"So she got sponsorship?" sniffed Lydia.
"That's our plan B." Neville said. "If we don't get a wizarding primary school system, then more families sponsoring muggleborns would be the way to go."
Harry smiled his thanks at Neville for turning the conversation back to the muggleborn discussion.
"Does it really make that much of a difference?" Michael asked, genuine interest colouring his words.
Harry nodded. "Hermione's parents said that they didn't know what to ask when Professor McGonagall turned up. They're very happy since Andy has been sponsoring Hermione because they have someone they can talk to and who will help them understand things."
"My Gran is thinking of sponsoring a muggleborn now. If all the houses did it…" Neville said.
"Yes, but sponsorship is a serious business." Albert remarked. "There is a commitment involved. Not every House is as well-placed to offer sanctuary and protection as the Houses of Black, Potter and Longbottom."
"Maybe not." Neville countered. "But we could time limit the sponsorship to the school years or even simply their introductory year."
"I think it's a good idea." Hannah said. "I might ask Dad to look into it. Mum would go for it for sure."
"I agree," Jeremy said, "I think it's a splendid idea."
"Count me in." Alicia said enthusiastically.
"Speaking of life debts," Michael threw a look towards Bill, "is there another one to be announced?"
Harry looked at Bill seeking his permission.
Bill cleared his throat. "You're right, Corner. I'm sworn to serve the House of Potter to repay the life debt between Harry and my sister."
"So that story of you saving Ginny Weasley in the Chamber of Secrets is true?" Jeremy whistled.
"She's my best mate's sister!" Harry said quickly. "I'm sure any of you would have done the same."
"I think it was terribly heroic!" Lydia said on cue.
Harry smiled tightly.
"When you think about it we all owe you a life debt." Michael said idly, waving his cookie in the air. "You know for offing You-Know-Who."
Connor fumbled his glass but kept hold of it. Harry offered him a smile and Connor grinned back at him triumphantly.
"He's right." Jeremy said.
"I don't think life debts work that way," Harry said diplomatically, "and we think both my Mum and my Dad helped me."
"It doesn't change the main principle though, does it?" Albert questioned thoughtfully. "We all owe the House of Potter. It sacrificed its Head, its Lady and almost its entire line to keep us safe." He frowned.
Harry squirmed uncomfortably.
"But isn't that why we're in the alliance?" asked Robert.
"We're in the alliance because they think He's coming back according to my Mum." Connor said with honest naivety.
Harry's heart just about sank and he examined the shocked expressions on most of the Heirs' faces. Neville looked determined – he knew most of it straight from Harry – and Albert, Susan, Hannah and Alicia weren't wearing looks of surprise.
"Is that true?" demanded Robert.
Susan shook her head. "No, we would all be in the alliance anyway according to my father. I overheard him telling Hannah's Dad that they're all a bit bemused by how they let the alliance slip just because the House of Potter was, uh…"
"Out of action?" Alicia suggested quietly.
"So You-Know-Who isn't dead?" asked Jeremy, leaning forward intently.
All eyes turned to Harry. Harry glanced at Bill again for direction; the eldest Weasley gave another encouraging nod.
"The night he attacked my parents and I," Harry said haltingly, deciding that if he and the group around him were going to work together he needed to be honest but he knew Sirius wouldn't be pleased if he told them everything, "he did die kind-of. He lost his body anyway. But he's done some magic to keep his spirit around like a wraith. We think Pettigrew is helping him get a new body."
"So the death threat was from him?" Jeremy asked shocked.
Connor looked terrified.
Harry sighed. "Maybe or maybe from one of his followers. It doesn't matter."
"That's very brave of you!" cooed Lydia.
"It's not brave…" Harry said immediately, "it's just…I've faced him a few times now and…"
"How?"
"When?"
The voices all merged until Neville yelled for people to be quiet.
Harry looked at his friend in shock. Who knew Neville could be that assertive? "Uh, thanks, Neville."
Neville nodded briskly.
"Look," Harry said, turning his attention back to the crowd, "Voldemort was a halfblood called Tom Marvolo Riddle, the son of a witch and a muggle. He was an orphan and he was picked on by others in the muggle orphanage where he lived so he started to use his magic to protect himself. He went to Hogwarts back when Dippet was Headmaster and Tom became the Head Boy. All Tom wanted was power."
Harry couldn't see himself so he couldn't see how his green eyes gleamed with determination, his face shining with passion, a natural charisma to lead unfurling as the others listened to him spill the secrets of the most feared Dark Lord of the wizarding world.
"He knew the power was held by the pureblood families so he gathered followers who espoused a pureblood agenda and his hatred of muggles helped him say the right things and talk the same language so they believed him. And soon he had a group of very powerful friends. But Tom wanted more power so he took himself off and when he came back he'd reinvented himself as Lord Voldemort, the Heir of Slytherin, and hardly anyone remembered Tom Riddle and those that did were sworn to secrecy." Harry continued.
"Why doesn't everyone know this?" asked Jeremy.
"I don't know." Harry answered honestly. "Anyway, my point is that Tom isn't any different to any of us. He was a student once; he had friends. He just got power hungry."
"And turned into a very powerful Dark Lord." Robert pointed out. "It was said that even Dumbledore wasn't able to beat him."
"I've beaten him." Harry pointed out. "I beat him when I was a baby – and yes, my Mum and Dad helped but he was still driven out of his body. I beat him when he possessed Quirrell," Harry continued, ignoring the sudden looks of understanding, "and he tried killing me three times that year – four if you count the troll he let into the school. I beat him when he reopened the Chamber, took Ginny and turned his basilisk on me. And all that time part of my power was bound!" He gestured. "I've been lucky," he admitted, "but I don't want you to think he's unbeatable because that's not true. I mean, if Voldemort turned up right now and we all stuck together, we could beat him or at least drive him off!"
"Even me?" asked Connor wide-eyed.
"All of us." Harry said again firmly.
"Well, that's the point of the alliance, isn't it?" Jeremy said suddenly. "We all stick together and don't let him win!"
"But that's politics!" Robert argued.
"Which is half the battle." Albert pointed out. "If we hold the power in the Ministry and the Wizengamot, he loses ground."
"If he turns up with a body, we're still going to have to fight him though, aren't we?" Robert pointed out.
"Maybe we will," Susan allowed, "but Harry's right; if everyone stuck together, we could drive him off."
"And we have Harry." Lydia added.
Harry blushed.
"Are you that powerful?" asked Robert bluntly. "I mean joking about basilisks and Quirrell and rumours aside?"
Harry debated for a moment and sighed. "If I show you something, you can't tell anyone, OK?"
Everyone nodded.
Harry took out his wand and pointed it at the empty space beside him. "Expecto Patronum!"
Prongs clattered out of his wand and onto the tiles of the conservatory. He was solid again although Harry had tried dialling back his power. There were exclamations of wonder and awe. Connor snuck up to the stag and patted him gently.
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