The week after their Owls the fifth years found themselves practically kicked out of the common rooms and the library. The issue was the fifth years were in 'thank god that's over' mode while the seventh years were still going through their Newt exams.
Even their lessons were pretty much cancelled because there was little point teaching them anything when nobody knew what classes they would be taking next year. Even if the professors could work out if a student would likely qualify for their Newt class there was no guarantee that said student would volunteer to take their class. Besides, the professors had the Newt exams to focus on.
The closest Harry and Hermione got to doing any actual work was monitoring a few first, second, and third year year classes for Professor McGonagall so she could focus on the Newt students. It was actually pretty easy and pretty fun.
Officially their job was to monitor the students and maintain their standards of behaviour while answering any questions they had on the worksheets the professor had left them. Hermione however loved 'playing teacher' and took a slightly different approach. Hermione made herself a copy of the workbook and explained the underlying principles behind each of the problems while having Harry provide demonstrations for them. As dry as it sounded Harry and Hermione worked well together and the back and forth between them was both engaging and entertaining for the students.
That's not to say they spent a lot of time helping the professor, Harry and Hermione along with Ron and Susan spent four of the five afternoons out on the grounds enjoying the summer weather by double dating with picnics.
Eventually though Friday evening came and with it a bang.
It didn't just come with a bang but a brace of explosions and the smell of smoke. The exams were over and the Weasley twins had held off their exuberance as long as they could and now with everyone done and the twins wanting their last few days at the school to be remembered had decided to treat the whole school to the most amazing fireworks display any of them had ever seen.
Everyone, including the professors and the examiners who weren't scheduled to leave until the next day, were all out on the grounds watching a menagerie of magical animals made of multi coloured sparks frolicking and interacting in the sky. There were dragons, gryphons, hippogriffs, unicorns, and all four house mascots in their house colours. The house elves of the castle even took it upon themselves to provide food and drink, turning it into an impromptu end of year blowout.
The twins had really outdone themselves, Harry compared what he was seeing now to the last time he saw the twins fireworks, over a year ago at the burrow for Easter and not only were the fireworks spectacular compared to those, Harry thought they even had the fireworks they had seen at the Quidditch World Cup beat. Unless Harry was very much mistaken the twins were demonstrating that they were now the Premier magical fireworks makers in the entire country.
This wasn't just a party, this was an advertisement to everyone here that Weasley was now the name in entertainment. Hell, Harry was already thinking that when he got married he was hiring the twins to do fireworks.
The party continued until late, the teachers not minding much as not only were there no classes tomorrow, none of them had the heart to break up what was very obviously a much needed relief of tension for those who had sat major exams.
Harry spent most of the evening dancing with Hermione after someone had gotten some music from somewhere though he did have a couple of dances with a few other girls. Alicia and Angelina had both pulled him away for a dance mostly taking the opportunity to inform him that they expected him to keep in touch with them now that they, like the twins, were graduating. Katie got a little jealous of her teammates and also pulled Harry into a dance so he could complete the set of Gryffindor chasers which had of course led to him dancing with Ginny as well.
The last one to pull him into the dance area was Susan. She had pulled him into a few dances because Ron and Hermione were off having a conversation that was, according to Hermione, "not for your ears" when he asked. Harry, realising the current date, concluded that they were probably plotting something to do with his birthday and let them get on with it.
-ϟϟϟ-
The next week may as well have been the first week of the summer holidays for the fifth and seventh year students. While there were classes scheduled for both, nobody went and not even the strictest professors said anything. The seventh years went around saying goodbye to everyone as this was their last week in the castle. The fifth years however were coming back next year, but also had not yet chosen what subjects they would take and couldn't until they got their results in the summer. So there was literally nothing for them to do. Only the prefects had their rounds to do and that wasn't even all day.
So instead they tried to turn their hands to summer plans. Unfortunately the looming shadow of Voldemort put a big halt in any of that. With the Ministry taken over and the floo network compressed to the point of being useless, and the night bus way to public for any level of security, the logistics of any planning became a lot more complex. For example Harry lived in mid Wales, Hermione in London, and Ron in Devon. Getting from any one to the other without magic would take hours and money. As for getting around with magic the only real options were apparition and portkeys.
Apart from very specific emergencies, apparating yourself without a licence was illegal and you couldn't get a licence until you were seventeen. That meant relying on adults who had their own schedules to contend with.
As for portkeys, they could only be legally created by the ministry and there were a lot of rules and parchmentwork regarding them. Not to forget they weren't exactly cheap. Harry had already arranged for Hermione to have a reusable portkey to Potter Manor, and a second one so she could get home again and they had cost him fifteen gallons each. That was a total of one-hundred-fifty pounds. And that was the easiest one. Hermione was legally the one renting her London home from Sirius and had legal access to Potter Manor as a member of the house. If Harry wanted a portkey that let him visit Hermione's home then that would require her signed agreement that was backed by grandfather Charlus who was her magical guardian. It was an entire bureaucratic mess.
It hadn't stopped Harry from starting the process to get a bunch more reusable portkeys. He had ordered two more portkeys for Potter Manor, three for the burrow and two for Hermione's place. It had been a real pain to get all the required permits forms signed and the total fee made Harry glad his personal vault held a rather ridiculous amount of galleons. Once the final portkeys were delivered Harry, Ron and Hermione would each have three portkeys one to each of the other homes and one to go home.
Even with spending more money than the cost of some (admittedly second hand) cars all that got the three of them was the ability to get to each other's homes. No trips to the beach, or visiting a theme park or museum. They could maybe use Hermione's home as a stop off point to get into London but that was it if they wanted to go anywhere from there it was muggle transportation all the way.
Harry did host a few training sessions in the expanded trunk he had ordered. And with nothing else to do Hermione, Susan, Ron and his twin brothers all attended. That had ended on Thursday though as grandfather Charlus had asked to borrow the trunk to pack all his potions equipment in.
On Friday was the leaving feast. The headmaster gave a speech about being careful outside the school. "Hogwarts is a haven for many, a place of safety where the problems of the world outside don't reach. Problems like death eaters. As much as it is my responsibility to remind you all that you must not breach the statute of Secrecy, it is my moral duty to remind every single one of you of the self defence clause. If you need to use magic to run away or fight back don't hesitate. I want everyone who is in sixth year or lower to make it back here in September."
Headmaster Greengrass shifted his tone "As to the seventh years, I want you to leave here with your heads held high. You are graduates of Hogwarts, the most prestigious school of witchcraft and wizardry this world has ever known. Over your seven years here you have learned many lessons, not just from your professors but from each other as well. Take those lessons and you will find that the sky is your limit.
You won't all walk the same path. For some that path will be a stroll down a lovely country lane while others of you will set your sights to climb the highest peaks climbing uphill along a rocky trail the whole way, and still more of you will cut your own paths forging new paths to the unknown. But always remember no matter how far you walk or how high you climb, you are a Hogwarts alumni, so you will always have at least one more step in you."
There was a round of applause from the students. Headmaster Greengrass may not be perfect but he was definitely far better at speeches than Dumbledore ever was. After that they enjoyed the living feast before going to bed for their last night in the castle before the holidays.
-ϟϟϟ-
The next day was hectic as all the students tried to get organised to get onto the train right after breakfast. Trunks littered the hallways and were piled high in the entrance hall, cats yowled to be let out of their cages, toads cooked in protest and owls gave indignant hoots at all the activity when any good and right being in their eyes should be asleep.
The biggest surprise for Harry was that he was informed by Professor McGonagall that the prefects wouldn't need to do rounds on the train this time. There were going to be both Aurors and a few professors on the train with them and they would be taking over the responsibility.
Harry asked which professors were going to be on the train and was told it would be all four of the heads of house, the Headmaster and the potions professor. "It seems that your grandfather thought that since he will have to pick you up from the station anyway he may as well join you on the train rather than apparating home then apparating back to London and home again."
When they finally got on the train Harry was faced with a choice, did he choose to sit with friends or with his grandfather. He knew Hermione and Ron would likely follow him wherever he chose but it would impact the mood of the trip. If Harry chose to sit with Charlus it would be more calm and level headed or they could sit with their year mate and it would be more energetic.
In the end it was Hermione who decided. She wanted a compartment where she could read for the majority of the trip and there was nothing stopping them visiting others for a bit. So the four of them all put their trunks in one compartment. As they were settling in Hermione pulled a book from her bag as they expected but she also pulled out a chess set which she handed to Ron who looked at Harry pleadingly.
Harry was just about to give in when he saw Susan and Hannah walking past the open door and he invited them to join them. Hannah was a little hesitant but Susan, seeing Ron, accepted, pulling her best friend along with her.
Harry was able to dump the role of chess partner on to Susan but as a consequence he was the one left talking to Hannah. "So Hannah got any plans for the summer?"
"Not really. Can't go anywhere public incase death eaters show up. Can't floo to my best friend's home because the floo is too dangerous to use. So I get to sit at home all day, alone while my parents are at work. With nothing but my homework, a few books, and the wireless. This summer is going to be absolutely amazing!" The sarcasm dripped heavily from her tone for the last part.
"Yeah I can see how that wouldn't be fun." Harry said, trying to sound sympathetic.
"Honestly I would rather stay at school. I miss my parents but being stuck at home with maybe a few letters a week is going to drive me crazy. What about you?"
Harry hid a wince he didn't like flaunting his gold but he wasn't going to lie. "I have enough space that I can take my broom out and fly at home and I made arrangements for some portkeys so I will have a few days out at least."
"You will also be taking lessons again this summer. You missed way too much of your education growing up in the non magical world. And while I will admit that your mundane education grants you some advantages, you still need to catch up on what you missed."
"Actually Hannah, I may be able to help you a little." Said Hermione. "I was trying to come up with a way to talk to Harry without the floo and I worked out a way to put a Protean charm on a couple of blank books. Now whatever is written in either book appears in both. If Uncle Charlus will let me come over for a few days, I can create a new set and send them to you by owl. You could then send one to whoever you wanted to talk to."
At Hannah's hopeful look Charlus said, "Hermione you are always welcome at my home, you know that. You just need to clear the arrangements with your parents. I will be more than happy to side along and pick you up whenever you are free to come over."
Harry, and Hermione knew that the part about side alonging her was a lie but the teens were under orders not to reveal that Hermione had a reusable portkey to Potter Manor. If the wrong people heard about that she would be a target for the people who wanted to take it. Not that it would help them much; the portkey she had and the one Harry was still waiting to be delivered for Ron would drop them outside the wards, and would only work for the owner, but anyone stealing it wouldn't be likely to find that out until after and none of them wanted to gamble with Hermione, or later Ron's, lives when such a simple lie was decent cover.
Hermione smiled. "So once I'm there I'm sure I will be able to create you a set."
"You should make a ton and sell them." Hannah insisted. "I bet loads of people would buy them."
"No. If I start selling them the death eaters will be able to buy them and anyone with a Newt in charms and runes can create them easily enough. They already have enough advantages, we don't need to give them un-interceptable instant communication as well. No, I will only be giving them to people I trust."
That was enough to stop any of them from asking any further. The idea of accidentally making it harder to stop the death eaters was a disturbing one.
The train ride was going rather quietly. Occasionally one of the heads of house or an Auror would slide open the door and check everything was okay. The professors stopped to talk to Charlus for a few minutes each time and when the Headmaster came around he stuck around for almost half an hour talking about an upcoming Wizengamot session, the first full one since they had lost the Ministry and they were speculating on where and how it was going to be held.
"What of you Harry, do you have any aspirations of joining the Wizengamot one day?" The Headmaster used Harry's given name to avoid confusion.
Harry, who had been idly fiddling with a lock of Hermione's hair as she leaned against his chest while reading, stopped what he was doing and gave it a thought. He wouldn't be able to apply until his grandfather died which despite the man being in his eighties was physically in his seventies and with wizards regularly living 120 years or more meant that Harry would likely have a long wait unless something terrible happened.
"Probably not. The Wizengamot suffers too much from its members being appointed for life. Old people, witch, wizard or even muggle suffer too much from thinking that if something was good enough for them in their younger years then it's good enough now. Unfortunately the system we have had for so long keeps popping out a dark lord or goblin rebellion every thirty to fifty years. And if you always do what you have always done you will always get what you always got.
The only reason I could see joining the Wizengamot as it is now is to change it. Maybe the Wizengamot would be less self-serving if they actually had to fight to keep their seats once adopted. But as I probably won't even get an opportunity to join for another few decades maybe they or I will change in that time."
Greengrass was shocked by how brazen Harry was at calling out the Wizengamot with two sitting members right there. Charlus laughed and said something about that being just what the Wizengamot needed and Hermione proved she had been listening in by turning around and kissing him for what he said.
All in all it was Harry's quietest trip on the Express ever and everything was brilliant right up until the train pulled to a stop, two hours early.
"Hermione I want you to grab everyone in this compartment and portkey them to Potter manor, Harry you will have to let them in, I will stay here and help the other students." Charlus said.
Harry was about to protest being sent away but Ron grabbed Susan and Hannah and pushed them at Harry and Hermione while Hermione pulled two long thin gold coloured chains from around her neck and checked the pendant on them. She selected the chain with the Potter family crest on it and held out the chain telling them all to grab hold as she looped one part of it around Harry's finger that was still casually laid on her shoulder. Three hands grabbed at the chain and Hermione said. "Activate Potter Manor."
Harry braced himself for the horrible feeling of being yanked across the country by a fishing hook in his belly button only it didn't come. Nobody moved. Hermione tried the activation phrase again. Still nothing. She tried a third time and still nothing.
"They must have anti portkey wards up. One of the death eaters kids probably broke the taboo intentionally." Susan said, sounding afraid.
There was an explosion from near the front of the train and Harry climbed to his feet drawing his wand as he did so. "Hermione you stick with me, focus on defense. Ron stick with my grandfather, same job. Assume everything coming our way is an unforgivable, so block with physical barriers. Grandfather, we need to get to the engine. If we can, we need to set the train in reverse, get everyone out from under the anti portkey and anti apparition wards. And hopefully away from any death eaters."
Charlus was going to tell Harry to sit down and let the adults deal with it. However the fact that Harry's plan was both workable and focused on retreat and not on charging ahead had him accepting the plan. However, if they were going to do this then it was going to be on his terms. He stood up drawing his own wand. "If we are going to do this then you will follow my lead. I will go first, Ron you will follow behind me, then Hermione and Harry you will be at the back making sure nobody comes up behind us. If I tell you to run, the three of you will leave me behind and run. Do you understand and agree?"
There was a muttering of half hated agreement. Charlus however didn't think it was good enough. "I'm serious. If you don't agree you can sit right back down and I will go alone. I'm the professor here. My first job is to keep you all safe."
Harry didn't like it but agreed. "Chances are they're here for me, you know why. They will keep looking and hurting people until they know where I am. If I'm gonna need to fight them anyway it will be where I have room to move."
There was a round of nods until Susan asked. "What should Hannah and I do?"
Ron answered. "Remember that spell I taught you?" She nodded and Ron leaned in and kissed her. "If you see a mask, don't hesitate, use it."
There was another explosion from towards the front of the train and they took that as their signal to get moving. The corridor was empty but most of the doors to the compartments were open with heads sticking out. As a professor Charlus started backing orders at the students. "Get back in your compartments." "Stay out of the way." "Don't get involved."
They cautiously made their way towards the front of the train. Now they could hear the sound of spell fire and they assumed that the team of Aurors on the train were fighting the death eaters. It was too easy, it was setting Harry on edge. It seemed that so far not a single death eater had managed to get past the Aurors onto the train.
They got to the front of the passenger cars and crossed into the scarlet engine. Normally on a steam train there would be a cart of coal between the engine and the passenger cars but not here. Apparently whomever had enchanted the train hadn't liked coal and actually understood steam engines enough that all it took to run the train from Scotland to London was a few pints of some type of fire potion.
The driver was dead, he was half hanging out of one of the windows and looked like he had been hit by a killing curse.
"Hermione, can you work out how to put this thing into reverse?" Harry asked, looking at a collection of levers and gauges.
Hermione looked around and thankfully saw a place on the wall over the boiler and it had instructions on how to control the train with spells rather than needing to know which lever did what. She tapped something with her wand and muttered a spell and a bunch of the controls moved. Then she pointed her wand into the boiler and cast a fire spell and the train started to inch back slowly.
Charlus, seeing how close Hermione was to getting the train moving, tapped his wand to his throat and called out in a magically amplified voice. "The train is restarting, all aboard or get left behind."
Ron surprised Harry by transfiguring the side wall of the train so he could lean out and provide cover for the Aurors who were now abandoning their fight with what looked to be about ten death eaters to climb back on the retreating train.
Harry copied Ron's actions on the other side and while they weren't able to hit any of the death eaters they were able to keep them from following the Aurors and soon all the Aurors were back on board and Hermione threw a measure of potion into the trains boiler and the train started to pick up speed.
The Aurors moved Harry and Ron back into the engine room and took their positions for themselves watching for any death eaters following them on brooms.
Things settled down and the Aurors started trying to work out what to do next. They had a train full of students and parents were expecting them at King's Cross in a little under two hours. The train was going the wrong way and making it go the right way again would only put everyone in danger.
It was quickly decided that they would keep the train moving for some time, making as much distance between the attack as they could. Then they would stop the train and one of the Aurors would apparate to the Ministry and order a number for emergency portkeys before apparating back and they could then portkey all the students directly to the platform in King's Cross. A team of specialists could be sent after to drive the train to the platform.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Charlus were thanked for getting the train going again and were basically told the Aurors would take it from there.
As they were walking back to their compartment Harry couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong. This entire attack didn't make sense to Harry. Voldemort was insane, but he wasn't stupid. He would know there would likely be security. He was too much of a threat for the Ministry not to take precautions. So why was everyone fighting at the front of the train?
Then it hit him, the fight at the front was a distraction. There were likely more death eaters already on the train. It would have been simple to sneak on while everyone was too preoccupied with the attack at the front.
Harry grabbed his grandfather's arm. "The attack isn't over yet."