Xander woke up in a blindingly white room. "Am I dead?" he asked, wondering if anyone were around.
 

"Not yet, but I'm hoping I can restrain myself," George told him from the bedside chair. He leaned over, showing him as unshaven and unbathed for the last few days at least. "How do you feel? I'm asking so I know where to hit you."
 

Xander pointed at his legs. "I think I only ache down there and my right hip. If you hit me, would you please knock me back out? Or get me drugs?"
 

"Drugs we can't do. The doctor didn't order any. Said they were unnecessary." He shrugged. "We argued and nearly tossed him out a window, Ginny by the way, but the nurse stuck up for him so you're drug free and the family's not allowed back."
 

Xander moaned as he pulled himself into a sitting position. "Wonderful. What about a burn creme? They're exposed, I can feel them being rubbed against." George shrugged. "This sucks." He looked at his husband. "Are you going to yell?"
 

"Not unless you want me to be thrown out," George said dryly. He smiled. "I talked to Draco after he talked to you. Our son is a wonderful interpreter." He reached over and took Xander's hand to hold. "I do understand, idiot, and I figured out something."
 

"Really?" Xander concentrated on him instead of the burning in his legs that felt like the tissue was still being eaten. In the back of his mind a little voice popped up and wondered if he was awake. "Is this a dream?"
 

"Not unless you've figured out how to share them." George stood up and gave him a kiss. "Still think it's a dream?" he asked with a grin.
 

"No, no dream where you kiss me is this tame. Usually by now I'm bent over something." He started to smile but moved his legs. "Shit!" he groaned, putting a hand onto his knee. When he didn't feel what he normally felt he looked under the sheets. "Um, George, didn't I have a left knee?"
 

"You still do. It's under there somewhere." He watched as Xander moved the sheet, exposing the open sores. "Oh, eww." He turned away before he threw up. "That's it, I'm going to complain. Those should at least be covered."
 

"And can you tell them that I'm still burning?" he called after his husband. He settled himself back and fought to stay awake. He really hated hospitals. Home, he needed to be home. The nurse walked into his curtained off area. "Why aren't my burns covered?"
 

"Because they need exposed to the air," she said stiffly. "And no, you may not have anything for the pain."
 

Xander grabbed her and pulled her closer. "Cover them, because I've had burns before. Never this severe but even a first aid training class will tell you to cover them to keep them from getting infected." He let her go because his mate removed his hands. "And I'm leaving. Tonight."
 

"Xander, you can't walk," George pointed out.
 

"Yay. I'll heal better back at Hogwarts."
 

"Madam Pomfrey said she couldn't do much to help you," Draco said as he pushed open the curtains. "Eww," he said, turning green. "George, please, cover that." The sheet was flipped back down. "Thank you. What a revolting sight." He sat down in George's chair. "I bring news," he announced.
 

"Did you also bring aspirin, tylenol, or anything similar?" Xander asked.
 

"No, but I can procure that if you desire." He smiled brightly. "The Watchers still alive revolted and called in someone you know to head them and fix this mess." Xander nodded for him to go on impatiently. "Someone named Wesley?"
 

"Wes? He's heading them?" Xander asked. Draco nodded. "Wow. Haven't seen him since I came here to teach." He looked at his husband. "He was the booknerd that came with us when we first showed up, one of Angel's guys."
 

"I remember, we talked yesterday," George told him. He sat on the edge of the bed as the curtains opened again. "Honey, this is your doctor. Please aim lower this time."
 

Xander flipped back his sheet and pointed at his very sick looking burns. "Aren't they supposed to be covered?" he grunted. George was leaning against his hip. "Move or I'm lashing out," he hissed. George moved away from his burn and Xander sighed in relief. "Thank you."
 

"You're welcome. I forgot about that one." George watched the doctor, not the burns. "And I'm sure that he would still like something for the pain."
 

"He can't have any," the doctor said, flipping the sheet back down. "They look fine. We're waiting for the tissues to necrotize before doing anything."
 

Xander leaned up as far as he could without wincing in pain. "I will be leaving tonight. I don't care if I have to teleport myself out of here to get away from you quacks, I'm leaving. So talk to Madam Pomfrey at Hogwarts and I'll be going," he ground out.
 

"I'm afraid I can't allow that, Mr. Harris." He wrote something on the chart. "Nurse, continue the treatment."
 

Xander looked at George. "I want to go to a muggle hospital," he demanded. George nodded and stood up.
 

"I'm afraid we can't do that either. You're here until you heal." The doctor smiled at him. "Trust me, I've seen burns this bad before."
 

"Then where's the healing potion?" Xander asked. "Or the bandages, the burn creme, all that good stuff that usually comes with second degree burns or worse?"
 

"You've had second degree burns?" the doctor asked. Xander nodded. "Where?"
 

"The back of my arm when I was ten." Xander showed off the patch of scar tissue. "See, heals pretty when you do things like cover them."
 

The doctor shook his head. "I don't know why anyone would do that. The tissue would infect."
 

"Didn't do it at all," Xander said with a shrug as he pulled his sleeve back down. "Not an infection, not a problem, and only itching for five months."
 

"See, we can heal you faster."
 

"Not unless you're going to talk to Professor Snape and ask him nicely to make me a healing potion."
 

"We don't see the need for things like that here," the doctor told him, his chin tipping up slightly. "We're above the old methods."
 

"The newer methods have things like skin grafts and bandages," George pointed out. "I saw it a few years back when my father was visiting one of us in a muggle hospital." He stood up. "Now, I want my husband either transferred or given competent care, which I doubt you can do."
 

"Go you," Xander told him, giving him a smile. "Or better yet, go me. I want transferred to a muggle hospital. Tonight."
 

"You can't sign yourself out, you're in no shape to be going anywhere," the nurse chastised.
 

"Fuck you," Xander told her with a cruel smile. "I've killed people who put me into pain. You're next."
 

"Well, I never..."
 

"Obviously never been on this side of the health care equation," Xander yelled after as she stomped away. "Your choice. Hogwarts or a muggle hospital. Or I'm sending myself to one."
 

"You can't do that. Your wand is locked up until you're well enough to use it." He clasped the chart to his chest. "Really, your impertinence and impatience is only hindering your recovery, Mr. Harris."
 

Xander grinned coldly. "What makes you think I need my wand, you stupid git? I'm gryphon-born, we teleport."
 

"There are shields..."
 

"Which I can guarantee you won't hold me here for long," Xander finished for him. "Now, transfer me to Hogwarts or to a muggle hospital!"
 

"You'll be fine once you calm down," the doctor said, then he walked away, pulling the curtain back around.
 

Xander looked at his family. "I want out of here," he told them. "These quacks are going to die."
 

Draco nodded. "I'll get you some pain medication, Xander. You try and rest and let us arrange everything. Hopefully by tomorrow we'll have you back at Hogwarts." He nodded George outside. "What was that about?"
 

"The doctor decided he was playing with fire."
 

"But he wasn't."
 

"I know. McGonagall gave him a report of what happened and they're still treating it as he did it to himself on purpose."
 

"I doubt he'd have done anything like that to himself, even if Voldemort was coming back and he had to kill him again." Draco glanced around. "Pain killers and what?"
 

"Ask Tara, or Madam Pomfrey. They'll know." Draco nodded and apparated from right there. "Shields, yeah," George snorted, going back to finish his discussion with his husband. He found his husband with his face scrunched up. "Pain management?" he asked as he sat on Xander's burn-free hip.
 

"I can hear things through the thread thingy," Xander whispered. "Iggy's talking about me to Melvin. He's really pissed that he didn't get to beat anyone up for threatening his cousins."
 

"Hmm. We'll have to see if it lasts once you're out of pain."
 

"Visiting hours are over," the nurse announced. "You have to leave now."
 

"Over your dead body," George told her. "I'm not leaving my husband and not even a troop of aurors can make it happen."
 

"Guards," the nurse yelled. "He won't leave."
 

George thought hard about his son, telling him he wished he were here.
 

"You rang?" Iggy asked as he appeared, looking at Xander.
 

"You really can talk through that thing?" Iggy nodded. "Well, that's handy. Iggy, they want me to leave your father's side and your father just wants to leave. Would you sit with him for a few moments while I have a discussion with this disagreeable bitch?" His son nodded, grinning. "Thank you." He raised his wand and fired off one of the funnier spells he used at the store, making them feel like their rears were being pinched.
 

"Ooh, foggy bottoms," Xander said. "Fred won't be pleased."
 

"Then he can get his arse down here and help me pick on the poor, deluded souls who think I'm going to leave your side." He got a few more guards, this time with the full-body jelly leg curse. "Now then, does anyone else want to disagree with my staying with my husband?" He felt someone come up behind him but he wasn't fast enough. The needle entered his neck and he was knocked out.
 

The guard looked at the young man. "You too, out."
 

"This is my father and I will kill you over him. We're like that," Iggy told him. "If you don't believe me, call my grandfather. Arthur Weasley. Room 2286, main Ministry building." He crossed his arms. "And if you come near me, I'm taking you out too."
 

"You don't even have a wand," the guard sneered.
 

"Stupid idiot, I'm gryphon-born. Why would I need a wand?" Iggy said in derision. He looked the beefy guard over. "I'd leave now, before I get royally pissed and take you out of this continuum."
 

The guard slowly backed away. "Now, kid, you don't want to do anything dangerous like that. We're only trying to clear the ward of visitors."
 

"Yay, my father was good enough to stay until he demanded this father have decent care." He moved aside the sheets, starting a small part of the burn on Xander's leg bleeding. "Does this look like good care to you?" He tipped his head back. "Auntie Willow, come here!" She was watching while she gathered things together to come help. She appeared, smiling at him. "I'm about to lose my temper, can you please help my father since there's only incompetent people here?"
 

"Sure." She opened her bag and pulled out a large bottle of green goo. "Aloe gel, with lidocaine," she said happily. "Left over from Tara's beach trip this summer." She put down her bag and pulled out a set of surgical gloves. "Iggy, can you please stop that bleeding spot? This won't go well over wet, nasty stuff."
 

"Daddy, this is going to hurt," he warned, pulling out his wand. A small tip of fire appeared and he applied to the bleeding spot. Xander hissed and grabbed the bed rails. "Sorry, pops."
 

"That's okay. Willow, take care of George for me please," he asked, his voice rough with pain. He sighed as she slathered on the green goo. "Oh, thank God, it stopped burning." He gave her a real, warm, happy smile. "As a nurse, you're much better than the people here."
 

"Aunt Ginny didn't have this problem when she came here to have Nicolette," Iggy said, staring at the remaining guard. "Go ahead and get someone," he offered. "My father's leaving this place even if I have to take it apart brick by fucking brick."
 

"Language," Willow said warmly.
 

"Yay. They're trying to kill my parents, I'm allowed to swear in such circumstances."
 

"Okay, I can agree with that," Willow said, pulling out a roll of gauze. "You get to wrap while I slop."
 

The doctor came running. "What do you think you're doing? You can't do that, he'll die!"
 

Xander glared at him. "They're doing what *real* medical professionals do for burn cases," he said in the most patronizing voice he could pull. "Go find me your supervisor. Now." The doctor backed away, the wall had just started to smoke.
 

"Temper," Willow warned. "Burning down the hospital will only make you more enemies." She looked at his 'missing' knee, shifting his leg slightly to look at it in the light. "Wow, shattered kneecap. Good job, Xan! Calling that earth lightening really is painful, gotta remember that."
 

"That might have been the air lightening," Iggy offered. "Uncle Draco said that he saw some."
 

"He did that to himself," the doctor snorted. "I've seen hundreds of cases of people playing with fire with the exact same wounds."
 

"Really? Down into the muscle tissue and joints too?" Willow asked. "And what about people who were struck by lightening? Did you get the assholes that Xander fried to save Hogwarts in here too?" He glared at her. "Then go away before *I* do something you'll regret. Iggy, pick your father up off the floor and take him somewhere. I'll be fine, Tara's watching."
 

Iggy nodded and hefted his father to his feet. "Geez, dad, diet," he said as they disappeared.
 

"But...but no one can do that from here."
 

"Draco did it this morning," Xander told him. He looked at Willow. "Would you *please* beg Snape for a healing potion? Before this kills me or I lose a limb?"
 

She nodded. "I've heard him rummaging around in his storeroom recently. He might be making you one." She finished that leg and went to finish wrapping the other, getting it done quickly. "There we are." She sat down in the chair, giving him a smile. "So, Wes, one of us is in charge of the Watchers."
 

"Hopefully he'll take the whole 'magical creatures are demons' rule out of the books for good," Xander said bitterly. "Any news on Buffy or the missing baby?"
 

"Not a bit," she sighed. "Ron's starting to lose his optimism and Fred was helping him watch the little creatures of wailing." She looked over as another, older, man walked in. "Hi. Tell me something, do you usually torture patients when they're hit by lightening?"
 

"Young lady, I don't know who you think you are...."
 

"Professor Willow Rosenberg, Hogwarts, Alternative Magic track in the Defense program." She pointed at Xander. "That's Professor Xander Harris, Demonology and Magical Creatures, Alternative Magic track in the Defense program, and teacher of the Auror preparation class. Oh, Xander, you didn't get to hear. None of *your* specially trained aurors went bad." Xander grinned, but his face was still clouded by pain. "Now," she said, clasping her hands on her lap. "Why were his burns left uncovered to be irritated by the sheet and to start infecting and why was there no application of anything to stop the burns from spreading until I put some aloe gel on?"
 

"And why no pain meds?" Xander added. "Because right now, unless that needle in your pocket is drugs for me, I want transferred to a real hospital." He looked at Willow. "This isn't St. Mungos is it?" She shook her head. "Then where in the hell am I?"
 

"Specialty clinic. St. Mungos transferred you here."
 

"Yay, I want to go to a muggle hospital. Preferably now." He looked at the older man. "Arrange it, or I'm going to teleport myself to one."
 

"We don't teleport, young man, we apparate."
 

"Gryphon-borns teleport, it's a different thing," he said tiredly, but coldly. "Now, give me pain meds and treat me better, or transfer me somewhere else!"
 

"I'm afraid we can't do that. You were sent here because you're a danger to yourself or others." Willow and Xander both burst out laughing. "What's so funny?"
 

"I got this defending the school from the Watcher's Council yesterday."
 

"Two days ago," Willow corrected.
 

"Okay, two days ago. I intentionally called earth lightening to stop them, and because of a shield I had up behind me to stop anyone from getting past me, regular lightening was called too. That's what the burns are from."
 

"I see. How long have you been delusional, young man."
 

Xander lifted his hand and created a small ball of flame. "Not delusional. Pissed, homicidal because I'm in pain, but I haven't been delusional since my last head injury ten years ago."
 

"Eleven," Willow corrected.
 

"Really?" he asked, banishing the ball of fire. "Already?"
 

"It was at the end of our first year that you married George, and you had Iggy during our second, so yeah, eleven." She looked at the doctor, who was backing out of the space. "Now then, do as he says or we're just going to have to take him home and treat him at Hogwarts."
 

"Can we?" Xander asked. He hated hospitals almost as much as George did. Of course, his husband hated them because he had to visit him in there, but he still loathed them.
 

"Maybe." Willow watched as the doctor got out of the doorway. "I'd be prepared to move," she said quietly.
 

A guard lunged at Xander and he grabbed the arm with the needle, breaking the hand holding it. "Stupid of you," he said. He shoved him back, laughing when he fell over the other guy. "Willow, if they drug me, promise me you'll get me out of this hellhole."
 

"Deal," she agreed. She flicked her wand at the next guard, sending him flying across the ward and into a window. "Hey, bars," she said dryly. "Psych ward?"
 

"Maybe," Xander sighed. "I save people and get punished for it. Wonderful luck of mine, huh." He ducked as something came whizzing at him, then looked up at the needle. "Nice shot," he called. "Ineffective since you couldn't press the plunger."
 

The next thing that came flying was a tranquilizer dart. He didn't quite duck that one, it went into one of his burns, making him howl in pain. He missed seeing Willow grabbed and hoisted out. He also missed McGonagall coming to check on him and fighting for him. And he missed Snape trying to bring him a healing potion. He didn't miss the nurse scrubbing the aloe gel concoction off his leg, that woke him back up. He found himself tied to the bed. He howled and growled and fought, but they were well-made restraints. So he did the thing he least wanted to do in this condition, he teleported. It made him nauseous usually, this time he nearly passed out from it. He landed in the one place where he knew he could get help and get to a muggle hospital, the Leaky Cauldron. "Hey, Tom," he called weakly as he landed on a table top. "Can I have some pants and have you call me a muggle cab so I can go to a real hospital?" He passed out.
 

When he woke up again, he was dressed in a loose fitting pair of pants and the bartender was giving him a worried look. "You okay there, Xander?"
 

"Not really," he grunted as he sat up with some help. "I really need to hit a good hospital."
 

"Cab's comin'," he said with a grin. "Gonna go to a muggle one, huh?"
 

"St. Mungos, in their infinite wisdom, or due to a paperwork screw-up, sent me to some mental ward where they did neat things like not wrap my burns up and scrubbed them with a stiff brush because Willow brought me stuff to help heal the burns." He stood up, leaning on the older man. "And then, then they told me I had done this to myself on purpose. Trust me, if I had known this was the price of that spell, I would have called down regular lightening instead." He grimaced as he grabbed a chair to steady himself on. "Thanks, man. I owe you."
 

"Sure. I'll send a note on to Arthur about where you are." He watched as the young man hobbled, nearly crying, out to the front stoop. He hoped the cabs were fast tonight. He heard the screech of brakes and smiled. Typical London cabs.
 

Xander climbed into the back and flopped sideways. "Hospital," he told him.
 

"You sick?" the cabbie asked, turning around to look at him. He noticed the blood on Xander's leg. "You been shot, mate?"
 

"No, burned. I escaped from a very bad place." He passed out again. When he came to, he was in an emergency room, a muggle one because there were nice machines that went 'beep' and 'twing' and even 'whoosh'. "Wow," he said, turning his head to look at the woman beside him. "I'm Xander Harris, naturalized citizen," he said, holding out a hand.
 

"Welcome to the London Burn Center, Mr. Harris. I'm Dr. Carter. I'm the attending on tonight. Can you tell me how you got those?" Her voice had just the touch of lilt to it, making it seem soft and motherly.
 

"Hit by lightening," he said honestly. He had been. "Oh, and what's wrong with my knee? I can't seem to find my left one."
 

"I've noticed that. You're very lucent for not having pain medicine yet."
 

Xander snorted. "Pain medicine would make me worship you, Doc. The people who were taking care of me didn't wrap them, left them uncovered under the sheets, didn't give me pain meds, and when someone put some aloe gel on them for me to stop the burning that felt like it was still going on, they scrubbed it off with a hard brush."
 

"Oh, dear." She brushed the hair off his forehead. "All right. We're testing your blood now to make sure they didn't give you anything. Can you tell me about some of the scars I've seen on you?"
 

"Yeah, they're why I left America."
 

"Ah, thought you were from there. Been here a while though, right?" He nodded, starting to unfocus again. "Mr. Harris, please stay with me for just a bit longer. We need to get some information from you."
 

"Just make it quit hurting, please?" he begged.
 

"I will as soon as we get back the blood work we drew. It shouldn't be too much longer." She ran a hand over his forehead again, wiping off the sweat. "Why were you found in a bar?"
 

"Because I ran there to get away from the stupid people who had me." He swallowed. "Can I have some water?"
 

"Sure." She grabbed a small cup with a straw and held it so he could sip. "Do you know where this hospital is?" He shook his head. "You don't remember?"
 

"No. I'm like that in extreme pain."
 

"I see." She put the cup aside. "Mr. Harris, can the police come talk to you?"
 

"I'd rather they didn't. It's not my fault the lightening hit me." It wasn't, it wasn't supposed to hit him at all, just flow through him, not burn him on the way out. "And I don't know where they are. All I want is to get better and to have my husband. Can you do that?"
 

"We'll do our best," she promised. A woman in white and blue wearing a big hat rushed in and handed over some papers, starting to gather supplies. "Your blood work came back, and you were right. They didn't give you anything." The nurse clucked as she set up a second IV line. "How about some pain medicines now? What does your husband look like?"
 

"About my height, little smaller and about as stocky. Red hair. Name's George. But if a blond, just taller than I am, with a smart attitude comes in named Draco, he's my all-but-adopted son and can make decisions and visit too." She nodded. "Also, George's family, almost all redheads. They're allowed to make decisions for me too. They like me most of the time."
 

She smiled. "My in-laws feel about the same way," she assured him. "What's their last name, Xander?"
 

"Weasley."
 

"All right." She wrote something on his chart. "I'll pass that along to the operator. Do you have any children?"
 

"Yes, Iggy. He's ten, but really tall for his age. He's hitting puberty early." His tongue seemed to grow hair and double in size, then tripled that. "Wow," he slurred. "Good. Can't feel it."
 

"That's actually a good thing because we need to take off the bandages to look at you, Mr. Harris," the nurse told him, wiping off his forehead. "You may feel some tugging and a little pain. Please don't swat at us while we're working."
 

Xander gave her a goofy grin. "How did you know I used to fight?" he slurred even worse.
 

"It shows in your physical condition," the nurse told him, keeping him occupied. "What do you do for a living?"
 

"I teach mythology at a small private school."
 

"Was that place you escaped from affiliated? Part of a religious group maybe?"
 

Xander shook his head, tossing it from side to side. "A lot of the people who work there went to the school, that's all." He grinned at her. "You'd look good as a blonde."
 

She giggled. "I'm sure I would." She looked at the doctor, who was shaking her head. "How long ago did you do this, Xander?"
 

"Few days. They had me for two or three, I'm not sure which." He tried to sit up, but the nurse stopped him. "Hey, I want to see. I've seen them before. Oh, and I have a small one on my hip."
 

"I noticed," Dr. Carter told him. "Relax and let us work, Xander. It's all going to be okay now. We're professionals."
 

"Please don't tie me down. I promise I won't fight."
 

"Did they tie you down there?" the nurse asked. He nodded. "Why?"
 

"Because they were scrubbing off the nice green stuff that made the burning stop with a hard brush. Willow put it on for me with my son. Then the mean nurse tried to yell at them. So I tried to hurt her, and the doctors."
 

"Ah, I see. Then we won't tie you down." She started to move but he caught her hand.
 

"I have really bad nightmares," he confided. "Really graphic bloody ones that make me scream and thrash. Please don't let them tie me down."
 

"I won't. They'll knock you out if they have to do something painful." She gave him a smile and patted him on the hand. "Why don't you try to sleep now, Xander. It might make this go faster." He nodded and closed his eyes, starting to snore soon. "Poor man. He must have been horribly abused by someone to come running over here."
 

"I think his husband probably saved him," the doctor agreed. "Give me some scissors. Whoever wrapped these obviously knew what they were doing." A loud clang and clash came from outside and the doctor pulled back to see what was going on.
 

"Dad," Iggy said as he ran in, giving him a hug. "What's going on? What's wrong with him! Tell me or I'm going to hurt you!"
 

"Shh, son," the doctor soothed. "We're helping him. We gave him some medicine to knock him out so we can check on the burns and see how bad they are. Are you his son Iggy?" Iggy nodded, giving her a wary look. "He said you might be showing up. Is there an adult with you?"
 

Iggy ran a hand through his hair. "No, but I can get one. You promise he's not in pain?"
 

"No, dear, we gave him Demerol. He's not feeling a thing," the nurse assured him. "It's a morphine derivative." Iggy nodded. "But we do need to see your other father or some other adult that he said could make decisions. These burns are very bad and we might end up removing tissue." She walked around and led him out of the exam room. "Can you call them?"
 

"I can get to them faster than trying to call them," he assured her. He got free of her comforting arm and ran out of the door, going into the deepest, darkest shadow he could and teleporting back to the joke shop. "He's in London at a new hospital. They've given him drugs. The nurse was really nice and explained that they're examining him now." He swallowed. "They looked really upset about how bad it was. They need an adult who can make decisions. They said they might need to take some of the burnt stuff off."
 

"I'll go," Fred said, handing over the unconscious George to their father. It had taken Harry sneaking up on him to knock George out when they had found out Xander had left the hospital. "Show me where?"
 

"I can take you and you can do it however. I don't know how you guys do that stuff." He took his uncle's hand, but someone put a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Grandma."
 

"It most certainly is not. You might have been seen."
 

"It's midnight in the muggle realm, who's going to notice?" he said. "Besides which, muggle hospital. No floo."
 

"We can do this, mum," Fred assured her. "Send George whenever he wakes up." He nodded at Iggy and closed his eyes. The one time Xander had done this with him he had barfed. This time was only a little bit better and they were outside so there were bushes handy. "I hate that feeling. How did you come here?" he asked as he wiped off his mouth.
 

"I tracked dad through the flood. He can hear thoughts through it now sometimes. To get back to this spot, I put a magical thumbtack and can find it now until I remove it."
 

"Good job," Fred praised. Iggy was brilliant. He wouldn't have thought of that. "Show me where he is." Iggy led him inside, past a confused looking nurse. "I'm Harris' family," he called after him.
 

"Good," the doctor said as soon as they walked in. She looked at him. "Are you George?"
 

"I can be if it'll make this go faster but my twin is presently sedated," he told her with a smile. "How is he?"
 

"Better than I expected. It looks like some of the burns did spread after they were initially done. Whomever put on the sunburn lotion did a good job."
 

"It was a spur of the moment grab," Iggy told her. "It's all we had on hand."
 

"That's okay, Iggy. Sometimes that's what you have to do." She led Fred outside. "You are his brother-in-law correct?" Fred nodded. "Good, because he told us that any of your family could consent to medical attention." She glanced back at the room. "I've got to ask, it's hospital policy. Does he had insurance of any kind?" She noticed Iggy slipped off, but it was expected. He was only ten and things like insurance bored them to tears.
 

"No, but they've got a hefty savings account and a friend they can borrow it off of," Fred told her. "We can cover any expenses." She smiled. "Would they have sent him away?"
 

"Yes, to the closest public hospital and it wouldn't have been nearly as good as here. They'd have done the most expedient thing, which would probably mean him losing his left leg just past his shattered knee." Fred winced. "How did he do that?"
 

"I don't have a clue. Unless he fell funny. He was found on the ground," he explained.
 

"We expect that with hit by lightening cases. How many strikes did he take?"
 

"We're not sure. We got there after it was all over with. He was at work..."
 

"At the school?"
 

Fred nodded, starting to frown. "Yeah. He told you where he works?"
 

"When I asked he told me he taught mythology at a small private school," she admitted with a smile. "Is there something I should know? Any allergies? Anything funny going on? Someone searching for him to hurt him?"
 

"Not as far as we know. The Headmistress at the school he works at is trying to beat the bastards who kept him like that for days." He looked over as the doors opened and his father walked in. "Dad," he sighed in relief. He had no trouble dealing with muggles. "This is Xander's doctor. He was awake for a bit."
 

"Good. Though I expect he was incoherent."
 

Doctor Carter shook her head. "Not as much as I would expect. But by his prior injuries, as told by the scars, we'd expect that he was used to pain." She smiled at him. "You're the father-in-law?" she guessed. He nodded, giving her a worried smile. "Okay, I was just telling him that it's bad, but I've seen worse. He's been given medicine and I'm in the middle of looking him over. We may have to cut some of the tissue off, but we can't be sure yet. We'll be looking at that option tomorrow." Both men nodded and Iggy leaned against his grandfather's side when he walked up to them and Draco walked in behind him. "And you are? Oh, never mind, you're the blonde he authorized to make decisions also?"
 

Draco nodded. "Yes, as he can for myself and my children." He looked around. "Is he awake?"
 

"He's drugged, finally," Fred told him.
 

"I'm surprised we haven't heard about that other place being shut down. We found a spot where they burned the wound closed." Iggy raised a hand. "You?" she asked, shocked.
 

"They wouldn't stop it, I thought it was for the best."
 

The doctor nodded. That changed her estimation of that kid by a lot. Obviously some of his father's former problems had rubbed off on him. "It probably was. Very nice work, Iggy." She pointed at the exam room. "Let me finish and I'll give you a full report, all right?" They all nodded. "There's a waiting area down the hall and to the left. Follow the blue stripe on the floor." They retreated and she went back to her exam. It was nice that this strange young man had such loving family. He probably deserved it after the obvious hell he'd been through. She finished wiping the gel off and hmmed. It was as bad as it looked, but savable. She moved to the other leg, letting the nurse rewrap that side for a bit. This side looked better, and the one on his hip was nearly superficial. The worst injury was Xander's left leg and it was going to definitely take surgery. Fortunately, the guy had a very supporting and loving family. That blonde guy had looked more worried than either redhead. He would make it through this, even if they did end up amputating his leg. Xander shifted and groaned. "Shh," she said quietly, moving up to stand beside his head. "You're in a good hospital and we're taking care of you. Your family is waiting on you outside." He settled down. "I'll send in your husband as soon as he shows up, Xander. You rest and heal."
 

She covered him with the sheet and signed the admittance order. She would be paying quite a lot of attention to his case. She walked out and found more redheads waiting in the waiting area. "My, there's a lot of you," she said with a smile. The mother smiled back. "It's bad, but healable." She sat down facing them and leaned her weight on her knees. "His left leg is the worst. There's evidence that whomever had him didn't stop the burns from spreading. Human flesh, just like beef, will keep cooking once you take the heat away. They didn't get it stopped, but it is stopped now." Everyone nodded. "His left knee is shattered. The kneecap is in little, tiny pieces so we'll probably be putting in a new one, but not for a long time. He's going to have to heal a lot before we even try that surgery." Everyone nodded again. "He will heal, but he'll have some scars."
 

"We know he's had some other ones," Fred told her. "He's not usually conscious of them." One of the redheads nodded.
 

Willow lifted her shirt to show off a small scar on her stomach. "We got matching ones a few years back. He doesn't see them as badges of honor, but as something like a memory."
 

Dr. Carter smiled. "That's good to know. Many times, a severely burned patient will start to withdraw because they're disgusted by the scars."
 

"Like hell we're letting him," a male redhead said. He looked around then up at his mother. "Where's Harry?"
 

"Watching all the children," she reminded him. "He'll be in later. We'll switch around."
 

"That's fine. He said you could all come visit, and he authorized not only his husband, but you," she pointed at Draco, "and the reasonably adult members of the family to make decisions." She looked at Iggy. "I'm sorry, I can tell you what's going on, but I can't take an order from you, Iggy. It's against policy to let you make medical decisions about your father until you're an adult."
 

Iggy nodded. "I understand. There's others who can so I'm shoved back." The doctor nodded. "Can I still see him?"
 

"Supposedly we have a rule that says you can only be in a room with an adult, but we might be able to bend it some. I'm sure there'll be someone around most of the time who'll vouch that you're not being harmed by the sight of your father healing."
 

Iggy grinned. "I've seen him having worse."
 

Fred patted him on the shoulder. "Accidental poisoning last year."
 

"Ah. It happens to the best of us." She stood up. "When can we expect his husband and should I get ready to give this talk again?"
 

"Middle of the night before he wakes up and probably," Ginny said, smiling up at her. "All right, I'm the only one," Draco poked her, "besides my assistant, who has to cover Xander's classes tomorrow, who has a free schedule. So go sit with him now and I'll stay on until George gets here." Everyone nodded and headed with the doctor to see where the room was.
 

***
 

Melvin sat up, looking around his dark room. "Shite," he muttered, getting out of bed and pulling on a bathrobe. He snuck out of his room and house, then down the hallways to the Gryffindor's house entry. He ran into Snape at the bottom of the staircase. "There's been a development with Xander. He moved hospitals," he said, trying to get past him. "Let me go! I have to tell my other cousins!" He gave the older man a shove. "Get out of my way!" He pulled up some of his special magic and pushed him into the walls. "Give me detention later," he said as he stormed past him. He pounded on the Gryffindor door, pissing off the painting. "I need my cousins," he told her when she started to scream. "Their Uncle's in the hospital."
 

The door opened and the Head Boy stared down at him. "Is all that really necessary?"
 

"Uncle Xander switched hospitals and they're having a family conference," he said as he walked past him. He went up to the boy's section first, Denver would be able to get in and get Simone. He slipped inside and up to his cousin's bed, giving him a shove. "Get up. Xander's switched hospitals," he said as quietly as he could. One of the other boys in the room glared at him. "Go back to sleep." Denver didn't wake up so he shoved him again.
 

"What?" Denver said as he sat up, rubbing his eyes. "What happened now? 'Nother attack?" He yawned and saw who was standing beside his bed. "Uncle Xander?"
 

"Got away from the bastards and switched hospitals. He's in a muggle one now." He nodded at the hallway. "We need to get the girls, Iggy's trying to tell me what's going on."
 

"Okay. Give me a few." Denver waited until he was alone then climbed out of bed and pulled a pair of pants on over his boxers. He grabbed his robe and headed down to where the stairs branched, going up to get his sister. He ran into the Head Boy, who was coming out of there. "Did you get her?"
 

"Yes, you're not allowed in there. You know that."
 

"She's my bloody sister, we used to share baths." Denver stomped back down to the common area and flopped down beside Melvin, who was looking for something in a journal. "Need help?"
 

"Broadcasting spell." He smiled and grabbed his cousin's wand, casting it slowly. He winced when he felt the flash of magic back into his hand. "No fair. Yours feels funny."
 

"Each wand is different," Denver reminded him. "Mine is mine because it'd work best for me." He yawned again as his sister came down the stairs. "Hey, Xander teleported away from the arseholes."
 

"Good." She flopped down on Melvin's other side and listened to the small voice. "Can you turn it up?"
 

"I don't know how. Iggy told me to find this spell in the book he gave me for safe keeping. It's broadcasting through the flood, on one of those little thought strands that he said connect everyone." He quieted down as they listened to the doctor's explanation.
 

Denver relaxed. "Then he'll be fine and we can go see him this weekend."
 

"Bloody unlikely," the Head Boy said from behind them. "How're you doin' that?"
 

"Iggy, being gryphon-born is closer to the true magic, and he can sometimes touch these things call thought threads. Basically, if I talk about you or think about you, the magic tries to make a small connection."
 

"That explains why people say their ear's burning when people talk about them," the Head Boy said, just to make sure he had it right. Denver nodded.
 

Melvin went on with his explanation. "Well, me, being able to touch pure magic, I can touch those threads but I don't like to because they hurt my head. But Iggy found this really cool spell that allows me to create a spot where we can hear what's going on in the thought thread. So basically, we're hearing Iggy's thoughts as he's listening to the conference about his dad."
 

"Oh." The Head Boy smiled. "That's a neat trick. Bet it'd be useful when your girl's being confusing."
 

Melvin shrugged. "I wouldn't know about that. I've only used it once before." He winced when he heard Iggy mentally whistling at a nurse. "That's why," he said with a grin.
 

Denver nodded. "The last time we did this, and to Iggy, he was thinking about how hungry he was. He'd just eaten breakfast and was wondering if he could make himself some food, then started to build an impressive sandwich in his head."
 

"Where was I when you were doing this?" Simone asked.
 

"Doctor's," Melvin told her.
 

"Ah. Okay then. Cancel it before I get traumatized by Iggy wondering what a breast looks like."
 

Melvin canceled the spell. "Okay. Now we know, what next?"
 

"Does your father know?" Denver asked him.
 

"Not a clue, but Grandma's there so he will by his first cup of tea." Melvin smiled at the Head Boy. "I'm sorry I woke you, but this is important."
 

"Hey, he's our secondary Head. We have a right to be concerned too. Next time, don't pound on the painting. I'll allow you to give *him* the password, as long as it doesn't get away from him," he told his students.
 

Denver leaned over and whispered in Melvin's ear. Then he stood up. "I'm off to bed. Iggy will make sure we get up there this weekend."
 

"Yeah, daddy was there, we'll be up there pretty quickly," Simone agreed, standing up. She kissed Melvin's cheek. "Thank you, cuz." She went back to her bed.
 

Denver shook his head. "She's picking up those Americanisms again," he complained. "Father will be pissed and spend all weekend nagging her about them." He went back to his bed.
 

Melvin grabbed the book and waved at the Head Boy, then headed back to his room. On his bed he found a short note saying he had lost his house forty points for being out of bed and had three weeks of detention because he had attacked a teacher. It was lovingly signed by Professor Snape. "Bet me," he sighed. He'd appeal it in the morning. He hid the book again and laid back down. He noticed one of his roommates was up and waved at them. He waved back so Melvin went over to talk to him. It was good to have friends outside the family.
 

***
 

Molly put a special marker in the corner of the room so they could come directly here. It led back to one of the view screens in the store so they could even watch over him while they were working. Not that George would be leaving this room for a long time, but the rest of them could pop around without intruding. She patted Xander's hand and kissed him on the forehead. He rolled and grabbed her for a hug. "Xander?" she asked quietly.
 

"Snuggly soft," he told her.
 

Draco smirked. "It seems you're very comforting." His father-in-law shook his head. "Sorry, couldn't resist." The door opened and McGonagall stepped inside. "Who told you?"
 

"I heard what Iggy said when he came to get Ron." She smiled and nodded at the limp form. "Is he better yet?"
 

"Somewhat. These people are taking action," Ginny told her. "They're thinking some minor surgery to remove some of the burnt stuff and..." Her missing brother stormed in. "Hey, George." She watched as her older brother pushed them all aside and hugged his husband, then gave him a hard shove.
 

"Hey!" Ron said. "He's drugged."
 

"He still deserves it for worrying us."
 

The nurse came in, smiling at them. "The family's grown," she said happily. "A supporting family is often the deciding factor in how well a patient heals. Which of you is the husband?" George raised his hand. "Could I please have you fill out some forms for us?"
 

"Sure, I'm not moving," George told her.
 

"We'll bring in a cot for you then. Feel free to bring in some pajamas for the both of you." She looked at McGonagall and her strange black long coat. "That's a very pretty coat," she said, leaving to get the forms.
 

"She seems nice," Willow put in to end the silence.
 

"Much nicer than the thing who scrubbed his wounds," Iggy said darkly, glaring at a wall. "Can I hurt her?"
 

"Get in line," Draco told him. Iggy looked at him and saw a rage that equaled his, and nodded. "Good boy. Are you going to tell your cousins?"
 

"Already did. Melvin heard me." Iggy walked over and hugged his father. "Daddy will be fine," he reminded him. "The doctor said it was looking very hopeful."
 

"Yes, she did," Arthur agreed. George looked at him, his eyes showing his need for reassurance. "I promise, son, your mate is going to be fine. The burns will heal, his knee will be fixed, and we'll keep going."
 

"A Weasley always survives as Bill once said," Ginny added.
 

George unstiffened. "We'll be fine. Can I have a few minutes alone? Then you can come back and argue over who gets when." The family left in pairs and threesomes, discussing their schedules to see who could be here when. George leaned down and hugged his husband as hard as he could. "You scared me, Xander, and I hate it when you do that," he whispered. "Just don't die on me and we'll be okay. Got it?" Xander shifted toward him, wrapping an arm around his waist. "Thank you. Just be okay and I'll even help you get back into fighting shape. I promise to quit nagging."
 

The door opened and Snape walked in. "How bad is it?" he asked.
 

George wiped off his cheeks. "Bad enough but not fatal they think." He pulled the sheet aside to show the bandaged areas. "This place has already surpassed the other one because they've given him medication and cleaned the burns before covering them." He looked down again and noticed one eye was open. "Hi. You're safe." Xander reached up but his hand fell halfway up to his husband. He mumbled something. "What?" George leaned down and Xander repeated it. "I love you too, goof, and you're forgiven." He gave him a short kiss, then turned back to the potion's master. "Is there anything we can give him to help speed it along?"
 

"I've got a few spells under scrutiny to see which would be best suited," Snape told him. "Hopefully within a few days I'll have something to at least take some of this away." He looked down at the bandages, seeing if he could look at the burns. "Interesting," he said as he straightened up. He turned when the door opened and the doctor from earlier walked in. "How long of a recovery is he looking at?" he asked.
 

"Probably a few months. Why? You don't look like family."
 

"He teaches at the same school Xander does," George explained. "His getting sick seems to throw quite a few wrenches into their orderly system."
 

"Ah." The doctor nodded. "What are you people? The woman in the robe kinda gave away that you're not quite normal."
 

Willow cleared her throat from the doorway. "We're witches."
 

"Oh." The doctor nodded. That explained so many of the things that had piqued her sense of 'wrongness' with the boy. "So you all teach on the commune or something?"
 

"Basically to others of the same path," Willow agreed. She smiled. "Is it okay if I import an altar to pray at?"
 

"If it floats your boat. We're not affiliated and there's a chapel downstairs for those who would be more comfortable in a formal setting." She shrugged. "You Wiccans have always fascinated me, keeping most of the old traditions alive for centuries through everything that's went on. I think that takes an amazing faith." She smiled. "Okay, forms for now, and then I'll leave you alone." She handed them to George and returned to Snape. "What do you teach?"
 

"Potions."
 

"Anything to speed up his healing?"
 

"We were just discussing that," he said uneasily. "You aren't upset that we're what we are?"
 

"No, like I said, I find the Wiccans fascinating." She smiled. "Anything you do, I'll need an ingredient list so nothing clashes on this end. But if you need to talk to me, my name is Dr. Carter and my office is on the third floor, second door on the left from the middle stairway." She shook his hand. "I hope you can help him. He seems very nice." She walked out, leaving them alone.
 

Arthur looked at Willow. "You took a very big risk, young lady."
 

"Why? Everyone knows about the Wiccans. We're a popular group to like these days." She shrugged. "And it'll save a lot of problems."
 

Molly laid a hand on Arthur's arm and leaned into him, whispering in his ear. He nodded and she smiled at Willow. "The different paths being left out was a good thing, but do be more careful in the future."
 

"Hey, McGonagall was the one in the robe," Willow snorted. She walked over and took the forms, filling them out for George. He started to take them back but she looked down at him. "Do you know all his allergies? Or how he broke his collarbone ten years before he met you? Or even about his prior burns?" George relented and let her do the paperwork. They asked some strange questions that he wasn't sure how to answer anyway. When she was done, she handed it back to him and pointed. "Sign there."
 

He signed his name and read over the answers. So that was what they meant by sex....
 

***
 

Xander woke up warm and at peace with himself. It was a good feeling that he almost remembered. He turned his head and found his husband snuggled up next to him on the bed. He stole a kiss. When his husband opened his eyes he smiled. "I'd roll over and hold you, but that'd hurt."
 

"I understand. Let me hold you for a bit." George wrapped him in his arms. "How are you this morning?"
 

"I feel really peaceful," Xander admitted. "Like everything is right in my world and it's going to be okay."
 

"I'm sure it will be. You'll be healing soon," George agreed. "Willow told them we were of her brand of magic so Snape's openly coming with a potion with your doctor's blessing." Xander gave him a smile. "What's that for?"
 

"Because your head just said you loved me and I looked damn good in the sunlight." He picked up his mate's hand and kissed it. "And because I wanted to."
 

"Just like that, no more talking?"
 

"You said you understood," Xander reminded him.
 

"And I do, but I still think it's silly."
 

"I know," Xander sighed. "But I have moments like that. I've had them before too."
 

"Yes, but before you trusted me to help you through them."
 

"Yeah, and this time you were part of them," Xander pointed out. "I couldn't come to one of the people I was most worried about because I thought I was going to get him killed." He closed his mouth as the door opened and the nurses came in. "Hi. I 'm awake."
 

"Are you in pain?"
 

"Some, not a lot. I have a pretty high tolerance."
 

"It comes from teaching eighteen-year-olds how to box," George said bitterly.
 

Xander nodded the nurses away, waiting until they were gone. "You don't like me teaching?"
 

"You teach fighting, Xander. You made sure that my baby brother would never be a relaxed man with a wife and family."
 

"Hey, I never told him to date Buffy," Xander butted in. "And what would have happened if I hadn't taken his training in hand?" George swallowed. "See, I do have a reason for doing it. I know that you hate the fact that I fight..."
 

George put a finger over his lips. "Would it have killed anyone if you had waited for help? The others were still up. Or even for you to have used a lesser spell?"
 

"And stun them?" Xander shook his head. "Probably not, but that's what I thought that spell would have done. I didn't think it was going to burn through me and nearly kill me."
 

George rolled his eyes. "Missing the point, honey. I think you chose the hardest spell on purpose."
 

"Actually, the building spells are much harder. Ginny has access to that spell class. It's in the same group as the one that Hermione misused." George winced. "Not that hard, it's usually taught to fully adult gryphons who're in the ranks of fighters. There's plenty of harder ones I could have used."
 

"Hold on. That was a *gryphon* spell?" George asked. He flicked Xander on the forehead, glaring at him. "It didn't occur to you that their bodies can take more?"
 

"Not until the burning started," Xander said honestly. "I usually use gryphon spells instead of the born ones. They do better for me."
 

"Then I think we need to have a talk about what you've been doing," George told him. "I haven't seen you do anything dangerous for the last few years."
 

Xander sighed. "I'm not dangerous," he said, sounding defeated.
 

"Did I say *you* were dangerous?" George asked immediately. He couldn't let this one fester. Xander nodded. "No, I said the *spells* were dangerous. You're cuddly and sweet up until one of us is threatened. Then you pull out the biggest weapon when a smaller one will do the job."
 

"You've known this about me since before we officially started dating," Xander pointed out. "I've always used a cannon when I could have used at .22." George opened his mouth. "Sorry, I know you hate weapon analogies."
 

"Yes, I do. They remind me that you like to fight." He slid off the bed and stared down at his husband. "I'm going to end up issuing an ultimatum. Fighting or me, Xander. Choose."
 

Xander laughed bitterly. "I don't think it's going to be much of a choice considering I may never walk normally again." He sat the bed up. "But hey, if you want Ron and Draco out there fighting instead of me, I'll gladly let them do it now."
 

"You've said that before," George reminded him quietly. "You're still keeping everyone behind you when you're an end-game fighter, Xander." He sat down next to Xander's damaged knee. "I know this hurts to hear right now, but you've got to stop fighting. Lead the troops, give the orders, train the army, but no more leading the charge. Lead from behind like any normal leader, Xander."
 

"I'm not a leader," Xander told him. "I'm a foot soldier who can take a troop and take an outpost out. I'm not the leader that Draco is, or the lead the charge guy that Ron is."
 

"So play your part," George told him. "You like being the brace against the wall. Do that. Don't take on the army by yourself. You're not Xena!"
 

"No, but I'm not Joxer either!" Xander said hotly.
 

"I'm not asking you to be a love-sick klutz, I'm asking for you to be the rear guard and the one

no one gets past. The rest of the fighters need to get between you and the army. Otherwise, they're standing around buffing their wands." Xander snickered at the sexual reference. "Let the other guys have a chance at the dark side. I promise most of them won't fail." He picked up Xander's hand to hold. "And if they do then you're still there."
 

"George, this is who I am."
 

"No," George interrupted. "You changed once you learned Iggy was on the way. You went from a laid-back rear guard to a massive weapon of destruction. And ...it scares me that I'm going to lose you."
 

"I changed?" Xander asked.
 

George nodded. "You did. Suddenly evil became a personal battle and only you could battle it." He leaned down and stole a kiss. "I realize it's because you now had something precious to protect. I figured out a long time ago that's why you did what you did to Voldemort. Because I've seen the warnings on that spell and I know you never *really* wanted to use it."
 

"It was the best option," Xander defended.
 

"To save me," George finished. "And to save the family." He ran his fingers through the dark hair he loved. "See, I do understand. Evil became personal because now you had something to really fight for, not just the world. But let the rest of us have some."
 

"You hate to fight."
 

"That's because I have no talent for it. Harassment is more my thing. I'd be the one bugging the army while you bombed the hell out of them. But it's time to let someone else hold the controls. Please, babe, go back to being an end game fighter. I liked you better when you were the undefeatable wall. This taking the place of Buffy isn't healthy for anyone." He let him go. "If only because this one time will make us totally poor," he finished with a smile.
 

Xander looked at the spot where his mate had been sitting. "I never realized I changed," he admitted finally. He looked up. "Will you help?"
 

George laughed. "You know I'm dying to put a collar and leash on you, Xander. You'd make an adorable dog." He leaned down and hugged him as hard as he dared. "Get better faster, love. I'm tired of sleeping alone."
 

"Okay. I really didn't mean to...." George covered his lips again.
 

"I know. And I love you because of that, not in spite of it. We're okay. I'm not tossing you out on your bum." He looked over as the door opened and a nurse peeked inside. "It's okay, you can come back now. We're done fighting."
 

"That was a very low-keyed fight. Is everything all right?"
 

"Yeah, Xander had to realize something. We're fine." He got out of their way, watching as they fussed over his husband. That should be him. "How long before he can come home?"
 

"A few weeks at least. Then probably some outpatient treatments." The head nurse shooed the others out. "We'll be doing a bandage change in about an hour, so we'll be sedating him in about half an hour. You can stay, but we'll ask you to wait in the hall."
 

George shook his head. "I'm staying. I know it's gross. I saw it when the other place left it uncovered for three days."
 

"Suit yourself but you can't get in the way."
 

George moved Xander's head and sat under it, putting the bed back down so they were both comfortable. "I'll be right here."
 

"I think I could sleep on him," Xander offered.
 

"You don't want painkillers?" the nurse asked, shocked. If that had been her, she'd be begging long before the last dose wore off.
 

"I can't feel anything below my left knee," Xander told her. "That will come back, right?"
 

"Hopefully. When did you realize that?"
 

"When the student nurse dropped her tuning fork onto my foot and I didn't feel it."
 

"I'll report that for you," the nurse assured him. "We'll be back in half an hour with a light sedative." She left them alone, herding the other nurses out before her.
 

George looked down at him. "You can't feel your left leg?"
 

"From about halfway down," Xander admitted. He smiled. "Will you still love me if I end up in a wheelchair or without that leg?"
 

"I'll love you even if you're paralyzed and can't screw me again," George said firmly. "Though, if you ever turn yourself into stone, you're being left like that."
 

Xander chuckled. "Okay. I can agree to that." He lifted his upper body and gave him a kiss, then fell back against his husband's body. "Any new news?"
 

"Not yet. I haven't heard from the rest of the family yet." He smiled. "I think they're giving us a chance to work out that little incident."
 

"I'm sorry."
 

"Good, but if you say it again, I'm letting Draco take it out of your vocabulary. He promised to put something dirty in it's place."
 

Xander grinned. "Okay." He shifted some then grunted in pain. "Maybe I'll stay like this," he decided.
 

"How did you want to lay?"
 

"On my side."
 

"We can do that," George agreed, pulling one of the pillows from behind his back. "Let me up and I'll help." He slid out of the bed and walked down, lifting the sheets up to help Xander move. "What's that bag for?"
 

"Peeing."
 

"Oh. Does it hurt?"
 

"Not until they pull it out," Xander told him seriously. "I've had two before and both times I needed an ice pack and a lot of comfort for about three days." He slowly shifted onto his side, letting his husband help him. The pillow was put gently between his legs and Xander sighed in relief. The pain in his back was gone, and soon his head was cradled in his husband's lap. "I really didn't mean to hurt you," he said quietly.
 

"I know. That's why I'm here now instead of crying on my mother's shoulder so she'd come beat you senseless." He ran his fingers through the dark hair and just watched his husband drift back off to sleep. When the nurses came in, he shook his head. "Napping," he told them.
 

"Then we'll reinforce the nap so he doesn't wake up," the nurse told him, sticking Xander with a needle full of something. "Did he flip over?"
 

"With some help. He hates sleeping on his back." He looked over as the door opened and Draco walked in. "Done with his classes already?"
 

"For today," Draco agreed as he walked in. "How is he?"
 

"We've talked. We're fine. He's a little sore but comfortable enough." He smiled at the nurses. "He really does have a high threshold for pain."
 

"I'm sure, but we'll still give him a light dose of pain medication just in case. All right?" George nodded. "Good." She smiled at Draco. "We'll be doing a bandage change in a few minutes," she warned.
 

"Can I wait outside?" Draco asked. She nodded. "Thank you. I saw them before he got here and they were quite sickening." He pulled a chair over and sat down near George. "How long do they think it'll be? I ask because McGonagall sighed this morning when she asked me to stay on for a bit."
 

George nodded. "They think a few weeks." The nurse finished making notes on his chart and bustled back out. "Unless Snape finds something to help him."
 

"Last night, Willow let on that we're witches. They expect us to be like her."
 

"I like my wand too much to practice her version of the craft," George said as the door opened and admitted the doctor. "Hi," he said, giving her a faint smile. "Come to clean him up a bit?"
 

"Just the burns this time. A nurse will come in later and give him a bed bath." She walked over. "You're not Wiccan?"
 

"We're wizards, but we have wands," George told her.
 

"Oh, so the redheaded was is part of a Lesbian coven. That makes sense. Does he practice too?"
 

"Not always," George said dryly. She laughed. "Sometimes he just goes with what feels right and ends up worrying the life out of me." He patted his husband's shoulder. "We'll be fine though, he's agreed to engage his brain more often."
 

Draco snorted. "I'm sure it'd be a wonderful change for you to not have to worry." He looked at the doctor. "There was a m...mundane who was talking to his boss last night and wanted to come in. Would that be acceptable?"
 

"Of course. As long as they don't upset him and don't make him throw things we'll be fine," the doctor assured him. She pointed at the bandages. "Are you staying for this?"
 

"I am," George told her. "Draco's got a weak stomach."
 

"Do not!" Draco said in outrage. "My stomach's just as hard as yours. It just fights against my control sometimes." He stood up. "I'll be back in an hour," he promised. "Harry's claimed the pleasure of helping Ron today so he's got a full classload. Xander's third years sent their best wishes and are hoping he'll be back soon because he tells better stories." He smiled. "Oh, I almost forgot. There was a vampire at the school last night."
 

"Wonderful," George said. "Do we know this one?"
 

"It was his ex." Draco smirked. "Needless to say, your brothers were not happy with Ms. Chase in the least. They had a ...discussion with her." He smiled as he walked out.
 

"You don't like the goth kids?"
 

"She's a mean and cruel bitch," George told her. "Tortured him once or twice."
 

"That's understandable. It's nice to have a close family." She walked out and came back with a small rolling cart. "Let's get on with this. Hopefully I'll be able to tell if we're going to need to remove any of the flesh." She picked up some bandage scissors and started to remove the coverings. Then she quickly handed him a bowl. "Don't worry, it looks much worse than it is and he's not in any pain at the moment," she assured him as she went back to uncovering the burns. "Well, that's certainly looking much better," she said happily as George got sick.
 

***
 

Xander woke up alone, but with a visitor. He blinked, clearing up the fuzziness in his sight. "Hey, Wes," he said, giving him a weak smile. He obviously had pain medicine again. "What's up?"
 

"I came to see how you were." He reached over and touched Xander's hand. "I'm sorry they made you destroy them. You have my word those two are now safe." He leaned back again. "How are you feeling?"
 

"Better. No more torturous nurses and they give me nice drugs here." He put the head of the bed up again, sitting up slightly. "What else is up?"
 

"We've found some information. We think we know where Rupert took Buffy and her son."
 

"Son? I thought they were all girls."
 

"They were supposed to be. Which one is the slayer, do you know?"
 

"Minnie."
 

"Ah, excellent. She was quite adorable when I saw her earlier. Made happy noises at me and everything." He smiled again. "We're hot on his trail and should be able to find them soon."
 

"Alive?"
 

"With all luck," Wesley agreed. He moved his chair closer. "Xander, it really was a cock-up from the word go this time. The prophecy was not only mistranslated, which was why Giles took the little boy instead of Minnie, but was also by someone who wasn't very reliable. She only had a reliability rating of forty percent."
 

"So they died in vain?" Xander suggested tiredly. Wesley nodded. "Do the remaining ones know that?" Wesley nodded again, giving him a cruel smile. "Good, 'cause I'd hate to have to finish it off."
 

"Me too." Wesley gave him another gentle pat. "Now, onto more personal business. We're taking care of your hospital bills, of course, so don't worry about that. Anything you need, in relation to this incident, will be taken care of by me personally. It's amazing how much room we have in the budget now that I went and cut salaries and the stealing that was going on." He straightened up some. "By the way, your son is quick the kicker. Very strong willed."
 

"Did he hit you?"
 

"No, but it was close. I do believe that Professor Snape may have saved my life when he found out who I was. It was explained to him that I was the *new* head of the Watchers and that I was an old friend of yours. He seemed satisfied with that." He smiled again. "Also, I've heard about some odd policy changes about magical creatures being listed as demonic. I'm searching that out right now and am putting it to right."
 

"Hey, if you can fix that, I'd be ecstatic and dance around," Xander told him.
 

"Not until you're healed, please. It'll probably take me that long to burn all those decrees and get the word around that it's not so. I know that one of us mistakenly took on a few dragons the other day in Romania. From what I hear, one of you stopped him and the dragon took a rather large chunk out of his head. He was mailed back to us yesterday with a pleasant note about how you were going to destroy us for it."
 

"Charlie?" Xander asked.
 

Wesley nodded. "Yes, I do believe it was your brother-in-law. How is George anyway? I haven't seen him since the wedding. He was gone when I got here."
 

"He's good. We're just getting over a minor fight. He's helping me see I'm trying to take on the world again."
 

"Yes, well, you always did jump into matters; the only difference now is that you have more incentive to take a larger piece of the action."
 

"Yeah, that's what he said. He told me I'm not Xena."
 

Wesley chuckled. "Indeed you're not. You wouldn't look good in her outfit at all I dare say." He looked over at the door as it opened, admitting McGonagall and Simone. "Hello there. Another child, Xander?"
 

Xander looked over his shoulder. "Hey, Simone, boss lady. Simone, don't you have class?" He looked at Wesley. "She's my niece."
 

"Iggy sent me." She walked over and gave him a hug. "Melvin got detention last night when he came to tell us you had escaped the evil bastards."
 

"Simone," McGonagall warned. "You promised to be on your best behavior."
 

Xander frowned at her. "This is."
 

Wesley laughed. "She is definitely quite lively. Wesley Wyndham-Price. New head of the Watchers Council."
 

She shook his hand over her uncle's side. "Simone Malfoy-Weasley, family bitch." She gave him a hard look but continued in a happy, light-sounding voice. "If you make trouble for him, expect to see me with Iggy some night standing beside your bed."
 

"Simone!" McGonagall said, shocked. "Xander, do control her."
 

"Honey, he used to fight with Buffy and I back in California. He was a dweeb then, but okay enough. He's fixing things. He's even going to make sure Iggy and I aren't classified as demons anymore."
 

"Cool." She slid onto the bed and looked at him. "Funny, I always thought most of those guys were old white guys. You're not that old."
 

Wesley burst out laughing. "No, I'm not. I was fired from the Council because I wouldn't bend to their will. That's why the others wanted me back, because I wanted to make changes in the system."
 

"Good," McGonagall said. "Because you're not raising Minnie at all." She smiled at Xander. "It was rather sweet of Mr. Weasley to name her after me."
 

"Yes, it was," Xander said diplomatically. He knew it was after the mouse, but if she wanted to think that it was all good to him. "Wesley very nicely offered to pay for all this wonderful care."
 

"While we're making the other guys pay for their version of wonderful care," Simone said happily. "Daddy visited them this morning."
 

Xander laughed. "I'm sure they had quite a discussion, princess." He patted her on the arm. "Why don't you sit in a chair?"
 

"Okay." She slid down and walked over to grab one for herself. "Professor, did you want it?" she asked when she realized it was the only one left.
 

"That's all right, I can stand." McGonagall walked over and gave Xander a hug. "All the students wish you a speedy recovery."
 

"They're saying a few weeks, then some outpatient, unless Snape can come up with something to help me go faster. If he can, as long as I can sit, I can start working again."
 

"I'm not going to fire you for being burned, Xander. Possibly for not thinking, but not for protecting the school once again." She gave him a fond smile. "You won't have any vacation time for the next three years, but it will all work itself out."
 

"Iggy got called to the gryphon colony," Simone told him. "To answer questions about what happened to you this time, their exact words." She smiled. "When he came back he said that it was the flaw with the human body, that it was too weak to handle that sort of energy. They only get bad tingles, like your feet falling asleep. So they're pissed at you because you should have realized that. But they still love you and Bill said that he'll see you once you're back at school."
 

"Wow." Xander looked at McGonagall. "That okay with you?"
 

"It would be fine. I asked if he could give a short lesson to a Care of Magical Creatures class if he did come up and he agreed readily. Said something about defrocking some myths. Hagrid offered to gather all his students together for it, and most of the other teachers agreed. It would give us an extra free period or so near exams."
 

"Ow," Xander sighed. "Exams."
 

"Daddy and Uncle Harry are giving them," Simone told him. "They're switching off so they can play with the babies." She sat up. "Oh, we got an owl from Uncle Charlie. He said he's sorry he used you as a threat but it worked. The stupid git..."
 

"Simone!" McGonagall chastised.
 

"Well, he was. He went in with a crossbow to kill dragons; you know, with impervious armor."
 

"Lost part of his head for it," Wesley agreed. "And I do agree, he was rather a stupid git. A boring one on top of it who expounded his views until we were all quite tired of him. Even his mother didn't cry about it."
 

"Still, she shouldn't use language like that at her age."
 

"One of her first words was bitch," Xander reminded her.
 

"Oh, I remember her calling your son one quite well," McGonagall said with a smile. "If I remember right, it was Fred who demanded that she stop calling him that." She glanced around. "Can I get you anything?"
 

"Nope, I'm good. I even have cable," he said happily. Over the years, since he had gotten that tv off Dumbledore, his movie collection had grown to about six hundred of them. "I'm thinking that, since Wes is so nicely paying for my bills, that I'm going to get me a bigger set to watch at school."
 

"You have tv out there?" Wesley asked.
 

"No, I have six hundred vhs tapes," Xander told him. "If the wizarding world had cable, I'd be the first subscriber and it'd be in *all* the houses I visit."
 

McGonagall shook her head. "I can't see how you sit and watch that thing."
 

"That's because you weren't raised with it. Besides, it makes comforting noises when George is gone."
 

"Then I won't confiscate it," she told him. He pouted at her. "You were late because of it."
 

"I was late because it ate one of my favorite tapes," Xander corrected. "I was trying to get it out, not because I was watching something."
 

"Yes, but you also play it quite loudly on occasion," she chastised gently. "If I get another complaint, I'm going to have to confiscate it for a month, Xander."
 

"I was using it to cover up the screaming I was doing while we were having sex on the couch. Do you think Snape would have rather listened to that?" he asked nicely.
 

Simone giggled. "Uncle Xander, did they give you more drugs?"
 

"Yes, honey, and they're very nice." He looked at the blushing Wesley. "Sorry. It's a holdover from Anya and her sharing stuff."
 

Wesley tugged on his vest. "I've heard from her recently."
 

"Really? Is she demonic again?" Wesley nodded. "Is she a good demon or a bad demon?"
 

"I think it rather depends on whether or not you screwed something up. She's a vengeance demon again. Still the same job description I'm afraid."
 

"Only be afraid if you meet her professionally. She makes things fall off."
 

"Dangly things?" Simone teased. McGonagall grabbed her throat. "Iggy was horrified by the things when he found out he was going to have to grow one," she explained. "It's a family joke."
 

"Not one for mixed company though," Xander replied. "Save it for within the family, dear. And he still doesn't like to think he'll grow one." He looked at Wesley, who was standing up. "Sorry."
 

"That's all right. I'll leave you to your family and come back next week, when we'll hopefully have more information." He shook the two women's hands, then smiled at Xander. "Do get better faster, Xander. I know you want to get back to your duties."
 

"Actually, I want my bird! Where's Murphy?"
 

"Sitting in daddy's living room eating the plants. He's pissed at you."
 

"Wonderful," Xander sighed as Wesley left them alone. "Simone, honey, you scared him."
 

She shifted chairs, taking the one the guy had had. "If he was a true friend, he'd have understood," she said, repeating a phrase he had told her about making friends.
 

"We fought beside each other," he explained. "Way back when I was still an American. He came over when Giles got fired as Buffy's Watcher to take the spot, and brought a really big problem named Faith."
 

"Oh, I heard him mentioning her earlier. She's out of jail he said."
 

"Yay for her, just as long as I don't have to see her."
 

"You don't like her?" McGonagall asked, taking the now vacant seat. "I thought you got along well with most of them."
 

"Not always. See, Faith tried to kill me once."
 

"Oh, dear." McGonagall looked at Simone, then back at him. "Is this something you can share?"
 

"Probably not. I'm okay with it now, but I don't want to know how ten years of prison changed her. I don't care if she turned into Polyanna, I don't want to see her."
 

"She's the current Slayer and training the younger one," McGonagall told him. "I asked who she was when that man asked to have her come in and look at Minnie."
 

"Not a chance," Xander told her. "If she's getting trained, I'll train her. She won't be ceded over to the Watches to raise."
 

"They do that?" Simone asked. Xander nodded. "Wow. That's cruel."
 

"By doing so, they got to train the girls however they wanted, making sure that they were obedient to any order that they gave. Buffy was one of the few that never got taken from her parents. She turned out okay, stronger willed than they wanted, but okay." He sniffed. "That's why they took her. Because of some stupid prophecy that they got wrong and one that probably wouldn't come true anyway!"
 

"Well, Minnie is a witch," McGonagall told him. "I doubt they'd be able to train her anyway." She stood up. "We'll let you get back to resting. Expect Severus tonight."
 

"And we'll come over after the game and tell you how it went," Simone told him, kissing him on the forehead. "You get better so Iggy doesn't have to beat up Ryan again."
 

"My son got into a fight?" Xander asked.
 

McGonagall nodded. "Quite a very long one. Ryan said something mean about you and Iggy decided to turn him into paste. He would have if Professors Lupin and Black hadn't found them. Young Mr. Rosenberg has learned his lesson I believe." She smiled. "He did quite well, a testament to your training." She led Simone out, taking her back to the school now that she could give a report on her Uncle's condition. The other Gryffindors would be very happy.
 

Xander closed his eyes and let his mind drift on the soft, gentle flow of the pain medicine.
 

***
 

Melvin sat on a desk staring at Professor Snape as he mixed something. "I still say it's unfair. I was dealing with a family emergency."
 

"You shoved me into a wall. You should have better manners than that by now." He looked at the little boy. "With who your father is, your behavior is watched and is a reflection on him."
 

"Yay. Dad congratulated me on handling the emergency so well." His father had also said much the same thing about the detentions. At least McGonagall had taken off the house points lost.

"Can I help?"
 

"No. This is above your meager skills. Go clean cauldrons." Melvin sighed but went to scrub them, and didn't even reach for his wand. What a refreshing change. He went back to brewing the healing potion. Hopefully Xander would be back soon. The Gryffindors were all morose and pouting. He detested pouting on a student. It made them even more whiny than usual. He glanced back at the potion, sprinkling in some salt. He had no idea why it was in there, but the recipe called for it. It was the most complicated healing spell he had ever seen and the most powerful one the gryphons had. If anything would help cure some of the burns on the boy, this would. He stopped to think about that. He was still calling Harris a boy. After having known him for the last eleven years, he was no longer a boy. He was a full-grown man with a son of his own attending school here. Possibly it was the way Xander jumped into everything. Or the energy he put into everything he did. Watching him bounce down the halls every day reminded him of a sixth or a seventh year. Even though he had seen a few flecks of silver in the dark hair, he probably would always be a boy to him. Even if he ended up horribly scarred and needing a prosthetic or aiding device. He doubted even a wheelchair would slow that young man down much. Once he figured out how to get up and down stairs, nothing would stop him. He shook himself from his thoughts and found his student looking down and stirring the pot for him. "Thank you."
 

"Welcome. Were you worrying about Uncle Xander too?"
 

"No."
 

Melvin looked up at him, giving him a smile. "He's really not a boy."
 

"How...."
 

"I end up a little open after I listen in on Iggy's mind. It'll go away by tomorrow. But you're right, even a wheelchair won't slow him down. I'm sure he'll find a floating spell and he'll float everywhere." He grinned. "Uncle Xander's like that and Uncle George would gladly help." He handed over the spoon. "Here you go. Oh, there're six too few cauldrons. Someone took theirs out."
 

"Really?" he asked, his usual cold smile coming out. "Thank you. I'll have to watch for that." He looked over and saw the pile of cleaned cauldrons, then looked at the boy. "Do go scrub them, by hand this time."
 

Melvin sighed and went back. He had cheated, using his wand once he noticed Snape wasn't paying attention, but they were scrubbed. At least he wouldn't have to do the hard part by hand. He drew some water into the sink and dropped the first sparkling cauldron into it. "Have you decided about the spell for Andrea yet, sir?" he called as he swiped at the clean pewter.
 

Snape turned and looked at him. "In the excitement I've only gotten a little of it done. It looks like it will work, so I will turn my attention back to it after I finish this potion." He heard a 'blurp' and turned back to stir some more. "Come do this part while I add ingredients," he ordered.
 

Melvin wiped off his hands on his robe as he walked over and took control of the spoon back. "You should have grounded Iggy, this is his thing. I'm better at herbology." He pointed at a pile of green herbs. "Cilantro, sir?"
 

"Yes, it had a few cooking herbs in it. Probably for taste. Stir more." He slowly sprinkled in handfuls of herbs from the piles, working like a chef with the herbs. Every pinch was an equal amount and each handful had the exact same weight.
 

***
 

Simone looked over as Denver walked in, still wobbly. "Did you take your medicine?" she asked worriedly. Today was their first quidditch game. He had to be all right.
 

"I just took it. I'm fine. Don't worry I'll be hell on a broom."
 

At the next table, one of their opponents overheard and got up to talk to their captain.
 

Denver sipped his juice slowly, waiting for the medicine to work. "I think today's going to be a double dose day," he said finally.
 

"I'll help you upstairs in a few," Simone told him. "Try to eat something." He turned faintly green. "Then go talk to the nurse and come back," she told him. She watched as he wobbled back out, nibbling on her lip. This was going to be a bad day. He hardly ever needed two doses to be able to walk. This was bad.
 

***
 

Madam Hooch walked up to the threesome, frowning at them. "It was reported to me that you are taking some sort of drugs," she said calmly. "Explain yourself."
 

"I'm taking *medicine* for an inner ear condition which makes me dizzy," Denver told her. "You can ask Madam Pomfrey if you want to. She has an ingredient list and can tell you exactly how vertigo works." He had expected this. It was a standard tactic. He looked at their Captain, Reggie, as he walked up behind them. "There's a challenge because of my medicine."
 

"I figured as much." Reggie handed over a sheet of parchment. "I got that from Madam Pomfrey just a few moments ago because I figured Ravenclaw would pull this." He patted Denver on the shoulder. "The little guy is dizzy, not taking stuff to make him faster."
 

"I see." Madam Hooch looked at him. "You're dizzy?"
 

"Vertigo is where the world spins and you're not in sync with it," Denver told her. "It's an all-inclusive dizziness that makes me run into walls, stumble around, and get really nauseous at the smell of food. It doesn't make me faster, it just makes sure I can sit on my broom at all."
 

Madam Hooch nodded. "So there is no enhancing effects?"
 

"Not as far as I know," Denver told her. Reggie nudged him. "Seriously, I've never noticed that I'm faster after I take it, not even with a double dose like today. And I've been taking it since I was five, every day, so it should have shown up by now."
 

"All right. I will allow it. Madam Pomfrey also stated that it is not performance enhancing. I will tell the other team that their challenge to you playing is turned down." She smiled at them. "Have a good game." She turned and walked away, going out to the pitch to talk to the other team.
 

"Wow, again," Simone said, glaring at Denver. "Can't they fix that with surgery?"
 

"As far as anyone knows, no." He grimaced. "I'd go through with it if I could but no one's offered." He looked at the team Captain. "My broom's back to normal size but their new ones aren't here yet."
 

"They're waiting out in the changing rooms. That's why I was looking for you." Reggie smiled. "Three boxes with your names on them." He watched as the kids ran for the changing area. "Kids," he said, shaking his head with fond amusement. Those three were hell together. Iggy and Denver worked flawlessly, and had integrated the other chaser into their team. Simone was hell on a broom anyway and as a beater she was dangerous. They had picked a secondary team this year too and some of them didn't want to play scrimmage against the main string because of her. She hit the bludgers right at you and gave you the most evil look while she did it. Must be the influence of her father. He walked out more slowly to the changing area. He had done this for the last four years so he knew his routine. He found the kids cooing over their new brooms, made by a small company that still handmade each broom. Those had to have cost someone some money. But he bet they flew excellently. "Get changed, we've only got an hour to stretch and warm up."
 

"Okay," Simone told him. She headed for the girls' section, where she was the only one this year, and got changed into her brand new gold and scarlet robes. She came out with the sleeves hanging over her hands and the hem dragging. "Iggy, I think I have yours." A few of the older guys screamed and turned around. "Oh, get over it! I used to have to share a bath with that guy," she pointed at Denver. "You've got nothing I haven't seen before." She took off her robes, showing off her very practical sports bra and spandex shorts, and took Iggy's robe. That one fit her much better, it was only an inch too long. She and her brother exchanged. Just right. "I'm heading out to warm up. Be girlie men now." She grabbed her broom and headed out to try it out and see if it had any quirks.
 

Reggie looked at Denver. "Your sister's insane."
 

"My sister's fifteenth word was whorehouse," Denver said dryly. "It doesn't bother her."
 

Iggy nodded as he slipped into his spandex clothes. It had been his father's idea to wear this under his robes because they were made to sweat and work out in. "She's seen it all and laughed at most of it." He nudged Denver. "But at least she was never traumatized."
 

Denver snorted. "No, that was you, cousin." He grinned. "So, are you happier with the male body now that you're growing up?"
 

"You like guys?" Reggie asked.
 

"No, when I was younger I saw his dad naked." He shoved Denver, knocking him onto the bench. "And, being five, I screamed, was horribly traumatized, and vowed never to have those scary dangly bits like his dad had." The other guys laughed. "My father George's response was that I'd enjoy it once I grew one of my own," he finished dryly, glaring at his cousin. "And no, I find that it gets in the way a lot and it's trying to take over my life."
 

The other guys laughed and they started to talk about how their dicks had taken over their lives too. Outside the door, Simone shook her head and walked away. Boys!
 

***
 

Xander looked over as his door opened and Fred stuck his head in. He waved in him and went back to reading his book. Wesley had left it for him the last time he had been in. He underlined a sentence then looked up. "Hey, how's the store?" He put the book aside.
 

"Fine. Your mate is presently sitting in it telling everyone that you're getting better very quickly and it's not that bad."
 

"With the exception of my knee, it's not," Xander agreed with a light shrug. "Did you watch the game?"
 

"We both did," Fred said happily as he took the seat beside the bed. "Quite a match. Your son and Denver were hell together. The other chaser pretty much played their guard as they scored. Simone knocked the Ravenclaw seeker off three times, and prevented her from catching the snitch. She's got the control that George and I used to have." He smiled. "And your son all but caught the snitch himself since it was resting above his head. Madam Hooch almost disqualified him but the seeker came and took it from him before she could blow her whistle." Xander bounced lightly. "They're having a small party right now. Quite fun really. Game went four hours and a bit. The Ravenclaws tried to challenge Denver because of his medicine, but they lost."
 

"Good. I've seen him play without it. He really did look odd with his broom tilted off to the right. So they won?"
 

"By about two hundred points," Fred agreed. "McGonagall was cheering quite loudly."
 

Xander giggled. "Yeah, the kids are neat little creatures."
 

"And now we've got two more in the family." Fred handed over a photograph, watching as Xander touched the two wiggling babies. "They're quite fussy still."
 

"Wesley told me that they have a clue where Buffy and her son might be."
 

"Son?"
 

"Son," Xander agreed, smiling at him. "But don't tell Ron, I want to see his face when he sees his son, if we get him back."
 

"I won't. It'd be cruel. He hoped for weeks that the kids were boys." He crossed his feet. "Do you need anything?"
 

"Healing potion. I hate hospitals. This one is great, but it's the whole idea of being helpless."
 

"Xander, you're going to need your kneecap replaced. You're going to be immobile for a bit."
 

"Yay. With crutches I can get around." He nodded. "I will find a way to move on my own! I really will. No more nurses wiping my butt or anything like that."
 

Fred snickered. "I'm sure you'll be out of here soon and George can do that for you."
 

"Eww."
 

"You let him do all manner of things to it but he can't clean it for you?"
 

"Not when it's dirty!"
 

"That makes no sense."
 

"Things like that hardly ever do." He handed back the photograph. "How's everyone else?"
 

"Mum's happily trying to take the twins to watch every day, with little luck. Dad's quite happy that everything's running smoothly at work right now. Percy's still pissed with his underlings because they're being cranky with him. Apparently Percy thinks that they don't really need to be in the office all hours of the night. The researchers are against the new policy limiting them to eighteen hour days."
 

Xander laughed. "They're going to fight with him. Real researches will live in the library. If he asks Willow she might even help him translate from geek to Percy language."
 

Fred coughed to hide the laugh. "I'll suggest it to him. He's about to have a heart attack because of the stress they're giving him."
 

"Was he at the game?"
 

"No, he was swatting the researchers out of the lab. He got there about ten minutes before it ended and is spending time with the kids today. He brought up Tanada to play with her new cousins. Hopefully they'll form a group like the older four have. Anastasia and Ravena are both lonely because they don't have anyone to play with."
 

"Yeah, but Anastasia will be here next year." He blinked. "I mean at the school, not here here." Fred nodded. "Sorry, drugs. I'm on a small dosage and it messes with my head sometimes."
 

"It's okay," Fred agreed. "George warned us. Dad said he'll be in later tonight. He came the other day but you were sedated."
 

Xander looked down at his foot, then pointed to it. "They're going to have to trim some of the dead stuff tomorrow. It'll be really helpful and they think it'll help the flesh heal faster."
 

"Good. What about Snape?"
 

"He's making me something but I'm not sure when it'll be done." He shrugged. "Whenever it's done, I'll be more than happy to drink it or whatever. I hate hospitals."
 

"I know you do. You've spent too much time in them already. George was ranting about that same thing last night."
 

"Ooh, I'm sorry."
 

"It's okay." Fred patted him on the thigh. "Worry about getting better. The faster you get better, the faster things get back to normal. And we would all like normal again."
 

"Okay." Xander moved the sheet and swung his legs around, looking like he was going to get up.
 

"Whoa, what are you doing?" Fred asked, trying to make him lay back down. "Get back into that bed, Xander." A nurse came hurrying in. "He's trying to get up."
 

"I need to practice walking so I can go home faster," Xander told her.
 

"Well, you can do that tomorrow, once they talk to you about your knee, Mr. Harris. Back into that bed!" She helped him lay back down. "Stay there! You're not allowed to get up and wander yet." She glared at Fred. "He's very suggestible while he's on his pain medicine. Do watch what you say."
 

Doctor Carter came in, smiling at them. "He trying to get out already?" She checked Xander over. "Naughty you," she said with a fond smile, like she was talking to a little kid. "You can't walk until we fix your knee."
 

"Okay," Xander sighed. "Can we do that soon? I need to get back to work and back to the store, and maybe even into the lab." He gave Fred a cute look. "Please? I really don't mean to drive you out."
 

"I know," Fred told him. "But I'm not comfortable working beside you. You need to build your own lab."
 

"I bet I could use something in my rooms," Xander offered.
 

"If you can get McGonagall to agree," Fred agreed.
 

"You work in a lab?" the doctor asked.
 

"I run a small joke shop," he explained. "Jokes for people like us."
 

"That's cool," she said, smiling at him. "Will they work on me?" Fred and Xander both shrugged. "Can I try something?"
 

Fred patted himself down, then came out with a small wrapped package. "This is his design." Fred showed it to Xander. "We had to individually wrap half-inch pieces," he told the other wizard. "The kids were buying it in huge hunks and getting sick." He handed it to her. "It's supposed to make you feel like you're being tickled."
 

She popped the chewy candy into her mouth and grabbed her sides, wincing even as she laughed. The nurse gave her worried looks but she waved it off. When she stopped, five minutes later, she had to rush to the bathroom first, then came out and congratulated them both. "I've never felt anything like that. That is so cool." She patted Xander, then Fred. "I like you guys. You guys are a lot more fun than nearly all of my patients, except the clown."
 

"Please, no clowns," Xander begged.
 

"You don't like clowns?"
 

"He's afraid of clowns," Fred told her.
 

Xander nodded. "One scared me when I was little. I hate clowns."
 

"All right, I won't ask him to come visit you," the doctor agreed. "We have a counselor here if you'd like to use him to work on that. He's heard about every other fear."
 

Xander shook his head. "The only one I really have to work through is this fear of losing my leg." He touched it to make sure it was still there. Since he couldn't feel most of it, he did this a lot. "I'm going to be okay, right?"
 

The doctor nodded. "I don't think you're going to lose it, Xander. The burns are healing very well and it should be fine. Even your knee will heal much more than it has."
 

"What about the feeling?" he asked pitifully.
 

"I'm not sure," she said honestly. She looked at Fred. "Are you George?"
 

Fred nodded.
 

"That's a Fred-shaped person," Xander told her, smiling at his brother-in-law. "Fred has the bigger nose by a quarter of an inch and he sits differently."
 

"That's good to know." She smiled at Fred. "I guess all twins do it."
 

Fred nodded. "We still get to pull it over on our mother at least once a month."
 

The doctor laughed. "Good on you." She smiled at Xander. "We don't know why you can't feel half of your calf or lower, Xander. We're going to be checking the nerves tomorrow, while you're under for surgery. It could determine how much tissue we remove. If I had to guess right now, without having a nerve conductivity test in front of me, I'd say that some of the nerves in your leg were severed by the burns. If it's that, then they won't regrow but you can learn to get around that. If it's damaged, it could grow back."
 

"What's the worst that could happen?" Fred asked.
 

"The damage could be so severe that we'd have to take off his leg because the healthy tissue is starting to die. I sincerely doubt that's going on. There's no question that it's impacted some nerves, but not to that level. So the worst thing right now is that Xander never feels his foot again and has to use crutches of some sort."
 

Xander nodded. "I can handle that. Will I have gross scars or ones like on my arm?"
 

"I noticed that one. What did that?"
 

"Stove."
 

"Oh. Accidental?"
 

"More or less. Drunken parent." He shrugged at the pitied look she gave him. "They're dead and I lived. So, will it be gross scars?"
 

"Most likely, it's going to be more gross than not. Maybe some wrinkles, some thin spots. We'll need to see if you need a skin graft to cover any of the areas." She smiled at him. "If you do, the scars will look like stretched and plastic skin."
 

"I can live with whatever as long as my husband can look at it," Xander told her.
 

Fred poked him. "He's not going to be scared off by some scarring. He's not like that."
 

"I know, but if it's that gross, I don't want him to get sick every time he sees them," Xander told him.
 

"That's a worry every patient in this facility has," Dr. Carter told Fred. "The worry that their lover/husband/wife/dog/cat/goldfish will send them away because now they're ugly and horribly scarred. I don't think it'll matter once he sees them, Xander, but he might take a few days to get used to it. He might even want to touch them to get used to the new texture and feeling of them."
 

"Hey, I can't feel them," Xander said philosophically.
 

"You're taking this very well," the doctor praised.
 

"I'll cry later," Xander pointed out.
 

Fred stood up and gave him a hug. "George will be back tonight." Xander nodded against his chest. "You'll get through this together." The door opened and Draco walked in. "Done with the kids already?"
 

"They're deep into their house celebration. Iggy slipped out and got them pastries." He smiled at Xander. "How are you today?"
 

"Okay," Xander told him. "We were just talking about what sort of scars I'll have."
 

Draco looked at the bandages. "I'd say bloody horrible ones, but I might be wrong." He sat down, putting his feet on the edge of the bed. "I take it you've heard that the game went in favor of our children?"
 

"Yeah," Xander said with a goofy grin. He patted Fred's arm. "I'm okay. But you can continue to cuddle if you want."
 

Fred snorted and sat back down. "Thanks, but my brother would kill me." He winked at Xander. "I've found a woman."
 

"Really? A decent one?" Draco asked.
 

"Yup." Fred gave him a smug look. "You'll see at the next family dinner."
 

"Hopefully she'll be better than the last one introduced to the family," Xander said dryly, looking at Fred.
 

"She has no problem with you, Xander. I already made sure." Fred continued to smile smugly. "You'll meet her soon enough."
 

Draco cleared his throat. "I think I need to butt in with some of the children. Would anyone mind?"
 

"Hey, if you think you need to, tell me your plans. I'll help if I can."
 

"Thank you." He looked over as the door opened, smiling at the former Head of his house. "Professor Snape," he greeted. "Did you have something to get the big drugged one out of here sooner?"
 

"Yes, I think I might." He nodded at the doctor. "Are you sure you wish to stay? This is an experimental design and not allowed out into the rest of the world." He stared her down until she agreed. "Then please remove the bandages."
 

"They don't look that bad," Xander told Draco. "You can stay." He looked at his family. "I could really use some hand holding."
 

"All right." Draco came to stand on Xander's other side, watching as the bandages are removed. "They do look less sickening," he agreed. "Almost like normal injuries." He took Xander's hand as Professor Snape flicked a drop of the potion onto Xander's leg, watching as that piece of flesh healed. "Great," he said.
 

"Brilliant," Fred agreed. "Wait until George hears."
 

"It has to be drunk first," Snape told them. "Then we'll see." He handed the flagon over. "Drink it all." He watched the burns as Xander drank, hoping that this one worked. There wasn't a specific healing potion for burns so he used the most powerful general one he could find. He let out his breath when he saw the burns starting to heal.
 

"Oh!" the doctor said, coming closer to watch them heal. "This is great!" She looked at Snape. "Are you sure it can't get out yet?"
 

"It's not exactly approveable medicine," Draco told her gently.
 

"I understand that, but I'm willing to buck the medical boards to use this on some of my worst patients." Snape shook his head. "You can't?"
 

"It's got ingredients that could potentially hurt people," Snape told her. He glanced at Xander, who nodded. So he pulled out the ingredient list. "This is what's in it."
 

She looked it over, frowning. "I don't know half of these herbs."
 

"Some of them are very difficult to find. A few I had to grow to get them at all. And a few of them are deadly in the wrong doses."
 

"Which would probably be different for everybody," she said, understanding. She handed the form back. "If I could ask you on occasion, with the worst of cases, especially with the little kids, could I get you to look at them?"
 

Snape considered it. Then he slumped. "It can't get out that this works. It's forbidden knowledge among our kind."
 

"Because it's deadly in the wrong strength?" she asked. He nodded. "I can understand that, but some of my patients will die if I don't do something extreme."
 

"Give her Madam Pomfrey's number," Xander said quietly. "Let her be the one to make the decision. She's our school nurse and would know more about what could and couldn't work outside our group."
 

The doctor nodded. "I can do that. It would help me a great deal and I wouldn't use it too often." She smiled at Snape, who didn't smile back. "Smile," she told him. "It worked. It healed sixty percent of his injuries." She walked over to his left side and probed his knee with her fingers. "Not that though. Okay, so mostly healed, and you still need a new kneecap. I can schedule that for you for two days from now?" Xander nodded. "Okay. And with them at this level, if I can meet with your school nurse, I can tell her what'll be needed and you can go home, Mr. Harris."
 

Xander grinned at Fred. "I'm almost free of the hospital. I'll get cuddles again."
 

"I know you will," Fred agreed. He watched as Xander lost consciousness. "Is that normal?"
 

"It took a great deal of his physical strength to heal that," Snape told him. "I'd expect him to sleep for a few hours and want protein when he gets up." He looked at the doctor. "I will tell Madam Pomfrey that you wish to speak to her and let her decide on that matter," he told her. "I will abide by her decisions."
 

"Hey, I'd just be happy if they didn't die," Dr. Carter told him. "Them living for years would be one of my happiest wishes." She smiled at Xander, then looked at Fred. "I'm not going to say anything about his miraculous recovery, just that he's being released into his usual health care provider's care and might need out patient care." Fred smiled and nodded. "Good. Now let's wrap this back up so no one suspects. I'll do his nightly bandage change myself." She efficiently wrapped it up. "There, all set. When do you think she could come in?"
 

"I can talk to her tonight and I'll pass word back," Snape told her. She nodded and left. "This could get dangerous," he told the other two. "She is still a muggle."
 

"From what she's said, burns like Xander's have a high mortality rate," Draco said quietly. "I asked her how serious this could have been. She said that they lose a third of the patients who come in the doors because burns are such picky things." He went back to his seat and put his feet back up. "While I don't *like* them, some muggles have proven to be useful at least. Even when I was evil I wasn't in favor of a total annihilation plan. It'd lead to a lot of problems within our own bloodlines and some muggles are quite entertaining. Some create rather pretty artwork, some write plays that I enjoy, and some are useful because they do work like that doctor does." Fred knocked his feet down before he sat down. "I think the worst that could happen is that she has to be obliviated," he finished quietly.
 

Snape considered it, it was a wise thought. Strange to come from Malfoy, but quite well thought out. "I will talk about it with not only Madam Pomfrey, but also with the Elders. I will take their advice as law." Fred nodded. "Do tell him when he gets up. Oh, the Slytherins are most anxious to meet your family on the quidditch pitch. They think they can beat them."
 

"That's the game after next," Draco told him. "They'll get their wish." He smirked. "I'm almost sorry for my old house. My children are hell on their brooms."
 

"Especially with the new ones Mr. Weasley got them," Snape told him.
 

"Oh, yes." He looked at Fred. "Handmade by a small company. Faster than Harry's firebolt ever was and turns on a knut. Smooth handled without a dip in it, perfect twigs. The broom that any professional player would beg for. Ron's putting me in touch with them."
 

"Harry's probably already talking to them," Fred reminded him.
 

"That's fine. I can handle him having an equal broom. I plan on bragging to every news outlet when I get one." He smiled at Snape. "If I were still in school, these would have been the brooms I would have had my father buy for my team."
 

Fred coughed. "We still hate you for that, you do realize that don't you?"
 

Draco nodded, it didn't bother him in the least.
 

Xander woke up with a groan and his hands went for the burns. "Itches," he complained when his hands were restrained by Fred. "Got to scratch. Itches badly."
 

"I know but you can't scratch or they'll get worse and you won't be able to go home in a few days," Fred said reasonably. Xander continued to fight.
 

"Stop that," Draco said in his best father's voice. Xander whined. "No! No scratching. Play with your ears or something."
 

Xander sobbed as his legs continued to itch. "Make it stop," he begged as he grabbed Fred to hold.
 

Draco got up and went to find the doctor, finding her creatively covering up for what had just happened in Xander's room. "He's itching horribly," he said quietly.
 

"I hadn't thought about that. Let me get him something for that." She signed her name and looked at him. That man was hot! He had this subtle undertone of stalking, menacing, throbbing sexuality. Damn, she needed some of that. "So, are you seeing anyone?"
 

He gave her a teasing smile. "Technically, I'm affiliated with the mother of my children but we're not official in any sense of the word. She refused me," he said with a small bit of pitiful thrown into his husky voice.
 

"If you were mine, I'd have tied you down a long time ago," she told him. "But unfortunately, I can't date anyone that's related to a patient, it causes ethical questions to be raised if something happens." She patted him on the very firm chest. "Maybe after he's discharged and all better?"
 

"I'll be back," he promised.
 

Fred walked out of the room, giving Draco a frown. "Now? You have to pick up women now?" He shook his head. "I'm telling George on you." He walked away, going to get his brother. Xander needed more comfort than he could give him.
 

Dr. Carter went to draw some medicine to help with the itching. When she walked into the room, Xander seemed to be frozen. "Gee, you guys are really powerful," she said as she shot it into Xander's thigh. "You can release him, it should take effect in a few minutes." She frowned as the wand was pulled out. "You use a wand? That wasn't a sexual reference?"
 

Snape raised an eyebrow. "That would depend on who said it." He unfroze Xander, watching as he went limp. "Behave or I'll keep your mate in the hall,"he warned.
 

"Yes, dad," Xander whined. He gave Snape a pitiful look. "Can you talk to my bird for me too?"
 

"I've tried," Draco said as he walked back in with George. "He's apparently very upset with you for many things."
 

"I'll talk with him tonight," George promised as he walked in. He climbed into the bed behind Xander's head, letting him cuddle into his body. "Are you feeling better?"
 

"We gave him something to help with the itching but it probably didn't take all of it. He can't scratch, George."
 

"All right. I'll do my best." He looked at Snape. "Did it work?"
 

"Sixty percent," Dr. Carter told him. "But not his knee. We'll need to fix that before we let him go." She pushed some of her hair back. "He'll be fine now. Possibly only a week more."
 

George beamed. "Thank you, the both of you."
 

"You're welcome." She left them alone.
 

"Madam Pomfrey?" George asked.
 

"I'm going to talk with her tonight about a few things. I'll bring this up," Snape told him. "I'll also inform McGonagall."
 

"Thanks," George told him. He watched as the older man walked out. "He was never that nice when we were students."
 

Draco shrugged. "He was always good to those of us in his house." He smirked. "I have a date."
 

"Good. Will Ginny approve?"
 

"She told me the other day that we aren't dating when she told me she was going to be seeing someone this weekend." He shrugged. "Turn about's fair play and all that."
 

George nodded. "True, but we'll save you a spot to hide in anyway."
 

"So, what's this about Fred having a girl?" Draco asked, watching Xander's hand as it slipped down toward the burn on his hip. He flicked a spot of energy at it with his wand. "No."
 

George picked up and held both hands, giving them a massage. Xander moaned, such a sexual sound. "When you get home, I'll do your back," he promised.
 

"Can I have more of the potion?" Xander asked with a grin. "And what's this about Fred and a woman?"
 

"She's quite nice. We've had a lot of discussions. Doesn't much like jokes, but they're well suited otherwise. Elizabeth is her name and she's a chef." Xander moaned again as he hit a pressure point in his palm. "She made the most fantastic dish for mum the other day. Owns a small restaurant in London but spends quite a few nights over. They get loud, very very loud."
 

Xander giggled. "So do we."
 

"Not like that," George told him. "We've had a neighbor complain."
 

"Oooh," Xander said, smiling. "Can I tease?"
 

"Why not, I have," George offered. He leaned down and gave him a kiss on the forehead. "You need to get better. I was helping Ron with the Gryffindors yesterday and they were miserable because you weren't going to get to see the game." He stole another kiss. "One more week?"
 

"One more week and then we can hop into the nest and make a lot of noise. Oh, did McGonagall get onto you about the noise we make when we turn the tv up?" George shook his head. "Apparently when we turned up the tv to hide the laughing and screaming we pissed Snape off. He complained about our noise."
 

"I'll glare at him for it tomorrow. Right now, I'm willing to forgive him for it."
 

"She threatened to take the tv away."
 

"We'll buy you a new one," George soothed. He didn't understand Xander's appreciation of the movies they watched, but Xander liked them a lot more than anyone he knew. Maybe a few weeks without it would put it back into perspective for him. Xander gave him a pitiful look. Okay, so maybe Xander had his reasons for liking it so much. Xander nodded, still giving him the pitiful look. "Dear, that's creepy," he told him.
 

"It only happens when I'm laying on you."
 

"So I can't think about you when you lay on me?" George asked.
 

"No, I appreciate hearing what you think about me," Xander said honestly. "Sometimes you think I'm cute and funny and sometimes I get really great insight into what you think about me and why I piss you off."
 

George rolled his eyes. "If you say so. Quit sharing though, okay?"
 

"Okay." Xander closed his eyes, a happy look on his face.
 

"Huh?" Draco asked.
 

"Because of this incident Xander can touch those thought streams that Iggy was trying to explain to you the other day. Right now, he can hear what I'm thinking whenever he's resting on me."
 

"That's creepy," Draco agreed. "Can he hear anything else?"
 

"Not as far as I know," Xander said. He opened his eyes and looked at his 'son'. "Usually I only hear from people thinking about me." He grimaced. "And I'm not a freak. I'm just very connected to the flood right now."
 

"We're going to ask about how to get him a little farther away," George told him. Xander looked up at him. "Think about sex like this, honey."
 

Xander nodded. "Okay. We'll ask about separating me from the flood," he agreed. He yawned. "Can I nap on you?"
 

"Sure, nap on me." George looked at Draco. "So, the doctor?"
 

"The doctor," Draco smirked. "Quite a nice woman, even though she's not one of us."
 

"This could give you a reputation," George warned. Draco shrugged. "That doesn't bother you?"
 

"It's a date, I'm not planning on having children with her."
 

"Still, Draco."
 

"No, it'll be fine. No one will say anything to my face." He smiled. "No one would dare do that." He shrugged. "It'll be put down as experimentation. Besides, do I care what the others think? They didn't like me dating your sister either. I didn't listen to the stupid idiots then, I won't now."
 

"We'll save you a hiding spot," George repeated.
 

Draco shrugged. "If it pleases you to do so." He smiled as the doctor came back in, watching her body as she moved.
 

"Stop it," she chided. "I can't concentrate." She checked Xander over, then smiled at George. "I pulled a minor miracle. Someone is coming in tomorrow to fix his knee. It'll be a short surgery and he'll go home with crutches in four days. He'll probably end up with a cane, but it's the best we could have hoped for."
 

George teared up and pulled her into a hug. "Thank you."
 

"You're welcome."
 

"Honey, there are tits in my face," Xander noted. He hugged his doctor too. "Thank you."
 

"You're welcome, Xander. Patients like you make my year. You'll have to tell me how you're doing sometime." She winked at Draco before leaving.
 

"Ooh, someone's getting some," Xander teased.
 

"I find her fascinating," Draco said with a shrug. "Such a vital woman with such a large heart." He glanced at the door. "She can't be fully muggle."
 

"Who knows," George said, not wanting to burst his bubble.
 

***
 

Xander was snuck back into the school late Thursday night and was stopped by McGonagall. "Your office?" he suggested after seeing the look on her face.
 

"Yes, we should probably talk." She let him lead the way since he was slower. "How do you feel?"
 

"Better. Much, much better." He hopped up the stairs and headed for his favorite chair. "So, what's up? Besides the fact that I'm now out of vacation and sick days until I'm old and grayer."
 

She laughed. "Only for the next two years, Xander. Not that long." She sat behind the desk. "I've taken your television." She held up a hand. "You need to focus on other things right now and the new Department of Technology wanted to look at it to see how you charmed it." Xander shrugged. "I would prefer that you not bring in another one."
 

"I'm going to make a rude gesture," he told her. "Mine. I need that to cover up the noises and to give me noise. Otherwise I can't work."
 

"I'm sorry, but it's not a part of the wizarding world. You should be used to it by now."
 

"Yay! I need to have the noise. Otherwise I'm going to go insane and then you're going to have to deal with that."
 

She sighed. "I'm sorry, Xander. You'll get it back in a few weeks." His face hardened. "Surely George will be around that long."
 

"But George doesn't babble noise at me while I'm grading horrible essays. I *need* that noise or I'm going to go insane."
 

She rolled her eyes. "You'll get it back."
 

"No, tell them to keep it. George promised to help me shop for a bigger one," he said with a grin. She rolled her eyes agin. "I'm thinking forty inch screen, flat panel if I can find it..."
 

She grimaced. "No, Xander. Nothing that puts out more noise." He smirked at her. "If I get one more complaint from Professor Snape...."
 

Xander leaned over. "I could always quit," he reminded her.
 

Her mouth opened. "You'd do that?"
 

"If George wanted me to," he agreed. "I'll have a talk with Snape. It's not *that* often that we make love on the couch, and I'm surprised he can hear it."
 

"There's a duct down to his dungeons and he can hear it through the wall."
 

Xander shrugged. "Then he's probably heard a lot more than the tv."
 

She blushed. "Yes, he said something about that also." She glared at him. "Can't you keep it down?"
 

"No." He looked incredibly happy with that fact.
 

She grimaced. "Well, you're going to have to try, Xander. It's upsetting him and he's being even more cranky with the students. We can't have that."
 

"Like I said, I can always quit."
 

"No, you can't."
 

"Yeah, I can. George is worried about how my teaching fighting is affecting me. He pointed out that I've changed since Iggy was born. He's worried that I'm going to not change back, that I'm going to continue to use a cannon in place of a .22 and it scares him." He patted his crutches. "I think I've learned my lesson, but he's worried that I'm going to continue to slip into hunter mode the longer I teach."
 

She pursed her lips together and nodded. "I can see how that would worry him. It worries me sometimes, how much you've fought the dark side and how much of a risk you're willing to take. There's now a permanent burn mark on the flagstones, right where you were standing, in the shape of your feet."
 

He shrugged. "Sorry, I didn't know it was going to do that. Gryphons only get a bad tingling as the energy passes through them."
 

"You're not a gryphon."
 

"You know, George said the same thing," he told her dryly. He stood up. "I can pack if you want or I can wait until you find someone else to hire."
 

"Sit down!" she ordered. He sat and looked at her. "You are not leaving this school. You've worked much too hard to protect it to ever leave it for real." She looked him over. "What do you want to change?"
 

"I'd like a raise," he said with a grin. "And a bigger tv. And maybe someone to take over my training class next year so I quit worrying George. I'll take over Black's place and you find someone to take over the physical training and fighting part of the class."
 

She nodded slowly. "I can do that. It's obvious that you're not going to be able to fight for quite a bit anyway."
 

"I'll end up with a cane," he agreed. "No more running for me."
 

"Then I'll gladly let you buy a bigger tv and find you a replacement for that part of your class." She leaned back in her chair. "The raise however is out of the question. The budget is just too tight."
 

"I haven't had a raise since I got here," Xander pointed out.
 

"Really? The rest of us got raises last year." She frowned. "Three galleons a month."
 

"Going up to five more next school year?"
 

She nodded. "That's the amount the rest of us got." She smiled as the door opened and George walked in. "Did you have a good talk with your son?"
 

"Quite. He'll let you surprise everyone but the family by showing up at breakfast." He gave his husband a kiss on the cheek. "Are you all set?"
 

"Yup, but we're going to have to buy a new tv this weekend."
 

"That's fine, dear. With the exchange rate they're not that expensive." He patted him on the head. "You can get one that's large enough to not need a spell to see. And a tape player that won't eat the tapes." He smiled at McGonagall. "Did I just hear my beloved taking advantage of you and asking for a raise?"
 

She nodded. "Can you think of a better time?" Xander asked with a grin.
 

"No, not really." He smiled at her. "Don't worry, I'll keep his avarice down to a minimum."
 

"Ooh, I could switch to dvd's."
 

"What are they?" George asked.
 

"A different format to put the movies on. They're smaller, lighter, and last forever 'cause they can't be eaten."
 

"Dear, you have just over six hundred tapes."
 

"They make combination machines," Xander told him.
 

"All right, you two, go talk about this in your rooms. And behave. Quietly if possible. I'll look into blocking off that vent to Snape's room."
 

George blushed. "He's heard us?"
 

"Apparently," Xander agreed. "He complained about the noise."
 

"We'll just have to make more noise then," George said happily
 

"Dear, he is responsible for me being out of the hospital this soon. We can make a little noise tonight and bug the shit outa him tomorrow. 'Kay?"
 

George considered it then nodded. "That sounds fine with me." He helped his husband to his feet. "We'll see you at breakfast. Save me a seat if you would be so kind." He smiled at her and let Xander walk down the stairs first. "You're completely naughty," he chided. "Asking for a raise."
 

"I offered to quit," Xander said quietly. "Besides, I'm the only one who didn't get a raise last year." George pinched him on the butt cheek. "Ow! Wait until we're in the room. You don't know who's sneaking around."
 

"Not sneaking exactly," Denver said, rushing over to give him a hug. "You're back. I'm so happy! Can you talk to Iggy about pranking the shits who're bothering us? He won't, he's being noble again."
 

"Sure. Tomorrow." Xander let him go. "Now scoot before I have to give points for being out of bed." Denver took off at a run, back to his house.
 

"Usually they take points," George reminded him as they started walking.
 

"Like I'm going to do that because he wanted a hug," Xander said derisively. "Let someone else do it if he's caught. Not getting caught is a good sign that he's able to uphold the family motto of pranking, fun, and sneaking around."
 

"That's the family motto?" George asked, opening both doors for him. It widened so Xander wouldn't have to jump to get through. "Thank you," he called. He closed the door behind him and locked them both, then found Ron waiting on them. "Staying to watch us have sex?" he asked.
 

"Kids are napping in the nest," Ron countered.
 

"Honey, did you want to take the bed then?" Xander asked.
 

"Ewww," Ron said with a shudder. "Not in front of me!"
 

"Hey, you can leave them here," George offered. "But I haven't had sex in over a month and I'd appreciate some tonight. So out!" His brother left them alone. "Thank Merlin." He locked the door again, this time casting a small locking spell to make *sure* Ron wasn't getting back in. He turned and found his husband pleasingly laid out for him on the bed, and partially asleep. He would wake him up. He stopped briefly to check on the twins, they were happily napping for now. Time to make some noise!
 

Downstairs, Snape groaned and cast a silencing charm on that infernal vent. Those two were annoying! He didn't need to hear their happiness when he was without someone to share his with.
 

***
 

Xander hopped into the Great Hall the next morning and applause broke out. "Yes, I'm back and still living. Believe it or not. I'm okay enough to teach too. So yes, I'm giving exams as a welcome back gift to you all." There was some comical groaning, but no one looked disappointed. It was exam time after all. Xander sat down in his seat next to Tara and smiled at her. "I itch," he told her.
 

She giggled. "Of course you do. Where's George?"
 

"Showering off the goo he had to spread under the bandages." He looked over as Madam Pomfrey walked in holding a small jar. "But I already put that on," he said as she walked up to him.
 

"This is the new stuff," she told him. "It has something to stop the itching."
 

He lunged across the table and hugged her. "You are so great," he told her. "Such a saint of niceness."
 

George walked in and looked at them. "Another healing potion?"
 

"Tomorrow," she told him. "Today I bring gel with anti-itch medicine." She was surprised when George hugged her too. Tara leaned over and took the tub of gel from her with a smile. "Boys, you're embarrassing me," she whispered. Everyone was watching them.
 

"She made the burns quit itching!" Xander announced. The students cheered. He grinned at her. "We should put an appreciation day out for you."
 

She blushed and shook her head, walking away as quickly as she could.
 

McGonagall looked down at him. "I do believe you embarrassed her," she pointed out.
 

"But she stopped the itching," Xander told her. "Itching is bad, it makes me want to scratch, which will open the burns back up."
 

"We definitely need to send her flowers then," McGonagall agreed as she went back to eating her breakfast.
 

Tara handed over the gel. "I can help spread it if you want," she offered. "I'm good at gels."
 

"Thanks," George told her. "You can do it while I'm at work today." She nodded. "Has anyone said anything about his classes?"
 

"Not yet," Tara told him. She smiled as Black and Lupin walked in together, talking. "But they might."
 

They stopped in front of Xander, staring at him. "You're really back?" Black asked.
 

Xander nodded. "And I'm going to be taking over your spot in our joint class," he said happily.
 

Lupin laughed. "I don't think that should be such a hardship. It'll be nice to have someone else come in and do the physical training parts."
 

"Yes, it will," George agreed. "He's leaving the physical stuff to someone else from now on."
 

Black tipped his head to the side. "Did you want me to do that?"
 

"That means you don't have a free period," McGonagall pointed out. "And it clashes with your sixth year Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw class."
 

"Good point." He shrugged. "Sorry, I'd take it back but I can't do that." He hopped up and took his usual seat, which faced Xander and George. "Can you get around on those things?"
 

"About as good as I walk," Xander told him. "Not the first time I've had braces, crutches, or even painful injuries. I'll survive." He looked at McGonagall. "Are you forming a hiring committee for my old post?"
 

"Old post?" Tara asked.
 

"Just the physical training one," George soothed. "He had to have his kneecap replaced so he can't do that anymore." They had decided to keep the real reason between them and those who already knew.
 

"I was thinking about having Mr. Weasley do it," McGonagall told them.
 

"But he doesn't have a free period then either," Xander reminded her. He looked over as the rest of his family walked in together, waving at them. His son ran up and hugged him tightly. "I missed you too," he whispered. "But I'm going to be okay."
 

"Good." Iggy backed up and looked at his other father. "Are you going to be running the store or doing the lab today?"
 

"Lab probably. It's Fred's day to run the shop."
 

"Cool. Does that mean you're not coming to the team meeting tonight?"
 

George patted him on the back. "I'll do my best, son. Go eat." Iggy went down to his seat and told the cousins what he had been told.
 

Harry, Ron, and Draco came up to join the other teachers. "Does this mean we're free now?" Harry asked.
 

"Only if one of you doesn't want to cover the physical portion of my advanced class."
 

Harry and Draco looked at each other, then shrugged. They had free schedules for the most part. Seekers didn't get much training outside of 'catch the ball' exercises and were always the first ones done. "Sure," they said together. They sat down and started to talk about what they would have changed when they went through it, with some input from Ron.
 

McGonagall smiled at Xander. "Very nicely done," she mouthed. She stood up and headed up to her office. She had to find the money to give Xander his raise.
 

Xander looked at his clan. All those there were happy, healthy, and reasonably sane. All was right in his world for now. The feeling of peacefulness flowed across him again. He liked that stuff. It was all good.
 

***
 

Xander looked over as his son walked into his classroom, pointing at the chair next to him. "What's this I hear about you being picked on?" he asked, finishing the test question he was working on.
 

"It's that group of idiots. They're picking on me because I'm smarter."
 

Xander shifted to look at his son. "Do you think they'll stop if you ignore them?"
 

"So far, no evidence exists that they'll stop at all," Iggy said with a shrug. "But what can I do?"
 

"Iggy, what does that little voice in your head tell you?" Xander asked quietly.
 

"To pull a prank so mean that they'll cry whenever they see me for the next month," he admitted quietly, looking down at his wand and hands. "Daddy, if I do that, then I'm just as bad as someone like Melody is."
 

Xander reached over and tipped his son's face back up. "No you're not. She did hers out of malice. You're doing yours out of self-preservation. There is a difference." He let the thin chin go. "Are they bothering your cousins too?"
 

Iggy nodded, looking miserable. "I feel like I'm letting them down by not doing something."
 

"Then do something," Xander told him. "Make them wish they had been smarter than to pick on you." He grinned. "I can help you plan it if you want, as long as you keep it quiet."
 

Iggy stood up and shook his head, his face resolute. "No, I know what I'm doing." He smiled. "I promise I won't hurt him." He grabbed a hug. "Thank you for understanding."
 

"Hey, I got picked on all the time. Of course, I didn't have any magic to get back at the idiots, but I managed. I'll understand, whatever you do is okay with me. Got it?" Iggy nodded. "Then go run for class." Iggy ran out of the room, his Uncle Ron had given him a ten minute lateness allowance so he could talk to his father. Xander picked up his pen and went back to writing out his exam. He had to change it subtly every year or he'd get cheaters.
 

***
 

Iggy had planned this prank out flawlessly. The head idiot of the group had an elective class up in the North tower today and none of his friends took Divination with him. So he was waiting in the darkened side hall for his prey. As soon as he heard the heavy footsteps he stepped out and stunned the other boy. Then he floated him down the hallway before anyone could see. He set up his victim and then hung him back in the hallway. He even still had his wand if he could figure out a way to get down.
 

That didn't keep his new skirt from riding up and showing off his girl's panties though.
 

Iggy walked away whistling, and met McGonagall rushing up the hall. "Oh, leave him," he whined. "He deserves it!"
 

"Young man, my office," she snarled. She hurried on to get that poor boy down.
 

Iggy turned and clamped the chains with a lock and glared at the both of them. "No one picks on me and gets away with it," he told them, smirking when the boy realized what he was wearing. "I'm just warming up," he pointed out. "I can do worse, if my anger keeps growing." The boy started to cry. "Do we have an understanding?" The boy nodded so Iggy let him drop to the floor, watching as McGonagall got him straightened out. "Leave me and my family alone, Sean Inghrams, or you'll pay worse," he warned as the boy ran past him, hands holding down the skirt. He heard laughter from the main hall and was rejoicing in it until his ear was grabbed. "He deserved it!" he yelled as he was carted to the Headmistress' office. "I want my fathers!"
 

"I'm sure you do," she told him, forcing him into a chair. "He's on his way up right now. I doubt this is what he meant when he told you to prank the poor boy."
 

"Poor boy?" Iggy shrieked, standing up. "After what he did to me yesterday? Do you have any idea what that potion does when it's left on the skin for more than a few minutes?"
 

"Yes, it burns," McGonagall told him seriously. "And I did reprimand him for it."
 

"Gee, did you also get him for saying that I should be as ugly as my father and just as marked as being unhuman?" he sneered. "Because that's what he said that snapped me. And personally, I'm going to fight back. Fuck the injustice of me being more powerful, he should know better."
 

"You are not here because you are more powerful, you are here to learn, young man."
 

"Which I can't do with people like him picking on me." He sat back down, crossing his arms. "I doubt anyone's going to be doing it again, don't you?"
 

She shrugged. "There are some who will now step up to test themselves against you."
 

He shook his head. "I took care of them at the beginning of the year, ma'am. And I don't care who they are, a duel is a hell of a lot nicer than being burned."
 

"Who got burned?" Xander asked as he hopped in. He saw the hard looks and shrugged. "Personally, I think the putting him in a skirt and panties was mean, but perfect. Even though you probably ruined his school career and people will pick on him, at least he'll stop." He sat down with a sigh of relief. He had been on his feet when the house elf had come into his classroom. "Iggy, did I say to do something damaging?"
 

"You said I could make him cry."
 

McGonagall glared at Xander. "That was not acceptable," she told him in her most shrill voice.
 

"My kid's the only one who's supposed to cry?" Xander asked her coldly. She flinched away from him. "This war has gone on long enough. I suggested he do something that would end it, once and for all. Which he did. It was a bit more extreme than I would have done, but I wholly stand behind his actions. That kid has had so many complaints and you haven't done a damn thing to him. Giving him tea and suggesting mildly that he shouldn't pick on the other students didn't stop anything. How many times have you had him up here now?"
 

"That's not the point. Iggy did something so horribly damaging to that boy...."
 

"Yay," Xander interrupted. He pulled up his son's sleeve, showing off the marks from the enchanted teeth that kid had hexed to bite him. "Do you think this wasn't?" He let his son's arm go. "As far as I'm concerned, this could be a war. That kid has tortured my son and you've done *nothing*. If Iggy stuck up for himself, good for him." He stood up. "And if you try and kick Iggy out for this, you'd better be getting the Inghrams up here too." He put an arm around his son's waist. "We're going to go back to class now. Excuse us."
 

"Sit, Xander," McGonagall ordered. "Ignatius, go to your house and wait for me."
 

"Fuck off," Iggy told her. "I'm not going anywhere without my father. I'll be damned if anyone's going to hurt him further. He's still healing from the last time." He stared her down, even when she figured out what he was saying and went white. "You're not hurting my father and that kid's not hurting me. End of discussion. You want me gone, I'll go and head to one of the foreign schools. I'm sure I can find one that'll take me." He crossed his arms as the door flung open. "Hi, Uncle Draco. Go away."
 

"No." He pushed Iggy into the chair and looked at Xander. "You sit too," he said calmly. He looked at McGonagall. "There's a Ministry idiot at the door," he told her. "You're wanted. Let me handle this."
 

McGonagall stood up. "We will be discussing this later," she warned as she went to deal with the auror.
 

Draco looked at Iggy. "While that was funny...." Iggy pulled up his sleeve to show off the scar from the biting teeth. "I'm aware of that, but it was inappropriate to react in that manner. Making him a laughing stock won't stop him. Hurting him back would only turn him madder at you."
 

"Butt out," Xander told him. "Iggy has every right to fight back. That kid's put him into the infirmary three times in the last month." He stood up. "Deal with it. It happened and I'm not sorry it happened. If he wants to call his mommy and daddy then let him. We can talk about this with them too."
 

Draco shook his head. "The Inghrams won't talk about this, Xander. They're lawyers for the Ministry."
 

"Yay! Their son is torturing other students!" Xander said hotly. The fire in the fireplace whooshed up, and a few flames licked the external stones. He took a deep breath. "If they're lawyers then they should know what their son is doing is wrong."
 

McGonagall walked back in with the auror, and glared at her fireplace. "Do calm yourself, *Professor* Harris. Your temper is not warranted in this case."
 

"You're letting the little asshole hurting my son off with some tea and sympathy. My anger is totally normal. I just hope it's never your niece." He turned and found the auror standing there. "Hey, Craig. What's up?"
 

"I need advice, sir," Craig told him. "We're apparently dealing with a person who turned into a type of wood demon and we can't be sure if it's dangerous or not."
 

"Come downstairs. I can look it up for you. Iggy?"
 

"Leave him with me," Draco said quietly. Xander looked at him. "Am I or am I not your proclaimed son?" Xander nodded and left his son there. Draco looked at Iggy. "I agree, you had every right to fight back, but to take it to that level instead of reacting on the same level that he was pushing was highly inappropriate," he told him.
 

"It was inappropriate for him to react at all," McGonagall corrected.
 

Draco turned to look at her. "No, it wasn't," he said reasonably. "You've done nothing to stop this situation because the Inghrams were your childhood friends." He smiled. "I can call them if you won't. I won't allow this to go on either, and I am still on the Board of Regents. I will bring this before them, and tell his father *exactly* what he's done." McGonagall shuddered. "Now, either you deal with this in a fair and reasonable manner, or I will be forced to act as a Regent."
 

She waved a hand. "Then do so. Iggy, you are under suspension. You will not leave your house for the next week."
 

He snorted. "Yay." He stood up. "That's not a punishment. And like I said, if he comes near me again, I'm taking him out next time. One more incident and you'll have a dead student." He walked out, going up to his room.
 

Draco shook his head. "That was a very unwise decision," he told her, then he left too. He had to see someone about this matter. The Inghrams were also friends of his father's on one side of the couple. He grabbed his broom, it was only a few minutes flying since they lived about twenty miles up the road. As soon as he landed on their doorstep, he smiled his best smile at the Inghram he served with. "May I come in?" he asked politely. "There's been something going on that I think McGonagall hasn't told you." The older man let him in and Draco smiled and kissed the wife's hand. "Charming to meet you at last," he said with his best courtly manner. "We really must talk about your son." He was shown into a drawing room and sat down to tell them what their beloved son was doing. He finished with the phrase, "I haven't seen action like that since hearing about my father's days in school by way of a projection. Unfortunately, his target will fight back and has vowed to continue this fight."
 

The father looked at his wife and shook his head. "I knew letting that boy in early was a mistake."
 

She shook her head. "No, the son is wrong. He's hurt that boy."
 

"So? It was fine form when we went."
 

Draco shook his head. "It's not anymore. It hasn't since before I went." He stood up. "There's one point I forgot to mention. I am aligned with the Harris' because of who Xander's husband is, and the fact that one of his family has my children." They both looked unimpressed. "That means I'll have to fight you on this. While I don't want to, I will do so if it comes down to it. Your son will be expelled under the torture and bodily harm rules." He straightened out his coat. "And if you think the board won't back me, they will." He smiled, looking very much like his father at that moment. "I'm sure I can make them see reason on this matter. After all, what's one boy compared to the health of half of his house? Or the problems that the other students have been having?"
 

"Why haven't we been told of these other students?" the mother asked.
 

Draco smiled. "Because you went to school with the Headmistress and were friends with her. She's trying to spare you some disappointment with your offspring."
 

"I still think that boy shouldn't be there yet. One more year wouldn't have mattered and he'd be in more control of himself."
 

Draco laughed coldly. "Ignatius has more control than I do most days. This time your son drove him too far. Trying to burn him to death and taunting him about his father's injuries, gotten while defending our school, was a bit too much." The father frowned. "Maybe you never taught your son subtly, but even mine has remarked on how much he's going to kill yours." The mother gasped. "I think you need to sit down and read the complaints. The ones from the teachers and the ones from the students. I know Snape has put in at least three complaints in the last few weeks, and we both know he's not going to lie." The father slumped and the wife started to cry. It was obviously an act, but it would have to do for now. "I'll leave you now, but it had better stop. Before my son has to get into the act and embarrasses your son even more." He nodded goodbye and left them to talk and think about it. A war wouldn't help him any, but it would give him something to focus on. He was feeling the need to run off again and it was bothering him this time. Maybe a new cause would help him for a bit longer, at least until the end of the playing season. He got on his broom and went to fly home.
 

***
 

Xander angrily stomped around his room, muttering to himself. He heard a tapping on the window and looked over, going over to answer it. "Hey, Fawkes," he said, giving her a hug. "Is my Murphy still pissed at me?"
 

She cheeped happily and nuzzled him, showing him a picture of her human. They were happily resting at his house for a few days before Murphy came back.
 

"Good," Xander said, lightening up a bit. "At least one thing's going right today." He let her go and sat down, waving her to the back of the couch if she wanted. "You can rest if you want. I'm pissed at McGonagall." He told her about it, everything that had happened, even Iggy's stunt. It made him feel better to complain to someone else and she listened very well. She cooed at him when he was done, trying to keep him calm and not scratching. He had caught himself that time. She decided to give him nuzzles and go home, taking the complaints with her. He hadn't asked, but this was her human's job. She didn't know why that silly woman was doing it for him, but he should be back there. He gave her another of the human-style hugs and let her out the window, watching as she flew off because she looked magnificent in the sunset.
 

Xander sighed and went back to his chair. He couldn't take a bath to calm down and he couldn't concentrate enough to do anything else. He wished his tv were still here. That'd give him something to do and it would have helped him calm down. He sighed and grabbed his cane, newly given to him at his last checkup, and some money. Maybe a night in the Leaky Cauldron would improve his temperament. He ran into McGonagall in the hallway and walked past her without acknowledging her. He was still pissed and would end up doing something very mean to her.
 

She glared at his back. How dare he! His son hadn't been that injured and it was normal student pranks. Ron Weasley had gone through the same thing at Draco Malfoy's hands. She saw Iggy at the table and walked over to him. "I thought I made it clear you were not to come down."
 

"You're sending food up?" he asked snidely. Her glare got hotter. "I do have the right to eat, thank you, Headmistress. It helps me heal from the internal bruising I got from being shoved off a staircase and falling two flights last week. Not to mention the formation of scar tissue on my arm from where I was attacked by that idiot sitting happily with his friends. If you don't like my eating, then take it up with my grandmother since she taught me how to." He stuffed his mouth full.
 

The Head Girl, who really didn't like him, stood up. "Is there a problem?"
 

Iggy shook his head. "I got the asshole who's been attacking me back and she's pissed because I put him in a skirt and panties," he said loudly. More than loud enough for the boy's friends to hear since they had quieted down when McGonagall had come over to yell at him. Iggy stood up. "For that matter, I'm supposedly grounded to the house but I thought it best that I come down here for meals since I'm not supposed to leave school grounds on my own." He looked at the Headmistress again. "Like I said, unless you're sending food up there, you can't deny me the right to eat." He glanced at the Head Girl, who wasn't looking too thrilled. "But right now I'd rather not share the same building with the torturing asshole. Hopefully he won't turn evil before someone can stop him."
 

McGonagall slapped him. "You will apologize, young man. Or you will be expelled."
 

Ron walked down and stared down the woman he had looked up to when he had been a student. "You expel him for sticking up for himself, you lose me, Harris, Malfoy, and every one of us," he hissed. "Iggy?" He touched the red mark. "Go get some ice for it."
 

"You will return to your house," she ordered.
 

"Go," Ron said, giving him a faint smile. He rounded on his boss. "Do you really think we should be doing this in front of the students?" he sneered. "Because I'm sure some parents will *love* to hear about how you've hurt him." He pointed at the hallway. "Shall we?" He followed her out and slammed the doors. "I don't know what the bloody hell your problem is," he started.
 

"Shut up, Weasley," she told him. "There is nothing going on that concerns you in this matter."
 

"Bet me. That's my nephew. The same as the others are my nephews and niece. This concerns me more than it does you." He stepped closer. "I really don't know what's up with you, McGonagall. The old you, the one who was here when I attended under you, wouldn't have even yelled at Iggy for what happened today. Now, I don't know you and I'm going to call for a no-confidence vote. Even Snape would be better than you right now and he's still an evil bastard." He crossed his arms, noticing her shocked and vacant look. So he did something that would bother him later. He summoned Snape, calling out with his wand to pull the older man to them. As soon as Snape regained his feet from his undignified landing, Ron pointed at McGonagall. "She just slapped Iggy for reminding her he had a right to eat," he told him. "Look into her eyes. She's not there."
 

Snape moved Ron out of the way, nodding slowly. "I can see spells have been cast on her." He looked at him. "I've heard what Ignatius did."
 

"So did I and I thought it bloody brilliant," Ron told him. "She's suspended him and told him he couldn't come down for meals. Do you think that's fair?"
 

"Are we holding the vote in the hallway?" Black said as he walked out. He looked at McGonagall. "Impreious?"
 

"Probably," Snape agreed with a grimace. He hated to be in agreement with Black on anything. "I will have her examined by Madam Pomfrey." He looked at Weasley. "Perhaps you should send some food up to your nephew before he does something more damaging."
 

"Short of him turning into a cannibal, none of us would care," Ron said with a shrug. "I doubt he's up there now."
 

McGonagall snapped out of whatever had held her. "This is no concern of either of you," she said hotly.
 

"You're going to the infirmary," Snape told her. "Go now or I will relieve you of your duties until you have been proven to be well enough to continue." She stomped off. Snape looked at Weasley. "Where's Harris?"
 

"Out," Black told him. "I saw him stomp by the door a while ago."
 

"Probably drinking with Hagrid then," Ron said darkly. Something was going on and he didn't like it. "If this isn't stopped, we're going to leave. Xander will destroy her over his son and I'll gladly help. That boy has got to go."
 

"He hasn't been expelled?" Snape asked. Ron shook his head. "How unusual. McGonagall was saying the other day that she was going to expel him if one more incident happened."
 

"Was that before the kid used the liquid fire or before the human-eating teeth?" Black asked.
 

"Touche," Snape told him. "I will deal with this matter."
 

"See that you do, before the family has to," Ron told him.
 

Black nudged him. "You sound like one of Xander's movies."
 

"The muggle mafia has a lot of good points to me at the moment," Ron admitted. "I'm going to find the others before they rip into her. You'll tell me what's about to happen?" he asked Snape.
 

"If I can," Snape agreed. This wasn't fair and it wasn't right. Ignatius was an impertinent child, and quiet impatient, but he didn't deserve to be attacked this way. He walked up to the infirmary and talked quietly with Madam Pomfrey. She had found the curse and there was someone coming to deal with it now. He nodded that he would be taking charge for a bit. This was dreadful. All they needed was Dumbledore to come back and find this going on.
 

***
 

Iggy stormed into his grandparent's back door and slammed it, then turned around to kick it. "I'm going to kill her!" he shouted as he kicked. He felt strong arms grabbing him and fought against them. "No, let me alone!" He punched the door for good measure and cracked the sill. He felt gentler arms come around him and turned, expecting it to be his grandmother, but it was his aunt. "I want to go somewhere else," he told her, starting to cry.
 

She shushed him and got them both sitting down, him on her lap.
 

"What happened?" Arthur asked from his seat. His wife sat back down beside him. "More problems from that bully?"
 

Iggy nodded. "And then I fought back and now I'm suspended." He wiped his face off and looked at his grandparents. They could fix anything.
 

Ginny noticed the mark and tipped his face up to look at it in the light. "Mum, can I have an ice pack please?" she asked. Molly got up and filled a towel with ice, handing it over. "Tell us what happened this time, Iggy, and we'll talk about it."
 

He nodded, resting his head against her shoulder, telling them about it. Halfway through his Uncle Percy showed up and gave him a hug without question.
 

***
 

Snape looked up as his door was knocked on, flicking his wand to open it. "Enter," he called.
 

Draco walked in and sat down. "You requested to see me?"
 

"I wanted to talk to you since you were the least emotional of your family," Snape said with a grimace.
 

Draco held up a hand. "I'm not the one you want then. I found out tonight that my daughter had been targeted too. Apparently she reacted sooner, and in front of a lot of students, so he's pushed her back to consider her challenge at a later date. I want that boy expelled."
 

Snape nodded. "I know. Does the Board of Regents agree?"
 

"Inghram has a lot of influence, but I've just come from dropping off the file of complaints." He smiled. "Don't ask how I got them, you won't like it."
 

Snape shrugged. "I don't care how you got them. How many were there?"
 

"Sixteen faculty and forty-two student complaints, ranging from a complaint that he was bothering them to the more serious ones from Ignatius." He leaned forward. "Had I know that the teeth were cursed to kill him, I might have acted sooner."
 

Snape looked upset, truly upset. "I had no idea."
 

"Neither did we. It was an addendum written by Flitwick." He leaned back. "They're voting now. I'm expecting an owl or a floo message."
 

"Good." Snape sighed. "Ignatius left school property."
 

"He's probably at his grandparent's getting some support and love. She did strike him?" Snape nodded. "Then I'm surprised the building's still standing. George and Fred adore that little boy and would gladly kill any of us over him. Xander will comfort his son while they work on it." He smiled. "I think I'd like to see that."
 

"We found McGonagall under a compulsion," Snape said quietly.
 

"Wonderful, but she's strong willed enough to break those," Draco pointed out. "She never would have kept it on her for even a day before."
 

"Which is why I'm going to put a motion before the board to bring back Dumbledore," Snape told him. Draco's mouth fell open. "I'm not in any position to take over the school at this time. There's no one to cover for my classes and I can't do both." He patted the pile of forms in front of him. "The school takes a great deal of attention to run it. Not to mention the spells that are used to keep the Headmaster informed." He coughed. "I've written to Dumbledore."
 

"Let me floo the Board," Draco said, but he looked worried. "Won't that cause a problem?"
 

"Not really. McGonagall has been ordered on vacation for her health. Madam Pomfrey ordered it and sent her to St. Mungo's to be treated for any lasting problems from the compulsion."
 

"All right then." Draco got up and moved to the fireplace, tossing some floo powder into it. "Board of Regent's meeting." The face of the secretary appeared in the fire. "I'm at Hogwarts and something extraordinary has happened. Transfer me to the main fire please." The secretary nodded and disappeared, then a picture of the board room appeared. "As I just announced, I'm at the school." He got comfortable on the floor. "There has been an occurrence that needs to be brought before you." He straightened up at the glare from Inghram. "Headmistress McGonagall has just been sent to St. Mungos for treatment of an illness. They expect she'll need a lot of time off."
 

"Get on with it," Inghram told him. "We're too busy to be bothered by this. Severus," he said in greeting. "What does this have to do with us?"
 

"McGonagall won't be back before the end of the year," Snape told him. "I've asked Dumbledore to come back as I'm not prepared at this time to take over for her." A few of the board members started to say something but Snape held up a hand. "I cannot teach all my classes and run the school in a manner that befits it. There is not that much time in a single day. Since there's no hope of finding someone to take over my teaching position, I have to think of what's best for the students. Sending them into the world without any knowledge is the worse evil in my book."
 

"Have you owled him?" Inghram asked. Snape nodded. "When is he expected?"
 

"He's in the South of France," Draco told them. "Arthur Weasley got a postcard the other day from him," he admitted with a faint smile. "This supercedes the problem of a member of this board's son so I'm bringing it before you."
 

Inghram sighed. "Fine, bring back the old coot. I'm sure he can muddle along as he did for many years." A few of the board members looked shocked. "What? The school deteriorated under Dumbledore's residency as Headmaster. Fighting in the school? Dementors? Does any of that sound familiar?"
 

Draco nodded. "Yes, because it was necessary. And Dumbledore fought against the dementors. Maybe your memory is going, Inghram. He fought long and hard to keep them out of Hogwarts." The old man's face turned red. "Now, are there any objections?" No one said anything. "Any need for a vote?"
 

"No need," the secretary said. "We are in agreement. Until Minerva McGonagall is ready to return to her post, Albus Dumbledore may come back if he agrees." He banged a small gavel on the table. "As for the matter you brought before us before, why hasn't McGonagall done anything about this?"
 

Snape cleared his throat. "We don't want this in the official records." Everyone nodded. "We found a compulsion earlier tonight, laid by one of you, about this matter. Young Mr. Harris-Weasley has sent himself home for a few hours to get medical attention for his face where she hit him earlier, which is when we learned of this."
 

"She struck him?" Inghram asked, but he didn't look in the least bit upset.
 

Draco glared at him. "Yes, and wasn't she *your* choice to be Head of this school?" That got the old man frowning. "Trust me, it is being fixed." He looked at the other members. "Do you have a ruling yet?"
 

"We haven't taken a vote," the secretary told him. "But none of us want this student to continue."
 

"Which student?" Snape asked coolly. "The one doing the horrible things or his victims?"
 

"I think the boy doing these things should be removed," the Secretary said with a wary glance across the table at the outraged father. "What of Harris-Weasley? Is he all right?"
 

"As of right now, the burns were healed and the teeth trying to kill him were stopped," Draco told him. "As for how much longer the boy can take this and only do minor things in retaliation? Probably not much longer."
 

"We've also had some teachers threaten to quit," Snape put in. "If that boy stays, we're losing Weasley, Harris, Black, Lupin, and Pomfrey. They've all come to me since the incident earlier and told me they would quit. Pomfrey because she refuses to have to deal with such serious injuries ever again." He shrugged at the look Inghram was giving him. "There is no way we can replace them this late in the year."
 

"So the expedient option is to remove the boy," the Secretary suggested. Snape and Draco both nodded. "Well, then," he sighed. "I call for a vote. Should we expel this boy?" All but one person raised their hands.
 

"You'll pay for this," Inghram shouted as he hopped to his feet. "You will not dishonor my family this way."
 

"It's your son who's doing that," the Secretary pointed out. "He's the one following in the Dark Lord's footsteps." Inghram's face turned scary, making him flinch. "If you can't abide by the laws of this board, then leave," he ordered. Inghram stormed out. "Mr. Malfoy, do be careful tonight," he said quietly. "He was threatening to have you voted off the Board."
 

Draco nodded. "I know. I made it quite plain that this was my family against his this time and I wasn't going to back down. He hates me, you know that." He stood up. "I put myself at the board's disposal but I'd better go find Dumbledore and Harris before something worse happens."
 

"Tell Ignatius that he isn't suspended anymore," Snape said, breaking the floo connection as he stood up. "Send him back here and have him come to my office so we can discuss the matter of his prank earlier."
 

"Surely you're not going to punish him too."
 

"No," Snape said with a smile. "He used something that caused a potion I was working on to tip over. I would like to find out what it was."
 

Draco nodded and walked away, going out beyond the boundaries so he could apparate. He landed in the living room at the Burrow. "Hello?" he called. Molly and Arthur waved from the dining room. So he walked in there, stopping to give Ginny a kiss on the cheek. "It's been settled. The boy's kicked out."
 

"Surely they can't do that to Iggy without an appeal," Molly said hotly, standing up.
 

"Not him," Draco told her with a scowl. "The Inghram boy. Sit down before you fall over." He rolled his eyes at Arthur's hot look. "Where is he? Snape would like to talk to him. Apparently he tipped over a cauldron earlier."
 

"He's in bed," Ginny told him, giving him a smile. "So, what else happened? Is McGonagall really all right?"
 

Ron appeared, scowling at Draco. "What happened?"
 

"McGonagall was under a compulsion. And this can't get out," he told Molly, who liked to gossip sometimes. She glared at him again and he shrugged. "She's being treated for it and the Board is allowing Dumbledore to come back for the rest of this year."
 

"All right," Ron said happily. "Where is he?"
 

"The south of France," his father told him. "We have a floo address if we wanted to send news on of the children's progress." He patted his wife's hand. "Iggy will be fine."
 

"Yes, he will," Draco agreed. "He's out from under punishment and his tormentor is being expelled. His father's not happy about the matter, but I warned him." He sat down beside the mother of his children. "Iggy really does have to go back tonight."
 

"I'll bring him back," Ron told him. "Go tell Dumbledore the good news."
 

"He's enjoying being retired," Arthur told him. "It might not be welcome news."
 

"No, it might not," Draco said as he stood up. "But it is necessary news." He looked at Ron. "When did you threaten to quit?"
 

"Before they found the spell," Ron told him. "Black agreed and offered as soon as Snape reappeared downstairs. Lupin offered not an hour later, but for a few reasons," he finished with a knowing look. Draco nodded. "Xander's at the Leaky Cauldron. I called over there from the staffroom and told Tom to keep him there."
 

"Then I'll go there first," Draco told him, going for the fireplace. "I'll be back tomorrow. Sorry to interrupt your night with this drama." He disappeared, heading for the pub.
 

Ron sat down next to Ginny and pulled over some dinner. "Sorry, but mine got cut short."
 

"Who has the twins?" Ginny asked him.
 

"Lupin. Said he wanted to know what having children was like." He grinned. "I told him but he didn't believe me."
 

Molly snorted. "No one does until they have one or two of their own." She gave her son a fond smile. "Do finish mine if you're inclined," she offered, pushing her plate over.
 

Ron shook his head. "Just need a sandwich." Which he created.
 

***
 

Draco landed inside the Leaky Cauldron and nodded at Xander, motioning for a butterbeer. He sat down next to his 'father' and smiled at him. "It's been fixed. Iggy's not in trouble." Xander nodded, but he didn't look happy. "Are you soused?" he asked in shock. He'd never seen Xander drunk before. Xander nodded again. "Well, remember this when you wake up. It's all been settled. I'm off for the rest of the solution in a few." He paid for his and Xander's round, then shook his head where Xander couldn't see. Tom smiled and waved it off. "I'm off to the South of France. You go back to the school and go lie down. It'll look better in the morning." He chugged his beer and went back to his traveling.
 

Tom helped Xander to his feet and over to the fireplace, sending him home.
 

***
 

In Gryffindor tower, the Head Girl was sneering down at Simone in her room. "How does it feel to have the shame of an expelled student in your family," she taunted.
 

Simone had had enough. It'd been a good ten minutes of this and she was tired of it. She stood up, coming up to the older girl's shoulder, and shoved her. "Iggy's not suspended. Not any longer. And he wasn't expelled." She held up her listening portal, spelled to listen in on the Headmaster's office. "As a matter of fact, Dumbledore's on his way back." She looked the girl over. "I don't know *how* you got into a position of power, but you suck at it. Not only do you suck at it, apparently you suck at most things from what I hear." The Head Girl looked shocked. "Yay. Get over it. We have the right, and the responsibility, to stick up against shit like that happening. Supposedly it's part of the Gryffindor code. Didn't you know that?" She turned as the door opened and the female Prefect walked in. "Would you please remove the annoyance before I go off on her some more?" she asked pleasantly. "I'm tired of her diatribe against my cousin."
 

The Prefect smiled at her. She wasn't stupid, the Head Girl was over her and the Head Boy was sleeping with her. "Have you heard any news?"
 

Simone held up her portal. "Iggy's not suspended, he's on his way back from our grandparents. Dumbledore's coming back because McGonagall's in bad shape. She's on vacation for her health according to what I heard." She smiled as the Head Boy walked in too. "Going to bother me too?"
 

"No, I just heard what you said. Is your cousin coming back to pack?"
 

"He's not suspended and he's not expelled. They expelled Inghram, finally."
 

The Head Boy smiled, that was good news. He saw the look on the Head Girl's face and smiled brighter. So she liked the little Dark Lord in the making? Well, maybe she shouldn't have slept around on him. "Are you supposed to have that?" he asked Simone, taking the portal to listen to it. "Oh, my," he said, handing it back with a blush. "Professor Snape seems to be quite upset."
 

She listened, then laughed. "Uncle Xander's just come back from London and yelled at him. He's headed down to his room." She looked at the Head Girl. "Professor Weasley will be back in a few with Iggy. I suggest you talk to him if you don't like my attitude or my being here." The Head Girl shoved her and Simone stood back up, then punched her in the stomach, making her bend over, which gave her a perfect shot for her chin, but the Prefect pulled her off. "I have the right to get her back for that," Simone yelled.
 

"What's going on here?" another Prefect yelled as he came into the room. "Oh, do you have it well in hand?"
 

"Just fine," the Head Boy told him. He looked at his soon-to-be-former girlfriend. "Don't we?" She nodded, glaring ice at Simone. "Then I suggest you go back to your room. I believe I saw your owl sitting in there when I was looking for you. Along with your *cousin* Nunzio." She blanched. "I think we should have a meeting before breakfast about this matter, don't you?" She stomped off. The Head Boy looked at the two Prefects. "She's not in charge, I am. Her and her toy named Nunzio are not in charge, may not take off house points, and I'm going to do my best to have her removed from the position by Professor Weasley when he gets here." He looked at Simone and blatantly pocketed the portal. "No more spying," he told her with a smile. "And you're right, you had the right to react. That's as far as you go though. If she starts more, you let me know. Unlike Hedre, I will act on complaints like you and Iggy have leveled against her." She nodded, smiling at him. "Thank you. And you've got a night of grounding to the tower. Spend it with your cousin and brother." He led the two Prefects out, talking to them on the way down to the common area. He smiled as Professor Weasley walked in eating a sandwich. "Sir, I have your twins in my room since Professor Lupin decided to turn in early. They're presently babbling at my cat." He pulled his leader to the side. "Iggy, call for your cousin to come down. She already knows."
 

Iggy walked to the bottom of the stairs. "Simone?" She came running down and launched herself into his arms, giving him a hug. "You heard?"
 

"I changed your spying portal to one in Snape's office," she said proudly. The others sitting around looked at them. "Inghram was expelled," she said happily. A loud cheer went up. "And Iggy's not even grounded!" A few of the kids laughed. "But I am," she told him. "For tonight." She got off him and shrugged. "It's only for tonight."
 

He nodded, giving her a hug. "That's okay. You can come sit with me."
 

"Down here only," the Head Boy told him.
 

"My roommates don't mind," Iggy told him. "We've been working on something in there for the last few months."
 

"Still, I will enforce that rule. No more working on that spell up there. Come down here where the rest of us can butt in and help too," he told him, still smiling.
 

Ron walked away from him, patting Simone on the head as he walked up to the Head Girl's room and tapped once before walking in. He slammed the door when she screamed and started to yell at her. There was no way this was going on in his house.
 

***
 

Draco came out of the inn's fireplace and looked around. Soft, ambient lighting. Gentle patterns on the wall, ones that didn't distract you from the view through the bay windows across from him. Spectacular view, looked down across a beach and into the ocean. He looked around but no one was there. He decided to ask at the front desk, surely Dumbledore had left a message so he could be found. The desk clerk suggested a small party down the road and Draco decided to try there. He could always come back.
 

The small party down the road ended up being a group of college students rhumbaing around a pool, and one old man enjoying the hell out of his second childhood. He smiled. It was inspiring to know that even guys that old watched breasts in tiny bikini tops bouncing. Too bad he had to ruin this party. He slid through the crowd, taking the drink that was forced onto him. He made it to Dumbledore's side and ended up dancing with him somehow. "We need you back at the school," he shouted over the salsa music.
 

Dumbledore nodded. "I got the message. I'll be back in two days." He pulled Draco out of the crowd as the music stopped, leading him to a private bench in a dark corner. "Was it really that bad?"
 

"McGonagall ended up under a compulsion spell, leaving the bloody annoying child who's torturing students in and blaming the victims." Dumbledore nodded. "His favorite target is Iggy."
 

Dumbledore hissed. "And with Xander so recently out of the hospital too."
 

"Yeah, and he's drunk tonight." The older man nodded, he could understand that. "Snape actually announced that he couldn't handle the school and Xander was threatening to level it earlier." He coughed. "That doesn't even count the war that's started between myself and Inghram."
 

"He's still around?" Dumbledore said with a fond look at the young woman walking past the opening to their enclosed area. "Wonderful."
 

"Not wonderful. It's his son that's doing the torturing." Dumbledore looked at him and Draco nodded. "It's his son, the little idiot, who's doing the torturing of Iggy. Of course, Iggy retaliated by hanging him up like a side of beef, putting him in a skirt and panties, and fully intending to leave him there. McGonagall found out somehow and came running to stop it, and suspended Iggy for standing up for himself. Earlier it got physical, she slapped him for reminding her he had the right to eat. In front of the other students."
 

"Oh, dear." He finished his drink, putting the umbrella behind his ear. "Do we know what's really wrong with her?"
 

"All I was told was a compulsion spell and it's from Inghram personally. Now he's coming after my family from what I can tell."
 

"Be careful, my boy. I'll be back in two days. Tell Severus to hold the fort until then and all will be well." He stood up. "I'd best go back to my dance partner. She gets quite jealous when I run off with others, especially a good looking man like yourself." He winked and walked away, heading back to the bouncing breasts in the tiny bikini top.
 

Draco shook his head, but before he could get up, two giggling school girls, who couldn't have graduated their seventh years yet, pounced on him. They dragged him into the house and up the stairs, not that he was protesting too hard.
 

***
 

Later that night, Iggy flipped over for the hundredth time and sighed. He couldn't get to sleep. He kept seeing horrible things in his nightmares. He slid out of bed and padded across the room, going into the bathroom. This sucked. He couldn't sleep and his source of comfort was somewhere he couldn't get to. He would get crucified if he went to Simone tonight. He splashed his face with water and called a spellbook to him. He might as well do something if he couldn't sleep. Someone knocked on the bathroom and he groaned, getting up to let them in. "I'm going downstairs," he told himself as he walked out of his room. He found one of the Prefects sitting down there working on homework. "Can't sleep either?" he asked as he flopped down onto a worn but comfortable couch.
 

"Paper due tomorrow." She looked at him. "What's wrong?"
 

"Nightmares. Images that I can't stop seeing." He looked at the girls' staircase. "If I were at home, I'd crawl in with my dads or go find Simone if I were at Grandma's."
 

"You can crawl in with Denver," she offered, closing the book she was using.
 

He shook his head. "We're already being picked on and he sucks in his sleep. Last time we shared a bed he gave me a giant hickey." He shook his head when he saw the over-image. That wasn't right and it wasn't real, it was someone's dreams, he had to keep telling himself that. "You might want to watch out. Someone wants you dead," he told her, putting down his book. He walked up to his cousin's room and tapped gently, just in case someone was awake. He walked in at the grunt, whispering to the girl who was awake that he needed a hug from Simone. She nodded so he snuck into his cousin's bed, pulling the curtains closed around them. As soon as he pulled her close, she snuggled. This was the beauty she had as a comfort snuggle. Besides blocking out horrible images from getting to you. Her natural shields were too strong to get through. He settled in with his head next to hers.
 

The awake girl got up and headed downstairs, telling the Prefect that he was up there to get a hug and that she would wake them up. The Prefect nodded, she wouldn't turn him in either. They all knew Iggy knew things, the same as Andrea did. She wondered who meant her harm.
 

Unfortunately, in the morning, the girl who was supposed to wake them up was running a bit late so it was Ron who found them. He opened the curtains and smiled down at the pair. "Guys," he said. "I can't allow this." He sat down on the foot of the bed, looking at them. "I know you needed comfort, Iggy, but you're not allowed on the girls' side."
 

"I was having nightmares," Iggy told him pitifully. "I kept seeing Uncle Draco blowing up and other bad stuff."
 

Ron patted him on the ankle. "I understand, I really do, but you still can't come over here. You can come to my room and use my couch, or the twins, but you can't come to Simone because the other girls won't want you in here when they're sleeping, changing, or naked." Iggy nodded so Ron stood up. "I'm not doing this to be unfair, guys, but I can't allow this to go on. I'm also not going to take house points or give detentions since I know how much this stuff bothers you." He winked at Simone. "Quite a punch from you I hear," he told her.
 

"She hit me first," Simone reminded him. She looked at her cousin. "Next time, we'll do this downstairs on the big couch. That way we don't get in trouble." Iggy nodded and put his head back down onto her shoulder.
 

"You've got to get up," Ron reminded him. Iggy grunted.
 

"Uncle Ron, he's warm," she told him, pushing him away from her shoulder. She put her lips against his forehead then nodded. "Very warm." She crawled over top of Iggy and stood up. "Go put on some clothes and we're going up to the infirmary. You need more help than I've got."
 

"Can't, got potions today," Iggy told them with a whine.
 

"Yay, you're sick. I want you in bed," Ron told him, reaching down to touch the boy too. Shit, he was warm. "Come on, up and at 'em. Simone, go get dressed and head for breakfast. I'll take him up to the infirmary." She nodded and headed into the bathroom. "You've got twenty minutes before class," he called after her. He pulled Iggy up to his feet and walked him back to his room, putting a shirt over the boy's pajama bottoms. Then he helped him down the stairs, past the great hall, and up the long marble staircase to the infirmary. "He's running a fever," he told the nurse when she sighed. "He had nightmares all night so I found him with his cousin."
 

"Denver's over there," she said, pointing at a curtained off area. "He's running a fever too."
 

"Simone's just fine," Ron told her. "I don't know what this is." He handed over his beloved nephew and shrugged. "If you find something tell me. Xander's got a hangover so I'm going to wake him up." The nurse laughed and pulled a small vial out of her pocket. "You heard huh?" he asked.
 

"He was snarling most of the night," Madam Pomfrey told him. "Wandering the halls for part of it." She walked Iggy over to a bed and tucked him in next to his cousin. "I'll be back in a moment with some juice," she told them both.
 

Ron headed down to Xander's room, tapping gently on the portrait. When no one answered he said the password and walked inside. Xander was passed out in his chair. "Oh, brother-in-law," he said loudly. Xander opened an eye and glared at him. "Here, take this. Iggy and Denver both woke up with fevers and we've got a house problem of immense proportions." He watched as Xander slugged the vial and went back to glaring at him. "Your son's got a fever and we need to talk about the Head Girl."
 

"What did Hedre do this time?" Xander groaned. He stood up and grabbed his cane, heading into the bathroom. "I'm putting on the waterproof bandages so you can still talk," he announced after the toilet flushed.
 

"Hedre decided to pick on Simone last night. They nearly went at it with their fists," Ron told him, leaning next to the bathroom door.
 

"And?"
 

"And I caught her with a boy in her room."
 

"Wonderful. And?
 

"And the Head Boy, Gregory, wants her head, mate. She's screwing at least two other people and him until last night."
 

"I waned him that she was a floosy," Xander pointed out. The shower came on. "Are we stripping her of her power?" he asked. "Be right out."
 

Ron sat on the bed, checking his nails. He smiled when he noticed a house elf at the door, pointing it to put the tray onto a nearby table. "Thank you." The house elf smiled and hurried away. He snatched one of the rolls and nibbled on it while Xander showered. He'd even be nice and spread on the gel this morning. Xander came out of the bathroom rubbing the water out of his hair. "Want me to put on the gel?" he asked.
 

Xander nodded and pulled out some underwear to put on, then sat on the bed so his brother-in-law could help him with this. "They had a fever?"
 

"Yeah, both of them. Simone was fine when I found Iggy in her bed." Xander quirked up an eyebrow. "Iggy was having nightmares according to one of the Prefects. He went up around three am." Xander watched as Ron covered the remaining burns with bandages, then got up to put on the rest of his outfit. "Plus, Hedre decided to pick on Simone last night. Shoved her, Simone hit her back. Gregory grounded her to the tower last night but she's free now."
 

"I'll have a talk with them after I check on the kids. Any news on Melvin?"
 

"Not yet. He's usually late down to breakfast so I didn't see him before I went looking for Iggy."
 

Xander pulled on an outer robe and shrugged it into place. "I don't know what's going on. I had some nightmares last night too, but I thought it was the alcohol."
 

"So you're admitting that you were drunk, wandering the halls, and shouting at things?"
 

"Peeves and I got into it last night," Xander said with a grimace. "He tried to take my cane out from under me." He picked up his cane again. He could now walk about ten steps without it, which was incredible considering he was still burned. "Give me two of those and I'll eat them on the way to the infirmary."
 

Ron handed over two of the rolls and ate the last one himself, following Xander upstairs. They found Draco standing over Melvin, who was throwing up. "That's nasty," Ron said.
 

"Hi...." Melvin bent back over his bowl.
 

"I think it's something like the flu," Madam Pomfrey told them. She pushed Xander onto a bed. "Sit."
 

"I put on the gel and they're covered," Xander told her as she walked away. "They don't have to be checked for another three days."
 

"Good, sit anyway."
 

Xander looked over at his son. "Flu?"
 

Iggy shook his head. "My stomach's not upset. No headache. Just swimming head feelings." He pulled a pillow down over his face.
 

"I've got an upset stomach," Denver offered. His father came over and gave him a hug, which made his uncles Xander and Ron smile. "Daddy, can you make it better?"
 

"You know I'll do whatever I have to do to make it all better," Draco reminded him with a smile. "The flu isn't something I can fix."
 

"Are we sure it's the flu?" Xander asked. "Iggy always gets a headache and stomachache with the flu."
 

"Madam Pomfrey said she thought it was," Draco said as he walked back over to them.
 

"But why not Simone? She's gotten it every time they've gotten it, and usually gets it first," Ron pointed out.
 

"I know," Draco told him, looking over the boys. "And no one else in their houses either."
 

"You're paranoid," Xander told him.
 

"Better paranoid than dead," Iggy said, pulling the pillow off his head. He looked over his uncle Draco but none of those flashes overlaid his image. "Uncle Draco, do me a favor and stay with Grandma for the next few days."
 

"Why?" Xander asked, turning to look at his son. Iggy looked horrible. He was pale, sweaty, and looked like he wanted to puke. "Want a bowl?"
 

"Do you?" Iggy asked, grinning at him. "Trust me, I have one if I need one." He pointed beside the bed. "And the reason is because all night all I saw were visions of his house blowing up."
 

Draco winced. "Iggy, how often do you get these things?"
 

"Paranoid visions? Sometimes, not real often. Ones that come true? I think I'm at fifty percent."
 

"Daddy, please stay with grandma," Denver begged.
 

"Yeah," Melvin agreed. "I saw them too." He tossed his pillow at Iggy. "I'm still connected to you somehow."
 

"Then you forgot to cancel the spell," Iggy told him. "We'll do it later." He rolled onto his side and threw up.
 

"I still say that's nasty," Ron said, turning his back on his nephew. Madam Pomfrey came walking back in. "He's sick now too."
 

"I know. I heard." She looked at the clock then at him. "Don't you have class?"
 

"There's a gryphon here to talk to Iggy so none of us will have classes until after it's done talking to the students. Hagrid arranged for it to give a long lecture on gryphon-kind whenever it showed up," Xander said, looking out a window. "Iggy, want to get up and walk out?"
 

"Can I be carried?" he asked weakly.
 

"Sure." Ron slid off the bed and came over to pick up his nephew. "Let's go talk to the gryphons." He followed Xander out the door and down to the entryway, letting Xander clear the path for him since there were rocks strewn all over it. "Did you make something explode?" he joked when he stepped on a sharp shard.
 

"You just woke me up," Xander reminded him. He stopped when he saw the gryphon staring down at him. "What?" he asked. "I'm getting better." He was pushed out of the way and his son was examined at beak-length. "Is he really sick or is this magical?" he asked.
 

"It's magical," Bill the gryphon, newly minted elder of the Stonehenge main colony announced. "Can you get the potion's master?"
 

"He's in the staffroom," Ron said, looking around for somewhere to put Iggy. The boy only had slippers on.
 

"Let me have him," Xander said, taking his son.
 

"Here, let me," Hagrid offered, holding out his arms.
 

"I got it, I'm not moving but it's okay." Xander hobbled his ten steps and leaned against a fence, holding his son tightly. "We're okay," he told Hagrid with a smile. "I'm an independent pain in the butt. Just ask George. Speaking of George. Iggy, can you call your dad?"
 

"Daddy!" Iggy yelled. The gryphon laughed. "What? It usually works." He smiled. "Can I come train with you guys this summer? Dad said he was going to beg."
 

"I see no reason why you shouldn't," Bill told him, leaning closer again. "Yes, quite a spell." He looked over at the sound of running footsteps, getting out of their helpler's way. "Malfoy," he said with a smile. "How is your son?"
 

"Just as sick. This is magical?" He glared at Xander, who shrugged as best he could.
 

"It is, but it is not our sort of magic." He looked over as the sound of more running feet grew louder. "My, very interesting," he said as Snape appeared, his robes flapping behind him. "We will consult on this matter. Give me the young one," he demanded, holding out a wing.
 

"I can walk," Iggy told him. "And no fussing, dad." He slowly walked after the gryphon, allowing Professor Snape to hold him up at one point. They talked and Iggy told them everything that had been happening as he knew it. Including his visions, the fact that Melvin was still locked into his mind, and that Draco was having trouble with this one kid's parents. It wasn't too long before the two powerful wizards had a solution and Iggy was carted back off to the infirmary with Snape going to make him something. He gratefully settled into the bed assigned to him and closed his eyes. He hadn't realized how long of a walk it was from the entryway up here.
 

***
 

Xander grabbed Bill by the tail feathers, making the gryphon look at him. "Want to include me in this problem?" he asked.
 

"It depends, will you go and destroy someone?" Bill asked back, grinning at him, very strange with a beak.
 

"I don't know yet," Xander said honestly. "I think it's George's turn."
 

Bill laughed. "Good, excellent even." He turned and nuzzled Xander hard, enfolding him in his wings. "I will be here for a few days, young one. We will talk after I fix this matter and finish my discussions with these students." Xander nodded and backed away. "Why do you use that thing?" he asked, pointing a wing tip at Xander's cane.
 

"Because I somehow shattered my kneecap and had to have it replaced, plus I still have burns," Xander told him.
 

"The healing potions have not helped?"
 

"They've helped a lot, but I've still got ten percent of the burns I had originally and my kneecap was just recently replaced." He held up the cane. "It's really nice. Slows me down a lot, but pretty nice." Bill nodded. "If the healing potions leave me on this thing, then so be it," he said quietly. "My mate wants me to slow down anyway."
 

"And what do you want?" Bill asked him.
 

"A quiet life?" Xander suggested. "No more evil bad guys that I have to fight and protect my family against? Maybe even a vacation sometime in the next few months?" A few of the students laughed. "Yeah, laugh now but we didn't get to go to Disney like we had planned. Stuff came up and we had to postpone it."
 

"You don't have any vacation days left," Snape reminded him as he walked out with a steaming cup of something. "Your next dose of healing potion." He watched as Xander drank it, but nothing seemed to happen.
 

"He's absorbed all he can," the gryphon said sadly. "He'll have to heal on his own."
 

Xander stepped closer. "Speaking of absorbing. Can you please talk to Iggy about teleporting around at his age?" he asked quietly. Bill looked startled, but nodded. "Thank you. Nothing I've said has worked yet." He let Snape sit him down and push up his pants leg. "The tape's on the back," he said before the knife the potion's professor was holding could cut into the bandages. Snape kindly unwrapped the lesser burns to look them over. "Any change?"
 

"Not much," Snape said, standing back up after rewrapping the limb. "If we waited for ten days to two weeks, would he be able to absorb more?"
 

"Probably not," Bill told him. "That was our most powerful spell and I doubt it will work on him for this sort of injury ever again." He nudged Xander gently. "Do you fell well enough to help me with my discussion?"
 

"Sure," Xander said happily. "I like teaching." He forced himself to stand up and move down the fence, joining Hagrid on his spread-out blanket, and accepting a lapful of really big puppies. "So, where were you in the tale?" he asked.
 

"We were just learning about the flood, Professor Harris," one of the Hufflepuffs in his fourth year class told him. "Can you do anything with it?"
 

"Very little," he told her. "Iggy can do more than I can, but I'm guessing it's because he's been doing it from birth."
 

"Yes, he mentioned some things," Bill said dryly. "Thought trains. Visions. Teleporting."
 

"And let's not forget the all time favorite, using it to call out for mischief making," Xander finished with a grin.
 

"Wow," a few of the students said.
 

"He's really powerful," Ryan Rosenberg told his cronies.
 

Xander looked right at him. "And you're just now figuring this out, Ryan?" he asked. Ryan glared at him. "Hey, he beat you almost every time you tried to pick on him. You should have figured that out by now." He turned back to the student who had asked the original question. "Iggy has a more natural attitude toward magic. He's been around it since he was born, unlike me. Plus, he's smarter than I am," he admitted with a grin.
 

"It's a wise parent that realizes his own son is smarter than he is," Draco said as he joined them. "I told Percy."
 

"Ooo," Xander hissed. "That's going to be a messy fight."
 

"Very, but it should be his this time. I doubt anyone was targeting Melvin." Draco sat down on the edge of the blanket and got knocked onto his back by an enthusiastic animal.
 

"Shadow," Hagrid chastised, pulling his puppy off. "Sorry 'bout that."
 

"Not a problem. My youngest daughter does that sometimes too." He patted Shadow. "Do behave and listen to the nice big animal who'll eat you if you bark at it."
 

"Dogs taste nasty from what I hear," Bill told him. He nudged Shadow and laughed at the growling. "I'm bigger," he taunted. Shadow lowered himself and continued to growl.
 

"Stop it," Xander told the dog. He glared at the gryphon. "Don't pick on the puppy. It's mean to pick on lesser creatures." He glanced at Ryan, who backed away from him. "So, what part of the flood were you talking about? All the swirly colors? The thought strings? The pools?"
 

"The thought strings," Bill agreed, straightening up. The puppy barked in triumph, thinking it had won. "You are still smaller," Bill told it, making Hagrid laugh. "To get back to our discussion, the flood does many wondrous and strange things. The thought strings are one of the most interesting. Many have studied them and none have understood why they happen yet."
 

"What's a thought string?" Melody's daughter, Crystal, asked.
 

"A thought string is created by someone thinking about someone else," Xander told her. "So, if I'm thinking about my son, a string is created between us. Some people can see and sometimes hear from them."
 

"Yes, I heard about one of your nephews having a way of listening in on one," Bill told him. He motioned the girl closer, she didn't look well. "Sit," he told her, pointing at the blanket. She was shaking hard. "I will be looking you over later."
 

"I think she's going to need someone more professional," Xander said, letting her rest against his side. "She's got resinthian complex."
 

"Oh." Bill nodded. "It happens to many of the young." Bill looked down at her. "Did you not see one of us?" She shook her head. "Then we will fix that later. I will call our healer up to look at all three of you here."
 

Xander nudged her. "Iggy's been using too much magic and it's going to hurt him so they're coming anyway," he told her.
 

"Okay." She yawned. "You're very comforting."
 

"Go ahead and nap, Crystal. It's all good to us." She nodded and fell asleep against his arm. Xander looked at the other born among the students, smiling at him. That kid was just fine. The kid nodded back. "Anyway, thought strings are really neat."
 

"Is that why everyone says that your ears itch when someone's talking about you?" a girl, who had wisely already sat down, asked. Bill nodded.
 

"Very good guessing," he told her. "Yes, it is why. It even touches the mundanes sometimes." He settled himself back down and more of the students took off their robes and used them to sit on. Those who had taken classes from Xander now realized where his natural, flowing, rambling style of lecturing came from. This could take all day. "The flood comes naturally into the world, but not everyone can do that. Touching the flood is a very precarious and precious gift. For those of us who do touch it, some of us filter it and some of us play in it," he finished with a smile. "Somehow, some of the magic is changed into a less strong, but more explosive form of magic, chaos magic."
 

"Is that what those dark people touch?" one Ravenclaw boy asked, shifting closer. This was fascinating.
 

"Sometimes," Xander told him. "And some of the witches and wizards like Willow and Tara use it too. It's more prevalent among their kind than your kind."
 

"Do you know anyone?" Bill asked him.
 

Xander nodded. "I've actually got a very nice contact with a chaos sorcerer. We have a mutual loathing for someone and we trust each other enough to not kill each other whenever we need to help each other."
 

"Very interesting," Snape said as he rejoined him. "Would this be a Mr. Rayne?" Xander nodded. "I thought you had mentioned him before."
 

"Ethan and Giles used to be friends," Xander told him with a mean grin. "He feels the same way as I do about him."
 

Snape laughed. "Allies are always a good idea." He leaned against the fence, waving at Bill to continue. "I had wondered about how the different versions of powers were separated."
 

Bill nodded. "A very knowledgeable question, but it's a natural separation. Much like oil and water, or herbs and water actually." Snape nodded, understanding that analogy. "The chaos magic is often found floating on top of the pure magic, but rarely mixed in. In those rare instances, it's almost always in a pool formation."
 

"Which are really dangerous," Xander told him. "There's one under the front stairs. Trust me."
 

Bill nodded. "Yes, there is." He cuffed Xander gently with a wing. "Do not touch it again, Xander."
 

"Yes, Bill."
 

The kids laughed at the look on his face. Professor Harris was not one to follow orders.
 

***
 

Percy tapped on the door of Inghram's office and stepped inside when it was opened by his assistant. "Go take a lunch," he ordered. The office workers cleared out and Percy walked into the back office. He closed the door, making the old man look up. "How dare you touch my son," he said.
 

The man sneered. "Your son was in the way. Nothing more. He'll be fine."
 

"That's not the point," Percy said, walking over. He hit the man, knocking him to the floor. "How dare you touch my son!" he said, colder and harder this time. He hit him again, and again, and again. "Never touch my son," he growled when the man burbled an apology. "Next time, I won't be responsible for my actions." He ran a hand through his hair to straighten it out, and walked away, straightening out his clothes. He stopped in on his father, giving him a smile. "If Ministry lawyers show up at the house tonight, do send them on," he said pleasantly.
 

"Did one of your people find something that needs fixed?" Arthur asked, giving his son a smile.
 

"No, I just beat the shit out of their boss because he had the audacity to curse my son with an illness." Percy nodded at him and went to find some ice for his knuckles. That had felt rather good. He would have to revel in it later.
 

Arthur shook his head, moaning. What was going on with his family?
 

***
 

Molly walked into Percy's office with an ice pack and a small lunch, and promptly gave him a hug. "That's from your son, who was quite impressed with you." She babied his hand and put the ice pack on it. "Did it feel good?"
 

"Very," he admitted with a smile. "How dare that arsehole curse my son." She nodded. "He hopefully learned his lesson."
 

"Did you?" his mother asked.
 

Percy nodded. "Wear gloves next time," he said with a smile. She laughed but was shaking her head. "Mum, you know I 'm not the one for physical action."
 

"Yes, I do. Which is why, when Fred told me, I was astonished. He went to have a discussion with the man about his nephews as well," she confided. Percy smiled. "He decided you had done enough for most of us." She patted his bruised hands again. "Then Fred told your father, who was even more upset when he heard why you did this. He's impressed with you as well. But we won't hide you if the law comes for you."
 

"I wouldn't expect you to," he said, sounding shocked. His father wouldn't buck the Ministry that way, he was the one who upheld the rules no matter what.
 

"Dear, we would protect you but we don't think it's necessary this time," his mother assured him. "You had every right to protect your son from further action against him." She brushed some of his hair off his forehead. "Now, eat your lunch and you're coming home for dinner tonight. So is everyone else so it'll be a grand time."
 

He nodded. That sounded good to him.
 

***
 

Simone wandered the halls. She had heard this entire lecture over the course of her life. She was so well steeped in gryphon-lore that she could probably recite some of it in her sleep. She would bet money or chocolate that she knew more about gryphons than almost everybody out there, with the exception of the gryphon and Xander. So now she was bored. Her male cousins were sick due to some asshole, and Melvin had said his dad was fixing it. So no fun there. She was ahead on her homework. Uncle Xander didn't even have a tv so she couldn't watch movies. So she was really bored. She looked around, vaguely recognizing the hall she was in. Didn't this one lead to Iggy's hiding spot? She walked on, thinking that maybe he had more rooms prepared down here. She hadn't gotten to come play with him here very often at all and they had been kept in Uncle Xander's room when she had. Her father was a tad bit paranoid about her well-being.
 

She opened the door to the closed off section, stepping inside as soon as possible. Little did she know that Headmistress McGonagall had just sat up in her hospital bed and started to scream about her not going down there. She stopped briefly in the hiding spot, taking some supplies with her. A few bottles of water and some dried fruit would make a good snack while she was wandering. She found Iggy's stash of wizarding cards and frowned, searching through him. Man, he had nearly the whole set! No fair! She put them back in their spot and closed the cabinet doors, turning slowly. It felt like someone was watching her but there wasn't anybody down here. Iggy had said that not even the house elves came down here. She shrugged it off and headed back into the hallway, going to check some of the other doors. She found a few of them open and poked around those rooms. Nothing special, though she did find a wizard's trading card. She didn't know they had been around that long. The next door she tried was locked but a simple lock charm opened it. She noticed a darkened spot under the dust and ran a hand over it. "Professor Hufflepuff's office?" she breathed. "Oh, wow! This was her suite!" She hurried inside but this office was cleaned out too. It figured that everything had been taken out of this original part of the school when they moved to the more extensive parts. She found a small necklace under one of the old chairs on the other side of the desk and stuffed it into her pocket with the wizarding card, then hurried on, hoping to find the other offices. Maybe they had something she could find too.
 

The next room down had a set of large, heavy, ornately carved and gilded double doors guarding it. It looked like a library to her. She tried to push them open but it didn't budge. She tried her lock spell and it didn't work either. She decided to leave it for later exploration. There was no telling what was in there. As she stepped away, she noticed her hair was lifting off her head, like there was something blowing or sucking at it. Hadn't Dumbledore said something about portals? She shrugged it off and continued on her quest to find neat stuff to show her cousins and Andrea. She didn't find any more offices, just some dusty classrooms and something that was probably a staffroom or a lounge. But in there she found an even greater treasure. She found a sparkling wand and spent some time looking at it. This was so cool! She turned and found something standing in the doorway. "Hi," she said, deciding to stick with a clueless approach in case she was in trouble. A glowing stream shot out of his hand and she saw black. She got off a small scream mentally but that was it.
 

***
 

Melvin and Iggy both sat up and looked at the doorway. "Simone?" Iggy asked quietly, frowning. "Madam Pomfrey! Can you please get one of our fathers? Simone just got into something!"
 

She hurried out from her office. "How do you know that?"
 

"Because she's unconscious and down near my hiding spot," Iggy told her. "Something just knocked her out." He started to climb out of bed but she pushed him back down. "I have to go help her."
 

"You're staying," the nurse told him, then she left to go and find one of the overprotective fathers. She ran into Ron first. "Professor Weasley? Iggy and Melvin just saw something happening to your niece. They've requested that you all come up."
 

"Give me ten," Ron told her seriously. She nodded and hurried back to her patients. Ron walked outside and whistled loudly. Xander and Draco both looked over at him so he waved them inside. As soon as they were in the school, he told them. "Simone's in trouble. Iggy saw it. Melvin echoed off him again."
 

Xander's face hardened. "Start without me, I'll be up there as fast as I can."
 

"I'm going," Draco told him.
 

"Like hell!" Ron told him. "She's my niece."
 

"She's my daughter," Draco countered.
 

"We can argue about this later, she's getting deeper into shit every moment you two argue," Xander told them as he started toward the infirmary. "Coming?"
 

"Yes," the younger men said together. They joined Xander, trying to figure out what was going on. She hadn't left school grounds if Iggy was still in the infirmary. They walked in together and Draco and Ron shared a look. Xander was knocked out, much to his son's amusement.
 

"What did you see?" Draco demanded.
 

"She was down near my hiding spot, checking out the other rooms," Iggy told him. Madam Pomfrey gasped. "She knows she's not supposed to be exploring but she's like that," he told her, returning his attention to his 'big brother'. "She found an office, a staffroom, and a pretty glowy wand. Then she turned and someone was standing there. Whatever it was knocked her out."
 

Melvin shook his head. "It wasn't a something. It had pointy ears, was a little taller than her, male, and looked happy," he told them.
 

"You can see into the shadows?" Iggy asked. Melvin nodded. "Did you see who made Uncle Draco's house go boom?"
 

"Some old guy with white hair, that's all I got, he was facing the house," Melvin told him.

"Was this a vision?" Ron asked.
 

"No," the boys said in unison. "She yelled for help."
 

Draco looked at Ron, then nodded. "Then I'm going." Ron scowled. "You have those twins to take care of."
 

Ron pointed at Xander. "I don't think they'll be ignored," he told him.
 

"Go sooner instead of fighting," Denver told them. "My sister's in trouble and I can't get out of his bed to go beat the shit out of someone for it."
 

"Son, calm down," Draco told him.
 

"Fuck calming down!" Denver told him. "That's my sister! Either you do something or I'm mounting a rescue my own damn self and the hell with you!"
 

"Son," Draco warned coldly. "I'm not going to leave her there, you know that."
 

"Come on," Iggy groaned as he climbed out of his bed. The adults looked at him. "You don't even know where my hiding spot is. Deal with it."
 

"Get back in that bed!" Madam Pomfrey shouted as she stormed out of her office.
 

"Bite me," he grunted out. His uncles grabbed his arms. "I'll be back in a few minutes, once I show them how to get into my hiding area."
 

"Where is your hiding area?" she asked him, concerned.
 

"The forbidden section where Hufflepuff used to have her office," he said as he walked out between his uncles. He led them down to the doorway that went to his hidden rooms and let them into his special hiding spot, opening up his supplies cabinet so they could gear up. "She touched my wizarding cards!" he said hotly. "I'm going to smack her for that."
 

"Wait until we get her back and make sure she's all right first," Ron soothed. He understood, he still had his stash of cards hidden. He grabbed some of the water and some of the bags of dried fruit and nuts. "Draco, get some."
 

Draco grabbed his wand and shocked Ron, taking the supplies from him. He looked at his nephew. "Get him back to the infirmary. Try and keep him there."
 

"Bloody unlikely," Iggy pointed out dryly. His uncle ruffled his hair. "Be careful and smack her once for me." He led the way out of the room and pointed at the one he had seen in her mental cry for help. "She was in there. The whatever-it-was was in the doorway. She found the sparkly wand in there." Draco nodded and gave him a hug. "Be careful, their actions showed that they're trying not to hurt her any," he called after him. He went back to get his uncle, who weighed a ton, and dragged him back into the main section of the school. Hagrid caught them. "Uncle Draco went to find his daughter," he explained at the frown.
 

"You shouldn't be down there," Hagrid chastised. "It's not for you to be down there. It's dangerous."
 

"I've been playing down there for the last five years," Iggy told him. He let Ron drop. "Can you carry him back to the infirmary? I'm still dizzy."
 

Ron woke up as Hagrid was picking him up. "Let me go," he groaned. He leaned against a wall and rubbed his head. "Did the git get me?"
 

Iggy nodded. "He went into super-protector mode."
 

Ron grunted. "Fine. I'm going to help. Tell Xander to watch the twins for me. That slimy git can't do this by himself, he'll bollicks it up." He stumbled back into the forbidden section.
 

Iggy squeaked as he was picked up. "Hey!"
 

"Shush you," Hagrid told him as he carried him back to the infirmary. "I think he's supposed to be here." He put the boy into the bed the nurse pointed out. "The other two went after his cousin." He tucked Iggy in and gave him a pat on the head, smooshing him down some. "They're in the forbidden section."
 

Madam Pomfrey's lips pursed. "I do wish someone had sealed that section better."
 

"At least we're down in Hufflepuff's section," Iggy offered.
 

"Yes, but there's portals down there because Hufflepuff was friendly with a great many creatures that we don't deal with today." She checked the boy over then hummed and went to get some more of the potion Professor Snape had made up on the gryphon's orders. She forced him to drink it then smoothed the blankets out as he fell asleep. "There, no more problems from you three today," she told him.
 

Hagrid laughed. "It could be worse. Those four together get into some of the strangest things." He walked over and nudged Xander where he was resting. "Ron said ta tell ya ta watch the twins," he said when one eye opened. Xander didn't wake up well so he waited until the message was acknowledged. Xander raised a hand.
 

"Yes?" Madam Pomfrey asked him.
 

"Can you please tell my husband this news so I can duck behind you?" he asked nicely. She responded well to nice.
 

She laughed. "I'll send an owl down to him and ask him to come up and help you, Xander." She tucked him in too. "You rest." She shooed Hagrid out. "Don't you have a visitor to your classes?"
 

"Yup, he's giving a long lecture," Hagrid said happily. "He'll be here for a few days so I'll even get to have long talks with him." He walked out, beaming. This would be one of the highlights of his career.
 

Madam Pomfrey smiled at Hagrid's back. She was sure the man would be up most of the night badgering the gryphon for information and discussions. She walked back into her office and finished writing out the note to George Weasley. She wasn't looking forward to him storming into her infirmary, but he did need to know that she was keeping Xander unconscious for a few more hours. Apparently the poor boy needed the sleep. She watched as a slim figure walked into the room dragging a basket. "Put it on the bed," she ordered the house elf. The basket with the twins was put up next to Xander and pleasingly arranged in his arms. He looked so good with the babies. He had when Iggy had been that old and he did now. She saw Iggy roll over and look at his father and smile sadly. "It could happen," she reminded him quietly.
 

Iggy shook his head, slowly because he was still fighting the medicine. "It'll hurt Aunt Ginny to have another one," he said quietly so he wouldn't let his father know he was thinking along those lines. He would have loved to have had a bunch of siblings to play with. "I doubt he'd want to carry one if the gryphons did that spell and daddy George can't so it's not going to happen." He sniffled. "He really does love us though."
 

"He could always adopt," she reminded him, giving him a pat on the cheek. "Rest, you need it so the medicine will work, young man."
 

"Yes, ma'am." Iggy shut his eyes. "Can you suggest it to him?"
 

"I will once he's awake," she agreed. She went back to send her owl off to town. Xander's husband would love to hear about this one.
 

***
 

Dumbledore walked up the path to the school, carrying his small suitcase with him. He had promised to come back today, and while he was ready for the insanity, he wasn't looking forward to it. He looked off to the side when he noticed a large group of students sitting on the ground and a gryphon, heading over to talk to Severus. "A visiting professor?" he asked lightly.
 

"The gryphons agreed to send someone up to talk to Ignatius and Melvin," Severus said as he pulled his Headmaster off to the side so they could talk privately. "Someone made the three Weasley/Malfoy boys sick, but not the girl. I've gotten them a potion to help so they're in the infirmary. We're assuming it was an action against Draco by Inghram, or that was his supposition at least." He smiled grimly. "Harris is up and wandering around. He's absorbed as much of the healing potion as he can."
 

"How are his legs?"
 

"Still burned in places. Getting better slowly. It's not slowing him down any, of course, but that boy is rather fun to watch hobble as fast as he used to walk."
 

Dumbledore smiled. "He will eventually slow down. No matter how distasteful the idea is to him, he will get old."
 

"No, he's already feeling old, he's just not letting it slow him down," Severus corrected with a smile.
 

They both watched as George went running past them and into the school. "Some things never change," Dumbledore said mildly. "I suppose I should go see what a mess she left."
 

"I've cleaned up most of it," Severus told him. "With the exception of a few payments everything is done."
 

"Good." Dumbledore patted him on the arm. "I shall see you at lunch. I'm going to settle in. Maybe take the room across from Xander's."
 

Snape put a hand out to stop him. "I wouldn't. They're horribly noisy."
 

Dumbledore laughed. "You still haven't figured out how to block a vent yet, Severus? I'll help you with that tonight." The Potion's Master sighed in relief. He had looked a bit tired. He took his suitcase in to the school, checking to see if his old room was still open. When he found it was, he settled in like he had never left.
 

***
 

Xander woke up and looked to his left. He saw his husband cooing down at the twins and smiled. He looked so good like that. George looked up and smiled, looking very happy at the moment. "I want another one too," Xander told him.
 

"Don't read my mind," George teased.
 

"I wasn't. It was the look of contentment on your face and the happiness in your eyes," Xander told him. He reached over and touched the nearest twin's foot. "I really wouldn't mind if we wanted to have another one, George. I remember diapers and feedings, and I'm ready for them again." He shifted closer. "If you want, I'll even carry."
 

Madam Pomfrey walked up to them, shaking her head. "Not until you're much better and all of your burns are completely healed, Xander. Think about adoption instead. Take in an unwanted child." She checked Xander over and held the twins so George could climb up on the bed with him. "There's quite a few orphaned wizards and witches these days," she said quietly. "I'm sure you could be approved to adopt one."
 

"Yeah, but I want a daughter that acts like him," Xander said, brushing down his husband's arm. "I'm all for adoption, but I'd like for us to have one more of our own first."
 

"You want *that many* children?" George asked, sounding a bit shocked.
 

"I hated being an only child and so does Iggy," Xander pointed out. "It's lonely and you spend a lot of time waiting and hoping that someone will come play with you." He didn't realize he had turned on his pitiful look until his mate ran a finger over his pouting lip. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be forceful."
 

"I know. I agree, it's got to be lonely for Iggy, hanging around the store all the time. He hasn't had many kids to play with and he's spent too much time with his books because of it." He kissed his mate on the side of the neck, making him purr and get hard. "If we could find someone to carry for us, and not endanger Ginny's life, I'd be all for having another one or two, or even having one and adopting one."
 

"Your sister's not in good health?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
 

Xander shook his head. "The doctor told her not to have another one or she'd be in trouble. Mentioned gestational diabetes and other horrible things."
 

"How many has she had?"
 

"Four," George told her. "Three for Draco and one for us." He smiled sadly. "I wouldn't want her to get sick from doing this."
 

"Me either," Xander agreed. He looked over his shoulder and dropped his voice to a whisper. "We might be able to talk someone like Tara into it, but she's got health problems that'll take an intense spell to cure too."
 

"We have a whole book of healing spells and potions beyond the ones that Ginny and Professor Snape have," George reminded him. "You haven't even opened them."
 

"Maybe it has something in there to help Ginny," Xander offered.
 

"If you'd bring them up to me, I could tell you which would help her best," the nurse asked.
 

The couple looked at each other, then nodded. "After we talk to Ginny," George told her. "Being presumptuous would get us smacked hard by her and mum."
 

"That might be for the best," she agreed dryly. Denver started to retch so she rushed over to help him. "I'll be right back."
 

"Okay," Xander agreed. He snuggled in, looking down at the twins laying in his arms. "I miss these times."
 

"If you get injured again, I'm going to have to spank you," George reminded him lightly. He knew why Xander had been knocked out and would get Draco for it later. "They both went after her, even though Draco tried to go it alone."
 

"I figured as much when I recognized the twins," Xander told him. "Think we can keep them for a while?"
 

"I doubt they're going to be back tonight," George told him. "Melvin's account sounded like a fairy crossed with an elf."
 

"A fairy crossed with an elf?" George nodded. "Wouldn't that be a classification of fairy?"
 

"Probably," George agreed. "The message has been passed on to Dumbledore, who thought you looked cute curled up in the bed again." He pinched the firm, but soft stomach. "He understood you needing the nap that Draco so kindly gave you."
 

"Both of them got me. I taught them too well." He groaned as he shifted and Minnie opened her eyes, yawning up at him. "Good morning, precious. Want to come stay in the nest for a few days?" Minnie pulled her fingers up to suck on the first two and gave him an interested look. Her sister woke up with a yawn of her own but she started to cry. "Oops, hungry sounds."
 

George slid out of the bed and walked down to Ron's rooms to get them a bottle and some diapers. If they were going to keep the kids for a while, they'd need them. The password gave him a few moment's trouble, but he eventually figured it out. Maybe he'd ask Ron how to change their password. Some of the Gryffindors didn't knock anymore. He came out and ran into Dumbledore on the way to the Great Hall. "Hello, Headmaster," he said in greeting, giving him a smile.
 

"George. How is Xander?"
 

"Awake. Spoiling the twins because we're remembering having a baby fondly." He grinned brighter. "We were talking about having another one actually."
 

"Capital!" Dumbledore said happily. "Have you thought of adopting?"
 

"We did, but Xander really wants another of mine," he said, his grin turning to stupid and happy. "We thought about adopting after that."
 

"That would be wonderful," Dumbledore agreed, following him up to the infirmary. He could get lunch in a moment. He watched as Xander fixed a bottle with such a contented look on his face. Maybe he should butt in and help them some. Without harming George this time. That wouldn't be wise. Xander had nearly destroyed the colony last time. He came over to look more closely at the children. "Still no idea where their mother and brother are?"
 

"Not a clue," George told him. "That Wesley person thought he had one but it didn't pan out apparently."
 

"Spike's looking for her too," Xander told him. "He sent on a letter saying that he'd heard about the son but no concrete details."
 

George nuzzled Xander's neck again. "You have strange friends, love."
 

"I know, but they suit me and keep me from having to do everything myself." George pinched him. "Hey!"
 

"You don't do anything by yourself. We agreed, dear."
 

"Not even going to the bathroom?" Xander asked with a naughty grin.
 

"Well, that I'll allow," George told him, taking the baby he was holding so his mate could go use the restroom by himself. There were some activities that he wouldn't help his husband with, not unless it was absolutely necessary. Dumbledore smiled at him. "He feels the same way," he noted with a shrug. He stuck the spat-out bottle back into it's receptacle. Dumbledore switched children with him, letting the suckling babe fall asleep in his arms. "Do you think we should?" he asked quietly.
 

"If it makes you happy and you're secure enough to have another one I don't see why not. You could probably even find a few of the gryphon-born to adopt if you asked around. I know a few have been dropped off at the colony in Stonehenge over the years." He handed the child back when he heard the bathroom door open. "I'll leave you to remember having an infant fondly. I'm for lunch."
 

"We could probably join you," Xander offered as he walked out of the bathroom.
 

"Why don't you gather a picnic and go have lunch out with the gryphon. He is here to see you also."
 

"Good point," George agreed. He handed over both children to his mate. "I'll be back in a moment, I'm going to find a house elf." He hurried away.
 

Xander looked at Dumbledore. "Are you staying or leaving again?"
 

"I have plans that require my leaving sometime," Dumbledore said with a fond smile. "Whether they happen this year or next I won't know until then." He held out his arms. "Want me to take one?"
 

"That's okay. We have a basket," Xander said, putting them back into their carrier. He grabbed his cane and waved at the nurse as he carried the babies downstairs. "How bad is McGonagall?"
 

"I stopped in to see her on the way up. She's presently quite upset with Simone. She's also very wary of seeing you again because of how she treated your son."
 

Xander shrugged. "I make allowances for spells."
 

"I told her that but she's going to worry until you bring her a plant or something."
 

"How long before she comes back?" he asked quietly.
 

"She can't come into the school until we figure out if something here was the trigger," Dumbledore explained. "She'll be staying with her sister once she's released next week." He smiled as George hurried toward them with a basket. "Popular item today?"
 

"Oh, yes. Most everyone is picnicking today. It's a nice day and they're without classes other than this lecture that the gryphon is giving." He tried to take the babies but Xander shook his head. "Fine. You take them and I'll take the light thing."
 

"Exactly," Xander agreed. He smiled at the Headmaster. "Happy settling in. Come join us if you want."
 

"I wouldn't want to interrupt. I'm sure Mr. Weasley has some plans in mind." He smiled as the couple walked away, they were so delightful to be around. Even Severus had smiled at the cuteness they exuded like a drug. He shook himself out of his thoughts and went to unpack. He supposed he was staying for a while.
 

***
 

Simone woke up and was nearly blinded by the sparkly walls. "Eww, someone needs decorating sense," she complained as she sat up. She lifted a hand to her head, it felt like there was something on it. She pulled down a small crown and stared at it. "Huh, daddy said he wouldn't buy me one of those."
 

"You never have to worry about that again, Princess," a small voice said from the other side of the room. "We will take care of all of your needs and give you whatever you want."
 

She dropped the crown onto the bed and stood up. "Then you're taking me back to Hogwarts so I can get back to my cousins," she pronounced in her best princessly fashion.
 

"We cannot." The woman walked into the light shining off the walls and coming through the windows. "That is the one thing we cannot do. You are here to stay."
 

"Bet me," she snorted. "I can fight my way out if I have to."
 

"With what?" the woman asked. "Your old wand is gone."
 

"What? That was made specifically for me, a gryphon gave their heart string for it."
 

"It's safely stored with the wands of the others," the woman soothed. "The wand you found chose you and it has precedence."
 

"Has it occurred to you that no one's been down there for centuries?" she asked dryly. "It's probably just lonely."
 

"That might have been so, but you fulfilled the prophecy," the woman told her. "She with hair of sunset...."
 

"Hate to burst your bubble, but my hair's strawberry blonde, not flaming red like my cousin's."
 

"It's a prophecy, it's supposed to be a bit off," the woman pointed out.
 

"If you don't get me out of here, I'm going to throw the most major fit and kill everyone," Simone warned.
 

"If it is what you wish, we would do so," the woman told her. "You are our next ruler."
 

"Oh, fuck!" she sighed, looking up. "Iggy! Melvin! Send daddy!"
 

The woman clamped a hand over her mouth. "If they show up and you see them they will die," she said harshly. "It is the way it is."
 

Simone pulled away from you. "I doubt you could kill my father. Bigger and stronger have tried and failed." She crossed her arms, pulling out every nasty bit of bad personality she had ever had. "I will be leaving."
 

"You may not," the woman said, harsher this time. "We will die without your guidance."
 

"Yay! I'm not one of you. I'm never going to be one of you. For that matter, I don't want to be one of you, I happen to like my family."
 

"If they come, they will be killed once you set eyes on them. You are ours and you had better get used to it," she said coldly.
 

"Fuck you and the bitch you rode in on," Simone told her in the same tone of voice. "I don't take orders from you." The woman tried to hit her, but Simone had not only a brother, but two male cousins. She was very well trained in fighting. That woman found herself on the floor with a split lip and a broken nose. "Now then, I'm leaving. Not only am I hungry and missing my cousins, but I will not stay around you short people forever. I'm going to continue growing up." She walked over to the door and opened it, finding guards on the other side. "Move or be moved," she ordered.
 

"They will not follow that order," she called.
 

Simone did something she really shouldn't do, she grabbed a spear and brandished it. One of the guards made a grab for her, but she had taken lessons with Uncle Xander too. He went down and more came running. "I'm leaving!" she announced.
 

"You won't get far," the woman yelled after her.
 

"You stupid, bloody, unintelligent git," Simone said derisively. "I'm not your princess and I'm not helpless." She left the room, watching the guards as she walked past them. "Where's my wand?" she demanded.
 

"In the Library, with the others," one of the guards said, watching her warily. This was no ordinary princess. She was strong, a fighter. She knew, kind of, what to do with that spear. He followed her on her trek to find her wand, keeping back from her. He could always go get her again. He knew where she lived. It was too bad the Princess Hufflepuff had managed to escape once she grew up. She would have given them a stable line of succession. But those humans were so fragile and couldn't breed once they'd been here for a while. He watched in shock and horror as the girl found her wand, and the others they had taken from the other princesses. She broke the case, making all around them gasp. She stuffed them into her clothes, hoping that someone would be able to identify them. She couldn't be the first they had taken. She backed out of the library, her wand in her hand, tied down with one of her hair ribbons so she didn't have to hold both it and the weapon. She ran out of the library and paused to look around. He ran for the other portal, knowing what her next move would be. She was a well-trained fighter and her next move would have to be to try and escape. He slipped over into the school and locked that portal behind him so she couldn't use it, but he could get her back.
 

"Portal," she demanded. A few of the fairies pointed at a stone archway. She ran for it, hoping that it would work for her. If not, she would take a hostage. There was no way she was giving up her daddy, or mother, brother, or any of them really. Even if Ravena did irritate her sometimes by drooling on her favorite shirts. She saw the portal and sighed in relief. Only one guard. She stunned him with a curse she had learned from Iggy, and heard a great wail from the watching people. "Yeah, I'm related to a gryphon-born," she announced evilly. Maybe daddy had a point that sometimes evil was necessary. She walked through the portal and fell to the ground with a sigh of relief. "Oh, crap," she said when she realized she was in Stonehenge. "This portal stuff sucks. Iggy!" She felt a tickle in her head and knew one of her cousins had heard her. She forced herself to stand up and walk over to where her Uncle Xander had told her there was a guardian to the gryphon colony. "I need help," she told it. "I'm Iggy Harris-Weasley's cousin Simone. Uncle Xander told me to come here if I ever got into trouble. May I please speak with the elders and gain sanctuary until someone comes for me?"
 

The guardian looked her over, then clicked his tongue. "You poor girl. They got you." He opened the doorway and Simone stepped inside. He smiled at her back. That was a strong little girl to have fought her way out of there, and taken all those wands.
 

Simone bowed to the two elders sitting there. "Elder Fredericka, you may not remember me, but you met me when I was six months old. I'm Ginny Weasley's daughter." A sob caught in her throat. "They're going to hurt daddy."
 

The elder wrapped her in her wings. "We will call the school now and stop them from going further." She looked off into the distance, calling out to another who could hear her. She continued to comfort the girl. The poor baby. "You need to talk to someone about those wands that you carry."
 

"They took me," she sobbed. "They took my wand and said they'd kill any of my family that tried to help me." Simone pulled back and wiped her face off. "I figured that they did it to them too so I was going to have them sent to Ollivander." She sat down and looked up at the elder, taking the proper student pose. "Was this about me?"
 

"No, it was about the sparkling wand that is in your pocket," Fredericka told her, pointing with a wingtip. "They cannot breed right so they have no queen. Unfortunately, once a girl is over there and partaken of their foods they can no longer breed." Simone shuddered. "I can see no evidence that you've eaten of their foods, young lady. Do not worry. You will have many fine children one day and carry on your mother's traditions."
 

She smiled. "Thanks." She looked down at herself, shuddering at the pink lace covering her body. She was wearing some sort of white pants under the lace dress, and it was uncomfortable. "Do you think they're coming?"
 

"I'm sure they are. Would you like to change? Your cousin left some clothes here the last time he visited."
 

"Please," she said in relief. "This itches."
 

Fredericka nodded. "I understand." She clicked and a human came running. "Take her to change into the clothes Iggy left the last time," she ordered. "Wrap those wands in those clothes, and the spear with it, Simone." The girl nodded and followed the human back into the caverns.
 

"Will this cause a war?" the other elder asked.
 

Fredericka shook her gray head. "No. They wouldn't dare, not after she fought them."
 

"Hopefully her father will be stopped before she has to go back."
 

"Hopefully," Fredericka agreed.
 

***
 

Iggy shot out of bed and looked around. "Uncle Draco," he moaned. Then he ran out of the room, ignoring his sick feelings, heading down to stop them. "No, stop," he called as he walked through the door. "She's safe." Ron came out of one of the rooms and grabbed him. "Stop Uncle Draco, she's safe. She fought her way out. The gryphons have her."
 

Draco came out of the room that had eluded every lock spell he had ever found. "She's safe?"
 

Iggy nodded, leaning against his Uncle Ron. "She's safe. She's with the gryphons. She rescued a bunch of wands too. They need you there with Dumbledore right now." He reached out to his Uncle. "And you have to seal the door. They're looking for more princesses." He looked inside the room, noticing all the books, and moaned in pain. "Can't we move them first?" he called.
 

"No," Xander said from behind him. "No moving of the books. They're in there for a reason."
 

"Only guys down here from now on," Iggy told him, eyes wide. "They're going to try it again." He looked up at his father. "You've got to take him to the colony, him and Dumbledore. Simone needs you guys."
 

"Okay," Xander said, pulling him into his arms. "We'll go now. Draco, shut and lock the door using the password lock. Then come join us in Dumbledore's office." He smiled at Ron. "George's not giving back the twins for a few days. We're thinking about having another one."
 

Ron smiled. "I'll let you keep them for a bit," he agreed. He grabbed Iggy back and walked him out of the section, stopping to get the boy's set of wizard cards. They needed to compare decks so he could complete his.
 

Xander watched as Draco sealed the room again, then walked his 'son' out of the forbidden section. "At least she's fine," he said quietly.
 

"Yes, fortunately I didn't have to kill them all," Draco agreed. "She's really fine?"
 

"I'm not the one who heard it." Xander turned and sealed the section again. He would be having a discussion with his son about his safe area. He walked Draco up to the Headmaster's office, smiling at the old man sitting there. "Did Iggy tell you?"
 

"Yes, it's wonderful news." Dumbledore looked at Iggy. "And we're going to be having a discussion, young man."
 

Iggy sighed and nodded. "Yes, sir, but you told her not to explore that section. I listened when you told me."
 

"Iggy," Xander said threateningly. His son slumped down in his seat. "Thank you. He's not the only one who's going to be having a discussion with you, son." He looked at Dumbledore. "Are you ready to go with us now or should we go and you'll head over?"
 

"I'll come with you, let me talk to Severus. Did someone seal that door?" Draco raised a hand. "Very good. Tell Severus the passcode so we can get the books out of there please."
 

"Oh, is it *that* library?" Iggy asked.
 

Dumbledore shook his head. "No, Iggy, I'm afraid it's not. The missing library is in a tower room. That was Professor Hufflepuff's personal library." He ran a finger over something on his desk and footsteps came hurrying up the stairs. "Severus, we're off to the gryphon colony. You're in charge, and do help Mr. Malfoy move those books." He stood up and walked around the desk, taking Iggy's hand. "Come along. She'll need some attention from you too probably since she won't tell us anything that will stop the fear from coming back." He led them down to a clearer hallway. "Xander, can you take Draco?"
 

"Sure." Xander wrapped an arm around Draco's waist and disappeared.
 

Dumbledore shook his head. "He loves to show off, doesn't he?" he said with fond tolerance.
 

"It runs in the family," Iggy told him, taking his hand and bringing him to the gryphon caves too. "Hi," he called. The gryphons looked down at him. "We're here at Elder Fredericka's orders for my cousin."
 

One of the born who lived there motioned them to follow him. "What happened to her?" he asked Iggy. He liked the little kid, he was very fun, if a little stiff.
 

"Simone was exploring one of the forbidden sections of the school and got snatched by some fairy creatures," Iggy told him. "My cousin kicked their asses and got away," he said proudly.
 

"I'm sure she's a credit to your father's teachings." He led them into the secondary caves, where Simone was waiting on them. "Here she is. Well and mostly happy." He got out of the way as Iggy bowled into her cousin and gave her the hardest hug he could give her. He stopped Dumbledore with a head shake and a hand on his arm. "Give him a minute. He dotes on her more than anything."
 

Dumbledore smiled. "I know. I remember when he was old enough to recognize her. He used to toddle up to her and knock her down so he could hug her that same way." He got free and went over to separate them. "I think it's time to find your father, my dear." Simone gave him a watery smile. "We're bringing down the portal soon. They won't be coming back. And you are quite a young woman." He helped her up and took the bundle of clothes and wands, letting Iggy walk with her. "We will protect you both the best we can," he said quietly. Both kids looked at him and smiled. "Just don't tell your fathers. They worry horribly." Simone nodded. "Ah, here we are," Dumbledore said as they walked into the Elder's cavern. "All fine," he said as Draco grabbed Simone to hug. She squeaked in protest but he didn't let her go. Dumbledore shared a smile with Xander, who put an arm around his son's shoulders and let him lean against him.
 

Fredericka noticed the appliance in Xander's hand. "What is that?" she asked.
 

"A cane. The healing potions have quit working," he explained with a grin. "I'm trying to convince Ollivander to make it into an extra wand but he's being stubborn." Draco looked over at him. "It's a pain to hold a wand and a cane. Having a wand that was my cane would be much easier most of the time."
 

"Until you were thinking bad thoughts while you walked, daddy," Iggy reminded him. "You'd warp the floor."
 

Dumbledore stifled a laugh. He agreed. "I think you should wait. What if you end up not needing it?"
 

Xander shook his head. "I'm always going to need it. I still can't feel my foot. I'll never feel my left foot again. I'll probably always need the cane."
 

"I'll look into the healing spells and see if there's something," Fredericka assured him.
 

"No," Xander said quietly. "George likes me better this way." Draco gave him a stunned look. "It's keeping me from fighting, Draco. It's slowing me down and making us connect better. I'm willing to take the discomfort and occasional pain from my knee to make him happy."
 

"That's dumb," Iggy told him. "Dad would beat you senseless for suggesting that."
 

Xander looked down at him. "What makes you think he doesn't know?"
 

Iggy looked at him in stunned silence. "Daddy hates your fighting that much?"
 

Xander nodded. "And he knows that I'm not going to do anything extraordinary to get back into fighting shape. I'll always limp, Iggy, even if the healing potions would work, because it makes the *both* of us happier."
 

Iggy nodded. "I understand, sorta. I'll be cool about it."
 

"Thanks." Xander looked at Draco, who just nodded. Apparently he couldn't understand that sort of willingness to sacrifice. "It makes everyone more happy this way," he said quietly.
 

Draco nodded. He would work it out in his mind later. He had his daughter back and that was all that mattered to him. He looked at Dumbledore. "Are you taking those to Ollivander?"
 

Dumbledore unrolled the group of wands, shaking his head. "I'm going to have to go to the Ministry first. They need to know that the portal was reopened. Some might even want to try for diplomatic negotiations with them."
 

"They would never take one of us," the second elder pointed out. "We're too powerful and they fear us."
 

"Us?" Simone asked. She looked at Iggy. "Like him?" The elder nodded. "I'm gryphon born?"
 

"Yes. You are," Fredericka agreed.
 

"On which side?" Xander asked. Both elders shrugged. "Gee, I think we need to look at the research that was confiscated from the aurors," he said, looking at his boss. Dumbledore looked shocked.
 

"That would explain that spitting up slugs thing," Draco said mildly, too stunned to do more than hug his daughter. "Should we go tonight?"
 

"Simone, do you have your wand?" Iggy asked. She nodded and he grabbed her, taking her back to the school.
 

"My son is such a boy," Xander sighed. He looked at Draco. "They're at the school. He went back to bed."
 

"Fine," Draco sighed. "I'm staying over tonight."
 

"Hey, I've got a couch," Xander agreed.
 

"Maybe we should arrange for your whole family to have rooms together," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "Possibly some tower rooms. Put you and Mr. Weasley together?"
 

Xander grinned. "I wouldn't mind, but we're over Gryffindor so we'll have to be near them."
 

Dumbledore nodded. He had heard that. McGonagall had complained quite often about what they were doing to her house. He looked at Draco, who was smiling. "Are you staying to help Professor Weasley?"
 

"Not unless he needs me to," Draco told him.
 

"He and Harry are taking over the physical part of my training class," Xander told him.
 

"Then we should probably find you a section that has extra rooms and just give it over to you." Dumbledore nodded at the elders. "Thank you for giving her sanctuary."
 

"We do that for family," Fredericka said with a shrug. "We would do the same for this one's family." She patted Draco on the head. "They are Iggy's and Xander's family."
 

Xander grinned at her. "Yes, they are." He patted Draco on the arm. "Want to head back?"
 

"Please. I'd like to sit and talk with my children for a bit before I go home." Xander took him and disappeared.
 

"He's still quite energetic," Dumbledore noted. "It hasn't slowed him down a bit."
 

Fredericka laughed. "I don't think much will. Do give him a lab also; his brother-in-law has been complaining about him being in there again from what I understand."
 

"Oh, indeed. I have just the spot for him. It's another forbidden section, but this time for falling ceilings. I'm sure Xander could fix it. Maybe he would even teach that to a few selected students?"
 

Fredericka nodded. "That would be fine with us. You can't hurt us with that spell."
 

Dumbledore smiled. "Excellent. Thank you." He bowed to her. "I'm going to take this to Ollivander's and notify the Ministry." The spear was pushed into his hand. "She took this?"
 

"From a guard according to her thoughts," the second elder told him. "She was still thinking about it when she ran in here." He leaned closer. "Should we worry?"
 

"Not likely," Dumbledore told him. "They won't come and attack you. Like Fredericka said, they're afraid of you." He smiled and disappeared. He landed on the front doorstep of Ollivanders and walked in, giving him a smile. "We had a rather large surprise," he said in greeting. "Young Ms. Malfoy-Weasley was captured by some of Hufflepuff's friends. She fought her way back." He put the spear against the counter and unwrapped the wands. "She liberated these too so they could be identified and given to the families."
 

Ollivander nearly sobbed at the sight of the twenty wands lying there. "Some of my best early work," he said as he picked up one of his favorite wands. "Ten inches, oak, firebird core." He put it carefully down. "I will check my books. Should I expect someone?"
 

"Oh, yes, I meant to call them first," he said with a devilish twinkle in his eyes. He walked over to use the floo fireplace.
 

***
 

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