With the new teachers in the School, Minerva Canceled classes until the next week.
Merlin reset all the wards to battle strength and added a few that only he knew. He taught them to Harry and Hermione, explaining the runes used and how they functioned. He also worked up his own class requirements and how to change the potions lab to be safe and effective.
Harry was now soaking up knowledge like a dry sponge thrown into water. With the blocks Dumbledore placed removed, he was rivaling Hermione for top student. Hermione Was looking at him wondering what happened.
Harry knew what she was thinking. "You've finally been a good influence on me."
Hermione just giggled in response, something Harry could never remember her doing. "Well it's about time, don't you think?"
Harry smiled, kissed Hermione and said. "I must admit its long over due." Then he started laughing.
Hermione Giggled a bit. "Harry you know I'm proud of you?"
Merlin Expertly taught potions, the entire school was now enjoying the class. Remus Taught DADA, while Sirius taught all but NEWT level transfiguration.
Harry, Hermione, Sirius, Remus and Neville all took apprenticeships under Merlin who worked them diligently through the rest of the year. Each had now made their own staff and sword, and then were learning how to use them. Merlin's knowledge of Runes was unsurpassed. They were all learning more than Hogwarts taught in over a hundred years.
Harry and Hermione took their NEWTs at the end of the year and set new records at the school. They would return in the fall only for their apprenticeships. They all moved to Rowan Hall for the summer, the Grangers staying over the weekends so they could work at their dental practice. The Library at Rowan Hall was extensive; Sirius moved the library from Grimauld Place and added to the one at Rowan hall. They used the darker books to research ways of ending Riddle with out ever reaching the battle that they experienced before. Merlin quickly read over Dumbledore's Notes and Laughed, He had never checked the dark books he had on hand or he could have ended Riddles reign of Terror early in the first war.
Merlin Explained to the group that spells of any kind are neither dark nor light it was the intent behind them. Harry started laughing. "Beware anger, fear aggression the Dark side are they!" Hermione started laughing with him, since she was the only one to get the joke.
Harry and Hermione spent most of their free time over the summer months, destroying the supporters of Tom Riddle.
The prophet was reporting one or more loss of life almost every day. The werewolf Problem was nearly eradicated over night. Only Greyback and a few of his pack were left. When Riddle did return He would be hard pressed to find any support at all.
The group was training hard, and there bodies were beginning to show it. Harry had always been thin but now he had muscles a six pack, and fantastic reflexes. Neville and Sirius were not far behind him.
Draco Malfoy was anything but Happy, His home was gone, and both his parents had died when the family mansion burned to the ground from fiend fire. His Aunt Andromeda Tonks had taken him in. his attitudes and actions were causing him nothing but punishments.
Ron Weasley had no idea why he was suddenly left out of Harry's life. He knew it had been planned by Dumbledore that he would be Harry's friend so the Weasleys would share in Harry's accolades and possibly get Harry to marry his sister. He was now spending summer at the burrow alone, even Ginny was off with friends.
Harry, Hermione, her parents and Sirius Had moved into Rowan Hall. They were practicing magic so advanced even Sirius had never seen the like.
The Daily Prophet, was running a story almost daily of a new Dark Lord. The pure bloods were running scared over twenty two of the top of wizarding society were dead and no one knew how it was being done. Minister Fudge had been given a vote of no confidence and summarily thrown out of the ministry and the minister's mansion.
The few death eaters left, were sweating it. They knew why they were targeted, they had no idea who was doing it. Even the ones in Azkaban were dead. Even the dementors had been by-pass and they had no idea how it happened. With the wards the Malfoy's had it should have been impossible to get to their home, yet it was burned to the ground. The only survivors were their house elves, and they had since disappeared. Now the Death Eaters were terrified.