Advanced Learning Problems.

Ron shifted nervously. The man he was interviewing with was making him uncomfortable. So far, he had been asked about Harry and Xander, nothing about his experiences with a broom, or even why he flew down. This was starting to unnerve him. He looked up at the phoenix chick. It had followed him from Hogwarts. He was sure her parents were shrieking and calling for her desperately, but she had refused to go back. This was turning out very odd and he wasn't sure he liked the omens. Or maybe he was uncomfortable because of that run-in with Trelwany. That could be it, she had given him a death omen. He smiled as confidently as he could when the door opened and admitted another man. His smile almost fell away when he saw how he was dressed. If he had been wearing a mask, he might have been a Death Eater.

"Get up, boy," the other man said, grabbing him and hauling him to his feet. "The Dark Lord wants to hear all about your life."

"No!" Ron fought as hard as he could, kicking and straining to get away. He did get away twice, once on his own and once with the help of his phoenix, but more people came in and he was only seventeen while there were five of them. He was knocked out just after someone grabbed the phoenix by the feet, making it shriek in pain. His last thought was that he hoped it had gotten away.

***

Xander walked out of the portal and took a deep breath, then started to cough. "Car exhaust," he complained. The guardian of the gateway laughed. "Hey, it's nasty." He stepped out of the portal and right into his lover's arms. He gave him a long hug. "Careful, still sore," he said when George squeezed him. That was all. They rested together until someone nearby made a rude comment and Xander flipped them off. He stepped back with a grin. "You came to get me?"

"To escort you so you make it home, you great ruddy bugger," he said, punching him on the arm. "Had us worried sick. That Travers fellow made it seem like you were close to death."

Xander shook his head. "Just really beaten up." He nodded toward the path to the inn. "C'mon, let's fly home. You did fly, right?" George nodded. "Then we'll fly and talk on the way. I found out someone else in my family knew about the gryphon stuff. Someone saved a nest in the bank." They waited until they were out of sight to mount their brooms and take off, Xander waving at a young gryphon out for a fly. They headed for home, which was about a six hour fly. On the way, Xander told him everything, how the lawyers had tried to screw him, how he had found the nest, even some about his childhood.

Nearly an hour from home, they ran into a baby phoenix. It was struggling to fly and squawking hard. Xander flew up under it and slowly lifted, catching it gently. It gave out a hiss of pain. "I'm sorry," he told it, scratching the head ruff. The bird relaxed against him. "This is one of the Hogwarts ones." He checked it over, floating in place. "George, it's injured. Someone broke a foot." He checked for more injuries. "Tayla, where were you? Tell me who hurt you?" he asked.

She stared into his eyes, showing him the pictures of what happened. He had discovered recently that the phoenixes could do this, project images directly into your head. What he saw made him want to get violent. He smiled at his lover and handed over the bird. "Would you please take her back to the school? I'll be back in about a day."

"Not a chance," George said harshly. Xander frowned at him. "You're going to go fight again and I won't allow it. You're still injured and it's not fair. Someone else can do that sort of thing you know..."

Xander covered his mouth to stop the rant. "I know I'm still injured," he agreed calmly, "but your brother's in trouble because death eaters have him." He saw a flash coming toward them. "Murphy!" he yelled, getting its attention. It turned out to be Fawkes. She flew right to her baby and got the information from it. Xander captured her and looked her in the eyes. "Tell your daddy that we're going after Ron at Nimbus," he said quietly. "Tell him it'll take us about four more hours to get there at top speed and that we could use some help then." Fawkes squealed and tried to get free. "Now take your baby and go to your daddy." He let her go and George handed over the baby phoenix. "Take her to your daddy. She has a broken foot." Fawkes flew off, her chick hanging from her mouth. "Are you sure, George?"

George hauled off and hit him on the arm. "Shut up! Not only is this my brother, but you're mine too and you're running off again. After this whole thing with Voldemort is done, we're going to have a long talk, Mister. I will not be abandoned every time there's a fight going on." He changed directions, flying towards his brother. "Come on then."

Xander grinned and followed him. "I agree, you can yell at me," he said as he pulled even with him. "You can yell and scream all you want, but I'm still going to have to go fight sometimes."

George frowned at him. "Then let Ron do it once we get him back. I'm sure he'll be more than able to go beat someone bloody once you're done with him."

Xander smiled and wiped an imaginary tear off. "You say some of the sweetest things." He flew closer and stole a kiss. "Can we go faster? I want to rest in the tub tonight. I'm still sore." He sped up a little more, pushing his broom.

George frowned at his back. They were going to have to have a fight soon, no matter how much it would upset Xander. Maybe he'd get Dumbledore into it to back him up. Xander seemed to listen to the man when he didn't listen to anyone or anything else, not even the constraints of his own physical being. He sped up some more, following closely behind him. He understood that Xander felt he had to do this, but dear God, there had to be someone else to do this stuff.

Xander glanced back and saw the look on his lover's face. "In another year, there will be," he called back. "Ron and Harry and Hermione and Draco." He turned and grinned, then swung down to land in a large tree. George followed him down, taking a short break. "Right now, there is only me. I can't get Giles on a broom for anything. Willow and Tara won't touch it or the floo network. Backup is a little ways away and it's just us. Now, you can go back, or you can help me because I'm going to do this. Next year, when the kids have graduated, I'll let them go out and save people. Until then though, it's me."

George sighed. "I understand that, but you're still injured."

Xander kissed him deeply. "As much as I love you for pointing that out and caring about my physical state, sometimes that can't matter. I've fought with worse than a few aches and pains. This isn't a broken rib and it's not other broken parts. I can do this, but I'm not going to force you to come along."

"Well you're not getting rid of me either. This is my brother."

"Hey, all fine and good. Can you wait outside while I go in?"

"Do you even have a wand?" George asked. His boyfriend pulled one. "Where'd that one come from?"

"From the wizard I beat senseless for telling the villagers how to kill gryphons."

"Oh." George looked it over. "Unicorn?" Xander nodded. "Can you use it?"

"Not half as well as mine, it fights me." He slid it back into the holder inside his robes. "Now, let's fly and we can argue on the way about you coming in."

George stopped him from moving. "I'm coming in. I want to hit a few of those great bloody idiots who took my brother. Let me do the magic and you do most of the physical hitting." Xander nodded. "Good, then let's go." He stole a deep, thorough kiss, making Xander's knees shake. When he pulled back, he was smiling. "Coming?"

"I think that'll have to wait for later too," Xander quipped as he got onto his broom. He found as he flew off that the broom vibrated in just the right spot, making it a sooner instead of a later feeling. George grinned at him when he saw him relax and smile. "Hey, I could get used to sex on a broom," he quipped.

George reached over and pinched him. "Not at this altitude. I'd rather not fall off." He pushed his broom a little faster. "Come on. Day's wasting."

Xander followed him; his broom was older and slower, but not by much.

***

Everyone in Care of Magical Creatures looked up at the bright, loud ball of feathers flying toward them. "Oh dear," Hagrid said, reaching up to help Fawkes. "What's this then?" he asked, taking the chick from her. The baby squealed painfully. "Come on, we'll get her up to the infirmary." He carried the baby chick in at a run. Someone had hurt one of the precious ones. "One'a you go find Dumbledore," he called back. "The rest a'you do something with the skewrts." He ran up the stairs to the infirmary. "Poppy, got a case," he called as he ran in. She came running. "One'a the chicks. Broken foot I think." He put the baby bird down onto a table and scratched it gently on the stomach while it was examined.

"It is a broken foot, looks like someone grabbed it and squeezed," Madam Pomfrey said indignantly. "Who would do such a thing?"

"You can rest assured that if it was a student, they'll be getting theirs," Hagrid told her.

Dumbledore hurried in with Fawkes. "No, it wasn't a student. How is she, Poppy?"

"Broken foot and exhaustion," Madam Pomfrey told him. She smiled at the mother. "Did she go away from the school?"

"Yes, it appears so." Dumbledore looked at Hagrid. "I need you to find Minerva while I go find Black and Lupin. One of the students has been captured off grounds."

"Ron," Hagrid said sadly. The headmaster nodded. "What can I do?"

"Xander is on his way there."

"Then Ron'll be fine," Hagrid said firmly. "That boy'd die for Ron and his family." He walked out, going to do as he was told.

"I thought the Weasley boy was going to a job interview," the nurse said quietly.

"He was. That's where he was captured. It appears that someone in Nimbus supports the Dark Lord." He scratched Fawkes gently. "I'll leave her here with you after I get her to tell them what's going on." He walked away, going to find the other Defense Against The Dark Arts teachers. He ran into Mr. Malfoy first and looked at his outfit. "You're staying," he told him. The boy opened his mouth. "It is much too dangerous to let you off grounds right now. Your father may well be there."

"All the more reason to go save Ron," Draco said firmly. "Harry and Hermione are already waiting on you with Lupin and Black. We're in the training room." He led the way, opening the doors. "He's going to try and stop us."

"As shall I," Giles told them.

Hermione raised her wand. "Petrificus totalis!" He was locked up and she turned to look at the headmaster. "Where is Ron? It is our job to go for him after all. We made a pact way back in our first year, after the first time we faced Voldemort."

All the teachers looked at her. She was usually such a nice and polite girl.

Fawkes flew to Harry and looked in his eyes, showing him what she had gotten from her baby. He nodded and blinked, backing away from her. "Don't worry, Fawkes, we'll smash that one particularly hard for you." He looked at his other two teachers. "One of the bastards got Tayla, broke her foot on purpose."

Lupin frowned at them. "Harry...."

"No. We're going."

"Harry, as your godfather, I can't let you go. You're not eighteen and I can have you held at the school," Sirius Black reminded him, moving closer.

"Stop or be stopped," Hermione told him. "If we have to, we'll go by ourselves. You're not stopping us from going to help Ron."

"Besides," Draco said coldly. "Xander's fighting while injured with only George Weasley on his side. That's not very even odds. We have to go help our teacher and make sure his pretty-boy boyfriend isn't harmed." He crossed his arms. "I can get us there without you."

"Fine," Black spat. "We will be having a discussion later, young man."

"Bring it on. We've got a few minutes." Draco waved him on. Black rushed him and Draco punched him as hard as he could. It made him wince, but it made Black fall to the floor. "Is that proof enough?"

"I think that's quite enough," Dumbledore told him. "No more attacking teachers, even when they participate." He glared at the teachers, then at the students. "Fine. You will go, but you will stay in the background. If you so much as come back with a scratch, I'm going to owl your parents and let them yell at you."

Harry snorted. "Go right ahead. I'm sure I'll hear about it anyway." He patted himself down, checking for his wand. "Is everyone set?" Both students nodded. "Then let's go. Calling floo information gave me the name of a restaurant nearby that wizards use. We can go wait there." He walked out, going to the floo capable fireplace. The teachers hurried to keep up with them, not wanting to let them loose.

Dumbledore unfroze Giles and shook his head. "This is why militaries want young people," he said sadly. "They're always up for a fight."

"A little too anxious if you ask me," Giles said firmly. "Are you letting them go?"

Dumbledore smiled. "No, I'm sending aurors in. With any luck, the aurors will get there before the fight starts and keep the children out of it." He walked away. "The baby is upstairs if you wanted to check on it." He ran into Ginny Weasley in the hallways. "Ms. Weasley, how are you today?"

"Fine," she said with a smile. "I feel great actually." She skipped off.

He shook his head. Oh, for the energy of youth again.

***

Xander saw the small town that held the Nimbus factory and saw some people in robes in a few places. He landed in front of a few familiar ones, George right behind him. "Gee, you guys came to hold Ron while he's checked over?" he asked Hermione.

She pushed her ponytail back over her shoulder. "No, we came to help you hurt them. Ron is ours. It's our job. Has been since our first year." She smiled at George. "Are you going to keep him out of the fight?"

"No, but I am," an auror said as he walked up to them. He smiled at the students. "I'll be seeing you next week, but it's nice to see you young ones coming up to *watch* the process."

Harry scowled at him. "I'm going in. We promised Ron."

"That's exactly why you're staying here, kid," the auror told him, walking away. "Professor Harris," he called. "A word?" Xander dismounted and walked over, giving him an innocent look. "No cowboy antics from you or your students please. There's enough of us here to do this."

"Hey, I didn't tell them to come up, but Ron is my student and I'm going in." The man reached out and grabbed his arm, making him hiss. "Doesn't matter, I've fought with worse before." He glanced back. "If I go in, they might not."

The auror frowned at him. "They're kids."

Xander snorted. "Harry, Ron, and Hermione fought their first year and every year since. Malfoy is somewhat of a surprise, but I did encourage them to think of themselves as a team."

The auror looked back and scowled at Malfoy junior. "He came out of his protected spot for a Weasley?"

George raised a hand. "I was wondering about that too. Draco?" he called sweetly. The boy frowned at him. "Aren't you supposed to be in protective custody?"

Draco stormed over. "Weasley wouldn't have even been taken if it wasn't for me."

Xander patted him on the shoulder. "Your father would have heard that he was in the school even if you hadn't told him. Besides, this sort of news travels quickly. Another kid probably passed the news back that Ron was going off-campus. Go take the other two and sit down. Make them buy you lunch or something." He gave George a look, and his boyfriend rolled his eyes but took the kids back into the restaurant. "Now," he said, turning back to the auror. "They only sent you?"

"One auror is usually all it takes."

"Cool, then we'll back you up." Xander strolled away, the argument was over. Unless he was frozen, he was going in.

Inside the building Ron was hurting the person who had come in to feed him. They knocked him back down, but they limped out cradling a broken arm and a few new bites.

***

Harry took point as they snuck into the factory. The three of them had decided to leave the adults behind. He didn't know that the adults were right behind them, but they were going to get Ron. He checked the factory floor, no hint of a Death Eater there. He snuck up the stairs to where he could see someone dressed in a long black robe, knocking him out with a quietly whispered spell. Hermione rushed forward and pulled the guy back before he could fall off the catwalk. Draco split off to check one of the five doors, coming back to the one the guy had been guarding. He shook his head.

Harry took a deep breath and kicked in the door, startling the Death Eaters eating inside. They rushed in and stunned them, Hermione freezing them. One came out of the kitchen area and got off a small curse, but Draco got him, with a smirk no less. "Where's Ron?" Harry snarled.

The only person able to speak started to babble. He pointed at a cupboard, telling him the password to the door. When the auror came in, he peed himself. No one had told him that they would be coming, not Harry Potter leading the aurors!

Harry opened the door and rushed in, stunning the guards on the door, letting Hermione get Ron out. He covered them as they left, knowing Draco had the door. Together, they extracted their very injured friend back to the main room. He noticed the fact that there were people standing out there. "Spectators," he told Draco. He was still cold enough to do something to ensure they got out.

"Whoa," Xander said. "Not going to hurt you." He took Ron from them, looking him over. "Are you the reason that one guy is crying?" he asked. Ron nodded, spitting some blood at the guard he had beaten up. "Good. Let's go." He let Hermoine take him. "Extract yourselves," he told them. "We're coming."

"Cool," Harry told him, giving him a bright smile. He led the way out.

Draco looked at him. "We're in deep shit, aren't we?"

Xander nodded. "Probably. You know how to wait for backup and not to sneak off on your own. But the auror was really impressed with your balls." He walked out with the boy, searching for anyone who might try and get them. He nudged Draco, pointing down at someone who had their wand. Draco petrified them and they strolled out. They walked past the auror and Lupin, who had decided to wait for them. "Come yell tomorrow," he suggested, following the kids to the floo network fireplace. He took George's hand on the way in, holding it until it was their turn. When he walked out, Mr. Weasley was standing there. "Wasn't me," he told him, walking away shaking his head. "I managed to keep George out of it, but Harry went in without orders." He went up to check on the boy and the chick. He was rudely shoved onto a bed and checked over by Madam Pomfrey. "I'm okay, how're Ron and Tayla?" he asked as she probed his chest. "The kids did all the fighting."

She sighed and went to bother them.

***

Dumbledore looked at the arrogant students. "Do you know how hard it would have been to beat the Dark Lord this spring without you three?" he asked.

Harry shifted uncomfortably. "Ron is ours, sir, we had to get him."

"There was an adult there who had more experience. You always listen to those who are in charge, Harry. Hermione, I'm very upset with you."

She glared at him. "There are times when nice isn't necessary," she said formally. "Ron would have come for us."

Dumbledore sighed and Xander rolled his eyes. "Missing the point," Xander told them. "The point would be that there was someone there who was in charge, but you didn't listen to them. You guys are still at the foot soldier level and you should have listened to the more experienced members of the team. The teamwork was great between you guys, but you should have listened to the bigger dogs."

All three students slumped a little bit and sighed. This was going to be a long lecture - Xander was using American muggle references again.

***

Ron sat up and looked around. "Did someone get my broom?" he asked Madam Pomfrey. She groaned and walked away. "What? It's important to me. I know everyone is fine, it's time for personal questions."

"Young man, you are too concerned about simple things and not enough about your life," she said sternly.

He snorted. "I went to interview for a job and got captured. Not my fault they were bad." He rubbed his newly healed arm. "Can I go now?"

"No. Lay there until your father comes up and yells at you yourself."

Ron groaned and flopped back down. "He's here?"

"Yes, he's here," Mr. Weasley said from the doorway. "Be thankful it's not your mother." He walked in and sat beside his son's bed. "Son, I'm proud that you fought back, but right now, I want to take you home."

"No way," Ron told him. "There's a fight this spring and I have to be here for that." His father started to open his mouth. "Deal with it, dad, I may be becoming an auror."

Arthur grabbed his son and held him tightly. "You are my son and I will never get over it if I lose you," he whispered hoarsely.

"Dad, I'm fine. I made the bastards suffer," he told him, trying to soothe him. "They're not going to kill me anytime soon."

Arthur laughed. "My boy, I think you missed the point."

Ron grinned. "You always said that with age comes common sense."

Mr. Weasley laughed harder. It was such a good argument. His wife would kill them both, but it felt good to laugh now. "At least you're fine. Your mother's on her way up." He let Ron lay back down. "I expect you to not make her worry anymore. It upsets her horribly when she has to worry about you children. She cried almost all morning when she heard."

Ron nodded, looking like a little boy again. "I won't make mum worry. That'd be really bad of me." He looked at the nurse. "Can I get lunch?" She sighed and walked out to get him something to eat. Ron looked at his father again. "I'm seventeen, I'm supposed to be perpetually hungry, right?"

His father nodded. "I often was." He patted his son's hand. "At least you're fine. That's all that matters."

"And George didn't get to fight," Ron pointed out.

"Very true," his father agreed. "That will make her feel much better, after she slaps Xander once for letting him come."

Ron laughed. "Like he could've stopped him. George can be a stubborn sod when he wants to be."

Arthur smiled. "Yes, both twins can be quite stubborn. They get it from your mother." Ron snickered.

***

Xander walked into his room and flopped down onto his couch. His boyfriend pulled him up and led him to the bed, laying down with him to hold him. "They were good," he said. George made an assenting noise. "But they're so young."

"Now you know how I felt," Giles said from the doorway. He put a suitcase he had found in the staffroom down with a smile. "Are you healthy again?" Xander nodded. "Then I'll see you at supper?"

Xander shook his head. "We're eating in. I can't handle the loudness of the kids." He scooted back into the warm, welcoming body. "If you want to yell, do it tomorrow."

Giles nodded. "Of course." He smiled at George. "Make sure he gets a bath, water always soothes him. We'll look at the upcoming battle tomorrow." He walked out, closing both doors.

Xander flipped over and curled up on top of George's chest. "You're better than water," he said sleepily.

George smiled up at the ceiling, a very goofy smile. Xander was his and would stay his. He was better than water.

***

Xander watched as the auror ran his students through a standard test, smiling at how some of the slower students were blowing him away with some very odd tricks. Draco, Harry, and Hermione had been tested separately, and Ron was leading this new group. When the auror finally came over, he was grinning. "Good, huh?"

"Very interesting, but not quite good enough for the program." He pulled Xander aside. "Quite a few of them took a bit to choose a physical or magical approach." Xander shrugged. "That can cost lives."

"This was their first simulated battle," he told him.

The auror looked impressed. "Really?" He looked at the kids again, who were drinking juice and talking to each other. "Well, they've got the physical down, but the magic is a little weak."

Xander pointed at Lupin and Black. "That's their jobs," he told him. "And part of that would have to come from your own in-house training, right?" The auror nodded. "So?"

"So, I'd take any of them," he said honestly. "Your top three showed that they're not only resourceful, but very good as a team. I'd have to put in a note to keep them together, all four of them if possible, but they're excellent. A few of the other kids have the potential if they want it." He smiled when Harry got a little loud describing his latest trial move on the Quidditch field. "And he may not want to give up a promising career."

"Hey, Quidditch will probably exist for his lifetime, and any coach would have to know that he would leave to fight if he had to," Xander pointed out. "With his name, it's probably considered a given."

The auror nodded. "Good point." He smiled at Ron, who was bouncing and praising the other kids. "He hates working alone, doesn't he?" Xander nodded. "Then that would have to be taken into account." He looked down at his notes, then waved the other teachers over. "If you want, this spring, we can give them the official training. It usually takes four weeks. They'd be qualified, but not given jobs unless they applied."

"Good," Ron said as he walked over. "Can we have it now?"

The auror spun to look at him. "Right now?" Ron nodded. "Why?"

"Because we're expecting another attack on the school any day now," Hermione said with a frown at Ron.

"You are?" The auror turned to look at Xander, who nodded, looking a little sad. "Why?"

"Me," Draco told him. He stepped forward. "My father's already come here and demanded that I be handed over to him. Dumbledore told him no."

"But we figure that Voldemort will use this humiliation as an excuse to attack the school again," Harry told him. "Which is why we're working so hard. We're hoping to make this the last fight."

"You've got big dreams, boy," the auror told him seriously. He looked at the two wizardly professors. "What about you two?"

"It'd be fine with us. Albus has already agreed," Sirius told him.

"And hey, the nightly spell researching parties will get a little more solid," Xander told them. The four kids doing it nodded and the others started to look jealous. "Hermoine, give him a copy of the spells you found in the library," he told her. "Let him decide what to give out." She nodded, smiling slightly. She had noticed he hadn't said anything at all about gryphon spells. "I'll gladly turn your training over to the aurors for now, consider it a very long practical that you can't flunk. It won't make you an official one, but if you wanted a job with the Ministry it can't hurt."

"We'd need their parents permission," the auror pointed out. Xander shrugged. "That's fine then, let me talk to my boss and I'll be back tomorrow."

"We only have class once a week," Draco told him. "But most of us have another long free time to come in and work if you're here."

The auror looked at him, then smiled. "Let me check with my boss and your parents. Owl them for a permission slip." He walked out, going to report to his boss.

"Guys, I am blown away," Xander told them, giving them a happy smile. "Not only did you impress him, but he couldn't tell that it was most of the classes' first battle exercise." The kids broke out into discussion groups. "I think you all not only passed, but passed with flying colors. Take whatever you want of the training, but don't think that you have to fight."

Harry stepped forward. "We'll do our best," he told Xander, and all the students agreed by nodding and saying so. "And we'll be ready in case something happens."

Ron raised a hand. "Can you please not suggest Ginny for next year?" he asked, making a few kids laugh. "What? She already tries to beat me up, I don't want her to be able to."

Xander laughed. "She hasn't even hinted that she wants to take it," he assured him. "I think she's staying in transfiguration and that area." Ron grinned at him. "Any other questions?" No one said anything. "Then go owl your parents and take a shower. You guys smell." They all ran to get changed and go write their parents to tell them the great news. He noticed Draco was still standing there. "I guess you only have to shower?" he suggested.

Draco laughed, as was intended. "Yeah, I only have to shower." He nodded at the wand lying beside Xander's seat. "Where's yours?"

"The people who I had to fight to save some gryphons dissected it. I heard someone took it back to Ollivander, but I don't have it back yet." He grimaced at the wand. "That one fights me so badly. It's like a wall I have to push past."

"Unicorn?" Lupin asked as he walked over. Xander nodded. "Well, there is that old war."

"I've heard about that, but I can't find any mention of it." Xander shrugged. "Oh, well, hopefully mine will be done sometime soon." He looked over as something chirped from the door. "Hey, Glinda," he said, holding out an arm. She came in and nuzzled up to him. "What's going on?" She chirped at him. "Oh, the other granddaddy wants to see me?" She cooed then hopped over to bug Draco for a bit. "I guess I'm for Dumbledore's office then." He picked up his stuff so he could drop it off on the way up there. As soon as he walked in, he knew it was odd news. "Bad stuff?" he asked as he sat down.

"Word from immigration actually," Dumbledore told him "You're officially part of the wizarding world, but not of England. They turned you down." He handed over the forms. "They included a contest form with it."

Xander read over the legaleze then sighed. "Great. How long do I have?"

"A few days. The Minister of Immigration has had a talk with his counterpart. He's trying to fix it for you based on your ...unique status." Xander looked up. "This may be the one time that being gryphon-born will work for you, my boy. Half-giants have been admitted under special circumstances due to their heritage."

"Would my relationship with George help any?"

Dumbledore smiled. "I mentioned that to him and he seemed delighted. Apparently he knows Arthur. He got the feeling that you were getting married?" Xander blushed. "I see. Would you want to hold it here?"

"I don't know. I haven't thought that far ahead yet. All I know is that George understands me on all my levels. He understands when I'm feeling naughty, he understands when I'm really pissed and want to hurt something. He calms me down when I need to, and he can distract me when I'm worrying." He smiled more. "George is just so...perfect and right. I feel safe in his arms, like even an upcoming battle will go great because he's there and I'm going to get to come home to him, and he's not going to fight because I'm chaining him to the bed, but it's all going to be okay. I even caught myself sniffing a pillow this morning because it smelled like him."

Dumbledore laughed. If the boy had seen himself, he might have made a disgusted face at the gushing. "I'm glad you're happy, my boy. If you want, I'll allow you to hold the ceremony here. I'll even give Molly use of the house elves to help her cook. I'm sure Arthur will be bringing many Ministers with him to the ceremony."

Xander laughed nervously. "Only if you can make it short and I don't have to see the crowd."

"Stage fright is normal, Xander," he soothed. "It's something every groom and bride go through. You'll get over it and the ceremony will be wonderful. Even if you're both in wheelchairs after the upcoming fight."

Xander's face hardened. "George is taking Ginny far, far away from here. If anyone's going to be in a wheelchair, it'll be me. Which means we'll probably have to hold it here so we have a smooth path to wheel me down." He straightened up. "Even if they have to wheel my bed down the aisle, it'll happen."

"Good. Good." Dumbledore looked at the note on his desk. "What did you want to do?"

"I guess I should fill out the form to contest the decision." He stood up. "I'll give it to you tomorrow?" His boss nodded. "Thank you for helping me with this."

Albus gave him a long look. "Everyone who saw you when you first got here, and took notice of you, figured out that you fit better into this world than you did in your old one. You've taken to our ways like you were born into them. I've seen other wizards who aren't as comfortable with some of our customs as you seem to be. For that, I'm willing to help you." He smiled again. "Also so I can keep you here. I doubt we've ever had seventeen students who qualified for auror training in the same year."

"Hey, I like the little guys. I didn't think I was going to like teaching, but I think it's great. I'm comfy doing it."

"You're also very good at doing it."

Xander preened. "Thank you." He waved and took his forms back to his room. He would be sneaking down to the store later and could share the good news then.

***

Up in the Gryffindor tower, Ginny Weasley put something back into her brother's school bag. She hadn't stolen it, but she had looked inside it. She backed away before he could catch her and looked at the clock. "Ron, wanna go to dinner?" she asked.

He looked over at her, then smiled and shook his head. "No. What were you doing in my bag?"

She frowned. "I don't steal." She pouted at him.

"No, you don't usually." He checked his bag, frowning when he saw an unlocked book. "Ginny, you didn't. Tell me you didn't."

She crossed her arms. "I found it and put it back." She stomped her foot. "I respect Xander. I don't want him to kill me." She stomped off, hurt that he didn't trust her. Even though she had looked. Xander wouldn't mind, much. It was for a good cause. She went down to dinner, trying to figure out how to make the potion she had found without anyone knowing. She sat next to Melody. "Your spell didn't work," she accused quietly. Melody looked at her. "The one I asked you for, it didn't work."

She shrugged. "Sometimes it happens. Whatcha gonna do?"

Ginny shrugged. "I'm figuring that out tonight." She put food onto her plate, loading it down. "I can't go to anyone. My mum'll kill me."

Melody patted her on the back. "It could be worse. There are ways around that problem." Ginny looked upset. "No, huh?" Ginny shook her head. "Then I feel really sorry for ya, but I'll support your decision. I'm that way about it." She put more vegetables onto her plate and handed them to the other girl. "Here, you'll need 'em."

Ginny made room and put the asparagus on her plate.

Up at the head table, Tara was looking around at the auras. It was cute, all the colors swirling around in harmony, most of the time anyway. She frowned when she looked over the Gryffindor table, and one girl in particular. "Ginny Weasley, come here," she called sternly. The girl looked up. "Yes, you, now." She waited until the girl was in front of her, then grabbed her to pull her into the back hallway, making sure the door was shut firmly. "You will go to the infirmary tonight and have a checkup," she told her. Ginny opened her mouth. "You will or your house will lose twenty points."

Ginny swallowed. "If I do, then I can get kicked out of school."

"If you don't, it could kill you," Tara countered. "I will be expecting a note no later than lights out tonight." She pointed at the Great Hall. "Go eat, and make sure you have vegetables."

Ginny trudged back inside, going back to her dinner. She was so busted and in trouble now.

***

Ginny looked around the doorway to the infirmary, smiling when she saw the nurse standing there. "Professor Maclay told me I had to come up and have a checkup," she said quietly. "Can..can I close the door?"

The nurse gave her a sympathetic look. "Didn't get the spell?"

She nodded. "I had two of them."

"Oh, dear." The nurse led her back into the office and shut the door. It was always best to do this in private. After making sure that the girl was in fact pregnant, she gave her some vitamins and a few pamphlets to read over. "You know I'm going to have to tell the headmaster?" Ginny sniffled but nodded. "And you'll have to tell the young man." Ginny shook her head. "Yes, you will. It's only fair."

"No, I can't. It'll cause problems. Lots of problems." She looked down at her stomach. "Can you put it off? The telling my parents thing?"

The nurse gave her a hug. "I don't have to do that, dear, you do." She let her go. "I suggest you do it soon, Albus usually gives girls a week to do so once he hears." She stood up. "I won't tell him until tomorrow, to give you time to think about your options." Ginny nodded, looking miserable. "Why did Professor Maclay send you up here?"

Ginny shrugged. "She threatened to take off house points if I didn't come up here and bring her a note." She looked up. "Do you have to tell him?" Madam Pomfrey nodded. "Then I guess I'll find a way to tell my parents." She got the note saying she had been there and trudged back to teacher's quarters. She tapped politely at the painting, and Tara opened it so she gave her the note. "I hate you," she told her.

"And I needed to make sure that you didn't die from it," Tara told her. "You're still pretty young and that causes problems." She stepped out into the hall, looking the petite girl over. Unlike her brothers, Ginny wasn't over five-foot-six and she looked tiny. "I didn't do it to be mean, but to protect you, Ginny. There's lots of things that can happen if you're not careful and watched."

"They're going to kick me out of school," Ginny told her. "Spells can be really harmful once you're six months along."

"Then you can come back when it's over with," Tara reminded her. "You might make it to this summer, if you can come up with a good reason to get around the rules." She laid a hand on Ginny's cheek. "I really didn't do this to be mean," she told her again. "I did it because I care."

"Well, care less," Ginny said, then stormed off. She went up to her room and locked herself in the bathroom for as long as she could.

***

Xander looked over as the training room door opened. They were having a meeting with the auror to see what they could do to help. He frowned when he saw Ginny standing there, tears streaming down her face. "I think I'm going to be back much later," he said, getting up and hurrying over to her. "Come on, honey, let's go talk about it," he said soothingly, taking her back to his room. It was private and no one would dare interrupt them. "What's wrong?"

"I have to leave school," she sniffled. "A month before it ends."

He gave her a hug, letting her cry on his chest. "I'm sure I can beg your parents not to do that. You're a very good witch."

"It's school policy," she cried. "I can't get around it."

"Huh." Xander frowned, and caught a clue. "Tell me you're not pregnant." She sniffed really loudly and nodded. "Oh, crap." He pushed her back. "Have you told anyone else?"

"Professor Maclay caught it, she knows."

"She probably read your aura or something." Xander looked her over. "Why the month before school ends?"

"Because I have to leave once I start showing. Magic is dangerous after the sixth month if I get hit with a spell."

Xander considered it, it would be even more dangerous with what he knew was coming. "At least you'll probably get to do your homework," he offered. "It might not cost you any time."

"Mum's going to kill me."

"Yeah, I'd say she will," Xander agreed, but he was smiling. "Did you want me to tell her?" She shook her head fearfully. "Okay. How about Ron?"

"Can you hold him down when someone tells him?" She looked at the doorway when she heard another one slam and sighed.

"Oh, tell me the baby isn't going to be born a blond," he said. She gave him the big-eyed look. "Yeah, I think I'm going to be holding Ron down. Are you going to tell him?"

"It'll only cause problems."

"Ginny, honey, if that baby is born blond, there's going to be problems anyway. Ron's not dumb, and neither are your parents. I can help tell them, and tell Ron and the twins, but I won't tell your parents for you." He wiped her tears off. "I'll be there when you do it if you want. You can hide behind me even, but you have to tell them soon so they can help you with this." She slumped a little. "Want me to Murphy them and tell them to come for a visit?" She nodded. "Okay. Want me to tell the twins and Ron?" She nodded, a little harder. "Cool, I'll do that. You go rest and think about the important things." He stopped her from moving. "What about the father?"

She blushed. "Can you not?" Xander gave her a 'get real' look. "I guess he'll find out anyway, so you might as well. I'll just hide that day." She left the room, closing the portrait behind her.

Xander stood up and stretched, then headed up to see if Dumbledore had told her parents yet. When he got told that Albus had expected him to jump in, it made him somewhat happy. Some of his meddling was apparently okay. He walked outside, the note already written, and looked up. "Murphy!" he yelled, knowing that the birds were all outside today. He got divebombed by a chick, which made him laugh. "Good job, Glinda," he told her. "You snuck up on me, that was great." He reached up and scratched her chest where she sat on a large bush next to the door. "Very good girl." His own bird flew down and nipped the note from his hand. "Take that to George's parents, okay, big guy?" Murphy chirped and flew off. "And take a long time," Xander called after him. He heard a laugh and turned to find Dumbledore behind him. "She could probably use the extra day or so." Albus nodded. "She did tell me to tell Ron and the twins."

"Have fun tonight, but remember you have a meeting later." Dumbledore whistled and all the chicks flew to him. "Tell them I said hello and remember to ask George to the dance this time." He walked back inside with the phoenixes.

Xander went to grab his broom. It was a nice afternoon for flying.

***

In the hallways outside the training room, Ron and Draco were sniping at each other again. "You're such a stuck up prick," Draco told him. "With how you were raised you wouldn't think you'd mimic my father's manners."

"That's it," Ron said, leading the way to an abandoned hallway. "Duel, now. No lights!" He pulled his wand and started to fire, but someone caught his wrist and Draco's.

"Nope," Xander said, pointing his wand at them. "Kiss and make up." He watched as the boys fought it, but they moved closer and barely touched lips. The leapt back, spitting and wiping their mouths. "Thank you. I did not teach you that to take on another student in an act of idiocy." He frowned at them. "You both have bigger problems to worry about, and this form of wearing out the frustration is not acceptable. Take up boxing or something and do it legitimately." He frowned. "Ron, I want to see you both tonight before the meeting, right after dinner." He walked away.

Ron growled at Draco. "He won't save you."

"He won't save you either," Draco told him. "I will get you for that."

"Only if you want to do that again!" Xander yelled back. "Because next time I'm going to cast that with you both in the Great Hall in front of everybody." He walked past them a few minutes later, his broom on his shoulder. "Do we have the point, boys?" he asked them, noticing that they were still facing off. "Boys?"

Ron looked at him. "I can beat his ass if I want to. He's a Slytherin and it's tradition."

"Ha!" Draco retorted. "A Slytherin hasn't been beaten by a Gryffindor in years."

"And both of you are looking for an asswhipping from a pissed off teacher," Xander told them coldly. They looked at him in shock. "Yup, you two. You know, you're going to have to work together for at least the rest of the school year. This petty fucking argument will stop now or I'm going to stop it by doing something so nasty to you that you'll go running to Ron's parents crying." Both boys swallowed. "We don't need this shit right now, do it this summer." He walked away, sure that they got the point this time.

"Wonder what got into him?" Ron asked, staring at Xander's back.

"I don't know, but it can't be good." Draco straightened. "I heard someone crying in his room earlier. You don't think that your brother dumped him do you?"

"No, George is over the moon for him. Mum said he's making cow eyes at a picture of them together on a broom." Ron sighed and looked at his arch-nemesis. "Truce?"

"Truce. And never speak of what he made us do."

"Never," Ron heartily agreed. That had been icky. They went their separate ways, hoping to not run into Xander until he came back from his outing. Xander was usually more reasonable after he got done flying.

***

Xander strolled into the shop and grabbed Fred, dragging him up the stairs. "He's not me," George called after them.

Xander stuck his head over the railing. "I'll get to you in a minute, this is not cuddling stuff." He walked back up the stairs to the hallway. "Is anyone up here?" Fred shook his head, looking confused. "Okay, um." He rubbed his brow.

"You already have my permission to court my brother," Fred said with a grin.

Xander grinned back. "Yeah, I know, and that has meant the world to me, but this is about Ginny. She, um, asked me to tell you something, preferably before the parents know." Fred nodded slowly. "She's real upset and kinda confused right now."

"She's stuffed up," Fred gasped. Xander looked relieved and nodded. "By who?"

"Um, the baby might be a blond?" he hazarded.

Fred looked dumbfounded. His eyes closed and his mouth opened, then his head started to shake. "No, that's just wrong," he complained. He shuddered. "Eww, that's sickening."

"But, from what she said, it was consensual and wanted," Xander told him. "And I'm thinking that she probably tried to use whatever spell you guys use to protect yourselves, but it didn't work. But she asked me to tell you guys and Ron, and I offered to let her hide behind me when she tells your mother."

"Oh, I don't even want to be there," Fred told him. He clapped Xander on the shoulder. "Remember, mum likes you, no matter what she says when she hears about it." He looked down the stairs. "Do you want me to hold George for you when you tell him? He might go beat her. He had a talk with her about that stuff."

Xander smiled. "No, I think I can calm him back down. If not, then we'll have a fight and I'll kiss him stupid." He stepped closer. "She's going to have to leave the school soon."

Fred nodded. "School policy states that she has to leave once she starts showing." He blinked a few times. "Are you sure?" Xander nodded. "Damn. I'll watch the store, drag George into the lab and lock the door. Keep him from trying to destroy it if you can."

Xander nodded and turned, jogging down the stairs. He pulled on George's arm, taking him back into the lab. He locked the door and leaned against it, then gave his lover a kiss. "Ginny sent me," he told him. George opened his mouth, but motioned him to go on. "She's pregnant." George winced, waving for him to finish. "By Malfoy junior."

George opened his mouth, then turned and picked up something, throwing it as hard as he could against a wall. "I'll kill him," he said calmly.

"She didn't say that it wasn't consensual," Xander told him. "She didn't say anything at all about not wanting it." George turned to look at him. "It happened, no matter that she probably tried to protect herself or not. And she's really scared and upset. She said I could tell you two and Ron."

"Oh, holy God. She's going to have to tell mum," George whispered. He searched for a seat, finally ending up on the edge of the table. "Is she okay?"

"As far as she told me, Tara found out and sent her to the nurse. I'm guessing she's fine, but she'll also have to leave school early this year." George nodded slowly. "She was crying earlier, she's really upset about this."

George snorted. "I'd be upset too if I were stuffed up."

"Honey, if you were stuffed up, I'd be wondering how," Xander told him with a grin. George smiled at him. "So you're not going to go up there and go off on her?"

"No. I may yell, but I'll hug her afterwards. I know she was careful. We're just a prolific lot." He stood up and walked over, hugging his lover hard. "Don't get in mum's way. She'll skin you." He stole a kiss. "Told Ron yet?"

"Nope, or the father. I asked when I found out that she didn't want to tell anyone. She agreed I could hold Ron still and tell him."

"I think it may take more than that, possibly petrifying him." George reached around and unlocked the door. "We'll be up tonight after we close. You behave and be safe," he told him, stealing another kiss before opening the door. He waited until Xander was gone, then looked at his brother. "Think she told him to tell us because she didn't want to?"

"Xander is a champion meddler," Fred reminded him. "It's part of his nature to butt in. So it was either that or she's scared to tell Ron and we got included because you're making cow eyes at him." He smiled. "What did you throw?"

"The new mouth glue ball."

"Did it shatter?" George nodded. "Oh, well, we'll make another one. Are we heading up?"

"Tonight. I think she could probably use the hug. Xander said she was crying."

"I'd be crying too if I had to tell mum." They both shuddered. "Percy?"

"Dad?" Fred suggested.

"Not going there," George told him. Fred smirked at him. "I do not talk like him now. Get over it." He sat down behind the register. "He promised we could go see the nest soon. Maybe I should take him the day that she tells mum."

"I have the feeling that we're all going to be sucked into this."

"At least she won't hit Harry. One of us will escape the wrath." They chuckled together.

***

Xander opened up his door, finding Ron and Harry standing there. "Um, Harry, go do something for ten minutes, 'kay?" He pulled Ron inside and looked at him. The boy was nearly his height. He was getting so big, not at all the skinny kid he had been when they'd met. "Sit, Ron."

Ron crossed his arms. "You can't take me out of the fight, I did good while I was captured."

"It's not that and I'm not even going to go there. I want you behind me as a second line of defense, like I want the rest of you guys, but you're going to be there." He smiled sadly. "Sit, Ron. Please?" Ron sat down, giving him suspicious looks. "Ginny's ....um, how to put this."

"Ginny's what?" Ron asked, starting to look upset. "Is she okay? Did she get taken?"

"Nothing at all to do with the fight," Xander told him quickly. "Not a thing to do with Voldemort or the fighting, nothing at all."

"Then she's got to be..." Ron jumped up. "No way." Xander nodded slowly. "She's stuffed up?" The door opened and Ron scowled. "Out, Malfoy, this is family business."

Xander opened his mouth. "Draco, give us a few please," he decided. Unfortunately, Ron caught his look. He had to step between them and keep Ron from hitting him. "Close the door," he told Draco as he pulled Ron away. Damn, the kid was heavy. "It was an accident, Ron, it wasn't his fault."

"Sure it wasn't, he probably talked her into bed."

Draco closed the doors, both of them, and locked them. "No, I didn't. She came to me."

"Not the time," Xander told him.

Ron opened his mouth. "Why would she come to you!"

"So you wouldn't suspect that she wanted to have sex." Ron started to shake in anger. "Not the issue?" he guessed, knowing Ron wouldn't be this pissed over him simply sleeping with his sister. Ron looked like he was going to kill him with his fists, no magic involved. If it had just been that, he'd find himself hexed into oblivion, but not pummeled to death. "It was consensual."

Xander shook his head. "Not about that. Tell me, did you think about using certain spells?"

"She used one and I did too," Draco told him, sitting down on the chair. "We both used spells. She got hers from Melody and I used the standard one." He looked at Ron, then back at Xander. "Why would that matter?"

"She's pregnant!" Ron roared, jumping for him again.

Draco was faster and thinking. "Petrificus totalis!" He stood up and faced the stiff kid. "Listen, I tried to make sure it wouldn't happen, as did she. That wasn't my intention." Ron growled something. "I'm sorry it happened, but I didn't mean for it to. I never meant to stuff her up. Think about what a problem this'll be for me."

"For you?" Xander asked. "She's going to have to leave school a month early." He uncursed Ron. "Sit," he said quietly. "Talk. It was an accident and she's really upset."

"Why didn't she tell me herself?" Ron asked.

"Because you're a big strong guy who gets really mad," Xander reminded him. Ron hung his head. "I offered and she jumped at the chance because she's worried about telling your mom." He sat on the couch, looking at them. "You guys have got to protect her. If this gets out, the other kids are going to pick on her horribly. Not only because she is, but because of who the father is." Both boys nodded. "Can you continue your truce until after school ends?"

"I'll bloody well have to," Ron told him. "Dad's going to die when he hears about this. Mum'll start to cry and demand his head." He glared at Draco. "If my father has a heart attack, your heart is going in his place."

Draco held up a hand. "I didn't mean for it to happen, but I will step up and take responsibility." He grimaced. Ginny hadn't meant to, but she had done something that most of the other girls in the school had tried, caught him by getting pregnant. He might even have to marry her. Oh, his father would put a bounty on his head for this. "I'll do what I have to do to protect this child," he assured Ron. "A Malfoy does not run away from this responsibility." He stood up. "At least I know your sister didn't do it on purpose like most of the girls have tried to do." He looked at Xander. "I'm going to skip tonight."

"Might be a good idea. The twins are coming up to talk to Ginny." He grimaced. "She let me tell them too."

Ron looked at him. "Which one threw stuff?"

"George threw something, Fred shuddered. They both agreed that Draco's allowed to live for now." He smiled. "Go think and don't jump on Ginny. She only found out a few days ago because of Tara." Draco left the room, going across the hall to his. "Ron? You're being really quiet."

"I'm concentrating on not getting up and beating the shit outta him," he said quietly. "Because I'm going to turn him into paste."

Xander shifted over, but Ron moved away. "Okay, won't touch you. Just remember, this was an accident. It could have been much worse. Or you could have found out when your parents did."

Ron looked at him. "Thanks for that. I think someone will have to protect Ginny."

Xander shrugged. "I offered to allow her to hide behind me."

Ron shook his head. "Stay out of it. Mum'll kill you if she finds out you knew before her." He stood up. "I'm going to go think. Can I tell Harry?"

"Ask your sister. I know she wants to keep it quiet." Ron nodded and left. Xander stretched out on the couch. This was going to be a bad fight. Maybe he'd guard the door instead.

***

Molly and Arthur Weasley flooed in, smiling at the teachers in the staffroom. "We're here for an appointment," Arthur said happily.

"We've set it up down the hall," McGonagall told them. She knew exactly why they were here, as head of Ginny's house she had to know. "Your daughter's in there already." She smiled kindly as she led them down the hall to a sitting room. She opened the door and waved at Xander. He nodded but didn't move. She left him to his fate. As she walked away, she saw Ron and the twins coming up the hall. Oh, dear, someone was going to have to clean up blood. She watched as they walked in and Xander was shoved out by Ron. He sat on the floor outside the door, guarding it. As Harry walked by, he got grabbed and pulled down by Xander to wait too.

Inside the room, Ginny was wringing her hands, but her brothers were hugging her so it was going to be okay. She stepped in front of them. "Mum, dad, sit," she encouraged.

"Does this have to do with what track you're taking?" Arthur asked. Ron had looked about as nervous when he had told them he was taking an auror preparation class. He pulled his wife down onto the couch and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Not quite," she told him. The door opened and Malfoy walked in. "What are you doing here?"

"It's my right," he reminded her. They had talked last night and he had agreed when she refused to marry him, though he was going to support and see his child whenever possible. He sat down as far away from her parents as possibly.

Molly was starting to get a very bad feeling. She looked at Ron, the most volatile of her children, and her fears were confirmed. "Ginny, continue," she told her coolly.

"Mum, it was an accident," she said quickly. She felt a hand touch her shoulder and took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant and it's his." She stepped back into George quickly, before her mother could get off the couch.

"I see." Molly licked her dry mouth, looking from Malfoy to Ginny and back. "And what are we going to do about this situation?"

"I'm having it," Ginny told him. "But I refuse to marry him. I'd make a horrible Mrs. Malfoy. I have agreed that he's allowed to see it, but we haven't gotten any farther than that."

Her father stood up and pulled her into a hug. "I know you're being brave, dear, but there's more here to consider." She looked up at him, her eyes wet. "I know this is hard for you."

She nodded. "Very hard. I'll have to come home a month early."

"Which is good 'cause we were sending you away anyway about that time," Ron told her. His father looked at him. "That's when we think the fight's going to be."

His mother stood up and stared down her daughter. "I will not raise this child," she told her.

"Mum, I only need a year to finish school. If I can do that with a child, I will. If not, I'll figure it out," Ginny said bravely. "Even if I have to do it from town or something."

"No daughter of mine will be raising a child on her own," her mother snapped. Ginny flinched. "How did this happen?"

"I don't know, mum. I used a protection spell, he used a protection spell. It just happened!" she screamed. "Get over it! This is my life!"

Her mother stepped back. "If that's the way you feel..."

Fred walked over and gave her a hug. "She's upset, mum. She needs love, not yelling." She pushed him away. "Mum!"

"No. She'll do this alone!" She turned on Malfoy, who was looking pale. "Would you marry her if we force it?" He nodded.

"We won't be," Arthur told her. She glared at him. "It would only destroy Ginny further if we forced her to marry into that family!" He let his daughter go. "It was an accident, Molly. We've had those ourselves." She flushed. "I know she tried to prevent it, she's said so." Ginny nodded, safely in Ron's arms now. "We have to calm down and think about this. Her education is more important than anything."

Ginny swallowed. "I'm already signed up to talk to McGonagall about taking her advanced class if I pass everything this term. Plus, I'm set to take an advanced class with Hagrid, with Professor Sprout and Professor Snape. They're my best areas and I'm doing excellent in them." She stiffened up some. "As a matter of fact, if I had to, I could probably stay with Xander for my last year. He's been very nice while I cried on him."

"He knew?" her father asked.

Ron nodded. "She went to cry to him after Professor Maclay found her out. He told us three."

Molly ground her teeth. "Why? Did he feel I couldn't?"

"No, mum, because I wanted someone who was here to comfort me today," Ginny told her. "I couldn't take everyone yelling at me at once." She started to storm out but her mother grabbed her. "I'm going to let you talk about me without having to hear it."

"You'll sit down," her mother said calmly, "and we'll talk about this together." She pushed her daughter down next to Malfoy. "You, out of my sight." He jumped up and ran out, barely able to open the door. "Who's out there?"

"Xander probably," Ron told her.

"All of you out too." The boys all left. She sat down next to her daughter, forcing herself to stay calm. "Ginny, this is a horrible thing. You're much too young."

Ginny started to sniffle and nod. "I know."

Her father sat down next to her, giving her another hug. "We'll deal with it, we always have."

***

Fred and George leaned against the wall while Ron sat next to Xander. Harry and Hermione had joined him on the floor resting against the door. Fred looked at George and smiled, but George shook his head. Fred had been wondering if Xander could really tell them apart. He pulled Xander up and into his arms, giving him a short kiss.

"Not nice," Xander said, pulling away from him. He kissed George, then smiled. "Ha, beat you."

"I'm George," Fred told him. Xander frowned.

"Fred," Ron warned. "Don't do that to him. He's very uptight." He didn't even look at him, he knew this game.

"I'm George," George told him, pulling him in for a deeper kiss. He had just gotten done testing a pucker candy though, so Xander pulled back and licked his lips. "Can't tell?"

Xander stormed off down the hall. "I won't play that game," he called back.

"Told you so," Ron said listlessly.

Harry nudged him. "It's how they are. They even do it to your mum."

"But Xander's a bit different than mum," George pointed out, glaring at his twin. "You hurt him."

"Did not."

"Did too," Harry put in. "He's very picky about many things, and George is one of them." He looked at George. "You might want to go find him. He's bound to be upset."

"Stay out of it," Fred told him. "He's got to learn to take it too. Mum has."

"Xander's not like mum," Ron pointed out. "He hasn't lived with you for the last eighteen years of your life. Nor has he ever dated a man before, so he's very unsure of a lot of things."

"How would you know?" Hermione asked. It seemed like fair game to her. They did it to everyone else.

"Because I saw his journal," Ron told her. He stood up. "I'm going to go work out. Harry?" He nodded and followed his friend down to the training room.

George walked away, going to talk to Xander. He really had to lighten up if they were going to stay together. That was a favorite trick of theirs.

The door opened and Mrs. Weasley stuck her head out. "Where is everyone?"

"Fred and George played their usual 'I'm him' game," Hermione said as she stood up. "It upset Xander. Ron and Harry are downstairs working out."

"Oh." She frowned. "George, why didn't you go after him? He's very delicate emotionally."

"I'm Fred," Fred told her. "Daft, purely daft."

She frowned. "Now is not the time for that. Go find them and bring them here, we're having a family meeting to resolve this situation. Hermione, you and Harry should join us also, I think, since you might as well be ours." She pulled her head back and shut the door.

Hermione looked at Fred. "Gym or Xander?"

"I'll get Xander." He walked away, not noticing that she was going in the same direction for most of the trip. He tapped on the door, then knocked harder when he didn't get an answer. "Xander, mum wants to see you," he called.

The portrait opened. "He's locked himself in the bathroom," George told him. "I warned you not to upset him." Xander walked past them, leaving them there to argue. "Xander?" he called.

Fred ran after him, catching up to him. "Xander, I'm sorry." The boy looked at him. "I really am. I didn't realize how upset it would make you."

Xander stepped closer to him. "The only thing I can't joke about is my relationships. When I give myself to someone, it's with the full intent of burying myself in then and not coming up." Fred nodded. "I can joke about anything but that. So in the future, drop it." He walked away.

Fred waited for his brother. "I didn't know he was like that," he told him.

George nodded. "He's always been like that. That's why the kids like him, he adopts the whole group." He patted his brother on the back. "He'll forgive you later. He can and will because I'll make him." They walked away.

One of the teachers stuck her head out of her classroom. "They're already fighting?" she muttered, closing the door.

Xander walked into the room and sat beside Ginny, giving her a short hug. "Has the yelling stopped?"

Mr. Weasley looked at him. "I had wondered why it took Murphy so long to come inside. He sat outside all last night and sang to us."

Xander gave him a weak smile. "I told him to take a little while longer so she could figure some things out and get calmer."

"Perfectly understandable," Molly told him, reaching over to hug him when she saw how upset he was. "What happened?"

"Fred and George probably screwed with him," Ginny said. Her mother glared at her. "I'm going to be a mother, mum, I can say that word now." She patted Xander's arm. "They do it to everyone."

Xander shook his head. "It's not important, Fred knows how I feel about that now." He calmed himself down before something bad could happen. Both parents were looking at him. "It'll be okay, I'm just a little bit upset."

"As long as you're releasing it," Arthur told him.

"He's not dangerous," Molly told him firmly. They'd had this discussion again recently. Arthur was worried about what Xander would do if he got really upset because he still didn't have total control. She knew the boy would never hurt any of them. They had agreed to disagree. She pulled Xander closer so she could hold him better. "I'm sure you'll work it out tonight. You can keep them both if you want."

Ron, Harry, and Hermione walked in together. Ron smiled at Xander. "So, when's the wedding?"

"Dumbledore said we could hold it here this summer," Xander told him.

George walked in and stopped at that. "He did?"

"That would be spiffing," Fred remarked. He walked over and stood in front of Xander. "I'm sorry. If I had known that it would upset you so, I wouldn't have done it." Xander gave him a smile. "I'm forgiven?"

"Yup. If I have to be drug down the aisle on a hospital bed, you get to do that." Ron laughed. "Think I'm kidding? That's why Dumbledore suggested we have it here."

Ron came over and flopped down on the other side of Ginny, shoving her lightly. "What're we going to do with you?"

"We're going to support her and help her with her homework," Molly told him firmly. "And we'll keep the child until she finishes school. Then we'll see where she gets a job."

Arthur smiled. "We've been looking forward to grandchildren," he admitted. Molly snorted. "Well, I have. I don't have anyone to play with anymore." His wife scowled, but her eyes said she loved him.

"What about the rest of us?" George asked, blatantly sitting in Xander's lap. He was the smaller of them by an inch or so.

"Find a real seat," his mother told him.

"No. Xander's are fragile and precious and could always use a hug," George told her.

Xander shifted him until he was sitting next to him, but still cuddled up. "Parents don't like to see their kids cuddling, especially not when grandkids are being discussed."

"At least we won't have to worry about that from you," Ron noted.

Xander grinned at him. "Actually, Fredericka and Reynaldo both reminded me the last time they saw me that there is a spell for that among the gryphonic history. But I didn't think that George would look good knocked up."

"I'd look great," George complained. "I'd glow very nicely and carry rather high, but I'd look smashing preggers."

"If you do, you eat alone," Fred told him, his good humor returned. If Xander was able to joke, he was off the hook. "I'm not watching you eat gross foods while you grow too rotund to work."

"Imagine the labor," Ron snickered.

Arthur cleared his throat. "Xander, please don't get them started. They'll never stop and you'll have to do the spell to prove that it works." He smiled at the boy. "Which means we'll get publicity and be bothered for months on end."

Xander shrugged. "Okay, but if I do, can I use it on Fred so we don't have to give up cuddling?"

George contained his laughter, barely. "I think he'd look smashing stuffed up. Out to there with our child and glowing."

"Cut it out," their mother told them. "Dear, call Percy and Charlie. I know Bill's a bit too busy to be called at the moment, we'll tell him later." She smiled at Harry and Hermione. "You might as well sit, dears, you're like our own now." They sat together, making her smile. "Are you two contemplating getting together?" Both teens quickly shook their heads.

"We're friends, Mrs. Weasley," Harry told her. He glanced at Hermione. "I don't even think about her that way."

Ginny giggled. "It's true, mum. Harry and Ron both keep forgetting that she's a girl. They treat her like a boy with strange growths on the chest."

Xander looked at the kids. "That too shall end once we do the distraction lesson." Ron shuddered. "Yay, you'll get over it. How do you expect to fight if you're distracted by a set of tits bouncing."

"Xander!" Hermione complained. "You said you won't have us naked."

"I won't. I'll have you in one of Melissa's tops though." She blushed. "Don't worry, they'll be in just as revealing clothes."

Arthur, who had been talking to someone, got out of the way of the fireplace as a young man with red hair walked through. "Hello, Charlie."

"Come sit," Ron said, making room for him. "Big family meeting."

Charlie smiled at the new face. "Does this have to do with him? Are you Ginny's beau?"

"No, I'm the future father of all George's kids," Xander told him.

"Ah, you'd be Xander then." He smiled and leaned over to shake the man's hand. "Heard about you recently from a Species handler. He was quite impressed with how you jump into things." He looked at his mom. "Dad said it had to do with Ginny."

"We'll get to that when Percy gets here," his mother told him. "But for now, Xander, are you willing to marry George and keep him out of my hair?"

Xander looked at George. "I don't know, you wanna make it official or just keep taking long flights and sneaking around?"

"I think I'd rather like a wedding. I look stunning in my dress robes you know." He looked at his father. "That okay with you, dad?"

"Just fine, son. As long as Xander and you both stay out of trouble." He smiled at Xander. "I heard congratulations are in order, my boy. Something about being officially British now?"

"Only in the wizard community. The official British one is under review because I'm contesting it." He grimaced. "They say I'll know in about a month." He looked at George. "So, worst comes to worst, we'll drag my nest out of storage and go set up in the community because it's not technically in the country, being across a portal and all."

"As long as he can commute to work," Fred put in. "It'd be nice to have a room all to myself."

"You'd miss me terribly," George reminded him.

"Of course I would, I'd miss spending half the night awake because you snore."

Xander looked at Fred. "He doesn't snore." George turned bright red. "Sorry," he said with a shrug.

Ron looked over at him. "Ick," he noted. "Searching through your closet and coming up with the porn was bad enough, thank you."

"I told you to stay out of there," Xander reminded him. "You and Harry had to go exploring while you waited on me and you found a treasure."

Harry sneezed. "'Scuse me," he said before anyone could bless him. "Xander, you didn't hide it very well."

Xander gave him a dry look. "I wasn't expecting two seventeen year old hormones to go looking for my porn stash."

"Does Dumbledore know you use the tv for that?" Ron asked.

Xander nodded. "I accidentally dropped one in your dad's office the day I gave him the prezzies. Dumbledore accepted the owl and looked inside the package." Arthur turned bright red. "Yeah, he turned about that color too," Xander agreed. "But he does know and figured that I'm using it to learn what to do to George."

"What is this porn?" Charlie asked.

"Pornography is sexually explicit material," Hermione explained with a bright blush of her own. "Xander has male-to-male pornography which Harry and Ron found."

Charlie looked at his future brother in law. "Hey, if it helps. I got plenty of the real stuff while I was here."

Xander nodded. "I'm using it to teach me what to do to him."

Charlie smiled. "Good, then I won't hear a complaint from him at the next family meeting."

"You haven't heard one from this one yet," George told him.

Percy stepped out of the fire. "I've got about twenty minutes before I'm due back," he announced.

"Percy, my man, come sit," Xander told him, scooting into George's lap to give him a seat. Molly looked at him. "It was this or he'd have to sit on the floor."

"Xander, you're heavier, let me get on top," George complained. They switched place and Ginny curled up against Xander's side. "There, better," he said.

Fred looked at his mother. "You should catch them snogging in the lab sometime."

She shook her head. "No thank you. I think I've seen enough of that already." She looked at Ginny. "It's your news, dear."

"I'm pregnant," Ginny announced, squeezing herself against Xander's side.

"Oh, dear God," Percy said. He stood up to glare down at her. "You're endangering your education because you couldn't learn a simple spell? If you had asked I'm sure one of us would have given it to you."

"I used two of them!" she shouted at him. "Get over yourself." She pouted, looking down at her lap.

Charlie reached over and patted her knee. "We'll get by, a Weasley always manages to survive." He looked at his father. "Do we know the boy?"

"Malfoy," Ron told him.

"Lucius?" Charlie asked.

"Draco," Xander answered.

"Oh, no," Percy sighed. "Does he know?" Xander nodded. "No, not the boy, the father?" Xander shook his head. "That might just make him mad enough to attack the school."

"No, we're expecting that in a few weeks," Xander told him, looking perfectly serious. Arthur, Molly, and Charlie all looked at him.

"It's not a joke," Harry butted in. "It's just another attempt by *him* to destroy Dumbledore."

Arthur cleared his throat. "Do you have a plan?"

"Already in place and working," Xander told him. "Ron's in the line behind me with the rest of my advanced class." He looked at Harry. "Isn't that right?"

Hermione nodded. "I've taken the liberty of teaching one other person the lock sticking charm. Melody has assured me that she'd go lock all the houses if it became necessary."

"Good thinking," Ron told her. "It won't get out and it'll work."

Xander nodded. "Definitely great idea. I was wondering how to do that." He gave her a smile. "I should give you points for this, but we're not in class."

She laughed. "I'm sure I'll be getting some soon enough." She looked at Charlie. "You look a bit shocked."

"You're all fighting He-who-must-not-be-named?"

"Since our first year," Ron told him. Molly gasped. "What? Harry fights him and we back him up. Worked so far."

"Ron, your mother's worried, that's what they do," Xander told him. "They'll worry about you doing dangerous stuff until the day they die."

Ron shrugged. "Sorry, mum, thought you'd heard by now."

Both twins shook their heads. "We weren't going there," George told him.

Xander grinned up at him. "You're starting to sound like me."

"Am not."

"Are too," Fred put in.

"Am not!" George said warmly.

"Boys," Arthur broke in. "Yes, George, you are, and it sounds very cute with your accent, which Xander is starting to pick up from you."

"Accents are contagious?" Xander asked. "Does that mean if I kiss a Russian, I'll sound like one of them?"

"You'd better not," George said, poking him on the chest. "I'd be rather upset with you and we'd have to have another row like the one in the tree."

"Okay, I won't kiss a Russian to get their accent and we won't fight in any more trees."

Percy opened his mouth. "Dare I even ask why you were in a tree?"

Ginny giggled. "They were kissing, of course."

"And on the way to save Ron," Xander added. Percy went a little paler. "It's all right, he did quite well beating up on the guards."

"You seem like this is so very normal," Charlie said. "Why?"

"Because I started fighting with a Slayer when I was fifteen," Xander told him. "I grew up on California's hellmouth and fought on it for four years before coming over here."

"Oh." Charlie looked at his father. "Weren't you involved in some project that had a slayer?"

"That's how we met Xander," his mother told him. "The twins adopted him."

"And George stole him," Fred added with a smile for his brother.

"Which is a good thing because you'd never feed me chocolate," Xander told him.

"Boys," Arthur said. "Keep on track please. This is about Ginny and her problem."

"My problem is hungry," Ginny told him. "Is it dinner time yet?"

"Yup," Xander told her, after checking his watch. "Dinner time plus half an hour." He stood up, setting George back on his feet. "I think the house elves probably made enough if you guys want to stay."

"I wouldn't mind," Charlie said. "I'd like to talk to Ginny." She smiled at him. "What's this boy about to do?"

"I refuse to marry him," she told him. "He agreed I'd be in greater danger because of it."

"Is he going to support it any?" Percy asked.

"Yup, and he's going to come see it too," Ginny told him. "He actually wants to change a diaper, said it'd be a novel experience. Something not even his father did." She took Charlie's arm. "Come on, I'm hungry and the little creature wants fed." She walked out with him, Percy and the perpetual stomachs following.

Xander smiled at George. "You going to eat with the family or me?"

"I think I'll eat with the family and send you suggestive looks over the meal." They walked out together too.

Molly and Arthur shared a smile. It was going to be fine, her brothers would help her out if something happened to them. They went to join the students in their meal too.

***

Draco looked over as the doors opened, admitting most of the Weasley clan. He nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw four of her older brothers, figuring that his life was getting shorter all the time. He looked up as Xander walked past, relaxing when he saw the wink. Maybe he wouldn't be paste after this. He looked over and saw Percy, the nice non-fighting one, giving him a look that said he shouldn't count on it and quickly bent back over his dinner. He heard the quiet laugh and looked over to find Dumbledore smiling at him. Yup, he was dead.

Dumbledore stood up. "Welcome to the visiting family. It is nice to see so many of the Weasleys back here again. Please, enjoy our usual fare while you visit with your children." He glanced at Xander, then at the table.

"Don't," Xander told him. "I'll have to retaliate."

Dumbledore laughed. "I've since found out the meaning of the ball this spring. It will be to celebrate the union of one of our teachers to one of our illustrious alumni." The students clapped. "I'm sure Professor Harris will want all of you to celebrate his happiness at that time so please consider whether or not you will attend carefully. It will be open to all years." He sat back down to applause by the usually ignored first and second years.

Xander leaned around Tara and Willow. "How did you know that? We just decided today."

Dumbledore laughed. "I have my ways, my boy, I always have my ways." He smiled down at Draco again. "I'm sure your advanced class will be more than happy to escort you down the aisle. There should be enough of them to offset the Weasley faction at the wedding."

Xander groaned. "I'll get you for this later," he told him. He felt something off and stood up, going over to look outside. "Um, Albus, come here please," he called quietly. The headmaster walked over and looked outside also. "I think we should probably cut dinner short," he muttered.

Dumbledore nodded. "Students, attention please," he called. "Prefects, take everyone back to your houses this instant by the back ways. Lock yourselves in."

"Melody, go lock them in. Lock any stragglers into a classroom and guard them," Xander said, looking around. He was next to the Slytherin table so he grabbed one of their first years. "Do you know what this is?" he asked, touching his bracelet. She shook her head. "Then take it off for me please."

"But I'm not supposed to," she whined.

"Do it," Snape ordered, walking down to look out the window. "My house, leave now, go down through the kitchen. All of you." He watched as the girl fumbled with the clasp. "Another of you try it," he snapped. A few of the students tried but it wasn't coming off.

"Oh, shit," Xander muttered. He looked around, then saw Hagrid. "Got something to cut metal?" He jumped up onto the dias and walked over, taking the pliers from him. In an emergency, he could cut the bracelet off, but it would probably send a magical bomb. He headed for the front hall, dodging running students. He managed to get it off as the doors were blown open. Within moments the front hall was cleared of everyone not fighting. Almost none of the teachers were there, only a few of his top students in his advanced class, the rest were guarding their houses like he had told them too. Xander pulled his wand and faced off with the man in the cloak standing in the doorway. "Go away," he said calmly. Behind him, he heard protective spells start to go up, Willow and Tara's voices leading the chants. He felt the entryway be bubbled, protecting the rest of the school. "Get the Death Eaters as they come in," he told his students. He looked at Draco and saw him whiter than normal. "You work with me, kid. I don't want to make you kill your own father." Draco nodded and stiffened up as the cloaked figure stepped forward. Xander looked at him again. "Leave," he ordered in his sternest voice.

The cloaked figure laughed as he pushed back his hood. Almost everyone stepped away from the red eyed, scaly skinned man standing there. "I am Lord Voldemort. Surrender and you will not suffer."

"Fuck off," Xander told him, raising his wand. Death Eaters entered behind them, surrounding the witches. The protective barrier came down. "Fine, fuck with the school, fuck with me," he said, raising his wand. "Get them!" The advanced class fired on the Death Eaters behind them first. He could hear Hermione saying an intricate gryphon spell and hoped she got it right. The backlash could be deadly, especially when combined with his. His mind wavered for a heartbeat, trying not to cast the one most destructive spell of all time. It could destroy the school. But it would destroy *him*. Possible versus absolute destruction. "Destaro!" Xander shouted, his wand wavering a little. It fought him, but the spell came out, just not strongly enough. It caught the Death Eaters, sending them flying and killing them instantly. To Voldemort, who got the majority of the blast, it made him scream. He started to shift down, looking like he was melting.

Harry saw what was going on, saw the wand coming up, and made the hardest, yet easiest, decision of his life. He stepped forward and raised his wand. "Destaro!" he yelled. He screamed as the fire of the gryphon magic went through his body, coming out his wand and into the body in front of him. He saw a gold body floating downward and shouted. "No! Stay back!"

"Backlash!" Hermione yelled. "Down!" All the teachers dropped and most of the backlash went over them. She got some of it and she knew the others did too. Around them, the entryway exploded into shards of wood and paintings, the backlash tearing through the area like miniature saws as it tried to find a way back into the earth.

The only other one standing was Albus Dumbledore, who was stunned. Not a spell, the backlash had caught him. With it came the memories of some of the people who had died that day, the energy shattering their souls so it flowed with the chaos energy coming back toward them. He saw so many horrible things, watched so many of his former students die. He heard a scream, but couldn't pull himself far enough away to help anyone else.

Xander fell to his knees, gasping and panting. He had absorbed so much of the energy, as much as he could. He looked over to watch the last of the Death Eaters start running. "Ron, no!" he shouted when Ron started after them. "We'll get them later."

"Bet me," Ron told him. "Hermione?"

She followed him out into the night, Harry following her and Draco shaking himself free so he could go with them. They needed him. He could forget watching his father die in front of him for now, while he hunted.

Xander felt someone lift him up and struggled, but it was Giles and he had a firm grip on him. "No, flashback. Memories!" he shouted.

Minerva McGonagall rushed to the side of her leader, helping him sit down. "Albus? Albus, come back. You're scaring me."

He blinked at her. "I think I want a vacation now," he said quietly. He looked over at Xander. "I was wrong," he said as more dust fell from the ceiling. He looked around at the destruction of the front hall. "You can partially destroy a school, but it was a good thing." He allowed himself to be helped. "I'll see you upstairs, young man."

Xander nodded, then headed out into the night to help his students. He might as well use this energy flooding him for something good. Murphy flew down to him. "Find the kids," he told him. "We're hunting." Murphy flew off and he followed him, knowing his bird would watch his back.

Giles looked around at the destruction the flashback had caused. He saw a small figure hiding in a hallway and went to her. "Ginny? Ginny, wake up."

Snape turned around then went to her. He pushed Giles aside and carried her up to the infirmary. He was aware that she was pregnant. "Check your witches," he said harshly. The man had stood there, he was supposed to be a fighter and he had just stood there stupidly.

Giles checked the other witches, getting most of them moving on their own up to the infirmary. Tara had to be carried, as did one other girl who had a cut to her abdomen. Most of the other teachers had gone to check on the students in their houses, take roll and what not, but he had to do this now. He could ream Xander for doing that spell later.

***

Hermione walked into the infirmary, Ron resting against her side. "Harry's coming," she told Madam Pomfrey. "Xander's carrying him. Draco's walking and ignoring a broken ankle." She helped Ron onto a bed and fell down beside him.

Xander walked in holding the warm, limp, bleeding body and put him down on a free bed. "Draco, you too," he said, pointing at the last one.

"Sit," Madam Pomfrey told Xander, pushing him into a chair. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Murphy's fine. Ron's got broken ribs, Hermione has a concussion, Draco has a broken ankle, a possibly shattered wrist, and a concussion and Harry's bleeding like a stuck pig because someone tried to make him one." She rushed to Harry's side first, healing the stomach wound. He watched as his students were tended to, only looking away when McGonagall walked in. "We got them all. The aurors joined us just as Hermione resorted to gryphon magic again. One of them hit her to make her stop." He leaned against the comforting body. "I'm sorry, I understand why there's seven pages of warning on that spell, but it's over with. He can't hurt the kids."

"Albus said as much and he forgives you. Though he did say you were spending part of the summer fixing the hall," she told him with a smile. He shuddered. "I'm sure your carpentry skills will come in quite handy."

Xander looked around the rest of the room, counting beds. "Who're they?" he asked, pointing at the end group.

"A few of the witches and Ms. Weasley." Xander stared to stand but she pushed him back down. "She didn't make it out of the hall fast enough and the backlash caught her. Severus is down mixing her a potion."

He looked up at her. "One of mine?" She nodded. "It's dangerous for humans to take it."

"We're letting you talk to her parents," McGonagall told him. "Explain this to them. They'll be up in a moment." She walked over to look down at her students. "I am shocked and amazed by what you four did tonight," she said quietly. "One hundred points for each of you." She walked away, going to give the worried parents the good news.

Arthur walked in first, pulling Xander up to hug him. "You brought him back."

Xander nodded. "I did. He's a little battered but fine." He looked into the older man's eyes. "We've got to talk about this potion." Arthur nodded. "It's dangerous, but it could work."

"How dangerous?" Charlie asked as he escorted his mother inside. "Deadly or otherwise?"

"If it's too strong, possibly. If it's too weak, it might not work at all."

Molly looked up at him. "Is this one of yours?" He nodded. "Does it work on full humans?" He nodded again. "What're the odds?"

"If Snape makes it a little bit too strong, it'll cause more damage, enhance what's already there," Xander said, sitting back down again. He was so tired. "If it's really too strong, it could kill her, but I doubt he'd make that mistake." She nodded. "If it's too weak, you might have to go through this decision again because it'll only work on part of the injuries." He glanced at the curtains. "According to the books, it's cured cancer before and kept a child dying from a brain fever from dying."

Severus Snape walked in with two steaming cups. He handed one to Xander. "Drink it all," he told him. He looked at the parents. "It is still up to you."

"Do it," Arthur told him, taking hold of his wife to comfort her. They watched as the potions master walked back to their daughter's cubicle, but he couldn't bear the waiting. "Xander, what was that spell?"

"It was a decreate spell," he said tiredly, finishing off the potion. "They won't be able to revive him this time." He blinked hard.

Madam Pomfrey came over and forced him onto the extra cot she had pulled out. "Let him sleep," she advised. She ran over when she heard choking, helping the potions master with her most injured patient. The flashback had nearly liquified the girl's organs. This potion was the only way. She monitored her, smiling when it seemed to be working. "We've got some progress," she announced.

Snape frowned. "It's not working at the right speed. I made it too weak."

"Then go make another batch," Molly told him firmly. "I won't let her die!" Snape nodded and walked off, going to do as she had requested. She took the seat beside her daughter's bed, holding her cool hand. "Ginny, dear, we're here. Mommy's here." She didn't get an answer, they had sedated her as soon as she had been brought in. She looked up at her husband. "The ends do justify the means," she told him quietly. "He won't be coming back. There will be no more assassinations of families. He stopped it."

A man in a white coat walked in. "I'm sorry to do this folks, but I'm going to have to do some memory work. Who here heard the spell?"

"Can't this wait?" Arthur snapped at the member of the Unmentionables squad. They handled anything that was this big and bad. "At least until we get the potion to fix her?"

The man smiled. "We're not working on him, Arthur." That got a faint smile. "Nor are we working on your youngest son, Hermione Granger, or Harry Potter." He pointed at the three kids. "But we will have to erase the memory of that spell. It sent shockwaves clear through to Russia from what we understand." He looked at Xander. "Such a frail body for all that energy."

"It burnt him out," Madam Pomfrey told him. "This can wait until they're out of my infirmary. Go wait in the hall, young man."

"Ma'am, we have to do this as soon as possible to the main event, otherwise we'll have to alter more memories. The more we wait, the more trauma we'll have."

Arthur pointed at Draco. "We're sure he saw his father killed."

The man nodded. "We've identified him as being one of the ones downstairs. We're not taking that memory from him unless he asks us to."

Draco shook his head. "Even if you tried to hide it from me, I doubt I'd forget it." He looked over at Xander's body. "Besides, I already knew what it was. I snuck into their notebooks and checked them out. I refuse the treatment you're offering."

"Young man, you don't have that right," Arthur told him. "Unless one of the gryphons themselves tell us not to, we have to do it to protect them."

"Then let me talk to them," Draco told him harshly. "They'll know that they can't separate the events out and that trying to hide my father being blown to bits in front of me won't work."

Arthur felt sorry for the boy. He'd never usually do it, but he walked over and put a comforting hand on the boy's arm. "Draco, I know that it hurts, and I'm sure Xander's sorry."

"But I'm not," he said. "I'm free now, I can be a real person with my own opinions. No one will ever come after me again because I'm free of all that mess. No more *Dark Lord*," he said scornfully, sounding more upset as he went on, "to try and kill me because I couldn't force myself to kill whom he wanted me to kill. No more having to spout off nonsense because my father said so. I'll be able to think for myself again!"

Arthur nodded. "That's very true, you can." He stepped back. "As soon as he's healed, take him to the gryphons personally and have them talk to him. They were always excellent at memory charms." The Unmentionable nodded and moved to the first bed with someone not on his list. Arthur went back to his daughter's side, waiting on the second dose of potion.

*** Three Weeks Later ***

Harry Potter sat in front of the Ministry Of Magic's full board. This was a closed hearing to see if any charges should be brought against him or Xander. The new Minister, Robert Asdar, was frowning down at him. The man had been an auror and understood the situation. "I did what I had to do. As taught by quite a few people, sometimes you have to do something bad in order to fight for the good," Harry told him.

"And the potential loss of life?"

Harry looked up at him with dead eyes. Since that night he hadn't been sleeping very well and he felt like he was emotionally closed off from himself. It was so bad that Hermione was wondering out loud if he should ask to be memory charmed. "What about the lives that would have been lost if Voldemort had lived and gotten to the students? I doubt, with his state of mind, that even the purest of the pure bloods would have been spared. I made my decision to save my school and my schoolmates, and I stand by it." He stood up. "I'm going to leave unless you have any more questions. I can't take being cooped up inside right now."

"Do you still want to be an auror?" Asdar asked.

Harry shook his head. "I didn't want to be one in the first place. I took the training because Voldemort had come after me every year that I had been at Hogwarts and it made sense that I learn how to protect myself and those around me. I'm glad I got the training because he's gone, but I really want to go live somewhere quiet and get away from people for a bit."

Asdar smiled at him. "I understand. I was around when the first round of killings happened and I had many days when I wanted to give up." He saw the light of hope in the boy's eyes and smiled brighter. "It does come back, Mr. Potter, just give it time. You are right, I find you not guilty of anything beyond doing what you felt was necessary." He banged his gavel. No one on the board argued with him, they all thought it had been too little praise. "Mr. Potter," he said before the boy could leave. "Let me tell you that Voldemort's remains have been hidden away from all his remaining followers, far from any human touch. Even if they could find a way to get past that particular spell, they would have a hard time finding his remains to bring him back. His old body was also removed and hidden. There is no chance any longer and you can rest easier."

Harry nodded and walked out, stepping directly into Xander's arms for a hug. He knew his teacher felt just as bad as he did, but he managed to hide it somehow. It must have been all the experiences that he had, like Asdar had said. "I'm going to the Burrow," he told him quietly. "I'll see you later." He walked away.

Xander walked into the hearing chamber, stopping when he noticed the gryphon against the back wall. He swallowed but walked forward to face his trouble. He had started the spell. He had to deal with it now. He sat down in the vacant chair and looked up at them. "You called for me?"

One of the other Ministers, the one filling in for Arthur, looked down at him. "You couldn't have chosen a different spell? One that had less possibility of casualties?" she asked.

Xander shook his head. "It was the first one that popped into my mind. I considered my second choice, freezing them and a pain spell, but I knew I wasn't stronger than a few of them. There was a greater chance of all of us standing in the way being killed and the bad guys getting to the students." He sat up straighter. "I made the hard decision because I knew what was going to happen if I didn't. I could clearly see in my head the bodies of every single student laying there mangled and mutilated if I didn't do something very drastic and very dumb." He looked back at the gryphon, one he didn't know. "I'm sorry if you're pissed, but I felt it was necessary. I've had the spell removed from my mind so I can never use it again. I'm actually blocked from saying it now." He turned back to the panel. "I'm willing to take whatever pain you give me."

Asdar looked down at him, considering him. He had Harris' complete file in front of him, as well as his file from the Watchers and the Immigration service. The boy reminded him of himself in so many ways, and it sickened him on some level that someone else had to make the choice to kill a group of people, and possibly bring down the entire school on their heads, to stop one villain. "Do you think you should be punished?" he asked.

Xander shrugged. "As has been pointed out lately and frequently in the press, I'm not always the best judge." He shifted some, taking the weight off his bruised hip. He had jumped at a loud nosie that morning and fallen out of bed. George had been nice, he'd only laughed for about twenty minutes.

Asdar leaned over, discussing with his fellow Ministers. Most of them liked Xander and felt he had done what was needed. Asdar wasn't so sure. He saw the ease in the boy's eyes and wondered about it. He finally straightened up and looked down at Xander again. "What if we told you we were banishing you from any British territory?" He saw the light die and knew what it was from. He regretted asking it now.

Xander opened his mouth. "I..I'd have to go, but I'd hate it even more than I do myself right now," he admitted. "I would hope that my boyfriend would come with me, but I'd make sure he stayed so he wouldn't lose his family." He stood up. "If that's what you want, then I'm gone."

"Sit," the Unmentionables Minister told him. "We are not going to punish you. Not for doing what was necessary. We can no more punish you than we can Harry Potter." She frowned at him. "While your actions were extreme, they were justified and we do understand them. The fact that you've taken such a harsh step on your own means that you know the risk that you took in the first place. We are aware of your past," Xander opened his mouth, "and it does offer us a lot of insight into your character. Having fought so long, you could only fight this time. I'm sure Albus Dumbledore would agree with us were he back from his vacation." She smiled at him. "Also, I would never ask someone to give up those they love to go into voluntary exile. It's a cruel and unusual punishment." She patted the file in front of her. "Your last year has been quite a read, Professor Harris. It has made me want to jump up and hit someone, and made me congratulate some of my staff in stopping some of the tragedies you were part of."

Minister Asdar looked at her. "Are you finished?" he asked politely. She nodded. "Thank you." He looked down at Xander. "My question was rhetorical because I know what you went through. I've even sat down in that same chair and faced off with my superiors because I once ended up killing a civilian to take down three Death Eaters." Xander nodded. "I will not punish you for it, or remove you from your job. Personally, the children that you trained this last year would be a credit to us if they signed on as aurors. I doubt that will happen from the top four, but we have much hope for the rest of them." He gave him a gentle smile. "Go back to your fiancé, young man. I know he's waiting on you and is very worried about what we'll do to you. Even though he has to realize that you did what was for the best."

"I hurt his baby sister. His mother won't talk to me."

The Minister filling in for Arthur smiled. "I have it on good authority that she's working on forgiving you. The baby is fine, as is Ginny, so they'll forgive you some day soon."

The Minister for Immigration cleared his throat. "Xander, I know your status with my counterpart's office is still up in the air, but I think I have something to make you feel better." He handed down some forms. "These are your official United Kingdom citizenship papers It was deemed that you have an extraordinary gift that has been put to good use for us. The man over the muggle division agreed with me when I explained to him why I was there bothering him." His winked. "Then I erased his memory of course, the same as always." Asdar looked at him. "He said he'd rather not know." Asdar rolled his eyes. "You are now officially one of us. Congratulations."

Xander smiled and put the papers into his pocket. "Thank you, Minister Fidders." He looked at Asdar. "Am I done?"

"Yes, son, you are done, though I would like to sit and compare stories with you some day. I've only staked one vampire and he was only around two hundred or so."

Xander nodded and walked out, heading for the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon. He needed to check on his wand and Murphy was sucking up the attention at the inn. He walked outside and squinted up at the sunlight. He turned to the left and walked up the street, ducking into the back alley behind the Leaky Cauldron so he could get away from people. He tapped on the trick brick with his old wand and walked inside as soon as the doorway was big enough, heading directly to Ollivanders but ignoring the people pointing and talking. "Hey," he said with a faint smile as he walked inside the shop. "Is it ready yet?"

Mr. Ollivander brought out a large wand on a velvet cushion. "I couldn't find the same size so I hope fifteen inches is good for you." He watched as the wand was picked up and swished, smiling at the harmonious colors that followed behind it. "Good, excellent. Do you still have the old one?"

Xander grimaced and handed his first wand over with the one he had stolen off that wizard. "Thank you for letting me have that one, but I never want to see it again."

"Yes, the aftereffects of the war are still felt by your kind," he agreed with a smile. "Now what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to go fix the entryway to the school, work on my marriage plans, and then hopefully collapse into my bed tonight with my phoenix and sleep for once this week." He smiled. "It would be a nice change."

Ollivander smiled. "You did what you had to do, that's what counts."

"Yeah, but it doesn't take away the image of blowing away a kid's father in front of him." He pointed at the wand. "Do I owe you anything?"

"No, your Murphy was here this morning with one of his chicks, giving me a feather from her. Glinda I believe the name tag said?"

"Oh, her. Yeah, she likes Snape and his Slytherins. I expect she'll go to Snape or Malfoy." He looked around, then stepped closer. "Is there any word on his mother?"

"The auror who took him home found his mother lying in her bed. His father had killed her days before he came for the boy," he said sadly. "The auror said he told the boy that it was probably because she had defended him, but that it looked like he hadn't tortured her first."

"That's good. Is Draco still not talking?"

Ollivander shook his head. "Not from what I hear."

"Shoot." Xander slumped a little. "I guess I'll get back to my bird and my duty to fix the hallway." He smiled. "Thank you for fixing it for me."

"My pleasure, as always." He waited until the boy was gone. "Oak, very unusual for a phoenix feather." He cleaned up a bit and went back to making more wands.

Xander steeled himself and walked into the Leaky Cauldron. It was early so he didn't expect many witches and wizards to be drinking. He nearly ran back out when someone jumped out at him.

"Surprise!" Fred yelled in his ear. "We're throwing you a pre-wedding party." He led Xander over to a table and sat him down, waving at Tom the bartender to bring them their first round of drinks. "We figured that you needed some stuff," he told his twin's lover.

"Including lightening up," Charlie agreed.

"So we're being forced to hold this party here," Percy finished.

Xander smiled at him. "Okay. I could use a party." He looked around. "Where's Harry?"

"Hermione took him to look at his new house. It's so far out in the middle of nowhere, he has to fly to get to a town," Charlie told him.

"It's about an hour's fly from the Burrow," Fred reminded him.

Xander pulled out his new wand to show it off. "They fixed it."

"That's cool," Fred said, picking it up. "How long is this thing?"

"Fifteen inches," Xander said proudly. Wand size was like dick size to a muggle, something you bragged over. He accepted his butterbeer with a close to normal smile. "Did she ever come back?"

Tom rolled his eyes. "Twice now that slayer of yours came back. I wish you'd take us from her memory."

"I did, but the enchanted sword she bought her first time in Diagon keeps bringing it back," Xander told him.

"Then you'll just have to take the sword from her," Ron said as he walked over. He plopped down next to Xander. "Harry's fine. I talked to him. He'll be back in a week, once he's had some quiet."

"With Hermione going with him?" Fred asked. "I doubt he's going to get quiet."

Ron shook his head, smiling. "She'll draw him out. He'll be ready to come back in time for the final dinner and graduation."

"And the ball," George said as he joined them. He kissed Xander on the cheek. "Are you ready for the ball, and the event coming after it?"

"With the exception of the whole marriage part," Xander admitted. "I have no idea what I'm supposed to wear or say." He sipped his butterbeer. "You know I'm horrible in that sort of social situation."

"That's why mum took over the planning," Fred said with a grin. "We're banned from bringing anything except ourselves and that we had better be wearing appropriate clothing underneath our robes."

"Mum also said she was taking your paycheck and buying us all decent robes," Ron added. "I'll finally get something that I look spiffing in."

Xander laughed and reached over to hug him. "I think you looked okay at Christmas."

"Oy! No hugging," Ron complained. "It'll look bad to the ladies." He noticed his brothers looking around. "For future reference."

Percy cleared his throat. "It has come to our attention that neither of you have picked attendants."

"I've got Ron and Fred," George told him.

"Then I guess I've got Harry, Draco, and Percy," Xander finished.

George frowned at him. "I doubt you'll get Malfoy out of his home. He's still not speaking."

"Which is why he needs to come. Besides, he'll be the one supporting Ginny's stomach when she begs to dance." Fred snickered. "The kid needs a little bit of levity. I was going to fly over tomorrow and go bug him."

"I'll do it," Ron said. Xander looked at him. "I won't fight him, just bug him. He'll have to come back for the final feast too."

"True, seniors are honored on their final feast," George agreed. "Their houses give them a great party."

Fred snickered. "Ours was quite a blast."

"Yes, it took days for the house elves to get the soot out of the wall from what I heard," Ron told him dryly. He grinned at Xander. "Are you coming to Gryffindor's party?"

"Nope, I was thinking about holding a quiet one for you guys myself. New movies and everything." Ron chuckled. "Is this stuff alcoholic?" Xander asked, looking at his drink.

"Yours is," Fred told him. "Ours is normal."

"Guys, alcohol is bad," Xander told him. He yawned and stretched, making the fire flare up so high it came out of the fireplace. "Oops," he called.

Tom frowned at him. "Keep it down, please, or go upstairs so you only destroy a room." He watched as Fred gathered up their drinks, George gathered up Xander, and gave Ron a key for a room. "That one's shielded and noise proofed. You can get loud." He smiled at the group's back. Those Weasley boys were quite something else.

Xander walked into the room and burst out laughing. "Honeymoon suite," he said happily. He walked over and jumped on the bed, making it bounce. "Wee."

"I think he's had enough alcohol," Ron said as he walked in and shut the door, locking it behind him.

"What liquor did you tell Tom to put in there?" Percy asked, taking Xander's drink to check. "Tastes normal."

"It's only got half a shot of whiskey."

George caught Xander, holding him tightly. "Tell them about whiskey, dear."

"Whisky, scotch, and other dark liquors are allergens to us," Xander said. "It makes us feel high."

"Ah." Fred let Percy keep Xander's drink and handed Xander Percy's. "Then we'll keep you away from that sort of thing." He flopped down beside the bed. "Have you two thought about your honeymoon yet?"

"I think I'll be learning how to paint," George told him.

"At least most of the paintings were able to be restored," Ron put in, sitting on the floor resting against the foot of the bed. He looked up when Xander bent down and stared at him. "Yes?"

"When are you going to write the Buffy monster? All I heard about on the trip over was that you'd forgotten to write her."

"I did it last week," Ron told him. "Not my fault she's impatient. I've had a lot on my mind." He sipped his butterbeer. "Is she coming to the wedding?"

Xander nodded. "Yup. Murph went up with an invitation last week. She sent back a squeal." He flopped backwards, landing on George. Fred and Percy both laughed at the position they ended up in. "Honey, were we snogging in front of your brothers?"

Charlie snuck in and relocked the door, stopping when he saw the couple on the bed. "Are we having an orgy then? Because if we are, I need to go downstairs and grab the young vixen who just tried to lick my throat."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Why was Melody here?" He looked at Fred. "Why don't you get her, then you could both have gryphon naughties."

Fred threw something from his pocket at his brother, making him turn purple and shake. "That's for the truly horrid suggestion."

Charlie came over and sat beside him. "Don't think you could handle her?"

"She attacked me," Xander told him. "She should be punished, not given the brother-in-law as a reward."

Charlie snickered. "I'm sure it'd be an interesting relationship."

"She doesn't even fly," Fred told him.

"And she's a slut," Ron added. "She's the only one I know who brags more about her women and men than Malfoy."

Xander giggled. "Yup, she did have some fun. I heard she spent the night in Slytherin entertaining them all. They all looked really tired the next day."

Charlie looked shocked. "Someone allowed that?"

"You try to tell her no," Fred told him.

"Well, I did have to pry her off my throat. Said red hair turned her on," he admitted.

Xander nodded. "Sounds about right." He flipped over and latched onto George's mouth.

Percy rolled his eyes. "Boys, there are others around." He got time to gasp before Xander kissed him too. He pulled away, shifting far away from his brother. "That was uncalled for," he complained. "You said you wouldn't attack me."

"I didn't prank you," Xander told him. "But you sounded like you needed a kiss." He looked at Fred. "You should find him a girl."

"We can give him to Melody," Ron suggested. "I'm sure he'd be looser after that." Percy glared at him. "What? A good shag would probably make you feel better." Fred burst out laughing, leaning against Charlie to hold himself up. Charlie tried to hold it in, but he couldn't. Ron smiled at his older brothers. "Can you blame me for suggesting it? He'll have to be looser for the wedding."

"Ron," Percy snapped. "I do not engage in meaningless sexual contact, unlike some." He glared at Charlie, who had almost every woman after his rear. "For some of us, it has to mean something."

Ron got up and opened up the door, sticking his head out. Melody smiled at him. "Want my brother Percy? He's nearly cute, very smart, and very uptight."

She shook her head. "I only date geeks who have big packages." She strolled in and looked down at Percy, who was bright red and panting in anger. "Hey, you are cute," she said, pulling him up and forcing him out of the room. "I'll return him in time for the wedding."

"Stop this instant," Percy demanded, trying to get away from her.

"Someone might want to go save him," Xander pointed out. "She's really strong and Percy will hate us." No one moved so he sighed and got up, but Ron tried to stop him. "Percy will never forgive you. Your mother will bitch me out." He walked down the hall, following the complaints. He walked into the room, glaring at the young girl. "Hand over the brother-in-law, Melody. He only likes smart and funny women."

She smiled and licked her lips. "I will if you give me a ride before you get hitched."

Xander patted his cock, which was slightly hard from playing with George. "This only goes into men, dear. I tried women and found them boring." He grabbed Percy and hauled him off the bed. "Come on, let's go pick on the Ron." He grinned. "I'll show you the Ronmonkey if you want." He walked out, shutting and locking the door with an advanced gryphon spell. He led his brother-in-law down and closed the door, locking it too. He smiled and pulled his wand, pointing it at Ron, changing him into the Ronmonkey and making him dance and sing. "Cool huh," he said as he crawled back on top of George.

"You're heavy, dear, get off."

"You didn't say that last night."

"Last night I didn't have a spring in my back," George told him. He smiled and gave up when Xander nuzzled his throat. "All right, but only this once in front of the brothers. I'm sure they've seen it enough times to ignore us."

Percy cleared his throat. He was trying hard not to laugh at Ron. It didn't work and he ended up falling over when Ron started singing about having big balls in a snarly voice. Muggle music was too funny sometimes.

Xander looked over at Percy. "They've seen it all year in 3-D images. Now you get to see the real thing."

Percy fell onto the floor laughing. It was just so funny. He'd have to tell his mother about this.

***

Xander shifted on his broom, landing in front of the large house. He put the broom against the door before knocking loudly. The door opened and a house elf looked up at him. "Hi," he said, forcing his way inside. He looked around, nodding. "Nice." He heard movement down the hall so went that way, grabbing Draco and carrying him back to the front door. He got onto his broom and took off, taking the young man with him. "You forgot to show up and you have to go to the ball tonight," he said when he got glared at. "Besides, you have to fight with Ron at the wedding, you two are the entertainment," he added with a grin. Draco groaned. "Oh, hey, was that a noise?"

Draco glared at him. "I don't feel like talking," he said quietly.

"Of course you don't, not yet, but you'll have to sometime." He smiled. "Harry's hiding in the country and so are you, but it isn't allowed for the wedding. You have to dance with Ginny and escort me down the aisle. Then you and Ron have to finish fighting to amuse the rest of us." He hovered. "Now, I can be nice and go back, letting you get your broom so we can ride back together, or I can keep going. Up to you, Draco."

"I'll get my broom," he sighed. Xander turned them around, heading back to the house. "Is tonight the feast?"

"Tonight's the ball, tomorrow's the wedding and the feast. So dress accordingly. You'll be surprised at Ginny, she's starting to show now." He landed and waited while the young man went to get his things. Draco came back out and shut the door. "Ready?" Draco nodded. "You don't look ready."

"I'm still thinking," Draco said as he mounted his broom and took off.

Xander shrugged and followed him. "It's understandable. You won't even have to talk to anyone tonight. Just dance with Ginny once please, she's been pouting because Ron won't." Draco looked at him. "Buffy showed up this morning and Ron seems to have gotten lost somewhere in her mouth," he explained with a frown. "She smiled at him so he grabbed her for a kiss. Earned some clapping and Giles hosing them both down." Draco smiled. "Ginny's all alone tonight. The rest of the brothers are guarding Percy against Melody, who thinks he'd be a great lay."

Draco Malfoy burst out laughing for the first time in nearly two months. He shook his head and pushed his broom a little faster.

Xander smiled. He had done the good thing.

***

Xander strolled into the ball on George's arm, shiny in his perfectly pressed robe that his future mother-in-law had picked out for him. A few of the students clapped, making him blush. He was going to get some tonight. He wasn't wearing anything under his robe except a butt plug and a thong, and only that because the robe rubbed against him and made him hard - and it showed. He swung George around to start the first dance, smiling down at him.

George smiled up at him. He was happy. His family was here. Ginny was fine, rotund but fine. Even Ron had quit snarling at Xander for the stunt. Of course, Ron was presently trying to crawl down Buffy's throat. "Hey, Ron," he called loudly. Ron glared at him. "What'd she have for dinner?"

Buffy smiled at him. "Your brother doesn't kiss and tell." She winked at Xander. "Looking good, Xan. Gonna wear that tomorrow?"

Xander shook his head. "Mrs. Weasley bought me something dark red for tomorrow. She said I looked better in it than the silver robe."

"Silver?" she asked.

"Well, he can't wear white," Charlie told her. A few people laughed. "Go on and kiss," Charlie called.

George looked at Xander, then leaned in to kiss him. One hand slid down the firm back to the buttocks, and squeezed. He pulled back and squeezed again, then drug Xander from the room and out into the garden to see if Xander really was naked under there. They joined together out under the moon, both of them sending their excess energy into the earth.

Draco walked over to where Ginny was sitting next to Percy and held out a hand. She smiled and took it, not saying anything because he didn't. They moved together slowly on the floor. "You look pretty," he told her. "Stunning actually."

She blushed. "Thank you. Mum said that pregnancy agrees with me." She allowed herself to be spun around. "You look handsome. Velvet suits you." He smiled a little. "Are you doing okay?" He nodded. "Are you sure? Mum and Dad said you could come stay with us for a week or so once the baby was born. Mum said you could change all the diapers you wanted."

He laughed, making the people around them smile. "We'll see." He led her back to her seat. "Juice?"

"Punch," she said. "And maybe some cheese?" She smiled cutely. He nodded, going to get it for her.

"He's not the boy I thought he was," Percy told her.

She punched him on the arm. "He's not a boy, no more than you are." She smiled as Draco came back with the requested items, making room for him on the bench. "Are you going to escort Xander tomorrow? Dad said that was the plan, but to ask you."

Draco shrugged. "He said I am."

"Cool. I'm the flower girl." She drank some of her punch, frowning when all the thin little girls seemed to come over and try to get Draco to dance. "Hussy," she hissed at one's back.

Draco put a hand on hers. "They're jealous because this state suits you so well," he said quietly. "Not only do you glow, but you're beautiful in a way they'll never be." He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "They'll be sweaty and fat, you're stunning." She blushed and giggled. "Hurry up and we'll go again." She finished her snack and they went out to dance some more.

Percy huffed. "That boy is so obvious," he complained. Ron walked over to him. "As are you. Snogging in public."

"Shut up or I'm telling Melody that you want your knob shined." Percy looked shocked. "Yes, it came from Ron's mouth, get over it already." He took Ginny's spot.

"Dumped?"

"Buffy went to powder her nose with Hermione. Seen Harry yet?"

"He's hiding in a corner I believe," Percy said, pointing at where he could barely see Harry. "How is he? Quite a few people are wondering if he's going to be all right."

"He got accepted as second string for England," Ron told him. Percy smiled. "He's staying at home except for practice, but Hermione seems to be able to get him out of his house." Ron stood up as Buffy walked back toward him, her pink and white dress robe shimmering in the light. "'Scuse me, gotta go dance now." He hurried over, swinging her around to dance with her. She was so tiny next to him. She could wipe the floor with him, but he respected her for that.

Percy sat stiffly, watching the students flow around the room. He noticed one girl staring at him and smiled at her, hoping to discourage her. She came over and stood in front of him. "Will you dance with me, Percy Weasley?" she asked sweetly. He nodded and followed her onto the floor. She giggled when he started them moving. "I'm in Hufflepuff, my name's Kandy." She pinched him on the butt. "And I think you're very cute." She snuggled against him, putting her head on his shoulder.

Percy looked startled. Dear God, the girl was coming onto him. "What year are you?" he asked.

"I'll be a seventh year next year," she told him. "But I started a year late because I had mono." She grinned at him. "I'm almost as old as you are and I'd love to hear your most recent speech. I only got to hear the last half of it, but I agreed with all your reasoning. It sounded very well thought out. Though, I only got a little of the physics part of the speech. I was too busy staring at your eyes."

He swallowed nervously. He was trapped with a young woman who wanted him.

She gave him a squeeze. "I'm sorry if I seem so forward but my mum said I only have about three minutes to get my point across because most dances are only that long."

Percy smiled down at her. "I would gladly give you another if you'd care to continue our discussion. Are you interested in cauldron bottoms?"

She nodded. "I'm interested in standardizing all our components, except our wands of course. No one should have to suffer because of substandard equipment." She dipped him, making him squeak, which made her giggle some more. "You're funny," she told him. "I like you quite a lot."

He blushed. "Really? Most girls don't."

"Then they're just silly," she told him. "You're very interesting. You have a brain, unlike most boys." She glared at Ron, who was laughing on the other side of the dance floor. "Your brother can't even apologize when he runs you over." She looked up at him. "Good and nice boys are always better in my book." She leaned closer. "And geeks are my favorite people in the whole world because their brains turn me on." He blushed again, but they continued to dance for the rest of the night.

****

Xander nervously fidgeted with his robe. "Are you sure I look okay in this? It looks like spilled blood. Is that really the image I want to project on my wedding day?"

Ron smacked him on the back. "Calm down or I'm knocking you out, tying you up, and we're carrying you down the aisle."

"You he-man you," Harry said dryly. He fixed his collar and looked over Draco's outfit. "You ready yet?"

Draco nodded, brushing one last hair into place. "Done." He looked at Ron, one eyebrow going up. "Making a bad impression?"

"I haven't gotten to change yet." He walked into Xander's bathroom and changed his robes. He came out a few minutes later, dressed to impress a slayer. He took Xander's hand and tugged him toward the doorway. "C'mon, let's make an honest man out of you."

"After Dumbledore caught them going at it last night, I'm sure he's going to make sure of it," Harry said as he followed.

Draco laughed, remembering the old headmaster walking back in from outside, mouth open, cheeks red, not able to say anything. At least he had kept the four of them from running out to catch whatever evildoer that had shocked him so. Draco had snuck out to check the grounds and had found the naked happy couple, George on top of Xander, going at it with many moans and cries of pleasure. He had clapped, then run away before they could get him. When the couple had come back in, they were slightly rumpled but smiling.

Now Xander was dragging his feet, nervous about getting married. Murphy was waiting on them in the fixed entryway, and trilled happily as he flew down to perch on his daddy's shoulder. "You're heavy," Xander reminded him. "And rumpling my robe." Murphy bit him on the ear, drawing blood. "Ow! Fine, you can stay." He walked out, blinded by the sun. He stood there for a moment, then his eyes adjusted and he saw that everyone was right in front of him. "Oh, hey, I thought we were out by the greenhouses," he said as he walked down the aisle, led by his guards.

George smiled at him. "We thought we'd stun you and do it here," he told him. He took Xander's hand and turned toward Dumbledore, who was doing the ceremony. "We're ready," he said when it didn't start.

Ron looked around, then glared at the young woman standing at the door. He walked over and shoved Melody back inside, slamming the door in her face. "There," he said, walking back down the aisle. A few people tittered. He looked at Dumbledore. "Marry them now, before Fred has to jump in."

Fred looked at him. "Ron, don't make him do something naughty to you. I doubt Buffy would enjoy it tonight." Ron blushed and Buffy laughed. "Or not. She might be like that."

Xander cleared his throat. "Marry us now so we can go snog in private," he suggested.

Dumbledore looked down at him. "You'd better continue to do it in private from now on, young man," he said seriously. "I think I've seen plenty of you two together already." He coughed at the light laughter and opened his book. "Xander and George, we are here today to marry the both of you." He paused and looked down. "And I say it's about time." He went back to his book. "Is there anyone here who might object?"

Murphy squeaked and stared down at George, then cooed at him, hopping over to nuzzle him. He turned to look at the crowd and squawked angrily. He approved and they wouldn't get in the way!

Dumbledore chuckled. "I'd say he settled that point." He cleared his throat. "Xander, do you pledge yourself to George Weasley? If so, do it now."

Xander opened his mouth and looked at his lover. And squeaked. George laughed. "Good enough for me. I know how he feels."

"Then do the same for him," Dumbledore told him.

George looked at Xander and tried to mimic the squeak his lover had just made. The crowd laughed.

"I guess that's that. I now pronounce you married. Kiss shortly and let's go have a feast."

Xander grabbed George by the front of his robes and pulled him in for a deep, long kiss.

Buffy walked up and picked up Xander, carrying him away. "He said short. I'm hungry, let's go." She handed Xander back once she saw the funny looks she got. "What? Dumbledore said short. They weren't going to stop for a long time."

Ron came over and took her arm. "I'm sure we'll see more of it at dinner. Let's go inside and eat, shall we?"

Giles shook his head. "That girl," he sighed, following them inside.

Buffy smiled at him. "I get to retire next month," she told him. "Just in time to pick a snuggle bunny and settle down for fun and happies." She looked at Ron. "Want to try that with me? The Watchers Council is giving me a house and everything."

Ron nodded. "All right, we'll try. I'll be working at Firebolt starting this fall." He looked over and saw his father watching him. "That okay with you, dad?"

Arthur smiled. "That's fine. As long as we can reach you when the baby's born."

Buffy nudged Ron. "Don't expect any of those from me." Ron shook his head. "Good, as long as we're agreed." She followed him to his seat.

Xander giggled, leaning against George's side. "Two months," he told Arthur. "Big fight, two months, with lots of kissing to make up." He led George up to the head table, to his new permanent seat at his side. "You sit here," he said, putting George between him and Willow.

Giles sat down in his usual seat. "Where are you two planning on living?"

"We'll be splitting time between the shop and up here," Xander told him. "I'll be here Monday through Thursday nights and we'll spend the rest of the nights down in Hogsmeade."

"Sounds complicated," Willow said as she sat down with a smile for George. "Are you looking to take a job up here?"

George shuddered. "I could never teach," he told her. "I'm happy where I am."

She smiled. "That's good. Xander? Are you teaching next year?"

"He'd better be," Dumbledore told them as he walked up. "His salary is already set aside." He smiled at the crowd. "If you'll attend to me," he called. The students and guests looked at him. "Thank you. We are truly glad to have Professor Harris safely married to Mr. Weasley, and are hoping that Mr. Weasley will be able to make next year a calm school year." The students all laughed. "As always, we will miss our retiring seniors and wish them a happy life." That got some clapping. "I know you are all anxious to get on with your feast so you can finish packing. Please, eat and be merry." He sat down.

"No funny words?" Tara asked him.

Dumbledore smiled at her. "Next year, my dear."

McGonagall smiled at him. "Then you're coming back?"

"After a long vacation this summer. I believe I could use one. My last one reminded me that I hadn't taken one in many years." She nodded so he patted her on the hand. "Never fear, I will be back next year, only with a tan."

Xander chuckled. "I can just see you laying out, your beard bunned so it doesn't get in the way of your tan." He looked around everybody. "Did the entryway look good enough or do I have more work to do this summer?"

"I think it was an excellent job." Dumbledore looked at George. "Are you taking a honeymoon?"

"Fredericka demanded I bring him up there for a week. We're leaving tomorrow." Xander lifted his fork and looked at his plate. "No food?"

"I'm going to have to talk to the house elves," Dumbledore said, waving his wand at the plate. Nothing happened and he glanced down at Xander, who was nibbling on his lip. "Let it go," he told him.

Xander looked at Fang, who turned back into a dainty white poodle. The food appeared and the students who could see laughed because Fang had whined in complaint.

Hagrid looked down at him. "You look cute like that, you'll be fine."

Xander dug into his food, holding George's hand on top of the table.

***

That night, when they got together, the castle shook on it's foundations.

"Xander!" was yelled down the hallways.

"Wasn't us," George called back. "Go yell at Ron and Buffy."

McGonagall opened the door and stepped in, glaring at the naked and sweaty men. "Put the bed back against the wall, boys. You nearly brought the castle down." She glared at them until they got up and moved the bed back. "Thank you."

"It was ready to dance with happiness?" Xander suggested lightly. He got growled at. "Never mind. I'll be good now." She scared him.

"See that you do." She stomped off.

Xander hopped up and went to close and lock the doors. "Sorry about that," he said with a grin.

George motioned him back and gave him a kiss. "Just don't do it at the shop. We have exploding things." Xander looked cute. "We'll figure out our room this summer." He pulled his husband down so he could nibble on his neck, making him squeal. "I think we should get back to what we were doing. I don't want to have sex in a nest, no matter how comfy it might be."

"But it'd be fun," Xander told him. "And very safe."

"No, Xander. No sex in a nest. We'll go outside and play in the woods instead."

"Okay," Xander sighed. "We won't have sex in a nest." He sucked on a taut nipple. "Can I at least cuddle in a nest?"

"We'll see."

*** Five Months Later ***

Draco walked up to the new nursery, frowning when he smelled the nasty smell. "No wonder you're crying," he muttered, grabbing his daughter to take her downstairs and change her. "How do I do this?" he called.

Molly Weasley walked out of the kitchen. "You take the diaper off, you clean her buttocks, then you put a clean one on," she told him, watching as he followed the simple steps.

Draco got his first look at what was stinking up his daughter. "Eww," he told her. "It's green!"

"They do that, dear," Molly assured him. She handed over a washcloth. "Just clean her gently."

Draco tried to clean it up. "It's not coming off," he whined. She laughed and he gave her a hurt look. "What?"

"You can't be that gentle. Simone won't break." She went back into the kitchen, only coming back when she heard the shriek. "Draco?"

Ron came running down the stairs, his wand out. He stopped and laughed when he saw the front of his enemy's shirt. "She got you too, huh?" he teased. Draco glared at him.

"Put a diaper back on her before you get it again," Molly advised. She watched as her precious granddaughter let loose again, this time down Draco's front. "Well, I did warn you." She looked at her son. "Finish changing Simone while Draco go cleans up," she ordered, going back into the kitchen.

Draco whimpered and went to wash his chest off.

"Ferrets don't like water?" Ron teased.

"Prat," Draco snarled.

"Git," Ron shot back.

"Prancing fairy," Draco shouted.

"Bouncing ball of fur!"

"Butt fucker!"

"Me? Aren't you mixing me up with my brother, blood sucker?"

"Enough," Xander said tiredly from his place on the couch. His wand appeared over the top and the two young men were drawn toward each other slowly, and forced to kiss.

"Eurgh," Ron shouted. "Xander!"

"You knew better. Put a diaper on the baby and let me nap."

Draco quickly finished cleaning the baby and handed her to Xander, going upstairs to clean up.

Ron went back upstairs to finish dressing. He was going to continue to try and teach Buffy how to fly. She wasn't quite hopeless, but it was damn close enough to be so. He came down a few minutes later, his hair wet and his shirt unbuttoned. "Mum, I'm heading to Buffy's."

"Take her this," Molly called, handing over a bag. "That girl needs to eat more. She's nothing but skin and bones."

"I'm sure he makes her wear it off," Xander suggested.

"Prat," Ron muttered, heading out the door.

Xander giggled. "I'm not a baby carriage."

"That would be pram, dear," Molly said as she walked out, looking down at the baby. "Is she all right?"

"Smells normal again," he opinioned. He held her up but she shook her head. "You're sure?"

"No, Ginny will be up soon enough. Let her deal with it." She smiled at him. "How's your head?"

"Still hurts. I thought about making Ron polka dotted, but Buffy would try and kill me if I kept picking on him." He looked at the open window as Murphy and one of the chicks flew toward the house. "Her worshiper is coming." The chick flew in and landed on the back of the couch, cooing at the baby. "Good, you watch her until her mom gets up." He put the baby on the rug, watching as both phoenixes flew down to nestle against her. "Glinda, no nipping," he warned.

The chick hissed at him and went back to rubbing her head against the baby's stomach. It was her human, he should butt out.

Xander shrugged and reclosed his eyes. His head hurt. He needed to go prank someone. He concentrated and waved his wand lazily, sending his powers out to tease his husband. He laughed when he felt the headache leave him. Fred would find it funny at least. The George-puppy was so cute.

*** Epilogue ***

Simone Weasley stepped onto the train, waving at her parents. She found a compartment by herself, just for her and her bird. She pulled out one of her books and started reading. The train moved and she glanced out the window, but her mother had already left. She got to read for a whole ten minutes before the door opened. "I'd like to be alone," she said stiffly.

"Don't be that way," a young boy said, coming in and sitting across from her. "Holy God, that's a phoenix!"

She closed her book and looked at him, frowning. "Yes, it is. It adopted me when I was newly born. According to my mother, it was standing at the end of the bed encouraging me to come out while her grandfather was trying to get her out of the room. She's also got a fondness for Professor Snape and my father." His eyes went wide. "Who're you?"

"Ryan Rosenberg. My mother made me take the train even though I live at Hogwarts. Said something about a rite of passage or some such." He relaxed. "So, what's her name?"

"Glinda."

"After the good fairy in the Wizard of Oz?"

She smiled. "Yes. You're the first to get that."

"My mum read it to me when I was younger." Ryan looked at her book. "What'cha readin'?"

"Hogwarts, A History. My aunt gave it to me. It's her copy."

"You're a Weasley," he accused. She nodded. "Then who's your aunt? There's only one daughter from what my mum said."

"My aunt Hermione. She's an adopted aunt, my grandmother decided to adopt her." Simone curled up on her seat, nudging her phoenix, who squawked at her. "Oh, quit. We're going to see Severus tonight." Her phoenix cooed and settled back down to nap.

"I didn't think they'd let you have one of those yet. Strange animals are only for later years."

She shrugged. "I saw someone with a dog," she noted. "Besides, she's not any problem."

"So, what's your name?" he asked with a grin.

"Simone."

"Then Ron's your uncle too? He's the only one of you I've met beside George."

"And Professor Harris. He married one of my uncles. Are you taking Defense classes?" The boy nodded. "Then I'm sure we'll be seeing each other." She opened her book. "You can stay if you're quiet."

He snorted and wiggled his fingers at the bird. The chick shifted, fluffing out her feathers. He looked over as the door opened, raising an eyebrow at the blond boy standing there. "Who're you, pillock?"

"Malfoy," he said, coming in and sitting next to his half-sister. "I expected you to come sit with us."

"Your friends annoy me," she said, not looking up. He grabbed her book and she kicked him hard. "Mine." She snatched it back. "I would go sit with your friends, but they're mean to Glinda and I don't like them. They're arseholes."

"Simone!" Malfoy snapped. "Language. I'll tell father."

She snorted. "He agrees with me." She looked at her phoenix. "Want to go see the great, bloody, hemorrhoided, arseholes?" Her chick hissed. "Sorry." She smiled at him. "Though you're allowed to stay for a bit. This is Professor Rosenberg's son."

"Ryan," he said, waving. "What's your first name, Malfoy?"

"Denver. My mother said she named me after where I was conceived."

"And father hates his name," Simone finished. She smiled at Ryan. "Is Professor Maclay's son on board too?" Ryan nodded. "Why didn't you sit with him?"

"Because our mothers are fighting and we always get into it. Our father hates it when we fight so we decided long ago to avoid each other." He looked at the other boy. "Where's Denver?"

"In America. My father likes to travel. Takes off for six months at a time some years." Denver smoothed down the sleeves of his robe. "Simone, are you hoping for Slytherin?"

"I don't care," she reminded him. "Slytherin, Gryffindor, no matter where I go, someone's going to be pissed." She reopened her book. "Can you preen Glinda? She won't let me near her tail feathers."

"She might be ready to go into heat," Ryan offered. "My mother told me about the year when she was born. Matter of fact, we have a set of eggs hardening right now from the clutch after hers." Simone shrugged. "You aren't excited?"

Denver snorted. "This one used to try and impress Professor Snape by going and crapping on his least favorite student's plates. We grew up with chicks." The door opened and he sighed. "Hello, Melvin."

Melvin sat down with a bounce, smiling at them. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Nothing, Melvin," Simone told him. "How's Uncle Percy?"

"Fine. Bit torn up that I'm leaving, but otherwise fine. I'm sure he'll be popping up soon enough."

Simone looked up at him. "Is he over the loss of aunt Kandy yet?" Melvin shook his head. "At least he still has your sister."

"I caught him holding her so tightly she was complaining," Melvin told her. "I owled grandma last night to remind her I was leaving today. I'm sure dad'll go home for dinner tonight."

"And probably Uncle Xander and Ron too," Denver put in.

"You call them uncle?" Ryan asked.

"Uncle Xander pops up every now and then to make my father laugh and annoy him. Uncle Ron comes over and gives me annoying toys from Uncles George and Fred to piss my dad off. But I'm not allowed to call them uncle at school."

Simone snorted. "I doubt they'd mind as long as we're not in class." She turned the page. "Did you know that Uncle Ron is giving whichever of us Weasleys make the Quidditch team a new broom?"

"My dad gave me his old nimbus, just in case." Simone looked over at him. "He shrunk it and I can't get it back up unless I make the team." Denver shifted some. "He said that none of the modern brooms do as good as his old one. Told Uncle Ron it was his fault."

Simonr nodded. "Uncle Harry and dad have a match against each other today."

"They'll probably sit up above the crowd and talk while they search for the snitch," Denver said with a chuckle. "Last time they faced off, they did it and it confused both coaches. Until the announcer remembered that they had gone to school together and were both rather reclusive because of that battle."

Simone looked at Ryan. "Whatever you do, don't mention that battle. Don't talk about the history that Uncle Ron has with the other teachers, and don't ask him to tell you any stories. He still has nightmares and I doubt he needs to be reminded."

"Uncle Harry still never comes out of his house," Denver told her. "Aunt Hermione is the only one who can get him to come out. That and a game or a practice."

Simone sighed. "It's understandable. Uncle Harry was very badly hurt. Dad was really badly hurt. Neither one like people because happy people make them remember back before the battle. Uncle Harry told me that people make him nervous, that's why he never comes out."

"Yeah, Dad told me that people bothered him, that's why he never came out. People keep comparing him to his dad and everything and it bothers him." He smiled. "If I make Slytherin and you make Gryffindor, who do you think he'll cheer more for?"

"Me," Simone said simply. "He loves me more because I'm special." She smiled at Ryan. "Where are you hoping to go?"

"Mum wants me in Ravenclaw. Dad just wants me to put down my comic books. Professor Harris handed me a stack of them for Christmas and taught me how to get them through the mail. Dad hates them."

"And your mum?" Simone asked.

"She laughs and said it was fair for Xander to corrupt me, he had already done you lot and his own son was funny in the head." Ryan grinned. "Uncle Xander might be over Gryffindor this year. McGonagall was thinking about it since she just took over this year and can't head the house anymore."

"The problem would be that he doesn't live there full time," Simone told him.

"I guess they'll work it out." Denver looked over as the door opened, sighing in disgust. "Oh, look, it's the *old* Slytherin gang. Trying to stage a coup?" he asked dryly.

Simone snorted. "If they do, I'm telling dad."

"And who's your dad, little girl," one of the extra large boys asked.

"Draco Malfoy," she and Denver said together. They backed out of the compartment. "Bye," she called. "Bother me and I'm siccing my phoenix on you." They ran off. "Well, I can tell we're going to have problems from them." She watched as a jumpy, twitchy young girl stalked down the hall after the probable Slytherins. "Um, is that who I think it is?"

"Looks like her," Melvin said. "Her mother still stalks dad every now and then." He got up and locked the door. "Maybe she won't bother us."

Simone gave him a 'get real' look. "We'll hide behind Uncle Xander if we have to. He'll beat her ass."

"Simone!" Denver shouted.

"Oh, shut up. If you can swear, so can I. Women's liberation was a wonderful movement last century. Maybe you should read up on it." Simone flipped back open her book. "Now leave me alone or I'm telling Glinda to decorate your bed tonight."

Denver sighed. He couldn't fight with his sister. She could kick his ass. Her uncles had taught her to fight dirty and it wasn't fair. But if he complained to his father, he'd laugh. Draco Malfoy doted on all three of the girls he had with her mother. His mother was flying around somewhere and he had been adopted by Ginny too so he couldn't even complain to her. Now if only those two would get together permanently.

***

Minerva McGonagall stood up to face down her first class as headmistress. "As you all know, Albus Dumbledore retired this summer. I am Headmistress McGonagall, former head of Gryffindor." She smiled at them. "I will expect things to run as if Albus were still here." She nodded at the door as she sat down, watching the first years be brought in by Professor Sprout. She had offered when Snape had refused. She smiled when she saw both Malfoys, the Rosenberg, the Maclay, the Harris-Weasley, and the DuPuis. It was going to be nothing if not an interesting year. She looked down at Professor Harris, who was frowning at his son because his robes weren't askew. She smiled at him and shook her head. Children would be what they were. How his son had turned out like Percy Weasley she would never know. She watched as most of the family was separated into Gryffindor. Yes, he was going to have a very interesting house this year.

It had been decided that Ron Weasley would officially head Gryffindor house, but only because Professor Harris was absent too often to be of any real use. Ron had told Harris quite firmly that he was sending all the problem students to him. Harris had simply smiled and said 'okay'. She saw his glance at his house. The table was rather full already and only half of the fifty students had been placed. The next six went to Slytherin though, so it might be all right. She looked down the line, stopping at DuPuis. She hoped that girl got sorted somewhere other than Gryffindor. She sighed when the girl went to Slytherin. A good placement for her brand of mischief.

The rest of the students were sorted and she stood up. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our feast, I have a few announcements to make. The Forbidden Forest is off limits, as most of the older students can tell you....

A glittering body flew into the Great Hall from the open doorway. McGonagall started to open her mouth and ask but she knew exactly what it was. She had to hide her smile when the phoenix landed on top of Snape's head and looked down to talk to him. He growled and frowned, but one bony finger raised and petted the phoenix gently.

Yes, a very interesting year.

The End.

::beta fights off Otter who tries to snatch the disc and run away before the final beta notes:: Bad Otter, shoo. Anyway, this is a really good story. I loved the epilogue. It sounds like Hogwarts will be quite lively for the next seven years, especially in Gryffindor House. ::beta saves completed file and checks to see if she still has hands as Vo's fans snatch it out of her hands:: She doesn't pay me enough for this some days.