October 26, 1944
Sunday Afternoon
"Hi Harry!" Sarah greeted enthusiastically when he sat down at her table.
"Hey Sarah," He returned just as warmly as he withdrew a couple of books from his satchel. "I hope you don't mind if I join you, figured it's been awhile since we've spent any real time together."
Sarah shook her head and motioned towards the chair beside hers. "You could've sat here if you wanted, and you're right, it's definitely been too long since we studied or did anything together. It's not surprising though, not with you being a Prefect and your girlfriend being Head Girl. I'm surprised you were able to escape at all - Slughorn's notoriously hard on his Prefects."
Harry had to hide a snicker at her words, for Slughorn had told him along with the rest of his Prefects to say exactly that. He wanted the lot of them to complain loudly and as often as they could without coming off as suspicious. When Harry asked why, Slughorn said that; while my festivities with the well-performing students are known and not entirely encouraged, they're allowed to continue, any leniency on Prefects however, wouldn't be.
Truthfully, Harry could see it. Small bits of nepotism weren't that horrible in the grand scheme of things, but Prefects did need to be a bit more distanced from the Professor. They weren't, but the illusion that they weren't receiving additional perks on top of what they were given by having the role and being a part of the Slug Club was necessary lest anybody raise their voices too much.
"Thinking about that first detention of yours?" Sarah asked with a teasing lilt to her voice as she poked his face.
Oh, right, I had a 'detention' with Slughorn a few days ago, Harry thought.
"Yeah, it's the first one I've served so far. I guess Marcus and Veronica are a bit of a bad influence on me, huh?" Harry said his question jokingly, but Sarah agreed with a few nods nonetheless.
"I'd say so. Those two had their twelfth of the year today, I still can't believe how they haven't been expelled. Suppose it pays to be a Potter or a friend of theirs," Sarah nudged him and then looked towards where a small group of Slytherins, Corene included, were making their exit from the library. "Kinda like how it pays to know Corene and those other friends of yours."
Harry scoffed. "I only get an occasional cup of tea as my privilege of knowing Corene. I'm sure she'd do the same for you too, but before we get too far off topic or into our studying, I was hoping to ask you something."
Sarah shrugged and cocked her head in waiting.
"Have you heard from your parents since the invasion? Or that Uncle Giannis of yours?" Harry asked after a single second of hesitation.
"My parents send me a couple of letters a week with a rotating schedule of owls, they're that worried about us here at Hogwarts. It's like they think Grindelwalds going to leave his forces to die and single out Hogwarts with the meager people he'd left in reserve," Sarah laughed and shook her head, a few long trestles of her hair getting in the way of her face as she continued. "Uncle Giannis writes to me much faster too, he says he's currently on the Isle of Man for some reason, so I usually have four letters or so with him weekly. He's still interested in you, especially if you've given his offer any consideration once the war's over - speaking of that, he's guessing by the end of the next few months one side or the other will win."
Harry very much doubted that, but he wouldn't say as much. Instead, he smiled, shrugged and peeled open one of the less-important books he'd gotten from the restricted section. It wouldn't compare to Slytherin's study or the quality of the books within the place; he still needed to visit it more frequently than he was if he wanted to catch up even remotely to Elaine. Still, at least it was something he could progress in whilst others could see him.
"I don't know about that," Harry said neutrally, not committing to anything. "Grindelwald's forces are encircled and only supplied by those Muggle planes, but they're still dangerous until they starve. Even once they fall they still need to clear out the continent. If you'd want to, you could tell Giannis that I still haven't made up my mind too. He can blame that on my inability to commit to something until I'm actually out of Hogwarts."
When he finished speaking, especially after those final few words, Harry laughed in hopes that it'd lighten up the mood following conversation about the Muggle wars that'd spilled over into the Magical world. Giannis' prediction felt weird and gave Harry another bit of insight about the man, but it wasn't anything too concrete, not like that weird anti-Muggle vibe he gave off when they'd been at the Goldhorn residence.
"Oh you're fine," Sarah assured him with a laugh that matched his own. "Giannis knows it'd be too quick for an answer, he's just as impatient as Kathy and the rest of my siblings sans Sammi. You've seen him and how he acts, he really could pass for a Goldhorn. Now, about that studying… think you could help me with Defense?"
Harry laughed and nodded as he pulled himself closer to her, those last words about Giannis' impatience another note he'd take about the man.
Sarah's wand did a half-circle, then a short jab, then a cut to the right. The incantation of the spell he was teaching came loudly from her lips following the motion, and finally, after hours of the two retiring to a private room so that they could practise the spell, she'd semi - succeeded . Semi meaning that a spell fired from her wand, though it was weak looking and fizzled out after shooting half a dozen meters, but that was better progress than either of them had hoped to achieve in one lesson.
Who would've thought I'd be teaching Defense again?
Harry had to admit, the role of teaching something that he was intimately acquainted with, especially after all the learning he'd done in this time, was very relaxing. Sure, he'd never be a Professor of anything, but Merlin, he was good at helping his friends learn how to cast some combative magic.
"I did it! We did it!" Sarah cheered, jumping up and down on the balls of her feet before launching herself at him for a hug.
"We did it," Harry echoed as he wrapped his arms around her for the few seconds that she embraced him.
When the girl pulled back, an excited, happy and very beautiful smile on her face, she spoke again whilst maintaining eye contact. "Thank you so much Harry, you have no idea how much time you've just saved me. I'm not lying or exaggerating either, Defense is my achilles-heel more than anything else… well, except for talking."
"I don't think that last bit is all that bad. It makes up for people like me who're naturally quiet, yeah?" Harry laughed and separated himself an extra foot from Sarah, the closeness a bit too intimate for his liking. "I'm glad to help too. That's what friends are for, isn't that right?"
Sarah nodded emphatically, a goofy, dimpled smile on her face. "That's right."
"Wicked," He said, Sarah's infectious smile now spreading to his face as he began packing up his satchel. "We'll have to do another lesson sometime soon too, can't have you falling behind the likes of Malfoy or Marcus."
"Nope, we can't have that. Marcus and Veronica wouldn't ever let me hear the end of it," Sarah huffed.
Packed up now, the pair of them left the classroom and began the great march towards the Great Hall. It was a good few flights of stairs down, maybe two dozen twists and turns away, but all things considered they could've been further. There wasn't any cause of concern or awkwardness either, he was with Sarah, after all.
As if on cue too, the girl spoke and killed the silence that'd stretched on for a few seconds at the most.
"I forgot to mention it earlier too, but my parents were wondering what you'd do this Yule. If you don't have any plans yet, you're more than welcome to spend it with us again - sorry for forgetting too, the stress of not being able to perform that spell was really getting to me," Sarah messed with her hair in a way that Harry knew to be an awkward mannerism.
It was weird since it was rare for the girl to do just that, but he figured that visiting her family for Yule was a bit important. At least more than he would've thought it'd be, all things considered.
"I could probably spend a couple of days with your family again," He said as they descended their first flight of stairs.
Sarah beamed at him. "I'm glad."
October 27, 1944
Monday Morning
Harry marked off 'spend time with Sarah' in his journal before he closed the little notebook and rolled out of bed. It was a bit crude, he figured, to keep notes and reminders in something that had no real protection, but it wasn't like there was anything overly important in the damned thing. At least nothing like Yaxley's with spells and information.
Really, all he used it for was the scheduling potential it had - speaking of exactly that, he needed to make time for Corene and Marcus today, in addition to the daily activity that was spending time with Elaine. There wouldn't be any day that he'd get out of that lattermost fun. Not if Elaine had anything to say about it, and in all honesty, spending time with her had become more beneficial as of late than it had normally been.
Not only did he get to learn magic from her, improve his knowledge on the… darker fields thanks to her expertise and make use of her contacts, but now, he would get the same reports that she did in the event that something happened. Last night in the common room with their typical privacy charms raised was a perfect example of just that.
It'd been him, Elaine and Corene with Emilene coming and going. Right when the trio - at the time - had been about to make their way towards their beds, Corene's elf had popped in to update them all on news of the front. Again, it was Corene's fathers way of keeping his daughter safe, but as always with her family's perks, it wasn't solely her who benefitted from it.
'Miss Corene,' the creature had said. 'Master Carrow has something he wants you to be knowing.'
Corene had prompted the elf with a polite motion of her hand, then, her tea-server turned informant spoke.
'Master Carrow wanted me to be informing you that the enemies were broken in half at the cost of many. The Master Carrow doesn't think they'll last more than a month or two now that they're separated."
That was all the house-elf said before popping away too, but it was enough to know that the threat hanging over them seemed to be coming to its rightly deserved and, in Harry's opinion, premature ending. It was good, really good, but it seemed like too much of a waste for Grindelwald to do.
Then again, when had any Dark Lord been wholly sane or without their own incompetencies? For all Harry knew, Grindelwald could be a risk-taker who'd finally miscalculated to disastrous effects. At the same time, there was a tiny voice in the back of his head saying that there was a reason for the waste of so many lives, but that could simply be his mind trying to explain the chaos and recklessness of one horrible man's actions.
Regardless, it was enough for Harry to want to spend more time with Corene again, and soon. He would've done so anyways considering how close they'd gotten, but any meeting or time together had definitely moved up on his list of priorities.
"Still laying in bed old boy?" Aster asked, Harry's privacy charm already cancelled but his bed curtains still closed.
"Nah mate," Harry responded, peeking his head around the side of the bed. "Was doing some light reading before I got up and moving, figured it was early enough to get a little burst of studying in while I had the drive. Trust I didn't miss anything?"
Aster shook his head. "Nothin, absolutely nothing. Bit bland, really. Would've figured Grindelwald would've made his move by now but there's still nothing - I think Elaine was looking for you, by the way. That or she was waiting to surprise you with something, she's right outside the boys' dorm entrance."
Harry laughed. "You sure you're supposed to be telling me that?"
"Probably not, but I know you won't rat me out. Best get going though, before she comes up after you," Aster said, a grin on his face as he bowed towards the door.
With a roll of his eyes, Harry changed his clothing exceedingly quickly and moved towards the exit. He didn't need to linger, not when his future wife and occasional crazy lover when she was in one of her moods was waiting for him. Thus, Harry found his legs moving just as fast as he'd dressed until he stood directly next to the entrance and exit of the boys' wing.
Right before he decided to step out and whilst he was assuring himself that he didn't look horrible, a hand reached through. It was cold - Elaine cold - and with the familiar softness as well as a ring, he knew it belonged to who he thought it did.
"Impatient?" He said with a grin as he allowed himself to be pulled out of the boys' dorms and into the common room at large.
"You slept in," Elaine said simply, her grip not lightening as she began pulling him towards their usual seats with Corene and Emilene already waiting.
He shook his head while the two of them were still on their way to join the other pair. "I didn't sleep in, you just made the time we're supposed to meet earlier. What happened, anyways, 'cause last I heard everything was well and quiet?"
Elaine didn't turn as she gave him his answer, her hand tightening further around his. "An unsavoury rumour reached my ears in the early hours of the morning, and thanks to that, I decided a meeting with those closest to me was necessary. Daphne's already aware, thanks to her position as a Professor and the… help, it grants me."
With those words coming to a close, the happy couple were finally in front of Corene and Emilene; neither girl stood up from their seat, and neither said anything until he and Elaine were seated themselves. Only when Harry was comfortable after a couple of movements and Elaine's hand slackened ever so slightly, did the conversation begin.
"Corene, were you able to find substance in the accusations regarding Walburga, her cousin-husband to be or Grindelwalds plans?" Elaine asked after a wave of her hand and a muttering of words, ones that Harry recognised to be a privacy charm that she was ever so adept with.
Corene nodded as she picked at her nails, not bothering with eye contact when she spoke. "The Black's as a family have not committed to Grindelwald's cause anymore than they've done so with any other in the past few centuries. Chalk it up to their willingness to fight so long as it's only for family or guaranteed victory. Walburga, on the other hand, could very well be within Grindelwald's camp."
Emilene piped in then, one of her tiny hands raising a pointer figure as she did so. "Walburga's family is believed to be unaware of any actions or plans she's drawn up with Grindelwald, if any exist in the first place. As for whatever his name is, that cousin-husband as you'd said, Elaine, we've not heard anything. "
Again, Corene nodded, her face as bland as ever as she gave her report. "Walburga's shrinking circle of friends has much to do with our lack of success. Should she have more allies, and as a result, more comfort in Hogwarts, I'm sure we could learn more about whatever it is you're so convinced she's doing."
"Walburga Black has moved against us in the past regardless of any positions held as friends or distant family," Elaine said, her hand once more tightening around Harry's. "With how often she used to attend our weekly gatherings and dealings, I'm very aware of her mannerisms. She's aware of something, and it'll be our job going forward to discover what the theoretical, near factual happening is - Grindelwald too, I would hear of it if there was news regarding him."
Ever since Harry had made his dislike and plans to oppose the Dark Lord clear to Elaine, she'd been almost eager to hear about the man. Any and all information, regardless of how minute or stupid it seemed, was delivered to her directly by Corene, Emilene, or Daphne. When he looked closer at her, he picked up on a touch of anger or some other negative emotion within her eyes.
Based on the knowing, appraising look Elaine shot up, she'd felt him pick up on whatever that was too.
Merlin, he hoped he didn't accidentally read her emotions. The pain and hell would be unimaginable if he had. Especially after he'd complained about her doing something similar earlier on in the year.
"Grindelwald was spotted in four different towns, all of which in different countries. I wouldn't put stock into any of the alleged sightings, however, as all four were found to be reported by the local riff raff. Truthfully, as far as the Ministry is concerned, they believe him to be on the Eastern Front with how stalled the progress is - those Russian wizards and witches could certainly cause him some grief despite the culling that happened a few decades ago," Corene finished, an unconcerned and borderline exhausted look on her face before the latter vanished.
In its place when Harry looked again, was the typical expressionless visage that Corene so often wore as a mask; he used the word mask loosely too, since he knew the real girl was pretty similar to what she portrayed too, only cuter and a touch more expressive.
"Where and when?" Elaine questioned nonetheless, the sightings of Grindelwald catching her interest more than anything else that Corene had made mention of.
Corene's eyes darted briefly over to Harry, then Elaine, before finally settling on Emilene. It took a few seconds and a raised eyebrow from Corene, but the lattermost person spoke.
"Belgium, Germany, Holland, and Italy," Emilene listed off, counting on her fingers as she did so. "All of them were on the same day and within one hour of one another. Either he was using the floo network repeatedly or he apporated all about despite the sheer amount of energy and power that would take. Elaine… I'm, I'm inclined to agree with Corene. I think it was him messing with the Ministry, maybe testing to see where he had people he couldn't trust - haven't we heard before that everybody's spying on everybody at a government level?"
Elaine nodded, her eagerness gone and in its place was a near patronising look. "Yes. Allies and enemies alike are afforded no privacy. Why would either of them be given such a courtesy when the former could easily become the latter and the latter could easily become something worse than a simple enemy?" Elaine shook her head and leaned into Harry, her fingers toying with his in their still conjoined hands. "Tell me should either of you hear anything regarding Grindelwald, I must have all possible information if I'm to make a plan."
Corene and Emilene nodded, but before either left, Harry spoke up for the first time after taking everything in.
"Wouldn't it be stupid if he attacked Hogwarts? Surely between the three of you, his goal or at least the area of where it is here is known, right?" Harry looked between the three girls then, his curiosity getting the better of him before he leant back in his seat. "It'd be stupid if he did all of this as a mock-up after sending in a scout group that got decimated."
He'd asked the question to other friends of his before, he'd even done so to Elaine in private, but with the other two girls now in their company… Where was the harm in trying one more time?
"If I may, Elaine?" Emilene asked, Corene remaining silent while Elaine's hand tightened itself almost painfully around his own.
"Go," Elaine said, her tone noticeably shorter than it'd previously been.
Emilene dipped her head respectfully and focused her attention solely on Harry. "Grindelwald would and has sacrificed whatever he felt was necessary so long as it furthered his ambitions and that of 'the greater good' of wizarding society. I'm sure the loss of tens of thousands of Muggles doesn't bother him in the slightest, and the loss of a few thousand to twenty-thousand at the most Magicals likely isn't all that hard-hitting to him either. Whatever he's after, be it your family goods or the Ministry's private collection across the ages, he thought the need was bad enough to launch everything he had at our home."
"Still no clue then as to what it is?" Harry asked again, this time lighter and more innocent-sounding as he once more moved his gaze between the girls.
"There are theories, many of them, as to what Grindelwalds goal is," Corene said, earning herself a look from Elaine that clearly showed a sense of displeasure.
"And?" Harry asked, prompting Corene with a motion of his hand as he leaned towards her .
"I don't believe I'm at liberty to say, lest they appear wholly incorrect or worse, I serve as a fearmonger for his forces - should you ask me, those 'sightings' were exactly that, a falsity to continue his mysterious vanishing so that he can keep all fronts occupied to a certain extent. After he wiped out nearly an entire Muggle group of soldiers, thousands I think it was, they've been hesitant to launch an assault with knowledge he's lingering nearby."
"I see… thank you," Harry said, smiling at Corene before he abruptly stood up and took Elaine with him, their hands having been connected since first she'd pulled him. "Breakfast?" He went on to ask all the witches.
Not one declined.
"There was more you wanted to say," Harry said when he closed the door, the witch behind him seated in her comfortable, cosy fireplace seat with a cup of hot chocolate in her hands.
It eerily reminded him of a previous meeting in the same exact room when he'd begun to question their friendship. He still wasn't all that fond with Elaine for doing what she had at the time of that, her actions being the casting of doubt on all relationships he held at that point in time.
"There's much I'd always like to say," Corene said after a sip, a piece of marshmallow stuck to her upper lip. "Like most, I keep my thoughts to myself unless I'm confident in them. It'd be a waste of time and air otherwise, wouldn't you agree?"
Serious Corene only, apparently… I wish she'd have more than two switches, Harry thought as he took the seat beside her, a cup of hot chocolate for him already placed on the table.
"I suppose if it was really pointless or stupid, sure, but I doubt anything you think about is exactly that," Harry countered, taking a drink from his own delicious and chocolately beverage.
"I'll admit that I have the occasional thought that could very well rival Aster in terms of stupidity, I simply choose not to act on my impulses as he does," Corene said snidely as she pulled her legs up to her chest and leaned further back into the chair. "I suppose you'd like me to tell you what I'm thinking now."
Harry nodded and looked at her with a half-smile. "That'd be nice, yeah."
"I can tell you it's anything but nice, whatever his intentions are. Perhaps they'll even make you paranoid, more so than Elaine initially thought you were. You're sure you'd like to hear my theories?" Corene asked one more time.
He nodded. There wasn't anything else he felt like saying.
"Grindelwald is likely after you, Dumbledore or the Minister," Corene said quickly and simply, not sparing him a glance from her hot chocolate.
"Explain?" Harry asked, subtly sticking his tongue out to let it cool after a particularly hot gulp of his drink.
"Grindelwald uses the Peverell crest as his calling card, and with you being a Peverell, I'm sure he's not all that happy with your existence. Aware as he is about you and your 'family', he's likely decided the risk of going after you for the hallows - something he supposedly covets - was worth everything. If not for those items alone, I'm sure the history within your grounds would more than make up his losses. At least in his eyes," Corene finished with a bland look at him, the corners of her lips only barely upward-facing.
"Doesn't sound too bad," Harry said with a shake of his head.
He'd faced worse and won.
Corene shook her head. "I wouldn't think so with Elaine and the rest of us staying over your house this summer should it be called for. It's either that, which would require him finding your home, or he raids Hogwarts with a small enough group that he'd go undetected through the countryside."
"Couldn't he use Polyjuice potion?" Harry questioned.
"If you believe what the headmaster says, there's a ward on the school to detect and remove the effects of that very potion," Corene gave him a knowing look as her voice dropped a decibel. "He could. Elaine's been careful in her perception, however, so I do doubt he'd use it on anybody within our house. Those Goldhorns of yours as well as the others from Gryffindor, on the other hand, are prime suspects. I don't believe visiting them publically whilst outside of Hogwarts would be smart until Grindelwald falls."
Harry nodded. He'd take that advice, the last thing he wanted to do was be the cause for injury to the Goldhorns after all they'd done for him. Marcus would probably be fine, Veronica too considering their families. As for the rest of the crowd, Harry wasn't all that confident in them staying them if Polyjuice was such a threat.
"Do you know where Professor Dumbledore is?" Harry asked when his mind repeated her earlier words regarding her theories; it'd been too long since he'd heard from the man, and longer still since he'd seen him in the flesh.
"He's at Saint Mungo's in a ward for the seriously sick and horribly disturbed. Fret not, he's the former rather than the latter," Corene easily picked up on the concerned look in his eyes as evidenced by her second sentence. When she continued, the proof was in the pudding. "I'm still not sure why you enjoyed learning from him as much as you did. It was obvious to us all how you paid him extra attention and strived for approval during his class more so than you do in all of our other core subjects combined… you're not in the Dumb Club, are you?"
Harry scrunched up his eyebrows. "There's a Dumb Club?"
Corene smiled one of those rare, genuine smiles. Following that, she pointed at him with as close to a victorious look on her face as she'd ever have.
Oh. It wasn't a thing, she… she pranked me. Corene got me.
"You got me," Harry accused.
"Yes, I believe I did," Corene agreed. "In honour of my victory and a rather well done prank, I would hear you answer my thoughts."
Harry shrugged, already having a predetermined response should anybody question why he seemed so invested in the old-looking Dumbledore. "He aided me just like Professor Slughorn did when I first came here - tutoring sessions, tips, cultural changes. I suppose I feel a tad bit beholden to him after that."
Corene nodded once, conveying that she understood where he was coming from. "Professor Dumbledore was friends with Grindelwald. It's an open secret amongst most of those who aren't blind. That's the reason behind my theory of Grindelwald going after him."
"You think Professor Dumbledore knows or learned something vital that Grindelwald didn't want him to?" Harry asked, his chair scooching ever so slightly closer to Corene's.
"It would've had to be something recent for him to do what he has, but truthfully, I do believe my first theory of his targeting you is the closest to the truth as we'll come. Without meaning to scare you, look at it from his perspective. He believes the Peverells hold the key to immortality and powers unknown, he uses your family crest, he's moderately to severely unhinged like all Dark Lords… isn't it a wonderful mixture of horrible circumstances in your direction?" Corene asked.
"I guess it is when you say it like that," He agreed with a sigh.
Dark Lord this, Dark Lord that. I'll never have a time where I'm not being chased by somebody or something, apparently. Thanks a lot, whoever sent me here. Wicked help you are.
"Any plan from Elaine beyond detecting Polyjuice users, or is she waiting for him to blow the walls down?" Harry asked when silence still reigned, genuinely curious and slightly nervous now that Corene had shown him the dots as well as connected them for him.
"Elaine has a plan for nearly every scenario you could think of," Corene said, shaking her head slightly. "No matter how mundane, unlikely or otherwise pointless it would be, she has a plan for it."
"Wha-" Harry had been one word in, not even, when Corene shook her head.
"No 'what abouts' or 'what ifs', Harry. Suffice to say that she's planned numerous contingencies, believe me," Corene then stretched, her body arching like a cat as she finally stood up from the comfortable chair. "I imagine we should be headed to the library now, lest we miss the others - Elaine wouldn't be happy if she found me keeping you to myself."
Harry nodded, thinking much the same, and followed her out of the room.
November 2, 1944
Sunday Afternoon
"We're not leaving this room until we have another practise duel, Harry," Elaine said, her hands on her hips as she stared him down with her superior height and naturally intimidating aura. "You won't improve unless you face me, Daphne or Reinhard - the latter would be your victory too, such is the level of your improvement."
"Happy with it, huh?" Harry asked from his seat, a touch of smugness in his tone despite his lack of drive to fight Elaine.
"You've been my equal in most ways since the day we met. I credit you knowing much the same as to why you didn't throw a fit when I first looked into your mind for the few seconds that I did," Elaine raised her hands as if to calm a beast, such was the level of care she afforded him. "Now, finally, you've begun to narrow the gap in the few differences between us. That inherent magical strength of yours is definitely in your favour too… the strength you can radiate is very enjoyable. "
Harry shook his head and pointed towards the book he was reading from. "Sometimes I think you're the randiest person in the school, then I remember Marcus and those blokes are here. Still, you've gotta give them a run for their Galleons."
Elaine snorted, one of her hands dropping to twirl her wand as she watched him. "Any comparison between myself and Marcus should always go in my favour despite the unfavourable status that comes with what you'd just said. The reason behind it is quite simple too, you. Had it not been for your emergence, I would've stayed on my path of avoiding all romance regardless of the political or economic benefits."
"You're saying that you wanted nobody else? You didn't feel anything for anybody in terms of romance?" Harry asked, a disbelieving tone evident in his voice despite the lack o-
"Lies," Elaine said with a shaking of her head. "We agreed to tell the truth to each other, Harry, even if we hold onto it for a good bit of time before sharing it with one another. You should know better than to think I'd lie, especially regarding our relationship and the feelings you've caused me to have."
He wanted to ask something more, but he shook his head and changed topics; the last thing he needed was a heated snog before a duel, that'd only give Elaine another point in favour of beating him into the ground. Really, she didn't need anymore either.
"You haven't talked to me about the war recently," Harry said, masterfully changing topics if he did say so himself… which he did. "Corene hasn't said much about it either. Has anything changed?"
Elaine took a couple of steps towards him, that flushing of her cheeks and the subtle swipe of her tongue across her bottom lip indicative of lustful feelings. "There's only been minor changes and more false sightings of Grindelwald," she took another step towards him. "Would you like more details, the start of our fight, or a nice, fulfilling, warming snog?"
"Could we do the first, then the last and skip the middle? Just for today, really, I'm exhausted," Harry put on his best pleading look, one that he knew would get to Elaine.
He still enjoyed the lengths she would go to in ensuring he was safe, happy and trained. It may be a bit bothersome at times, bad of him too considering his multiple times he'd used her. At the end of the day, however, he knew she'd used him in political machinations and thus he felt justified.
"Fine," Elaine said, narrowing her eyes at him before she plopped down in his lap, wiggling about until she was comfortable. "Information first, as you said. Then our moment of intimacy for the hour."
"You're asking for an awful lot of kissing today, aren't you?" He asked as his arms came up to wrap around her waist.
Merlin, did he feel more confident around her or what? He couldn't imagine himself doing this months and months ago, nor could he think it possible at the very start of their… relationship.
"Think of it as you making amends to me for excusing yourself from our practise fight this evening. I do believe a couple moments of snogging throughout the day is a wonderful way to make up for it," Elaine said from her happy spot astride him. "As for what it is you wanted to hear, it's quite simple. There were minor changes on the front, a pocket of Grindelwalds forces wiped out, and a secondary invasion near Devon. I believe that about sums it up. Could we have our fun now, or would you like to ask something else of me?"
Harry blinked at Elaine a couple of times. "You didn't tell me that Grindelwald launched a second invasion or that a portion of his followers were dealt with?"
"I didn't think it was all that important," Elaine said with a shrug, already peppering kisses along his jaw.
He sighed and rubbed at his temples. "What else have you held off on then? You have me curious now, I'll admit."
Elaine let out a frustrated noise. "There's no need to worry yourself over him and his, Harry. Grindelwald isn't likely to attack Hogwarts, the rest of his strategies have failed and the man himself has yet to be seen in public for any extended period of time. Should you ask me, which you've not done in some time, I would tell you he's injured or otherwise indisposed."
"Nobody's wounded him though, least not that you've said," Harry replied. "Do you think it's because of Dumbledore? Maybe Grindelwald's scared of him."
"Scared of Professor Dumbledore?" Elaine shook her head with a snide smile. "There's nothing to fear from him, not when he's in Saint Mungo's with an illness they're unsure of how to cure. I don't know much about our old Deputy-Headmaster's condition, but I can tell you that whatever he's suffering from is magical - it's the only explanation."
Harry was happy that her lustful mood had begun to go away with a serious discussion, but he found himself more curious still. "How'd you come to that conclusion?"
"Isn't it obvious? If it went away for some time, which led many to believe he was cured of his ailments, why else would it return? Why couldn't he remove it from his body as he'd previously done? No, Harry, whatever our dear Professor is sick with isn't something a potion or magic can heal. Not unless the curse or what have you is dealt with by those involved," Elaine said with such confidence, such finality, that he didn't think she could be wrong.
She surely didn't believe she was either.
"Alright," Harry said. "I just hope he gets better soon. Merlin knows Professor Dumbledore would be helpful in dealing with anybody who tries to get at Hogwarts."
"Don't forget how strong you and I are when together."
Elaine's reminder was clear, and so too was what they'd have to do should push come to shove.
November 5, 1944
Wednesday Evening
"Where have you been hiding away, mate?" Marcus asked with a friendly smile as he slung an arm around Harry's shoulders, the two boys headed towards the Great Wall with the former's friend group following after them.
"The library," Harry responded. "It's no wonder you haven't seen me."
"Pev's got himself some bite today," Vee said from behind Marcus, the Weasley girl settling beside the Potter boy - of that time - so that she could join the conversation.
Marcus shrugged. "It's fair, I don't think we visit it as often as we really should, all things considered. That won't change, obviously, but it's a good point. Anyhow, Pev old boy, my family and I were thinking… why don't you come over for a day when Yule break comes? Reckon we could have some fun at my place, especially with us being one of your closest living relatives and all."
"Could do, yeah," Harry answered.
At least one of my 'closest' living family relations wants something to do with me. Daphne's family, despite how she'd made it sound, wasn't nearly as interested as she made them out to be. Merlin, they can barely be bothered for a letter a month and inside of those letters is nothing of importance.
"Wicked," Marcus said with a grin, one that was washed away when they entered the Great Hall to find an incredibly sombre, yet anxious mood.
Sarah, ever the bearer of news when Corene was busy with Elaine, quickly came over to the new arrivals. Sammi wasn't with her, nor were her other two younger sisters.
"I'll sit with you guys for a little bit. Please try and be quiet, the Professors asked that of us," Sarah didn't say anything more when she brought the group over to the Gryffindor table. Only once they were all seated did she continue her speaking. "Saint Mungo's got attacked. They still don't know how many people are in the building."
"Was it destroyed?" Marcus immediately asked.
Sarah shook her head. "Somebody set fire to it, fiend fire. It took a good bit of it down, but there's still rubble and caved in hallways that haven't been cleared… Professor Dumbledore hasn't been found. Most of the staff is missing too."
"Grindelwald?" Harry asked, his voice a bit coarse thanks to the level of worry within him that was rapidly rising.
"Nobody knows if he was there, but it most certainly was his followers responsible for the attack. There's no denying that," Sarah turned away from Harry and cast her eyes upon the centre of the table where all the food was. "There were so many wounded Aurors inside, dozens of wounded volunteers and people who'd fought for their homes too. Dozens died."
"Anybody we know?" Vee asked after a few seconds of silence, her question cautious and her face more conflicted than he'd ever seen it before.
Sarah shook her head, but stopped after only a couple times of doing so. "So far, no. I don't know if that'll change," she shook her head again, this time a touch of anger that was very easy to read taking over her visage. "He should've known better than to attack our only real hospital. There were kids and pregnant women inside, the baby booms still going on."
"He doesn't care," Canyon said, joining the conversation as he seated himself beside Marcus.
There was nothing shocking about his choice of seat. Always, Canyon would be near Marcus regardless of what was happening or when it was. If Harry didn't know any better, he'd suspect that Canyon was guarding Marcus similarly to Abraxas and Elaine. Well, similar in the sense of the servant always being near their friend or master, as Harry likened the two relationships to. Really, the only difference was that Elaine didn't need a guard.
"Doesn't make it any better," Sarah said with a huff as she stood up from her seat. "I hope he meets his end soon. I don't care where he is or how it happens, the sooner he's gone, the better off we all are."
That was something Harry could agree with.
Once Grindelwald, the one real threat to peace and prosperity for wizarding kind was gone, Harry could focus all of his attention on Elaine as well as self-improvement. He was already doing the latter relatively often, but with the skill gap between him and her, there weren't enough hours in the day for him to even remotely close the vast expanse that was the distance between them.
"I think it'll happen soon," Marcus said, shrugging when the others turned to look at him. "It has to. Either he dies, gets captured, or the free wizarding world is taken over. I don't much care for that last option, and realistically, it's impossible for him to be everywheres at once. He'll lose eventually, like all the Dark Lords of the past, then everything will be fine again."
Two or three people nodded, but the rest remained silent. Seeing how big Saint Mungo's was both jobwise and patient wise, Harry could understand why nearly every student was poking at their food or otherwise staring off during conversations - most of them likely had a friend or family member who was at the hospital.
"Do you think he went after Dumbledore?" Harry asked Marcus once he gathered his focus again.
It wasn't the greatest time to ask that type of question, but he wanted as many opinions as he could get. Especially if they were from various people and could likely offer different forms of insight.
Marcus shrugged in response to his question. "Don't reckon why he'd do that after all the time they've been apart. I mean sure, the two were mates and maybe more depending on who you listen to back when they were younger, but I don't think Grindelwald would try killing him in cold blood unless they'd really had a falling out," Marcus scratched at his chin and then snapped his fingers after a few seconds had passed. "Maybe Grindelwald wanted to heal Dumbledore or see him before he got any worse. Could also put out as a thought that Dumbledore's joined Grindelwald, but I don't think that'd happen."
"It wouldn't," Vee said with a roll of her eyes, overhearing their conversation and butting into it. "If Professor Dumbledore is still missing after the attack, there's three possibilities. He was taken by Grindelwald's people if not the man himself, there's nothing left of Dumbledore thanks to all the destruction and finally, he escaped or is currently trapped. I'd favour the last one, and with how often I beat you at chess, Marcus, you should agree with me."
Marcus glared at her, then he turned his attention to Harry again. "I don't think we'll ever know what Grindelwald's master plan is, not until it happens. Not a comforting thought, is it?"
Harry shook his head and snorted. "Not really. It doesn't exactly help that I'm stuck here in Hogwarts and can't make any of those Wizengamot sessions. That'd probably be a pretty big help if I could sit in on them."
"Oh, yeah, you got restored. Well, uh, your family did I mean," Marcus scratched the back of his neck in a very Harry-like manner. "Congrats for that, by the way. Completely forgot about it if I'm being honest."
"Smooth," Veronica said with a giggle. "If it's any consolation, Harry, me and my family actually have a gift that we'll be presenting to you when you attend your first meeting. My dad isn't exactly on the Wizengamot, they don't much care for us Weasleys, but you're still a friend of ours - helps that we work in the Ministry too, I s'pose."
Marcus scoffed. "I keep telling you that my father could sponsor a bill for your family to get a seat in the Wizengamot. You should tell your family to accept it, I'm sure Pev would second it once you make your request known."
"I would," Harry said impulsively, repercussions be damned as he looked at the Weasley girl that seemed a mixture of Ron and Ginny.
An argument could be made that these Weasley's weren't the same as the ones he knew, but to him, a Weasley was a Weasley. What you saw with them is what you got, and while most would laugh that it wasn't much, he knew better. They deserved better too. If he could help them with their business and some prestige, he'd do it without a second thought.
"Really?" Veronica asked, her usually stubborn, playful or otherwise miscreant personality traits vanishing to make way for astonishment as she looked at him. "I hope you know that's not something small. Sponsoring and seconding a bill for a new Wizengamot seat is practically like marrying a Lord's daughter back centuries ago - you sure you'd want the Peverells to be linked to the Weasleys?"
Marcus' face and eyes were directly on Harry. Canyon and a few of the others close by were watching him intently too. He knew this moment would have repercussions later, especially if he backed out, but that second bit wasn't likely to happen.
The Weasley's deserved a better life.
"I don't see why that'd be a bad thing," Harry said with a smile and shrug, lightening the mood of those close to him despite the events that had happened. "You've been a good friend so far, and really, I don't have too many of those with how many people want me for my name alone."
"You haven't even met my family," Veronica pointed out, her tone back to that slightly bratty and aggressive nature of hers.
"I've heard a lot about them from multiple sources, dozens even. I can honestly tell you that your family and the Goldhorns seem like the nicest of them all - no offence, Marcus," Harry said with a grin to the Potter boy beside him. "Your family was wicked too."
Marcus shrugged. "The Weasleys are wickeder."
Harry and a few of the other kids nearby laughed at Marcus' simple, stupid phrasing.
It wasn't the way he'd thought this day would go, and with all the recent happenings, especially the Saint Mungo's one, he reckoned he deserved a break at mealtime. He knew there wouldn't be all that many going forward.