Ron walked out of Xander's floo and looked around. "Hello?" he called softly.
 

"Upstairs," Xander called. "In the nest."
 

"Okay." Ron put his bag on the couch and headed upstairs, stopping to drag his sister with him when she came out of the floo. "Hi." He walked in and looked into the nest. "What're you doing, Uncle Xander?"
 

"Cleaning out the dirty hay. It has to be clean or the birds can get sick." He smiled at them. "Good news, Ravena and Lucien are going to be spending the weekend too."
 

Mellie smiled, she liked Ravena. "Can Tananda come too?"
 

"I'm not sure. You can call Percy in a bit, maybe she can come over and play." Mellie nodded, happy enough for now. "Want to help me do this so we can go play in the lab sooner?"
 

"Yeah," Mellie said, grabbing one of the scoopers to help him. "Just the nasty stuff?"
 

"Please," Xander agreed, smiling at the boy. "Little Ron, if you want, Ron's in his room. You could go give him a hug."
 

"Okay." He headed down the stairs and over through the bathroom, tapping gently on the nursery door since the voices were coming from in there.
 

"Come in," Ron called softly.
 

Little Ron pushed open the door and walked in, giving him a hug. "I'm here for the weekend."
 

"I heard." He handed the boy Gwen and pulled them both into his lap. "How have you been?"
 

"Sissy sent me a nasty letter," Little Ron said, looking down at his cousin. "You're still pretty little."
 

"She'll grow up really fast, just like you did," Ron assured him, giving them both a hug. "Did you want to do anything special this weekend?"
 

"I'd like to practice," Little Ron said, grinning up at his namesake and favorite Uncle. "That way I can play when I come. Just like daddy."
 

"Sure. The house is practicing this weekend and I think we can talk them into you training with Anastasia."
 

"She hates to fly," the boy scoffed.
 

"Yeah, but until you're here they won't have a seeker."
 

"Oh." Little Ron nodded. "Okay, then I'll help her get ready. She flies well enough but she doesn't like to catch. We'll work on it this weekend."
 

"I'm sure she'd appreciate it. She's holding your spot until you get here."
 

"She really said so?" he asked, starting to smile.
 

"Yup, she really said so." He gave them another squeeze. "Let's put Gwen down and call over to the house, see if the four of them want to come over."
 

Little Ron nodded and stood up, putting the baby into her bed. He smiled and took his Uncle's hand. "Ravena's coming over too," he said happily. He adored Ravena. She was his sort of girl. His Uncle smiled down at him. "Uncle Ron, do you think I'll be a Gryff?"
 

"I think you'll make a wonderful Gryff," Ron assured him. "You'll be one of the legendary ones, just like your dad and me." The boy giggled. "We'll even show you how to sneak out once you get good enough."
 

"Okay!" Little Ron said happily. He *loved* hearing stories about his father in school. His daddy got into so much trouble and hardly ever got caught.
 

Ron smiled at the boy. So this is what Harry would have been like with good parents. He called over to the house, bringing his nieces and nephews running. "Looks who's over for the weekend. Can he practice with you guys?"
 

"Of course," Anastasia told him. "He can help me get ready for our first game." She hugged the littler boy. "You're going to come stay in the house tonight, right?" He nodded, after looking at Ron. "Cool. We'll have a sleepover in the common room. We'll even do your hair before practice tomorrow so it doesn't get in your way." Little Ron wiggled in happiness. "Iggy, can he borrow your old broom?"
 

"He can have my old Nimbus," Denver offered, smiling at the kid. He had always liked Little Ron. "Come on, let's head back to the house. Where's Mellie?"
 

"Waiting on Ravena," Xander said as he walked down the stairs. "Have fun and be good. Remember to introduce him to the Head Boy and the Captain first."
 

They all nodded and dragged the boy with them back to the house. Little Ron got to go first and he stopped to look around. He got out of Denver's way because his cousin moved him and then he smiled up at him. "Wow. It looks just the same as when Daddy was here."
 

"Yes, it does," Iggy agreed, coming in last and closing the portrait after him. "Guys, this is Little Ron, Harry's true child." A few of the kids waved and said hi. "We're having a sleepover tonight in the common room."
 

"Melvin's upstairs with Andrea," the Head Boy said, coming over to shake his hand. "So you're Ron Potter?" Ron nodded, looking really happy. "Do you play quidditch yet?"
 

"Yup, I practice every few days. Daddy wanted to put me on one of the junior teams but another parent got pissed at who he was and had her son knock me onto the ground so he wouldn't let me play." He looked around again. "This place is huge!"
 

Michael laughed. "It sure is, kid." He whistled and the new captain, the new keeper, came over. "This is Harry Potter's son. I bet he wants to help you train Anastasia tomorrow."
 

Ron nodded, grinning at him. "Definitely. She probably could use some work. Daddy's been training me for a few years now, ever since I demanded." He grinned and shook the captain's hand. "I can't wait to play with you next year."
 

"You're awfully sure you're going to be joining the house."
 

Ron smirked at him. "Agatha was Mom's daughter. My sister and I are all Daddy's. Mellie occasionally acts like she's Simone's sister, but we're all Dad's."
 

"Good," the Captain said with a smile. "Then you can come practice with us tomorrow. Anastasia would probably like some help. I can even call out our usual assortment of possible second stringers and scrimmage." Ron bounced in place. "You'd like that?"
 

"I *love* to play," Ron said, starting to get a little loud. "That would be so great. I only get to play with these guys usually. A real game would make me really happy."
 

"I'd say you're about on happy overload," Michael said. "Why don't you show him around the school, guys? Keep him out of trouble."
 

"Agatha's grounded to her tower for the weekend," Anastasia said with a smirk. "She's not allowed anywhere near him." She took Ron's hand and led him back out, going to show him around. "It's okay, you can calm down. Michael's pretty cool and he knows that you're not like her."
 

"I know, but I hate being compared to Aggie. Why couldn't she have been normal? Or mum, that would have been nice."
 

"Yeah, but it happened and we have to live with it," Denver said from behind them. Little Ron looked back at him. "She's your cross to bear, like mine is my sister." Simone smacked him across the back of the head. "Grumpy brat," he sneered.
 

"Keep it up. I'm having a midol moment," she warned. Everyone stepped away from her. "I took something for it," she snorted.
 

"Good," Iggy said, patting her on the back. "Tell me if you ever want me to mix you something for that." She smiled at him. "I mean it, middle of the night or any time."
 

"Hey, if we get that infertility spell used on us like daddy had go wrong on him, Aunt Ginny said that you're not supposed to have that problem," Denver told her. "Ten years without one."
 

"That would work for me," Anastasia put in. She and her sister shared a look. It wasn't common knowledge, but Anastasia was the one you had to watch out for when she was having that problem, not Simone. Simone turned cuddly and needy. She'd have to check her calendar and get Iggy to make her something for it. Iggy nudged her and nodded, apparently using his funny mind tricks on her. "Thank you," she said with a smile.
 

Denver whimpered. "Together?" It was his worst nightmare come true.
 

"Not yet," the girls said together.
 

"I'm going to make you some potion tonight," Iggy told her. "Just in case it happens soon." She beamed at him. "Thank you. Excuse me for an hour or so, Little Ron." He jogged off, going to find some sanity. He ran into the classroom and into his mentor's chest. "Sorry, sir, I have to make something to save us from the dreaded girl monster."
 

"Girl monster?" Snape asked, looking amused. Surely he couldn't mean....
 

"Anastasia turns into something that scares even Simone when she has her period," Iggy told him. "I'm saving myself bodily injury."
 

"Ah. The potion is in the brown book of useful household spells." He smirked. "What about for your other cousin?"
 

"She becomes cuddly and gropey. Anastasia becomes scary. This really is self-preservation. I'm not sure this potion is strong enough." He pulled down the book and a small cauldron, starting on the third-year potion.
 

Snape grabbed the book he had been looking for and went back to his desk to find the curse he wanted. He looked up every now and then, then shook his head. It couldn't be that bad.
 

Iggy shook his head. That poor man, with any luck Anastasia wouldn't have his class during that time. He knew kids in his house were keeping a calendar already. Denver had warned someone last month and that had been a mild month. He'd have to find it and make sure they had the right amount of days. It really was self-preservation.
 

***
 

Little Ron walked out onto the pitch with his favorite clothes on and his cousin's old broom in his hand. "Hi," he said, waving. "Where's Ana?"
 

"Still in the bathroom," Denver said. He looked at the boy's hair: those muggle row-braids across his head to the back, then french braided down the back. "That looks good on you," he said, lifting off. "Come on up and we'll warm up together."
 

Little Ron got onto the broom and joined him. "Daddy said I could have his firebolt when I came if I got on the team," he told his cousin.
 

"Wow. You'll zoom rings around most of us then." He reached over and shoved him, grinning at him. "Are you going to have the girls do your hair before every game?"
 

Ron nodded. "It's not in my face." He pulled on his glasses, which he needed for seeing far away, and smiled as they darkened slowly. "How do I look now?"
 

"Dangerous," an older voice said, floating up to them.
 

"Hi, Uncle Oliver. What's going on? Don't you have a game today?"
 

"The snitch was tired today. It was released and flew right to your father. He checked with the referee but got shrugged at so once the whistle was blown he grabbed it. Shortest game in history," he said with a smile. "Are those muggle glasses?"
 

"Yeah. I'm a little sun sensitive so daddy takes me to a muggle eye doctor. He fitted me with these. They change in the sunlight. Isn't it cool?"
 

"Very, but some leagues won't let their players wear them. You'll have to check with whomever's going to referee for your game."
 

"Unless it's Uncle Harry or Dad, no one here does that," Simone said as she joined them. "Watch out," she told the boys. They nodded. "Iggy made her the potion and it's working but not enough."
 

"All right," Denver agreed. He looked at Little Ron. "Anastasia's going to be cranky all weekend."
 

"Is she having girl problems?" Little Ron asked. Everyone nodded. "I've heard about those from Aunty Ginny. She told me to watch out for her all the time."
 

"Good boy," Denver said, patting him on the arm. He looked at their temporary referee. "So, you're going to ref today?"
 

"Looks like it. Dumbledore's asked me to stand in now and again. Is that okay with you guys?" They all nodded. "Good, then I want a clean game. Madam Hooch taught me how to play quidditch and I believe in fairness." He grinned. "Unless I'm personally playing." He flew off to talk to the captain.
 

"Dirt!" the captain yelled.
 

Iggy flew up. "She's got something for it," he called. "She's tamer this time." He looked around. "Okay, everyone break into teams. Ana, you're on first string. Got it?" he asked when she joined them.
 

She nodded. "Sure. Can I play beater today though?"
 

"No," Simone said as she flew past them. "No switching position unless it's necessary. Fly higher, you're in our usual plane of flight." Her sister floated up and Simone looked at the other beaters. "I'll be nice," she called to the other team. They came out of the stands and formed on the other side of the center line. Simone pulled her bat and patted it in her hand. The balls were released. And they were off! She flew her usual patterns, managing to save Iggy and Denver a hard knock within a few minutes. She wove around the chasers, getting an incoming one and hitting it at the second string keeper. The girl flinched away from it. She'd have to work with her, just in case. She hit the next one at Little Ron to watch his reaction. He floated out of the way then grinned at her, making her smile. Yeah, he was well trained. She heard a scream of outrage and flew up to guard her sister, who had just smacked a bludger with the tail of her broom. "Don't do that, it's my job."
 

"Then do your job," she snarled.
 

Simone hit the next one and it flew off. "Relax, look for the snitch. That's your only goal out here. Stay alive and get the snitch." Her sister nodded so she dove to protect Iggy, her co-beater was off dealing with the other one. That one got sent after him, making him come back and pay more attention closer to the home goal. Oh, his girlfriend was in the stands. How nice. She glared at him. "Pay attention! Ana had to hit one herself."
 

"Sorry." He flew to get the next one going towards the volatile princess.
 

And the game went on. Within a half hour, Ron had spotted the snitch and had gone after it, not minding at all when the other beater had knocked him off course. He twisted his broom around so he was flying upside down for a moment, then zoomed back up. By this time, Anastasia had seen him and was hurrying to try and get it herself. She wasn't taking it from him though. He nudged his broom to go faster and it leapt forward, and he got it right before her fingers closed on it. "I've got it," he called, showing it off. The whistle blew. He was patted and congratulated by everyone.
 

The Captain smiled at him. "When you join the house, you've got a spot. I'll still be here then."
 

Anastasia sighed. "Good, then I'll only have to do this for a year." She brushed the sweat off her head. "I'm going to shower." She flew off.
 

The Captain smiled at Simone. "You were right, she hates to sweat."
 

"At least we have her here until Little Ron gets here," Denver reminded him. He hugged his cousin. "Great job. I can't wait to really play with you next year, cousin." He flew down to cool off. "Iggy, owl!" he yelled.
 

Iggy zoomed down and took the message, smiling at the note. "Raena's going to try to come for a game with her parents. Our Elders have asked for her to come visit them again this spring."
 

"That is so cool," Simone agreed. "You still won't be allowed to date her until you're older."
 

Iggy stuck his tongue out at her. "Yay. We'll just have to make sure we win that game, okay?" His cousins nodded. "Good. What happened to your partner?"
 

"His girlfriend was watching."
 

Oliver flew over to them. "Good game, you guys. I had no idea you guys were so good." He smiled. "Iggy, do you play keeper too?"
 

"I'm our reserve keeper, the other one is for when I can't because the other chasers can't play."
 

"I woulda killed to have had one of those when I was playing," Oliver told him with a grin. "We didn't even have a second string most years. An extra chaser maybe, but not a whole extra team." He clapped Simone on the back. "You are just as good as your uncles were together. Your team looks great, kids." They all smiled at him. "Have a good game, I'll be watching with Harry." He flew off again, going to talk to the Captain. The boy reminded him of himself, only with less zeal about practices.
 

"Didn't Uncle Fred call him a tyrant?" Simone asked. The boys nodded. "Huh. Maybe we could use someone like him."
 

"Maybe we should get him to have a kid so they can join Lucien and Maeve," Iggy suggested.
 

"They're a year old," Denver pointed out. "It'd already have to be born."
 

Iggy grinned. "Did you ever notice that there were a lot of wizards and witches born the same year as Maeve and Lucien? They might have to adjust the birthday cutoff again." He landed and went to shower in the changing rooms. He had potion's practice that afternoon. He was running so late that he ended up bringing his broom with him to the dungeon.
 

"Did you have a good practice?"
 

"Yeah, Little Ron Potter will be great once we get him next year."
 

"Really?" Snape looked up. "He played with you?"
 

"We played first on second string. He caught the snitch inches away from Ana's fingers. His father trained him well."
 

"Hmm. We'll have to watch out for him when I referee next year."
 

"You ref?" Iggy asked, shocked. "I didn't know you played, sir."
 

Snape laughed, but he was pleased. "Yes, I did play for a bit. Keeper actually, just for two years. I am one of the alternate referees on the list."
 

"Then you may be the one for our first game. We're not sure who's reffing yet." Iggy shrugged and pulled down the book he was working his way through. "Where was I?"
 

"Antidotes."
 

"Oh, yeah. By the way, the potion worked, but not enough. Please don't piss Ana off, it'll become horrible, sir." He went to get one of the clean cauldrons and start in on his next potion. He was learning them by doing each one in turn to get a feel of the differences between the categories. It was helping him a lot. "Raena will be here for one of the spring games. Bill requested a talk with her and her father."
 

"Oh?" Snape smiled. "I'm sure she'll be delighted to watch you play. Did you send her the dates that your team played?"
 

"I was going to add them onto the end of my letter tonight," Iggy admitted. "I hope she can come during the Ravenclaw game. I do excellently against them." He grinned, remembering last year's game.
 

"Who's first?"
 

"Us and Hufflepuff are first game of the year, next weekend. Then Slytherin and Ravenclaw play in a few weeks." He grimaced as he chopped the smelly bladders, fortunately properly emptied and cleaned for him already. That was a nasty job, taking the little round brush and having to clean them. "I think they're trying to get Melvin to go along with something bad. He's been giving us pained looks all week." He finished with those and put them aside.
 

"You'll need a finer mince on those, Ignatius."
 

"Yes, sir." He pulled the group back and chopped them in the opposite direction, making smaller pieces. Then he shoved them aside again, going to deal with the herbs. "Are you doing our first game?"
 

"No, I'm not scheduled and I have a meeting in London that day. Dumbledore will have to find someone else."
 

"Okay then. Maybe he'll get Uncle Oliver."
 

"Possibly. He was looking at the boy for the flying classes."
 

"Really?" Iggy turned his head and chopped his finger, then hissed and went to clean it off, grabbing a new bunch of herbs while he was over there. Blood was not required in this potion. His mentor smiled at him for his meticulous nature. "I should know better by now."
 

"Even I sometimes cut myself, Ignatius, it happens. Be sure to clean the cutting board as well." He went back to his research. He would not be going to the Hellmouth lacking in offensive and defensive spells.
 

Iggy noticed what he was reading and frowned. He knew where there were books to help him. He'd talk to his Uncle Harry when he came to pick up his kids.
 

***
 

Xander looked up, noticing the shiny bird sitting on the back of his couch. "Did you decide you liked me again?" he asked, holding out a hand. Murphy made a quizzical noise. "You've been gone since I got sick so I started to wonder. Albus said sometimes you guys go pick someone else, even when you like your chosen humans."
 

Murphy grumbled and hopped over, landing in his lap. He stared into his eyes, reminding him of being chosen in the owl shop. Didn't his human understand? He didn't leave his sick humans. And was his human sick! When had this happened?
 

"Yeah, I remember that, but you were gone. I could have used some cuddles and nuzzles."
 

Murphy showed him a picture of Charlie being looked over by three chicks. Hadn't he told him he was going to see Charlie?
 

"Oh, you went to see him. Did he get a chick?" He stroked down the soft back feathers. "Are you back?"
 

Murphy trilled and settled into the lap. He sent a picture about the white hair. Wasn't that bad?
 

"The hellmouth is killing me, boy." He tipped the beak up. "If something happens to me, I want you to stay with George if you can. He'll need you to comfort him."
 

Murphy glared at him, making angry noises. He would kill whatever was hurting his human. Nothing hurt his human, not even a dragon.
 

"It's the hellmouth, not a mouse, big guy. It's a portal and it's sucking my energy away. I can feel it picking up again." He went back to stroking over the feathers. At least it was the weekend so he could deal with this for a few more days. He'd get stronger, once whomever was playing with the hellmouth quit for a while.
 

Murphy cooed at him, soothing his human into a nap. He would be talking to his mate's human, he knew nearly everything and was good at talking to him. He knew that he wasn't leaving his human's mate. He liked the mate. He fluffed himself out and settled in to nap for a while. His human needed him. Look at the trouble he got into when he was left alone.
 

***
 

Iggy sighed as he mounted his broom and warmed up. He was so tired. He saw Simone giving him looks. "I'm okay, just tired," he announced. "I'm going to nap after the game."
 

"Yes, you will," Simone told him. She flew over to him and gave him a hug. "You ready? Can you play?"
 

"Yeah, I'll just be a little slow. This is Hufflepuff we're talking about, they're not that fast anyway."
 

The Captain flew up to join them. "Two things," he said, turning to look at Simone. "Go put on a bra, even if it's your sister's. Iggy, can you fly?" he asked.
 

"I don't need one," she complained.
 

"They got in your way during practice. Go bind them down or something," the Captain ordered. She opened her mouth. "Do it or don't play." She huffed but went down to bind them down with an ace bandage. "Iggy?"
 

"I'm fine. A little tired, but I'll do fine."
 

The Captain nodded. "I'm sure you will. The extra chaser is ready to play in case you need to duck out for a bit." Iggy glared at him. "Hey, being practical. We can't afford to lose against any team, even though Simone's been good this year."
 

Iggy shrugged. "I'm fine. I'm tired, a little sore and dizzy, but I'm good to play. This is Hufflepuff, I can handle it."
 

"Okay. I'll trust you to know your limits. You're good enough to do that." He flew up to their launching area, going to wait on the rest of his team.
 

Iggy took another spin around then headed up to wait, leaning against the wall. When Simone came up, he frowned at her. "Isn't that uncomfortable?"
 

"Yes. But someone said I couldn't play without it," she said, glaring at the captain.
 

Anastasia pulled her sister over and put both their robes around them so she could adjust it for her sister. "There," she announced. "That feel better?" Simone nodded, still grimacing. "Talk to mum, we've found a lot of things for times like this." She put back on her robes. "Let's go."
 

Simone finished redressing and took her usual position. She was always one of the first out. The team was announced and the curtains opened, then they left, flowing around the field in the standard formation. She settled into her spot and looked over the other team. The chasers were sitting next to the beaters, not in the 'ready' pose to start the game. She looked at her Captain, then nodded. He shook his head. She nodded. They were up to something.
 

Melvin broke away from the pack. "No, I won't. I don't care what you do to me, I'm not doing it." He took up his determined position.
 

"Then get the other one up here," his captain shouted.
 

Oliver floated up. "Ready?"
 

"No," the Hufflepuff captain called. "We've got a small problem with a chaser. Take part or leave."
 

"Melvin, we're not going to make you choose the family," Simone called. He looked at her and she smiled. "We understand, it's a game."
 

Melvin shook his head. "No, not this time." He looked at the referee. "I want to sit out. I refuse to hurt my cousin on purpose." He looked at his captain then back at the ref. "I refuse to participate."
 

The ref looked at the captain, frowning at him. "Plan?" he asked harshly. "Head of the house please!" he called. The head of Hufflepuff and Gryffindor both grabbed brooms and flew up. "We have a report of a plan to intentionally cause harm on the Hufflepuff side."
 

The Gryffindor captain floated closer. "They wouldn't make you choose, Melvin," he reminded him.
 

Melvin shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Iggy's too sick to intentionally knock him off when he's distracted. I won't try to kill someone else to win a stupid game!"
 

Oliver nearly gasped. Sacrilege! Only a game! He looked at the heads as he forced himself to stay calm. "To investigate this properly, it'll take a few hours. What do you want to do? Hold off the game or forfeit?"
 

"We can play another team," Simone pointed out. Her captain looked at her. "We can. We're good enough to play anyone cold." The other team members nodded.
 

Iggy flew closer. "Slytherin and Ravenclaw have both been practicing and it'll be fair for either team. Which one do we want?"
 

"Slytherin, to get it out of the way," the Captain said. He checked the rest of his team. Only the spare chaser shook his head. "No to the idea or the team?"
 

"I don't like playing Slytherin so I'm going to hand control to an alternate."
 

He nodded and turned around. "We offer to substitute Slytherin for this match and play Hufflepuff later, when we were supposed to play Slytherin. If they'll agree."
 

The ref looked at the two heads, who shrugged. "Head of Slytherin!" he called. Snape floated up, taking the broom the head of Hufflepuff had used. "Since there's a report of a plan for intentional harm, the Gryffindors have offered to play your house now as a substitution based on the alternate rules. Do you agree?"
 

He looked at the team. "We've practiced but not for them. I'll have to talk to my team." He looked at the Captain. "What plan?"
 

"Melvin let on that there's a plan to intentionally try and kill one of our chasers," the captain told him. "We can take on Agatha if we have to."
 

"Very well." He floated back down to his house's seats on the pitch. "They've asked for a substitution while a report of a conspiracy to commit an intentional foul is looked over. What say you?" This was a most unusual circumstance, it had only happened twice before at the school and almost never in the major leagues.
 

The captain looked around. "Agatha's in the tower. We'll need her. Give us half an hour." His team nodded, standing up and heading down to the changing areas.
 

Snape floated back. "They'll need half an hour to change and get a missing member."
 

"Good enough," Wood said. He blew his whistle for attention. "The game will proceed in half an hour, Gryffindor versus Slytherin!" He nodded at the captain. "Use the time to rest." He flew off.
 

The Gryff captain looked around. "Everyone back to the changing rooms, Iggy take a nap." They flew down and out.
 

Oliver landed in front of the teacher's box. "I'm leaving the investigation in your hands, Madam Sprout. I'll expect a report to be given to the Headmaster." They both nodded. "You might want to offer refreshments," he suggested with a smile. "A half-hour wait will make people edgy." He got off his broom and sat down to talk with Ron and Harry.
 

***
 

Agatha looked up as her door was opened. "What?" she asked.
 

"Hufflepuff decided to try and kill Iggy on the field today. We're playing in their place," Ryan told her. "Get your kit on and let's go."
 

Agatha stood up, already braiding her hair. "Who was that stupid?"
 

"Their captain apparently. Melvin gave them up." She snorted. "It's his family, so it's understandable, even though his teammates are going to get him later."
 

"Not if they're found out first," she noted, pulling out her robes. "Let me change, Ryan." He backed out and closed the door, waiting on the other side. She headed in to go to the bathroom first, she wouldn't get a chance for a while. A sudden thought hit her, she'd get to beat up on Iggy and the other two herself. What fun!
 

***
 

Simone looked at Iggy, then at the Captain. "Give him five more, he's almost awake anyway." She scratched at the bindings. "These suck."
 

"All women have to wear a bra sometime," Anastasia told her as she came out of the girls' section. "Are we ready? Time's almost up."
 

The alternate chaser came in, already dressed. "They're all in the changing rooms. It'll be about ten more minutes before they hit their platform." He looked at Iggy. "He okay?"
 

"Just tired. Whomever's playing with the hellmouth is doing it now."
 

"What rotten timing," the captain moaned. "Are we ready for this? They're faster, they're meaner, and we were going to face a slow team."
 

"So we beat up on Aggie," Simone said with a shrug. "She's the real cruelty on their team. Watch out for her," she told her teammates. "She will knock you off your broom and laugh. I'll try and get her with a bludger or two. You guys just avoid her." The two awake chasers nodded. Iggy groaned. "Iggy?"
 

He sat up with a gasp. "Oh, shit. They're trying to use the hellmouth to substitute someone dying during my father's graduation." He held his head. "This *so* sucks as dad would say."
 

Simone sat beside him and patted him gently. "We'll tell him. He'll know what to do." He nodded and relaxed. "Are you ready?"
 

Iggy stood up and pulled on the outer robe. "Ready. Aggie's going to come after the family mostly, but the rest of you are fair targets. Watch out for her left hand, she's got sharpened nails on it." They all nodded. "Let's go." He led the way out, face set to play against the bitch of the family. He took his spot on the platform and grabbed his broom from the wall. It felt okay, he would be fine. He felt and saw the others arranging themselves and took a deep breath. "Simone, no funny stuff. Play fair, but mean." She nodded, taking her usual spot, front left. The curtains opened and they mounted and were off. He looked at his opponents, including Agatha. He caught the quaffle and took off faster than anyone ever had. He heard her screech in rage and smiled. Waste of breath.
 

***
 

Ron looked at his celebrating house. "Guys, I think you deserve a real treat," he announced. "Not only did you play well and fairly, but you smashed their faces into the grass in the dirtiest game seen since the original Potter and Malfoy games!" The team shouted and clapped. "Now then, what should we do to celebrate?"
 

"Party," Denver called. He nudged Melvin, who was taking refuge from the wrath of his captain, who was now on suspension for two weeks worth of practice and the next game. "Can Iggy go get stuff?"
 

"Xander, may Iggy leave?" Ron called.
 

Xander looked at his son. "If he can do it without getting into trouble. Dumbledore did say he couldn't do that." He grinned and stood up. "We're teachers though." He took Ron's money and pooled it with his, going to get them treats and snacks from Diagon and the Leaky Cauldron. When he came back, the house was a little more full. Snape and Dumbledore were waiting. "Give me a sec," he called, putting out the food. "Food!" The kids rushed the table. He made his way over to the other adults. "What's wrong? You don't look happy." He shook Snape's hand. "Good game."
 

"Thank you. For not being prepared, it was well fought." Snape looked at Ignatius. "He found out something during his nap."
 

"It confirmed what we knew. They're trying to make sure someone didn't die during your graduation."
 

"Ah." Xander nodded. "If I remember right, twenty kids died," he said, leading them back into the hallway. "I knew three of the people who died personally, but it does narrow it down. Willow had an account of the fight written up for the Watchers. We should be able to look at it and figure out where each one died."
 

"We're worried because they could mean to substitute someone in that one's place," Snape explained.
 

"Which would change the past," Xander agreed. "Paradox. Especially if it's me?" Dumbledore nodded. "I won't lie to you, I was in the middle of the fight. I saw ten of the people who died fall because they were around me. As soon as we have it mapped out, it'll give us a better clue."
 

"Can you talk to Ms. Rosenberg?"
 

"Sure, but so could you," Xander reminded him.
 

"It wouldn't be appropriate," Snape pointed out.
 

"Why not? You're involved in this too. If Willow is the one who falls, then she'd never have met Tara and she wouldn't be here or pregnant." Snape shuddered. "Basically, anyone who would have stepped into the place for a person dying would probably be someone who interferes in others lives anyway. Councilors, police officers, me." He grinned. "The paradox would have to be known about. If not, it's a way to stop it if we can show them how many people will die."
 

Albus nodded. "It's a good plan, but we'll have to get them to acknowledge it."
 

"Anya," Xander said simply. "And I'm not going to talk to her."
 

"I understand," Dumbledore agreed. "Can you send a message to Spike? Have him talk to her?" Xander nodded. "Thank you. It really wouldn't do to have us talking to either of them, it would look bad to the parents. You're known to associate with people like Spike and Willow, whereas it would be seen as us talking with uncomfortably evil creatures."
 

Xander chuckled. "I'll tell Willow you said that." He nodded at the party. "Want to join in?"
 

"I believe I'll float between the two," Dumbledore told him. "How is Iggy? I noticed he fell."
 

"He's fine. Little bruise and a sore shoulder. How's Agatha?" he asked with a smirk.
 

"Loose tooth, bruise on her jaw, broken wrist which is being fixed," Snape told him. "She'll be fine. You may warn Simone that she's vowed to give her back two bruises for every one."
 

"Hey, she shouldn't have tried to take out Denver, that's Simone's job." Xander walked back into the party and told Ron what was going on.
 

***
 

Anya appeared in front of a male and female couple, frowning as she watched them look into futures that might have been. The golden ring in front of them showed a Sunnydale that was peaceful, quiet, and had no people.
 

"It's calm," the woman said.
 

"There's no people," Anya pointed out. They looked up at her, scared. "Really. There's no people. Focus it on the grocery store." The scene changed, showing empty parking lots and stores. "Everyone died in that one a few months afterwards. The hellmouth kept the town pretty so more people would move in and it could attract more users for it." She sat down across from them. "Do you know what you propose?"
 

The man swallowed. "Who are you?"
 

"Anyanka, vengeance demon." She shifted back into her human guise. "I was trapped as a human when all this happened."
 

"You went with Harris to the senior prom," the woman said, frowning. Anya nodded. "You can't stop us. We'll get him back."
 

Anya shook her head. "Anything you do will cause a paradox, it will kill more people."
 

She laughed. "It won't. None of those people ever did anything useful."
 

Anya ran a hand over the ring, and it changed to a cemetery. "All those people will die, and more, if Xander dies." They looked, starting to turn pale. "He killed a serial killer, a very powerful wizard who was killing and torturing whole families. He stopped him right before he took out a school full of children," Anya informed them quietly. She changed it to Sunnydale's cemetery. "These are the people he had saved before he left for Britain who will die if you chose him." She ran her hand over it again. "These are the ones Rosenberg saved."
 

The man backed away. "No, it can't be." He was shaking. So many people, including him. "How?"
 

"Remember Buffy Summers?" The couple nodded. "She was what was is called a Slayer. She took out things like the demon who attacked graduation because it was her calling and her duty. Those two fought beside her. As did others. There's no one who fought that day who didn't impact another's life. Everyone did." She ran a hand over the ring. "This is the woman that the jock Brian whatever-his-name-was saved, and her unborn child that she didn't know she was carrying. These are the people that Henderson helped with her practice. This is the building full of people that Riggers saved by being in the right place and running in to save them, even though it was on fire. *Everyone* who fought that day is important to others. If you change it so that one of them died then it will kill many others." She looked at the woman. "The paradox will destroy your world. The very fabric will rip and tear. Only my kind will be left until someone gets bored and opens up a portal to another plane or realm." She morphed back into demonic guise. "You cannot do this. Even the demons won't allow it. This was a gentle warning. The next one will come at the point of a flaming sword. Or from a gun, or even from a gang of demons who will come and rip you to shreds."
 

"The spell's started, it can't be stopped," the woman told her, staying calm. None of those people mattered. "We'll get him back."
 

Anya shook her head. "No, you won't. He'll still die and so will you and everyone else . I can help it be stopped."
 

The woman stood up, her chair scraping back. "Leave. The spell can't be stopped."
 

Anya laughed. "Any spell can be stopped, sister. Trust me on this." She disappeared, going to tell that nice Dumbledore person what she knew. He could help stop this.
 

The woman looked at the man. "It was a lie. You can't trust a demon."
 

"We saw where everyone died," he protested. "We were doing that before she came. And I trust her, it explains Summers exactly!"
 

"She was lying," the woman snapped. "We have to finish it, we can't stop the spell so we might as well go on." She sat back down and marked off another name. The next name made her smile. "Ah, her pet. Let's see what the future would have been like if he had died." The town reformed in the ring, only it was burned and destroyed. "What happened there?"
 

He came over to look. "Who's the blonde in Gucci?" he asked. Her face zoomed in and she smiled at them, making him flinch. "Cancel it!" She canceled it. "See!"
 

"Then we'll do Rosenberg." The town shown was whole, but again had almost no people in it. "Hmm." She made a note.
 

"Check the cemetery," he suggested.
 

"I won't dwell on that."
 

"Do it!" he snapped. The ring changed, showing off the three new cemeteries. "See, there you are, right beside me and him!" He walked away. "I'm not helping."
 

"It's too late. It has to go forward," she reminded him. "Stopping it will kill us both anyway."
 

"Then we'll be able to join him," the man begged. "I'm willing to pay that price."
 

"Good." She changed the ring, then smiled. "Here we are. No change."
 

"In Sunnydale, what about in the world? He left." He came back to look and noticed the skull at the bottom of the ring. "What's that?" he asked. It formed and showed a field full of fresh bodies. "Who're they?"
 

"Freaks of nature. They deserve to die anyway," she noted. "We'll substitute him." She crossed off all the other names and left his on her list. "Did he RSVP?" The man nodded. "Don't worry, he didn't save anyone who mattered." She stood up and took the ring out of the water, drying it off carefully and putting it back into its box. "Two more weeks. Is the catering ready? It'll have to be just right."
 

"Yeah, everything's ready," he said, running a hand through his hair. "Are you sure he didn't impact anyone's lives that matters?" She nodded. "How did we know none of those people would have children who would do magnificent things, or cure people, or even...." He stopped as she shot him.
 

She leaned down and kissed his lips. "When you come back, it'll be all better. Saving him means that we'll all be together again," she whispered, then she left him there.
 

***
 

Xander looked around. It was his day off and he was about to go Christmas shopping. It was two days before Solstice and he knew he would be tired on that day, probably through Christmas, so he had to do this today, but the family was downstairs. He grabbed the vault key off the dresser and decided to teleport away.
 

"I want fudge," George called up the stairs.
 

Xander smiled. "Okay. Anything else?"
 

"Yeah, Simone needs you."
 

Xander sighed and headed down the stairs, going to hug his niece. Her parents were out shopping as well, leaving them with the kids. Well, leaving Fred, George, and Ron with the kids since he was going to slip away too. "What'cha need?" he asked her.
 

"I need a bra," she whispered. "My captain won't let me play without one anymore." She shifted uncomfortably. "They're getting in the way. I tried to stop mum but she was wrapped up in the skanky idiot she brought home."
 

"Okay, I can take you with me. You can pick out your parent's presents." She smiled. "Bye, guys, we're going shopping." He teleported out with her before anyone could say anything.
 

"Gee, thanks for the warning," Fred noted. He checked the clock. "We've got to get down to the shop." The kids all looked interested. "You guys can come, as long as you don't get into trouble." Ron started bundling kids into jackets while the adults got the playpens for the younger crowd. The store was going to be packed today, parents and kids buying for each other, so it would be a long one.
 

***
 

Xander drug Simone out of the bank, small pile of muggle cash in his pocket and galleons, sickles, and knuts in the other one so he didn't get them mixed up. They stopped in the book store, the jewelry store, even the quill store to get her father a gag quill - one of those large ones with the extremely large feather on the end. Then they headed to the Leaky Cauldron for a snack, leaving the bags behind the bar before going out bra shopping. Xander wisely brought her to the place he knew Anastasia wouldn't like, a sports store. "Let's start here," he told her. She smiled as she looked around at the shoes and sticks. The saleswoman came walking over. "My niece plays bouncing and running sorts of sports and she needs a bra," he explained, trying hard not to blush.
 

"Your mum couldn't come?" the saleswoman asked with a smile.
 

"Didn't catch her before she came out today," Simone told her. "I basically duck and weave, and swing a bat a lot."
 

"We have some sports bras, but these are more for working out or running, but it's a good place to start." She showed them the selection.
 

"Hey, house colors," she said, picking two down. "Will these fit me?"
 

"We'll have to try them on you, princess." The saleswoman smiled at Xander. "How much were you willing to spend? There's an *excellent* shop up the road. And it's got fancy ones too."
 

"I'd rather not wear ones like my sister," Simone told her. "Can I try these on?" The saleswoman exchanged them for smaller sizes and led her back to the changing room. "How do I do this?" she asked once she had her shirt off. The saleswoman came in and helped her into it. "Oh." She turned and looked at her profile. "Wow, those do flatten me." She swung her arms like she was hitting a bludger. "Oh, yeah, I like that. Much better." She smiled at the woman. "I'll take these."
 

"Good for you, sweetie. I'll write down directions to the place we usually send all our beginners and meet you at the checkout. Okay?" She took the tag off that bra and winked. "You can wear that out." She left the girl around to go deal with the Uncle. "She looks great in the red one and it fits wonderfully," she announced. He paid her, giving her a smile. She looked at the little copper coin. "How odd, I've never seen one of those."
 

"Oops, foreign money for another present," he said, taking it back and checking the pocket with the muggle money, switching the non-muggle money back to the correct pocket. "There we go." Simone came out, smiling. "Not so bad?"
 

"If they're all like this, it's not so bad," Simone told him. She handed over the extras, watching as they were bagged and Xander was given a slip of paper. "Can we go there and look too?"
 

"Sure," Xander agreed, slipping the money back into his pocket, the correct one. He smiled and walked Simone out. The store turned out to be at the mall he had taken the muggle studies class to so many years ago. "I have fond memories of here," he told her. "I took a whole class on a field trip through this mall."
 

"Really?" She looked up at him. "Why?"
 

"Muggle studies," he said quietly. He smiled at her. "I got stuck with the annual field trip because the teacher got sick." She ran off, going to another sport's store. "Only if you're going to take up jogging," he called, following her. He found some outfits and whistled, bringing her back. "Try these for workouts?"
 

She looked through the rack, coming up with something that might fit her. The next rack was looked through too, and a pair of running shoes was found. Jogging didn't sound so bad. They walked out with a larger bag, the first one going into it. They finally found the bra shop, right next to another sports store. She stopped to look in the window. "What's that bat?" she asked, pointing at a large, flat one.
 

"That's a cricket bat," he told her. "Totally against regulation for what you do."
 

"Yeah, but it'd be an awesome weapon," she said, looking up at him.
 

"We'll see," he told her, steering her into the bra shop. There were some men probably shopping for their girlfriends, and one guy who looked like he was enjoying touching the lingerie just a little bit too much. He smiled as the saleswoman. "My niece is an active sports person and needs foundation. She swings a bat and bounces."
 

"Mostly in ducks and weaves," she told him. "Plus, I'm going to take up jogging."
 

"Oh, we have the most adorable things for girls your age," the woman said with a smile.
 

Simone shook her head. "I don't do adorable, I do black and blues and bruises. Adorable is my sister and her pushup bras."
 

"Maybe something simple and not so delicate, we're mostly here for sports stuff," Xander told her.
 

"All right, we have a full line of sports bras, and a group that will do even though they're not really built for that sort of activity. But for daily wear, they'd feel about the same to your...niece?"
 

"I didn't catch mum before she left this morning," Simone told her. "Besides, Uncle Xander works out and my mum doesn't." She followed the woman, her uncle right behind her. "Oh, how hideous," she said, pointing at a lacy model.
 

"Your sister would probably love it," Xander told her.
 

"Eww, lace," she whined.
 

The saleswoman laughed. "It's good that you know your tastes already. Do you have a boyfriend?"
 

"I'm only twelve," Simone told her. "I'm not allowed to date for another three years."
 

"Pity, we have a wonderful set of velvet bras that would look *lovely* on you."
 

"Velvet?" she asked, looking around. "I like velvet. It's still tough looking."
 

Xander cleared his throat. "We only have two hundred pounds for this stop, Simone. Keep that in mind, okay?"
 

She smiled at him, then squealed when she saw the sports bras arranged by color. "They make them in all sorts of colors."
 

"Do you know what size you wear, young lady?"
 

Xander dug out the first bag and showed her one of the ones that had fit his niece. "We just got those too."
 

"Totally impractical. They'll stick to you." She hurried over and picked down a few of the sports bras, in three different sizes. "Let's go try these on for size and then style. Then you can pick what you want." She led Simone off to a changing room, going in to help her. She just loved first timers. They always were so cute. She even taught the poor girl the easy way to put on a bra.
 

"Wow, Ana hitches hers behind her back."
 

The woman giggled. "She was probably taught by your mother. This is much easier, but you have to be careful not to stretch the fabric too much." She adjusted the girl, making her blush. "Okay, now look."
 

Simone looked in the mirror and must have liked it because the saleswoman came out and grabbed six more, this time in colors and the same size. Xander sat down to wait. He found an outfit that would look adorable on Tara, but it wasn't his place to buy it for her. He shrugged and pulled it down to check the size. He could slip it to Snape. Or to Tara with a wink and a suggestive look at Snape's back. He added it to the growing pile of purchases.
 

By the time they left Xander was broke and they had to walk the six blocks back, but Simone was happy and had enough bras for three weeks. She had even agreed to get a lacy one, just in case she ever needed it. They grabbed their packages at the Leaky Cauldron and tipped Tom, then went home so he could collapse. Xander sat in his chair and watched his niece disappear with her new purchases.
 

"Bad day?" Tara asked, smiling at him as she came through the door.
 

Xander shook his head. "Bra shopping with Simone." He tossed her the bag. "I thought you'd look cute in it and it looked bad for me to be sitting in there without buying anything."
 

She squeaked in laughter, opening the bag. "Xander!" She blushed. "How naughty you are." She swatted him gently. "I have just the time to wear it too," she added with a naughty smirk. She sat down near him. "Bra shopping with Simone?"
 

"Her captain said she had to have one or she couldn't play. So we went to the sports store first. Then they sent us to the mall." Tara laughed. "Oh, it was horrible. Every sports store known to mankind, but at least they were quieter. Oh, and she's going to start jogging. We'll have to mark off a path for her."
 

"Sirius has taken up jogging, she might be able to join him."
 

"He's running from husbands, I don't want her to pick up that habit," he said dryly.
 

Tara giggled, and was still giggling when Ginny and Draco came out of the floo. "Hi. He took Simone bra shopping."
 

Ginny dropped her bags. "Why? That's my job!" She frowned at him, hurt. That was her daughter.
 

"She slept in and missed you," Xander said dryly. "Besides, we went to sports stores." His eyes showed how tired he was. "And the mall."
 

Draco winced. "We went to one of those." He nudged Ginny. "Don't be hurt, he got her the unfancy ones for practice."
 

"And one lacy one because the saleswoman talked her into it." He handed over the slip of paper with the address on it. "We went there if you wanted to take her somewhere else."
 

Ginny snatched it and looked at it, then smirked. "We go to a real bra shop, not the commercial places." She tucked it into her pocket. "How many did she get?"
 

"Three weeks worth, some workout clothes, and a new pair of sneakers because she wants to start jogging." Xander waved Draco off when he opened his wallet. "Consider it her Christmas present from me. Draco, you might want to watch out, she wanted a cricket bat."
 

"Why?" he asked.
 

"Because she's a beater and likes bats?" Tara suggested. She held up the outfit he had gotten her. "He had to buy something so the people would quit looking at him," she explained. "Think I'll look cute?"
 

"I think you'll be adorable," Draco told her, kissing her on the cheek. "You'll stun him stupid." He sat down beside her. "Did they help her?"
 

"Both saleswomen walked in there with her and manhandled her into them," Xander told him. "She seemed happy. Ginny, she went back to the tower if you wanted to go look them over." Ginny nodded and walked off, still not happy with him. "She didn't think Ginny would understand about practical bras," he confided.
 

"Probably not. She likes pretty ones, not ones that flatten you out," Draco agreed. "She's more into Anastasia's styles than Simone's."
 

Tara patted him on the leg. "She'll learn soon enough, all mothers do." She stood up, stuffing the outfit into her bag. "Thank you, Xander. I'll tell you how it turns out." She left them there.
 

"How much did you spend?" Draco asked. Xander held up five fingers. "Five galleons? How expensive are they?"
 

"I went for the good ones so they'll last her until she outgrows them. Cheap and easy ones won't do her any good and might snap during a game." He stretched. "It was almost as bad as helping Iggy find a jock strap," he admitted.
 

"I remember that," Draco sighed, leaning back. "Next we'll have Ravena."
 

"Not for a few years yet," Xander said happily. Murphy flew in and landed on his lap. "Hey, big guy. What's up? Did you have fun with Spike and Ethan?" Murphy showed him the picture of a young one curling up in Spike's lap. "You gave *Spike* a chick?"
 

Murphy sang happily. The mean one and the undead creature his human liked were perfectly suited to each other. They'd annoy each other and the smelly human to no end.
 

***
 

Ginny tapped on her daughter's door, walking in to look at her. "Hi. I heard you went and finally found a bra?" She sat on her daughter's bed and picked through them. "All these are hideous," she said.
 

"They're practical, mum, not meant to be pretty. I'm meant to sweat in them." She took off her shirt to show off the one she was wearing. It was checkered. "See, sweat worthy and good for practice." She pulled ut a second bag and handed it over. "These are for daily wear."
 

Her mother grimaced as she looked through them. "But they're still so plain, Simone. Don't you want pretty ones?" She held up the velvet one by a strap. "At least this one is pretty."
 

"Mum, pretty bras imply that someone's going to be seeing them," Simone said patiently. Her mother frowned and dropped the bra. "This is why I asked Uncle Xander, because I don't care what they look like. I care that I can swing my bat and not bang myself in the head when I roll on my broom. Oh, and I'm going to start jogging. It looks like fun." She sat down and put on her new shoes, the salesman had told her she needed to wear them for a few days to break them in. "See, practical, mum, just like me."
 

Ginny rolled her eyes. "But still, pretty bras make you feel pretty."
 

"Mum, I know I'm gorgeous already. I don't need flashy bras and panties to show me that. Boxer shorts and sports bras are making me happy." She stood up. "Face it, mum, you get to dress up Anastasia any way you please, but you'll never get me or Denver into a lace and wire creation that pinches and itches."
 

Ginny sighed. "Fine. I'll wait until you get a boyfriend." The velvet bra was held up with a meaningful look. Ginny smirked. "You'll learn."
 

"No, I'll probably switch boxer shorts with him," the girl told her. Her mother continued to smirk. "Okay, mum, when I get ready to roll one of the guys in school onto his back and ride him hard before putting him away wet, I'll let you buy me lingerie. Until then, I'm wearing practical bras. Deal with it, please, before you give me a complex." She walked around the room, stretching her shoes out. "These are really comfortable, except for that one spot. I need more pairs of these." She looked at her mother. "Yes, that was a hint. Oh, and I saw the most wicked bat," she said with a grin. "It was *huge*. I could hit bludgers out of the pitch with that thing."
 

Her mother smiled. "I'll take you shopping tomorrow, Simone. You need more clothes anyway." She helped take off the tags so her daughter could pack them into her things. "Did you want anything else tomorrow?"
 

"Just some more comfy clothes. You'd be surprised at how comfy the clothes Uncle Xander helped me find today are."
 

"They're revealing," Ginny said, sounding relieved. "No boxer shorts or they'll show."
 

Simone took out her other underwear and tossed them onto the bed. "I can wear those."
 

"Good point," she agreed, smiling because they were *girl* underwear. Sort of. Maybe. Boxer briefs? She shuddered. "Okay, I'll buy you new clothes, but I'm going to get you one pretty bra set while we're out, just to make myself feel better."
 

"Sure. If it has wires though, I'm taking them out. The stupid things don't need to stick up, they need to stand down."
 

"Fine," Ginny agreed, watching as her daughter changed into her new clothes. Those underwear looked comfortable! And they went down your legs, no wedgies. She watched as her daughter bounced in place. "Are you going to go jogging now?"
 

"After I talk to Professor Black. He jogs too and I was going to see where he runs."
 

"Have fun, dear," Ginny said, getting up and giving her a hug and a kiss on the head. "I'll be over at Xander's, paying him back."
 

"Oh, don't, mum. He found Aunt Tara something."
 

"I saw." She followed her daughter out of the tower and split off with her. Her daughter must have been this way because of her father. Or Ron. Maybe all those stomach rubs she had been given by Ron and Xander? She walked into the tower. "Your daughter's off to go jogging," she told Draco. He looked horrified and Xander snickered. "This is your fault. All those back and stomach rubs you and Ron gave me."
 

"I did the same for Anastasia and she's girlie," Xander reminded her.
 

"Point," Ginny said darkly as she sat down next to Draco. "He got her horrible, plain things. They flatten her down. She's still trying to avoid being a girl."
 

Draco patted her on the leg. "I'm sure she'll be a girl someday, dear. Just wait, she'll have to date someday."
 

"Hopefully, if she isn't into girls."
 

"Even then, she'll still have to date," Xander told her.
 

Ginny glared at him. "That was an awful lot of stuff. How much did you spend?"
 

"Five galleons. I went for the most sturdy so they wouldn't fall apart on her. I thought it'd be better to get quality stuff instead of cheap stuff."
 

"Good point. Why was one of them a different size?"
 

"She decided Anastasia needed one because she was bouncing on the field a lot during the last game." He smiled at Draco. "Apparently someone has been noticing poor little Ana and panting after her little lacy panties."
 

Ginny laughed. "She's a first year."
 

"My tailor thought she was a third year," Draco told her. Her mouth opened. "She's a bit ... advanced for her age. Perhaps you should have the talk with her?"
 

"I already did."
 

"The same one you got or a better one?" he asked.
 

She hit him with a pillow. "A good one, thank you." She stood up. "Where is she?"
 

"Doing her hair," Xander told her. "Ron just came through shaking his head about her girly nature." Ginny sighed and went back to talk to her favorite daughter. Xander looked at Draco. "More than one."
 

"I figured as much. They fit those things?" Xander nodded. "Wow. I never realized so much work went into buying a bra for the first time."
 

"Me either, but then again, I don't worry about them. My daughter won't need one for another ten years at the least. And Tara can help with that."
 

"Unless Ravena wants you to help her find one," Draco teased.
 

"Hey, you're a father, you can deal with that too." Xander put up his feet, smiling as Ron came back down the stairs. "Simone has bras."
 

Ron shuddered. "I'm glad I missed that trip. Did you force her into those lacy things like Ginny likes?" Xander shook his head. "Went the easy route?"
 

"She wanted sports bras. I bought her sports bras," Xander told him with a grin. "Practical, smooshing, plain sports bra. Oh, and she's running now."
 

Ron shuddered again. "I hated doing that. Hopefully she'll give up the bad habit." He waved Gwen's hand for her. "We're going to play in the snow."
 

"What about the other two?"
 

"Sleeping," Ron said with a smile. "I'm not waking them. Bring them out when they start to scream." He walked out with the giggly one, going to play with her in the snow. With all the students gone, it wouldn't turn into a snowball fight.
 

Xander relaxed again. He wasn't moving again. He had bought everyone something. Even George his fudge. He rubbed the middle of his chest, the pains were back again.
 

"Pains?" Draco asked.
 

"Side effect of the weakening," Xander said quietly. "I'm fine."
 

"I'm sure. Does Madam Pomfrey know?"
 

"Yup, and she told me to sit down and rest if I got another one. She's taking a nap so I'm not waking her up. She's scary."
 

Draco sighed. "Fine, I'll stay here and watch you to make sure you don't keel over or anything." He turned on the tv and went to the game show channel. "Damn, those bloody stupid ones again," he sighed, going the guide to see what was on. "Ah-ha. A good movie."
 

Xander smiled. He had warped his 'son' so well. Police Academy. It made him want to cry tears of joy.
 

***
 

Dumbledore stood up and raised his cup. The holiday table was a bit bigger this year. All of the Malfoys, half of the instructors, most of the children, who were sitting at their own table. "May the holidays be peaceful this year," he toasted.
 

"Please," Xander agreed. Tara giggled. "Also, any unopened presents in my house are getting donated somewhere so you had better come claim them." A few of the teachers laughed. "Severus, that means you."
 

Snape looked at him. "I don't need presents."
 

"Yay. I got you one anyway so come get it or else." Xander sipped his juice. "You too, Albus."
 

Dumbledore smiled. "I'll be over after lunch, Xander. I'd hate to lose my presents." He waved his wand and the food appeared. "Eat, all of you." He looked at Tara, who had been picking over her food. "I don't want to see any of you sick over the break."
 

Tara patted her stomach. "We're fine, Albus."
 

Iggy looked at her. "You'd better be, so I have someone to teach when I take Professor Snape's place."
 

Snape looked at him. "I believe I can teach my own son, Ignatius. Worry about having some of your own." Iggy got up and ran out of the room. Xander sighed. "What did I say?"
 

"He's been depressed recently," Xander told him, standing up. "I'm going to go find him. Save me some food." He walked out, going to find his son. He found him outside on the quidditch pitch, sniffling into his shirt. "It sucks," he said as he sat down, wincing at the cold seats.
 

"Daddy, you should be inside."
 

"So should you. He didn't mean anything by it." Iggy leaned against his side so he gave him a hug. "We'll solve this and you will give me grandchildren. I refuse to see any other outcome."
 

"But..."
 

"No, no buts. You'll get through this and you'll finish growing up. You'll make me proud with your career and you'll have a lot of kids so they don't have to suffer being only children." Iggy nodded, comforted by the sureness in his father's voice. "You ready to go back inside? It's cold out here."
 

"Why don't you fly anymore?"
 

"Because I don't seem to have time to fly," Xander told him as they headed back. Snape met them at the door. "See, he's fine."
 

"I'm sorry, I didn't think before speaking."
 

Iggy shrugged and gave him a perfunctory hug. "It's okay. Daddy said we'd fix this and I'd have kids." He walked inside.
 

Xander saw the amazement. "You thought it was something else?"
 

"I thought he was overstressed and my chastising had upset him," Snape said, frowning inside the school. "How can you be so sure?"
 

"Because I'm not willing to accept any other outcome," Xander said as he walked back inside. "No matter what the cost." His son would be fine, even if he had to kill whomever was doing this to them with his bare hands. He sat down at the table and gave them a faint smile. "Did anyone save me some stuffing?" Tara handed the bowl down to him. "Thank you."
 

"How's Iggy?"
 

"Fine." He piled his plate as high as normal, even though he wouldn't be eating it all. That damn pain was back again. A potion was put in front of him by someone and he looked around. "What's that?"
 

"Something to push back the pain," Madam Pomfrey told him. "You looked like you need it." He nodded and drank it, putting the empty bottle on the table. "Thank you. You will come see me if you need anymore, Xander."
 

"Yes, ma'am. I'll come get you if I start to ache again." He nibbled on his dinner, knowing everyone was watching him.
 

Iggy looked down at the kids' table as he walked in, smiling at them because they were having a mini-food fight. "Guys, eat the food, don't wear it."
 

Dumbledore looked at the children and laughed. The fact that Maeve was dripping with gravy was enough to make him crack. "My, what an interesting look, Maeve." Lucien growled at him. "You're adorable too, with the stuffing in your ear."
 

Tara and Draco both stood up and groaned. "Kids," they said in unison. The kids giggled wildly and threw food at them.
 

"Not allowed," Dumbledore told them. "Keep it at your own table please."
 

Vincent stood up and came over to give him a hug, smearing the food on him all over the nice Uncle's robes. Then he ran back to his seat and got back in the middle of the food fight, tossing some slices of apple at his cousin Maeve. "Ha-ha!" he shouted. "Got you!"
 

Maeve retaliated by throwing her cup of juice, basically dumping it on him and his sister Minnie, who was between them. "Got you more," she crowed.
 

Minnie stood up and pushed both of them face down into the bowls of food. "Got you both!" she shouted, then ran to hug her daddy. "Me got both," she said happily.
 

"Yes, you did, and you're very messy," Ron agreed, trying to wipe her clean. "Why don't you go hug Aunty Tara?"
 

"Not on your life," Tara told him. "Why don't you go hug your sister?" she suggested. Minnie giggled and went to hug her sister. "I don't need to be dirty, Ron. If I'm dirty, then I can't come babysit for you to have a beer with Harry."
 

"Oops. Never mind." He grinned at her. "Thank you for babysitting for me this afternoon. I owe you."
 

She patted his hand. "Don't worry, I'll collect some other time." She dug into her food. "Xander?"
 

"Thinking," he said automatically then started to eat. "Sorry."
 

"It's okay." Dumbledore looked at him. "Important thoughts?"
 

"Wondering who they're trying to bring back."
 

"Ah. It's understandable then. We'll know soon enough."
 

"Hopefully." Xander put down his fork. "I'm done, going to take a nap on the couch. Iggy, behave this afternoon. No pranking the other kids." He pushed back and went back to his house, going to nap on the couch. He was still so tired.
 

Simone looked at her father. "Have you worked out what you're doing yet?"
 

"To a point," he assured her. "We'll be fine when we go back."
 

"See that you do," she said firmly. "I don't want to have to take possession of the family fortune for a few more years, father." He smiled at her.
 

"Being an heir is hard enough," Denver agreed. "We want a few more years before we start wearing the family seal for ourselves."
 

"Only you get that," Simone sighed. "It only goes to guys. Apparently, according to the family, penises equal brains and ability to keep the family going."
 

"Simone!" Tara shouted.
 

"What? I'm tired of being left out because mine grew inward. It's not particularly fair."
 

Draco wiped his mouth. "That is true. You are much better at dealing with financial issues than your older brother is, but the signet ring is handed down to the boys because your last name will change when you marry."
 

"*IF* I marry," Simone corrected.
 

"If you marry," Draco agreed. "Otherwise, yes, the ring should have gone to a great many of the females instead of the males in the family. Every three generations the ring gets handed to a complete dolt. This time, I have five heirs, all of them competent. Your children's generation, we'll have to wait and see. It has nothing to do with your sexual organs."
 

"Bet me. Those determine who gets to change their names," Simone reminded him. "If I have a husband who agrees to change his name, can I beat up Denver for the ring?"
 

Draco smiled. "If such an occasion occurred, I would do my best to make the right decision between the two of you."
 

"What about me," Anastasia asked.
 

"Dear one, you don't show any fondness for the running of the family properties," Ginny pointed out. "Simone, if you follow your Uncle Charlie you can't run the Malfoy family business, you can't do both at the same time."
 

She shrugged. "So I'll train the phoenixes in my spare time. It only takes me a few hours a day. Even working full time isn't that hard. Daddy does it."
 

Draco smiled and nodded. "Yes, I do. Raising you two is a full time job."
 

Denver tossed his napkin at him. "Father," he sighed in disgust. "Leave the bad jokes to Uncle Xander. This is serious. If we're all your heirs, then what's going to happen when you finally pass on? You have to admit, you do dangerous things, like getting between Ana and her teachers when she's having one of *those* days."
 

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Over the course of your time here, it will become more apparent who has the temperament to deal with underlings all day long. He'll pick whichever one of you that is. However, this is not a topic for general conversation. I doubt your father wants everyone to know about his holdings and business deals."
 

Denver shrugged. "We already know. We've had to deal with the toadies before."
 

"Yeah," Simone agreed. "When the house blew up, we got to be diversions." She looked out the window, then at her father. "Daddy, I forgot my heavy cloak and my winter quidditch outfit at home. Can you please bring it the next time you head home?"
 

"No."
 

"But I need them," Simone pointed out.
 

"Yes, but I can't be sure that the ghost presently inhabiting the house won't come back with it and I don't think we want him here."
 

"Is it grandfather?" Denver asked. Draco moaned and nodded. "Can't we just make him go away again? Banishment spell or something?"
 

"I'm not sure. We've looked over the house," Ron told him. "I tried everything in the books I have and put in a call to the people who routinely deal with these sorts of things. He only comes out when your father's there."
 

Simone got her devious look but wiped it off her face quickly. "Still, it can't cling to my clothes, and if it comes here then it won't have an anchor and we can trap it. I can't play in my summer uniform, it's too cold. I nearly got frostbite in adult places."
 

Draco tipped his head. "I'll go find them and bring them back, but we will be checking them over before you get them, young lady. You will not take him on by yourself."
 

"Yes, daddy," she said, sounding obedient. He gave her a hard look and she grinned. "I won't take him on, he'd probably like me."
 

"You're a girl, he'd find you more useless than not," Draco told her. "He never liked girl children."
 

"Because they can't carry on the family name?" Anastasia asked. Her father nodded. "Gee, how nice. Yet, we all carry your name."
 

"Yes, and if your mother wasn't so stubborn, you would be proper Malfoys instead of Malfoy-Weasleys," he noted dryly.
 

"Sure, blame me for him coming back," Ginny said dryly. "Like I caused it to happen." She ate a bite of pheasant. "This is really good. I'm going to have to ask for the recipe."
 

"Mum, please, get rid of the idiot," Simone told her.
 

"You don't like him?"
 

"He runs around the house in his underwear!" she complained.
 

"He sleeps on the couch," Anastasia reminded her. "Did you want him in your room?"
 

"No, I want him out on the lawn like the grubby little digger he is," Simone told her. "Besides, he was leering at me when we went home to get my new boots," Simone told her.
 

"He looked at me too," Anastasia agreed. Her mother looked her, looking kind of shocked. "Right at my chest, and licked his lips."
 

"Who is this person?" Draco asked, sounding pleasant. He wanted to know who he was going to kill.
 

"Mum's present sweetie," Simone told him. "He's grubby and nasty, daddy, has stringy hair and everything. He looks like a refugee from somewhere because he's always wearing rags."
 

"Simone, you don't judge a person by what they wear," Ginny reprimanded.
 

"In this case, I do, mother. He's left a spot on the couch!" She ate a bite of her potatoes. "Please, find something better, less greasy even. I support you dating, but really."
 

"He's a mechanic," she told Draco.
 

"Why are you dating a muggle?"
 

"He's in the Ministry of Technology, finding ways of fixing muggle things to suit us. He's working on my father's plans for a flying car because his was a better design than we're currently using."
 

"And the grease?" Draco asked.
 

"A byproduct of his job, but he does bathe when he gets home." Both daughters snorted. "He does."
 

"If he's interacting with the girls, I'd like to meet him."
 

"You're going to threaten him," Ginny said angrily. "I won't have you interfering."
 

"And I won't have you dating someone who'll try to touch my daughters or sons inappropriately," he said calmly. "I want to meet him before he's allowed near either of the girls again."
 

"He's a muggle," Ravena told her father, smiling at him. "I asked to see his wand and he said he couldn't find it." She looked at her mother. "He doesn't really like you, he likes the fact that you're powerful."
 

Ginny got up and left the room, going to sulk.
 

"Do you know his name, precious?" Draco asked her. She nodded and handed over a muggle ID card. "Did you steal this?" She grinned wickedly and nodded. "Good girl. You deserve a treat. What do you want?"
 

"You and mummy to quit fighting," Ravena told him, sounding serious.
 

"I try my best," he told her. "How about a pretty necklace?"
 

"No thank you. He took Ana's from my room."
 

"Excuse me?" Anastasia asked. "He took my things from your room?"
 

Ravena nodded. "I was playing dress up and he told me I shouldn't have them because they were 'spensive. I told him I had better stuff and he got this look on his face, but then mummy came home. I don't know where they are."
 

"We'll see about that. Girls, would you come and see if anything else is missing?" he asked, and they followed him to the floo. Ginny glared at him as they came out the other side. "Ravena said he took something of Ana's so we're going to search for it for her," he told her. "You can help or not." Ginny got up and followed them to Ravena's room, and her secret stash. It was nearly empty.
 

"Hey, where's my piggy bank?" Ravena whined. "It's not here. It's supposed to be here!" She stomped her foot.
 

Draco looked at Ginny, who turned her back and walked away. "Where is his stuff, precious?"
 

"Down beside the couch," Anastasia said dryly, picking up her crown. She did look fabulous in it. She checked it in the mirror. "One of the stones is missing."
 

"It fell out," Ravena told her, taking it out of her sock drawer. "Here you go."
 

Simone looked at the stone, then the hole, putting it back into place and pushing down the prongs. "That should hold it until you can get it fixed, Ana." She looked it over. "Mine was bigger, but with fewer stones." She handed it back. "I wonder how they're getting on."
 

"Well enough," her mother said from the doorway. "He's coming up the walkway," she said quietly. "With someone I don't know."
 

"Let me," Draco said, walking out and down the stairs of the small house. He smiled as the man walked in. "Who are you?"
 

"I'm her boyfriend, who're you?" the greasy man sneered.
 

"The father of her children." Draco pulled his wand and froze them both, walking over to them. "You just fucked up," he sneered, reveling in being able to let his evil side out again.
 

Ginny walked back upstairs to check on her daughters. Simone sat down to watch and learn.
 

***
 

Draco came back through the floo in the house carrying a small bag. "Do we have a reliable safe?" he asked Xander.
 

"Floor safe in my bedroom. Wall safe in Ron's. What's wrong?"
 

"Ginny's last boyfriend was a thief. Planned on stealing from Ana and Simone." He bounced the bag, making it jingle. "I wanted to put these somewhere away from dirty fingers until the trial was done."
 

"Wall safe in Ron's room is the easier to get open but it's hard to find. It's underneath his Chuddly Cannons poster."
 

"Thank you." He walked up to Ron's room, carefully moving the poster to get to the safe. When Ron came in, he pointed. "Ana's crown and jewels."
 

"Fine with me," Ron agreed. "I don't have anything to put in there." He flopped down onto his bed. "Was he really a greasy git?"
 

"And a thief. A muggle employed to help the Ministry of Technology. Latched onto her because her daughters had money and were pretty. He admitted as much under truth serum." He smiled coldly. "He nearly begged to be arrested. Apparently I made my point quite well to him and his chum." He put the poster back in place. "How's that?"
 

"Just the way it was," Ron told him. He kicked the bottom of the bed and moved his feet out of the way so the other man could sit down. "How is the spell coming?"
 

"I've translated it back into our magical terms and figured out what is missing. I'm about ready to try it on the pool under the front stairs."
 

"Excellent. Can we do it today?"
 

"If you want. We'll need three castors."
 

"Won't that be a problem during the reunion?"
 

"Possibly, but we're going with more wizards. I'm sure we can instruct one of the Advanced class students coming with us on the spell." He stood up. "Meet me outside and I'll bring the spell down with Fred. He was looking gorged." He headed through the bathroom to his room, grabbing his notebook so they could look it over together. As he walked down the stairs, he could hear his precious first borns planning on getting the ghost out of his house. "No," he said as he walked past them. "No going after my father by yourselves. He might like you and never leave." He tapped Fred on the foot. "We're going to try out this spell. Come help." He grabbed his cloak off the cloak tree and headed outside.
 

Fred got up and headed after him. "What spell?" he called, grabbing his own cloak to follow. "What spell, Draco?"
 

"One to filter the chaos magic of the hellmouth and make it rejoin the flood," he said as he walked. "We're hoping it will work the way it's supposed to." He walked out into the bright afternoon and winced. "Little Ron had a point. Those sunglasses would be handy." He turned and looked at the front steps, and the burned in footprints. "I wonder if they'll ever go away," he mused.
 

Fred looked at them as he automatically walked around them. He never walked over top of them, they gave him the creeps. "Probably not. I heard Tara say that some of the kids were wondering which founder put them there." He took the held-out notebook to read the spell. "Looks straightforward."
 

"It is for the most part." Ron joined them, hopping down the stairs with a puppy behind him.
 

"Saving someone?"
 

"Snape." He let the puppy go, tossing a stick for it. "Let me see too." Fred handed over the book so he could read it, going to play with the dog. "This looks simple."
 

"Hopefully it is," Draco agreed. Fred rejoined them and he held the book while so they all could read it. Together they cast the spell, and together they got knocked on their asses twenty feet away in the snow. "Well, it's powerful," he said, rubbing his stomach. The blast had caught them about waist-height. "Did it work?"
 

Dumbledore walked out and looked at them. "What are you three doing?"
 

"Practicing the spell to fix the hellmouth," Ron told him. "Did it fix the pool?"
 

Dumbledore knelt down and felt the energy pooled under the stairs, then smiled at them. "Not at all. The pool actually increased in size. Good work." He got up and left them there.
 

"Why didn't it work?" Draco wondered.
 

"Could turning the hellmouth into a pool of mixed flood and chaos magic be the answer?" Fred asked.
 

"I think we're going to need some better help," Ron suggested.
 

"Iggy," they said together, going up to get him. He had access to all the best research in the whole gryphon world.
 

***
 

Iggy teleported himself to the outer doors of the main gryphon library and paused to look at them. Wonderfully carved wooden doors so thick they had to be moved by magic. Those must have been some *huge* trees. He opened the door, smiling because it was silent. This was a well-thought out library and he was quickly discovering that he loved it here. He walked up to the information desk and the mother of his crush. "I'm surprised you're here today," he told her, the quieting spell automatically lowering his voice for him.
 

"I was doing some private research. What can I do for you today, Ignatius?" She smiled at him, he was so cute.
 

"We're working a hellmouth problem and it looks like we're going to have to drain it or fix it, one of the two." Her hand went to his hair and touched the white spot. "My father came from the Sunnydale hellmouth and it's tied to him somehow, and me. It's draining energy off us. Do you have anything on draining it back?"
 

She frowned, the poor boy, he was so young. "We have books on hellmouths, but I don't think any of them contain anything that could help. Do you know why?"
 

"It appears that someone's doing a spell to change something during my dad's graduation."
 

"Was there an ascension during it?" she asked, coming around the desk to give him a hug and lead him back to the proper section.
 

"Yeah," Iggy sighed. "That was daddy and his slayer's graduation."
 

"My! We heard about that all the way over here. It was supposed to have been quite a fight. So who's doing this?"
 

"We're not sure. All we know is someone's tapping into the hellmouth to create this spell to spare one of the people who died, which is draining Aunty Willow's spell to keep it closed, which is somehow tied into my father, and through him me. So we're both presently dying slow deaths until we can get it fixed in May, when we're all invited over." He looked up at her. "And no, I didn't tell Raena any of this. I didn't want her to worry and the paradox that they're creating could mean that I'm not going to be here."
 

She crushed him to her chest, patting him on the back. "You poor thing. And having to be strong too." He nodded, starting to relax in her arms. "I'm so sorry, Iggy. I'll do whatever I can to help you out. Have you talked to your elders?"
 

"Bill knows everything we do," he said into her chest. He started to sniffle. "But I don't know what to do anymore."
 

"I know. Let it out, precious one." She held him just like a proper mother should. When her husband came in, she shook her head. "His father was one of the ones who fought at the ascension."
 

"I heard that he's dying. Is that Ignatius?" Iggy pulled back and wiped his face off, but his large lock of white hair was seen, it was now covering most of the left side of his head. "You poor boy," he said, giving him a long shoulder squeeze. "How are you holding up?"
 

"We have to find a way to fix our hellmouth. It's draining through dad and me to help keep itself closed because of Aunt Willow's spell, sir." He looked around. "That's why I'm here on a holiday."
 

"I'm sure we'll have something you can use. Is it draining you or draining through you?"
 

Iggy shrugged. "We don't know. I know we're tired all the time and dad's been having chest pains that he doesn't want to admit. They just did a ritual the other day." He wiped his face again. "I'm just so tired."
 

"I understand. Come, let's see if I can help you at all. The orange section?" His wife nodded. "Then I'll help him. Come, Ignatius, we'll look up what we have on those dreadful spots. Did you know you had one in England?"
 

"No. Daddy never said we did." He looked up and saw a book that drew his attention, using his wand to bring it down. "What's this?"
 

"Those are some of the most dangerous chaos-based spells." He started to take the book from the boy but then thought about it. Fixing a hellmouth might require that sort of spell. "Keep it for now. I know this section very well and I'll look through it while you look over our hellmouth texts." He gave the boy a pat and led him right to the shelves, all about his shoulder height. "These four shelves have books on the subject." He left the boy alone, going back to look over the spells they had. Maybe they had something to drain the suckers in one great burst. Even if they were dangerous, he'd suspect that the boy's father would do it anyway. He seemed to be like that if it corrected a great evil.
 

Iggy pulled down the first three books and sat down to flip through them. He remembered the copy of the spell and got up, going to give it to his crush's father. "Uncle Draco found this one, but when they tried it, it increased the pool under the school's front steps instead of changing it all to flood energy." He went back to his books.
 

The older man looked at the spell. Obviously one of the changed gryphon ones. He was sure it wouldn't get out, but still. He'd have to send a message over there to talk to their historian. That boy was playing with dangerous magics and it could hurt all of them. Oddly enough, the book he had in front of him had an original copy of the spell and he checked it against it. "Ah-ha, a word out of place. Grow instead of deplete." He wrote in the change and folded it back up so the boy could take it back with him. That might be the best they could do by May.
 

***
 

Xander looked out at the small block building behind the school. He knew what it was, but why was there smoke? He walked down to Snape's classroom, tapping gently on the door and motioning the teacher to come out. "I know this is your field, but where do you store the potions the kids have done?"
 

"We have a storage facility out near the woods, why?" Snape asked.
 

"Because if it's what I think it is, I saw smoke coming from there." He walked the man up to where he had been watching from. "That building, right?" Snape nodded. "The smoke came and went, but it was definitely coming from there." He followed the older man out to the building. Strange, the smoke had completely disappeared. "Was something burning?"
 

"No," Snape said as he backed out. "But someone did dump an improperly shielded potion in here that would have resulted in a fire elemental being born." He backed out and closed the door, relocking it. "I'll check around tonight." He looked at Xander. "Do you still see it?"
 

Xander pointed at the vent. "From right there. Can't you?" Snape shook his head. "So I'm seeing things now?"
 

"Seeing things, or possibly *seeing* things," Snape agreed. "I believe we should take you up to the infirmary, just to be safe, Xander." The younger man nodded and allowed himself to be walked up there. Madam Pomfrey agreed with him, the young Professor was nearing death again.
 

"I see things because I'm so weak?" Xander asked, confusion evident.
 

"Apparently," Snape agreed. "Being near death has turned on a psychic gift. It's not unheard of." He crossed his arms. "What else have you seen?"
 

"I had a dream where Sunnydale's Kraken monster tried to take on the Watcher's Council," Xander offered.
 

"Well, there is a Hellmouth near here," Poppy told him. "It could happen."
 

"What?" Xander asked, sitting up. "Hellmouth, here? Like near here?"
 

"Why else would the Watchers have set up on this boring little island?" Snape asked with a smile. "It's about sixty miles from their headquarters if I'm not mistaken."
 

"Then I have to tell them, just in case it's real." He fought, but Madam Pomfrey bound him to the bed. "No fair! They need to know!"
 

"We'll tell them," she soothed, knocking him out. "Some rest should help, if we can't do the spell to separate more of his energies from that dratted place."
 

"Someone brought up a point with Ignatius over Christmas. Is it draining them or draining through them?"
 

"Draining them, I'm sure of it," she told him. "It's using him as a control to hold the place closed. Poor Ms. Rosenberg must be nearer to death than he is."
 

Snape shook his head. "I doubt it. I'll tell them about this development. Maybe they'll have an answer." She nodded so he left her alone, going to check on his class before taking a small side trip. He had a free period two classes from now, it could wait that long.
 

***
 

"Hellmouth, here?" Willow screeched. "Since when!"
 

"It's been inactive for hundreds of years," Wesley told her, trying to get her to calm down. "We occasionally go down there and test things against it to see how they'd work. Do relax about it." He looked at their visitor. "How is Xander seeing these things?"
 

"He's near death again and it's apparently stimulated his magic to work in odd ways," Snape said, sipping his tea. "He saw an improperly contained potion starting a fire elemental off in our refuse vault."
 

"You use a refuse vault?" Willow asked.
 

"How did you think we got rid of the potions?" he asked her.
 

"Neutralizing solution and down the drain."
 

He chuckled, sounding nearly evil. "We wouldn't dream of harming the water tables near the school. Even with a neutralizing solution, they could combine and have unexpected side effects for those living on the water table, such as the towns people and the students. We've always used a refuse locker with concrete shielding. It's much safer for all involved."
 

"Yet, someone got into it and put a potion in there?" Wesley asked.
 

Snape nodded. "It is well known that any potion is to be discarded out there. The students have access to it, but it is checked periodically to make sure everything in there is safe. With Ignatius being so ill, I've forgotten to do so." He looked Willow over. "I must say, you're looking better than either of them."
 

"I cast the spell but I think somehow it hooked into them, anchored itself somehow," Willow explained. "I can try to take more of the pressure off them, hopefully."
 

"If you wouldn't mind," he said at his most dry and sarcastic. "Xander is very near death. He didn't even fight too hard when taken to the infirmary." She bit her lip, looking distressed. He stood up, his good deed for the year done. "I'll leave you to fight with the hellmouth however you feel best. He did say it was a Kraken monster, but I'm sure you can fix it easily." He left through the floo, leaving them to their problems. He had students to flunk.
 

Willow looked out the window overlooking the garden. "I'll push myself more firmly in the way tonight," she said quietly, frowning suddenly. She got up to walk over and look outside. "Kraken," she said, pointing.
 

"Here?" he asked, hurrying over to look outside. Indeed, there was a large green tentacle coming over the hedges on the edge of the property. "This will not do!" he said, pushing the emergency button. "Kraken monster," he called, pointing once a few of the guards were inside. "Get the Slayers in training and the mages. Go fix it!" They ran off, Willow following them. "No, Willow, you can't! Not two of them at once!" He followed her out to knock his woman out if need be. She was having enough problems with the one, she couldn't deal with two hellmouths.
 

***
 

Iggy woke up, something he was starting to feel grateful for, and looked around the bright, sterile room. "Wonder if I passed out in potions again," he mused as he slid off the bed. "This can't be the infirmary, the floors aren't cold." He walked out in his stocking feet and pajamas, finding himself in a room with a table and a tea setup. "Hello?"
 

"Sit," the blonde woman at the other side of the table told him, giving him a smile.
 

"Aunty Buffy? Am I dead?"
 

"Not yet, kid. Sit. We've only got a few minutes to do this. Sorry to have woken you and all."
 

"I don't mind," he assured her, sitting down and pouring them both some tea. He was part British, it was his task. Besides, she never made decent tea. "Why are you here? Can I pass on a message for you?" He sipped the strong lemon blend. "This is actually good."
 

She laughed. "Yes, I learned how to brew tea. Everyone where I am drinks it." She sipped her own tea. "Iggy, I know you know what's coming, but are you ready?" He nodded, putting down his cup. "Drink it, it'll make you feel better. I'll give you the recipe before I go." He nodded, finishing his cup and pouring himself some more. "Good boy." She smiled at him again. "Your father ...." She paused. "That's still funny to me. This is one of those situations where Xander will do whatever's necessary to solve it."
 

"I know. I've accepted his loss, and possibly my own."
 

She shook her head. "They're not after him. He's a secondary choice, or actually a third choice. Willow ranks above him this time." She took another sip. "This time, they're trying to bring back someone using the hellmouth as a convenient battery. You need to give three messages this time. Okay?" He nodded. "First, tell Ron that I did love him, no matter what the blonde buttfucker says, and that I'm going to cream him when he dies over naming my son Raymond Vincent." Iggy smiled at that. "I expected a better name, I really did." She shook her head. "Second, I want you to get word back to Willow. She has to redo the spell, anchoring it to some*thing*, not some*one*. The spell was specific but her translations sucked buttmonkeys." Iggy giggled. "Third, and this is the most important." She handed him a card and then her face started to shift. "Don't get dead." She became a big, scary beast and lunged at him, making him wake up.
 

Iggy sat up in the real infirmary with a gasp. "Damn, I don't want those." He held his head and smelled lemon. "Potion. I need Professor Snape now," he told the nurse. "Buffy just gave me a potion to make me feel better. Daddy needs it now." She hurried off to get his instructor and he tried hard not to swallow. If only he had been able to look at the card. Maybe his mentor would know the answer. He glanced around but he was alone. Must be the middle of the class day. He looked at his lap and found a half-wet piece of paper lying on his lap. "Is this it?" he asked, reading over it. Snape hurried in. "Aunty Buffy just fed me some sort of tea, tasted like lemons, and told me it would make me feel better, which I do. And this appeared," he said, handing it over. "I don't know what the potion is though."
 

"Get me a swab," Snape ordered. "Open up, let me check your breath." He sniffed, definite lemon smell. "Thank you." He accepted the swab and gently probed the open mouth. "Good, now I need you to expel some of it. You haven't eaten in days so we should be able to get a clear sample."
 

"Eww," Iggy told him, but he obediently stuck a finger down his throat. When he was done, he laid back down. "I have two other messages, can I go?"
 

"Not yet," Madam Pomfrey said, fussing over his blankets. "Who do you need to see?"
 

"Aunty Willow and Uncle Ron."
 

"Ron will be up in a few hours, he always is. I can send someone for that woman though," Snape told him, not looking pleased. "You said it was in tea form?" Iggy nodded. "Large pot?"
 

"Medium, like the flowered one Tara has. Was really strongly lemon, and kind of sweet, but had an herby aftertaste now that I think of it. Is it on the card?"
 

"Possibly, but it's wet so some of it is smudged." He frowned. "I'll do what I can. Your father's back in his own bed, resting." He hurried out with the bowl and the swab, going to find this new tea. Anything that brought the color to that boy's cheeks when he had been that weak was something miraculous.
 

Iggy looked at the nurse, who was pouring him some water. "She said over there that everyone drinks tea."
 

"I'm sure they do. The Christian version of God has to be British or the world would have went to hell long before now." She smiled at him. "Drink, Iggy. It'll help you feel better."
 

"I feel okay, but can we take more swabs, just in case the first one doesn't turn out?"
 

"Of course." She went to get more swabs to make the boy feel better. Severus knew what he was doing and had done a good job, but it never hurt to be sorry.
 

***
 

Willow walked into the infirmary, glancing around. Nothing had changed. Not that she had expected it to, Hogwarts never seemed to change. Dumbledore even looked the same when he had met her at the floo. She smiled at Iggy. "You look so much better."
 

He smiled back. "Aunty Buffy gave me some lemon tea with potion and it helped a lot. She said you had to redo the spell, there was a problem with your translation. You were supposed to anchor it to something, not someone. Oh, and that you're a secondary choice to die in the place of whomever's selected. You and daddy both."
 

Willow frowned. "When did you see her?"
 

"A few hours ago. Right over there," he pointed at the doorway to the closet. "It led to a nice room with a table set up and she was waiting on me with the tea. Then she turned into a big, scary, hairy thing and snapped at me."
 

"Hairy thing?" Willow asked, face scrunching up in confusion. "Why would she do that? Was this a dream?"
 

"No, a vision. I came back smelling like the tea and Professor Snape found it in my mouth. Aunty Tara verified it, Aunty Willow. She said you mistranslated, putting it onto someone instead of something."
 

"Oh." She grimaced. "I have to recast it?" Iggy nodded. "Okay," she said slowly, looking around. "Do you have an account written out?"
 

"Aunty Tara and Professor Dumbledore are looking it over now. I'm supposed to send you to them once I'm done. But I still have to give Uncle Ron a message."
 

"He was in the hallway looking pained," Willow told him, giving him a hug. "You get better, Iggy, I'm doing the best I can, okay?" He nodded so she left, stopping beside Ron. "He said he has a message for you."
 

"I know," Ron groaned. "I'm not sure I want to hear it." He looked up at her. "I've got her stuff stored if you wanted to go through the pictures or anything."
 

"This summer, Ron, after all this is over with," she said, trying to be gentle. He nodded and went inside. She headed up to the headmaster's office. "When did Iggy start having visions?"
 

"Since he was so near death, it was easier to reach him," Dumbledore told her. "It's a common occurrence with wizards and witches near death." He handed a copy of the vision over to her. "This is what happened."
 

She sat down, starting with the beast. "That's a werewolf," she said finally, handing it back. He shook his head so she folded it up. "Why did she morph into a werewolf?"
 

"A clue?" Tara suggested. "Maybe it's Oz they've picked to die in someone's place." She stood up. "Come to my room when you're done here and we'll talk for a few," she said with a smile, then left them alone.
 

"Are you happy where you are, Willow?" Albus asked her.
 

She smiled. "I am. I get to be a nerd again, and my daughter loves Wesley."
 

"Good. Are you going back in May?" She nodded. "Is he coming with you?"
 

"Yes, and he's arranged for transportation from wherever we end up. We're waiting on final word of the destination and what papers we'll need."
 

"I'm arranging all that for you," he told her, giving her a smile. "I think you'll be pleased and a few days off afterwards should do you well."
 

She stood up. "Thank you, Albus. Owl me whenever you've got everything set up. Wes is getting us some fighters in the area in case we need them." He nodded. "Whatever we can do to help, we'll do it."
 

"Try to take the marker off Xander, Willow. He's in very bad shape and it's worrying a great many people."
 

She nodded. "I have everything set up to do that tonight." She smiled evilly. "Giles offered to take his place."
 

"You must put the anchor onto something, something there which will always be there. If you put it onto a person, it will reopen once they die."
 

"I understand, but he's been begging," she explained. "I think I'll put it onto the Grandfather Tree. It was planted by the founder's grandfather supposedly. It should still be there."
 

"You could always portkey over, or ask for some help, to find out," he suggested, sounding very wise. "Or you could anchor it to the seal that is hidden in it."
 

"True. But then if we move the seal, the hellmouth might come with it."
 

"Or it could be destroyed and the hellmouth may open again," he agreed. "Such is life."
 

"I'll take it off tonight," she assured him, nodding at him before leaving to go talk to Tara.
 

***
 

Simone looked at her siblings and nodded. They nodded too. It was time to do something about this. Anastasia got up and went to Uncle Xander and Ron's house, going to use the floo. Simone and Denver got the room ready. Then Simone went to get her father. "Daddy, can we talk to you for a moment?" she called. He was flying around on the pitch, practicing with Uncle Ron. He smiled and nodded, landing beside her. "Inside, daddy, it's really important so we shielded a room for privacy. Ana's got a boyfriend."
 

His smile slipped some but he followed her into the specially prepared room. Privacy would be needed for this discussion, she was much too young. Inside, he found his other children and Ginny, just what he expected. "What's going on?" he asked.
 

Simone locked the door and waved her wand, making the lock and handle disappear. "This is one of those intervention thingies that they show on tv all the time." She looked at her mother. "We're tired of the whoring going on in the family." Her father opened his mouth. "Not just you, her too."
 

"I am not!" Ginny snapped.
 

"Mum, you are. You're sleeping around with some really sleezy guys and we're tired of it," Anastasia told her. "Father, I know you don't want us to talk about where Simone had you woken up the other day." He blushed. "Good, now that we've set the mood, here's the demand."
 

"We want you two to get married. It doesn't have to be official," Denver said quickly at the reopening mouths, "but even a commitment to each other would suit us. Can you please do that? Go back to dating only each other?"
 

"Or pick suitable dates for the other," Simone added when her brother floundered. "We could accept that solution as well." She used her wand to uncover some of the furniture in the room, and the tray of food that Denver had procured. "We figured this was going to be a long fight so you two can start yelling now," she said once she had sat down.
 

"How dare you!" Ginny shouted. "This is my life, not yours, children. I will see whomever I want."
 

"Yes, mother, and your choices have been so very good," Anastasia told her. "A thief, a slimy bastard, and two more slimy bastards who you've went out with and not slept with. As for you, father, since I can see you starting to protest, need I remind you that you've slept with six different women in the last month, plus Simone found you at a house of ill repute?"
 

"What?" Ginny asked, looking at him.
 

"A whorehouse, mother, a place where people go to pay for sexual release," Simone supplied helpfully. "He fell asleep there and nearly missed class one day." She looked at her father. "We would accept a commitment to pick suitable mates for each other, but so help you Merlin if you bring home that blonde bimbo again I'm going to hurt her."
 

"Which one?" Denver asked.
 

"The one who looked at you and said you'd do in a pinch and said that she was going to have us married off if it was up to her so no one would be near poor daddy."
 

"Oh. Her." Denver nodded. "I remember her, barely. Didn't he kick her out?"
 

"Yes, it was the first instance of sense we've seen recently," Anastasia told him. "Now then," she started again, looking at the shocked adults. "We won't force you to *actually* marry each other, I know that would upset mum horribly, but we're not putting up with this behavior any longer. It's gotten to the point where we're ashamed of the both of you," she stated, nearly quoting one of their talks with Simone and Denver over their fighting in public.
 

Draco sat down on one of the couches, holding his forehead. "I don't believe they did this."
 

"I do," Ginny said, glaring at her daughters. "Denver, leave."
 

"No, he's not leaving," Draco snapped. "You said often enough he was your son, he's obviously involved in this one, so he stays." He glared at her and stood up again. "I admit to sleeping around, do you? Have you been sleeping with greasy gits who're better left to be drowned?"
 

"What about you?" Ginny shouted back. "Whorehouse, Draco? Not enough *willing* bodies?"
 

"Father," Simone snapped, noticing his fists balling up. "Don't." He glared at her. "Don't hit her. Mother, father would *never* sleep with an unwilling person. He might sleep with them for release, or to have fun, but he'd never rape anyone." She stood up, getting between them. "Like Ana said, we...are...ashamed...of...you," she said, spacing the words out so they understood this time. "Your sleeping around has started to impact us all the way in our ivory castle, here at school, and we're tired of it. Ana got asked the other day if she was as free as her mother was with her attentions!"
 

"And she didn't even get a detention for beating the shit out of him," Denver added with a smile for his favorite sister. "Ana explained very gently that she does not fight, she lets Simone do it for her. The boy was taken to task by Xander personally."
 

"Why wasn't I told?" Draco asked.
 

"Because I told Uncle Xander not to," Anastasia said, joining her sister. "It's got to stop. Either learn how to be discreet or start picking decent lovers for each other."
 

"I can do that," Draco sighed. "I have a pool of acquaintances I can introduce you to." He looked her over. "Merlin knows you make enough money to be part of them anyway." He sighed as he looked at his children. "How else has it bothered you?"
 

"No!" Ginny said. "It's none of their business who we sleep with. They're children, Draco."
 

"Yes, mother, your children," Denver reminded her. "We're learning from you how to have adult relationships." She blanched. "I see you realized what we've been learning recently." He stood up, standing behind his sisters. "We've had enough. It's obvious that neither of you are happy with these arrangements. Mum, you've had more temper tantrums recently than in any of the years I can remember. Father, I caught you crying in your sleep the other day and you weren't having nightmares." Draco hung his head. "We're asking for simple things. Make a commitment to each other, official or not, and if not, choose appropriate lovers for each other. It's not that hard." He pulled the girls back to the couch. "We're going to be over here while you two talk or fight. But we're not leaving this room until you see reason at the very least." He sat down and snuggled into Simone's side. "Have I told you yet that this new chest thing is a very comfy pillow?" he asked her.
 

"No, but I'm liking the smooshing part of the bras. I've regained my usual sense of balance. It's nice for that. Otherwise, they're still a pain in the ass." She looked at her younger sister. "How do you stand having them poke up that way?"
 

"I've never known anything else," Anastasia reminded her. "As soon as I started to sprout, mum put me into a bra like it was something that would save my life. Personally, the bra helps keep the weight off my lower back, but otherwise they're rather annoying. I think I need bigger ones too, they're starting to cut into my side."
 

"Mine stretch," Simone teased. "How does the one I got you fit?"
 

"It works well," Ana told her. "I feel good in it. I can play well enough because I'm not knocking myself in the jaw when I fly. But I can't see wearing it all the time. It's throwing me off balance. It's strange how something that I consider necessary is something that you consider frivolous and inconvenient."
 

"It's a difference in personalities," Denver said, still resting on Simone's breasts. He yawned. "We've got to pounce Melvin tonight to get him to help us with the Herbology paper due next week."
 

"Yes, dear, and you have to help us all write our Defense papers," Simone agreed, stroking his stomach to help him fall asleep. He'd had a long night because one of his roommates started to have nightmares for no reason. At least Iggy was back in classes again.
 

Ginny and Draco kept looking at their children as they talked quietly on the other side of the room. Draco smiled at the older two and nudged her. She shook her head. "Don't encourage them," she told him. "They deserve to be punished for this stunt."
 

"If it's true that someone approached Anastasia then they had every right to step in and protest," he said gently. He patted her hand. "I can introduce you to some very fine young men, all of them somewhat witty and at least able to carry on a conversation. No sense of danger, but pleasant enough for a few days' fling."
 

Ginny shook her head. "It's disgusting, Draco. I don't want you to pick my lovers for me."
 

"Who knows you better?" he asked with a smirk. She smacked him on the shoulder. "Well, I do. I know what you do when you're tired, when you're upset, and when you're in the mood to have a long sex session." He leaned in and kissed her. "I've watched you in almost every mood, Virginia Weasley, and I will not allow you to continue to harm yourself looking for a sense of danger." He glanced at the kids again, smiling because Denver was asleep. "They are watching us for clues in how to have grown-up relationship. Outside of having exciting lovers with bad personalities for the most part, what have we taught them?"
 

"I'd like to think that I taught them better manners than to do things like this," she told him.
 

He laughed. "At least they brought us in here and shielded the room so no one else could butt in. They could have done it in a classroom or in the house, where everyone could get involved. Do you really want your brothers knowing that much about your love life?"
 

She snorted. "They'd take me in for an exam for possession." She stood up and stretched then sat back down. "Sorry, long day in Percy's library."
 

"Would you like a shoulder rub?"
 

She shook her head. "It wasn't a hint."
 

"I know. You don't hint, you demand," he reminded her. "Turn around." She obediently did so and he started to work out the knots in her shoulders. "Can we do as they demanded?"
 

"I don't know," she sighed, closing her eyes. "I still think it's icky to think about you picking my lovers for me."
 

"Yes, but think of the men I routinely see. Tall, dark, handsome. Somewhat smart. Could be interesting at least. You do have some fun friends I wouldn't mind being introduced to." She snorted again. "Really. It's either that or you're going to have to come back to me."
 

"Come back to you?"
 

"You broke it off."
 

"Oh, yeah," she said flatly. She turned around and looked at him. "You're serious?" He nodded. "No strings?"
 

"A physical exam for both of us," he suggested with a faint smile, "but otherwise nothing else. We both do stupid things while apart. Why would I hold it against you?"
 

"Point," she agreed. She looked over. Denver was snoring gently. "I wonder what's wrong with him?"
 

"One of the boys in his dorm has the sight," he said quietly. "He's had nightmares for the last few days and Denver ended up sleeping in the common room for a while last night."
 

"Oh." She frowned at him. "You're serious?"
 

He nodded. "I am. We're both miserable. That's why we resorted to those nasty creatures we saw." She chuckled. "I'm more than ready to take you back. You can even help me move books this weekend."
 

"Fine," she said, rolling her eyes. "We'll try to get back together again." She relaxed as he gave her a hug. "But you get to talk to the children this time about their language and interference."
 

"Fine." He stood up, taking her hand as they walked back to the children. "Thank you for showing your displeasure. In the future, do try to be less dramatic."
 

"We're twelve and eleven, we're all about the drama at this age," Simone reminded him. She looked at her mother. "Is it fixed?"
 

"Yes, Simone, it's fixed. You're grounded."
 

Draco shook his head. "No, they're not. They did what they thought was best."
 

Ginny looked at him. "They shouldn't have done it."
 

"They should have, otherwise we'd still be fooling around with creatures best left to your brother Ron."
 

"Ron doesn't date."
 

"I meant professionally," he said dryly.
 

She smacked him again. "Mine weren't that bad. If you were dating creatures, that's your fault."
 

"Mother, at least one of the creatures you saw could be classified as a bloodsucker," Anastasia told her. "He was sucking the life out of you. Hence our actions." She nodded at the door. "Can you open it?"
 

Simone flicked her wand at the door and it opened, the lock and knob reappearing. "Have fun. I'm going to let him nap for a bit."
 

Draco leaned down and picked his son up. "He's usually a heavy sleeper. I'll put him in my bed for now." He carried his son back to the tower and put him into bed, then smiled at his daughters. "That was a bit over the top," he told them.
 

"At our age what did you expect?" Simone asked. "We haven't learned subtly yet. That comes once we're forced to start dating."
 

"Good point." He patted them on the head. "Remember to go to dinner tonight." He left, going to spend some time with Ginny.
 

"Next time, we get an official in there with us," Anastasia told her sister. Simone burst out in giggles as she crawled in to hold her brother so he could sleep.
 

***
 

Xander looked at the date on the calendar. Valentine's Day was tomorrow and he didn't have a thing yet for his mate. He also had another class for the day, but it would give him a chance to think. It was a test, actually *the* test. The annual suicide test as it had come to be known. He looked up as the kids started to file in. "Sit and get ready for the test." The listless gazes told him they had studied and were ready. "It's not that bad," he told them. "It could be worse. I could have dumped all this on you at the end of term." That got a few moans of distress. "Two minutes," he called, bringing in the necking couples from the hall. He counted, there were six students missing. "Where are they?"
 

"Two are in the infirmary, sir," one of the fourth year girls told him. "They got sick."
 

"Professor Snape wanted the others after class to give them hell," another boy told him.
 

"All right. I'll expect notes." He handed out quills and tests, smiling when he caught one with a cheat sheet. "Not at all," he said, continuing to smile. "You flunked, go confess before I have to fill out the paperwork." She left, taking her cheat sheet with her. "Anyone else want to try that?" One boy he hadn't gotten to yet slid something into his books and Xander pointed at the door. "You too." That boy left. "Anyone else? I don't like doing this test any more than you do," he said as he continued to pass out things.
 

"If we beg, can we get an automatic 'c' and not make you grade it, sir?" one girl in the front row asked. "I'd accept a 'c' with a smile and applause."
 

Xander smiled at her. "I've had that same feeling and no, you can't. School rules say I have to find a way to make sure you've been learning the material and base your grades on them. Unfortunately, I can't read minds so I have to give you tests to make sure you know that you're absorbing some of this." He smiled at her. "Nice try though, five points to your house." He handed her the test and a pen. "Next time, try begging for a 'b'."
 

"'C's are more realistic for most teachers," she pointed out, putting her name on it. "May we start?"
 

"Sure, start." He watched as four of the missing students walked in with Snape behind them. He handed over tests and quills, watching as they sat down with nothing else on their desk, then went to join Snape in the hallway. "Were they in big trouble?"
 

"Begging to be kept longer so they had an excuse to need a retest," Snape told him, sneering at the room.
 

"Hey, a bright plan," Xander said happily. "I had one suggest she'd take a 'c' so I wouldn't have to grade one."
 

Snape chuckled. "I'm sure she would. How is she doing otherwise?"
 

"Straight B. How's Tara?"
 

Snape led him away, closing the door. "She's been craving that kool-aid drink again. May I borrow that book?"
 

"Sure, or I can show you how to get it from the muggle world," Xander suggested. "It's not that hard. Comes in a little packet and you add sugar."
 

Snape sighed. "If I must. Would I be able to find those ...Ho-Ho things as well?"
 

"Oh, yeah, those are definitely of the muggle variety. After class, we'll go shopping. I could use another case of soda anyway. There's a little store down the road from the Leaky Cauldron."
 

"Thank you. I have no idea what to do about such things."
 

Xander grinned. "You humor them. Otherwise she cries or yells." Snape nodded. "Give me ten after this. I still have to get George something for Valentine's Day tomorrow."
 

"That's tomorrow?" Xander nodded. "Oh, dear."
 

"Trust me, get her something cute and corny, she'll love it. I'll even help you pick it out if you help me pick out something for George. Draco's busy today."
 

"Fine." Snape nodded at him and walked away, going back to his class.
 

Xander smiled and walked back in, taking the tests from two more cheaters. "Out!" They ran out, going to tell on themselves. If Xander did it, they would be in more trouble - it was a well documented fact that has been passed down through the years. Xander sat down behind his desk, watching the kids as he tried to figure out what to get his husband for a present.
 

***
 

Snape looked at the little packets, frowning. "That's all there is to it?"
 

"That, sugar, and water," Xander agreed. "Comes in ten flavors. Kinda cheap. She likes grape and cherry a lot." He watched as the small basket was partially filled by the small packets. "Not that many. Each one of those makes a pitcher, not a glass." Some of them were put back. "Okay, sugar, and ho-ho's," Xander said, leading the way to that aisle. "Ho-ho's. And sugar is behind you." He grabbed a case of soda and hefted it. "This for me. And these," he said, picking up a box of nutty buddies. "Try the blue and white bag," he suggested, noticing that the other man was staring at the sugars. "The other stuff is for other purposes." Snape nodded and put that into the basket as well. "Anything else she wanted?"
 

"Soy nuts and sesame sticks?"
 

"Snack and chip aisle." He led the way, pointing them out. "Mother Goddess brand even. I'm sure she'll appreciate that." He smiled and led the way to the register, taking the basket from him since he had muggle money on him. "Pay me back later," he said at the frown. "We keep Pounds in our house more often than you do."
 

"Unemployed?" the checker asked.
 

"Teachers," Xander told her.
 

"Oh." She nodded. "I understand that." She finished ringing everything up. "That'll be twenty-two pounds," she said happily. She watched as Xander counted it out, then took off the sodas for him. "Seventeen pounds." She recounted the money and gave him back the small amount of change. "Have a nice day."
 

Snape walked out of the store with the larger bag. "How can you stand that?" he asked.
 

"Easy, they're paid very little to be that chipper. It's got to be a defect in their personalities."
 

Snape laughed. "I can see that. When we were out last weekend, I nearly harmed someone for daring to touch her stomach."
 

"Perfectly understandable," Xander agreed. "I've had that feeling before. Even over Draco when he was stuffed up." They walked back into the Leaky Cauldron and Xander waved at Tom as he walked past the bar, going back to the alleyway. "Okay, presents for Valentines Day for George. You can give her the munchies for her gift, she'll probably sniffle and cry on you, if she's not in a rant and rave mood again." He grimaced. "Has she been having bad fluctuations this time?"
 

"A few," Snape admitted quietly as they walked into Diagon. "I'm starting to believe it's my nature infecting her."
 

Xander punched him on the arm. "Stop it. It's not you. Pregnant women are funky things that no man will ever understand. Except maybe Draco. Did he calm her down?" Snape nodded. "Then don't worry about it, it's the kid becoming demanding. And hey, no funny orgasm thingies this time."
 

"Yes, I'm thankful for that," Snape agreed. It was most disturbing to watch her carry Xander's child because of those sudden surges of energy up her spine. "What were you thinking?"
 

"Something sweet and sappy, but maybe jewelry. He deserves a new piece of jewelry."
 

"Then I do know of something, but you'll have to trust me." Xander nodded. "Among the darker arts, there are things to store part of someone in them."
 

"Which would be perfect," Xander agreed. "With this spring coming fast and everything about that, I think he might like it. Do you think he'll complain?"
 

"Your father-in-law might, but he has always been a practical man." Snape led the way down into Knockturn alley, directly into a small shop off the stairs. "We're here for a capturing necklace," he told the salesman. He got out of Xander's way so he could look at the supply.
 

"I like that one," he said, pointing at the one which looked like a lidded pot. "Do you think he'd like it?"
 

"I think he'd like it, but that one would be less noticeable," he said, pointing at the small crystal on the silver chain. "He could put that other crystal on it as well."
 

Xander looked at it after it was brought out. "Okay, I like. How much?"
 

"Fifty galleons."
 

Xander hissed. "Haggling?" The salesman shook his head. "Then let me head to the bank and I'll be right back. Keep it for me." He led the way out, going to the bank, but letting Snape hold the bags. He came back out fairly quickly and went down alone to get the necklace. The guy even put it into a blood red box for him. As he was coming out, Xander noticed a small, brightly lit, storefront. He could read the name easily, having taken the time to learn some of the more common demon languages for study purposes a few years back. He shook his head as he walked away, rejoining Snape at the bench. "I thought she was joking."
 

"Found her shop?"
 

"Brightly lit and shiny," he told him. He stuffed the box into his pocket and took his bags back. "Okay. Did you want to get her anything else? Flowers, candy, potion components?"
 

"Were I buying for your son, the last would be appropriate," he joked. "Tara isn't that interested in my field." He stood up and headed back to the floo point, ignoring the looks they were given. As soon as they disappeared, someone leaned to the witch next to her and talked about them.
 

***
 

Xander opened the paper at breakfast and smiled, turning it around for Snape to see. "Gee, I didn't think you liked me that much," he said dryly.
 

Snape reached over and snatched the paper, reading it. He nearly moaned. "When did this rumor start?"
 

"Yesterday?" Xander suggested, grinning. He liked the guy, but really. "I wonder if it was the groceries or the shopping?"
 

"Probably the groceries," Snape said, handing the paper back. He stood up as Tara walked in, helping her into her seat. "How are you this morning?"
 

"Fat," she told him, giving him a smile. "Just like I was yesterday." She smiled at Xander. "Thank you for helping him get that stuff for me."
 

"You're welcome, sweetie. You know I'm willing to go to great lengths to give you what you want." He smiled at her. "Did you drink the whole first pitcher?"
 

"Grape," she agreed. She pointed at the paper. "What's that about?"
 

"From where we helped each other shop yesterday," Xander told her, handing her the paper.
 

She giggled. "I can't see you two together, sorry," she said once she had read. "You'd kill each other."
 

"Yes, we would," Snape agreed. He handed her the bowl of eggs. "Breakfast?"
 

"Is why I'm here," she said happily, digging out some for herself. She watched as Xander read the story again then moved on. "It doesn't bother you?"
 

"That everyone knows what I got him for Valentines Day? Some. But he doesn't read the paper until the nights so it's okay with me," Xander told her. "Of course, if Fred jumps me in an hour, I'll expect you to beat him up for me."
 

She giggled again, she adored Fred. He was so cute and funny. "Sure I will. I'll lift up my shirt and let him pat my tummy again. He'll stop pounding you immediately."
 

"Really," Snape sighed. "If anyone had thought to do any homework at all, they would have realized why you had those white streaks. It's a perfectly normal gift in such circumstances."
 

Tara patted him on the hand. "Shut up, Sev. I don't want to think about that today. It'll make me cranky."
 

He wisely changed the subject. "How did the test yesterday go?"
 

"Six cheaters, nearly the record," Xander told him. He looked over as Dumbledore walked in, giving him a smile. "Did they all confess to you?"
 

"Oh, yes. Including one later that night whom you didn't catch. Her conscience wouldn't let her sleep." He sat down and smiled at all his professors. "Explain your gift," he told Xander.
 

"So George can have part of me if I don't come out of this spring," Xander told him simply.
 

"Ah. I see. That would be a defeatist attitude, wouldn't it?"
 

"No, it's a practical one. The same as making sure my will is up to date is." Dumbledore tipped his head in acknowledgment. "You've known I had this practical streak for years now. This is just another manifestation of it. It's not like he's going to resurrect me."
 

"Good point. Still, it will be remarked about."
 

"Yay. I'm more worried about the people who think I'm taking Severus from Tara." Dumbledore choked on his juice. "Didn't read the whole article?"
 

"No, someone called me this morning and asked me for a statement about it. I told them that you were presently facing down a rather serious illness and it was for remembrance sake." Xander nodded. "What article?" The paper was handed to him and he blushed. "Oh, my," he said finally, putting it down. "It is a rumor, correct?"
 

Xander grinned at Snape. "I don't know. Watching him with my bestest buddy has made me see him in a whole new light." Snape glared at him so he giggled. "Sorry, couldn't resist. I have George and he's all the man I need."
 

Snape rolled his eyes. "Please don't repeat that. Someone might believe you. Imagine how your son would feel."
 

"Iggy would probably be happy," Tara told him. "He'd have access to you all hours of the day and could bug you all the time to teach him something new."
 

Snape whimpered, just loud enough to be heard by her. "I'm sure we can convince him it's a stupid rumor."
 

"Yup." Xander looked down at his son, who was staring at his mentor in shock. "He was helping me shop for a Valentines present, son, it's not happening."
 

"Oh, good. Daddy George would kill you," Iggy told him. Then he smiled at his mentor. "But you could adopt me if you wanted. It would keep my fathers from trying to make me do pranks."
 

"Son, you can't leave the family for a few more years," Xander told him. "You missed the cutoff date."
 

"Oh, fine," Iggy sighed, but he was grinning. "Make me do pranks and turn someone else into a monkey creature."
 

"Try it," Tara offered. "It's really fun."
 

"Don't even think about it," Simone warned him. "You are expendable. Your parents have more children."
 

The Great Hall cracked up in laughter.
 

***
 

Fred walked into Xander's classroom, a quizzical look pasted on his face. "Memories only?" he suggested.
 

Xander turned and put his feet up, his ankle was swollen today. "For after the fight, just in case. I was going to ask you to help me fill it later tonight."
 

"I can't do that." Fred closed the door so they could have some privacy. Students were changing classes. "You do know that those sort of things only are bought by dark wizards?" Xander nodded. "Yet, you buy one. Do you know how bad that looks?"
 

"Fred, think about it," Xander told him. "I'm dying. Iggy's dying. Even if this thing is solved, it doesn't mean that either of us will be healthy enough by the end of the fight." Fred opened his mouth. "No, this is me being practical. Just like me handing Percy a copy of my will yesterday was. By giving him that, I can make sure he has something more of me than my memories. I don't want him to go through what Percy did, searching for anything with my scent on it."
 

"I understand that, but it still looks bad."
 

"Fred, if I were a dark wizard, would I be dying? Would my son be dying?"
 

"No," Fred said quietly. "I'm sorry, Xander, but I had to make sure."
 

"I know," Xander said, and he did. The shop was Fred's life. It was his child. The reputation of it was his health and happiness. "I didn't do it to cause you problems, I just wanted George to have something of me if I died."
 

"He will, he'll have Iggy, William, and Maeve," Fred reminded him.
 

Xander laughed, then started to cough. "Yeah, maybe. William was me. Maeve is both of us. Iggy is more his than mine though," he said once he stopped coughing. He wiped his mouth off, ignoring the flecks of blood. "At least this way he'll have something only of me. Just a little piece of me. Not enough to do anything with. You can tell anyone who asks that I'm critically ill and it's for him if I die."
 

"I've already done that," Fred told him, stepping closer. "You're serious?" Xander nodded. "Have you given up?"
 

"No, this is me being practical. Practical saves pain later on. I can't imagine forcing George to go through the pain of doing funeral arrangements, or figuring out where all my photos go. I don't want him to hurt like that. Grief is bad enough when you don't have to deal with that stuff."
 

Fred gave him a hug. "I know. He's been worrying about the same things, Xander," he said quietly. "We're doing our best, trust us to help you through this, no matter what."
 

"I do," Xander said, wiping off his face. "I'm just so tired already."
 

"I know. It's hard. Iggy's been worrying about a future at all and you've been having to hold it together for both of them." He got a bright idea. "Tomorrow night, I'm taking you somewhere quiet and private. Just you, me, and Perce. We'll deal with it together and you can give us any and all instructions." Xander nodded. "Good. I'll arrange it." He left before he could be drawn into the depression too. It might be necessary but it was painful for everyone around them. He stopped to make a small delivery to Tara. "Here you go, pretty lady," he told her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "If that's for my brother-in-law, it's not going to be enough."
 

She shook her head. "No, I'm leaving that one to you guys. I can't do anything to help him, but I can help Ron." Fred chuckled. "Treat him well, Fred. He needs a shoulder more than anything else right now."
 

Fred nodded and left her to start a new class, going back to the shop. He noticed some people looking at him. "Xander's sick," he explained. He walked into the shop and headed back into the lab so he didn't have to look at anyone. He heard the door open and close again, and the lock be thrown. "He's trying to be sweet."
 

"I know," Draco agreed. Fred jumped and looked at him. "It's the way he is. A bit pricey for a remembrance crystal, but not as bad as some of the ones I've seen."
 

"How much was it?"
 

"My sources say fifty." Fred winced. "It's a good quality piece. It'll do exactly what he wanted it to do. George will be able to use it to call an illusion of him, or his spirit, to talk to."
 

"He did say he was going to come haunt him to make him feel better."
 

"And now he can." Draco unlocked the door. "There's someone bothering your brother about his mate's illness. They want to know what it is."
 

"Energy warping. That's all I've said so far." Fred walked out and removed his brother from the fireplace. "No comment and leave him alone. He's having a hard enough time without you lot." He shut the floo off for a few seconds, then turned it back on. "George, you don't have to talk to them."
 

"I don't mind," George told him. "It's better than having rumors flying around."
 

"Yay," Draco said as he walked out of the back. "Rumors keep people occupied, the truth often upsets them." George gave him a weak smile. "How are you doing today?"
 

"Fine, now that I know my husband and Snape have been stepping out," he joked. "I would have thought my son, but apparently I was wrong."
 

Draco laughed. "Iggy only likes girls. Though he does have nice taste. His penpal was quite adorable."
 

"She's nearly my age," George protested.
 

Draco shook his head. "She's twenty-eight, soon to be twenty-nine. I helped your son pick out a present for her." He leaned on the counter. "How's business?"
 

"Dull so far today."
 

"Some parents have walked by and given the shop a funny look," George told his brother.
 

"Most everyone's who's asked has been told Xander is ill. It's a reasonable excuse."
 

"Until your father hears about it," Draco offered.
 

Fred smiled. "He's already heard. He told me to go talk to Xander. When I told him what it was for, he looked devastated." He patted his twin on the head. "The rest of us do support you, but I'm stealing him tomorrow night."
 

"Thank you," George said, giving him a hug. "I know he's worried, he keeps stopping any thoughts as soon as they happen." He walked into the lab and shut the door.
 

"I'll come if you want," Draco offered.
 

"You might want to tell him how to fill the crystal," Fred told him. "I don't think he knows." Draco nodded. "I was going to ask Percy since they're so close, but you can come if you want. Xander can break down in front of you."
 

"I've already had a talk with Iggy, he gave me a detailed set of instructions for his book collection." He pushed himself off the counter. "Do you want to make an official statement to the press?" Fred shook his head. "It might help."
 

"Or it could give a lot of people reason to come in and pity George, which will set him off. All they need to know is that he's sick. Let anything else be speculation." He walked to the closet they never used and opened the door, they needed more storage space. "When did we get a basement?"
 

"He put one in when he built it," Draco told him. "It's always been there. I found it while looking for the bathroom last year."
 

"Oh." Fred shrugged. "Cute. Maybe I'll go explore that. Want to stay up here?"
 

"I have nothing to do for another hour." Fred looked at him. "Meeting with my coach."
 

"Good luck with that." Fred used his wand to illuminate the room and found the lights. Very nice lights, iron and faerie glows. He continued down. "It's an lab for dangerous things," he said happily. "George, come down here!"
 

Draco walked into the lab. "Your twin is yelling from the basement."
 

"We have a basement?" George wiped his hands off and went to the open door. "Fred?" he called down.
 

"Come look, he did more than we thought."
 

George walked down the stairs and looked around. "Wow. Hazardous material lockers and everything," he said happily. He looked at his twin. "Want to work down here today so we can move the more dangerous things down?"
 

Fred nodded. "I wouldn't mind. Only needs a bit of cleaning." They could hear the bell ring. "Might want to go help him. He doesn't know the price of anything." His brother headed up the stairs. "How sweet," he said. "He gave us something to protect us."
 

***
 

Draco looked across the desk at his coach. "Bottom line, am I unsuspended or not?" he asked. He was tired of these trivial pleasantries. He was a busy man.
 

"That depends. The owner doesn't like your youngest."
 

Draco snorted. "How wonderful for him. I could care less. I happen to love all my children, especially that one. If you, or he, don't, then that's your problem. I'm not allowing your prejudices to rule my life."
 

"He's said that you're to be fired if you don't get rid of him. Calls him unholy and everything."
 

Draco, having had a bad day so far, pulled his wand with a snap of his wrist and slammed his coach up against the ceiling. "My son is not unholy," he ground out. "He is a sweet and innocent little boy who is adored and wanted by both of his parents. If either of you don't like it, then I'm going to willingly never associate with you again. There are other teams and I have had other offers since giving birth." He let the man go. "Now then, please sign my severance papers so I can go file them with the league. I'm sure they're expecting them."
 

"I'll have you arrested for assault."
 

Draco laughed. "I wouldn't be so sure of that. Who would have thought, Draco Malfoy being mean to someone," he mocked. The man shook but he pulled out the release papers and signed them. "Thank you. Do yourself a favor and come nowhere near my family. It won't go over well if you're seen." He walked away, nodding politely at the secretary as he passed her desk.
 

Who had the man thought he was, that goody-goody Potter?
 

***
 

It was March, which meant mid-terms, but it also meant that everyone was gearing up to go to the Hellmouth. All the students going had in their permission slips. All the teachers had lesson plans to advanced students to be taught in their absence. The school year had been lengthened by a week with the permission of the Board of Regents, because Draco asked so very nicely. Everything was ready so far, except some people needing better defensive spells. Which Iggy had forgotten around Christmas. That's why he was here at his Uncle Harry's house on one of his few sundays off. He tapped gently and Harry opened the door, wearing a bathrobe and messy hair. The robe gaped so you could tell he wasn't wearing anything else. "Hi, Uncle Harry, can I come in for about an hour?"
 

Harry nodded and got out of his way, going into the kitchen. "Tea or coffee, Iggy?"
 

"No, thank you. I need something from your school days." Harry came back out of the kitchen and his face was set. "We need the books you guys had to deal with Voldemort. We need the offensive spells when we go back to the hellmouth."
 

"Is that what's wrong with Xander?" he asked, sitting down. He noticed his robe gaping and closed it. Iggy sat across from him. "Start from the beginning, kid."
 

So Iggy did. By the end of the speech, Harry's mouth was open and Iggy felt really uncomfortable now. Harry had been one of the few people who hadn't treated him like he was sick. "That's why we need Hermione's notebook and her forbidden one. I asked Uncle Ron and he said you had them. He saw you stash them in your old trunk."
 

"I do. I had no idea this was that bad though." He got up and walked over, touching the white side of his head. "Is that what's causing this?"
 

Iggy nodded. "We only get white hair right before we die. It's affecting both of us pretty badly. Of course, Aunt Willow never recast the spell either, we're still being drained by it at a rapid rate. So we have to go back in May."
 

"I understand. I ... I saw the paper where it said he was terminally ill and had bought George something to store part of himself in, but I never imagined this. When is it?"
 

"May. Two weeks before finals. So far, Draco and Ron are online to fix the hellmouth, Snape and Tara are going to look around the town because she's insistent, Daddy, Fred, Daddy, Bill, and Charlie are going to deal with the spell that's being cast. Plus Aunt Willow and her Wesley."
 

"They didn't ask me?" Harry asked, sounding hurt.
 

"You have a game that day," Iggy told him. "Uncle Fred checked."
 

"Family is more important than a game," Harry told him.
 

Iggy nodded. "But you're going to be the only normal one if something goes wrong," he pointed out. "If an attack happens during this reunion thing, then everyone over there will die and you'll be about the only family some of us have left. You'll have to watch over Uncle Draco's kids if Ginny's going to collapse and all that other stuff."
 

"Point," Harry agreed, "but they still could have asked."
 

Iggy frowned at him. "Uncle Harry, you haven't kept up with your defensive spells. They didn't want you to get hurt." Harry frowned at him. "Sorry, but it's the truth. You haven't. It's part of having this place as a safety net. You don't have to worry about attacks or anything like that. That's the way you wanted your life and you created a safe haven to get it."
 

Harry relaxed. That hurt, even though it was correct. He hadn't wanted to fight ever again, that's why he was living so far away from people. But still, they could have asked, he would have studied up on everything again. Then the thought of fighting hit him and he shuddered, curling up around himself. He didn't want to fight, not ever again. Maybe they knew that.
 

Iggy nodded. "They know. Uncle Draco is really good at reading people. He's still amazing Uncle Ron by being a nice guy to him sometimes."
 

Harry laughed. "I can't see that. We used to hate him so much."
 

"Now he's the guy who's helping Uncle Ron hold it together. He even keeps him from going to beat up Giles on occasion. It'd kinda cute actually."
 

"I'm sure it is." He had missed all that by being out here. By staying away and keeping himself away from things that might bring back the nightmares, he had once again been left behind by his family.
 

"They don't mind, Uncle Harry. They know you're doing your best and most of the time they're really happy that you pop around for dinner and things. The fact that you took over a few flying classes amazed grandma because you voluntarily went back to the school and helped teach. When you went to fight for Andrea, the whole family was not only impressed, but amazed and pleased that you had taken another step toward healing. We don't expect you to do more."
 

"I mind," Harry told him. "I hadn't realized I was doing it again."
 

"Still," Iggy corrected. "It's another step on the path."
 

"Oh." Harry shrugged. "Thank you, Ignatius."
 

"Anytime," he said with a faint grin. "Did you put water on to boil?"
 

"Yes," he sighed, getting up to check on it. He had gotten a non-whistling tea pot so it wouldn't wake the kids. It was going well when he got in there. He poured himself out a cup and added a tea bag, then went back into the living room. "Is it going to be that dangerous?"
 

"Probably. Whomever's doing the spell knows what they're doing. Periodically they draw from the hellmouth and it draws from us to keep it closed. Aunt Willow was supposed to have recast the spell, but either it didn't work or she forgot." He scratched the back of his head, the white was spreading around there now. "Dad and I are both doing things to make sure that there's the least amount of pain possible if something happens to us. I'm giving Little Ron my brooms and a few of my books, and Mellie a few others, mostly my mythology ones." Harry nodded, looking sad. "I don't want it to happen, but it could and we're doing this because it'll be easier if something bad does happen. Daddy's having visions."
 

Harry swallowed the lump in his throat. Even he knew what that meant. "You?"
 

"Aunt Buffy talked to me back in January. Told me to tell Uncle Ron she was going to beat him up over Vinnie's name. She expected better from him."
 

Harry laughed at that. "I can see that conversation." He sipped at his tea. "How else can I help?"
 

"Be strong for the rest of the family. They're probably going to need it." He stood up. "Can I get those books off you for Professor Snape and Uncle Draco?"
 

"Sure. Everything's up in the attic. We'll dig them out." He looked down at himself. "Let me put on pants first." He headed up to his room, going to get somewhat dressed. He found his son's room open and walked in. "Hey," he said, hearing the crying even though his son was under his covers. "You heard?" Ron nodded. "It's okay, we're working on fixing it," he soothed. "I'm going to do everything I can to make it not happen. Iggy won't get that sick. It's going to be okay." He gave his son a hug. "Why don't you go down and hug him? It'll make you feel better."
 

"But it won't make him feel better. I didn't understand why he yelled at one of the guys on the team who was being nice to him."
 

Iggy coughed from the doorway. "Yeah, I hate being looked at like I'm sick. Simone's about to get pasted for it too." He walked in and pulled the littler boy into his lap. "It's okay. My fathers are working on it, so is everyone else you know. We're all trying to fix it right now, Ron. I'm going to be okay and we'll play together next year."
 

"You had better or I'm going to beat you up," Ron told him. He slid off the helpful lap and went to the bathroom.
 

Harry smiled at Iggy. "Thanks."
 

"Welcome. It's got to be hard for everyone around us. Dad and I both realize that." He groaned as he stood up. "I had to have the same talk with Melvin last week, so it's not uncommon right now. I'll meet you in the attic."
 

Harry went back to his original plan. Get dressed and go search. But all this started him wondering where his former wife was and how she was.
 

***
 

Professor Snape groaned as his door was knocked on. It could only be one person. "Go away, Ignatius. I'll talk with you in a while." Tara giggled against his chest.
 

"It's important, sir," Iggy called.
 

Snape started to swear under his breath as he got up and put a robe on, walking to the door. "What is so important that it can't wait?" he snapped.
 

Iggy held out the two books. "From the fight against Voldemort. Uncle Harry had them."
 

Snape took them and looked down at the two beaten up books. A muggle notebook and a journal sort of book. "Why did he have them?"
 

"Aunt Hermione gathered all the defensive and offensive spells she found over the years. That's the notebook. The other was her original book for changing some of the gryphon spells, including their offensive ones." He looked up. "Uncle Harry agreed, you'd probably get the most use out of them and would be able to control the information from getting into the general student body. Besides, you have the most to lose right now." He turned and walked away.
 

Tara got up and closed the door, leading him back to the bed. "We'll study them together," she promised him, touching his hand gently.
 

***
 

Xander stood up in front of the Great Hall, smiling gently at all the students. "Professor Dumbledore won't be in today, he had to go to London for some meetings," he announced. "So it's business as usual. He wanted you to remember not to party in his absence." Some of the older kids laughed. "And that tomorrow he would have an announcement or two to make." He sat down and looked over at Tara. "You're going to have to get over this fear of addressing large groups. They all like and respect you."
 

"They don't know me," she argued.
 

"They like you because you brightened up dark and gloomy," he told her, smiling at Snape. "I hear you got the sacred books of Hermione."
 

"Yes, your son gave them to me on Saturday. Has anyone heard anything about her?"
 

Draco wiped his mouth off. "The Ministry has had to pull some strings to keep her gainfully employed. The library wanted to cut that particular branch because the building is old and hard to maintain. It's been a point of contention that she be continued to work somewhere."
 

"Putting her out onto the streets wouldn't help anyone," Xander agreed. "How is she otherwise?"
 

"Do I even want to know how you know?" Ron asked. Draco shook his head. "All right then. Have you told Harry?"
 

"The information's waiting on him whenever he's ready to ask. For either of you." Ron nodded, but hung his head. "You didn't let her down, she did it to herself, Ron. She was the one who didn't want to realize she was becoming addicted to the power. She didn't have to cast the warding spell that bit her son, nor did she have to continue to try and protect herself and not admit what she had done when she got caught. She's damn lucky she's alive because the Ministry nearly had a whole group wiped out when they came for her." Ron looked at him again. "She tried to kill seven wizards who were trying to control her. She nearly succeeded with a few of them."
 

"I'm sorry now that Willow and I took the easy route and handed her over," Tara said quietly.
 

"It was necessary," Draco assured her. "She wasn't going to stop. She's lucky she's alive and not in prison. The *only* reason she's not in prison is because of how she helped Potter and Ron, and the fact that she was Potter's wife. They wiped her memories, put a gaes on her to bind her from ever finding out about the magical world again, and got her a job as a muggle librarian. She's safe, she's employed, and is presumed to be somewhat happy."
 

"Can we see her?" Ron asked.
 

Draco shrugged. "You'd have to ask the aurors. They've kept watch on her over the years."
 

"How do you know these things?" Snape asked. The boy had hated the little muggle witch.
 

"Because I make it my business to keep up with certain individuals who could become troublesome to my family," Draco told him simply. "A few of the children I was housed with, Granger, and a few other select individuals." He smiled. "It makes me have some small piece of mind."
 

Snape nodded, he could understand that.
 

"Have you been watching Willow?" Xander asked. "Or my ex?"
 

"Both," Draco admitted with a smirk. "Willow did try to recast the spell, but she was too far away, your ex told me so." Xander groaned. "Pains again?"
 

"No, the image of you and Anya getting together to make my life a living hell."
 

Draco chuckled. "I'm sure I like you more than that most days, Xander. Don't worry about it. Worry about her and Spike getting together. She said she was going to lunch with him today."
 

"Oh, yay," Tara said. "That's going to be an interesting one. Do you want some guts? No, how about you," she mimicked. Snape got up and left the table. "Sorry," she called after him. From across the table Remus Lupin grinned at her. "You have to know those two to understand how bad their meeting will be."
 

"Wasn't one of them a vampire?" Black asked.
 

Xander nodded, but Draco told him. "He looks quite a lot like me, only he wears those jeans and leather. Apparently I'd look good in that look, but it's really not me."
 

Black gaped. "He looks like you?"
 

"Everyone has to have a twin somewhere," Xander quipped. "Spike and Draco are a lot alike. I'll invite him up sometime so you can meet him."
 

"No, that's quite all right," Black told him, eyes large. "I think I've met enough of your chums from way back when." The thrown fork landed beside his hand and he gave Tara a hurt look.
 

"They're not chums. We did horrible things to Spike because he was weak and helpless." She sniffled. "It's a bad thing that we did."
 

"Yes it was," Xander agreed. "Fortunately, he's working for the powers now so he's used to being shat upon."
 

She smiled through her tears. "Thank you, Xander." He nodded. "I think I'm going to go powder my nose." She left the table, going to finish her cry in peace.
 

Lupin looked at Xander. "It's amazing how gentle she really is. Crying over a vampire."
 

"Why not? We did do horrible things to him when he was supposedly helping us," Xander told him. "Get me alone sometime and I'll tell you about it."
 

"I think our imaginations are vivid enough to fill in those spots," Black told him.
 

Xander just smiled. "At least it wasn't a steak knife. I've seen her hit bullseyes with those." Professor Black wisely picked up his own fork and started to eat his breakfast again.
 

***
 

Anya sat down at the table across from one of her best friends. It was amazing how much they had in common now that they had been dumped by their former friends. Well, that's how they felt anyway, even if history did say something different. "I've heard from Willow," she told him, sipping her cocktail.
 

"How is she?" Spiked asked, picking up the goblet of blood the waiter had brought him automatically. Had to love the demon bars.
 

"She's good enough. She tried to recast the spell on the hellmouth, the one keeping it closed, but she was too far away and it didn't work. She said she'd have to do it at the reunion but she couldn't tell Xander."
 

"What reunion? All I've heard about is the hellmouth poisoning people." He frowned at her when she smirked. "Give now, chit, or I'm sticking you with the bill."
 

She laughed. "You do that anyway." She leaned closer. "Obviously you know about the hellmouth problem Xander and his son are having."
 

"Knew about him, don't remember hearing about his son being in it. How are they?"
 

"Very sick. Xander's starting to have visions." She ran her foot up his leg.
 

"Oy! Back on your side of the table. I get enough of that." She sighed and leaned back. "Now give."
 

"Apparently the people who are running a special reunion of their graduating class are trying to stop someone from dying by substitution. To do so, they've had to do a lot of complicated spells over the last few months, and have been using the excess energy of the hellmouth, which is why Xander and his son are so damn sick."
 

"All we heard about was the hellmouth draining them. Is that why?" She nodded. "Well...." He smirked. "Ethan will pay dearly for that knowledge."
 

"Good, because they're going to need more help. They've even enlisted Tara, who's pregnant, to come help."
 

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Again?" She nodded. "With who?"
 

"Her new hunny, that potiony guy." She waved a hand. "Not the issue. The issue is, someone's going to be trying to fix the hellmouth permanently. Someone on the other side is going to be trying to cast a spell out of it. There's going to be Xander, his husband, parts of his family, and a bunch of untrained wizards going over there to help him. And the demons on this plane are packing and begging for spots on the rest of our couches."
 

He nodded, standing up. "I think we can get some help. Is there a new Master?"
 

"One who's not magically knowledgeable. If you tried really hard, you could breathe on him and break him." She smiled. "Does that mean we can count on you being over there?"
 

"When?"
 

"Middle of May. Reunion's the fifteenth, in the park, right overtop of the accursed seal." He nodded. "Have fun dragging Ethan with you."
 

"He doesn't want it to open any more than we do," Spike told her, leaving here there.
 

"And yet again, he sticks me with the bill," she sighed, paying it with leprechaun's gold. Then she disappeared. She'd be long gone before they realized it.
 

When the waiter came back, he frowned and made a note on the check so the owner could bill her personally.
 

***
 

Agatha Potter walked into her potion's classroom and stopped. Her teacher was reading some very familiar books. "Where did you get those?" she hissed, dropping her books so she could get those back.
 

Snape looked over the top at the child. "They were loaned to me by your father, girl, go sit down." He put the book down and stood up when she hadn't moved. "In case it has escaped your notice, some of us are going to be engaged in a horrible battle later this year. Your father granted me access to the books so I could go over some of the more difficult offensive spells. Do you have anything to say on the matter?"
 

"Those were my mother's and I won't have *you* touching them." She tried to grab them but he grabbed her hand and squeezed it, making her scream in pain.
 

"They may have been written by your mother," he sneered down at her, "but they were left in your father's care for a reason, Agatha Potter. I will not tolerate such disobedience from you, nor will I put up with your family problems. Fifty points from you. Go sit down."
 

He released her and she backed up. "You still don't have the right to touch my mother's things. She may not be dead, but those are my birthright and *I* say who gets them, not my father."
 

"Oh, shut up," Anastasia told her from her seat. "You're not old enough to cast anything in there, and even if they are yours, your father has legal custody of them until you've reached adulthood. That's what the law says. Now sit your skanky butt down before the rest of us have to come to Snape's defense."
 

"You, fight?" Agatha sneered at her.
 

"While I don't normally fight," Anastasia said, standing up, "there are occasions where it becomes necessary for me to beat someone myself instead of handing them over to my older sister. If this becomes one of them, I'm going to ruin your little nose and then start on the rest of your face."
 

Agatha snorted in derision. "You can't even throw a punch! I saw you trying to hit your brother and how he laughed at you."
 

"Who said I needed to hit you with my fist? That's what weapons are for, stupid." She picked up her heaviest book and smashed the other girl in the face with it, flattening her nose. "Like I said, occasionally it's necessary, and fun." She dropped her book onto the floor and smiled cruelly down at the other princess of the school, who was squealing and holding her nose. "Hopefully, you've learned your lesson and will not assault Professor Snape again. It really is in the most wretched taste to attack an unarmed person. One would have thought that your mother would have taught you that as well." When the girl tried to get up, she stomped on her stomach, making her groan. "No, don't get up, I think there's more to this lecture. Something about becoming pretentious before you can pull it off. Trust me, you can't. You are not the princess I am, nor do you have the patience to learn all the ways and mannerisms the way I was taught. Do quit pretending now, thank you." She got off the other girl and smiled at the professor. "May I please go take a short walk to calm myself? Before I seriously harm the poor, deluded young girl?" Snape, looking stunned, just nodded. "Thank you, sir. I'll be back in a moment." She glanced down. "Should I head up to the infirmary and have someone sent down for her?"
 

"No, she can walk," Snape said, clearing his throat. "Be back in five minutes. We will discuss this incident during your detention tonight."
 

"Yes, sir." Anastasia walked out, going to take a short breather. Her sister would be proud of her, and possibly even her father. Her mother might yell for a bit, but she was that way.
 

Snape looked down at Agatha. "Go to the infirmary and get that looked at. We will finish this discussion later, during *your* detentions." The girl got up and walked out, hunched over a bit to stop the pain in her stomach. "None of you repeat that episode," he told the class. "Both showed unacceptable behavior." He looked around. "Start working."
 

One Gryffindor raised her hand. "You haven't told us which potion we're doing yet, sir," she told him.
 

"You were told to come prepared today to do it. Was I not clear enough?" She shook her head. "Five points from you for not listening." He stood up. "We are doing sleeping draughts today. Open your books to page thirteen and proceed quietly." He went to get some of the powder to clean up spilled blood and tossed it down onto the book and the spots on the floor. He was sure Anastasia's father would get a good laugh over that little scene tonight at the pub, when they met to discuss the upcoming plans.
 

***
 

Simone walked into the common room and clapped. "Whoo-hoo!" she shouted. "You beat the poor girl black and blue. I'm impressed."
 

"I hit her with my herbology book. It was useful for something," Anastasia told her, not looking up from her homework. "I have detention tonight during practice. I told our beloved captain and he swore at me."
 

"I'll talk to him in a minute," Simone assured her, giving her a hug. "Nice job. I heard what she tried to do." She went up to their room and found her sister's crown sitting on her bed. "Hmm." She changed clothes into practice gear, then took it downstairs, settling it into her sister's braided hair. "It was on my bed," she explained at the curious looks.
 

"You really do have one," Cynthia said, smiling at the young girl. "Why?"
 

"Because I managed to escape while wearing it," Anastasia told her, smiling up at her. "Simone lost hers in the fight out."
 

"When?" the head girl asked.
 

"Remember when I went missing last year?" Anastasia asked. The head girl nodded slowly, sort of remembering it. "Well, the same elves that had kidnaped my sister earlier in the year got me in the spring. They decided that kidnapping young girls and killing their families if they came for them was the proper way to get princesses. Apparently they saw my innate nature and decided I should be theirs. My father was quite miffed." The nearby kids laughed, remembering how 'miffed' he had been.
 

"Didn't Professor Harris have his throat cut during that?" the head girl asked.
 

Simone nodded. "He tried to stop them from taking her across the portal. The elf had a sword. Uncle Xander had a cane."
 

"And the elf barely managed to walk across the portal before dying anyway," Anastasia added. She smiled at them. "My excellent book technique is a direct result of Uncle Xander trying to teach me how to play muggle baseball. He missed it one summer." She closed her book. "How is dear cousin Agatha?"
 

"Two black eyes and a healing nose," Simone told her, grinning at her. "I'm so proud of you." She hugged her sister again. "And you dissed her too."
 

"Oh, we heard about that part," the head girl told her, smirking at the young princess. "It's all over the castle. I bet Rosenberg's mother has even heard about it."
 

Simone laughed. "Aunt Willow? She'd probably agree with Ana. She's decent like that, if a little flighty sometimes."
 

"And scary others," Ana added. "I wonder how she's taking Agatha's role in her son's life."
 

Simone shrugged. "We'll have to ask him sometime. Since they're all going back to Sunnydale together, maybe it'll let us in on the stuff that the parents leave out about the trip."
 

"Why are your parents going to a hellmouth?" the captain of the quidditch team asked them.
 

"Because they'll have to," Simone told him.
 

"It'll cure Iggy and Uncle Xander," Ana told him. "Uncle Xander came from Sunnydale and the hellmouth is tied to him somehow, and through him Iggy."
 

"So the draining has been the hellmouth?"
 

"The draining has been the hellmouth trying to stay closed," Simone corrected.
 

He nodded. "Good. Tell them to have fun. Is Iggy going? We have a game about then."
 

"No, all the kids are staying here. We're not old enough to fight according to the various adults who fight in the family," Simone told him. She slid onto the couch next to her sister. "Uncle Xander said fifteen, Uncle Ron said after graduation. Uncle Harry wants us to never have to fight, but understands that it's necessary sometimes. Most of the other adults agree with Uncle Ron, including our parents."
 

"After graduation seems like a fine time to me," Cynthia agreed. She got up and went back to her homework. "Are you wearing your crown to detention tonight?"
 

"I might," Ana agreed. "I'd have to redo my hair and find some pins. This thing slides." She pushed it back into place and smiled at her captain. "Sorry about practice."
 

"That's all right, for what you did today I don't mind." He smiled at the girls. "Simone, you still have practice today. Can Iggy play?" She nodded. "Good, I'll expect you both out there after dinner." He got up and went up the boys' stairs.
 

Simone looked at her sister. "Father will be proud too."
 

"That would be nice," Ana sighed. "He still thinks I'm some little doll."
 

***
 

Draco spat his butterbeer across the table. "My little girl did what to Potter's?" he asked.
 

"Hit her in the face with a book and told her off for me," Snape told him, smiling at the reaction the news got. "It was quite a sight to behold. It was like you two were fighting again, only more deadly this time. I dare say that your daughter might have killed his if she hadn't been stopped."
 

Draco smiled. "I can't wait to tell him. I'm sure he'll be pleased at his daughter's behavior." He took another sip. "Is there anything useful in those books?"
 

"A few very interesting defensive spells, including one I'm going to do for Tara. If one more person pats her on the stomach, I'm going to Crucio them."
 

Draco smirked. "But her stomach's so cute," he told him. Snape glared at him and he burst out laughing. "You never defended me that way."
 

"You didn't need it. You needed protected from the hordes of women who were out to harm you." He sipped his drink. "Have you had any offers to play?"
 

"For next season. Most teams this season have tight budgets and seekers are easier to find than good keepers." He took another sip and looked at the door as it opened. "Weasley and Potter."
 

"They'll probably want to be alone." Harry stopped beside the table. "Yes?"
 

"Did you suspend her or pound her senseless?" he asked.
 

"Neither. Six days of detention for trying to take something from me in such a rude manner and another three for fighting. Anastasia got two nights for fighting."
 

Harry nodded and smiled. "Thank you. Beat her once for me if she tries it again." He joined Ron at their table in the corner.
 

"I'd say he's had enough of this as well," Draco said, glancing back at them. Ron smiled at him and he waved. "I wonder what they're up to."
 

"Probably nothing good. Or at least something that will make everyone cringe."
 

Draco looked at him. "They're not that bad," he told him quietly. Snape gave him a disbelieving look. "Potter properly worshiped my daughter when she was born, and Denver when he showed up. He can't be all bad."
 

"I've heard his son is a wonderful seeker."
 

Draco nodded. "I've seen him play at the burrow with the other children. The boy believes the snitch is the greatest thing in the world and will do anything to get it. I wouldn't want to play against him. His father's said the same thing." He finished his drink. "I think I'll head back to the tower for the night."
 

"Trying to control the angst?"
 

"It's understandable. I can't imagine having to face dying when your children were so young of something so stupid. Especially not because of that witch." He tossed down some money. "Have another drink before you have to deal with the house. I'll do a spot check this weekend." He smiled and walked away.
 

Snape ordered another drink and relaxed. Possibly it was time for a vacation. A long vacation. He wondered if Tara would like to take a sabbatical with him, possibly do some traveling without the danger.
 

Ron got up and walked over, sliding into the empty seat. "How would Harry go about finding someone to talk to about checking on Hermione?" he asked quietly.
 

Snape shrugged. "Ask Mr. Malfoy."
 

"Those two don't talk and he mentioned aurors. We figured he might have told you something more."
 

"Not particularly. Though I would assume, from his speech this morning, that it was an ongoing monitoring. If you went to the office and asked, they could probably direct you. Doing so discreetly might be something else though."
 

Ron nodded. "Thank you, Professor Snape." He got up and went back to tell Harry the answer.
 

Severus thought about it. That boy always called him professor, like he was still a student. It must have been a mark of respect on the boy's part, but it was rather strange. He sipped his new drink and considered the upcoming fight.
 

***
 

Harry looked up at the library. "Are you sure she can't feel us?"
 

The auror smiled at him. "We run periodic checks of her every few weeks. She hasn't said anything to any of us yet and she's been put under a mental order to scoff at any mention of magic. She won't even read anything from the fantasy section of the library," he assured him. "Take the polyjuice and go right in, sit at the table with the older man. He's the one who's watching over her." He watched as Harry took the potion and changed. "You have an hour," he reminded him. "Be careful." He watched the young man go, wondering how bad it had to have gotten. Nearly five years and he checks on her now? He must be missing her with everything that was going on in his family.
 

Harry walked in, glancing at the woman behind the reference desk. She was flicking and swishing her pencil. He nearly choked and went to talk to her, but he couldn't. He found the older man, noticing he glowed somewhat. So he sat across from him, facing the desk. "Hello. I was told to come talk to you," he said quietly.
 

"I heard, Mr. Potter." The man gave him a sympathetic smile. "Probing the old wounds?"
 

"Trying to see if I've healed any," Harry agreed giving him a faint smile. "How is she?"
 

"Happy enough. She's got three cats. Agatha, Ron, and Mellie." Harry cracked a small smile at that. "They're even in the correct age and sex order. She found them at the pound. It was hilarious watching her try to get her Ron cat fixed. She kept trying but she couldn't go through with it." Harry did smile at that. "As you can see, she's happy and healthy, Mr. Potter. She doesn't suspect a thing."
 

"Thank you."
 

The man stopped him by putting a hand on his arm. "Does it help to know this?"
 

Harry shook his head. "Some, but in other ways it hurts more. Knowing that she's got some sort of memories and she's trying to recreate her old life."
 

"She can't do it. There's not enough left in her memories to recreate her old life or rediscover magic." Harry nodded, taking the time to look at her again, trying not to make it obvious he was staring. He laughed at the boy. "Really, Mr. Potter. It's not like you can date her again."
 

"No, but she was my best friend." He sat back down. "Can you tell me anything more?"
 

"We had a scare last month when a chaos text was found in the library by her, but she tossed it aside quickly enough. The bindings are holding. Look all you want. I'm going to get another book to look through." He left, and when he came back, Harry was gone. "Just as well," he sighed. "That scar might have triggered a memory.
 

Little did he know that Hermione had found a few more chaos texts than he thought. She had managed to free up more of her memories and had recognized the scar that had reappeared as the familiar man had walked past her. Fortunately, she remembered most of the bad times so she didn't chase after him.
 

***
 

Ron and Draco looked at each other and the modified spell Iggy had handed them, then nodded. They still needed to try it out. Together they tapped on Percy and nodded outside. He followed them. "Grab a cloak," Ron told him. "We're going to try this spell again, now that it's fixed." He smiled.
 

"Fine." Percy went back and grabbed his cloak, heading out after the younger men. He found them standing in front of the steps up to the school and gave them a curious look. "What does this spell do?"
 

"It's supposed to filter the chaos energy back into normal energy," Ron told him, handing over the modified spell. "Someone working with Iggy found a word translated wrong." He braced himself and raised his wand. "Fair warning, we got knocked back last time."
 

"Let's hope it's gentler this time," Draco said, moving so he could see the spell. He had memorized it but just in case. They moved into a three-point formation and cast the spell in unison, and found themselves twenty feet back on the ground. "Did it work?" he groaned.
 

"I don't know, I can't get up," Ron told him, able to get up to his elbows but no farther.
 

Dumbledore walked out of the school and looked at them. "Again?"
 

"Did it work?" Percy asked, adjusting his skewed glasses.
 

Dumbledore got down and tested the energy under him. "Mostly," he said, looking impressed.
 

Xander walked out and stood on his footprints. "Hey, they shrunk," he said, then he shrugged.
 

"Doesn't that bother you?" Percy asked, sitting up.
 

"Not really. I put them there, I left some of myself. And apparently my feet shrank since then." He grinned. "If I think of it like that, then I'll get morbid again and you'll see me drunk for the second time in my life." He looked at the boss. "Did it work?"
 

"Mostly," Dumbledore said as he stood up. "There's still some chaos."
 

"Yeah, but if we do that, then reanchor it," Ron said, making it to his feet, but wobbling. "Would it work?"
 

"I doubt you're going to be able to cast a second spell," Xander told him, looking him over. "Want to run inside to the bathroom?" Ron nodded and headed for the bathroom. Xander helped the other two up and they headed inside too. He looked at his boss again. "It really worked?"
 

"Come feel it," Dumbledore told him, getting out of the way.
 

Xander walked back, his cane tapping on the stones. He knelt and felt the mixed pool, smiling at the mostly good energy. "It worked. We have a plan."
 

"As long as Ms. Rosenberg can recast the anchoring spell."
 

"I just want her to take it off for right now. Maybe if the stupid thing opens and they get eaten it'll solve the problem." Dumbledore laughed, clapping him on the back. "Thanks, but I'm tired of this already. I'm too tired to care anymore."
 

"I know. Just a few more weeks, Xander. Just a few more weeks." He helped him back into the school and back to his tower. "Go rest. We think there will be another session done in a few days."
 

"Call Willow and ask if she can remove it," he suggested. He walked in and headed to the couch to take a nap.
 

Dumbledore walked away. "That is a wonderful idea," he told himself. He went to make the call. It would save some problems and stress. Her daughter answered the floo for her, being very polite for such a little girl.
 

***
 

Iggy woke up and looked around. He felt better. Something must be wrong. He slid out of his bed and went down to the common room. His Uncle Ron was waiting on him. "What happened?"
 

"Willow was able to cancel the closing spell," Ron told him, giving him a pat. "Go back to bed. You're going to go to classes tomorrow and then we're making final plans about going."
 

"But I'm not going."
 

"No, but your father decided you should be at the meeting. You are involved." He grinned. "Go back to your own bed and sleep, Ignatius." Iggy went up the stairs. "Your *own* bed," Ron called after him. Iggy changed staircases, going up the boys' side. Ron shook his head. Those three were going to drive him to drink some day soon.
 

***
 

Xander stepped off the landing area, hopping down the little step. He winced with pain. "Dear, your knee," his husband reminded him gently as he landed beside him. He gave him a kiss on the cheek. Then he looked at the person meeting them. "Harris, party of twenty?" he asked. He looked around the porch of the inn they had portkeyed into, counting heads. "Nineteen. One of the kids backed out."
 

The woman checked her list, then looked up. "You're not staying here?"
 

"No, I'm here for a reunion," Xander said, handing over the letter and the letter from Dumbledore. "We're *all* here for my reunion."
 

"Where?" she asked as she read. Sunnydale? She looked up at him. "You're him, aren't you?"
 

Willow stepped forward. "Yes, it's us. We've been summoned back to deal with more crap." She smiled and handed over her letter as well. "The White Witch and the Guardian of the Hellmouth have returned."
 

She giggled. "You guys are such legends. It's great to see you." She took down the information on the group from the second letter the Guardian had given her. "Thank you, and welcome to Universal Studios Hollywood. Have a nice trip and please, make sure the world continues for us."
 

Xander nodded. "I'm going to try. I'm tired of this." He took George's hand and walked him out to the parking lot, following Wesley and Willow. Waiting there was someone he sort of remembered. "Weren't you part of Angel's crew way back when?" he asked the dark-skinned, bald man standing there.
 

"Gunn," Wesley said with a smile, shaking his hand. "How are you?"
 

"Been better. Little achy now."
 

Xander dug something out of his pocket and handed it over. "Try that, it works wonders." He grinned. "I kind of remember you. You were their weapons person, right?" Gunn nodded. "Glad to have you then. I'm not the fighter I once was." He glanced behind him, then whistled, bringing the rest of the group. Draco and Ron carried the weapon box between them. "This is Gunn, he's the local head guy. Listen to him, children."
 

The students who had gotten permission to come nodded and gathered around to stare at him and ask him questions. "Hold up," Gunn said, raising a hand. "Do this later. For now, let's hit the road. English, got a second?" He pulled Wesley aside. "I got the message you sent, but you never said you were brining in untrained people."
 

"They're trained, but they have no experience," Wesley assured him with a bright smile. "They've been training their whole lives for this and only want the chance to see some action, and since this is looking more like a carefully monitored event it was decided that this would be a good training opportunity, and would cement any decisions to fight as a living."
 

Gunn nodded. "It'd do it for me. I hate that place."
 

"You should have tried growing up there," Xander said dryly from behind him. He grinned. "They're my students and I've given them every lesson I possibly can. It's time for practical knowledge to become practical application of that knowledge."
 

"Man, you've changed," Gunn told him, looking him over. "Fake knee?"
 

"Fake knee, lots of burn scars, three kids, one husband, and a crazy bird that thankfully stayed at home." He pointed at the vans. "Two hours?"
 

"Two and a half, there's a detour." Gunn looked him over again. "You guys have got to lose the robes. They're noticeable."
 

Xander nodded. "Good point. I forgot. Guys, robes in the bags now," he called. Everyone took off their robes and his husband grabbed him for a kiss. "Thank you, sweetie."
 

Gunn looked at Wesley. "They're the saviors?"
 

"They're the reason," Wesley told him gently. "Willow, please try to recast that spell tonight. Watchers, do your duties and meet us there." They nodded then disappeared into the crowd like a well-trained commando squad, which they were. He climbed in beside Willow, kissing the back of her hand. "It will be fine," he assured her.
 

In the other van, George was doing the same for his husband, and Draco and Ron were making funny kissy noises at them.
 

***
 

Iggy walked out onto the pitch and looked up. The Slytherins were training, shit. He climbed up into the stands to wait. He wasn't allowed off school grounds, but he really wanted some airtime. The captain came down and opened his mouth. "I just need to get some airtime to calm down," Iggy told him quietly.
 

The captain, a fourth year, looked him over. "Not looking over our plans for next year?"
 

Iggy snorted. "I might not live until next year. I could care less about next season at the moment."
 

"Let him go up," Ryan Rosenberg called. "His dad went with our head." He looked at Agatha, who turned away. "Go ahead, Iggy, it's understandable. Take that end of the pitch, past the goals." Iggy gave him a wave and took off, going to float over there.
 

Agatha floated closer to her keeper. "Why are you being nice to him?" she demanded. "He's a Gryff."
 

"He's facing death," Ryan told her. "He's allowed to be upset and morose." He looked at his captain. "We weren't using it anyway."
 

"I guess," he said, looking down there. The boy was leaned back, basically lying on his broomstick. "How does he do that?"
 

"Flying is in his nature," Agatha pointed out haughtily. She floated off.
 

Ryan shrugged. "He could die in three days, it's not right to torture him more." He regained his former position and caught the quaffle. "Standard pattern, green," he called, taking off. The other two chasers took off with him, going to practice their maneuvers.
 

The captain shot a few more glances at the boy, but he guessed it was understandable. If he was really dying, it would suck. "Pass the fucking thing," he yelled, catching sight of Agatha hogging the quaffle.
 

***
 

Xander looked around the reunion, frowning at the people around him. He didn't really remember any of them. This totally sucked, and he was starting to ache. He found his husband and saw he had a seat so smiled at him and went to kick him out of it. "Thank you, dear," he sighed in relief as he sat down.
 

"I noticed that you were limping more than usual," George said with a smile. He nudged him when he noticed a woman in a pearl gray business suit and pearls walking toward them. "Megabitch."
 

Xander snorted into his drink, then glared at him. "Don't do that to me, please?" He pasted on his fake smile for the hostess, and shook her hand when she squealed and held hers out. "Hi. How are you?" And who are you? he mentally asked himself.
 

"Just fine," she said happily. "Xander Harris?"
 

He nodded. "That would be me." He patted George's hand. "This is my mate, George. And my brother-in-law and assistant, who just wanted to come see what had warped me so badly." He smiled again.
 

She looked at the two younger men, licking her lips at Draco. "My, what handsome family you have." She looked at him. "What are you doing now?"
 

"Teaching students how to defeat bad things," Xander said honestly.
 

She dropped her smile and glanced around. "Let's be honest, shall we?"
 

"Sure," he said, sounding more happy. "I'm going to kick your ass for nearly killing me and my son." She blinked. "You're using the power of the hellmouth and I'm still a guardian of it," he said politely. "Please quit before I have to kill you."
 

Draco stepped forward. "Now, Xander, you agreed that could be my pleasure," he said at his most evil. He ran his eyes over her, making her move away in revulsion. "Do be a good muggle and quit now, thank you. We'd like his son to live for a few more years since he's going to do amazing things with his life."
 

"Yeah, like find the cure to various diseases," Ron put in. He smiled at her. "By the way, the portal's going bye-bye, as you yanks say."
 

She sniffed. "You can't stop the spell."
 

Xander stood up, and he did tower over her. "Any spell can be stopped. Teaching magic for the last eleven years has taught me that, Melanie. You can be stopped. If I can't do it, then these nice relatives of mine can."
 

"And if they can't, I can," Willow said from her other side. She smiled at her. "Hi, Melanie. Who are you trying to save?"
 

"You didn't look in the pictures?" Xander asked. "She's trying to save Larry."
 

"At Oz's expense?" Willow asked. "How pleasant for her. She does know that Oz saved a few Tibetan villages a few years ago?"
 

Melanie started to sniff. "It doesn't matter. It can't be stopped," she hissed. She walked off, going back to her hostess duties.
 

Willow looked at the crew. "Guys, the Hellmouth is under the butt of the statue, directly under it. The seal in there is dangerous so don't bleed on it." They nodded and headed out. "Wes, I love you, but guard us." She looked over as Tara walked in with her hunny. "You convinced him to come?" she asked.
 

"I wasn't going to leave her to these creatures," Snape sniffed, glancing around. "Xander, plan?"
 

"Drain the hellmouth, fight the bitch, go home and snuggle," Xander told him.
 

"Brilliance in action," George said, glancing around. "People are starting to look."
 

"Yay. Do you know how many magic users are in the crowd right now?" Willow asked. She looked around, smiling. "Oh, look, someone fixed Amy." She waved at her and the other witch came over. "Are you here to help Melanie or us?" she asked, sounding pleasant.
 

Amy looked the group over. "We're here to stop the fight and the spell. You?"
 

"Draining the hellmouth," Xander told her. She looked him over and then snorted. "Gee, can't read auras anymore?" He stepped closer. "Gryphon born," he whispered in her ear. She shuddered. "I'm putting you in charge once we leave. Unless you can come up with someone better?"
 

"I usually do it anyway," Amy told him, looking at the people behind him. "Who're they?"
 

Xander glanced back. "A few of my students. They wanted practical application. Someone talked us into bringing them." She stepped away from them. "Now then, what do you have planned so we're not working against each other?"
 

"I was going to block Melanie," Amy admitted.
 

"Spell's started," Willow announced, looking around. Melanie was standing in the spot where the graduating class had been seated, probably right where her seat had been during that day.
 

"Holy shit," George said, pointing at a ghostly figure. "Isn't that Buffy?"
 

Xander smiled sadly. "That's high school Buffy," he agreed. Behind them walked a ghostly him and Willow, who was attached to Oz's side. He took Tara's hand and squeezed it. "Back to the basics, ladies. Drain and shoot at the bad girl." Willow took Tara's other side. "Who's the focus?"
 

"I am," Tara said. Snape rudely shoved her out of the way. "Hey!"
 

"You're vulnerable and I won't have our son injured," Snape told her, taking her place. "What do I do?"
 

"Let me," Willow said, switching places with him. "Okay, going to start the suckage." She drew their powers into her, smiling when more people were added on. As the ghostly figures started to become clearer, she looked up at Melanie, who was in the clear. "You're not doing this," she said quietly, and her voice projected across the distance. "The Guardians say no." She shot the power out, hitting the other witch as hard as she could. The crowd gasped and a few of them pointed at Willow's group. "That's right, the guardians came back. Now, Ron," she yelled.
 

Ron and Draco looked at the student who had volunteered to help them. "Remember, you're going to be on your ass," Ron reminded him. Together they chanted the spell to filter it.
 

"NO!" Melanie screamed, rushing toward them.
 

Xander disengaged and pulled his wand, stunning her with a hard blast of energy. "Not a chance, ho."
 

"Oz!" Willow shouted, catching sight of him. He was walking toward the spot, looking like he was in pain. The air between them was starting to distort.
 

George touched her on the arm. "Get me to him, I'm wearing silver." She nodded and helped him through the power distortions, putting Oz's hand on his necklace. Oz yelled and flinched, and his part of the spell was broken.
 

Outside, Draco and Ron said the last word, the student a nanosecond behind. Then they went flying. Ron looked up at the statue he had crashed into. "Hey, a butt," he said, slightly loopy.
 

"Spell," Draco groaned. "Willow!"
 

"No, me," Tara said as she joined them. She opened the book that had been sent to her by someone. She had bookmarked the spell earlier. "Katordes," she started, running her finger down the page.
 

Inside, Xander was grimacing at his wand. "It's cracked." He sat down, using his building sense to try and fix it, but then decided that the fight needed him more. And he did have the second wand, his cane. He stood up and pointed it at Melanie, adding to Snape's Crucio. "Crucio." She writhed in pain, screaming. "No one does this to my son."
 

"Temper, temper," Charlie said, pushing Xander out of the way. "Entrapment," he snarled, binding her in strong ropes from his wand. He glanced around. "Don't worry, we do this for a living. You'll forget about it later."
 

Xander nodded. "How many of you graphically remember graduation?" Only two people raised their hands. "For everyone else, this will seem about like that day." They nodded and started to talk again like nothing was going on. "Welcome to the hellmouth, gentlemen. Where's Tara?"
 

"Closing it," Willow panted, bending over. She looked at Snape. "Damn, I thought I had darkness."
 

He smirked at her before going to find his mate. He found her on her knees on the ground, still reading. "Tara?"
 

"Let her finish," Ron said, forcing himself to stand up by grabbing the statue. "Luberts?"
 

"I'm okay," the tiny voice said. The kid sat up and looked around. "Wow. Is that what real magic is like?"
 

"No, kid, that's what powerful magic is like," Ron told him, moving to stand behind Tara and read over her shoulder. "Three more lines."
 

"I *can* read," Snape snapped. As soon as she was done, he handed her the portkey he had made to get her to a hospital. It sent her to Phoenix. "Blast!"
 

"Go find her," Draco told him, giving him a smile. "We can mop this up." He pointed at the people in robes running their way. "Look, American aurors."
 

"Get Xander out of here," Ron told him, giving him a shove. "They hate him because he left."
 

"Done," Draco agreed. He ran into the room and grabbed Xander and George. "Teleport us," he hissed. "American Aurors." Xander looked at him. "Now! They don't like you."
 

"Oh, yeah," Xander agreed, sounding so tired. "Willow, take off the spell?" he suggested before taking them to the agreed upon safe place, somewhere Xander had teleported to so many times he had done it in his sleep, the Burrow. He collapsed into Draco's arms.
 

"Get him to a bed," George told him, going to find the first aid kit. He hoped his brothers had it well in hand.
 

***
 

Iggy sat up as he felt the energy warp, and finally snap. He was free. But something was still off. He climbed out of his bed, startling his cousins, who were sitting there staring at it. He knew he had passed out earlier. "Dad's back, but not here," he said, looking confused. "It's not finished."
 

"They can handle it," Denver told him, forcing him to sit back down. "The adults have it, Iggy. How are you?"
 

Iggy looked at him. "I'm okay, but the energy warped back into daddy. He's ...he's at ... grandma's!" He disappeared, taking his cousin with him. "Daddy?" he called, heading for the stairs.
 

George knocked him out. "Put him on the couch," he told Denver.
 

"He said the energy's still got Uncle Xander," Denver said as he moved the unconscious body. He covered him gently and went to get everyone else, but they were coming through the floo. It was going to be a long night.
 

***
 

Willow looked around at the mess. And what a mess it was. The hellmouth was partially drained. The reunion had went well and everyone had celebrated surviving, except Melanie, who had been taken away babbling and ranting about them. She saw an auror talking to Ron and walked over to them. "Ron, something's still wrong," she announced. "I need Wes."
 

"He's with his slayer," Ron said with a smile. She had redeemed herself tonight. Now he understood why Buffy and Xander had liked her. "You can probably pull him away from her."
 

"Thanks. Charlie? Can you read energy flows?"
 

"No, but I can," Ethan said, stepping out of the darkness with Spike right behind him.
 

"Oh, *now* you show up?" Ron asked, sneering at him.
 

"He doesn't like to fight," Willow soothed, patting him on the arm. "If you can, tell me what's wrong."
 

"It's bleeding *through* him now," Spike said, blowing a smoke ring. "Might want to stop it before he dies again. Bad enough we had to stop the demons coming for you lot."
 

"Shit." She grabbed the book Tara had dropped and looked at the spell she had marked. "This isn't the one I used."
 

"No, it's a better translation," Ethan noted dryly. "I found it for her. Do the one on the last page, Ms. Rosenberg. You are powerful enough for that."
 

Willow glared at him but turned to the last page. It was basically her and three of the Weasley boys. Severus had taken the younger ones off to blow off some steam in the cemeteries. Bill was checking out the perimeter, Charlie was hovering behind her, and Ron was shouting at the stupid idiot who wanted to arrest Xander for choosing his life over his country. "Ron, I could use some help." He jogged over. "It's a small temporal spell, to fix it latching onto Xander again." He nodded. "Charlie, Bill? Some help?" They came to help too, all joining hands. They weren't familiar with this sort of magic, but they were good sources to draw from. She drew on them, sucking at them like straws, and channeled it to fix the problem Tara had created. She didn't complete the last line, the one specifying where the anchor should go, so it had gone back to the last anchor. She felt time warp around them, then snap back into place. The hellmouth was now anchored to the statue above it and the trees in the park. She fell to her knees. "Oh, wow."
 

Ron patted her on the head. "It's okay. We all feel the same way. You're a powerful witch, Willow Rosenberg. But never bother our family again." His older brothers nodded. She nodded and got to her feet with some help from Ethan and Spike, letting them lead her to her fiancé. "Hey," she said with a goofy smile. "Saved the Xanman."
 

"Good," Wesley said, giving her helpers a look. "Thank you. I'll take her from here." He tucked her against his side so she could rest while he continued to do his duty. "Marissa, I'm impressed with your tenacity. You're a good Slayer, right up there with the best. Are you ready for your tests?"
 

"Sure," she said in a slightly Jamaican accent. "I'm always ready." She looked at Willow. "I think she's asleep."
 

"She should be. She just finished fixing the hellmouth once and for all." He steered both women away from the tent and out into the night, taking them back to the Watcher's residence. Dillon was a bit brash, but he apparently knew what he was doing. They would be leaving in a few days.
 

***
 

Xander woke up and looked around. "Uh-huh," he said, sitting up. George looked at him. "I'm fine. Really good." He ran his hands through his hair. "Are the white streaks gone?"
 

"Not in the least," Draco told him from where he was leaning against the dresser. He had been on the other side of the room, but now he was here. Strange. He looked at George.
 

"Small temporal spell," George told him. He pulled Xander to his feet and watched him not wobble for the first time in months. "You're really better?"
 

"I'm really better," Xander agreed, then he started to laugh. "I'm okay! I'm really okay!" He hugged his husband, then his 'son', then went to find more people to hug. He found his son and his nephew in the living room and hugged them. Molly was in the kitchen so he hugged her.
 

"Xander, dear, calm down," Molly told him. "It's wonderful that you're all right but do calm down, dear."
 

Xander bounced back upstairs, going to hug George and Draco again. "I'm okay!"
 

"Yes, you are," Draco told him, knocking him back out. "I've had enough of that," he said, dusting off his robes. "I'm going to go back and check on the others. Will you be all right with happy boy?"
 

George smiled. "I usually am. Thank you, Draco," he said quietly.
 

Draco looked startled. "Where else would I have been? I was in the middle of the evil and it slid around me yet again." He winked and disappeared, going to check on Ron and the other Weasleys.
 

***
 

Tara looked over as the door to her hospital room opened, admitting a dark haired, thin woman. "Hello. Let me guess, you're a relative?"
 

The woman shut the door and used her wand to lock it. "Who're you?"
 

"I'm Severus' mate."
 

"I'd like the truth," the woman told her, crossing her arms.
 

Tara laughed. "You can read the child if you want." She opened her arms so the woman could touch her stomach. "I'm Tara Maclay."
 

"I know. You teach at Hogwarts. We had you checked out when you appeared here. The aurors are quite upset that your portkey malfunctioned."
 

Tara shrugged. "I was supposed to go back at Hogwarts or to St. Mungo's, where my doctor is. But the child is Sererus'."
 

"He's evil and you're not."
 

"He changed and I'm not the innocent little goody-goody I appear to be." The woman snorted in derision. "Really. He turned his back on the dark."
 

"It's good to see that he's duped someone else." She moved closer and put her hand on Tara's lump. "It is a Snape," she agreed finally, then stepped back. "You haven't been tainted yet so it must have been a spell conception."
 

Tara giggled. "Not hardly! A bit of a freakout because we nearly got run over by a muggle, but nothing less than physical. Hot and sweaty at that." She smiled as a portal opened and Snape walked through. "Finally! It's been two days!"
 

"It took Ignatius to find you," Snape told her. He touched the baby, then nodded. "You're both fine."
 

She slapped him on the arm. "Of course I'm fine. Who's this?"
 

Snape looked at the other woman, noticing her for the first time. "My cousin. I haven't seen you since you were five."
 

She sneered at him, looking him over. "I see you haven't really changed, no matter how much she protested." She crossed her arms.
 

"Actually, he spied on Voldemort," Tara said, touching her mate's hand. "He's part of the reason that the idiot was defeated." The woman's mouth opened. "He's been instrumental in fighting the dark since his second year as a death eater."
 

"First, dear," Snape corrected. He looked at his cousin. "You can assume whatever you want. I have no illusions about what the rest of the family sees of me. I have my life and I'm content with it."
 

Tara smiled at him. "You say the sweetest things," she teased. He grimaced at her and she laughed. "You do. Oh!" She grabbed her stomach. "He's not happy being in the US."
 

"He's British, he shouldn't be happy over here," Snape agreed. "Come, let's get you home." He looked at his cousin again. "Give my best to your mother and the rest. We'll be married this summer." He nodded at the door. "We'll need a nurse if you wouldn't mind." She left in a huff and a nurse came in. "We're taking her back to our normal hospital," he commanded gently.
 

"We'll need doctor's orders for that," the nurse said patiently.
 

Snape pulled his wand and froze her, glaring at her with his most ferocious glare. "I will not have my son born in this country. She is going home, where we both belong." He released the nurse's head. "Now, do whatever you need to do. We are leaving in a half-hour." She nodded so he released the rest of her and she hurried out.
 

"Sev," Tara said gently, putting a hand on his arm. "You're so sweet to me. Can I have a bath when we get home? A real one?"
 

"Even with those smelly flowers you like if you must," he sighed. She sat up and kissed him gently. He glanced around. "What was that for?"
 

"For being so sweet and nice. Even though you nearly hurt her, you did it for me."
 

He smoothed down her hair. "I'm always going to want to hurt people for you, Tara." She giggled. "You rest, we'll be going home soon." A large head came through the portal. "They're getting *orders*," Snape said drolly.
 

"I understand. How much longer?"
 

"He gave them a half-hour deadline so hopefully within an hour," Tara told him. "How are Iggy and Xander, Bill?"
 

"Quite good. They're free of all influences, as are Mr. Rosenberg and his mother. They won't be free from the white hair, it's permanent I'm afraid. Ignatius is now totally white haired. Xander is back to his usual self. Ignatius was flying around earlier. We had a nice game of tag." He looked at the door as it opened. "Hello there," he said pleasantly.
 

The nurse squeaked. "The doctor's on his way up," she said, trying hard not to look at the large head. "It'll only be a few minutes." She ran out of the room and they could hear her high-pitched wailing out in the hallway.
 

The doctor came in and looked at the head. "I didn't think any of you existed anymore," he said in greeting.
 

"They don't, in this country," Bill agreed. "Your people wiped them out in a fit of fanaticism and intolerance. In other countries there are thriving colonies which are carefully hidden from people like those who destroyed the ones here." He looked at Tara and nudged his beak that way. "How is she doing? We ask because we're interested in her having more from this line. It's a strong line and we think we can trust it."
 

"I'm touched," Tara said, starting to sniffle. "That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me since Xander threatened Sev for me."
 

Snape gently patted her on the head. "It's all right, I'll threaten more people for you later. Possibly even Xander if he hasn't calmed down."
 

The gryphon laughed. "He hasn't and probably won't for a few weeks. He's thrilled that he's back to normal again." He withdrew his head. "We'll be waiting."
 

"It shouldn't be too long," the doctor called after him. He pulled his wand and checked her over. "Very well, you look good. The baby's doing fine. You should be delivering sometime in the next few weeks." He smiled at them. "We've found no warping in either of them due to where she traveled from."
 

"I went to college there," Tara told him.
 

"Still, you show now magical scars from it. Probably a few physical ones, but nothing dangerous that we can see." He looked at Severus. "If you want, I can sign her out right now and you can take her home." Severus nodded and picked Tara up, taking the chart with him as he carried her across the portal.
 

"OOOHHHH!" Tara shrieked, but it was a happy sound.
 

"I guess we figured out that the baby is magically active." He made notes on his copy of her records and signed her out officially. Quite an interesting couple, but they suited each other.
 

***
 

Xander bounded into the infirmary, bending down to hug Tara. "How are you? How far apart are they? And can I hold your hand or do I get to catch this time?"
 

She giggled, coming down off the pain. "No, you can be my ice buddy and hand holder. Someone else gets to catch. Where's Sev?"
 

"Still in the meeting with Dumbledore and McGonagall." He brushed her hair off her forehead and helped her tie it back. "There you are. Let me climb up here and you can rest against me, how's that?" She nodded and shifted, letting him up behind her. "Okay, get comfy," he said, holding her as she shifted into a new comfortable position. "Try on your side," he suggested when she stared to wince and pant. She flipped over carefully, not wanting to tip the bed or fall off it. "Better?" She nodded. "Okay, you squeeze and beat me up if you need to. I'm good for that."
 

She whooshed out a breath and sucked one in. "I won't hurt you too much," she promised as she panted.
 

Upstairs, in the Headmaster's office, Severus was holding a shield against McGonagall's sword attack. "Do something about her! Tara's in labor!"
 

McGonagall stopped. "You and her?" she asked. He nodded, slowly lowering his shield. "She likes women! What did you do to that poor woman?"
 

"She saw something in him that prompted her to choose him," Dumbledore soothed. "He was close enough for her." Snape glared at him. "Not to insult your manliness, Severus."
 

"Thank you." He tossed the shield aside, at her. She shrieked and tried to attack again, but he stunned her. "I've had enough of this. I have something more important to be doing right now. Do tell me how this turns out."
 

"Xander's with her right now," Dumbledore called after him. He unstunned the poor dear, settling her into one of the mostly whole chairs. "Do you feel better now?" he asked. "Are you ready to get back to the discussion of your new quarters?"
 

She nodded, biting her lip. "I expected things to go to hell, but this is a bit extreme, Albus. This school is not what it once was."
 

He nodded. "Yes, but it's more fun now," he assured her with a faint smile. "Will that cottage work for you?" She nodded. "Good, my dear Minerva. I have been worried about you."
 

"Who took over my spot? You never did say."
 

"Sirius Black took over your former teaching position and Tara is now the Deputy Headmistress. Both have worked well in your absence." She frowned. "It took two people to fill in for you, Minerva, feel happy that you were that important to this school."
 

She nodded. "Thank you for taking care of me, Albus. I had no idea what was going to happen next."
 

"We all know that it's not your fault. Even young Ignatius has gotten over it. You'll find that everyone appreciates you being better."
 

"Even Xander?"
 

"Even him. He's been a bit wrapped up with everything that's happened."
 

"Nearly dying does that to one," she agreed. "And Ms. Rosenberg?"
 

"Is quite happy with her position within the Watchers. She's due to be married this summer as well." She smiled at that. "About the same time as Tara and Severus are having their commitment ceremony."
 

"They're not marrying?"
 

"No, they're joining under the auspices of her faith."
 

"Oh." She looked at her hands. "At least they're making it official. That will ease some of the discomfort felt over this last year." She looked at him again. "How are you holding up?"
 

"Rather well. There hasn't been too large of a protest over any given incident. I've received more notes of commiseration for nearly losing one of my professors and a few students."
 

"Yes, but we had one turned," she reminded him.
 

He nodded. "The boy's parents were a bit miffed, but they accepted the word of the vampire who came back with him. Spike said he would get the boy trained and make him leave the country so he doesn't eat his family in the usual sense. It eased a great many fears."
 

"And the Potter girl?"
 

"Settling in as a Slytherin very well. Ryan Rosenberg has been instrumental in keeping her behavior under check. He's kept to his part of the deal and we are considering releasing the girl, unless she does something horrible this summer."
 

Minerva nodded. "I see." She stood up. "Perhaps I should live farther away. Just in case the school should blow up or something."
 

He laughed. "I should hope not! This year's marks were excellent. Except for the illnesses and assorted trials of this year, everything has been ordinary. Business as usual."
 

"Business as usual?" she screeched. "You call having one professor accused of turning to the dark, two students nearly dying, a professor nearly dying, and a bout of the flu that left nearly everyone incapacitated, normal?"
 

He nodded. "Yes. Everything was solved and gotten over. We survived another year. That's what is important in this case."
 

"If you say so," she said, her lips pursed. "I'll take your kind offer of the cottage and tutoring lessons. I'm sure I can keep myself occupied." He nodded. "Perhaps I'll write a book."
 

He smiled. "That would be wonderful. No one knows more about animagus than you."
 

She smiled. "Thank you. I'll go look over the cottage and send you a list of any necessities I require." He nodded so she left. Down the halls floated a scream and a wail. "Well," she said with a smile. "Another child added to the family. I hope Severus is ready for diapers."
 

*** Two Weeks Later ***
 

Severus looked up in alarm as his precious son squirted at him for the third time in an hour. He couldn't get the hang of this diaper thing and Tara was at an appointment. He nearly called out in panic, but someone knocked on his door. "Enter," he called, releasing the locking spell.
 

"I thought I felt some panic," Xander said, smiling at the little boy. "Yes, you're so cute and big. You're going to grow up just like your daddy, only with your mummy's fashion sense," he cooed. "Watch me, daddy. Under the butt, flip, pin." He tested it. "Then test and lift." He picked the baby up and made baby noises at him, earning giggles. "Yes, you're definitely your mummy's bright little boy, aren't you?" He blew on the baby's stomach. "Such a good boy." He kicked at him. "Here you are, Zachariah is all changed. Next time, wipe him off with the washcloth things and powder him." Snape glared at him. "Tara told me to come down and help," he admitted.
 

Snape sat down with his son firmly in his hand. "I was sure I could handle it."
 

"Of course you can," Xander assured him, patting him on the shoulder, "but it takes a few times. Even the great baby changing God didn't get it right the first time."
 

"Who's that?"
 

"Draco."
 

Snape laughed. "I find it hard to imagine him changing any diaper."
 

"He does it all the time. He's gotten so good at it that my kids wanted him to do it." He tickled the baby boy. "Zachariah," he sing-songed. "Would you like a toy?" He pulled out a small stuffed animal. "Watch out for the lights," he said as the baby patted it. It was all he could do.
 

Lights shot out of the animal's ears and paws, startling the father but delighting the baby.
 

Snape looked at him. "I think that's a bit advanced for him. He's only two weeks."
 

"The sooner you start, the smarter they become. We started reading to Iggy in the womb." He pulled something out of his robe pocket and enlarged it. "This comes directly from Iggy with his permission and blessing. He wanted you to read them to Zach and make him just as smart as he is." He put the stack of books on the table. "We've got the next level ready when you get through these. Oh, and repetition builds baby brains faster. So do each one two or three times." He stood up. "If you want more help changing baby, we have plenty of experience. Draco's over with Lucien to show off his amazing potty training ability." He winked. "You be a good boy, Zach, and wrap your daddy around your fingers. If you need anything, you yell and we'll hear you right away." The baby gurgled. "You be a good kitten and Uncle Draco will give you treats later." He smiled and left them alone, closing the portrait.
 

Snape sighed. That man was tiring. He hadn't really realized how much energy Xander had lost when he had been sick. He heard a shriek, but didn't bother to get up since it was followed by a laugh and a 'George!'. He picked up the first book, looking at it. "Pokey Little Puppy?" he read, disgust evident. "No wonder Ignatius is so warped at times if they read these to him." He found the book he enjoyed as a child on the bottom of the stack. "Ah, Grimm's Fairytales, a much better place to start." He opened it up and picked a story.
 

***
 

Iggy floated down to smile at the boy near him. "Come on, Little Ron. Anastasia's tired of playing and you're late." Little Ron jumped up and grabbed him for a hug. "Come on," Iggy teased. "Jump up on a broom and come practice. Simone wants to hit bludgers at you."
 

Little Ron ran back to his father and grabbed his father's broom before he could protest, joining in the game going on. The whole family was there: all the Uncles and Aunts, all the cousins, even the people who lived really far away. They actually had enough for two whole teams this time. He, of course, was on the side of the kids. He saw Uncle Charlie smile and him and waved. "Hi!" he called. He nodded at Anastasia, allowing her to land. It was his turn now! He zoomed off, joining the other seeker higher in the air. This was the life he wanted.
 

***
 

Dumbledore looked down as the new first years were led in, smiling at them as always. Two more years and then he could retire again. Hopefully, this year would follow the trend. A very bad year. A bad year. And now a less than bad year hopefully? He clapped as each student was sorted, holding his breath as Ron Potter's name was called.
 

"Hello," he told the hat.
 

"Ah, *her* brother. How refreshing to see that your father's line is carried on in the finest traditions. Gryffindor all right for you?" the sorting hat asked. He made happy noises. "Do tell your father I remember him fondly and don't hold your sister against either of you. Gryffindor!"
 

Ron handed back the hat and slid down into his seat. "Welcome to the team," the captain said, giving him a smile.
 

"Thanks." He grinned at his cousins. "I'm here!"
 

"We can see," Simone told him. "Calm down until after dinner's done, then you can bounce and crow all you want, Little Ron." She looked at her sister, who was having one of *those* days. "Didn't you want to say something?"
 

Anastasia smiled at him. "Don't get between me and your sister," she advised. "She started shit and I'm going to finish it soon enough."
 

Little Ron smirked. "I'd never dream of it. If you want to smash her face again, I'll hold her for you. She was quiet *all* summer long and it scared Mellie."
 

Iggy laughed, brushing back some of his shoulder-length white hair. "We noticed." He gave him a hug. "Relax, we'll get along just fine after dinner." He paused as Dumbledore stood up to make his yearly announcements. "Hey, I need to go there," he complained. Snape looked at him and raised a brow. "Never mind," he said, ducking his head. "I can get permission for that." Snape nodded and smiled at him. "Oh, goody, hard ones this year," he smirked.
 

Simone reached over and smacked him. "Shut up, I'm trying to listen!" Denver snickered and hid his head on the other side of Ana. "You too. I'm going to be good this year, I want to make Prefect in a few years."
 

Dumbledore, having heard this, looked down at the girl, then at her father. "I will be retired by then," he told Draco calmly. "Tara will be dealing with her if she's made Prefect."
 

"Bloody hell, if she's made Prefect, I'm handing the house to Xander," Ron mumbled.
 

Xander looked over at them. "Okay. But then you have to deal with Maeve's first year." He grinned. "I can handle Simone." She shrieked and tossed the thrown piece of corn on the cob back at Agatha. "Simone," he said calmly. "Agatha." Both girls looked at him. He smiled his most cold, his most cruel smirk. "You now have detention with me. Two days. There are no food fights allowed in the Great Hall unless it's happening at the children's table." They both started to protest. "Since you've proven you're equal in mentality to the children, you will come join them."
 

Simone got up and trudged up there, joining the kids at their special table behind the main one. "Yes, sir," she sighed. When Agatha was pulled up there by her keeper, she nudged Vinnie. "It's Agatha," she said, smirking with him. Vinnie picked up his mashed potatoes and threw them at her, making Simone laugh.
 

Xander rapped them both on the head with his cane. "Do it and turn funny colors and be laughed at," he warned. "And you now have three days." Both girls groaned. "Do we have an understanding?"
 

Agatha licked her lips. "Yes, sir," she said, looking at her keeper, who smiled at her for her pretending. Xander sneered at her and she swallowed. "I'm going to behave this year."
 

"Yes, you will. Or you will face me." Xander turned back around, going back to his dinner conversation.
 

Dumbledore smiled at him. "Very well handled," he congratulated. "I'd give you points if you were a student."
 

"Please, don't encourage him," Draco sighed. "It's bad enough he's got the energy of a first year."
 

"Speak for yourself," George told him, smiling like the cat who licked the cream.
 

Dumbledore smiled. It was certain that this year would not be boring in any sense of the word.
 

THE END.
 

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