What came after that day was me gaining a friend which I could discuss many topics with. Helena being very enthusiastic about gaining a friend took every opportunity to enjoy it.
This resulted in her being present for all my classes and watching me teach with a small smile on her face, while also taking notes in a notebook I gave her. Then when a class ends we can discuss freely. And I was not joking when I said Helena never stopped learning ever since she returned to Hogwarts as a ghost. I might be a master of modern Magic, but she has had the time to learn things long forgotten by others. So we discussed old Magic, interesting or important individuals as well as contemporary views on historical events of the last thousand years, and most prominently my dozens of little white magic projects. She gets really enthusiastic when we talk about my new stuff and also enjoys hearing about what my friends can do.
What was somewhat unexpected was that I apparently felt warm to Helena. From what she described, she felt like she was next to a gentle flame slowly warming her up. This was fascinating to hear because ghost typically feel the cold of being dead and can only almost experience past sensations, as was demonstrated during Nearly-Headless Nick's deathday celebration. So that led to a few tests and we found out that my azure flame could interact with spirits and souls, hence why she could fell its heat. As a result, Helena was more determined than ever to stay near me since she could attain the warmth she lost long ago, even if it was sometimes unconsciously.
So as a result of all this, I was now no longer said to be haunted by the Grey Lady, however I've heard some strange murmurs from the female students saying my looks can even charm the dead before running away. And there seems to be an increase of girls getting really into amateurish looking books while either blushing or breathing heavily.
Been a while since that happened. Wonder what those books are about, especially since I've never seen any guy with one.
Whatever, it's never been important since it just looks like pleasure reading instead of anything useful.
So time passed relatively peacefully as the holidays neared. I was enjoying teaching, the Orderlings were getting better, the toad was suspiciously silent but I was keeping an eye on her, the ministry was still trying the put out the fire under its arse, and my time at home was fulfilling as I cherished each little moment with Victoria, even if her mother was still there to kill the mood sometimes.
But then, only a few days away from the break, I felt a spell try to come through the wards I had set up for the house whilst Tory and I slept in our bed.
I knew exactly what it was so I let it in, and a moment later an ethereal silver Phoenix hovered in our bedroom.
"Aedan I require your immediate assistance in my office. It's about Harry. My Floo is open." Dumbledore's voice said from the patronus.
"I'm going to spike that old man's lemon drops." A cranky voice murmured from besides me.
"He wouldn't do this if it wasn't a big deal. You go back to sleep love and I'll be back soon." I said to her as I gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"You better be. It's cold without you." She said in a slightly childish manner as she wrapped herself in blankets.
"Then I'll have to be extra quick." I responded with a whisper to her ear.
"Good." She simply said as she made herself comfortable again since she was losing her pillow, meaning me.
I quickly put on a simple outfit of white t-shirt, jeans and sneakers, then covered myself with a black wizard robe to stay warm. Walking to the fireplace I activated the Floo setting, dismissed Dobby who appeared thinking I would need something, then flashed away to the headmaster's office.
I walked out of the fireplace to find Dumbledore, Harry, Minerva and the Weasleys all looking at me.
I then noticed Harry's emotions were in great turmoil at the moment.
"Harry it'll be alright. Whatever happened we will be able to help you. Now can I know precisely what just happened?" I opened with as I needed to look like I didn't know.
"It appears Arthur was found wounded in the Ministry. It was his turn." Dumbledore answered seriously, just leaving enough information for someone who was in the know to understand.
Obviously I knew about the event even if I wasn't sure it would still be the exact same as in canon. But I also warned the Order about Tom's interest with the prophecy so they kept me informed about their plans while I fed them information to facilitate everything.
"Alright that explains all the Weasleys, but why Harry and me?" I asked this time as gave my bro a questioning look.
"I had a dream or a nightmare. I saw Mr. Weasley get attacked. Like I was the one attacking him. But it wasn't with magic, it was like I was a beast." Harry answered as he struggled to put what he saw into words.
"Alright so that gives validation to a few theories and kills a lot of them. But this isn't the first time, so why call me now Headmaster? I know Harry has had these types of dreams before." I say as I turn back to my current boss.
"You know what this means Aedan. Harry needs to learn to protect himself and you are without a doubt the most qualified. Severus would be far too hard on him." Answered the Headmaster with a serious look on his face.
"But Aedan's already teaching me how to fight. How's learning more going to help me with this?" A nervous Harry asked as he looked between Albus and I.
"Not self-defense Harry, but Occlumency. You need to learn to close your mind before it is too late." Dumbledore answered with a look of concern.
"I've tried but Aedan said I wasn't in the right place to learn it properly. But why do I need to learn it now? What's happening to me?" He asked, no almost pleaded to know.
"Harry, as you know, you and Voldemort have connection. Through your fates, your wands and now even your blood. What the headmaster and I fear is that after his revival, this connection might have been strengthened. We believe that this is why you were able to see tonight's attack on Arthur Weasley. And the reason the Headmaster believes it is urgent for you to learn Occlumency is because when Voldemort realizes this new mental connection, he will try to take advantage of it. He is one of the strongest Legilimens in the world and it would be easy for him to try and mess with you if you don't have any defenses." I explained as delicately as possible.
I knew that if I was not careful, Harry would start seeing himself as dangerous or try to do something rash.
"Then what am I supposed to do?! I tried every year to see if I could learn Occlumency but I could never get it right. How am I supposed to master it when I can't even do the first step?" He asked as he began getting more unstable.
"That's where I come in Harry. I didn't want you to have to worry about this and I always believe in being prepared for every scenario, so I created this little beauty." I answered as I took out a necklace from pouch.
The necklace was quite simple so either gender would be comfortable wearing it. I just asked James to make me one so I could enchant it. Fully made from goblin silver, the silver chain held a smooth locket in which I decided to put a picture of Harry's parents. The thing was enchanted with mental shields, soul piece containment, poison/potion detection and a three use shield capable of blocking the Unforgivables before it needs to recharge. Perfect for a chosen one.
"A necklace?" Harry confusedly asked as he looked at me weirdly.
"Don't look at me like that. I enchanted it myself and James made it. It is basically a lord ring on steroids. This thing can protect for mind from pretty much everything and it can shield you in case someone tries to harm you. It can also detect if someone spiked your food or drink and there's an additional surprise inside." I explained as I tossed the thing over to the teen.
He was caught off guard by the sudden projectile, but he caught it none the less and he apparently felt its effects because he already looked a bit better.
"It was supposed to be your Christmas gift, but things happen." I said with a shrug.
"A marvelous piece of enchantment Aedan. You truly have a gift with runes as well. Such a shame you did not feel a need to learn alchemy." Dumbledore said as he looked at the locket, undoubtedly sensing the magic imbued in it.
"Well at least James is working on it while in France." I answered with a smile.
"A yes, young James had a particular interest in creating things didn't he? I do hope Severus didn't make his time learning the art more difficult than necessary. Alchemy needs some new blood after all." Dumbledore said as he caressed his beard.
But then we suddenly heard something from the portraits, "It was close Albus, but they found him in time. He should be alright."
"Thank heavens for that." He responded with a sigh of relief.
"Is dad ok?" Ginny suddenly said as her worries got the better of her.
"Yeah, is he ok? Can we see him?" Ron followed up as he stood beside his sister.
"I will work on getting permission for all of you to go to St. Mungo's to visit him, but have no fear, your father his alright." Dumbledore said as he tried to calm the redheads.
"I'll ask Tory to take a look at him tomorrow. She's the best they have and I'm sure she'll have back up on his feet in no time." I added to help the quartet relax since this was someone they knew and had gotten famous over the last few months.
"Thanks Professor." Fred said honestly.
"Yeah, and with the Queen on board dad's going to have to fake it in order to escape mom's clutches." George then said, getting a chuckle from his brothers and sister.
Seeing as they were capable of joking around, I would say their fears were at least taken cared of for now. But these kids have nothing worry about since I'm sure he'll be alright. With that, I turned my attention back to Harry who was lost looking at the picture of his parents I had placed in the locket.
Now before anyone thinks negatively, I have done what I could to make sure Harry would know about his parents and have what I could find regarding the two. So this isn't the first time he's seen them, and even if I wasn't around Hagrid had given him that photo album back in Harry's first year. What was different this time was that the photo in that locket was one from when Harry was only a few days old, resting in his mother's embrace as she gave him a look of pure love and his father gently hugging her shoulder as he looked at the two with infinite warmth in his eyes.
It wasn't a moving picture, but it was the one I thought Harry needed with him the most.
"Feeling better?" I asked with a soft smile on my face.
"Hm? Er yeah. Sorry I kinda lost focus there." He replied as he snapped out of his daze.
"That's alright. They'll protect you from now on, so make sure to keep them close to heart." I said as I saw him look back at the picture.
"You're wrong, they've always been protecting me." Harry said with a small smile making its way onto face.
"You're right." I simply said as I looked at my little brother.
What happened following that was everyone returning to their rooms since nothing could be done at the moment. Harry put on the locket, Dumbledore made sure everything was in order, Minerva then led her lions back to their dorms and I went back home to my girl and bed. The next few days might be a bit more stressful for the Weasleys, but overall everything would be ok.