Xander got a bright idea and went to the bookstore, still too drunk to think straight. He had noticed a book on pubs before, and right next to it, he found a directory of all the pubs in the British Isles - complete with floo addresses. He smiled as he paid for it and left to floo away. He wasn't ready to go home yet and George would hopefully would understand. He understood a lot. He walked into this new bar and waved at the bartender, heading to a quiet corner of the bar. "Get me a round," he said, putting money down on the old wood of the bartop. The bartender looked him over. "Yeah, I'm drunk, I've had a shitty last few weeks and today broke me. I'm staying over if you've got rooms." He put down another coin. "Enough?"

"Just fine," the bartender told him. "We'll pour you into a bed."

"Oh, I'm not here if someone asks for me," Xander said, staring him in the eyes. "My husband will understand."

"Okay, fella, you got it." He poured Xander a beer and put it in front of him. "What's your usual poison?"

"Makers Mark."

"Got it." He poured the shot and handed it over. "You American?"

"Used to be," Xander agreed before slamming the shot. "Maybe one an hour, okay?"

The bartender nodded and left him to stew by himself. The guy looked bad. Broken indeed!

***

George woke up alone and sighed. Two days of this and still no sign of Xander. He had to do it today, he had to talk to Albus and make sure his mate wasn't fired. He really didn't want to, but it had to be done. He slid out of the bed and went through his usual morning rituals, then headed for the Headmaster's office. "Albus? Can I bother you for a moment?" he said from the doorway.

"Come in, George. Still no word?" George sat down, already shaking his head. "Well, we knew it was going to happen."

"He didn't really leave me, it's just a temporary thing."

"Not that, if he actually left you we'd all be surprised and go find him to see what was wrong with him," he assured the younger man with a smile. "No, it was 'seen' that he would have a small breakdown and run away for a bit."

"You knew and didn't tell me?"

"For a very good reason," he said before George could get too angry. "If we had told you, you might have tried to stop him, which would have made matters worse and he would have stayed away too long."

"Define too long," George told him. "I'm of the opinion that two days is too long."

"Too long meaning he'd be late for the attack we think is coming next month," Dumbledore told him, holding up a hand. "We've only had nebulous visions, nothing concrete."

"Oh." George slid down a little bit. "A bad one?"

"We think they're looking for either Voldemort's or Slytherin's body. We're not sure which, all anyone hears is 'find the body' and then they see Xander fighting." George shuddered. "I have to tell you, so you don't worry, that Xander will get hurt but not too seriously. An easily fixed sort of hurt this time. It's what will finally make him name a new protector for the school."

"Which will be?" George asked.

"Your brother and Mr. Malfoy we believe," Dumbledore said with a faint smile. "He has trained them admirably and they both have wonderful experience."

"And Harry's still too injured mentally."

"Indeed," he agreed. "He will come back, eventually. I know that he's going to come back in better shape than he left, even though he's on a rip through a lot of pubs at the moment, and I know that we'll get called when he's ready to come back. I even know that Murphy will be involved somehow. Other than that, the visions didn't show anything."

"How long?"

"I don't know, George. Not too terribly long. Not over a month I should think." George nodded. "Of course, you won't be moving out or we'll have to hunt you down and steal the children from you. Truly delightful little creatures, even if they are responsible for half the mayhem in the school most of the time."

"They only followed the elves into the kitchen because Dobby told them to. The whole jelly beans in the food problem was because he let them help."

"I know," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Very interesting dish, meat pie with licorice jelly beans."

"They don't like that flavor or meat pies, must have been a natural combination in their minds," George said with a slight smile. "So, he's all right?" Dumbledore nodded. "Can I still look around?"

"If it pleases you. I doubt you're going to find him, but he's been to the bookstore for a book on pubs."

"I thought the vault was a little more empty yesterday," George muttered. He straightened up. "May I help fill in?"

"If you want, though we've got it. Did your brother talk to Spike yet?"

"He was in the house, lurking in the nursery since it doesn't have windows," George told him. "I'm assuming Ron is willing to let him guest lecture." He scratched the bruise on his neck, a love bite from the night before Xander had left. "Can I do anything at all? Fill in somehow, do his classes? Anything?"

"If you wanted, you could take over Hagrid's for a few days. He's going back for more tests on Friday and won't be back for a week or so."

"Charlie's back at home because of his head injury and he'd do better."

"I understand. Would you ask him to come see me then? I think he'd do excellent at the post." George nodded. "Other than that, the only thing you can really do is worry, and nothing will stop that. Not even taking over his classes."

George stood up. "I don't have the experience to take over his classes." He glanced around. "What happened to the little Ravenclaw who was the final straw?"

"I believe she's hiding in her house in fear of your family."

"That's probably an excellent idea," George agreed. "I know I'm not the only one who wants to hit her." He tipped his head. "You're sure?"

"I'm sure, George. Call around, I'm sure it's an impressive list of pubs."

"Yes, sir." He headed back to the house, going to see his brother first. "Hey, Charlie," he called as he stepped out of the fireplace at the Burrow. His brother ducked down the stairs. "Hagrid's due in for more tests and they need a substitute. I got sent to ask if you wanted it."

"Hell yeah!" Charlie said with a smile. He came down the last few stairs. "When and where?"

"Go see Dumbledore and he'll tell you. I suggested you and his face nearly lit up." Charlie gave him a pat on the back as he passed by and George went to find his mother. "They knew," he said when he found her doing laundry. He hopped up to sit on the washer while she folded underwear.

"They knew what?"

"That he was going to leave and forget to come home for a while." His mother looked at him. "It's been two days so I went to talk to Albus about Xander's job."

"Oh." She smiled. "I'm sure they had a reason for not telling you?"

"Albus said it would make him stay away longer if I had tried to stop it."

"It probably would have. You would have made him feel guilty and it would have kept him away for longer. By now, you should know your man that well." She gave him a pat on the thigh. "Move please." He hopped down and moved out of her way. "What else is going on?"

"I'm not sure. Everyone's keeping me out of the loop at the moment."

"I'm sure that will change now that you know they knew." She smiled at him. "It could have been much worse, George."

"I guess." He ran his hands through his hair. "Do you have anything I can do around here that doesn't require brains? If I go to work, I'll end up blowing it up."

"The hedges could use some trimming, the gnomes are back, and the house could be painted," she suggested. Her eyes lit up, eerily green. "Or you could...." He pulled her away from the washer and the light faded. "What was I saying?"

"You were saying how I need to disconnect that thing and have it looked over," George said dryly. "Mum, how long have you had a demon in the washer?"

"Months now, dear. Your father brought it home from work. It still gets the clothes clean and it only wants out. I can usually fight it off very well."

"You're not anymore." He walked her out of the laundry area. "Go sit. Let someone deal with that thing. I'll get Ron and Draco to look it over tonight." She sighed but nodded. "Thanks, mum." He left, flooing to Draco's house. He got there just as the other man was putting on a robe. "Have you got time tonight to look at something?"

"As far as I know. Why?"

"Mum's got a demon in her washing machine." One pale eyebrow went up. "Turns her eyes green and everything."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Why does that figure? Did your father bring it home from work?"

"She said so. Said it's been there for months now."

He snorted. "I'll get with Ron tonight." He looked at the other man's face. "Still not back?"

"And they knew he was going to leave for a bit," George told him, telling him everything that had been said, including the part about the fight. "So, now it's your turn."

"It was my turn a few years back but your husband is too stubborn to admit it," Draco pointed out. George nodded, smiling at him. "We'll deal with it when it happens. If they don't know any more than that, the only thing we can do is a warding spell." He checked his clock. "I'd best get to practice."

"Then who's teaching Xander's class today?"

"I don't know." Draco frowned. "Let me pop back to the school and check, then I'll go to practice." He shrugged and followed George back to the school, going for the Headmaster while George went to talk to Ron. He walked into the Headmaster's office. "Am I supposed to be teaching defense right now?"

"Starting tomorrow if you'd like."

"Fair enough. Let me tell my coach." Dumbledore handed him a letter. "Thank you, sir. I'll be back bright and early tomorrow."

"Stay over," he encouraged. "George could use the company."

"If you insist," he agreed, heading out to tell his coach the bad news. He was going to have to practice at night.

***

George tapped on Ron's door, waving him out. Ron said something to his class and came out, closing the door behind him. "You need to go de-demonize the washer at home. Mum's found a demon in it."

"What is it making her do?"

"So far, her eyes turned bright green and it's begging to be let out. Dad brought it home." Ron smiled at that. "It's in the washer, and Draco already knows so he can help you."

"I can do it."

"You'll need to talk to him anyway."

"Still not back?"

"Still not back and there's going to be a fight sometime soon. There are visions about it."

"Wonderful," Ron sighed. "Who knows?"

"You, the oldest son, the headmaster, so probably Tara as well."

"That's great. I'll get the information from him later and go deal with that. Can you send Spike down? We're covering vampires next class."

"All right. I'm going to do something so I don't blow up the shop. Have fun." He smiled. "He's pubbing."

Ron shook his head. "We'll yell at him when he comes back. I'm sure he's coming back soon." George nodded and walked away so Ron went back to his class. "Sorry about that, small matter of a demon in a washing machine." The kids giggled. "You think I'm kidding? My mum is being affected. There's a demon in her washer. Which shouldn't surprise anyone who's been at my mum's house before." Simone snorted. "Family meeting tonight, Simone. To move on, this demon, as it's commonly called by the untrained, is actually a poltergeist manifestation. We have one here, his name is Peeves and his name might as well be a swear word." The class laughed.

****

Spike looked at the kids, who were varying between horror and lust. He looked at Ron. "You're sure about this?"

"Yeah. What else could give them the information? Me teaching it doesn't have the same strength as you vamping out and showing them. Xander taught us that way."

"Hmm." Spike vamped out and the whole class screamed, but one. He leered at the small dark haired girl. "Not scared, chit?"

Agatha smirked back. "I know what you are, you big fluffy git." He moved closer. "I'm Ryan's consort."

"Oh, you're the future Rosenberg," he said with a nod. He looked at Ryan, who he had learned had been held back in Defense due to a lot of missed homework. "Yet you still yelled. Mum not show you one of us?"

"He's still tired," Agatha told him. She looked at Ron. "Why is only our class getting this lecture? Why not all of us? Give the teachers some time off."

"I'd have to get permission for that," Ron told her. "Good idea though, five points, Potter." He looked at Spike. "That okay with you? A whole school full of kids to terrorize and make sick with stories about turning and maiming?"

"S'great to me," Spike told him. "Not much else to do today anyway. The bird's out on snit at the moment. I messed up the nest."

Ron nodded. "I've seen that before. Fawkes nearly killed Xander when he did it." He looked at the class. "Behave or I'll let him eat you." He walked out, going to talk to the Headmaster.

Spike looked over the little kiddies, smirking as he went back to human. "Well," he said with icy fondness. "What would you like to know first?"

"Who was your sire?" Ryan asked. "My mum was confused about that."

Spike laughed. "Dru directly turned me but Angelus mostly taught me. We were a glorious foursome around the world. The Scourges of Europe. A fun time was had by all of us." He smirked and nodded at a girl who was trying to raise her hand. "You had a question?"

"What does it feel like to be turned? Is it scary or is it sexual?"

"Both," he told her. "If it's not done in fear, but even then it's a little naughty, bit. The whole sucking on your neck and the shiver of them feeling you up." She shivered and shifted in her seat. "You really want to know what it's like, I'll gladly get you when you're of an age. Don't want to stay a teen for eternity, it makes your brain rot." She blushed and ducked her head. "The basics of a changing are the bite and feeding. You bite someone." He grabbed a student, Agatha since she had been so cocky, making her shriek and struggle. "Like this." He turned her and nuzzled her neck. "Then you bite 'em right 'bout here." She whimpered as he tapped the spot. "There's a big nerve bundle right there, but there's also an artery close to the surface. Then you suck, taking in their blood to mix with the vampire disease, which you feed back to them." He let the girl go and she fainted. "Then they die," he finished. The class looked awed. "I can make about sixty minions a night if I try really hard, or I can go slower and make seven or eight children if I've got them all together and I don't have to hunt."

"What's the difference?" a boy in the back asked.

"Minions are your brainless idiots. You send 'em for stuff, you put them in the way of the fights, you basically treat them like the slaves they are. Most of them are too stupid to hunt on their own and end up dying. A childe is something that keeps their brains. You can teach them, mold them in your image." That girl shivered again. He smiled at her and she melted. "Of course, we vamps are all sexual creatures." Someone knocked on the door and he went over to answer it, stepping over Agatha. "Hey, it's you," he said happily.

"Yes, it's me," Dumbledore told him. "If you want, we can move this to a larger, windowless room and you may talk to all of the students at once. I'm sure they would appreciate it."

Spike shrugged. "Suits me, I love scaring the kiddies. Got to do the bints last night."

Dumbledore smiled. "I'm sure they were impressed with you." Spike chuckled. "Children, let's take this to a larger room. We're heading to the second floor, down near the kitchens, to the large storeroom. Professor Harris was shoring it up so it should fit you all."

"He's back?" Ryan asked. Dumbledore shook his head. "Oh, I thought..."

"I'm sorry. We think he'll be back in a few weeks, but not at the moment."

"What happened to him?" Spike asked.

Dumbledore pulled him into the hall. "All the stress got to him and he left for a while to get himself straightened out." Spike snorted. "He's still under a great deal of stress and we understood the necessity, Spike. Please leave the family alone about it." Spike nodded. "Now, let's take you down there. We've even arranged for a comfortable couch for you since I know you've got many great stories to tell." He noticed Agatha lying on the floor. "Did you hurt her?"

"Scared her," Spike smirked. "She's not that bad. The Poof would love her." He strolled away. "Second floor?"

"I'll take you," one of the other girls in the class told him, taking him by the arm. "You've really beaten up on a lot of demons, haven't you?"

He smiled down at her. "A number. I was even forced to work with a Slayer for a bit."

"Is that how you know Professor Weasley?" He nodded. "Wow. His Buffy really got around."

Spike laughed. "You have no idea," he told her with a wink. She opened the door to the former storage room and he whistled, noticing the acoustics in there. "Very nice. I want one of these at home but Ethan is such a bother." He patted her on the shoulder and left her back in the seating area while he went to check out his lectern. Raised platform with a comfy couch, in blood red no less. Pitcher of blood, very warm by the steam. Goblet waiting for it. Oh, he could get used to this. He looked up as more students walked in, it looked like the majority of the student body. He was talking to all of them? Well, damn! This was going to be fun. These kids would never sleep again! He laughed evilly as the blond sucker walked in. "Malfoy," he said happily. The students looked back at him. "You teach?"

Draco walked up to him. "I'm starting again tomorrow, filling in for Ron while he does Xander's job." He smiled. "How is Ethan? Suitably wrapped around you yet?"

"Bugger him," Spike said with a smile. "I think I may have found my new princess." He smiled at the girl who had taken a seat in the front row. "Tasty bit she is."

Draco looked then back at the vampire. "Can't say as I know her family, or from Xander's classes. All I know is that she's a third year. She's barely fifteen."

"Hmm, three more years then," Spike said, licking his lips. "And still pure." She blushed. "Maybe a nice graduation gift for her."

Malfoy shook his head. "Have fun, I'm not particulary fond of breaking people in anymore." Spike smirked at him. "I had more than enough of that during my school career. Did you need anything else?"

"Nah, I'm set for now." He flinched as a little creature with big ears ran past. "What was that?"

"A house elf. The kids love them. They're the servants here, and in many wizarding households. Fairly calm and placid, and they *adore* following orders."

"Kids must like the ears," Spike muttered. "Wanna talk tonight?"

"If you'd like. I'll be in the tower. We can head into town for a drink."

"Sure."

Ron walked up to them. "Ready for this?"

"Nothin' better than scarin' the kiddies," Spike told him with an evil grin, nearly matched by Draco's.

"You two are scarily alike," Ron noted, turning to look at the student body. "Shut up!" There was silence, they all knew to follow that order or else. His papers were hell! "This is Spike," he said, pointing at Spike. "As opposed to Professor Malfoy, who just looks like him." Draco glared at him and walked away. "Spike has agreed to come and guest lecture for you lot and I will expect that you'll respect his nature." He looked around again. "For those of you who haven't heard a Spike story from Professor Harris, he's a vampire. A master vampire." Spike smirked at them. "There will be no attacking and you will stay polite or he has threatened to eat you all!"

One of the seventh years stood up. "Sir, are you under some sort of compulsion?"

Ron snickered. "No, Brantly, I'm not. Spike has one of the school's phoenixes and she's nesting so he's bored. We decided some more realistic lectures were in order. So you're here until he runs out of patience with you." The boy nodded and sat down. "Now, you may ask questions, and he may make fun of you for them, but he will be brutally honest about most things if you ask him about his fighting, eating, or any other habits." He waved at Spike. "All yours. The teachers are in the back." He headed back that way.

Spike looked at the student body. "Wow, never imagined there were so many of you." He smiled and vamped out, making nearly everyone scream. The fear running around the room was so hot it was almost painful. "Let me give you a few things before you ask. Yes, I am a *master* vampire. That means I've had a childe and I have many minions. I've killed more people than you've ever run into and more demons than you've seen."

***

Xander looked up as a nice looking blond man joined him at the bar, saluting him with his mug of beer. "Needed something?"

"Just to talk to you," the man said with a gentle smile. "One of us in the business always knows another, Mr. Harris." Xander looked at him, then walked over to an empty table, and the man followed him. "Egon Spangler," he said, shaking Xander's hand. "The Powers sent me."

"Why? I can't face George yet."

"I know. It was a small vision." He ordered himself a beer and relaxed until it was brought. "Actually, Doyle sent me because he had the vision."

"I remember Doyle fondly. How is he?"

"Doing better. We found a way to make the headaches less."

"Good." Xander smiled at him. "What did the Powers need me for?"

"For you to go to Diagon tomorrow. They didn't give a specific task, just that you needed to be there."

"I'm not suited to fight anymore," Xander pointed out, tapping his cane on the floor.

"I don't think you'll have to. He didn't see you fighting until after you got home." Xander put down his beer mug. "Really. A bad one, an attack on the school, but nothing you haven't handled before from what he said. Not too long after you get back if the vision was right and nothing's changed." He sipped from his beer.

"Spengler, like from the movie?" The other man nodded. "I thought that was just a movie!"

"It wasn't, but I got hurt and we ended up passing on the duties." He tapped his very real looking fake hand. "The latest in biotechnology," he said dryly.

Xander smiled. "I only have a fake knee."

"You also never had to get slimed for a living, kid."

"Point. And I'm not that young."

"I'm at least fifteen years older," Spengler pointed out. "Don't worry about it, it's the milage, not the age. I walked away after my best friend decided I was too helpless and I couldn't take it anymore. I found the love of my life and had a number of children, a few of which you'll be seeing soon. One is more like me than not. She'll go into the family business on the other side."

"Wow. So you're still...." Egon nodded. "Wow. And I thought demons were strange."

"They are, but anything supernatural could be called strange, it's all relative." He finished his beer. "So, will you go?"

"Is George going to be there?"

"No, just your niece." He smiled. "I can only tell you two things. Remember who you are and where you came from and don't give up. Even if you have to run all the way." He put down some money. "Have fun, Xander Harris, and be safe. Also, write Doyle if you're not going to Willow's wedding. I'm personally against how she's been ranting about you recently, but that's just me." He left the pub.

Xander sipped his beer slowly, thinking about it. That one would be the last of the night. He'd do as the Powers said, they usually had a good reason and the cryptic act was just like them. Hopefully his husband would understand.

***

Ron picked up Minnie and carried her through the floo. He hadn't told the other kids where they were going, but it was necessary for him to be here. Once they were into Diagon, he put her down so she could walk and took her hand.

Minnie watched all the big people as they walked around her, smiling at all the pretty colors and the various fashions. Some of these people dressed strangely. One woman hadn't even been wearing a robe! She saw a familiar head down the alley and started to bounce. In her excitement, her infant powers reacted to her will, stretching out to make her Uncle Xander come to her. By doing so, it tripped the spell on him. "Daddy, go that way!" she shouted, running toward where her Uncle had been. She knew he was still there, but she had to get to him, her mommy had said so.

Xander found himself a cat again and groaned. That stupid spell! He looked around but no one he knew was nearby. Maybe it had been tripped from afar, some sort of guardian telling someone that he was there. Or maybe this is why the Powers sent him, so he'd be cute and cuddly and his husband wouldn't yell too much. He looked at his fur, which was a dark brown for some reason instead of the normal black, then mentally shrugged. "All right," he told himself. He saw a familiar man coming toward him with a net. "No way," he sighed, ducking between the guy's legs and taking off down the back end of the alley. His knee was going to ache! He found the extra exit at the other end, and came out in a bar. He slinked through the shadows until he got to the kitchen and headed out the open back door, into a muggle alleyway. He paused to relax. That had been bad. What to do now? He remembered the advice and thought about the meaning. The Powers were always cryptic. Remember who he was and where he had come from? In his condition he couldn't run all the way back to Scotland and he had no idea where the Ministry office was from here. Hell, he wasn't even sure he had enough magic to get into the building at the moment. He waved the paw that had been holding his wand and nothing. His tail, again nothing. Well, shit!

He sat down to think about it. Remember who he was and where he had come from. He knew, from talking with Sirius, that too long as an animal and the human parts would start to recede. The poor man had almost lost all of his humanity while he was running from the law. It had taken a lot of talking with his remaining friends to help him get back to normal. And a taunt by Snape that had finally broken through the barrier. Well, Severus wasn't there, he was alone, and he was up shit creek if the person at the end of the alley who smelled like a dog was animal control. He looked around and saw a truck, it had the address of a town near Stonehenge. The gryphons would know what to do to help him. They knew most anything before it happened anyway and never told him. A random thought struck him as he investigated the truck, trying to find some safe spot to curl up on while it did the work for him. Were the Powers gryphons? It'd make sense with how the Elders were. He found a comfy tool compartment open and slid into it, watching as the animal control person walked past his hiding spot. Whew, safe. The truck shuddered to life and he sunk his claws in as best as he could, waving his tail as the truck took off. The motion shut the compartment door but he didn't hear it lock so he was going to be safe at least. He found a tarp balled up and padded on it until it flattened some, using it to sleep on. Not as comfy as his George, but it would have to do for now.

As he slept, he dreamed of the old days. The survival, the fighting, the running. Yeah, if he had to, he knew what he would have to do. Just once more and then he was through. He would listen to his husband next time.

***

Murphy perked up and flew out the window, heading for a familiar house. He had felt his human changing and was curious. Maybe he was ready to come back from his exile? Or maybe he would at least give him a message for his human, because his mate's human was nearly frantic. He made good time to the house in question, and found his mate sleeping on a grassy spot in the sun. He landed next to him and nudged him. Eww, he was one of those furry monsters.

Xander looked up at his bird and smiled. "Murphy," he meowed. His bird cheeped. "I don't know, all I know is that I was there and then I became a cat." He looked around. "Where are we?" Murphy showed him a picture of the oldest son. "That's halfway across the country from where the truck said it was from," he fumed.

Murphy nudged him and pulled back. Yup, he was one of those furry things. He squawked angrily at his human, not liking this at all. He hated those furry things and would not help him if he stayed this way.

"If I had any control over it, I'd change myself back," Xander told him. "Unfortunately, I'm stuck this way until someone else does it because I'm kinda magic-less at the moment, Murph." Murphy turned his back on him. "Oh, come on! It's not that bad. It'll be a few hours back to the gryphon colony." Murphy fluffed himself and settled down. "Please? I'll find you wonderful treats. I'll help all the little ones find mates." Murphy looked back at him and shook his head. "Then can you at least go and see if Draco is around?"

Murphy flew off. It was nearly after school, he might be home. He found a house elf putting out laundry and showed him a picture of the son. The house elf shook his head. He showed a picture of a clock.

"Not for many weeks, he at school."

Murphy sighed. He nudged the elf then flew away. He landed beside his human and showed him the answer.

"Fuck me!" Xander complained. "Murph, please, just a lift? You can even hold me in your claws if you're nice." His bird shuddered. "Oh, come on! I've been a good human to you. I helped you with your mate when she was cranky. I keep your nest clean. I even play with your young."

Murphy carefully put together a message from Xander's own words at other times. "You make my claws itch and I hate furries," he showed his mate.

"Oh." Xander sighed. "Okay. Can you at least show me where I'm going? It's not like I can smell the great big creatures." Murphy warbled. "Thanks. Watch out for me, 'kay? I'm not exactly running on all four legs yet and I'm already too tired."

"Night," Murphy sent him, this time in Tara.

"Good idea," Xander agreed, settling back down. "Gee, isn't this a Disney movie in the making?"

Murphy settled down to watch his human. This was just too strange to be believed. Not even his mate's human would believe this one. His father, one of those vile furry things.

***

Draco frowned and looked up. "What the hell?" he muttered, heading home. He found a house elf and looked down at her. "Was Xander here?"

"Bird was," she babbled. "Asked for you. Told him school I did."

"Oh, wonderful. Which way did Murphy head?" She pointed and he went out to look, but it was quickly getting dark out there. Besides, that bird could fly so fast he could be anywhere on the continent by now. He shook himself and went to tower to share the semi-decent news with George and Fred, who were eating together. "Murphy was just at my house," he announced.

Fred's spoon dropped. "Really?" Draco nodded, sitting down at the end of the table he usually took up. "Why?"

"I don't know. All he showed the elf was me and asked if I was going to be home soon. I'm hoping he has Xander."

Ron came down the stairs, shaking his head. "Minnie still won't quit crying." He took the seat opposite Draco.

"Why not?" George asked.

"Said something about cats and Xander. Won't tell me anything else and it's been a day now."

Draco sat up. "What's Minnie's thing again?"

"She trips prior spells," Fred said.

George thumped his head on the table. "She turned him into a cat." He looked up at his son and his brother. "My husband is now a cat running loose in Britain, muggle Britain. Thank you, Draco."

"I thought I had blocked it off after your twit of a brother botched it," Draco told him.

"She can still trip them," Ron told him, frowning at him. "Draco, you don't look well at all."

"I've been a bit sick but...." He paused. "There's no way."

"If she can *trip* or *reactivate* a prior spell, it's possible," Fred told him. "She might have redone the fertility spell."

"Not that one," Ron told him. "Think more recent, say about two years ago?"

George laughed. "Wonderful. Just what we need."

Fred caught the clue and looked at him. "You need to go talk to the nurse, Draco, before something bad happens."

"It took a lot of magic to support it," Draco said. "Besides, I haven't exactly been with anyone recently."

"It might not matter that much at the moment," Ron told him. "If she tripped the spell that made you pregnant, your body could have taken a sample from anyone around you. You need to get checked. You're paler than usual."

"Fine, I'll go do that. I figure, if Murphy was at my house, then Xander must have been nearby."

"He's heading for the gryphon colony probably," George said, trying to remain reasonable.

"It makes sense," Fred agreed. "How many ways could he go from your house?"

"It's not down a highway or anything," Draco told him. "Murphy would be steering him, but they'd have to watch out for his leg. I'd say they're going over-country, just because it'd be safer." He stood up. "I'm going up to the nurse and hopefully will be back by tonight. There's a map in my study if you want it." He left to go find out if she had gotten him.

"We'll never catch him," Ron told him. "Xander's probably paranoid." George looked at him. "Can you reach his mind?" George shook his head. "Then he'd probably assume we were someone to capture him. Why would he come to us if he didn't recognize us before we approached?"

"So, another bout of waiting," Fred said, starting to sound depressed. "At least we know he was all right up until he got turned into a cat."

"I'm not sure his knee will hold up if he's running," George said quietly. "He's only just allowed to start using it again."

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Ron told him, giving him a smile. "If it's one thing that man knows, it's surviving."

"Good point." George got up and went up to the bathroom to sulk in a bath.

Fred looked at him. "Where's Buffy?"

"Upstairs cooing at Minnie for what she did. She apparently knew something. Buffy!" he called.

She floated down the stairs. "What's up?" She sat in a chair, kind of, and looked expectant. "What can I do for you tonight, Fred?"

"You knew."

"I did. And I knew that he's going to be fine. He'll have to be. The Powers want him back, even though he's going to hand over control. Using Minnie was the only way to make it turn out okay."

"He's heading for the gryphons?"

"As fast as his little feet will carry him," she told Ron. "Murphy won't pick him up. Phoenixes and cats you know." She shrugged. "It's all in the best interests. Oh, and Ron, talk to Willow about her son. He's using her books and she didn't send the beginner ones, he's using the advanced books he stole out of Tara's classroom."

"Why?" he asked carefully.

"Because you won't beat her, dear." She faded out. "Laters. Gonna go bug Spikey."

"Ron, do as she says, I want to know what Rosenberg is up to," Fred said quietly. "Then come back here and report, we'll deal with Draco together once he gets back." Ron nodded and left. Fred put his head down on the table. There were times when he wished Xander hadn't reaged him. This was one of them.

***

Draco tapped on the infirmary door and walked in, smiling confidently at her. "We've just learned that Minnie can trip old spells, she's apparently turned Xander back into a cat. Would you check on some of mine?"

Madam Pomfrey frowned but ushered him into her office and shut the door. "Any particular old spell?"

"The one that gave me Lucien. She tripped the one I used on Xander and it was gryphon-based as well. I just want to make sure."

She ran her wand over him then frowned. "Well, she did trip it, and it's started, but it's frozen." She sat him down when he turned pale. "It's started but there's not enough material from you to make a whole child; it's currently frozen until you can find a second donor."

"So, I'm pregnant, but I'm not?" he asked finally.

She nodded. "Yes, Draco, you are. Whomever you have intimate relations with next will be the second parent. Or you could choose to let it die on it's own. It looks like it will do that in the next week if you do nothing."

"Well, this is marvelous," he said snidely. "How is she doing this?"

"I'm not sure, which one is it?"

"Minnie. She's somehow tripping old spells. That's all we know."

"I'll look at her tomorrow. This is a very serious matter, you'll want to give it careful consideration."

"Oh, I'm thinking many things at the moment," he admitted, standing up. "Thank you. I'll see you in a few days probably." He walked out, going to report on his status. He found the Headmaster waiting on him. "No offense, but don't get that close."

Dumbledore smiled. "I understand. Poppy told me. Would you like someone to talk to?"

"Personally, I'd like a bat at the moment, even though I know she didn't mean to do this." He ran his hands through his hair. "This is just bloody marvelous. I was content with how many I had."

"Then go to the gryphons and have them undo it," Dumbledore told him.

Draco sighed. "That makes me look incompetent."

"Not if they see what Minnie did. It's very apparent this time. She leaves noticeable fingerprints in an aura."

"I should probably go talk to them," Draco agreed. He went to the staffroom and flooed over, landing in the elder's cave. "I need some advice," he told the patron Elder of the family.

Bill leaned down, looking him over. "Which child is that?"

"One of Ron's, Minnie. She did it to Xander too. He's headed here as a cat. Do you have a few moments?"

"Of course. Come snuggle up with me in my nest, young man. We will discuss it." Draco climbed in and they talked about what had happened and what Draco could do. The other elders ignored them, it was a matter of courtesy.

***

Xander winced as he stopped to take a break, sitting down to stretch out his bad leg. "This sucks," he told his bird. Murphy landed beside him, nodding already. "I ache."

"Survival is everything," Murphy reminded him in his own voice.

"Yeah, I know, but I'm not in shape for this anymore, big guy. This is real pain here. I'm old." Murphy nodded again. "Gee thanks, Murph." Murphy blew air at him, the closest he could bring himself to nuzzling the nasty creature. "I know, I probably need this, but still. This is torture. Why couldn't the Powers have told me to start working out again?"

"Speed is often the essence of winning," he said in Ron's voice.

"Ah. Good point. I had forgotten about that upcoming fight." Xander closed his eyes and dug around in his head, trying to bring forward the willpower he had used when he was younger and the world was going to hell. He found a corner of it and tugged, bringing some hidden memories with it. He shuddered, not wanting to think about that torture session or any of the rest of it. But he did find the reasons behind him going on as he slipped back into the Sunnydale frame of mind. He could do this. It wasn't that much farther. Hopefully. He found a niche to rest in for the rest of the night and laid down. "We'll go on again tomorrow night, after I limber up," he told his bird.

Murphy cooed and laid down near him. He would protect his mate. This really wasn't fair and whomever these Powers were they were going to get it from him.

***

Ron walked out of the Watcher's floo and into Wesley. "Hey. I need to talk to Willow. Buffy just told me something that she needs to know about."

"She's a bit...stressed at the moment," Wesley said diplomatically. From the next room, someone screamed. "Tea, Ron? It'll be a few more minutes."

Ron walked over to the connecting wall, listening as Willow ranted. "Why is she going off on Xander?"

"Because Buffy told her some things that were in conflict with how she remembers them. It's made her a tad bit upset." He poured himself some tea. "Really, she'll be fine soon."

Ron nodded and walked away from the wall. "I'm sure she will, but Xander's presently running for the colony in cat form due to the Powers from what we can tell. I don't think he needs this sort of stress any more than you do." He smiled and accepted the cup of tea. "Anyway, Ryan has stolen books off Tara and is using them. She wanted Willow to know." He sipped his tea as a long shriek of anger came from the other room. "Impressive lungs. Are you sure you want to marry her?"

"Yes, I do still adore her," Wesley told him. "This small problem of how she views the world hasn't changed since she was a youth and we first met." He finished his cup of tea as Willow threw something. "I hope she knows she'll be fixing that," he said dryly.

"I'd make her fix a lot of things," Ron told him. He finished off his own cup and put it down. "Would it help if George didn't come to the wedding, or both of them?"

"I'm thinking it might, yes," Wesley agreed, still smiling. "She's rather upset with him for not realizing that he was floundering."

"Why is she mad at him for that? It was her fault."

"I know, and so does she, but she hasn't made it to that rationalization yet. Maybe in a week or a bit, but not yet." He nodded at the floo as the noise stopped. "You might want to go. I'll pass on the information and help her do a surprise inspection of her son's things. We can't have him going bad after all. It would look bad on the organization."

"Thanks, mate. Have fun. And if you see the little Xander cat, can you please help him get to the colony?"

"I'd think he would run from us," Wesley said. "We'll help him if we see him though. Does he have any peculiar markings?"

"Murphy."

"Oh. Then we'll definitely help him. I've been wanting to get a good look at his bird up close. Are there any young looking for a human?"

"Not presently." Ron shrugged. "They're more looking for mates right now." He waved and left, but heard the door slam open as he was spun away.

"Was that Ron!" Willow demanded.

"Yes, he brought word that we need to go check Ryan's things for illegal books. It seems he's stolen a few off Tara and is using them."

"Tara doesn't have any powerful books."

"You'd be surprised. She is a powerful witch, Willow, and knows as many dangerous things as you do, even if they are in another tradition." She made a scoffing noise. "Having a tree wrap itself around you and try to absorb you would probably be just as harmful as you opening a hole and burying them, love."

She frowned. "Fine, let's go." She headed for the floo, going to check on her son's reading material. And the future daughter-in-law.

Wesley hurried after her to try and keep her calm. In her present mood, Ryan might well end up dead if caught with anything extreme. He found the Headmaster waiting on him and smiled. "Thank you for indulging us."

"It's not a problem. I was wondering how he had resurrected Ignatius' sex magic book after Professor Maclay burnt it on him."

Willow raised an eyebrow. "My son? Sex magic?"

"He's reading it presently." He waved a hand as Severus and Tara walked in. "They'll be glad to help you look through his things."

"Buffy said he had a few of my books," Tara said with a grimace. "I thought I had all the dangerous ones locked up."

"You do," Snape agreed, "but he can probably pick a lock by now." He led them to the Slytherin house, walking in with the impressive women, and that man. "Go to your rooms," he hissed. "There will be no discussion of what is found. Fourth year males and third year females are to wait down here." They headed up to Ryan's room once everyone was in their designated spot, finding him reading on his bed. "Mr. Rosenberg, you have visitors," he said, getting out of Willow's way.

"Mum!" Ryan said, trying to hide the book.

She snatched it from him and hit him with it a few times. "You stupid bastard! You're too young for this stuff!" she yelled. He dove away from her, hiding behind Wesley.

Wesley smiled at him. "I understand the urges, Ryan, but you really are a bit young for that. Your magic is still too unformed to successfully bring up the power needed for such a rite." Ryan frowned at him. "Now, we're going to search through your things as your former aunt said you stole books. If you cooperate, I won't let you alone with your mother." Ryan kicked open his trunk, showing some very old books.

"You sick little shit!" Tara exclaimed. "Mine, and you don't need to know about sacrificial rites either!"

Agatha walked in. "Sir, you wanted to check my things as well?" she asked, giving Willow a smile. "He was only reading it for the dirty pictures. There's no way I'm doing some of those things with him."

"You are much too young for any of that," Tara snapped. "You're only fourteen!"

"I'm fully mature," Agatha told her.

"Sit!" Willow ordered. "Both of you!" They obediently sat on his bed, looking at her. "I think it's time that we had a talk about such things and why it's not for either of you."

Severus and Wesley wisely stepped away from the women, letting them deal with this. They were scary creatures when pissed, especially once the breeze started after Tara started in on them.

***

Ron landed back in the tower, finding George out of the bath and sitting on the couch. "You're not attending the wedding," he said, sliding into the chair next to him.

"Why not?" Fred asked from the table, where he was drawing something.

"Because Buffy told Willow about Xander's past and Willow was throwing furniture."

George looked at him. "Really?" Ron nodded. "I'll write her a nice note then and tell her why we're not coming." He ground his teeth. "Any other news?"

"I alerted Wesley that Xander might pause there, he agreed to help him if they found him. He wanted to know if any of the chicks were looking for a human." He grinned. "Willow's presently going through Ryan's things. He stole books off Tara."

"Fred told me." They both looked over as Draco came out of the fireplace. "Problems?" he asked.

"She did do it, but there's no second donor so the child's frozen." He flopped down onto the couch. "I have a week to decide if I want to find a second donor or not."

"Wonderful, the news just keeps getting better," George said dryly. "So?"

"I don't know. I'm satisfied with five. They make enough noise to keep my nightmares at bay. The elder I talked to did say he could strip all the spells from my aura once the pregnancy was finished, in whichever direction I was going to go. Ron, would you please have Minnie fixed? Poppy's offered to help."

"Yeah, I'm thinking it's a good idea," Ron agreed. "If only the other two would manifest." He looked up the stairs. "She's presently sleeping. I'll have her looked at tomorrow."

"Thank you," Draco sighed. "I'm still having flashes of her lying bloody on a carpet over this." Ron glared at him. "Do you want it?"

"Have a child with you?" Ron asked. Draco winced and shuddered. "Didn't think you'd want that."

George shrugged. "At least you're close enough to Ginny that he could put it off as one of hers."

"Don't even joke about that," Ron told him. "I'm sorry, Draco. I'm sure she didn't know what she was doing. She's only three."

"Feel thankful I've changed," he noted, then went up to his room and slammed the door shut.

"True, if he were still the evil bastard he used to be, you'd be missing a daughter already," Fred agreed from the table.

Ron shuddered and put his arms around himself. "Don't say such things!"

"Sorry, Ronnikins," Fred told him, not looking up.

George nodded. "If it were me, I'd want to yell at her too."

"I'll have her fixed," Ron promised. "I can't imagine what else she's tripped."

"Hopefully nothing major," George soothed. "We'll help you with her."

"Thanks." Ron laid down on the couch, watching the tv. "Got anything with a good car chase?"

"There's a Bond marathon," George offered, changing it to that station.

"Oh, yes!" Ron sighed in delight. And he was a Brit too, it just made it better.

***

Iggy stirred the potion in his cauldron slowly, not wanting it to separate. He looked over as the nurse walked in. "Almost done." He gave it one last stir and took it off the fire. "Perfect as always." He poured some out for her. "I increased the strength of the female problem potion," he told her. She frowned. "It still works and it's not *too* strong, but I felt something odd happen, a reaction that's not normal. That's why I wanted you to look at it for me."

She set the beaker down and looked it over, eventually sticking her wand into it. "It's a conception potion as well. An anti one at that," she said happily. "This is brilliant, Iggy."

He blushed. "Thanks. Will it still work?" She nodded. "Now what do I do with it? Since it's a medical potion I thought I'd let you help me."

"For right now, you brew up a bigger batch and make sure that your notes are complete. We'll have to test it on a few girls to see how they do with it. Once we have it verified, you can submit it to the Potion's board and have it made official and put into the books." He straightened up, looking happy. "Where's Severus?"

"He thinks I'm not ready for this stuff yet, and he's chewing Rosenberg and Potter a new one with his mother."

"Oh." She nodded. "I'll tell him once we've got it confirmed. For right now, I'll need your notes and a larger batch. We'll run it for two months and then we'll submit it if it works out. All right?"

"Is it your responsibility or mine to find test subjects?"

"Yours, dear, I can't officially do that since I'm a member of the staff. I can help you with this and monitor you, but I can't run the test for you."

"Okay." He nodded. "I can probably get some of the nice girls to help me, and Ana and Simone as well." He thought about it. "Ten?"

"Would be fine for now," she agreed. "They may want a more extensive sample, but that would be up to them to provide." He nodded. "Very good work, Ignatius. I'm very proud of you. I can't wait to see how your fathers react."

"Me either." He smiled and gave her a hug. "Thank you. I'll make the new one up in your office tomorrow. It only takes two hours to brew and a half-hour of prep."

Snape walked in and looked at them. "Conspiring to turn him toward medicine?"

"I fixed the female problem potion so it was stronger."

"It's also now an anti-conception potion," Poppy told him.

"Really?" He walked over and looked at the beaker, sniffing and examining it before sticking his wand in there. "Very well, we will test it. Ignatius, find ten women to test this on." He nodded and walked out. "How long has he been working on this?"

"On paper, about two weeks. I think this is his second brewing attempt," she admitted. "You've scared even him this time, Severus." She smiled and took the beaker, walking away with it. They would have to put it in one gram bottles before anything could be done.

Snape took the cauldron off the heat and poured the rest into another beaker for him to test. There were some effects from storage that the boy wouldn't know about yet and it was his duty to make sure it would stay safe over long periods of time. He was pleased though, it bespoke his good training that the boy was making his own potions already.

***

Iggy walked up to a clump of girls in the entryway of the school, clearing his throat. "Ladies, may I talk to you?" They giggled and motioned him closer. "This is uncomfortable for me, but I need to ask for some help." One of the girls cooed and patted him gently. "I managed to make the female problems potion stronger, but it made it an anti-fertility potion at the same time and we need to test it on someone. Do any of you know someone who needs it?" He looked his most pitiful. "We only need ten, but if it works I can have it submitted to the Ministry and have it included in the books."

One of the girls gave him a hug, a Hufflepuff who was friends with Melvin. "I'm so happy for you, Iggy. I'll gladly help you out. I use the old potion and it's never strong enough. I end up crying as I cut up plants in Herbology." A few of the other girls nodded. "Where do we sign up?"

"Madam Pomfrey. She's watching over the test. It'll be for two months."

"That's fine," another girl told him with a wicked grin. "I could use the second part anyway." She pinched him on the butt. "Are you getting Anastasia on it too?"

He grinned. "Even if I have to beg. She's the reason I made it." They giggled and went to talk to the other girls that they knew. Within an hour, Madam Pomfrey had fifty girls willing to take the potion and a few that needed it right then. Including Iggy's poor cousin Anastasia.

***

Andrea sat up with a gasp, holding her head. "Oh, that's so bad," she whispered. She felt someone touch her arm. "Small vision," she told whomever it was.

"About what?" Simone asked, sliding in to hold her. It always helped the other girl when they cuddled after a vision. "Something bad and mean?"

"Melvin's going to fall during his next match. Nothing too serious but he's going to be badly injured."

"Do you think we should tell Uncle Percy?"

"I'd want to know and he doesn't need the shock," Andrea told her. "I can do it."

"No, sweetie, I'll do it," Simone told her, soothing her friend back into sleep. As soon as she was out, Simone snuck down to the common room. She knew that the fireplace was connected to the floo, but she didn't know how. She found the secret stash of floo powder someone had been using to talk to his girlfriend off campus and tossed it into the fire. "Percy Weasley," she whispered, not wanting to wake anyone up. Percy's head appeared in the fireplace. "I'm sorry, Uncle Percy, but it's important. I don't want to worry you, but Andrea just had a vision."

"About my son?" he asked. She nodded. "A bad one?"

"Bad enough that she had it. It's not horrible," she clarified. "No death involved, just a really bad fall in his next game. She said he was going to be seriously injured but not fatally and I didn't want to worry you."

He smiled. "Thank you, Simone. That would have been a shock I wouldn't need to have. How are you, dear?"

She settled in. "All right I guess. Classes are okay. Practices are going well. Did you hear? Iggy's made his first potion on his own."

"Wonderful news. What is it?"

"A stronger version of the female problems potion and it's an anti-fertility one at the same time."

He chuckled. "I"m sure the ladies around the school are very thankful for it. How are *you* doing?"

"I'm kinda upset," she admitted. "Everyone's pairing off and I'm not even interested right now. It's like it's not even a concern and I don't understand why. I'm fully functional, I know I am. I like boys even, but nothing seems to be sparking my interest. Some of the other girls have been giving me funny looks because of it."

"You'll need a special person, one who revels in your nature," Percy assured her. "I doubt any of the boys there understand you enough to know how very special you are. Once they figure it out, you'll find someone. Even if you do have to flash them to make them shut up about your impressive backhand technique."

She smiled. "Thanks, Uncle Percy."

"You're welcome, Simone. Now go back to bed before you get into trouble." She nodded and severed the connection, heading back up to her room, missing the Head Boy standing in his doorway.

"Well," he said thoughtfully. "We do appreciate her, she just scares us spitless," he said as he went back into his room. He closed his door and laid down on his bed. "She's a fine woman, she impressed us all with the body of an adult at the Christmas Ball, and no one's approached her?" His girlfriend mumbled against his neck and snuggled him tightly. "Go back to sleep, dear, just a small call from the floo." She nodded and started to snore again. He decided he would have a talk with the boy who always gave her back a worshipful look every time they passed in the halls. It couldn't hurt.

***

It was the day of the annual slugfest known as the Slytherin/Gryffindor game and everyone was hyped up in the stands. The parents attending were egging on the students and the students were shouting at the other team's students. In the dressing rooms, the teams were ready and waiting for their cues. In Gryffindor, Iggy was meditating. He was anxious. His interview was next week and it was majorly affecting everything around him. He had even snapped at Snape last night. Fortunately the man had understood so he only had one detention with him when he got back. His potion was mid-test and his father was still nowhere to be found. Wonderful news overall. He felt the calmness seep into him through the flood and smiled. It was a familiar touch and he cherished every second he felt her touching him. Someone nudged him and his eyes snapped open to find Little Ron standing there, leaning on his broom.

"Are you ready, Iggy?"

"Just about," he agreed. He stood up and put on his robe. His uniform still fit, he hadn't grown since Christmas thankfully. Their last game of the season, his personal Goddess would be there and it would still fit him then. "Are we ready?"

"Almost," Simone called, coming out of the girls side, finishing buttoning her shirt. "Who has my robe?" Her brother tossed it over. "And my bat?"

"In your bag," Anastasia said from the doorway. She was watching out for them. "They're headed up."

"Thanks, sis." Simone grabbed her bat and her broom, checking the initial to make sure it was hers. It went over her shoulder and she grabbed her wrist protectors on the way out, sliding them on and fastening them down. After dislocating a wrist during a game, she was always sure they were on properly. She took her position in front and her broom came off her shoulder. "Are we ready?"

"We're ready already," Denver told her. "Agatha's got you in a snit."

"She's in a bad mood," Iggy told him. "Willow reamed her good last week." Everyone winced. "Keep away from her. Remember, they can't cheat if they can't touch us." He smiled at Little Ron. "Are you going to be okay playing against her?"

"The snitch is my Goddess, Ravena understands that," he said with a shrug. "We'll pet it together after I catch it."

"Good boy," Iggy said with a grin. The curtains opened and he mounted up, flying out. He felt that touch of calmness and sent a loving caress at it, then blocked it out of him for the game. He couldn't be distracted. He looked over as the other team lined up across from them, noticing Agatha wasn't there. He looked at Ryan.

"She's our reserve today," Ryan yelled. "Ready!"

"Ready!" his team yelled back. "Smash them!"

Iggy looked at his team. "My, aren't they overconfident." Oliver released the balls and Denver grabbed the quaffle, taking off with it. He followed closely, accepting a pass to make the first goal. They really needed a bigger person to guard their goals.

Up above the game, Little Ron and Ravena were each staring in a different direction, looking for their personal Goddess. They could feel her zooming around but she was teasing them. Little Ron spared a glance for the game and smiled as Iggy made another goal, bringing the score ahead by another ten points. "Way to go!" he shouted. His secondary task was as cheerleader. Time went on and they floated around, still looking for the snitch. He flew rings around his favorite human and she gave him teasing smiles, which made him feel funny for some reason. There it was! He raced off, her right behind him and gaining. They ducked down between the Gryffindor beaters, narrowly missing Simone's mighty swing, but keeping on course. He reached out, shoving his broom just a bit faster, even though she was pulling even with him. Just a few more meters. He grabbed it by the wing, wincing in sympathy because he was probably hurting it, but when he went to hold it up, he found her hand attached to the other wing. "Ref!" he yelled.

Oliver flew down and looked at them, blowing his whistle. The crowd went quiet, knowing this was unusual. "Who had it first, kids?" They shrugged. "Replay!" he yelled, heading up to get the opinion of the announcer.

"It was a tie, I couldn't see a difference," the announcer admitted.

So he turned to the professors, who agreed, even Snape and Ron, it was shocking. He picked up the rule book and flipped through it. "I've never seen a case of them *both* catching it. That's definitely Harry's son and Malfoy's daughter." He blew his whistle again, motioning at the announcer. He made a slicing motion.

"They both get the points," the announcer yelled. "It's still a tie game!" The crowd paused a heartbeat before it went nuts.

Oliver motioned the two captains. "You can call it a draw or turn it into a sudden overtime without the seekers. Your choice."

"Sudden death," the Slytherin captain said, looking at the Gryffindor captain, who nodded.

Oliver nodded and flew away from them. "Seekers off the field. Sudden death starts in a minute, five minute period!" The crowd went nuts and the kids flew down together to the teacher's box, continuing to pet the snitch between them.

"Give me that," Snape said, taking it from them. "You'll influence it."

Little Ron glared at him and used his wand to summon his from the dressing room. Together they petted his instead.

Dumbledore looked at them, heads bent together, soft and encouraging noises coming from their throats, and someone was purring. He looked at George, then Ron, then at Snape. "My," he said finally.

"They're like that," George agreed, Ron nodding with him. Snape scowled at them. "That's their Goddess, just like Tara has hers."

"I don't think mine has wings," Tara said with a smile. "That was very good work, you two," she told them.

"Thank you, Auntie Tara," Ravena said, grinning at her. "Do you want to pet the snitch? You're very gentle."

"No thank you, sweetie, that your special thing." Ravena nodded and went back to purring at it, making the snitch hum and wiggle in their hands as its wings moved.

Snape shook his head. "I can't believe this." He tossed the snitch back to Oliver, watching as he checked it. "That's theirs."

"Mine," Little Ron corrected. "I graciously share her with Ravena because she appreciates her just as much as I do." He glared at the potion's master again. "Unlike some."

"Ten points off," Snape said with a cruel smile. "For your impertinent attitude."

"Severus," Tara sighed, putting a hand on his arm. She leaned against him and whispered in his ear, making him look down. "Leave them alone. They love the snitch like you love me." He glared at her but she smiled so sweetly, making him think of her as a pure Goddess again so he relented.

"Five then."

"Thank you, love." She kissed him on the cheek.

Dumbledore smiled at her, winking when Severus turned away to watch the game. He turned back at the cheering, wincing as Iggy nearly slammed into someone.

"Beat the asshole!" Tara yelled.

Severus looked at her in shock. "Tara!"

"I know I'm supposed to support your house, but Iggy is so cute up there," she said with a grin.

In the end, Gryffindor did win by a single goal as the buzzer rang. This was one that was going to go into the books.

The next day's Prophet was framed and hung up on the wall, front page news.

***

Iggy worried as he got dressed. Today was too important to mess up. He made sure his clothes were neatly pressed and his bookcase was in his pocket, then grabbed the portkey and headed down the stairs and outside. It was a pretty day at least. As long as he didn't throw up, he'd be fine. He found his father waiting for him on the front steps, a mug of coffee in one hand and some money in the other. "Thanks."

"You'll probably need it for lunch," George told him with a faint smile. He gave his son a hug. "Make me proud and we'll both pounce your father when we get him back."

Iggy nodded and patted his pocket to make sure he had his nibbles. "I'll see you tonight, daddy." He walked down the steps and held the portkey in his hand, closing his eyes. This always made him sick. He felt the hook in the bellybutton thing happen and felt himself zoom off. He landed in front of the main office of the school and tucked the portkey back into his pocket so he could take it home later. As he walked up the long stone stairs he pulled out his letter to figure out where he was supposed to be. After reading it, he turned and walked down the stairs, heading to the admin building. How nice, they were trying to screw him up already. He found the office easily enough and tapped on the door, smiling at the secretary as he walked in. "Ignatius Harris-Weasley, here for an interview?" The secretary looked him over, seeming to sneer at his fine body. "Just show me in, I don't have time for you today. I've got my first self-made potion back in testing at school." He tugged on his school robes as she stood up. He hated people like that, they irked him and made him act like Uncle Draco. He was sure it didn't look good on him, but yay. He walked in at the waved hand and shook hands with the man behind the desk. "You called for me to come up?" he asked, doing what his Lord and Master had told him to, acting like this was a foregone conclusion and a waste of his time. There were sixteen other schools that would *love* to have him and would be more than willing to bend over backwards if Braun didn't. "What can I tell you that you don't already know?"

The man smiled at him. "I see Severus has infected you with his unique charm."

"I've been helping him since I was nine. What can I say, not even my fathers can counteract everything." He smiled. "I have my personal potion's portfolio if you want to see it." The man nodded so he pulled out his book case and unshrunk it, pulling out his neverending book to unshrink it as well.

"Interesting," the dean over the pre-graduation program said, looking at the collection. "Those are all yours?"

"Plus I have an alchemy library someone foolishly got rid of. It's a hobby," he said with a confident smile as he handed over the book. "The purple tag marks the boundary between my 'done' and my 'need to do' sections."

"Impressive," the dean agreed, flipping through this. He frowned. "You made it a neverending book?" He looked up and Iggy nodded. "Why?"

"Because there's over seven thousand potions in there already and growing."

"Oh." He continued to flip through it. "I see you've picked up Severus' methodical nature. Very nice system. Bibliography and history included."

"I tend to use that as my reference when I'm working so I don't have to always carry around my case. I figured putting the history and bibliography would only help me when I needed to get at something, or when I was having a problem. I also do my research first because you can tell a lot about what the directions don't say by the historical uses."

"Such as?" He handed it back and watched as it was banded and shrunk. "Practical bands. Nice touch."

"They come in handy when you have six-hundred-eight-five books." Iggy tossed his book back into its spot and closed the case, shrinking it back into his pocket. "The biggest thing I find useful about the historical uses is the size of particle I'll need. In case you hadn't noticed, some potions need a finer chop or mince than others and many of us just put the word dice in the instructions. By knowing that medical potions need a finer chop, and that anything being given intravenously needs to be barely microscopic, or that anything being drunk can be a bit bigger if it will soften up, then I can gauge my preparation faster. That's one of the reasons I write out each potion before I do it, so I can make notes and not mar my books."

"Very good. Do you see any faults in your skills?"

"I do have a major one, but it's compensatable. I'm horrible at herb identification. I have a cousin who is wild over herbs so I usually ask him for help, or I have the herbologist I buy from mark things down. My component's case is marked as well, so I don't get things mixed up."

"I see. Truthful. I heard you say you were making a new potion? If I may ask?"

"Due to a problem with one of my cousins, I took the usual female problem potion and made it stronger, which turned it into not only a kick-ass mood affecter, but also an anti-fertility potion. It seems to work for one month at a time and we're in the second week of trials back at school. I have thirty volunteers taking it as needed and we're doing a two month run. Both our school nurse and Severus approved of it before it went into trials. I'll be stopping in the gryphon library on the way out for the forms to submit it to the various boards."

"Well." He smiled. "How about a practical test? That would be your last hurdle."

"That's why I brought my component case and my potion's books," he agreed. "I was told to expect one if I got past you."

"Very well." He pulled a file off his desk. "How about this one?"

Iggy looked at the potion inside it then up at the Dean. "You do know that this will require two days to brew and another week to distill? I can't really take off classes for that long, I have a test on Friday." It was taken back and another handed to him. "Hmm, three hours to simmer, I can spend that long. My father gave me money for lunch." He looked up. "A potion's room?"

"How about you do it in two?" he asked.

"It says it takes three and recalculating the potion's ingredients to brew it faster would require me to brew it the right way first," Iggy pointed out. "Of course, I can do something up to the two-hour point if you wish," he said at the stony look.

The man nodded. "That would be fine, Ignatius." He stood up. "Follow me. Will you need anything?"

"I don't have enough mugwort with me, I brewed a sleeping draught last night for my father."

"We'll give you enough to make do then." He opened a classroom. "This is one of our standard classrooms. Do you have a cauldron?"

"In my bag."

"Good. We'll be watching over you." Iggy nodded so he closed the door and went to observe him.

Iggy set everything on the table and pulled off his robe and sweater, getting down to his usual shirt. His tie went next and then his dress shirt, until he was down to his usual t-shirt and pants combination. He opened the file and then his case, taking out everything he would need. He was meticulous in his preparation, he had done this one numerous times before so his notes had how fine everything needed to be and the history. He took his unshrunken cauldron over to get some water, weighing it carefully as it was added, until he came up with the exact amount, a master's skill. He weighed it just to make sure and grinned. Perfect, as always. He used his wand to start a fire in the small burned pit on the table, assuming that's where it went, and set his tripod on top of it. Then he got up onto the table and sat cross-legged, adding things as they needed to be added. When everything was in there, he stuck in a paddle and pulled out his twizzlers, making sure nothing of the candy touched anything of his, especially not his hands. When a piece fell out, he used his wand to flick it into the trash. Since he had some time, he pulled out a mythology book and started to read, settling back into his normal mode, stirring occasionally.

When an hour and a half had passed, he frowned and tested the consistency. Still too liquid. He sighed and pulled out another book, unbuttoning it so he could find the spell he wanted. He found the temporal spell and cast it, aging the potion by an hour and fifteen minutes. Well, technically he had aged everything within ten feet of him by an hour and fifteen minutes, but he could lose that much easily. The door opened and he looked over, carefully putting both books back into his case. "It's almost done."

"What did you just do, boy?" the dean asked, closing the door.

"Since you gave me a three-hour potion to finish in two, I aged it. It's a simple temporal spell accessible to my kind, equivalent to the time turners you use." He smiled. "Did you want to see it? Or did you want to test my potion?" He gave it one last stir and took the paddle out, sliding it into a special bag so it could go back into his case. "I'll need my cauldron back eventually, I only have two student sized ones at the present time. Inconvenient, but it keeps my father from buying me new ones every two years."

"Why do you get new cauldrons every two years?"

"Because I wear them out, sir. In the last four years, I've gone through the first four year's worth of textbooks twice, and through all the other three once."

"Twice?"

"He can't very well grade me on something I did last year, now can he?" Iggy slid off the table and killed the flame, putting back on his school uniform. "It's ready to be tested if you'd like."

The Dean took the pot. "Stay in here and read or something." He left the room.

Iggy shrugged and put back on his tie. "If you insist." As soon as he was redressed, he made sure everything was back in his case and closed it, shrinking it until he could put it back into his pocket. When the door opened again, he was ready for them. "Did I pass?" he asked dryly.

"You're an arrogant young man," the man following the dean said as he closed the door.

Iggy crossed his arms over his chest. "Knowing I'm good and arrogance are two different things. As my uncles say, it's not bragging if it's true."

The man nodded. "Good point." He smiled. "We'd like you to stay around for a few hours, can you do that?"

"I have permission to skip all of today and part of tomorrow if you need me, but I have to be back for quidditch practice tomorrow evening."

"You play?" Iggy nodded. "What position?" the dean asked.

"Chaser. I'm one of the stars of my house team."

"Slytherin?" the second man asked.

"Gryffindor." He smiled. "What a shock, huh?"

The second man laughed. "That would be fine. We'll be talking with a few people but it may take us a while. Did you want to eat in our cafeteria or take a tour?"

"No thank you, I think I'll head over to the gryphon library and talk to my favorite person's mother." He nodded at them. "If I'm excused?"

"Go right ahead, Ignatius." They waited until the young man was gone. "He's as good as we heard. Severus' letter was actually glowing," the second man said. "He's only referred one other student before and it was grudgingly given. The one for this boy was amazing and it shows in the boy."

The dean nodded. "They why didn't the Royal Academy take him?"

"Because Severus doesn't know anyone there," the second man, who was actually the president of the school, pointed out. "I heard his Headmaster wrote them a letter of suggestion, but nothing came of it because his area is Transfiguration. We could keep him here, but I feel we'd be doing him a disservice."

"He's nearly graduated."

"He's thirteen. He got admittance a year early and we're not set up to deal with people who want to do more than just potions. Being honest, he's not for us because he's better. A true prodigy."

"The gryphons have been without a potion's master for the last few centuries," the dean agreed. "Are you going to pass him onto the Academy?"

"I was thinking so, yes. I'll need his file. And do clean his cauldron for him, Percival." He smiled before walking away.

The dead sighed. "Yes, sir. But he would bring us honor," he told himself. He neutralized and dumped the potion down the drain, cleaning the cauldron for the young man. People like that boy only came along once every few centuries and for good reason. More than that and everyone would kill them for their nature.

***

Iggy walked into the library, his robes flowing behind him. "Hi, mum," he said, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek. "They tried to play dirty, just like you said they would."

She gave him a hug. "I'm glad you got through it, Iggy. Was that your temporal spell I felt?"

"I had to age the spell, they gave me two hours to do a three-hour potion." She clucked. "Anyway, they're discussing so I'm free. Want to go to lunch? I can tell you about the potion I updated and fixed."

"That's wonderful," she told him happily. "Raena's in the back if you wanted to go with her."

He pulled out his money to count it. "Only if we can get it for under two galleons each," he admitted, looking up.

She waved a hand. "I'll get lunch, Ignatius, don't worry about it. This is a momentous day. Did you need anything before we left?"

"Just the stuff to submit the potion. It's been a while since Severus did one and I've never done one."

"Well, he'll have to be put on there as a main researcher as a matter of formality because of your age. You're not allowed to submit by yourself until you're sixteen." She dug out the forms and handed them over. "That's for the International Board of Potions. You'll need to find one for Britain and one for the gryphons as well if you want to submit it there."

"It's an update of the female problem potion," he told her, blushing slightly. "I made it strong enough to work on *everyone*." She giggled. "And the reaction it caused also made it an anti-fertility potion as well."

"I'm sure that is very useful at your school, dear. I don't think you'll need the gryphon forms."

Iggy's face lit up. "Raena," he said, catching her to give her a hug. "I think I'm in. I even countered their dirty tricks. Want to come to lunch with me and your mum?"

"Sure." She smiled at him. He was so tall now! For thirteen, he looked seventeen. "Let me clean up my spot and I'll join you at mum's desk." He nodded and headed back, and her mother smirked at her. She flipped her mother off as she walked. He was too young she kept telling herself. She blatantly ignored the wetness spreading below her navel.

Iggy smiled at, he hoped, his future-mother-in-law. "She's going to clean up her stuff. Where should we eat?"

"I'll get us things and we'll eat on the lawn," she told him. "Juice or water for you, dear?"

"Either's fine. I had a half-package of twizzlers while I worked." He pulled out the package and handed them over. "Want one? I have pez as well."

"No, that's all right. I try not to eat sweets. My husband says I'm sweet enough." He laughed and she ignored the money he handed her. "I don't need it."

"Then let me pay for Raena's. It's what a gentleman does I'm told." She laughed and took it, and Iggy turned as Raena approached them. "We're having a picnic lunch. Oh, you haven't seen my book collection yet," he told her, taking her arm and leading her outside. "My fathers found this really neat booklet to let you shrink them all and it's wonderful. I have everything but my alchemy collection with me."

Raena's mother shook her head. "That boy," he sighed, but she was smiling. She called over to her husband's office and had him pick up some wine for her and him. They would help the boy celebrate. She went to pick them up some food, and she met her husband in the cafeteria, sharing a kiss with him. "It was him," she told him. "He had to age the spell." Someone nearby choked and she glared at them. "Mind your own business," she snapped. The Mastery candidate cowered in his seat and she smiled at her husband. "They did try to trick him so he did a small temporal aging." She gathered up the food for them and a basket, leading her husband out to where she could hear Iggy telling her about how he had made his potions' book neverending.

"What an interesting manner of doing that," the father said as he sat down on the blanket that had come from his daughter's room. "Raena, how are your studies?"

"I still need one ingredient researched," she admitted.

"I have a few hours," Iggy told her. "I'm more than willing to help if you want." She smiled at him. "Did I tell you yet that you helped me stay calm for the last week? Even before a game."

She laughed. "I figured you'd need it. You're still a bit anxious." She laid a hand on his arm and sent calmness to him, making him relax and grin sillily at her. "There, that's better." She kissed him on the cheek. "Are you going to be brilliant during the game I'm going to be there for?"

He nodded. "I am. The whole team has been warned to be brilliant and they've all agreed to try their best in honor of you. Not that we've been beaten this year," he admitted with a shrug. "Did you see the news about our last game? My cousins' catch of the snitch?"

"I did," her father said. "It was very impressive. Was it really in unison?"

"As far as anyone can tell. Little Ron and Ravena both worship the snitch, consider it their personal Goddess, and they'd do anything to get it. During the sudden death, they sat down and petted Little Ron's pet snitch in the stands. It was so cute. Their parents are presently arguing over them getting together or not."

Raena's mother laughed as she dished up food for everyone. "Here you are." She noticed that Iggy had changed plates with Raena. "Don't like beans?"

"They give me stomach aches and I don't want to make embarrassing noises in front of anyone," he admitted.

"Ah," the father said, nodding. "Sensible. So, I felt a temporal spell?"

"I had to age it. They gave me a potion that took three hours to do with a two-hour limit. I pointed it out and I got a nasty look so I decided to do it that way. I limited the area to ten feet around me. Big Bill is probably going to snap at me when I get home, but he'll understand I think."

The father looked at him. "That's a dangerous thing, Ignatius."

"No, dangerous is the prank war my father and my uncle got into over the holiday. Daddy likes to deage people." The father smiled. "I used the same spell, only in reverse. It wasn't a true temporal spell, just an aging. I'm very careful in the lab."

"Good. It sounds like you know what you're doing."

"In many things, though I still don't understand my female cousins. Raena, are you confusing as a girl or is it just them?"

She patted him on the arm. "It's just them. Women are actually very basic creatures of instinct."

He frowned. "Don't say that, you're not a cat. Cats are simple creatures of instinct, as proven by the one who likes to hunt brooms." She laughed. "All women are complex because they're human; I wanted to know if all women are so complex that a man can never understand them or not."

Her father nodded. "Every woman is a bit of a mystery to a man, Ignatius. We'll never figure them out fully." His wife swatted at him. "Trust me, I've been with my wife now for fifty years and I haven't fully figured her out yet. I took the direct approach and learned signals of behavior."

"Oh, I learned that one too. We actually have a code around Gryffindor for when Simone and Anastasia are in a bad mood so we *all* get out of the way." The women laughed. "Really. Ana's the reason I worked on my first updated potion. It was self-preservation." Raena kissed him on the cheek and he nearly swooned. "Thank you, dear."

"You're welcome, Iggy. If you were only a bit older," she sighed.

"If you want, I can do that," he offered. "After I finish school, otherwise it would really screw with things."

She shook her head. "That's not necessary. I appreciate you for the young man you are."

"I may be young, but I've done a lot with my life," he said, picking up her hand to hold, not even noticing that it was on top of his coleslaw. "As I told you when I was even younger, I can wait and hunt you until you're ready to see me as the man I'm going to be soon." The coldness apparently sunk in because he cleaned off her hand for her. "Sorry about that."

"It's okay," she said, starting to blush when he kissed the back of her hand. "I'm sorry, Iggy, I can't get past the age difference."

"We can," her father told her. She shot a glare at him. "For a young man, he is very well mannered, very strong, and very unsubtle, all qualities that real young men in love share. You should consider him."

"If he were ten years older, I'd have pounced him by now." Iggy blushed brightly. "But he's still so young."

"Not *so* young," Iggy protested. "As my father says when his knee starts to ache, it's the mileage, not the age."

"Any word from him?" Raena asked him.

"Not yet. We're expecting him to show up at the colony any day now. It's been two weeks and it's only a few hundred miles. We know Murphy's with him, but phoenixes and cats are long-term enemies so he's not helping daddy at all."

"I'm sorry," Raena told him, giving him a sad smile. "Have you thought about doing a triangulation for him?" He nodded. "Any luck?"

"He's within sixty miles of Stonehenge, but the native magic is partially hiding him so we couldn't get any closer. Any day now," he sighed, subtly leaning against her. "Still want my help this afternoon?"

"If you're sure," she agreed, giving him a smile.

He nodded. "I don't have anything else to do."

The parents shared a smile and a clinking of their wine glasses. They would convince the stubborn one, one way or the other. They were stronger in willpower and stubbornness than their youngest.

***

Up in the President's office, he was having a long conversation by floo with a very special person, the one who had trained him. "I swear," he told the woman on the other end. "He's the prodigy they've been promising. He used an aging spell on a potion because we wanted to see what he would do with a short time limit." She looked impressed. "The dean who interviewed with him said he's made his personal potion's notebook into an everlasting one. It's got over seven thousand potions in there that the boy's done. He's gone through a few cauldrons so far."

She smiled. "We'd like to see him if you're that confident that he'll fit in here. The Royal Academy will cover for him as well as they did you." She looked around. "We're not ready for him though."

"His crush is here," the President said with a smile. "Raena Tallias."

"Oh, my," she said with a blush. That young lady was a beautiful one and more than worthy of worship. "I'm sure they create some sparks."

"He's not the typical thirteen-year-old, Mina. He's bigger for one thing, and he's much more assured and strong magically. He admitted having a weakness." She nodded, still looking impressed. "When can I send him on?"

"Tonight. Our time. Say, dinner? I can gather the others at that time." He nodded. "Thank you, Harold. It's very good to hear from you again." She disappeared.

He leaned back in his chair and smiled. That boy would be stunned, but it was more than worth it. He checked on the progress of the picnic and smiled. He'd let them have a few more hours alone. Those two looked quite in love.

***

Xander groaned as he walked into the outer ring of Stonehenge. His bird was in the trees so he wouldn't be exposed to muggles. He was tired. He was hungry. He was going to pass out soon from the pain in his legs and back. He slinked up to the guardian. "Let me in," he meowed.

"Wow, hi, kitty," the guardian said. Xander hissed and struck at him. "Okay, sorry, Xander. Go ahead in. We've been waiting on you. Why didn't your bird pick you up?"

"Cats and phoenixes are ancient enemies; he thinks we're vile creatures who should all die. I guess I'm lucky he stayed with me." The portal opened and he walked in, right up to Big Bill. "Fix me," he pleaded. "I'm going to go beat my niece."

Bill leaned down. "You do make an attractive kitten, Xander," he said with a gryphonish grin. The cat lifted a leg and looked up at him meaningfully. "Of course we'll fix you, my boy. Get a healer out here. He's got to be in pain."

Xander flopped over onto his side. "Pain doesn't even describe it," he told his buddy. "I ache in so many ways. I crossed half the country to get here."

"Really?" Bill nodded. "Then I expect you're also hungry?"

"I couldn't bring myself to eat the mouse. I know I needed it, but eww."

"I understand. Let us fix you, Xander, and we'll feed you before we call your mate."

"Is he mad?"

"Not anymore. It's been nearly a month." He smiled as a healer came running, the senior one. "We'll have to change him back. I want him looked over and his knee and back checked before we strip this spell off him for good." She nodded and Bill uncast the spell, turning Xander into a man again. He looked over the toned body. "You're in very good shape considering your ordeal."

Xander smiled weakly. "Thanks. Help?" he asked the healer, holding up his hand. "I don't think I can move."

She smiled and flicked her wand at him, floating him up. "Don't worry, Xander, we've got your cane in the back room and your wand as well. Fortunately they were found with your clothes." She looked him over. "I know what George sees in you."

"He loves me," Xander reminded her in a tiny voice. "Can you call him so he's not so pissed?"

She laughed as she led him into the healer's area. "Not at all. I'm not getting between you two." She put him onto a bed and started her exam, smiling when she came to his bad knee. "Swollen and bruised, but not bent, broken, or torn," she announced. He sighed in relief, nearly asleep under her careful touching. "You rest, Xander, we'll call George and take care of you."

***

George heard the call on the floo and nearly ran over a few customers to get there. "He's back?" he asked the big head in the fireplace.

"He just walked in. He's mostly just bruised and battered, but not severely injured, George. You can come get him whenever you're ready with a long bath." The gryphon disappeared.

"People, we're closing in a few minutes to take care of that," Fred announced. The patrons smiled and hurried out. "Come on, you'll need help getting him back home."

"I'll need help to not yell at him," George muttered.

Fred stopped him. "You know why he did it, George. Convince the man to vent on you next time. Give him a *reason* to stay instead of going to deal with it on his own." His twin nodded at the sound advice. "Now, call up to the school and have someone start a bath for him. I doubt he did it the cat way." He headed to the colony, smiling at the healers standing around waiting on him. "I'm Fred," he said at the smiles. "George is getting a bath ready and stuff." George came out of the fireplace and they were led back to the healer's area, George falling down beside his mate and giving him a hug so hard it woke him up. "Nice body," Fred said dryly.

George swatted at him. "You missed your chance, he's mine!" He smiled at Xander. "Do you feel better?" Xander shook his head. "No?"

"I ache and I'm sorry."

"Then you're forgiven, but if you ever leave me again, I'm finding you and chaining you down, dear." He looked at the healer. "Any instructions?"

"Make him eat. As you can see, he lost all the fat on his body while he was gone." She pointed at the eight-pack of abs. "If it wasn't for the trauma, I'd do that for a few weeks to get in as good of shape as he is."

George shook his head. "It's a horrible thing, the worry. I couldn't hear him at all." He picked up his husband, but let Fred take him so he could stand up. Draco came out of the shadows. "Son!" he said happily.

Draco helped by grabbing Xander's feet, and they carried him back together, letting one of the other borns teleport them. Xander was carried up to the bathroom, Fred took care of Xander's possessions and Draco sat down to pout. He had the freezing spell put back on because he still couldn't decide. He pointed up the stairs when Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey walked in. "He's in the bathroom. He smelled a bit." She hurried up to check on him.

Dumbledore smiled at him. "How are you feeling?"

"Confused, but otherwise fine. Though I think I just figured out how you teleport." He shook his head. "I'll call the rest of the family and tell them that he's home."

"Give George a few hours, I think he'll need them," Fred suggested as he came down the stairs. "He's giving Xander a reason to stay here and vent next time." Dumbledore blushed. "They're being nice while Madam Pomfrey is in there with them. He patted Draco on the shoulder. "Still can't figure it out?"

"Not yet," Draco sighed. He leaned back. "I want this one, just as much as I wanted Lucien, now that I realize it's there."

"Then find a second donor," Fred told him. "I'd offer but I don't want to upset Ginny."

Draco nodded. "I understand. It would be rather awkward."

Dumbledore laughed. "I'm sure there's any number of people who are waiting for you to notice them, Draco."

"Yes, but most of them like me for my money or my prestige. Not because of who I am."

George jogged down the stairs. "He's sleeping," he said with a sappy grin. "He's home and he's napping in the tub."

"The kids are home too," Fred reminded him. George hurried up to go talk to them and make sure they'd stay away from the bathtub. Fred chuckled. "This is such a madhouse at times."

"Yes, but it suits Ron and Xander so very well," Dumbledore pointed out. Fred and Draco both nodded. "I'll expect to see you all at dinner. Fred, you can eat with the children if you'd like." Fred nodded again. "Thank you. Tell Xander he starts teaching again in two days please."

"Yes, Headmaster," Draco told him, watching him leave. "I guess that means I get to leave in two days." He shrugged and stood up. "I'll call around if you don't want to."

"Go ahead. I'm going to go reopen the shop and make other people happy." Fred disappeared through the floo, going to do that. His help wasn't needed to shag Xander into compliance.

Draco knelt beside the fire and started with the top of the family hierarchy. "Molly, good news. Xander's fine. He just stumbled into the gryphon colony and they've stripped his aura of all spells. He's fine. A bit bruised and he lost some weight, but he gained an impressive amount of muscle."

She laughed. "I'm happy for George. Any news on Iggy?"

"Not yet. We're waiting until tonight because it should take all day." He smiled and disconnected, calling Percy next - and Arthur because they were having a meeting over some books in muggle bookstores. "He's back." Percy smiled. "He's fine. He's lost some weight, is in better shape than he was when he started to teach. His knee's fine, just swollen and bruised. No lasting damage according to the healers."

"Excellent news," Arthur agreed. "Did you tell Molly?" Draco nodded. "Thank you, son." He smiled at Percy. "We'll expect to see you all at the house this weekend."

"Yes, Arthur." He disconnected the call and moved on down the list.

***

Iggy walked into the President's office and sat down across from him, giving him a hopeful look. "Ignatius, I have to tell you, you impressed the hell out of us." Iggy's smile got brighter. "That's why we're passing you over." Iggy's face fell. "Let me explain before you get upset," he said with a smile. "You're a brilliant boy, Ignatius, but you're well beyond what we could hope to help you with. We're here for the better than average student, like your friend Raena, not for the prodigies like you."

"I'm too good so you're rejecting me?" Iggy asked.

"Exactly," the President said. "We're passing you onto the Royal Academy because they've done all the prodigies in the last seven hundred years." Iggy started to look hopeful again. "They have a special program for students like you, my boy, and I talked to them on your behalf."

"Thank you," he squeaked. He cleared his throat. "But I thought I would fit in here. Raena does and she's brilliant as well."

"Yes, she is, but she's also our average student. It takes them five to seven years to do about as much work as you've done to this point." Iggy nodded. "You're already passed a number of our incoming post-secondary students. We haven't seen a prodigy like you in centuries to be truthful and we don't really cater to ones like you." He smiled again. "Do you understand now?"

Iggy nodded. "Yes, and thank you for approaching them for me. When should I expect to hear from them?"

"As soon as we make the portkey and send you over there," he said with a smirk. Iggy looked stunned. "Are you ready? Have everything?"

"Yes, sir," he said happily.

"Then let's send you to the people over there. I think you'll be very happy in their prodigy program, it's self-paced and you can specialize however you want."

"Wow." Iggy accepted his folder and the portkey, and left almost immediately, before he could catch his breath. "Hi," he told the woman meeting him. "I'm Ignatius Harris-Weasley and Braun sent me." He handed over his folder.

"Very well, young man, follow me. We'll get into the interview portion immediately. Do you need to call your parents?"

Iggy paused and thought at Melvin, getting happy news back. "Done. And my father's been found. It's been a great day so far." He followed her into a small chamber, with a curved table facing a single chair. He sat down in it and looked at the three people, including the woman who had met him. "I'm at your disposal, ask away," he said once everyone had gotten a copy of his records.

"Young man," the old woman asked. "Are you a gryphon-born?" He nodded. "How many generations back?"

"Somewhere under a hundred. My father's said to be the strongest born of his degree of inheritance. I never really asked how many generations back it was, I figure it was far enough back that most people could look down their noses and I could ignore them."

She laughed. "Very well put. I know you've had a bit of trouble here and there."

"It was more watching my father have it. Being so young, I only really interact with a selected group of people. My parents are very strict about who I can see."

"Very well," the man on the right said. "Are you the first potion person in your family that you know of?"

"Yes. My father's a builder and has skills in that area and teaching. My other father is one of the co-owners and inventors for Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. He does do some potions, but it's more of the things that they change a bit instead of creating new ones. I'm creating my first one right now."

"What is it?" the man on the left asked.

"I've updated the potion for female problems to make it stronger and it also warped into an anti-fertility potion. It lasts for a month and most of the young women who are testing it for me have been very happy. One has felt deadened emotionally, but she admitted it went away after a few days and it settled into her body."

"How many in your test group?" the older woman asked.

"Thirty volunteers from throughout the school, all above the age of fifteen."

"Very nice. You're sure you're the first potion person in your family?"

"My father and the elder helps looked back through the family trees and couldn't find one."

She smiled. "Then you are doubly rare. There hasn't been an unheritaged prodigy in many more centuries than everyone thinks." She looked at the folder in front of her. "I see that you work with the potion's master at your school. How do you find it, as he's a Master of poisons and he states that you have healing skills?"

"To be truthful, Severus is his own person and I'm mine, but we can work together very well. He's taught me everything I know to date." He shifted. "Not many people think about the healing aspects that you have to have to deal with poisons. You have to know the body in the most intimate way. Every bodily process, every reaction that the body uses has to be known about and studied just the same as I will to be a healer. He uses it to change bodily processes against the body and I use them to change bodily processes to help the body. I've even found that the occasional poison works to heal the body, things like cancer treatments. The two are, to me, mirror sciences and should be taken that way."

"Interesting answer," the man on the left said, making a note of it. "How do you find his classes?"

"A bit boring now and then. There have been times when I knew I had to push myself to learn something, even when I would have rather been playing on my broom, or playing with my cousins. I knew the choice I made though and I think it's only helped." He smiled. "The dungeons can be a bit dark, but that's okay as well."

"He teaches in the dungeons?"

"It suits him," Iggy told her.

"Ah." She closed the file. "What have you done, young man? I was told something about your potion's notebook." She watched as he dug out the case and opened it, staring down inside it. "Your book collection?"

"With the exception of my alchemy library, ma'am." He pulled out his potion's notebook and unbuttoned it, bring it back to its normal size. "Here you are. The purple tab separates my done from my yet-to-be done sections."

They flipped through it, noticing the precision and the notes he had made, plus what else he had included with each one. They paused at one and the man on the right asked the question. "You did a sight restoration spell?"

"We did. Andrea Reams is a housemate of mine and a very good friend. I do have to admit that Severus and I botched it slightly. We made it a little bit too strong and she now sees into the astral and spectral spectrums. The instructions weren't as clear as they could have been and we let it cook for an extra three days because it looked too thin to us. She uses it on and off, but it's more comfortable for her to not use it all the time."

"I see." She made a note. "Was that arrogance?"

"No, it was necessity. The year we started, she was a potential victim of that star convergence. We did the spell to help her get out of it. It was meant in the best possible reasons, but we do admit that we made it too strong."

She smiled. "You admit to having a weakness."

He shifted uncomfortably. "I do. I suck at herb identification. I have a compensation for it, but I couldn't look at a plant and tell you what it was most of the time."

"You can't be perfect in every way," she assured him with a smile. "Would you be willing to brew for us?"

"If you want. I did bring my component case with me. I'm a little short on a few things because I brewed last night and again today for my other test. If it pleases you, I can brew whatever you want."

She nodded. "Good. Can you stay over tonight and talk with us?"

"If it pleases you. I do ask that I be allowed to get home by dinner tomorrow since I have quidditch practice." The male members laughed. "Sorry, I'm a multi-tasker. I play quid, I brew, I have multiple reading interests, and I'm doing well in most of my classes. Transfiguration and I don't get along all that well, but hey," he said with a smile. They all laughed.

"Young man, I think you will fit in around here very nicely. Let us tell you how the Royal Academy covers for us, Ignatius."

"You can call me Iggy, everyone does," he told her.

"Iggy then," the man on the left said, smiling at him. "This is the board for a very special group hidden within the Royal Academy. We only admit the best of the best, the ones who will be working toward the betterment of mankind."

"Technically the betterment of gryphon-kind," Iggy interrupted. "I'm going to become their potion's master. I guess that it could help everyone, but I will primarily be working for them."

They nodded. "Reasonable goals," the woman told him. "We will enjoy teaching you everything that we know, young man. If you are ready to learn it?"

He grinned his most cocky grin. "I love learning. Just ask Severus. I walked into his potion's classroom for the first time and told one of the Gryffindors off for being an idiot at chopping, so he put me to work." That got another laugh. "I'm more than willing to learn off anything or anybody." He straightened up and accepted his notebook back, bundling it back up and putting everything back into his pocket. "Tell me more, please."

They leaned forward, telling him everything about the program and what he would be learning from them. Where and how were more left up to him, though they did give him free admittance to both Braun's facilities and to the Royal Academy's. By the time they led him to a room for the night, he was stunned and in shock, but so very damn happy. This was all he ever wanted! He had most of his dreams by being his smart-ass, annoying self!

***

Iggy walked out of the floo the next morning, still looking stunned stupid, with a huge grin on his face. He waved his letter of acceptance at the people in the room, surrendering it when someone gave it a tug.

Xander screamed in joy. "I'm so proud of you!" he said, giving Iggy the biggest hug he could. "You are such a great kid and I love you. You're so great."

"Dear, release the son so the rest of us can get some." He gave his son a hug himself, patting him hard on the back. "I'm proud of you as well," he whispered. "Come on, we've got to announce this." He took the letter and led the way down to the Great Hall. Simone and Denver stood up when they walked in, looking expectant. George presented the letter to the Headmaster and Professor Snape. Was it his imagination, or had Snape cried a tear? He turned his son toward the crowd and waved a hand. "Shut up!" They quieted down. "Iggy has an announcement to make. He just got back from his interviews and we wanted to share the news."

Xander beamed at him. "He got into the Royal Academy's Prodigy program," he announced. "It's so select that not even the Headmaster could get him an interview."

Simone squealed and ran up to hug Iggy. "Congrats!" She bounced him some, but got shoved out of the way by everyone else. She smiled up at Snape. "Are you proud?"

"Immensely," he agreed. He smiled down at his protégé. "I am very proud of Ignatius." Iggy grinned at him and joined in on the hugging. He handed the letter back to Xander. "Frame it. This is a momentous occasion." Xander nodded and looked at his son again. Snape sat down again, accepting the congratulations of the other teacher's for his student's success. Yes, Ignatius would be taught and protected very well by them, and they would even humor his quirky nature and odd t-shirts. He looked at Dumbledore. "If you had asked, I would have written the old biddy."

"Hey," Iggy said, grinning at him. "Grandma is not like that. She's a sweet lady who insists that she's going to support my book habit."

"YES!" Xander said in triumph.

"The do-gooders will protect and nurture your gifts quite well," Snape told him. Iggy nodded. "When are you going back for classes?"

"It's self-paced and I've already got a list of books you're supposed to teach me. Oh, and I get the summer off unless I want to go work with Uncle Percy. They yelled at me for working last summer."

"Excellent," Snape told him. He looked at Dumbledore. "You win. He'll be with the do-gooders."

"He does fit in with them better than some of the uptight people where you went," Dumbledore agreed with a smile. "Just think, he'll be around people like him now. Ones who want to have fun in their off time."

"Ooh, and it's in London!" Iggy said happily.

"YES!" Simone and Denver yelled. "We can practice this summer!"

"Yay!" Little Ron cheered, dancing around them. "You're not going to leave all summer! You can help me train!"

Xander smiled at them all. "Yes, Iggy will be around *all* summer long, guys. Go eat. Classes still start in twenty minutes." All the boys rushed back to the tables first, with the girls following more sedately behind. "I'm so proud of you, son. We've got to go announce this. Can he have an hour off?" he pleaded. "I promise I'll be good and come right back."

"Of course," Dumbledore told him. "Have fun." He watched with fond amusement as the family left to go spread the good news. He smiled at Snape again. "Yes, he'll have quite a lot of fun I believe and his dream woman will be happy for him as well."

"She'll be taking over for me for the amount of time that we'll be late back from the conference."

"Really?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling. "I'm sure he'll be thrilled when he hears that news as well." He picked up a piece of toast and jumped as someone screamed outside the doorway. "I'd say someone was getting hit with a book."

A boy walked in holding his face, moaning in pain, and Anastasia walked in, smiling pleasantly. "He apologizes for the amount of noise he just made," she told the head table, glaring at the boy.

Simone looked at her. "Do I have to deal with him?"

"I think he learned his lesson and won't try to flip up any girl's skirt ever again," she said as she joined them. "I saw Iggy. Is this place better?"

"Dumbledore couldn't even get him an *interview*," Denver told her. She looked impressed. "And they're going to support his book habit."

"My. That is wonderful news. I wonder how father will take it."

"It's rather early for him," Simone said with a smile.

***

Draco flinched as his bed dipped, making a grab for his wand before he realized what he was doing.

"Zap me and I'll spank you," Xander whispered in his ear.

That woke him up. He sat up and looked around, landing on Iggy. "Did you get in?"

"Better, I got into the Royal Academy," Iggy said, showing him the letter.

Draco pulled him in for a hug. "I'm so proud of you, Iggy. That's wonderful news." He let him go and punched Xander on the arm. "Get out of my bed."

"You wouldn't wake up," Xander whined. "We saved you for last."

"Thank you for letting me sleep in. Get off my bed!" Xander sighed but got up. Draco shook his head. "I can't believe I was adopted by a loon."

"I'm not a bird, I can't fly," Xander told him with a grin.

Draco shook his head. "You're still a nut." He looked at Ignatius. "This is not only wonderful news, but it times well with the other news. I see you noticed your father was back. He's not injured."

"Which is wonderful," Iggy agreed. "They're even buying me books, Uncle Draco."

"Then I'll reserve you a room downstairs for your collection so you can have a library until you find your own house."

"I'm sure I can fill it. Their library is *huge*," he said happily. "It's got *millions* of books and they're going to teach me the copying spell so I can copy anything I want."

"Oh, damn," George said, blinking. "Millions?"

Xander nudged him. "We won't have to buy a single one of them."

George nodded. "I like that. I can accept him having millions of books if we don't have to buy most of them." He looked over as the door opened and Ron came in. "Lagging a bit behind?"

"Mum said to tell you that she loved you all and the demon came back. We have to remove it from the dryer this time."

Draco groaned and held his head. "Tonight, Ron."

"That's what I told her. Dumbledore wants to know, are you coming in today? If not, Spike wanted to threaten the kids again."

"Let him," Draco agreed.

"Spike was teaching?"

"More telling gross stories and scaring the kids," Ron admitted. "But they liked it."

"Even better," Xander agreed. "Who's left to tell?"

"Charlie didn't answer his floo," George told him. "We could pop around down there."

"He's at mum's again. His headaches are back. He's on leave for the next month so he can get checked out." Ron looked at Draco. "Did they pounce you while you were sleeping?"

Draco nodded, pointing at Xander. "He climbed in with me."

Ron looked at Xander. "That must have been scary for you, Draco." Xander pouted at him. "The big git there probably cuddles."

George nodded. "Indeed he does. Very well I might add."

Draco groaned. "Get out. All of you but Iggy."

"He has to get back to class," George told him. "You can steal him later."

Draco flopped backwards. "Out! I'm going back to sleep."

"Okay, son, you can be cranky. It's not like we brought eclairs and danish," Xander said, pointing at the bag George had.

Draco climbed out of bed. "Fine, I'm up. I'll share breakfast with you lot and then we'll let the students be scared by the piss-poor vampire." Ron laughed. "Come on. We're not eating breakfast in my bed." He shooed them down to the dining room, stopping to grab his dressing robe on the way out of his room.

Ron looked at him. "Dumbledore wears cartoon pajamas."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "That's a scary mental image." He stuffed his mouth full of apple danish. "Don't mention that again."

Iggy continued to beam and giggle randomly. His father finally looked at him. "Son, are you high?"

"Raena says hi and that she's very happy for me. Her mother's presently shrieking in joy for me and dancing her husband around the library."

"You can hear her?" George asked.

Iggy nodded. "She sent me calmness before the last game. She's still saying I'm too young for her but her parents are willing to convince her that I'm the right one for her." He looked at his fathers. "Which one of you is supposed to walk me down the aisle?"

"Grooms stand at the front and don't get walked down," George told him. "Unless you're Xander."

"I looked wonderful at our wedding," Xander said, waving a piece of danish around. "You got hard during it." Draco hit him again. "Ow! Meanie!"

"And don't you forget it," Draco told him. "I didn't need that mental image either."

"You were there," Iggy reminded him. "You probably saw it."

"I ignored it," Draco said dryly. "It wasn't easy, but I did manage to ignore their sex life up until now. Not even the ball the night before fazed me that much. Even though Dumbledore came in blushing bright red and we thought the school was under attack again." He smirked at Xander. "Did I scare you when I came out and yelled at you?"

"Actually, he got off," George told him. "You have bad timing."

Xander grinned. "It was you that yelled? Wow. I think I went in deeper than I ever had before when you made me jump. I've never heard George scream that way."

"Um, dads, eww," Iggy told them. "I've already got mental images that Raena said are cute, but really stop it before she gets flashes of them all day long." His father gave his head a little shove. "Gee, thanks, but I already knew enough about gay sex before this morning from catching you guys in the shower, in the closet, in the lab, in my room, in Uncle Fred's room, and even in the front of the shop a few months back. I don't need to know more, I'm in love with a woman and it's different with women from what I'm told." He blushed and got up, heading out of the room and into the bathroom. "Raena," he begged. "Please, don't say things like that. I'm still thirteen and I react," he said as he leaned against the bathroom door. He got an evil smirk as he sent back another image, which made her gasp and blush. "I can do just as well as you can and I have a *wonderful* imagination," he whispered.

Out in the dining room, George was looking smug. "I do believe she's fighting a little too hard, don't you, dear?"

"If she sent him what I got, yeah," Xander agreed. Draco nodded, licking some chocolate off his fingers. "I think I'll teach him how to shield this week," Xander told his mate. "Knowing that much about my son's potential sex life is a bit more than I needed to see."

"We feel the same way about yours," Draco told him. Xander pouted at him. "I'm serious. It's bad enough you scared me when I popped in to hide that time."

"He scared you?" Ron asked.

Draco nodded. "Americans are bigger."

"No way!" Ron said. George and Xander both nodded. "Na-uh!"

"I can show you if you want," Xander said dryly.

"Um, thanks but not really necessary. I think I saw enough when I caught George with his nose against your stomach a few months back."

"You can take all that?" Draco asked.

"Easily after so much practice," George said smugly. Draco raised an eyebrow. "At least once a day for the last fourteen years?"

"Sometimes up to six times a day," Xander said happily.

Draco shook his head. "Now I know where I get my drives from." Xander beamed happily. "Raena may have to watch out or Iggy might kill her."

"Hopefully she'll be ready for him," Ron said, eyes wide. "Six times a day?" George nodded, looking very smug. He looked at Draco. "Since you obviously know people like that, would you introduce me to one or two? I'd like to know someone like that, even if it did kill me."

"If you want. I know a few women like that actually." He frowned. "Do you still prefer blondes?"

"I never really preferred blondes."

"The only women you've ever been seen with were blondes," George pointed out.

"I've only dated three women and I was interested in more than their hair color. And Buffy wasn't a natural blonde."

"I know a redhead, a brunette, and one very naughty blonde that I could introduce you to," Draco offered. Ron started to sweat. "Done. I'll bring you over some night when they're up for dinner."

"Don't spoil him," George told him. "He'll get used to it and he'll never find a *real* woman."

"Oh, they're all real women, I assure you," Draco said with a small smirk. "Not interested in anything long term, but most fun for a few weeks. This summer good for you?"

"Wonderful for me," Ron agreed. "I'll have to find a house, but still great. Thank you."

"You're welcome. You're obviously ready to move on and a harmless fling is painless at that stage." He picked up his tea as Iggy came back. "Did you remember to wash your hands?"

Iggy showed his damp hands. "You're out of towels." He sat down agin. "What were we talking about?"

"Sex." Draco looked at him. "Did you need the advanced lessons yet?"

Iggy glanced at his fathers, who shrugged. "I wouldn't mind," he admitted. "It'll probably make the other guys envious, and I'll need better shielding, but I could definitely use the experience."

"All right. I was going to take Denver with me to an appointment this weekend anyway."

"We were going to teach Xander how to play keeper this weekend," George told him. "That works well for us."

"What about Simone?" Iggy asked.

Draco shrugged. "If she wanted. They're used to such requests from people like me."

"In other words, that story about your dad taking you to a....." Ron swallowed. "It was real?"

"It was real," Draco agreed. "Can you think of a better way to teach young men and women how to do it properly?"

"No actually I can't," Xander agreed. "I had to struggle through it and my first time was really bad, and fast."

"She jumped you?" Ron asked.

"Faith, that other slayer, after a fight. It took about three minutes and she shoved me out a door after she was done."

"That sucks," Iggy told him. "What about that demon ho?"

"Her I learned a lot from," Xander admitted. "I learned stamina, what pleases women, and ..." He thought. "What else did I learn from her?"

"How to buy gifts," George told him.

"Yeah, that too," Xander agreed. "There was something else though. Oh, I guess the value of cuddles since she never wanted one."

"Damn, I love to cuddle," Iggy sighed. "Hopefully Raena will too."

Ron smiled at the boy. "Buffy had a lot to say about that relationship when she was drunk. Did you know that Anya used to embarrass your father daily by speaking her mind."

"Oh yeah, that was a common occurrence. That and 'give me money'. There were a lot of days when I knew I was buying her attention." He sipped his tea. "Thankfully, your father was able to straighten me out pretty easily."

"You still buy me more gifts than I need," George told him, but he was smiling. "Not that I'm complaining."

"I'll always buy you gifts so I can see your face light up." Xander grinned.

"While that's sweet, you should have been treated better. Any woman who does things like that doesn't respect her own sexuality and will therefore always be a disappointment in bed."

"I enjoyed Anya a lot."

"Yes, but it wasn't *satisfying*," Draco pointed out. "Sex should be satisfying, not just a physical activity for release."

"Too true," George agreed. He patted Xander's thigh under the table. "That's what we found with each other." He smiled at his son. "We hope you get that with whomever you settle with, son."

"Me too." He noticed his Uncle Ron didn't look happy. "You'll find someone who makes you feel like that again, Uncle Ron."

"I'd like to find someone who made me feel like that at all," Ron admitted. "I'm realizing how much I missed out with her."

Xander nodded. "You guys were pretty shallow emotionally. More friends that slept together and occasionally fought together. I told her to treat you better and she didn't catch the clue. Sorry."

"It's all right. Hopefully I'll find someone who I can bury myself in soon enough."

"I'm happy that you're ready to move on, Ron," George told him. "Are you thinking about taking up a residence outside the school?" Ron nodded. "Have you found one? We'll help you move."

"I haven't really looked yet. I was thinking about a rental in Hogsmeade for this summer, trying it out."

"There's a beautiful little cottage on the west end of town. Light blue, white trim, has flowers in the back yard, which is huge and fenced in," Draco told him. "I walked past it the other day and saw someone moving out." He sipped his tea. "It looked good enough."

"I'll check into that this weekend," Ron said, giving him a smile. "Thanks, mate."

"Welcome. I can't have Lucien scarred when he comes over to play this summer."

"That's right, we'll have to pick a different city to visit," Xander said. Iggy nodded. "Where are we going this summer, now that we don't have the threat of Iggy's school hanging over us?"

"I guess that depends on how much you took from the vault when you left," George told him. "It was looking a little thin when I went in there the other day."

"I only took, like, twenty," Xander told him. "There were waist high piles in there."

"Hmm, I guess we've been spending too much then. Somewhere inexpensive I'm afraid. Beach?"

"One with sand?" Xander asked hopefully. George thought about it. "Maybe just a little town somewhere on the continent? Where I can surf? Or get a tan?"

"I'll look into it, but no more random snatching of money. How did you steal twenty and come home with fifty after a two-week binge across the country's pubs?" he said finally.

"Poker game with two demons from what I remember. I think I killed them though," Xander said, trying to remember. "I don't really know."

Ron shook his head. "Even drunk, you find trouble. Naughty you."

Xander nodded. "Usually. Especially since I must have spent over eighty on my trip. I had fifty in my pocket?"

"Fifty gold," George agreed. "When we found your robe it was really heavy so we checked the pockets. You had fifty gold and some little book. Fred has it, it's written in one of the more obscure languages."

"Maybe someone else should look at it," Ron suggested. "Just in case it's the reason mum still has the demon."

"I doubt it'd be in demon," Xander told him. He shrugged. "I'll look at it when I get home or he can have Spike glance through it."

"He almost let Spike look at it, but he got this greedy look in his eyes and Fred decided not to."

"Oh." Xander thought hard, he really did. "I don't remember much. Other than the first night and then the last night, when I met Spengler, I don't remember much at all."

"Spengler, as in from the movie?" Xander nodded. "Dear, I think you were hallucinating."

"He married one of us and runs a split muggle/wizard paranormal removal service," Draco told George. "He cleans the house every time we get a spirit. His children are about ready to go to school."

"He said that, and that Doyle said hi, and that the Powers sent him to get me to the alley."

"Buffy said Minnie had to go," Ron said with a shrug.

"Remind me to thank her and them later," George said. Ron grinned. "Is she gone?"

"Back to Willow's for a few days." He looked at Xander. "You can't go to her wedding. She's saying nasty things about you."

"Wonderful," Xander said with a smile. "I think Miss Willow and I will be having a discussion soon in a cemetery at midnight." He finished off his tea. "Shall we get Iggy back?"

"I need more herbs," Iggy told them as they got up. George groaned. "Just a few, mugwort and the really inexpensive stuff. I used all mine brewing the sleeping draught the night before I left and then while I was tested." He grinned. "Oh, and I'm supposed to tell you I broke the aging laws. I had to age the potion I did at Braun. They gave me a three-hour potion to do in two."

"Spot aged?" Xander asked. Iggy nodded. "I don't get into trouble for it so it should be okay," he said with a shrug. "Did you tell Bill?"

"Before I got back this morning. He didn't think it was such a bad idea either." His whole face lit up. "Daddy, if I do get together with Raena, do you think I could ask you for a favor?"

Xander looked at him and smiled. "If she wants it and comes to me, son. Doing a permanent deage is very taxing and precise work."

"You'd do that for them?" Ron asked with a smile.

"If she wanted me to," Xander agreed. He gave Draco's shoulder a squeeze. "Come up tonight, okay? We'll have a party or something." He walked away, his free arm around George's waist. "Still got the letter, Iggy?"

"Yup. Can I get it framed?"

"Sure. We'll do that this afternoon," Ron told him. "Having Spike scare everyone for another day works out well." The left for the school.

Draco finished off his fluffy pastry and went back to his room, falling back into bed. He had no sooner fallen asleep again than a little wet finger was stuck into his ear. "Good morning, Lucien. Did you sleep well?" He lifted an arm and his son snuggled in with him.

***

Harry walked up to the gate at Draco's team's pitch. "I need to see the sneering bastard," he said with a smile. "It's a bit of a family problem." The guard called out to the coach, who shrugged and motioned Draco down.

Draco walked out to join him, wiping the sweat from his face. "What happened this time?"

"Would you mind removing your mother from my house?" Harry asked him. Draco's mouth hung open. "She's bothering my youngest daughter and it's disturbing me. I woke up to her smirking at me this morning."

"When did you meet my mother?"

"World cup, fourth year?" Harry reminded him. Draco nodded. "It's her. I'm sure of it. I even went and looked up her picture to make sure. She's haunting my house!" He ran his hands through his hair. "It's getting annoying, Draco, so can you please talk to her or something? I don't want her there. Have her come haunt you."

"I'll try. If not, I've got the name and floo for one of the best ghost removers in the country. He managed to move my father when he showed up." He glanced around. It wouldn't do for anyone to see him as anything other than the cold and evil bastard. "Did you hear about Iggy?" Harry shook his head. "Royal Academy."

Harry beamed. "That's excellent news. I thought you had to be referred by someone to even find out where their campus was."

"Braun told him he was too good for them and sent him there," Draco said smugly.

"Well." He grinned. "I'll have to get him a gift. Are they funding him?"

"They're even giving him a book allowance." Harry chuckled. "So I'd say yes. I'll stop by tonight, after we remove the demon from Molly's dryer." He rolled his eyes. "Expect Ron with me."

"All right then," Harry agreed. "I'll be home about dinner, so anytime afterwards, or Mellie and the elves can let you in. Thanks." He walked off, heading for his own practice.

"What did he want?" the guard asked as he let him back in.

"For some reason, one of my family's ghosts has gone to live with him and he wanted me to come talk to it," he said with a sneer. "He doesn't like them." He remounted and got back into the air, going back to his practice session.

***

Draco tapped on Potter's door, frowning down at the house elf answering it. "Potter told us to come take care of the ghost."

"No!" the house elf said, blocking their path. "No come in!"

"Is Mellie here?" Ron asked. "She knows us."

"She plays. Yes, plays far away."

Draco rolled his eyes and picked up the little creature, looking at him. "Take a good look at me," he sneered. "We are coming in."

"Draco," Ron protested.

"You's be with most sneering one!" the elf said, kicking its feet. "You come gets her, she scares the Mellie! Yes, yous take her! Harry Potter be glad if you take her."

Draco put it back down. "Yes, he will. Where is she at the moment?"

"Upstairs. Bothers Mellie."

"Mellie's napping?" Ron asked. The creature nodded. "In her room?" It nodded again, it's ears flapping. "Okay. Up the stairs and to the right at the end," Ron told him, leading the way. He walked in and was hit by a blast of cold air. "You daft creature, are you trying to kill her?" He picked up Mellie and took her downstairs, leaving the son and mother to discuss. He wrapped Mellie in a throw and put her in front of the fireplace, letting her get warm. "Get her some hot stones," he ordered. "We'll wait until Harry gets here."

"Yes, you wait. Me put up shields, you no go!" It hurried away to get some warmed stones to tuck in with the poor girl.

Upstairs, Draco had sat in the rocking chair beside the girl's bed. "Mother," he said quietly. "Why are you haunting the Potters?"

"They don't deserve to be happy," she sneered. "You're not."

"Actually, I am happy and Potter's not." He shrugged at her dirty look. "He's asked me to remove you. Either you can go home and check on your youngest grandson or you can leave the hard way. Which will it be?"

She floated away from him. "You're not good at that."

He shook his head and pulled out a small pot from his pocket, unsealing it and watching as the vacuum in it sucked her down into it. "One doesn't have to be good to hire the best. You taught me that," he told the pot. He checked the room, carefully putting one of the dolls back onto the dresser, then left to check on the girl. "How is she?"

"Freezing," Ron said succinctly. "Why was your mum here?"

"She's a bitch, what other reason does she need?" He tucked the pot into his pocket. His mother and the demon inside it would get along, probably. He watched as warmed rocks were tucked in with her and the house elf stoked the fire higher. "Is she in shock?"

"No, just sleeping," Ron said with a faint smile. "She sleeps like her brother does. It takes the house falling in to wake her up." The door opened and he stood up. "Hey, Harry. We got her."

"Good." He smiled at Mellie. "Did she get cold again?" Ron nodded. "That's fine. Thank you." He shook their hands. "Want a bit of dinner? She'll be waking up soon."

"No thanks, we have a family meal tonight and I'm due at the colony to be taught something about shielding," Draco told him. "Tell me if she manages to escape." He headed for the door, Harry following. "Very protective elf you have there, Potter."

Harry nodded, grinning. "He loves Mellie. Why was your mother here?"

Draco smirked at him. "She thought you weren't suffering enough. Wanted you to be more miserable than she thought I was, but she never checked to see if I was or not." Harry groaned. "I've got her trapped. It should be fine." Harry nodded. "Have fun. Ron, I'll tell them you'll be late."

"Thanks, Draco." The other man nodded and walked outside, disappearing. Ron smiled as Harry closed the door. "Is she's okay?"

"She has been all the other times. She sleeps like your namesake," Harry said as he walked back over to sit on the couch. He looked at his daughter for a moment, then at his best friend. "How have you been?"

"Good enough. With Buffy coming back, I've gotten over a lot of stuff." He patted Harry on the knee. "You?"

"I've decided to move," Harry told him. "Firmly decided now. I have no idea where, but I've had three offers on the house so far."

"Good," Ron said happily. "I'm going to get a rental this summer. Try the whole independence thing again. You're welcome to come over anytime, Harry."

"Thanks, Ron." He gave him a bright smile. "Where are you looking?"

"Close to the school. There's a little cottage I talked to someone about earlier. Really nice, three bedrooms and all that. Good yard. I think the kids'll love it."

"Wonderful. Anything else up that way?"

"Not really," Ron admitted. "A few of the big stone monstrosities. One really small one. A few apartments and things. Oh, but there's a house on the edge of town. Smallish, three bedrooms, but if the older two are only there for a bit, it should be okay."

"I can't put Agatha and Mellie in the same room."

"Maybe it has an attic. Or, there's one going up for sale by mum. She mentioned it the other day. The Diggories would be your neighbors I think, but otherwise okay."

Harry winced. "I'd rather not. I still feel guilty."

"What about where your parents used to live."

Harry snorted. "I can just see the fear in their eyes that *he*'s going to come back."

Ron gave him a nudge. "He's dead, he's not coming back."

Harry looked at him. "Even I've heard the rumors of an attack coming up."

"Yeah, well, so have we. We're counting on it actually," he finished with a smile. "That leaves Hogsmeade and a part of London. Which you'd probably hate because most of them are so crowded."

"I could always find a house in the middle of nowhere."

"Where would that be?"

"There's still lots of little towns."

"Yes, but they're full of people that you'd have to pretend around, and people who wouldn't accept your house elf." Harry grimaced. "I know, I'm bringing your decision down. I'm sorry, just trying to add some reality."

Harry nodded. "I know. Can you look around Hogsmeade for me?"

"I can do one better. I've got the card for the guy that I went to see today, he's the realtor." He found it and handed it over. "Copy that down and I'll have a word with him about discretion."

"Good enough," Harry agreed, writing down the information. He handed back the card. "Do you think I'm making the right decision?"

"I think it's about time that both of us move on." The back door slammed open and Ron jumped, standing up and putting Harry behind him. "Hey, Hermione," he said, looking her over. "What's going on?"

"I got tired of living in that place," she said, glancing over him as well. "You look good, Ron. Been keeping fit I see. Still working for Firebolt?"

"Nah, teaching defense now." He grinned, his wand was already in his hand and she wasn't supposed to have one again. "I just got done filling in for Xander for a bit."

She grimaced. "I see. How is he? I heard he was injured a few years back." She moved closer.

"Better. In great shape. Knee's a little buggered but it happens when you have to have it replaced." She smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Better." She pulled her hair back into a ponytail. "Harry, want to eat dinner?"

"He's coming over for a family celebration," Ron told her. "Iggy got into the Royal Academy." She looked impressed, yet clueless. "George and Xander's oldest."

"Oh. Wonderful for him. I take it he's doing potions?"

"They acknowledged him as a prodigy," Harry told her. "Paid education and everything."

"Even better. I suppose that could be expensive." She made a lunge for Ron but he froze her. "Let me go," she ground out. "I'm not dangerous."

"No, you just tried to grab me, you're not dangerous at all," Ron agreed sarcastically. "I'm not doing it, Hermione. I'm sorry." He looked over as someone came in the back door. "Willow?" She nodded. "Here to help or hinder?" he sighed.

"Helping her," she said, pointing at Hermione. "Can you unfreeze her so I can take her away?"

"As long as you take her away," Ron agreed.

"Ron," Harry said, tapping him on the shoulder.

"Yeah?" He smiled at him. "Your daughter's still here, mate. Not a chance," he said at the opening mouth. He looked back, in time to see Hermione unfreeze and duck her first punch and hit her a good one in the stomach, making her fall to her knees. "No one hurts him or his kids," he told her, stepping over her. "Harry, come on."

"Ron, I...."

"Now or I'm taking Mellie and handing her to mum. You can convince her that you're better." Harry nodded. "You're sure? We'll protect you."

"I can do that," Willow pointed out.

Ron looked at her. "Yes, just like you protected your friends," he said dryly. She glared at him. "I heard you and Buffy told me what she saw."

"She came back?" Harry asked.

"Her ghost," Willow and Ron said together.

"Oh. Sorry, Ron."

He waved a hand. "I'm better now. I've gotten so much stuff gone through recently that I'm ready to move on. Even Percy's better now." He smiled. "You're sure, Harry? You're more than welcome at the table. We've always got an extra seat."

"No, I'll be fine."

"Okay. Hand me Mellie and the house elves are going with me too." Harry nodded and went to pack her a bag, coming back with the elves behind him. He handed one of them the bag and then Ron his precious one. "If you need me, yell, Harry," he said quietly. "One of us will hear." Harry nodded and Ron disappeared, taking everything to his mother's. "We've got problems," he said as he appeared in the dining room. His father hopped up to get the little girl. "She'll need chocolate when she gets up. Ghost in the house. And now Hermione and Willow are there." Molly gasped. "Together. Hermione tried to hit me because I was guarding Harry." His father came back in. "Who's watching over her?"

"As far as I know she was supposed to be in monitored custody," Arthur told him, starting to frown. "What did Harry want Ron?"

"He agreed that I was taking Mellie and his house elves. He wanted to stay with her and see if she had truly changed."

"Then I'll call him in a while and make sure..." He was suddenly talking to empty air. "Oh, damn." He went to call someone to check on Harry.

Ron reappeared in the living room. "You thought I was joking?" he asked, body binding both women. "Harry, out, now," he ordered. He didn't move. "Right the hell now," he ordered. Harry nodded and left, from the floo addy he gave going to the Burrow. "Now then, ladies," he said, unbinding Hermione. "Try it. You can't use Harry's wand, you never could. Its core sent shocks up your arm." Hermione raised it anyway. "Go ahead, we can duel. I still practice." She shrieked and fired on him but he had ducked and hit her square in the chest, knocking her back into the chair by the window. He unfroze Willow. "You, out. Xander's coming and I doubt you want to tousle with him."

"No!" someone shouted, walking in. "She's lost control, Ron."

"Wesley, I don't care! Get your bitch and go if you want her that badly." He nodded but Willow fought him so Ron bound her again. "There, now take her." She was led out. He waited until Hermione woke up then bound her again before she could try anything. "Hermione, I want you to listen very closely to what I'm going to say." She grunted, still trying to get free. "Never fuck with him again. I am the short end of the stick and you're getting it." He stood up as an auror rushed in. "Harry's at my parent's. She attacked him." He unbound her and let the auror rebind her. "She somehow made Rosenberg lose control. Her mate found her and took her home to the Watchers. You might need to check on her as well." He glanced around. "Close up the place, will you? Harry's staying at my parents even if I have to knock him out." He disappeared, heading home. He landed in the dining room again. "Mum, it's handled. She was rearrested." Harry broke down in her arms. "I'm sorry, Harry, but she tried to hurt me as well." He tipped the boy's face up. "You need stitches in that." Harry pulled his face away but Ron captured it again, making him look at him. "She's not changed, Harry. I don't know she got past the truth serum, but she hasn't changed. If she had, you wouldn't have that welt coming up on your forehead or the rip I can see on your chest." He pulled the collar out. "Mum, get me a cloth and Iggy." She nodded and went to call him while Ron struggled Harry out of his shirt. "Look at yourself," he said, putting him in front of the mirror. "Would Hermione, the real one, do that to you?" Harry shook his head. "She died a long time ago, Harry, and it's time to move on with the grief. That creature wearing her face is just a demon, a torment, sent to hurt you more. Are you going to let it or not?" he asked in a quieter tone.

"I can't let go."

"Then find something else to cling to. I'm still here, you can cling to me." He turned his friend around and hugged him. "The twins are still here and you can cling to them. Hell, your broom is still here and you can do like your son and cling to it and the snitch." Harry gave a weak chuckle. "Now, let's get you cleaned up so you can eat something." Harry nodded and let himself be led back to the chair. He watched as Ron accepted the wet washcloth and started to work on the cuts on his chest. "Who did these?" Ron asked gently, wiping at the spilled blood.

"Willow. She raised her hand and it was like she scratched me from across the room," Harry admitted. An auror came out of the fireplace and looked at them. "Do I have to?"

The auror came over and knelt down beside him. "Do you want to go through this again?" he asked. "It's going to keep happening, Potter, and it's not going to get any better. She's gone. That's not Hermione Granger. I knew her too." He smiled. "We used to beat each other up in the Advanced class. It's horrible, but she's gone."

Harry nodded. He pointed to his chest. "Willow did those."

"Shit." He stood up. "Do you want to go to the emergency room?" Harry shook his head. "May I take pictures then? For the records? I can block out your face, name you an unnamed victim."

Iggy came out of the fireplace with a small beaker. "I brought a healing potion. I'll need gauze, grandma." She hurried to get him some. "I can wait to apply it," he offered the auror.

"If I can get pictures, we can lock her back up in her own mind. A mind-altering spell from the ancient world has come to us and we're going to use it on her. It will wipe all of her past out and let us build her a new one." Harry went pale. "There will be nothing that could trip a memory, nothing to make her remember, and nothing to make her believe in magic, Mr. Potter."

Ron nudged Harry as he continued to clean. "It's not painful," he said gently. "She'll never know. She won't miss the kids, she won't miss you, she won't even remember you."

"But to strip her of everything," Harry whispered.

"It's that or prison this time, even without the pictures. Mine and Professor Weasley's testimony are more than enough to have her locked away. If we call your adoptive parents here, they'll tell the same thing. If you help us, we can help her."

Harry nodded. "I understand. Can I have an hour? You can take the pictures, if you have to."

The auror nodded and pulled out his camera. "I understand how hard this is. I couldn't imagine sending my wife away, even if I wasn't close to her anymore. It's got to be harder when she's one of your last lifelines to sanity." He handed Harry a sheet of paper. "Cover your face with that, that way I don't have to put your name in it." Harry did so and he took pictures of the forehead cut, moving down to the chest area. "Are there any more?"

Harry nodded. "She did that scratching thing and it got my legs," he admitted.

"Come on, we can go check them out in the bathroom. Iggy, wait here." The boy sat down and dished himself out some food while he helped Harry up the stairs to his room. It was quiet and there weren't any windows open, the curtains were dark enough to block out anyone who might see. The auror came in and shut the door. "Flick on the lights there." The lights came on and Ron saw that Harry had taken off his pants and his championship ring, and his back and legs were a mess. "All this from one time?"

"She got loose last week," the auror sighed.

"Harry, why didn't you tell us!"

"Because I don't want to be fussed over!" he shouted.

"Tough," Ron shouted back. "You're family, we do that around here! Just ask George!" Harry blushed. "Now, let him take the nice pictures and I'll help you into a hot bath with the healing potion. If I'm not mistaken, that was a water soluble one." Harry nodded and turned so his back could be photographed. Ron got out of the way and winced where Harry couldn't see. This was bad. He firmly stamped down on the anger rising up, but it wasn't going away. "Can I hit her, just once more?" he asked.

"No, Ron," Harry said, smiling back at him. He caught a look at his back in the mirror and wobbled. "It's that bad?"

"You never looked, did you? You put on the illusion and never looked at yourself?" Ron asked, helping him lie down on the bed. "It's okay, Harry, this is a holdover from those nasty fucking relatives of yours. We'll get you back to normal."

"I have practice tomorrow," Harry told him.

"Bet me. You can't stand right now." Ron patted him on the back of the head, noticing an egg. "I'll get you a medical excuse from Madam Pomfrey and take it to your coach myself, and I'm going to get some ice right now for that lump." Harry nodded, so Ron looked at the auror.

"It's all right. This is my area, domestic abuse." He smiled sadly. "My wife wants me to switch because I keep looking at her like I'm doing something wrong."

Ron patted him on the shoulder. "I doubt it. It's the grief you see every day, it colors things." He went down the stairs, and slammed his fist into the more solid part of the stairway's wall. Molly looked over at him. "His back's wrecked. Iggy...."

"It's to put in a bath and be washed over the injuries," Iggy agreed. "I figured it wasn't the only one." He shrugged. "I kept Uncle Draco from coming by sheer force of letting Daddy knock him out. Both of my fathers want to nurture him if you guys can't take care of this."

"We'll do fine. The house is mostly empty and we'll be able to spoil him rotten," Molly assured him. She pursed her lips. "Ron, if you dented the wall, fix it." He nodded and slammed his fist into it again. Then he fixed it. "What did you boys need?"

"He needs a few good meals and an ice pack. He's got a knot on the back of his head." Arthur got up to get him one. "Other than that? I think he's going to need some careful attention and a lot of hugs in the middle of the night." He glanced back upstairs. "I'm going to ask him if he wants Little Ron back. He was the one who dealt with his nightmares." He accepted the ice pack and walked up the stairs, knocking before entering. He saw Harry quickly pulling up his undershort's waistband. "It's amazing how bruising things can be." He handed it over and sat on the bed beside Harry's knees. "I wanted to know if you wanted me to take Mellie back to the school or if you want Little Ron to come here?" he asked quietly.

"I don't want them to see this."

"Then I'll take her with me and she can watch the littler ones. She seems to enjoy it and mum can probably use the house elves for something until you're well enough to go home." He smiled and poked Harry on the side. "Want me to go find the cats?" His friend nodded. "Then I'll bring them back and take Mellie home with me. Iggy said that the potion is to be put into the bath and you're supposed to splash any deep wounds. Got it?" Harry nodded again and gave him a faint smile. "Don't worry, let mum spoil you for a bit and when you're ready, we'll go have a few and talk about it in private. Rent a room and everything. How's that?" Harry gave him a better smile. "I should warn you, since Iggy did me. They had to knock out George and Draco. Xander's in a hugging mood if you need one and the twins'll love to see you if you want to pop around. Got it?" Harry's smile picked up some. "Then you go take a bath. Mum's got the medicine warming right now." He patted him gently. "I'm going to take Mellie home with me and you're going to call her every day." Harry did smile at that. "Good." He looked at the auror. "Got enough?"

"I'll need a few more close ups of some of the larger bruises. They seem to form a pattern."

"That's fine. I'll tell mum that you're staying for a bit. With your luck, she'll feed you." He left, closing the door behind him, and went to pick up Mellie. Molly looked at him. "He doesn't want her to see, mum."

"Perfectly understandable," Iggy agreed. "Is he ready yet?"

"Almost. Can you go find his cats? He's got the great orange lump and the new two."

"Sure. Bring them back here?"

"The house elves can take care of them since they won't have anything else to do," Molly said dryly.

"You wanted me to leave them at her mercy, mum?" She shook her head. He smiled. "See, I'm a good boy. I'm going to get her back to the tower before she wakes up." He went through the floo, coming out on the other side into Draco's back. "Hey! You'll wake her."

Draco took the little girl and checked her over. "At least she's not cold anymore." He settled her on the couch. "How bad was it?"

Ron opened his mouth, then shook his head and went to pound out his frustration on something inanimate which wouldn't try to hit him back. When he walked into the Advanced classroom, he found a few of the students. "Out, I need to get rid of some anger." They ran from the room, closing the door behind them. Ron walked up to the heavy bag and started to pound out his frustration on it.

Draco looked down at the little girl. "He'll need an excuse to miss practice for a few days."

"He can get one from Poppy," George told him. "Don't worry about that. What happened to her? Cold?"

"My mother was haunting their house for some reason." Iggy came out of the fireplace. "How is he?"

"Bad. Really bad. Willow has something to cut you through your clothes without harming them?" Xander nodded. "She used it on him twice. I'm going to get him a medical excuse and hand it to his coach. I know he's having dinner with Uncle Oliver." He checked Mellie. "She's back to normal, just resting. Someone might want to tell Little Ron." George nodded. "Is anyone brave enough to tell Agatha?" Everyone shook their heads so he sighed and nodded. "Then I guess that falls to me. He said I could." He walked away, tapping two pictures against his thigh as he went up to the infirmary. He popped into the Great Hall and found Agatha at dinner. "Aggie, walk me upstairs. We've got to talk about something bad." She frowned at him. "That's an order from your father." She wiped her mouth and stood up, giving Ryan a glance before walking out to join him. "Walk with me, cousin." He waited until they were in the clear hallways. "Your mother came home, twice in the last few weeks." He glanced at her and her face was set hard as stone. "Your dad's at Grandma's." She stole the pictures from him and gasped, leaning against the wall, starting to cry. He took them back, tipping her face up. "He didn't want you to know that much, Aggie. He's helping her be treated and then they're going to do a total removal of all her memories. There will be nothing left in her head but what they put in there."

She wiped her face off. "Why are you telling me?"

"I just helped your father into a bathtub with one of the most potent healing potions I know and he was worried about how you'd take it." He put a hand on the side of her face, smiling at her. "He doesn't want you to do anything that will get you expelled, Aggie. He's worried that you're going to do something harmful and get yourself thrown out and at the mercy of Ryan's mother. Who was helping yours." She backed away from him. "He knows everything that's went on, including your weekly teas, and he's so very sorry."

"She went bad?"

Iggy nodded. "Lost it." He held up a picture of the scratches on her father's chest. "Willow's spell." She started to cough and ended up throwing up. "You all right?" He held her until she was better. "Aggie, I'm telling you because you know I'm not going to lie to you about this. He'll heal. He's bruised and scratched badly, but he'll heal. He could probably use a few stitches, but nothing more than that." She nodded, leaning against him. "The other reason I'm telling you is so that you don't tell your brother." She looked up at him. "He's so much gentler, Aggie, and you know he can't handle the darkness humans are capable of the way you can."

She nodded and straightened up. "I won't act against her or Willow and I won't tell Little Ron. Where's Mellie?"

"Our house. Napping on the couch as we speak, probably with your brother wrapped around her." She nodded, pulling her facade back into place. "If you want, I can tell Ryan about his mother. I doubt Wesley will." She nodded. "Okay, send him up to the infirmary and I'll tell him. Not a word, Agatha Potter, he wants this to be kept a nasty family secret."

She nodded. "I understand. It's got to hurt him a lot." Her eyes burned with anger. "I can't hurt her any?"

"Go get permission from Tara. See what she says. You can't tell her why though." Agatha nodded and turned, leaving him alone. He took a deep breath and went to do his primary mission, get Harry his medical excuse. He walked into the infirmary and smiled at his mentors bending over his potion together. "I've got a small problem," he said, smiling at the school nurse. "I'm going to need a medical excuse for someone else. And I can't tell you why." She frowned and walked him into the office. "I'm not supposed to say anything."

"I can keep it confidential."

Iggy shrugged. "His favorite uncle is in this school and he doesn't want him to know. I know he might have heard when I told his daughter, but I know he listens in here more often." He showed her the first picture. "That's the worst he has but I put him in a tub with a healing potion in it."

"Why did you put him into water?"

Iggy grimaced. "Because he was limping, Poppy. It was the humane thing and the healing potion I used is meant to be put into the water. He really could use it." He showed her the second picture. "That's his back."

"I'll write one out right now," she agreed, bending down to do so. "Do I write it out as a 'to whom it may concern'?"

"Please. He really doesn't want this spread around." He glanced at the door then leaned closer. "Poppy, have two doses of student strength sleeping potion ready. His daughter knows the truth because she understands the darkness in her mother. But her consort's mother was with hers." Poppy's face fell. "I think they'll both need it and it might keep the daughter from acting up. Just in case."

"I've got a case of it," she assured him. "Will you need one?"

He smiled. "If anyone in my family needs one, I'll make one specifically out of the gryphon books. There's only a few of us who know how bad it was." He incinerated the pictures. "The auror who took them is protecting his identity as well. Those were multiples." She handed over the medical excuse. "Thanks, Poppy. Have fun with my potion." He opened the door and saw Ryan waiting on him. "Hey, walk me downstairs." He walked the boy out, telling him on the way what little he knew. Ryan slammed his fist into a marble wall, not even swearing when two of his knuckles dislocated. "Hey, it could have been worse. Her dad said that her mother influenced yours so she might not be in trouble, but you see the dangers now of playing with chaos?"

Ryan nodded. "Thank you for telling me, Ignatius. Is her father all right?"

"Not yet, but he will be in a few days. Nothing overly serious." The other boy nodded, looking relieved. "You might want to call Wesley tonight or soon, or you might not. But definitely call him to come to Hogsmeade and meet you for lunch on a Saturday or something. Somewhere in the open so that she can't do anything to him."

Ryan nodded. "A wise idea. Thank you." He walked away, sidestepping the mess in the hall and the caretaker.

"Sorry about that, she got so upset and her stomach rebelled," Iggy said as he walked past him. "There's some powder in the infirmary to eat it right up." He walked into a classroom and homed in on his Uncle Oliver's power signature. His ring had a glowing effect and it marked him quite loudly in the flood. He smiled and made sure he had the note before teleporting there. He landed beside the table and smiled at them. "Forgive me for interrupting, but Harry Potter asked me to deliver this personally to you and ask that you then destroy it so it doesn't get out." He handed the excuse to the coach, watching as he read it. As soon as he was done, it was tossed into the dish with the candle and went up in a small burst of flames. "Thank you."

"Where is he?" the coach asked.

"My grandparents have him. Oliver, are you coming up this weekend to try and train dad for the local fun league?"

"I'd be honored to," Oliver agreed. He smiled. "Thank you, Iggy."

"Welcome." He smiled back.

"You're the Harris-Weasley kid?" the coach asked. Iggy nodded. "What do you have planned for your future, young man. You have a lot of potential."

Iggy grinned even brighter. "I got accepted into the Royal Academy this morning."

"Oh, Iggy," Oliver said, pounding him on the back. "That's wonderful news. I'm happy for you. It's even more prestigious than Braun."

Iggy nodded. "And when I was at Braun, Raena kissed me." He beamed and disappeared.

The coach shook his head. "Boys that age," he sighed. "He should play for a team."

"I'm sure he will, a fun league in his spare time," Oliver assured him. "What did you think of Harry's son, and Malfoy's daughter. Some catch, huh?"

"They were really in unison?"

"As far as anyone could tell. Each got a wing."

The coach shook his head. "I can see both of them playing. It might take some fighting to get her in, but I can see it. Does Potter's son really have a snitch he pets?"

"He sleeps with it, walks around with it in his pocket, all of it," Oliver agreed. "I have to pry the game ball away from him after every game. Same with Malfoy-Weasley. They're wonderful kids, even though Ravena does insist that she's a Goddess in her own right." He smiled. "How bad is Harry?"

"Bad enough that he may not make the next game. You check on him this weekend for me, 'kay?" Oliver nodded. "Good. I worry about that boy."

"He's got protectors waiting to jump in and help him," Oliver told him. "All he has to do is say the word and they're there." He glanced around. "Any news?"

"The executive board of the National League is taking up your petition. They might need more evidence. Hey, maybe you can get that kid to help you if he's all that with potions."

Oliver shook his head. "Don't even say that. He and his father are both meddlers of the highest calling. Iggy might go and talk to the Director personally if he thought it'd help me get back to the league."

"The kid's got heart. What about his cousins?"

"Simone would love to play. Said she'd be more than willing. So would her brother probably." He shrugged his good shoulder. "Wait and see, I'm sure they'd jump at it most of the time."

"What's their things?"

"Simone is a creature person. Denver does defense from what I hear. The true Weasley in Hufflepuff is the herbologist in the family. Anastasia surpasses her sister in Transfiguration, making her one of the top in the school, and her younger sister is apparently a defense person as well. And the youngest Malfoy-Weasley is so cute it's not funny. He's latched onto Iggy's baby sister like she's his personal sun. Every chance he gets he's attached to her somehow." He grinned. "I've heard that he likes to go over to Slytherin and try to boss the big kids around because he's a Malfoy. He's his father's son, no doubt about it."

The coach laughed. "I'm sure it's very cute. You thinking about settling down?"

"I haven't dated in years. Who am I going to date?"

"There's plenty of pretty women around that school, boy."

"Yeah, and they're all taken. Unless I pick up a groupie, and I've got two of those up there in the lower years, I'm out of luck."

"What about that blonde?"

"That's Snape's wife."

"They finally made it official?"

"They did an everlasting bonding ceremony, complete with sympathetic spells. Iggy made them from what I heard. He's excellent, a prodigy."

"Then we'll never pull him away from his cauldron. Pity, that boy's got an arm on him. Do you play against them sometimes?"

"We scrimmaged last summer over the holiday. They're as intense as they look." He finished his tea and motioned for more.

***

Agatha Potter pounded on her head's doorframe, not caring what sort of disturbance she was causing. The door opened and the head of her house glared down at her. "I need Tara," she said as she pushed past him.

Tara looked up, then stood slowly. The rage in the girl's eyes told her all she really needed to know, but she put a hand on Agatha's cheek, sending calming vibrations toward her. "Tell me?" she asked.

"I can't. I promised."

Tara extended her gifts, reading the girl easily. She was practically broadcasting. "It's not up to a true witch to enforce the three-fold rule," she said gently, "but we can definitely make a petition to have her fixed." Agatha relaxed. "Go to my classroom and wait on me, Agatha. I'll be right there." The girl left and Tara turned, resting her head against a wall as she calmed down.

"What's happened now?"

"Hermione broke free and went to beat the shit out of her father," she near-whispered. "Willow was with her." She pulled herself back together and smoothed out her robes. "I'm going to go help her calm down. A plea for justice is allowed, even if I can't give it myself." She grabbed a book out of her special bookcase and left, heading down there. She smiled as she passed Dumbledore in the halls. "Don't ask," she told him when he opened his mouth. She walked in and shut the door, smiling at the arrangement of candles. "Very well done, but we'll need a bigger one. Move them back another six inches. You can move any of the desks if you have to." She walked to her herb store and pulled out a small bundle of flowers, specially picked for her to make a plea. She walked into the circle and it was cast by the young girl. "Agatha, you will be coming to me for lessons, even if you don't follow my traditions." The girl smiled at her. "Luminos." The candles flared to life and Tara set the flowers onto the three candles in front of them. "We call for retribution, hear this untraditional prayer and plea," she said calmly, taking the girl's hand to hold.

"Fix them, please," Agatha pleaded. "Back to who they were or to punish I don't care."

Tara smiled at her. "Even though harm cannot be undone if it is done voluntarily, they can be cured. Hear us." The flowers went up in a flash of light and a gentle newly-mown grass smell floated through the room. "We ask that they be shown the truth of their path. Hear us, Gaia, mother of all, teacher and correcter of the errant witches. They are yours and Hecates and we offer our thanks for anything you might decide to help us with."

A soft, feminine laugh floated through the breeze. "Shown and punished they shall be," the voice answered.

Tara slumped. "Thank you. We offer ourselves into your service."

Agatha lifted her chin. "I am new, but I will learn, even if I do not follow your path. If it pleases you, allow me to learn any lessons you may send my way." She shrieked and fell to her knees and images invaded her mind, showing her many paths and their outcomes. The last picture was a book and she walked across the circle of protection to get it. Then she passed out.

"Blessed be and thank you," Tara whispered, blowing out the candles in front of them. That had been more than she had ever expected. She snuffed the candles in the circle before walking over to check on the girl. With the magical energy, everything came through much more clearly. She smiled at the book, it was appropriate for such a strong witch. With a wave of her wand, everything was put up. She tossed a blanket over the girl and walked over to open the door, finding Ryan waiting on her, like she had expected. She tipped his face up. "They will be fixed, Ryan." He nodded. "You will join my son in his lessons, as will Agatha. We'll arrange it around your schedules, possibly on Sunday afternoons." She smiled at him. "She's napping, let her rest. I'll give you permission to be out of the tower tonight." She left, feeling very happy with the outcome. She had never been answered like that before. Her husband looked up as she entered their rooms, giving her a quizzical look. "We got answered." She walked over to snuggle into his side. It was a great thing, to have someone who understood you.

***

Little Ron frowned, watching his sister sleep. He didn't like the thoughts he was having about Ryan's mother, and he didn't like the thoughts he was having about his own, but he couldn't shake them. He closed his eyes as a calming feeling passed through his head. It said everything was going to be all right, that they would be shown their mistakes and be allowed to repent before facing punishment.

He snuggled into his sister's warm body, content with it, wherever it had come from. That was good enough for him. His snitch fired itself up and he reached over to stroke over the gold, smiling as it calmed him further.

Everything would be okay. He'd have to owl his father and tell him that. Maybe he'd even draw him a silly picture.

***

In the Ministry's jail, Hermione Granger screamed and grabbed her head, forced to watch as every mistake she had ever made was reshown to her. Her future was shown to her as well, the bloody knife, the sacrificial tablet, the auror who finally took her out. By the time it was done, her left ear was bleeding and she was crying. She hadn't meant to do any of it.

The power felt her pain and sorrow, and judged her. It ran through her again, this time making everything run backwards. When the last memory was gone from her mind, it was empty. Hermione slumped to the floor, memoryless for good. The power soothed across her torn pathways of magic, healing them and scarring them over. Any and every path to power was taken from her, closed permanently to her touch. When it was done, it went to see the only other person who could feel in the building, giving it the same message.

Everything would be fine, she had been judged and fixed. Retribution had been had.

He slumped in on himself as the power rushed away, then reached a hand out to activate his floo connection that only went to the Minister of Magic. "Someone asked for retribution and received it," he said quietly. "We won't have to act."

"Hecate's will be done?" the Minister asked. The man on this side of the connection nodded. "Then I'll accept her judgement. She knows more than we ever could." He broke the connection and went to explain what had happened to Arthur Weasley. The boy was at his house and looked at the boy like a son.

***

Willow sat up in her bed, looking around. "Who's there?" A ghostly outline slowly came into being at the end of her bed. "Who are you?" The woman smiled sadly at her. "Say something!" she demanded.

"No more, unless you are protecting," the ghostly voice spoke, still giving her that sorry look.

"Huh? What's going on." She started to move but found herself locked in place. "Let me go!" She started to struggle, but the hands holding her down were too strong. "WESLEY!" He didn't come, even though he was in the next room. "No." She tried to move away from the hand, but it touched her forehead anyway, leaving behind a silver mark. A sigil that meant protector. "No!" she screamed, trying to get away. "You can't do this!" She started to cry. "I won't do it again, I swear I won't."

"You have already had your last chance," the ghost told her. She smiled more encouragingly. "You can reform and it will slowly come back. Become who you were, Willow, and all will be well again." She faded out.

Willow collapsed on the bed, sobbing. The door opened and her fiancé walked in, coming over to hold her. "Why didn't you stop her?"

"Stop who, Willow?" He touched the silver mark. "She did this?" She nodded, clinging to him. "Perhaps you should take a small vacation and think about your behavior. We can put off the wedding if you need to."

"No." She wiped her face. "No, I'm not losing you too."

He smiled at her. "You're not losing me, I refuse to let you go, but you need the time to think. This isn't you. You're not like this."

She buried her face in his chest, letting him soothe her. "I can think around here."

"I'll support you in whatever you decide, love. Just consider whatever she told you." He got them both covered up, holding her as tightly as she needed to be. His prayers had been answered as well. "Thank you," he whispered.

***

Draco put down the theory book. Well, it certainly explained why he got sick whenever Xander or Iggy moved him anywhere. It also confirmed his suspicions. He could teleport, not just apparate, which no one thought was possible. He decided to pick a familiar target, somewhere he could picture plainly. He decided on his room in the tower. It was safe, he wouldn't end up inside anything, and if he needed it, help was there already. He closed his eyes and pictured his room, specifically the bed and dresser, wanting to land in the space between. Oh, there was a shiny thing, he could aim for that. He stretched his magic out, engulfing himself in it, and was there. He opened his eyes and found the shining thing to be a door inches from his face, with the picture of Ron's kids on it. Hmm, not his room then. He tried the doorknob but it wouldn't budge. "His lock spell," he groaned. He sat down on the bed and thought hard about someone coming to save him. The stupid locking spell wouldn't let him back out, only in. It was the way Ron had stopped anyone else from stealing his clothes. He heard footsteps and stood up, smiling when Ron opened the door.

"What are you doing in here?" Ron asked, closing the door again.

"I figured out how to teleport and this was the bigger target."

"Oh." Ron nodded. "Congrats then. Want out?" He tried to open the door, but it was now stuck. "Bloody hell, this hasn't happened before." He pulled and tugged, but it wasn't budging. He pounded and yelled, but he was the first one back for the day. He sighed. "We're stuck, that okay with you?"

"If we have to be. At least you can hold a conversation."

"'Specially if we talk about the kids," Ron agreed. He sat on the bed and took off his tie and shirt, tossing them at his basket. "Where were you?"

"My team's pitch." He smacked himself on the head. "I left the theory book there." He patted himself down and came up with his wand, summoning it to him. It was another book that didn't need to get out into the general populace. He didn't know that it had come directly from his coach's hands, but that was all right for now. He settled in to look through it. Eventually he put it down. "There's nothing in here about getting out of a sealed room."

"The book I used for the lock spell is in Iggy's library," Ron told him. "We can't summon it without getting him."

"Can he open the lock?"

"Not a bit. His dad's the one with the various lock spells." Ron grabbed a t-shirt and put it on, then leaned back on the bed. "Marvelous day, isn't it?"

Draco laughed. "Yes, it was. How are you students?"

"Boogers. As usual. I had the first and third years today." Draco winced. Ron looked at him. "Yeah, that's how I felt. I swear one boy should be Neville's kid. Got a boggart in for them today and it turned into a really scary woman in a hideous blue dress before anyone could do anything. His aunt."

Draco smirked. "I remember hearing about Snape in the dress."

"It was funny," Ron agreed. He looked up at his ceiling again. "How long you figure it's going to take before someone realizes we're in here?"

"I guess that depends on who'd due home tonight," Draco said thoughtfully. He smacked himself on the head. "Dumbledore!" he yelled.

"Impressive lungs. Thank you for deafening me."

"He has a spell that lets him listen in anywhere in the school. Tara told me about it." Draco got comfortable. "How does the lock spell work?"

"It's keyed to my wand. Seals the room tightly, only things can get in so I know what's been in here. I found a house elf the other day."

When ten minutes had passed and no one had come yet, Draco looked at Ron. "Got anything to read?"

"Nothing serious. I leave all those down in the library." He heaved himself up with a grunt and went to get his fun reading books, which were hidden under some of his older clothes. "The elves steal 'em to read," he said with a little shrug and a boyish grin. He handed the small stack over, keeping one for himself.

"All these are muggle," Draco said as he looked through them.

"I admire the writers. Read the Pern one. It has a great storyline and sentient dragons."

"Dragons who can talk and think?"

Ron nodded. "Very well actually. Some drama, some angst, some funny points. There's a whole series of them. That's the middle of the series, but a series unto itself." He pointed at another one. "That one's about witches like Tara, white knights and the like."

Draco decided to stay with the book about the sentient dragons, leaning back against the wall to start into it. "How are the triplets?"

"Good. I'm sure the other two are going to manifest any day now." Ron looked at him and saw the blush. "Still can't decide?"

"No," Draco sighed. He put down the book. "I'm not sure if I want another one or not, and I can't be sure that this one will be healthy or not."

"Plus there's the whole hiding factor again," Ron reminded him. Draco nodded. "What about practices?"

"If we lose the next game, we're done for the season. If we win, we get to the semi-finals. One way or the other, the season's finished for me in about a month. Then we have a year off because it's World Cup next year. I didn't make the team and the non-international teams don't play on world cup years so we don't dilute the national team's impact, plus the players who make it won't have to be replaced."

"So, Oliver's got another year?"

"Yes. I heard his appeal's in the Board of Directors right now. Everyone thinks they're going to ask for more information before a ruling. The only procedure that will save his natural joint we don't really do, even though we could with our level of technology. I think he'll be getting a letter any day now."

"Wonderful news for him." Ron grinned. "I'm sure he'll be thrilled."

"Then we'll have to find another teacher for flying."

"You could start doing that again, your coach shouldn't mind."

"No, you're right, I haven't asked him yet."

"Did you tell him about," Ron said, nodding at the flat stomach.

"Oh, yes, and exactly why it happened. He suggested I beat your daughter too." Ron nodded, it made sense to him. "I just wish I knew some things for certain." He looked down at his stomach. "We need to ask Iggy if he can tell anything."

"My mum did this spell with Ginny's first one to check on it, looked simple enough. It told her how the baby was doing and gave her a small picture of it." Draco looked interested. "I know she has the book on her shelf in the study, but Iggy has a copy too. It's one of his healing books."

Draco looked thoughtful. "I think we can get someone here faster," he said, flicking his wand. "Accio book case."

Ron smirked. "Draco, he's going to kill you." The case with the books landed between them, closed and locked on one side. "Did he hold it?"

"Long enough to lock it," Draco agreed, opening it. He saw the note inside and held it up. "He's on his way to hurt us now. Maybe he'll find someone who can get us out." He picked up the first few books, looking at them. "How does he do this?"

"He said alphabetically by subject. Healing was at the bottom row and the second layer." Draco put down the first few and searched through the titles. "Want a magnifying glass?" He grabbed one off his work table and handed it over. "It's a book on pregnancy, blue with red and gold letters if I remember right." It was held up and unbuttoned. "Yeah, that one."

Draco flipped through the book, stopping at a page about two-thirds of the way back. "Here it is. Candle for viewing, darkened room, a small chant." He looked up. "If we have to be stuck in here at least it's something to do."

Someone pounded on the door. "Don't you dare mess up my books!" Iggy yelled.

"Get us out of here and we'll give them back," Ron called back. A bunch of words best not repeated came through the door and Ron laughed. "You're grounded if I hear that again. You're not old enough to swear until you get a tattoo."

"Why won't the door open," Iggy complained. The knob rattled. "Uncle Ron, what did you do this time?" Something thumped against the door. "Can I at least have my potions notebook?"

"Nothing can get summoned out," Draco told him.

"Oh, wonderful. Try not to kill each other while I get Dumbledore." Something hit the door again. "I'll send food too."

"Don't send in the house elf, it'll get stuck," Ron called as he heard the footsteps walking away. He looked at his roommate. "So, whatever shall we do?" he asked dryly.

"Short of you begging me to read to you, I'd say we wait," Draco answered in the same voice. He smirked. "Unless you had ... other ideas."

"I like you, mate, but not that much." He smiled. "Of course, I'd have to be on top since I'm the straight one."

Draco shrugged. "I only tried it a few times. Curiosity and all that back in my sixth year. One of your housemates owed me big and offered."

"Thank you for not rubbing it in his face back then. I think we might've killed him for it."

"I never bragged about anyone I had relations with. Anything that got out was from them." He looked at the door. "How long should this take?"

"It depends on if we can get my wand out there," Ron told him. Draco looked at him again. "The only key is my wand and it's in here with me. The lock's not."

"Can we move the lock?" Ron shook his head. "Have you tried?"

"No, but it said I couldn't do it once I had it in place. I'm assuming I can't." He searched through the books until he found the one with the lock spell. "Page sixty-three, since this is what you do professionally and all."

"I do solve problems with gryphon spells," Draco agreed with a sigh as he went to the spell. He read through it, checking the next few pages for any additional information. "There's nothing."

Someone knocked on the door. "Boys?" George called.

"George, can you see a way to get Ron's wand out there?" Draco called. "The lock takes it."

"There's no lock," George noted. "Not anything resembling a lock."

"It's a gray spot on the doorframe, little dimple in the center."

"Still not seeing it," George told them.

"Shit," Draco said. "Is your mate anywhere?"

Something thumped against the door, sounding like a head. "He's with the fourth years in the Forbidden Forest for the next forty-eight hours." There was a pause. "I can't reach his mind, he must be in one of the null areas. He said he put a marker on the school in case something happened but not on us."

"He probably thought he'd get to us before something happened to us," Ron called. "Can you sense any lock?"

"I sense one, but it's a wrap around and I can't find the mechanism," Dumbledore called. "How are you doing about things?"

"If we're not getting out soon, we'll need stuff like food and a chamber pot," Draco told him.

"I've got some candy," Ron admitted.

"I'm not having candy for dinner, I'm not my son's age anymore." Draco looked at the window to judge the time. "I think we've got an hour before we go insane."

"I'm working on it," Dumbledore said, and it sounded like he was smiling. "Anything other than the necessities?"

"Not yet," Ron called. He looked at Draco then back at the doorway. "What's for dinner?"

"Fish."

"Eww."

"I can have them send up sandwiches," George offered.

"Have them send up everything but the fish," Ron suggested. "We're both active."

"It's green bean casserole as well," Dumbledore told him.

"Never mind. Sandwiches would be fine," Ron told him. Someone laughed. "Oh, we've got Iggy's books. We'd send them back out, but we can't do that."

"Shrink them down to a tenth the case's size and it'll slide under the door," Iggy pointed out.

"Give us a bit, we're looking at the lock spell book."

"Then send the rest out, I'm supposed to be in the dungeon tonight."

"In chains?" Ron called.

"Uncle Ron!" Iggy said with a sigh. Something sounding like a head hit the wall beside the door.

"Go fly or something," Draco told him. "Snape can let you off for one night, Ignatius. You have an excellent excuse."

"But I wanted to do this one," Iggy whined.

"Son," George snapped. "Not helping."

"Yes, daddy. I'll go tell Severus that Uncle Draco is being mean and I can't work on what I'm supposed to." It sounded like he walked away.

Draco snickered. "I'm sure Severus can do without him for the night," he said quietly.

"With your luck, you'll get bombarded by his dreams again."

"I've got shields and so does he," Draco said wisely. "Bill made sure of it after *he* couldn't get any sleep." Ron chuckled. "You think I'm kidding, but that boy's got quite an imagination, and a fairly raunchy one at that. I've never even been in some of those positions and I'm not sure some of them were possible."

"Ah, the imagination of a teen boy. I used to have a lot of fun with mine."

Draco nodded. "I remember those days fondly as well, but nothing ever lives up to the real thing."

"I wouldn't be too sure, I've had one seriously bad lover in my life. So bad, the fantasies were better."

"Would you two quit talking about sex," George snapped from the other side of the door. "Draco, can you discern magic?"

"Not at all. That's Bill's thing."

"Great. Let me get him. You two don't kill each other...or anything else that might traumatize mum." He walked away.

Dumbledore tapped on the door. "What would you two like? There's some of last night's stew left, as well as some of those salads from lunch."

"That would be great," Ron agreed. "And some milk?"

"And a pitcher of water," Draco added.

"All right. I'll have the house elves send it in to you without sending themselves. Do you boys need anything else right this moment?"

"A chamber pot might be good," Ron told him. "We can rig up a screen if we have to." He looked around the room. "It's either that or the window."

"I'm sure we won't make you do that," Dumbledore said, and it sounded like he was smiling again. "Do you have enough bedding and the like?"

"We could use a few more pillows," Ron told him. "I've got extra blankets and a sheet set."

"Good. Then I'll go arrange for things to be sent to you. Anything else? Some other sort of books perhaps?"

"Not that I can think of," Draco told him.

"Very well. I'll be back soon. Behave, boys." He walked away.

A few minutes later someone pounded on the door. "What do you think you were doing, taking his books."

"It has the book with the lock spells in it," Ron told him.

"Which is now trapped with you, dolt," Snape shouted.

"Yell at me again and I'm getting you something yellow for your birthday, in front of people," Draco told him. He checked to make sure he had both books they'd need out then closed the case and shrunk it down so small it could be shoved through the crack under the door. "There. Make him have fun, Severus. He's still only thirteen." The case was snatched from his fingers.

"He's creating an anti-passion potion for some idiotic sixth years," Snape growled. "It's necessary and in there." He stomped off.

"Gee, sounds like someone mixed up another batch of Passion Pixies," Ron said, getting comfortable on the bed. "I did that my sixth year as well. It's in the book."

"Crabbe did that, the rest of us nearly beat him for his behavior while under it. He paraded around in his underwear, pinched the ladies, jumped Pansy a few times." He shuddered. "That alone was enough to make us want to put him out of our misery."

"Did anyone sleep with her?"

"They must have, she left here stuffed up and had a little girl. She's living in Australia right now, picking up beach bunnies from what I hear. Had her nose fixed finally as well." He picked back up the book about the dragons, starting on it again. "Hopefully this won't take too long. Lucien is being watched by one of my elves."

"With any luck, we won't have to spend the night here," Ron agreed. Draco looked at him. "I doubt you want the floor?"

"No, but I can take it if you want."

"No, if we have to I'll take the floor. Spread out some clothes to cushion it or something." He scratched an itchy spot on the back of his neck. "Ow! Are there spiders in here?"

"Let me see," Draco sighed, putting aside the book to look at the newly reddened spot. He found a little dot and pulled it off. "Xander's nibbles." He showed it off then tossed it away. "George must be really pissed at us."

"It was probably Fred. He likes to torment me more than George does." Ron leaned against the wall again. "At least Lucien will be happy to come here for the night."

"Hmm, especially if he can hog Maeve. Have you noticed William and Zachariah are best friends?"

"I have, and it's creeping Xander out," Ron told him. "He thinks little Zach is a bit too much like Snape sometimes. He said it's creepy, a little him and a little Snape playing in the sandbox together." Draco laughed. "He said he hopes they don't decide to get together. William can already be a little dark and he's worried that Zach will like that part of him so he'll draw it out."

"I'm sure it will work out well. Severus won't like it either most likely."

On the other side of the door, Severus nodded. "I'm going to have to discourage that pairing," he told himself. He examined the lock spell carefully and didn't find anything. Not a single mechanism. Maybe they should call Xander back from the woods? No, they could settle this without his assistance. Hopefully. He'd hate to see those two when they came out otherwise. He walked away, trying hard to banish the thought of his son, his pride and joy, and William getting together. He was a *nice* boy, but really! He shook his head as he passed the Headmaster. "I couldn't find a thing."

"I've called up Melvin and Percy to see if they can," Dumbledore said, carrying the tray up there. He felt for the hole in the shields that would allow the food to be sent in, and slid it into the room with a bit of teleportation. "Draco, how did you get in there?"

"I figured out how to teleport and missed my room," Draco told him. "The lock spell was brighter." Something was said too low to be heard. "Ron said to tell you that you spilled the water, but that's okay. It missed everything."

Dumbledore smiled. "I'm sure everything will be fine. If worst comes to worst, Xander comes back in two days time."

"I have a court appearance in a day and a half. Ginny's gotten around to contesting the custody agreement."

"If you're not out, I'll tell the judge myself," Dumbledore assured him. He shook his head as both of the twins came up the stairs. "Anything else?"

"Lucien's at home."

"I'll get him," Fred called. "Ron? Are you living?"

"Yes, and I'm going to get you for putting that nibbler on me."

"I didn't," Fred said patiently. "One disappeared earlier today from the display."

"Took it off the paper and everything," George agreed.

"And I believe that," Ron called.

"Honestly. Fred swears on his new wand."

"New wand?" Dumbledore asked.

"Mine got torn up during the prank war over the holiday and the core was eaten by the spell," Fred told him. "Xander did it, Headmaster." He pouted slightly, not even realizing it.

"I'm sure he apologized and went with you to pick out your new one," Dumbledore assured him, patting him like he would an upset first year. "Does this new one work all right?"

Fred pulled it and showed it off. "Ivory with a unicorn's hair, seven inches," he said proudly.

"Then I'm happy for you, Fred. Let me call around and see if there's anyone who specializes in magical locks other than Xander. Maybe we can fix this one tonight." He left them there.

"Ron," Fred called, getting close to the door. "Do you have any other enemies?"

"I didn't know I had any already," Ron told him. "I mean, a few death eaters and the like, but they're mostly dead now."

"Not that sort," George said in exasperation. "Of the pranking sort! We're missing stuff and it all disappeared around the same time."

"Some of it was found in your classroom a few minutes ago. Like the glitter bomb."

"Yuck," Ron said.

"I know, but it was there and it went off on those papers on your desk."

"Damn, those were tests," Ron whined. "The kids will hate me."

"It's a rather pretty glitter explosion. Pink and purple."

"Pink?" Draco asked.

"Yes. And purple," Fred agreed. "Why?"

"Who buys pink glitter bombs?"

"Little girls who like pink." George shrugged. "Who else would buy them?"

"Oh, hell no!" Draco said, and the door was hit by something hard. "Is the lock magical or mystical?"

"There's a difference?" Fred asked.

"It feels like normal. It's about seven inches above the knob," George told him.

"It's mystical. Weasley, your girlfriend struck again!" Ron screamed and it was quickly muffled. "Can you please pass on that Buffy created the lock?" Draco asked. "It might help get us out of here sooner."

"Sure," George agreed, looking clueless.

"Why would Buffy lock them in there together?" Fred asked as they walked away.

"Who knows? This is Buffy we're talking about, she of the strange sense of humor." George shook his head and ran into the Headmaster at the floo. "Buffy did it," he announced.

"What?" Albus looked up at them. "Why?"

"We don't know," Fred told him. "We never could figure the girl out."

George looked in the fireplace. "I know you," he said. "You were in that movie, and the cartoons."

The head nodded. "That was me," he agreed. "What sort of creature is a Buffy?"

"It's the ghost of our brother's dead girlfriend," Fred told him. "What movie?"

"He's a Ghostbuster," George told him. Fred looked clueless. "The one with the big marshmallow guy?" Fred nodded, apparently he got it now. He looked down at the head. "Got any advice for the moment?"

"Don't let them kill each other. This is either her trying to drive her mate to suicide so he joins her or she probably thinks she's being nice by getting him someone who understands him."

"She's not exactly like that," Fred told him. "She's the one who told Ron to bring Minnie to change Xander."

"Oh, that sort of spirit. In that case, I'd say she's probably trying to be nice and help him make friends. The only thing you can do is summon her and ask her how it's broken. Sorry, but we really can't break things from the Other Side without some extreme gifts that aren't readily found today. It's one of those lost arts. Like potions."

"We all have to take it here," Fred told him. "Xander's son excels in them."

Egon smiled. "I'll keep that in mind for the next time I need one. Sorry I can't be of more help, but she'll have to break it." His head disappeared.

"At least we have an idea," Dumbledore told him. "Let me find Tara, see if she's seen Buffy lately." He walked away, starting to shake his head once he was outside the tower. She put those two together? Whyever for. He found Tara at dinner and patted her on the shoulder, giving her a smile. "Buffy was the one who locked them in there." She started to cough, choking on the bite of food she had been eating.

"Let me," Snape said, pushing him out of the way so he could help her. "Are you all right?" he asked when she had caught her breath, helping her wipe the tears off her face.

"Why would she lock them together," she gasped.

"The twins said she had an odd sense of humor," Dumbledore told her. "Can you contact her?"

"She was with Spike, back in London, from what I heard. What can I do to help before they kill each other."

"Mr. Malfoy has more than enough control to keep himself from harming anyone for a day," Snape reminded her.

"Normally, but being locked with Ron in a room for a day might be too much for him. Ron doesn't have any books up there and they'd have to talk all the time."

"They can talk about how cute the kids are," Remus offered from next to them. "Is it a mystical lock?" Dumbledore nodded. "Xander had a book on them somewhere. He was reading it early last week."

"I remember that, he said he borrowed it off Bill," she told him. She stood up. "Let me call Spike and someone go find Bill to see if he has it back." She hurried out to go do that. Poor Ron and Draco.

Snape blinked a few times. She was damn fast at times. Dumbledore laughed lightly. "Keep it up; remember, you have to train her in your duties." He sat down to eat, his help hadn't been requested.

Dumbledore went to talk to the gryphons. Maybe they could help a bit.

***

Ron looked around the room. There was nothing else to talk about unless they wanted to get personal. It was only about eight and they couldn't go to bed yet, and he was hungry again. His stomach rumbled and Draco handed him the apple off the tray. "Thanks. You're sure? I've got a knife somewhere if you wanted some."

"I've got my bootknife if I had wanted some of it," Draco said, putting down the book. "Are you as bored as I am?" Ron nodded, biting into the apple. "Any idea why she did this?"

"She's either torturing me over Vinnie's name or she thinks we'd make a cute couple." One eyebrow went up. "This is Buffy we're talking about, she thinks in terms of cute, not suitable." He took another bite. "Think we'll ever get out of here?"

"Hopefully. I'll be missed before long." He leaned back against the wall. "Hopefully this won't make it into the Prophet. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"After the picture of us dancing together on the bar? Probably," Ron agreed sarcastically.

"Is that what we were doing?"

"Looked like it. My copy's somewhere under the pile of old clothes."

Draco got up to find it. "Why haven't you thrown these out?"

"Every year, Gryffindor takes all it's old clothes to a shelter for abused witches and wizards. I'm saving them for that." He nodded when he heard something crinkly. "Right there. It's in the plastic bag."

Draco pulled it out and looked at the picture. "We were kissing?" he asked, turning it around.

Ron leaned closer and squinted. "Could be. The picture's grainy. All I see is dancing." He shrugged and went back to his spot against the headboard. "Can you kill a ghost?"

"Not that I'm aware of. You can rip it apart so it's no more," Draco said, sitting back down. He was on the second book in the trilogy. He might have to buy that one later. "How many books are in that series?"

"I've counted seven so far, but I may have missed some of them. The bookstore at that mall is rather short on fiction sometimes." He took one last bite of the apple, taking off the rest of the flesh with a mighty tear. He bit off the unchewed part and held it, nibbling on it as soon as his mouth was empty. The core went onto the tray. "Well, what shall we talk about now?"

"We've been over comic books, fantasy novels you have lying around, and magical theory. What else is there?"

"Short of sex, probably nothing," Ron agreed. He looked over as a bucket of water and a cloth appeared. "Looks like someone thinks we're going to be stuck for a while," he sighed.

"At least we can wash our hands now," Draco offered. He looked at the sheet hiding the chamber pot. "How did our ancestors use those for everything?"

"Practice," Ron said with a smart grin. Draco groaned. "Sorry, jokes run in the family."

"I noticed. Ginny's idea of a joke is to bring home a man." He rolled his eyes. "I had a lot of fun getting him out of the house."

"Why is she contesting?"

"She says she's straightened herself out. She's been good now for weeks, obedient and willing to perform normally. We spread word around that it was a spell backlash, which was supported through the kids getting the gossip back to their parents, so the consulting firm didn't go under."

"Do you like doing that?"

"It's interesting and time consuming. I get to do a lot more with theory most of the time because Bill likes to do the practical applications. I've gotten quite adept at changing gryphon spells into ones for the rest of us."

"You could probably use the gryphon-born spells," Ron reminded him.

"I do. I use the magical repair spells. Most of what I do with artifacts is to restore the spells already on them. Often we get things where part of the spell works, or it's not working at all and hasn't for decades, but they'd like to see if we can repair the spells. So I do more what Xander does, only on more delicate items."

"Wow. I never realized you could build a business on that."

"Most of our present works are from the Ministry and their museum. So far this month, I've fixed a weaving machine, an old herb grinder, and something like a scrying mirror, only it went to a specific entity's plane for diplomatic purposes."

"Not those elves, right?"

Draco smiled. "No, not those elves. We've officially cut ties with them, even the diplomats agreed." He looked at the door as they heard movement. "Who's there?"

"Me!" Minnie called. "Mommy say hi."

"Is she here?" Ron asked patiently.

"No, Auntie Willow tell us. She here to talk to Auntie. We go bed now. Nighties!"

"Good night, guys," Ron called, smiling at the door. "Give everyone a hug and a kiss for me, Minnie."

"Me will, love you, daddy." Her feet padded off.

Someone knocked on the door. "Daddy?" Lucien called.

"Yes, son, I'm still in here."

"Me go bed now too. Auntie say I sleep with Maeve." They could hear the smile. "You okay?"

"I'm fine, son, thank you. Have a pleasant night, Lucien."

"Night, Daddy. You be good. Auntie Tara say so." He ran off too, sounding like he was heading through the bathroom.

"I'll never get him to go home if she lets them sleep together," Draco noted, glancing around the room again. What else could they talk about now?

Ron was wondering the same thing, and it was irking him that he had run out of things to say. He pulled his wand and started to swish it around, cleaning up his room. How had it gotten this bad? The old clothes went into a large bag, the dirty ones into the full basket, and the rest got put back.

"There's a simpler way to do that."

"Yeah, but this takes more time," Ron reminded him.

"Good point." Draco pointed at the dresser. "Is that next?"

"I'll never find anything if I arrange stuff up there." He did move all his aftershaves back to the back of the dresser however, so they couldn't fall on him in the middle of the night. He guessed he could take the floor and let his guest have the bed. It was the nice thing to do after all.

***

Tara set up the summoning circle and stepped back. "Buffy Summers, I summon thee," she called out.

Buffy appeared in the circle, pouting at her. "All you had to do was yell my name and I woulda come, Tara." She sat in the air, like she was on a stool. "What's up?"

"Your lock spell," Tara told her.

Buffy shrugged. "Yeah, and?"

"They're going to kill each other."

Buffy grinned. "Nope, won't happen." She stood up. "I am now all seeing and all knowing and those two will have to get along some day soon."

"They got along fine before," Tara told her. Buffy looked smug. "Fine wasn't good enough?"

"Nope." She ran a hand down her skirt. "Did you know that spirits can touch the nearly-dead? I just caught Spike and Ethan mid-grope and nearly made them both have coronaries." She grinned. "That was such fun."

Tara frowned. "If you say so. I don't personally want to deal with a cranky Spike, but that's just me." She crossed her arms, adopting the look that her mate favored. "You're staying in there until you release the lock."

"Oh, come on, Tara, we're buddies."

Tara snorted. "You're dead, it's hard to have tea with dead people, Buffy, and you're not acting like yourself. Besides, I'm also buddies with Ron and Draco and this is probably killing them."

"But they're cute," she retorted with a nose crinkling smile. Tara rolled her eyes. "I'm just doing my job, Tara." Tara opened her mouth. "It'll open tomorrow."

"Thank you. You're still not going." Tara walked away, they were expecting a visitor soon and she should probably change clothes. She found her husband pacing around their rooms and stopped him with a kiss. "Relax, you can't do anything about her preconceived notions. All you can do is show her that you're not like her mother remembers." Then she went to change clothes and freshen up.

Snape calmed himself. She was correct in this as well. He had chosen well for himself. "Did you get hold of the blonde?"

"She's trapped in a containment ring in my classroom," Tara called back. She came out of the bedroom, pulling her hair up into a bun. "She tried to tell me that she had a reason for doing this and the lock would be released tomorrow anyway."

He shook his head. "I'm glad I never got to know her as a human."

"Oh, she's a bit more odd now, but that's essentially Buffy. She locked Willow and I in a closet once when we were fighting. She thought it'd help us." She smiled. "Come on, you can help me put out munchies for your niece. She'll probably be hungry after the muggle flight."

"Why she couldn't portkey I don't know," he complained. "Probably her mother. She loathes them, refuses to take one anywhere."

"That's her loss," Tara said with a smile. "I kinda like the cord-through-the-bellybutton traveling method. I get less nauseous than I do with teleporting." She smiled at him. "Did you know why Draco's in there?" He shook his head. "He figured out how to teleport today and the lock spell was the better target so he missed his room."

He snorted. "I'll have a discussion with him later about such things." He kissed her on the cheek. "Are you ready for this?"

"She can only love me, I'm a loveable person," Tara reminded him smugly. "I even won you over." She pinched him on the chin and went to uncover the food they had asked the house elves to make for the little greeting party. He started to frown. "I'm going to pinch you again if you don't wipe that look off your face, and next time you'll blush."

He quickly schooled his features. Aggravating woman.

***

Charlie Weasley smiled as the young girl got off the train. "Hello, Emily. Charlie Weasley, temporary teacher of Magical Creatures. Is that all your bags?" He pointed at the rolling trunk and the carryon bag. She nodded. "Then let's head this way." He waved at the conductor. "Would you like to go across the lake or in a carriage?"

"What's the difference?" she asked, her voice a softer and more melodic version of Snape's usual hiss.

"The lake has a spectacular view of the castle in the moonlight and it's traditional for first years to go that way. Or we can take a carriage and bypass all the scenery to head right for the front door."

"I think I'd like the carriage. Boats usually make me ill." He nodded and led the way to the carriage, which was traveling toward them. "Why are you the temporary teacher?"

"Hagrid is ill at the moment. Something wrong with his stomach from what I've been told. So I'm filling in."

"What did you do before this?"

"I'm on sabbatical from my dragon preserve in Romania."

"Oh." She nodded. "Interesting." She let him load the luggage while she settled herself into the seat. She waited until he had gotten in. "What am I doing tonight?"

"Tonight you'll be meeting the Headmaster, getting your schedule straight, and being sorted, then your Uncle and Aunt have requested your presence in their rooms for a small meet and greet sort of thing with most of the teachers and a few favored students."

"I had heard the gossip that he had taken up with some blonde woman. Is that her?"

Charlie nodded. "He likes Tara a lot. She's a sweet lady and has one great sense of humor on occasion." She raised an eyebrow and he grinned. "I know, it doesn't sound like they'd fit, but they do. She can even stop him from yelling at the students."

"My. She sounds interesting. I heard she had a child."

"Three. One's fourteen, from a previous relationship, and the other two are just littles. Maeve was carried for another couple, she's just over three now, but she's still in her life a lot, and your Uncle has a son with her, Zach. He's just under two I believe." She looked impressed. "I think you'll like her if you go in with a neutral attitude and get to know her. A lot of the kids like her a lot. She's also the Deputy Headmistress and is on call for all the girls to run to if they're having problems."

"I'll keep that in mind." The castle came into view and she looked out at it, suitably impressed by the structure. "Will you be my guide?"

"Only up to the Headmaster's office. Then Tara will lead you down if Iggy doesn't." The carriage stopped and he got out, helping her down the two stairs. "Give me a sec to unload you and we'll let the house elves put your things up."

"I'll need my wand. My mother packed it." She smiled faintly. "She thought it might be a better idea than me carrying it on that terrible creature." Her trunk was placed before her and she quickly opened it, retrieving her wand. "Thank you." As soon as it was locked again, a small creature came out and snatched it, and her carryon bag as well. "They're efficient," she said, liking that in a servant.

He smiled. She was so like her Uncle, with the exception of her blonde roots showing. Or maybe Snape dyed his hair as well, but he never showed it. He led her up to the Headmaster's office. "Here she is, Headmaster."

"Thank you, Charlie." He smiled at the young man. "Have you heard about Ron and Draco yet?"

He nodded, grinning again. "And nearly laughed my butt off over it too, sir." He walked away, leaving them alone.

"Do sit, Emily." She daintily sat in the chair. "Welcome to Hogwarts. How was your trip?"

"Atrocious. There were perky people on the plane who would not leave me alone." She smoothed a piece of hair back down. "Plus it was loud and very long."

He nodded. "I've heard as much. We have two teachers here from America. They've both described the flight over as soul-sucking."

She nodded. "That about sums it up, yes, sir. I'm sorry I'm so tardy in getting here. I had no idea that I wasn't allowed to fly with a simple respiratory infection. You'd have thought I had the plague with the way the Americans were acting."

"Indeed, they're very careful about keeping their germs to themselves. The rest of the world appreciates that though." She smiled a little half smile. "I have your records and have done most of the work on your schedule. Due to the lateness of the year, I've decided to put you into the fourth year. It would put you behind by a year, but I think you'll find that you've got a lot of things already learned so you won't have so much catching up to do." He pushed a piece of paper closer to her. "If you'll tell me what electives you'd like, I'll see that you're put into them. We don't have one of the ones you took at Salem, but I think you'll find something to interest you."

She looked at the schedule, noting how many classes she had. "These are all mandatory?"

"I took the liberty of putting you into Tara's first class. I thought you might like a chance to get to know her better."

"What is alternative magical concepts?"

"She teaches about other forms of magic, mostly wandless ones."

"She teaches that Wicca stuff?" she asked dryly.

Albus nodded. "She's still practicing that form herself, but she's adapted to our form of magic as well. Quite an interesting woman, Tara is."

"I see. Would I be with fourth or third years?"

"Fourth years. Most of our students start electives in their third or fourth year, depending on which ones it was. Tara and Severus both suggested that you didn't really need the pre-classes on demonology that Professor Harris-Weasley teaches so I passed you by that to put you in with the fourth years."

"There seems to be a lot of Weasleys around here."

He chuckled. "Yes, there are. Charlie is filling in for Hagrid. We hope he'll be better by this summer. Professor Ron Weasley is Xander's brother-in-law, and Charlie's brother, and he teaches defense. Xander, Professor Harris-Weasley is married to one of their brothers and teaches an advanced defense class and the demonology sections that come before Tara's classes."

"Oh. I see." She frowned. "He's gay?" Dumbledore nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

"He's not the stereotype at all," Dumbledore assured her. "He's an excellent fighter who's had a few hard years. You won't be meeting him for another few days, he's got his fourth years out in the Forbidden Forest for a spot of training."

"Really?" She straightened up. "If I didn't take...Tara's class, what else could I take? I'd like to not be judged on my name and I find that taking classes with relatives is often prejudicial to the rest of the student body."

"Your uncle does have his favorites, but he treats most everyone at the same level." He pointed at an empty block. "If you decide not to take hers, you could take Runes here, with the fourth years and I'd assign you a tutor to help you. Or you could take divination." She grimaced in distaste. "It's an easy class so many students take it. You could take astronomy." She brightened up at that. "You'll need the proper equipment of course."

"I have it with me. It's a hobby of mine. I think I'll take that."

"There's also Arithmancy, which is difficult, but more challenging than daunting."

"I can pick any two?"

"Yes, although the student who would tutor you in Arithmancy is presently ill. It will be a few days before you can meet with her."

"Who would be my tutor for Runes?"

"Iggy. Your uncle's apprentice."

"Is he a Slytherin?" The Headmaster shook his head. "Would this be the Ignatius he spoke of?" The Headmaster nodded. "I see. Then I shall take Runes. I hear he's brilliant and wouldn't mind getting to know him."

"Of course." He wrote in the new parts to her schedule. "There, that's out of the way. Let's get you sorted and off to meet your Uncle again." The Sorting Hat was brought down and didn't even have to touch her before it said "Slytherin". He smiled at her. "Just as I thought it would." He stood up and she took her schedule, letting him lead her down the stairs. "The school can be a bit confusing but ask anyone if you're feeling lost." He pointed out the major areas as they passed by, and eventually came to Snape's private rooms. He tapped on the door and let her walk inside first. "As you thought, Severus, she's one of yours. Has her schedule and all that."

"Did you put her in as a fifth year or a fourth?" Snape asked from across the room. He was trying to remove something from the table.

"Fourth, I figured it would make her transition a little easier. She'll only have a few classes to make up in and it will give her a chance to settle in before the holidays start." He smiled at Tara. "Emily, this is your Aunt, Tara." She shook the girl's hand. "Where are the little ones?"

"Playing behind the couch," Tara said with a smile. "Lucien, Maeve. William, Zach." The four kids peeked around, one group on each end. "The little girl and the dark-haired one are ours. Come meet your cousin Emily. She's going to start school here."

Lucien walked right up to her. "You're not mean, are you?"

Emily looked down at him. "Not usually, unless I'm forced to be so."

He grinned. "Good, I'm a Malfoy!" He smirked up at her to prove it.

"And your father's going to ground you for trying to push around the bigger kids again," Agatha said from behind him. He stuck his tongue out at her. "Keep it up, I can cut it out." Maeve kicked her hard. "You too, missy."

"Agatha," Tara snapped. "They're children and haven't learned any better yet. You were a holy terror as well if I remember right." Agatha had the sense to blush. "Thank you." She smiled at Emily. "As you can see, it's been one of those days all the way around. Lucien is the son of a former Slytherin who's presently trapped in a room, so he's staying the night. Maeve is my daughter. Adrian?" He waved, still drinking. "That boy. Now." He walked over, smiling and shaking Emily's hand. "I'll expect you to help her if she needs it."

"Sure. Stay away from Agatha, it's the best piece of advice I can give you." He smiled and then smiled at his mother. "I've still got that paper to write."

"It's not due for another week and a half, it can wait," Snape said as he walked over to them. "Emily." He gave her a perfunctory hug. "Welcome." He smiled down at her. "Did you have a bad flight?"

"Mother packed my wand so I couldn't harm anybody. She was correct in doing so." Tara giggled. "You had a bad one as well?"

"Twelve hours, plus a three-hour layover in New York. It was really horrible and I was part of a group of people that I liked."

"Having Xander sit for that long is enough to make anybody stressed out and snappish," Snape agreed. She bopped him. "Desist, woman."

"Or what?" Tara asked with a grin. "You'll spank me?" He rolled his eyes and walked his niece away. "These are some of the other teachers you'll be meeting through next week. You do not have to associate willingly with them, but I will expect proper obedience in classes." She nodded. "Very well then. This is Professor Lupin, and you've met Adrian. He teaches Transfiguration with Professor Black, who is over drinking most of the punch." Remus smiled at that and shook Emily's hand. He led her on. "This is Professor Harris-Weasley's husband. His husband is out in the woods with some of the fourth years. He's technically here to watch over the children."

"They were doing fine behind the couch, Tara disturbed their evil takeover of Slytherin on Sunday." He shook her hand. "You're welcome to come visit our house anytime. Ravena can lead you over. We've got the only TV in the castle if you wanted to watch something, and most of the kids and pranks around here."

"Yes, he and his twin run one of the joke shops in town," Snape agreed dryly. "They took my teachings and warped them."

"Yeah, but I gave you Iggy," George pointed out with a smirk.

"Indeed, you did. Why does he have that look on his face?"

"Raena and he have figured out how to talk over the Flood. We're going to have to do the muggle thing and limit his calling time to an hour a day so she can get some work done on her Mastery potion. Son?" Iggy looked up and he waved him over. "This is Emily Snape, Severus' niece."

"Hi." He shook her hand. "If you need anything, just yell my way. I'm usually found somewhere near the dungeons or in Gryffindor's tower."

"Did you get those creatures fixed?"

"All dosed and sober again," Iggy agreed. "Stupid idiots overdosed on Passion Pixie potion and were going nuts," he explained, giving her a grin of his own. "So, am I your tutor for anything?"

"Runes."

"Cool. I've got two sets so we'll work on it this weekend. Library fine with you or would you rather work in the Great Hall?"

"Either would be fine. Thank you."

He nodded. "Not an issue. I've already done my homework in there until the end of school, barring any unforseen papers, so I've got the time."

"Son, speaking of time, leave Raena alone. She's running out of it."

"I'm helping her proofread, dad. She asked for my valuable advice." He smirked and walked back to his corner, going back to talking to her.

George looked at her. "He's thirteen and she's the love of his life."

"She sounds like she's a bit older."

"She is," George agreed, "but we're overlooking that fact because they're so cute together. She's fighting it hard but we Weasleys are hard to resist."

"If you say so," Snape told him.

George patted him on the arm. "We can't wait until William and Zach are old enough to date. It'll be so cute!"

Snape shuddered. "If I must, I'll have him sent far away so that tragedy doesn't occur." He led his niece on, introducing her to the rest of the staff.

"Where's the other Weasley?" she asked.

"Trapped in a room with Lucien's father." She raised an eyebrow. "Professor Weasley's dead girlfriend is rather odd and she trapped them together. We're expecting to find body parts tomorrow when it finally gets opened."

"We could try knocking the door in," Iggy offered. He nodded at Tara. "Word of advice, listen to her. She knows a lot of things, very strange things, and can sometimes seem a little strange, but she's good to your Uncle."

"You sound like you know her."

"I grew up in the school so I always got to hang with Tara and Adrian. There's another professor's son, Ryan, but his mother no longer works here." He waved Agatha over, and of course her faithful consort Ryan right behind her. "Emily Snape, these are two of the three heads of your house. The power people as it were. Agatha Potter, Ryan Rosenberg. Where's Ravena?"

"Lucien jumped her so she's with them," Agatha told him, smiling at the girl. "You'll have to forgive the children, *someone* gave them licorice."

"They stole it out of my pocket, I didn't give it to them," Iggy protested. "That was my snack for the lab tonight too."

Ryan smiled at the young woman. "Ryan Rosenberg. Ravena?" She came out from behind the couch. "This is our star seeker and Lucien's older sister, Ravena Malfoy-Weasley."

"We're thinking about dropping mum's name, Ryan." She shook Emily's hand. "Welcome to the house. You're a fourth year?" She nodded. "Then talk to Carida. She's pleasant and knows nearly everyone. She's a people watcher."

"Thank you, I'll make her acquaintance tonight. You play quidditch."

"Oh, no, not this discussion," Agatha sighed.

"You play too," Iggy reminded her. He smiled. "We all play. Agatha, Ryan, and I all play chaser, those two together and I play with Ravena's older brother. Her sister plays beater for my house, and Ravena plays seeker for yours."

"Our families have gotten a bit intertwined over the years," Agatha explained at the confused look. "My father was adopted by his father George's family."

"And my mum is actually a Weasley and they managed to accept my father over the years," Ravena added. "So we're all a big, fighting family."

Emily nodded. "I see. Do you get along sometimes?"

"Only if the family is threatened," Iggy told her. "Um, you might want to watch out for Simone this week, Agatha. She's not in a good mood and no one knows why." Agatha nodded at the wise advice. "Anyway, I've got a bunch of idiots to go yell at so your Uncle doesn't have to. I'll leave you with the major people in your house and they can show you where it is." He shook her hand again. "If you need me, send Ravena or Ryan, they can usually both find me easily." He left, after having a quick word with Snape.

"You're not Prefects?" Emily asked. All of them shook their heads. "Then how are you the heads of the house?"

"Easy," Ravena said with a smile. "They're the favorite ruling couple, King and Queen, and I'm a Goddess in my own right. I'll be taking over once they graduate and I'm the nicer female head of the house. Our figureheads, the Head Boy and Girl for the house, are rather idiots and I'd watch out for her. She thinks everyone's out to get the boyfriend she lost sixteen weeks ago."

"How very true," Ryan agreed, smiling at her. "Is your sister really going to try for Prefect?"

"So she says." Ravena shrugged. "I'm closer to Anastasia than I am Simone. I don't understand her at all some days. The only place we understand each other is on the pitch."

"She's the one who plays beater?" Emily asked, just to keep things straight.

"On and off the pitch," Agatha agreed. "She and I are mortal enemies. We fight, we argue, we snipe at each other. And occasionally she even wins."

"And occasionally she'll hurt you too," Ryan said gently. "Ravena's second sister, Anastasia is the Gryffindor Princess. She and Agatha are never allowed in the same room alone together. Simone tends to stick up for all the family though." Agatha nodded. "Plus, there's a little brother and sister of Agatha's running around right now. He's Gryffindor's seeker and Mellie's about eight."

"Nine," Agatha corrected. She smiled at the young woman. "It's a lot to take in, but we're giving you this now as fair warning. Simone won't pick on you unless you bother one of the family. Anastasia doesn't fight, unless it's with a book in her hand, and Denver's pretty decent. Melvin's a Hufflepuff and will almost always be found with his girlfriend."

"Who's blind and we're under death threat to not pick on," Ravena added for good measure. "Besides, her dog bites."

"She's blind and she's here?"

"She has a partial sight restoration spell on her but it's too powerful so she only uses it sometimes. She's been excused from potions for that fact, but she takes everything else. She's a quiet young woman, and very gentle. She's protected as one of the family, even if all the professors didn't guard her."

"Oh, yes, and let's not forget the younger ones," Ryan said as Lucien tugged on his pants leg. "Yes, Lucien?"

"Can I come up this weekend and talk to you about mean things? Maeve said you'd know."

"If you'd like, or your Uncle Xander knows many mean things."

"Yeah, but he's an adult and would tell my father."

"If it's too bad, I might have to as well."

"Then can you come look and tell me if it's that bad?"

"Of course. Excuse me, ladies." He followed the young boy back behind the couch and looked under it, seeing the pair of red eyes. "My, a creature." He stood up. "Not to be intrusive, Professor Snape, but do you have any animals around?" The professor shook his head. "Then you might want to figure out what the children found under your couch." He got out of the way.

"Meanie, I wanted to take it home and have Simone tame it," Lucien said, starting to pout.

Tara lifted the couch and Snape trapped the creature. "Ah-ha! I knew there was something that was scaring Maeve. A boggart."

"Do trap it for Ron," Remus put in. "The kids will need one for their final."

"If I must," Snape said dourly, going to put the creature into a container. "Move," he snapped. All the kids got out of the way and the couch was lowered. "Thank you." He nodded at Ryan. "Very nicely handled. Five points, young man."

"Thank you, sir." He smiled. "With your leave, I've got homework to do and I'm going to take Agatha back to her room as well. Ravena?"

"I'll show her the way to the tower," Ravena agreed, sitting on the couch, and pulling Emily beside her so she could tell her about most of the rest of the school, including how to get to her classes and how to get along with Iggy.

Ryan took Agatha's hand. "Good night, sir, and thank you for inviting us."

"Thank you," Agatha agreed with a smile. "She's adorable, very like you, sir." She followed her consort out.

"Remind me to have a talk with her later," Tara sighed.

"Draco already did." She smiled brightly. "He seems to give very...full talks on most subjects."

He shook hands as everyone left them alone, the last one out being Professor Black, who had finally found his ring in the punch. He sighed as he closed the door. "I thought they'd never leave."

"They won't, as long as they know where we live," Tara said, patting him on the back. She walked over to where the two girls were sitting. "Is she giving you the verbal tour?"

"As well as warning me about a few things. Why does the school tolerate a poltergeist?"

"There's not much we can do about Peeves," Tara told her, sitting down as well. "You mostly have to get out of the way very quickly if he targets you. The house ghosts are mostly nice, but the Bloody Baron is kind of creepy most of the time." Emily nodded. "Did you have any questions that Ravena couldn't answer?"

"What will I have to do to catch up?"

"That depends on each teacher," Tara told her. "If you had taken my class, you would have gotten four months worth of notes and had to do at least one spell my way to prove that you can do it. That's the final. Runes, you'll need to know the alphabet and all the syntax stuff. Astronomy, probably get up to date on the star charts they've been doing. Everything else is mostly practical application."

"I'll have Ignatius walk you through the broad categories of spells we've done so far this year so you'll know how to do each of them. You'll be expected to know how to do a certain potion, but I'll allow you your books for ten minutes at the beginning of class." Tara looked interested. "The one I'm planning on requires an immense ingredient list and while I would enjoy doing that to them, Ignatius pointed out that many of them will botch it anyway, even if they were allowed the book for the whole time." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Magical Creatures you can get the notes from anyone, it's mostly care and tending this year for you. Herbology Ignatius said was potting some shoots recently and she doesn't have a comprehensive final, you end up tending a few plants you've already covered. Defense you can get the notes off anyone and Professor Weasley is fair if you need help catching up in there. You can ask him, myself, or Mr. Malfoy once he gets free."

"Transfiguration might be harder," Ravena put in. "That's technically my area and I know those two are planning a multi-stage final for everyone. Your year is doing animals into other animals right now. Carida is a decent-enough note taker and you should be able to copy off hers." She smiled. "If you make friends with Iggy, he's got a magical copying spell now and he might be persuaded to use it on your behalf."

Emily smiled. "Do I have to appear helpless?"

"No, he likes strong, independent women, who're older," Tara told her. "Don't worry, he won't hit on you. The girls all like him, because he's fun to be with, but everyone knows he's taken." She stood up. "We'll let you get settled in for the night and you can wander around tomorrow with Ravena or Iggy. We'll be here most of the day."

"Tomorrow is a Hogsmeade Saturday," Ravena pointed out.

"Good point. We'll be here in the morning and after dinner then. Iggy won't be here all day because he'll be helping out at the joke shop. Agatha and Ryan are planning on going shopping for a wedding gift for his mother. So you'll have Ravena, or most of her family."

"Which we told her about, just in case," Ravena said as she stood up. "Come on, I'll show you back to the house." She nodded at her heads. "Thank you for the snacks, they were quite nice. Any word on father?"

"Buffy locked them in there but supposedly the lock will come off tomorrow before he has to be in court."

"Good. I'll check on him then." She let the other girl say her goodnights in private, waiting by the door. "Don't worry, we're scary and mean, but some of us are strong enough to stop most of the crap," Ravena told her as they walked down the hall. She opened the door. "We password the houses so no one from another one can get in. The only exception to that is Lucien, who can and does get in all the time." She whistled as she walked in, getting everyone's attention. "This is Emily Snape, our Head's niece. She's a fourth year. Carida, she'll need your notes." The girl nodded. "Treat her well or Snape will have your head." She smiled as her kitten came running down the stairs. "Hello, Hemlock. That's a pretty ribbon Maeve put on you." She picked her cat up and looked him over, still fine. "If you want, Carida can show you up or I can."

"I think I'll get with her and look at her notes," Emily said, smiling at her. "Thank you, Ravena."

"You're welcome." She walked up to her room, petting her little purr kitty gently. He was such a good boy. She found the remains of a mouse on her bed. "Oh, you brought me a present," she cooed.

"That's disgusting," one of her roommates noted.

"It is, but he's showing me how well he hunts." She used a disposable glove from her drawer to pick up the creature and go toss it in the trash, while her kitty rested on the bed after a long hunt. "Very good boy, Hemlock," she said, sitting down to pet him.

"What's she like?"

"She's nice, a little stiff still, but looks just like her uncle. She's got blonde roots for some reason, and is being put in with the fourth years. I put her with Carida. I think those two will get along well."

Down the hallway, Carida smiled at her. "Ravena was trying to make sure you'd make a friend in the house. I'm not opposed to anyone or anything, as long as it doesn't get pushed in my face." She patted her folders. "These are the notes for the year so far."

Emily looked at the stack. "I think I'll ask Iggy to copy those after all."

Carida laughed. "He's a charming young man. A year younger than us." Emily looked quizzical. "He got early admittance because he's such a superbrain. He got accepted just a few days ago into a prodigy potion's program at the Royal Academy." Emily nodded, looking impressed. "Just don't play helpless with him. He can read people very well. He's gryphon-born and it shows sometimes."

"They let them attend here?"

"His father, Professor Harris-Weasley, is one of them and he teaches them all control as soon as it's known what they are."

"Oh. I guess it's helpful. Salem wouldn't even allow them entry."

"Oh, please don't mention that. Professor Harris-Weasley will go on a rip again. The last one he had landed us with a three-foot paper due in two days. It took us a day just to find out how long a foot was."

Emily smiled. "I'm not seeing him anyway so don't worry about it."

Carida smiled. "Good. We'd all thank you for that." She patted the folders. "Where would you like to start? After a long bath and something to eat? The house elves left you a tray on your bed."

"That's darling of them," Emily said with a real smile. "How about Transfiguration? It's my weakest subject. I'm like my mother, a herbologist."

"Oooh, then you want to talk to Melvin, Iggy's cousin. He's one of the top three in that class, the other two are much older and don't like us younger kids. He's nice and will gladly help you get caught up in there. He can even show you where to avoid walking first thing in the morning because the greenhouses are a *major* makeout spot. Madam Sprout puts out contraceptive herbs and everything for them. She's a practical woman."

"If I were to find a boyfriend, who would I talk to about that?"

"Madam Pomfrey is running one of Iggy's potions through a test. It's a combined menstrual potion and infertility potion. It's wonderful. Lasts for a month. If you do find a boyfriend, watch out for the Head Girl. She's a bitch about trying to steal them. Tried mine and he put her down in front of everyone in the Great Hall one day."

"Wonderful. I'm sure we'll get along marvelously then." She smiled and grabbed the tray. "I'm off for that promised bath. Thank you."

"Hey, not an issue. I'm like that." She smiled and watched the girl go, mentally categorizing her from her behavior so far. She went in right under Professor Snape in her mental list.

***

Ron looked at his bed, then mentally sighed. Not very comfortable but he could do that. He laid down on the sheet covering the pile of clothes, getting comfortable.

"I can share," Draco reminded him.

"It's okay," Ron told him. "I can always take a nap tomorrow, you have court." Besides, Draco probably wouldn't like the fact that he cuddled. He pulled the sheet and blanket over himself, settling in for the night. A bright flash woke him, and Draco, about an hour later, making him wince. "What was that?"

"Not a clue," Draco admitted. He looked like he was trying to hold in a smirk. "Get off the floor, Ron, before you stay that color."

Ron hopped up and looked at himself. The color dust was settling in so he moved everything out of the way so they wouldn't be permanently colored that way. He managed to rinse himself off and sighed at his floor. It was a mess. A purple, blue, and teal mess. The rug was ruined.

"Your brothers have a way to get rid of it," Draco told him. He shifted. "You want front or back?"

"Huh?"

"Front or back of the bed. The color remover doesn't work on skin."

"I don't think you want...."

"Weasley, I don't care about your modesty. I cuddle in my sleep as well." Ron relaxed. "Now, do you want front or back?"

"I'd rather have front," Ron told him, climbing into the bed. He got up and grabbed his pillows, letting Draco have the other set. "There, that's better." He closed his eyes, comforted for the first time in years. Buffy used to do the same thing, only without the pajama bottoms. He relaxed, quickly falling asleep.

Draco shook his head, knowing that his father was somewhere screaming at him. Who would have thought the two of them would be sharing a bed? And non-sexually at that. He closed his eyes, getting comfortable. Ron wiggled back into his front and he held in the groan. He had missed this by not having someone around all the time. It was time for him to move on from Ginny.

Buffy waited until they were both *really* asleep before slipping the contagion cuffs on them. She blew a kiss at them. "Sorry, guys, but orders are orders and you've got to do this. It's the future of the school and your world. You'll understand someday." She faded out, going back to the containment circle the house elf had nicely canceled for her. She loved those little creatures. They were so cute! It was definitely the ears.

***

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