Disclaimer: Lucky Thirteen
*****
"So be it," the Death Eater growled. "Pick your targets." He pointed his wand at her. "We kill them all."
Mandy noticed a hint of movement behind the bastard before something blurred towards his head concluding with a hollow thunk on impact. It sounded reminiscent of a melon being broken open, a corner of her mind noted. What in the world just happened? She wondered as the bastard crumbled to the ground to reveal an annoyed looking Ron holding a beater's bat in his right hand.
The room seemed to freeze, every eye was on the fallen terrorist. Every mind was occupied trying to comprehend what had just happened. Well, every mind save one.
Without hesitation, Ron smashed another Death Eater across the face with the bat in his right hand and thrust his left fist into a third's stomach. It was the Harpies that came out of their shock first. Less than two seconds had passed since the first Death Eater fell and the Harpies had used the time their captors were distracted to their advantage. The women closed the distance and the remaining Death Eaters soon learned why the Harpies' goalkeepers spent so much time blocking penalty shots.
Ron turned to throw Mandy her new bat and finished the turn by giving the nearest man a knee to the grapes followed by a chop to the throat. The starting seeker plucked the now distracted Death Eater's wand out of his loosened grip and began flinging cutting curses interspaced with disarming charms at the thoroughly distracted terrorists who seemed almost frozen with indecision as the enraged women fell upon them. The chasers and back up seekers snatched the flying wands out of the air and began flinging hex after hex of their own into the mass of masked thugs.
Ron groin stomped the first Death Eater he'd hit and followed that up with another hard stomp to the man's wrist. One of the terrorists broke and tried to run only to take one of the seekers' cutting curse to the back of the neck, spraying the locker room entryway with a mist of arterial blood before the man fell to the ground.
The fight, massacre really, lasted less then two minutes from start to finish. Three of the Harpies and two of the team's support staff had suffered minor injuries. Two of the death eaters survived, though neither would last much longer without immediate medical assistance.
"You okay, Ron?" Mandy asked, bosom heaving from the excitement. "Ron?" her breath caught when she noticed that his left fist was covered in blood.
"Yeah, why?" the look of annoyance on the boy's face hadn't changed from the start to the end of the fight. A small part of Mandy's mind wondered just what he'd been through that he could be so blasé about dealing with a Death Eater attack. Her heart was racing faster than it had during her debut game. The boy, no man, in front of her had just made himself much more interesting and desirable than every one of her previous suitors combined. He would be hers, she decided. She was not going to lose a man willing to snatch her from certain death, she would make him hers as he'd just made her his.
"Your hand." Mandy took a step closer.
"It's not mine." He loosened his grip to reveal a carving knife resting on his palm. "Hope I didn't ruin the edge on his ribs."
"Oh."
Ron wiped the blade off on one of the fallen death eater's robes and returned the knife to its place in his pocket after a quick inspection to assure himself that it hadn't suffered any serious damage. "Came here to give you your new bat. Merry Christmas."
"Christmas was last week," she said automatically.
"Your bat wasn't finished till today," Ron retorted. "Suppose I could keep it till your birthday if you'd rather."
"No! I mean, thank you, Ron." She held the bloodstained bat to her chest. It was precious, all the more precious because it was a gift from her knight and he'd used it to save her life. No matter what else the future might hold she knew that it was an item she'd treasure for the remainder of her life.
"You're welcome."
"I would like to commission another one, though." She glanced down at the bat. "Bats break, bats are disposable. This one saved my life. I want to keep it forever."
Ron nodded. "Alright." He looked down at the shattered Death Eaters. "This sort of thing happen to you often?" He made sure the surviving death eaters were stunned, bound, and then hit them with Harry's hex that grew hands together and then a cast a few more of Harry's new ones just to be sure that they wouldn't cause any more trouble. He was confident that he wouldn't get in trouble for using magic.
"First time," she giggled with nervous energy. "You?"
"This sort of thing happens to me quite a bit," Ron admitted. "Always figured it was Harry that attracted it, now I'm wondering if it's me." He scratched his chin. "Or that it might be contagious. Don't suppose St. Mungo's could test for it."
"Good swing, lad," the coach came over, interrupting their conversation. "Looks like you took out at least half the bastard's teeth." She spat on the second Death Eater he'd hit, one of the two survivors. "Groin stomp could use a bit of work though, hit him off center."
"Wasn't aiming for the groin," Ron explained. "Was going to go for the neck, figured a crushed windpipe would be more distracting than a bit of pain. Bastard moved so I did my best with what I had which was the groin."
"I withdraw the criticism then," the coach snorted in amusement, slapping him on the back. "Good thing you came when you did and a brave thing you did, I'd be down a team if you didn't."
"I just did what anyone would have done," Ron disagreed.
"No, she's right. It was a very brave thing you did, rescuing us," Mandy cooed. "My hero." She leaned in and gave Ron a soft kiss. "Thank you for my life, Ron."
"Mine too!" one of the chasers agreed enthusiastically, pulling him out of Mandy's arms and giving Ron a much deeper kiss before passing him off to another of her teammates.
In the background, the other beaters gathered up the Death Eater masks to add to the team trophy case while the seekers gathered up the teeth and the chasers the wands for the same reason.
IIIIIIIIII
Tonks was fidgeting rather badly by the time Phil returned. She did not like the idea of leaving her boss alone for such a large amount of time, who knew what trouble Madame Bones could get herself into without proper adult supervision?
"Madame Bones would like a sit down with you as soon as possible!" Tonks blurted as soon as the man entered the room.
"What? Now?" Phil asked, visibly taken aback by both the woman's presence and her sudden and unexpected request.
"If possible," Tonks agreed. "If not, tell me when, quickly . . . please."
"Is something wrong?" Phil asked nervously.
"I made the boss promise not to leave her office without me," Tonks explained nervously. "I've been gone a lot longer than I expected I would be."
"You're worried that you've been gone long enough that she might allow herself to forget?" Charlie asked.
"Something like that," Tonks agreed evasively.
"Bodyguard?"
"Chief of close security and body double," Tonks explained. She turned back to Phil. "Your decision, sir?"
"Up for it, Harry?" Phil asked.
"I think we'd better," Harry agreed.
"We'll take my car," Phil decided. "You are welcome to accompany us or go ahead as the mood takes you."
"I'll go ahead," Tonks said. "Thank you, sir." The woman rushed out to find some place she could apparate from.
"Very impressive to have someone so loyal," Charlie said approvingly.
"It is," Phil agreed. He handed an envelope to his friend. "That's what I can arrange for quickly. Figure ten percent for my troubles, I'm still waiting on the rest."
"Thank you."
"Always happy to make a pound or two in service to the crown," Phil laughed. "After you, Harry."
"Bye, Charlie."
IIIIIIIIII
Molly glanced at the clock again. Her youngest son was late and every minute was making her more and more annoyed that the boy hadn't been considerate enough to call ahead first to let them know he'd been delayed.
"Mum, can we have dinner now?" Ginny whined.
"Not until your brother gets back," Molly replied.
"But what if he stays out all night?"
"I'll give him another hour and then we'll eat if he's not here," Molly said. Another glance at the clock caused her to sigh. "He's on his way back now. It shouldn't be long."
"I'll set the table," Ginny agreed.
"Thank you, dear."
The front door opened and Molly's fury disappeared in a flash the second she got a look at the boy. His face was covered in lip marks, marks from several different women judging from the different shades and sizes. She wasn't sure how to feel about this. The woman blinked. She'd have to have Arthur . . . she'd have to find someone outside the family to give the boy a lesson on contraceptive charms to hopefully keep him from making her a grandmother until after he'd finished Hogwarts and established himself as a broom-maker.
"What happened to you, Ronald?" she asked her youngest son, trying to decide how to feel about her deduction.
"Mandy really liked her new bat," Ron replied, still dazed. "Her teammates liked it too, I've got a pocket full of orders."
"That's m'boy," Arthur announced proudly, but quietly. Years of married life had taught him which boasts were best said loudly and which were best kept from the wife. This one, he decided, definitely fell within the latter category.
"I see." Molly wiped away a tear as her mind set on the emotion to feel, her little Ronny was growing up.
Ginny's jaw had dropped, mind unable to process the thought of the slobbiest of her brothers being a ladies man. Bill sure, Charlie yes, but Ron? The girl's mind reset, she'd have put Percy higher than Ron on the desirability scale and he was a rule following dork! But Ron, of all her brothers, Ron was getting attention from what appeared to be a team of professional Quidditch players? There really was no accounting for taste.
The twins were in a similar bind, a quick nod to each other and they'd made their decision. They weren't going to tease their youngest brother, they weren't going to play pranks on him, they weren't going to do anything that would annoy him in the slightest. What they were going to do was ask for pointers when he'd regained his senses. Whatever worked for Ron had a more than average chance of working for anyone. Their smiles sharpened as a few thoughts began to form. There was money to be made.
IIIIIIIIII
Phil and Harry arrived at the Director's office only to be met by three burly humorless Aurors. Grins appeared after three sets of eyes flicked to the scar on Harry's forehead and they stepped aside to allow the two to enter.
"Go right in," one of the Aurors said with a friendly grin.
"Phil, Harry, good of you to join us," Amelia said with a smile.
"Good of you to invite us, Amelia," Phil replied.
"That benefit I twisted your arm into agreeing to attend looks like it's going to be postponed indefinitely, Harry. So you're off the hook."
"Anything I can do for you instead?" Harry asked. "A deal is a deal. You held up your part of it, only fair that I hold up mine."
"Maybe an ad in the wireless," Amelia said thoughtfully. "We can work out the details later, after the current emergency blows over."
"Sure."
"Thank you, Harry." She motioned for them to take their seats. "You may speak and turn around for the duration of the meeting, Auror Tonks."
"Yes, boss. Thank you, boss," Tonks said from her place in the corner. The woman turned around and shot Harry a wink.
"Auror Tonks is on time-out for locking me in my office," Amelia explained through clenched teeth. "Auror Tonks apparently believes that locking me in my office falls within her scope of duties as my chief bodyguard."
"You promised not to leave, boss," Tonks pointed out. "I don't see that it mattered if you were locked in or not."
"I had assumed that the loo was one of the places I was permitted to visit in your absence, Auror Tonks," Amelia stated flatly, shooting her Auror a glare filled with malice and resentment. "Be happy you got back before I wet myself or I'd have done more than make you stand in the corner and think about what you did."
"Yes, boss." Something told Tonks that it was an inopportune time to point out that there was a perfectly good and presumably water tight waste pail in the office. Combine it with a vanishing charm and everything would be set. She gave a mental sniff, seemed the director's chair had made her boss a bit soft.
"Wipe that look off your face, Auror Tonks," Amelia snapped. "I am not getting soft."
"No, boss. Of course not, boss." How in the hell did she do that.
"I spent three terms at the academy, young lady, I can guess every thought that rattles around that mostly empty skull of yours," Amelia growled. She turned away from her Auror and back to Phil. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."
"Not at all. What did you wish to speak with us about?" Phil asked, doing his best to hide his amusement and failing miserably.
"I was hoping that I could persuade you to move your family into my estate," Amelia replied. "That was before I got a report on your living arrangements. How in the world do you manage to take care of something so large?"
"A veritable army of servants," he laughed. "Wanted to simplify the protection scheme and to pool resources?"
"On the nose. I've also received a bit of intelligence, via Auror Tonks' contacts at Gringotts, that Voldemort is planning to make an attempt on Mr. Potter's life this year and my own some time this summer. My offer to you is one of the things I'm using to persuade Auror Tonks to leave my side during the year."
"You'd assign her to my daughter?" Phil blurted in delight before wincing. "Sorry, Harry, forgot you were the target."
"It's a safe bet that Hermione is too and I'd much rather have any guards looking after her and Luna than me," Harry said softly.
"There's also the fact that Hermione is never too far from your side and any guards watching her would be in a good place to help you," Tonks giggled.
"There is that," Harry agreed. "But I'm more concerned with my friends being safe than I am with my own safety. If this keeps Hermione and Luna safe, I'm all for it. I can look after myself if it comes to it."
"It also keeps my niece and her friends safe if there is a large force at Hogwarts," Amelia admitted. "That was one of my primary concerns. I'd love to assign Aurors to watch over the castle but I don't have the budget to do it."
"Sounds like we have the beginnings of a deal," Phil said cheerfully. "I'll put a dozen or so guards around Hogwarts under the command of Ms. Tonks under the understanding that they're they're to protect a few named individuals, not the castle as a whole."
"Agreed," Amelia said immediately. "Bugger the castle."
"Anything you'd like to add, Harry?" Phil asked.
"Just a list of people I don't want anywhere near any of the girls for any reason," Harry said looking deadly serious.
"Why?!" Amelia barked.
"Because I got a good look at several Death Eaters and I suspect several more."
"Names?" Amelia asked eagerly.
Harry dug around his pocket for a few moments before emerging with a grubby list which he handed to Madame Bones.
"You carry a list of possible Death Eaters around with you?" Tonks asked incredulously. Not even Mad-Eye walked around with an enemy list. Well, she didn't think he did anyway. Never could tell with that crazy bastard.
"I somehow linked my pockets to my trunk," Harry replied. "Well, I think it's my trunk. It doesn't matter which clothes I'm wearing and only seems to work when I'm wearing them." The boy didn't like the gleam that appeared in the Director's eye. Reminded him way too much of the ones that adorned the professors every time he made a mistake.
"Would you be willing to teach me that incredibly useful sounding charm?" Amelia purred, looking more and more dangerous by the second.
"I would if I knew what I did," Harry said cautiously. "I did it by accident."
"Auror Tonks."
"Yes, boss?"
"Who do we have that can research this issue with Mr. Potter?" Amelia asked, confirming Harry's suspicions that he was in for a bad time.
"Auror Stickle in spell research, Auror Watts in spell research, and Auror Pinch on the retirement rolls, who used to be in spell research and whose wife's offered me twenty galleons and one of those pies she makes if I could find him something to do that would get him out of the house and out from under foot."
"Any objection to any of them, Harry?" Amelia asked, glancing at the list she'd been given, and flicking back to him.
"I don't even know any of them," Harry sighed, resigned to the fact that the remaining days of his vacation would not be as carefree as he'd hoped.
"Good. What we're going to do is grant you a special dispensation to do magic outside of school and we'll see if one of our researchers can't figure out what you did."
"How about you give special dispensation to my friends to do magic outside of school, you agree to let Professor Flitwick take the lead in researching it, and you agree to only teach it with my permission," Harry offered.
"Lovegood, Granger, and Weasley?"
"Put Bones, Longbottom, and Abbot on my list of friends, please," Harry said after a moment of thought.
"Buttering me up or do you really have a close relationship with my niece?"
"A little of the first and a whole lot of the second if your plans with Mr. Granger work out," Harry replied.
"I think we have a deal, Mr. Potter."
"Or rather, you will after we discuss what you're going to pay him," Phil interjected smoothly. "I assure you that his rates are quite reasonable and by quite reasonable I mean obscenely high. Shall we start at a measurable percentage of your yearly budget and go up from there?"
"Alright," Amelia laughed. "How would you like a chance to poke through the property room, Harry? You can have what you can carry so long as it isn't needed as evidence for a current case. I'll even include paperwork to keep restricted items."
Harry gave the man a small nod.
"He can have what we can carry. The 'we' includes Auror Tonks who will come along to make sure that we do not accidentally take something that will harm us," Phil countered.
IIIIIIIIII
Fred and George took a moment to digest the tale their youngest brother had told before they moved on to the question and answer section.
"So all you have to do is rescue them from a bunch of Death Eaters and they kiss you and want to date you?" Fred asked firmly. "That's all there is to it?" It couldn't be that easy to pull witches, could it? This changed everything.
"I think so," Ron agreed, sounding unsure. "Well, only one of them said she wanted to go on a date with me. But I got a kiss from all of them for saving their lives."
The twins shared a glance until George broke the silence. "Are you pondering, what I'm pondering, twin o'mine?"
"We ask Harry for pointers on Death Eater stomping and stake out everywhere witches congregate that might also be subject to Death Eater attack?" Fred rubbed his hands together. "Then we heroically ambush the bastards using every unfair advantage we can think up the second they crawl out of their stinking holes."
"Exactly," George agreed. "Thank you, Ron. You've been most helpful on continuing the Weasley line."
"We couldn't be prouder to have you as a brother," Fred agreed firmly.
"Can't wait to tell Bill that his advice is rubbish too," George added. "Be yourself, hah! Should have known that was a bunch of bull. Stupid ideas like that are probably why it took him so long to find a girl."
"Would probably work if we were Harry," Fred mused. "Explains why he's made a hobby out of beating Voldemort."
"Selfish bastard could have told us," George grumbled. "Why didn't he? We'd have told him if we'd thought of it."
"Don't think he realizes what he's doing," Ron said quickly, trying to protect his friend. "He's kinda clueless. I think you were right, he's being himself when he's beating Voldemort. We were the ones that realized that anyone could do it."
"A point, little brother, a point," George conceded.
"Wait till we tell the rest of the guys what we learned," Fred giggled. "And by tell I mean sell the information about what we've learned to the rest of the guys for as much gold as we can wring out of the horny bastards."
"Dark Lord will be toast in a week," George agreed. "And we're going to be richer than a dozen Malfoys!"
Ron cleared his throat. "One thing I think we need to make clear to everyone is that it's not a good idea to be without your wand ever. Mine was in my trunk when I needed it because of the stupid reasonable restriction. Harpies had theirs in their lockers. We got lucky this time, we can't count on being this lucky ever again."
"Right you are, brother of ours," Fred agreed.
"If we'd have been lucky in the first place, we'd have never have had to deal with any of this in the first place."
IIIIIIIIII
Tonks had to suppress a giggle as yet another box of items disappeared into Harry's seemingly bottomless pockets.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"I think the boss forgot about your pockets," Tonks replied.
"I don't think this is linked to my trunk like I thought it was," Harry sighed. "Even with expansion charms, there's no way it should be able to hold all this."
"Might have burst open and spilled over the room," Phil suggested.
"Maybe, but I don't believe for a second that I'm that lucky," Harry replied. "Anything else you think I should grab, Tonks?"
"Don't see anything," the Auror replied after a quick scan of the room. "You've pretty much cleared out everything un-cursed."
"Anything you want?" Harry prompted.
"Nothing that isn't cursed."
"What about what we've already grabbed?" Harry asked.
"Couple things," she agreed. "Let me poke through it later, yeah?"
"Done," Harry agreed. He quickly smothered a grin as a thought hit him. "Step over here for a second, please."
"What are you gonna do?" Tonks demanded, more than a bit suspicious of the expression on the boy's face.
"Something that will amuse me and hopefully Madame Bones as well," Harry replied as he swept the woman into his arms. "Open the door please, Phil."
The man complied and Harry stepped out of the room and walked down the hall to the Director's office with the struggling Auror in his arms.
"Stop that," Harry laughed. "I don't want to drop you."
"Lemme go," Tonks grumbled.
"In a minute," Harry replied.
"People are watching," Tonks complained.
Phil rushed ahead to open the door to the Director's office to allow Harry and his struggling cargo an easy entry.
"Finished?" Amelia asked, looking up from her paperwork and paused to digest the scene. "Why are you carrying my Auror?"
"My Auror," Harry corrected. "Deal was I could have anything in the room that I could carry out of the property room."
"True," Amelia sighed. "Teach me to look at the fine print. Well, a deal is a deal. Enjoy your new life, Auror Tonks. I suppose I'll just have to find a new bodyguard, perhaps one that won't lock me in my office."
"Boss!" Tonks whined. She squirmed out of Harry's arms.
"Care to come to dinner tonight, Amelia? I think it best to have you along to help Harry settle his new Auror," Phil asked with a grin. "Your niece is of course welcome to join us."
"I would love to," Amelia agreed. "If it is alright with Auror Tonks." She shot the woman a mocking grin.
"I'd have to ask Harry if I'm permitted to look after your security," Tonks sniffed.
"I insist on it," Harry said. "Along with the other girls and yourself. I don't want any of you to get hurt."
IIIIIIIIII
Anne was in the library when one of the maids walked up and cleared her throat to draw attention to herself.
"What is is?" Anne asked, looking up from her book.
"One of Ms. Hermione's friends is here for dinner along with her security detail. She says that Mr. Granger invited her to come along with a few others."
"Did she tell you how many people she expects to come?"
"Yes, Mrs. Granger."
"Tell the cooks the number and tell my daughter that she has a guest. Where did you put the friend and what is the name?"
"Susan Bones, Mrs. Granger, in the blue room."
"Susan!" both women heard the faint echo of Hermione's voice.
"It appears that you will not need to inform my daughter," Anne said dryly. "Thank you, that will be all." Anne rose to her feet and walked out of the room.
IIIIIIIIII
Susan was a bit overwhelmed by the level of enthusiasm in Hermione's greeting. She hadn't realized that she was so close to the other girl, or perhaps it was more a case that Hermione got lonely stuck in her giant house during the holidays?
"Hi, Hermione," Susan replied. "Hi, Luna."
"Hello, Susan," Luna said.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked, taking the other girl by the hand and dragging her towards a set of chairs.
"Your father invited me and my Aunt Amelia to dinner," Susan replied.
"I'm so glad you came, I was hoping to get a chance to talk to another girl before we got back on the express," Hermione continued.
"Um?" Susan glanced towards Luna. "Another girl?"
"I'm afraid that my father's repertoire of cosmetic charms is rather limited and so are mine as a consequence," Luna explained.
"Cosmetic charms?" Susan said dumbly. "Who do you want to learn them for?" She leaned forward to get the good gossip.
"Harry of course," Luna replied. "Hermione got the idea that we could modify cosmetic charms to help us restore Harry's collection of motorcycles."
"Oh," Susan sighed. "Of course that's what you want to learn them for." Unless they were just using that as an excuse to avoid being teased, she thought suddenly. "I'd be happy to share all the ones I know, but Lavender and the Patil twins are the ones you need to talk to about this."
"We'll do that too," Hermione assured the girl. "We just wanted a couple now so we could tear them apart and get a general idea how they worked."
"I see." Or maybe they actually were being genuine about wanting them for motorcycle maintenance. Bloody confusing it was.
"So glad you could join us, Susan, right?" Anne said as she swept into the room.
"Yes, Mrs. Granger," Susan agreed. "Thank you for the invitation."
IIIIIIIIII
Anne was waiting at the door when Phil's car arrived with the remainder the guests for their impromptu dinner party.
"You must be Amelia," Anne said with a wide smile. "I'm Anne, Hermione's mother."
"A pleasure to meet you," Madame Bones replied. "Please allow me to introduce Auror Tonks. She'll be commanding the protection detail at Hogwarts."
"A pleasure." Anne gave the Auror a once over.
"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Granger," Tonks replied.
"This way," Anne said, waving for her guests to follow her. "I'll show you where you can wash before dinner."
IIIIIIIIII
Harry eyed the three girls across the table in much the same way one would eye a pile of angry cobras. They were all leaned in close together, whispering to each other, until suddenly they'd stop and look at him before bursting into giggles. It was enough to put anyone off and the only things that made it bearable was the fact that Susan would be leaving in a few hours, hopefully prompting Hermione and Luna's return to as normal as they ever were, and the fact that Hermione had never acted in that way before so her current behavior was likely to be a one off. Well, he hoped so anyway, heaven help him if he turned out to be wrong.
"God help me if she starts doing it at Hogwarts," Harry mumbled, giving voice to his thoughts. "God help us all."
"What was that, Harry?" Phil asked.
"Nothing," Harry replied.
"We were hoping to get your opinion on something, Mr. Potter," Amelia said smoothly.
"Yes?" Harry asked. "What can I do for you?"
"We were speculating on the cause of Hermione's petrification in your second year," Amelia explained. "Since we were never given an official explanation. I told them that it could be a number of things and we were going down the list."
"Bloody big basilisk," Harry replied.
"We've already ruled that one out since there were no deaths," Anne said. "Do you have any other ideas?"
"No, it was a basilisk," Harry said firmly. "Didn't kill her because she got hit indirectly. She'd just figured out what it was and was using a mirror."
Harry was immediately the recipient of a number of horrified gazes.
"It's okay," he assured the adults. "I killed it."
"You killed a basilisk?" Amelia persisted.
"Had a load of help from Fawkes the Phoenix, but yes," Harry agreed. He pulled up his sleeve. "It almost got me, but I got it," his tone dripped with smug satisfaction. "Got it in the brain with a sword through the roof of the mouth." The boy's smile deepened. "Even if Fawkes hadn't saved me, I'd have still taken the bastard with me." The boy didn't notice how intently the staff were listening to his every word. Nor the looks of approval those words prompted.
"Gave you another scar for the collection, 'eh, Harry?" Phil asked with a grin, hoping it hid how horrified he was. "Bet the girls love them."
"I bloody hate them!" Hermione jumped into the conversation. "Just means that Harry got himself hurt again."
"You really should be more careful, Harry," Susan admonished.
"It's not his fault that trouble finds him," Luna said quickly, trying to defend her friend, hoping to head off the conflict she feared was coming.
"What a bloody mess," Amelia groaned, she was going to have to have a very long talk with Dumbledore about the fact that need to know included the DMLE when there was a threat to the students and her personally when there was a threat to her niece. "Ms. Granger, would you mind doing a favor for me?"
"What is it, Madame Bones?" Hermione asked.
"I'm going to drop off a pad of after action reports, I'd appreciate it if you'd badger Harry into filling them out for me." They'd make a nice addition to the boy's application packet to the Auror corps. "Mr. Potter, I'd be more than willing to make it worth your while to not put up too much of a fuss and fill them out."
"What have you been telling her about us, Susan?" Hermione demanded. She kept up a stern glare for a few seconds before bursting into another fit of giggles. "I'll help Harry fill them out, Madame Bones, we can discuss our fee later."
"That's my girl, never do anything for free," Phil said proudly. "Adventures aside, are you kids looking forward to going back to class?"
"Of course," Hermione agreed. "Luna and I don't have the facilities here that we can get at Hogwarts. It's not that you don't have a lovely shop, daddy . . . um . . ."
"It's more focused on internal combustion while Hermione and I are currently focused on external combustion," Luna said quickly, hoping to cover her friend's faux pas. One never criticized another's capabilities.
"How about you, Susan?" Phil prompted.
"It'll be nice to see my friends every day again," Amelia's niece replied. "I feel sorry for Harry, though."
"Oh?" The adults turned their attention back on the boy.
"Professors don't let me have a minute to myself," the boy grumbled.
"It's your own fault for creating such fascinating spells," Hermione laughed. "Harry makes mistakes that everyone else would kill to duplicate."
IIIIIIIIII
To Harry's surprise Ms. Jane was waiting for him when he got back to his suite that night along with several other members of the staff.
"Can I help you, Ms. Jane?" Harry asked calmly.
"Close the door, Mr. Potter," the woman ordered. She waited until Harry complied to speak. "You previously stated that you would kill anyone that attempted to harm our Hermione."
"I did," Harry agreed.
"Would you like to learn how to be better at it?"