After Tonks left for home with a list of names of girls she needed to talk to courtesy of Daphne. The Slytherin then walked Emma back to the Gryffindor Tower. Harry and Ginny were left alone in the large room. Ginny was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice Harry casting the Silencing Charm to ensure that what was said would remain private. He realized too late that he probably should have done that before he talked to Tonks.

"So how bad do you want to Bat-Boogey me?" Harry asked as he approached her. She looked up to see that he was visible nervous, something that she had never seen in him before.

"What?" Ginny casually asked. She was desperately trying to fight her Animagus instincts. Now wasn't time for that.

"You heard me."

"Yes I heard you, and yes I'm feeling the urge. But I'm gonna give you the opportunity to explain. You've earned that."

"Thank you. Just hear me out. When I'm done, if you want to hex me. I won't stop you."

"It better be good Potter."

"I first met Nympy when I was fourteen, and puberty was making me her bitch. I was at that awkward age. I was scrawny, zits all over the place, my hair usually looked like I just pulled it out of a wild bear's ass and my glasses, and oh how I hated those freakin' glasses. To tell you the truth, if I had a cape with a shirt with a big N on it you could have called me Supernerd.

As you can imagine, the first time I saw her I blushed so bad you would have called me Crimson Supernerd. I couldn't put two words together if my life depended on it. She was staying with us so that Padfoot could help her work out the kinks with Animagus form. We were always on the move so for the most part my mum was the only other female I was ever really around.

Not that I didn't make friends mind you, but it hurt too much getting close to someone then having to say goodbye. So to protect myself, I let people get only so close, and focused on my training. It seemed like a logical plan to me. That was until Nympy walked into my logical world and threw a dinosaur sized bone in my program.

I was so obvious about my crush that my godfather couldn't stop laughing, and my mum's advice to just be myself was not nearly as helpful as she thought it would be. Now Nympy could have just ignored this, but bless her twisted heart, she came up with her own method to cure me from my case of the all-day-blush.

She flirted with me, like it was a freakin' religion, and she was damn good at it I'm here to tell ya. She made me pass out two times. That was beyond embarrassing, but the third time she did it. Well I woke up pissed, really pissed. I guess that was when my inner Marauder first made his appearance. I started to flirt back at her. I wasn't nearly as good at it as she was, but I was engaging. I was putting that silly crush behind me, which was what she wanted.

I was determined to get her to blush and I wasn't going to stop until I did. A couple of times I came close but no cigar. This of course led to the events of my infamous Fifteenth Birthday Party. The one where she kept changing the size of her breasts whenever my mum wasn't looking. I ruined a perfectly good pair of jeans that night, and by the look on your face I'm guessing you didn't really need to know that."

"I think that falls under the category of Duh?" Ginny told him as she made a silly face and rolled her eyes. He shook it off and continued.

"Anyway, as humiliating as that was, it was nothing compared to what happened the next day. In my hormone infested delusional mind I convinced myself that she felt the same way as I did. So after spending three hours trying to get my hair to stay down, with flowers in hand and my heart on my sleeve I marched up to her…" Harry shook his head as he remembered the memory as if it was yesterday. Ginny knew without a doubt that he was about to tell her the most humiliating moment of his life. A part of her reveled in the trust he was showing her even if she was still a little mad at him. Another part of her wanted to tell him it was okay, that she didn't need to know even if it was a lie. In the end she kept her silence and waited for him to continue.

"I still can't believe that I did this. In front of everyone I took her hand, got down on one knee and pledged my undying love to her. In retrospect it was more like undying lust, but hey I was only fifteen. What did I know?"

"Merlin Harry, what were you thinking?"

"I'm guessing the blood in my thinking head was a pint low. Hey, I told you I was puberty's bitch."

"What did she do?" Ginny asked while trying to keep her voice even. Knowing Tonks it had to have been unforgettable.

"You can't laugh," Harry pleaded.

"I can't make that promise, but I will try…maybe," She added with a wink.

"She patted me on my head like I was a dog or something, and told me that was sweet. And then she walked off like nothing happened."

"Ouch"

"Ya think? Hey! You said you wouldn't laugh."

"No," Ginny giggled out. "I said I would try. You gotta admit that was pretty damn funny."

"Was not," Harry said ruefully on principle, but his body wasn't listening to his mind. His shoulders started bobbing up and down, and then his lips curled up in defiance. Soon he was laughing as hard as Ginny. They both ended up rolling on the floor in the end. Somehow her head ended up on his stomach. Without even realizing it her hand slipped into his.

"You know she had to shoot you down hard or you would have never given up."

"Yeah, it still sucked though. What? I have a very sensitive psyche." Harry added when she gave him a look.

"Your full of shite Git, and we both know it." She playfully smacked him with the back of her free hand.

"That's a given Tease. You know, that was the first time I have ever been able to laugh about that. I guess I am really over her." Harry said as he sat up and looked at Ginny. Her head slid onto his lap. Merlin she's beautiful. Harry thought as she looked up at him with a small smile on her angelic face. He slid a few loose strands of hair out of her eyes and took the opportunity to run his fingers through her silky hair. She reached up and caressed his cheek with her hand.

"Are you sure?" Ginny asked him. She decided to take a page out of Daphne's book. She didn't want any miscommunication between them.

"Not Nympy, not even Sasha has ever been able to take my breath away. Only you. I didn't know what I truly wanted back then. I do now"

"Good answer Git." Ginny smiled as Harry reached down and wiped a stray tear from her eye.

"It's a game you know. The thing with Tonks and me, sometimes we got caught up in trying to one up each other and we take it too far. I want you to know that neither of us would ever cross that line. I forgot about your new heightened sense of hearing. You weren't supposed to hear that, but it doesn't change the fact that I did say that. I disrespected you and myself. I'm sorry if what I said hurt you. That wasn't my intention, but that's no excuse. It would seem that my good judgment filter in my head was slower than my mouth." Ginny laughed out and shook her head at his ending comment. It was hard to chew him out if he already hit all her key points already. She decided to just let it go.

"That's why I call you Git, but you're my Git, and it wasn't done out of malice. Although the free way you talk can be very shocking at times, it's also very refreshing, even invigorating. You don't hold anything back and I love that about you. But there are times it and you can be very overwhelming. Can you understand that?" Ginny told him as she got up and straddled him on his lap so she could look into his eyes.

"Yeah I do," Harry whispered as he pulled her face closer to his. She didn't resist the move. He breathed her in and smiled. He never thought he would ever tire of the way she smelled.

"You just opened up big time to me, and you will never know just how much that means to me Harry. So I'm going to let this one slide, but next time you will be meeting my Bat-Boogey." Ginny added with her wand in hand.

"Is it wrong that I'm turned on by that?" Harry asked as he leaned in so that their lips were but hairs breathe apart. Ginny trailed her lips across his cheek until they were at his earlobe.

"Is it wicked that you can still get me hot even when I'm cross with you?" She asked before sucking in his lobe and making Harry groan out. It was a rhetorical question and Harry had the good sense to leave it at that, besides his mouth soon tasted the flesh of Ginny's neck. That earned him a long husky moan from her. They had an hour until dinner and they intended to make the most of it.

The moment that Arthur recognized Narcissa he pulled his wand. She spun out of her chair and had hers leveled at him as well. Lily jumped in between them in an instant, and had her arms spread out to limit Arthur's target options.

"First you enter my office without so much as a courtesy knock, and then you threaten my guest without cause. The Arthur Weasley I remember had better manners than that." Lily scolded him. Although Lily's voice was far calmer than when his wife corrected his behavior, the shame in his actions was the same. "Behavior like this will not earn you an invite to Christmas Dinner." She added with a raised brow as she crossed her arms over her chest for added effect.

Arthur's eyes shot between Lily and Narcissa rapidly, as his mind adjusted to what was happening. He would not let his guard down when a Malfoy was present, but he was the aggressor here not her. Lily was standing between them and he had no intention of having her get hurt in the crossfire. Arthur slowly lowered his wand, but kept it at the ready. Narcissa mimicked his move as well. Lily let out a sigh in frustration.

"WANDS!" Lily yelled as she held one hand out for Arthur's wand and one out for Narcissa's. The other two both jumped a little when she did it. Matching each other's movements, they handed over their wands. "Good, now we can all behave like adults." Lily walked around her desk and tossed their wands in an opened drawer, and shut it briskly. I swear they're worse than first years.

"You seem rather lively for a dead woman Mrs. Malfoy," Arthur said through clenched teeth. He thought he was being rather courteous considering their family's history. So he didn't understand her sudden venomous glare.

"Black, Ms. Narcissa Black. If you're going to be abrasive, at least address me by my proper name." Cissy all but snarled at him.

"Black?"

"Yes, it has a much better ring to it than Lady Hellbitch," Cissy told him pointedly.

"Oh you…um…the thing is…you see…I guess you heard about that one?" Arthur asked timidly as he rubbed the back of his neck and looked at his feet.

"Arthur you didn't?" Lily scolded.

"Are all Weasley's this articulate, or are you just a prodigy?"

"Cissy please, this isn't helping."

"Well, it's not like you never had that one coming Ms. Black." Arthur said her name with attitude, and then he noticed how Lily addressed her. "Wait, did you just call her Cissy?"

"Yes Arthur she has been my dear friend for over nineteen years." Lily told him. Arthur looked from Lily to Narcissa and then back to Lily. He saw the tea set on her desk, remembered the casual way they were talking before he recognized Narcissa. He closed his eyes shaking his head side to side.

"It seems that my wife is not the only one jumping to the wrong assumptions today. Please accept my deepest apologies for my rash actions Ms. Black." There was too much history between his family and her's to ever view her without guard, but she was obviously Lily's friend. See as he was here to right the wrong his wife did earlier that day, he surmised that courtesy would better serve him.

"What, wait did you just?"

"Apologize. Yes I do that when I'm wrong."

"I've just never heard a man do that before."

"Oh dear Arthur, I think you just popped her preverbal cherry." Both Narcissa and Arthur snapped their heads at Lily with indignant red faces. "YES! Two at once! Let's see the little scamp top that! Go Lily, Go Lily, Go, Go, Go Lily!" Lily yelled as she jumped up and did a little victory dance. Narcissa crossed her arms and rolled her eyes at her friend's antics. Arthur just looked at her if she had grown a second head. He couldn't ever remember a time when he had seen a Noble Lady act in such a way. When she came to a stop and saw the way the two of them were looking at her, she gave a blush of her own. "Sorry about that, it would seem that my son's more colorful side has rubbed off on me." Narcissa reveled in Lily's embarrassment for a few moments before shifting Arthur's attention away from her.

"Mr. Weasley, I would like to take this moment to apologize for anything I may or may have not done to you or any member of you family in the course of maintaining my cover as the wife of that despicable excuse of a man." Narcissa told him in earnest. Arthur opened his mouth a few time but the words never seemed to make it out. Her heartfelt apology was the last thing he ever expected to hear from Narcissa Malfoy, no Black. He looked as if he had been hit with a bludger.

"Oh dear Cissy, I think you may have broken him."

"Me? What about you and that ridicules dance?"

"That dance was not ridicules."

"Yes it was."

"No it wasn't. Let's ask Arthur. He'll back me up. Arthur, Arthur, earth to Arthur?"

"I think I need a drink," Arthur finally said, more to himself that the two women.

"For once I agree with him. I think that we could all use a good shot of brandy, and perhaps we could enlighten Mr. Weasley on a few things." Narcissa shot Lily a look and got a stern expression in return. "Honestly Lily, I have more to lose here than anyone. He has a right to know." Lily looked as if she was going to argue, but Arthur stood up and stopped her.

"Before anything else is said I feel that there is something I must say, that is if you will allow me this one indulgence?" Arthur was looking straight at Lily as he spoke. She inclined her head for him to continue. "Thank you, Lady Potter I cannot properly convey the shame I feel for the disrespect that my wife has brought against your House."

Lily mover to stop him but a warning look from Cissy held her at bay. She did not need, require, or even desire his apology. This was one of those things she hated about being a Noble Lady. She preferred to see and act towards others as equals. Although in the past she took secret pleasure in it when some pompous Pureblood that saw her as a filthy Mudblood had to bow and show her respect. Yes it was petty, but the cruel irony was still very satisfying.

Molly Weasley was the one that should have been apologizing, not him. She supposed that she owed her an apology as well. She had said some things in the heat of the moment that she wasn't very proud of. Plus in her odd sort of way, Molly had helped Lily shed some unwanted baggage. She wasn't planning on holding a grudge on this manner, but Molly without a doubt owed her son an apology.

"She's a passionate woman when it comes to our children and that sometimes makes her a little off her trolley. However she had no right to treat Lord Potter or you in such a discourteous way. I am quite disgusted with her actions. To right the wrong that my House has made against yours, and per tradition, I will enforce any and all punishment you deem necessary to repair the damage my wife has done." Narcissa snapped her head to look at Arthur. His anger at his wife must be truly immense. Molly Weasley's fate now rested in Lily's hands. If she demanded that Arthur banish her out of his family she would be on the streets within an hour. Her friend would never do such a thing, but she had seen much worse done in the past. Arthur waited in silence as Lily contemplated Molly's punishment.

"James once told you that the House of Potter would always come to your family's aid if asked. That had not changed. I let my anger get the better of me as well Arthur. Please tell your wife that I regret some of the things that I had said. I tend to get a little off the trolley myself when it comes to my son. So my quarrel with your wife has passed. However, I must insist that a public and honest heartfelt apology be given not only to my son, but to Ms. Granger, young Ronald, and most importantly Ginny. To insure that she has proper time to reflect the severity of her actions, your wife will be sleeping on the couch for a month," Lily said calmly. Let her see how the other half lives.

"You compassion, as always, astounds me Lady Potter. It will be done."

"Bet you could really use that drink right about now?" Narcissa asked Arthur, and shot Lily a wink.

"Desperately." He chuckled out. Lily did the honors and the three enjoyed the brandy's rich taste in relative silence.

"Arthur now that we have gotten all that silliness out of the way, I would like you to call me Lily."

"I would like that. I would also like to thank you for what you did for my daughter."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I know that you were the one that healed her up and looked over her after Tonks freed her."

"Remus told you?"

"I read between the lines."

"Then you need to look to your left and thank Cissy as well. She was the one that told Tonks where Ginny was being held, as well as getting them passed the wards of Lestrange Manor."

"You went against you own sister to save the life of my daughter?" Arthur asked her with an uneven voice. Everything that he knew for a certainty was crumbling all around him.

"Yes" Narcissa replied without pause.

"You're the spy that Remus told me about?" Arthur asked as he looked at her in a new light. He had gravely misjudged this woman.

"Yes" Again she answered as she couldn't pull away from his gaze. His eyes were so expressive and what she read in them was regret, miles and miles of regret.

"Thank you, thank you both," Arthur then looked over at Lily. His voice exposed the fact that he was becoming overwhelmed. "The two of you have done more for my daughter than that self-righteous old bastard has ever done. I know that you two must have risked a great deal for a girl that you didn't even know. I-I'm forever in your debt." Arthur managed to get out before he broke down. Lily moved over to him and gave him a hug. He accepted the comfort she was giving, even though he didn't think he deserved it. Narcissa looked at them and envied her friends ability to always know how to remedy a situation. Once he regained his composer, Lily returned to where she was before and Cissy refilled his cup. He took a drink to settle himself.

"I assume by the referral of Dumbledore as a self-righteous old bastard you no longer live your life with blinders on?" Narcissa asked him a little more thornily than she intended.

"Cissy!"

"No, she's right. I've trusted the wrong people and my daughter had suffered greatly for it. If anything she's being more gracious than I deserve," He said too ashamed to look either of the in the eyes.

"Arthur, how did things get this far out of pocket? I still can't believe that you never challenged that mockery of a Life Debt?"

"Of course I challenged that…what were we talking about again?" Arthur asked in confusion. Lily and Narcissa shared worried glances.

"Mr. Weasley" Narcissa started only to be cut off.

"Arthur, please call me Arthur."

"Fine Arthur, when was the last time you've had a complete magical physical?"

"I have one done every year. Why do you ask?"

"Who performs them?"

"Healer Jenkins. She's in the Order." Realization hit him as soon as the words left his mouth. Lily pulled out Narcissa's wand from the drawer and tossed it to her. She turned to Arthur and before she could ask he nodded his permission. "Please do it."

She first did a diagnostic spell that showed what she and Lily feared. Arthur had a number on spells on him, but none so predominant as the Compulsion Charm. After a few minutes of dutiful work Narcissa was able to remove them all. For the most part Arthur took it in stride, but his anger for Dumbledore was reaching its boiling point. Narcissa grabbed his face under the chin roughly and snapped it so he was looking into her eyes.

"Now is not the time for rash actions. Focus that righteous anger of yours into something more productive. You daughter is still in danger and she needs her father. She needs you to be her father again." Lily opened her mouth to scorn Narcissa for her lack of understanding, but Cissy held up her hand for Lily to stop. "You will get your revenge I promise you. Knowledge is power and you will need that to protect your family. That goal is more important than your wounded pride."

"Tell me everything you know." Arthur demanded after Narcissa's words took their full effect.

"That could take awhile." Lily told him.

"I've got the time." He told her then he addressed Narcissa. "And thank you for the swift kick to the bollocks Ms. Black, I needed that."

"It was my pleasure, and please call me Narcissa," She told him before she and Lily spent the next hour filling him in on everything, from the assassination of Charles Potter all the way to the attack on Diagon Alley. What they knew and what they suspected. They waited for Arthur to process it all. Lily hopped for the best, but Narcissa had her wand ready to Obliviate him if it was too much for him to take. Arthur slowly stood and had to use Lily's desk for support.

"I want in," Arthur finally said, and then he noticed the rune drawn on the piece of parchment.

"We were hoping you would say that," Lily told him as she let out a long breath.

"Why do you have a copy of the DeKy Slaveri Rune?"

"You know what this rune is?" Lily asked in shock.

"That's what the DeKy Slaveri looks like?" Narcissa inquired as well, with an enraged look in her eyes. Arthur gave her a swift nod.

"Cissy what have you gotten yourself into, and what pray tell does a bloody DeKy Slaveri Rune do?" Lily didn't like the sound of it and was starting to get a very bad feeling.

"The DeKy Slaveri Rune is largely used in by foreign country on Maximum Security Prisoners. It's a rather nasty rune to tell you the truth. We caught a few escapees from Romania a few years back. I don't recommend getting one branded on you."

"Arthur what does it do?"

"It basically strips you of your magic, or your ability to access your magic. Rather cruel now that I think about it. To know that you still have your magic, but will never be able to use it. Then to add insult to injury, like that poor fugitive found out, you can't even find refuge in the Muggle community." Arthur told her as he shook her head sadly. When Lily looked confused Arthur clarified. "It makes you produce a pheromone that brings out aggression in Muggles."

"Your right Arthur that is vile rune. Prisoner or not I pity anyone who was branded by that abomination."

"Unfortunately, that isn't the only use of that…rune," Narcissa told Lily.

"What other purpose use could that rune possibly be used for?"

"To force unwilling women into Marriage Contracts and compel loyalty and obedience for fear of having it activated." Sirius said bitterly from the doorway. Lily gasped and Arthur tightened his jaw at the news. It wasn't the first time that he had heard that it was used for that purpose. It was one of the things about the Pureblooded Society that he truly loathed.

"Lucius's father demanded that I be branded with one, but Lord Orion Black forbade it," Narcissa said as she walked over to Sirius and gave him a hug. "You don't have to do this. I'll explain it to them." She whispered to him.

"Thank you Cissy, but I think I do," Sirius told her as he walked over and picked up the parchment. He looked at it with such hate. "If a girl decided she didn't want to go through with the contract, she was drugged, tied to a Ritual Alter, and branded with the DeKy Slaveri. The ritual, if done properly, has the magic of three Witch or Wizards infused into the rune. An activation curse is embedded into the rune, per tradition by the groom." Sirius finished through clenched teeth.

"Can it be broken or removed at least?"

"The girl would have to put her magical core against the Magic of the three whose magic resides in the rune. One against three, no one is that strong." Sirius said with upmost certainty. The sudden tension in the room was suffocating.

"Cissy why don't you take Arthur to Grimmauld Place and explain to him just what he's getting himself into." Lily suggested in the most pleasant of ways, but she left no delusion that it was an order. The two of them didn't need to be told twice and exited through the Floo Network in her office. Lily walked over to Sirius and held his face in her hands.

"What aren't you telling me? You knew the details of that ritual too well."

"I was bound, disillusioned and under a silencing charm. That bastard of a husband of hers, as well as her and his father wanted me to see the whole damn thing."

"Does she know they made you watch?"

"No and I was later forced into a Magical Vow." The shock on Lily's face was animated as well as the onslaught of the hit that she sent at Sirius.

"Are you out of your ruddy mind? Why would you do such a thing for those bastards?" She wasn't really sure why she kept on hitting him. The thought of beating some sense into him felt hollow when she didn't have any words of wisdom to send with it.

"It wasn't an unbreakable! I'm not a complete idiot, but you would be amazed what you would do to protect the woman you love, even if it kills you to do so." Lily didn't know how to respond to that so she did the only thing she could think of. She pulled him into a comforting hug. It seemed to be what he needed.

"I'll send word that we won't be at the dinner tonight," Lily told him as she pulled away.

"Why?"

"Because I'm cooking your favorite meal and then we're going to sort this all out."

"You the best Lils," He told her with a weak smile.

"Well of course I am," She added with a wink.

After dinner a large number of students mostly consisting of the old DA, gathered in the room Harry and Ginny had their little talk in. In fact they never actually made it to dinner, not that they minded all that much. They just sent a message for everyone to meet them in the secluded abandoned classroom. Members of all the houses were there. The bulk of them were Gryffindors, but there was a surprising number of Slytherins as well. It seemed that Daphne was doing some recruiting of her own.

"All right, I want to thank you all for coming here tonight. I think it's safe to say that all of you see a need for change, either in yourself, this school, or the Wizarding World as we know it. With hard work and perseverance we will achieve all that and more." Harry started off from in front of the desk. He was flanked by Ginny and Daphne. Harry had already set wards around the room so that none could enter with the intent of deceitfulness. He wanted them to make their own choice if they wanted to join or not. If they chose the latter, the secret of what was said in this room would remain here. It was another gift from Sasha. She had taught him so much more than just the pleasures of the flesh.

"I know what you're thinking. Nice words, but can you back them up. Or maybe you're wondering if I'm like Longbottom and using you for my own benefit. I wouldn't blame you if you did. Trust should be earned and I'm going to tell you something that you'll never read about in the Daily Prophet." Harry started, but stopped and took a moment to center himself. This was a sensitive matter, but a necessary one to form bonds of trust and understanding between him and his new Marauders. Ginny slipped her hand into his. He smiled at the calming effect it brought him. Daphne gave his shoulder a soft squeeze to let him know she was there for him as well.

"I still remember every detail of how my father was murdered. It happened not five feet from my crib, and before you ask there are some memories that are burned into your very soul that will never go away. You see that snake-faced bastard came to our house to kill me. Not my mum, not my dad, but me. Some twit made a prophecy about someone being born that could destroy the Dark Lord. Two babies could fit that bill, me and Neville Longbottom." Several people gasped at that. He expected as much and waited for some of them to adjust to that before he continued.

"Tommyboy hit my house first. He thought he killed my dad, but he forgot one very important thing. My dad was a Marauder, and Marauders never play by someone else's rules. My dad turned my crib into a portkey you see and shoved my mum into it. Before we disappeared…I saw that coward hit my father in the back with the Avada Kedavra. I saw the life leave my father's eyes. Trust me when I say that is a memory that no one wants. That was my father's final gift to me. It was a blessing and a curse. Because of the memory I have the drive, the desire, the duty to push myself to the edge and beyond. Because of that memory I can do things like this. EXPECTO PATRONUM ELEMENTIA!"

From Harry's wand a flaming stag Patronus leapt out and bowed its head to the gasping students. Several of them back away from it, not out of fear, but from the heat it was producing. With a flick of his wrist, Harry turned it into a water stag, followed by one of stone, then crystal, and finally one of pure electricity. With a final wave of his wand the elemental Patronus disappeared.

"Any questions?" Ginny asked with a smirk and got only silence in return.

"We all have the potential to do that and more. We all came here tonight because we're tired of the way things in this school and the Wizarding World are going. The last time the war ended nothing changed, and now the killing has started again. Those that were supposed to guide us into a better future are too set in the old way to see that their ways are outdated. We're forced to live like we're still in the dark ages." Daphne told them in earnest. More than a few were surprised by her statement. She suspected it was the first time they had ever heard her speak. She was going to have to work hard to break her Ice Queen persona.

"She's right. They call them the Dark Ages for a reason." Hermione agreed with the Slytherin before some of her House could discredit her statement. She didn't think that the house rivalries would end over night, and this was too important to let any thick headed gits muck it all up.

"My aunt told me that you're very powerful as well as fearless in battle. She would be dead right now if it wasn't for you and your family." Susan Bones told Harry as she walked up to him and offered him her hand. "You have my thanks, and my trust. I'll back your play. You're right a time for change is long overdue."

"Amelia said you were good. I can help you to become great." Harry told her as he shook her hand.

"I was kind of hoping that you would say that." She grinned on, Susan had the feeling he was being honest, not arrogant

"Shouldn't we be using the Room of Requirement for this?" Hannah Abbott asked.

"Yeah it's has really powerful magic Harry. It can make just about anything." Colin Creevey added.

"It's also a crutch and would only hinder your ability to increase your magical growth. It's like giving a caveman a gun. Sure you'll make him the baddest knuckle dragger in the cave, but eventually he's gonna run out of bullets." Harry told him.

"Besides, then it's just a small piece of metal against a really big club. Who do you do you think is gonna win then?" Ron clarified for Colin. Everyone knew how Ron had saved Hermione from a Mountain Troll, and often joked about the damage a big club could make.

"That power is an illusion and only shows your weakness. Besides, this area is protected from the old fart's watchful eyes and ears. No portraits to tattle on us, and a Compulsion Charm on the area to keep the unwanted at bay. This isn't my first rodeo."

"It's a Yank/Muggle thing. You'll get use to it." Ginny added with a lazy wave before anyone asked about the last part of his statement.

"So what are you suggesting Potter?" Zacharais Smith asked in a sarcastic tone. There's always one in every group.

"We make our own Room of Requirement of course," Luna stated in her usual whimsical fairylike voice, as she redirected Ginny's wand away from Smiths face.

"That's exactly what he's suggesting you pompous arse," Ginny snarled at Smith although she would have preferred to have just hit him with a Bat-Boogey.

"How in the bloody hell do we do that? You ask the impossible Harry." Dean asked in complete astonishment.

"If the founders could do it, why not us?" Hermione countered excitedly. Her mind already making a list of books that she needed to checkout of the library to start her research.

"In 1975 a group of slightly misguided self-proclaimed pranksters fooled an enchantment casted by Rowena Ravenclaw herself and held the first and only Knicker Raid in Hogwarts history. Of the four scoundrels that pulled off this deed, one has been and one is currently our DADA Professor. They were known as the Marauders, and their leader's son is standing right in front of you." Daphne told them as she smiled knowingly at Harry. He looked over at her with a fake scowl, to which she acted all innocent. "What?"

"How did you manage to snake that story out of him Hellcat?" Harry asked her shaking his head in disbelief. Several people took notice of the nickname, and the emphasis that he put on it.

"Because Shadow, I'm just that good." She told him with huge grin as she flipped her hair over her shoulder. Harry made a mental note to put her in charge of, as well as, training their Intelligence Team.

"Wait just a who, your dad led that raid?" Hannah Abbott asked Harry with a look that could only be described as bewilderment.

"That was a well kept Huffelpuff secret until today." Ernie Macmillan scorned Daphne through narrow eyes.

"And why did you call her Hellcat, and she called you Shadow?" Susan asked with a cocked brow, with a familiar look in her eyes that Amelia always got. Harry conjured some chairs.

"Everybody take a seat, this story could take awhile," Harry told them and for the next hour he explained what he planned to accomplish. Then they discussed spells, enchantments, and runes that would transform the room into what they needed. They also discussed who would be recruited which lead to a heated debate between Harry and Hermione.

"No Harry we can't let first years join. It's just too dangerous!"

"What's too dangerous is letting they roam the halls without the knowledge to properly protect themselves!"

"I think your being over dramatic!"

"Over dramatic! Emma was attacked before she got to her first freakin' class! Malfoy and his cronies tried to turn her into a human piñata! If Daphne hadn't come to her rescue, there's no telling how far it would have gone!"

"That's right Granger, a Slytherin came to the aid of a Gryffindor, and that good deed didn't go unanswered!" Tracy Davis yelled at Hermione. She was sick of the untrusting looks her house was receiving, even after Harry and Ginny vouched for them.

"Tracy please," Daphne pleaded at her friend. She didn't want her saying anything more.

"No Daphne! They have no idea what it's like to live in snake pit, what you risked, what they could have…" Tracy was on the verge of hysterics. Harry put a calming hand on her shoulder, but it didn't seem to have the effect he was hoping for.

"Please Tracy, not here, not now, we'll talk later. I promise," Daphne whispered to her as she cradled her friend's face in her hands. Ginny flanked her other side and the three of them did their best to calm down the girl.

"Pansy told me that Draco found their wands and ransomed them back for gold. She said they were going to make you regret ever going against them." Tracy sobbed, but thankfully Harry had silenced the area around them.

"They tried, but Ginny stopped them. Crabbe and Goyle are gone for good now. They can't hurt me or anyone anymore. Please Tracy, calm down." Tracy looked to Ginny, Harry, Daphne, and then back to Ginny again. She mouthed thank you to her.

"Do you think she's being on the up and up?" Dean asked Lavender as they watched from across the room.

"Have you ever seen a Slytherin lose their cool before?" She answered him.

"You see the way Harry and Ginny rushed over there. Something went down that's for sure." Hermione observed.

"I've never heard her call any Muggle-born the 'M' word, and that's saying something for a Slytherin." Ron added as well.

"Daphne, Trace when you walk the halls…We'll have your back." Seamus told them when Tracy finally calmed down and Harry dropped the Silencing Charm. Dean, Ron, Lavender, Parvati, and Hermione nodded their heads simultaneously. It was a major victory to have Gryffindors back Slytherins in such a way. Soon the rest in the room followed their example. It was something that none of the Slytherins in the room ever expected, and it showed on their faces.

"I would never put the younger ones in harm's way, but they need the knowledge to properly protect themselves and each other. Brewing Potions, Healing Charms, understanding and using Ancient Runes properly, maybe even helping with research, they need to get the proper foundation now." Harry told her and she could tell he wouldn't back down on this issue. She nodded her head in defeat. He intended for the Marauders to be a positive force at this school long after they had all graduated.

"Good, now is the time to decide if this is a path that you want to follow. Don't make it lightly. If you chose to walk away there will be no hard feelings. You must do what's right for you and only you can truly know what that is." Harry finished and waited for their choices. One by one everyone raised their hands. "Then let me welcome you to the Marauders and more importantly, welcome to the Marauders Lair."