With that, the three stormed outside and boarded the first carriage they could. They left a completely flummoxed Dumbledore standing in the Hall, unsure of what to do next. The concept the blood wards would now no longer protect Harry from Riddle, due to the ritual, had not even crossed his mind. But, he also knew Harry was correct.
Once safely on the train, they were joined in their compartment by Tracey and Blaise, Neville, Hannah and, surprisingly, Susan.
"Where's Horace?" asked Daphne. "He left earlier," replied Tracey. "Something to do with his family." Then she almost minutely tapped the inside of her right forearm.
'Ah!' thought Harry. He had no idea the elder Urquhart was a Death Eater. He just hoped Horace could avoid that fate.
"So, what's everyone's holidays?" asked Hermione.
plans
for
the
Tracey's family would be spending a short amount of time in Italy with the Zabini's, before spending a short time in France. Susan and Hannah had no specific holiday plans, other than to spend time together. Neville was building an extra greenhouse and had plans for the new one and the old one, plus the extensive gardens at Longbottom Manor. Mainly, he was looking forward to spending time with his parents. "When you have an opportunity, we would accept an invitation to Longbottom Hall," said Daphne. "Harry needs to spend time with his godmother, too."
Neville grinned and nodded back.
The three bondmates were starting their time at Greengrass Farm. However, Harry wanted to finally go and have a look at Potter Retreat. Now that the three were married and all legally recognised as adults, Harry felt it was time to visit the ancestral home of the Potters and see what needed to be done to bring it back to it's former glory.
There was no visit from Draco, this trip. However, the three didn't expect it, anyway. Draco and the three felt the one visit on Wednesday morning was enough to keep up appearances. Once the train arrived at Kings Cross, the three promised their friends they'd write during the course of the summer and quickly found the elder Greengrasses.
Once Astoria joined them, they prepared to Floo to the Farm.
When they arrived at the station and disembarked from the train, the three were approached by Mad-Eye.
"Mister Potter, ladies," he said. "I've just received a message from Dumbledore not to take you to your aunt's home, after all. Care to explain why?"
"No," replied Harry. "However, I'll do so, anyway.
"One,
the
Headmaster
seems
to
have conveniently forgotten I'm an emancipated minor, and he's not my magical guardian; two, the blood wards are useless now, due to Riddle using my blood in his resurrection ritual; three, I do not consider my aunt's home my home, so the blood wards wont hold; and, four, I don't trust Dumbledore with taking care of my pocket lint, let alone being responsible for my magical protections.
"The fact that he went ahead and contacted my aunt and her family to convince them to allow me to stay with them again, plus contact those in his little bird watchers club such as yourself to escort me there pretty much under guard as if I was a prisoner, and didn't even think about asking me first, shows in quite clear terms why I'm getting to the point where I consider the old fool my enemy.
"Is that clear enough for you, Moody?" "Crystal," replied the old Master Auror. With a nod to Harry and his wives, Moody then turned on his heel and stumped away.
As Matthias and Deece approached, Matthias asked, "What was that all about?"
"We'll tell you back at the Farm," said Daphne. "It's not for overhearing ears."
With a nod, Matthias led Deece and the Potters to the portkey point, and the five left for the Farm.
Once they'd settled, Matthias brought the four of them down to the parlour to talk.
"Alright," he began. "Over the past week, now that we know Riddle has returned, I have brought up some of the more powerful defences on the Farm." This had both Daphne and Astoria perking up.
"Not used since the previous war, I've had the war wards improved and brought up from deactivated to standby," he said. "This means, anyone who attempts to attack the Farm will be met with deadly force.
"By rights, I'm supposed to ask permission of the Ministry before bringing them up to fully activated. However, there is no requirement for just bringing them up to standby. And, if we're attacked, I intend to fully activate them, irrespective of permission being granted or not."
"You intend to use the exemptions," said Hermione.
self-defence
"I do," he nodded. "This is no different to how we used the wards in the previous war. However, we also had permission, back then, to employ the wards from Bagnold. This time, Fudge is still refusing to acknowledge Riddle's return.
"And therefore, according to him, we're not at war again," sighed Harry.
"Precisely," said Matthias.
"How goes other efforts?" asked Hermione.
With a slight shrug, Matthias replied, "Word has it Dumbledore's reformed his little bird club. Both Harry's godfather and honourary uncle have been approached by him to rejoin. Both, of course, have refused."
"We already knew the reforming part of that," said Daphne. "That's what the conversation with Moody at the train station was about. Dumbledore tried to force Harry back to the oh-so-loving embrace of the Dursleys, again."
"What?" asked Deece. "But, why?"
"The blood wards," snarled Harry. "He seems to think the blood wards are the ultimate in protection for me. And, he won't even attempt to admit he's wrong; no matter how many logical arguments and evidence shows he's wrong."
"Well, he'll be gone soon," said Deece. "Even now he no longer has any control over you."
"What of the Longbottoms?" asked Harry, wanting to change the subject. "They were both members of Dumbledore's burnt chicken club in the previous war."
With
a
small
snort,
Matthias
replied, "Augusta refuses Dumbledore access to Longbottom Hall to even talk to them. However, I don't think it would matter if the old fool was able to talk to them. Both are still convalescing; and both are now very aware it's believed the old fool was the one who arranged to keep them in their mental state."
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