out of putting him in Slytherin. The dungeons sounded like a much more enjoyable location. He was actually happy he couldn't sleep anymore because he was certain the uncomfortable aura in the tower would keep him awake tossing and turning every night.

As was becoming usual with his new pet, Harry was also concerned about leaving Jamie alone and defenseless in the room. He trusted his dormmates, but the soulless body couldn't take care of itself. What if something happened when he wasn't there to look out for it? Or, what if Ron tried to wake him up and realized he wasn't responsive?

The dementor decided to pull a page from Hermione's book and take out his anxieties on research. As soon as the last boy in the dorm pulled his curtains closed, Harry left Jamie and wandered out of the tower, invisible in the shadows. There had to be a book on wards and security spells in the library. If he could find a ward to place on his bed or Jamie himself to alert the dementor to danger or someone trying to wake him up, then he would breathe much easier. Hedwig met him halfway to the library and flew along beside him, keeping him company. "I'm looking for a book on wards, Hedwig," Harry told her in a series of inhuman screeches while he scratched her head with a long, skeletal finger. "If you can read, then hoot if you see one." The owl flew to the top of a bookshelf and ignored the instructions.

It was almost too easy to sneak about now. He didn't need his invisibility cloak, and since he hovered instead of walked, he made absolutely no noise as he searched the library. He didn't even need a light to read by since he didn't have eyes and was using some sort-of extra-sensory-vision-thing to see with. He didn't even think Snape could catch him now…it almost took all the fun out of it. Though…it would be beyond funny if Snape were to walk into the library to see a dementor hovering at a desk and reading a book with an owl beside him. Harry chuckled quietly at the thought.

Harry's nighttime sneaking paid off with an entire shelf of warding books. He pulled one on medical wards, one on security wards, and one geared towards parents for their children (why was that one in a school library?). Anyway, he settled into a long night of research and studying up on wards. Sometimes it was nice to not need to sleep anymore.

Chapter Text

Neville, Dean, Seamus, and Ron were surprised on their first morning of class with a wide-awake Harry Potter rushing them to make it down to breakfast on time. Harry was normally up first after being forced awake to cook for the Dursleys his entire life, but he was always finishing up homework or doing something else, and absolutely never wanted to go to breakfast. "Ergh! Harry…you know, Jamie would let me sleep a little longer and be late to breakfast," Ron grumbled. He was usually the one trying to get food before class. It was just so early though.

Harry paused in pulling Neville out from under his covers at the code word. He thought for a minute and then seemed to decide that he was showing an acceptable level of strangeness. "Ron…you know you're going to grumble all day and be irritable if you don't get your breakfast," Harry warned. "Hermione always says that it's important to eat in the mornings."

"I didn't think you ever listened to her though," Ron muttered as he stumbled out of his bed and towards the bathrooms.

"Who's Jamie?" Dean asked while he seemed to be having a hard time tying his tie, still being half asleep.

Now that Neville was out of his bed, Harry turned to grabbing all his belonging impatiently. "He's just a new friend of ours. We're basically pen pals since he doesn't go here," Harry explained before tying Dean's tie for him to hurry things along faster. "I'm really starting to see why we miss breakfast so many mornings," he muttered when Dean smiled at him thankfully.

"You never cared before," Seamus grabbed his bag and huffed out of the dorm and down the stairs, making sure with his attitude that Harry knew he was still angry and didn't believe his story that Voldemort had returned for a second.

"Well, I'm on a new health kick," Harry explained to an apologetic looking Dean with a shrug at Seamus's actions. It hurt him, but he had much bigger problems than a prat of a roommate. He hadn't realized his habits were so bad before all this until his dormmates thought it was strange for him to make reasonably healthy decisions. Jamie needed taking care of since he couldn't take care of himself though. "I plan to eat three healthy meals a day and get a reasonable amount of sleep every night."

More than a few Gryffindors, and even some faculty members, were impressed and a little surprised when the entire fifth-year boys dorm made it down to breakfast on time and fully dressed for the first time ever. Hermione was even more impressed when Harry put eggs, fruit, and some oatmeal on his plate and seemed determined to eat it all. "Wow, Harry," she smiled as all the other fifth-year boys sleepily grabbed bacon and toast. "Have you actually been listening to my health talks all these years?"

Harry grinned at her as he speared a strawberry. "I always listen, Hermione. I don't always care though."

She threw a bit of egg at him and laughed. "Well, at least you won't be hungry for a fun day of Transfiguration, DADA, and Double Potions." All the fifth-year boys groaned dramatically and turned back to their breakfast.

Transfiguration, as usual for a first day, was just McGonagall going over the syllabus for the term and explaining what they would be covering in their OWL year. Harry didn't even have to use magic, so he breathed a sigh of relief at the reprieve. He was also happy that during classes, no one was especially excited or happy. It was much easier to pretend he was a normal human when he wasn't hungry. Hermione and Ron both had to stop him from playing with his locket a few times since there was a beam of light from the window that just touched his desk, and he could get the locket to shine in the light. Overall, there weren't any major slips though, and he went to his first Defense Against the Dark Arts class hopeful that the day would continue smoothly. Yeah…right…

It only took ten minutes before Harry decided that he hated Umbridge even more than Voldemort. Yes, Voldemort was a murdering psychopath, but at least the man was honest about it. Umbridge was going to get them all killed while smiling in their faces and telling them it was for their own good. As the toad-woman went through her asinine spiel about how nothing was wrong and they didn't need to learn to protect themselves, all of Harry's classmates kept glancing at him to see when he'd finally blow up and yell at her. Whether they believed him or not, they all knew his temper and that he was reaching his breaking point.

Keep your head down…don't draw attention to yourself. Harry kept repeating to himself over and over again. The last thing he needed was a ministry official paying him any attention, specifically this one that looked extremely angry and confused when she saw him walk into the classroom like she hadn't expected him to have been there. If Voldemort had killed him over the summer, it would have been in all the papers though. And supposedly she didn't even believe Voldemort was back, so why would she think he wouldn't have made it back to school?

Harry was confused and angry and frustrated that he couldn't just release his aura and scare the living daylights out of the evil woman. He made it almost all the way through class, and even Hermione had kept her mouth shut in her confusion that Harry hadn't risen to the woman's bait. Only a few more minutes to go…

"Mr. Potter," Umbridge turned her beady eyes directly on Harry who stifled a groan. "I'm glad to see the summer has changed your attitude for the better and brought you to see reason. Lying and saying He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned was very naughty of you, causing fear when none was founded."

Yeah…there was only so much one dementor can take, and this was it. "Professor Umbridge," Harry smiled at her just as sweetly and fake as she was smiling at the class. "Of course, Voldemort has returned," he said as if addressing a small child. "Cedric Diggory didn't just drop dead of a stroke at 17 now, did he? I can give you a very good description of Voldemort if you want to write up the report for the ministry…He's now about six foot with red eyes, no nose, no hair, very snake-like in appearance, still loves the torture and killing curses though he did try the Imperius on me as well. Also, the Death Eaters who were in the cemetery with him were Malfoy, McNair, Avery…"

"You will be quiet this instant!" Umbridge yelled out before calming herself and plastering the fake smile on her face once more. "I see you are still the liar we all know you to be. Detention, Mr. Potter. Let's see if we get a lesson in honesty to sink into your addled brain."

Harry shrugged and surreptitiously pulled some of the happiness from the pink woman towards himself. She cleared her throat and hurried to the front of the room quickly. The dementor hid a smirk behind his hand and enjoyed his impromptu snack tremendously.

"That wasn't the smartest idea," Hermione sighed as they walked out of the classroom and towards the dungeons.

"I tried, Hermione. I really did," Harry told her sadly. "Can you honestly say you would have done better? I saw you biting your tongue when you realized she wasn't actually going to teach us anything. You wanted to tell her off just as much as I did."

"I know," his friend draped an arm around his shoulders. "She's going to cause you trouble though."

"Well…she's a DADA professor," Ron added in as if that explained everything. When his friends looked at him questioningly, he expanded. "When haven't we had a DADA instructor that hasn't tried to kill or seriously harm Harry? Even Lupin almost killed us, even if it wasn't intentional."

"That's actually very true," Harry mused as they neared Potions. "And, surprisingly, Snape has only ever saved my life even though he's the obvious one to try to kill me."

"Huh…" Ron stopped and thought about that as Hermione pushed him towards class again.

"I have a feeling if Snape wanted you dead, you'd already be dead and no one would ever find the body," Hermione remarked unhelpfully, but also very truthfully.

"I'm a little harder to kill than people give me credit for," Harry grinned at her mischievously as they entered the Potions classroom and found empty seats. There weren't very many books on dementors. The only mentions of them he'd found so far (in the library at Grimmauld since he'd been more focused on warding during his one trip to the Hogwarts library) had remarked that there basically was no way to kill them completely, only chase them off. It was an interesting thought…but Jamie was much more fragile, so that was his main concern at the moment.

"Be seated and quiet!" Snape billowed into the classroom in a wave of intimidation. Harry stared at him impressed. However, he made his aura do the power/intimidation thing he was making it do, Harry wanted to know. He hadn't been able to feel and distinguish auras before his change, but now he was very in-tune, and Snape seemed to have an excellent handle and control over his own aura.

The Potions Master didn't seem to notice the impressed and interested look he was getting from his least favorite student as he went into his overly dramatic lecture on OWLs and how this would be the last time he would have many of them in his Potions class. Harry rolled his eyes as Snape glared directly at Neville when he said that. Neville shifted nervously in his seat but definitely looked more than a little happy that this would be his last year in Potions.

"Cauldrons out!" Snape snapped at them all as he waved his wand and caused copious notes to appear on the chalkboard at the front of the room.

Harry had just shoved a large bite of his dinner in his mouth when a whirlwind of blonde hair with a rainbow jumper sat beside him. "How was your first day?" Luna asked as she took the roll off of Harry's plate to eat.

"Hey, Luna," Hermione smiled at the Ravenclaw with a surprised look on her face, not sure why she was joining them at the Gryffindor table.

"Umbridge," Harry grimaced as he put another roll on his plate to replace the stolen one.

"He's already gotten a detention," Ron snitched on him as Harry gave him a glare.

Luna sighed and shook her head. "It was probably inevitable," she remarked airily. "So…you coming with me to the forest tonight?" She changed the subject like Harry knew exactly what she was talking about.

It took him a minute to think about why Luna would want him to go to the Forbidden Forest with her before he remembered their discussion by the carriages the night before. "Oh, the thestrals! Yeah, I'd love to come. Just give me a few more bites," he said happily and shoved another bite of tasteless chicken in his mouth.

"No hurry," Luna shrugged as she continued to pick at her pilfered roll. "The fourth year Ravens had Umbridge today too. They want to start some kind of study group since it seems like we aren't actually going to learn anything this year."

"That's a great idea, Luna!" Hermione jumped at the suggestion. "Who's going to lead it?"

Luna shook her head sadly. "That's the problem. We haven't had very many competent DADA professors, and no one has any ideas about who could lead us yet," the Ravenclaw said with a pointed shift of her eyes over to Harry that only Hermione saw.

"Ah, yes, that is a problem," Hermione nodded with a little smile to Luna. "I'll give it some thought as well. I'm sure we can come up with something."

"What do thestrals eat, Luna?" Harry asked between bites. "I'd like to bring something along for them."

"Don't worry, I got it covered," Luna grinned. "Do either of you want to come?" She asked Ron and Hermione.

"They can't see them," Harry shook his head, answering for his friends.

"What are thestrals?" Ron asked, mouth still full of mashed potato.

Everyone grimaced in disgust as Hermione went into a long lecture about an animal she couldn't see herself. "And…they're really very lovely," Harry added onto the end.

"Unless the picture drawn in the textbook was completely wrong, I'm going to have to disagree with Harry on that one," Hermione raised an eyebrow at her friend.

"What is beauty?" Luna questioned with a far-away look on her face. "Many say the crumple-horned snorkack isn't beautiful, but the frazzelbees are drawn to them. They must find their host beautiful in some way…"

"Ok, start with the crumple-horned snorkack and then tell me all about frazzelbees," Harry asked in interest as he finished his dinner. Ron and Hermione shared a look before talking about the twins' new joke product and tuning the other two out.

Half-way to the forest, Luna started skipping backwards in front of Harry with a broad grin on her face. "So…Harry. I'm very interested to know, how exactly does a person become a dementor when they've always been a human before?"

Harry threw his arms up at a loss. "No clue…one minute I'm getting the soul sucked out of my body and knowing it's game over, then the next, I'm checking out my nose less and eyeless face while the dementor who turned me strolled away all unconcerned and unhelpful."

"That's odd…" Luna frowned in consideration. "I thought dementors spawned in mist, and that's how they multiply. I've never heard of someone being turned into a dementor before."

Harry shook his head as he forcibly turned Luna around again before she ran into a tree. "I looked around my godfather's library but couldn't find anything about it. I'm checking Hogwarts library next, but I was more concerned with wards for Jamie last night, so I haven't looked yet."

"Jamie?" Luna asked as she peered around trees, looking for the thestrals.

Harry blushed, not realizing his slip. "Er…well, I kind of named the Harry-suit. It's not really a part of me anymore and well…I feel bad for the poor bugger…er, old me, I guess. Anyway, I've come to think of him as like a pet, sort-of. If I don't take care of him, he'll just waste away and die. Plus, you know, I'd like to keep him around so I can still pass as human at least a little."

Luna stopped at the edge of a clearing and smiled brightly at Harry, her blue eyes sparkling. "It's good to meet you, Jamie," she said to her friend.

"Yeah…he can't answer you back," Harry chuckled. "Soulless, you know."

"I'd love to study him sometime," she cocked her head musingly. "To see what's left in there and how it's still connected to magic." Seeing Harry's frown, she quickly added in nervous explanation. "I'm sorry; it's a fairy thing. Seeing magic all around us makes us curious how things interact. I didn't mean like study, study, just you know…observe…I'm not making this any better, am I?"

Harry smiled again as a couple thestrals wandered into the clearing. "I just don't like the idea of being studied," he shrugged. "I'll think about it, ok…?"

"Sure," Luna breathed out a sigh of relief and pulled some raw steak from her bag. "Here you go, lovely," she said to a small, awkward colt that stumbled forward.

"He is beautiful," Harry breathed out in wonder at the tiny horse. His aura was so full of life and wonder. "I can't wait to see one fly sometime."

"Here, give them this and they will definitely let you pet them," the fairy handed over a piece of raw meat.

Harry and Luna stayed and played with the baby thestral until the sun sank down below the horizon. It was so peaceful and uncomplicated with the horses in the forest. After thanking her for showing him where the thestrals live, Harry made plans to visit with Luna again the next week. "Don't eat anyone I wouldn't," Luna called after him with a wave as they parted in the entrance hall. Harry just shook his head and made his way back to Gryffindor Tower to tell Ron, Hermione, and Neville all about the baby thestral.

Harry's second night back at Hogwarts saw him wandering out of the tower once more. This time, he left Jamie behind under a crap-ton of wards though. He was certain he'd find a few more to add in the coming weeks as well. At this point though, no one could open the curtains, if they tried, he'd know. If anything spiked with Jamie's heartrate or respiration, Harry would know. If any loud noises happened around the bed, he'd know. And if any magic was cast within a meter of the bed, he'd be notified. He knew he was paranoid, but well…people had been trying to kill him since he was born, and they had essentially succeeded over the summer. He wasn't ready to live as a dementor full-time.

Establishing a routine, Hedwig met him halfway to the library again. "I'm not always going to be researching, girl," he told her in quiet screeches. "One of these days, we're going to go flying again or go to the forest." Hedwig hooted in agreement, not really liking being cooped up in the library herself.

This time, Harry was looking for books on dementors. He needed to find out what had happened to him, if it was reversible, and how the ministry might be making the other dementors stay at Azkaban. He had a small stack of books before a quiet pop sounded in the library.

"Mr. Harry Potter, sir?" a squeaky voice whispered out into the library questioningly. Harry put down the books on a nearby table after nearly jumping out of his robes and looked around the shelf in surprise, staying invisible in the shadows.

Dobby the house elf was almost quaking in fear from where he was standing in the corner of the library by the circulation desk, pulling on his purple, knitted hat that Harry recognized as one of the ones Hermione made. "Mr. Harry Potter, sirs, Dobby needs to speak to you," the house elf said in a whisper again as he wrung his hands anxiously. Harry had expected at some point to have either a house elf confrontation or for the fifth-year boys' dorm to never be cleaned and the elves to go on strike out of fear, but he hadn't expected Dobby to come alone to find him.

"I don't know if you can understand me now, Dobby," Harry called out as quietly as he could in the dementor language, still invisible to his anxious friend. "If you can, you should know that I'd never hurt you."

Dobby let out a sigh of relief but looked around the shelves for Harry. "I can's understand, sir. Where are you?"

"Do you know what I am, Dobby?" Harry asked sadly, not planning to come out until he was sure Dobby already knew what he was. There was no way he was going to reveal himself if the house elf didn't.

"Yes, sirs. That's why Dobby's been sent by the other house elves. Dobby says to them that Mr. Harry Potter would never hurt an elf, but they's be scared. They says that Dobby needs to go make sure the dementor doesn't like the taste of elveses," Dobby rushed out in an apologetic tone.

Harry finally drifted out from behind the shelf and dispelled the magic keeping him invisible. "Hey, Dobby," the dementor gave his friend a little, sheepish wave. "I didn't mean to scare the elves."

Dobby jumped, but then took in Harry's appearance. Yes, he was a dementor, but he was hunched over into himself and trying to make himself as small as possible. His hood was pulled low over his face to cover it completely, and there was absolutely no aura emanating from him. Hedwig was sitting on the table between them, keeping an eye on the interaction. Even for a dementor, Harry looked rough. "Dobby knows his friends," Dobby said with a little sob before he rushed over and wrapped his little arms around the dementor's waist.

Harry couldn't cry; he didn't even have eyes. He was certain if he could, he would be though. Instead, he patted the tiny back of the elf that was holding him tightly. "Thank you, Dobby," he croaked out.

"You's need to take better care of yourself," Dobby pulled back and admonished the dementor, shaking a little finger at him warningly. "Have you's been eating well? Students are happy at dinner…you need to eat too. They's won't miss a little happy. Quidditch is happy, and Saturdays. Mr. Harry Potter needs food like all students."

"I've only been here two days, Dobby," Harry chuckled in surprise. He couldn't believe Dobby was telling him to take some of the happiness from around him. Or, maybe he could, Dobby was always a strange elf.

"Well, you's didn't eat well before you got here then!" Dobby frowned.

The dementor shrugged. "I've had a bit. I'm not too hungry."

The house elf crossed his arms and stamped his foot. "You eats at least once a week from now on. I know you's been feeding your other body, take care of this one too. Dobby will send Winky to find you's if you don't."

Harry wasn't sure how Winky was a threat, but since Dobby had tried to get him expelled and had almost killed him trying to protect him, if he thought Winky was a threat, then Harry was certain the little elf would probably be hella scary. He didn't want to take that chance. "Yes, sir, Dobby, sir," he said with a little laugh.

Dobby nodded and grinned broadly at his friend. "Now, I's tell the other elves you no danger."

"Please tell them I'm not going to hurt them or anyone else. If I do skim some happiness, I'll make sure to do it so it isn't noticeable, ok?" Harry promised.

"You's better…or Winky," Dobby warned, still grinning. Hedwig hooted in agreement from where she was perched on the table.

"Er, Dobby…could you ask them to not tell anyone please…like the headmaster?" Harry asked sinking into himself a little more.

Dobby scoffed and gave Harry a little chuckle. "Harry Potter, sir, you's not the only magical creature in this school. House elves have been taking care of the students since Hogwarts began. We's follows the rules of the school. All students are fed and cared for…no matters what they are, and we's no snitches."

"Really?" Harry tilted his head wondering who else could be a magical creature besides himself and Luna. "I bet I'm your first dementor though, right?" He asked with just a little bit of irrational pride at that.

Dobby laughed and nodded. "Yes, that's why the elvses were a little worried. They's follow the Hogwarts rules though. You's easier than kamappa anyway. They don't eat humans anymore, but they has very specific diets, and aswangs are allergic to their food, so we has to keep everything separate when we have both in the school."

Harry's eyes would have widened in surprise if he had any. "Just how many magical creatures are at Hogwarts?"

"It changes based on the year," Dobby smiled and shrugged. "We's never tell…"

"Wow…thank you, Dobby," Harry chuckled. He'd have to talk to Luna at some point. She obviously knew more than she was letting on if she could tell who all the magical creatures were. "I'll take better care of myself and not eat anyone in the process."

Dobby nodded. "Ok, the elveses will be happy," he said with a little pop as he apparated out again.

"Hedwig…I have a feeling this year is going to get weird…" He remarked as he petted her head. Hedwig hooted out a little chuckle before they returned to their research into dementors.

Chapter Text

Harry hadn't had time to get through all the books which might mention dementors he had pulled the night before. However, from the little he had read, and his recent experiences, Harry firmly decided that he should have dropped Care of Magical Creatures like he would have an evil, baby Voldemort that happened to be on fire and shooting poisonous darts from his eyes. As it was, he walked out of the castle like he was walking to a funeral and doing his best to hide behind Ron and Hermione. Professor Grubbly-Plank was filling in for Hagrid while he was away on the super hush-hush mission that no one would talk about in Harry's presence, and by the looks of it, this lesson was going to be a disaster.

Ron concernedly glanced at Harry who was trying to disappear behind his taller friend while the unicorns standing in front of the class eyed the dementor and stamped their hooves. "Er…you heard from Jamie recently, mate?" Ron grumbled as Harry tried to pull him backwards to get more space between them and the angry, horned horses.

"I'm sorry, class. I don't know what in Merlin's good name has gotten into the unicorns today," Professor Grubbly-Plank acknowledged in confusion while she moved between the mystical horses and the students a little more. "They're usually very docile creatures and pacifist to the extreme."

"I don't think unicorns like Jamie," Harry hissed quietly in Ron's ear.

"You think?!" Ron hissed back, becoming more concerned as the unicorns started pacing and kept shooting murderous looks towards his friend and lowering their horns.

"What'd you do, Harry?" Hermione accused when she joined Ron, blocking Harry in concern.

"Nothing! I promise! I've never hurt a unicorn before, I swear!" Harry anxiously squeaked back, loud enough for the unicorns to hopefully hear and stand down. Apparently, that didn't help matters at all. Instead, the two largest horses pushed past Professor Grubbly-Plank, knocking her onto her bum as they rushed towards the dementor in disguise.

Harry would refuse to believe when told later that he squealed like ferret Malfoy as he ran out from behind Ron and away from the charging unicorns. "Don't run in a straight line, zig-zag!" The professor yelled out, as the rest of the class seemed to go from horrified shock to laughter and back again with each zig and zag.

"It's a good thing Professor Grubbly-Plank was able to finally hit you with that levitation spell," Hermione sighed as she helped her friend shuffle towards the castle.

"I thought you were a goner there for a minute, mate," Ron shook his head in amused disbelief that his friend had almost been mauled by unicorns.

"Me too, Ron. Me too," Harry grumbled as he held his bleeding arm. "It's not like I ever hurt one of them. That's just rude! I even helped stop Voldie first year when he was attacking them. They should be thanking me instead of trying to shish-kabab me!"

"Harry, that looks worse than when Malfoy was scratched by the hippogriff in third year. We really need to get you to the hospital wing," Hermione inspected the wound as they reached the doors to the castle. The rest of the class were still down by the forest listening to a lecture on unicorns, without the unicorns present, once Professor Grubbly-Plank had persuaded them to return to the forest and leave the fifth-year alone.

Harry really didn't want to go to the hospital wing and have Madam Pomfrey scan him and maybe figure out the whole Harry/Jamie situation. He was bleeding quite a lot though, and Jamie needed medical attention. "Fine," he sighed in resignation, and they made their way through the hallways.

"What in Salazar's name have you gotten yourself into this time, Potter?" A silky voice stopped them from behind in an exasperated tone.

Sighing in resignation once again, Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned to acknowledge their Potions Professor. "He was attacked by a unicorn, sir," Hermione explained. "Professor Grubbly-Plank sent us to take him to Madam Pomfrey."

Snape stared at them with an unreadable expression on his face. "You were attacked…by a unicorn?" Snape asked slowly in disbelief.

Harry's eyes narrowed when he finally recognized the twitch at the corner of his professor's mouth and the well-concealed gleam in his eye as a wave of his professor's emotion hit his dementor senses. Snape was trying to not laugh at him. It was not funny! "This isn't funny, sir! Those menaces are bloody lethal!" Harry ground out indignantly.

"5 points from Gryffindor for language, Mr. Potter," Snape drawled, just a little of his humor slipping out from behind his expressionless mask. "Only you could be exasperating enough to get an animal known for peace and love to attack."

Harry refrained from rolling his eyes and glared instead. "I'm bleeding on the floor, sir. Do you think I could possibly head to the hospital wing now?" He asked dryly.

Snape just smirked at him and pulled a large jar of something from out of a deep pocket in his robes. "Essence of Murtlap," he said as he handed it over. "That cut isn't even worth going to the hospital wing. Put in on twice a day for the next three days, and you'll be fine…physically that is. I sadly can't do anything about your abysmal mental state."

The three students stared at the jar in surprise. Did Snape just help him? Well, Madam Pomfrey probably would have given him the same thing, also brewed by the professor, so this was just cutting out the middleman. But still…it felt like Snape just helped him. "Er…thank you, sir," Harry stared at the jar of healing cream and ignored the expected insult about his mental state.

Snape smirked at their confusion and pushed past them in a billow of robes. "I better not hear about any of you missing class!" He called back sternly.

Ron snorted while Hermione pushed Harry's sleeve back and started putting the cream onto the cut. "Well…if that's not proof that Malfoy was being completely ridiculous third year, then I don't know what is," Ron huffed in irritation while the cut got noticeably smaller.

"Let's grab some food. Lunch is starting soon," Harry smiled at his friends who both mumbled something about Jamie. "History of Magic is next!" He remarked as he ignored them both and headed towards the Great Hall. At least no bloody demented horses would be attacking in a history class.

Harry stared at his transparent professor and wished more than ever before that he was able to sleep. Staying awake in History of Magic was just torture. While doodling on his notes, he analyzed the ethics of eating a ghostly spirit. The man was already dead. So…it's not like he was in a body…he would also be doing all the students a favor by getting rid of an incompetent teacher. And…Dobby had told him to eat.

Harry pushed down his hunger that welled up at the thought. Maybe he was a little too close to this decision, he figured. He'd ask Luna since he couldn't really trust the dementor to make an ethical decision that wasn't based on hunger and boredom in the moment. He drew a line at the bottom of his notes and started a letter to his fairy friend instead.

Dear Luna,

As you can see, I'm in History of Magic and ridiculously bored. So, serious question…you told me not to eat anyone you wouldn't eat. Would you eat Professor Binns? He's already dead and soooo boring. I'm fairly certain he'd be quite tasty too. So, your opinion, is it ethical to eat my History Professor?

Anxiously waiting your response,

Harry (and Jamie)

Knowing Luna had a free period just then, Harry whistled out and waited. Hedwig flew into the room from the open window moments later and landed on his desk. Besides Hermione glaring at him in reproach and a couple classmates, Ron included, grumbling in their sleep, no one noticed or cared about the owl, least of all the ghostly professor droning on up by the chalkboard. Harry smiled unrepentantly at Hermione and tied the letter onto Hedwig's leg, pulling an owl treat out of his pocket and handing it over as well. "That's for Luna, dear," he whispered. Hedwig hooted as she happily snapped up the owl treat and flew back out of the window. Hermione glared at him one more time for good measure before turning back to her notes.

Harry's halfway finished notes were returned to him at dinner with a message from Luna at the bottom:

Harry,

No, you may not eat our History Professor. Besides drawing unwanted attention to yourself, he is a sentient being, even if he isn't currently alive. Just because he's boring, doesn't mean he deserves to die.

(Fine! Harry grumbled out and ate another bite of carrots before glaring over at a grinning blonde at the Ravenclaw table)

On another note, are you free on Thursday night next week? I have something else you might like to see. You in?

Luna

Harry turned back to his smiling friend and wrinkled his nose to show his frustration. He then smiled and nodded about Thursday. Luna grinned back and waved.

"What was that about?" Hermione asked when Harry turned back to them.

"Luna said I couldn't kill Binns," Harry pouted and took a sip of pumpkin juice.

"Pineapple," Ron sighed and stabbed his steak with his fork.

"Jamie was the code word," Hermione reminded him with a long-suffering sigh.

"Well, apparently that code word wasn't doing anything," the redhead glared at both his friends, waving a steak-laden fork around.

"I hear you. I just ignore you sometimes," Harry smirked at them.

"Harry…in second year, what did we brew in the girls' bathroom?" Ron asked in all seriousness.

"Polyjuice potion?" the dementor responded with a questioning eyebrow raise.

"Just checking…" Ron shook his head. "Sometimes I still wonder…"

Harry shrugged and stood from his bench. "I have detention with Umbridge. See you all later!"

"Harry! Be careful!" Hermione called after him in worry. Her friend smiled at her warmly before turning and heading out the door.

Harry looked at his left hand in surprise. I must not tell lies appeared carved into his skin. Did Umbridge do what he thought she had done? Harry's eyes shot up to the evil professor who was smiling sweetly at him over the top of her floral teacup. Yep, this was all her doing! She was intentionally harming Jamie! For one very intense moment, Harry really did seriously consider eating her soul, or at least sucking out all the happiness and joy she'd ever felt from her evil toad-body.

Harry took a deep breath and felt the jar of Essence of Murtlap in his pocket that Snape had given him earlier. Promising that he'd heal Jamie shortly, Harry pushed down his murderous anger. If Snape hadn't given him a means of taking care of Jamie, he was positive he wouldn't have been able to dampen his dementor instincts. Umbridge had no clue how close she had come to disaster…for now.

Breathing in deeply, Harry felt Umbridge's soul; he knew she would taste like candy floss. Nope! Don't think about that! He shook his head and started writing again. The pain helped him concentrate his thoughts and not think about eating the evil DADA professor. Well…he may have still thought about it. He did like candy floss. But no, he wouldn't eat her, not even a little. If Luna said he couldn't eat Binns, then he definitely couldn't eat Umbridge. Maybe he would ask though; Luna could change her mind.

"Hermione, you mind helping me with his?" Harry asked as he put the jar Snape had given him on the table in front of where Ron and Hermione were studying when he stumbled back into Gryffindor Tower after his detention. He was having a hard time opening the jar with his injured hand.

Hermione easily opened it and motioned for him to show her the cut from earlier. "No, this first," he sighed as he held his hand out for her to see.

"What the bloody hell?!" Ron growled as he stood up and examined Harry's hand. Several of the other students looked up from their homework or activities at Ron's outburst, but quickly brushed it off and went back to what they were doing.

"Umbridge," Harry explained with a murderous look still on his face.

"Did she have you writing lines with a blood quill or something?" Ron asked, Harry's hand held just centimeters from his eyes as he looked the bloody mess over.

"Ron, let me look at it," Hermione protested as she reached up to pull Harry's hand away.

"If a blood quill is a quill that writes in your own blood while you use it, then yeah," Harry sighed when Hermione grabbed his hand and pulled it over to her face to study.

"Harry…those are highly illegal," Ron put a hand on his friend's shoulder in comfort. "We need to tell someone."

"She's the Undersecretary to the Minister; who are we going to tell?" Harry asked in seriousness, already having spent the last two hours thinking that through while carving into Jamie's hand.

"Dumbledore or McGonagall?" Hermione asked while she slathered the cream onto his hand and then the unicorn injury.

"Both already in trouble with the ministry," Harry frowned in frustration. "They wouldn't have sent Umbridge here if they were happy with the headmaster and the deputy headmistress, and it's not like I have any parents to complain to. Snuffles would storm into the school and curse her, getting himself arrested again, then I'd have to break him out of prison, then we'd have to go on the run to maybe Tahiti, and I could be sitting on a warm beach right now instead of freezing my arse off…Maybe we should tell Snuffles," Harry smirked at the end.

Hermione smacked the back of his head with her hand. "It's still summer. It's not even cold right now, so stop complaining," she chastised him. Harry pulled his robes closed more, not commenting on the fact he was currently wearing three layers and still freezing. "I'll look over some law books in the library and see if there's any way we could get around her and get her kicked out of the school," Harry's brilliant friend offered.

Harry smiled at her and Ron groaned. "Ergh, that means we have to go do research too, doesn't it?"

"Yes, Ron. It'll do you good," Hermione smacked him upside the head next. "Now bed, both of you."

"Yes, mum!" They both laughed, dodging thrown books as they headed up to their dormitory.

"Not that I don't love spending time with you, Luna, but where are we going?" Harry asked as he was pulled down another corridor deeper into the castle the next Thursday evening, thankfully a night he didn't have detention with Umbridge.

Luna stopped immediately and turned to smile at him sweetly. Harry was certain he'd agree to just about anything she said when she turned her large, blue eyes on him like that…well anything until she opened her mouth and said, "Remedial Potions."

"You had better be kidding, Luna Lovegood," Harry gaped in shock. "Potions might not be my best subject, but I do pretty decent when I'm not being sabotaged, nowhere near needing Remedial Potions! Plus, it's only one week into the new term. Why would any study group be starting up this early?! I'm Gryffindor, not Ravenclaw, remember?"

"I'm top in my year in Potions," Luna informed him with a mischievous grin.

Harry was shocked, he hadn't expected that. "So…this is a joke? Where are we really going then?"

"Nope, I'm listed as a tutor," Luna grinned once more and pulled the dementor down another hallway. "Sorry, Harry, I don't think we can pass you off as a Potions tutor. We're going to have to tell people you're actually taking it."

"What makes you think I'll take Remedial Potions willingly!" Harry sputtered indignantly.

Luna pushed him into an alcove and blocked his exit. She waved her wand, throwing up an impressive silencing ward to Harry's surprise and academic interest. "Because it's not actually Remedial Potions, that's just our cover," she explained with a roll of her eyes. "We're more of a secret society. The society was started back in the early 1800s and the secret has been kept successfully from the faculty, students, and all headmasters except for two since then, and those two were both former members."

"You're taking me to a secret society?" Harry asked, a little excitement creeping into his voice. "That's awesome!"

"Yes," Luna giggled. "We're the Hogwarts Society of Magical Creatures."

For the millionth time in that one conversation, Harry's jaw dropped in shock. "We're going to meet other magical creatures at Hogwarts?"

"Of course, silly!" The blonde Ravenclaw berated him with an indulgent grin.

"Wait…wouldn't the headmaster or at least Snape notice if there was a random Remedial Potions class meeting?"

"Well, we haven't always been Potions," Luna leaned against the wall, getting comfortable for a long explanation. "We've been Remedial Divination, Remedial Charms, and many others just depending on who our faculty sponsor is. Most of the sponsors have all been past members, though we did have to branch out a few years in there when there wasn't a magical creature on staff."

"Snape's your sponsor?!" Harry grimaced and crossed his arms in stubborn irritation.

"He is, now calm down and listen to me, Harry, you need this," Luna pinned him with a glare. The dementor pouted a bit but motioned for her to continue explaining. "Anyway, there are several rules you're going to have to follow to be a part of this society, and rule number one is that house rivalry is checked at the door. We all face enough discrimination as it is, this is a safe place where rivalry is off limits."

Harry nodded, understanding the rule completely. "I can do that," he agreed wholeheartedly.

"Second is that no matter how someone acts outside of the club or how bad you treat each other, inside the club, we're family and each other's support. We all have different ways of hiding our identities and different expectations from our families, but whatever you do outside the club doesn't come into the room," Luna looked at him significantly.

Harry figured that if Snape behaved himself then he could too. He wasn't the one that started things anyway. "Ok, I think I can do that as well."

"Great!" Luna beamed at him. "Next is very important, but you never ask what creature anyone is. They'll tell you when they're comfortable, and they'll afford you the same courtesy. I feel it goes without saying that you never out a creature to anyone inside or outside the club either, right?"

Harry really liked that rule. He didn't plan on telling anyone he was a dementor anytime soon. "That's good. I like that!"

"Ok…you ready?" Luna took his hand supportively.

"Is there anyone else like you that can figure out what I am?" Harry asked tentatively.

Luna shook her head. "No, there aren't any other fairies in the school, and you said the house elves already know. Besides fairies and sirens (of which there aren't any in the school right now), magical creatures that pass as human don't have quite the refined senses that our more animalistic counterparts do, even werewolves wouldn't be able to tell what you were just by scent. You're safe until you want to tell them."

Taking a deep breath, Harry nodded. "Ok, let's do this…"

Luna canceled her ward and led him further into the dungeons, only stopping when they approached a classroom that Harry didn't remember ever being used for anything. "Welcome to Remedial Potions," she smiled as she opened the door to a brightly lit room with people from all years and houses milling about and laughing.

"Oh hell…what's he doing here?" A familiar voice indignantly drawled from the corner of the room, making Harry instinctively go on guard and prepare for a fight.

Chapter Text

"Oh hell…what's he doing here?" A familiar voice indignantly drawled from the corner of the room, making Harry instinctively go on guard and prepare for a fight.

"Malfoy?" Harry asked in resignation. Of course, Malfoy was a member.

"Shut it Draco, you know the rules," a tall, dark-skinned Slytherin berated the blond before walking over to Harry. Harry recognized the teen as a member of the Slytherin quidditch team. A seventh-year chaser, if he remembered correctly. "I'm Graham Montague, in case you don't remember me without my quidditch robes," the seventh-year smiled as he held out a hand to shake. "We all go by first names in the club, so call me Graham."

"Harry," the dementor said with a shaky smile as he shook the older teen's hand and did his best to forget that this Slytherin was known for his violent fouls on the quidditch pitch.

"HARRY!" an excited male voice called out before the Gryffindor was slammed into and a taller student suddenly was hugging him from behind.

Harry repressed a flinch and wiggled around to see who was trapping him in a bearhug. "Neville?" He asked in surprised disbelief.

"Wow, you're really cold," Neville finally let go of him and continued talking quickly like he was on a sugar high. "Hey, what're you doing here? This is awesome! We needed another fifth year in the club! Oh wait, Professor Lupin didn't bite you, did he?!"

"No! Definitely no!" Harry vehemently assured him, not wanting anyone to get Remus in trouble. "I'm not a werewolf."

"Neville, remember the rules," Graham frowned and kindly grabbed the excited Gryffindor by the shoulders and passed him off to Draco. "No asking what our new member is."

Neville immediately wrapped his arms around a resigned Draco Malfoy who glared at Harry like he was daring him to say something about it. "Sorry, Harry," Neville smiled sheepishly from Malfoy's shoulder.

"This is bloody ridiculous!" Malfoy growled out in frustration and jabbed a finger towards Harry. "You'd better stick to the rules, Potter. We don't take kindly to those who don't take the society seriously here."

"Harry," Luna reminded him.

"Ergh! Fine, Harry!" Malfoy crossed his arms, ignoring the Gryffindor draped over his shoulders like wasn't even there.

Glancing around the room, no one seemed to think that Neville hanging off Malfoy was surprising or even worth a glance up from their other conversations, books, or chess games they were currently involved in.

It was the most comfortable classroom Harry had ever seen with armchairs, couches, bookshelves filled with books, snacks on a low table, and many boardgame options. A couple people looked up and smiled at Harry, but mostly, he was quietly accepted into the room without much comment. Until… "Well…I guess I shouldn't be surprised," Severus Snape commented dryly as he entered the room and sat in a dark armchair that seemed to be reserved for him in the corner. "Did the wolf bite you over the summer?" He threw on at the end with a sneer.

"No!" Harry ran his hands through his hair in exasperation. "Luna said no one was going to ask me what I am, that's the second time I've been asked if I'm a werewolf! I'm not!"

Snape shrugged at Harry's outburst. "Werewolves are a special case. We have a buddy-system for them. Someone to cover for them in their classes and make sure they get their Wolfsbane at the full moon. So, we do ask about them specifically," he explained in a surprisingly neutral tone.

"He really didn't mean any offense," an auburn-haired, third-year Hufflepuff girl with amber eyes remarked. "My twin brother and I are half-werewolves," she motioned to a Ravenclaw who was reading a large textbook and taking notes.

The boy looked up from his book and smiled. "I'm Aurelius, and my sister is Aurora," he said by way of greeting.

"Yes, we have some of the heightened senses of werewolves, none of the transformations, and all of the same discrimination," Aurora continued with a kind smile. "We're out to our houses though, so most people know what we are."

"There are usually two or three magical creatures on average in each year at Hogwarts," Luna explained next. "We currently have 17 members, 18 with you. Aceline is the only first year right now, but we'll probably be finding another first year or two this term." A tiny, first year Slytherin gave Harry a shy wave. He waved back with a grin at the blonde girl.

"It's my first meeting too," the first year said quietly. "I'm Veela. My whole family is, and my mother was a member of this society when she was at Hogwarts."

"It's good to meet you, Aceline," Harry shook her hand.

Harry turned back to Neville, really, really wanting to ask what in Circe's name was going on with him and Malfoy. Sensing his dormmate's distress at not being able to ask, Neville smiled and chuckled. "I'm a high elf," he explained. "We're only very distantly related to house elves." With a flick of his head, Neville dispelled a glamour covering pointed ears, not as dramatically pointed as Luna's, and a faint green-tinge to his skin.

"High elves are very tactile creatures," Luna explained with a dreamy smile on her face. "Nev gets a little touch-starved throughout the week since it's not considered polite to hold onto people all the time. We encourage him to be himself during our weekly meetings."

Graham chuckled. "To all of our extensive amusement, Draco is his favorite because of what he is and his aura."

"Hey!" Draco frowned indignantly.

"I didn't tell him what you are," Graham rolled his eyes. "And he obviously knows you're something if you're here." Malfoy glared but didn't say anything else.

"It took over a year for Neville to wear him down," the seventh-year quidditch player stage-whispered to Harry. "We're just happy Draco gave up on all the complaining eventually."

"It was highly annoying," Snape drawled from where he had pulled his marking and blood-red ink from out of a bag. "Since you will most likely ignore all our rules and invade my privacy, I will save us both time and inform you that, yes, I am an alumnus of this club and was a member when it was," he sneered in distaste. "Remedial Divination."

Harry held back a laugh. From Snape's expression, he was certain his Potions Master hadn't been able to pass as a tutor. He just nodded though and bit his tongue to keep from asking what the man was. Snape raised an eyebrow in surprise that Harry was able to restrain himself from asking.

"I'm a vampire," Snape said with a smirk. "Aceline, welcome to the Hogwarts Society of Magical Creatures…Po—Harry," Snape rolled his eyes. "Can we change that idiotic rule this year?"

"You were outvoted, multiple times, Severus," Luna reminded him with a wide grin. Harry and Aceline both looked between the two, expecting their professor to give detention or take away points. The professor just sneered and went back to his marking though.

"Guys! Guys! Guys!" An excited voice was yelling as two brown-headed boys ran into the room. "I've found my mate!"

There was a collective groan all around the room and several eye rolls. Harry looked on in surprise as Colin Creevey, followed by his little brother Dennis, ran in. "This happens at least once a month," Neville remarked to Harry in explanation.

"We've told you a thousand times, Colin. No one finds their mate until their magical maturity at 17," a tall, blond Hufflepuff responded in exasperation. Harry thought the boy was probably a sixth or seventh year but didn't remember seeing him around much. The Hufflepuff continued, "I'll find my mate this year, but you still have about three years."

"Yes, we're all bracing ourselves for the upcoming drama, Matthew," Aurelius smirked at the seventh year over his notes.

Snape sighed deeply. "Why I took over the society from Filius is beyond me. I must have taken leave of my senses. If it isn't teenage hormones, it's magical creature hormones," he remarked to himself, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Harry?!" Colin gasped out in surprise when he finally realized who was in the room. "What are you doing here?"

"Apparently, I'm a member now," Harry shrugged. "Er, Colin…I thought you were muggleborn?"

"We're druids," Dennis answered for his still stunned brother. "Not all druids have magic, our parents don't. So, we're listed as muggleborn."

"Oh…er, so, who do you think your mate is?" Harry asked Colin. "And do all magical creatures have mates?"

"Not all do," Graham answered before Colin could get swept up in explaining how perfect he believed this newest potential mate would be. "Only a few have mates that are chosen for them by magic like magical druids, veela, sirens, and a few others. Many others have mates, but they just pick who they want their mate to be, like vampires, werewolves, Valkyries, fairies, elves, and so on."

"Wow, I have a lot to learn," Harry remarked as Snape snorted in agreement at the statement, not even looking up from the parchment he was marking.

"Ok, Colin, who is it this time?" Neville asked from where he and Malfoy were now sitting together on a couch.

"Ginny Weasley!" Colin was almost jumping up and down in his excitement. "She's gorgeous! Her hair is like sunshine, and her eyes are as blue as the sky!"

"Erm, mate, I think she's dating Michael Corner," Harry winced in sympathy.

Colin visibly deflated, and his brother patted him on the back comfortingly. "Merlin, Colin," Malfoy sighed in exasperation. "It'll probably end between them in a couple months anyway. Mate or not, ask her out if you're interested. It's not like you're going to marry someone before you turn 17. You can always break up if you find out someone else is your mate. Or, just break the mate-bond if you don't like your mate. It's not pleasant, but not impossible either."

Colin frowned. "That's strange advice coming from a…" Colin was suddenly unable to talk as Neville lowered his wand.

"Draco doesn't want Harry to know what he is yet," the older Gryffindor explained while Colin silently pouted.

"I'll tell him after he tells me what he is and not before," Malfoy glared at Harry in challenge.

Harry just shuffled his feet. "Erm…I'm not quite…well…"

"It's ok Harry," Montague saved him from his awkwardness. "Draco didn't tell anyone what he was for over a year, and I'm still not really sure what Hestia is over there."

A sixth-year Ravenclaw girl with dark hair smirked at Graham and threw up a rude hand gesture. "Children! 5 points from Ravenclaw," Snape drawled, still not looking up from marking.

"You realize this changes nothing outside of this room, Po—Harry," Draco raised an eyebrow at the new club member. "I still don't like you, and Montague is going to lead Slytherin to slaughtering Gryffindor in quidditch this year."

"And Draco will, as usual, insult my potions skills and intelligence," Neville laughed with a grin.

"So…we don't do any potions in Remedial Potions?" Harry clarified with a relieved grin.

"Severus insists on giving a lecture once a month," a second-year Gryffindor girl remarked with a distasteful wrinkle of her nose.

"Oh, hi, Eir! I didn't see you," Harry grinned at the girl he'd talked to a couple times the year before in the common room. She had a wicked sense of humor and was quite bright for her age. She smiled and nodded at him before rejoining a gobstones game with a fourth year Slytherin girl.

"Where are Brook and David?" Snape finally looked up questioningly, but with also a strange resignation in his eyes.

No one answered him, and they all looked around a little sheepishly. Draco smirked at his head of house, "Probably in a broom cupboard somewhere."

Snape sighed and stood with a glare towards Draco. "Don't kill each other while I'm gone," he sneered before leaving.

Harry sat beside Luna on a couch and turned to Neville and Mal—Draco. "So…how does this work outside of the club? Weren't you afraid of Snape, Neville?"

"Severus," Luna corrected as everyone seemed to settle into their normal activities. A few dispelled glamours like Neville had. Luna's ears were showing, but her wings were still covered, Colin and Dennis both looked like they had dark-druidic tattoos that were visible on their necks and arms, and the first year veela had large, black feathery wings out that she was stretching.

"Yeah, the first name thing is just weird," Harry shook his head and settled into the atmosphere. It was happy, but also calming, much more calming than making him hungry. It was a very pleasant feeling.

"After the boggart incident in third year, Severus sat me down and explained his treatment of me and some things about Potions and high elves in particular," Neville explained. "It cleared a lot up between us. I'm never going to be good at Potions, and we decided it was an acceptable area for him to pick at me to maintain our covers in the school. I mean, if we suddenly started to get along with my abysmal potions skills, then everyone would be talking, right?"

"Neville is scary good at magic, but high elves just can't do Potions," Draco clarified to Harry's shock. He thought he'd die before seeing Malfoy defend Neville to anyone, let alone himself. "High elves need to touch things to connect their magic with it. It's inadvisable to put your hand into a boiling potion."

"And just by cutting up my ingredients, I change their properties," Neville explained with a nod.

"Not all high elves have wizarding magic, but they do have their own brand of elf magic," Luna continued the explanation. "Neville is powerful because he can do both."

The Gryffindor turned pink and shrugged. "My parents could too, but Gran thought it might have skipped over me. But that's why I'm so good at Herbology; I can touch the plants."

Harry shook his head in amazement. "I feel like my whole view of the world is changing, but I definitely think I like the world better than I did a few hours ago."

"Don't worry, Potter. It'll all go back to normal once we leave this room," Draco smirked evilly.

"Harry!" Graham called out in admonition from where he was helping a third-year boy with his homework.

Harry jabbed his thumb over his shoulder at Graham. "And Montague helping someone with their homework and not trying to kill me is enough to throw me for a loop…not even taking into account whatever's going on here," Harry motioned to the Draco/Neville situation.

"You get used to it," Luna shrugged and leaned against Harry some, causing him to smile broadly at her. Draco raised an eyebrow at them but didn't say anything.

"And twenty points from Hufflepuff for making my eyes bleed!" Snape was ranting as he pushed two sixth years into the room. "Merlin, you're too young for this, or I'm too old to have to put up with it! Your species aren't even supposed to like each other!"

"Sorry, Severus," the boy remarked as they both scuttled into the room and joined a giggling group in the corner.

"Now, Po-Harry," Malfoy began with an eyeroll at the name. "What in Salazar's name did you do to the unicorns?"

Harry glared at the memory. "The bloody menaces!" He fumed. "They started it!"

"So, how was your first meeting?" Neville asked as he walked with Harry back to Gryffindor Tower after Remedial Potions, thankfully timing it right so they didn't have to walk with the over-excited duo of Colin and Dennis Creevey. Harry knew it was strange that he now thought Neville looked odd when he wasn't slightly green with pointed ears even though that's how he'd seen him for over four years previously.

"Brilliant!" Harry grinned at him happily. He hadn't been truly happy in a long time, or felt safe, and for some reason the club made him feel both. He could see why having a safe space for magical creatures in a school that was set to discriminate against them was necessary. "I can't get over Snape and Malfoy, but I suppose we're all hiding who we are in some way from the rest of the school. They just go about it differently than I would. I still fully expect Malfoy to hex me in the corridors the next chance he gets."

Neville punched Harry's arm playfully. "Well, I'm happy to have someone else in the dorm to go with. It's been a little lonely the past four years."

"Hey, mate…if you ever need a hug or a cuddle or something," Harry offered awkwardly as he looked at everything except for Neville.

Neville laughed good-humoredly. "Yeah, I hugged you once today, and I can already tell you that would be counterproductive. Whatever you are, it's like the anti-elf. You just keep your hands to yourself."

"Yeah, well, whatever I am, I'm fairly positive curiosity can kill me," Harry grinned. "I'm dying to know what Malfoy is and why you want to hang around him. I'm not asking though," he added on quickly at the end.

"By sitting between the two of you tonight, my guess is the opposite of you," Neville smiled and gave the portrait the password to enter the tower.

"Huh…" Harry thought about that wondering what the opposite of a dementor was. He had been fairly certain that would be a unicorn after their disastrous meeting, maybe Malfoy was something close to them…? That seemed incredibly unlikely though.

"Now you just need to explain to Ron and Hermione how you got roped into taking Remedial Potions," Neville smirked at Harry who groaned in distress.

Harry was getting low on Essence of Murtlap. Umbridge's detentions hadn't gotten any better, and she always found a reason to give him a detention, even if she had to make it up. More importantly than his wounded hand, Harry was worried that he couldn't keep his dementor instincts in check if he didn't have the excuse of the healing potion to quell his anger at her hurting Jamie. The dementor side of him seemed much more ruthless than the normal Harry side of him from before.

Hermione had been on him, surprisingly supported by Ron and Luna, to lead a DADA study group. After cutting I must not tell lies into his hand over fifty times in his third detention, Harry decided he was in, even if it was just to stick it to Umbridge. It was a side-benefit that the students would be learning something in his opinion. So, he spent the rest of detention focusing on how to start the new club and how to convince Snape to give him more of the healing cream. He figured that Hermione or Luna might be able to brew it, or if he were desperate, maybe he could talk to Malfoy at the next Remedial Potions meeting.

The scary part of being injured was that he was getting hungrier. It seemed his dementor craved more to eat when he was in pain. Harry hadn't lied to Dobby though, he was skimming some of the happiness from his classmates at dinner, unnoticeably to anyone around him, and he hadn't killed either Umbridge or Binns yet. It was a small victory, but he was quite proud of himself all the same. He realized something was different in his personality; he felt freer and like a weight had been lifted from his mind, so even if he seemed to care much less what people thought about him, he was happier than he had been in his memory, and that led him to worry less about the changes he seemed to be undergoing and just enjoy it more.

"First Hogsmeade weekend," Harry told Hermione when he had her open the almost empty jar that evening. "We'll gather people together and talk strategy for the DADA club then."

"You're in?!" Hermione almost squealed in joy.

Harry rolled his eyes towards Ron as they laughed at their overly excited friend. "Sure…whatever. Hey, you think you can help me make some more of this stuff?" He asked, motioning to the jar.

"Already on it," Hermione remarked, causing Harry to hug her to her surprise.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" he sighed in immense relief.

"I still haven't figured out how to get her out of the school, so it's the least I can do," Hermione frowned in anger at the teacher who was torturing her friend.

"I'll talk to the twins about spreading the word about the club," Ron said as he stood to go find his brothers.

"I'll tell Luna next time I see her," Harry nodded. "Why anyone would want to listen to me is beyond my understanding though."

"Oh, Harry…" Hermione smiled and rubbed the cream onto his hand. "You'll see. I think you'll be a great teacher."

Harry shrugged and examined his hand. It didn't look as good as it usually did after the cream; it wasn't healing as well. "Yeah, we'll see…" was all he said as he frowned at the bloody words.

October was always one of Harry's favorite months. Hogsmeade weekends started, quidditch games began again, and new classes settled in. If it wasn't for the bloody cursed day of October 31st, then the month was be the absolute best. This year, quidditch was what Harry was looking forward to the most, and he for once didn't mean playing. It was an easy opportunity for the dementor to eat. He understood completely why the horde of dementors crashed the game in his third year now. They had to have had less access to their food source than he did living in the school, and it was an opportunity to eat and not affect any of the students. If only there had been less of them and they hadn't been so focused on him, then he could almost forgive them for the impulse.

As October finally dawned, Harry had also settled into a new routine. He spent his nights with Hedwig and sometimes Dobby for company, either studying up on magical creatures or exploring the forbidden forest or castle. He loved roaming the hallways invisibly. He couldn't resist making faces at the patrolling professors or prefects on occasion, but mostly he stayed away from people. Umbridge was as evil as always, well, getting eviler in his opinion. Hermione finished the new healing cream just before he ran out of Snape's supply, but it wasn't working as well as it had originally. Hermione's guess was because it was a cursed object he was using.

The Hogwarts Society of Magical Creatures, aka HSMC or Remedial Potions, was helping temper his nastier dementor instincts though. Something about being an alpha predator didn't do positive things for his anger issues. Knowing he wasn't the only one struggling was more of a help than any meditation or calming strategy though.

He had looked up all the magical creatures he had been told about in the club, especially vampires (know your enemy and all). DADA had focused on werewolves, so it was the first time Harry had really looked into vampires. It seemed vampirism wasn't a really big deal, unlike in the movies Dudley liked to watch. They couldn't handle direct sunlight for extreme periods of time, had enhanced senses and strength, were much more inclined to mind magic, but they weren't immortal and could be killed, though not by garlic. They could also eat normal food even if they needed blood to survive.

Aceline and Matthew (the seventh year stressing over finding his mate) were both veela, but he actually knew quite a bit about veela from meeting and talking to Fleur the year before. Druids were more inclined to ritual magic and had longer lifespans than a normal wizard. High elves were gifted in all earth magic. And fairies were connected to magic itself as Luna had already explained. He didn't know what anyone else was though (besides the half-werewolves), and he really had been trying to figure out what the hell Malfoy could be. Harry's first instinct was veela with Malfoy's white-blond hair, but Neville didn't have the same reactions to Aceline or Matthew that he did to Malfoy. He also hadn't seen Malfoy do anything out of the ordinary besides be nice to people. Montague was another mystery. After seeing the chaser in Remedial Potions, Harry was certain that whatever he was had significantly increased strength since he picked up the couch with two third years sitting on it one day. Thinking back on all the fouls in quidditch, Montague wasn't using any of that strength on the pitch though, as dirty as he played, he was holding back a lot.

Harry was pondering over what the other members of the club could be as he stowed his bookbag in the dorm on a Thursday in early October. He was about to head down to the club meeting which Neville had already left for. Harry was dragging his feet because he was expecting a letter back from Sirius at any time, and he was hoping Hedwig would make it back soon. He missed his feathery, midnight buddy. Just as he gave up, a ball of red and white feathers fell through the open window of the tower. "Hedwig!" Harry yelled out in frantic dread. "No, no, no!"

He rushed over, taking in the red blood staining the pure white of his friend's feathers. She gave him an exhausted hoot and seemed to pull into herself more. Automatically, Harry pulled the letter off her leg and shoved it in his pocket before grabbing a discarded towel to wrap gently around her. "Stay with me, Hedwig. I'm going to get you help," Harry sobbed out, staving off panic to try to think clearly. He couldn't handle anything happening to his first and best friend. Who could he go to for help? Professor Grubbly-Plank seemed to be the obvious choice, but he didn't know her and didn't trust her. Plus, he didn't know where she would be on a Thursday evening or even if she lived in the castle, not all the professors did. He couldn't chance having to search over the entire castle looking for her, and even looking over the Marauder's Map would eat up precious time.

Harry took a deep breath; someone in HSMC would be able to help, he decided. Between all the magical creatures there, one of them would have some connection to healing magic. If not, Professor Snape might have a potion. Needing to go quickly, Harry for the first time wrapped his shadow magic around Jamie, surprised it actually worked in his Harry-suit. He rushed out of the tower and ran all the way to the dungeons and the meeting room of the secret society.

"Help!" Harry called out through tears as he rushed into the room, visible once again. "It's Hedwig; She's injured! Please can one of you help?"

Everyone seemed to already be in the room and chatting, working on homework, or playing games. They all looked up in surprise when the distraught teen rushed in carrying a bloody bundle in his arms. "Put her here, Harry," Neville motioned to the low table in front of him as he jumped up and took charge.

"David, help him," Snape instructed from where he was sitting in his normal armchair.

A sixth-year Hufflepuff rushed over to join Neville as the elf slowly unwrapped the towel. "Oh, Hedwig," Neville sighed. He really liked Harry's owl and fed her bacon most mornings when she visited their table in the Great Hall.

"Nev, if you can stabilize her, I can heal her," David, the Hufflepuff instructed as he ran a finger over Hedwig's feathers, causing her to hoot softly. "The injuries aren't deep."

"I'm on it," Neville said as he closed his eyes and placed a pale green hand over Hedwig's head.

"Harry," David took a hold of the dementor's shoulder comfortingly and turned forest green eyes on him. "I'm a Drus or a male Dryad. That means my magic is connected to nature and those who call forests home, like Hedwig. May I heal your owl?"

The dementor breathed out a sigh of relief and hugged the teen he had only just met a few weeks before. "Yes! Please! Thank you, thank you, thank you," he pulled back quickly and motioned to Hedwig in concern.

Harry saw David and Neville's auras both flare. Neville's was a calm orange tinted color, and David's was as green as his eyes. Neville pulled back first and gave Harry a reassuring smile. David's hand replaced Neville's and a sigh of relief seemed to come from everyone in the room when the gashes on Hedwig's torso slowly closed. Hedwig happily hooted and ruffled her feathers when the Drus opened his eyes and tiredly smiled. "Hedwig! I was so scared!" Harry cooed and rubbed her feathers, smoothing out those that had come out of place. "Never scare me like that again! I love you so much!"

Harry turned to David who had been joined by Brook, his girlfriend. "Anything you need, and I mean anything," Harry told him seriously. "You just ask. You too Neville," Harry smiled at his dormmate. "I'd hug you, but you said I'm the anti-elf, so I'll keep my hands to myself."

"Yeah, you're the anti-Dryad as well," David smirked at him. "I'm good with no more hugs. And you're welcome. I'm just glad I could help."

"Well, I see this is a good day for a lecture on healing potions that can be used on animals," Snape stood and cleared his throat.

Everyone, even Malfoy, groaned at that, but Harry could only smile that Hedwig was fine again. "You ok?" Luna asked him quietly.

Harry's smile fell as it all sunk in now that the panic was gone. "I'm going to kill her!" He shouted, causing everyone to jump. He stood and rushed towards the door before Luna grabbed him by the waist to stop him.

"Who may I ask are you planning to murder, Mr. Potter?" The Potions Professor asked with a wary look on his face. He really didn't know what Harry was and didn't want to take any chances.

"Umbridge," the dementor growled as the room's temperature dropped a few degrees. "Who else would be screening my mail and would attack Hedwig?!"

"I hope you're ready to call Azkaban home for a very long time then?" Snape drawled as he moved slightly to block the door.

Though Snape didn't know it, his words reminded Harry of just how much he didn't want to be exiled to guard Azkaban for the rest of his life. He knew he couldn't be incarcerated but made to guard the prison was just as bad in his opinion. It was trapped, one way or the other. "Calm down, Harry," Luna said, rubbing her hand soothingly up and down his arm. "You don't know for certain it was her, and Hedwig is fine now."

Harry breathed in and out deeply, reminding himself that he was morally against causing harm to others and pushing down his dementor impulses. "You're doing so good, Harry," Luna remarked calmly. "You aren't your new instincts, you're stronger than they are."

Snape raised a questioning eyebrow at that but didn't ask. "Sit down, Po-Harry," he said in what could pass for a kind tone for Snape anyway. "Listen to Luna and look after your owl."

Hedwig hooted from the table she had perched on. Harry finally calmed enough to sit between her and Luna, pulling his aura back in more to raise the room's temperature. "I'm sorry," he mumbled to the room in general.

"Oh please, we've all lost it a time or two. You at least didn't destroy the room like Kara did last year," Montague remarked dismissively while everyone settled back down, and the fourth year Slytherin girl mentioned gave the chaser a disapproving glare. "Creature emotions tend to run high."

"Indeed. Right, now, take notes. There are five good healing potions that will work for humans and animals…" Snape began in his lecturing tone.

Chapter Text

Harry stayed with Hedwig the entire night after her attack. He followed her throughout the Forbidden Forest as she hunted and flew around. Nothing in the forest would dare to challenge a dementor, so he knew if any of the larger, nastier creatures decided to try out owl for dinner, he would be there to protect her. Unfortunately, he did have to keep his aura firmly pulled in or he would scare off the mice Hedwig was stalking. He was sick and tired of being cold all the time, but it was worth it to watch over his best friend.

After picking up Jamie the next morning, Harry realized the soulless body wasn't in the state of good health he had been tirelessly trying to get it to for months. Jamie felt heavier than normal and almost feverish. Normally, Harry wouldn't feed from his classmates at breakfast because he didn't want them starting off the day with a lower mood, but he had to that morning. Already, he knew that it was going to be a rough day. Ron and Hermione glanced at him worriedly across the breakfast table while he pulled his scarf closer around his neck and blew on his hands. It might be early October, but it felt like January in the dungeons to Harry.

Harry's sour mood turned slightly better when the owls flew in with the post. "Oh, I completely forgot!" Harry smiled at his two friends and pulled the letter Hedwig had brought him the night before put of his robe pocket (it had passed the sniff test that morning to be worn again). Quickly, he pulled it out of the envelope with the small, red stain on it that Harry couldn't bear to look at for a second longer.

"What's that Harry?" Hermione asked, putting another scoop of eggs onto Harry's plate with concern in her eyes.

"A letter from Snuffles," the dementor smiled wistfully after reading it. He passed it to his friends who read the cramped, scribbles of Harry's godfather:

Harry,

I hear you have a Hogsmeade weekend coming up. If you haven't checked out Moony's old hangout yet, you really should. It's a good place to go to enjoy a butterbeer and a couple chocolate frogs. Let me know how you are doing.

Snuffles

"Is he saying what I think he is?" Hermione frowned. "That's way too dangerous."

Harry shook his head in exasperation. They just didn't understand. He only did because he had felt the emotions rolling off his godfather in dark, depressive waves. "Hermione, that house is slowly killing him. If he doesn't get out, it'll do what Azkaban couldn't. I'll make sure he's safe," Harry assured her in a whisper. "Sometimes the safest option isn't the healthiest."

Hermione frowned but couldn't seem to come up with another argument. Ron shrugged and handed the letter back. "Just don't forget the meeting for DADA," he reminded. "The twins have spread the word to most of Gryffindor already."

Harry sighed, still not thinking it the best idea he was the one chosen to lead it. "Sure, I'll do that first and then head to see Snuffles."

"Fine," Hermione said thinly, looking at lot like McGonagall in a disapproving way. "We need to head to Care of Magical Creatures now anyway."

The dementor groaned as Ron came to the other side of the table and dramatically pulled him to his feet and pushed him towards the door. "Please, please, no unicorns…" he asked the universe while Ron continued to lead him out to the entrance, chuckling the whole way.

"Mr. Potter," a silky voice stopped Harry as he was walking through the entrance hall of the castle giving him a strong sense of deja vu. "This seems to be becoming a pattern. What may I ask happened this time?" Snape frowned and crossed his arms sternly from a dark alcove Harry had just passed. Did the man hang out there during his free periods to catch students sneaking around, Harry wondered.

Harry sighed as he dabbed at the shallow cuts on his face with the handkerchief he had borrowed from Neville. "I don't want to talk about it," he shrugged awkwardly and avoided eye contact with the vampire.

"It seems you are as abysmal at Care of Magical Creatures as Mr. Longbottom is at Potions," Snape remarked with a question in there somewhere. Harry recognized what he was asking. He wanted to know if his 'accidents' in CoMC had something to do with whatever creature he was.

"Yes, sir, I think I'm just as bad as Neville," Harry rolled his eyes as he continued to try to stop the bleeding. "I still have some Essence of Murtlap, may I go back to my dorm now, sir?" Harry asked with a sneer at the end.

"Not until you tell me what happened," the Potions Professor glared at him warningly, promising point deductions if he didn't cut the attitude.

Harry shuffled his feet in embarrassment. This time it was his fault. Well…it was the dementor's fault really, but he was the dementor so…He gave a long-suffering sigh. "I got into a fight with a niffler, sir," he finally ground out, looking at the floor.

Harry glanced up in surprise at the emotion rolling off Snape. He expected to see the man rolling in laughter, but his face betrayed no emotion whatsoever. "It's not funny," Harry glared at the man, answering the emotion instead of the expression. "It tried to take my locket…It's mine," the dementor sneered darkly at the end, touching the locket hanging from his neck protectively.

The humor continued to roll off Snape with a little confusion as well, probably because the teen had detected the emotion when he was so good at hiding them. "Much as I feel it's important to protect priceless artifacts, I'm certain Professor Grubbly-Plank could have retrieved the necklace for you without a fight ensuring," Snape remarked dryly, but Harry recognized the repressed laughter. "May I ask after the health of the niffler?"

The teen sneered at the thought of that evil, furry gremlin. "Sadly, he's still alive," Harry remarked dangerously. "He'll think twice about taking other people's shiny things though."

Snape raised a surprised eyebrow. "You must watch yourself or people will begin to ask questions," he warned. "Harry Potter is the noble Gryffindor. He would never attack a small, defenseless creature."

Harry motioned to the scratches still bleeding on his face. "Defenseless my arse!" He exclaimed unrepentantly.

"Language. 5 points from Gryffindor," Snape sighed in exasperation. "My point still stands, and you need to see Madam Pomfrey; nifflers aren't known to be very hygienic."

Harry shook his head frantically. "No!" He hissed out lowly so only someone with vampire hearing could hear him. "She'll find out!"

Snape rolled his eyes and physically turned the teen towards the hospital wing. "How do you think we find the members for Remedial Potions?" The vampire remarked. "Madam Pomfrey is an alumna. She may find out, but if you mention you're in Remedial Potions, she'll keep your secret as she does everyone in the society."

"Really?" Harry sighed in relief. He inevitably ended up in the hospital wing every year. He figured his luck would run out eventually and he would have to see her before the end of the year at some point.

"I have permission to tell all society members that she is a high elf, like Neville is," Snape assured him sternly. "And Potter…for the sake of secrecy and my sanity, drop Care of Magical Creatures after OWLs."

"Yes sir! Happily!" Harry beamed at him before rushing up the stairs before the professor could stop him again. Even with Snape's assurances, Harry dodged into a secret passage, up another set of stairs, and through another passage that put him out at Gryffindor Tower. He wasn't going to chance Madam Pomfrey just yet. Finding out there was a fairy or a vampire in the school was one thing, but a dementor was a whole other story. He wasn't ready to have that conversation with anyone besides Luna, who he had firmly decided was more understanding and compassionate than anyone else on the planet.

Instead, Harry cleaned the cuts thoroughly in the dorm washroom as he had learned to do from a very young age since his relatives could not have cared less when he injured himself, or more likely Dudley injured him. He then applied Hermione's Essence of Murlap and was relieved to see the scratches completely disappear. Knowing he wasn't welcome back in CoMC, Harry grabbed his books on dark creatures and headed down to the dungeons.

Gryffindor Tower had too bright of an aura and the few students who were in there on a free period were too happy for his injured dementor's sensibilities. To keep himself from drawing attention, he found a nice alcove, deep in the dungeons where he could release some of his dementor aura without anyone noticing that it was colder and more depressing in that small section of already cold dungeon. Feeling warmer and happier than he had all day, Harry smiled as he cracked open the book where he was reading up on how to trap a dementor in the one chapter they were actually mentioned.

In all his reading, Harry's conclusion was that no one really knew or understood dementors outside of maybe the Department of Mysteries, and they weren't telling anyone what they knew. It didn't help that no one understood the dementor language, apparently no one bothered to ask house elves if they did. So, in all his research from the Black library and Hogwarts library, all Harry had found out was that whatever had happened to him seemed completely unprecedented and probably went against everything anyone knew about dementors. Dementors ate souls and they multiplied in mist, they did not suck out a soul to leave it and turn it into a dementor. Whatever had happened to him, only the dementors themselves seemed to know.

As for how to trap a dementor, there was a bit of speculation on that point. From the little information Harry could find, it seemed that dementors could only be trapped willingly. Harry frowned at anyone willingly being trapped. It seemed that dementors could enter into magically binding contracts that they had to fulfill, but it must be willingly. If the dementors were all guarding Azkaban, then they would have to have a contract with the Ministry of Magic. Which means the ministry had to have some way of communicating with the dementors at some point, and there had to be a reason for them to agree. Harry was confused why he wasn't currently trapped at Azkaban then. If all dementors were included in the contract, his magic should have pulled him to the prison…right?

All this caused him more confusion than clearing anything up. He had to be the strangest dementor on the planet. If I weren't already a freak… Harry thought wryly. "What are you doing here, Potter?" A familiar voice asked in a tone somewhere between derision and concern.

"Hey Gra—erm, Montague," Harry caught himself, remembering things were drastically different outside Remedial Potions and Montague wasn't his friend here. "It was too bright in the dorm."

Montague frowned and took a step farther into the alcove. Harry realized quickly that he hadn't retracted his aura, but the Slytherin didn't seem affected at all strangely. The seventh year cast the same silencing ward Luna had when she first told him of the secret society. "Harry," Graham crossed his arms and looked at the younger teen. "Have you told anyone what you are? Luna maybe? Or Neville? You have to let someone in, or all this secrecy will drive you batty."

Harry frowned darkly at the Slytherin. "You know I don't believe anything written in the Daily Prophet. You're saner than you have any right to be," Montague assured him quickly with a sigh. "Look, my father is a Death Eater."

Harry's eyes widened. He already assumed this, but Montague just coming out and saying it was a whole different matter. "Why are you telling me this?"

Montague slid down the wall to sit on the floor beside the dementor. "My creature genes come from several generations ago. It completely skipped over my father and even his father. He doesn't understand what we go through or why the society is so important to me, not that I've told him about the HSMC, mind you," Graham explained as he leaned back against the stone. "He comes to every quidditch match and reads all progress reports sent to him…not because he cares, because he wants to make sure I'm following the path he wants me to be on. So, I'm not just hiding what I am from the school, but also my family. I have a feeling you're in a similar situation from what little you've said. My father might be a Death Eater, but I'm not. I don't believe for a minute the Dark Lord will care a knut for magical creatures beyond what he can use them for. I've heard all the propaganda spouted, and nowhere in pureblood supremacy is there a place for magical creatures. So, I might act like a Death Eater-in-training, but I'm really hoping you win, and not because you represent the light, who also has never done anything for us, but because you're one of us now. You understand when others just can't."

The two sat in silence for a minute as Harry processed. "Luna," he said with a smile to the older man. "Luna knows what I am. Dobby the house elf does too."

"Good," Graham nodded and fake punched Harry's shoulder. "Now, stop being creepy and hiding in alcoves. There's a perfectly good window seat that looks out into the lake not 5 meters down the corridor."

Harry laughed and started gathering up his books. "Ah, books on dark creatures…Any guesses as to what I am yet?" Montague asked in interest as he picked up the book Harry had been reading and passed it to him.

Harry shook his head and shrugged. "You're strong, powerful, and have an aura that screams steadfastness and immovability, if that makes any sense."

"Wow, yeah, it does. You can see auras?" The Slytherin looked at him in awe and surprise.

Harry shrugged again and smiled. "Erm…bigfoot?" He asked, not able to hold in a chuckle.

Montague grimaced and pulled Harry to his feet, ending with another fake shove. "Merlin's beard! Where did you come up with that?! Hell no!"

"Valkyrie?" Harry raised an eyebrow chuckling again.

"They're only women!" Montague threw his arms up in exasperation. "Salazar! I'm a gargoyle you dolt!"

Harry stopped laughing and stared. "Like the statues on the roof of the castle?" He asked in surprise. He hadn't read anything on gargoyles.

Graham cancelled his silencing ward and smirked at Harry. "They're carved to look like us. Look me up sometime and read up on Valkyries as well for Merlin's sake. We do have a couple in the club, and they'd kill you if they ever learn you thought I was one of them."

"Really?" Harry smiled as he ran through the club members in his head trying to guess. "Thanks for the advice." Montague gave a dismissive wave behind him as he continued on in the direction of the Slytherin common room. Feeling much better, Harry made his way down the hallway looking for that window seat.

Harry left the Hog's Head pub in a hurry after the interest meeting for their new secret DADA club. He couldn't believe how many people had turned out. There weren't any Slytherins, but since it was mainly Ron and the Weasley twins spreading the word, that made complete sense. Neville, Luna, Eir, David, Brook, Colin, Dennis, Aurora, and Aurelius all attended the meeting from the Remedial Potions group. Harry was certain that Eir would have liked to bring Kara from Slytherin since they were really close even outside the club but being the only Slytherin would be daunting for the fourth year.

Harry hurried along until he was sure no one could see him where he was hiding by the shrieking shack. Quickly, he threw his invisibility cloak over himself and snuck into the rundown structure. As expected, a large, shaggy black dog was pacing in what passed as a sitting room in the small building, though it didn't have any furniture that hadn't been destroyed by a werewolf years before. Padfoot didn't seem to realize he was in the room surprisingly, so Harry checked that his aura was pulled as completely into himself as magically possible before throwing off the cloak. "Siri!" He yelled.

The black dog jumped into the air in surprise before falling over in throaty canine laughs. A tall, gaunt man suddenly appeared laughing in its place. "Oh Merlin, I'm losing my touch!" Sirius barked out in laughter. After a couple more laughs, he stood and suddenly hugged Harry. "I've missed you, pup!"

"I've missed you too, Sirius," Harry awkwardly patted his back, praying his aura was unnoticeable as tightly as it was pulled into him. "How's living with the Order going?" He finally asked when the animagus pulled away, a huge grin on his face.

Sirius wrinkled his nose in disgust. "At least the house always has people in it, but no manners the lot of them. How are you? Any exciting happenings this year so far?"

Harry pulled the sleeve over his mangled hand subconsciously and shook his head. "I'm not doing so well in Care of Magical Creatures, but there isn't anything major going on. I made a new friend, her name is Luna, and she's awesome. You would love her!"

The former prisoner gave Harry a very wolfish smile. "Oh realllly? So, you like her?"

Harry blushed and looked away. "Maybe…I don't know. I just know I like spending time around her, ok?"

"Yeah, pup. That's definitely ok," Sirius laughed and plopped onto the floor, pulling Harry down with him.

"Oh yeah, these are for you," Harry remembered and pulled out from an enlarged pocket in his robes a couple bottles of butterbeer and a handful of chocolate frogs. "As requested."

"Brilliant!" Sirius was opening a chocolate frog wrapper before they had all hit the floor in his excitement. "I can't convince anyone besides Moony to get me these, and he's been out on some sort of mission for the Order recently."

Harry looked at his godfather and got a thought. Here was someone who could help him with a problem that had just come up. "Hey, Padfoot, do you happen to know of a room in the castle large enough for about a dozen or more students to practice magic that can be warded or is secret enough that a certain High Inquisitor couldn't find it?"

Sirius choked on the chocolate frog. "Merlin! I'd heard about the ministry rat at Hogwarts from Snivellus, but they made her a High Inquisitor?! What's wrong with everyone?!"

Harry threw his hands up in exasperated agreement. "Well, she is, and she isn't teaching DADA at all. We're starting a secret club to learn it ourselves for OWLs, NEWTs, and obviously, to try not to get killed by Voldemort. We don't have a place to do it though. You know of anything?"

Unfortunately, they didn't have a faculty sponsor like Remedial Potions, so the room had to be one that no one knew about, and in all Harry's wanderings at night, he couldn't think of a single one that didn't have prefects or professors patrolling around it. "No, sorry, pup," Sirius said as he sadly opened a bottle of butterbeer and passed the other one to Harry. "You should ask the house elves, they know everything. Do you know where the kitchens are? Wait, what am I asking, of course you know where the kitchens are."

"I do at that," Harry smiled happily. "And I know just the house elf to help!"

"Hey, do you think you could sneak me in as Snuffles to watch the club sometime?" Sirius asked with a manic gleam in his eyes.

Harry thought about it. Sirius was a former auror, so he would be good to get some tips from. And no one outside of Harry's direct friend group, except for Dumbledore and Snape, knew about his animagus form, and they wouldn't turn him in…well, hopefully Snape wouldn't. If Umbridge caught him, he was a dog, she should just kick him out of the castle. If she did something more drastic, Harry could protect him. He slowly nodded. "Yeah…I think I could, but maybe after the winter holidays. I'd like us to get settled first and make sure our room is safe."

Sirius looked happier than Harry had ever seen him, causing his dementor side to react some, but the teen pushed it down forcefully. "Brilliant! You're coming to Grimmauld for Christmas, right? I can think up some good spells for you guys to learn. This is epic!"

"Yeah, that would be great, Sirius," Harry smiled at him kindly. "I'm looking forward to Christmas with you at the house. You know I think it's lovely, unlike some other people I know…"

Sirius shot him a glare but brushed it off. "Hey, speaking of, what'd you do to my elf?"

"What? Kreacher? I never even talked to him," Harry responded in surprise. "What happened?"

Sirius shrugged and unwrapped yet another chocolate frog. "He cleans the room you stayed in at least once a week, unlike anywhere else in the house. I even saw him put dead flowers in a vase by your bed a few days ago, and if anyone mentions your name, he gets really quiet and looks like he's just seen a boggart or something."

Harry's eyes almost got a bit misty at the elf putting dead flowers by his bed…the best flowers if his inner dementor was to be believed. "I really don't know, Sirius," Harry said honestly. He figured the elf knew what he was, but his actions were strange regardless. "I'll try to corner him and ask him about it over break, yeah?"

Sirius grinned and gave Harry the rest of his half-eaten frog. Harry frowned at it but saw how happy Sirius was to share. With an internal grimace, he ate the other half. "I think my mail is being screened. Do you know of any other way we can talk?" Harry asked, swallowing the tasteless chocolate.

Sirius thought for a minute before smiling widely. "There were mirrors James and I used to talk to each other when we were in separate detentions. I'd need to find them, but yeah…they must be in the house somewhere! That would be great! I could see you then too!"

Harry smiled at the broken man fondly. "That would be great. Send it with a post owl and ward the package so that only I can open it when you find them, ok?"

"All right, pup, now, tell me all about this Luna girl…"

"Dobby!" Harry called out in a screech at around 1am after the Hogsmeade weekend.

With a pop, the house elf was jumping up and down in front of the dementor that was hovering in the library. "Harry Potter, sir! How may Dobby help you?!"

"Do you happen to know of a room that over a dozen people could meet in and practice spells without getting caught by Umbridge?" Harry asked in as quiet of screeches as possible.

Dobby thought for a minute. "Just evil, toad-woman or everyone?" He asked in contemplation.

Harry chuckled at Dobby's description. "Actually, yeah, everyone who isn't invited would be good. We don't have a sponsor like the other club I'm in."

Dobby smiled. "Professor Potion Master good sponsor. He asks elveses for the best snacks for students."

"Something tells me he wouldn't be excited to sponsor this club though. Any ideas?" Harry smiled. He had noticed the snacks were quite good, for those who actually like food that is…or blood, or crickets, or caviar surprisingly.

"I knows the room!" Dobby excitedly grabbed Harry's skeletal hand and pulled the hovering dementor behind him. "Dobby knows the Come and Go Room. All elveses use room occasionally."

They ended up by a portrait of a man trying to teach trolls ballet. "Harry Potter walks three times and thinks of what he wants," Dobby motioned for Harry to pace by the portrait.

"Ok, Dobby…" Harry would have an eyebrow raised and a speculative look on his face if he had eyebrows…or a face. He did what he was told though and gasped as a door appeared in the wall.

Dobby clapped his hands and rushed to open the door. "Yes, this works!" He nodded happily.

"Merlin, Morgana, and Mordred," Harry breathed out in surprise. It was perfect!

"Harry Potter just needs to think that no one finds it when he asks for the room," Dobby continued explaining as he checked out the dueling platform, dummies to practice on, pillows for soft landings, and mirrors to see what was going on.

"Thank you, Dobby," Harry smiled and pulled out his lip balm, a habit that was starting to cross over even to when he was in Jamie. "This really is perfect. Now I just need a lesson plan."

"Harry Potter will be the bestest teacher!" The elf assured him as they made to leave the room.

Harry stopped at the door and cocked his hooded head. There was something in the room…something like the locket that was calling to him. It was so faint, he eventually brushed it off and followed his friend out of the room. "You guys need any help in the kitchen, Dobby?" Harry asked, wanting something to do. It was a little boring wandering around alone every night. "I'm a pretty good cook and not above washing dishes."

"Yes, Harry Potter help," Dobby grabbed his hand once more. "He talks to Dobby and Winky while they work."

"But that's not…" Harry sighed and gave up as he was pulled through the air behind the now running house elf like some kind of dementor balloon, it was kind of fun.

Jamie was definitely sick. The first meeting of the Dumbledore's Army club was a huge success as they learned the disarming charm, Hedwig was doing great, Dobby and Winky were kidnapping Harry at night to hang out in the kitchens at least once a week, Remedial Potions was relaxing after long days of people thinking he was an insane liar, and Umbridge was more and more evil by the day. Also…Jamie's hand was without a doubt infected.

This time as Harry began writing lines with the blood quill, he fumed with the certainty that this detention was completely unwarranted. Not that any of them were, but Umbridge just didn't like the way he looked this time and that was the excuse for the detention. He felt feverish and his inflamed hand had hurt even before he started writing, now it was on fire. He felt like he was betraying Jamie. Yes, Jamie was him…but also not. It was hard to think of the soulless body as an extension of him when it just felt so...not him. He felt like he were hurting Hedwig when he hurt Jamie, and that made him warm with anger. Actually, it made him hot. Actually…he was hot…

After being freezing cold for so long, Harry was confused why he was suddenly stifling in the room. Oh no! He finally thought in dread as he realized he didn't have any hold on his aura at all anymore.

Afraid at what he was going to find, Harry put down the quill and slowly looked up from his parchment. He sighed and kicked himself as he took in the sight of Professor Umbridge cowering in a ball behind her desk with tears streaming from her eyes. "Shit…" he mumbled. Ok, so he didn't feel bad for her at all, but as soon as she recovered, she was going to know something was wrong with him…hopefully she recovered. Harry also felt wonderfully full at the moment, so she probably wasn't doing too well.

He had to get help in covering this up. Harry thought as quickly as he could. Professor McGonagall had a history of not believing him, so he didn't even want to try her. He quickly discounted the headmaster as well. He was certain he'd be expelled for attacking a teacher, even if it was unintentional and very deserved. Madam Pomfrey still didn't know what he was or that he was even a magical creature. Snape was his only hope. He really, really hated that thought.

The dementor took off at a run towards the dungeons and Snape's office, praying he was in there. Luckily, Harry caught a glimpse of long, black hair as he skidded to a stop in the Potions Professor's doorway. "I need help!" He gasped out, trying to catch his breath and clear the lightheadedness that was coming from his sickness.

Snape looked up, and to his credit, stood and grabbed his cloak to help, seeing that something must be really wrong. "What did you do?" Ok, well, he was still a git.

"Umbridge…I didn't mean to…" Harry gasped out and motioned back the way he came.

In two strides, Snape was at the door and grasping Harry's bleeding hand. "Blood," he commented simply as he held up the hand to get a better look.

"Yes, I'm bleeding, and it's probably infected, so please restrain yourself from eating me and help," Harry motioned with his other hand in frustration, not concerned at all about the vampire. He was certain in a fight between a dementor and a vampire the dementor would win every time.

Snape sneered at him. "I was only remarking that I smelled blood and you were injured. I take it you fed from Umbridge after she injured you. That looks like the work of a blood quill," he remarked with a strong wave of righteous anger sweeping over Harry that he was surprised to feel directed not at him but Umbridge.

Harry was stunned. How did Snape figure out what he was? "Er…how did you…Never mind. You need to help her," he pulled his injured hand out of Snape's grasp.

Snape grabbed a few potion vials from a shelf and swept out of the door behind a jogging Harry. Harry frowned, upset that he had to jog to keep up when Snape was only walking quickly. Jamie really was short. They reached the DADA classroom where Umbridge was still curled up on the floor crying.

Harry actually ran into Snape who had suddenly stopped and was studying the woman with a mask of indifference on his face. Harry distinctly felt confusion and worry coming from him though. "Sorry," Harry mumbled, but the man didn't even seem to notice.

Snape quickly waved his wand, casting a nonverbal spell. "She's not anemic," he remarked and put the vials he had picked up from his office in one of the pockets of his robe. "Why is she not anemic?" He turned and asked Harry with a raise of one eyebrow.

"Why would she be…? Er, I think if you just obliviate her and maybe give her some chocolate, she'll be fine. I've never tried a memory charm before and didn't want to chance turning her into Lockhart, as much as she may deserve it. Why would she be anemic?" Harry asked in confusion while he explained why he had gone to Snape for help.

The vampire studied him like a specimen he was deciding to use in a potion or not. "You are not a vampire?"

Harry's eyes widened, and he coughed in surprise. "You thought I was a vampire?!" He was beyond relieved the man was so far off base with his guess.

"Apparently you are not," Snape frowned sternly at the dementor in front of him. "Ok, Potter, now is the time I ask, and you answer. What exactly are you?"

Chapter Text

Harry's eyes widened, and he coughed in surprise. "You thought I was a vampire?!" He was beyond relieved the man was so far off base with his guess.

"Apparently you are not," Snape frowned sternly at the dementor in front of him. "Ok, Potter, now is the time I ask, and you answer. What exactly are you?"

Harry looked between Snape, Umbridge, and the door, hoping for some means of escape. Trying to think clearly, he realized they needed to prioritize their actions. "Professor, this is more than a one-minute explanation," he almost pleaded with Snape to understand. "We should really handle Umbridge before she comes around and then we can talk about me. I'm positive, if you can obliviate the last hour from her memory, she should be fine. What I did was more mental than physical."

Snape frowned, he seemed to be trying to figure out what creature Harry was and coming up blank. "This is highly illegal, you know," he sneered in distaste (Harry wasn't sure if it was towards him or the professor) as he took a couple steps towards Umbridge.

"Says the former Death Eater," Harry mumbled under his breath, forgetting Snape had vampire hearing.

He tried to look apologetic when the man shot him a scathing look. "I could let you handle this on your own, you know," Snape raised an eyebrow in warning. "I'm sure you would cause a political nightmare though if I did leave it to you. Entitled, just like your father," Snape added on in his own mumble at the end.

Harry bit his tongue, feeling too sick to get into it with the greasy git at the moment. "Sorry," he said unapologetically.

The vampire ignored him and gave a flick of his wand, "Accio blood quills!" He called out. The one quill on the bloodstained student desk floated to him as well as a second quill from a drawer in Umbridge's desk. Snape put both in his pocket before turning to the blubbering woman on the floor. "Obliviate!" He cast as Umbridge became quiet and her eyes unfocused. "Your detention with Potter went as you expected. He left just before curfew and you cleaned everything up before retiring for the night." With a quick scourgify at the desk, Snape swept over to Harry and pushed him out of the classroom before Umbridge could come to.

"My office, now," the professor growled and continued to push Harry through the hallways.

"Why did you think I was a vampire, sir?" Harry asked as he stumbled along in front of his professor's graceful stride…that should have been a clue in itself that he wasn't a vampire.

"There are very few creatures you can be turned into and not born as, Potter," Snape scowled, obviously irritated that he was wrong. "Of the available options, vampire seemed the most fitting since light creatures have developed a distaste for you, though I have never seen the severe reaction you've been getting before. Also, you have been drawn to darker locations like Grimmauld and the dungeons. Though I am a born vampire, it is possible to be turned into one instead. I admit not everything fit, but I'm at a loss for what other creature you could be. I expect to be filled in completely momentarily."

"Er…ok," the dementor grumbled, really not looking forward to the impending conversation.

Harry was about ready to just give up on consciousness and pass out when they reached the Potion Professor's office in the dungeons once more. He figured he must look terrible because when the vampire rounded on him to demand answers, he instead paused and cast a diagnostic spell at the student. After the spell, Snape pushed Harry into an uncomfortable chair. Harry was getting sick and tired of being manhandled, as well as just plain sick and tired. Before he could protest though, Snape stood in front of him and took his hand in a quick jerk. "Healing first," he sneered as he intensely studied the infected writing on the swollen hand.

"Fine with me," Harry grumbled, really not wanting to ever get to having to explain what he was.

The Potions Master prodded the hand with his wand slightly, causing Harry to suck in a breath in a hiss of pain. "What have you been putting on it?" He asked clinically.

"Essence of Murtlap," Harry glared at him, not thinking the prodding was exactly necessary.

Snape just nodded until a look of disgust washed over his face and disappeared just as quickly. "All right, Potter," Snape dropped Harry's hand like some sort of slimy potions specimen and proceeded in a business-like tone. "You've been consistently using a cursed artifact, so the dark magic has built up in your hand."

"It wasn't my fault," Harry grumbled with a glare.

"Be that as it may, the Essence or Murtlap, or even Dittany at this point, will work little better than muggle antibiotic cream since it is also fighting off the dark magic," Snape explained as he sat on the edge of his desk and stared at Harry.

"That still means it's working though, right?" Harry asked with a questioning look. "You took the quills away from her, so it'll have time to heal now."

Snape nodded slowly. "Yes, however, your hand is severely infected. You will need to stay a couple days in the infirmary as the infection has also caused you a fever, and it is making you very ill."

Harry groaned in distress. He had DA to teach and the first quidditch match against Slytherin was in a couple days. "You just don't want me to play against Slytherin," he pouted, perhaps not very maturely, but he'd just been tortured so he deserved a bit of a break.

The professor smirked at him but then waved a hand dismissively. "There is, however, another option. One you may find distasteful, but which would keep you from needing to spend any time in the infirmary."

"Yes! I'll take that one!" Harry exclaimed quickly. "What is it?!"

Snape's face went into his teacher mode of explaining something. "I know your Defense Against the Dark Arts instruction has been abysmal, so I assume you know nothing of vampires considering that you apparently aren't one."

The dementor glared at Snape, but he couldn't really defend their instructors, besides Remus…which he made a mental note to ask about at some point. Why would Snape have outed him if he was a vampire himself? Anyway… "I actually looked up vampires, if you must know."

"Good, then you know that in order to maintain our secrecy when we feed from humans, we have evolved strong pain relieving and healing properties in our saliva. The human must not feel the pain and we cannot leave a mark if we wish to remain hidden," Snape explained as if he were lecturing on a new potion. "That combined with a mild memory charm has insured that we are never caught by our prey."

It took Harry a minute before what the professor was offering finally sank in. Harry's face mirrored Snape's quick look of disgust from earlier, which he now understood, and stayed there. "Are you actually saying you want to lick my hand?!"

Snape's face twisted into a sneer. "Potter, there are few things in this world I'd wish to do less than lick your hand…However, yes, that is the solution to this issue. I can easily clear up the infection and begin the healing process better than any of my potions since I am a dark creature, and a dark magic infection means little to the healing properties I possess."

The dementor looked like he had just seen Voldemort come out of the cauldron in the graveyard once more in his expression. "That's just…unsanitary!"

The vampire sighed in exasperation. "If Mr. Weasley licked your hand, then yes, it would be unsanitary, but he isn't a vampire. I have already explained the healing properties. Make your decision. I will be ecstatic to hand you off to Madam Pomfrey and not have to deal with you or taste the loathsome Potter blood. I'm sure Malfoy and Montague will rejoice to hear Gryffindor will be playing a reserve player as seeker in the upcoming match as well."

Harry's nose crinkled in disgust still, but he slowly held out his hand. He really did feel terrible. "I'm sure I taste wonderful," he groaned. "Ew, just do it. I can't watch!"

Harry did in fact close his eyes and turn his head away as Snape sighed and took his hand once more. Almost immediately the sting subsided, and the throbbing stopped. "Hey!" Harry exclaimed as he opened his eyes to see Snape glaring at him with a look of disgust and disdain on his face. "That's awesome!" The swelling in his hand was visibly going down and it looked like the cuts were days old instead of from an hour before.

"Let's never do that again, Potter," Snape grimaced as he summoned a glass of water from somewhere in the office and downed the whole thing.

"Thank you!" Harry was still looking at his hand in awe. "You know, I wish I was a vampire if I could do that."

Snape swore under his breath as he looked at the clock on his wall. "We need to go to the headmaster now, there's only a little over an hour before the Order meeting tonight."

"What?!" Harry looked at his professor in betrayal. "No! We can't go to Dumbledore."

"For Umbridge…to report the blood quill," Snape said slowly as if talking to a child. "There are aurors in the Order, and they may be able to find a way to get her out of the school if they know what's happening and before she branches out to first years."

"Oh," Harry blanched, not having considered that she may move on to torturing the younger students, or any other students besides himself. "Right, yeah."

Snape glared at him warningly. "We will be coming back here after, and you will be telling me all about what you are. I am allowed to be fashionably late to the Order meeting, unlike the headmaster."

"Right," Harry nodded, secretly vowing to find some way of getting out of that by the end of the meeting with the headmaster.

They hurried in silence to the headmaster's office, Harry marveling the whole way about just how much better his hand felt. He really, really wanted to find a minute to go thoroughly wash it though, but he was certain Snape wouldn't take it well if he asked. "Jawbreakers," Snape growled in disgust at the stone gargoyle guarding the office.

Harry hurried up the steps behind his professor who seemed to glide soundlessly as he walked as much as Harry did when he was outside of Jamie. "Ah, Severus…and Harry! How can I help you both?" Dumbledore turned questioning eyes up to them from the papers on his desk.

"Umbridge has to go," Snape growled, obviously trying to push down his anger once more.

"I admit, she's not a pleasant person and not the best teacher, but what has she done to warrant this visit, after curfew might I add?" The headmaster seemed happy to see Harry and Severus together, even if he was confused about the reason.

"Albus," Snape visibly took a deep breath and pulled the quills from out of his robe pocket, throwing them onto the headmaster's desk. "She's been using a blood quill to torture students!"

It took a couple heartbeats, but all of a sudden, the pressure in the room built up, causing Harry's ears to pop. Dumbledore completely shed the image of a kindly grandfather and stood, staring at the quills looking like an avenging angel of death. "Who?" Dumbledore asked simply as he turned burning eyes towards Harry.

"Who else?" Snape sneered with an elegant wave towards his companion. Harry for his part could completely believe this was the person that Voldemort feared most as he took a step back and tried to keep himself from hiding behind Snape's robes.

"May I see your hand, Harry?" The older man reached out, visibly trying to keep his voice calming and not dripping with anger.

"Er…um, well, the professor healed me up pretty good," Harry shuffled forward nervously and held out his hand for the headmaster.

"Thank you, Severus," Dumbledore said quietly as he inspected Harry's hand. "It has already started to scar. She must have been doing this for a while?" He said more as a question than a statement. Harry just nodded and hurried back when his hand was returned to him. "What have you already done to her, my boy?" He asked Snape with a look that promised no rebuke no matter what the answer was.

"I only took the quills, and circumstances dictated that she needed to be obliviated of the end of Potter's detention so she would not blame the theft on him," the vampire explained, expertly skirting why she really needed to be obliviated.

Dumbledore nodded and continued to glower. "So, she doesn't know they are gone yet. That will give us some time since Hogwarts' wards will not allow illegal torture devices to be flown in with the post. She'll need to go in person to get replacements."

"It may be best to get Shacklebolt and Tonks involved," Severus suggested.

"Indeed," Dumbledore said contemplatively. His face cleared some as he took in Harry's concerned expression. "Sit, Harry. I must apologize; I've completely lost my manners. Would you like a lemon drop?"

"Er, no sir," Harry almost laughed at the change in atmosphere. He did sit in the armchair beside where the potion master sat as well.

After they were both seated, the headmaster sat at his desk once more. "I'm so sorry, Harry. I knew she was unpleasant, but I had no idea she would do something on this level of atrocity."

Harry shrugged. Honestly, he'd had worse, and that wasn't even mentioning getting his soul sucked out of his body. "I'm fine now. Sn—Professor Snape healed me up."

Snape sneered at Harry brushing off what happened, but since it seemed the headmaster didn't believe it was nothing either, the man let it drop. "Harry…the fact remains that this never should have happened to you. Trust me, I'll do my best to get this rectified before she can replace the quills," Dumbledore assured him. "I lack the political influence I used to have, but I'm not without resources."

Harry nodded, but wasn't going to hold his breath. He'd believe it was handled when the woman was effectively moved out of the castle and not before. "Yes, sir," was all he mumbled though as he pulled out his habitual tube of lip balm and applied it unconsciously.

"Since you are both here, I had a proposition for you two I had meant to bring up shortly," Dumbledore changed the subject, his eyes twinkling madly which caused Harry and Snape both to be suspicious of the proposition. "I think it would serve Harry well to learn Occlumency from you Severus."

Harry just looked confused and Snape immediately started protesting. "That's a terrible idea, Albus!" He was talking over Dumbledore's continued explanation about what Occlumency was. "It's not like the Dark Lord can get into his head anyway. You're only setting me up to be killed later if I teach him and the Dark Lord finds out!"

Dumbledore immediately quieted and looked confused. "What do you mean Voldemort can't get into Harry's head?"

"Er, I haven't had any dreams or visions all term, sir," Harry added in, not really sure what they were talking about.

"Albus, I already told you this," Snape sighed in exhaustion. "I told you the Dark Lord was trying to find a way to influence Potter's mind."

"Yes, hence the Occlumency lessons…" Dumbledore still looked confused.

"If he was able to get into Potter's mind through Legilimency, he'd already have done it. He's a master Legilimens!" Snape growled. "He's looking for other ways because he can't get into the boy's thick head!"

Both men glared at each other, seeing their mistakes in communication. "He can't get into Harry's head?" Dumbledore asked in clarification, an amazed look on his face. "But, there is a connection. He created it through the killing curse rebounding and evidenced by Harry's knowledge of Parseltongue. Harry was having visions last year as well. A connection like that doesn't just go away."

Harry was positive they had forgotten he was in the room at his point as he watched the back and forth. "Regardless, the boy is blocking him somehow," Snape shrugged in a very un-Snape-like fashion, the man must be tired. "None of the Death Eaters have been able to help either. He's not been…pleasant recently."

Harry snorted at this, though neither man paid him any attention. Dumbledore seemed to be deep in contemplation. "It may be best to send Harry to his relatives for the holidays then instead of Grimmauld. There will be less people for him to come into contact with, and much more security than the castle as well. It would be a good opportunity for Tom to try something."

Now things were just spiraling in Harry's opinion, and this train of thought was unacceptable. "No!" He said loudly and clearly so the two would realize he was still in the room and capable of making decisions for himself.

"But, my boy…" Dumbledore turned his blue eyes on the dementor. "It's for…"

"If you say it's for my own safety, I may scream," Harry glowered at the man. "First of all, there is a one hundred percent chance my relatives will refuse to allow me back for the holidays. That was always their condition for allowing me to go to school, that they only have to deal with me over summers. Honestly, I planned to deal with this later, but there's also a good 90% chance they won't allow me back this summer, coupled with a 10% chance they will but either try to kill me in my sleep or kick me out onto the streets to be homeless. The Dursley's are no longer an option."

Dumbledore and Snape both stared at him. "What did you do, Potter?" Snape sneered.

"What were we just talking about in your office moments ago?" Harry narrowed his eyes at the man who effectively glowered back but seemed to understand what must have happened. "They always hated me from the minute they were forced to take me in. Now, they fear me…if I'm to be killed in my sleep, I'd rather Voldemort do it than Uncle Vernon, at least then I'd have a better shot at not being prosecuted for retaliating."

Snape seemed completely stunned while Dumbledore just looked like he didn't believe Harry, which coupled with the fact that the entire magical community didn't believe him at the moment made Harry almost lose his grasp on his aura once again. "Please explain what happened this past summer, I'm sure it's not as bad as you believe it to be," Dumbledore tried to soothe him, but Harry wasn't having it. "The connection you have with Tom will not just go away. He'll find out how to open it once more, or he'll send someone to reach you. They're your family; that's important."

"Tell that to them!" Harry exploded. "Grimmauld is teeming with Order members, why wouldn't I be safe there?"

"It's not that you wouldn't be safe, but you'd be safer behind the blood wards," Dumbledore continued to protest.

"Albus, maybe staying with the mutt isn't such a horrible idea," Snape added in, realizing that Harry was on the verge of snapping.

"And it's not like I wasn't already attacked at the Dursleys' and sort-of killed!" the dementor exclaimed. "Harry died over the summer and no one noticed! Where was that protection when I actually needed it?!"

The room got deadly quiet as Harry ranted. Looking at both men, he slapped a hand over his mouth, wishing with every fiber of his being he could take back his last couple sentences. "Er, you know…I'm just being over dramatic," Harry tried to brush it off. "Ignore me. I'm fine," he continued before trying to curl in on himself.

Snape shook his head ruefully; Harry wasn't going to get himself out of his one. Dumbledore pinned the boy with a piercing glare. "Who are you? What happened to Harry Potter?" He asked, the pressure rising once more in the room.

"I'm HARRY!" Harry yelled again, tired of all the secrecy and no one believing him.

"Just tell us what happened, Potter," Snape said calmly, trying to diffuse the situation.

"Yes, I believe that's best," Dumbledore continued to look dangerously at the teen in front of him.

"Er…I should probably start with the fact that I can't talk to snakes anymore," Harry rubbed his hands up and down his cold arms. He'd tried to open his locket many times and finally determined it must be sealed in Parseltongue, which he seemed no longer able to access.

Dumbledore looked almost comically shocked while Snape gave a deep sigh. "I don't believe that's the best place to start, try from the beginning."

The Gryffindor looked around the room hoping for an escape, but even Fawkes wasn't currently present to be an ally. Honestly, with his luck with magical creatures, it was more likely Fawkes would attack him anyway. Seeing none, he finally steeled himself to tell everything. "Well…I guess I should start with my first kiss then…"

Snape rolled his eyes. "Spare us the teenage hormones and skip to the important parts. We don't have all evening to cater to your melodrama."

Dumbledore cleared his throat awkwardly. "Yes, my boy. That may be best."

"Yeah, well my first kiss was with a dementor," Harry sneered at the vampire, secretly loving the melodrama (according to Snape) as both professors gasped.

"How did…but…Merlin," Snape seemed to be putting everything together from Harry's odd behavior to what had happened with Umbridge. "That's just not…possible…"

"I think you must explain that more, Harry," Dumbledore's mind seemed to be thinking similar thoughts to Snape's.

"It's probably best if I just show you," Harry sighed and got more comfortable in his chair. "Er, professor," he looked to Snape. "Would you catch Jamie if he falls over, please? I don't want him to get hurt any more after what he's been through."

"Jamie?" Snape asked in confusion.

"It's what I call my Harry-suit," the dementor explained. "It's what's left over from the me from before. He's a bit like my pet, I guess. Look…you'll understand in a minute," Harry finished as he continued to see confused looks turned his way. Harry took a deep breath and shot one last pleading look Dumbledore's way before releasing Jamie and floating up from the body.

Before he could blink (if he had eyes), Snape was standing with his wand trained on the dementor, but Dumbledore just looked at him like he'd been delivered a terminal prognosis from a healer. "I don't feel his aura, and the room hasn't gotten any colder," Snape remarked as he glared at the creature. "Are we sure that's Potter…frankly, are we sure that's a dementor?"

Harry really wished he could roll his eyes, but instead impatiently motioned to Jamie who was slumping over and about to fall off the chair. The Potions Professor automatically reached out a hand and straightened the soulless teen back up onto the chair. At that Dumbledore finally stood and started casting diagnostic charms at Jamie. "He seems to be asleep," the headmaster remarked.

Snape joined him in casting diagnostic charms while the dementor was ignored in the corner. "His health appears to be good," the professor commented.

"A bit anemic though," Dumbledore added.

"That would be the blood quill," Snape nodded.

Harry cursed his dementor vocal chords as he didn't appreciate being ignored. Yes, Jamie was quite the anomaly, but he was Harry and Jamie was just the shell. They seemed less than concerned about his current state of being and more concerned about the Harry-suit. While Dumbledore and Snape muttered together about what might have happened (and not including Harry), he finally had enough. "Dobby!" Harry called out in a screech, making both men jump.

The house elf popped into the office, causing another jump of surprise from the men. Dobby's eyes widened as he took in the situation. "How can Dobby help you Harry Potter, sir?"

Harry sighed in relief, then he unconsciously pulled out the tube of lip balm he kept in his magical dementor robes next and applied it. He crossed his arms and tried to glare at the men who were sending a wave of shocked amusement his direction. "Dobby, would you mind acting as translator for me for just a few minutes?"

"Yes sir. Dobby is going to translate," the house elf told the older men.

"You can understand him, Dobby? A dementor?" Dumbledore asked in amazement.

"House elvses understand all languages, Headmaster Dumblydore, sir," Dobby explained simply.

"Great, Dobby, would you tell those two prats that I'd like to be included in this conversation and that I'm still bloody well a person even if I'm a dementor," Harry angrily screeched at the two.

"He was less annoying as the brat," Snape winced as the screeches grated on his vampire ears.

Dobby glared at him. "Harry Potter, sir, says he is…Sir, I can't say that…" Dobby looked at him in a wave of embarrassment. Harry crossed his arms and tried to glare at the house elf next. The little elf sighed and turned back to the men. "Fine, Harry Potter, sir, says that he's still bloody well a person even if he's a dementor and wants to be included in this conversation."

"I'm sorry, my boy," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled in amusement. "We just got so caught up in the fact that your body was still alive without a soul in it. Normally they would have died by now if you were attacked over the summer."

Harry nodded his hooded head. "Dobby, tell them I'm taking really good care of Jamie. I make him eat, and he gets enough exercise throughout the day that when I leave him at night, he naturally falls asleep. Tell them I'm taking better care of him than anyone else ever has."

"Yes, Dobby knows sir," the elf nodded and patted Harry approvingly on his bony elbow. "Harry Potter takes good care of Jamie. He makes him eat, and he leaves him to sleep at night. He's much better taken care of now than before. Dobby and Winky thinks Harry Potter not very healthy before this year, but Jamie much healthier now. New Harry still needs to take care of himself though," Dobby sent a glare up to the dementor.

"What do you do at night then if you leave…Jamie, right? I don't believe dementors sleep," the headmaster asked, looking slightly less like his favorite student was dead and gone. It seemed the fact that Harry was still actually there was sinking in.

The dementor shrugged and sent a long series of screeches to Dobby. The elf nodded and turned to translate. "Dementorses don't sleep. Harry does homework, researches what happened to him, and spends time with Hedwig, Dobby, and Winky. He also leaves the castle to release his aura some, it makes him very cold and cranky to keeps it pulled in all the time."

"There is a curfew, Mr. Potter," Snape sneered with less venom than normal.

"One which we can't exactly expect him to follow if he doesn't sleep," Dumbledore cut him off as he ran a hand down his long beard.

Another long rant of angry screeches showed Harry's displeasure. Dobby continued to translate though. "Harry Potter says that he been fine, and no one has caught him. Besides what the evil b-word woman did to his hand, he's stayed outs of trouble and is doing better in classes…" Dobby stopped and turned questioning eyes to Harry. "Harry Potter, sir…what did b-word woman do to yous hand?"

Harry motioned to Jamie's hand and Dobby walked over to look at it. Harry sent a shrug to Dumbledore and Snape clearly communicating that Dobby took some liberties with his translation. "Winky!" Dobby yelled out in more anger than any of them had ever seen in a house elf, and they had all met Kreacher.

A loud pop sounded in the room, and the tiny, female house elf appeared in their midst. Winky had once been in a terrible shape after being fired from her former position in the Crouch family; however, after a year of Dobby's optimism and feeling needed by the students, she was thriving in her new environment. "Dobby?" Was all she got out before the other elf pulled her over and showed her Jamie's hand.

Dumbledore actually took a step back as both house elves turned accusing eyes on him. "What yous going to do about this?!" Winky asked slowly with a glower as a wave of magic crackled around the room, equal but different to the power exhibited by Dumbledore before.

"I'm going to handle it; I assure you Winky," the headmaster said emphatically.

"See you do, or Winky will," the elf threatened before popping out of the room once more.

"Now I know why you threatened me with Winky," Harry said quietly to Dobby who nodded and hugged him around his middle, sad that he had been injured. "Dobby, please ask them if they know what happened to me, and why I'm a dementor now."

After Dobby translated, Dumbledore and Snape both shook their heads in confusion. "I've never heard of this happening," Snape told them both.

"I haven't either," Dumbledore added. "I must admit that my knowledge of dementors is limited. I never figured out for certain why they were so attracted you in your third year either. It would have helped if I knew the house elves could translate. This seems unprecedented though."

Harry nodded. "That's what I've decided from the books I've read," he told them through Dobby.

"I'll do some research myself," the headmaster offered. "I hate to say it…but it may be a good idea to talk to a dementor, my boy. I doubt they can do anything more to you now that your soul is no longer in your body."

"That would necessitate him going to Azkaban," Snape raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Personally, I refuse to accompany him if that is your next misguided suggestion."

"It was not," Dumbledore assured his spy. "I will go with him myself if he should decide to go, but it's Harry's decision."

Harry looked between the two and sighed. Everything kept coming back around to that. He would eventually need to talk to a dementor. "I'll think about it," was the best he could offer. "I'm not going to the Dursleys though. I didn't have the best control over my aura when this first happened to me, and I think they reached their fear limit by the end of the summer."

"Is Sirius affected by your presence?" Dumbledore asked with a nod, understanding a little more now.

Harry shook his head. "I got my aura under control before I left Surrey. It's bloody uncomfortable for me, but Sirius doesn't seem affected."

Harry drifted back towards Jamie and picked up the body once more. He felt better rested and less unwell than he had when they had entered the office but still groggy. "Headmaster…you aren't going to tell anyone are you?" Harry asked with a grimace. "Especially Sirius?"

Dumbledore sighed and looked sadly at the Harry-coated dementor in front of him. "Harry, I think it best that as few people as possible know of this, especially Sirius."

"Absolutely!" Harry nodded emphatically. Snape just snorted, but seemed to be in agreement, so that's how Harry took it. "It's almost Jamie's bedtime, and you two have an Order meeting, right?" Harry prompted.

"Ah, yes, right," Dumbledore nodded and seemed to snap out of his somber thoughts. "Severus, I think based on this new information we can discontinue the guard duty at the ministry. I only had them posted to keep Voldemort from luring Harry into a trap. If he can't access Harry's mind…and well, since Harry is now also a dementor, I don't see the point. If Voldemort goes himself, one Order member will make no difference."

"Albus, you know I never agreed the guard detail was necessary in the first place," Snape glared.

"Er, so don't get lured into any traps at the ministry, got it," Harry grinned at them both. "What's at the ministry?"

"That's a conversation for another day. It is well past curfew now," Dumbledore smiled at him with his eyes twinkling once more. "And Harry, I'm so sorry for what you've been through, but I'm glad you're handling it so well. You truly are a remarkable young man."

Harry shrugged in embarrassment. "I have good days and bad days. With the blood quill gone, maybe there will be more good days now."

Dumbledore looked at him with sad and regretful eyes. "Dobby, would you be so kind as to escort Mr. Potter to Gryffindor Tower?

"Yes, sir, Headmaster Dumblydore, sir!" Dobby gave him a little salute and pulled Harry towards the door, which was much harder to do when he wasn't floating.

"I'll hold you to that future conversation, sir," Harry called back as a pushy elf shut the door behind them. "Well, that went better than expected," he commented to Dobby, fully aware the men were still talking about him back in the office and very curious about it.

"Harry Potter is spending tonight with Dobby and Winky in the kitchens," he ordered.

"Yes, sir, Mr. Dobby, sir," Harry smiled at him, getting the elf to laugh as they continued to the tower.

Chapter Text

Harry was extremely happy, peaceful, and warm for the first time in a long time as he flew high above the quidditch stands and feasted on the excitement rolling off the student body during the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin quidditch game. His positive feelings were laced with an underlying feeling of guilt at feeding from his fellow students, but he was careful to not do anything to actually affect the students in any way, so he justified it to himself. The Gryffindor and Slytherin teams zoomed around below him while Harry kept one eye on the snitch. The advantage of being obsessed with shiny things apparently translated to him not being able to miss the golden ball wherever it was; however, it wouldn't do to end the game too early and miss his wonderful feast. It was obvious to him now why the dementors in his third year couldn't avoid crashing the quidditch game. It was just so delicious.

"Potter, whatever you're doing, stop it!" Malfoy growled as he came up level to where Harry was hovering. "My broom is starting to develop ice crystals!"

"Then fly lower," Harry grinned at the other seeker but did reign in his aura significantly. "If you didn't follow me so closely, you wouldn't even notice."

"No using creature powers in quidditch," the blond almost huffed in annoyance. "How'd you like it if I started messing with you? You're supposed to be inconspicuous, you idiot."

"First of all, I'm too far up for anyone that isn't sitting right on my arse to notice. And secondly, considering I have no idea what you are, maybe I'd like that…I don't know," the Gryffindor smirked teasingly. It felt more like Remedial Potions as they flew above everyone else and were alone. It was easy to forget this was Malfoy and not Draco who was still a prat but at least a reasonable one behind closed doors. "Neville seems to think you aren't terrible, anyway."

Malfoy growled in frustration before Harry was hit with the most delicious wave of pure dessert…like chocolate chip biscuits and treacle tart. "Wow," the dementor grinned dazedly. "That was awesome! Do it again!"

Draco gave a shout of indignation. "Idiotic Gryffindor, you can't even respond right! What are you?!"

"Ah, that'd be telling Draco…" Harry laughed, really wondering again what the Slytherin was and how he could convince him to do whatever he'd just done more often. "I'm full now though, so I think it might be time to end the game. Toodles!" He teased as he chased off after the snitch he'd never lost sight of with Draco fast on his tail.

It was the last week of the term, and in the middle of all the exams were also the last meetings of the HSMC and the DA before the holidays. Since he learned the truth, Dumbledore had been keeping an exceptionally close eye on Harry, so much so that the dementor clearly noticed and smiled broadly at the headmaster whenever he randomly appeared, trying to nonverbally assure him that he wasn't going to go off and suck the soul from anyone in the castle. He wasn't sure if he was annoyed at the man or understood him; he was a pretty dangerous creature in all honesty. The headmaster always just smiled back and twinkled his blue eyes reassuringly, but Harry knew he was worried; the dementor wasn't sure if he was worried about Harry or about the other students though.

Really, it wasn't Harry the man should be worried about, it was the army of house elves. The house elves had presented a list to the teen at the end of November with the names of all the students who were either slobs, disrespectful, annoying, or generally pains in their arses. They requested he give them a bad day occasionally. Who knew the happy creatures were actually pretty vindictive? He assured them that he'd start in on their list in the new year. As much as it sounded fairly unethical, he was certain Hermione would approve as a victory for SPEW at the very least. When he asked Luna, she just shrugged and added a few of the Ravenclaw girls to the list at the bottom. So, all in all, it sounded like he would eat well in the new year at the very least.

It was in high spirits, looking forward to going back to Grimmauld and getting out from under the worried gaze of the headmaster, that Harry stepped into Remedial Potions. "Happy Christmas!" Neville called out from where he had an arm around a disgruntled looking Draco who still glared at Harry every chance he got about the last quidditch game.

"Happy almost Christmas, Neville," Harry smiled back and took in the room. Most people were milling about and chatting like normal, but there was a large, dragon-like creature in the corner that was completely black and had scaly wings wrapped around him with a large, yellow eye just peeking out from under a scaly wing. "What's going on there?" Harry asked, wondering which student it was.

"Graham is still sulking about the match," Luna answered him and gave her friend a tight hug.

"He's being a child," Hestia, the Ravenclaw sixth year accused the seventh year with a glare.

Montague the gargoyle just huffed and laid a wing over sharp, pointed ears on either side of his head.

"It really was a great catch, Harry," Eir smiled at him with a laugh towards the sulky gargoyle.

"Ginny and Michael broke up!" Colin exclaimed as he and Dennis ran into the room. Everyone groaned, even Harry who had gotten used to Colin's regular updates on his, hopefully, mate.

Matthew very dramatically sighed and banged his head on the table he was sitting at with Brook and David. Brook patted him on the head. "Don't worry, you'll be fine," she reassured him.

"What's the countdown now?" Aurelius, the half-werewolf, asked as he laid down a card nonchalantly in his game of Exploding Snap with Aceline, Aurora, and Kara.

"One week and six days," Draco answered for Matthew. "Right before he gets back to Hogwarts, though I doubt he'll find his mate before returning."

"She's not going to like me," Matthew groaned into the table, everyone was completely ignoring Colin at this point who was still vibrating with excitement from the door.

Snape billowed into the room at that moment in a dark cloud of an imposing aura and physically moved the Creevey brothers out of his way. "Colin, sit down and plan how to ask her out after the holidays. Matthew, your mate will like you, you're a veela; it's almost guaranteed. Graham, stop sulking and turn back. And everyone, eat the snacks so I can leave and start my teenager-free holiday," he sneered at the room before claiming his normal armchair.

A huge spread appeared on the long table in the front of the classroom, courtesy of the house elves. Deciding to hang back and observe what people took to help him guess what species they might be, Harry stood in a corner. Draco rushed over to a beautiful platter of sushi that the house elves must have spared no expense in making. "Ah! No!" Brook immediately swatted his hand away, causing the blond to glare at her. "Naiads get first run at the seafood," she smirked as Draco rolled his eyes and made a dramatic bowing gesture to the platter. "I'll try to leave you a few pieces."

Harry nodded. So, Brook was a Naiad, and she was dating David, a Drus or Dryad. If he remembered correctly, the species were actually fairly similar, one was just connected to the land and one the water. He wondered at Snape's comment from the first meeting that their species were not supposed to like each other. That sounded like a soap opera if he'd ever heard of one, and he made a mental note to sit with them and talk later.

Most of the other food was fairly normal with biscuits, cakes, finger sandwiches, and crisps. There was a large bowl of what looked like crickets and earthworms off to the side though. He watched Hestia scoop some up on her plate beside a piece of cake as well as Luna who put some on a piece of bread. He wrinkled his nose at that, but assumed it probably wasn't any stranger than him eating people's emotions. The normal pitcher of blood was visited by Snape, of course, as well as the third year Ravenclaw, Bartholomew. Harry marked him as a maybe vampire in his head.

That was all he was able to get from the food before Luna pulled him over to sit with Neville, Draco, David, and Brook. She pushed a plate of cake and biscuits into his hands. "Treat Jamie a bit," she quietly ordered him as he just shook his head and laughed.

"What are you all doing for the holidays?" Luna asked the group as she bit into her cricket sandwich with a crunch.

"Normal Christmas with my Gran, and visit my parents at St. Mungo's," Neville said. Harry almost choked on a piece of biscuit as Draco put an arm around Neville comfortingly at his last statement. He had a vague idea about what happened to Neville's parents from comments made by Mad-Eye Moody, but knew better than to ask for more details.

"I'll be staying in my room and trying to avoid any visitors we might have at the manor," Draco drawled with a disgusted wrinkle of his nose.

Harry tilted his head and observed the Slytherin better. "I thought you would be excited to see any visitors that may come to your manor from what you've said in the past?" He asked mildly with a raise of an eyebrow.

"Po—Harry," the blond sighed and Neville gave his hand a bit of a squeeze. "I do what I must. I'm not a creature with any helpful, offensive skills, unlike Graham and a few others in here. Neither of my parents inherited a creature trait, and they both think me weak, which I admit I probably am. If I do what they ask of me, they won't tell our visitor what I am, and that's the most I can ask from life at this time. So, don't judge what you don't understand."

Harry nodded slowly. After talking with Graham earlier in the term, he realized there was more going on in the creatures' lives in this club than he would ever have imagined. Secrecy and survival seemed to be the driving factor behind everything they did outside of this one classroom. It was no way to live in his opinion, but as he'd only been a magical creature for a little over four months, he figured he had no room to speak. "I'll be spending the holidays with my godfather," he said slowly, looking at Draco meaningfully. "I'm sure that he could help me locate a certain pureblood manor if there was a reason someone might need help."

Draco sneered at him. "I don't need your help, Potter, and I never will."

Luna shook her head, radish earrings bouncing. "You should take your own advice, Draco. Don't judge things you don't understand," she warned him. "You mentioned there were some creatures in this room that had more offensive capabilities, maybe don't turn down one that does out of hand."

The group all looked at Harry contemplatively. "Those skills would be…?" Draco crossed his arms, letting go of Neville.

Harry shrugged. "Look, I don't want anyone to know unless it's the only way, but you send for me, and I might have some options for help."

"Irritate him enough, and he may let it slip," Snape commented dryly from the corner where they had no idea he'd been listening. The man never did look up from the potions journal he was reading. After learning what Harry was, the man seemed to completely ignore him. Harry was ok with that response; it had actually made Potions class significantly easier.

Luna violently smacked Harry's shoulder. "Oi! What was that for?!" Harry rubbed the spot.

"You didn't tell me Severus figured it out!" She accused him.

"Harry, you can't say things like that in front of people like Severus," Brook hissed lowly at the dementor from beside Draco. "You'll get Draco in trouble. No matter political views, this club is theoretically safe, but it's still better not to chance it, especially with where Draco is going for the holidays."

Draco just shrugged. "He's my godfather. He swore on his magic to protect me, so I think I'm mildly safe anyway."

Harry kept his emotions tightly out of his expression when it seemed that Draco didn't even know what side of the war his godfather was on, though it did really make sense from all their classroom interactions that Snape was Draco's godfather now that he knew. "What are you two doing over break?" He turned the conversation away from politics to the soap opera he was excited to hear about.

"We're introducing our families," David answered with a look of pure terror on his face.

"That's wonderful," Luna said dreamily off into the distance.

"Not really," David grimaced. "My family can't visit Brook's since they live underwater, and Brook's family don't like the idea of walking into the middle of Dryad territory."

"They've been arguing back and forth through owl post," the Naiad sighed. "Unfortunately, the letters have all been coming to the two of us, and we have to keep passing the messages along. It's like being back in primary school."

"Meet somewhere neutral," Draco suggested. "A nice seafood restaurant by the water. That way the Naiads can eat fish, and most restaurants have vegetarian options for the Dryads. If they can't get along, both parties have the option to leave early then as well."

"That would work," David smiled and reached over to squeeze his girlfriend's hand. "Thanks Draco!"

"Why don't your species get along anyway?" Harry finally asked as he tried to force down another tasteless biscuit.

"Too similar," Brook suggested with a shrug. "There've been so many political issues. The biggest was the amphibian debate of 1784, you know, since they live on both land and in the water. A lot more have stemmed from that though. It's all very ridiculous."

"Isn't all politics," Neville chuckled.

"Don't you have a seat on the Wizengamut?" David raised an eyebrow at the high elf.

Neville rolled his eyes. "Inherited, it doesn't mean I have to be happy about it."

"A voice for creature rights is never a thing to take lightly," Graham joined them, finally back in his human form.

"Well, I still have over two years before I can take it up," Neville nodded contemplatively. "My gran is in the seat now. As a high elf herself, I would hope she's already one of those voices."

"Anyone up for a game of Cluedo?" Colin asked as he and Dennis came over with the muggle board game. The group almost sighed in relief to be distracted from their heavy political talk.

"Set it up and tell me what you've come up with to ask the Weaslette out?" Draco motioned to the table and pinned the druid with a stern glare. "I don't trust your plans to be non-stalker-ish." Harry nodded in agreement, knowing Colin and Dennis's stalker-ish habits well himself. He kept his big dementor mouth shut though and just reapplied lip balm now that he'd finished the horrible human food.

The last DA meeting of the term was spent practicing stunning spells and shielding spells before Dobby and Winky popped in more snacks, and the end of the club dissolved into a low-key party. Harry's dementor senses itched every time they met in the Come and Go Room. During the party, when he was less busy than normal teaching, he could concentrate on the feeling more. He was certain there was something somewhere in the room that was like what his locket used to be. Another non-human soul container, a soul that he could, maybe ethically, take and eat.

The DA members finally started leaving in groups of two or three to not be noticed by Umbridge hopefully. Harry decided to hang back, it was his last chance of the term to find out what it was that was calling to him. Giving Luna a meaningful look, he leaned against one of the practice dummies and waited for the room to clear.

Cho Chang seemed to be hanging back too for some strange reason or another, but after an intense glare from Luna that even Snape didn't seem to be immune to, the older Ravenclaw slunk out of the room with the last group. "What do you think she wanted?" Harry asked the fairy.

Luna gave him a vague smile and walked over to where he was standing. "You sense something. I've seen you look like there was something important around every time we've met in here. I feel something too…but I don't know what it is."

Harry pulled his locket out from his shirt. "There was a piece of soul in this when I first found it. There's something that feels like it did here in the room somewhere. Is that something common in the magical community? Is it bad that I ate the piece of soul in here? It didn't feel recent, you know…" Harry trailed off, wondering what he was actually asking.

Luna studied the locket. "I've never heard of that before, but it would have to be very dark magic with ill intent to split a pure thing like a soul, even dementors don't split souls. It would not be a good or virtuous thing for someone to do."

Harry grinned at her, getting the answer he'd been hoping for. "So…it's not bad if I eat it then…right?"

She shrugged with a chuckle. "I'm not your conscience. I wouldn't judge you though. How do you propose to find it in here?"

The dementor had put a lot of thought into that throughout the party. "I don't think it's actually in this room. I think I could ask for it and it might appear though. I think that's how the magic works in here anyway."

"Well…give it a go then," Luna motioned to the middle of the room with an excited look in her eyes.

Harry thought hard about what he wanted and the magic that surrounded it. He opened his eyes when he heard a gasp beside him. A jewel encrusted crown-like-thing sat before them in the middle of the room. The soul was sending delicious vibes out into the room.

"Harry…that looks like a diadem…maybe like Ravenclaw's lost diadem," Luna gasped, taking a cautious step forward before her face twisted in disgust. "Ew, the magic surrounding it feels terrible, the darkest I've ever felt…it's just gross."

"Feels delicious to me," the dementor grinned back. "This necklace might be Slytherin's lost locket, so maybe they're connected in some way. The soul kind-of feels the same, but it's not like I have a lot of experience eating souls."

"Can you get rid of it safely?" Luna asked, looking at the diadem in repulsion.

Harry rolled his eyes in answer, but then he paused and looked to the door. "Erm, Luna, I'm going to have to leave Jamie to do this. Maybe you want to…" he motioned towards the door.

Luna put her hands on her hips and sent her patented glare at him. "Harry James Potter, what makes you think I'd think any less of you if I saw you in your true form?!"

"And saw me eat a soul?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"You saw me eat crickets two days ago," she shrugged. "I don't see an issue here. Why do you?"

Harry smiled brilliantly at his friend. I'm going to marry this girl, came unbidden as a thought that flew through his mind. He shook his head, not knowing where that came from, but knowing he'd have to actually analyze it at some point. Based on what Sirius had told him of his dad and mum and how they got together, he thought it might be some sort of genetic thing.

"Ok, look out for Jamie then," he said as he lay on the floor since there weren't any chairs around except for the beanbags that probably wouldn't hold up the body without him in it.

Harry rose out of the body and floated over towards the maybe-diadem. By the time he turned back to look at Luna, she had already sat on the floor and had Jamie's head in her lap. He smiled at her, even though she couldn't see under his hood. "You look gorgeous, dear," she grinned up at him playfully.

Harry chuckled his hauntingly echoing chuckle and turned to the soul. He held out for a moment, savoring the feeling, then he picked up the soul container and happily absorbed the soul. It was the same spicy, chocolatey taste of the one in the locket. It warmed his insides like the best hot chocolate he'd ever had. "Ah, that's much better!" Luna exclaimed from where she was combing Jamie's hair with her fingers. "All that nastiness is gone. It was giving me a headache."

He hovered back over to his body and sat the diadem on the floor before picking up the body again. "Hey…it taste good?" Luna smiled as the eyes in the body lit up again.

"So good," Harry smiled up at her, loving the feeling of her fingers in his hair. "You sure you aren't freaked out?"

Luna glared at him and gave his hair a sharp tug. "Don't you think bad things about my friends, even when those friends are yourself."

Laughing, he stood and picked up the diadem to inspect with his human eyes. "It's beautiful," he breathed out in awe, taking in the sparkling jewels that caught the light from the torches just right.

"It is quite pretty," Luna agreed, looking at it over his shoulder.

Harry stared at the brilliantly shining diadem, lost in the shine from the stones, and raised it to his head automatically. "Oh, hell no!" Luna exclaimed before taking the diadem from his hands.

She quickly transfigured the priceless artifact into a bracelet and slipped it onto Harry's wrist smirking at him the whole time. "It's still not very manly, but at least it isn't a crown. I may be eccentric, but even I don't want to walk around with you wearing that thing on your head."

"Plus, I can see it better now," he grinned at her before his smile fell. "I really can't help it, you know. Shiny things just call to me…"

"Harry, it's fine," Luna smiled and wrapped her arms around him. "We all have something like that. Mine is colors. I absolutely love the brightest colors possible, and Neville has plants. He treats them like people."

"And whatever his obsession with Malfoy is," Harry chuckled, feeling much better that he wasn't alone in this.

"Definitely!" She laughed and pulled him towards the door. "So, you just enjoy your new, shiny bracelet and don't worry about what anyone else says."

"As long as I don't wear it on my head," the dementor joked as his friend rolled her eyes.

"Oh please, if you insisted on wearing it on your head, you know I'd be the first to stick up for you, but I know you wouldn't want that picture in the Daily Prophet, am I right?" Luna remarked wryly as they exited the Room of Requirement.

Harry winced thinking of how that'd go. "Yeah, Ron would never let me live that down."

It was a flurry of activity as everyone threw last minute items in their trunks and headed out of the dorms for Christmas. This year, Harry, Hermione, and all the Weasleys were leaving the castle for the first time ever. Snape was probably beside himself in glee, if anyone could tell. Harry had received a note at breakfast when Hedwig flew to the table from Dumbledore explaining that Harry would be leaving the castle through the floo in his office instead of the train. The headmaster explained that no matter how indestructible Harry was currently, it was probably best he didn't draw any unwanted attention to the train, and the older man was certain Voldemort was planning something.

"What's with the new accessory?" Ron asked between bites as they hurried to finish their breakfast and grab their things.

Harry glanced down at his new bracelet with a smile. "Luna got it for me," he said, sort-of telling the truth.

"Well…that was very nice of her," Hermione said, also looking questioningly at the bracelet. "Are those stones real? They look real?"

Harry shrugged. "We found it in the Come and Go Room, so no telling. It's probably really old though."

"Er, I hate to tell you, but that looks like a chick bracelet, mate," Ron sniggered over his teacup.

Harry glared at him and took the last bite of his eggs before leaving the table in a huff. He didn't even know why he was mad, but leaving seemed like a better idea than yelling when he wasn't even sure why he was angry. "Harry! Wait up!" Hermione called as she caught up to him on the stairs. "It's really nice Luna got you the bracelet. Don't listen to Ron."

"Thanks Hermione," Harry smiled at her, his mood lifting. "Have a good Christmas, ok?"

"You too, stay safe and don't let Snuffles do anything dangerous."

Harry shrugged. "You know Snuffles. I'll do my best. I think Remus is staying with us too, so he'll help."

Hermione seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at that. She must really not trust Sirius as an adult figure, Harry concluded with a mental shrug; it wasn't wrong he guessed. "Great, see you in the new year then," she smiled as they got to the tower to grab their things and separate to go to the headmaster's office and the train.

Chapter Text

Harry was immediately grabbed into a bear hug when he stumbled out of the floo into Grimmauld Place. "Good to see you too, Siri!" Harry laughed as he patted the back of the animagus holding onto him for dear life.

"Harry! I'm so glad you're here! We're going to have so much fun!" Sirius beamed before pulling him out of the kitchen and towards the sitting room.

"Harry, good to see you!" Remus glanced up and smiled from where he had been reading a book when the two joined him.

"You too, Pro…Remus," Harry smiled, catching himself.

Sirius was almost vibrating in his excitement. "I have so many plans! After the Order meeting tonight, we're free until Christmas! We're going to decorate and sneak out to go shopping, and I'm going to teach you a crap-ton of spells for your defense club thing, and it's going to be epic!"

"You're not sneaking out, Padfoot," Remus sighed and turned a page in the book he was reading, apparently this was an old argument.

"Of course not," the fugitive winked at Harry where the other man couldn't see him. Harry shook his head and just smiled. He knew he'd be helping his godfather sneak out; he didn't see a way around that one. He didn't know how to help his godfather, not being a mind-healer, but he'd at least keep him safe when he was being reckless.

"Plus, you aren't free. Severus will be in and out brewing potions in the attic for the Order, and everyone is coming over for Boxing Day, and you really should clean since Kreacher has disappeared again," Remus continued, not noticing the silent conversation on the other side of the room.

"Urgh! Snivellus!" Sirius grumbled but seemed to brush it all off. "How's class going with the git, by the way?"

Harry shrugged. He glanced nervously over to Remus, deciding to go out on a limb and take a chance on the man who had only ever been nice to him. "Erm, I got roped into Remedial Potions," he said, looking pointedly at the werewolf. "He's much more chill outside of normal class, and it's been helping some."

As much as Harry studied his face, Remus gave absolutely no indication he knew Harry was talking about the HSMC. The society was the only 'remedial' classes offered though. Sirius snorted and went into a rant about Snape and potions in general. The werewolf just shook his head and smiled at Harry. "I'm glad you're taking your studies seriously. Maybe it'll help you get a good OWL in the subject," he said kindly.

"Yeah…" Harry was so confused. How did Remus not know what he was talking about? Maybe he just didn't want to say anything with Sirius in the room…it seemed strange he'd give no indication at all he knew what Harry was talking about though.

"Oh, hey, look at this!" Sirius grabbed a large, leather-bound journal from an old desk in the corner and plopped it down in front of Harry. "It's my notes for your group you're teaching. It started out on napkins, but it kind of grew from there. Hey, you do plan to teach them all the Patronus Charm, right? It's dead useful against dark creatures, and you can also send messages with them."

"Yours is very impressive," Remus added in with a smile. "You should definitely teach it."

Harry looked at the two of them feeling overwhelmed and slowly shook his head, knowing he'd never be able to cast a Patronus Charm again or be in the room when it was being cast. "Er, everyone is at all different levels. I don't think it'd be easy to get them all to learn a high-level charm like that. I think we should stick to more standard defenses."

"Nonsense," Sirius waved a hand. "You got this, plus with all my ideas, you'll have plenty of lessons until the end of the year."

Harry flipped through the book with all kinds of defensive and offensives spells and drills in it. Sirius obviously had a lot of time on his hands. "This is amazing, Padfoot! Thank you!"

A loud crash resounded before Sirius's mother's portrait started screaming. Remus rushed out of the room to shut it up. "Don't worry, Harry. We're going to have a great time this Christmas," Sirius gave Harry's shoulder a little squeeze. "We just have to ditch the spoil-sport in order to leave the house," the older man wolfishly grinned at him.

"I'm here for the show!" Tonks announced as she followed Remus in, her hair a brilliant shade of purple.

"You're not here to help?" Sirius asked with a pout as he threw a pillow at his cousin.

"Merlin, I can't boil water. My ordering take-away skills are unmatched though," Tonks caught the pillow out of thin air and lobbed it back.

"What's going on?" Harry chuckled at the two of them in confusion.

Remus just grinned and plopped down beside Harry on the couch. "Your godfather thought it would be a good idea to kick Molly Weasley out and swear he'd cook for the Order meeting tonight even though I doubt he's ever cooked in his life."

"Well, it can't be that hard," Sirius rolled his eyes.

"And that's why I'm here hours early," Tonks ruffled Harry's hair with an evil grin. "The fallout is going to be beautifully awful!"

"Can you cook?" Harry worriedly asked Remus.

"Er…I can cook anything that comes in a box with directions on the back," the werewolf grinned at him sheepishly.

Harry sighed, realizing what was going to have to happen. "Fine, I'm going to go see what you have in the kitchen. I really hope someone bought groceries."

"You can cook?" Sirius asked Harry with a surprised expression.

"I can if you have any food," the teen was not looking forward to it. After being forced to cook for the Dursleys his entire life, cooking was one of his least favorite things to do. He had so many bad memories in the kitchen from being forced to cook meals he wouldn't be allowed to eat, dodging frying pans aimed at his head, and Dudley pushing him into the hot stove and him being punished for crying out and dropping things. Even with all of that, he knew he was an excellent cook though, anyone would just need to look at the girth of his uncle and cousin to see that.

Not seeing the internal struggle in his godson, Sirius followed along behind, skipping happily as the whole group went to the kitchen. "I told Kreacher you were coming a few days ago," the animagus explained. "He stocked the whole kitchen, cleaned your room again, you now have three vases of dead flowers in there, and now he's gone into his invisibility mode and no one has seen him in about 24 hours."

"Strange," Harry remarked simply as he looked in the cupboards. Luckily, they were very well stocked. "I'm going to make a curry," he finally decided.

Initially, Harry had started Sirius and Remus out on chopping ingredients. After they started throwing carrots at each other, Harry moved them to stirring. It only took ten minutes before they were distracted again, and Harry eventually just kicked them both out of the kitchen with Tonks following along behind, laughing at them the whole time. He needed another saucepan and wasn't sure where he would find one once he was finally left alone, grumbling as he cooked for the Order members. "Kreacher! Is there another saucepan?!" Harry called out, feeling silly talking to a house elf that wasn't in the room.

Another pan immediately appeared on the stove with a loud pop. "Thank you!" Harry called out again, wondering if he'd ever see the house elf. "I'm not going to hurt you, by the way. Seriously, I'm harmless!"

The ancient house elf popped into the room and warily stared at the dementor. "Kreacher thinks the dementor might eat his soul. The dementor destroyed the evil in the locket though when Kreacher couldn't, so Master Regulus can rest in peace now. Kreacher doesn't know what to do," he continued in a tone of distress, wringing his bony hands.

"I'm not going to eat your soul, Kreacher," Harry assured him with a smile. "I don't think house elf soul would taste very good anyway. Please keep it to yourself that I'm a dementor though if you don't mind. As for Master Regulus…do you mean this locket?" He asked, pulling the locket up to show the elf.

Kreacher nodded his head vigorously. "The evil wizard's locket. Master Regulus asked Kreacher to destroy it, but Kreacher couldn't."

Harry glanced around at the multiple pans simmering and the massive undertaking he was in the middle of with a sigh. "Kreacher…would you like to help me by doing some chopping? I would love to hear more about Regulus and the locket as well." The house elf's face went from wary to happy as he immediately started chopping produce expertly and chatting about his beloved Master Regulus. Harry was so grateful to the house elf that he'd listen to whatever he wanted to share for as long as he wanted to share.

"This is the best curry I've ever had!" Kingsley Shacklebolt exclaimed as he got a second helping while everyone sat around the table chatting before the Order meeting.

"Yes, Sirius," Molly Weasley nodded in shocked respect. "I have to admit, I didn't believe you could do it. You've proven me wrong."

"Oh please, Harry kicked all of us out of the kitchen after about fifteen minutes," Tonks laughed and dropped her fork on the ground while Sirius glowered at her.

"You made this, Harry?" Mr. Weasley gaped at the teen as everyone else looked at him in shock.

Harry turned pink in embarrassment. "Er, Kreacher helped a lot," he motioned to the house elf who was washing dishes in the corner to everyone's amazement since he usually never helped with anything.

"I didn't realize you could cook," Mrs. Weasley shot narrowed glares at all her kids (those old enough for the Order anyway) who were avoiding her eyes, none of them wanted to learn to cook no matter how much she tried to get them to.

"Yes, very impressive, my boy," Dumbledore grinned at Harry, looking a little less worried than he had in a while. Harry figured that might be since he, the dementor, was away from all the students at the school.

"Sure, no worries," Harry mumbled out, looking for an escape. The escape came when he was kicked out of the kitchen and the meeting started shortly after. He was fine with that though; he had his own plans. Over the summer, Harry had noticed that Snape would normally stay after Order meetings to get potions started that took all night to brew. He'd then return the next morning to bottle them. It didn't sit right with Harry the fact that Remus didn't seem to know about the HSMC, and he couldn't figure out why Snape would have sold him out third year either. He needed to talk to the Potions Master; he would just have to find a way to make the man answer his questions.

A couple hours later, Harry had unpacked his trunk in his room and admired the dead flowers Kreacher had left him. He'd also come up with a semblance of a plan while he waited outside the attic door for Snape to come up and start the potions. The tall man stopped and sneered at the teen when he arrived at the door to his make-shift lab. "What do you want, Potter? I'm supposed to be rid of you for a couple weeks."

"I have some questions I need to ask," Harry said as he nervously opened the door for his professor.

"I'm not in an answering mood, bugger off," Snape growled at him and pushed past, seeming more irritated than he normally was.

Harry hurried through the door behind him. "I have a deal for you. If you answer my questions, I promise I won't talk to you to the rest of break. I'll avoid you as much as possible. I'll be a ghost until the new year."

The vampire narrowed his gaze and considered for a moment. "You'd promise to completely avoid me, not even looking in my direction if you could help it?" He asked, an eyebrow quirking up in question.

"As much as humanly possible…or dementorly possible, rather," Harry smiled hopefully.

Snape gave a sharp nod and started pulling vials off his shelves. "Fine, ask your questions, but I'm not answering anything I don't want to."

Taking a steeling breath, Harry jumped right in. "Why did you turn in Remus after my third year? Doesn't that go against everything the HSMC stands for?" Harry asked, wondering if Snape actually believed in the society and what it stood for even as the sponsor.

The vampire sneered from where he was starting to chop up ingredients. "Lupin was not the first werewolf that has attended Hogwarts, nor was he the last," he explained with venom. "The only difference with Lupin is that the headmaster knew about him."

"How does that make any difference?" Harry asked in confusion while he perched on a stool in the corner.

"Look…Potter, I hated your father," Snape looked up at him with a glare. "I hate your godfather, but I absolutely loathe Lupin. I outed him in your third year because he didn't take his potion. He put students in danger and refused to follow safety measures, a pattern from even his school days, might I add. It's standard society procedure; those who refuse to take the safety of others seriously are asked to leave, no matter my personal feelings on the matter. If he were a student, he'd be expelled; as a professor, it was my only recourse."

Harry's eyes widened in shock. Remus seemed…well, harmless for a werewolf. He had no clue what the mild-mannered man could have done to cause the amount of ire Snape was sending his way. However, he also understood the direness of the situation the werewolf had caused since he and his friends were almost killed that night, as much as he didn't want to admit it.

"Er, ok…why do you 'loathe' him so much then?"

Snape sighed and went back to chopping. "My mother was a member of the HSMC before me, so I joined as soon as I started Hogwarts, like Aceline did this year. Lupin was known by Madam Pomfrey already, and the headmaster of course, who didn't know that werewolves have frequently attended the school. We even have special rooms set up in the dungeons for full moons and a system worked out to ensure safety for the werewolves and the other students. The Shrieking Shack is much less secure or safe for transformations than the rooms set up from the founding of Hogwarts specifically for werewolves," he explained while his hands expertly sliced roots on his cutting board. "Vampires are frequently paired with werewolves when possible as we are immune to their bites and tend to be much more equipped to handle them during their transformation if necessary. As a vampire and in the same year as him, I was the one sent to invite Lupin to the society, much as Ms. Lovegood did for you."

"I take it that it didn't go well?" Harry raised an eyebrow. He hadn't known there was such an extensive system in place before.

"You could say that," Snape snorted. "We waited a few weeks to approach him, and by the time I was able to talk to him, he'd already made friends with those idiotic marauders. He didn't want to acknowledge the wolf existed and resented me even bringing it up. He wanted to pretend he was a normal student and ignore that he had a 'furry little problem' once a month as he put it. If I had to guess, he was probably afraid his new friends would reject him if he was seen talking to a Slytherin…let alone if they found out he was a werewolf."

"So, he was never a member of the HSMC?" Harry sighed, realizing now why Remus had no clue what he'd been talking about it.

"Not only that, but he told my only friend in fifth year that I was a vampire, outing me before I could tell her myself," the man viciously chopped some slugs next, taking out his frustrations on the ingredients.

"Why would he do that?!" Harry gasped. It was a betrayal he'd never have imagined coming from the man.

"My friend and I were fighting at the time, and she never talked to me again, so I was unable to learn why. You'd have to ask him," Snape said from between gritted teeth. "I can only imagine it was to get me out of my friend's life for good."

Harry was shocked beyond belief. Why would anyone do that to someone? It's not like Snape didn't have a handle on his vampiric abilities, obviously he did if it was the fifth year. He wouldn't have been a danger to his friend. "So, your friend didn't talk to you again because you're a vampire?"

Snape shook his head sadly, answering, but almost not seeming to realize Harry was in the room anymore. "No, or at least I doubt it. She wasn't one to hold prejudices as such, but it was the fact I hadn't told her, along with other things that were going on at the time as well. Are you done, Potter?" He growled at the end, as it clicked who it was he was opening up to. Snape's hands twitched like he really wanted to punch something or throw something.

"Wait, that means when Sirius tried to convince you to go to the Shrieking Shack on a full moon, you already knew what was going on? You weren't in any danger," Harry asked in surprise when the incident he'd learned about in his third year came to mind.

Snape gave a dark chuckle. "If anything, your father saved Lupin's life, not mine."

"I'm sorry professor," the dementor sighed sadly. He could see Snape was past the point of his patience, and it would be best to leave him alone, but Harry just couldn't help pushing forward. He had to know. "Why do you hate me though? I get Remus, I get Sirius, I even kind-of get my dad, but I didn't meet either Remus or Sirius until my third year, and I don't even remember my dad."

Snape threw the knife he was holding at the wall where it stuck vibrating just feet from Harry. He looked up at Harry, a cruel sneer on his face. "Because you killed her," he growled out in frustration, causing Harry to jump in surprise.

"I what?!" Harry exclaimed, jumping up and backing to the door. "I haven't killed anyone!"

"My friend!" Snape glowered desperately. "Lily…she died because of you! I was never able to make up with her, because she died!"

Harry's stomach instantly seemed to fall from his body. It was what he'd secretly believed his entire life spoken from someone else's mouth. He'd killed her, his mother. He had no clue the professor had been friends with his mother, but those words, spoken in the venom of hate, hit Harry in the part of himself he tried to ignore, the part that was raised in a cupboard and told he was worthless his entire life. It didn't matter who'd said it; Harry already believed it. "Th…Thank you, professor," he gasped out suddenly. "Thank you for answering my questions. I won't talk to you again."

The man retrieved his knife from the wall and glared at his student. "I'll see you back at Hogwarts then," he coldly turned back to his brewing.

Harry stumbled out of the attic and down to his room in a daze. His mother and father were dead because of him, so was Cedric, so was whoever else Voldemort had killed because he'd stupidly been led into a trap to resurrect the Dark Lord. There was little to no thought put into it when Jamie fell to the bed and Harry tucked him in. He didn't analyze why he told the soulless shell goodbye or why he put extra owl treats in Hedwig's empty cage. The only thing he knew, was that he wasn't where he was supposed to be anymore. The Order was put together again because he'd messed up and Voldemort was back. They were fighting because of him. Sirius and Remus were in danger because of him, Graham and Malfoy didn't feel safe in their own homes, and muggleborns like Hermione were being targeted. Snape had opened the floodgates, and Harry felt it all wash over him. This was not where he was supposed to be, and he needed to leave.

The dementor stood hovering just outside of number 12 Grimmauld Place, having left in the shadows without anyone seeing him. Where was he supposed to be? Where could he atone for all he'd done? The answer came as almost a call on his soul. He thought he would have needed a map or at least a general direction, but he knew instinctively exactly where he was going. The shadows embraced Harry as he flew swiftly off to where the dementors belonged, to Azkaban Prison.

A couple things struck Harry as he approached the prison he was resigned to staying at the rest of his life. First of all, it actually wasn't that bad. It felt almost…homey. Second, dementors didn't actually all look the same. Yes, they all wore the same tattered robes, and they didn't have genders per se, but their auras were completely different. Several dementors started heading his way when he got close, one out front of the others. Harry steeled himself for whatever was about to happen.

The one dementor reached him first and blocked his path, crossing his skeletal arms and seeming to stare the newcomer down. "Well, it's about time. We've been waiting for you for months now!" The dementor huffed in irritation.

Harry looked at him in confusion. It only took a minute before he was absolutely certain this was the dementor who had originally sucked out his soul. "Hey, you just attacked me and left! What do you mean you've been waiting for me?! You ruined my life and went on with your business!"

The dementor flew rapidly up to invade his personal space, causing Harry to flinch back unconsciously. "I was instructed to eat your soul. You're lucky I only ate the parasite living on it. I could have taken both and left you for dead, plus I left you your body. What do you mean I ruined your life?! I turned you into a dementor! What's wrong with being a dementor?! You should be thanking me, ungrateful dunderhead!"

"Calm down, (untranslatable name of screeches)," another dementor instructed the one in front of Harry. Since the name was completely not translatable to English, Harry immediately decided to call the dementor Drake in his head since he was obviously a kindred spirit of Draco Malfoy's.

"What do you mean parasite on my soul?" Harry asked the group of dementors as a whole who were now hovering in a ring around him. "Why did you turn me into one of you?"

The new dementor who seemed to be in charge from his demeanor pushed Drake back some. "You had another soul parasitically living on yours. Our guess it that it must be a part of the Dark Lord's from when he tried to kill you as a baby. It tasted too good to not be from someone exceptionally evil. We tried to get it out of you when we were around the school two years ago, but you reacted badly every time we got near," the dementor who Harry decided to call King since he reminded Harry a lot of Kingsley Shacklebolt explained.

"You were trying to help me?" Harry gaped at them. He had just assumed they really, really thought his soul tasted good for some reason. He was horrified that he might have had a piece of Voldemort's soul living in him his entire life. He desperately hoped they were wrong about that.

"Idiot," Drake grumbled before King shot him a glare.

"When we were sent by the ministry to basically kill you, well, we took the opportunity to turn you into one of us," a different dementor jumped in to explain. This one, Harry decided had an aura similar to Hermione's. He was thinking Jean for a name since it was Hermione's middle name. "With the danger you seem to be in, you'd be safer as a dementor, and we were kind-of hoping you'd help us with something too  ."

"It took him five months to come find us," Drake still grumbled. "I doubt he's intelligent enough to be of any help."

"(Drake), that's enough! You will be silent, or you can go guard that annoying Lestrange woman," a very McGonagall-like dementor scolded him; Athena Harry decided as a name. "Don't listen to him Harry, we know this has all been a huge adjustment for you. We wouldn't have sent the insensitive (Drake) to be the one to change you if we thought any of the rest of us could do it."

"It's really difficult to pull out a soul and not consume it," Jean continued the explanation. "The willpower is unimaginable." Drake looked very smug at that. "Or the pigheaded stubbornness, however you want to look at it." Drake was now glaring, though how Harry knew with the hoods was beyond him. It was like his aura was glaring.

"Ok…" Harry was very confused. The dementors were trying to help him all along, and apparently the ministry wanted him dead as well as Voldemort. What was going on? "I don't understand. You said you needed my help?"

"The ministry idiots stopped reading our mail," a dementor that had an aura so similar to Ron's that Harry immediately named him Ronnie huffed out.

"What does that mean exactly?" Harry asked, not feeling any less confused.

"Oh dear, we really should start from the beginning," Athena said airily. "Well, first of all, we have a contract with the British Ministry of Magic to guard Azkaban Prison for them. However, this contract was up about a decade ago. We've been having communication issues though since our letters seem to be put in some sort of eternal limbo and they cannot understand our spoken language."

"Why don't you just get a house elf to interpret for you?" Harry asked, wondering if they really turned him into a dementor just to be an interpreter.

All the dementors looked at each other in shocked confusion. "Er, we didn't know they understood us," Ronnie finally explained with a shrug. "They avoid us so much, I don't think we've ever actually been in the same room with one. It's not even like house elf soul would taste good, can you imagine? It'd be like eating grass!" All the dementors, Harry included, shuddered.

"So, your contract is up, and you need it renegotiated?" Harry clarified. "And you want me to talk to the ministry?"

"That or we want to move somewhere else, but we don't want to leave the prison unguarded. That would be irresponsible," King added in. "We don't understand. Is the ministry corrupt or just completely incompetent? We've been owling them for years, and they never respond. Take that Sirius Black bloke, we owled them as soon as he arrived that he was a dog animagus and needed a different cell we didn't have set up, and no one got back to us. Then, we owled them that he was obviously not imprisoned for the crimes he was accused of since his soul didn't taste good. The eviler and more corrupt the soul, the better it tastes. A soul that tastes that bland has no reason to be in maximum security."

"We get offers from other wizard prisons all the time, and we would like to consider accepting one," Athena said. "Also, the Dark Lord has been asking us to join his side. We aren't sure that's the right move for us though. You seem to be in the middle of everything, and we figured you would know what was going on. Is the ministry evil or is the Dark Lord?"

At that, Harry just shrugged. "I don't know, maybe both," was the most honest answer he could give. "I think the ministry is more incompetent than evil though…maybe. Umbridge is definitely evil. Voldemort is the worst of the worst though. (Drake) should know if he ate part of his soul."

"Best soul I've ever eaten," the dementor answered wistfully, seeming to be caught up in memory. "It was sweet and spicy and just delicious."

Harry's mind was whirling as the soul from the locket and the diadem could have been described the same. Was it possible they were pieces of Voldemort's soul as well? "Er, well, so you see, evil. Do you want to have a contract with an evil person?"

The dementors all looked at each other questioningly. "The souls he'd give us would probably taste horrible," Ronnie remarked with a shrug. "That's assuming he'd be going after good people."

"Very true," King nodded in agreement. "Maybe we should consider one of the other prison offers? There was that one on an island in the Caribbean. It would be nice and warm there."

Harry nodded, knowing the draw of that. Even now that he'd released his aura, it would still be nice to be in a warmer climate. It was hard to stay warm in this body. "So, are we going to the Caribbean then?" He asked happily.

"What 'we?'" Drake drawled questioningly. "Don't you have your own life? If you take care of your old body, it should last you most of your life unless someone kills it. Dementor lifespans aren't much longer than wizards."

"Don't be a prat (Drake)," Jean admonished him. "If Harry wants to join us, he can. Harry dear, you aren't bound by our contracts because we always add in a loophole where only spawned dementors are included; you were made not spawned but created. It gives us wiggle room in case we need someone who is freer to move about, like in this situation. It helps that no one outside of our species knows we can do this."

"We really could use your help in handling all this mess with the humans though if you're willing?" King asked hopefully. "If we didn't think it'd lead to a mass breakout, we would have left back when our contract ended. It's not good business to be seen as unreliable guards though."

"We would be happy to have you if you want to throw your lot in with us. We thought you'd want to stay with your friends and family though," Athena added in kindly. "That's why we were very clear with (Drake) that he had to leave you your body. We meant to keep you safe, not force you to follow our ways."

Harry was taken aback and reevaluating everything he knew to be true in the world. These dementors were looking out for him. They made him indestructible and left him the ability to remain with his friends. They healed a part of his soul he didn't even know was damaged. He had wondered why he felt so much better and lighter after he was attacked; he just didn't know he'd been living with a parasite at the time. The monsters that he had feared more than anything else in the world were just another species, one that was caught between bureaucracy and evil in a war they didn't understand and where they had limited means of communication with others. Maybe this was where he belonged. Maybe this was where he could atone for being a curse on those he loved.

"I think I'd like to stay for a while and learn more about you all," he finally said slowly. "I think maybe this is where I should be. My friends really don't need me back there. I would only end up hurting them anyway."

Jean put a skeletal arm around Harry just as Hermione would do, which would have caused him to tear up if he still had eyes. "I doubt that, Harry, but we are happy to keep you as long as you want," the dementor said as the group made their way back towards the prison. "Hey, you hungry? We're going to make a pass through maximum security soon. You want to join?"

"I could eat," Harry smiled, pulling a tube of lip balm out of his pocket and applying it as the dementors marveled around him.

"You have any more of that?" Athena asked in interest.

"Sure, I have a lot," Harry passed over another tube as the dementors excitedly passed it around, applying it. Harry grimaced, really hoping there weren't any dementor germs, but decided not to mention it.

Chapter Text

Harry had been with the other dementors at Azkaban for about five days, and the morning of Christmas Eve was dawning. It had been a highly productive five days overall. From what Harry could tell, the dementors were excellent at running a prison, but terrible at contract negotiations. The consensus seemed to be that it would be best to either stick it out with the ministry or take Voldemort up on his offer, just so they wouldn't have to move. When Harry explained very patiently that neither of those options were in their best interests, the common vote was to just pick an offer off the top of the pile and accept that one.

The pile turned out to be a literal pile. Apparently, the creatures were highly in demand across the world to run magical prisons. Every offer they had received over the years had been tossed into an empty cell in the minimum-security wing, and the pile was overtaking almost half the cell. Harry, Jean, and Athena ended up sorting through the entire pile and narrowing it down to just one neat stack of acceptable offers. Any repeat letters were tossed, those for prisons in very cold climates, those that didn't have a maximum-security wing, and ones where the air was too dry to create mist. Once the letter for the prison located on its own Caribbean island was explained to the group, all around 150 or so dementors voted unanimously to accept the offer.

Harry then found himself learning how to write rejection, resignation, and acceptance letters. He figured he was gaining some very practical business experience at least. He tore up five letters before he had an acceptable one to send to Voldemort respectfully rejecting his offer. Since it was coming from the dementors as a whole and not Harry Potter, he figured he needed to represent them as they would want to be represented, and they were a very neutral party in the war. Really, if it didn't impact their ability to hang out around evil people and feed from their souls, they didn't really care what was going on. Considering neither side of the war cared for them (really both sides hated them), Harry could understand where they were coming from.

The ministry was also sent a letter of resignation, though no one believed they would actually read it. The dementors didn't want to leave their post without someone realizing they were gone, so Harry came up with the idea of sending a letter to the newspaper. He hadn't quite figured out how to ensure they printed it, so it was currently sitting on his makeshift desk in the cell he had been given for his own personal use. One of the dementors, Ronnie if he had to guess, had even put a piece of what looked like aluminum foil up by the tiny, barred window to catch the sunlight and cast shiny stars throughout the cell. To a dementor, the prison already felt pretty homey, but the other dementors seemed to be really trying to make Harry feel welcome and like he was a valued member of the group, especially as he had helped them so much already.

The acceptance letter was much easier to write, but then he had to deal with the back and forth of the negotiations. After the initial letter of acceptance was sent by owl, the ministry located in the Turks and Caicos sent a self-updating parchment where they could communicate instantly with each other just by writing on the paper. They used this to mockup a draft contract that Harry insisted needed to be looked over by a solicitor before it was finalized. The dementors and the Caribbean Ministry ended up agreeing to just 20 years in the initial contract with the opportunity to extend for another 50 years at that point if both parties found the arrangement acceptable. This was much better than the dementors' original contract with the British Ministry for 100 years without acceptable communication of terms. They also made it very clear that a house elf would be required to be at every in-person negotiation for translation purposes.

Harry couldn't believe they had gotten through all of that in only five days, but it did help that none of the dementors had to sleep. It was the most useful he had felt in a very long time, maybe ever. He felt bad for leaving Jamie and hoped someone was taking care of him, but he actually felt needed at the prison and not like he was in the way or one wrong move from getting the rest of his friends and family killed through a mistake he made. The dementors' excitement over the move was infectious as well. Harry happily sat through a lecture led by Athena and King on what to expect on an island with more sun and warmer weather since they seemed to be the best travelled of the group. Everyone oohed and aahed when Athena explained how the sun would glint off the water and shine like diamonds. Harry was glad to know he wasn't the only dementor fascinated by shiny things.

Christmas Eve was positively festive at the prison, well not for the prisoners, Harry was positive the prisoners had no clue what day it even was, but the dementors knew how to party on their end. Apparently, dementors can sing…Harry wasn't sure how it would sound to someone with human ears (probably horrifying), but to him, they were actually quite good, especially Drake, but no one would tell him that because his ego was already too inflamed. There was also dancing, races across the island, and games that could be played in flight. All the activity ground to a halt, and a hush settled over the group as a blonde fairy landed right in the midst of the activity.

The fairy's wings were iridescent and caught the light, shining like they were covered in crystals and casting little rainbows on the stone walls. The entire group of dementors were mesmerized and as one pulled in their auras to protect the beautiful creature in their midst. "Um, hello," Luna awkwardly waved at the stunned group of dementors around her. "Er, is Harry Potter around here somewhere? I'm sorry, I'm not good at telling you all apart."

All the dementors continued to stare in shocked awe as her wings fluttered a bit and the light shined once more. "Oh, I'm sorry," Luna chuckled and quickly cast her normal glamour back on her wings. "I forgot the shiny object thing. Now…Harry Potter? Are you in here somewhere?"

Harry floated through the group until he was hovering beside a stern-looking Athena who blocked his progress protectively. "She's a friend," Harry explained to the other dementor. "She won't hurt me."

"You forget young one that we can feel emotions," Athena took Harry's wrist in her hands. "You came here broken inside, and we will not let you leave if it's only to be broken once more."

Harry patted her hand and smiled. "I don't plan to leave (Athena). I just want to talk to her. Is that ok?"

Harry could feel Athena's aura waver in indecision, but she did eventually move aside and let go of Harry's wrist. He continued until he was right in front of his friend and gave her a little wave, knowing she wouldn't be able to understand him.

"Thank Merlin! I was worried I was wrong about where you ran off to," Luna gave the dementor a hug, shocking the rest of the group. "Your godfather, Professor Lupin, and the Headmaster have been looking everywhere for you, but I knew this is where you would go. Where else would a dementor go to feel safe? Oh Harry, what happened?"

Harry shrugged but didn't know how to convey everything nonverbally, frankly he didn't feel up to conveying it verbally either. "I guess I should explain why I'm here," Luna bounced happily and pulled Harry over to a boulder she sat down on. The other dementors slowly dispersed finally believing Harry would be relatively safe. "Hedwig came to me yesterday distraught. Harry, you have a lot of apologizing to do there, I'm just saying. Anyway, she seemed to want me to follow her, so I flew along behind her to somewhere in London. I ended up having to sit on a street corner and stare at the magic for the longest until I could work out I was looking at a townhouse, then I just walked up and knocked."

"You saw through a fidelus charm!" Harry exclaimed, forgetting Luna couldn't understand him.

"Oh, sorry, right," Luna looked at him sheepishly. "Kreacher!"

After a loud pop, the ancient house elf stared around himself in fear but took a deep, steadying breath and turned to Luna. "Mistress Fairy, did you find Kreacher's friend?"

"Yes, Kreacher," Luna smiled at the elf kindly before motioning to Harry. "Here's Harry. You mind translating for him, please?"

Kreacher nodded with a little awkward wave to Harry. "Yes, Mistress Fairy," he responded promptly. "Harry-Dementor, you shouldn't have run off. You should have told Kreacher at least!" He turned to admonish Harry next.

"I'm sorry, Kreacher," Harry shook his head, confused that the house elf actually cared. The elf narrowed his eyes, but just crossed his arms and gave Harry a little nod. "Kreacher, would you ask Luna how she got into the house?"

Luna just rolled her eyes after Kreacher's translation. "Really, Harry; I'm a fairy," she said in answer before continuing. "Anyway, the headmaster opens the door and your godfather, who looks remarkably like the singer Stubby Boardman by the way, was just distraught. Apparently, Mr. Black and Professor Lupin tried to wake you up the morning after you left, and Jamie of course wouldn't wake up. Professor Lupin cast some kind of diagnostic charm, and they freaked out when they realized Jamie doesn't have a soul. They went and got Headmaster Dumbledore, and he had to explain everything to them. I don't think that helped them freak out any less though."

"Oh no! So, they know now?" Harry asked dejectedly. "I guess I really won't be returning. I hadn't planned to, but it was nice to know it was an option."

"What are you talking about Harry? Of course, you're coming back with me!" Luna exclaimed in shock. "I'm sure the other dementors are just lovely, but your friends need you! All those men I met at Grimmauld were useless, even the headmaster. You left and they just lost all ability to cope. If I hadn't of shown up, they'd be looking for you in youth hostels in London. That was the actual plan of where they were going to start looking! You left your body, and they still thought you'd be out around people!"

Harry shook his head determinedly. He knew Sirius mentally couldn't accept him as he was, and if Remus couldn't accept himself, why would he be able to accept Harry. No, it was best if he just stayed away. "No, Luna. I'll miss you all terribly, but you don't need me. I put you all at risk. You're much better off without me screwing things up for you."

"I really hope Kreacher translated what you just said wrong!" Luna exclaimed indignantly as Kreacher shot her a death glare clearly communicating he'd translated every single word correctly. "What did Severus say to you that sent you off like this?! You should know he feels terribly about it. He's been taking care of Jamie since you left and positively beside himself, not that he'd ever admit that of course. He told me that he said something he shouldn't have, something that wasn't true at all."

Harry shook his head sadly, but very surprised she'd talked to the professor about him. "No, Luna, he only told me the truth. He's the only one who sees me as I am. Since I started Hogwarts, he's the only one that saw me, that saw how much of a disappointment I am. He's the only one that sees the freak, not the Boy-Who-Lived or the son of James and Lily Potter or whatever. No, you don't know who I really am, Luna. I should stay here. The dementors actually need me. I can't mess up and get everyone killed here."

Kreacher translated every single word like a curse as he opened and closed his little hands like he was imagining strangling Snape over and over again. "Kreacher will destroy the Potions Master!" He ended his translation with the vehement declaration.

"No, Kreacher! He's right and only told me what I needed to hear!" Harry assured him frantically.

"What in the goddess's name did the human say?!" Drake exclaimed as he hovered down from where he'd been spying on them from above. "I know you're an idiot, Potter, but even you should know he was speaking out of his arse if he said anything like what you just did!"

"Kreacher likes this new dementor," the house elf grinned evilly. "The dementor will help Kreacher destroy the man."

"Sure, what the hell," Drake shrugged with a nod to the elf.

"First of all, he's a vampire, not a human, and second, there's no reason to destroy him, whatever that means," Harry sighed and rubbed the back of his neck under his hood.

"Erm, I'm not sure what's going on exactly," Luna looked between the three since Kreacher hadn't translated the back and forth. "But Severus definitely didn't mean whatever it was he said. He said that he'd had a really bad day and took it out on you. I would've made him come with me, but I wasn't sure if he'd just make it worse. Look, you need to come back and talk to him, and to Mr. Black and Professor Lupin. Mr. Black wanted to come with us, but he just couldn't. He still loves you…but you know, he tried but couldn't make it here. Professor Lupin and the Headmaster are waiting for us at the gates though. They can't fly, so I had to come on ahead. Just come talk to them, ok?"

"No, it's best that we make a clean break," Harry protested vehemently. "They can get on with their lives now and not have to worry about me."

Drake sighed loudly. "Look, elf, tell the fairy that she's going to need to bring the git vampire or this isn't going to get anywhere. Tell her I'll sick (Athena) on him if he refuses to come."

"(Drake)! Really!" Harry huffed angrily.

"Kreacher will get the git vampire for new friend dementor!" The elf exclaimed before immediately popping away.

"Do I even want to know what just happened?" Luna asked in concern at where Kreacher had stood a second before. Both dementors shook their heads at her. "Yeah, I figured. Now, what all goes on at a dementor Christmas?" She asked as she looked around at all the activities happening in the prison yard.

Severus Snape fell into a heap at the feet of the ancient house elf who popped in a few minutes later. He stood elegantly and brushed the dust from his robes like he had meant to be kidnapped and crashed into a prison yard. "Which one of you is, Potter?" He looked around at all the assembled dementors, many of which had moved closer and released more of their aura as they had been listening in angrily to what had happened. Apparently dementors were fairly nosy by nature and this was the most excitement they'd had since they were stationed around Hogwarts. Athena in particular looked like she was contemplating eating a soul for lunch.

Harry raised a hand and gave him a little wave. "I'm sorry, Professor. I'm know I'm breaking my promise to not see you. I didn't send Kreacher."

"Merlin, Potter! I'm an acerbic, vicious man who had a very, very bad day," Snape exclaimed after Kreacher's growled translation. He began pacing and ranting at the same time. "The Dark Lord was angry at me because I can't fix Pettigrew's potions mistake and make him look human again, so he made me torture some muggles with the Cruciatus Curse on pain of death before being cursed myself, then the Order accused me of liking to torture muggles and called me a monster in that meeting. I was in no mental state to talk to you then and should have just told you that! If anyone is to blame for your parents' deaths, it's me! I'm the idiot who thought Divination was a ridiculous subject and assumed the Dark Lord would think the same thing. I'm the idiot that told him a partial prophesy I overheard that sent him after you!"

Harry gasped at the man who stopped his rant with a regretful look towards the dementor. "Harry," Snape began again, facing the teen this time. A wave of distress, self-hatred, and regret flowed steadily from the vampire. "I loved your mother; she was my best friend. You had absolutely nothing to do with her death, that blame lies completely at my feet. Yes, she gave her life for yours, but that was who she was. She was a person who would willingly die for those she loved, and you couldn't ask her to be anyone different than who she was. I had no right to say anything else."

"Wow, I really do want to kill him," Drake shook his head grimly from behind Harry.

"Kreacher will help," the house elf agreed gleefully.

Harry put a steadying hand on Drake's arm to hold him back. Everything shifted in his mind. He heard Snape, but he heard more than his words. The meaning shifted his thought process as a new idea clicked, one he'd never considered before. His world then realigned along a different axis. Snape was right, Lily Potter was a person who made decisions that she could live with, that fit in her moral code. She made decisions like Harry did with the information she had. Some of her decisions might not have always had the best outcomes either. Snape had made decisions as well, some not the best or even good in the slightest, but those decisions were based on his knowledge and experiences too. "What if it's not either of our faults, Professor?" Harry asked in amazement at his new revelation.

"No, Harry, it's definitely my fault," Snape sighed tiredly after Kreacher's begrudging translation. "I don't know why you believed me for a moment before but believe me now. I'm the reason your parents were murdered."

"No, listen. Mum died because of who she was. She saved me because that's a decision she would make. You told a prophesy, one you said was partial, and everyone knows your feelings about Divination. You obviously don't respect it even now. Why would you think it was going to be taken so seriously by someone you assumed had similar thoughts to you at the time? Obviously, you know Voldemort's evil now or you wouldn't have switched sides…another decision you made when you had more information to go on," Harry started pacing, seeing an approving look from Luna as Kreacher translated.

"It's just like me with the Triwizard Tournament. I made the decision to ask Cedric to take the cup with me. If it hadn't of been a portkey, Hogwarts would have had a united victory, Cedric would have a good job now and be famous, and I wouldn't have been hated by Hufflepuff for stealing a victory. I made a decision based on the information I had and who I am…maybe his death wasn't my fault but Voldemort's. Maybe my parents' deaths weren't your fault but Voldemort's. He's the only one that made decisions to kill people based on the information he had. You just told a funny story you didn't believe, and I just tried to be nice to a friend. Neither of us decided to kill someone intentionally."

"Why in Merlin's name would you think the Diggory boy's death would be your fault?!" Snape exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air in frustration. "That's ludicrous, just as ludicrous as having any fault whatsoever in your parents' deaths. Did you cause the Black Plague centuries ago as well?! That seems just as plausible."

"Severus…I think he's getting there," Luna soothed the man who was starting to get flustered again.

"I'm beginning to truly believe those relatives you grew up with messed you up in some very serious ways," the man grumbled.

"Well…this has gotten boring. I'm out if we aren't going to snack on his soul," Drake shrugged apologetically to Kreacher before flying off again. "Stop being an idiot, Potter," he called out in farewell.

"So, you coming back with us?" Luna asked hopefully.

"Sirius and Remus want me back?" Harry asked, with only a slight glimmer of hope.

"They've both been insufferably mooning over you since you left. I'm sure I'd be six feet underground right now if they knew you left because of some inane thing I said," Snape answered with a sneer. "Of course, they want you back, you dunderhead. And frankly, I'm tired of having to waste all my nutrition potions on keeping your sorry body alive."

Harry grinned at them both before turning back to the dementors pretending badly to not be listening in. "Er, guys…you think you can handle the move without me?" He asked.

"Of course, Harry. You've already done more for us than we thought possible," King assured him as he hovered down to them and patted Harry on his shoulder.

"You'll need this," Jean handed Harry the letter for the newspaper from his desk. "We'll make sure to set you up a desk in the new prison. You'll come visit right?"

"Of course!" Harry assured them as he took the letter. "I have to make sure those Caribbean wizards aren't taking advantage of you. Plus, I'd love to see the ocean sparkle like what (Athena) described."

"Er, sorry we turned you into a dementor," Ronnie added sheepishly from the back of the group.

"And what's wrong with being a dementor?" Harry laughed, echoing Drake from just days before. "Thank you all for finding a loophole in the ministry telling you to suck out my soul…and for removing my parasite as well."

"It was our pleasure…no really, it tasted amazing!" Drake exclaimed with a laugh.

"We'll miss you, Harry. Visit soon," Athena gave him a quick hug as many of the other dementors waved goodbye.

"Happy Christmas!" He called to them.

Kreacher grumbled in irritation when Luna told him to take Severus back to Grimmauld, and they popped away from the prison. "Come on, dear. Let's get you back to all the festivities. Mr. Black said he's missing his decorating and sneaking out buddy," Luna took Harry's hand and removed the glamour from her wings.

"My eyes are up here," she joked as she waved a hand in front of Harry's face when he began to stare at her wings again.

"Er, right…your wings are very pretty," Harry mumbled even though she couldn't understand him and tried to focus on anything else that wasn't shiny.

"Just try not to fly into a tree," she laughed and took off into the air while Harry followed along behind her.

As they approached the gates to the prison, Harry was surprised to see Dumbledore and Remus both pacing worriedly. It confused him to no end why they were concerned; he thought they would have been happy to get rid of him, especially once they learned he was now a dementor. "Found him!" Luna exclaimed happily as they both landed past the gates.

"Ms. Lovegood! Don't scare us like that again!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "We told you to wait and we'd find another way in. You weren't to go off on your own!"

Harry nodded in understanding at that. They had been worried about Luna, not him. That made much more sense. "Oh Harry!" Remus exclaimed and rushed forward only to stop feet from him. "We thought we'd lost you! Why did you just run off like that?! And why didn't you tell us what happened?!"

Harry cocked his head in confusion again. "Because you wouldn't want me around if I told you. See, you can't even get close to me even though my aura is completely retracted. It's not like you can understand what I'm saying right now anyway, so this is completely pointless," he huffed.

"If we head back to the house, Kreacher can translate for him or he can go back into Jamie and talk for himself," Luna suggested as she reached over and took Harry's hand in hers. "I don't know what you're saying, dear, but I don't think I like your tone."

"I don't know how you can tell from the screeches," Harry shrugged. "I would be nice to be able to be understood again though."

Dumbledore smiled kindly at him, clearly at a loss for understanding. "Right, so Remus, you apparate with Ms. Lovegood, and I'll take Harry here. We'll meet back up at Grimmauld."

That tracked, Harry figured. Remus wouldn't want to be that close to him anymore. "No!" Luna spoke up, looking at Harry out of the corner of her eye. "I'm going with the headmaster. Professor Lupin, you have Harry. He thinks you don't want him around anymore."

Remus finally closed the distance between them cautiously. "Merlin, I know it's you in there Harry, but it's hard to get past the seeing a dementor. I'm so sorry. Sirius and I both still want you with us though; please don't think otherwise," he said. Remus slowly wrapped an arm around Harry's waist tentatively in a loose hug. Harry stood as still as possible, not even breathing so as to not startle the man.

"Right, let's go!" Dumbledore exclaimed with a twinkle in his eye as Luna took a hold of his sleeve and they disapparated with a crack. Remus turned on the spot and they followed immediately after.

The four appeared on the street in front of Sirius's house. "It still amazes me Ms. Lovegood that fairies are able to see through a fidelus charm…and that you're a fairy," Dumbledore chuckled as he looked wistfully at the townhome. "I guess the protections we have aren't as secure as we believed them to be."

Luna smiled at him brightly. "Why would a fairy care to tell your enemies where your hideout is located? Usually, we keep to our own realm and don't even interact with either the wizarding or muggle worlds. I'm only at Hogwarts because my mum fell in love with and married a wizard. Xenophilius is my stepdad. Though really since I've lived with him since I was a baby and my mum passed, he's the only parent I know. I wanted to go to the school he went to. Plus, the other fairies are all so stuffy and uptight, unlike Daddy."

"I had no idea!" Dumbledore looked like he had been gifted a cartload of lemon drops he was so interested in Luna. "You must tell me all about the fairy realm if you are allowed! I know nothing of the culture."

"Erm, Headmaster, we should probably go in," Remus interrupted. "We left Sirius having a bit of a breakdown."

Harry was having a bit of a breakdown himself at what he'd find on the other side of the door. How could Sirius ever accept him as the thing that had tormented him for over a decade? They entered the house and were immediately greeted with the sound of breaking china. Sirius was standing in the entryway looking a fright with his hair rumpled and his clothes looking like he hadn't changed for days, the teacup he had been holding was shattered at his feet. He kept one eye on Harry as he addressed Dumbledore. "That one's definitely Harry, right?" He asked shakily.

"Yes, Sirius, this dementor is definitely Harry," the elderly man assured him with a grin and a bounce in his step.

"Oh, thank Merlin!" Sirius rushed forward to everyone's surprise and grabbed the dementor into a bear hug. "I thought I'd lost you, pup! Never do that to me again! I don't care what you are as long as you're here and you don't leave me like that again!"

Harry awkwardly patted the man on his back, making sure his aura was as tightly pulled in as possible. He hesitated a moment once Sirius pulled away, but he hovered slowly up the stairs after a quick pat to his godfather's arm. He had to find his body, he couldn't take no one understanding him a moment longer.

Jamie was just where Harry had left him, tucked into bed. Snape was in the room though as well, sitting beside the nightstand that was littered with potion vials. "Finally, the errant dementor has returned," the vampire drawled. "I return responsibility of him back over to you," he motioned with a hand to Jamie as he stood to leave the room. "Never make me babysit again."

Harry chuckled but fell back into his body, picking up the shell once more. "Thank you, Professor," he said as Snape paused at the door.

"Look, Potter…" Snape sighed, seeming to come to a difficult decision. "The prophesy, the one I mentioned, that's what the Order was protecting at the ministry. The Dark Lord wants to hear the rest of it. I only know the first part, but if you want, I'll tell it to you."

Harry pulled his feet up and sat cross-legged on the bed, thinking about the offer as he watched the light play off the stones in his bracelet. "No, sir, I don't think I want to know," he said to Snape's complete surprise. "Look, like Voldemort, and despite my experiences with the subject so far, I do actually believe in Divination. Unlike Voldemort, I don't want to know what destiny has in store for me until I'm forced to meet it head on. I may have only been with the dementors for five days, but during that time and my time with the HSMC, I've come to some pretty difficult conclusions."

"What might those be, Mr. Potter?" Snape asked as he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe in surprised interest.

"First, Voldemort has absolutely no interest in helping magical creatures, no matter what he might say," Harry began.

"That is a given," Snape snarled in agreement.

"Second," Harry paused with a sigh. "The dementors told me the ministry sent them to kill me this past summer. So, the wizarding world doesn't have my best interests at heart, as well as clearly demonstrating they hate magical creatures through their policies and racism over the years."

The vampire raised a surprised eyebrow at the news. "So, you plan to be neutral in the war?"

Harry shook his head. "No, that ship has sailed back before I was even born."

"Indeed," Snape nodded in agreement.

"If I'm a third side now, then so be it," the teen sighed in resignation. "I decided that my only responsibility is to look out for the dementors, and the house elves, and the fairies, and the gargoyles, and druids, and whatever the hell Malfoy is. If I have to fight for someone, they're the only ones that deserve it. They are the only ones that accepted me as their people and not some kind of figurehead or savior. And, honestly, they're the only ones that actually asked for my help instead of just expecting it. I don't know what that means, but it's the only thing that makes sense to me anymore."

Snape slowly nodded in understanding. "Potter…your mother, Lily, she would be proud of you," he said quietly as if it took his entire being to force the words out. Harry could feel the truth in the words this time though. The wave of emotion that hit him caused him to gasp and hold back tears.

The vampire turned to leave once more. "Professor," Harry stopped him again, a small smile on his face. "I might not especially like you a lot, and you are definitely a bit of a bully…but you're not a monster. And thank you…thank you for trying, for trying to make better decisions, even though they bring you pain. I think Mum would be proud of that too, at least I hope she would."

Snape looked over his shoulder for a minute before giving a slight nod and silently disappearing from the room and back to the attic. Harry grabbed his glasses off the nightstand and took a deep breath before steeling himself to head back downstairs and face the music.

"Harry, welcome back," Dumbledore said with a small smile, but also sternly. "You can't run off like that. What were you thinking?"

Harry shrugged as he slowly made his way into the sitting room where Kreacher had served everyone tea. "I was thinking you'd all be better off without me. Sirius and Remus wouldn't want a dementor hanging around the house and you, headmaster, wouldn't need to worry about the other students around me all the time."

Luna stood from her armchair and sat down beside Harry on the couch, putting an arm around him. "Harry," Dumbledore sighed, showing his age in tiredness. "I haven't been worried about the other students. I've been worried about you. Surely you know that…your life was completely turned upside down and you were handling it too well, or so I thought. I was worried about you, not that you would harm anyone. I know you'd never do that."

"See," Luna smiled at him. "There is no monster…"

"Ms. Lovegood, Albus, maybe you should both give us some time with Harry. I'm sure you have your own Christmas Eve events to get to anyway," Remus remarked as Sirius was wringing his hands in distress.

"Daddy is probably missing me," Luna agreed as she stood. "Don't make Hedwig or Kreacher have to track me down again," she warned Harry sternly but with a smile.

Harry winced, he hadn't seen Hedwig yet, and figured that was definitely not going to go well. "I won't, Luna," he assured her and then pulled out the letter of resignation from the dementors. "Oh, would you have your dad print this in the Quibbler, and maybe send it along to the Daily Prophet as well? It's from the dementors."

The older men in the room all looked at the letter in interest but refrained from asking about it since Luna didn't ask. "Sure, Harry. Daddy will love to do it! He was looking for something good for the front page."

"Thank you for coming after me," Harry smiled at his friend broadly.

"Always," she smiled back and squeezed his hand. "Drop me at home, Headmaster?" She asked as Dumbledore made to follow her out.

"Of course, my dear. So, do fairies celebrate Christmas, or do they have their own holidays…?" He asked as they headed out the door and out of the house.

Sirius moved over to take Luna's spot on the couch, looking nervous but hopeful at the same time. "I can't believe you ran off to Azkaban," he grinned. "Everyone wants to run away from there, not to there!"

Harry grinned back at him. "It's actually quite lovely to a dementor. It's calming and peaceful, like the basement here."

Sirius stared at him in disbelief while Remus chuckled. "Harry, why didn't you think we'd accept you?" The werewolf asked. "You know what I am. Granted, a dementor isn't as common, but why would we turn you away?"

Harry shook his head in bemusement. "Why would you accept me if you can't accept yourself? I don't understand."

Sirius and Remus both looked confused at that. "Harry…cub, why would you think I don't accept myself?"

"You didn't know about Remedial Potions," Harry sighed and grimaced at having to explain without giving away what Snape had told him. "The secret society…It's the Hogwarts Society of Magical Creatures. You were invited in your first year but turned down membership because you didn't want to be a werewolf, or so I was told."

"What's he talking about, Remy?" Sirius asked his friend in confusion.

Remus for his part had a stricken look on his face as his mouth moved into a sad oh. "Siri, Remus wasn't the first werewolf at Hogwarts, nor the last," Harry explained to his guardian. "There is a whole society of magical creatures at the school, but he didn't want to be a part of it. Why would he want me around if I am a magical creature? I just don't understand."

"There were other werewolves? Why didn't you tell us, Remy?" The animagus stared at his friend.

"You have to realize," Remus began. "I didn't have any friends before Hogwarts, and it was first year. You guys accepted me, but as Remus, not Moony, not yet anyway."

"It was because of us?" Sirius's eyes grew wide in horror.

"I didn't know it was quite as extensive of a group as what Harry said. When Se…er, someone, approached me to join, I only knew that I would be walking into a group that would immediately know I was a werewolf and who would define me as such my whole time at school. I was scared," Remus shook his head sadly. "I lived in constant fear of people finding out what I was. I couldn't take it that I'd be outed to a group, even a group of creatures themselves."

Harry nodded, connecting everything back to his epiphany from earlier. "Making decisions based on fear hurts us in the long run," he explained.

Remus smiled at him in agreement. "Yes, I made many very bad decisions based on fear. I even outed another magical creature once to cover myself when a friend was close to finding out what I was. I still regret it to this day."

Knowing what Remus was talking about, Harry sighed sadly. One decision made out of fear helped kill a friendship, especially when his mum eventually did find out and accept Remus in the future. "What about now, Moony?" Harry asked. "Who are you? Are you a wizard, a werewolf, or what? Who do you want to be?"

Remus looked at his friends and seemed to consider his answer carefully. "I'm a wizard who needs to learn how to be a werewolf properly, and who wants to be your dogfather…if you'll have me?" He asked hopefully.

"I'm a fugitive animagus with a fear of dementors," Sirius grinned at them both. "I'm also not quite sane; I'm here though for you forever, if you'll have me too."

Harry put an arm around Sirius and smiled at them both happily. "I think we should learn to be here for each other…especially since you're stuck with me this coming summer as well. I kind-of burned a bridge with the Dursleys."

Sirius gave a loud whoop of glee and Remus laughed. "So, cub…about dinner…" Remus started sheepishly.

"Kreacher!" Harry called out loudly before he could be volunteered.

Chapter Text

Christmas Eve continued to be a tense occasion as Harry, Sirius, and Remus attempted to renegotiate their relationships with each other. Luckily, Snape had left well before dinner, or it may have been a disaster. As it was, the older men had to come to terms with the fact that they could not try to parent the teen that had never grown up with parents or anyone who actually cared and who saw them more as brothers or uncles than parent figures. Plus, neither one of them were equipped to be a parental figure at that time anyway. Harry had to come to terms with the fact that there were people who cared about him and who he was expected to actually talk to and tell when something was bothering him. Everything may have started with Harry becoming a dementor and not telling anyone, but it spiraled into a long overdue discussion into who they all were to each other.

After Harry explained Sirius's emotions to Remus, since Sirius was incapable of coherently explaining himself, Remus agreed to help him sneak out occasionally through either Polyjuice or as Padfoot. It was eventually clear to all of them that if Sirius were made to continue to be isolated in the house he hated, he would eventually go completely mad instead of the slightly mad he was currently. It helped that Harry was absolutely positive he could break Sirius out of prison whether the dementors were still there or not since he could easily walk through walls and invisibly traverse shadows. They all agreed it would not be their first choice of a good time though.

They were all emotionally drained when they went to their rooms to crash for the night. Harry grinned fondly at the vases of dead flowers in his room as he went to his trunk to pull out the homework he was going to do after putting Jamie to sleep. "I knew there was something not quite right about you," the portrait on Harry's wall drawled in an aristocratic tone.

Harry jumped in surprise. "Headmaster Black? You scared me!"

"I scared a dementor…that's not something you hear every day," Phineas Nigellus Black smirked from his frame.

"Please, you must have been in Dumbledore's office when he found out. It's not like this is new information to you," Harry raised an eyebrow as he organized his textbooks on the desk Kreacher had set up in the room when he had removed Ron's extra bed.

"True, I do love a good 'told you so' moment though. It's exceptionally cathartic," Headmaster Black laughed. "I find I'm less confused about you now…and also more so as well."

Harry crossed his arms and smirked at the man. "Oh really, you can't figure me out, a teenager/dementor? There're so many of us out in the world though."

The portrait rested his chin on a hand and sat more comfortably in the armchair in his painting. "Sarcasm does not become you, young man. As I was saying, you are woefully predictable as a creature and Gryffindor, but I am confused at your willingness to forgive the Slytherin Head of House. I admit I only know what I've heard from watching you from the paintings here, but since there is a painting in the attic and I have this one in your room, I feel that I've heard quite enough."

Harry rubbed the back of his neck tiredly. Jamie may have been in a semblance of a coma for several days, but that just led to him tiring out faster by being up and about during the evening after so long in bed. "It's less that I forgive Snape and more that I forgive myself, if that explains anything."

Headmaster Black glared at Harry enough to communicate that it definitely did not. The dementor sighed and sat on the bed to get more comfortable. "I've been blaming myself for Voldemort's actions all these years, and I finally realized that when Snape was telling me everything was his fault. Yes, he shouldn't have done what he did, but I realized that Voldemort was the one who actually wanted to kill and who made the decision to take a life. If I could see that Voldemort was the ultimate person to blame for my parents' deaths instead of Snape, then I could forgive myself for it and Cedric's death as well. I could let go of responsibility; that it really wasn't my fault at all, but that bastard of a dark lord."

"That seems…very Hufflepuff of you," the portrait smirked.

"Yes, well, I still don't like Snape and still think he's a bastard himself, but he's also saved my life several times and is suffering to bring us information that can take down Voldemort. I think I can get past my feelings for the common goal of taking down that abomination of a man," Harry said vehemently.

Phineas Nigellus slowly nodded, and an evil smile turned up the corners of his painted mouth. "I take it back," he said. "You really should have been in my house."

Harry shrugged. "Probably, but I couldn't really care less at this point. House rivalry is childish when the rights of magical creatures are being taken away and when a demon is trying to take over the world. School in general pales in comparison."

Headmaster Black burst out laughing, very disconcertingly. When Harry looked at him questioningly, the painting just shook his head and continued laughing. "I'm keeping my eye on you, boy. I expect great things," the man laughed his way out of the portrait and the room.

"Mental," Harry sighed and laid back on the bed to let go of Jamie and tuck him in for the night.

It was dawn before Hedwig returned. Returned probably wasn't the best word as Harry was reasonably sure she'd never left but was taking out her anger on small rodents in the neighborhood. Thankfully, she had waited until Harry was separate from Jamie before trying to peck a hole in his skeletal hand. "Oi! I left you treats!" Harry exclaimed as a sharp beak dug into his hand. As a dementor, she couldn't break the skin, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.

"You could have come and joined me, you know," he glared at her. "The Azkaban owl wasn't nearly as smart as you."

Hedwig huffed and preened, obviously agreeing. She then turned a death glare on him though. "Yes, I know you like Luna and Dobby and don't want to leave, but it seemed like a good idea at the time," Harry replied to the glare. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking straight."

Hedwig looked warningly down her beak at him, her yellow eyes narrowed. "I promise never to do it again. I'll tell you first before I go anywhere," Harry promised solemnly.

The owl gave a short nod of her head before nuzzling into Harry's tattered robes. "I love you too," he smiled at her and scratched her feathers. "Happy Christmas, Love."

Christmas morning saw Harry cooking breakfast in the kitchen for everyone. To Remus's complete surprise and probable heart attack, he was doing it in his dementor form though, wanting to let Jamie sleep in a little more. "Cub!" Remus exclaimed, clutching his chest dramatically when he stumbled, bleary eyed into the kitchen. "You have to warn a werewolf! We're not quite at the point of expecting to see a dementor frying bacon."

Kreacher glared at the man from where he was washing dishes as Harry let out a haunting chuckle. "Harry-Dementor is being nice to wolfman and bad master. You should be nice to Harry-Dementor," Kreacher warned with narrowed eyes.

"Merlin, no!" Remus exclaimed with wide eyes. "I didn't mean to say anything mean. I'm sorry, Harry. I was just surprised."

Harry screeched at Kreacher as he transferred the bacon from the pan to a platter. The house elf rolled his eyes but turned back to Lupin. "Harry-Dementor is too forgiving. He says it's no problem that he would be surprised too."

Harry screeched a few more times for Kreacher to explain he was going to pick up Jamie before leaving the room. He didn't want to be in his dementor form when Sirius woke up. Yes, his godfather knew what he was now, but he didn't want to make his life even more difficult than it was by reminding him of prison all the time.

Harry picked up Jamie just in time as Sirius bounded down the stairs right after he returned to the kitchen. "Presents!" He exclaimed as be passed a poorly wrapped parcel off to Harry.

"Happy Christmas, Padfoot," Harry smiled at his godfather as he accepted the present.

"I'm sorry I couldn't go out and shop, but at least this will be useful," Sirius grinned excitedly as Harry struggled to remove the paper that was more tape than paper.

"You found them!" The teen exclaimed as he removed a mirror from the paper finally. "This is the communication mirror you told me about, right?!"

"Oh wow, I forgot those existed," Remus looked over his shoulder at the mirror.

"Yep! We can talk all the time now!" Sirius exclaimed before loading his plate with the breakfast Harry cooked. "Did you cook this Pup or Kreacher?"

Remus explained his surprise that morning of the dementor cooking while Harry dug the presents from his friends out from under the tiny, shabby tree his godfather had set up in the corner. "For you…and you," Harry said, passing off presents to Remus and Sirius.

Remus actually teared up as he unwrapped a three month's supply of Wolfsbane potion. It was pretty expensive, but very necessary for a werewolf, especially one who lived in London. "This is too much, Harry," he breathed out. "Where did you even get it?"

Harry just shrugged it off. "You'd be surprised what you can owl order. Besides, I'd rather spend my money on people I care for than sweets or quidditch supplies, especially since sweets have no taste anymore, and I can fly without a broom."

Remus laughed, but pulled the teen into a hug. "Thank you then. I really appreciate it."

"Yeah, this is awesome, too!" Harry exclaimed when he realized that his present from Remus was all of his lesson plans for every class when he taught DADA two years before. "This is going to help so much with the club!"

Harry dug through the rest of his presents to find another Weasley jumper in green again, warmer quidditch gloves from Ron since he was always cold now, and a scarf from Hermione and jewelry cleaner to keep his necklace and bracelet shining. His heart was warmed that they knew him so well to give him gifts that he really needed, even though they didn't know he was a dementor. However, everyone got a kick out of the present from Luna which happened to be an entire box of different scented lip balms.

"Aw man, I love that fairy!" Sirius laughed as he opened a tube of chocolate scented lip balm to smell it. "Of course, a dementor needs a huge box of lip balm!"

"Yeah, the other dementors at Azkaban stole the stash I had on me when I visited," Harry chuckled. "I was running low."

"What did you end up getting her? It had better be something good. She did fly all the way here to give you a kick in the bum," Remus asked with an unapologetic grin.

Harry grinned happily, thankful he'd actually put some thought into Luna's gift. "She and her dad are really into cryptozoology, though I suspect most of the things that sound mythical are actually real since she's a fairy and can see magic and all," Harry explained. "I figured if they're going to go off on safari and camp out during the summers, they should do it in style. I sprung for a wizard's tent for her and her dad."

"Wow, that's a good gift," Remus looked at the teen in surprise since those tents were very expensive, but the gift also showed a lot of thought into her interests.

"You really like this girl, don't you?" Sirius asked, actually looking thoughtful for once.

Harry grinned and nodded at his godfather, blushing the whole time. "Yeah, Padfoot, I think I do. I think Jamie would too, even though he doesn't have a soul," he added at the end.

"Jamie?" Sirius cocked his head questioningly.

Harry pointed to his chest, "The Harry-suit," he clarified.

"Ah," the animagus nodded and put an arm around Harry. "I didn't know it had a name. Jamie seems like a nice name though."

"You speak about your body like it's someone else…" Remus questioned as he considered the discussion.

Harry shrugged in discomfort. "It is, and it isn't. Jamie can't live without me and is a part of me. However, he doesn't feel like me anymore either. It's easier to think about Jamie like I do Hedwig…more like a pet."

"You live a strange life, pup," Sirius shook his head in bemusement.

"You call your animagus form Padfoot," Harry raised an eyebrow. "And Remus's wolf Moony. How is this different?"

"Huh…" Remus said simply as he and Sirius looked at each other. "I guess it isn't all that different…"

Harry looked at the sad tree in the corner. "All right. I know it's all my fault since I ran off, but we really need to decorate better before the Order comes for brunch tomorrow."

"You point, and I'll cast!" Sirius jumped up and pulled out the wand the Order had found for him to use. "We need to add a ton of mistletoe though. My cousin will be here and Moony has a bit of a crush."

Remus turned bright red and coughed into his hand. "Why Remy…you and Tonks…do share," Harry grinned at the werewolf widely and crossed his arms, settling in for a full day of jokes and decorating.

"What in the world happened while you were at Azkaban?!" Sirius exclaimed as he held a copy of the Quibbler and Remus had one of the Daily Prophet when Harry walked downstairs for breakfast on Boxing Day.

"Paperwork," Harry grimaced. "A whole lot of paperwork and negotiations. Did they publish the letter?"

"Page one of the Quibbler and page eight of the Daily Prophet," Remus said as he passed his paper over to Harry.

Harry groaned when he read the title of the article in the Prophet: Hoax Letter Sent to Prophet.

"At least they still printed the whole letter," Remus sighed and shook his head sadly. "I doubt anyone is going to believe it though regardless, or especially, since it's also in the Quibbler."

"Here," Sirius passed the Quibbler over.

Luckily, the headline was: Dementors Resign After Contract Ends.

Both papers printed the entirety of Harry's letter, and he smiled to see it in print. It read:

To Whom it May Concern,

We, the Dementors of Azkaban, hereby inform the magical community of Britain of our acceptance of a new contract. As our contract with the British Ministry of Magic ended almost a decade ago and the ministry has yet to renegotiate a new one, we offer this as our letter of resignation, and hereby inform the public of our intention to leave the prison on January 3 rd of the new year. We have had many offers of employment over the years, even a recent one from the newly reborn Dark Lord. We considered the Dark Lord's offer but have determined his goals do not align with ours. We have accepted the contract offered by the Ministry of the Caribbean Magical Community. We strongly recommend new guards be assigned to Azkaban Prison by no later than 8am on January 3 rd when we will be leaving.

We have appreciated our time as your guards and wish you the best of luck.

The Council of the Autonomous Nation of Dementors

"I had to make sure and work in Voldemort's return into the letter," Harry grinned at them both. "They did actually really consider joining him until they realized that they'd only get bland tasting souls in his employ."

"So, they're really leaving?" Sirius grinned in relieved glee.

"Yeah, I think they're going to love the Caribbean too," Harry patted his godfather on the hand, knowing it was a miracle he was able to accept his godson with his fear of dementors in general. "They were all very excited. I really hope the ministry takes them seriously. I can't believe the Prophet is saying the letter is a hoax. We also sent a letter directly to the ministry. They only need to open their mail and read it to know it's not a hoax. It'll be a disaster if the prison is left unguarded."

Remus looked skeptical that they would actually believe the letter. "We should probably talk to Albus when he stops by later about this," he suggested. "There're some nasty Death Eaters there that we really don't want to get out."

Sirius shivered. "Bella was just down the hall from me. I really don't want to see her without stone walls and bars between us. She was unbearable even with stone and dementors between us."

The floo immediately flared in the kitchen as Dumbledore stepped out. "Harry! Are the dementors really leaving?!" He exclaimed, holding his own copy of the Quibbler in his hand.

Harry sighed and stood, pulling a seat out for the headmaster. "Sit sir, I have to start cooking before everyone shows up for brunch since those two are useless, and Kreacher shouldn't have to take care of everyone. We can talk while I cook."

"Excellent, my boy," the headmaster smiled at him indulgently. "Oh, before we get into that…" Dumbledore pulled a squishy package out of an enlarged pocket in his robes.

Harry raised a questioning eyebrow since he didn't normally get gifts from the headmaster, but he opened it anyway. His brain short-circuited as he realized what he was looking at. Taking a deep breath, he hugged the elderly man who chuckled and patted him on the back. "Thank you so much, sir!"

"You appreciated them more than I did," Dumbledore smiled at his student. "I shrunk them down a bit for you."

Harry pulled the shiny star robes from the package and immediately put his arms through the sleeves. He did a quick spin in the kitchen and stared as the light caught the silver in the stars. "I've never had something so pretty!"

Sirius and Remus both groaned while Kreacher stared at him in horror. "Kreacher thinks something is very wrong with his friend Harry-Dementor," he commented as Dumbledore laughed and the other two men vehemently agreed.

Besides Dumbledore promising to try to make the ministry take the dementors' letter seriously, nothing was decided before the full Order and their families showed up for brunch, creating a very full house. As promised, there was quite a bit of mistletoe lurking throughout the house. After an extremely successful brunch where Mrs. Weasley complemented Harry's cooking again, Harry recruited Ron and Ginny to help him and Sirius manipulate Tonks and Remus under all the mistletoe. They were successful about five times, but it was only the last time that Tonks even noticed the mistletoe, which led her to immediately snog the living daylights out of the werewolf. Remus looked slightly drunk the rest of the night.

Everyone commented on Harry's new robes, mainly by giving him strange looks and noting that they must have been a gift from the headmaster. Ron just shook his head and commented that Harry should probably get a pair for Jamie, as well as a pineapple, just to get his point across. Harry instead offered to find his redheaded friend a pair so they could match, which caused Ron to choke on his eggnog and Fred and George to corner Dumbledore and ask where he had bought the robes.

As everyone trickled out through the floo or the front door to apparate away, Dumbledore pulled Harry aside to give him an update. "Harry, I haven't been able to get Umbridge out of the school yet," the man sighed as he sat down with the dementor in the sitting room while Sirius and Remus were left to help Kreacher clean in the kitchen.

Harry nodded, having expected this. It was too much to hope that she'd be gone by the new term. "I figured, sir. I'll ask Hermione to help me brew some more Essence of Murtlap, I guess."

Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "No, my boy, I promise you, she won't be able to bring another blood quill into the school. I had to get help from the house elves…" Dumbledore winced. "Rather, Winky insisted they help…anyway, they put up a new ward that specifically won't allow dark artifacts to come into the castle. It's actually an extension of the post wards we have that keep the artifacts from coming in with the mail. Apparently, the elves are powerful enough to extend it completely around the castle. I had no idea…" Dumbledore said, obviously impressed. "Regardless, I'm put on notice that the woman has to go and soon…Winky insists."

Harry shrugged with a sigh. "I'm sure Umbridge will find something else."

"I'm not giving up, Harry," the headmaster assured him. "Just because the ministry isn't listening to me right now, doesn't mean all is lost. I know you've had a terrible year with everything that's happened. You've lived through more than anyone should in your short life. I promise I'm not going to abandon you."

Harry picked at the stars on his robes. "Yes, sir…thank you."

Dumbledore patted his hand and stood to go. "Have a good rest of your holiday, Harry. We'll handle the new year in the new year."

"Of course, sir."

Harry was sitting at the breakfast table with Sirius and Remus the morning he was to head back to Hogwarts on January 4th. The kitchen was deathly quiet as they all stared into space, trapped in their own horrified thoughts. "King and Athena are going to freak out," Harry finally breathed out. "Drake will probably try to run off to kill someone. I hope they stop him."

The older men looked at him questioningly. "Dementor names don't translate into English," he shrugged in explanation.

Sirius ran a hand down his face. "Am I being too dramatic if I say this is officially the end of the world?" He asked in all seriousness.

Remus picked up the paper again that had in bold letters across the front: Mass Breakout from Azkaban. "I'm not so sure you are, Padfoot," he shook his head slowly.

"Headmaster Black was explaining to me the advantages of a good 'I told you so' moment, but it just doesn't seem adequate right now," Harry closed his eyes and put his head in his hands.

"Stop talking to portraits in this house," Sirius said with no feeling.

"Cub," Remus leaned in and looked at Harry with a dark, feral look in his eyes. "If Bellatrix Lestrange comes after you…you take her soul, you hear me? Don't question it, don't think it's unethical, just do it. You don't want to know what she did to Neville Longbottom's parents. She's insane and worse now that she's been in Azkaban for years."

Sirius nodded sharply. "Yeah, Harry, Voldemort too. You end up in a bad situation, and you be a dementor, not my Prongslet."

"Do you think any of them can cast a patronus charm?" He asked in curiosity. He'd thought about it a lot where Voldemort was concerned. Frankly, he didn't know where to find the monster, but if he could…and he couldn't cast a charm to repel a dementor…Harry wondered if he could end it all.

Sirius shook his head. "Not Bella, not after years in Azkaban. Voldemort…I don't know."

"Promise us you won't go after them, Harry," Remus took the dementor's hand in his. "Just because we don't know what can hurt a dementor, doesn't mean there isn't anything. There is so much dark magic that Voldemort knows and we don't. Plus, you have to keep Jamie safe. Don't go looking for them."

"Moony," Harry patted his dogfather's hand in sympathy. "That's the problem. I don't go looking for trouble. It just always finds me."

Sirius groaned in frustration. "Maybe the Caribbean with all the other dementors was a good idea."

Chapter Text

It was a decidedly glum and concerned group of students who all crowded back into the Great Hall after the holidays. There was a surprising lack of chatter as the ramifications of the Azkaban breakout sunk in with everyone. "Hey…Harry?" Seamus asked, tentatively sitting on the other side of Ron at the table.

"Yeah, Seamus?" Harry raised an eyebrow, wondering what his dormmate who had ignored him since September wanted.

"Er…well, I figured, you know, since the dementors even mentioned You-Know-Who had returned and the Death Eaters escaped, well…you were probably telling the truth," he said sheepishly.

"You think?" Harry asked in a sarcastic drawl worthy of Snape himself. "Seamus, you've lived with me for almost five years. Why in Merlin's name would you believe I would have lied about Cedric's death? Do you only believe things if you see them in the paper, because I hate to tell you, most of what's in the Prophet is shite."

Seamus sighed and everyone around them avoided his eyes, not planning to help him one iota. "Yeah, Harry. I reckon you're right about that. I'm so sorry."

"See, that didn't hurt too badly, right?" Dean Thomas clapped his friend on his back. "Now that you've pulled your head out of your arse, at least we can go back to all hanging out in the dorm again…that is if Harry actually forgives you now…"

Everyone's eyes shot up to Harry questioningly, Seamus with a look of pleading in his. "Fine," Harry rolled his eyes but smiled at his dormmate. "You better be the first one believing me next time though," he added with a grin at the end.

"Definitely, mate!" Seamus exclaimed brightly. "You say the earth is flat, and I'll be right there drawing new maps for you!"

"I'll hold you to that," Harry chuckled as Dumbledore stood at the head table and a hush settled over the room.

"Welcome back everyone," Dumbledore said with much less of a jolly twinkle than usual. "I'm sure you've all heard the news by now…For once, the Daily Prophet has it right and there was indeed a mass breakout from the wizarding prison. Now, I'm sure you all…"

He never did get to what they all did or did not know as the doors to the entrance hall dramatically slammed open and the High Inquisitor Delores Umbridge entered flanked by Aurors Shacklebolt and Dawlish. Kingsley looked like he would rather be cursing Umbridge than following her though. "Hem, hem," she coughed out, causing both Jamie and Harry's skin to crawl. "Albus Dumbledore, you are hereby relieved of your duties as the headmaster of Hogwarts and your titles pending an investigation into the incitement of panic and the suspicion of coercing the dementors away from Azkaban!"

"What in Merlin's name would lead anyone to believe the headmaster would have dealings with the dementors at all?!" Professor McGonagall stood and glared at the toad-woman with a look that would have made anyone else cower in fear.

Shacklebolt winced as he took a step forward. "It has come to the ministry's attention that Headmaster…" Umbridge coughed, and Kingsley rolled his eyes. "Former Headmaster Dumbledore was seen at the gates of Azkaban prison on Christmas Eve. Our source also reports that a dementor left with him at that time."

Harry felt like he would melt and leak through the floor at any time. How in the world did anyone see what happened? It hit him that obviously there were a few human guards at the prison, and one must be stationed at the gate he figured as he mentally kicked himself for the oversight. He looked up to the headmaster, wondering what he should do. He really didn't want to have to explain the dementor was him.

"Ah, that must be very confusing for the ministry, must it not?" Dumbledore mused, a smile crossing his face as he surreptitiously glanced to Harry. "First of all, even if I were talking with the dementors, it's not a crime to tell someone who is working on a defunct contract and whose employers aren't treating them well to seek better opportunities. I think most people view that as common sense. I hope we are teaching some levels of common sense here at the school…maybe in Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at the pink-clad professor as titters were heard throughout the room. "Secondly, the ministry was given fair warning through two major news outlets and a letter sent directly to them to staff the prison before the guards left. I don't see how that is my problem either. Lastly, I've been explaining very clearly the return of Lord Voldemort for months now. My goal is to raise awareness and action, not panic. I believe the ministry's inaction is a larger source of panic."

Umbridge turned a very unattractive shade of puce as her anger built up higher with every word the elderly man spoke. "You will come to the ministry for questioning!" Umbridge sputtered. "Seize him!" She yelled to the aurors, which neither seemed happy to be there now.

Dumbledore smiled at the students. "Minerva, I trust you'll keep an eye on things for me," he addressed the woman to his right who looked murderous. "Winky!" He called out next as the aurors made their way, slowly and deliberately, to the front.

"Headmaster, sir?" The little elf responded when she popped into the Great Hall beside him.

"Plan C," was all the headmaster needed to say before she grabbed a hold of this hand and they both immediately popped out of the room.

"Oh well," Kingsley shrugged with a smirk. "Can't win them all," he further commented wryly to Dawlish who chuckled.

Harry sighed in relief and also resignation. The headmaster got away, but he also had left. He'd promised not to abandon Harry, but well, it's not like Harry really expected him to keep his promise anyway. No one ever did. "Ergh! Headmistress Umbridge…kill me now!" Seamus hissed under his breath as the woman in question fumed and yelled at the aurors.

"Welcome back, Seamus," Harry smiled at him sadly and speared a potato with a fork. There was nothing left to do but eat a decent dinner and handle tomorrow when it came. Merlin, he was hungry though, but everyone was too upset for him to let his dementor eat and they not notice. He had refused to feed from Sirius and Remus, so he hadn't eaten since the Order was over on Boxing Day. Everyone would get back to normal, and he could eat soon. Maybe tomorrow…

The next day was worse than the one before, if that was possible. The new headmistress immediately implemented a whole slew of new rules and "Educational Decrees." Quidditch was officially suspended until further notice, the DA was officially against the rules even though no one knew about it. Like Seamus, everyone believed Harry now, but that caused more sadness and anxiety, and Harry wasn't sure what was going to happen to Remedial Potions. Day two went into effect with Harry also unable to eat as a dementor. Any less happiness and Madam Pomfrey would have to start handing out cheering potions.

Hungry, depressed, and resigned, Harry made his way down to the dungeon for Remedial Potions that evening…if it still existed. He opened the door, surprised to actually see almost everyone already there. He didn't realize he had been so tense until the anxiety rolled off his shoulders when Luna looked up from where she was talking with Neville to smile at him.

Harry took a deep breath and walked into his one safe place in the school. He stopped between Graham and Draco, raising an eyebrow. "Inquisitorial Squad? Really?"

Draco shrugged. "I'm me…what else would I do? It would hurt my image if I didn't. Besides, we need some people on the inside with that toad to make sure she doesn't find out about the HSMC."

"Dad insisted," Graham sneered. "He sent an owl this morning. Hey, you think Umbridge is a Death Eater?"

"I wouldn't put it past her…we've already had two Death Eater DADA professors," Harry nodded.

"She's not," Snape drawled as he walked past looking like he'd just been given a lemon to eat. "I don't think the Dark Lord would even take her."

"Is the club going to be ok, professor?" Neville asked, his glamour flashing in and out in his nervousness, showing green skin quickly before it turned back to pale.

"Calm yourself, child," Snape warned the high elf. "Yes, this club is registered as academic, so it does not fit under any of those inane decrees yet. The last thing you need is for Umbridge to learn you're a creature. Any of you," he said in seriousness. "You may not realize, but that woman's life goal has been to eradicate creatures from our world. You are more in danger now than you ever have been before at the school. So, keep calm, keep your heads down, and keep your glamours up at all times, even here in the club."

The atmosphere in the club decidedly dropped and all emotion flipped to worry and fear from then on out. Draco and Graham assured everyone that they would keep the Inquisitorial Squad away from the HSMC members. It was all they could do though even with their more power now. Snape promised the same, but he couldn't get around Umbridge completely either.

Harry curled up with Luna on the couch and she put her arms around him while Draco moved over and joined Neville the same way. "Matthew…how's your mate?" Aurelius spoke up, trying to boost the mood some.

Matthew sighed in frustration. "I still haven't found her. I know she's here though…I just need to be in the same room without a whole school of people confusing my senses. It's giving me some ridiculous mood swings. She's going to think I'm crazy if I ever do find her."

Aceline patted his hand in sympathy. "You will…just maybe don't tell her with Umbridge in the same room."

"That woman had our father's best friend arrested on trumped up charges just because he was a werewolf," Aurora commented with a vicious glint in her amber eyes. "We haven't seen him since."

"Guys, it's going to be all right. She's just a pink toad," Graham growled, his eyes flashing yellow.

"Besides, it's Harry she's going to go after anyway," Hestia crossed her arms and sneered. "You have to watch your back. I really hope you aren't something all fluffy and squishy like Draco."

"Hey!" Draco protested with a sharp glare.

"You are pretty squishy," Kara smirked at him. "Not that anyone in Slytherin would believe that."

"Ha, ha," Draco deadpanned as Neville just squeezed his shoulders.

"Nope, they're bony not squishy," Neville informed everyone very seriously.

"Only you, Nev, only you," Harry shook his head as Draco would have hexed literally anyone else.

Snape sneered at Harry while everyone trickled out of the room at the end of the night, looking more concerned than ever before. "Po—ergh, Harry, you will come with me. There is an issue with your Potions grade we must handle tonight."

Harry was confused as he followed the professor from the room. Neville shot him a sympathetic look and Luna squeezed his hand on her way out as well. "Er…professor? I don't understand," Harry questioned as he trotted along behind the swiftly gliding vampire. He really wasn't doing that poorly in Potions. Frankly, Ron was doing worse, so he really hoped no one seriously questioned his place in Remedial Potions.

Snape mumbled something about idiots and old coots and what Harry thought might have been some French swear words, but he wasn't able to make out what the man was grumbling. He stopped abruptly just past his office in front of a picture of an elderly witch stirring a cauldron and grinning evilly. "Potter, I swear to Merlin himself, if you tell anyone, and I mean anyone, where my personal quarters are located or the password, I will skin you alive! I know at least four curses to do it, and I'm willing to try all four to see what they do to a dementor!"

Harry's eyes widened in surprise when he realized where they must be. "But…why?..."

"Aconite!" Snape sneered at the witch as the portrait swung forward.

"Harry! My boy!" A rush of pink and green dressing gown exclaimed before Harry was bodily dragged into the Potions Professor's quarters.

"Headmaster?" Harry sputtered as Dumbledore pulled him to the sofa like it was his sitting room instead of Snape's. It was obviously Snape's though if the potions equipment, shelves of books on dark arts, defense, and potions, Slytherin banners, and black robes hanging on pegs could be believed. Frankly, Snape was a bit of a slob…Harry was surprised in a pleasantly amused way.

"Well, Harry, I'm not really the headmaster right now, so I think Albus will do just fine," the old man twinkled at him brightly. "Now, you didn't think I'd leave you now, did you? I just had to relocate a bit."

"Relocate, my arse," Snape grumbled from where he was hanging his teaching robe from one of the well-used pegs. "More like moved in and took over!'

"Oh, Severus, I made tea," Dumbledore motioned distractedly to the little kitchenette.

Harry jumped at a loud squawk in the corner. "Bloody bird," Snape grumbled as he walked past Fawkes on a stand in the corner looking sulkily into the kitchen.

"Oh Harry, I had a long conversation with Fawkes about not attacking you and respecting your feelings," Dumbledore, no Albus, told him with a smile and a glare over to his familiar who just huffed and turned his head away. "Phoenixes apparently aren't too fond of dementors…"

"Er, no worries, sir," the teen just stared in shock around him, not sure what was going on. "I'm sorry, by the way, for you getting caught coming to get me at the prison…"

Albus just shook his head and laughed. "The ministry was going to get me no matter what, Harry. If it wasn't that excuse it would have been something else. How are you doing though? I know you've only been back a couple days, but how are the students taking everything?" He asked in interest. Obviously, the new plan seemed to have Harry placed in a role of informant on the student population.

The dementor sighed. "They're very anxious and worried. I feel it from everyone. If it isn't Voldemort it's Umbridge taking over. Sir, I hate to say it, but…I'm hungry. There just aren't any good feelings anymore. It used to not affect me if people weren't happy around, but I got used to feeding, and I feel it more now. I can feed off their negative emotions, obviously that's possible or the dementors in Azkaban couldn't live, but they would notice. I can't just skim the surface of those."

Snape looked worried from where he was pouring himself some tea and Dumbledore just looked very sad. "Oh dear…they'll perk back up soon, I hope," the headmaster sighed.

"Maybe if she lets quidditch start up again," Harry shrugged, hoping as well.

"Seriously, Harry, you need to be careful, as well as your friend Ms. Lovegood, and you as well Severus. That woman is the embodiment of hate towards creatures," Dumbledore shook his head sadly with real worry in his eyes. You'd think it was Voldemort that took over the school instead of a ministry official by Dumbledore's expression.

Snape sputtered into his tea, choking in his shock. "Excuse me?!"

"Oh please, of course I know you're a vampire. I'm not blind," the older man huffed. "I didn't catch Ms. Lovegood as a fairy and Harry as a dementor though…so maybe I am. I wonder what else I've missed…"

"Um, Professor, may I ask, what's Plan C?" Harry jumped in before Snape could start yelling as he was getting paler by the second, which is very hard for a vampire to do.

"Ah, well Plan A was for me to retain my position and convince the ministry to take back Delores, Plan B was to make her life so difficult she left on her own, Plan C is my escaping and the house elves looking into whatever dirt we can get on the woman to get her discredited. This one was actually their idea. They really are very ruthless, you do not want to know what their Plan D is," Dumbledore actually shuddered.

"The headmaster will be staying here," Snape sneered in obvious protest at that. "And working with the Order and the professors behind the scenes to make sure she doesn't do any permanent damage and to maintain the wards against the Dark Lord."

Harry gaped at that. "I hadn't even thought of the wards! What would she have done if they just kicked you out and there wasn't anyone here to maintain them?!"

"I'm sure Minerva would have figured something out," Dumbledore patted Harry's hand with a smile. "Now, is there anything else you need from me tonight? I asked Severus to give you the password in case you need to stop by to tell me anything. I do hope you'll keep me informed on what's happening with the students."

Harry nodded that he did in fact know the password and would pass along information. "Actually, I do have a question that's on the subject of dementor food that I've wondered for a while now."

"Oh really?" Albus grinned broadly at Harry, obviously loving to talk about magical creatures.

"Yeah, uh, is it common for a wizard to chop off bits of their soul and put them in objects or people? Is it a regular practice or something?" Harry asked as he spun the bracelet on his arm nervously.

Dumbledore stared at him in stunned shock and Snape looked horrified. "Do you realize just what it is you are describing?" Snape growled, not noticing the last of his tea was dripping out of his forgotten teacup in his hand. "Where the hell did you learn about horcruxes, boy?!"

"Sooo…not a good thing?" Harry asked with a relieved smile. "Good, I was worried I had been eating bits of people's souls that were important."

"No, that's the vilest piece of dark magic available. Of course, it is not a good thing, you idiot boy!" Snape exclaimed.

Dumbledore had to clear his throat while the vampire looked ready to have a stroke. "Harry…may I ask where and how many of these objects you have found?"

"Well, Hea—er, Albus, I got to thinking. The diary in my second year. I think it might have been one of those horse-things…."

"Horcrux," Snape corrected automatically.

"Yeah, that," Harry nodded. "Anyway, since then, I've eaten the soul out of my locket and my bracelet," he lifted his bracelet for them to see it. "The bracelet started out as a tiara-thing that Luna said may have been Ravenclaw's lost diadem. She transfigured it though since she said I'd look silly with it on my head."

"Indeed," Snape answered automatically again while Dumbledore took Harry's hand to stare at the bracelet.

"Yeah, so with the diary, the locket, the diadem, and me, well I'm thinking they might all be bits of Voldemort's soul. The locket and the diadem tasted the same anyway and Drake, one of the dementors, described the one in me the same way," Harry explained his reasoning.

"You, my boy?" Dumbledore asked in almost a whisper as his hand tightened in shock around Harry's wrist he was holding.

"Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot to mention the dementors said they took one out of me when they pulled me from my body," Harry shrugged unconcernedly. "It sounds creepy, but I got over it. I actually feel much better and freer without it latched onto my soul. Actually, that's how they got around the ministry's order to eat my soul."

"The ministry?" The headmaster's hand tightened even more to where it was just a bit painful.

Harry shrugged again, causing Snape to sneer at him. "Apparently, they want me dead too. I figure they need to get in line behind Voldemort though. He called dibs."

Dumbledore finally let go of Harry's wrist and shook his head, looking every year of his age. "I had assumed Tom had created a horcrux or two that had kept him from dying, but that would be at least four if you're correct. The ministry…I don't even know how to react to that right now. I'm so sorry, Harry."

"That's inconceivable!" Snape sunk into his armchair after finally setting down the empty teacup. "Four? Four horcruxes?!"

"We need to find out if he made any more," Albus nodded his head and looked fierce, despite his pink and green dressing gown. "I need to think about this. If the diary was a horcrux, he made it while he was in school, maybe he talked to one of the professors. He had to have learned about them from somewhere."

"Slughorn would be a good one to ask," Snape nodded in agreement. "He was always too loose of lips around his 'collection.'"

Harry was lost at this point. "Er, is there anything I can do?" He butted in on the conversation.

"Not right now, my boy," Dumbledore shook his head. "We may call you to dinner if we find another one though. Will that be acceptable?"

Harry smiled broadly. "It'll be my pleasure! You know…the eviler a person is, the better their soul tastes. Voldemort's soul is exquisite…like spicy chocolate cake or hot chocolate." The two men stared at him incredulously.

"Please eat Bellatrix," Snape requested suddenly.

"You know…Remus asked me the same thing," Harry smiled mischievously. "You two really aren't that different."

Snape sneered and stood to leave. "I don't have to take this in my own quarters," he remarked before disappearing into a side room.

Harry was accosted by Ron and Hermione before he was able to make it back to Gryffindor Tower. "Hey, guys. What's up?"

"Oh good! We were worried about you!" Hermione sighed while Ron just shrugged, conveying he definitely wasn't as worried.

"Ok…why?" Harry asked with a chuckle.

Hermione looped an arm through Harry's and started leading him away, surprisingly not towards the tower. "Well, Neville got back from your Remedial Potions class a while ago, and he said that Professor Snape had kept you behind to talk. With Umbridge about and with more power, we started getting worried."

"You are her favorite thing to torture," Ron nodded as he followed along behind them.

"I'm fine guys…I do actually have some news on that though. May I ask where we're going?" Harry wondered as they headed up some stairs.

"Somewhere to talk," is all Hermione said as he finally realized they were heading towards the Room of Requirement.

Ron was the one to pace three times in front of the room, causing Harry to raise a questioning eyebrow. They were obviously in on this together, whatever it was they were doing. The room was a duplicate of the Gryffindor Common Room when they entered and they all sat in their favorite chairs by the fireplace. "Would you like to start with your news?" Hermione asked, making it very clear they had an agenda and would be getting to it.

"Er…sure. Well, Dumbledore isn't quite as gone as he made it seem," Harry said, causing Hermione and Ron to sit forward and actually look interested. "He's hiding out in Snape's rooms, and believe me, Snape isn't very happy about it," Harry laughed.

"They are so going to kill each other," Ron grinned broadly, obviously hoping that Dumbledore would win that fight.

"Thank Merlin he's staying around. Umbridge creeps me out!" Hermione shuddered. "You did say she couldn't bring in another blood quill, right?"

"Yeah, but I'm sure she'll find something else," Harry sighed. "So…what is this meeting for? It feels like an intervention to me…" He asked suspiciously.

"Well, mate, you lucked out that the entire Order was at your house for Boxing Day, so I couldn't throttle you, but you're all alone now," Ron glared at him, causing Harry to shift back in confusion.

"What'd I do?!" He protested.

"When you ran off at the beginning of break, who do you think the first people Dumbledore reached out to were?" Hermione asked with a stern look and raise of her eyebrow. "We've given you months to tell us what's going on with you, and you still haven't. Now you run off for days and don't even tell us!"

"Oh, er, I overreacted to something I guess," Harry said sheepishly. "Things just kind of spiraled."

"Harry, you have to give us something," Hermione shook her head. "You don't have to tell us everything, but you can't just keep everything bottled up. What's been going on with you?"

Looking at the faces of both his friends, Harry knew he wasn't going to get away with brushing them off. They'd stuck by him for too long and deserved better. "Fine," he sighed. They both seemed to relax, happy to not have to fight for the information. "I was attacked…well, I thought I was attacked this summer. It turns out that wasn't the intention."

"What?!" Both Ron and Hermione exclaimed.

"What happened? Are you ok?" Hermione added in quickly as she seemed to be studying Harry to see if there were any injuries she hadn't noticed before.

"I'm fine now, really," Harry smiled at her and reached across to squeeze her hand comfortingly. "It was a bit of a shock and trauma, but I'm gotten used to it…you see…"

He trailed off awkwardly, not knowing how to talk about the next part. He didn't want to give too much away all at once in case they couldn't handle it. "Well…I was attacked by a magical creature, and well…I was turned into one as well," he winced as he rushed out the ending.

"Oh…" Hermione looked thoughtful. Harry could almost see her running through all the magical creatures in her head to figure out which one he was.

"Oh no! Did Remus bite you?!" Ron exclaimed in shock. "I'll learn to be an animagus, I promise! It might take me a bit, but I'll do it. Hermione will help, right?"

Harry laughed in relief. Ron's worried rambling brought his fears that he wouldn't be accepted to a standstill. Ron was continuing in his rant though. "I promise, Harry. I'm no Seamus. I learned my lesson last year. I'm here for you…"

"Ron!" Harry stopped him, a grin breaking across his face. "I'm not a werewolf. Thank you though."

"So…you're a vampire?" Hermione cocked her head to one side. "That doesn't seem to fit really well though either. What's with the shiny thing and being cold all the time? That doesn't fit any creature I can think of."

"Er…not a vampire either," the dementor smirked, remembering Snape (a vampire) had thought the same. "Look, I'm cold all the time because I have a strong aura that I have to pull in or people will notice, and I really don't understand the shiny thing either, but others of my kind seem to be the same way. That's where I went over break. I went to see the others, and they explained why they attacked me, that they were really just trying to help. And…they actually did! I feel so much better now than I did before."

"Two questions…are you going to tell us, and does Dumbledore, Sirius, and Remus know?" Hermione held up two fingers with a questioning look on her face.

"You're killing me with the curiosity over here!" Ron punched him in the shoulder playfully.

Harry took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I'm worried I'm going to freak you out," he finally said as he opened his eyes again. "Yes, Dumbledore, Siri, and Remy know. They have either accepted me or are working on it. I just don't want to scare you two."

"Mate, I've been sleeping in the bed next to yours for months now," Ron crossed his arms. "Whatever you are can't be bad or I'd be dead by now." Hermione shot him a glare. "I'm right!" He responded. "Besides acting a little eccentric, you haven't done anything to me, and I'm with you all the time. If we're not, Neville and Luna are…and well, Luna was already Luna, so I don't think that was you."

"Luna is perfect just the way she is," Harry grumbled, turning red. Hermione smirked at him knowingly, which caused Harry to throw his tube of lip balm at her. "Quiet you!"

Ron rolled his eyes. "The whole school knows you like her, you aren't subtle. Get over it," Ron said. "Now, you going to tell us what you are?"

"Fine, I'm a dementor!" Harry huffed, but looked at them both nervously.

Hermione looked at the tube of lip balm she was now holding while Ron's brain seemed to have stopped working. "I guess that explains the lip balm then, and I guess Dumbledore really did take a dementor with him from Azkaban…" she shook her head. "How do you still look like you? Also, dementors can turn someone into one of them?"

"Yeah, they don't do it often. They said it's extremely difficult," Harry shrugged as he took the lip balm back and nervously applied it. "And, er, well I'mkindofwearingmyoldbodylikeasuit…"

"What? I speak Ron with food in his mouth, and I couldn't understand that," Hermione grinned.

"So…the dementors left me my body, and I can kind of wear it like a suit," Harry said slower and with a glance towards his still dumbfounded friend. "I've been kind of thinking of him as a pet. Er, I named him Jamie. That's where the name came from."

"That explains a lot," Ron snorted, seeming to finally come to himself. "Mate, I knew you were strange, but this takes the cake. Keeping your soulless body as a pet…that's just, wow. What do you eat though? And, really, Sirius knows?"

Harry smiled broadly at his friends. He knew he was strange, so that conclusion didn't bother him one bit. "Yeah, he probably would have taken it worse if he wasn't so worried that I had run away," he explained. "For food, I can skim the emotions off people when they are feeling strong, positive emotions. The problem is, no one's emotions are positive right now. I can't take the other ones without it being quite obvious. I'm so hungry!" He said dramatically at the end with a bit of a whine thrown in.

"What's the worst that could happen if you can't eat soon?" Hermione asked in concern. "Could Ron and I just take a cheering potion maybe or read a funny story?"

"I don't eat from you two if I can help it," Harry smiled at her. "And, no, I don't think that would be enough right now. Worst case scenario…I might 'accidentally' eat Professor Binns," Harry wrinkled his nose. "He wouldn't taste very good though…too boring."

"Eh, wouldn't be too bad," Ron shrugged and then laughed when Hermione hit him upside the head.

"We all know Umbridge is a creature-hater, so don't do anything to bring her attention to you," Hermione glared at them both. "Eating the history professor included."

"I'll try," Harry beamed at them both, feeling so much better than he had in a long time with his friends in the know again. He them remembered something he wanted to ask Hermione. "Oh, 'Mione, would you possibly be able to make me some more of those coins you made for the DA…and not ask what they're for? It's not my secret to tell, but I have a few friends who could use them as a safety measure. You're just sooo amazing at Charms."

"No need to lay it on that think," the genius rolled her eyes. "Of course, how many do you need? All linked to one or each other?"

Harry thought for a minute. "Eighteen, and I think linked to each other is best."

"Now, we need to get back before curfew," Ron stood quickly. "We don't want Harry to have to find out what Umbridge is going to try next."

"Amen!" Harry stood and laughed.

The next morning at breakfast a familiar looking, dusty gray owl regally spiraled down to the Gryffindor table in front of Harry. "Abaddon! What are you doing here?" He asked in surprise as the owl who looked haughtier than Lucius Malfoy held out a talon with a letter attached as if it was degrading itself to do so.

"Who would name their owl Abaddon?" Hermione laughed at the owl's antics while Harry untied the letter and pushed his plate with several pieces of bacon over for the owl who looked as if he were lowering himself with much difficulty to accept the unnecessary kindness out of pity only.

Harry glanced around, but there were too many people around them. "Erm, you know my friends that I spent some time with over break…it's their owl. That's not exactly his name, but it was the best translation I could come up with."

"Oh," Ron's eyes widened in shock as he realized who sent Harry a letter. "What do they want?"

Harry read the letter with a confused expression on his face that ended with an evil smirk and a chuckle. Before he finished, Luna was sitting beside him. He blinked a couple times at the surprise of her just appearing. "Something from the Caribbean?" She guessed with a grin. "How are they?"

"Good," Harry shook his head and grinned as Ron gave him an 'I told you so' look about his interactions with Luna. "Here," he passed the letter to Luna who read it with similar expressions to her dementor friend before he then passed it on to Ron and Hermione.

"Oi! They know now!" Luna jabbed him in the ribs. "You're supposed to tell me these things!"

"Sorry, I just told them last night," Harry protested the mistreatment of Jamie.

"Wait…Luna knows?" Ron asked as Hermione snatched the letter out of his hands. Luna gave him a look that clearly called him daft if he thought she didn't.

"Are they serious?" Hermione looked up in surprise at the letter that read in spidery script:

Dear Harry,

How are you doing? Are the humans treating you better than they were before? You know, you're still welcome here with us whenever you would like. The island is wonderful and warm! It's a bit too cheery for us, but we're working on making the prison more homey and less bright. We were pained to hear of what happened at the prison there in our absence. Has the escape caused you any difficulties? It is a personal affront to us that it was allowed to happen when we warned the ministry every way we knew how. We cannot let this pass without a response though. Whether we are still there or not, we took great pride in our work.

We are sending…well, there isn't a written translation of their names, but I believe you called them Drake and Ronnie, anyway, two of us will be heading back to Britain. We would appreciate it if you would be willing to meet up with them to explain everything that has happened and any additional information you may have. Drake and Ronnie will be rectifying this mistake. We cannot allow prisoners to roam free. They should be back and will meet you in the Forbidden Forest in a little over one week's time if you agree.

We miss you. Write back your answer,

The one you call Athena

"Hermione…they are obsessed prison guards whose instincts scream for them to eat the souls of those who are evil," Harry raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure they are not only serious but looking forward to a large dinner instead of actually capturing anyone."

"I wouldn't want to be Bellatrix Lestrange right now," Luna said as she stole a piece of bacon from Abaddon who gave her a death glare, but Luna just glared right back.

"Abaddon, head on back. I'll send Hedwig with a letter. And knock it off you two," Harry instructed Luna and Abaddon. The owl huffed but took off in flight immediately. Luna smiled in triumph and took the other piece of bacon.

"You two deserve each other…mental," Ron rolled his eyes, causing Luna to smirk at him as she ate her bacon.

Chapter Text

Hermione was fast and good at what she did. Harry had the coins for the HSMC within a week spelled with a protean charm so that whoever had one could use it to call for help if needed. It would display the person's name and location; they just had to hold the coin and think of it. Hermione had even spelled one for Harry slightly different so that it could send out a message to all the other coins. Harry got the feeling she thought he was going to send them to the dementors since he hadn't told her what they were for, so she wanted to make sure he could ask for help when needed.

Harry had the whole lot of them in his robe pocket as he nervously made his way to Remedial Potions. Nervous is how he did everything now. It had been a week since Umbridge had taken over, and he hadn't gotten a detention yet. He could see the calculating look in the evil woman's eye though, so he knew it was coming, and whatever it was wouldn't be good. He figured that Umbridge might have a suspicion that he had done something to her blood quills, so her hate of him seemed to only increase. Drake and Ronnie were due to arrive in just a few days, and he didn't want any extra attention on himself when he needed to sneak out to meet with the other dementors, or Merlin forbid, be in detention then.

He did make it safely to the meeting of the HSMC thankfully. Harry wasn't two steps into the room before he realized big something was going on. Matthew was sitting with his head on a table and David and Brook were on either side of him trying to comfort him. Colin Creevey was sulking in a corner with Dennis and Aceline keeping him company. Draco looked like he was going to burst out laughing while Graham and Neville shot him disapproving looks. Then, Hestia, Luna, Kara, and Aurora seemed to be ganging up on Professor Snape in the corner over something, and he was looking rather put out. Lastly, Bartholomew, Aurelius, and Eir were sitting off to the side munching on snacks and looking like they were thoroughly enjoying the drama.

"Soo…do I even want to know?" He asked the group of spectators tentatively.

"Matthew finally found his mate," Eir answered with a smile and a chuckle.

"Yeah, it wasn't someone expected," Bartholomew continued. "The girls all think Severus should be helping him woo her, and Draco made some inappropriate comments that would have gotten him detention in any other setting."

"It's epic, mate," Aurelius nodded with a wide grin. "You should've gotten here earlier."

"Wow, yeah," Harry took out three of the coins. "I needed to get these first." He then went on to explain how they worked to the group's surprise and relief that they had a way to get in touch with each other.

Harry went to the ragging on Malfoy group next. "So, what did he say?" Harry raised an eyebrow and smirked at the blond.

"Er, did you hear? Matthew's mate is a professor," Neville coughed awkwardly. "Draco made some comments about ways to get good grades, if you catch my drift."

Harry blushed and chuckled. "Actually, no, I didn't hear that. Merlin…it isn't McGonagall, right?!"

"Hell no!" Graham protested vehemently. "Professor Sinistra, she's only about six years older than Matthew, and not terrible looking. Definitely not McGonagall! Don't even put that image in my head!"

"You should be ashamed of yourself," Harry laughed as he handed an unrepentant Draco and the rest their coins.

"Harry…I already have one of these," Neville remarked when he got his.

"No, these are a little different," the dementor went on to explain the coins to this group as well. "They're just a safety measure in case Umbridge finds out about any of us," he ended with.

"Go to that group next," Draco pointed to Matthew's pity-party. "Uncle Sev is probably about ready to blow up at someone over there."

Harry nodded in agreement and shuffled over to Matthew, David, and Brook. "Hey guys," he said tentatively. "Matthew, erm, I think Professor Sinistra is quite fit, really. Congratulations. I think you'll be happy together…What are the correct sentiments in this situation?" Harry ended awkwardly.

"I haven't told her yet," Matthew sighed. "She's gorgeous though, right? She'll never want to be with a student though."

"There's only about five months left before you graduate," Brook soothed him. "Besides, you're of-age, and the rules don't really apply to a veela and mate situation."

"Yeah, Matt. This has to be one of those exceptions to the rules, things," David agreed, patting the veela on the back. "Besides, you know the girls over there. They're definitely going to talk Severus into either talking you up, or at least explaining the situation to her if she freaks."

"Yeah…" Harry said slowly. "I don't think I'd want Snape talking me up, but that's just me. Maybe aim for that second option."

"Besides, you're a veela," Brook rolled her eyes. "No one in their right mind would turn you down. You're gorgeous!" David raised an eyebrow and glared at his girlfriend a bit at that, but she just shrugged unrepentantly.

Harry was a little uncomfortable, not knowing how to help in these situations, so he quickly passed out the coins and explained them so that he could move on. Colin, Dennis, and Aceline were no better. Colin had finally asked Ginny to the first Hogsmeade weekend, and she'd turned him down. Harry quickly passed out the coins so as to not get dragged into it. "Bright side, Colin…Umbridge will probably cancel all the Hogsmeade weekends soon anyway," Harry added after explaining the coins. Apparently, that was not the right thing to say as he had to hurry away to avoid being caught up dealing with tears.

The next group was going to be even more of a challenge though. They were not letting up on Snape who didn't seem to want anything to do with a veela courting one of his coworkers. "I refuse to deal with hormonal veelas or the personal lives of my coworkers," Snape growled for what was probably the hundredth time when Harry drew near.

"He'll act more and more erratic until she agrees to be with him though," Kara was explaining sternly. "That will put our secret in jeopardy and draw Umbridge's attention. If he goes to Sinistra and she doesn't listen to him, it'll do the same thing."

Snape glowered at the girl from his house. "He should just tell her. From the gossip I try my hardest not to hear, she's not seeing anyone right now. Apparently, her last lover cheated on her with a friend," Snape rolled his eyes, knowing way more gossip than he should. "It was all they could talk about in the staff room for a month. He was a quidditch player for the Chudley Canons or something equally ridiculous."

"See, that's why we need you involved!" Luna crossed her arms and smiled at him. "Hey Matthew! She's single!" Luna called out, causing Matthew to grin stupidly back and sigh in relief.

"You should mention veelas around her, see how she reacts," Kara continued. "Then we have a better idea for how to plan the approach."

"It's his relationship, he should handle it," Snape sneered and pointed towards Matthew. "What do you want, Potter?!" He turned his attention to the one male student standing in front of him.

Harry quickly explained and passed out the coins. Luna gave him a quick peck on the cheek (causing Harry to blush furiously) while everyone else looked grateful. Snape narrowed his eyes and refused to take the one held out for him. "This is just another excuse for one of your heroic mis-adventures, isn't it?" He said suspiciously.

"Or, you could be the one to show up when someone gets in trouble…probably with Umbridge," Harry shrugged and continued to hold out the coin.

"I'm no Gryffindor, Potter," Snape sneered and crossed his arms.

"No, but you're very brave," Harry leaned forward. Not breaking eye contact, he pulled open the corner of one of Snape's large, robe pockets and dropped the coin into it. "You did stare down a monster who wanted to eat you over Christmas break," he reminded Snape of his interactions with Drake.

Snape looked a little confused. "Frankly, I wasn't aware I was in that much danger…"

Harry shrugged and took in a deep breath… "Um, a little spicy, but still fairly bland. Nope, I don't think you were in too much danger," Harry smirked at him, assessing the taste of the man's soul. "Padfoot's house elf was probably more dangerous if we're being honest."

"I'm lost and bored now," Hestia rolled her eyes. "Let's go make fun of Draco."

"If we must," Kara shrugged, and the group wandered away.

"That's actually a good idea," Luna said with a dreamy look on her face before turning around. "Draaaco! You should help out Matthew!"

"Hell no!" He called out indignantly. "I'm not getting in the middle of this!"

Severus smirked, seeing his way out of the situation. "Ah, Draco, I think it's a wonderful idea. Yes, that definitely seems the best plan."

Harry shook his head. That frankly sounded worse than Snape talking someone up in his opinion. "Yeah, Draco!" Matthew raised his head and grinned again, unconsciously loosing a bit of his veela allure and causing Brook and David both to have to shake off their sudden attraction to their friend. "You'll mention me and how you think I'm a veela or something…see what she says. You can do that!"

"Come on, Dray," Neville nudged him in the ribs. "You have to make up for all those insults outside of the club somehow. This sounds like a good start to me."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Matthew's a seventh year, I don't believe I've ever insulted him outside of the club. What about you?" He turned to Kara who was now lounging on the back of the couch behind him. "She likes you, and you're good at Astronomy."

"I'm a Valkyrie," Kara rolled her eyes at him. Harry grinned broadly, answering one more question about what the club members were. "I'd rather punch the woman than help out her romantic life," the Valkyrie shuddered at that. "Please, I'm worse than our illustrious grump of a leader over there."

Snape sent a death glare her way but seemed to be unwilling to take points from his own house. Harry turned a speculative glance to Eir from his house. She was good friends with Kara…maybe she was a Valkyrie too? He promised himself to read up on Valkyries a bit more. Natural born warriors seemed helpful to have around in a tough situation.

"Fine!" Malfoy grumbled. "I'll go ask Professor Sinistra a question about the homework and figure out some way to casually mention veelas. I hate you all," he huffed at the end.

Neville gave him a hug and Harry raised an eyebrow at the elf. Draco just rolled his eyes and patted Neville on the back. Harry still hadn't figured out what was going on with that situation. Without knowing what Malfoy was, it all seemed extremely strange. Were they friends; did they like each other; was it just a creature magnetism thing? Harry figured it was a mystery he actually wanted to solve, and one that was much safer than the sorcerer's stone or the Chamber of Secrets.

"I know that look," Luna draped an arm around his shoulders and whispered in his ear. "Stay out of it. They probably don't even know the answers to your questions themselves."

"I love a good mystery though," Harry grinned at her over his shoulder.

"How are you feeling, by the way?" She changed the subject, looking concerned.

Harry shook his head, trying not to think about it. "Like my stomach is a black hole," he sighed. "At least Jamie is doing all right."

"You have a lot less wrackspurts now than a few months ago," Luna nodded. "Much less distracting."

Harry's luck couldn't hold any longer. It only took him sitting down in DADA the next day before their new headmistress turned beady eyes on him. "Mr. Potter…"

Harry took in a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever was about to happen. He saw Hermione and Ron glance at him in concern from the corner of his eye. Surprisingly, he saw Malfoy look up with a sad expression on his face as well. "Yes, Professor Umbridge?"

"Detention, Mr. Potter," she smirked evilly. "For being out of uniform."

Harry looked down at his Gryffindor robes, tie, shoes, "Er, I don't understand, Professor."

"Your jewelry, Mr. Potter," Umbridge said as she walked to the front of the classroom. "That necklace and bracelet aren't in uniform."

Harry couldn't help his eyes cutting over to Pansy Parkinson who was also wearing a necklace. He held his tongue though. "Uh, Professor, I've been wearing these for months now. I didn't realize they were against dress code," he tried his hardest to say respectfully. He figured it was a lost cause though; there was no getting out of the detention.

"Ah, an oversight on my part then," the professor looked back at him with a gleam in her eyes. "I believe that should be a week of detentions then," she added on.

Harry sighed, yes, that was definitely his luck. He took out his book and did everything in his power to keep himself from saying anything else. He did not want any more detentions added on. There was no telling what she was planning to do to him.

"Harry, keep your temper in check, do whatever she says, and come right back here so we know you're ok and can heal you if needed," Hermione instructed him as he prepared to leave the Gryffindor common room that night for his detention with Umbridge.

"Or go to Madam Pomfrey or Dumbledore," Ron added on at the end. "Depending on what she does, ok?"

"I'll be fine guys. I'm indestructible, remember," Harry smiled at them nervously, trying to convince himself.

"Jamie isn't though, mate," Ron shook his head sadly.

"I can't believe we're sending you back there!" Hermione growled in frustration. "I can't believe there isn't anything we can do!"

"She's a ministry official," Harry shrugged, feeling just as helpless. "I've already survived weeks of detentions with her. What's one more?"

"I hate her more than Voldemort!" Hermione exclaimed darkly. Apparently when her view of authority was tarnished, she didn't handle it well.

Ron looked at her like she'd gone insane. "Er, 'Mione, I get it, but that's a bit strong."

"It's true. She abuses her power and hides behind her position. She breaks the law and uses it to cover up her own crimes. That's inexcusable!"

"I'll be back in a couple hours," Harry gave Hermione a little hug before turning to leave. "It'll all be over soon, no worries."

Harry walked into the DADA Professor's office, wondering why Umbridge wanted him to go there instead of the headmistress's office. It didn't take him long to realize that it was because there weren't portraits in that office, no witnesses…

"Ah, Mr. Potter," Umbridge stood from her desk and walked around it. "You have been very naughty. I can't prove it…but I know you were the one that took my favorite toys."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Professor," Harry remarked from where he was standing just inside the door, really wanting to just flee at the moment.

"Really…" With a wave of her wand, a silencing ward rose behind Harry over the door. All his senses screamed for him to run. All thoughts of him being indestructible went out the window and fear came to the forefront of his mind. "How are we to play now...?"

"Wha—What am I doing for detention, ma'am?" Harry stuttered out, trying to reach for his wand but in a way she wouldn't see.

"Screaming…" She snarled before, "Crucio!"

Harry hit the floor, having fallen awkwardly on his arm. He couldn't feel what had happened to his arm, the pain in the rest of his body was too intense. Harry writhed on the floor in agony. Every nerve ending he had felt like it was being burned with a hot poker. Realistically, it was probably only a few minutes that Umbridge was able to hold the curse at the most, but it felt like months. The woman's hate must run exceptionally deep. It was all Harry could do to hold onto Jamie. The pain was calling for him to separate from the body since the curse could not affect a dementor so letting go would be escaping the pain. It would also mean being found out though. He screamed until his voice gave out, the only release available to him.

When Umbridge finally stopped, Harry couldn't even raise his head from the floor. Though he hadn't even felt it when he hit the floor, he knew his arm was fractured if not completely broken from the impact. "It's a pity the pain curse leaves no marks. That was the beauty of the blood quills. They left a beautiful reminder," Umbridge mused in a sickening tone. "Oh well, I guess we can fix that too."

With a murmured spell, Harry felt a shallow gash from a cutting curse hit his side. His already sensitive nerves screamed as he did too, an inhuman screech of anger, fear, and pain that sounded more like the dementor language than human. A blur of pink suddenly appeared in his unfocused vision. "Hmm, I'll probably need to heal you some before letting you leave, or someone may try to stop our fun," Umbridge chuckled as she raked long nails down Harry's face, leaving tracks of blood behind and setting his facial nerves on fire.

Harry whimpered and tried to move, but Jamie was out. If Harry hadn't of been a dementor, he knew he would be unconscious by now. The pain burned through him, pulling the dementor to feed, to leave the body harming it and stop what was happening.

"Mr. Potter…I do believe it's my responsibility now to teach you to respect and submit to authority," the pink, toad-like face moved closer in his vision as her hand tugged painfully on his hair. "We'll have so much fun you and I…"

The face got closer and closer. The hell?! Harry thought frantically; he didn't like where this was going. Was she planning to kiss him? Oh, hell no! He definitely didn't like where this was going. Unfortunately for Umbridge (fortunately for the rest of the world), putting your face right in front of an injured dementor's is the absolute worst idea imaginable.

The dead weight of Jamie was immediately dropped to the floor and shed easier than a snakeskin. Umbridge's face was met with the hooded mouth of a dementor while a skeletal hand fisted her robes and pulled her closer. Not even giving her time to scream, Harry pulled her soul from her body and absorbed it into himself. It was divine! It was like candy floss and caramel with a hint of treacle.

The dementor hovered up, discarding the soulless body from himself, taking in the room as he breathed deeply, no longer in pain or hungry. Then, his suppressed human instincts caught up to him with a gasp. Harry sank down to the where he was hovering just over the floor and put his head into his hands. The soulless body of his former DADA professor laying beside the bleeding body of Jamie filled his vision.

What had he done…He was a murderer, was the only thing that kept running through his mind. He'd killed someone…worse than killed someone. It was a ministry employee to make it even worse. What could he do now…? The woman was obviously evil, so turning himself in didn't sit right with him. Plus, he was a dementor, what were they going to do with him. He'd probably just end up working with the other dementors in the Caribbean. No, turning himself in was not right.

The next thought he had was what to do with the body. Who did you call in to help you bury a body, especially when it was technically still alive? He couldn't help a look of pure disgust at the prone form still lying just feet from Jamie's injured and broken body. She deserved it! The dementor screamed in his head. Harry couldn't believe he was now planning on covering up a murder. It was either that, turning himself in, or running. Turning himself in and running basically had the same outcome of ending up with the other dementors. Umbridge was evil though and he felt like he still had things to do in Britain, like stopping Voldemort and keeping his friends safe.

So, back to who to call in to help get rid of a body that was technically still alive. Also, how to get Jamie medical attention. He quickly checked the gash on Jamie's side and the scratches on his face, but neither were deep or life-threatening, though the gash in his side would probably scar even with healing since it felt of dark magic. The nerve damage was what was most concerning at the moment though. Umbridge didn't have the power behind the curse that Voldemort did, but she had held it for longer. The decision of what to do actually wasn't that hard. It was a bit of a gamble, but he didn't think it was that much of a stretch. Who did you call when you needed to clean something up anyway? "Dobby! Winky!" Harry called out fearfully.

Twin pops and both house elves were standing in front of the distressed dementor. "Harry-Dementor…what's can Dobby and Winky help you with?" Dobby asked as both of their eyes seemed to settle on the soulless shell in the room and the broken form of Jamie. "Oh," he said simply at the end.

"Winky says, good riddance," the female elf nodded decidedly. "I's told Dumbledore that Plan D was the best plan. I's guess that's what's we doing anyway. Is Mr. Jamie, ok?"

"No, please don't tell Dumbledore!" Harry gasped out at the elves. "Jamie will be fine, but we need to keep this quiet!"

Both elves glared at him like he was crazy. "Why's we tell Headmaster Dumblydore?" Dobby asked, crossing his arms. "Problem handled."

"No, 'problem handled!'" Harry exclaimed in frustration. "What do I do now? She's still alive…sort of. You guys have to help me, please. I didn't mean to…but what do I do now…?"

Winky sighed deeply. "Well, we's have to get rid of the body."

"It's still alive!" Harry exclaimed again in a loud shriek.

"Shhh!" Dobby shushed him and threw up a new silencing ward on the door since Umbridge's had broken with her 'death.' "Winky wasn't saying she'd kill her."

Winky raised an eyebrow at the other elf and rolled her eyes. Yes, that's definitely what she had been offering. "What's you suggest then all knowing Dobby?" She asked sarcastically.

"We's just need to take care of it until it goes naturally…" Dobby glared back at her.

Winky huffed. "That could takes a couple weeks though. Where we going to put it? The kitchen?"

"No…maybe one of the old werewolf rooms?" He suggested. "No werewolfs right now, so no one would know."

"We's have to keep going to checks on it though," Winky wrinkled her nose in distaste.

"Merlin…I'm a murderer!" Harry gasped again as it just kept sinking in.

"Hush, Harry-Dementor!" Winky glared at him. "She was evil woman! She's would kill any of us if she could! You's saves creatures! Obviously, you's saved Mr. Jamie as well."

"Harry Potter, sir," Dobby wrapped his arms around Harry's neck from where he was still hovering just over the floor and stared under the hood. "You's tell no one what happened today. You hear Dobby?! No one needs to know!"

"But…" Harry didn't know how he was going to finish that sentence. He felt he should tell someone…right?

"No! We's put the body in one of the old rooms and we's get someone to help Jamie, but no one else needs to know," Dobby narrowed his eyes in warning.

"Who you want us to get?" Winky asked kindly. "Mr. Jamie needs help. We's can get Poppy-Elf, or we's can get the Potions Master."

"They's going to know what Harry-Dementor did," Dobby warned. "Mr. Jamie is hurt, had detention with the toad-woman, and she's disappeared."

"They's can't prove anything," Winky reminded him. "We's can trust either Poppy-Elf or Potions Master."

"Madam Pomfrey still doesn't know what I am," Harry shook his head. "It's probably best she doesn't learn this way. Besides, Professor Snape owes me."

"Ok, Winky takes care of the trash and Dobby gets Snape-Professor," Winky nodded before popping out with Umbridge's body.

"Dobby, please tell Professor Snape to bring the potion that counteracts the Cruciatus Curse," Harry told his friend who gave him one more hug before popping out.

Harry was left hovering over the floor all alone. He'd just gotten past one secret with his friends, and now he was taking on another one. He'd assured everyone he wasn't dangerous, and then he goes and murders the headmistress. He really couldn't bring himself to regret it much though, besides feeling that he'd let his friends and Dumbledore down. No one with a soul that tasted that good should be around children, and he didn't even want to think about where her torture was probably heading before he stopped her. No, he'd deal with the fallout and keep it to himself. He would definitely be under suspicion, but as Winky said, no one could prove anything without a body.

"Merlin!" Snape exclaimed as he rushed into the room, Dobby trotting along behind him. "What happened?!"

Harry stayed quiet and ignored the question as Snape cast several diagnostic spells at Jamie. "You will answer me, Mr. Potter," Snape looked up from the body, a sickly look on his face as all the injuries registered with him.

Harry just glanced over to Dobby though who had crossed his little arms and looked stern. "Potions Master Snape doesn't want to know. You's heal Mr. Jamie and don't ask questions. Harry Potter sir says you owe him," Dobby informed him in a tone that said the man would obey him.

Snape looked between the dementor and the house elf, a tight look around his eyes. "Can you get back in your body?" Snape finally asked as he took some vials from his pockets. "It will be easier to get you to swallow the potion."

Harry shook his head. The pain would just expel him again. It had taken everything he had to stay in as long as he had. "Fine," Snape nodded and unstopped the vial. "I don't want to get dragged into whatever happened here anyway. You'll need to take it easy for a few days. Bedrest would be best, but I'm assuming you don't want to raise anyone's suspicions, so just take it easy instead."

"You's will keep this from Headmaster Dumblydore," Dobby instructed the man as he made the body drink the potions.

Snape nodded slowly. "This gash in your side was caused by dark magic. I can close it, but you'll have to keep from doing anything strenuous or it will open again."

Harry nodded in understanding and watched as Snape closed the gashes on his face with a spell. "So many crimes were committed in this room," Snape sighed. "I can only imagine what happened to our illustrious headmistress. I know what should have happened to her…but I'll reserve my comments on that."

Harry was finally able to settle back into Jamie and pick up the body once more. He felt terrible. "Dobby, I may need a little help back to Gryffindor Tower," he grimaced towards the elf.

Snape smirked suddenly as he stood. "I might finally get to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts now," he commented with a glint of humor in his eyes. "I think I'm going to go brush up on some of my lesson plans," he said before leaving the room in a billow of robes.

"All rights, Harry-Dementor. Dobby's got you," the little elf said as he helped up the taller body with a bit of magic. "We's get you settled for the night and then you's come down to the kitchens and visit with Dobby and Winky once Jamie's asleep. We's need to come up with a plan for what to do when the ministry investigates the toad's disappearance."

"Thank you, Dobby!" Harry breathed with as much gratitude as he could infuse into the sentence.

Harry slowly walked into the Gryffindor common room, taking his time now that Dobby wasn't there to support him anymore. "Harry! Are you ok?!" Hermione and Ron rushed over. Harry noticed that the rest of the common room was empty, it must be after curfew already.

"Not really," he commented dryly since it'd be pointless to claim anything different as he looked more dead than alive at the moment. "Snape patched me up though. I'll be fine in a few days," he slowly lowered himself into an armchair with a sigh of relief.

"What did she do?" Ron bent down in front of him, studying his friend to find where the injuries were. "Merlin, you look terrible!"

Harry opened his eyes and looked pleadingly at his friends. "I went to Umbridge's office, but she wasn't there. I never had detention with her. I'm fine and very confused about why I couldn't find her," he told them slowly.

"But…" Hermione cocked her head. "You're injured…"

"No, I'm not," he said slowly again, with a raise of his eyebrow. "Understand?"

"No…" Hermione looked even more confused, but Ron seemed to be getting it from the look on his face.

"Oh, Harry," he sighed with a horrified look in his eyes. "It was really bad wasn't it? Tell me it was justified…tell me she deserved it."

Harry turned pained eyes on his friend and couldn't hold back a sob as everything he'd gone through that he'd been repressing hit him finally. Tears began to stream down his face as he broke down. "Nothing happened," he sobbed out the lie that no one was going to believe. "I never had detention…" His hands were shaking, and it wasn't only the Cruciatus Curse now.

Hermione wrapped her arms around him, finally seeming to understand what happened. "Harry…we need to tell Dumbledore."

"Nothing happened!" He exclaimed as he was gasping between sobs.

"Hush, Hermione," Ron glared at her surprisingly. "Don't you see…he didn't even break down like this after Voldemort last year. Harry…we have your back. If you say you didn't have detention tonight, then you didn't have detention. You were studying in the library. We'll tell anyone who asks."

"But, Ron…" Hermione began with a disapproving look on her face.

"You hate her more than V-Voldemort, remember," Ron cut her off.

"Yeah, but…"

"If this is too much for you, then go back to your dorm," Ron said, wrapping an arm around Harry and pushing her away some. "I'll take care of him."

Harry cried even harder and started to hyperventilate in panic. What if he hadn't stopped Umbridge? What would she have continued to do to him? Finally hit him as a thought. What if he wasn't the only one? Was the next thought.

"Deep breaths," Ron instructed as he patted Harry's back. "Actually, Hermione, why don't you go get Neville. He's better at this than either of us."

"No!" Harry exclaimed. "Nothing happened. No one can know…"

"Harry, you're a mess," Hermione sighed in resignation. "No one is going to believe that right now."

"Ron…help me," Harry tried to stand and was only mostly successful. "I'll drop off Jamie and go calm down somewhere else."

"Don't run off Harry. You need people right now," Hermione pleaded.

Harry wasn't even listening anymore though. His panic had reached a level he couldn't deal with. He dropped Jamie right there in the chair and rose out of him, causing Ron and Hermione both to gasp and step back. No longer constrained to a human body, Harry calmed down some, at least not panicking anymore. He shouldn't have come back to the tower he decided. No one was supposed to know…why couldn't he just stay away, break down somewhere alone? He ghosted through the door to the tower and escaped his two friends trying to stop him and calm him down. He needed to be alone…he had to fix this.

Chapter Text

Dobby, following Hedwig, caught up to Harry on the Astronomy Tower. He had eventually calmed down some after his panic attack in the common room. Being outside his human body as a dementor made things a lot clearer to him. Jamie was a mess, was his conclusion. It was easier to blame his more human emotions and instincts on the soulless body than having to own up to them, though he was very aware that Jamie had no thoughts or feelings, so it was a lie he was willing to tell himself. "What's you doing here, Mr. Harry Potter?" Dobby asked as Hedwig settled on the parapet beside Harry who scratched her head with a long, skeletal finger.

"Calming down, figuring out what I actually feel," Harry answered with a sigh. "I don't know if I'm angry at Umbridge, disgusted at myself, afraid of getting caught, or worried about what my friends will think…I'm just kind of messed up right now. I think I'm settling into angry at Umbridge and righteous indignation that I was the one that hand to handle the situation though."

"Dobby agrees with that last one," the elf nodded enthusiastically. "Winky does too. Really, she wishes Winky was the one that handled it."

Harry sank to where he was hovering over the floor cross-legged so that he could be more on the same level as his friend. "So, what's the plan? Did Winky have any suggestions for how we're going to handle all this? I can't believe I'm talking about covering up a murder…one of those things that you'd swear you'd never be doing."

Dobby nodded again and comfortingly took Harry's hand that wasn't petting Hedwig in his. "She say that there'll be an investigation. She see old master Barty Crouch do this many times. But, Winky and Dobby will make sure no one will find the body, and if Mr. Harry Potter keeps to the story that he didn't have detention and she wasn't there, then there isn't anything they can do."

"What about Veritaserum?" Harry asked anxiously. It was what he was concerned about the most.

Dobby shook his head and smirked though. "No, Mr. Harry Potter is a minor. Winky says you cannot be given any truth serum. It's illegal. She says if you's are given anything, just starts talking about everything you knows about Sirius Black and the rat and the Dark Lord. Don't lets them ask questions, just keep talking until it wears off and they're distracted. Then they's have to deal with all that."

Harry laughed and seemed to lose a couple pounds of anxiety. "Honestly, I almost wish they would give me something then."

Dobby wrinkled his nose but chuckled. "Let's still avoid it."

"Can I actually help you in the kitchen tonight to get ready for breakfast? I need something to do to keep me busy?" Harry sighed, knowing the house elves hated when anyone tried to help them. "I promise I won't make a habit of it, and I won't touch the all-sacred stove."

Dobby seemed to think about it for a minute. "I's guess we can move Sparky off dishes and let him chop things. I's hold no responsibility if breakfast isn't perfect though."

Harry smiled and almost bounced off the floor. He knew the house elf known as Sparky was as much, if not more, of a klutz than Tonks, and was not a fan of having to wash dishes. He was on probation for dropping an entire bowl of pudding on the floor outside of the kitchen. It would be an entertaining evening at the very least if he was on chopping duty. "I'll be the best dish washer ever."

Dobby chuckled and pulled Harry along behind him back down from the tower. "You's just have to be better than Sparky, and we's can shame him to do better then."

Harry ghosted back into the tower just after dawn, feeling much better after house elf and dish therapy, and was surprised to see that his body was not in the armchair he'd left it in the night before. He wasn't worried though; it was just like Ron and Hermione to take Jamie up to the dorm instead of leaving him there alone. He was only concerned that he'd left his friends in the condition he had. They must be really worried about him. He hadn't broken down like that ever, though he had come close after Cedric's death.

He stopped at the foot of his four-poster bed and looked at the scene in confusion. Jamie was definitely there, but there was a high elf wearing stripped pajamas wrapped around his body with a hint of green skin showing through the glamour. Why was Neville in the bed with Jamie? Harry wondered as he decided how to handle the situation. He couldn't exactly drop back into his body with Neville wrapped around it, plus the elf would definitely feel the difference as he claimed Harry's dementor was the anti-elf. However, if he woke Neville up, he'd probably terrify his dormmate. Being woken by a dementor had to be one of the worst ways to wake up, just under getting woken by Voldemort himself.

The decision was made for him as Neville groaned and slowly blinked his eyes, probably sensing someone staring at him in his sleep. Harry braced for the reaction. Neville rubbed his face and looked up at the dementor then frowned. He rubbed his eyes one more time. Finally, it sank in as he jumped and with a yelp almost fell off the bed. However, the elf couldn't move since he was trying to pull the dead weight of Jamie with him. Harry quickly motioned him to be quiet before he could cry out and almost jumped back into Jamie, a rush of pain washing over him from the body.

"What?! What's going on?!" Neville exclaimed when the dementor disappeared into his friend's body, luckily it was muted by the silencing charm Harry kept on the curtains of his bed. Jamie didn't have nightmares, but it had become habit to set them every year, so he had that year as well.

"Shouldn't I be asking that? You're the one cuddled up with my body?" Harry raised an eyebrow and chuckled from where he was laying propped up on the pillows now.

Neville took in a deep breath and seemed to be trying to wake up his brain and process the situation. The green showing through his glamour disappeared as the teen woke up more for the day. "Ok, hold on…you're a dementor? Wow, I don't know if that explains a lot or just brings up even more questions. How does one turn into a dementor?"

"Yep, er, it's kind of like becoming a vampire I guess. I got to keep my body to wear around as a disguise though," Harry smiled cheekily. "I call it Jamie. He's a bit like a pet."

"That's the weirdest thing I've heard all year," Neville yawned, not too freaked out, or just too sleepy to care. Harry guessed that being in the HSMC would raise your threshold for strangeness though. "That's a new one for the club," he added in with a chuckle at the end.

"Uh huh, so…are you ever going to tell me why you were spooning my soulless body last night?" The dementor asked with fake indignation on his face.

"Er, yeah, well…I guess this actually all does make more sense now," Neville mused, not even embarrassed. "Ron and Hermione woke me up by mistake when they carried your body in last night. I heard them talking about how they needed to get your body comfortable for when you came back as it needed to heal. They then were whispering about keeping silent about something and how you needed their support and not questions right now. I think Ron was actually lecturing Hermione, but I might have hallucinated that. It seems more likely than it actually happening."

Harry shrugged. He vaguely remembered that something might have happened like that before he left the night before, but he was panicking, so he didn't remember much. "Ok, so you jumped into bed with me?"

Neville rolled his eyes. "I came to check on you since that all sounded really strange. I was surprised because you didn't feel all dark like you normally do…I guess I understand that now," Neville chuckled. "Anyway, you did feel like pain. A whole sea of pain. Are you ok?"

Harry winced, he was not going to tell Neville what happened. "Yeah, it's rough. I'll be fine though. Don't ask."

Neville crossed his arms and frowned, not liking the sound of that. "You wouldn't wake up…and you were in pain. I was so worried, and you said that I could come to you if I ever needed a hug or a cuddle; I thought you might need one. Or, at least I would be there if something really bad happened."

"You know, Nev, I think Jamie really did need a cuddle. Thank you for taking care of me," Harry reached over to pat Neville's shoulder but stopped himself just in time. "Sorry, dark again, I know."

"Oh, it's fine, really," Neville awkwardly gave Harry a one-armed hug, obviously not very comfortable with it. Harry really appreciated the effort though.

The curtains on Harry's bed were dramatically thrown back as Ron sighed in relief at seeing his friend. There was worry lining the redhead's face, and his emotions were everywhere. "Oh thank Merlin! You're back! Wait…why is Neville in bed with you? Should you be telling Luna something?" Ron raised an eyebrow and smirked, his worry starting to filter away. "What you two do is your own business, but you know Luna…she might want to join."

"No, hush you…I'm not really dating Luna anyway," Harry turned pink and mumbled.

Neville coughed out a laugh as he stood and stretched. "You just keep telling yourself that, Harry."

The dementor rolled his eyes and turned back to Ron. "You and Hermione woke up Neville and he hopped in bed with me to make sure I was ok. He met Jamie this morning already."

"Oh…oh!" Ron said, understanding dawning and causing his eyes to grow as big as saucers.

"Yeah, not the best way to wake up. Though I guess fear does tend to make you wide awake," the high elf said wryly as he walked back towards his bed.

"So…he knows…everything?" Ron whispered.

Harry shook his head. "Just about what I am," he whispered back. "And that something happened, but not what."

"I don't even know what happened, mate. Though I can guess. I get it, plausible deniability, you don't have to tell me," Ron added on quickly at the end. "Hermione came around after you left. You know her, her first thought is always tell a teacher, and then it's that we can handle this together. She was always going to get there; it just took her a minute."

Harry nodded. He honestly didn't remember what she had said the night before. It was all kind of a painful and terrified blur, but that did sound very much like Hermione. "Good, we've been through too much together to separate now."

"How are you feeling? Will you be able to act normally today?" Ron asked in concern, not sure how they'd cover for him if he wasn't able to.

"Hey, Harry," Neville walked over and handed his friend a vial of potion. "My Potions tutor made this for me for headaches. I get migraines sometimes. Maybe it'll help with the pain some."

Harry frowned and studied the potion made by Malfoy like it could be poison…he was certain the blond wouldn't try to poison Neville, and he didn't know it would be given to Harry…so it must be safe, right? "Who's your tutor?" Ron asked, confused at Harry's suspicion of the potion.

"Malfoy," Harry answered for Neville who rolled his eyes yet again that morning. Harry thought he was learning some bad habits from Draco.

"Oi! Don't take that," Ron made a grasping motion to take the potion away, but Harry quickly scooted back and downed it.

"I'll chance it," Harry smirked as the handed the empty vial back to Neville. "Wow, yeah, I do feel a little better," he grinned as the potion instantly started working.

"What's going on?" Dean asked as he and Seamus walked over to the group in various stages of ready for the day.

"Harry's cheating on Luna with Neville," Ron said seriously as he walked towards the bathroom.

"I'm not! Ron, tell them you're joking!" Harry called after him as Dean and Seamus both looked at him questioningly.

"I'm hurt that you're ashamed of me!" Neville called out indignantly from where he was digging through his trunk looking for socks.

"Prats!" Harry huffed as he walked as normally as he could make himself towards the bathroom. "I'm eating breakfast at the Ravenclaw table."

Dean and Seamus just looked at each other and shrugged. They weren't exactly sure what was going on, and they seemed to decide they really didn't care since they'd be late for breakfast if they did.

That first day, everyone noticed Umbridge was missing, but no one really cared or questioned it. Actually, it looked like Professor McGonagall was planning a party in the staff room. Professor Snape (almost) happily covered her DADA classes with a seventh year Slytherin covering his lower-level Potions classes that conflicted. As much as no one liked Snape, everyone liked him much more than Umbridge. Outside of the DA, it was the most defense they had learned all year.

Harry dropped by Snape's quarters to check in on Dumbledore that evening. As much as he was certain that no one would sell him out, it was relieving to know for sure that Dumbledore had no clue what had happened to the woman and was making some headway into figuring out the horcrux situation. He had been busy looking into founder's artifacts since the locket and the diadem were both probably in that category. Snape was annoying enough to keep shooting smirking looks over the headmaster's head at Harry though, which had Harry running out of the quarters as soon as he was able.

The next evening was when Drake and Ronnie were due. Harry was at breakfast that morning before the rest of his dormmates, planning what he wanted to tell the dementors and ask about their plans. He had distractedly speared a sausage when two Gryffindor teens plopped down on either side of him, sitting close enough to be in his personal space. Harry put down the sausage and looked at them questioningly. The one on his left looked to be somewhere around third year and was of an Asian descent. His robes were sloppily put together, as most of the third-year boys at breakfast. The Gryffindor on his right looked around Harry's age or a little older and had dark skin and dark eyes with impeccable robes. "Er…hi…" Harry looked between them confusedly. He didn't think he'd seen these two before, ever. Something was very familiar though…

"Wait! What are you guys doing here? Where did you get those robes…and the bodies?!" Harry gasped, finally recognizing the auras of Drake and Ronnie even though they'd pulled them in as much as possible.

"A little slow on the uptake, mate," Ronnie, the younger third year, smirked and put an arm around Harry's shoulders.

"Yes, we could have sucked your soul out again before you even noticed," Drake smirked at Harry, much more effectively now that he had facial features.

"Well, I wasn't expecting you two until tonight, and looking a lot more dementor-y," Harry pouted at Drake. "Plus, you were the one that originally sucked out my soul. I'm still just a bit sore over that."

"Cry baby," Drake accused as he put some eggs on the plate in front of him. "I've never had human food before."

"You look and feel terrible," Ronnie informed his friend seriously. "The house elf told us to fix you, but we didn't think she was being literal. What happened to your body? Weren't you supposed to be taking care of it?"

Harry still felt like crap. There was a lot of truth in Snape's comment that he should have been on bedrest. The barely closed gash on his side pained him every time he moved, and his nerves were still very sensitive. "Ok, you back up and explain all of this," Harry motioned a hand over both of them. "And then I'll explain what happened to me."

"Ew, this is terrible," Drake wrinkled his nose and pushed the plate away from him. "How humans eat this, I have no clue! If you must know, the Caribbean wizards made us the bodies. They're golems and will only last about a month. They said it would help us blend in more, especially since we said our first stop was Hogwarts. I think that's why they made them so young looking."

"They about died laughing when we explained the whole situation," Ronnie added with a nod. "I get the idea they don't like your ministry much."

"Then, we get here early and as soon as we cross the gates to the castle, this female house elf pops right in front of us and hands us these robes," Drake rolled his eyes. "She ordered us to fix you."

"I'm actually doing pretty well right now," Harry laughed. "You obviously met Winky. She thinks I'm a bit traumatized. It's true, but I've been doing a lot better…when I don't think about it."

"Uh huh," Ronnie tried Drake's eggs before spitting them out onto the plate. "Yuk, yeah, human food is weird. So, what happened to you?"

Harry shrugged with anxiety on his features. "An evil professor was torturing me, and I ended up eating her…I didn't mean to, but now I'm trying to cover it up. No one has really started asking questions yet, but they will any time now."

"What'd she taste like?" Ronnie asked with a smile.

"Delightful! Like candy floss, caramel, and treacle," Harry smiled with the memory.

"I don't get the comparison, but it sounds like she must have been really evil," Ronnie concluded. "Good for you then."

"Yeah, if they taste good, don't question it," Drake added, crossing his arms. "If they don't taste good, then just move on and choose better next time."

"That's a bit callous," Harry frowned at his friend.

"We're not humans, Harry," Drake sighed in a long-suffering way. "You keep forgetting that. I didn't say to intentionally eat good people, but especially when you get a really evil one, it's not like our hearts are going to hurt for them."

"Hey…" Ronnie opened and closed his mouth a few times. "Wow, these human vocal cords really can't say our names. What did you call the two of us, Harry?"

"Ronnie," Harry motion to him. "And Drake," he motioned to the older of the two.

"Those are idiotic names," Drake grimaced. "How in the goddess's name did you come up with those?"

Harry smiled at him. "Your auras are a bit similar to a couple friends of mine. If you stay around long enough, maybe I'll introduce you."

"That's what I was going to ask…Drake," Ronnie grinned. "Can we stay and go to class with Harry? I want to see what human classes are like."

"We have a job to do…Ronnie, ergh, that name is terrible!" Drake rolled his eyes. "We need to get going. Any idea where we can find our targets?" He directed the last question to Harry. "We have an excellent sense of direction, but that doesn't exactly translate to being good trackers."

"Ooo, can I eat the Lestrange woman, pleeease!" Ronnie begged his friend.

Drake smirked at him. "Not if I get to her first."

After a glare, Ronnie turned to Harry. "She's so crazy that her insanity is almost intoxicating, from what I hear it's like human alcohol. It would be a soul that's a once in a lifetime meal. Really, if you get to her first, you should go for it."

"I don't know much about this Bellatrix person," Harry chuckled. "But, pretty much everyone has said the same thing. I actually think people like Voldemort more than her."

Drake shrugged. "Different types of delicious. He's completely evil, but not actually insane...you miss the intoxicating overtones then."

"Ok, well, I don't know where anyone is, but I can give you names of some Death Eaters who weren't in prison. They could be staying with some of those," Harry decided, pulling a piece of parchment and a quill out of his bag. "As for where they live, you may have to do some research on that on your own. They have kids here at the school, but I can't just walk up and ask where they live…Actually, yeah, I could maybe ask Malfoy where he lives," Harry mused as he started listing out names on the parchment.

"This is a welcome help," Drake asked, looking over Harry's shoulder at the list. "We may snack on a few of the ones that escaped our justice as well, depending on how their souls taste…"

Harry looked up and frowned. "Hey, can you two do me a favor?"

"'Course," Ronnie smiled happily at the teen. "You're doing us a favor, so we're happy to help!"

"It depends on the favor," Drake frowned warningly at Ronnie. He knew you didn't just agree to things before you heard them!

"Er, could you maybe leave Sirius Black alone," Harry looked at them with concern for his godfather. "You said you could tell he didn't commit the crimes he was in prison for. I'd like to keep my godfather around if at all possible."

After looking at each other questioningly they both shrugged. "Fine with me," Ronnie grinned.

"If we must," Drake rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't say he had an innocent soul, but whatever he'd done in his life didn't deserve maximum security for the amount of time he was there, so we can call it time-served. Just don't tell…King?...isn't that what you called him?"

"Leader, super planner, a bit strict…Yeah, that's King," Harry was so relieved that they'd agreed not to go after Sirius that he would have hugged them if he didn't think Drake would kick him in the shins for it.

"Man, you inflated his ego so much with that name!" The younger golem shook his head wryly. "So…I don't get to see some classes?" He pouted.

"Er, hey mate," Ron said in confusion as he sat across from Harry and the dementors suddenly. He looked at the two with obvious confusion, but also like he was trying to play off that he actually knew the people talking to Harry, assuming he was actually supposed to know them.

"Hey Ron…meet Ronnie," Harry grinned and motioned to the dementor.

"Hey," Ron nodded to the Gryffindor, still looking confused.

Ronnie seemed to size him up as he watched the redhead pile food on his plate. "I don't see it Harry," he finally said conclusively. "Drake must have dropped you on your head when he sucked out your soul."

Drake snorted. "Oh please, I do. See, it's right there," he motioned to the outer rim of Ron's aura that only the three dementors could see.

"No, I'm a warmer orange," Ronnie frowned, not wanting to see the similarity.

"Uh, what's going on?" The one human asked with a forkful of egg halfway to his mouth.

"I named Ronnie after you because your auras are so similar. He's protesting the choice," Harry grinned at his friend. "This is Ronnie and Drake the two dementors I told you were going to be stopping by the castle."

Ron's fork clattered to his plate as he stared at the two new students crowding around his friend. "Bloody hell!" He exclaimed.

"Language, Ron," Hermione berated him as she sat down beside him.

"But…they're dementors!" Ron hissed out so that only their little group could hear. "Where did you get the bodies?"

"Really?" Hermione asked, more curious than afraid. "Are you like Harry?"

"No, they're golems," Drake explained with an appreciative nod to her composure. "They will only last us the month while we're tracking down the escaped convicts."

"I don't see how you do this all the time Harry," Ronnie shifted uncomfortably in his skin. "It's damn awkward and pinches something awful!"

"You get used to it," Harry shrugged and sipped his pumpkin juice.

"Well, I'm going to drop the golem off a cliff as soon as I can get rid of it," he protested.

"Students!" Professor McGonagall called from the front of the room. "Quiet please!"

Harry steeled himself. It had to be something about Umbridge. Ronnie threw an arm around his friend's shoulder when his anxiety was felt by the other dementors. "As you can all see, Headmistress Umbridge is still missing this morning. As this is the second day we haven't been able to find her…" McGonagall actually smirked at this. "The ministry is sending out someone to take over her position here and to look for the woman," McGonagall was obviously having trouble looking believably upset at the missing faculty member. "Auror Scrimgeour will be here by this time tomorrow if the headmistress isn't found before then. Until then, Professors Snape and Flitwick will be covering her classes. Now, eat up and get to your first class."

"We should stay and check out this new person," Ronnie whispered to Drake.

The other dementor just slowly shook his head. "No, we can't let the prisoners run around free. We can come back though if needed. Harry has an owl; he can send for us if he needs us."

"What are you going to do anyway, eat the man…" Ron snorted until he realized that, yes, that was exactly what they would do. "Oh, er, ok…"

Hermione turned a pale green in shock while Harry just shook his head. "No, guys, I'll be fine. Winky's on it. She'll take care of me."

"Well, I'm coming back to sit in on some classes as soon as we eat our way through the maximum-security prisoners," Ronnie promised with a feral grin. "Plus, we still haven't met who Drake was named after. The medium-security prisoners can wait a bit."

"They could have sent me with anyone else, but it had to be Ronnie," Drake sighed, seeming to take some new disgust with the other's name.

"Hey, it's a great name! I'll be happy to show you around Hogwarts, Ronnie, when you return," Ron sniffed at Drake and smiled over to his namesake.

"Brilliant!" Ronnie beamed as he tried a piece of bacon and spit it out just as he had the eggs. "How you do eat this stuff?!"

"No one has noticed two new students sitting at the Gryffindor table?" Hermione asked, looking up at the head table where everyone seemed much happier without Umbridge and were busy not looking at the students.

"They're teens and wearing the right robes, why would anyone notice?" Harry grinned. "Although, I think trying to sit in a class might be a little more difficult."

"Epic!" Ron and Ronnie said together, thinking about the mischief they could get up to.

"Er, just not Care of Magical Creatures," Harry shuddered. "Hagrid's back, and as much as I love him, I don't think he'll be as quick to save us from the unicorns as Professor Grubbly-Plank was."

"Bloody stupid horses with headgear!" Drake snarled, obviously having had a run-in with a unicorn in the past.

"Yeah, and people say we're scary," Ronnie shuddered. Hermione and Ron seemed to be trying to hold back laughter, but Harry thought that was very ungenerous of them. They hadn't had a couple unicorns chase them across the castle grounds before like he had.

"Right! Off to eat Death Eaters!" Drake stood, all business now. "Harry, if someone tries to harm or kill you, you eat them. Get the house elf to cover it up or call us. Stay out of trouble as much as possible, and if you can't, King has already set you up a room at the prison."

"Or call us and we'll eat whoever's bothering you," Ronnie added on with a vicious grin.

"Oh, before I forget," Harry smiled at them indulgently as he pulled a couple tubes of lip balm from his pockets. "Parting gift."

"Oh, thank the goddess!" Drake exclaimed and immediately put the lip balm on even though it was the golem's lips instead of his own.

"Have more of this when we come back!" Ronnie grinned and waved as they headed out to the entrance hall.

"Oh, eat Voldy for me if you get the chance!" Harry added on before they were too far away.

"With pleasure," Drake smiled a toothy grin.

That night, Harry held his communication mirror in his hand and thought of his godfather. It only took a minute before an out-of-breath Sirius Black was on the other end. "Prongslet!"

"Hey, Siri, what're you doing?" Harry asked as the man seemed to be gripping a stitch in his side.

"Avoiding Moody," Sirius turned wide eyes on his godson. "How was I to know his magical eye could see through wood? That's an invasion of privacy, that is!"

"Oh no, what'd you do?" Harry rolled his eyes and chuckled.

"Nothing your little innocent dementor ears need to hear about," Sirius smirked. "Frankly, if you have any questions about growing up or your body or romance, those should all be directed to Moony. I'm fairly certain he'd agree with me on that as well."

Harry just shook his head, silently agreeing. He did not want to open that can of flobberworms with his godfather. "Ok, so I need to tell you, there are a couple dementors in the area tracking down the escaped convicts from Azkaban," Sirius paled considerably at that. "I convinced them not to go after you though!" Harry added on quickly.

Sirius sighed out deeply and sat on the couch in relief. "Way to cause a heart attack Harry!"

"Sorry," he winced. "Er, also, do you happen to know anything about an Auror Scrimgeour?"

"Yeah, he was a supervisor when I was an auror. What do you need to know?" The former convict settled in on the couch more and held the mirror at an unfortunate angle where Harry was looking up his nostrils. Harry grimaced but didn't say anything.

"Er, Professor Umbridge went missing, and he's coming to take over and investigate. Is he…you know…reasonable?" Harry finally got out.

Sirius thought about it for a minute. "He's a bit of a gruff bastard in my opinion and way too strict, but he's sold out to his job and the law. He's not going to turn out to be a Death Eater if that's what you're asking. By the way…what happened to your 'High Inquisitor?'"

"Er, don't know…er, just disappeared," Harry mumbled out and looked away.

"Uh huh…might want to ask Snivellus for some lying lessons there Prongslet," Sirius raised an eyebrow at him.

"Nothing happened," Harry said, more clearly this time. "I'm just not going to miss the evil, kid torturing toad! That's all."

Sirius leaned forward closer to the mirror and a dark shadow seemed to take the place of his usually jovial expression. "What do you mean 'kid torturing?'" He asked dangerously, in a tone that Harry knew meant business.

He thought Sirius had known though. Dumbledore did and he was going to talk to the Order. "Dumbledore said he'd tell the Order and try to get her kicked out last term? Didn't he?" Harry asked in hurt confusion.

Sirius now looked positively deadly. "He said she was a detriment to education, but he didn't say anything about torturing kids…what did she do, Harry?"

He shrugged. "She had this blood quill…" Sirius was already growling at this point, so he didn't even bother to go on.

"What else?! What else did she do to you?!" The dog animagus looked more wolf than Remus at the moment as his blue eyes flashed like ice in the mirror.

"Really, I'm fine now," Harry assured him vehemently.

"His nerves are shot and something's wrong with his side," Neville pulled the curtains of Harry's bed aside and informed the mirror. "Oh, hey…er, Mr. Black…weren't you trying to kill Harry?"

"I had up a silencing charm!" Harry exclaimed indignantly.

Neville raised an eyebrow at his friend. "I'm a high elf, that means nothing to me. That's why they give me the big ears," he said, completely blowing Harry's mind. He wondered what else his dormmate had heard over the years. "Oh, don't spread that around if you don't mind, but I assume you're not actually a murderous bastard if Harry's talking with you," Neville said into the mirror.

"And, who might you be, my new elf friend?" Sirius's asked with wide eyes.

"Neville Longbottom, sir," he said, pushing Harry over slightly to sit beside him on the bed.

"Now, what do you mean my godson's nerves are shot?" Sirius asked. "Just hand him the mirror, Harry. You had your chance."

Neville took the mirror as Harry vehemently protested. "My guess is Cruciatus, sir," Neville explained while Harry glared at him.

"Longbottom, eh?"

"Yes sir, I know the signs well," the elf confirmed. Harry's eyes widened in horror, Neville never spoke of what happened to his parents, and Harry could guess now what had happened to them.

"Hey kid, how much does your friend Neville know?" Sirius's face in the mirror tried to look over to Harry beside Neville.

Harry crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at his friend. "I'd say he knows as much as you, Padfoot, but now I'm wondering what his big ears might actually have heard."

"Well, I didn't know the escaped mass murderer was actually your godfather," Neville informed Harry with a very Draco-like smirk. "Just confirming, but he is innocent, right?"

"Yes, Nev, he is," Harry said with a tired sigh. "Framed by Peter Pettigrew."

Neville nodded. "Ok, so Umbridge was hurting Harry and now she's disappeared. Hey…you haven't been complaining about being hungry recently either…" Neville stared at his friend contemplatively.

"Nope, don't say another word!" Sirius exclaimed frantically, the mirror bouncing as he jumped up and started running up stairs. "Harry, you be quiet and don't talk to anyone. I'm on my way!"

"What?!" Harry exclaimed and snatched the mirror back from Neville. "An auror is coming to investigate Umbridge's disappearance, and you're still a fugitive. You can't come! Stay home!"

"Sorry pup, get the chew toys ready because you're about to get a pet dog. Tell Snape to clean out under his desk since I'm moving in," Sirius said as he was obviously rushing into his room now, probably to pack some things.

"No Siri! Snape hates you…besides, Dumbledore…"

"Cool it, Harry," Sirius stopped in his mad dash and stared at the mirror. "You can either meet me tomorrow night at 8pm outside the Whomping Willow, or I can get myself in. Your choice, but I am coming!"

The mirror immediately went dark as Sirius cut off the call. Harry picked up a pillow and threw it at a bedpost in frustration. "I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to get him so worked up," Neville said as calmly as possible, trying to soothe his friend.

Harry took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his anger and anxiety. "No, I know you were trying to help, Nev," he finally said.

"And, hey, about what happened…whatever happened," Neville said awkwardly looking away. "I haven't really told you about my parents, but just know…you'll get no judgement from me. Whatever…ok?"

"Thanks Nev…I've kind of put some pieces together from what I've heard," Harry smiled at him.

"So…what's this about getting a pet dog?" The elf smiled, changing the subject.

Harry groaned, "No, there's no way I'm telling Snape! Padfoot can get himself killed. I'm out of it!"

"Still lost, mate…" Neville chuckled.

"Hey, how good are you at convincing Malfoy to do things?" Harry smiled deviously at his friend.

Chapter Text

Harry was concerned. Auror Scrimgeour, or rather High Inquisitor Scrimgeour, looked terrifying. He looked sterner than McGonagall, just as paranoid as Moody, and as capable as Kingsley. At least he wasn't wearing pink. He did however say quite plainly in his opening statement at breakfast the next morning that he thought the Inquisitorial Squad was a wonderful institution, that most of the Educational Decrees seemed reasonable, and that he would be interviewing anyone and everyone who may have interacted with Dolores Umbridge during the last day she was seen. Harry really hoped he wouldn't end up having to eat this High Inquisitor as well. With his luck it would be Padfoot's fault anyway.

The students watched the wall covered in Educational Decrees as Scrimgeour had a few removed…a few as in actually three. Quidditch was still out to everyone's dismay. "We're taking bets on if he'll be better or worse than the toad," one of the Weasley twins whispered to Harry as they watched the slight changes being made to the wall.

"You want in?" The other twin asked from Harry's other side.

"I'll put five knuts on me getting detention by the end of his first week," Harry remarked wryly as Hermione turned and rolled her eyes at him from where she was standing just to the front of the group.

"We can't give you good odds on that one, mate. Everyone thinks you'll be getting detention by the end of the week," the twin Harry thought was Fred responded with a smirk.

"Fine, I'm out then," Harry shook his head as Ron sniggered from beside Hermione.

"I think betting should be the next decree," a voice dryly remarked behind the group, causing everyone to spin around in surprise.

Harry was face-to-face with the grizzled countenance of the new High Inquisitor that looked remarkably like a stern lion who wanted to eat him. "Er, hello, Headmaster, sir," Hermione mumbled from behind Harry.

Scrimgeour completely ignored her as he pinned Harry with a look. "Mr. Potter, I believe I would like to start my interviews tomorrow after lunch with you. I see from the school records that you had detention with my predecessor on the night of her disappearance."

"She never showed, sir," Harry quickly explained as his heart began to race.

"Regardless, you will be in my office by 12:30pm tomorrow. Understood?" The man raised a commanding eyebrow and crossed his arms.

"Yes, sir," the teen quickly replied with a tense nod of his head. His stomach sank as the man walked away from their group.

"Nice knowing you, kid," the twin…probably George, clapped him on the shoulder as they walked off laughing.

"You need to get your story straight and not break down like you did with us," Hermione hissed worriedly in his ear as they walked away from the rest of the students.

"You think Snape will back you up? You said he was the one to patch you up after," Ron asked in concern while they made their way to another day of Care of Magical Creatures and Harry avoiding all the creatures to the best of his ability. "It'd suck if he just sold you out to Scrimgeour."

"He owes me," was all Harry said in response. He quickly pulled them into an alcove and cast the standard HSMC privacy ward.

"What was that spell? Where did you learn it?" Hermione gasped in interest as she examined the strong ward.

"Mione…focus," Harry physically turned her around to face him and away from the ward. "I need to tell you both something."

"Do NOT tell me what happened that night," Ron said quickly with a scared look in his eyes. "You know I'm terrible at keeping secrets, and I'm already keeping you being a dementor a secret. I don't think I can handle another."

"Oh please, you already know what happened," Harry rolled his eyes at his friend.

"Knowing and knowing are two completely different things," the redhead protested with a glare.

"Well, you're going to have to deal with one more secret because Padfoot has decided to drop by tonight and has every intention of staying," Harry told them both with a worried look in his eyes.

"What?!" Hermione exclaimed. "That's idiotic and dangerous! What in Merlin's name is he thinking?!"

"Blame Neville not me," Harry pouted at her. "He was the one that told Sirius I'd been crucio'd."

"What?!" Both exclaimed.

"That's what happened?!" Hermione gasped in horror. "That…illegal…"

"She was torturing him with a blood quill, Hermione," Ron glared at her. "Of course whatever she did was illegal."

"Yeah, that amongst other things…anyway, Neville crashed my call with Sirius and got him all worried," Harry sighed. "By the way, Neville knows about Sirius/Padfoot now too."

"You should have remembered to put up a ward like this around your bed," Hermione reprimanded him as she motioned to the ward.

Harry closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, reminding himself not to lash out at his friends and reign in his temper. He pulled out a lip balm and applied it as that always calmed him down some. "Hey, can I borrow?" Hermione asked as she reached out a hand.

Harry looked at her questioningly for a bit. "Isn't that a little weird? I just put this on my lips…"

"It's not like dementors catch germs," she reminded him.

"Jamie might," he protested right back.

"Fine, be stingy with your lip balm then," she huffed.

"The dementors keep stealing them, and Luna only gave me so much," Harry glared.

"Children!" Ron called out in frustration. "The world must be ending when I'm the reasonable one in a conversation! Hermione, that actually is a bit gross. And Harry, stop being weird."

"Fine, what time does Sirius get in and where is he going to stay? You know dogs aren't technically allowed," Hermione sighed, seeming to agree that if Ron was the reasonable one, something was very wrong.

"He gets in at 8pm, but I think Neville and I have worked out how to sneak him in and where to keep him," Harry explained with a smirk. "Snape already has a houseguest, we figured he wouldn't mind another."

Both of his friends stared at him in disbelief. "He's going to kill Sirius…" Ron remarked.

"Yeah, that's not going to work…Snape definitely didn't want the first houseguest," Hermione added on slowly.

Harry shrugged. "Well, we discussed that, and we think we may have found a way to make him at least listen. Especially if the request doesn't come from me or Sirius."

"He doesn't like Neville any better, mate," Ron reminded him.

Harry knew that wasn't exactly true. They definitely weren't friends, but Harry thought Neville might be one or two steps up in Snape's opinion than he was. "Nah, we have a plan. Don't worry guys. Besides, Dumbledore will make him see reason if we can't. We just have to get Sirius through the door, and you know Dumbledore, he'll handle it from there."

"That's like saying we just have to make sure Voldemort dies and calling that a plan…" Hermione shook her head. "You really need to work on your plans."

"Probably, but we're going to be late for Care of Magical Creatures now," Harry reminded them as he cancelled the ward. "I'm hiding behind Neville today. Creatures actually seem to like him. Maybe it'll cancel out their hate for me."

"I can't wait to see what new creature Hagrid has that wants to kill you," Ron grinned unapologetically as he put an arm around Harry's shoulders. "It's like being in a Harry-suit cancels all their innate fear of dementors and just makes them murderous."

"Ah, everything is right in the world, and I'm the sane one again," Hermione sighed with joy as she followed along behind them.

Harry and Neville awkwardly stood out on the castle grounds at 8pm by the Whomping Willow. Harry had a small scratch on his arm from where the crup bit him during CoMC class, but Neville had thankfully talked the magical dog down so that was his only injury. Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins thought it was all very hilarious while Hagrid apologized profusely. Curfew wasn't for another hour, but they still felt like they were breaking some kind of rule, even before they snuck in a wanted felon. The tree suddenly stopped moving and with a happy bark, a large grim ran up from the roots and tackled Harry to the ground.

"Snuffles! Really, that's so gross!" Harry protested as a pink tongue licked him from his neck to his hair.

"Aw, but he missed you. At least one dog is happy to see you today," Neville laughed before he was tackled next with a yelp of surprise. "Ew, I don't even know you!"

"Serves you right; you made friends with him when I tried to keep you away," Harry huffed as he peeled himself off the ground and brushed off the dust.

"Merlin, he's heavy," Neville commented from where he was trying to shove the large, happy dog off of him.

"Snuffles, let your new friend up," Harry chuckled as Sirius gave him a doggy smile and finally let the elf get back to his feet. "Follow us and stay close or I'll conjure you a collar and leash," Harry warned the unpredictable man. "We're meeting someone who can help us get you into the castle."

Padfoot looked a little confused since he knew all the secret passages, but he still followed along behind his godson and his new friend as they made their way to a secluded area by the Forbidden Forest. "Scrimgeour kept Umbridge's squad of snitches to patrol the hallways, so the secret passages into the castle aren't guaranteed to not lead directly into the path of a patrol. Even with the map, the dungeons are too far away to chance it," Harry explained to the dog who trotted along behind the teens.

"Plus, Harry's already under a lot of suspicion having been the last person to supposedly see Umbridge," Neville added. The dog just nodded as they stood in silence with Harry scratching behind Padfoot's ear and Neville leaning against a tree.

"He's going to hate this," Harry snorted in amusement as they stood there waiting.

"Who? Snape or Draco?" Neville smiled at him.

Padfoot looked even more confused at that comment. "Snape mainly. I'm aiming for Draco never learning exactly what's going on," Harry explained while he absentmindedly continued to scratch behind Padfoot's ears.

"This had better be good, Potter. I don't know what you've dragged Neville into but…" a voice drawled as the Slytherin it matched came into view before pausing in surprise at the large, black dog.

"He's not a grim; he's just a dog," Harry rolled his eyes at the flash of fear that had crossed Malfoy's face. "And, Neville got himself into this mess."

"I snooped when I shouldn't have," Neville nodded sagely before he left the tree and hugged Draco from behind and awkwardly walked him closer to the dog while still holding onto to him.

"Stop manhandling me, Neville," Draco protested but made no move to shove him off. "I just spent the last hour with Professor Sinistra listening to her relationship woes about her ex and then how obsessed she is with veela. I feel like I've lost a good decade of my life to boredom at this point. Whichever of you sees him first, tell Matthew he's in the clear and that he owes me one, maybe even two. That woman is drama. Seriously, she doesn't understand the meaning of too much information!"

Padfoot was bumping Harry's leg with his head at this point as if he was asking what was going on. He kept looking between Neville and Draco and Harry with confusion in his eyes. Harry shrugged at the dog; he didn't know what was going on either. "Hey, Draco, are you still on the Inquisitorial Squad?" Harry asked instead.

The blond grimaced and crossed his arms over where Neville's were still wrapped around him. "Yes, Scrimgeour is just as intense if less evil than Umbridge. Father hates him with a passion, so I thought I could get out of it, but he says it's a good political move, so I'm stuck. I desperately hope he doesn't find that creature-hating toad though."

"Don't we all," Neville remarked from where his chin was now resting on Draco's shoulder.

"So, what's up with the dog, and why was I summoned here right before curfew?" Draco drawled, looking as imposing as he could with an elf hanging off his shoulders.

"We were hoping you would deliver Snuffles here to Professor Snape's quarters," Harry began while Draco looked skeptically at the scruffy mutt. "You can say you found him on patrol for the Inquisitorial Squad and that he was trying to get into the dungeons. We just need to get him into Snape's quarters, and he can handle himself from there."

It was Sirius's turn to look skeptically at Harry then as he didn't seem very sure he could handle himself from there. Harry leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Dumbledore is staying in Snape's quarters. You just have to convince him."

The dog nodded in a very human-like manner, causing Draco to raise a questioning eyebrow. "You are correct that I know where my godfather's quarters are…but why should I help you get a dog in there? I don't see this working out well for me at all."

"How about I'd owe you one?" Neville asked seriously.

Draco shook his head with a devious look. "No, Potter owes me one and I'll do it."

Harry shuffled his feet awkwardly. He really didn't want to owe the Slytherin anything. "Nothing illegal," he qualified.

"Potter, of the two of us, you've done exponentially more illegal things since we've met than I have," Draco smirked at him. "Need I remind you about whatever happened our first year…"

Harry's eyes widened as the realization sunk in that he was directly responsible for three professors either dying or being permanently disabled. Quirrell died, Lockhart was really his own fault but would still never leave St. Mungo's, and Umbridge. He wasn't going to take any responsibility for what happened to fake Moody. "Merlin…you're right…why the hell are you right about that?!"

"He doesn't have a murderous psychopath trying to kill him," Neville reminded him kindly as Padfoot nudged his hand with his head.

Harry just shook his head. It definitely didn't cause him any guilt this time as he was finally realizing it was all in self-defense and letting go of what he viewed as his responsibility, but still… "Fine, Malfoy, but let's keep it reasonably moral anyway."

"That I think I can do," Draco looked very smug at his win. "You just need me to take the dog to Uncle Sev and let him deal with it, right?"

"He needs to actually get through the door into Severus's chambers," Neville explained.

Draco thought for a moment. "Harder, but not impossible."

A limb snapped in the forest somewhere and they all jumped apart. Neville was across the clearing from Draco who was sneering at them both like he hated their guts. They stood there for a minute before all relaxing. Sirius had never looked more confused in his life. "I think we're safe," Harry finally concluded.

"I need to head out before anyone sees me with you ingrates," Draco sighed and turned to go before looking back at the dog. "He have a leash or anything?"

"No, he'll follow," Harry turned to Sirius. "Snuffles, follow Draco and get into the chambers as quickly as possible. You know what to do from there. Play nice with Severus and stay out of trouble, ok?"

Sirius glared at him but followed the Slytherin with a suspicious look in his eyes like he was ready to push the teen into a mudpuddle at the slightest provocation. "This is going to end badly, isn't it?" Neville chuckled as the two disappeared from sight.

"Maybe the fallout will distract Scrimgeour from my interview tomorrow," Harry sighed as they slowly began to make their way back up to the castle.

"At least the club meets tomorrow night. You can tell us how it all went," the elf smiled encouragingly at his friend.

"If I'm not immediately arrested," the dementor sighed. "I got a message from the other dementors that they set up a room for me at the new prison whenever I'd like to move in. It's not really Plan A though," Harry laughed.

"Just tell as much truth as you can and stick to your lies as confidently as possible," Neville suggested. "Unfortunately, all HSMC members are pretty good at lying, so welcome to the club."

"The club where we eat crickets, play Cluedo, and learn to lie better," Harry laughed.

"And don't forget solve veela relationship drama!" Neville grinned widely.

Harry stopped mid-stride and turned to Neville. "Ok, I have to ask, it's killing me…Malfoy…do you like him romantically? Are you friends? What's going on there? Seriously? I'm fine with whatever, my curiosity is just killing me to know though."

Neville sighed and tugged on Harry's arm to continue walking. "We're friends…liking him is irrelevant. High elves can pick their own mates; Malfoy's species cannot. Their mates are chosen by magic, and they're one of the few that will absolutely not date anyone besides their mate. So, we're friends, and that's all it is or will be."

"I thought he dated Parkinson last year?" Harry asked confused and a little saddened.

"Nah, they're just friends," Neville shrugged, a little sadly too.

"Er, I guess I'm sorry then…I'm not sure if that's the right sentiment though," Harry awkwardly offered.

"No, it's fine. I'm happy. I like my prat of a friend," Neville wistfully smiled as they got to the entrance hall. "Now, change subjects…when are you going to ask Luna out for Valentine's Day? You know it's just in a few weeks?"

Harry groaned. "Let me just get through tomorrow and maybe next week. Then I'll think about Valentine's." Neville laughed and shook his head but let the subject drop.

Harry stood outside of the portrait with the evil-looking witch uncertainly the next morning before breakfast. "Aconite?" He finally tentatively told her.

As soon as the portrait swung open, Harry's collar was grabbed and he was forcefully pulled inside. "You have to get me out of here! I'll sleep under your bed in Gryffindor! Hell, I'll sleep under that blond prat's bed that brought me here! I can't take the both of them though!" Sirius pleaded with Harry, his eyes frantic.

"What happened?" Harry asked Dumbledore who was leisurely sipping a cup of tea and eating a biscuit at the little kitchen table. Snape was scowling in the corner, half hidden by an open potions journal.

"Potter, if it wouldn't give this whole situation away, I'd dock a thousand points from you and assign detention until the day you graduate for forcing that mutt on my quarters. I warned you that I'd skin you alive if you told anyone where my chambers are," Snape growled at him menacingly and in all seriousness.

Harry smirked at the man unrepentantly. "But Professor, I didn't tell him anything. Your godson was the one that brought him here…"

Snape sneered in distaste at the very Slytherin move. "I wager Longbottom had something to do with that as well. I only hope Draco got something good out of the deal or we've going to have to have a long talk about what it means to be Slytherin."

"He just asked for a favor from me at some point in the future," Harry said as he sat on the black leather couch by the fireplace.

"That's not a bad deal then," Dumbledore nodded in approval. "I'm confused as to Mr. Longbottom's part in this all, but Mr. Malfoy could do worse than a favor from the Boy-Who-Lived, especially with his family."

Now it was Harry's turn to sneer at the name he hated. "I hope you are all getting along. Sirius was just worried about me and decided to stop by. With Scrimgeour taking over and the Inquisitorial Squad, I didn't know where else to take him."

"Dumbledore sings…like really sings…in his sleep," Sirius protested vehemently as he sat beside the teen. "And Sni…er, Snape has already hexed me about twenty times. I just got my hair back the right color, and I definitely have a rash in a place we do not want to talk about!"

"I see you can teach an old dog new tricks," Snape smirked at Sirius's avoidance of his favorite insult.

"Well…sing along with one and stop insulting the other," Harry shrugged unconcernedly. "It was your idea to come here."

"You leave an entire house you can move around in to come to my small quarters. That is some wonderful reasoning skills there, Black," Snape remarked sarcastically.

"Oh please, I'm not staying in your quarters," Sirius snorted. "Besides the people in this room, only Harry's friends know my dog form. I'm making sure my godson is safe, unlike everyone else at the school."

"And Minerva knows about your form," Dumbledore reminded him over the rim of his teacup. "She does know you're innocent though fortunately."

"You can't just wander around the school," the vampire rolled his eyes. "Dogs aren't allowed."

"For students…but I'm your pet now, you heard the blond kid," Sirius smirked at him. "Plus, I want to see Luna again. I miss that fairy. She was fun."

"Hey, Padfoot, where did you tell Remus you ran off to?" Harry asked as the thought struck him.

Sirius just shrugged. "I left a note telling him I'd be here, but he wasn't home when I left."

"Albus!" Snape turned frantically to Dumbledore who was already standing.

"Don't worry, I'll floo Grimmauld."

"I will not allow that wolf to stay here as well! I only have one guest room!" Snape grumbled.

"I slept on the floor! I take up no room at all," Sirius protested.

"Well, I'm off to breakfast. I can't have Jamie going hungry," Harry stood and made his way to the other door. "Hey Padfoot, I'll talk to you after lunch. I have my interview with the new headmaster at 12:30."

Sirius's eyes widened in fear. "You going to be ok?" He asked as Dumbledore finally left the room to use the floo in Severus's potions lab.

"So, that's why you came," Snape nodded as if everything made sense now.

Sirius mouthed He knows? to Harry who just nodded. "Don't worry Black, if I know Harry's accomplices at all, no one will ever find the woman," Snape assured him.

"But…the portraits would have seen something," Sirius shook his head and added, causing Harry to blanche as the thought struck him as well.

Severus just shook his head though. "His accomplices are house elves."

"Ah, good job kid," Sirius nodded, turning to Harry as if everything were now ok.

"Huh?" Harry asked.

"They basically run the castle. They have more power than anyone over what goes on in the building," Harry's godfather explained. "If you have them on your side, no one will cross them."

"I know this is probably too much for your tiny amount of impulse control to handle, but just stick to the lie and keep your head down and you'll be fine," Snape sneered and opened his potions journal again.

"I imagine you are in a lot of trouble, my boy," Dumbledore chuckled as he came back from his chat with Remus. Sirius groaned dejectedly as Harry hurried out of the portrait hole and towards breakfast.

"Have a seat, Mr. Potter," High Inquisitor Scrimgeour motioned to the armchair across from where he was sitting behind the headmaster's desk.

"Yes, sir," Harry hesitantly walked further into the office for his interview and sat down. "I'm sorry, sir, I really don't know anything."

"We will see about that…" Scrimgeour pulled a piece of parchment and a quill over towards himself. "What did you have detention for the night of Umbridge's disappearance?"

"Dress code violation. Professor Umbridge said my necklace was out of dress code," Harry explained, happy he had remembered to tuck the locket into his shirt.

Scrimgeour frowned, seeming a little confused that he had been given detention instead of points being taken, which was the customary penalty for that infraction. "You said the headmistress never showed for your detention? How long did you stand outside of this office waiting?"

Harry cocked his head. "Not this office, sir…her old DADA office," he corrected the man. "I waited for about twenty minutes. I would have left after fifteen, but I was worried that she might just be running late."

Scrimgeour scribbled across his parchment. "Why her old office and not this one?"

Less witnesses, Harry thought but didn't voice it. "I don't know, sir. Maybe it was closer to where she had planned to be at that time. She was still teaching DADA you know."

"I do…I plan to pick up most of her classes myself," the auror nodded. "Did you hear anything or notice anything out of the ordinary?"

"No, sir," Harry shook his head. "Only that she wasn't there."

"All right Mr. Potter, this may be unrelated, but would you have any idea why the soulless bodies of Antonin Dolohov and Rabastan Lestrange would be found just this morning at the entrance to the Ministry of Magic?" The Auror asked with a searching look at the dementor in front of him.

Harry was actually surprised at this. It seemed that Drake and Ronnie were having some success already. "Er, no sir. That's terrifying. It sounds like dementors though. Weren't they two of the maximum security prisoners broken out of Azkaban?"

"Indeed," he nodded, still looking speculatively at Harry. Finally, Scrimgeour noted a few more things down and then nodded. "All right, Mr. Potter. I think we're done for now." Harry sighed in relief and stood. "I will however be talking with you again after my next few interviews."

Harry turned and started towards the exit in a daze. He stopped and narrowed his gaze at the portrait of Phineas Nigellas Black who was smirking so broadly that in anyone else it would be called a smile. After a glare at the portrait, Harry scurried out of the office, still in a state of panic that he was going to be called back after the interviews. He almost had to run the entire way down to the dungeons to not be late for Potions class. "Ah, Mr. Potter, 10 points from Gryffindor for deciding to finally grace us with your presence," Snape drawled with an extra irritated hint in his voice.

Harry looked up questioningly since he wasn't actually late. Instead of complaining, he just smirked and sat down at a table though. Padfoot was sitting happily right by Snape's desk and watching everything going on. Obviously, that's what had the vampire in such a foul temper. "He hasn't even acknowledged that Snuffles is there," Ron snickered in Harry's ear. Harry winced knowing that with his vampire hearing, Snape could literally hear everything that was said in the classroom. The professor glared over at their table and Harry was certain their potion would be getting a "T" for the day.

As it turned out, having Sirius in class wasn't the worst situation surprisingly. He followed along behind Snape on his heels, causing the most irritation possible, of course. Also, he picked up a few ingredients from the cupboard that Neville had forgotten and caught a flying shrivelpod in midair that had been aimed towards Harry's cauldron from the Slytherin side of the room. Miraculously, Sirius seemed to have processed that Malfoy was on some level liked or at least tolerated by Harry and Neville and even saved his cauldron from the extra dragon fang that Seamus tried to put in it by growling at the Gryffindor threateningly. All in all, both Gryffindor and Slytherin students seemed to warm up to the huge, scruffy dog, and Snape looked slightly less murderous than he had at the beginning of class.

As it was a long double period, everyone left for dinner right after class. Sirius left his self-imposed duty of annoying Snape to trot along behind the Gryffindors to the Great Hall. Harry and Neville paused, causing a pile-up behind them when they saw Matthew speaking with Professor Sinistra in a corner of the entrance hall. "It looks like it's going well," Neville hissed in Harry's ear.

"They're both smiling, probably a good sign," Harry whispered back before they began walking again.

"Hey, do you think that Hufflepuff might have a thing for the Astronomy professor?" Ron asked the two of them as he also glanced at the pair chatting.

"Of course not, Ron. That's against school rules," Hermione reminded him disapprovingly.

"But Mione…love is in the air…Valentine's is coming up. It's the next Hogsmeade weekend," Ron smirked at her scandalized look.

"Yeah, Harry hasn't asked Luna yet," Neville reminded them all which Sirius added a bark of agreement to.

"Why do I have to be the one to ask?" Harry sighed. "What if she says no?"

"Harry…this is Luna we're talking about," the high elf gave Harry a very Malfoy-like imperious glare.

"Hey, Harry," a dreamy voice interrupted their discussion as the Ravenclaw they were just talking about entered the Great Hall behind them.

"Luna! Hey! How are you?!" Harry stumbled out as his face turned bright red.

Luna seemed to be studying Harry's outfit, which admittedly was a little strange. He was wearing his winter coat inside the castle as well as his scarf and gloves. "You need a new coat. That one has too many wrackspurts attached to it. You are just starting to get rid of the ones around yourself. A new coat would help," she finally concluded from her observations.

"Huh? Er, ok," Harry responded in confusion as he looked down at Dudley's old coat from two years before. It was still warm even if it had some stains and some worn patches.

"We'll get you one in Hogsmeade next trip. I know just the store," she informed him before walking off towards the Ravenclaw table.

Harry stared after her with his mouth agape. "Did Luna just ask me to Hogsmeade for Valentine's day?" Harry asked the group around him. "Is that what just happened? She did imply we're going together…right?"

"No clue, mate," Ron shook his head.

"I'd take flowers just in case," Neville sagely advised with a chuckle.

"Ow!" A piece of balled up parchment hit the back of Harry's head suddenly, taking him by surprise.

"Where did that come from?" Hermione looked around.

She didn't see, but Harry caught a glimpse of Malfoy walking away and decidedly not looking at their group. He slowly opened the parchment, hoping it wasn't cursed.

Don't forget chocolates too!

Was scribbled in elegant handwriting with no explanation. Harry passed it to Neville who smirked and nodded at the note while everyone made their way over to the table for dinner. "So, how did the interview go?" Hermione asked in a whisper.

"The first interview," Harry corrected. "He's going to talk with me again. But get this," He leaned over so that only Ron and Hermione could hear him. "Drake and Ronnie got to Dolohov and Rabastan Lestrange already."

"Wow, they're making good time," Ron whistled. "I wish they had gotten the other Lestranges already."

"Are you all talking about the escaped convicts?" Neville leaned over to ask, an anxious look on his face. "Have you heard anything about Bellatrix Lestrange?"

The three glanced at each other and Sirius put his furry head in Neville's lap. "Ok, Nev, I think it's time I catch you up on my friends Ronnie and Drake…" Harry started with a sigh.

Chapter Text

"Mate, you have to be getting better at Potions, right?" Ron sighed as Neville came to collect Harry from where he was sitting by the fireplace with Ron and Hermione for Remedial Potions. "You think you can get out of this soon? Snape can't make you stay in the club forever."

Eir popped up behind Neville. "Nah, we just move people to tutors eventually," the second year smiled at the teen who had never spoken to her before. "Last year I was a tutee, now I'm a tutor."

"Pretty sure I'll never be promoted," Neville said with only good humor and an arm thrown across Eir's shoulders.

"Yeah, Ron, it's like the mafia, once you're in, you're in for life," Harry laughed with a smirk towards his creature friends.

"The what?" The redhead looked really confused.

"Muggle version of the Death Eaters…sort-of," Hermione translated for the pureblood.

"Ah..." Ron still looked confused. "But…isn't it just a club?"

"Hurry, I got news!" Colin Creevey called as he and his brother rushed past the group out of the portrait hole.

Eir sighed loudly. "That kid has so much drama he could power an entire theatre department at Hogwarts."

"Um…that kid is older than you, right?" Hermione asked, looking at the girl in confusion. They had talked a couple times when Harry was hanging around her, but not much.

"Yeah, but I don't have any relationship drama. My family does arranged marriages, and I actually like the bloke I'll eventually marry one day…so much less drama and anxiety on my end," Eir shrugged unconcernedly.

"Wait, what?" Harry looked at her in confusion. "You have an arranged marriage, and you already know about it, at twelve?! Who is it?" Harry looked around as if to see who the bloke was he was going to have to go all dementor/big brother on now.

"That's barbaric!" Hermione growled in indignation.

Eir rolled her eyes in exasperation. "First of all, I'm thirteen. Second, romance isn't super important to my people. I'm not saying we don't love or that my parents don't love each other, but companionship, trust, and loyalty are more important than romance. That's why we know who we'll marry so early, to establish a relationship built on trust and friendship. If he turns out to be untrustworthy or unworthy, I can drop him faster than an ashwinder. Besides, it's not like I plan on getting married until I'm at least twenty anyway. And Harry, chill, he goes to Durmstrang."

"Your people?" Ron asked with a speculative look at her, realizing there must be something going on there.

"Valkyries," the girl said with a fierce grin. "Keep that to yourselves though, if you don't mind. We don't get quite as much prejudice as most other creatures, but I'd still like to have a few more normal years of school before I'm outed."

"Wow, you aren't a myth?" Hermione looked at the girl like she was a new research project.

Harry chuckled and stood to leave; Colin had news. "Hermione, the first thing we learned as we entered this world is that the myths are all true. I don't think there's anything that would really surprise me anymore that it existed."

"Let's go, guys. I want to hear Colin's news," Neville tugged on Harry's sleeve to get him to move. "He's always good for a laugh and a good story."

"Fine…if I must," Eir dramatically groaned as she headed out the door.

"See you all in a bit!" Harry called back over his shoulder.

"Why did you tell them?" Neville asked the Valkyrie as they approached the door to the room used by the HSMC.

"They either already know or will know about Harry," Eir shrugged. "Everyone can see how close they all are, and I would bet my favorite dagger that his species has more prejudice and restrictions on it than mine, so I'm not overly concerned. Besides, like I said, my species isn't vilified as much as others. My only danger is that You-Know-Who would try to recruit me and Kara because of what we are. That's our main reason for secrecy."

"Ron and Hermione actually already know about me, and they'll keep your secret. All three of us are fair game to be murdered by Voldemort, so we'd never tell him about you," Harry grinned at the girl who was quickly becoming a close friend, even with their age difference.

"Great! Now you just need to tell the rest of us," he earned a mischievous grin from Eir before she opened the door.

Neville patted him on the shoulder comfortingly before hurrying in and looking at the snack table. "I see you were successful in shaking off Snuffles," Harry smiled at the dog-less Snape who was drinking a goblet of what was definitely blood in the corner.

"That name is utterly ridiculous, and the mutt is ruining my reputation," the man sneered. "I promise to eat any additional strays that should show up at my door without prejudice!"

"He makes you much more approachable, Severus," Luna smiled at him as she walked over and hugged Harry's waist.

"My point exactly," Snape gave her a dark look.

"Hey, he helped out in class today!" Harry laughed at the man's consternation. "My potion definitely would have exploded, and Draco's would have been useless without his help."

Snape just glowered as Colin was bouncing around the room. "Calm down you idiot and just tell us what happened!" Draco growled out in amused annoyance.

"Romilda Vane agreed to go to Hogsmeade with me for Valentine's Day!" Colin called out with a crow of celebration.

Harry put an arm around Luna's shoulders and looked at him questioningly. "What happened to Ginny Weasley?"

"Keep up, Harry," Graham grinned at him with an amused gleam in his eye. "Colin moved on from her a week ago. Now he thinks Vane will be his mate."

"For the millionth and one time…you won't know until you turn 17!" Draco threw his arms up and plopped down on the couch beside where Neville was eating a sandwich.

"No sense not being prepared," Dennis disagreed, coming to his brother's defense. The two had already lowered their glamours, and Dennis was rolling his sleeves up, showing the dark, druidic runes covering his skin in highly magical patterns.

"Hey, can we drop glamours now?" Aceline asked excitedly, turning to Snape. "You think Umbridge is definitely gone? My wings have been cramped for far too long!"

Snape looked at Harry with a warning glare in his eyes. The man obviously didn't think Harry should remark on Umbridge, but this wasn't just any group of people. They had so many secrets between them, and they were all scared. This was the HSMC, the creatures' safe space; did he tell them; did he keep it a secret? Normally, the safe answer to that would be to lie and keep the secret, what Snape was obviously pushing for, but the fear the woman caused in the creature community was palpable. If there was any group of people who would be assured to keep his secret and that also deserved to know, it was this one. She was the boogey man that creature children were taught to fear. Neville however looked up at him with an encouraging smile and Harry sighed out, tightening his grip on Luna a bit, hoping she wouldn't leave him.

Snape sneered and rolled his eyes, clearly seeing what was coming, but he didn't stop it. "Er…so, you know how Scrimgeour is interviewing everyone who saw her last and I was supposed to have detention with her that night, but she never showed…?"

Luna tightened her hold around him just as he had with her. He got the feeling she already knew what he was about to say. He had no clue how Luna seemed to always just know, since it had nothing to do with seeing magic, but he knew that he would be lost without her now. He may no longer have a soul in his body, but the fairy went ahead and took his heart as well.

"Merlin, Harry, what did you do?" Hestia asked as understanding flitted across her face.

"I know what I hope you did," Kara muttered loud enough everyone heard. "I know what I was praying someone would do…"

"I didn't mean to…but she'd cast crucio on me, hit me with a slicing hex, and cut up my face pretty badly," Harry explained frantically. "I'm not a creature that deals with pain well. And then…then she got in my personal space…she was just so close…" There was a collective gasp of indignation and anger from all members of the club, and even several swear words that Snape ignored taking points off for.

"Merlin's balls! I'd have drained her dry! Of course, there was nothing else you could do. The creature is going to take over in a situation like that," Bartholomew spoke up in understanding as his vampire would have done the same thing, his eyes seemed to challenge any else in the room to disagree with that statement.

"That woman was vile!" Brook fumed from where she was sitting by Matthew and Hestia. "I'd have drowned her in that situation…and happily at that. You were only protecting yourself, Harry."

Luna kissed the side of Harry's neck in support and he closed his eyes, more thankful than ever for this group of people. He opened his eyes and looked over to the other Gryffindors since they were the ones that had to live with him. Colin and Dennis exchanged a look before Colin gave the older Gryffindor a little smile. "Harry, we're all creatures, and that means we all have instincts, and there isn't a person in this room that can blame you for protecting yourself. Dennis and I may not have many offensive powers since our magic is more ritualistic, but I would only hope that I would have fought back as much as I could in that situation as well."

"I just hope it was painful for her," Eir gave a fierce grin where Harry finally saw part of her glamour drop and razor-sharp teeth flash in the light.

"Do not be complacent. Still be careful with the new High Inquisitor about, but glamours are fine to drop in this room," Snape finally spoke up from his armchair and answering the original question. "That monster of a woman will never be returning. Harry ate her if we want to be specific about what happened," he added at the end with a fierce gleam in his eye, seeming to take great joy in that statement.

"I really do hope she tasted good at least," Luna grinned at her dementor.

"So good," Harry grinned back. A few of the other students gave him a disgusted look at having to eat the pink abomination but looked more like they were just happy they didn't have to do it.

"Great! So, now that the toad is gone, we can focus on what's most important…" Aurora smiled happily at the group, then turned to Matthew. "How's it going with Sinistra? I'm dying to hear!"

"We're going to do dinner up on the Astronomy Tower for Valentine's," Matthew started gushing as Severus quickly pulled a stack of essays out of his bag so he could ignore the group. "She looked up relationships amongst creatures and faculty, and there aren't any rules against it since we can't really control it anyway…" Matthew continued to gush to the rest of the club.

"Hey, you need an alibi?" Draco leaned across Neville to ask Harry quietly as he sat by Luna in the chairs beside them.

"You offering?" Harry raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Draco rolled his eyes and Neville looked at him in happy approval. "Only that if asked, I could mention I saw you waiting outside her office in the hallway impatiently. I do patrol through there as a member of the Inquisitorial Squad."

"What do you want in return?" Harry asked now with suspicion.

"You already did it," the blond smirked at him viciously. "Unless you think you can eat the Dark Lord soon as well…preferably before summer?"

"I'm guessing you can't just eat him yourself?" Harry asked, still not knowing what Malfoy was.

"Hell no!" Draco's eyes widened in surprise and disgust. "My diet is the same as a human!"

"If with a little more sugar," Neville tacked on at the end.

"Yeah, well, my glucose levels tend to sink fast, but besides that," Draco waved him off. "But no, I will definitely not be eating anyone. Talk to Graham or Bartholomew for that."

"Maybe Hestia," Luna looked over at the sixth year Ravenclaw. She still hadn't told anyone what she was, but knowing Luna, she definitely knew anyway.

"My digestion doesn't really support eating people either," Graham added on from where he was sitting with David and had heard their conversation. "Gargoyles are more the tearing limb from limb type. I doubt I'd have any chance against the Dark Lord though."

"You would not," Snape spoke up from where he was doing everything to look like he wasn't listening in to every conversation. Harry thought being a vampire was probably a major advantage to his spying.

"Hey, Luna! The house elves gave us beetles tonight. You want any?" Hestia called out from the snack table.

"Only if they included salsa to put on them," Luna smiled broadly.

"Pretty sure that's what this is," the Ravenclaw picked up a bowl that had something red and chunky in it.

"Yes!" Luna jumped up and rushed over.

"I really hope you can handle her food preferences," Draco smirked at Harry as he settled back into the couch. "Maybe you should get some chocolate covered crickets for her for Valentine's."

Harry rolled his eyes at the Slytherin. "I ate Umbridge. I'm pretty sure I can handle a few bug sandwiches."

"Seriously though Harry…chocolate covered crickets," Malfoy insisted with a pointed look. "Take my advice, find them somewhere."

Harry nodded, he figured that would be possible. "Thanks, Mal—Draco." The blond nodded and seemed to settle into Neville's side more.

The next couple weeks seemed to go back to some semblance of normal. Scrimgeour still had the school running under his iron fist and most of the added decrees and regulations. His DADA classes were actually quite good though. He obviously knew his subject as an auror, but he wasn't the most patient teacher. He was basically a sterner Mad-Eye Moody, if that were possible. Harry and the rest of the DA put the club temporarily on pause since they were finally learning real material, but no one was willing to completely disband it as DADA professors were notoriously unreliable.

Sirius was settling in as well. He seemed to almost become the new Hogwarts mascot. He made sure to hang around Snape often, both to annoy the man and to make it clear he was pretending to be the Potion Master's pet but spent the rest of his time following around either Harry, Neville, or Luna. Occasionally, he would follow around Malfoy, but that seemed to be more keeping an eye on him than actually enjoying his company. Regardless, since he was their head of house's pet and seemed to get along with Malfoy, the rest of the Slytherins accepted the scruffy grim into their midst, much to Harry's amusement since he knew the man's prejudice against Slytherins in general. McGonagall always looked amused as well whenever the animagus was around, knowing who it was and not seeming to care one bit. Harry had a theory that Dumbledore had spoken to her and warned her of Sirius's presence ahead of time. However, Scrimgeour looked at Sirius and Harry both with suspicion, but honestly, he looked at everyone with suspicion, so neither were worried too much just yet.

As Valentine's got closer, Harry came up with a plan. He made his way down to the kitchens after putting Jamie to bed a few days before the Hogsmeade weekend. "Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby exclaimed happily when Harry ghosted through the door into the kitchens. The other house elves glanced up but went back to work, used to the dementor being in the kitchens at that point.

"Dobby! How are you? How are you doing, Winky?" Harry addressed them both.

"The toad-woman finally passed," Winky answered simply from where she was decorating a cake for dinner the next day. "Winky is much happier now."

"Er, good," Harry responded awkwardly, really not wanting to think about it.

"Dobby is great! Is Harry Potter, sir, going with Mistress Fairy to Hogsmeade?" The house elf jumped up and down excitedly.

"I am. Actually, I was hoping you would help me with something," Harry smiled at the elf from under his dark hood.

"For Mistress Fairy, anything!" Dobby grinned happily.

"Do you have some crickets and some chocolate? I'd like to make her some chocolate covered crickets myself as a gift," Harry asked, wondering if they kept bugs on hand for the HSMC members.

Dobby looked a little sad. "Dobby isn't very good with chocolate. Winky will have to help Harry Potter, sir."

Winky turned with a wide grin to the dementor. "Dobby will take over," she ordered, handing the tube of icing to the other elf. "He also needs to think about what we's doing for Valentine's while he's at it," she warned the elf who looked properly chastised.

Harry smiled widely at them. "Are you two doing Valentine's together? Are you dating?"

"Winky and Dobby are engaged," Dobby answered Harry with a wide grin from where he was now starting to tackle the cake. "Mr. Harry Potter, sir, will be invited to the wedding."

"And I'll be there! Congratulations!" The dementor exclaimed excitedly. He had never been to a wedding before, much less a house elf wedding. He was looking forward to it immensely.

"Thank you, Harry Potter," Winky patted his arm. "Now, the crickets are in that cabinet over there. You get those and Winky will get the chocolate," she motioned to a cabinet in the corner.

"Tell me how Dobby proposed while we're cooking!" Harry asked in interest.

Dobby snorted in amusement from where he was making icing roses. "Winky proposed to Dobby," he responded.

"And it was very romantic…" Winky started with a glare to Dobby since she wanted to tell the story. "I's had just buried the toad woman in the Sahara and decided that since we's did such a good job with a dementor as our child, that Dobby and I's could try with a house elf child."

"Any child of yours, Winky, will be a formidable house elf," Harry laughed his haunting laugh as the surprise that Winky viewed him as her child sank in. He wasn't against it, he decided. It's not like he hadn't been raised as a house elf himself anyway.

"Yes, and they's be free," Dobby nodded in firm agreement.

"That we's still debating about," Winky smirked at her fiancé.

"Anyways, so Winky made Dobby some caramels…" Dobby continued with the story, rolling his eyes at their ongoing argument. Harry knew that Winky would eventually get her way though, whatever her side of the argument was.

Harry looked at the flowers he had picked for Luna sadly. He had the chocolate covered crickets in one hand and a bunch of wildflowers in the other. They had been bright and colorful when he had first picked them, now they were dead and dried out. To his dementor, they looked much better, but he figured the fairy probably wouldn't think the same thing. He couldn't help that any plants he held in his hands for too long died quickly though.

"You look ridiculous," Malfoy sneered out of the corner of his mouth as he walked past to meet up with Parkinson and Zabini. Harry just smiled at him though. On some level, he knew that he did look ridiculous, but his dementor side is what dressed Jamie that morning. He was wearing the shiny, star covered robes that Dumbledore had given him for Christmas and had shined his locket and bracelet until they both gleamed. He had tried to do something to his hair, but it still stuck up at odd angles.

After a quick, but muffled bark, Sirius rushed up to where Harry was standing and waiting on his (maybe) date. "You aren't going on my date with me," Harry frowned down at his godfather, but took the two letters from his mouth that he was carrying. They were both covered in drool. "Ew, have Snape cast a water repellent charm next time," he grumbled while the dog gave a wheezy laugh.

Putting the chocolates under his arm, Harry opened the first one that looked to be from Dumbledore from the writing.

Dear Harry,

I saw you leaving the castle from where I am invisibly researching in the library. I must admit my boy that those robes look much better on you than they ever did on me. Luna is one very lucky young lady, as you are a very lucky young man. Now, the purpose of this letter…Severus is leaving this very evening to talk with an old professor of Tom's that may have an idea about the objects we're researching and how many Tom may have made. Regardless, I think I have an idea where we might be able to find one now. I would never dream of ruining your date, so would you come tomorrow night just before curfew to my temporary quarters? If you would like to accompany me on my trip, I may have use of your gastronomical services.

Yours,

Albus

"Awesome!" Harry exclaimed with a grin to Sirius who was watching a bird with a calculating gleam in his eyes. "Tell him I'm in, and I'm hungry. You listening to me?" Harry snapped a finger in front of his godfather's face to bring his attention back. The dog gave a very human roll of his eyes but did look away from the bird.

"Fine, I'll read yours next," Harry laughed at him as he opened the one that was in Sirius's handwriting.

Harry,

You look ridiculous! Burn the robes! I'm serious…Sirius…get it! Why are those flowers dead? Did I teach you nothing?! I swear, I'm picking out your wardrobe next time. By the way, your dementor friends dropped off a soulless Augustus Rookwood at the ministry this morning; I thought you would like to know.

Have a great time on your date! Don't do anything I wouldn't do! And, please, try to do a few things that I would do, if you catch my drift…

Snuffles

"Yes, I think the giant squid could catch your drift, Snuffles," Harry snorted and put both letters into a pocket. "The flowers didn't start out as dead…I really did try, but it's my other magic leaking through. Same as the clothes I guess too," he just shrugged though. He thought he looked good, very shiny. Padfoot gave a bark as Luna stepped out from the entrance hall before he dashed off to chase the bird he still had his eyes on.

"Hey," Harry breathed out in awe. Luna had silver, dangly earrings with little stars on the end that caught and reflected the light brilliantly. Her golden hair also shined in the sun from where it was pulled into a loose braid. If only her glamour was down and her wings shown, Harry thought he could die happy in that moment.

"Hello, Harry," Luna grinned as she reached out to take the flowers. "Thank you, they're already dried so I can keep them longer. That was very thoughtful of you."

Closing his mouth finally, Harry smiled broadly. "You look amazing, Luna!" He gasped out. "I made you some chocolates; Winky helped. I didn't know how to keep the crickets crunchy in the chocolate."

Luna gave a happy gasp as she took the box. "Chocolate covered crickets are my absolute favorite!" she shrank both gifts down and put them in one of her pockets.

"Shall we go? I figured we could get some lunch first and then do some shopping," Harry suggested as Luna looped a hand around his elbow and they started to walk.

She hummed in agreement. "Oh Harry, I do love those robes," she smiled. "They're very happy and chase away the wrackspurts."

"I know, right!" Harry exclaimed happily. He knew Luna would get it.

Hanging out with Luna was as effortless as hanging out with Ron and Hermione, more so if they were arguing at the time. Plus, Luna had so many interesting stories from her time searching for creatures with her father or visiting with the other fairies in their dimension, which she did about once every year or so. "So, it turned out to be a nundu instead of the crumple-horned snorkack," Luna laughed brightly as she finished up her story while they slowly meandered through the town towards the store where she wanted Harry to buy a new coat.

Harry was sure they were getting looks from the other students, he never went out with anyone, and his robes were quite bright, but he really didn't care and only wanted to pay attention to Luna. For once, he was getting stared at for something that made him happy, and that was actually fine with him. "That sounds dangerous," he remarked with a chuckle. She and her dad really did get in the oddest situations.

"Oh no! Nundus actually really like fairies. I think they would like dementors too since they have similar magic to thestrals," Luna explained as she opened the door to the store with a tinkle of a magical bell.

"May I help you dears?" An older woman asked with a smile since hers was one of the few stores that didn't seem to be frequented often by the students on Valentine's Day, and she was happy to see customers.

"I need a new coat ma'am," Harry answered, a bit embarrassed.

"Oh dear, yes," the woman tutted as she took in the holes and warn patches. Dudley was very hard on his clothes.

"Do you have anything with silver or gold metallic accents?" Luna asked, causing Harry to smile in agreement.

"Hmm, yes, I might," the woman shuffled through several racks to see what she had. "Try this on, Love," she said as she handed a black coat with shiny, silver zippers and silver trim to Harry.

He smiled, really hoping it fit as it caught the light just right. Luckily it was the perfect size and was infinitely warmer than the coat he was wearing. "Wow, I've never had a new coat before. This one is so much better than the one I was wearing. I can't believe I thought it was fine!"

A shadow passed over Luna's face as she frowned. It disappeared quickly though as she gave him a smile and adjusted the coat a little more at his shoulders. "I do think this one is perfect. It suits you."

"I'll take it!" Harry turned back to the woman.

"Hey, Luna, can I show you something really quick before we get into the castle?" Harry asked as he pulled Luna over towards the Forbidden Forest once they were back close to the castle. They had stayed in town the whole day, mainly just talking. Harry didn't want the day to end, but knew it was getting dark and they needed to head back into the castle, but not until he showed her what he had been working on.

"What is it, Harry?" Luna asked. "Your magic is growing around you. Are you going to show me a spell?"

"Not exactly," Harry focused from where they had stopped in the cover of the trees. His magic coalesced and became visible to even non-fairies as it draped around him into a dark cloud before settling into familiar black, tattered robes that moved in a breeze all their own.

"Wow, I'm impressed," the fairy touched Harry's sleeve to feel the magical fabric. "I didn't know you had found a way to access your dementor powers when you were in your old body."

"I've been working on it awhile," Harry answered from the hood that he pushed back from his face so she could actually see him. "I think I can access most of my dementor powers from inside Jamie now. I really wish it worked the other way around too and I could access Jamie's magical core outside of my body. I'm not defenseless then of course, but sometimes you really want to use a good Wingardium Leviosa, and I can't without Jamie's magical core."

"Can you walk through walls with Jamie?" Luna nodded as she pushed back his hood a little more to look into his green eyes.

"That's one I still haven't figured out," Harry sighed. "Jamie's just too solid. I can turn him invisible, but he still just runs into the wall."

Luna tapped a finger to her lips. "I'll have to watch you try to see what your magic does. It might not be possible if it's your dementor body that does something and not just your dementor magic."

"Speaking of creature magic," Harry grinned at her mischievously. "You want to go flying together sometime soon? We haven't flown together but that one time on Christmas Eve."

Luna laughed and pulled him towards the castle once the robes disappeared once more. "If I remember correctly, my wings distract you so much you would probably fly into a tree."

Harry pouted. "Your wings are pretty, but I wouldn't fly into a tree."

"We'll have to sneak into the forest…but I bet Stubby Boardman would cover for us," she seemed to really be giving it some thought.

"You mean Padfoot, right? Yeah, he'd definitely cover for us if he were human, but as a dog he isn't super helpful," Harry disagreed.

Luna seemed to give that more thought. "I guess we will just need to clear his name then. We only have to get Scabbers to do that…Yes, that sounds like a good idea."

Harry laughed and put an arm around her shoulders. "Yes, we only have to capture a Death Eater. When you put it that way…"

"Ah, if only we had a few dementors on our side that could walk through walls and were immune to most spells…" Luna grinned back.

"You know…I think you would have made a wonderful Gryffindor, Ms. Lovegood," Harry laughed.

"Hey Potter! Has Loony infected you with her fashion sense! The two crazies finally found each other!" A Ravenclaw girl that Harry recognized as one of the ones that had been giving Luna a lot of trouble recently called out nastily as they walked past.

"I sincerely hope she has," Harry smiled at her brightly as they drew level with the girl. As soon as they passed, a look of utter fear and sadness crossed her face and she shivered heavily.

"I'm going to eat a few of my chocolates at dinner," Luna pulled the box from her robes, completely ignoring the girl.

"Tell me if you like them, and I'll make more," they entered the school leaving a bully with a haunted expression on her face behind them.

Harry walked Luna back to Ravenclaw Tower after dinner and dropped off Jamie in his dorm before heading out. He met Hedwig just outside the castle and they went into the Forbidden Forest to fly around and for Hedwig to hunt. It had been the perfect day. Hermione had smiled at Harry's contented look all through dinner, and Ron joked about Harry's robes. Luna had even come over to their table and sat with him to eat some of her chocolates, which surprisingly no one wanted any of once she explained that they had crickets in them, so she hadn't even had to share. Hedwig got the entire story told to her as they silently ghosted through the trees. She gave approving hoots occasionally, when she wasn't attacking a mouse in the underbrush.

The night finally ended, and Harry floated back up to Gryffindor Tower. He figured that he'd jump back into Jamie and just lay in his bed for a while. It would be relaxing before the day began, and whatever he would be doing with Dumbledore the next night. Pulling back the curtains to his bed, Harry had to pause for a minute. Once again there was a high elf wrapped around Jamie and completely asleep. Harry had set his wards this time, but he'd been intentionally leaving a Neville-shaped hole in them just in case he needed to stay with someone again. He hadn't actually expected his friend to do it though.

Waking up once to a dementor was unfortunate, Harry figured waking up twice to one would be cruel. So, he maneuvered as carefully as possible so that he could slip past Neville's arms and into his body. The elf immediately groaned in protest. "Hmm, Jamie is a much better cuddler than you," was the grumble that sounded from where Nev's face was still buried in Harry's t-shirt.

"I'd imagine so," Harry chuckled and put one of his arms around the elf's back. "Now, you want to tell me why you were using my soulless body as a teddy bear?"

"Draco went to Hogsmeade with Parkinson," the teen mumbled, still not moving an inch even though he had to be uncomfortable with Harry back in the body.

Harry frowned and tried to pick that apart. "But, you said they're just friends, that he can't date her…?"

Neville shrugged and snuggled in a little closer. "Um, 'S not that. I can't be his friend, not in Hogsmeade, and I can't spend Valentine's with who I want to spend it with. Just lonely…and no one was around today. I didn't have anyone to hold onto."

"Oh, Nev, I'm so sorry," Harry sighed sadly, knowing he couldn't offer his friend comfort as he was. "How about I go wander the castle a little longer? You still have an hour before you have to get up, and I'm sure you'd much rather spend it with Jamie."

"Hmm, no stay…" Neville scooted backwards, pulling Harry with him until they were closer to the edge of the bed. "Now, you scoot out of my teddy bear and lay down on the other side," Neville made a shooing motion with his hand, even as he was still cuddled into Harry's side.

Finally catching on, Harry laughed and let go of Jamie so that he could lay down on the other side of his soulless body. The three of them were crammed onto the bed, but it was fortunately just wide enough they all fit. "Hmm, much better," Neville buried his face in Jamie's shirt again.

Harry just smiled over at them, knowing Neville wouldn't be able to understand him anymore. It was a strange situation, but it worked. He'd always make sure there was a Neville-shaped hole in his wards, for whenever he might need it. There wasn't anything else he could do to fix what his friend was going through, so he would just lend what little comfort he could, even if it was just his shell of a body.

Chapter Text

Harry felt like he was hovering in his dementor form even though he was in Jamie the next day he was so happy. His maybe-date had gone so well with Luna that he was certain they'd do it again. Also, he was able to get a bit of a snack since everyone was so happy about the Hogsmeade weekend. So, all in all that Saturday had been great. Sunday, he was able to get together a pickup quidditch game with most of the old Gryffindor team as well as some younger years and a few random Hufflepuffs. Even though quidditch was still on hold, a pickup game was (so far) not against the new educational decrees. Everyone was certain that it would have been by now if Umbridge were still around.

Harry's team won by a small margin since most of who he had were the younger years that just didn't know how to fly well yet. They still won though since Harry really couldn't lose sight of the snitch anymore, and the little ones were happy. This was nothing to the fact that Luna sat with Harry at lunch though. However, he was angry because she told him she was missing several pairs of shoes that the 'nargles' had taken. Harry knew just who the nargles were and planned to make their week miserable. Now that the mood of the students was steadily rising, he'd recently started in on the House Elf List of Retribution (what he called it in his head anyway) and added in the Ravenclaw fourth year girls' names again (they were already on the list once). He had a lot of names to get through and bad days to cause, and some on the list he got a lot of glee in enacting house elf vengeance on.

After lunch, Harry ran directly into Ron who'd stopped in a dead halt in the entrance hall. "Oof! Sorry," Harry apologized as he looked around his taller friend to see what caused the surprise.

"Uh oh," Ron muttered with dread.

"You can say that again," Harry added but with glee in his voice.

Drake and Ronnie were standing by the doors to the castle, flanked on either side by a witch and a wizard in auror robes. Scrimgeour was hurrying over to them, in a dignified way, from the Great Hall. "May I ask what's going on here?" He ignored the two dementors in disguise to ask the aurors. Ronnie grinned and gave Ron a little wave from where he was standing, earning himself a glare from Drake.

"We found these two students wandering Diagon Alley this morning," the witch auror informed the High Inquisitor with much deference. "They must have snuck away during your Hogsmeade weekend."

"They were carrying Gryffindor robes," the wizard auror handed a rucksack back to Drake who looked extremely irritated that they'd been rounded up on their mission as truant students.

"What do you two have to say for yourselves?!" Scrimgeour admonished them. "This is beyond a breach of school rules, and immensely dangerous!"

Harry guessed they were both holding in eye rolls at that. "We're sorry, sir," Drake began. It was pretty clear he had no clue who this wizard was he was talking to. "I promise it'll never happen again." Harry valiantly held a snort of laughter back at that one.

"They're in so much trouble," Hermione mumbled behind him.

"Er, 'Mione…you do recognize them, right?" Ron asked with a surprised head tilt since she had been at breakfast with them when they first met the two dementors.

"They look familiar…are they the dementors?" She gasped in a low tone as who they were finally sunk in.

"Duh," Ron chuckled. Hermione was much better at books than people. "It doesn't matter how much trouble they get in; it's not like they plan to hang around."

"Their bodies should be about to disintegrate or fall off or whatever golems do as well," Harry remarked in a whisper.

The scene by the door continued with a long lecture from Scrimgeour and threats of expulsion and a promise to write their parents (who they said very proudly were Athena and King Smith who lived in the Caribbean). "We're obviously adopted," Drake remarked with an eye roll this time as the aurors looked between the dark skinned and the Asian teen.

"I want both of you confined to your dorm for the rest of the day and to meet with your Head of House as soon as classes are over tomorrow for punishment," the headmaster growled, obviously thinking dealing with them wasn't worth his time.

"Er, I bet McGonagall will notice they aren't her students," Ron snickered. "I wonder what she'll do."

"Well, we have to show them to the tower now, we can handle that tomorrow," Harry grinned as he skipped after the two dementors who just wandered off not knowing where the tower was when they were dismissed.

"Oh, thank the goddess!" Drake breathed out when the trio caught up to them. "I was wondering if we'd just have to wonder around all day looking for that stupid tower."

"How by Merlin's frilly bathrobe did you two get caught for truancy?!" Harry laughed as he slung an arm around Drake's shoulder and steered him more in the direction of Gryffindor Tower.

"We were hot on the trail of Rodolphus Lestrange, who had apparently visited Gringotts earlier today," Ronnie explained excitedly. "We only have him and Bellatrix Lestrange left, and we think they're holed up at the manor owed by Lucius Malfoy. It's under some ridiculous wards though, so even we can't find it. I'm sure we could get in if we found it, but locating the place is the problem."

"Wait, there were 10 escaped Death Eaters and only 3 have shown up soulless at the door of the ministry," Hermione questioned.

Drake shrugged. "We portkeyed the rest to the maximum-security wing in the Caribbean. The wizards there made us a whole bag of portkeys. According to them, only Dolohov, Rookwood, and all the Lestranges were determined to be too volatile to deal with keeping around, we decided to keep the rest for snacks with the other prisoners. They were all sentenced to life in prison anyway; it really doesn't matter where they serve it, and they help keep our food numbers up overall."

"Our golems are going to play out in a day or two, so we can't use them as disguises to be in the middle of Diagon now. We could go invisible, but it's a lot easier to sneak up on someone and convince them to come willingly when you look like a young, lost Hogwarts student," Ronnie said with the most innocent puppy-dog eyes Harry had ever seen, and he'd seen Padfoot make puppy-dog eyes. "Anyway, we were doing our innocent, lost student routine and ran into aurors instead of our quarry."

"I doubt any Lestrange would help you," Ron snorted in humor at his namesake's antics.

"They don't have to help, they just have to let their guard down…then we eat them," Ronnie grinned back.

"I promised Ronnie he could visit Harry, so I guess this is as good of a time as any," Drake huffed out with a long-suffering sigh.

"All right!" the younger dementor pumped the air with his fist.

"We aren't attending any classes though!" Drake warned. "I don't need to get to know my food that well." Ronnie pouted but didn't complain.

"Invictus," Harry told the portrait as they approached the tower. "We'll get you set up in our dorm. You can pile your golems together on my bed tonight if they need to rest, and I'll leave Jamie with Neville."

"I think Jamie is becoming more Neville's pet than yours, mate," Ron remarked as he had caught the elf leaving Harry's bed in the morning again.

Harry just shrugged. "He makes a good teddy bear apparently."

"We'll leave after everyone goes to sleep," Drake explained. "Our golems don't need to rest, and we'll get the last bits of use out of them possible tomorrow before they fall apart."

"Whatever, you know how to play wizard's chess?" Ron asked Ronnie as the two dementors took in the room with a bit of a grimace at the aura and colors.

"Yeah, I'll warn you, I'm pretty good though," the dementor smiled happily once he got used to the room.

"You're on!"

Drake and Ronnie settled in quickly to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione explained to everyone who would listen that they were prospective students who were thinking about transferring in and were staying in the dorm for the night. This caused a large portion of the Gryffindors to try to tell them anything and everything about Hogwarts, which Ronnie loved and made Drake annoyed. They were both settled in and playing wizard's chess with Ron and Hermione, having shown them both a version where you could get four people in a game when Harry realized he needed to leave for his meeting with Dumbledore.

"Hey guys. I'm off for that thing," he remarked cryptically to Ron and Hermione.

"Yeah, whatever," Ron waved him off as he was absorbed in strategizing his next move.

"Be safe," Hermione added in with a quick smile.

"Be good," Harry warned both dementors with a glare.

Ronnie turned the puppy-dog eyes on again. "Who? Us?"

"Just don't eat anyone," Harry rolled his eyes and laughed, leaving the group by the fire.

Luckily, it was before curfew, and Harry didn't run into anyone as he rushed down to the dungeons. "Aconite!" He exclaimed to the portrait before excitedly jumping into Snape's quarters.

"Harry!" Sirius crowed as he jumped up and grabbed Harry into a hug.

"I just saw you at lunch," Harry muttered from where he was crushed into his godfather's shoulder.

"He's been insufferable about you going tonight," Snape grumbled from the kitchen table where he was nursing a cup of tea. "We keep telling him that you're indestructible, but he just won't listen."

"I don't see why you have to go at night. You can't see the danger as easily," Sirius huffed from where he was still holding Harry. "My pup might be injured."

"Siri, I'm a dementor," the teen chuckled and squeezed the man back comfortingly. "I don't have eyes. I can see just as well in the dark as I can in the light, actually better. I'll leave Jamie here if it makes you feel better."

"Yes, my boy, that's just what I was going to suggest," Dumbledore put an arm around Sirius's shoulders after he let go of Harry. Surprisingly, the former headmaster was wearing subdued navy-blue robes for once.

"Going incognito?" Harry asked with a motion to the robes.

"You just keep reading my mind tonight, Harry!" The elderly man chuckled while Sirius tried to escape his hold.

"Potter, if you can lose Albus somewhere along the way, I would greatly appreciate it," Snape added, looking at his wits end with his houseguests. "Why don't you take the mutt with you as well."

Harry smiled deviously and turned to Albus. "You hear that, sir, he wants me back. He didn't tell me to get lost. I think I'm growing on him."

"Like a fungus," Snape grumbled and poured something into his tea that definitely wasn't tea and was clearly alcoholic.

"Here, leave Jamie with me. I'll take care of him," Sirius offered, moving a throw pillow off the couch.

"Ok, but don't draw a mustache on me or anything," Harry looked at the offer suspiciously as he sat on the couch.

Sirius took a few steps back as Harry rose from his body as a dementor. "Blimey, I'll never get used to that," the former prisoner shuddered.

Dumbledore smiled broadly. "All right, my boy. Grab my arm and I'm going to apparate us to a little village where Tom Riddle's family used to live. I've manipulated the wards to let us out on this occasion." The dementor hovered over to the man and gripped his arm with a skeletal hand.

"Listen to Dumbledore! Be safe!" Sirius called out as they popped from the room.

The shack was filthy, obviously rat infested, and oozing black magic as Harry looked around in interest. It wasn't that bad. He could see making it a summer home. It just needed a few holes in the roof fixed, a bit of cleaning, and some new flooring. The ring that Dumbledore levitated out of hole under a loose floorboard, now that had some problems though. He might not have been a fairy, but he guessed even a muggle could see the evil aura surrounding the thing. It was just waiting to kill someone.

Harry saw what was coming with both surprise and a bit of resignation; the dark curse bled off the ring, infecting the air around it. It was the darkest soul piece and the darkest curse he'd seen yet. Dumbledore's hand was inching towards the ring. It had to have come kind of compulsion charm, or why else would the man stupidly decide to try on a cursed ring! "Stop!" Harry yelled frantically, but even if the sentiment translated the words didn't and Dumbledore was beyond listening anyway.

Harry frantically looked around for something, anything to help him stop what was about to happen. The shack was just dirt, rubble, and spiders though. He took in a deep rattling breath and made a decision. All this happened in less than a second, but Dumbledore was already very close to making the worst mistake of his life. So, as quickly as possible, Harry reached out and metaphorically gave the man's soul a harsh jerk.

Harry gathered all the emotions, good, bad, and petty from the man in front of him and basically took a huge bite out of them. No human could withstand the complete emotional shutdown this caused, or at least Harry hoped that was the case. Thankfully, the elderly man instantly crumpled to the ground, dropping the ring onto the floor in the process. "Sorry," Harry mumbled as he crouched over the man to check on him.

Dumbledore was completely unconscious, but also slightly shaking in all his limbs. He was going to have the worst dementor-exposure hangover of anyone not a prisoner. Harry winced at how bad this was going to be, but he also didn't feel guilty at all. If the man was going to do something as stupid as giving into a compulsion charm that would probably have killed him, then he could deal with the exposure hangover later.

Looking at the supposedly innocent ring on the floor, Harry almost growled at it; actually, yes, he did in fact growl, and he wasn't ashamed about that. Whatever Voldemort had done to this horcrux was just vile, not that they all weren't vile, but this one oozed evil. First things first, Harry knelt down on the floor and went ahead and separated the soul from the ring and pulled it into his body. It took Harry a minute as the deliciousness of the soul was almost intoxicating. His stomach felt warm and happy as the chocolatey-spiciness of what he'd come to recognize as Voldemort's soul was devoured. Once he came out of his food coma a bit, he turned to handle whatever terrible curse was surrounding the ring.

Now, Harry was smarter than people seemed to give him credit for, but he was still only a fifth year. There was no way he was going to be able to figure out how to break a dark curse that even Dumbledore didn't seem to have recognized. Plus, he didn't currently have a wand or a wizard's magical core. What he did have, was magic-resistant dementor skin though. It was a calculated risk, but he was almost positive that he'd be immune, especially since he was one of the only beings on the planet immune to a killing curse; this couldn't be worse than that.

With a shrug of "what the hell," Harry slipped the ring onto his skeletal finger. It was with a vicious smile that he saw the curse unraveling and dissipating from the ring. He wished Luna was there to see it as she could have told what was happening more with the magic, but to Harry the darkness and the evil was slowly seeming to be eaten away as it touched his skin.

When the curse was finally completely gone, Harry turned back to the problem at hand, namely Dumbledore. "You were my ride," he grumbled down at the still unconscious man. Even if he woke up, he'd be in no mental state to apparate them, and Harry neither knew how to apparate nor could use a wand at the moment. He could fly them both back to Hogwarts, but that would take a while, and as irritated as he was currently at Dumbledore, he was still very concerned about what he'd done to the man. Harry was sure he'd be fine with a calming draught and copious amounts of chocolate, but he was still worried and wanted to get him back as quickly as possible.

Grimacing, Harry knew what he had to do, but he also knew it was going to come with a lot of questions and mothering. "Winky!" He called out. He would have called for Dobby, but that was just asking for more lectures from Winky later for not having called for her first.

With a loud pop, Winky appeared. She looked around and sighed dramatically. "What'd Headmaster Dumblydore do this time?" She asked in resignation. "Does this one at least still have's a soul?"

"Yes, he still has a soul," Harry huffed with a pout never before seen from a dementor. "I had to save his arse from getting himself cursed."

"Ah, that's alright then," Winky nodded like really either option would have been fine with her.

"Winky, I can't apparate, and the headmaster was my way back to the castle…do you think you could…?" Harry looked at her hopefully.

"Both you's?" She asked with a questioning look to the unconscious man.

"If it's not too much trouble," Harry grinned, knowing she was going to agree.

"Fine, I's assume you want to be left in Potion Master's rooms?" The elf asked as she took Harry's hand and a fistful of Dumbledore's robes.

"If we must," the dementor sighed before they all popped out of existence.

"You didn't eat Albus, did you?" Snape gaped at them when Winky, Harry, and Dumbledore appeared between where he was sitting in the armchair and Sirius was on the couch. "I said to leave him somewhere, not eat him!"

"No, not that he was any help anyway. The idiot tried to put on a cursed ring that I'm positive would have killed him, and you all thought I'd be the liability! I should have just left his unconscious arse at the shack to make his own way back to teach him a lesson," Harry grumbled before looking to Winky with a head motion, requesting her to translate.

Winky turned to the other men. "He says no."

"Dobby is a much better translator," Harry shook his head with a mischievous grin at the elf. Winky waved her hand and a stinging hex hit Harry. He grinned again. "Dementor skin," he chuckled as the didn't feel more than a tickle.

"Just gets back in Mr. Jamie before I push your hovering butt into a wall," Winky narrowed her eyes at him but with a playful gleam in them.

Snape and Sirius looked horrified at the dementor version of laughing (dying man's gasping breaths) as Harry moved over to sink back into Jamie on the couch beside Sirius. "Pup, I'm very lost as to what just happened, but what's wrong with Dumbledore, and was that what a dementor sounds like laughing?"

Harry looked down at his human hand to see the ring had appeared on Jamie's finger when he joined the body. "That's brilliant!" He remarked at the magic it must still have in it after the curses broke. If he shined it up a bit, it would catch the light nicely. "Oh, er," he looked at the nervous looking men, coming back to the conversation. "I just jiggled his soul a bit to stop him from putting the ring on and cursing himself. It was clearly a cursed object! I mean, seriously!" He shook his head with an eye roll now that he had eyes again.

"What does jiggling a soul mean?" Snape asked with a raise of his eyebrow that almost took it completely to his hairline.

Harry got more comfortable on the couch. "It's like an extra strong dose of the dementor aura. Er, in order, I guess he will need a calming draught, to be enervated, and a whole bunch of chocolate."

Snape sighed but stood to get the calming draught and tend to his employer. "Was the trip at least a success," he asked as he spelled it directly into the man's system.

"Oh yeah," Harry held up his hand. "I think I'll keep this one too if no one objects."

"I don't want it," Sirius shook his head but leaned over to look at the ring better.

"Ennervate," the vampire cast.

Dumbledore groaned and slowly opened his eyes. "Why do I feel like jumping off the Astronomy Tower would be a good idea and nothing matters in life anymore," he gasped out from where he was still lying prone on the floor.

"Sorry, sir," Harry winced. "I had to take a pretty big bite to keep you from putting on the ring. It's probably best if Sirius and Professor Snape keep an eye on you for a while."

"Thank you," he sighed out in relief before slowly sitting up. He took the chocolate bar Snape handed him next. "Thank you too, my boy."

"Winky will get some hot chocolate," the elf said before popping out.

"What happened after I collapsed?" Dumbledore asked after taking a bite of the chocolate.

"Oh, I ate the soul…it was delightful by the way…and I cleansed the ring by putting it on. Can I keep it, sir?" Harry asked hopefully, showing the man the ring on his finger.

Albus chuckled and shook his head. "I guess I was the one we should have been worried about instead of you," he remarked. "Of course, you may keep it, Harry. You deserve it. Though, I would ask that you let me study the stone at some point in the future."

"Sure," Harry shrugged and stood with a smile on his face. "Now, I left two dementors in Gryffindor Tower, so I should probably get back to say goodbye before they head out to try to eat Bellatrix."

"You what?!" Snape actually dropped the empty potion vial he was holding. Luckily it was spelled unbreakable.

"Yeah, Ronnie and Drake got caught by the aurors in the teenage golems the Carribbean wizards made for them. They returned them to the school thinking they'd skipped out over the Hogsmeade weekend," Harry explained as he extricated himself from another Sirius hug.

"Some days I'm glad I'm not currently the headmaster," Dumbledore turned to a gaping Snape with a smile.

"Make sure they leave before classes start," was the only thing the Potions Master could get out past his surprise.

"Will do! See you all tomorrow!" Harry waved as he left them all to their own devices.

It was never a good thing when the Weasley twins entered the common room in a good mood. Something must have gone very wrong for someone else in the castle. That was exactly what happened a couple weeks after Ronnie and Drake's visit though. "What has the two of you looking so smug," Ron asked his brothers suspiciously. Frankly, suspicion was probably an under-current to every conversation he had with the twins.

"And it's after curfew," Hermione added on at the end in a scolding tone.

"We were setting up a prank on the first floor to get the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs as they came up from the dungeons for breakfast," George started.

"It was coming along swimming," probably Fred continued.

"Yeah, until an Inquisitorial Squad snitch showed up," the other twin finished.

Harry had a bad feeling about what might have happened to the Inquisitorial Squad member. "Why would that have you looking smug?" He asked, really hoping that Malfoy or Montague hadn't run afoul of the twins on one of their pranking sprees. They really could be quite ruthless.

"Oh well, we escaped without points or detention," the twin, probably George, grinned mischievously.

"Yeah, that Slytherin, Montague, was the one that caught us…"

"Probably wanting to seek revenge for us creaming them in Quidditch back when it was happening…"

"Or just being a Slytherin," Fred ended as they both nodded.

Harry's bad feeling was growing to one of concern and anger at this point. "What may I ask did you do to Montague?" He asked, barely holding back his anger. Hermione looked at him questioningly as she would normally be the one heading into a lecture on the twins instead of Harry.

"We threw him headfirst into that vanishing cabinet on the first floor before he was able to say anything," Fred said with an unrepentant grin.

Hermione opened her mouth to berate him, but Harry beat her to it. "That vanishing cabinet is broken! Everyone knows that! What happened to him when he went into it?"

"Don't know. He could've gone anywhere," George shrugged, still not looking like he cared at all.

Harry stood as the room immediately dropped ten degrees cooler. "You don't know?! You could've killed him! You could have murdered one of your fellow students! That cabinet is broken! Anything could have happened to him!"

"Chill Harry, the professors wouldn't have left out anything that was actually dangerous," Fred rolled his eyes, still not catching on to how much danger they were currently in. Ron and Hermione however were looking at Harry in extreme worry.

Harry took a deep steadying breath, but it didn't do anything for his anger. Frankly, he was getting angrier by the minute. "Need I remind you of the sorcerer's stone, the Cerberus, the basilisk in the pipes, the acromantulas, the murderous willow tree, the dementors on the grounds, the blast-ended skrewts, the dragons, Umbridge…need I continue," Harry ground out between clenched teeth. "They sure as hell would leave out something that could kill a student!"

"What? No," George protested, but now looking worried.

The temperature dropped rapidly again as all the shivering students started looking around in confusion. "Harry, calm down a little," Hermione quietly tried to pull him back.

"No, these two imbeciles might have killed my friend, and you tell me to calm down?!" Harry's aura visibly darkened as he took a step forward and towards the twins. On some level, Harry acknowledged that, as a gargoyle, Montague was probably much harder to kill and more resilient than a normal human, but that didn't mean that whatever was wrong with that cabinet wouldn't hurt him, magic could be scary at times, especially when things went wrong.

"You're friends with Montague?" Fred gulped and unconsciously took a step back.

"You will pay…" He took one more step forward before both twins collapsed at his feet in a dead heap. Harry blinked a couple times in confusion as he took in Neville standing behind where the twins had been moments before with his hands outstretched. He'd obviously just had his hands on the back of both of their necks.

"We don't have time for this Harry," Neville chastised him as he pulled a faintly glowing galleon from his pocket. "It only says first floor. It's not more specific than that."

"Is that a DA galleon?" Ron asked in confusion.

"No, that's one of the other ones I charmed for Harry," Hermione answered as she recognized the spells she had placed on it.

"Stay here," Neville instructed the other two as Harry rushed towards the portrait and held it open for Neville.

"There's no way in hell we're staying!" Ron protested as he made to push past Neville.

The high elf rolled his eyes and grabbed onto both teens' wrists, causing them to collapse right where they were standing in a heap on top of Fred and George. "We really don't have time for this," he grumbled again. "Eir! Get a move on!" He ordered as the second year jumped and rushed out the portrait door that Harry was still holding open. All the other Gryffindors just stared at the pile of unconscious students in surprise and confusion, wondering who should attempt to wake them up and what it was they had done to draw the wrath of the normally very peaceful, Neville Longbottom.

"You know…you can be a bit scary," the dementor grinned at the elf as they hurried out the door and through the hallways.

Neville snorted. "There's a reason a lot of high elves become healers. We have almost complete control over humans' bodily functions with our magic; we just have to touch them. I'd love to try it out on a dementor at some point."

"Bring it on plant boy!" Harry nervously chuckled, trying to calm a little of his anxiety over his missing friend.

As the three of them ran through the hallways, they were met by Colin and Dennis who must have been on their way to Gryffindor Tower before the Ravenclaw HSMC members, with Matthew who must have been with Sinistra on the Astronomy Tower, joined them where the corridors intersected a couple flights down.

"Does anyone know what happened to Graham?" Luna asked anxiously as they waited for a staircase to move back to them.

"Weasley twins pushed him into that vanishing cabinet on the first floor," Harry growled out, still angrier than he had been since Umbridge.

"Merlin!" Matthew exclaimed in fear for their friend as the staircase finally made it to them and they rushed forward once more.

The Hufflepuff and Slytherin HSMC members were standing at the base of the stairway looking confused when they all reached the first floor. "Does anyone know where he is?" Malfoy asked with more concern than Harry had ever seen on his face.

"Vanishing cabinet," Neville responded as they all rushed down the hallway to get there.

Professor Snape was already standing in front of the cabinet, probably having used a point-me charm to get there faster when his galleon had heated up. "I cannot get the door open," he informed the group of worried students. "I tried every spell I can think of. I hear a thump occasionally, but I haven't been able to get him to talk to me."

"Give me a minute," Luna instructed them as she walked around the cabinet, examining the magic. "This is a very complex device with many spells, some of which have been broken over the years. They don't intersect in the right order."

"Eir and I have enough weapons on our persons between us that we could hack through the door," Kara offered with a wave towards the Gryffindor who nodded. Everyone looked at them trying to see where these invisible weapons were.

"No, the protection spell isn't broken. I doubt you could do any damage," Luna shook her head as she crouched down to look at the latch on the door.

"Colin and I know a blood summoning ritual. It could pull him out of the cabinet," Dennis offered after a quick look around to make sure it was only the HSMC members in the hallway.

"As much as I really would be interested in seeing that," Snape responded with a surprised raise of his eyebrow. "I don't think performing dark magic in the hallway when an auror is running the school is the best idea."

"Well, I'm useless," Malfoy huffed in frustration. "What good are creature powers when they don't help in emergency situations?! I could try to make him feel better, but that's the extent to what I can do!" Harry studied the blond for a minute, still not being able to guess what he actually was. He wasn't really sure how he could help in this situation either.

"You know what we really need," Luna said as she stood up and turned around. "What we really need is someone who can walk through walls," at that she looked directly at Harry.

Oh yeah, that was how he could help. "There isn't anything preventing it?" He asked, just to check. He didn't really want to out himself to the entire club just yet, but there was no way he'd leave Montague in the cabinet.

"Nothing you couldn't break through," Luna shook her head as the other club members looked at him as speculatively as he had looked at Malfoy a couple seconds before.

Harry shook his head though. "I can't bring him back out with me. What do I do when I'm on the other side of the door?"

"The magic could transport you as it's supposed to, and the broken spells, you can just walk through. I think you could pull Graham with you to whichever cabinet this one is connected to by breaking through the broken spells. If you really want to, you can just shrug them off," Luna explained.

Harry wasn't really sure what she meant. "Luna, you have more faith in me than I do. I'm not sure how to do what you're talking about."

Luna rolled her eyes. "Be a Gryffindor and just force your way through. That's how you do it!" She instructed.

"That does seem to be his forte," Snape smirked at the dark-haired teen.

"Fine," Harry rolled his eyes. "Nev, you're in charge of Jamie though. I want Luna to keep an eye on the cabinet since she would know if anything went wrong."

"Who's Jamie?" Malfoy asked while everyone moved aside to give Harry more access to the cabinet.

"Later," Neville mumbled to him.

"You can send your patronus when you get to the other side with the location," Brook offered helpfully. "Has anyone taught you the spell to turn it into a messenger?"

Harry just looked at her, not knowing how to respond to that beyond that it was impossible since he couldn't use a wand in his other form, and oh yeah, he's a dementor. "Montague knows how to send a patronus since you can no longer cast one," Snape offered with a nod. "If he is up to it that is. These coins will probably work fine if you can get the location spelled out specifically enough in the small space allowed for it. If I'm guessing correctly, you'll have to get Montague to do that as well though." Harry nodded; the coins required a wand too.

"Wait, you can't cast a patronus anymore?" Colin asked with a look of disappointment on his face. "Is that why you never taught us in DA? Man, I really wanted to learn that!"

"No time for this," Neville huffed for what felt like the thousandth time. He immediately sat on the floor and crossed his legs. "Harry, put Jamie here in my lap, and I'll make sure he's taken care of and not just left somewhere."

"Fine, just no one freak out, ok," Harry sighed and laid down on the floor with his head in Neville's lap. "This is so not how I wanted to do this," he groaned as he looked up at all the club members who were staring at him with identical looks of interest and expectation. Well, it was now or never…

Chapter Text

"No time for this," Neville huffed for what felt like the thousandth time. He immediately sat on the floor and crossed his legs. "Harry, put Jamie here in my lap, and I'll make sure he's taken care of and not just left somewhere."

"Fine, just no one freak out, ok," Harry sighed and laid down on the floor with his head in Neville's lap. "This is so not how I wanted to do this," he groaned as he looked up at all the club members who were staring at him with identical looks of interest and expectation. Well, it was now or never…

With a deep breath in, Harry drifted slowly up from Jamie's body so as to not startle anyone. "Hi dear," Luna said dreamily to the dementor while everyone else freaked out.

With a shriek of surprise, Malfoy had disappeared behind Hestia leaving a few snowy feathers floating down from he had been standing. "Does Malfoy have wings?!" Harry asked the group, temporarily forgetting they couldn't understand him.

"How in Helga's lacy bloomers did that happen!" David exclaimed, pushing Brook behind him protectively as she also tried to shove him behind her at the same time, which ended up with them both tugging at each other's arms.

"I thought you were a vampire…huh, guess I was way off," Eir chuckled and actually walked closer to Harry to get a better look. "I've never seen a dementor up close. Put that away!" She shoved aside the dagger that Harry had just now noticed Kara had at his throat. He wondered how he had missed that…oh well, it wouldn't have done anything anyway.

"Draco, I swear, if you don't let go of the back of my robes, I'll throw you to the dementor myself," Hestia huffed out with a roll of her eyes at the blond hiding behind her.

Neville cleared his throat authoritatively, only slightly diminished by the fact he was petting Jamie's hair. "Guys…Graham…our friend…?"

"Stop petting, Potter!" Draco protested, still behind Hestia, with a hint of something…frustration, or what Harry hoped for Neville's sake might be jealousy.

"This is Jamie, not Harry. That's Harry," Neville pointed to the dementor. "This is Jamie, the soulless shell/Harry-suit aka pseudo-teddy bear."

"Ok, so maybe I should have discouraged people from treating my former body as a pet or object. That's a bit weird," Harry grumbled but turned to the cabinet, putting a skeletal hand against the wood to feel the strength of the spells.

"Potter, you'll want to stop talking. It's very disconcerting," Snape warned him as several of the HSMC members looked a bit faint.

Harry would have rolled his eyes if he had any. He had his aura completely pulled in, so he didn't know what the others' deals were. It's not like he was sucking the joy out of the room or anything, plus they were all worried, so he wasn't too hungry anyway. Luna reached out and took one of his deathly pale hands in both of hers. "Be safe, and bring Graham back, ok?"

Harry nodded and grinned at everyone's eyes snapping to Luna's hands in surprise. He knew he lucked out with Luna. No one else on the planet would hold a dementor's hand. "Back soon…" he mumbled quietly before letting go of Luna and stepping through the wood and spells surrounding the cabinet.

This must be what it feels like to be tripping on drugs. Was Harry's very disconcerting thought as the broken spells of the cabinet seemed to turn his world upside down and pull him in all directions. It was like the floo and a portkey combined that got stuck in a loop. He really, really hoped that being a gargoyle helped Graham, because he was certain a normal human would have been splinched into several pieces. As a dementor, it took just a few seconds for him to push past the initial disorientation and stand strong with the spells hitting him like stormy ocean waves. It took several more seconds before he was able to almost swim through to his friend who was huddled in on himself in his gargoyle form with his eyes closed, probably trying to not throw up.

Thank Merlin his eyes are closed! Was Harry's next thought as a dementor swooping down on you in a whirlwind of spells and magic was probably the most terrifying thing that could happen to a person. The gargoyle's wings were thankfully wrapped around his squat and scaly form, but it was still an awkward shape. There wasn't anything Harry could grab onto with his hand.

Deciding on a course of action, Harry just draped himself over the crumpled form and wrapped his arms over the wings and as much of the his friend as possible, hanging on for dear life. Graham seemed to unclench slightly as the spells were prevented from trying to pull him apart with Harry and his magical robe completely covering him. Just to be safe, Harry made sure a corner of his robe specifically covered the gargoyle's face, magically spreading it out farther, because he definitely didn't want his friend to start panicking when he realized just what was hugging him.

Now, to get out…going forward was easier than going back since some of the transport spells did actually work. Harry hovered them both forward, shoving through the crashes of spells pulling them back and around and apart. After what seemed an eternity, they crashed down hard onto the wooden floor of a tall cabinet.

The gargoyle underneath Harry let out a weak groan and slightly shifted its scaly tail. The dementor took a deep breath, happy that Graham seemed to be alive at least. He was seriously going to have to talk to…or hurt the Weasley twins. There was no way someone less indestructible than a gargoyle or a dementor could have survived that hellish trip without being ripped apart. While Graham seemed to still be coming to, Harry carefully opened the door of the cabinet and looked out.

Unfortunately, he knew exactly where they were. "Merlin's pants, can't we catch a break?!" He grumbled seeing the shrunken heads, dark tomes, and questionable talismans that could only be associated with Borgin and Burke's, even though he had only had the displeasure of experiencing the place once before.

At the sight of the dementor emerging from his cupboard, either Mr. Borgin or Mr. Burke, Harry wasn't sure which, gave a scream of terror and promptly passed out behind the counter. Luckily there were no customers at that moment, so Harry just hovered over to check that the older man was ok. He let out another sigh of relief when he realized the man was breathing…it was a little concerning how tasty his soul felt though…just how evil was the man anyway? Harry decided his decision on whether to eat the man or not could wait. He wasn't really hungry or injured, and he didn't want to just go about eating people because they would taste good and that probably meant they were evil.

A gasp behind him, turned Harry's attention from his ethical dilemma to check back in on a Montague now in human form. "Stay away!" Graham gasped, obviously searching in his pockets for his wand from where he was still halfway jammed into the cabinet.

"Winky!" Harry immediately called out, not wanting to deal with a panic attack when he couldn't communicate. He waited…and waited…and Graham had definitely found his wand and was trying to cast the patronus charm, with little success because of how shaken he was.

Harry sighed deeply, causing Montague to redouble his efforts. "I guess it makes sense for a dark artifact store to have some kind of ward to keep out house elves. Their clientele probably aren't very trustworthy, and definitely have elves," he remarked to himself. Now, how to pantomime who he was and that we wouldn't eat the teen before he was chased out into Knockturn Alley with a glowy creature of pain?

Having an idea, Harry raised both hands up in his best show of peace before sliding one hand slowly into his pocket. "Expecto patronum!" Montague yelled, and he didn't even get vapor again.

"It's me…Harry," he said as slowly and calmly as possible while he took out his lip balm and put it on his lips in a move that had become such a habit to Harry that Montague immediately stopped and took notice. "That's right…ignore the dementor, it's just me…Harry. See, vanilla lip balm, a dementor who wanted to eat you wouldn't be putting on vanilla lip balm, would he?" That wasn't entirely true, Harry could see Drake doing just that, but that was beside the point.

Next, he hovered until he sat cross-legged on the floor and put the lip balm between them while he also pulled out of his robes the very familiar-looking locket that he had finally figured out how to make travel to his dementor form like the ring did. Graham looked at the little tube and the locket he'd seen a hundred times while he studied the dementor in front of him. "Harry?" He finally questioned.

Harry really tried not to make any sudden movements of joy, but instead nodded slowly as well. "Finally!" He sighed.

"You got me out of the cabinet? I thought I was going to die in there," the Slytherin shook his head and seemed to crumple more to the ground in relief. "Are we in Borgin and Burke's? How did that happen?"

Harry just shrugged and motioned to Graham's pocket. "What?" Harry motioned more since the teen wasn't getting it. Finally, he reached into the pocket and pulled out his galleon. "Oh, yeah, good idea," Graham smiled at his friend. "This is so strange…I thought you were a kitsune, and that was my best guess. I never would have guessed dementor."

Harry shrugged again. He really, really didn't like this whole having to talk in charades, especially since he didn't have a face to make expressions with to help. "Ok, it's set," Montague finally said after tapping the coin with his wand. "Er, we probably need to go outside because of the wards, but I may need some help standing…"

Harry quickly stood and hovered over to help. Graham instinctually shrank back. "Sorry, mate…oh hell," Graham grumbled and reached out to Harry who had also moved back in sadness instead of fear. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that. I'm just still getting used to you."

Slowly this time, Harry moved back over and helped his friend to stand. It seemed that one of his legs was probably broken, and he had several cuts and bruises visible. Harry figured there were more that were covered by his robes. He really was going to make the twins pay. Instead of helping him walk, Harry ended up just picking up Graham and hovering them both towards the entrance. Dementors might not be the strongest creatures, but they were much stronger than humans, so it wasn't too much of a strain.

"I feel ridiculous," the older teen chuckled as he was carried out of the store bridal-style by a dementor.

"You look it too," Matthew laughed from where he stood beside Snape in the alleyway.

"Salazar, couldn't they have gotten Hestia or David to come instead of you?" Graham fake glared at his Hufflepuff friend.

"He was the only one with his apparition license already," Snape rolled his eyes. "Are you all in one piece."

"Yeah, no thanks to that cabinet trying to dismember me though," he said as Harry slowly lowered him to his feet. "I think one of my legs is broken."

Quickly calculating, Snape maneuvered Matthew over to Harry who the Hufflepuff was still shying away from. "All right, before someone sees us, my notice-me-not charm isn't perfect," he instructed. "The veela takes the dementor. I'll take the gargoyle, and we'll meet up at the gates to the castle. I will need to carry Mr. Montague from there since the dementor should probably make himself invisible to keep from causing a stampede of terrified students." Harry held out an arm that Matthew tentatively took before they all disappeared from the alley.

Harry was sitting, firmly back in Jamie, in the infirmary with the rest of the HSMC around Graham. "I can't believe the Gryffindor Golden Boy is a dementor," Malfoy grumbled for the twentieth time as he looked sideways across Neville at the teen.

Neville also punched his shoulder for the twentieth time as well. Harry just smiled though. "So…Draco, you know what I am now, that means you're going to tell me what you are, right?"

Draco only glared at him as Montague laughed in his slightly drugged up state from the bed. "I don't think Draco ever thought you'd actually tell."

"That was pretty awesome," Aceline grinned over at Harry and patted her injured housemate's arm comfortingly.

"I knew you had a hard head," Luna chuckled from where she had an arm around Harry and patted his head.

"Hey! My hard head saved the day this time," Harry said in fake indignation.

"Yeah mate, imagine coming to after slamming around in a broken cupboard of death for almost an hour to a dementor standing over Mr. Burke looking like he was contemplating eating his soul.

Harry gave a little sheepish grin. "I may have considered it…but I didn't! I promise! Plus, you really need to work on your patronus charm. If I really were planning to eat you, you'd have been dead stupid fast."

"I believe it's time we all head out," Snape drawled from where he was watching Madam Pomfrey head their way.

"I appreciate you being supportive, but you all really must leave my patient to rest," she smiled at the HSMC but also firmly ushered them towards the door.

Harry, Neville, the Creevey brothers, and Eir peeled off from everyone else as they made their way back to the tower. "I can't believe you knocked out the twins, Ron, and Hermione," Harry smiled at Neville. "You know they're going to give you hell for that."

"Hermione put me in a full body bind and left me for hours in first year," Neville shrugged. "This is just payback."

"And the twins deserved it and more," Harry growled. "If it were anyone besides me or a gargoyle, I don't think they would have lived." The group was silent after that, contemplating just how close they had come to losing a friend from a stupid prank.

"Harry!" One of the twins called out as they both walked out of the portrait hole from the common room.

"How's the Slyther…" whichever twin it was never finished their sentence as Neville decked them across the face. With a smile, Eir took down the other twin with a swipe to his legs and a mean right hook.

Harry sighed sadly. "Guys, I had it…really. I'm a dementor, this is kind of my thing."

"You can have them tomorrow," Colin patted Harry on the back supportively.

"And the day after that too if you want, we won't judge," Dennis added. "They could use a few bad days." Harry pouted as the twins groaned from the floor and the group left them to push into the tower.

"How's Montague?" Hermione asked from where she had been enervated and sat on the couch by the fire with Ron.

"Broken leg, a few cracked ribs, some really terrible bruises, and a few scrapes," Neville answered as the younger Gryffindors headed off to their friends.

Ron turned pale at the list of injuries. "That's horrible!" He had originally seemed to think the twins' prank was funny and harmless, he was clearly seeing the error in that thought now.

"Er, may I ask what you did to all of us, Nev?" Hermione tacked on after her look of outrage at what had happened to the Slytherin teen.

"He never got you back from that petrificus totalis our first year," Harry answered with a shrug. "Now you're even."

Hermione didn't seem to like that answer, but neither Neville nor Harry looked ready to expand further. "Did you happen to see the twins? They left to go check on you?" She ended up asking instead.

"They're probably still unconscious in the hallway. Unfortunately, not my doing," Harry stood with a stretch. "I get them tomorrow though, so give them a bit of a wide berth if you don't want to get caught in the dementor-happy-emotion-sucking-revenge. I'm going to bed…you staying with Jamie tonight, Nev?" Harry asked.

"Yup!" Neville smiled at him. "Drop him off in my bed, will you?"

"Sure thing," Harry said as he went upstairs to get his body ready for bed.

"I really don't even recognize my life anymore," Ron groaned and shook his head. "Try to leave my brothers a few brain cells!" He called to his retreating friend who just waved a hand dismissively back.

The next day, Fred and George quickly learned that instead of seeking Harry out, they should be doing their best to avoid him. Any time they got close to their friend, a wave of terror and sadness hit them both, and Harry seemed to be everywhere. He was outside of their classes, sitting close to them in the Great Hall, across from them in the common room, and refused to talk to them no matter what they tried. He only glared as they felt worse and worse. "We really didn't know, Harry," Fred protested for the millionth time.

"It was just a laugh," George added, causing a harsher wave of terror to hit them.

"Er, we should maybe go," both twins eventually rushed off as the green-eyed teen stared them down scarily.

"You done yet?" Ron asked in a huff as he and Hermione approached their friend. "I don't want to get caught in the revenge."

"I'm actually having a good day, let's not ruin it," Hermione hummed as she looked over an essay she had just gotten back with a happy "O" in red ink on the top.

"Yeah, they're too far away now," Harry sighed wistfully. "I'll get them again later. Hey, I'm going to go check in on Montague after dinner. Wanna join?"

"Mate, I don't even know Montague," Ron looked at him worriedly. "How do you? Outside of quidditch that is?"

"Remedial Potions, of course," Harry raised an eyebrow like they should have already known that. "He's a tutor…my tutor actually." For the sake of their cover story, they did actually have assigned tutors, and Graham had been paired with him for whatever reason Snape had happened to get into his head.

"Oh, I didn't know that," Hermione looked sad at that finally. "Give him our best wishes then, ok?"

"'Course, 'Mione," Harry grinned at her.

Harry stopped just inside the door to the infirmary to stare in shock at the large, black grim that was curled up beside the Slytherin chaser and letting the teen scratch him behind his ears. "Harry!" Graham exclaimed happily. "It's so good to see someone besides Madam Pomfrey! Look, Severus's dog came to keep me company!"

Harry looked suspiciously at Padfoot who just glanced his way before closing his eyes in ecstasy at the head scratches again. "How're you feeling, Graham?"

"Ah, much better. Madam Pomfrey said I can leave before curfew tonight. I really think I was good to go last night though," the gargoyle sighed. "I heal fast you know."

"Did anyone get you your homework and notes?" Harry asked as Hermione always did that for him when he was in the infirmary.

"Yes, mum," Graham rolled his eyes and laughed. "Some housemates got everything for me."

"I'm so sorry about what happened…" Harry started.

"Which you had nothing to do with…" Graham interrupted, knowing his friend's tendencies already.

"And Neville and Eir both punched out the twins," Harry grinned at the end.

"Really?! They didn't come here for healing," Graham laughed and Sirius's head perked up in what could be translated as approval.

"Knowing those two, they already had a lot of potions stocked up to help themselves," the dementor shrugged, not really caring at this point. He loved the twins dearly, but they had to learn that their actions had consequences.

"Hey, you get Draco to tell you yet?" Graham grinned.

"No," Harry wrinkled his nose in disappointment. "I don't know what the big deal is. I'm the bloody dementor. Whatever he is can't be worse."

Graham thought for a minute. "Not worse…just unexpected maybe."

"I'll get it out of him eventually," Harry rolled his eyes, hating the suspense. "I'm going to head out. You need anything?"

"Just to leave," the dark skinned teen grinned. "I'm good besides that though, mate. See you Thursday?"

"Yeah, see you Thursday," Harry nodded and stood.

Sirius jumped down off the bed and made to follow him suddenly. "I'm heading to see Dumbledore," Harry muttered to the dog. "You come with me, you're heading back to the dungeons." Sirius just gave him a nod though and followed him out and through the castle.

"Harry! My boy! Have you heard how Mr. Montague is doing?" Dumbledore asked as soon as Harry opened Snape's portrait door for himself and Padfoot.

"He's ok, he's just ready to get out of the infirmary, same as anyone stuck there," Harry grinned at the scene of Dumbledore pouring tea in a cup for Snape as they both sat at the small kitchen table.

"He seemed to be healing well," Sirius added in as he regained his human form.

"What were you doing hanging out with a Slytherin anyway? Aren't you supposed to be prejudiced?" Harry asked with a cross of his arms and a smile.

"He gives me bacon at breakfast," Harry's godfather mumbled sheepishly before he crashed down on the couch.

"Ah yes, I've heard that bacon mends all differences," Dumbledore said with a wise nod of his head and a twinkle in his eye.

"Head…er, Albus, I was wondering if you had any leads on the rest of the horcruxes?" Harry joined Sirius on the couch where he immediately pulled the afghan down and around himself to help with the intense cold.

"Our guess is that there were seven and the main soul piece," Severus drawled as he marked a large, red "T" on a student's essay.

"That's…horrifying!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Yes, it is. Slughorn seemed to think Tom was looking into a seven-part soul. I do not believe Harry was done intentionally," Dumbledore explained.

"How did you get all that out of that pompous twit?" the animagus growled in frustration.

"I can be very persuasive, mutt," Snape sneered darkly.

"I already told you, I don't know that I approve of your persuasive methods," Dumbledore sighed and pulled a shortbread from a tin. "I was hoping you would just ask him."

Everyone looked at the man in disbelief. "I got results, Albus. That's what we need. This is war," the vampire ominously licked his fangs and Harry shivered. He wasn't sure what Snape had done to Slughorn, but he was positive he didn't want to know.

"Anyway, that means we only have two and the main piece now," the elderly man said with a huff. "Plus, he's probably still after the prophesy…we need to keep an eye on the ministry. Maybe if he can't get Harry there, he'll finally reveal his presence, and the minister will take our warnings seriously."

"You sure you don't want me to just go get the prophesy?" Harry asked again.

"I would rather Tom be trying to get into the ministry than Hogwarts," Dumbledore shook his head. "Especially since I pulled the Order members from protection duty. He has all the space he needs now to put his foot in it by walking into the ministry himself."

Harry shrugged with a grin. "I still have a couple months before his scheduled attack anyway. He always waits until exams." All the adults just looked at the smirking teen like he'd gone crazy, but they also couldn't tell him he was wrong.

It was just a couple weeks later when a large, regal eagle owl swooped down towards the Gryffindor table at dinner…which was almost unheard of outside of the normal mail time at breakfast. "Isn't that Malfoy's owl?" Neville asked as it landed in front of Harry.

They all turned to look at the Slytherin table, but Malfoy was just looking at the owl in confusion too and have them a little shrug. Well, he didn't have a part in whatever this was. Sirius trotted over in concern from the head table where McGonagall had been feeding him sausages to right behind Harry.

The letter was in elegant, bone white parchment with a red seal on the back. On second look, it wasn't a seal, but a stain. "Is that…?" Hermione asked, looking over Harry's shoulder.

Neville pulled the letter from Harry's hand to study it. "It's blood," he finally said confidently and with some trepidation.

"Right, I'm definitely not opening this in the Great Hall then," Harry took the letter back and stood. "I'll come tell you all about it in a jiff," he said as he walked up to the head table and nodded towards Snape.

Harry, Padfoot, and Severus ended up heading straight down to the potions master's chambers. "Where's Albus?" Harry asked, looking around the empty room.

"He's not here constantly," Snape sneered. "He went to a meeting with the ICW and will be back tomorrow. What is so important that it needed to disturb my dinner?"

Harry handed over the letter. "It came from the Malfoy's owl, and Neville says the reddish stain is blood."

"It is most definitely…and one I vaguely recognize as well," Snape took a deep breath in, smelling the envelope. "It has a gamey touch…not quite human…Lupin?"

"Moony!" Sirius shot up into his human form. "Give me that!" He snatched the letter and immediately opened it."

The vampire hissed at him. "Idiot! What if it was cursed? You checked nothing!"

"Then I'd be out of your hair," Sirius answered off-hand as he opened the letter.

"What's it say?!" Harry tried to read over the taller man's shoulder.

"Merlin, no!" the man sighed out in fear and sadness. "He's got Moony!"

"What does he want from Potter?" Snape asked as Harry ripped the letter out of his godfather's hands to read.

"The prophesy. He wants him to meet him at the ministry. Tonight…a trade, Moony for the prophesy," Sirius explained, a look of utter dejection on his face. "Merlin, I can only imagine what he's doing to Remy."

"He'll keep him alive at least," Snape nodded and took off his teaching robes to hang them on a peg. He then dug through the other robes on the pegs before he eventually pulled out something that could only be Death Eater robes.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked in concern while Snape looked around for his mask.

"I don't know…losing the last of my sanity probably since I plan to go save the wolf," the man sneered at himself in disgust.

"I'm coming!" Sirius exclaimed and pulled his wand out.

"You're a liability, mutt," Snape protested, kindlier than his words would indicate alone. "You're wanted by everyone and less sane than a pixie on a sugar-high. Stay here, I can get in and get out without anyone realizing. That does happen to be my job. If I don't get back before midnight, floo to Grimmauld and gather as many of the Order as you can."

Sirius grabbed Snape's arm as he pushed past to run out the door. "Snape…be safe…ok?" He said, seeming to surprise himself. Snape gave him a quick nod before rushing out the door and down the hallway.

"How about we try to send an owl to Dumbledore?" Sirius asked, anxiety lining his face.

"Sure, Siri," Harry smiled at him broadly, causing the man to be very suspicious. "Oh, and Padfoot…"

"Yeah?"

"Catch…!" Harry immediately dropped Jamie, which narrowly missed hitting the hard floor as Sirius dove to catch the falling body. Harry was already gone though. He ghosted through the wall and several more stone walls, cutting a straight line through the castle instead of even taking the secret passages. If Snape was going to put himself in danger, Harry figured he could at least stand there in front of Remus or Snape and catch any killing curses that might be fired their way. Now, he just had to find a running vampire wearing all black in the dark before he apparated…well, at least Harry didn't need light, or eyes, to see.

Harry landed solidly on his back in front of the ministry. "You stupid dementor! I could have splinched you! You don't grab onto someone when they're about to apparate!" Snape yelled at the teen in anger and worry.

"I'm a dementor…I can't be splinched," Harry stood, still a bit sore. He probably would have been splinched if he wasn't a dementor, that was pretty clear.

"I can't understand you for the last time!" The other man growled again.

With a huff of frustration, Harry pulled a piece of parchment and quill out of his pocket. He always kept it in his dementor robes after not being able to talk to Montague and having to use pantomime. "I'll stay invisible and out of your way. I'm only here as a dementor shield against killing curses, or maybe to eat Bellatrix," Harry mumbled as he wrote.

Snape snatch the paper and read it quickly. He gave the boy a quick nod. "As long as you stay out of my way and jump in front of anything green coming my direction. Don't eat the Dark Lord though, he still has two horcruxes."

"Couldn't I just eat them after him?" Harry snatched the paper back to write.

Snape looked at him steadily as he really considered it. "I don't actually know…I guess…yes, eat him if you get the chance," he finally decided with a nod. "We'll make Albus figure it out from there. Now…time to go invisible."

Harry nodded and immediately disappeared from view. He was going to make sure Moony was safe and would be able to live a long time to drive Sirius to, hopefully, sanity. Yeah, and protect Snape too. It would be a pain to have to break in another advisor for the HSMC, and he did always ask the elves for good snacks.

"Keep that aura in until the last minute," Snape opened the door to the telephone booth visitor's entrance to the ministry. "Complaint to the Aurors," he said to the disembodied voice as an excuse to get them in.

Two shiny badges popped out of the machine. One read "Complainer" and the other one said "Dementor Shield." Snape rolled his eyes and handed over the second badge to his invisible companion. Harry happily penned the shiny object to his robes beside the locket, former diadem bracelet, and ring. He was one very happy dementor.

Chapter Text

"Pssh! Snape!" Harry hissed to his companion as they stepped off the lift into the empty entryway to the ministry.

"Invisible people are supposed to be silent," Snape whispered back irritably.

"Where's the thing he wants me to get? The prophesy, right?" Harry sent the piece of parchment with the question hastily scribbled on it to Snape as he skirted around the vampire and got his first look into the atrium of the ministry. It was massive, tiled in marble, had a hideous fountain, and most importantly, was crawling with Death Eaters.

Snape ducked behind a pillar before he could be seen and pulled his mask on. "I thought you didn't want to hear it?"

Harry shrugged, then remembered Snape couldn't see him. He scribbled on the parchment again. "I don't, but it might be good to have a bargaining chip in case things don't go to plan…by the way…do we have a plan?"

"Gods, this is the most Gryffindor thing I've ever done in my life!" Snape hissed out quietly as he hit his head softly on the pillar behind him. "I blame being forced to live with Albus and the mutt for months."

"Ok…so I'm going to take that as a no," Harry chuckled thinking that Snape was acting very Harry-like instead of Gryffindor-like.

The man let out a breath. "Right, so I will sneak out there and join in the group," he explained with another glance around the pillar. "I'll stay unnoticed until we get a chance to grab him and run, or I could make a portkey maybe. Lupin is there in the middle," he pointed.

Harry moved around the pillar to look. Moony looked terrible. He was lying on the floor, covered in cuts, bruises, and he looked to be barely conscious. A feral looking man stood over him. "Is that Fenrir Greyback?" He asked with his parchment, having heard about the werewolf that could only be described as an insane demon who enjoyed pain, especially the pain of children.

Snape snorted. "Yes, and while I'm trying to come up with a plan to get Lupin out while maintaining my position as a spy, you will go down to the Department of Mysteries and grab the prophesy. Take the lift down to the very bottom and then follow the signs to the Hall of Prophesies."

"Great, so I grab the prophesy, then what?" The dementor looked around for stairs since they would be faster for the flying dementor than a lift.

"Bring it up and find me. I'll tell you what I've come up with. Can you recognize me with my mask on?" Snape asked in interest.

Harry really would have rolled his eyes if he had any, instead he hastily scribbled a response. "Snape…I don't have eyes. Your mask doesn't hide who you are at all. I've been around you enough that I could sense your soul in any room."

"That's a bit…disturbing," Snape shuddered. "Fine, you come up and find me. If you get a chance to, in order of importance to this current mission, eat Greyback since he will not leave Lupin, then the Dark Lord, then Bellatrix."

"Cool, I'm a bit hungry," Harry smiled broadly and applied some lip balm in anticipation of a good meal upcoming.

"A word of warning," Snape said with a hint of worry, stopping Harry who had already started to leave. "Apparently, the Dark Lord can actually cast a patronus, so stay invisible if at all possible. How that's even remotely possible is a question for another time, but I'm assured he can do it. And if you happen to see a green light heading my direction, I'd really appreciate a bit of help."

"Of course, Snape. We're friends now," Harry assured him as he left the parchment in the man's hands and turned from the sputtering man trying to protest that remark behind him.

There were actually stairs, but they were dusty enough that Harry was certain no one ever took them. Harry flew down them with his tattered robes flying out behind him until he got to the very bottom of the ministry stairwell. He ghosted through the last door to emerge in a dark corridor. "Stupid prophesy…stupid Dark Lord," Harry mumbled as he followed his dementor instincts through the Department of Mysteries and past a couple Death Eaters lying in wait for a bumbling teenager to sneak by them instead of an invisible dementor.

"How do people navigate this place every day for work?" Harry mumbled as he ghosted through the moving doorways and through the rooms that really wouldn't pass any safety standards in the muggle world.

The Hall of Prophesies gave him pause. There were just so many glass orbs. With a sigh, Harry ghosted through the aisles and by the thousands of prophesies, feeling a slight tug towards the one that pertained to him. "Right…you're the thing that's caused me so much trouble," he grumbled to the innocent looking glass ball with a swirl of mist inside.

The dementor unceremoniously picked up the orb and plopped it into the pocket of his robes. "Right, protect Snape, rescue Moony, and eat a couple Death Eaters," he smiled as he backtracked past the Death Eaters still lying in wait for him and back up to the atrium.

Things weren't going as well in the atrium when Harry arrived again. It seemed that Sirius Black did not understand the meaning of 'wait until midnight' and had called in the Order. A full-out battle was happening in the atrium when Harry ghosted through the stairwell door. It wasn't hard to recognize Snape who was casting curses at Order members with such bad aim that they usually hit Death Eaters…Harry snickered at that. He was making his way to Lupin as surreptitiously as possible.

Instead of dodging the wildly flying curses, Harry made his best attempt possible to get in the way of any of the ones shot by Death Eaters, deflecting them back towards the caster when possible. "You evil bitch!" Sirius yelled at a cackling Bellatrix Lestrange, taunting the crazy woman.

The idiot! Harry thought fondly as he followed Snape's path towards Remus. He was too slow to stop a curse thrown from the Order that clipped Snape's side. "Shite!" Harry rushed forward as Snape's mask fell off and he clutched at a burn on the side of his neck.

"Severus, I didn't know you were here!" Greyback growled with an evil grin as he pulled the man to his feet. "Guard the prisoner, that young auror over there looks tasty. I'm going to go have a nibble."

Harry saw red as Greyback headed towards Nymphadora Tonks who was currently dueling a masked Death Eater. "Keep him safe," Harry growled from behind Snape who jumped at the sound. "I have Greyback." Harry knew Snape couldn't understand him, but he hoped the sentiment was conveyed anyway.

"Stay invisible," the vampire hissed before bending down to sniff Remus, the easiest way for the vampire to know how extensive his injuries were.

"Severus?" Lupin groaned when he realized who was above him. "Greyback grabbed me…I was running an errand for the Order," he coughed.

"Shut it wolf, I'm trying to maintain a cover here. I swear, Gryffindors are going to be the death of me," Snape hissed just as Harry floated away quickly towards the stalking werewolf.

"Ha!" Tonks crowed as her target fell to a stunner.

"Ah, pretty, young, tasty…" Greyback grabbed the metamorphagus from behind, causing her to scream and a few close Order members to try to get to her, but there were too many curses flying. "Your flesh is going to taste magnificent…"

Unfortunately, his demise was a relatively painless one. Greyback never saw the dementor whose skeletal hand crushed his neck and pulled him away from the auror. A second later, and his soul was being swallowed down by Harry. Tonks had collapsed on the ground as Greyback's soulless body fell beside her. Gasping, Harry floated back to where his back met the wall and he sank down. He'd never been drunk in his life…but he now knew exactly what Ronnie meant when he said that souls of the insane were intoxicating. It was like he was floating…metaphorically as he was literally floating as well. He chuckled a bit as curses flew around him and he saw Tonks get up and kick the werewolf at her feet. His head felt fuzzy and nothing was really focused around him.

The soul had been just as delicious as Umbridge or the pieces he had eaten of Voldemort. It was the intoxicating nature of Greyback's insanity that had Harry struggling to stand and participate in the battle once more. He had to get up…he was going to eat Voldemort. He just needed a minute. The tide of the battle turned as Dumbledore showed up in a ball of phoenix fire and song. "Always one for the dramatics, old man!" Voldemort hissed, magically shoving Mad-Eye Moody away from him to focus on the headmaster. For some reason, Harry found this hilarious and giggled from his slumped place on the floor.

Harry tried once more to peel himself from the ground. He was getting better, but he slid down in giggles once more. "I really need to watch what I eat," he laughed a little hysterically from the ground.

Dumbledore and Voldemort were locked in a flurry of deadly curses, causing the rest of the battle to pause to watch. It was only a second before the Death Eaters and the Order members started fighting again, but it was enough to break Sirius's concentration. Harry saw it happening from where he was halfway across the room from his godfather. Bellatrix turned while Sirius was still trying to focus back in. She had this look on her face. Harry knew that look, and he knew what curse was going to be accompanied with it. "No!" He yelled, causing a few people around him to jump and look to see what was invisible.

"Avada Kedavra!" Bellatrix almost cackled the curse.

The green light shot towards Sirius just as he turned, eyes going wide. Harry couldn't turn away, he couldn't not look. The light cast a sickly glow as it went by the backlit Death Eaters it passed, burning its way through the air towards the animagus. A inhumanly fast streak of black slammed into Sirius, knocking him to the ground just as the green light slid past them and hit Rodolphus Lestrange in the back.

"Noo!" Bellatrix shrieked as her husband fell to the ground.

"Traitor!" A Death Eater with blond hair (definitely Lucius Malfoy) screamed viciously when a maskless Severus Snape sat up, pulling himself off of the surprised form of Harry's godfather.

"Snape!" Voldemort growled after a vicious curse towards Dumbledore that he barely blocked.

Harry stood, most effects of the soul washed away in his anxiety. He ghosted completely through several people who shivered in his wake as he made his way towards the group.

"Incendio!" Dumbledore cast at Voldemort who easily blocked the curse and sent a crucio in return.

Frankly, Voldemort seemed less concerned with Dumbledore at the moment than the spy who he now realized was a traitor in his midst. "Snape!" He screamed again. "Avada…!"

Before he could finish, Harry did the only thing he could think of since he wasn't close enough to actually grab onto any of them and couldn't use wizard magic. He threw the prophesy. The glass orb shattered just at Voldemort's feet and a ghostly image emerged from it. "Seriously," Harry snorted in exasperation when he recognized Sybil Trelawney's form.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…" Trelawney began in the rasping voice that Harry had heard only once before in his third year. "Born to those who have thrice defied him…born as the seventh month dies…"

At that moment Dumbledore cast some kind of curse that filled the room with the sound of a freight train. Most people stopped fighting to clutch their ears in pain. It looked like Voldemort was screaming in anger as he cast spell after spell towards the headmaster, but Harry couldn't hear anything beside the train whistle and the clanging of a railroad. The curse ended as the wispy form of Trelawney disappeared. "Meddling fool!" The Dark Lord screamed just as the floos flared to life in the atrium with ministry officials stepping through in surprise.

"He's back!" Harry sighed as Fudge muttered that very obvious comment. He had absolutely no right to be that surprised when he'd been told for a year that Voldemort was in fact back.

"This is not the end of this!" Voldemort shrieked as the Death Eaters began to portkey away in quick pops. "For you either," he turned to Snape with a murderous look before collecting Nagini and disappearing as well. Harry's eyes narrowed at Nagini who had a very familiar feel to her…very horcrux-like.

While Dumbledore tried to corral the ministry officials, Harry went straight to Remus. "Moony, you ok?" He asked, staying invisible, and talking as lowly as possible.

"Harry?" Remus tried to sit up and fell back again. "I can't see you. You must be invisible, either that or some other random dementor is shrieking in my ear," he chuckled.

Harry could have smacked himself in the head. He'd forgotten Remus wouldn't be able to understand him. Harry took Remus's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. The man breathed out a sigh of relief. "Good, stay invisible. I'll be fine," the werewolf smiled.

"Is he with you?" Snape asked as he stumbled over to where Lupin was, still clutching at the burn on the side of his neck that looked to be very painful.

"He has my hand," Remus motioned with the hand that was being held.

"Go back to the school. We have it from here," the vampire instructed.

Harry pulled another piece of parchment out of his pocket and let go of Remus's hand to hastily scribble another note. "Thank you for saving Sirius. I owe you. Are you going to be ok? What about your mark? What can Voldemort do to you through it?"

"Don't worry about me," Snape sneered at the invisible dementor as he read the note. "Yes, the mark could kill another human, but I'm not human, am I? I'm sure it'll be highly unpleasant, but I'll live. As for the mutt, let's never mention this again. Mad-Eye has already spirited him away before the aurors could notice him." Harry looked up in surprise, only then noticing that Sirius had disappeared.

"Go back to the school, Harry. We'll take care of Severus, I promise," Remus assured him with a smile.

"And we'll get the wolf healed up," Snape rolled his eyes. "Someone will eventually notice that Greyback doesn't have a soul over there though, and it'd be best if you were gone before anyone decides to start firing off random patroni."

"Right, I'm out!" Harry nodded and ghosted back to the visitor's entrance and readied himself for a long flight back to Scotland. It would have been nice if someone had thought to make him a portkey, he thought. But the long flight would be pleasant and help him calm down some since he was still feeling a bit giddy from his last meal.

By the time Harry ghosted back into Snape's quarters, the man himself, Dumbledore, and Sirius were all standing around Jamie looking at him in worry. Not sure what was going on, Harry immediately fell back into his body and woke up Jamie. "Hey guys, you all ok? What'd I miss?" He asked the group who all jumped a bit when his eyes snapped open. "Did anyone die?"

"Where have you been, you dunderhead?!" Snape growled angrily but with worry tinging the words. "I told you to go straight back to the school!"

Harry cocked his head in confusion. "I flew from London to Scotland," he said slowly, wondering why the men were so worried. "I got here as quickly as I could. Someone could have made me a portkey if they wanted me to get here faster," he said a bit accusingly to the group.

"You could have used the floo! They were all open, and you know the password to my chambers, it's the same for the floo!" Snape was definitely worried. Harry smiled happily at that.

"Well, you weren't specific, and I didn't think of it," he just grinned at the man. "Are you all ok, are you hurt?" Harry took in the other men's appearance. They all had a distinct charred smell to them. Snape had a slimy paste over the burn on his neck and Sirius had a bandage on his arm. "You didn't say, did anyone die?"

"Just Greyback, Rodolphus, and Mundungus Fletcher," Snape said. "Dung was the only one killed from our side; everyone besides Lupin is just minor injuries."

Harry was sad about Fletcher, but he didn't actually know him, so he still breathed a sigh of relief. "So, you've heard that we're fine, pup, how are you?" Sirius took his hand and sat on the couch beside him.

Dumbledore crouched down to be on eye level with the teen. "Harry, I saw Greyback. Are you ok? I know taking a life, even one as horrible as Greyback, is not something to be taken lightly," he said in clear and affectionate concern.

Harry squeezed Sirius's hand and smiled at Dumbledore. "That's the thing, Albus," he explained. "I'm a dementor. I'm much more dementor than human now, and he was evil. That was kind of my job…I know a year ago something like this would have broken me, but now…I know it was my responsibility. I would've gotten Bellatrix if I could have…or Voldy."

"That's my pup!" Sirius threw an arm around his shoulder. "Embrace the dementor…as long as it isn't after me."

"Is Remus going to be all right?" He asked worriedly.

"The wolf is upstairs with Madam Pomfrey," Snape sneered and crashed tiredly down into his armchair. "He'll recover to torment us all."

"What about you? How's your arm?" Harry was very concerned for his new-ish friend.

Snape held up a heavily bandaged left arm. "The numbing potion is helping. Unfortunately, I'll need to find an alternate residence this summer instead of my house since the Dark Lord knows of it."

Sirius snorted. "You'll be staying at Grimmauld of course," he said like it should have been obvious. "You saved my life, as part of my life debt, you're stuck with me forever now."

Snape groaned. "I should have just stepped in front of the killing curse."

"Actually, that would be a wonderful idea, my boy!" Dumbledore twinkled in amusement. "Grimmauld would be wonderfully safe, and you've already set up a potions lab in the attic."

"The rafters are wonderful to hang upside down in," Sirius added to a glare from Snape. "Sorry…old habits," he said remorsefully and with a bit of wince, expecting a hex.

"You can have my room," Harry offered. "I'll leave Jamie on the couch. It's not like I sleep anyway."

"We have plenty of spare rooms," Sirius clarified. "I promise I'll be good and leave you alone," he added on the end to the man.

"Fine," Snape rolled his eyes. "I'll make sure to pack blood…and alcohol," he mumbled to himself.

"That's the spirit!" Dumbledore clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Now, Harry, you need to get to the tower before you're missed. You do have classes tomorrow, and at least temporarily, Rufus is still in charge. I feel that may change very soon though."

"Fine," Harry stood, surprised that he still felt a bit sore from being almost splinched, hit with several curses (probably the killing curse in there as well), and flying to another country. Actually, it was probably more from Jamie being tossed to the ground when he made his exit from Hogwarts. "See you all soon. I'll check in with Remus in the morning once Madam Pomfrey lowers the drawbridge to the prison she calls an infirmary."

"You'd know all about prisons!" Sirius called out with a laugh as Harry closed the portrait.

"Mr. Potter," Rufus Scrimgeour stopped Harry the next morning as he and Luna were leaving the infirmary after checking on his friend. Luna had met him there with a big hug, somehow already seeming to have an idea as to what had happened.

"Sir?"

"I know you had something to do with Dolores Umbridge's disappearance," he said with narrowed eyes and a glare.

"Have you found some new evidence?" Luna asked with a dreamy look in her eyes that Harry knew was covering a glare.

"I'm being called back to the ministry," he frowned at them both. "I'm sure you had a hand in this as well Ms. Lovegood. Due to lack of evidence of any wrongdoing, and the fact Dolores packed up all her possessions before she left, the ministry is classifying this as no crime having been committed. The three of us know that's not true though."

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Headmaster," Harry said, suppressing his fear and trying to look innocent.

"My daddy, the editor of the Quibbler," Luna started. "He said Madam Umbridge had been sighted in Singapore. The ministry there paid her to look into their flutterby infestation."

"Ms. Lovegood, Dolores Umbridge was obsessed with the eradication of creatures in our society," Scrimgeour came closer to hiss at the girl. "If anyone is obviously some kind of creature hiding in this school, it is you. The last person to be seen with the High Inquisitor was your boyfriend. That's motive and opportunity. As the little brat somehow survived a killing curse as a baby, I'm not beyond admitting he probably has the means as well."

"Hey, she's not my…" Harry started while Luna just glared.

"Ah, Rufus!" Dumbledore cut in with a twinkle in his eyes as he strode through the hallway toward them. "I wanted to catch you before you left and get caught up on the happenings in my absence. Would you have a few moments?"

Harry sighed as the auror was led away. "He will be a problem again," Luna warned with certainty.

"About what he said…" Harry started, much more concerned now that he was alone with Luna about being called her boyfriend than his murder of the former headmistress.

Luna turned large blue eyes on him, making him completely lose his train of thought. "Yes, Harry?"

"Er…well, I know that us dating would be asking you to be in a strange three-way relationship between you, me, and Jamie," Harry sighed, knowing a relationship with Luna would be too good to be true. She had so many better prospects than him. "It'd be so much simpler for you to find one person instead of a dementor in a Harry-suit…"

Luna looked at him confused. "Harry…we've been dating for months now…I really like you, and Jamie. I don't understand."

"What?" Harry sputtered. How had he missed the fact they'd been dating. Now he was confused.

"I'm going to kiss you," Luna informed him as her blue eyes sparkled just inches from his own green ones. "I'd like to keep my soul in my body if that's ok with you."

"Yeah, I like it there too," Harry agreed, breaching the distance between their lips and kissing her first. Her soft lips moved against his own.

"That lip balm has really come in handy," the fairy muttered with a chuckle as her hands fell on his hips.

"Hm, maybe we should try that again," he smiled, kissing her, fingers wrapping in her long, blonde hair.

"Eh hem," a throat cleared behind them.

"Shove off Draco," Luna warned without even turning to look at the prefect.

"As much as I really do like the show, believe me, I haven't absorbed so many pheromones in a long while," Draco drawled with a smirk. "I think you'd both like to make it to your next class."

"All right, what are you?!" Harry turned to ask in frustration, his arm still wrapped around Luna's waist.

"See you in Remedial Potions tonight," Luna kissed his neck before giving Draco a death glare for interrupting them and left for her class.

Draco huffed but fell in beside Harry in the empty hallway to head to their Charms class that they were both definitely late for. "Fine, I suppose I do owe you that answer now, especially since I'm very happily soaked in all these wonderful pheromones now."

"Ew," Harry wrinkled his nose.

"You snack on people's emotions and eat their souls," Draco raised an eyebrow. "You have no room to judge."

"Point taken," Harry nodded after a thought. "Right, so, what are you?"

Draco grimaced. "I'm an Eros, and if you laugh I'll hex you."

Harry stopped in the middle of the hallway to think through all his research into magical creatures. He remembered that name, but it was called something else as well. A wide, mischievous grin spread across his face causing Draco to roll his eyes. "You're a Cupid! I thought they were myth! What? Like diaper wearing baby with tiny wings and a bow and arrow?!"

Draco sneered at him and raised a silencing ward around them. "Idiot! You know stereotypes are never correct. You've met Neville! Does he look like he stepped off the pages of Lord of the Rings?!"

"You've read Lord of the Rings?" Harry asked, almost as surprised Malfoy had read a muggle book as him being a Cupid…sorry, Eros.

Malfoy just glared but explained anyway. "Yes, you prat, I'm literate. Also, I was toilet trained when I was two, and I'm a full-grown fifteen-year-old if you haven't noticed. I do have wings, but they are large and impressive!" He huffed at the end.

"What about the bow and arrow? Can you make people fall in love?" Harry asked, really interested at this point.

"We don't get the ability to conjure the bow and arrows until we acknowledge our mate," the blond sighed. "No, I don't make people fall in love, but I can trap them in lust, especially once I am able to conjure my bow. Now, I'm like the best mind-healer you can think of, getting people to spill secrets and admit to their deepest emotions. I probably sense emotions much like you do. Why do you think I was the one sent to talk to Sinistra? My charming personality?"

Harry had to admit, that did sound more reasonable than Malfoy actually being charming. "Yeah, that makes sense. What did you hit me with when we were playing quidditch? That was wonderful, and can you do it again?"

"I just threw your own emotions back at you, normally that triggers an emotional overload. You're just strange as usual," Malfoy smirked.

"So…I can eat my own emotions," Harry thought about that with a grimace. "That seems very…cannibalistic."

"Come on, we're both going to get detention," Malfoy actually laughed. Harry hadn't seen anyone but Neville get the man to laugh before, and he found that he was surprisingly pleased that he was able to.

"Huh, I've never gotten detention from Flitwick. I'm interested to see what he's got," Harry grinned back as the eros dispelled the ward.

"You have such a strange life," Malfoy still chuckled. "By the way, I got a very interesting letter from my father...good job with Greyback. Aim for the Dark Lord next time though, right?"

"Definitely…er, Draco?" Harry asked as they walked. "Have you ever been drunk before? Any advice for how to still function fairly normally while intoxicated? I ran into a bit of a dementor issue I need to work though."

Chapter Text

Voldemort seemed to temporarily go to ground after the incident at the ministry. He'd lost all of his Death Eaters that he'd broken out of Azkaban, and his spy was found to be a traitor. Sirius told Harry that it sounded like Voldemort was recruiting again, this time overseas as well as in Britain.

"I'm worried about Draco, Harry," Neville whispered as they headed down to Remedial Potions just a few weeks before the end of term.

"Can you convince him to not go home?" Harry asked. Frankly, he was worried too, for both Draco and Graham.

"I told him that Gran wouldn't mind if he wanted to come stay with us, but he just keeps saying that his father won't allow it. I told him to tell his father to go screw himself and just come home with me anyway," Neville ran his hands through his hair, glamour flickering ever so slightly in his frustration. "He just says that he can't and that I don't understand."

"Well, I don't understand," Harry shook his head. "Him and Graham are frankly in more danger than me right now, and that's saying a lot. Voldemort is going to want them to join sooner rather than later, especially Graham."

"Hey," Hestia caught up with them, giving them both a little nod. "I got my father to hire Montague on as an assistant in his law firm. He starts right after term ends, and he's immediately going on assignment to China for a bit where my father is working with their ministry on a corporate deal with Gringotts."

Neville and Harry looked at each other. "How did you even hear us?" Neville almost stuttered in surprise.

"Better hearing than Snape," she just grinned at them both. "I can't help with Draco, but at least Graham will be away from all this."

They were only slightly less concerned when they walked into the almost silent common room for the club. As OWLs, NEWTs, and final exams were nearing for everyone in the club, their meetings had slowly turned into something resembling a study hall. The older students helped the younger with questions, even sometimes working on potions, fittingly enough. Harry and Neville claimed what was becoming their usual couch beside Draco and Luna and pulled out their books.

Snape swooped into the room a few minutes later, a sneer firmly on his face. Harry could tell from the aura of the man that he wasn't angry though, he was in pain. A lot of pain if he was reading the aura correctly. "Mr. Montague, I know you had a very bad experience with it, but destroying school property is still frowned upon," he grumbled before pouring himself a goblet of the blood from the snack table.

"I don't know what you're talking about, sir," Graham looked up in confusion from where he was studying for his NEWTs with Matthew.

"The vanishing cabinet, Graham," Severus sighed after a gulp of the blood. Harry was starting to realize the man wasn't in very good condition at all. "Professor Sprout stumbled upon where it was decimated into a pile of sawdust on her way to dinner this evening. Really, you should be more careful about letting your inner gargoyle out in the hallways."

The dark-skinned teen paled slightly at the remark. "But, sir, I haven't gone anywhere near that death trap since Harry pulled me out of it."

Snape looked around the group in confusion. "Well, someone destroyed it completely."

Hestia just snorted from where she was assembling a cricket sandwich on the snack table. "It almost killed Graham and none of the professors had removed it…what'd you expect? Someone had to take care of it," she remarked with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

"I owe you one, Hestia," Graham grinned at her widely. "Actually, much more than one at this point."

She just shrugged it off and took a loud crunching bite of her sandwich. Not really caring to begin with, Snape sank into his usual armchair and closed his eyes, looking years older than he had just days before. "Sn-Severus," Harry sighed, still trying to get used to the first name rule. "You know you can ask for help," he remarked tentatively. "I don't know what everyone in here can do, but you protected us from Umbridge and have provided us with this safe place every week. I'm sure someone in here can help."

Draco looked at Harry with thankfulness in his expression. Harry then remembered that Draco could read auras similarly to him, so he had an idea of what was going on with their professor as well. "I don't need your help, boy," Snape sneered as he cracked one eye open to attempt a halfhearted glare.

"And I can't help you," Harry stood to come closer and look sternly at the man. "I'm a dementor, so unless you're ready to move into the next life, I don't have the kind of help you need. However, you have a fairy who can see magic and how it interacts, a high elf that can control the body's responses to things, a cupid that can use mind-magic, and David healed Hedwig, so he might be able to help as well."

"Eros," Draco automatically corrected with a roll of his eyes.

"Actually, if this is what we think it might be, we're probably the ones you need," Colin Creevey spoke up with a glance to his brother.

"Yeah, everyone's been talking about it," Dennis agreed. "They say You-Know-Who discovered you were a spy and wants you dead. It's the Dark Mark isn't it? By what I've heard, it seems to be ritual magic that created it, so ritual magic should be able to remove it."

"It'd help if we had a Parselmouth though," Colin added with a look to Harry.

Harry just shook his head sadly. "Sorry, Voldemort might giveth, but the dementors taketh away…I can't speak Parseltongue anymore."

"I'd be happy to look at it though. I might be able to give you the same information," Luna stood and joined Harry, looking down sternly at the ex-spy.

"I'm the professor, and you are the students," Snape sighed but with a tinge of hope in his eyes. "You should not be the ones seeing to me. I should be protecting you."

"That's utter shite and you know it," Kara growled, flashing razor-sharp teeth. "It's weakness not to take the help offered to you."

"Yeah, you've honestly protected me better than any other professor at this school, even when we weren't friends," Harry agreed with a smirk. "It's time someone looked after you for a bit."

Without waiting for a reply, Luna walked up to the man and gently took his left arm. "We're going to help you. If you don't agree, I'll have Neville knock you out and we'll do it anyway," she said with a Luna glare, that was definitely scarier than Snape's when she wanted it to be.

Snape slowly put his goblet of blood down on the table beside him and gave her a short nod in acquiescence. "Awesome! Dennis, grab the chalk, and I'll get the ritual herbs!" Colin yelled as they both sprinted from the room to get supplies.

"I can't believe my fate is in the hands of the Creevey brothers," Snape looked warily at the door they'd just left from.

"I'll step in if needed," Neville remarked as he completely dispelled his glamour to focus on using his magic to run diagnostics on the professor. "I won't let them hurt you on accident."

"I'll rephrase…" Snape rolled his eyes. "I can't believe my fate is in the hands of the Creevey brothers and Neville Longbottom."

Luna tutted but pulled back his sleeve and started unwrapping the potion-soaked bandages. A bright red, angry brand appeared under the bandages and the snake was definitely writhing around the muscle of the man's arm.

"Oh, Uncle Sev," Draco sighed out in worry. "You should have said something before now."

With the bandages off, Severus just closed his eyes again, seeming to try to meditate past the pain. Luna sat on the floor in front of Snape and stared, just inches from the man's arm, intently at the mark. "It really would have helped if you could still speak Parseltongue," she remarked during her study.

"I'll tell Drake next time I see him that he should've waited a few months before sucking Voldemort's soul-leech out of my body then," Harry rolled his eyes as the rest of the club stared at him in surprise. "What? You don't think surviving a killing curse as a baby didn't come with a downside, did you?" He huffed at them all.

"I swear, you dunderhead, you couldn't keep a secret even if you were cursed mute," the professor cracked an eye open to glare at him.

Harry shrugged. "I've kept the club a secret…well, except from Sirius and Remus…but Remus already sort-of knew about it, and Sirius is family."

"Maybe we need to come up with some kind of vow or contract to keep loose-lipped dementors from blabbing about things," Draco narrowed his eyes at the teen.

"Sirius…as in Sirius Black," Brook gasped in surprise.

"Point," Snape raised a long finger accusingly.

"He's innocent and was framed," Harry rolled his eyes. "Fine, I might have a problem keeping secrets, but I am an excellent judge of character and wouldn't tell anything that would put anyone in danger."

"We're back! What'd you find out, Luna?" Colin panted out as he and his brother skidded to a halt with bags in their hands in the middle of the room.

"He's used binding runes, a soul tether, and what looks to be a blood spell to hold it all together," Luna remarked as the brothers both removed their shirts and the glamour covering the dark runes inked into their skin.

"We'll need a stabilizing circle with runes for separating and strengthening," Colin instructed Dennis who immediately moved a table out of the way and began drawing on the stone floor in chalk.

"Er…professor…how against blood magic being performed in Hogwarts are you?" Dennis looked up with a worried expression in his eyes.

"He'll live regardless," Kara glared at the man who really seemed more like he was interested than he'd actually care. "Eir and I can take that part of the spell. Valkyries learn blood magic as toddlers," she remarked as she and Eir both pulled silver blades from somewhere on their persons that Harry wasn't able to even guess where.

"Bartholomew, you're up!" Eir motioned to the other vampire in the room with her blade. "We just need a little blood from another vampire, no maiming necessary."

The third-year vampire stood with a roll of his eyes and cut a small gash in his arm with a fang. "I'll do it myself, if you don't mind," he remarked as Colin pulled a silver cauldron out of a bag and held it out for Eir.

The Valkyries plus Bartholomew got to work in the corner of the room while Colin placed bowls of herbs around the ritual circle Dennis was still working on. "I can ward the room to keep any magic in, I guess," Matthew stood, looking like he really wanted to be helping with something.

"I can help with that," Graham joined him at the door with their wands drawn.

"Draco would make a good anchor since he's Severus's godson," Luna commented over to Colin.

"No, I don't want Draco to have any part in this. The Dark Lord will most definitely look into his mind at some point this summer," Severus protested as he looked in awe at the activity going on around him.

Draco scoffed. "Please, I'm an eros. My occlumency shields are extraordinary. Plus, if he were to get in, I've done many more things than this that would get me killed," he said before walking over to Colin. "Where do you want me?"

"Hold his right arm, opposite from where the Dark Mark is on his left," the druid waved over to Severus in a business-like manner. "Lower your glamour too, we can't have any extra magic interfering."

Draco shot him a glare, but sighed as large, white and gold wings with a ten-foot span unfolded from his back and stretched to well over his head. "He's beautiful," Neville whispered in awe beside Harry who just patted the elf on the arm awkwardly, not knowing what to say to that.

It took another good thirty minutes to set everything up, but eventually, the HSMC members who weren't part of the ritual were shuffled off to the far corner of the classroom and ordered to stay out of the way. Snape was now sitting in the middle of the runic circle with Draco holding his right arm and Luna standing with fluttering wings over him and monitoring the magic levels. Neville stood just off to one side in case he was needed for healing, and Kara stood with the silver cauldron, ready to drop in the ritual herbs when told.

Harry watched in awe and amazement as the Creevey brothers began speaking in what sounded like Welsh and each rune chalked on the floor would glow briefly before a corresponding rune on their bodies would glow to match. It was lucky that Matthew and Graham had warded the room because as the ritual finished there was a massive surge of magic that pushed everyone to the ground before the vampire in the middle of the circle screamed in pain.

"Uncle Sev, are you ok?" Draco asked frantically while the Creevey brothers picked themselves up off the floor. The eros turned over Snape's left arm to see pale, unmarked flesh. "Uncle Sev, it worked."

Neville rushed over and put a hand on the man's head. "He's just unconscious. I'm going to siphon off some of his pain." Neville looked around before motioning Harry over. "Hey, I need to move the pain somewhere, it won't hurt a dementor…do you mind?"

"Of course not!" Harry shook his head and quickly lay on the ground, rising from his body to hold a skeletal arm out for Neville to grasp.

It felt a bit like his arm had gone to sleep with some pins and needles feelings that radiated from Neville's hand and up to his shoulder, but it actually felt quite pleasant instead of painful surprisingly. "That's good," Neville finally let go of Harry's arm with a tired sigh. "He should feel much better when he wakes up. It'd be best if he could sleep it off in bed though. Anyone know where his quarters are?"

Draco spoke up in the affirmative while Harry raised a pale arm. Harry floated back down into Jamie as Draco cast a featherlight charm on the man and picked him up off the ground, Draco's wings folding down and disappearing in the process. "I'll go with you. Snuffles can watch over him until he feels better."

"The dog?" The blond questioned with a raise of his eyebrow.

"I'll fill you in on the way," Harry promised as they left.

Apparently, when Sirius Black owed someone a life-debt, he took it to an extreme. Although he pretty much did everything to an extreme, so it wasn't much of a surprise in Harry's opinion. The ex-convict turned into a tall, lanky version of Mrs. Weasley as soon as he was tasked with the care of a recovering Severus Snape. Harry visited every day for the week it took until Snape was back on his feet, and every time Harry walked into the Potions Professor's quarters, Sirius was trying to feed the vampire something. Dumbledore was also frequently there, as he seemed to have made himself at home in Snape's quarters and not really left even when he got his job back, and he always made sure there was a cup of tea and a plate of lemon drops within Snape's reach. Harry was positive Snape had never touched a lemon drop in his life though.

Dumbledore and Sirius both were surprisingly good about being told by Harry and Draco that they were not allowed to ask questions and that Severus would be fine. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled like Christmas lights when he saw Harry and Draco standing together and tucking in the Potions Master who was definitely unconscious or who would be hexing them for hovering. "Look, it involved Luna, does that tell you enough?" Harry huffed at the headmaster who kept shooting him questioning looks.

"Ah…yes, I do suppose that gives me some idea…and maybe a reason for the secrecy as well," he nodded, still looking like he really did want to ask a million more questions, but realizing that Luna, and any other creature that might be involved in saving his young friend, might not want to talk about it.

"Great, I wasn't here. I don't know anything about Sirius Black being in the school. And Harry and I still hate each other," Draco drawled before exiting Snape's chambers with a haughty air.

"He has quite the presence for someone who doesn't exist," Sirius chuckled as he started making soup to force the injured man to eat.

Snape did eventually recover fully, and unfortunately for the students, well in time for final exams. Harry's OWLs were surprisingly uneventful. He kept waiting for Voldemort to try something since their last encounter wasn't quite at the end of the year like usual, but he must still have been off recruiting because, besides almost getting skewered by a unicorn again during his Care of Magical Creatures exam, the tests went smoothly and without interruption.

The only interesting thing that happened before leaving the school was the delivery of two letters. The first was dropped off by a put-upon looking Abaddon who seemed incensed that he had to wait for a reply. Harry happily penned a note agreeing to the dementors' invitation to visit them at the end of his summer break for a week before the haughty owl flew off once more. He was really excited to see the new prison and the ocean as well. Harry wondered if dementors could get a tan…he was fairly positive that was a 'no' though.

The second letter came by school owl and was on very nice parchment with flowery calligraphy. "Luna!" Harry yelled across the Great Hall at breakfast to the Ravenclaw table causing many sleepy students to jump.

Luna looked up from her tea with a smile at him. "Yes, Harry?" She called back.

"Will you be my date to a wedding in late June?!" He yelled over, wide grin on his face as the other students looked back and forth between the two.

"Can I bring the tent you bought me and we camp out after?!" She asked hopefully.

Harry shrugged. "Sure, it's here at the school though!"

"Ok, we'll camp with the thestrals then. I'm in!" She called out, causing Dumbledore and McGonagall to sputter loudly about not being allowed to camp in the forbidden forest even during a break.

"Winky, we RSVP yes!" Harry called out again, ignoring the professors, before a piece of treacle tart popped into existence on his plate.

"You going to eat that?" Ron asked as Harry poked at Winky's gift tart with his fork.

The dementor pushed it over to his friend. "I don't think she realizes that I can't taste food anymore, but it's the thought that counts," Harry smiled and instead stuck with his very healthy cup of fruit.

"Potter, you do realize, normal people talk to each other when there isn't half of the school between them," Snape drawled as he glided past Harry to leave breakfast.

Harry straightened the silver visitors' badge he was still wearing that said 'Dementor Shield' on his robes with a grin. "Now, professor, you of all people should know that I've never fit anywhere in the realm of normal." With all his other odd jewelry, no one had even questioned the badge it when it appeared, except for Ron and Hermione that is, and he ended up telling them the entire story.

"Brat," the vampire snorted as he continued walking, but Harry would swear there was a hint of fondness in his tone.

Harry left the Great Hall and caught up to where he could see Neville frantically talking with Draco just down the hall and towards where Malfoy had probably been heading to the dungeons. With a sigh, Draco took something from Neville before turning on a heel and heading towards his dorm. "What was that about?" Harry asked, looking after the blond.

"I gave him my family's emergency portkey," Neville looked tired and anxious, and more than a little frustrated.

Harry looked at him for a bit in concern. "Nev…tell me if I'm wrong, but that sounds like something you aren't supposed to give to another person. Something that's supposed to stay in the family."

"He needs it more than I do," the elf slowly started to make his way towards the tower to finish packing for break. "I only hope he'll use it if he gets in trouble. He thinks You-Know-Who will kill his mother if he doesn't go back. That's why he's insisting on going home."

"He's going to break your heart, you know that right," Harry put a hand on Neville's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "He has a mate out there, one he'll want to be with…"

"I know," Neville sighed and gave Harry a little smile. "It's already too late though."

Harry stopped and quickly pulled his friend into an alcove before throwing up the HSMC privacy ward. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Harry hissed in concern at his friend.

Neville just shrugged and looked away from the dementor. "I got too invested…my elf already decided. High elves can pick their own mates, but they only get one choice. Once it's made…there's no going back."

"Merlin, Neville!" Harry gasped out with wide eyes. "What happens when he finds his mate in just over a year?!"

"Maybe it'll be me?" the teen looked up with sad hope in his eyes.

"It might be, but what if it isn't?!" Harry insistently pressed forward.

He took a deep steadying breath. "Then I'll get a kneazle, I'll take up my seats on the Wizengamut and work for creature rights, I'll be a good friend to you and Luna, and the best Uncle Neville possible to your kids and Draco's kids."

"And you'll be alone forever," Harry voiced what Neville hadn't said.

"It might not be so bad," Neville cancelled Harry's ward and took his friend's hand, pulling him towards the tower. "Besides, I'll still have Draco as a friend, and all of you guys."

"Merlin!" Harry ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Yes, Nev, you'll always have me. No matter what happens."

Remus was the one that picked up Harry from Kings Cross at the end of term. Dumbledore had tried one more time before he left the school to convince Harry to go to the Dursleys. Harry had just stared at the man coldly for about fifteen minutes before he eventually gave up. After that, Harry ordered them tea from Winky and changed the subject, never to visit the earlier one again. "Padfoot has been so excited for the summer ever since he got back to the house a few days ago," Remus filled him in. "I don't know how he managed to stay hidden at Hogwarts for months, but he seems calmer and less erratic now. Though he immediately started trying to make soup for Severus. Luckily Kreacher stepped in since that man really can't cook."

"Yeah, he's turned into a bit of a mother hen where Snape's concerned. I think he's overcompensating," Harry agreed vehemently about Sirius's culinary skills.

"I'm taking bets on when Snape gets fed up and starts cursing Siri," Remus grinned deviously. "You want in? The twins each have a galleon on next week."

"You're too late, Moony," Harry shook his head with a chuckle. "Snape already got fed up and has hexed Siri at least once a day for the past week. I think Sirius has developed a bit of a masochistic complex or something though as he still hasn't let up. It's probably from being in prison and around dementors for so long," he added on thoughtfully at the end. "Maybe I should get a friend of mine who's good with mind-magic to visit sometime."

"Potter," Snape grumbled in greeting when Harry and Remus entered the kitchen at Grimmauld. "Wolf," he added in another grumble at the end.

"Vampire," Remus said in the same tone but with a grin on his part.

Snape narrowed his eyes but went back to reading the paper and drinking his tea. "You are not allowed in my potions lab," he added on for Harry. "I won't have any repeats of what happened at Christmas."

"That wasn't exactly my fault," he huffed, but went about making himself a cup of tea.

"Pup! I missed you so much!" Sirius ran into the room and grabbed onto Harry, planting sloppy kisses on his cheeks.

"Ew, it's only been a couple days, Siri!" Harry protested, pushing the manic man away.

"Sirius told me you're officially dating the fairy girl," Remus laughed at the two of them and sat beside Snape at the table. "Is she coming for a visit sometime this summer? I'd love to get to talk with her more. She was only a second year when I was teaching, and I didn't get to know her well."

"Er, yeah, we're going to Dobby and Winky's wedding at the end of June. She'll stop by first. We're going camping for a day or two after that though," Harry smiled at him.

"Um…" Sirius looked really confused. "Are you supposed to ask me stuff like that before you decide? Like, you know, asking your guardian if you can go camping with your girlfriend alone?"

Harry looked at him with a blank gaze. "The tent has two bedrooms…why would I need to ask?"

Snape sighed deeply. "Potter, that's something you ask your parent or guardian ahead of time, and they would usually say no."

"Oh…er, I'm also going to the Caribbean in July to stay for a week at the prison. Was I supposed to ask about that one too?" Harry genuinely asked Sirius.

"Probably," the animagus nodded slowly. "Merlin, we really aren't good with this whole parent-like situation thing, are we?"

Harry shrugged. "I've never had a parent or a guardian who cared…so yeah, I guess we'll figure it out."

"You still haven't asked," Snape rolled his eyes at the two of them.

"Asked what…" Harry looked at him confused.

"If you can go…" Snape said slowly as if talking to a small child.

"Oh, er, nah…I don't want to set a dangerous precedent. Hey, Siri, I'll bring you something good back from the Caribbean," Harry grinned at his godfather as Remus softly beat his head on the wooden table in frustration.

"Sure thing, pup! Oh, bring me cake from the wedding too," he added on with a grin.

"Can do! Dobby makes excellent cake…or so I hear since I can't really taste it," Harry stood to go set up his room and get settled.

"I'm living with idiots," Snape sighed and opened his newspaper once more.

Chapter Text

It took two days before the inevitable prank war started. Harry rolled his eyes and set out clear guidelines once the first prank hit Remus who took a sip of tea and turned purple. Snape smirked as Harry stood in front of the other two men and sternly told them the rules they were expected to follow on pain of having an angry dementor follow them around for a day. The rules were: 1. Snape is off limits. No pranks can be set that he would even accidentally be subject to. Sirius pouted at this for a minute but caved quickly as Snape stared at him and spun his wand carelessly through his fingers. 2. Jamie without Harry inside was off limits. Soulless people cannot protect themselves Harry told them sternly. And, lastly, 3. Kreacher was both off limits and could not be ordered to help in any prank. He was just starting to come around to liking Harry and was less murderous towards others, so the dementor didn't want to lose the progress they had made. Kreacher actually seemed a little sad at this rule, but that just bolstered Harry's case since any pranks set by the house elf would probably be more cruel than funny in everyone's opinion.

With these guidelines, at least Snape didn't end up viciously attacking anyone because of bad, school day flashbacks. He ended up somehow taking on the role of judge as the two older pranksters tended to look to him almost unconsciously after each prank to see his opinion. His judgements were: turning someone a color was overused and juvenile, making Sirius sound like a donkey all day was quite fitting, boggarts should never be used as prank items (as soon as Harry walked into the room, the boggart fled like the one from the summer before, so it basically did nothing), using Weasley Wheezes was cheating, potions-based pranks always got extra credit, and dementors jumping out of closets never got old.

So, the first two weeks of summer went very quickly. While, the residents of Grimmauld Place were surprisingly getting along, Dumbledore had been busy with figuring out the horcruxes. Since they had assumed (from Snape's interrogation of Slughorn) there were seven and Harry, the diary, the diadem, ring, and locket were all handled, they only had two left. Harry had filled them in on his suspicions about Nagini, so Dumbledore had been focusing on the last, non-snake horcrux. He dropped by Grimmauld one evening as everyone was eating dinner. It was no problem for Kreacher to dish up another plate for the man as he sat at the table, Harry slightly turning away from him since his robes with suns and starbursts were just a little too shiny to not be distracting.

"I think it must be Helga Hufflepuff's cup," he concluded after an appreciative bite of Kreacher's stew.

"Great, so where was the cup seen last?" Harry asked, pointedly not looking at his headmaster.

"What was the man's fascination with founder's artifacts?!" Sirius grumbled, eyes flashing to Harry's necklace.

"Albus, the cup is another artifact that has been considered lost…any ideas?" Snape drawled in an almost bored manner as he drank from a thermos that most definitely contained blood.

The elderly man hummed in thought. "I tracked it down to Helga's last remaining descendant and obtained a memory of a young Tom Riddle visiting her during his time working at Borgin and Burke's. We can easily determine that he stole both the cup and the locket from her since she owned both in the memory."

"Headmaster, that still doesn't tell us what he did with the cup though…frankly, if Kreacher hadn't been able to fill us in on the locket, I don't think we ever would have learned how it ended up here in the house. He was pretty good at hiding things," Remus prodded but with a thankful look to Kreacher who just sneered at the man he still called the Wolf-Man.

"He gave the diary to one of his followers, it may be possible that he gave the cup to another?" Harry questioned the group. "I mean…Lucius Malfoy is pretty high up, but isn't Bellatrix, Barty Crouch Jr., and even Snape, before now anyway, higher in rank than he is?"

Snape seemed to be giving that some thought. "I do believe that Lucius would have been considered higher in status than Barty, but Bellatrix basically worships the monster. I would have thought she would have been given a horcrux if anyone was. It's possible she may have the cup."

"She's been in prison for over a decade though. Where would she have put a founders' artifact where it wouldn't have turned up before now?" Sirius asked as he considered this. "Could it be in her vault? I mean, my vaults were the only thing not taken by the ministry since they were family property instead of personal. The house as well, but Bellatrix didn't have a family manor, only her personal one with Rodolphus."

"Her personal manor was seized in her arrest," Snape supplied the information. "She has been living at both Riddle Manor and Malfoy Manor with the Dark Lord."

"I feel so bad for Draco," Harry groaned, worrying more and more about his sort-of friend as the summer progressed.

Dumbledore patted the teen's hand. "We can only help if he asks for help. I believe his parents will look out for him."

Harry just glared at the headmaster. Granted, Dumbledore didn't know that Draco's parents viewed him as un-pure and shameful since he was a creature, but the man's belief in family love was a little naïve to say the least. "Albus, I think Draco Malfoy cares much more for his parents than they care for him, but you are right. We can't just kidnap him if he doesn't want to go."

"I mean…we could…" Snape insinuated with a dark look in his eye.

"Unethical, Severus," Remus rolled his eyes. "Back to the horcrux, if it does happen to be in her vault, which sounds a bit like a stretch, but if it is…how in Godric's name would we be able to get to it? It's suicide to try to rob the goblins."

"If vaults are family property, wouldn't Sirius have some kind of access to her vault since he's still technically the head of the Black family?" Harry asked the group.

"She's a Lestrange though. It might be in a Lestrange vault," Sirius shook his head. "She has a Black vault that I could ask to see, but I doubt I could take anything from it without Bella being notified."

"Even if it's an illegal, cursed object?" Snape asked, leaning forward and looking more interested now that a plan was being developed.

"You know…I don't know…" Sirius concluded with a shrug.

"I think it may be worth a try if we can safely get him to the bank. What do you think, Sirius?" Dumbledore smiled and looked at the animagus.

"I'm always up for a trip out of this depressing house," Sirius grinned as Harry and Kreacher both huffed at the insult to their home.

Snape sighed and stood, stretching his long limbs. "I will go brew the Polyjuice Potion. I have a base already started, so it should only take a few days."

"Wonderful, my boy!" Dumbledore actually clapped in excitement. "You know…you could use a little help, and Harry must be getting better at Potions after all those Remedial Potions lessons."

Harry turned a mischievous grin to his professor. "Yes, Professor Snape, after all my Remedial Potions lessons, I should definitely be able to help you with brewing Polyjuice Potion."

Sirius and Remus both grinned expectantly at the man. Snape sneered at the table and the headmaster and his student. Harry would swear he could see the wheels turning in his professor's mind. He figured the vampire was probably weighing the actual advantage of some help against Harry's skills (who really hadn't taken any extra Potions) and then weighing both of those against his boredom and desire to torture a student over a caldron for a while. "You will help me prepare ingredients," he finally concluded with an evil gleam in his eyes.

Harry nodded and stood. It seemed that boredom and torturing a student won the battle. "You know I have actually brewed Polyjuice before, right?"

"If you mean your toilet concoction in second year, I both knew, kept an eye on your progress, and even fixed that potion for you once," Snape gave him a bit of a shove towards the door when the teen stood in stunned surprise.

"What…but…why?" Harry sputtered as he heard the men in the kitchen laughing their arses off in their wake.

"Why didn't I turn you in?" Snape raised an eyebrow as they walked up the stairs to the attic. "I was interested to see if Ms. Granger could actually pull it off. It was almost perfect, but it was a bit too weak to be effective, so I added some more boomslang skin. She must not have stolen quite enough from me during your ill-conceived distraction and theft."

"But…really? You were just curious?" The dementor was completely stunned as Snape shoved a cutting board and knife in front of him when they entered the make-shift lab in the attic.

"Teaching gets boring, and it's not like I was busy with my second job at that time," the vampire shrugged with a smirk tugging at his lips. "It was impossible that Draco was the Heir of Slytherin, and as long as you didn't poison yourselves, it wasn't even a dangerous enterprise. I kept a close enough eye on your toilet potion to make sure that poisoning was unlikely."

Harry shook his head and started slicing ingredients. "The more I learn about you, sir, the more I'm certain I made a good choice in making you a friend."

Snape sneered at that remark and threw a flobberworm expertly that ended up in Harry's wild hair. "Slice that thinner!"

Two Remus Lupins waited in the sitting room as Harry put on his trainers and Dumbledore chatted with Snape. "I knew you didn't actually get a tattoo of that Hufflepuff girl's name in seventh year!" The Sirius-Lupin remarked as he held the waistband of his trousers out, looking at his borrowed arse.

The real Remus Lupin smacked his arm away. "Stop looking at my butt! And no looking at anything else either!" He angrily instructed. "Besides, Peter spread that rumor, you know not to believe anything he said!"

That remark was laden with more than any of them had expected as the room got quiet. "Yes, definitely, let's go!" Harry quickly cut in before Sirius could get all moody again. He was positive that, after clearing his godfather's name, a mind-healer was the first stop they needed to make.

Dumbledore held out a handkerchief as a portkey to Diagon Alley. Harry glared at it like it was Nagini herself. "I hate portkeys," he glowered.

"Well, I hate this house, so suck it up and hang on," Sirius-Lupin threw an arm around his godson and also took ahold of the handkerchief. With a deep breath, Harry reached out. In a split-second, he spun out of the manor with Dumbledore and Sirius, leaving the other two men looking both worried and expectant behind.

"You think there's a what in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault?" The goblin manager of the bank asked in disgusted surprise. He was the fifth goblin they had to talk to, each one moving them up to their supervisor in the chain of bureaucracy.

With a sigh, Dumbledore launched one more time into his explanation of what he thought Voldemort had made and their guess as to where it might be. "And we really ask that this information doesn't leave this discussion as that would be disastrous to the war effort."

The goblin, Ragnok if Harry remembered correctly, scoffed at them. "The Goblin Nation's discretion is unparalleled. Also, our professionalism in not letting others into vaults they don't own."

"We know you won't let us into a Lestrange vault, but I'm head of House Black. Would that be enough to just let us look in any Black vaults she might have?" Sirius explained yet again as well. His Polyjuice had worn off and he was saving his second dose until they were ready to leave the building.

"This is extremely unusual," the goblin muttered as he rifled through a magically expanded filing cabinet in the corner of his office. "There must be some kind of precedent," he continued muttering as he seemed to search for the correct paperwork or precedent.

"The cup isn't technically Bellatrix's since Voldemort owns it and it's part of his soul. Would that help any?" Harry chimed in to ask.

The goblin paused before closing the filing cabinet drawer and opening another one. He had a vicious smirk on his face as he pulled out a form from the back of the drawer. "Now, now, there is precedent on a person being shut in a vault of someone else. If this really is a piece of the Dark Lord's soul, then it would count as a person being shut in a vault. As head of house, you may actually check a vault for persons, living or dead."

"There's precedent for that?!" Harry exclaimed in shocked horror.

The goblin only grinned in answer as he passed the paperwork over to Sirius to sign. Apparently, there wasn't only precedent but paperwork to go along with it as well. "If we were to find a person stuck in a vault, would we be able to take them with us?" Dumbledore asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"Well, we wouldn't want their remains to begin to smell, now would we?" Ragnok grinned viciously, his pointed teeth showing.

"Wonderful!" The headmaster exclaimed while Sirius kept signing away at the large stack of papers that seemed to multiply as he was signing.

"While we wait on Mr. Black," the goblin turned to Harry with a questioning look. "Would you happen to be in touch with the other dementors?"

Harry jumped in surprise, though he figured that goblins would definitely feel his aura like every other magical creature he'd encountered. "Er, I am. I'm visiting them in the Caribbean at the end of the summer," he answered with a question in his tone.

"You will help us tie up our lose ends then," the goblin ordered as he opened yet another drawer and pulled out a heavy iron key. "As your people's business with the ministry is concluded, the terms of their contract fulfilled, therefore they have access to their pay."

"Their pay?" Harry asked in surprise. The dementors had never mentioned any pay in either the British or Caribbean contracts; he hadn't actually read over the British contract though.

The manager nodded as Harry put the vault key into his pocket. "Of course, they must be compensated. They key is to a vault with the jewels of their choosing from the original contract. The settings are quite good workmanship even if they were not goblin made," Ragnok assessed thoughtfully.

Harry grinned broadly. The dementor were going to love this! They would all have their own shiny jewelry now. He couldn't wait to tell them about it. He might be able to bring a couple of them back from his visit to go through the vault. "So, that must be why the ministry didn't want to acknowledge the end of the contract, because they'd have to pay up."

"Presumably," the goblin nodded with a smirk.

"Done!" Sirius worked a cramp out of his hand as he shoved the parchment over to the goblin with a sigh.

"Follow me," Ragnok stood and led them out to the vault carts.

"Yep! It's definitely here!" Harry exclaimed excitedly as he felt the soul-piece as soon as the vault door was opened.

"Please refrain from touching anything that doesn't contain a soul," Ragnok grumbled from the door as he looked in disgust into the vault, obviously not liking that his bank was used to store something so vile.

"Er, may I leave my body here by you guys?" Harry asked the group tentatively, not wanting to just drop Jamie off at their feet.

"Of course, my boy, we'll take good care of him," Dumbledore twinkled at the dementor.

Ragnok visibly shuffled farther away from them as Sirius plopped onto the floor and patted his lap for Harry to lay down in. As soon as Harry was settled comfortably with his head in Sirius's lap, he rose out of Jamie and began to ghost through the vault. "That's very disturbing," the goblin remarked as the ex-convict patted his godson's soulless body's hair.

Harry ignored them as he followed the delicious feel of the evil soul. He was almost giddy in anticipation of the treat waiting for him. The cup was sitting inconspicuously on a shelf looking much more innocent than it was. The cup was a bit tarnished, but it was gold and shined all the same, it was an excellent culinary presentation for Harry's meal.

A few seconds later, and Harry was hovering back to the group, a blissed-out feeling running through him, warming his cold body. "You got it, pup?" Sirius asked as the dementor held up the cup for them to see. He nodded his cloaked head quickly.

"My, that's an interesting looking cup," Dumbledore moved to see it better.

Harry unconsciously drew it into himself more, the dementor not wanting the new shiny to be taken from him. Dumbledore just nodded though like he completely understood. "Let me help you with that, my boy. May I?" He motioned to the cup with his wand drawn.

Harry slowly held out the cup, not knowing what the headmaster was going to do, but telling himself that he couldn't keep the cup, and he'd have to let it go. With a quick tap of the headmaster's wand, Harry was suddenly holding a gold, bangle bracelet emblazoned with a badger on the top. The dementor in front of everyone did a happy little jig before he slid the bracelet onto his skeletal arm by the diadem turned bracelet. He held them both up to the light to admire them.

"You know, I had a great aunt like you," Sirius chuckled from where he was still sitting on the floor. "She went to Azkaban for kleptomania."

Glares didn't work really well when you didn't have a face, so Harry quickly fell back into Jamie so he could look up at his godfather and glare more efficiently. "I haven't stolen anything! They were just lying around!"

"Quite right, now, just one more to go!" Dumbledore reached out a hand to help Harry up off the floor.

"Thank you, sir," Harry grinned at him.

"What happened to Albus," the white-haired man huffed dramatically.

"Thank you, Albus, for my pretty, new bracelet," Harry rephrased with a laugh as he spun the bracelet on his wrist. He blessed his luck once more at finding the spell to keep his jewelry on him in both his forms.

"My pleasure," the headmaster remarked as they left behind Ragnok to return to the surface. "However, I do refuse to turn the last one into any type of jewelry." Harry shuddered at the image of Nagini being a bracelet or a scarf.

"A couple more gold chains and you could be a muggle rapper!" Sirius laughed manically as the cart hurtled back towards the surface.

"So, what are your intentions with my pup?" Sirius asked with a serious glare towards Luna who was sitting on the couch and sipping her tea that Kreacher had happily provided.

"Siri! I'm the guy!" Harry protested in a croak as Remus tried to stifle a laugh and Snape rolled his eyes from where they were all sitting before Harry and Luna left for the wedding.

"Yes, but Jamie can't protect himself when you aren't in him. What if she wants to manhandle him while you're off floating around somewhere?" Sirius crossed his arms and glared.

Harry turned bright red and Luna just laughed. "Don't worry, Mr. Black, I have no intentions of manhandling," she assured him brightly. "Not unless Harry decides to hang around inside Jamie that is," she winked at him, causing Harry to choke on air in surprise.

Sirius nodded sagely. "That's all I ask," he said as if that were a very reasonable response.

"There will be no manhandling, whatever that is, dementor present or not!" Harry exclaimed in embarrassment.

"Mr. Potter, you were apparently dating Ms. Lovegood for months without realizing it. I believe you will be married with three brats of your own before you even get around to proposing. I believe Ms. Lovegood is the one that's leading in these regards," Snape drawled from beside where Remus was now not even trying to stop himself from doubling over laughing.

Harry was bright red but just shrugged anyway. Luna threw an arm around his shoulder. "Never, Severus, now don't be mean. Harry just likes things to be very clear. I know that now…so I'll probably let him know we're married before the second kid at the very least."

"You guys just hate me don't you," the dementor grumbled but settled into Luna's side more.

"On a Sirius note," Harry's godfather said, somehow conveying the spelling in his tone and causing everyone to roll their eyes. "I want no grandpups until Harry learns how to hand over a piece of shiny jewelry to Luna so we can have a big ceremony with cake."

"They make plastic rings you know," the fairy mumbled so only Harry could hear. He laughed again, flushing once more. He was really considering just popping out of Jamie so he'd stop blushing so damned much.

"They're fifteen, almost sixteen in Harry's case," Remus sobered up to add in. "I really would hope we have a long time before this discussion needs to happen."

"Yes, listen to Moony," Harry nodded frantically.

"Ms. Lovegood, may I ask…what does your father think of this camping excursion?" Snape spoke up with a raise of his eyebrow, still not seeming to believe that Sirius would let Harry go. Harry thought it cute that the man believed Sirius had any say over his life at all. He'd been the one trying to take care of Sirius since they'd first met.

The blonde girl smiled brightly in excitement. "Oh, Daddy said that house elf weddings are blessings to the magical community. He said that we might even see a snorklump as they're known to attend. He said to take pictures if I see anything," she pulled a small camera out of her pocket to show him.

"Forget I asked," Snape sneered and poured himself some more tea.

"Right well, rules," Remus crossed his arms and looked at the two sternly. Harry looked up in surprise at the man actually giving them rules. "So, first, convey our best wishes to the couple," Harry nodded at that. It was reasonable. "Second, don't go farther into the forbidden forest than the clearing with the thestrals. And, lastly, Harry doesn't leave the tent even when Jamie and Luna are asleep. You're their bodyguard in case anything sinister decides to look for a midnight snack."

"That was already my plan," Harry rolled his eyes. He was definitely not leaving Luna alone in the forbidden forest for any reason at all.

"And no funny business," Sirius added with a nod and grin.

"Ms. Lovegood, can you cast a patronus?" Snape asked the fairy seriously.

"What?! I'm not going to do anything to Luna!" Harry indignantly protested, glaring at the man.

Snape just sighed though. "I meant in case you need to send a message quickly."

"Actually, no," Luna wrinkled her nose. "I'd love to learn, and Harry explained the theory behind it, but I can't exactly practice it when he's around."

"We have the coins," Harry pulled the HSMC coin from his pocket. "I've spelled mine like my jewelry to stay with me in both forms, even if I can't change it without my wand."

Snape nodded. "I'd hate for the entire club to be notified but use it if you need to. I'll keep mine on me as well."

"Great, you have the gift, cub?" Remus asked as Harry and Luna stood to go.

Harry picked up a brightly wrapped box that contained a sharp dagger for Winky and several pairs of mismatched socks for Dobby. "Right here. I think we're ready."

"See you tomorrow Mr. Black, Professor Lupin, Severus," Luna grinned at them all.

"Why does she get to call you by your first name and I don't?" Harry heard Sirius pout as he and Luna grabbed hold of the portkey the headmaster had provided and popped away to Hogwarts.

Winky and Dobby had a relatively small wedding out by the clocktower at Hogwarts. All the house elves were in attendance as well as Dumbledore, Professors Sprout and Flitwick, and a well-dressed and slightly teary Argus Filch. Harry had a suspicion that Dobby would have invited Severus, but Winky probably vetoed it since he was a bit of a party-pooper. "Mr. Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby ran over to him excitedly at the reception. "Dobby's married, sir. Can you believe it?!"

"Winky is a very lucky lady," Harry grinned at the elf and patted his head since he was now hugging Harry's legs.

"Dobby is the lucky one," the little elf smiled up at him. "Come sees Winky. She wants to hug you's too."

Dobby tugged on Harry and Luna's hands until they met up with Winky who was talking with Dumbledore over by the cake. "I don't see why's you didn't just start with my plan," she was glaring at the headmaster.

"What'd he do this time?" Harry laughed and bent down to hug his sort-of adopted mother figure.

"She's still on about me needing to have handled Umbridge sooner," Albus smiled at them both. "Dolores is no longer our problem though, and I have no desire to look into the matter further."

"Congratulations, Winky," Luna hugged the woman next and thankfully changing the subject.

"Thank you, Mistress Fairy. Your presence blesses our union," the house elf smiled at her.

"I said a fairy blessing for you both as the vows were read," Luna assured her. "May you have many years of joy with each other."

"Now, my dears, I do hope you aren't still planning on camping in the forest tonight," Dumbledore looked at the teens sternly. "It really is very dangerous."

"Albus…I'm an indestructible dementor, and most creatures almost worship Luna. I think we'll be fine," Harry patted the man's neon purple clad arm soothingly.

"Oh, if you's going to the forest, would you's take a piece of cake to Mr. Firenze?" Dobby cut a large piece of cake that wrapped itself up with a snap of his fingers. "The herd didn't wants him to come back to the castle for the wedding."

"Of course, Dobby," Luna assured him as she took the cake and kissed the top of the elf's head.

"Would you wrap a piece up for Sirius too?" Harry asked his friend. "You know how he gets when he doesn't have sugar around all the time."

Dobby laughed, but another piece of cake joined the first with a snap of his fingers once more. "You's catch that rat soon, Harry Potter sir. The doggy is good for Potion Master Snape. He makes him laugh, and Potion Master Snape needs to laugh more."

"Now Dobby, I don't see Potion Master Snape laugh ever. What's you talking about?" Winky put her hands on her hips and looked at Dobby sternly.

Dobby put a hand on his face and pushed up one eyebrow and then pushed up the opposite corner of his mouth slightly. "This, this what looks like when Potion Master Snape laugh. No sound, but this face."

"My husband is ridiculous," Winky sighed as Dobby kept his face as it was and looked intently at Winky.

"I think he's Snape-laughing at you," Harry shook his head in humor.

The sun was just starting to go down as Harry and Luna left the castle to find a good spot to go camping. "I want a wedding just like that someday," Harry remarked wistfully, a happy feeling filling him up.

Luna hummed in consideration. "I think we should put Jamie in a chair, and you stand beside him so all three of us can get married though," she added on.

"It's not like he can say vows," the dementor laughed and looped Luna's arm through his as they reached the edge of the forest.

She shrugged and grinned at him. "You can reach over and nod his head for him."

"And how am I supposed to say my vows in this scenario," Harry chuckled, actually able to picture Luna making this happen someday, and it would be glorious. It didn't bother him in the slightest that they were essentially planning out their own wedding.

"We'll have Dobby perform the ceremony," Luna nodded after a thought. "I'm sure there's a quick way to get him licensed, and he'll be able to understand you."

"Ah, but you wouldn't, my love," Harry tried out the term of endearment, causing Luna to beam at him with a smile that was better than a thousand jewels.

"I'll just have to learn dementor then," she said in decision. "That way I can talk to Drake and Ronnie too. You know they're going to come back to visit, and they have to be at the wedding too."

"Of course," Harry paused as they reached the clearing with the thestrals to set up the tent that was inside the rucksack he was carrying. "Maybe we could get either King or Athena to officiate with Dobby. That would be fun."

"Yes, and Severus will sing!" Luna added with a clap of her hands that it was all decided.

Harry looked up in alarm and disbelief. "Snape can sing?"

"Hmm, maybe not," Luna reconsidered, then shook her head dismissively. "He'll do it anyway, and Neville can join him."

"I think you're into wishful thinking, Love."

"It's my wedding, they have to do what I want," she just gave him a devious grin.

"Right, well you might want to start working on Snape now. It'll probably take years to convince that man," Harry waved his wand, and the tent was set up, one of the main advantages of camping so close to Hogwarts.

"That why I decided now," she nodded and headed inside to settle in.

Harry looked after his girlfriend wondering what was too early to tell someone you loved them. Maybe he should give it a few more weeks? Or, maybe he should wait until she said it first? He frowned, but what if she waited for him, then they'd never say it. "You ok?" Luna stuck her head out of the tent flap to ask. "You look like you are thinking over something very serious."

Harry nodded in decision. "Luna…I love you," he said quickly, not wanting to make the same mistake he had with not knowing they were dating. "I know it's probably way too early but…"

"I love you too Harry…and Jamie," she laughed, and reached out a hand to pull him into the tent behind her. "Help me find some raw steak for the thestrals. I'm sure I packed some in here."

Chapter Text

Harry and Luna fed the thestrals and played with the foals before hunting down the centaurs to deliver Firenze's cake to him. He was surprisingly grumpy; it seemed he really had wanted to go to the wedding. The centaurs had reluctantly allowed him to return to the herd at the end of the school year, but now didn't want him to get involved with the humans again, even if it was a house elf wedding and only a few humans were actually in attendance. "Get rid of the human invaders, Firenze," Bane growled at Luna and Harry threateningly.

"Seriously," Harry sighed and rolled his eyes at the centaur. "Neither Luna nor I are humans. If you weren't so prejudiced and looked at what's around you instead of only the stars, you'd know that," he admonished.

"There were only three humans at the wedding in actuality," Luna informed them all. "Just Professors Sprout, Dumbledore, and Mr. Filch. I don't see why Firenze wasn't allowed to attend."

"You aren't humans?" Another centaur, Ronan Harry thought, walked forward and sniffed them a bit.

"Fairy…dementor," Harry motioned between them. "I'm surprised you didn't know what I am immediately. I mean, the unicorns sure seem to have it out for me."

"Harry Potter is a…dementor?" Firenze raised an eyebrow and studied the duo in front of him.

"And he's with a fairy," Ronan added as almost a question.

"Bane, you must admit," Firenze said with a twinkle in his eye as he turned to the seething centaur. "Things are getting very interesting around here."

"This was not in the stars," Ronan added with a nod.

"Well…er, I think we're going to head out," Harry tugged on Luna's sleeve a bit. He was out if they were going to start in on a lecture about the stars. "It's getting dark, and we need to get back to our tent."

Ronan actually looked a little worried for them. "You must be safe in the forest, Harry Potter. There are dangers amidst the trees."

"I'm a dementor," he huffed one more time. "I'm fairly indestructible unless you all plan to start firing off patroni any time soon."

"Don't worry, I'll protect him," Luna added on with a grin at the herd. "Dobby says hi by the way. It was a beautiful wedding."

They hurried out with confused centaurs in their wake. "Bloody centaurs," Harry grumbled. "They seem all right, but you never really know where you stand with them. They seem like they care one minute, then Bane comes along…"

"He's very like Severus isn't he," Luna sagely nodded as they headed back to the tent. "They have too many wrackspurts. I bet I could help Severus develop a potion to get rid of those one of these days."

"That's a wonderful idea, Luna!" Harry beamed at her and held the tent flap open for her to enter. He couldn't wait to hear how that conversation went down.

Harry carefully extricated himself from where Luna was asleep wrapped around Jamie on the couch. He supposed he was supposed to wake her up and move them from the couch to separate bedrooms, but he figured this didn't count as funny business or manhandling or whatever Sirius was talking about. Seriously, Neville cuddled with Jamie most nights like this anyway. Hovering around the room, Harry tidied up from where they had made popcorn and played Exploding Snap. He was very much in favor of camping, especially when it was in a two-bedroom wizard's tent with a full kitchen, sitting room, and washroom. It took him a bit to track down the fluffy blanket that he knew Luna had packed and then wrap the two on the couch up in it. He smiled at how peaceful they both looked. Soulless or not, Harry figured Jamie was probably happy.

A few hours later, Harry was sitting just outside of the tent, enjoying the nighttime sounds of the forest when he felt a little vibration in the pocket of his tattered robes. He searched through his pocket pulling out the detritus of lip balm, spare knuts, and owl treats to find the HSMC coin vibrating and heating up.

He rushed back into the tent and straight back into this body. "Luna!" He popped up, shaking the sleeping fairy.

"What? What happened?" She sleepily rubbed her eyes and squinted at him in the dark. "It's not morning, is it?"

"No, look!" He passed the coin to her frantically. "It's Draco, he's in trouble."

"It says: Longbottom Manor though," Luna studied it, shaking the tiredness from her mind. "How'd he get to Neville's house, and why's he in trouble there?"

"Neville gave him his family's emergency portkey," Harry quickly stood and pulled up Luna behind him. "He must have escaped from Voldemort but was followed."

"Do you know where the house is?" Luna asked him seriously. "He never told me."

Harry shook his head. "Normally, I can just set out with a location in mind and my dementor senses will take me there, but I tried that as soon as the coin heated up, and I have no clue even what direction it's in."

"Ok, then who would know?" Luna really considered the question. "Everyone in the club got this distress call…hmm…Severus might know…or Hestia could find it."

"That doesn't help us here though," Harry thought before taking the coin back. He quickly picked his wand up off the side table he'd left it on and tapped the coin. "There, I changed it to have us all meet at the Shrieking Shack. That way, we're already close and those who can apparate can go directly there."

"Great! Just leave the tent as is and let's get going!" Luna grabbed her wand and rushed out the door, only stopping so slide on some trainers and still wearing her pajamas. Harry ran along in her wake, similarly dressed in flannel pajama bottoms and a t-shirt.

Where they had been camping was actually closer to Hogsmeade than the school, so it didn't take the two long to reach the outskirts of the village and the shack. A group of shadowy figures were already gathered. "I think it's in Devon," Harry heard one of them guess. It sounded like Sirius surprisingly.

"No, I think I heard Frank mention the Orkney Islands once," Remus countered.

"Regardless, I told you all, it's under the Fidelus Charm. You can't just find it," Severus Snape sneered out.

"Hestia will be able to help," Luna said quickly as they reached the group that turned out to include Snape, Remus, Sirius, Matthew with a worried Professor Aurora Sinistra, Graham, and Hestia (everyone who could apparate).

"I thought you were in China?" Harry frowned at Graham who surprisingly turned pink in embarrassment.

"Erm...I was visiting this weekend..." he trailed off, glancing to Hestia who just rolled her eyes at him fondly.

"Luna's right, I can get us to the general location, but even I can't see through a fidelus," Hestia wrung her hands in worry, changing the subject back.

"Luna can!" Harry rushed to remind them all. "How did Siri and Remy get here?" He asked at the end.

"The prats insisted on following me," Snape glared at the other two men who just glared back.

A ripple in the air appeared several feet from the group before Kara and Eir stepped through, seeming to materialize through fog to their location. "What do we know?" Kara immediately asked sternly.

Harry gaped at the two. It was the first time he'd seen the Valkyries without their full glamour. They were both wearing what looked like a thin, black leather armor of some unknown material, and had more weapons than he'd ever seen strapped to their bodies. Their teeth were razor sharp and glinted in the waxing moonlight with sharp, pointed ears and golden, glowing eyes. Enormous wings that looked like a mix between a bat's and a raven's stretched out behind them. "It seems Neville gave Draco a portkey in case he was in danger, and he must have been followed when he used it," Luna explained without even blinking at their appearance.

"How did that happen if the manor is under a fidelus?" Sinistra spoke up for the first time, looking very confused at the group that was starting to gather. Harry was uncertain what Matthew had told her, so he could only speculate she had no clue who was in the club and what they all were.

"There's unfortunately a spell to track a portkey signature," Snape winced with shame in his tone. "I was tasked to create it for the Dark Lord during the first war. If Draco portkeyed directly into the manor, they just need to follow the signature even if they can't see where they're going."

A loud pop and Dennis and Colin Creevey appeared as they crashed to the ground holding an old glove. "Ow!" Dennis rubbed his bum he'd fallen on. "I'll make the portkey next time, Colin!"

"Hey, I did it right!" The druid protested with a glare.

"Did a fourth year just claim to have made an illegal portkey?" Sirius grinned broadly. "What are you teaching them in that club of yours Snape?"

"You're going to be cited for underage magic," Sinistra told them both with a frown. "As well as the illegal portkey if the ministry finds out."

"Oh please, we cast so many dampening wards around our house by my second year, we can cast whatever we want and no one's going to know," Colin rolled his eyes. "And I imagine we can cast whatever we want once we get to Neville's house too and claim self-defense."

"Ok, so we're only missing Bartholomew, David, Brook, Aurora, Aurelius, and Aceline," Luna interrupted, looking around and counting.

"David and Brook are unreachable with their peoples during the summer. The coins wouldn't work in their realms, and I doubt the others' parents will let them pop off towards danger, especially since they can't apparate or apparently know how to make illegal portkeys," Snape glared at the two brothers who didn't look sheepish at all.

"All right, people, we need a plan," Graham rubbed his hands together decidedly, with a hint of nervous excitement. "Luna, you know everyone's strengths and weaknesses the best, so what's your assessment of the situation?"

She looked at the group consideringly. "Mr. Black, Professor Sinistra, and the druids are the least protected of all of us."

"Hey!" Colin and Dennis both protested.

Luna ignored them and continued on. "They will need to hang back at the very least. Hestia can get us to the area, and I can get us inside of the wards. Graham and Harry are best leading the way as both of them can take most spells without it harming them, Harry most of all."

"Really?" Sinistra raised an eyebrow at the fifth year questioningly.

"Severus is the one with the best knowledge of the capabilities of the Death Eaters," Luna continued. "And Professor Lupin and the Valkyries are our best offense with Graham and Hestia being close behind them. I think Matthew and I can work a good defense with our magic. Mr. Black and Professor Sinistra can help Matthew and I as long as they stay behind the rest of us. I fear we need to hurry as neither Draco nor Neville are very powerful offensively."

"Creeveys, Eir, and Jamie are left here though," Snape glared at the younger students.

"The hell I'm staying! I'm a Valkyrie!" Eir yelled in protest.

Kara glared at the man. "Eir will be coming along. She cannot stay back when those of our clan are in danger, and that's what this club has come to mean to the both of us, we're clan now."

"Yeah, we might not be much use inside the manor, but if you leave us at the edge of the wards, we can be a big help there," Dennis added. "We got a really good look at the magic in your Dark Mark, Severus. It's possible we can create a ward that would attack anyone with the mark trying to leave the manor."

"Great! Let's get going then!" Luna clapped her hands together and her wings suddenly appeared.

Sirius raised his hand tentatively. "Erm, how are those of us who can't fly going to get there?"

"Well, Harry, Graham, Hestia, Matthew, Kara, Eir, and I are all fine…" Luna raised an eyebrow in question to Hestia.

"Fine," the Ravenclaw grumbled with a sigh. "I'll take the lot."

Everyone except for Luna stared at the girl with stunned expressions. "You can carry six people?" Sinistra finally voiced their question with a bit of awe in her voice.

"Erm, so…what exactly are you, Hestia?" Graham asked with a teasing smirk on his lips.

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "I'm a Roc for your information," Hestia sighed and looked at everyone challengingly.

"Er…a rock? Like a boulder?" Colin asked skeptically. Harry was just happy someone else asked before he had to.

Hestia grimaced. "No, idiot. A Roc as in R-O-C. I'm a bloody big bird!"

"Oh…ok…" Colin still looked at her questioningly.

With a loud sigh, Hestia began growing and stretching. Large brown wigs reached to the sky and amber eyes glowed as a razor-sharp beak formed. Hestia grew and grew beyond Harry's imagination until a falcon-like bird that was a size of a small airplane was staring down at them pointedly. "I don't think you're going to fit in the door of the manor," Graham remarked wryly before Hestia pecked at him dangerously. "Oi! Watch the beak!"

"Great! Everyone who can't fly, climb on, and Harry, please hide Jamie somewhere out of the way," Luna instructed her boyfriend impatiently.

Sinistra watched the teen questioningly as he hurried to find a hidden spot, which happened to be behind a clump of bushes to lay down and drop off his body. The dementor rose up, causing the Astronomy Professor to gasp in alarm. "Right, so we aren't going to be able to understand Harry anymore, keep that in mind," Luna flew up into the air and waited as the non-flyers clambered onto Hestia and tried not to bend any of her feathers.

Graham gave a large shake and the gray-gargoyle rose into the air, followed quickly by Matthew who released his feathery wings and shot up into the air. Hestia beat her wings, causing a small windstorm before they were all in the air, her passengers already looking green. "I'll cast a disillusionment charm, so stay together," Snape ordered as he waved his wand wildly over his head.

"I hate flying on anything not a broom," Sirius groaned from where he was holding onto Snape for dear life.

With Hestia's powerful wings and the other creatures' magic, they made it to a remote island more quickly than Harry would have thought possible. He couldn't see a house, but he could feel souls and magic just out of his reach. When they all landed and Hestia turned back into her human form with a grumble about inconsiderate passengers ruffling her feathers, Harry was certain they were in the right place, they just needed Luna to lead them in the right direction.

The fairy walked several paces to the East and pointed at the ground. "This is the edge of the wards," she said to Dennis and Colin who were already pulling off their rucksacks and sifting through their ritual supplies.

"Do not under any circumstances enter the wards," Snape glared at the two of them. "You are both too young, and druid magic is not going to help you in a fight."

Colin rolled his eyes. "We'll stay behind the wards, but you had all better stay safe. I'll make some portkeys back to the shack in case anyone is injured."

"Good man," Sirius clapped the much younger man on the shoulder. "I want to see how you make those once this is over with, by the way."

"Sure thing, sir…" Colin responded, looking at the man warily. Even though he knew he was innocent, Colin still looked like he thought Sirius seemed suspicious.

"Stay together, stay safe," Sinistra instructed the brothers.

"Potter, this time, go right for the Dark Lord," Snape told the dementor. "Eat anyone in your way."

Harry gave him a happy salute, really looking forward to a great dinner since he hadn't been able to enjoy the cake the day before. "If you see green light, duck or hide behind Harry," Luna added on.

Harry poked the Potion Master a couple times in the ribs meaningfully. It took the man a minute to catch onto what Harry was trying to remind him of. "Stop that Potter! Yes, Nagini, I get it. Whoever sees the snake, she needs to die before we kill the Dark Lord," Snape rubbed his side and gave the dementor a shove forward. "Dunderheaded dementors," he grumbled as they all followed Luna through the wards they couldn't see.

Spell-fire lit up the windows of a large, stone manor house when they all were eventually able to see what was in front of them. "There's a door to the side," Remus told them, his eyesight catching the alternate entrance first. "That might be better than walking through the front door anyway."

The Valkyries seemed to blend into the night as well as Snape and Harry. The rest of the group were pretty noticeable though. Sirius, Remus, and Sinistra quickly started casting disillusionment spells on everyone. "Wands out everyone. Cast to incapacitate or kill. This isn't a DADA duel, so jelly legs and school yard pranks aren't going to do much against a Death Eater," Remus told them all darkly. "We'll deal with anything for underage magic later, though I doubt the ministry can track anything behind these wards."

The group quickly made their way across the dewy grass and up to the side door Remus had seen. When a quick Alohamora from Sirius didn't open the door, Kara stepped forward and touched the metal, causing it to warp and the handle fall off the door. "Handy," Sirius nodded and pushed the broken door open on silent hinges.

Screams and shouts echoed through the house as the group of humans and creatures made their way through a beautiful kitchen to a hallway that seemed to lead through a formal dining room to the main foyer. Just outside of the dining room, they ran into their first Death Eater. They stared at the man who was slumped against the wall with unseeing eyes gazing into the distance, a black and gold feathered arrow protruding from his chest. Sinistra bent down quickly and checked his pulse. "He's alive," she told them before quickly casting an incarcerous spell on him.

"He won't be bothering us. If Draco hit him with an arrow, he won't come out of the spell until Draco releases him," Snape sighed. "Merlin, Longbottom had better not be going to become a member of my family," he grumbled with a frown at the end.

"I thought Malfoy couldn't conjure his bow and arrow until he found his mate?" Matthew whispered questioningly from the back of the group. Snape glared at the veela, his eyes calling the man an idiot. "Right, yeah, Neville…guess that's good."

Harry was smiling, though he was uncertain how all that had come about. He really hoped both his friends were ok though. Draco really was starting to grow on him. "Keep moving," Snape hissed out as they walked towards the stairs and where they could hear most of the commotion coming from the higher floors.

Another couple Death Eaters were similarly staring into space with arrows in various parts of the bodies on the stairs. "He really is a great shot," Sirius muttered in appreciation. Harry was a little sad he hadn't been able to eat anyone yet but stayed on the lookout for danger ahead of them.

On the second floor they met one of Neville's victims. Harry actually pouted when he saw Bellatrix Lestrange's body crumpled in a pool of blood where it seemed most of the blood from her body had been expelled through every orifice it could find. He really had wanted to eat her soul. It would have been wonderful. "Salazar's ghost! Remind me to never make Longbottom mad," Graham choked out as he was the first that came up to the body and seemed to be trying to keep himself from gagging.

"I imagine the Death Eaters weren't expecting this level of resistance," Eir snorted from where her eyes faintly glowed, the only part of her body Harry could actually see.

"Good for Neville," Remus muttered darkly and motioned for everyone to continue.

"Crucio!" A voice yelled coldly from a door up ahead and to their right.

Harry was certain it was the voice of Lucius Malfoy, and the accompanying scream was much too close to Draco Malfoy's voice. He hurried forward to pause beside a whimpering form by a medieval suit of armor. Without a second thought, he reached out and gave the man's soul a violent yank, and sucked out all positive emotions, though there weren't many. "Harry!" Sirius rushed forward as Harry carelessly threw the unconscious body of Peter Pettigrew to the floor.

The dementor gave his godfather a little bow and motioned for the man to take his gift and bind it up for later use. "He still has a soul," Snape cast a spell quickly at the man before casting another to bind him.

Harry would have rolled his eyes if he had any. It didn't help them much if Pettigrew were unable to face trial. "Good catch, Harry," Luna gave the dementor a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Crucio!" Was cast again with another scream following.

"Stay behind Harry and Graham," Snape reminded them all again as they reached the door. "Valkyries, take out those on the outer perimeter of the room. Aurora…just stay safe."

The woman snorted at him but did actually look very scared. She smiled at Matthew who gave her hand a quick squeeze. Harry held up a hand to stop them before he softly ghosted just his head through the door to see what they'd be walking into.

The Dark Lord himself was standing in the corner of what seemed to be a ballroom with his arms crossed and his red eyes glaring in sick enjoyment at the scene before him where Lucius Malfoy had his wand held over the twitching form of his son, a bow and quiver of arrows uselessly out of his reach and white wings speckled with blood. Augusta Longbottom and what was probably Neville's Uncle Algie were bound back-to-back with ropes and gagged, but both were conscious and seemed to only have minor cuts and bruises. Neville was shaking, unconscious, and very bloody just feet from Draco, but he was alive and Harry sighed in relief at that.

The best news was that it looked like Neville had gotten to Nagini before he passed out. The snake seemed to have deflated, like all the water in her body had suddenly left. Her lifeless body was crumpled at the Dark Lord's feet, and he could tell the man was furious at the death of his familiar and horcrux.

Quickly counting, Harry pulled his head back through the door and held up nine fingers for the remaining nine Death Eaters in the room. "Great, we outnumber them," Matthew commented, his wand raised a little higher.

"Potter, is the Dark Lord in there?" Snape asked, causing Harry to nod quickly. Harry made a slithering motion with his hand and then drew a finger across his throat. He really hated charades. "The snake is dead?" Harry nodded in relief that the man understood.

"Right then," Snape looked at the group behind him. "Black, Lupin, Sinistra, Matthew and Luna, stay in the hallway. There are probably more Death Eaters in the manor. Watch our backs and fire on anyone coming this direction, especially once we start making a lot of noise. Graham and Hestia, you secure the friendlies and protect the family," the gargoyle and roc nodded in understanding. "Kara and Eir, perimeter as I said before. I have Lucius and Harry…the Dark Lord is yours," Snape looked at the dementor, a grim smile on his face.

Hestia moved up to beside the gargoyle form of Graham and raised a hand. "On my count then, one…two…three…bombarda!"

The door flew open and Graham immediately absorbed a red, stunning spell thrown their direction before leaping onto the Death Eater who had cast it. Harry threw himself in front of a green, killing curse to save Hestia as she ran over to Augusta and Algie to free them. "Kill them!" Voldemort yelled out angrily into the room.

Harry turned and stood tall, facing the man who'd haunted his life from the time he was a baby. He watched in glee as Voldemort's eyes flicked from his hood and took in what he was before resting on the locket, then the ring, then the bangle with the badger emblazoned on it, then the distinctive bracelet that used to be a diadem. If a pale, snake-man could get paler and turn green, then Voldemort definitely did. Harry put a skeletal finger under the chain of the locket and twirled it slightly, a smile on his wide, chapped, dementor lips.

"Expecto Patronum!" Voldemort cast loudly and a blinding light seared down Harry's skin causing it to feel as if it were on fire.

Having survived the Cruciatus Curse, having his soul sucked from his body, basilisk venom, whatever he'd done to Quirrell, and other various tortures to his body, Harry stood strong and didn't flee. Thankfully, the patronus was nowhere near corporeal. For one of the most powerful wizards in Britain, the Dark Lord was unable to cast something that Harry had mastered in his third year. It seemed fitting that the man would be brought down by his own twisted soul.

Harry knew there was a lot going on around him. Snape and Lucius were dueling, Kara and Eir were almost dancing through the Death Eaters with daggers and swords flying, and Graham had blood dripping from his claws, but Harry's eyes were only on the Dark Lord in front of him. The thing that had once been a man was looking on his end, where everything came to a conclusion. Harry knew in that moment that Voldemort's boggart would have taken on the form of Death, and Death would look very much like Harry in that moment.

"Avada Kedavra!" He cast ineffectually at Harry, who just laughed his haunting laugh as the green light hit him and was absorbed into his body. "Only Harry Potter can kill me. The prophesy…," Voldemort hissed right as Harry grabbed him by the throat.

Harry just smiled. "But, I am Harry," he screeched before the Dark Lord's soul no longer had a body.

Harry carried Neville's unconscious body close to his chest as the group of creatures and humans limped out of Longbottom Manor and towards the wards. In the distance, Colin and Dennis Creevey were seated beside a small pile of bodies, it looked like three or four from what Harry could see. "What in Merlin's name?!" Severus gasped out, holding onto his bleeding shoulder with one hand and supporting Sirius who had a broken ankle from a bone breaking curse he'd been hit with when the Death Eater reinforcements came after them with his other.

"They tried to apparate out of our new wards," Colin explained with a wince. "They're alive, but definitely need medical attention. They basically apparated directly into the equivalent of barbed wire."

Remus and Sinistra, who were both unharmed besides some scrapes hurried over to check on the bleeding Death Eaters and cast more binding spells. "Did you make the portkeys? We're going to need them," Graham asked. He'd changed back into his human form and was carrying Draco's unconscious body which was still slightly twitching.

"We have ten all set to the Shrieking Shack. We also cast a messenger spell to tell Madam Pomfrey to meet us there immediately," Dennis nodded and pointed to the pile of various odds and ends from their bags that they had turned into portkeys.

"Thank Merlin," Augusta Longbottom sighed. She looked a bit lost as the only casualty from the rescuers' side had been her brother, Algie. She seemed to be going into shock and Harry was glad that Madam Pomfrey would be there to see to her quickly.

"What's best to do with this one?" Hestia asked Sirius Black as she tossed Peter Pettigrew's body on the ground with no ceremony.

"Well, someone has to notify the ministry about this mess," Sirius smiled darkly and conjured a piece of paper and a quill. "Madam Longbottom, can you write the house's location at the bottom of this letter so the aurors can find the manor? I assume you are the secret keeper?"

The elderly woman nodded and quickly scribbled the location at the bottom of Sirius's letter, which Harry definitely wanted to know what he'd written at some point. The ex-convict stuck the letter to Pettigrew's torso with a sticking charm before turning to the Creevey brothers. "Can you make a portkey to the ministry?"

"We've never been there," Colin said apologetically.

Augusta snorted with little amusement before promptly making a portkey herself out of a rock and sending the man with a loud pop on his way. "He'll show up directly on the minister's desk. I don't think he'll be able to miss the man," she told them.

"Right, injured first," Luna instructed them as she motioned for Graham to go ahead and take Draco.

Madam Pomfrey and Headmaster Dumbledore both were waiting at the Shrieking Shack as the various members of the HSMC portkeyed in. Without question, they rushed to tend to the injured, Draco and Neville first. "Tom?" Dumbledore asked Harry frantically as soon as he had retrieved Jamie from the bushes.

"Very, very dead," Harry nodded with a smirk. "Neville killed the snake, I ate his soul, then Luna incinerated his body just to be absolutely sure."

Dumbledore put a hand on Harry's shoulder and smiled at the teen in relief before turning back to where he was bandaging a cut on Kara's arm. "Ms. Brynhildr this will heal in no time, but you must take it easy for a few days," he instructed her while she was slowly reapplying her glamours and really not paying much attention to the man. "So many creatures in Hogwarts," Harry heard Dumbledore mutter with the happiest look on his face that Harry had ever seen.

"Ennervate," Harry heard Madam Pomfrey finally cast on Neville after healing most of his injuries. Harry rushed over as the high elf slowly began to blink his eyes.

"Draco?! Where's Draco?" Neville coughed out, turning his head and frantically looking for the blond.

"I'm here, Nev," Draco reached over from where he was just sitting up in the grass and grabbed onto Neville's hand. "Merlin! I thought I'd lost you for a minute," he sighed in relief. "Never do that to me again!"

"What all happened?" Harry asked as everyone turned eyes to the two, wanting to hear the story.

Neville scooted closer to the eros as Draco took in a shaking breath. "The Dark Lord decided to mark me tonight, that it was time. I think my parents were the ones to convince him. I was just handed over; they didn't care at all. I thought…I thought I'd just go with it. Take Severus's spot as a spy maybe if I had to, but he searched my mind first," Draco gave a sob at the remembered pain. "He tore aside my occlumency shields. It hurt so much."

Madam Pomfrey took another potion from her medical bag and handed it to him. "Take this then. It'll help to heal any damage he might have caused."

Draco downed the potion and almost pulled Neville into his lap to keep him closer. "He saw too much. My friendship with Harry, what we did for Uncle Sev, Neville…as soon as he left my mind, I used Neville's portkey. I knew he'd kill me the moment he was able to."

"Indeed, he would have," Snape agreed and sat beside his godson, putting a hand on his shoulder and lending some comfort.

"When Draco showed up at the manor, I knew it was bad," Neville began his side of the story. "Gran and Uncle Algie tried to shut down any way into the manor, but they eventually got through somehow. Thankfully, Gran and Uncle Algie were captured quickly, so there wasn't any need to hurt them, but Draco and I fought back."

"I wish I could have helped more," Augusta Longbottom looked at her grandson in pride, probably more pride than she had ever looked at him with in his life.

"Bellatrix cast the Cruciatus Curse on me, and I don't know what happened for a while after that," Neville looked to Draco questioningly. "Next I knew, Draco had a bow and arrow and was taking out Death Eaters with a vengeance. She ran as he started aiming at her, but I followed her up the stairs. I couldn't let her get away…what she did to Mum and Dad…" Neville ended quietly.

"I…well, they were hurting Neville. I had to do something," Draco said quietly with a shrug.

"So…Neville is your mate?" Harry asked with a prompting smile.

"No," Draco shook his head and immediately had to physically pull Neville back into his lap as the elf tried to pull away in surprise. "Wait, just listen…ok?" He asked frantically.

Neville stilled and gave a short nod of his head. "So, who…who is your mate?"

"Astoria Greengrass," Draco answered simply. "And I've known since I was five."

"What?" Neville asked with a wrinkle between his eyebrows.

Draco sighed. "The least-perky, perk of being an eros is that you know your mate as soon as you meet them, which was when I was five and Astoria was four, unfortunately. It's very confusing meeting someone you know is your mate when you're that young and have so clue what's going on. So, I did what any self-respecting five-year-old would do and ignored it," he smiled at Neville and started running a hand through the elf's hair, seeming to need to hold onto him and make sure he was ok. "Over the years, I got really close to Astoria and her sister, Daphne. I see them as sisters. I thought, as I got older, I'd just wait and see. Maybe I'd develop some sort-of romantic feelings for Astoria, but I never did. I've only ever seen her as my little sister and will only ever see her that way. Especially since this awkward and annoying high elf bumbled his way into my life, who was just too adorable for his own good and just wouldn't let me get away."

"But I'm not your mate," Neville protested quietly.

Draco just shrugged. "So…I get a push from magic that leads me to a mate, but I still have free will, and I choose you, you idiot! I knew even before you chose me…yes, I'm an eros, I know you chose me as your mate, just as I knew when David and Brook got together and that those two have been hooking up for a couple months," Draco pointed at an embarrassed Graham and Hestia before smirking at the teen who had been about to protest.

"I just hadn't admitted it to myself. So, I saw you being tortured and knew I had to help. I really needed the only offensive magic my kind has, so I accepted my mate in my mind and soul, and summarily rejected her as well. So…hence the weapon. I can love whomever I choose to love. Mates may be a thing, but all relationships are decisions and hard work. Mate or no mate, you are who I want to be in a relationship with, not some girl I've only ever seen as a sister."

"And…Astoria?" Neville asked quietly.

"She's not a creature," Luna supplied. "This will in no way affect her life. She can go on to live her life however she chooses now as well."

"Er, so the snake? What happened to Nagini?" Sirius asked, looking awkward at all the emotion-talk.

"She went after Draco," Neville said simply with a shrug.

"Of course, she did," Snape snorted in amusement.

"You-Know-Who was pretty mad at that," Neville nodded with a smile to his professor, leaving out the obvious torture he must have suffered after.

"Not as mad as when he saw me stride in wearing all his horcruxes," Harry laughed and twirled the locket on a finger again. Most looked very confused at the term, but Graham, Sinistra, Draco, and Augusta all sputtered in shocked indignation at what the man had done.

A silvery lynx appeared in their midst and Harry dove behind Professor Dumbledore at the sight of the patronus. "Aurors are on their way to Hogwarts. We will be at your office in thirty minutes. I assume you know something about what all is going on?" Kingsley Shacklebolt's voice boomed out with a hint of amusement in the tone.

"Right," Dumbledore turned and took in everyone's appearance. "Who all cast underage magic?"

"That we can be caught for?" Colin asked with a bit of a smirk at the question.

"Yes, Mr. Creevey, I think that would be the real question," Dumbledore chuckled, especially as no one raised their hand.

"Most of us used our creature powers or were behind the Longbottom manor wards," Eir supplied in explanation.

"We know how to cover our tracks," Dennis shrugged with a bit of a grin.

"I left Jamie under the bushes," Harry smirked at the headmaster, trying to not look like he'd literally just hid behind the man at the sight of Kingsley's patronus.

"Wonderful, one less problem to worry about," Albus smiled and nodded. "Now, I believe Sirius needs to head back to Grimmauld Place and all students except for Misters Potter, Longbottom, and Malfoy can head home as well."

"Does that include Matthew and I?" Graham asked.

"It does…and Aurora as well, oh hello, I didn't see you there, my dear," Albus turned full twinkle eyes on his Astronomy Professor.

"Albus," she nodded, still holding onto Matthew's hand as Dumbledore looked between them almost glowing.

"Remus, you and Severus will probably need to take the brunt of the credit here," Dumbledore continued as he considered the best plan of action. "I want to protect the students from the ministry and the press as much as we are able."

"My godson will have several spelled Death Eaters with arrows sticking out of them that he'll need to explain," Snape sighed with a sad look to Draco.

Draco just nodded though. "They're still alive, and I can remove the spell for their trial. I'm not too concerned since most people believe my species to be either extinct or mythical anyway."

Neville sighed and finally pulled himself up to a standing position with a pained wince. "I'm sure I'll need to answer for Bellatrix unless someone has a better plan."

"No one in their right mind is going to complain about her demise," Sirius patted the elf comfortingly on his back.

"And you Harry? Anyone besides Tom?" Dumbledore asked.

Harry shrugged. "Pettigrew, but he's still alive and already in ministry custody. I also got one Death Eater that went after Luna on our way out. I'm not sure who it was though. They tasted quite yummy, so I'm not too concerned about fallout."

"Well then, the adults will cover for everyone else then," Dumbledore instructed Snape and Remus.

"Shouldn't I stay then?" Sinistra asked in concern, wanting to help protect her students.

"My dear, you have no discernible reason to have been at Longbottom Manor," Dumbledore explained with a shake of his head. "It's best if your presence doesn't bring up more questions."

"Don't worry dear," Augusta patted her on the hand. "I may be old and have been tied up, but I was formidable enough in my youth that I can claim a couple of the bodies as mine and no one will disbelieve me. We'll protect the lot of you."

"You all shouldn't have to take all this on yourself, especially for those of us who are of age," Graham shook his head.

"The ministry already knows I'm a werewolf," Remus told the man. "Let us keep you safe for now. We don't want to start a creature hunt from this mess." Graham and Matthew sighed but also nodded at the logic.

"Now, on your way before you get caught in this mess," Dumbledore made shooing motions.

Eir and Kara waved their arms, creating the same kind of ripple in the air that they had arrived in. "Where are you two going?" Kara turned to ask the Creevey brothers.

"Cardiff, Wales," Colin supplied.

"Want a ride? We can drop you off first," Kara offered.

"Sure," he shrugged. "It'll get us closer anyway."

All four walked through the rift and disappeared. The rest of the group apparated away, Sirius after a quick hug for both Harry and Remus and an attempted and rebuffed hug for Severus. "Right, let's go tell the ministry that the war is over!" Dumbledore laughed out and strode quickly towards the castle.

"I'll head back to the tent and wait for you," Luna hugged Harry tightly. "You go all dementor on their arses if they try to arrest you, ok?" She added in a whisper in his ear.

"Never any question about that," Harry answered wryly before giving her a quick but deep kiss. "See you soon."

"You better!"

Chapter Text

Dumbledore really was brilliant, steamrolling over all Minister Fudge's protests, objections, and questions about what had happened. It helped that the ministry had been vehemently stating all year that Voldemort hadn't returned, only to be proven that he was a few weeks before, then being handed a dead dark lord and almost his entire organization on a silver platter. Madam Bones was the harder one to convince since Fudge had almost immediately decided to take the win for himself and his new election campaign.

"Albus," the head of the DMLE sighed and shook her head. "This just doesn't make any sense. You say that Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter were staying the weekend at Longbottom Manor, which was under a Fidelus Charm, when somehow You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters got past that charm and decided to attack. Now let me get this right," she consulted her notes again. "They sent a patronus message to Professor Snape and Mr. Lupin, who are apparently friends now, as soon as they realized the danger…" she raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "The two men flooed in and joined in the defense with Madam Longbottom, Mr. Algernon Longbottom, and the children."

All three teens scoffed at being called children but were smart enough not to say anything. "That sounds correct to me," Augusta Longbottom looked at the woman sternly. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks both looked on in confusion at the situation. As members of the Order, they knew something else was going on, but it seemed neither could figure it out either.

"Right…so," Madam Bones shook her head and went back to her notes. "The Death Eaters fought their way into the house where they unfortunately killed Mr. Algernon Longbottom who luckily killed Bellatrix Lestrange with some unknown curse before his death. Then Mr. Draco Malfoy, who is apparently an eros, fired on all the Death Eaters we found who were unresponsive but had arrows in them. And he is certain he can remove the charm?"

"Of course, Madam Bones," Draco nodded at the question he'd already been asked a few times. "As soon as you would like me to. I recommend they are secure in custody first though if they aren't already."

"So, none of our underage teens are responsible for any deaths except that of You-Know-Who, who Mr. Potter somehow killed," the head of the DMLE looked at him questioningly.

"I got him with a very lucky bombarda, then an incendio," Harry lied, glancing at Dumbledore who had assured him it would hold up. "He was going to kill Draco and Neville."

"Yes, and Professor Snape killed Lucius Malfoy who was cursing his own son, and Mr. Lupin took out the Death Eaters that looked like they were attacked by an animal," Madam Bones continued reading her notes. It wasn't a stretch for Remus to take responsibility for anyone attacked by Hestia or Graham. "That still doesn't explain what happened to Peter Pettigrew who's still unconscious and suffering from dementor exposure or Walden McNair who we found to inexplicably not have a soul."

"Well, we all know the dementors have been wandering around collecting the convicts who were broken out of Azkaban…I think they were a little upset they missed out on Bellatrix," Harry supplied sheepishly. "I think I saw one out of the corner of my eye in all the chaos."

No one in the room, except for Fudge who was no longer paying attention, looked like they believed him. "Can you tell us why the three of you decided to have a sleepover tonight of all nights?" Kingsley questioned the group since it was quite strange that Draco would be in company with the other two.

"Er, I asked them over," Neville supplied tentatively. "We're all in Remedial Potions together and got close over the year."

At the mention of Remedial Potions, Madam Bones's head shot up and she looked at the three questioningly before turning her gaze to both Snape and Lupin. "Yes, I think that does explain the situation," she said slowly as Snape gave her an almost imperceptible nod. "Yes, I think that explains everything just nicely."

They all watched as Amelia Bones crossed out a couple lines on her pad of paper and closed the notebook with a decided snap. "Madam Bones?" Tonks asked the woman questioningly. The woman's demeanor had changed drastically from suspicious disbelief to relieved acceptance almost immediately.

"I think we're done here, Auror Tonks. They seem to have an explanation for everything, and it was obviously all self-defense. We need to specifically question Peter Pettigrew as the fact of him being alive calls into question Sirius Black's culpability in the Potters' murder, and we may need to question the few living Death Eaters as well, but it seems there really isn't anything they can say to mitigate their guilt. The fact they're all marked and at the Longbottom residence speaks to the truth of their guilt in the matter," the woman concluded. "We can all sleep easier tonight knowing that You-Know-Who is clearly dead and gone. Thank you, Mr. Potter. I'm sorry you had to go through this…and the rest of you as well."

Kingsley looked like he wanted to protest and kept shooting confused looks to Albus, but he kept his mouth shut. "Right, we need a press conference! And something about a trial for Pettigrew and Black and how my administration has uncovered the corruption from the one before, etc. etc.," Minister Fudge almost clapped in glee as he strode to the floo and left directly for the offices of the Daily Prophet.

When the two aurors flooed out, Madam Bones turned to Professor Snape. "Is everyone else involved ok? No one is injured?" She asked in a low hiss so the portraits couldn't hear.

"Everyone has been seen to," Snape assured her with a nod.

The woman turned to the three teens who were looking at her in wide-eyed confusion. "I really am sorry you all had to go through this," she told them with a sad smile. "I know classes like Remedial Potions are wonderful bonding experiences. I myself keep in touch with those in my Remedial Divination class still," she glanced to Severus quickly. "Might I add…I'm sorry for your loss, Mr. Malfoy," she said stepping over to Draco with an intense look. "And for what your father did to you. That was inexcusable. I can only imagine what you must have gone through growing up with that man. Bigotry and prejudice run deep in our society, unfortunately."

Draco looked over to Neville who reached across to take his hand comfortingly. "Er, ma'am…could we maybe talk? I think I have some information you might find useful about my mother and a few other Death Eaters who weren't at the house tonight," the blond offered with a sad sigh.

"Oh dear," she sighed and took out her pad of paper once more. "Tell me what you know…do you have someone you can stay with if we end up arresting your mother?"

"He can stay with us," Augusta Longbottom offered without a thought.

"I'm his godfather," Snape cut in quickly. "I can take legal custody and then we can decide if he stays with me or at Longbottom Manor."

"Right, well that's settled. What do you need to tell me…?" Madam Bones asked, sitting down and waiting as Draco gathered his thoughts.

The trials went much faster than anyone expected, mainly because of the interrogation of Peter Pettigrew under Veritaserum and the testimony of Draco Malfoy who had heard quite a bit over the years. By mid-July, Sirius Black was freed with an apology from the ministry, most of the remaining Death Eaters were in Azkaban (with a new, large contingent of human guards), and the magical community was celebrating. It seemed the war ended before most even knew it had begun anew. Unfortunately, with the prophesy being registered at the ministry, Harry had to be given credit for Voldemort's death, which got out to the public very quickly. In order to escape the reporters for a while, he moved up his trip to visit the dementors in the Caribbean.

Newly declared innocent, Sirius did actually travel with Harry to the Caribbean but stayed on a completely different island than where the prison was located. Getting out and in the sun did the man a world of good in Harry's opinion. For himself, Harry had a blast with the dementors. He helped them with some record keeping as they still weren't good with the paperwork aspect of the prison, but mainly he just got to hang out with them and get to know them better. Drake, Ronnie, and a ministry official from the Caribbean Ministry of Magic were all set to return with Harry and Sirius to Britain to inspect the vault at Gringotts and arrange for transport of the jewels back to the dementors' home. Surprisingly, the Caribbean Minister of Magic himself appeared where Harry was just settling back into Jamie to take the portkey back to England and seemed to plan to be the ministry official accompanying them. "Mr. Potter, it's a pleasure to meet you," the minister who was an older man that clearly looked like he'd been a surfer in his younger days but who was doing his best to look respectable now said with a grin and a shake of the teen's hand.

"You too, sir," Harry smiled broadly. "It's nice to have a face to the handwriting since we talked so much over Christmas for the prison contract."

"Yes, quite. I must admit, you have quite the head for business for someone your age," the minister, Sachin Joseph, responded with a broad grin. "You really gave us a run for our money in the negotiations."

Harry shrugged in embarrassment as Sirius clapped a proud hand on his shoulder. "The dementors, especially King and Athena, really do know their stuff, they just aren't really sure how to interact with humans most of the time," he explained. "I really didn't do much."

"I think you did quite a lot for both our peoples," the minister smiled. "Now, I've decided to travel with you to meet with the British ministry. The diplomatic visit is long overdue, but the real reason is that I've heard some rumors that the tide is turning once more. The rumors state that now the ministry is more concerned about you turning into the next dark lord and about the fact that a werewolf took part in your battle as well as an eros."

"What?!" Harry stammered out in surprised indignation.

"Those bastards!" Sirius added in with a growl.

"Do not worry, young dementor," Joseph clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder with a jovial smile. "I'm only going to get a feel for how many of these rumors are true and what the general feel is. I'd like to be a support in the ICW if things do start to go south, plus, as a leading member of the Council of the Autonomous Nation of Dementors who are currently residing in my domain, you are directly under my protection. Frankly, I could even petition for diplomatic immunity for you if needed. I have permission from the dementor you call King to act in your favor if needed. Will that be acceptable?"

Harry blinked at the man and glanced to Drake and Ronnie who were both nodding in agreement with his comments. "Er, yeah, thank you," he breathed out. "Wow, diplomatic immunity…I didn't even realize I'd qualify for that."

"With negotiating on the dementor's behalf, you've already set yourself up as a diplomat and a valuable member of your nation, so the paperwork is already filed on our end," Joseph explained. "You are the diplomat representing the dementors for our ministry. I just need to hand over the documents to the British ministry if things get out of hand for you. You say the word and I'll hit that idiot Fudge with all the paperwork with great pleasure."

Harry could tell that the minister would definitely get a lot of pleasure out of it. He wasn't sure what the Caribbean minister had against Fudge, but having met Fudge himself, he could guess any number of things. "Thank you, sir. That's very kind of you."

"Nothing of the sort! We all ready?" Joseph held out a piece of rope. They all grabbed on and were whisked away to the international portkey office of the British Ministry of Magic.

"Mr. Potter," Rufus Scrimgeour greeted the party, heading a large group of aurors. They took in the two dementors, but Scrimgeour still turned and scowled at Harry. "You are hereby under arrest for questioning in the death of Dolores Umbridge, the practicing of illegal dark magics, inciting vigilante behavior, and harboring a known fugitive."

"Hey! I was innocent!" Sirius yelled at the man, blocking his godson with a shoulder.

"At the time, you were a wanted fugitive, and at the time is what matters," Scrimgeour stepped forward, only pausing as Drake and Ronnie hovered a bit closer to Harry.

"Harry…er, now might be a good time to take Minister Joseph up on his offer," Ronnie quietly screeched to Harry.

"Mr. Potter," Minister Joseph looked over his shoulder at the teen questioningly. He lowered his voice to whisper, "How would you like me to handle this? It would be nice to solve this quickly, but if I serve the papers, it would out you as a creature."

"You know…" Harry responded loudly and smiled at Scrimgeour and the aurors. "I decided a while back that I owed nothing to the British Ministry of Magic. I only owe my allegiance to my people and those like me, which are constantly being discriminated against by you…so, I think I would really like to outed, Minister Joseph," Harry told the athletic politician beside him.

The aurors all stared in shock at who turned out to be a foreign dignitary in the group while he rummaged in an attaché case he was carrying. "Give me one moment…" the minister held up a finger as he continued to rummage. "Ah, here they are!" He proudly handed over a stack of parchment to the head auror. "I think you will see that Harry Potter is neither a citizen under the purview of the British Ministry, nor is he able to be arrested as a foreign diplomat. Of course, it's in your rights to reject our application for diplomatic status and immunity, but Mr. Potter fulfills all requirements under ICW law, is already a recognized diplomat, and it could be seen as an act of war if he is detained or rejected based on his status as the Ambassador for the Autonomous Nation of Dementors."

The group of aurors just stared. None of them seemed to have wanted to arrest the Savior of the Wizarding World, now they were all a little terrified and confused. Scrimgeour turned red in fury, but there was absolutely nothing he could do. "I must forward this on to our minister."

"Of course, though I recommend delivering it to him in person," Minister Joseph smiled deviously. "He's not very good at opening his mail, as we have all seen from past events."

"Excuse us, we have an appointment at the bank," Sirius grinned with an arm around Harry and flanked on both sides by dementors. "Make a path please," he strode forward unconcernedly for if the aurors were going to move or not.

September 1st rolled around with Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood sitting in a compartment that already included Draco, Neville, Ron, and Hermione. "You think people are going to be ok with a dementor being in the school?" Harry asked his friends. The news had gotten out quickly, as well as the fact that Dumbledore had officially extended an invitation for Harry Potter, official Dementor Ambassador, to finish out his schooling at Hogwarts.

"I'm a little offended I only got a footnote on being an eros," Draco grumbled. "You being a dementor and taking out the Dark Lord just took all my spotlight."

"You got that nice, tear-jerker piece that Skeeter wrote about your mother going to jail and Professor Snape killing your dad," Ron remarked with a smirk.

Neville glared at the redhead, but Draco just laughed to everyone's surprise. "I laugh so I don't have a nervous breakdown," he waved his hand in dismissal. "I have to admit, with Uncle Sev as my new parent and staying with Nev most of the summer, I've never felt so safe in my life though."

Their compartment door was pushed open to reveal the rest of the HSMC standing in the corridor, Hestia in the lead. "Mind if we join?" She asked.

"I'm not so sure you'll fit," Hermione remarked as the creatures all shoved their way in, sitting on the floor, on various other's laps or awkwardly leaning against the door or window.

"Ok, I'm feeling a bit claustrophobic, is there a reason for this?" Draco drawled with a glare to Colin Creevey who was unabashedly sitting on his lap. "I'm not a piece of furniture!"

"We have been talking, and well, Harry and Draco came out to everyone…" Bartholomew started solemnly.

"While Brook and I are still upset no one told us what was going on," David muttered.

"You weren't reachable," Luna raised an eyebrow. "It's not our fault dryads and naiads live in another realm, or rather heavily warded pockets of magic."

"Mum wouldn't let me go," Aceline grumbled.

"As she shouldn't, you're twelve," Hestia glared at the girl. "Now, back to the subject, since Harry and Draco are now known, we were thinking it might be time for the rest of us to come out of the shadows. The Death Eaters have been taken down, and why did we all fight to save our world if we still have to hide?"

"I was only fighting for Draco and Neville," Kara raised her hand. "But, yeah, I get it. I'm fine with everyone knowing I'm a Valkyrie, but we don't have as much prejudice as some of you guys."

"Like us," Aurora nodded. "Most of Aurelius and my housemates already know we're half-werewolves though."

"Graham and Matthew both sent their support when I talked to them this summer," Hestia added on. "If they hadn't graduated, they said they'd be coming out to the school too. Honestly, Matthew has already just started telling people. He got a job in Hogsmeade to be closer to Sinistra."

"So, what does coming out mean? What would that look like?" Hermione asked, interested even if she wasn't a part of this.

"Glamours down?" Aceline asked the rest. "I'd really like to keep my wings out. It's really bloody uncomfortable to keep them tucked in all the time."

"That would actually be nice," Draco nodded, shoving Colin off him and onto Neville's lap.

"I really hate having to keep a glamour up over my entire skin," Neville added on in agreement as he huffed under the added weight.

"Wait…Neville's a creature too!" Ron stuttered. It seemed he'd just caught on that everyone was a type of creature in the compartment besides him and Hermione.

"Yes, dear, I am too," Luna patted his head.

"Well…of course you are," Ron rolled his eyes at her. "But besides deciding for some insane reason to date Malfoy of all people, Neville's just so normal."

"And we aren't?" Dennis Creevey smirked at his housemate.

"Bloody hell, you all are, aren't you?" He gulped.

"What did you think this meeting was about, Weasel?" Draco rolled his eyes and threw his hands in the air.

"Well, you know Albus would be in support," Harry grinned at his expanded group of friends…his family. "Plus, since Sirius was hired on as the new DADA professor and Sinistra is there, we have quite a bit of support. Also, I'm pretty sure they're going to be freaked out the most with me, so you have that added advantage as well."

"Don't forget Professor Flitwick," Luna added. "He taught Remedial Charms before Severus took over."

"Yes, so it's probably the safest for us now before we get out of school into the real world. Then, we work for change," Brook explained. Hermione was already looking like she was going to corner the other girl to come up with a social justice campaign.

"So…are we really doing this?" Colin asked the group. "We're just going to tell people?"

"Sure, what the hell?" Eir shrugged and smiled at them with her razor-sharp teeth and golden eyes.

Professors Snape, Sinistra, Pomfrey, and Flitwick were all standing outside the castle as the still glamoured HSMC members approached the doors. They'd sent a letter with Hedwig on ahead of them to prepare their faculty advisor who must have spread the word a bit. "Are you all sure about this?" Snape looked at the assembled group as the rest of the students walked past them into the castle, looking questioningly at the odd group from all houses and years.

"What's winning a war good for unless things change," Neville told him seriously. "There needs to be a day when Hogwarts no longer has remedial classes…unless they're actually teaching lessons that is…and instead has a creature meet and greet group or a bowling club or something."

"I'm very proud of you all," Flitwick was bouncing in excitement. "This day has been a long time coming."

"Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, what are you doing in this group?" Madam Pomfrey crossed her arms and glared at the two hiding behind Harry.

"Er, emotional support, ma'am," Ron grinned at her.

"I'm walking in with them too," Professor Sinistra stood taller and looped an arm through Snape's. "You coming?"

"Of course. If they are going to do something so foolish and sentimental, then their faculty advisor should be in the group as well," Snape smirked as his fangs lowered and his eyes took on a slight red shine. "If we do this…let's do this right."

The HSMC stood alone outside the castle and all lowered their glamours with wings stretching and eyes starting to glow. Harry huffed. "I guess I'm still stuck in Jamie."

"It's the thought that counts," Luna kissed his cheek, fluttering her glittering wings.

"Yeah, I'm with you Harry, I don't think I'll fit through the door in my creature form," Hestia shrugged. Her eyes had taken on a distinct avian quality, but she remained in her human form.

"Hey, Draco, you think you could flutter your little fluffy wings and throw out some love and good feelings while we walk in?" Harry asked his Slytherin friend who snapped a wing around to cuff him in the back of the head.

"Shut it Potter, and try not to eat anyone this year," Draco smirked back as he opened the door for everyone to walk though.

"Ah, it looks like the Hogwarts Society of Magical Creatures have decided to join us!" Dumbledore laughed out in full twinkle mode as the group walked into the stunned silence of the student body in the Great Hall. "Now, reminders, Mr. Filch has a new list of banned items, posted on his door for those of you inclined to take a look. Next, the forbidden forest is strictly forbidden unless you're a creature more dangerous than a werewolf. Professor Lupin, who has graciously returned to help out Professor Black for the year while he continues to heal, will be more than willing to spar with anyone who thinks they might fit in that category. Lastly, no magic in the corridors between classes…"

Epilogue:

It was not a smooth transition for the HSMC members as they did encounter quite a lot of prejudice and hate after being introduced to the school. They supported each other though, and saw each other through, bringing about real change, or at least acceptance from many by the end of the year. A harpy was even added to the group from the first years and another vampire from Aceline's year as the term progressed.

By the time Harry graduated Hogwarts, past members of the HSMC were starting to speak up and come out of the shadows with Madam Bones being their loudest proponent when she stepped forward as an aswang. Harry, Sirius, Neville, and Draco all eventually took up their seats on the Wizengamut and the tables slowly started turning in favor of creatures. As a diplomat, Harry had been concerned his seats would no longer be available to him, but after much research conducted by Hermione, she assured him that as a Potter, no one could legally keep him from them.

Almost the second he was declared innocent, Sirius Black bought a small cottage for himself on the outskirts of Hogsmeade that got lots of sun and had a huge yard for Moony on full moon nights. He enthusiastically gave Grimmauld Place to Harry and Luna. The two compromised on Luna decorating all the top floors with Harry and Kreacher taking the kitchen and the basement to do with as they wanted. Everyone, non-dementor, refused to ever enter the basement after that.

A couple years after she graduated, Harry finally figured out how to buy a very shiny ring and hand it over to Luna without taking it back, and the wedding was the event of the year. It was just how they'd planned it when they were fifteen, down to Severus Snape singing (he was surprisingly good) with Neville and Draco providing the harmony (payback because Drake decided to stand up and sing at their wedding and gave everyone a headache). Sirius never did leave Snape alone, insisting they were best friends now until the day they died.

Harry and Luna eventually had two kids, Lily Selene and Albus Xenophilius. It was lucky that Luna had developed a spell to understand the dementor language since both kids were able to speak it, understand it, and could ghost through walls and turn invisible, in addition to their fairy wings. They kept Harry and Luna, and the entire HSMC family of babysitters busy just looking for them most days. No one really understood how this had happened since technically Jamie would be their father…but Harry and Luna were over the moon about it regardless.

So, in addition to the normal creatures now openly attending Hogwarts, Headmaster Snape, who took over after Dumbledore then McGonagall retired, had a student body that included dementor-fairies, eros-elves, free house elves, and an extra-large gargoyle that had feathers. He complained every single Sunday when he visited Grimmauld Place for Sunday dinner, flooing in with Sirius and Remus in tow. They all knew, it was how he'd always hoped Hogwarts would be though…dementor-fairies and all.

One such Sunday, Harry looked on at his family from where he was hovering in the corner, tattered robes flowing behind him. Sirius was, not very sneakily, tying Jamie's shoelaces together where he was napping on the couch so Harry would trip later. Snape was in a discussion with Hermione over a new creature legislation she was working on. Ron and Draco were playing chess while a group of the kids tried to give helpful suggestions that were really quite terrible. Luna and Neville were trying to figure out what was wrong with the houseplant that Harry had accidentally killed just by walking by it. And Remus and Tonks were bandaging a scrape on their son, Teddy's, knee from where he'd tripped while playing with his friends. He opened the letter he had been reading again. The dementors wanted his family to visit the prison during summer vacation since they missed him and wanted to spoil their collective grandkids rotten. Everything wasn't perfect, they still had struggles, but like in school, they all had each other. More than ever, Harry was certain that getting his soul sucked out of his body had been the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Chapter Text

Albus was tucked into Severus's couch under the large, fluffy blanket Harry preferred when he was in the chambers. He took another bite of his chocolate bar and sighed deeply. He now had much more respect for the dementors and more sympathy for their prisoners than he ever had before after his disastrous adventure with Harry to Little Hangleton. The man dramatically jumped when a house elf popped in suddenly. "Winky sends Dobby with hot chocolate for Headmaster Dumblydore," Dobby said, holding out a steaming mug.

"Ah, thank you, Dobby," Albus took the mug with a weak smile. "Thank Winky for me too."

"Winky says Dumblydore did this to hisself and Dobby should gives him no sympathy," the elf frowned at him. "Dumblydore seems sad though."

"Just emotionally tired. Winky is correct though. I made a mistake, and Harry had to give my soul a bit of a shake," he explained to the elf with a chuckle at Winky's conclusions.

"Come on Snape…just answer the question," Sirius was pestering the man as they both re-entered the sitting room from Severus's potions lab.

"No, I will not play your childish game. Drink this Albus," the potion master handed a vial of calming draught to his employer.

"I already drank one of these," Dumbledore wrinkled his nose at the foul-tasting potion.

"Yes, and you need another one. The mutt obviously needs one as well," he sneered at his companion. "Maybe we should start a muggle IV of calming draught for him though."

"Spoil-sport," Sirius frowned before turning to the new addition in the room. "Make him play with me, Dobby. He's so up-tight."

"What's the dog-man playing?" Dobby smiled between them indulgently.

"Shag, marry, kill," Sirius jumped up and down excitedly. "He has to answer for Hagrid, McGonagall, and Filch."

"I've never heard of this game before," Dumbledore quickly downed the potion and chased it with a large sip of hot chocolate. "You are supposed to be keeping an eye on me…maybe playing a game will pass the time a bit? What are the rules, Sirius, my boy?"

"It's in the name of the game, Albus," Snape turned his sneer on the rest of the room now. "Black is an imbecile and more childish than the first-years I teach."

"Ooo, sounds fun!" Dobby clapped his hands and sat beside Dumbledore on the couch. "Pleeease…call it Dobby's bachelor party!"

"What? Yes?! You have to do it now!" Sirius crowed and immediately raided Snape's liquor cabinet. "This calls for drinks all around. Tequila for Albus since it isn't a downer and Scotch for the rest of us."

"Do not open the good bottle from Minerva, Black! Grab the one that's already been opened," Snape sighed and gave in, knowing he wasn't going to win now that Dumbledore was already asking the elf about his wedding plans.

"Dobby, might there happen to be margarita mix in the kitchen?" Sirius held up the tequila questioningly.

With a snap of his fingers, a pitcher of margarita mix and a bowl of ice were sitting on Snape's cluttered coffee table.

"Dobby...why was there margarita mix in the kitchens?" The Potion Professor looked at the elf suspiciously.

"Professors Vector and Sprout," the elf shrugged as if that answered the question. Snape supposed that it probably did.

"Brilliant!" Albus laughed. "Severus…the question…?"

"Fine!" He exasperatedly rolled his eyes. "Shag Minerva…I bet she knows some things…" He trailed off and everyone nodded, Dobby turning pink at the thought.

"Marry Hagrid," Snape continued causing Sirius to laugh loudly. "He's large enough that he'd keep me supplied with blood for years."

"You aren't supposed to kill the person you marry," Dumbledore choked on his hot chocolate.

"I thought you didn't know the rules?" Snape raised an eyebrow at him, sipping the Scotch Black handed to him.

"Well…" Dumbledore turned red.

"Plus, I never said I'd kill him…for a long time anyway," Snape smirked at his former employer. "And…definitely kill Filch. I'm certain that man is part demon or something."

Sirius was cackling as he handed Dumbledore a margarita and Dobby one minus the tequila. "Right, so Dobby…shag, marry, kill…Winky, Kreacher, and Flitwick," he winked at the elf.

"Is it offensive that you only gave Dobby creatures or part-creatures?" Dumbledore asked in all seriousness.

Dobby shrugged. "Dobby isn't offended…but Dobby has to say he'd marry Winky…" he smirked at them. "Er…shag Flitwick and kill Kreacher…for obvious reasons."

"Ah, so you have met the Black house elf," Sirius laughed and plopped on the empty armchair with his large margarita.

Dobby wrinkled his nose. "Dobby doesn't think Kreacher is very pleasant…Winky seems to get along with him though…"

"Of course, she does," Snape nodded, pouring himself a second glass. "Albus, your turn…The Dark Lord, Grindlewald, and…"

"Ooo, Umbridge!" Dobby added in with a laugh.

Dumbledore looked disgusted at the entire list. "You aren't going easy on me are you…?"

"You have to answer," Sirius laughed and conjured little umbrellas to plop in all four of their drinks. Surprisingly, besides a sneer, Snape left the umbrella in his Scotch.

"Right, well, I already had a relationship with Gellert…"

"What?!" The other three men exclaimed in surprise.

"Well, it wasn't a secret, just not something I spread around," the elderly man shrugged. "So, I'll shag Gellert, he was quite good…"

"My ears! I need to curse off my ears!" Sirius exclaimed dramatically.

"I'll marry Tom to give myself more time and access to find a way to kill him," Dumbledore nodded. "If Severus can break that rule, then I can too."

"Approved," Snape nodded and gave him a little toast with his glass.

"And…I'll gladly kill Umbridge, though I suspect she's probably already dead…not that I know anything about that, mind you," he added on quickly at the end.

"Dobby knows nothing either," the house elf quickly took a sip of his drink in a very suspicious way that the men kindly ignored.

"Right, Sirius…" Dumbledore smiled teasingly. "James, Remus, and Peter…"

"That's too easy, Albus. I could answer that one for him," Snape protested, getting into the game on his third glass of Scotch now.

"Really…what was my answer then?" Sirius raised an interested eyebrow at the man.

"Obviously, you would kill Pettigrew enthusiastically. You'd shag Lupin…I'm not even going to think about in what form…and you'd marry the elder Potter," he said dismissively.

"Huh…yeah, I guess he could answer for me," the animagus gave a laugh and a shrug.

"Ooo, Dobby knows!" The elf raised his hand excitedly. Honestly, if they didn't know that Dobby's drink didn't contain alcohol, they'd really think about cutting him off. "Mad-Eye Moody, Lucius Malfoy, and Bellatrix Lestrange!"

Sirius grimaced. "Well, Bellatrix is my cousin…and entirely insane…so, I'll definitely kill her."

"Excellent choice," Snape gave him a little toast at that, the pink umbrella in his glass wildly swirling around.

"I really don't think I have a good choice with the other two though," Sirius shuddered and poured himself another margarita. "I guess shag Lucius and marry Mad-Eye. You know Lucy would be trying to kill me the whole time…so, it might be fun."

"You are seriously disturbed," Snape snorted.

"I Sirius-ly am," he said, somehow conveying the spelling in his tone.

"Right, gentlemen," Dumbledore struggled out the blanket he'd been wrapped in. "This is a bachelor party…we need to do this right!"

"More alcohol?!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Strippers?" Snape asked with a disgusted look on his face. "I don't think you should leave the school in your current condition…plus, no."

"Yeah, Winky wouldn't approve," Dobby nodded quickly.

"No, definitely not," Dumbledore sighed and poured himself another margarita. "I think if the four of us put our heads together, we could find something fun to do though."

Harry Potter stopped by Snape's quarters early the next morning to check on Albus. He opened the portrait and stepped through to find Winky grumbling as she cleaned glitter off the floor around four prone forms. Dobby was the only one that was lying on a piece of furniture, even if he was sleeping on the small kitchen table and seemed to have neon green paint splattered across his normally white toga. Harry almost didn't recognize Snape where he was asleep half-way under the coffee table since it seemed the glitter was originating from his no-longer black robes that now looked like something Dumbledore would wear.

Dumbledore himself was curled up in a ball and hugging his beard, softly humming in his sleep over by the unlit fireplace. He looked remarkably clean in relation to the other men. Sirius was somehow wet from head to toe, and Harry really hoped it was water. His head was propped on Snape's leg, and the glitter had rubbed into his hair making it look like he'd been to a rave.

"Do I even want to know?" Harry asked Winky with a slow shake of his head in disbelief. He'd gone hunting in the Forbidden Forest with Hedwig the night before, and he was certain he must have missed out on one hell of a party.

"No," she said with absolute certainty. "Headmaster Scrimgeour is definitely not wanting to goes in his office this morning though…and the portraits in there are already complaining that they's be scarred for life."

"Do you need help cleaning up before the headmaster wakes up then?" Harry offered with a chuckle at what he could only imagine they must have done to the office.

"Why's would I clean it up?" Winky raised an eyebrow and smirked at the teen. "They worked so hard on it."

"But the High Inquisitor…?" Harry cut off when Winky rolled her eyes at him and went back to cleaning up the glitter. "Well, you could just leave this for them to handle themselves then too," he laughed and motioned to the glitter and paint and (hopefully) water. He internally promised to get Winky something really good for her wedding gift.

She stopped and looked around the room contemplatively. "It coulds be another bonding experience…"

"That is very true," Harry nodded with a smirk. Personally, he thought that the men really should clean up after themselves if they all had gotten drunk and pranked the High Inquisitor as it definitely looked like they'd done.

"Right," Winky dropped the trash bag in her hand and instead took Harry's hand to walk out with him.

Once they were out in the corridor, she snapped her fingers. "There they's can't leave until the room's clean now."

Harry laughed. "Well, hopefully Snape doesn't have any early classes today."

"Hmm, we's should go talk to Mistress Minny…no student should have to deals with a hungover vampire on a Monday," she said sagely and led a still laughing dementor by the hand down the hallway.