Chapter 32: The Joke Shop and the Slug Club Invitation

The last few days of July have been eventful, with Headmistress Vector and the professors hiring the newest staff members. Renovations around the castle had occurred; Hagrid's hut had been expanded. Professor Sprout greatly appreciated the improvements to her greenhouses—they were bigger, had received new worktables and benches, and the expansion of the garden's field range. Madam Hooch was ecstatic about the improvements to the Quidditch pitch and the arrival of the new Quidditch brooms. They were not alone, as the other professors had also received renovations to their classrooms, which involved new tables, benches, and other necessities, etc. Another thing that pleased them was that they could now teach more advanced pieces of magic in their classes. Something that should have been rectified years ago.

On the 27th, Harry, Blaise, and the others took Cedric out on a night of the town like they had planned, and he was certainly not disappointed. The boys definitely had a good time riding through the streets of muggle London, where they had dinner at a restaurant, went to see some street races, and then to a nightclub. They had more than a few drinks, listened to some music—where Blaise had a dance-off against a few of the other patrons, and played a couple games of Poker, Blackjack, and Baccarat. By the time they left, Cedric, Blaise, and Aaron were flat-out drunk. Neville, Adrian, and Harry were also a little drunk, though they were sober enough to cast the sobering charm on themselves and the others. They then made it home without any issues.

When it came time for Neville and Harry's sixteenth birthdays, the two had chosen to celebrate it on the same day at Longbottom Manor. The two received several gifts from their friends and families. In all, it had been a good birthday celebration.

Soon, on the first Friday in October, the group decided to go to Diagon Alley to get their school things. As many would assume, the security around the wizarding shopping district was at an all-time high. Aurors and D.M.L.E. personnel were stationed at the entrance of nearly every shop.

". . . Can't say I'm not surprised to see so many Aurors out here," Aaron said as he and Katie were walking through the crowded alley with the others. The Second war had officially begun, and the people were scared of being attacked by Voldemort or his Death Eaters. He gave Katie's hand a gentle squeeze when he felt her tense up a bit. "There's no need to worry. Things have been relatively quiet for the past couple of weeks."

"Let's hope it stays that way for a while," Neville added with a slight yawn exiting his mouth. "I wish I had my coffee this morning." Luna giggled and kissed him on the cheek.

Blaise grunted in agreement. "I'm with you on that. Let's stop at the Trinity bookstore first and get some coffee," he suggested, then added, "we can also get our books from there."

"That seems fine. Besides, I can use some coffee myself," remarked Lilith. The others agreed, and they made their way to the library.

As the group walked inside, they noticed the place was very busy. People were moving around, either heading to get their books, checking out at the register, sitting around at the tables, or near the library's cafe.

Astoria gave a low whistle. "Sure, I'm glad I'm not working today. This is crazy," she said while looking around.

"You know what else is crazy?" Cedric came in and turned to the guys with a mischievous smile that they returned. "The night we had out on the time. You guys are off the chains."

"Did we tell you? Or Did we tell you?" Aaron laughed at the memory of what they did while out that night on the 27th. "We did tell you it would be a night you would remember."

"You lot were certainly not lying. That was wild."

"Especially after finding out how much of a party animal you are," Blaise commented with a grin. "Didn't know you had it in you. Who knew the former quintessential Hufflepuff turn Seeker for Puddlemere United was such a party animal? Let's do it again before school starts."

Cedric's eyes lit up. "I'm in, though this time, let's try to avoid getting chased by the members of Scotland Yard." The girls all looked at them with curious glances.

Harry cleared his throat and shook his head. "Remember the rules, guys. No photos. No mention of what we do or get up into. Especially around certain ears, right?" He hissed.

"Harry's right," said Neville, who nodded and decided to change the subject. "Come on, let's get our books."

"I'll get the coffee. What do you guys want?" Harry asked, trying to ignore his sister and girlfriend's questioning stares. After hearing what everyone wanted, he and Daphne went to the cafe. Thankfully, the line was not long. He could feel Daphne looking at him with a questioning stare even though she was attempting to hide it and knew something was on her mind. "We don't do anything too crazy. All we do is go out and have some fun."

Daphne shook her head a little. "No, that's not it. Besides, I know how you are," she replied with a smile. "But there is something I do want to talk to you about when we get home."

When he was about to ask what she wanted to talk about, the person in front of him moved away from the register after receiving their cup of iced coffee and chocolate donut. The two stepped forward and told the cashier what they wanted. Harry paid for their items, and the two went to sit at one of the tables. They were called to pick up their order in less than fifteen minutes. Carrying three full coffee carriers, they went to find the others who were either on the same floor or downstairs.

Eventually, they were able to get their books before leaving to get the rest of their supplies at the other shops. Once they had gathered the essential necessities for their classes, the boys lost their smiles when the girls pulled them near Madam Malkin's shop. The three Aurors stationed outside the shop stopped them from entering and requested they present their identifications.

One of the Aurors' eyes widened when Harry showed him his license. "Potter? Harry Potter," the man said, to which Harry gave a curt nod and took back his license.

"Things are really busy today. Busier than usual anyway," Harry said.

"That's to be expected with You-Know-Who and his people out there. I lived through the last war and know the kind of destruction they can cause." The Aurors stepped aside and let them walk in.

Unfortunately for the group, Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, and Theo Nott were also present getting their school robes. The three were not happy to see them, and after exchanging some words and a few taunts, they decided to leave and their robes from Twilfitt and Tattings. Daphne looked like she wanted to curse Nott for how he was eyeing her up and down, but Harry wrapped his arm possessively around her waist and glared at the boy, letting him know she was his. The lanky, sandy-haired boy told Harry he would get his one of these days. Malfoy, though, was a different matter. His magical aura had changed, and the look of righteous anger in his eyes could be seen.

Harry made a mental note to keep an eye on Malfoy this school year. While it would be easy for him to just kill the worthless piece of flesh, he promised Narcissa he'd do everything he could to keep her son alive. One by one, they all got fitted for their school robes and soon went to get their regular clothes. Try, though, as the boys might, the girls wouldn't let them get out of it. They were adamant about them getting new clothes.

"I really hate clothes shopping," Blaise groaned. There were a few nods of agreement.

Harry let out a breath as he mentally agreed. "Suck it up, mate. The faster we get done, the faster we can leave."

Neville and Aaron breathed a sigh of relief when they stepped out of the shop. The latter then commented, "This is why I abhor clothes shopping."

"Amen," Neville agreed. An idea then came to his mind. "Isn't today the grand opening of Fred and George's shop: Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes? Why don't we check it out."

They walked down the street past a few closed shops with boarded-up windows to a peculiar sight. Set against the dull, poster-muffled shop fronts around them, Fred and George's windows hit the eye like a firework display. Casual passersby were looking back over their shoulders at the windows, and a few rather stunned-looking people had actually come to a halt, transfixed. The left-hand window was dazzlingly full of an assortment of goods that revolved, popped, flashed, bounced, and shrieked; Harry's eyes began to water just looking at it. The righthand window was covered with a gigantic poster, purple like those of the Ministry, but emblazoned with flashing yellow letters:

WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT

YOU - KNOW - WHO?

YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT

U - NO - POO —

THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION

THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION!

"This is definitely the place," said a laughing Harry. Only Fred and George could come up with something like this. Aside from today being the grand opening, the shop had many more customers than the other shops in Diagon Alley. Judging by the place's popularity, investing in Fred and George's Joke Shop might have been a good idea. However, he will reserve any further judgment until the end of the month to see how much money they have earned.

Harry almost missed the mischievous looks on Astoria and Emily's faces. This did not go unnoticed, as Daphne also saw their expressions and paled a little. Those two had a talent for getting into mischief. They slipped a hair-color potion into her morning coffee a few days ago. For two days, her hair was a similar shade of red to the Weasleys. She had chased them both around the castle.

"We best be careful," she whispered to Harry. He did not hesitate to agree, as he knew his sister and Astoria. Upon entering, they saw there were more people inside than they had thought—many of whom were Hogwarts students, and by the looks of it, they were very exuberant about trying to get their hands on the different products.

The shop's interior had undoubtedly been given an expansion charm, as it was much larger inside than initially thought. Even then, that did not matter much since the place was packed and full of people. Up on the second floor, standing over the rail with large smiles, were the owners.

"Step up! Step up! We've got Fainting Fancies! Nosebleed Nougats! And just in time for school! Puking Pastilles," Fred and George said together. They were radiating pure happiness throughout the entire shop as they announced more of their products.

The two immediately came down the stairs when they spotted Harry. "Well, if it isn't our favorite investor," said a beaming George.

"The man who helped make this all possible," Fred added.

"We are so happy you could make it today, Harry. You arrived just in time," they said in unison. Harry shook their hands. The two then turned their attention to the others. "Welcome, all. It is a pleasure to have you lot here."

"If you all would excuse us. We need to introduce. . ." Fred started

"our favorite investor to some of our best products," George finished.

"Emily comes with me," Harry stated.

"Done deal," the two said together. Emily flashed Harry a smile. The two were led to the back, whereas the others went to look at the different products they had created.

True to what they had said, Harry was indeed impressed with their booming business and the various items they had created. George had to momentarily stop the tour when he spotted a young boy trying to pocket some of the items in his cauldron. In a strict tone of voice, he advised the boy to pay for the items before leaving. When it came to Emily; however, Harry could feel how happy she was through their link and knew it wouldn't be long before she started grabbing some items.

"Put your wallet away, Harry. Your money is no good here," Fred said firmly. Harry's eyes widened in surprise.

"You gave us our start-up loan and helped save our dad," George said sternly. "By rights, it is only fair as you have done more for us than we could have imagined. Take whatever you like."

"Of course, the same rules apply to this lovely young lady beside you," Fred added, nodding at Emily.

The two seemed to want to argue about not paying, but they conceded when they saw that Fred and George wouldn't be swayed otherwise. Emily, who seemed less reluctant than her brother, immediately jumped at the chance and went to pocket some items. Harry made a mental note to talk with her later. Knowing her, she would be one of the twins' regular customers along with Astoria. But he'll leave her to Daphne.

They continued showing their various products. It was surprising to hear that the Ministry had placed a large order for their items—hats, gloves, and cloaks—with shielding charms. Several people in the Ministry were unable to cast decent shielding charms, which is embarrassing. The people Harry this past school year and the year before were more than capable. He saw to that. And he knew for a fact that Moody and Shacklebolt had made damn sure the Aurors in the Auror Academy knew how to cast the spell. The same could be said for the Aurors and Hit-Wizards currently in the D.M.L.E., as Amelia and Rufus ordered it themselves.

Next came the area where they housed their Defense Against the Dark Arts items, one of which in particular caught Harry's attention. George tossed it into Harry's hand. "Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. We're importing them from Peru. Handy for if you want to make a quick getaway."

"These were tested? They're not a gag?" Harry shot them a questioning look.

Fred held his hand over his heart and gave a faux affronted look before responding. "My good man. We tested them ourselves and can say with absolute certainty that they work. No light can penetrate through the dark clouds when they are created. The clouds only last for a limited time, so it will be best not to linger if you're trying to escape from somewhere."

Harry thought for a moment. If what they said is true, then this item could be used in more ways than one. "Alright, you two, if these prove as effective as you say, then we can talk about the possibility of selling them to the D.M.L.E. The Aurors and Hit-wizards could definitely use these should they work like they're supposed to."

Fred and George grinned innately. "We look forward to having the conversation with you," said George. Harry gave them a curt nod before heading to the staircase with his items.

He didn't acknowledge Ron when he approached the stairs with a handful of items in his hands. The Prewett boy narrowed his eyes and asked why he was here, to which Harry brushed him off. Before he could ask again, George cut in, "he is our primary investor and, much like Fred and I, has the same amount of rights to this place."

Fred then stepped in, "that's quite an interesting selection of items you have there," he said, looking at the items in his brother's hands. "All of those come to a total of 16 galleons, 9 sickles, and 2 Knuts."

"I'm your brother," said Ron, scandalized that they were willing to charge him.

"And that's our stuff, you're nicking. We're trying to run a business here," Fred retorted.

Ron swore under his breath and made a rude gesture with his finger as he went to the register.

Lilith and the others loaded their bags with a collection of goodies for a little more than a half-hour. Unlike Harry and Emily, they had to pay for their chosen items. Unsurprising to them, Hermione, Ginny, and Molly, who arrived a few minutes were in the shop. Luckily, because of how crowded the shop was, they did not notice them leaving. The group then decided to head toward the Magic Mixer, where they spent a couple of hours.

They didn't leave until the sun started to set over the horizon. Harry and Daphne teleported Astoria and Emily to his house, where they plopped down on the sofas in the living room. "That was fun," Tori stated while pulling out two things from her watch. A large bag containing the Weasley twins' joke/prank products and a candy bucket with different sweets from the candy shop.

"Don't even think about it, Stori," Daphne said firmly, bringing her sister's attention away from her items. She had not missed how Astoria's eyes lit up when she walked inside the candy shop and into Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. No doubt something was brewing in her little mischievous mind. "The last thing you need to do is wreak havoc around this house with those joke items or be up all night because you ate too much candy."

"This is Harry's house, and it's my stuff. Besides, I don't hear him objecting," Astoria retorted.

Harry mentally groaned at being put on the spot like that, and the pleading look Astoria was sending his way. He put his hands up when Daphne narrowed her eyes at him. "No, no, no. Do not bring me into this. I am only responsible for Emily," he said, giving her a pointed look. "Though, I prefer to keep my house intact. . .this is between the two of you. I take no sides."

"Hand them over." Harry extended his hand toward Emily, a serious expression marring his features. Judging by her expression, she looked ready to protest, though she thought otherwise. The two mentally talked for a few minutes, and while she was unhappy, she nonetheless handed him her bag of Weasley joke items and bag of candy. "Thank you. You can have these in moderation," he said, referring to the bag of candy, "but for now, I am putting these somewhere safe." He teleported out of the room, leaving Daphne and Astoria to continue their argument. Emily only sat on the couch, watching the two argue.

Sometime later, a slightly irritated Daphne came into the master bedroom after confiscating her sister's bag of candy and the things she got from Fred and George's shop. Sitting on the bed in his boxers and a nightshirt, Harry was reading a book from his library. He lowered his book when she marched into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. If the irate expression on her face meant anything, she and Astoria had just finished having a row. After a quick shower, she returned wearing a long white nightshirt and short shorts. As she stood in front of the dresser mirror and started brushing her hair, Harry came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

"You think I was hard on, Astoria," she said, leaning into his chest.

"A little, though I do understand," Harry replied. "She needs to learn some restraint. But this is something she will have to learn by herself. She's becoming a young woman."

"I only wish she would listen. Like how. . ."

"How Emily listens to me," he finished what she was about to say. A soft chuckle escaped his lips. "That's the thing, though. Astoria is Astoria, and Emily is Emily. No sibling relationships are perfect, and there are times when Emily does drive me up a wall, and we have our share of arguments. However, she knows I only want to look after her. And I'm sure Astoria knows the same about you."

Daphne let out a breath, "sometimes I hate it when you're right."

Harry chuckled once more and kissed her cheek. "But you love me anyway." She to laughed a little. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"About our future," Daphne stated, putting her brush down. She turned around, grabbed his hand, and pulled him toward the edge of the bed before sitting down. "We've been dancing around this subject for a while but never truly discussed it. Obviously, we're going to be together forever. However, we do need to talk about our future plans."

"Like?" Harry inquired after being momentarily stunned by what she said. Truthfully, he'd been wanting to discuss the same thing. The only thing was that something unexpected would occur, or someone would interrupt them when they would touch on the subject.

She paused for a moment, inhaling a small breath. "For one, if we do get married in the future. How many children would you like?"

"There is no if," he stated firmly. "I do intend to marry you one day once this mess with Voldemort is over. There is no other woman with whom I would rather spend my life with. They could never compare to you. Not to my Sapphire."

Hearing that brought a big smile to her face. She felt the same about him. She would face an army of criminals, Death Eaters, and Voldemort himself to be with Harry. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, bringing her close, and continued.

"As for future children? That is something I have rarely thought about," he admitted. "I would like to have more than one. The previous war with Grindelwald, the one with Voldemort, and Dumbledore's machinations have nearly driven the Potters to extinction. While I would like for there to be more Potters in the future. I do not want to put too much stress on you or for us to have as many children as Arthur did. Seven children would be too much to handle."

"That's true."

How many children would you like to have?"

"Let's see," Daphne raised her head while blushing a bit and thought for a few minutes, "given the number of Houses you are in charge of and your wish to continue your main line with the Potters. . . I think three or four would be enough."

"That'll be a good number. Besides, it's not like they will be coming out of me," he half-jokingly said with a cheesy grin. Daphne glared at him and slapped his chest. "Sorry, I couldn't resist," he said, barely able to stifle his laughter.

She was not as amused by his joke. "You make another joke like that, and you will be on the living room couch for the next couple of nights," she warned. That quickly sobered him up.

"Come on, Daph. You know I'm only playing." He stopped her hand before she could slap his chest again and crashed his lips down to hers in a sensual kiss. When Harry felt her hand lower, he removed his lips from hers and looked into her blue eyes. "You know I love you," he said.

She halfway rolled her eyes. "Damn those eyes of yours," she muttered with her lips curly into a small smile. "I hate that I cannot stay mad at you."

He kissed her again. "It's part of my charm," replying with a grin.

"But your arse is going to be doing its fair share when it comes changing diapers and raising our kids," she said firmly.

"Of course. I would have it no other way. And if our daughter or daughters are anything like you, then they'll be as beautiful and dangerous."

This time, Daphne laughed. "You got that right," she replied. They will also have a strong father to protect them."

"Is there anything else you want to talk about?" Harry asked when she draped her legs across his lap.

"There are a few others, though the primary one had just been addressed. So, it'll suffice for now."

"What would you like to do now?"

When he drew her closer, a glint appeared in her eyes. "Well, I wouldn't say no to a massage. My back and shoulders are a little stiff. I also wouldn't mind if you showed how much you appreciate me," she said, her lips forming a mischievous smile.

Meeting her smile with his own. "I believe I can do that," he replied. Daphne giggled as he brought his lips down to hers. The slow, loving kiss between them slowly grew more heated as Daphne readjusted herself to sit on his lap and wrapped her hands around his neck. They eventually fell asleep under the covers in each other's arms.

(00)

Two weeks later, on a boat heading toward Azkaban, Harry had to suck in a breath as he neared the cursed island. The Dementors may be gone, but the cold and hopelessness surrounding the prison made it seem like they were still here. He, for one, was not sorry that they'd been sent back to their own dimension. They should have never been able to cross over in the first place. With their departure, the prison was now being guarded by Aurors and Hit-wizards.

The boat driver stopped when they reached the island, and Harry hopped out. He presented his I.D. to the four Aurors standing guard in front of the prison's entrance, which the lead guard verified and allowed him to pass through. As he walked through the prison's torch-lit corridors and up the stairs, the feelings of cold and hopelessness increased. No wonder people feared this place and why some often went insane. It was hell on earth, plain and simple. Harry made a mental note to provide some security orbs to the prison's warden to increase the security around here.

Calmly, he strolled through the prison's corridors, passing through some of the occupied cells on the lower levels until he arrived at the warden's office. Harry walked into the office after receiving confirmation to come in. "Are they here?"

"In the interrogation room," the warden confirmed. He got up from his chair and led Harry to the prison's interrogation area, where a half dozen Aurors were standing guard. They stopped outside one of the interrogation rooms where the people he wanted to see were in. "They're waiting inside."

Harry gave him a curt nod as he opened the door. Inside were the Edgecombes. Marietta was in a grey and white prison uniform with her hands chained to the metal table. She was still disfigured from all of the pimples; on her forehead, the pimples spelled: Traitorous Bitch. She was very pale, her red hair was a mess, she had dark circles around her eyes, and she was skinny. By all accounts, she was miserable, not that he cared in the slightest. She had brought this on herself. Standing at both her sides were her parents, and against the wall were two Aurors with their wands out.

"What are you doing here, Potter? Have you come to make my life even more hellish?" She attempted to sneer at him when he sat down in the chair opposite of her.

"That is Lord Potter to you, Edgecombe, and I suggest you back off on the attitude," Harry retorted, narrowing his green eyes at her. "And if your life is so miserable, then it's because of your own actions."

"Why are you here?" she asked while glaring at him.

"To see how pathetic you are," he replied, surprising the Edgecombes.

Anger coursed through Marietta's person. "How pathetic I am? Look what you did to my face. You took everything from me and my family! You got me sentenced to seventeen years in this hellhole! Took our house and all our money, got my Mum fired from the Ministry, and blackened our name across magical Britain and Ireland.

"You were always an arrogant bitch, Edgecombe. Who knew you were also a disloyal coward! Don't pretend like you're the victim here because you are not," Harry retorted, his voice laced with cold disdain. "No one forced you to join the DA nor sign the parchment. And no one forced you to snitch to that toad, Umbitch. You did those on your own accord. In doing so, you endangered several of your peers—many of whom Umbridge had tortured with a Blood quill—with her in control of the school, the place would have been a miniature version of this place. What's worse is that you brought some people close to me in the line of fire. My friends. My brother in all blood. My godbrother. My girlfriend. And worst of all, my sister."

The temperature in the room dropped significantly, and the Edgecombes became very pale. "Consider yourself fortunate that I didn't kill you. I'm still quite tempted to do it. The only reason I spared your life is that my sister asked me to, believing your time in here, as well as your parents' punishment, would suffice. That is awfully merciful of her if you ask me." He let that sink into her head for a moment before continuing. "Just so you know, a lot of people at Hogwarts hate you: the current students, old students, even the staff. They all despise you, some more than others. Also, good luck finding a job once you get out here. I highly doubt you'll be able to find one in either Britain or Ireland. On the chance that you do get hired. . .then I cannot imagine it being anything more than a conductor for the Knight Bus or a janitor."

Tears started welling up in the girl's eyes. Everything in her life. All of her dreams had been destroyed. In Cho's final letter to her—she had not only cut ties with her but also said the same thing. Everyone in Ravenclaw's house loathed her, and several people in the other houses hated her. Things for her parents weren't any easier either, as they'd been under heavy scrutiny from both the Daily Prophet and International Press for two months since her trial. They were slowly getting back their lives, though it would never be the same. Her parents managed to move out of the Leaky Cauldron and into an apartment. Despite her father being able to keep his job, he would never receive a promotion or a pay raise. Through some difficulty, her Mum finally got a job as a secretary for a food company in Ireland.

Harry sneered at her with disdain before turning to the Aurors. "Take her back to her cell," he said, motioning for them to take her away. The two Aurors complied, removing the cuffs from the girl's hands, and escorted her back to her cell.

The next people to arrive were Seamus and his mother. Seamus looked equally as miserable as Marietta. He looked seconds away from saying something when he saw Harry in the room, though he stopped himself after receiving a cold, dangerous glare. The Aurors pushed him into the chair, and immediately, the table's chains wrapped around his wrists. His mother stood behind him, looking distraught and fearful.

"Why am I here?" Seamus asked in a barely audible voice.

Similar to Edgecombe, Harry laid into him for the actions that brought him here. The only difference was that Harry was slightly less harsh on the Irish boy, as he clearly understood he was wrong. "Let this serve as a reminder of what your selfishness had gotten you. From here on out, you will live with the consequences of your actions and be alone. That is all I have to say to you," Harry said, getting up and leaving the room. He doubted his uncle or the Patils would have been any more lenient with him if they were here. Whatever happens to Finnegan in the future will not be on him.

Harry then teleported away from the island after exiting through the prison's entrance. Instead of heading home, he went to the I.C.W. for a scheduled meeting with the Supreme Mugwump and some of the representatives. Already, a headache was brewing in the back of his mind.

Later that day, miles away at the Dark Lord's headquarters, Rabastan watched with satisfaction as Draco killed the muggle girl. The killing curse had claimed her life, and she fell dead to the floor alongside the other five individuals. There were three witches; two muggleborns and a half-blood, with the others being muggles. Earlier today, there had been a raid in a couple of magical and muggle towns in Germany led by Rabastan himself. Per the Dark Lord's orders, he took Draco with him so he could test the results of his training. To his surprise, he was not disappointed. He was impressed with the boy's tenacity and ruthlessness. For a reward he had the captured prisoners brought up from the dungeon and let Draco play with them.

Three of them were lying on the floor, battered and bruised, with their clothes shredded, and the others had been tortured before being killed. Rabastan's grey eyes turned to Draco. "You have done well, Draco," he praised the boy as he smoothed his clothes out. "The Dark Lord would like to see you now."

Rabastan looked at the Death Eaters standing against the wall. "Clean this trash up," he said while leading Draco into the throne room. Opening the double doors, they walked into the room, where a dozen other Death Eaters were present, standing against the wall, while the Dark Lord sat in a chair next to the roaring fire. The two kneeled down before the Dark Lord.

"My Lord, I have brought Draco as you have requested," said Rabastan. Draco was kneeling an inch or two behind him.

Voldemort's blood-red eyes narrowed at the two. "Good, Rabastan. I take it the ritual was met with success?"

"Yes, the ritual was complete, and Draco has access to the Rabastan family library as well as our magic," Rabastan confirmed without missing a beat. He received a curt nod from the Dark Lord.

"Stand with the others," he icily said. Rabastan obediently went to stand next to the others by the wall. Voldemort's red eyes zeroed in on Draco and, momentarily, said nothing but regard him with a look. "I have heard the results of your training this summer and your actions in some of the raids. It would seem that having you trained wasn't a waste of time after all."

"I am honored by your praise, my Lord," Draco said. Since the end of his fifth year, the Dark Lord has had him undergo an intensive training regime under his Uncle Rabastan and a few others and was taken on a couple of raids. He had hoped his efforts would impress his Master enough to be allowed a place within his inner circle. The time was soon near; he would take his revenge on all those who had crossed him and avenge his father, Aunt Bellatrix, and other Uncle Rudolphus. He would also make his mother pay for deserting him. "What is your command?"

Voldemort let out a cold, humorless chuckle. "You are about to be granted the honor of wearing my mark," he stated, surprising everyone in the room. "I have a mission for you this year at Hogwarts. For too long, my enemies have thwarted me. . . Harry Potter and his companions have irked me in more ways than one. Potter, in particular, has been a thorn in my side long enough and incurred my fury. You are to. . ." Voldemort explained the mission he was entrusting to Draco, telling him that he had until the of his sixth year to accomplish it. He would be awarded and honored above all others; however, his life would be forfeit if he failed.

The twinge of fear Draco felt was replaced by his desire for revenge, and he eagerly accepted his new mission. "Your left arm, Draco," he requested and snatched the boy's arm when he raised it. Voldemort waved his wand in an intricate pattern and muttered an incantation in parseltongue. The burning in Draco's forearm made him scream in pain as the Dark Mark appeared.

Draco clutched his burning arm, which now had the Dark lord's Mark when he was released. "Now, what have you done to prepare for this coming year?" Voldemort inquired.

Draco looked at his Master and started to explain.

(00)

The remaining weeks of summer vacation passed by in a blur. When it came time for the students to leave for Hogwarts, Aurors were stationed at Platform 9 3/4 to ensure security. The last thing they needed was for the Death Eaters to attack while the students were boarding the Hogwarts Express. Daphne, Tracey, Blaise, and the others boarded the train and went to find their compartments. Neville, Luna, Daphne, Blaise, and Tracey shared a compartment. Astoria, Emily went with Susan, Lilith, and Hannah to sit with their peers. And Aaron decided to share a compartment with Katie and Leanne.

As soon as the train started leaving, Blaise and Neville started talking about why some of the shops in Diagon Alley had been closed. "It's undeniable. Similar to the previous war with Voldemort. . .the Death Eaters are kidnapping people. This can only mean one thing: Voldemort is gearing up for an all-out war."

"That's an understatement," Neville replied. Last week, they and the others decided to have another night out on the town. But their good time had been interrupted when a handful of Death Eaters showed up and started attacking the area they were in. Apparently, that had been one of the areas they had attacked in the muggle world. The same could be said for some of the magical districts. "You noticed how Ollivander's was closed, right?"

"You think they got him?" Luna asked with concern. Practically everyone had gotten their wands at Ollivander's Wand Shop.

"I don't know. However, I can't imagine—" But before he could explain his theory, the compartment door slid open, and a breathless third-year girl stepped inside.

"I'm supposed to deliver these to Neville Longbottom, Daphne Greengrass, and Blaise Z-Zabini," she faltered for a moment to look at the trio and their companions. She was holding out three scrolls of parchment tied with violet ribbon. Perplexed, the three took the scroll addressed to them, and the girl stumbled back out of the compartment.

"What is it? An invitation?" Tracey inquired, looking at the parchment in Blaise's hands.

"Seems that way," Blaise responded, reading what was on it. He was momentarily surprised to see who the invitation was from. "Professor Slughorn. I remember my Mum and grandfather telling me about him. Aside from his desire to collect people who have power and influence, he is well-connected to many elite social circles and is one of Britain's most accomplished Potion Masters."

"Harry did say as much," Daphne replied, letting out a breath. "It can't hurt to at least attend and listen to what he has to say. Just remember we have a Prefect meeting later."

"Yeah, yeah," Neville half-rolled his eyes. He turned to Luna, "I'll see you at the meeting." She nodded. The two shared a short, sweet kiss before he and the others left to attend their meeting in compartment C.

"Ms. Greengrass, Mr. Zabini, welcome," said Slughorn when they entered, jumping up at the sight of them so that his great velvet-covered belly seemed to fill all the remaining space in the compartment. His shiny bald head and great silvery mustache gleamed as brightly in the sunlight as the golden THE SLUG CLUB 143 buttons on his waistcoat. "Good to see you, good to see you! And you must be Mr. Longbottom! I have heard much about you, young man." Neville nodded a thank you.

At Slughorn's gesture, they sat down in the remaining seats, which were nearest to the door. Daphne glanced around at the other people present in the compartment. Cormac McLaggen, the Carrow twins Flora and Hestia, Marcus Belby, and a few others were seated in the compartment. It was a surprise to see Ginny Prewett among them. Why she had been given an invitation was a mystery. The red-haired girl glared at Daphne, Blaise, and Neville—though not as much as the other two—when they sat down.

Slughorn then introduced them one by one and explained the reason or reasons why they received an invitation. "Well now, this is most pleasant," said Slughorn cozily, making himself at home with the others. "A

chance to get to know you all a little better. Here, take a napkin. I've packed my own lunch; the trolley, as I remember it, is heavy on licorice wands, and a poor old man's digestive system isn't quite up to such things. . . Pheasant, Belby?"

Belby started and accepted what looked like half a cold pheasant. "I was just telling young Marcus here that I had the pleasure of teaching his Uncle Damocles," Slughorn told Blaise, Daphne, and Neville, now passing around a basket of rolls. "Outstanding wizard, outstanding, and his Order of Merlin most well-deserved. Do you see much of your uncle, Marcus?"

The gluttonous boy had taken a large mouthful of pheasant; in his haste to answer Slughorn, he swallowed too fast, turned purple, and began to choke. Slughorn calmly pointed his wand at him and cast a spell that cleared his airway. He explained how Belby's uncle Damocles was the original creator of the Wolfsbane Potion. Slughorn lost interest in the boy when he revealed that he had not kept in touch with his uncle since he and his father were not getting along. The next person he put on the spot was McLaggen, and the seventh-year Gryffindor puffed his chest out.

"Now, you, Cormac," said Slughorn, "I happen to know you see a lot of your Uncle Tiberius because he has a rather splendid picture of the two of you hunting nogtails in, I think, Norfolk?"

"Oh, yeah, that was fun, that was," McLaggen proudly said. "We went with Bertie Higgs and Rufus Scrimgeour. This was in mid-July, obviously—"

"Ah, you know Bertie and Rufus too?" beamed Slughorn, now offering around a small tray of pies; somehow, Belby was missed out. "Now tell me. . ."

Daphne masked her sigh with a small cough. This was to be expected, as the man was interested in people who were well connected to people with substantial influence—though it did not explain why Prewett was here. Blaise was invited because of his mother, who had married seven times, her husbands leaving her mounds of gold, and his grandfather, who is a successful businessman. Something his grandfather had been grooming him for when he becomes old enough. Another reason was that he received an Order of Merlin 2nd Class for participating in the battle at the Ministry.

Neville was invited because he participated in the Ministry battle, and his parents were well-known Aurors. Slughorn's eyes twinkled with mirth when Neville said he was in line to get a Mastery in Herbology if he does well enough on the N.E.W.T. exam and intends to open up his own company for magical plants. The man then explained how he saw Ginny using a Bat-Bogey Hex as he was passing by on the train and expressed delight at how strong it was.

"And now," said Slughorn, shifting massively in his seat with the

air of a compere introducing his star act. "Daphne Greengrass! Where to

begin? The defeater of Bellatrix Lestrange and co-producer of the improved version of the Wolfsbane Potion! Why, I believe that is only the start of what you will be able to do going forward." He contemplated Daphne for a moment as though she was a particularly large and succulent piece of pheasant, then said, "some of my friends in the Department of Mysteries tell me that you've done a fantastic job when doing your internships these past two summers."

"Thank you, professor. Since I was a level 2 intern, the work was a little more difficult than when I was a level 1, but I am grateful for the experience. Director Croaker and Unspeakable Ulrich Moon were very pleased with my work," said Daphne, who smiled. "I look forward to working there after I get my masteries."

"Oh, yes. I have heard you were being offered the chance to obtain a Mastery in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Charms, Arithmancy, Herbology, and Transfiguration," Slughorn jovially said. "With six masteries under your belt, I have no doubt they will accept you into their ranks." Daphne gave him a courtesy nod.

The meeting continued until it was twilight outside. Daphne could not deny it, but Slughorn really was a Slytherin at heart and possessed a vast amount of knowledge about Potions and other fields. She couldn't wait to see what kind of teacher he would be. This year's Potion class should be interesting. The Hogwarts Express eventually pulled up at the station in Hogsmeade, and the students boarded the carriages. It was a short ride, though they arrived at the castle's main gate where Professors Burbage, Flitwick, and Sprout took roll, and some Aurors checked the students' luggage.

Once their names, the house they were in, and the year they would be entering were verified, they were allowed to proceed. Susan whispered to Lilith, "I get the feeling that there are going to be more than a few surprises this year."

Lilith giggled in agreement. "You're not wrong."

In the Great Hall, they saw the new batch of first years had already been sorted and seated at the different house tables. Everyone sat at their respective house tables, chatting about what they did during the summer, and soon began eating when the food appeared. Several students turned to look at the Head table, where the professors were to see a few new faces. The third years and above received letters about the removal of Divination and Muggle Studies and a list of the new electives that had been added to the school's curriculum. Thus, they were given a choice to either keep their chosen electives or sign up for one of the new ones.

At the end of dinner, when the food vanished, Professor Vector stood in front of the podium to deliver the customary welcome-back speech. "Good evening, and welcome back to our returning students. Before you all are released back to your house common rooms, we have changes that need to be addressed. The removal of some electives and the arrival of new ones. Rest assured that even with the removal of Divination and Muggle Studies professors, Trelawney and Burbage will remain part of the Hogwarts staff. Professor Trelawney shall co-teach astronomy with Professor Sinestra, and Professor Burbage will be the school's new caretaker." That got many of the students whispering.

Professor Vector then continued, "In accordance with the new electives, please help me welcome the newest members of our staff. Mr. Stephen Lane joins us from abroad in MACUSA and will, therefore, be teaching Government. Mrs. Britanny Hill will be taking the post of Law professor. Mrs. Rosalinda Balfour will be the school's Business professor. Mr. Owen Patterson is our new Curse breaking and Warding professor. I am also pleased to announce that an old colleague of ours has agreed to resume his old post as Potions professor Horace Slughorn, while Professor Snape takes over as the professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Good luck to you all." There was applause for the professors she called out, not to mention a collection of whispers.

"Our caretaker, Professor Burbage, has requested that I announce that there is a ban on various products from Weasleys Wizard Wheezes. The list can be found in her office. I am also pleased to announce that Hogwarts will now have its very first dueling tournament. This tournament is open to only third-years and above and will be overseen by Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Flitwick. The other professors and I have decided to make this a team tournament where the third years will face each other, the fourth years compete against each other, and so on. There can be no more than five people on a team." She explained the rules and the prizes that'll be awarded to the team who wins the most duels. "You will have three weeks to form a team and submit the names to either Professors Snape, Flitwick, or McGonagall."

"In addition, we will be having a Yule Ball on December 25th. The same rules and rights will be applied when we hosted the Triwizard tournament in 1994-95. The Ball will begin at seven-thirty and end at midnight. Any student in their third year and below can attend so long as they are invited by an older student.

Excited murmurs and whispers ran throughout the Hall; the students were very much intrigued by the news. Some groaned at the idea of having to find dates for the Ball.

The rest of the announcements consisted of tryouts for the house's quidditch teams and a warning about the danger Voldemort and the Death Eaters pose to everyone inside the castle. The Aurors would be stationed on the school grounds and in the Hogsmeade village for security. She continued for a couple more minutes before ending. "That'll be all for the night. Head to your dormitories and get some rest. Classes begin tomorrow," she said, dismissing the students.

As she walked to Gryffindor Tower, Hermione was thinking about what Professor Vector said about the Dueling Tournament. Namely, it is one of the prizes that could be gained. The opportunity to learn four pieces of advanced magic that weren't taught at Hogwarts and the chance to demonstrate how far she had come and show her abilities. The only thing was that she needed to put a team together. At least she could look outside of her house.

When she walked inside the portrait hole, her thoughts were interrupted by what Parvati and Lavender were talking about. "I don't know why it is that you are complaining. It's your own fault for not studying that much. You achieved nine O.W.L.s."

"Yeah, but I only had three outstandings, four exceeds expectations, and two acceptables," Lavender complained.

"Then perhaps you should not have tried to get Harry in a broom closet or abandoned classroom so much," said Parvati. "I saw how you were trying to get him alone and know what you want to do with him." Lavender's cheeks went red. "Face it, Lavender, Harry loves Daphne and will never leave her for anyone else. That will never change."

Lavender groaned. Most of last year, she had tried to make herself look presentable. . .and often tried to get Harry alone. There were times when she would fantasize about him dragging her into a broom closet or abandoned classroom and snog the daylight out of her. She, like so many others, found him incredibly handsome. Have seen him topless when he sometimes works out in the morning with Blaise Zabini.

"I still say it is unfair that he only has for Greengrass and is unwilling to take another partner," she grumbled. "Technically, he could have more than one wife since he's the Head of more than one House."

"Don't even think about it," said Parvati, waving her hand to stop Lavender from thinking about that possibility. "That won't happen."

"And besides, even if he did consider that idea, you have to first go through Emily, Professor Snape, and Miwa," Neville said, coming into the conversation and bringing their attention to him. "I can tell you right now that will be highly unlikely."

"You sound almost scared of them," Parvati commented. "Not that I blame you. Emily may be two years younger than us, but she is not someone you'd want to get on the wrong side of. Out of those three, Harry values her opinion more. Miwa Kawada? I'm not willing to cross her, especially not after learning that she defeated Antonin Dolohov and achieved the rank of Master Class Duelist. Professor Snape, on the other hand? Forget about it. He is Harry's father and will not entertain the idea of him dating, let alone marrying someone unless they prove their worth."

"Take my advice, Lav. Drop the notion of being with him because the possibility of that notion happening will never come to fruition," said Parvati. Neville nodded his head in agreement.

They continued talking for several more minutes. Ginny, who heard the conversation, frowned; she hated Greengrass for more than one reason. She was on the couch sitting with her boyfriend, Dean, and allowed herself to be drawn into a kiss. Dean was a nice guy for now, but she wanted Harry. The two said goodnight, and she went up to the girls' fifth-year dormitory.

(00)

In Harry's apartment's master bedroom, Daphne was sitting on the bed in her pajamas, scratching behind one of Iroh's ears as he lay on the bed with her. She smiled when Harry emerged from the bathroom in a nightshirt and some boxers. "So those are the big news you and the professors came up with. A dueling tournament and a Yule ball!"

Harry chuckled while walking over to the bed. Iroh licked his hand when he scratched under his chin. "We figured it'd be a good idea," Harry replied with a grin. Iroh barked, and shadow traveled out of the room.

He got into bed and kissed her. "Daphne, will you," he said, kissing her again, "do me the honor of accompanying me to the Ball?"

Daphne giggled as he pecked her lips. " Of course, Harry," she said, kissing him back. "You work fast."

"I simply know what I want," he replied with his trademark grin.

"And what is that you want, Mr. Potter?" Her blue eyes twinkled.

"For one to hold and be with my Sapphire."

"Is that all?"

"You tell me." She continued to laugh as he kissed below her ear and down her neck. Daphne rested her head against his chest. This was where she felt most at peace, by his side. If things could be like this—her with him, him with her—then it wouldn't matter who stood in the way. They would be together forever.

A/N: The Weasley twins have opened up their joke shop with Harry being their investor. These two are going to make a lot of money with their products. Harry paid a visit to Azkaban to see how Edgecombe and Finnegan were fairing and was silently interested in rubbing their current situations in their faces. He's not cruel, though knows how to get even and burn people who cross him. Seamus and Marietta had did this to themselves and thus have no right to complain.

Draco has been made a Death Eater by Voldemort. Even in death Voldemort seeks to punish Lucius for his failures. The man's cruelty knows no bounds. Like a fool Draco eagerly accept his new position. His relation to Rabastan has also changed and you all can guess what ritual he may have performed on the boy.

On the Hogwarts Express, Slughorn has begun searching for people who he believes has the most potential to join the Slug Club. The man may be a collector, but he is a very good teacher.

Next Chapter: The Felix Prize